American winemakers are always seeking the attention of French journalists. Niagara Tourism & Convention Corp. was able to create interest in the Niagara Wine Trail from Sipa, a general-interest French press agency, with just one conversation.

With a lead in ballots greater than the amount of ballots remaining, Assemblyman John D. Ceretto, R-C-I-Lewiston, has declared victory in his re-election campaign in the newly created 145th Assembly District.

On Saturday, Dec. 1, National Grid will present the 2012 Downtown Christmas Tree Lighting Celebration. This annual event marks the official opening of the free ice-skating season in downtown Buffalo.

The sale of WNED-AM 970 by Western New York Public Broadcasting Association to Crawford Broadcasting Company will be effective on Friday, Nov. 30, at midnight.

Hard Rock "drops" 10-foot Gibson guitar, painted by local artist Rob Lynch and illuminated by Ken-Ton Electronic, to ring in the new year; special performances by Everclear and Eve 6

Time Warner Cable has added RLTV, the only cable network and online destination for adults ages 50 and up, to its digital TV tier on Channel 180.

The Niagara Region of the Office of New York State Parks, Recreation and Historic Preservation has announced its winter 2013 programming, which starts with "First Day Hikes" on Jan. 1, 2013.

PHOTOS: The Center for Women at Mount St. Mary's Hospital was formally unveiled to the public on Wednesday, Nov. 28, with a blessing and open house.

Wheatfield's annual tree lighting ceremony and holiday party at the town's Community Center will begin at 5:45 p.m. Saturday, Dec. 1, with the arrival of Santa aboard a St. Johnsburg Volunteer Fire Co. fire truck.

LaSalle Pride Inc. for the second year is selling a LaSalle Legacy Calendar, featuring historical photographs of the Village of LaSalle.

On Nov. 27, the House of Representatives passed H.R. 6328, The Clothe a Homeless Hero Act, which was introduced by Rep. Kathy Hochul.

The Carnegie Art Center will present the puppet show, "Star Mother's Youngest Child," by theatreFigüren, at 3:30 p.m., Saturday, Dec. 1, at the Carnegie Art Center, 240 Goundry St., North Tonawanda.

The Tuscarora Indian School K-Kids recently concluded its 11th annual Canned Food Drive. Club adviser Paul Beatty reports the event encourages students in pre-K through sixth grade to collect non-perishable food items that are donated to families in need during the holiday season.

The St. Francis Guild of Mount St. Mary's Hospital will hold its annual Holiday Bazaar on Friday, Dec. 7, from 8 a.m. until 4 p.m. It will be held in the hospital's south (main) lobby. Gift items will be offered along with holiday centerpieces, gift baskets, candy, scarves, cosmetics, jewelry and boutique items.

Students from Lewiston Dance Center are shown above rehearsing for the Village of Lewiston Christmas tree lighting at the Hennepin Park Gazebo. This weekend's holiday ceremony kicks off many activities planned in the village.

The New York State Office of Parks, Recreation and Historic Preservation has announced the final design report and environmental study for the "Riverway" project will be available for public review beginning on Dec. 13 with a public open house, which will take place from 3 until 8 p.m. at the Art Gallery inside the Conference Center Niagara Falls, 101 Old Falls St.

The Historic Riviera Theatre presents Jack Hanna's "Into The Wild Live" on Friday, Jan. 18, 2013 (7:30 p.m.), for one performance only.

A live nativity will bring the Christmas story to life during Hilbert College's 15th annual Christmas celebration. The event runs from 2 until 4 p.m. on Dec. 2, and will include a children's Christmas party - complete with a visit from Santa - following the nativity.

A highly-sought-after cellist with an acting career. A dynamic conductor who has won the JoAnn Falletta Award for Most Promising Female Conductor. These two guest artists make the Buffalo Philharmonic Orchestra's last concert before the holiday season sure to be a memorable evening.

The Opportunities Unlimited of Niagara Foundation has 2013 "Daily Drawing" calendars are available for $30 each. There are 365 chances to win more than $20,000 in prizes while supporting people with developmental disabilities in Niagara County.

A more comfortable, energy-efficient home is within reach. This is the key message of "Irreconcilable Temperatures," an online campaign launched by the New York State Energy Research and Development Authority to educate the public in an amusing way about its "Home Performance with ENERGY STAR" program.

