Ever since Napoleon's younger brother honeymooned with his American bride at Niagara Falls, and Aaron Burr's daughter even prior to them in 1804, Niagara USA has been celebrated as one of the world's most romantic destinations.

The Historical Association of Lewiston and the Village of Lewiston Recreation Department present "Dave Ruch Family Concert" at 3 p.m. Saturday, Feb. 23. The event will be held at the Red Brick Municipal Building, 145 N. Fourth St.

The Niagara County Community College Small Business Development Center and Cornerstone Community Credit Union are sponsoring free business workshops for local business owners to help their business succeed.

Eighteenth century taverns were places people went to quaff a pint of ale, catch up on the village gossip, or discuss the latest news from England. Some were refined, others rowdy, but they all played an important and colorful role in the colonial community.

"Casablanca," one of the top romance movies in history, will be shown at the Hamburg Palace Theatre on Valentine's Day, Thursday, Feb. 14, at 7 p.m.

The Seneca-Babcock Community Association presents The Dennis George Quizmaster Game Show on Saturday, Feb. 16, at the Seneca-Babcock Community Center, 1168 Seneca St., Buffalo. Doors open at 7 p.m. Light appetizers, a cash bar and raffles will be available.

The Buffalo Museum of Science will hold its second "Get a Clue" happy hour museum mystery event from 6 to 9 p.m. Friday, March 8.

VA Western New York Healthcare System will host the second annual "Hire a Hero" employment and education fair for veterans from 9 a.m. to 2 p.m. Saturday, March 23, in Freedom Hall at the Buffalo site, 3495 Bailey Ave.

NBC Sports Group will celebrate the third annual "Hockey Day in America" by delivering nine hours of hockey coverage on NBC and NBC Sports Network, including numerous features that tell the story of America's passion for hockey, weaved within an NHL tripleheader that features six U.S. teams.

Sunnking Inc., in partnership with Camp Good Days, has created a program titled "E-Scrap 4 Camp," which facilitates recycling old electronics from participating locations to generate funds for Camp Good Days and Special Times. 2013 marks the third year for the program - and the first time that fundraising efforts will be expanded to allow participation from Rochester-area businesses and organizations.

State Sen. Mark Grisanti and the Buffalo State College Small Business Development Center will host "Facebook Tips For Small Business" on Tuesday, Feb. 19, in the Bulger Communications Building on the Buffalo State campus, 1300 Elmwood Ave.

Niagara Catholic Junior-Senior High School is seeking host families for foreign exchange students with F-1 Visas from South Korea or China.

The Historical Association of Lewiston announces the availability of a just-minted "Tuscarora Heroes" commemorative coin.

Erie County Legislator Kevin Hardwick has planned two district outreach meetings on Tuesday, Feb. 19, to meet with residents and discuss county issues.

Wednesday, Feb. 13, the 2013 Relay For Life Kickoff will take place at 7 p.m. in the senior cafeteria of Grand Island High School, 1100 Ransom Road.

On Feb. 24 and 25, the Field & Fork Network will host its biennial "Connections Conference" (formerly the Farmer-Chef Conference) at the new, state-of-the art Niagara Falls Culinary Institute.

Niagara Falls Memorial Medical Center has appointed Kenneth Hatton as director of environmental services, effective Feb. 25.

New York State Sen. Patrick M. Gallivan, R-C-I-Elma, released a letter Monday signed by 17 of his fellow upstate senators that was delivered to Gov. Andrew M. Cuomo's office on Friday.

The New York State Office of Parks, Recreation and Historic Preservation has announced that the draft scoping report for the Robert Moses Parkway North/Niagara Gorge Corridor project will be available for the public to review beginning on Wednesday, Feb. 20, with a public open house. The open house will take place from 3 until 7 p.m. in the Cataract Room at the Conference Center Niagara Falls, 101 Old Falls St.

The format of the open house will allow the public to review the alternatives derived from the scoping process and to have questions answered by the consultants. Members of the public can also leave written comments. The plan covers the area of the Robert Moses Parkway from Main Street in the City of Niagara Falls to the Village of Lewiston.

Bishop Richard J. Malone, bishop of Buffalo, issued the following statement Monday on resignation of Pope Benedict XVI:

Niagara Falls Memorial Medical Center will honor the senior pastor of Mount Erie Missionary Baptist Church for his contributions to the community on Friday, Feb. 15, at the hospital's annual Black History Month celebration.

