Thanksgiving Day should be full of family, friends and delicious food. There is no room for stress or anxiety. Use this timeline the week of Thanksgiving to organize your holiday dinner preparation and make sure the day runs as smoothly as possible.

November is designated as National Hospice and Palliative Care Month, providing opportunities for Americans to learn about end-of-life care choices available to them. In 2011, an estimated 1.65 million patients received hospice services. The National Hospice and Palliative Care Organization estimates that, for 2011, approximately 44.6 percent of all deaths in the U.S. were under the care of a hospice program.

Erie County Legislator Kevin Hardwick is asking residents to participate in the 2013 budget process by completing a short, online survey that asks if they support a tax increase. Additionally, the survey asks what key funding area residents, who oppose an increase, would like to see reduced to eliminate the county executive's proposed tax increase.

Business Insider, an award-winning, New York City-based website, has named Lewiston to its "10 Best Small Towns in America" list. The online publication cited Lewiston's placement in the Rand McNally/USA Today "Best of the Road" competition, its historic significance, and proximity to Niagara Falls in ranking the municipality No. 5.

In the past two years, Lewiston's restaurants were twice featured on the Travel Channel, its Historical Association events (including the "Battle of Queenston Heights Commemoration and Re-enactment") garnered national press, and its largest venue, Artpark, picked up a sixth award from Buffalo Spree magazine for its presentation and outdoor facilities.

With the 2012 elections now history, members of the Lake Ontario Ordinance Works Community Action Council met this week to begin the strategy process toward approaching area members of Congress.

Imagine a place where Gatsby, Sinatra and Bourdain would all feel at home.

Now imagine such a place on the corner of 19th and Ferry in downtown Niagara Falls.

Jonathan "J.B." Boas could imagine such a place.

The Rev. Joseph L. Levesque, C.M., president of Niagara University, will be among those recognized at a prayer service hosted by Lewiston's three Catholic schools - St. Peter R.C. School, Stella Niagara Education Park, and Sacred Heart Villa School - on Monday, Nov. 19, at 9:30 a.m. at St. Peter R.C. Church in Lewiston.

A "Holiday Extravaganza" will be held at the Niagara Arts and Cultural Center, 1201 Pine Ave., from 3 to 8 p.m. Saturday, Nov. 17.

The upcoming Light Up The Boulevard Electric Light Parade and Festival, which will be held Saturday, Nov. 17, at 5:30 p.m., will feature dozens of vendors and parade groups.

One of the goals set by Chris Jacobs when he was elected Erie County clerk earlier this year was to expand and improve the complementary discount program now known as Thank-A-Vet to the more than 53,000 veterans throughout the county.

Students uncovered William Kaegebein Elementary School's time capsule from the 1952 cornerstone in celebration of the school's 60th anniversary.

The 2013 Town of Grand Island budget will have no tax increase after the Town Board made adjustments to budget lines.

New York Sea Grant will collaborate on four Great Lakes restoration initiative projects. Award-winning educators David B. MacNeill, a fisheries specialist, and coastal education specialist Helen M. Domske will be key partners in efforts to:

Here are some yummy treats featuring Girl Scout cookies to take to holiday parties:

Pizazz recently hosted a "Big or Small Save Them All" basket and wine auction event to raise money for cancer awareness. The staff also sold ribbon suckers, cookies and purses.

It's Girl Scout cookie time again. Enthusiastic hordes of young saleswomen began the time-honored tradition of knocking on doors last month and now are taking advantage of the holiday season by enticing shoppers at stores around the area.

Grand Island Central School District received two member grants from State Sen. Mark Grisanti. They are supplemental grants approved by the New York State Legislature for special programs available through each legislator.

Community Missions of Niagara Frontier is asking for your help and putting out a "Call For Turkeys" to the local community. Over the Thanksgiving and Christmas holidays, the Community Missions food pantry distributes a number of turkeys and other meals to Niagara-area families with children and to individuals who are in need.

Get the whole family in the mood for the holidays at an annual holiday event. "A Winter's Fest Eve" will be held at the Col. Wm. Bond-Jesse Hawley House, 143 Ontario St., Lockport, from 6 until 8:30 p.m. on Thursday, Dec. 6.

Representatives from Tops Markets and key event sponsors recently presented a check for $180,000 to Roswell Park Cancer Institute in support of cancer research and patient support programs.

