Assemblyman John Ceretto, R-I-C-Lewiston, ranking member on the Assembly tourism committee, is calling on the State Assembly to follow the Senate's lead and pass legislation to legalize mixed martial arts in New York.

Rick Ohler, award-winning columnist for The East Aurora Advertiser and author of the local bestseller "Have You Lived Here All Your Life?" . . . Not Yet," will speak at the Roycroft Power House, 31 S. Grove St., East Aurora, on March 9 at 1 p.m. The talk, sponsored by Preservation Buffalo Niagara, is part of its "Buffalo Talks" series.

Vincent J. Miller, Ph.D., the Gudorf Chair in Catholic Theology and Culture at the University of Dayton, will deliver an address on "The Church and Work for Justice in the World: From Vatican II to Today" at Niagara University's Alumni Chapel on March 20 at 5:30 p.m.

The Buffalo Sabres have announced the ninth annual Scotty Bowman Showcase will take place on Monday, April 15, at First Niagara Center. The 2013 Scotty Bowman Showcase consists of three all-star hockey games between players from Buffalo and their rivals from Rochester.

Comcast Corp., a global media and technology company, has announced that Comcast and NBCUniversal have achieved their publicly announced three-year goal of hiring 1,000 veterans as part of the U.S. Chamber of Commerce Foundation's "Hiring Our Heroes" initiative two years ahead of schedule - and that it will double its pledge by committing to hire an additional 1,000 U.S. veterans by 2015. 


The Firemen's Association of the State of New York is reminding homeowners and renters to change the batteries in their smoke alarms and carbon monoxide detectors at least once a year to ensure they are working properly. On Sunday, March 10, at 2 a.m., we will set our clocks ahead one hour. FASNY urges New Yorkers to use this reminder when it comes to maintaining their home detectors.

Town of Niagara residents will have a chance to comment on a possible tax abatement for a planned $71 million Fashion Outlets of Niagara expansion during a town IDA public hearing at 2:30 p.m. Wednesday, March 13, at Town Hall.

The Buffalo Sabres have announced they acquired the Buffalo Regals tier I youth hockey organization effective for the 2014-15 season. The Sabres new youth hockey association will play under the highly successful Buffalo Jr. Sabres organization and be housed at the HARBORcenter complex scheduled to open Sept. 1, 2014.

The 14th annual Sport Martial Arts Championship International Tournament will be held at The Conference & Event Center Niagara Falls, 101 Old Falls St., from 5-11 p.m. on Friday, March 8, and from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. Saturday, March 9. Participants range in age from 4 years old to adult. Spectators are welcome.

New York State Comptroller Thomas P. DiNapoli announced Thursday that Dunkin' Brands Group, owner of Dunkin' Donuts, has agreed to set a date for sourcing 100 percent of the palm oil used to make its products from sustainable sources. 


Dunkin' Donuts will look ahead to spring through a special partnership with Hospice Buffalo in support of the 27th annual Hospice Buffalo Spring Bouquet Sale.

The New York State Senate has passed the Trafficking Victims Protection and Justice Act to further protect trafficked children and other victims, and punish the criminals who are responsible for sexual exploitation. The bill (S2511), sponsored by Sen. Patrick M. Gallivan, improves and expands the state's ability to combat sex trafficking, punishes sex traffickers, and protects the rights of victims in the sex trafficking trade.

Proud colleagues heaped praise on Niagara County Legislature Chairman William L. Ross, C-Wheatfield, Tuesday in Lockport as the long-time government head gaveled his 200th meeting as presiding officer of the Legislature to order.

"Buffalo Rider Rally" for the 22nd annual American Diabetes Association "Tour de Cure." This is a gathering of veteran and newbie riders to gear up their training and fundraising efforts this year's tour, which will take place June 8. More than 80 team leaders and cyclists will meet and greet, hear inspirational stories on people living and riding with diabetes, and learn the latest details on the ADA's longest-running cycling event.

The Business Council strongly opposes the natural gas moratorium that the Assembly passed today. To those members who supported this moratorium, we say, for the past four years substantial state resources have been dedicated to the scientific review of shale gas extractions.

Assemblyman John Ceretto, R-I-Lewiston, voted Wednesday in favor of legislation extending New York's moratorium on horizontal hydraulic fracturing, known as hydrofracking, until May 15, 2015.

Wednesday, under the leadership of Speaker Sheldon Silver and Environmental Conservation Committee Chair Robert Sweeney, the New York State Assembly passed legislation to extend a two-year moratorium on the drilling practice known as "fracking." 


New York State Sen. Mark Grisanti announced the New York State Senate voted to pass Bill S.1590, which makes it a crime to conceal a death by knowingly moving or otherwise hiding a human corpse so that discovery of the death will be hindered.

First Presbyterian Church of Youngstown, 100 Church St., hosts the next installment of its "Second Saturday" concert on March 9.