This winter, the Herschell Carrousel Factory Museum, 180 Thompson St., North Tonawanda, has a new camp offering for elementary-aged children.

The Town of Porter Historical Society's February meeting features a program on the Civil War, Monday, Feb. 18, at 7 p.m. at First Presbyterian Church of Youngstown, 100 Church St.

The Federal Emergency Management Agency and its federal partners, including the National Weather Service, continue to closely monitor the major winter storm systems impacting the Northeast and developing across the Northern and Central Plains.

Join the Aquarium of Niagara in celebrating its 22nd annual Penguin Days in March. On your next visit to the Aquarium of Niagara, snap a few shots of the attraction's favorite birds. Or submit photos you have taken of other penguins. Three winners will be chosen: first place, second place and honorable mention.

Serving the community, leadership skills and instilling moral and ethical values are all part of being a Scout.

Contacts are being made, albeit slowly, as the Lake Ontario Ordnance Works Community Action Committee has begun its outreach to federal legislators with a goal of enlisting their interest of future government funding for potential cleanups at the Niagara Falls Storage Site.

Stephen H. Franko III, CPA, MBA, FHFMA, has been named the chief financial officer of Mount St. Mary's Hospital and Health Center. The announcement was made by hospital President and CEO Judith A. Maness, FACHE.

The Niagara Falls Branch of YMCA Buffalo Niagara has begun its fundraising effort for the 2013 "Strong Kids Campaign," under the leadership of campaign co-chairs Donald E. Burns and Lori Pellow.

The Niagara River Region Chamber of Commerce will present a "Winter Business Blender" mixer on Thursday, Feb. 21, at Brennan's Irish Pub, 418 Main St., Youngstown. The event runs from 5 until 7 p.m. and includes complimentary hors d'oeuvres and a cash bar.

Preliminary testing has indicated that the recent death of a Niagara County child may be related to a combined influenza and serious bacterial infection, the Niagara County Department of Health reported Wednesday. The Niagara County child was diagnosed in Erie County, where the individual also attended elementary school.

In the early 1800s, one of the favorite places in the Village of Lewiston was Hustler's Tavern. It was so popular that, in 1813, when Lewiston was burned by British forces in retaliation for the U.S. attack on Niagara-on-the-Lake, Hustler's Tavern was the only building that was spared.

Roswell Park Cancer Institute and Catholic Health are now providing gynecologic oncology services to women at The M. Steven Piver, MD Center for Women's Health & Wellness, a department of Sisters of Charity Hospital, with the appointment of Stacey Nicole Akers, MD.

The Rev. Joanne Scott of Word of Life Ministries was the guest speaker at the annual Mount St. Mary's Hospital's Black History Month ceremony on Feb. 7. She spoke about the Emancipation Proclamation, which was approved 150 years ago in 1863 to free the slaves in the south.

Twenty-one nurses from Central and Western New York area nursing facilities have completed the Foundation for Quality Care's Director of Nursing Leadership Program, an exclusive program for nurses in senior management roles who aspire to become or remain leaders in the long-term care profession.

The Western New York Regional Economic Development Council met this week and for the first time released its full report on the "Buffalo Billion" investment development plan.

Dennis Brochey is a well-known mechanic, a Kiwanis Club member and a Village of Lewiston trustee.

He can also bench press more than most of our readers.

On Saturday, Feb. 16, Brochey will host the 10th annual USPA Red Brick Bench Press Championship.

On Friday, the Niagara USA Chamber announced its award winners for the Chamber Honors Gala on March 22. Honorees include Nik Wallenda, the Rev. Joseph Levesque, Dr. James Klyczek, Certo Brothers and Timothy Mulvey of Mulvey Construction. Wallenda will also serve as keynote speaker for the event.

With mounds of snow on the ground, it's safe to say Niagara Falls will not be a hotbed of tourism this weekend.

There will be one notable caravan coming to town, however. And its leader can't wait to visit the Cataract City.

The Mission Committee of Mount St. Mary's Hospital will hold its 11th annual "Valentine's Day Extravaganza" on Thursday, Feb. 14, in the hospital's main (south) lobby.