Border Community SERVICE of Niagara University is offering a free emergency preparedness workshop for all Western New York Boy Scouts and Girl Scouts.

Attorney General Eric T. Schneiderman announced Monday that his office has sent letters to 75 nonprofits requesting information on their fundraising and relief activities related to Hurricane Sandy.

Attorney General Eric T. Schneiderman announced Monday that his office won a major court victory in defense of New York state's gun safety laws.

For decades, the Mihich family had saved the scores written by their family friend, Marcel Tyberg, in the hopes that their value would be recognized and the music performed. With a recent broadcast of his work on the nationally syndicated radio program "Performance Today," and a festival recognizing Tyberg as the national composer of Croatia, their efforts have succeeded.

Following the Buffalo Bills 20-13 loss to the Indianapolis Colts Sunday, Bills wide receiver Stevie Johnson made some controversial comments with respect to coach Chan Gailey allowing quarterback Ryan Fitzpatrick to make more play calls from the field.

Niagara University and 12 partners, including the Niagara Falls City School District, were awarded an Investing in Innovation (or "i3") grant of $3 million from the U.S. Department of Education.

For Rick Updegrove, leader of the Niagara County Legislature's Republican Majority, convincing his caucus to support the third annual Peanut Butter and Jelly Drive may have been the easiest thing he's done all year.

It's also the most rewarding.

Assemblyman John Ceretto said Monday that his lead over Bob Restaino in New York's 145th Assembly District race has grown by 147 to 1,052 votes; up from an election night total of 905.

The Erie Canal Discovery Center, 24 Church St., Lockport, welcomes local author Marilyn Foote, who will present a free, family friendly, program and book reading at 11 a.m. on Saturday, Dec. 15, from her children's book series "Puddinhead."

Local jazz trumpeter Lew Custode will once again donate his talents to help raise funds for this year's Salvation Army Christmas Fund Drive. Custode, best known for his work with the Barroom Buzzards (Buffalo Music Hall of Fame) and The Custode & Parisi Jazz Trio (Best Jazz Act, Artvoice Best of Buffalo 2011), will perform holiday music at various Salvation Army kettle stand locations throughout Niagara County.

The Roswell Park Cancer Institute community will gather for the annual Tree of Hope lighting ceremony Friday, Dec. 7, from 4:30 p.m. to 6:30 p.m. at RPCI. A holiday celebration for all whose lives have been touched by cancer, this family-friendly event will culminate with the lighting of the Tree of Hope by a cancer survivor from Carly's Club for Kids & Cancer Research in WNY.

While a record 85 percent of retailers will offer special promotions on Cyber Monday according to National Retail Federation's Shop.org's eHoliday survey, it's best to buy from a retailer you know and trust.

State University of New York Empire State College will hold public information sessions about its associate and bachelor's degree programs at its Niagara Frontier Center, Appletree Business Park, 2875 Union Road, Cheektowaga, on:

Are you a parent or family member of a person with an intellectual or other developmental disability? Are you a professional in the field - school, social worker or human resource agency? Are you a self-advocate? Then participate in an objective information night titled, "Disability Services. ... You Have Questions, We Have Answers," from 5:30 until 8 p.m. on Tuesday, Nov. 27.

The 5,357 international students who attended the University at Buffalo in the 2011-12 academic year and their dependents contributed approximately $108,419,700 to the Western New York economy, according to the 2012 report issued by NAFSA: Association of International Educators this week.

Tickets are now available for "Polar Bites 2013," a fundraising event benefiting the Buffalo Zoo. The wintertime favorite event, presented by the "Pro Zoo" board, will take place on Thursday, Feb. 21, 2013, from 6 until 9 p.m. at the Buffalo Niagara Convention Center.

The Buffalo Bills and the American Red Cross are again teaming up to host a community blood drive. The event runs from 10 a.m. until 7 p.m. on Tuesday, Dec. 4, at Ralph Wilson Stadium (Paul Maguire Club), One Bills Drive in Orchard Park.

If you live in Lewiston, you have probably seen Keith Radford in and out of the local restaurants and coffee shops with his beloved dog, Frankie.

The Buffalo Philharmonic Chorus has announced the return of the ever-popular, annual holiday concert "Messiah," presented by M&T Bank. The BPC returns to the OLV Basilica after spending a year away due to restoration, performing live on Sunday, Dec. 2, at 8 p.m. with the Buffalo Philharmonic Orchestra.