Buffalo Sabres General Manager Darcy Regier announced late Wednesday afternoon that Lindy Ruff was relieved of his duties as head coach of the Buffalo Sabres. Regier also announced that Ron Rolston will serve as the interim head coach of the Sabres, beginning with the team's game against Toronto on Thursday, and continuing through the remainder of the season.

The Niagara River Region Chamber of Commerce will honor 10 businesses and individuals at the annual Chamber Awards Gala on Friday, May 17, at the Niagara Falls Country Club in Lewiston.

On Feb. 13, the Niagara County Law Enforcement Academy awarded certificates of completion to the 14 men and women who comprised the 15th and most recent graduating class of the NCLEA's basic corrections course.

Niagara County lawmakers spoke with one voice Tuesday night as they unanimously backed a trio of resolutions opposing New York state's radical new gun control law, the NY SAFE Act, which was signed into law by Gov. Andrew M. Cuomo just weeks ago.

The Erie Canal Harbor Development Corp. board of directors met Tuesday to approve several items that represent Gov. Andrew Cuomo's vision for a revitalized Buffalo waterfront.

Whether it's cold, chilly or freezing outside, it will be cozy comfy inside the Aquarium of Niagara as it holds its first fundraiser of the year, "SEAsonings - The Original Taste of Niagara." The popular event is March 7 from 6 to 9 p.m. at the Whirlpool Street facility.

'Hard Rock Rising': Hard Rock Café Niagara Falls - USA 'Global Battle of the Bands' competition gives Niagara Falls-area talent a chance at international stardom.

On Saturday, Feb. 23, the third annual Robert G. Hoch Winter Memory Walk 2013 to benefit Hospice Foundation of Western New York will take place on the West River Road Parkway beginning with registration at 10 a.m. An after-party will take place at Riverstone Grill from 11:30 a.m. to 4 p.m.

The Grand Island Chamber of Commerce has recognized Fahim Mojawalla, owner of Creative Leather Concepts and Island Ship Center, along with Liz Wilbert of Realty USA, for their generosity by stepping up as a Bronze sponsors for this year's Citizen of the Year Awards event.

The Niagara USA Chamber released the following statement Tuesday.

The 2013 Relay For Life season began in a full sprint with a kickoff rally Wednesday.

New teams and veteran Relayers gathered at Grand Island High School to award medals for 2012 and to begin the 2013 event, which will have an Olympic theme of "Going for the Gold."

"After conducting a rigorous onsite review of Niagara County's emergency preparedness program on Oct. 22, 2012, the New York State Department of Health awarded the Niagara County Department of Health a perfect score of 100 percent for its efforts," said Niagara County Public Health Director Daniel Stapleton.

The Lewiston "Knit-Wits" recently met for the first time at the historic Lewiston Opera Hall. Organizers report a very successful turnout and said everyone enjoyed a relaxed and inspiring evening. At the first meeting, members adopted this motto: "Commit senseless acts of beauty and random acts of knitting!"

Operating room staff members at Niagara Falls Memorial Medical Center Monday celebrated the successful completion of the hospital's 200th robotic surgical procedure by "SAL" the Surgical Robot.

The Village of Lewiston Board of Trustees will meet Tuesday to discuss underwater hydropower turbines.

Country music singer Scotty McCreery got up close and personal with some of the Aquarium of Niagara's biggest stars on Friday, Feb. 15. McCreery was in town for a performance at the Rapids Theater, which marked the second stop on his Weekend Road Trip tour.

State Sen. Mark Grisanti was named "Elected Official of the Year" by the Southtowns Walleye Association, the largest single species fishing club in North America.

Josh's Journey: A Foundation of Hope, is teaming with the National Alliance on Mental Illness, to sponsor the NAMI Family-to-Family Education Program, specifically for families of persons diagnosed with serious mental illness. The 12-week series of classes begins Monday, April 8, with sessions from 6:30 to 9 p.m. at Generation Church, 1001 E. Robinson St., North Tonawanda.

Opportunities Unlimited of Niagara announces "Guardians, Wills and Trusts," a free workshop for families of people with developmental disabilities and self-advocates, presented by the Parent Network of Western New York, will take place Tuesday, Feb. 26, from 6 to 8 p.m., at 1555 Fashion Outlet Blvd., Niagara Falls.

The Lewiston Town Board will hold a meeting on Monday, March 4, at 6 p.m. in Town Hall, 1375 Ridge Road, to discuss the proposed Lewiston Recreation and Senior Center.