Niagara County Legislature Majority Leader Rick Updegrove, R-Lockport, issued the following statement following the release, Thursday afternoon, of Niagara County Manager Jeffrey M. Glatz's proposed 2013 county budget:

Assemblyman John D. Ceretto thanked members of the community Thursday who donated supplies to victims of "Superstorm" Sandy. Ceretto's office received a massive amount of supplies, which will be shipped downstate to communities devastated by the October storm.

Seneca Niagara Casino & Hotel regrets to announce that the 14th Annual Native American Music Awards scheduled for Friday, Nov. 30, at 8 p.m. at Seneca Niagara Events Center is postponed. A rescheduled date for the show has been set for Friday, May 10, 2013, at 8 p.m. Guests may retain their tickets for the new date.

The Niagara University men's soccer program will take on the University of Michigan in the first round of the NCAA Tournament at 7 p.m. today, Nov. 15, at the U-M Soccer Stadium in Ann Arbor, Mich.

Effective Nov. 19, the Niagara Falls Social Security office will be open to the public Monday through Friday from 9 a.m. to 3 p.m. - a reduction of 30 minutes each weekday. In addition, beginning Jan. 2, 2013, the office will closed to the public at noon every Wednesday.

The Wheatfield Town Board approved its $12.05 million budget for 2013 as expected on Nov. 7.

Bishop Bernard J. McLaughlin, auxiliary bishop emeritus of the Diocese of Buffalo, will mark his 100th birthday at noon on Monday, Nov. 19, with a special Mass that will be celebrated at St. John the Baptist Church in Kenmore, where he served as pastor in the 1970s and is now pastor emeritus.

A last minute move on Tuesday saved Town of Niagara taxpayers some money, but caused some dissention on the Town Board.

Wilson's Home Away From Home Feline Shelter hosts its annual basket raffle fundraiser from 10 a.m. until 2 p.m. on Saturday, Nov. 17. The event will take place at St. John's Episcopal Church, 431 Lake St., and includes a bake sale and crafters.

A new tradition will begin this month in Middleport.

Buffalo Niagara Sales & Marketing Executives presents "Speed Networking: Cocktails and Connections" on Monday, Nov. 19, beginning at 5:15 p.m. with cocktails and networking. Dinner and a presentation follow at 6:15 p.m., with speed networking at 7:15 p.m. The event will be held at the Millennium Hotel, 2040 Walden Ave., Cheektowaga.

The Christmas play "All Through The Night," written and directed by L. Don Swartz, will be presented at the Ghostlight Theatre, 170 Schenck St., North Tonawanda, on Nov. 29 at 7 p.m., Nov. 30, Dec. 1, 7, 8, 14 and 15 at 8 pm., and on Dec. 9 and 16 at 2 p.m.

This Thursday, Nov. 15, Niagara University is joining thousands of local organizers holding recycling events across the country to celebrate America Recycles Day, the only nationally recognized day dedicated to promoting and celebrating recycling in the U.S.

The Niagara University community celebrated Veterans Day on Monday, Nov. 12, with a program honoring those who have sacrificed to preserve the freedoms Americans hold dear.

The storied rivalry continues as the Miami Dolphins come to Western New York to play The Buffalo Bills in a primetime matchup Thursday, Nov. 15. WBBZ-TV will broadcast the NFL Network game. Live pregame coverage starts at 6 p.m., followed by the game at 8 p.m., and live postgame coverage to follow.

As a result of suffering a concussion late in the game Sunday against the New England Patriots, Buffalo Bills running back Fred Jackson was not able to appear on his WBBZ-TV show Monday night. Co-host Bob Koshinski welcomed former Buffalo Bills player and current color analyst for the game radio broadcasts Mark Kelso to the studio.

The Rev. Joseph L. Levesque, C.M., Niagara University president, will sign the American College & University Presidents' Climate Commitment at 1 p.m. on Nov. 15, which also happens to be America Recycles Day. The pledge signifies the university's plan to eliminate the campus' net emissions of greenhouse gases over a period of time.

It's an age-old question: What do you give a world-renowned mathematician for his 75th birthday?

A combination of hockey, boardercross, and downhill skiing, Red Bull Crashed Ice sets a stage for intrepid male and female amateur and pro hockey players from around the globe.

The 2012 Open Doors Report on International Educational Exchange, released this week in Washington, D.C., finds that, for the tenth year in a row, the University at Buffalo is among the top 20 institutions in the U.S. hosting international students.