Public comments on the proposed changes to regulations for the import, transport, possession and sale of bighead carp will be accepted until April 20, the New York State Department of Environmental Conservation has announced.

Rocker Billy Idol will ignite the summer concert season at Artpark on June 4, kicking off "First Niagara presents Tuesday in the Park." One week later, Joan Jett and The Blackhearts are slated to take the Outdoor Amphitheater stage. Tickets go on sale March 15.

It's awards season - well, at least it is at Niagara University.

Congressman Chris Collins, NY-27, has announced that his staff will be available for satellite office hours throughout the community during the month of March. These satellite hours are in addition to the normal office hours at Collins' district offices in both Lancaster and Geneseo. Staffers will be holding satellite hours each month in rotating locations.

Growing the state's agriculture industry and helping New York's family farms prosper is the goal of the "Grown in New York" plan, unveiled Tuesday at a Capitol news conference by members of the Senate's agriculture committee, as well as leaders of the New York Farm Bureau. The plan is designed to strengthen the state's $5.2 billion agriculture industry by expanding markets for New York-grown products, improving the bottom lines of family farms, and investing in the future of farming.

Sen. Patrick M. Gallivan said, "Agriculture is New York's most important industry and one of its most diverse, impacting every individual and family in the state."

Congressman Brian Higgins, NY-26, spoke Tuesday from the House Floor to call on Congress to take steps to eliminate barriers to voting and ensure that every American who wants to cast a ballot is able to do so. He also spoke in support of preserving the integrity of the Voting Rights Act, whose Section 5 is currently in question before the Supreme Court in Shelby County v. Holder.

Applications for the 2013 lottery for Native American handicraft sales permits are now available at the Niagara Falls State Park administrative office. To be eligible, applicants must be 18 years of age or older and registered as a Native American or provide verifiable proof of Native American heritage

Sunnking Inc., in partnership with Camp Good Days, has created a program called "E-Scrap 4 Camp," which will facilitate recycling old electronics from participating locations to generate funds for Camp Good Days and Special Times.

Public authority debt increased to nearly a quarter of a trillion dollars in the latest reported fiscal year, according to a report released Tuesday by State Comptroller Thomas P. DiNapoli. New York relies on authorities to undertake most borrowing on its behalf, and routinely uses authority resources to plug state budget gaps.

Niagara University has been named to the President's Higher Education Community Service Honor Roll every year since the inception of the award.

St. James Church will be the site of a fundraiser for Akron Canine Rescued Angels. The event, featuring a basket raffle with 100-plus items, will take place from 1 to 6 p.m. on Sunday, March 24.

Hundreds of hard-working farmers have taken the rare day off to participate in New York Farm Bureau's annual lobby day Tuesday at the Capitol in Albany advocating for support of policies they say will benefit all of New York's farms.

New York State Sen. Mark Grisanti, R-I-60, a member of the Senate finance committee, asked his colleagues in the Senate Tuesday to fully restore approximately $120 million in proposed cuts in funding that supports and services people with developmental disabilities.

Grisanti said he and Senate finance chairman John DeFrancisco believe full restoration of the funding will support New York's most vulnerable residents.

Grisanti has recently met with constituents who are concerned with the proposed budget cuts that will impact the operation of the Office for People with Developmental Disabilities.

Congressman Chris Collins, NY-27, is encouraging local high school students to participate in this year's congressional art competition. The winning artist from New York's 27th Congressional District will travel to Washington, D.C., and have his or her artwork displayed in the U.S. Capitol for one year.

Niagara Falls Memorial Medical Center and 46 community partners will launch Niagara's first state-designated health home at 11 a.m. Friday.

Senate Republican Leader Dean Skelos and members of the Senate Republican Conference Monday unveiled the Family Tax Relief Act, a package of tax relief and reform measures designed to provide a major economic boost to New York's struggling middle class families.

"Taste Niagara 2013," an evening celebration of local foods and beverages, will take place at 6:30 p.m. Saturday, March 9, at the new Niagara Falls Culinary Institute, 28 Old Falls St.

Assemblyman John Ceretto, R-I-Lewiston, expressed optimism Monday after the Western New York Power Allocation Board held its first meeting. The board was set up after a bill, sponsored by Ceretto to ensure power produced in Western New York stays in the region, was signed into law.

Niagara University will host its annual graduate school open house Saturday, April 13, on campus in the Castellani Art Museum.

NYSARC Inc., the nation's largest nonprofit agency serving people with developmental disabilities, is urging the Legislature and Gov. Andrew Cuomo to approve a final budget deal restoring $120 million in state funding to programs and services for people with developmental disabilities.

The reduction is a result of a 6 percent, across-the-board cut, which was contained in the governor's budget. When federal funds are included, the cut is $240 million.

"These cuts are catastrophic," said NYSARC's executive director, Marc Brandt.

Peregrine's Landing Senior Community and The Clubhouse Bro's Family Restaurant in Wheatfield have partnered together to bring "Memory Lane Café" to local residents beginning April 17.