The Erie Canal Discovery Center/Penney Gallery will hold a "Spring Fever Antique Fair," on Saturday, March 2, from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. at the historic Hamilton House, 24 Church St., Lockport.

The Town of Lewiston launched its new website, www.townoflewiston.us, with 360 Professional Services Group.

Niagara Area Habitat for Humanity will hold two orientation meetings on the second floor of the Niagara Falls Public Library, 1425 Main St.

The Niagara Falls Country Club, 505 Mountain View Drive in Lewiston, announces "The Great Gatsby Night On The Town" happy hour will take place on Wednesday, Feb. 27, from 5 to 7 p.m. Featured will be two for one house wine with free appetizers.

Relay For Life of Lewiston/Niagara invites the community to its Oscar party, Sunday, Feb. 24, at Water Street Landing, 115 S. Water St., Lewiston.

James and Jayne Brasser recently presented Odd Fellow members of Sacarissa Bell Rose Lodge No. 307 artifacts inherited from William James, a prominent Lewiston Odd Fellow during the 1970s.

Assemblyman John Ceretto, R-C-I-Lewiston, on Friday criticized a legislative proposal to ban youth football in New York. The bill, which was introduced earlier this week, seeks to prohibit children younger than 11 from playing organized tackle football anywhere in the state.

Greif Inc., a manufacturer of industrial packaging located in Tonawanda, recently made a timely donation to Niagara Hospice.

Niagara Frontier Publications is proud to announce noted food blogger Jude Russo Caserta is now a contributing writer for its website, www.wnypapers.com. A new version of her column, "Jude the Foodie," appears online each Monday.

"We are thrilled to be working with Jude, a well-liked and well-respected foodie," said Web Co-Editor Joshua Maloni. "Food is always a popular topic, and we're happy to have a tried and tested home cook and world traveler contributing stories, recipes and dining-out pieces for our website."

Congressman Chris Collins announced Friday that the Federal Highway Administration is sending nearly $7 million to Western and Central New York to repair roadways heavily damaged when storms hit the region during August of 2009. Severe storms and heavy flooding washed-out many roads in southern Erie, Cattaraugus and Chautauqua counties. The same storm system also caused damage in Central New York.

The Friends of Local History will present a free lecture on ice bridges in the Niagara River from 6 to 8 p.m. Tuesday, Feb. 19, at the Niagara Falls Public Library.

A benefit for Dawn Daigler is planned for 2 to 9 p.m. Saturday, Feb. 23, at St. Johnsburg Volunteer Fire Co., 7165 Ward Road, Wheatfield.

ElderWood Health Care at Crestwood, 2600 Niagara Falls Blvd., Wheatfield, will host an American Red Cross community blood drive from noon to 4 p.m., Friday, Feb. 22.

Get your megaphones ready for "Cheer For the Cure," a U.S. Cheerleading Final Qualifying Competition to benefit the Juvenile Diabetes Research Foundation, springing into The Conference & Event Center Niagara Falls, Saturday, Feb. 23, through Sunday, Feb. 24.

Business taxation will be the topic at the next Wheatfield Business Association meeting on Monday, Feb. 18, at the Walmore Inn, Lockport and Walmore roads, Wheatfield.

What do bingo, candy and a pharmacy have in common?

Not much, unless they are in the hands of Christopher Sauls, pharmacist at Summit Park Pharmacy in Wheatfield, as he works his audience of senior citizens.

For the 28th year, the Kenan Center in Lockport will present the Storrs All High Photo Show, featuring the work of high school students from across Western and Central New York. This year's show opens Sunday, March 3, with a free public reception from 2 until 5 p.m. at the Kenan Center House Gallery, 433 Locust St., Lockport.

The Niagara County Industrial Development Agency board of directors accepted applications for assistance for four tourism projects in Niagara Falls and Lockport on Wednesday. All applications will be reviewed and voted on at the board's March meeting after public meetings are held regarding each individual project.

Joshua Malik, D.O., will join the faculty of Niagara Falls Memorial Medical Center's Osteopathic Family Practice Residency Program and become a member of Memorial's outpatient primary care team at the Summit Healthplex.

A "Red Carpet Raffle" will be conducted at the Knights of Columbus Hall, 755 Erie Ave., North Tonawanda, at 6 p.m. March 23. Tickets are $30 per person or $25 each for a prepaid order of 10.