State Sen. Mark Grisanti, R-I-60, announced Tuesday the passage of the Protect Our Children Act, which helps to protect children from cruel and repeated maltreatment. The bill, which was sponsored by Grisanti, originally passed the Senate last year, but did not pass the Assembly.

State Sen. Mark Grisanti, R-I-60, renewed his call Tuesday for New York to get tough on puppy mills with his sponsorship of bill S.3753, which would allow forward-thinking local governments to regulate commercial pet breeders and pet stores.

North Tonawanda Mayor Robert G. Ortt announced plans for a three-concert series titled "Cornerstone's Niagara River Rocks" at Gratwick Riverside Park on Sundays, June 9, July 14 and Aug 25. Primus, The Tea Party and Rusted Root will be the featured bands for the lineup.

SPCA Serving Erie County volunteers to receive 30 percent discount at Erie County Dunkin' Donuts Restaurants as a thank you for community service

The Karen Albond Courage in Caring Award was established in 2005 to honor individuals in the Niagara community who persevere in service to others despite physical or developmental disabilities, or chronic illness. The award is presented at HANCI's annual meeting and luncheon, to be held this year on June 6.

State Sen. Mark Grisanti, R-I-60, has introduced legislation to protect dogs and cats from what animal advocates worldwide deem animal abuse. Senate bill S.2271 would prohibit devocalization, an elective procedure in which vocal cords are cut just to alter an animal's voice.

The Erie Canal Discovery Center has announced the winners of its Erie Canal Song Contest. This is the sixth year for the contest, and its popularity has been growing each year.

Comedy, country music, up-tempo rock and more come to Western New York; 
lineup includes B.B. King, Howie Mandel, Alabama, Brad Garrett, Huey Lewis and The Go-Go's.

Eight Niagara University students - three women and five men - will be shaving their heads this Wednesday at 5 p.m. in the student union to raise awareness and financial support for young adults with cancer.

Counting Crows and The Wallflowers will kick off the 15th annual "Buffalo Place Rocks" Canalside Concert Series presented by M&T Bank and produced by Buffalo Place Inc. in downtown Buffalo at the Erie Canal Harbor Central Wharf on Friday, June 28. The concert runs from 6 until 11 p.m.

Congressman Brian Higgins, NY-26, a member of the Congressional Great Lakes Task Force, has introduced legislation to provide grants to upgrade wastewater treatment plants in the Great Lakes basin.

Heart of Niagara Animal Rescue will hold a volunteer meeting Wednesday, May 1, from 6-8 p.m. at Messiah Lutheran Church, 915 Oneida St., Lewiston. Topics of discussion include volunteer opportunities to help with current and future fundraising programs, including upcoming events, as well as hands-on work with the animals, including transport and fostering.

Isa Witte, a student matriculating toward a dual degree from Niagara University and the International University of Applied Sciences in Germany, received the Best Undergraduate Research Paper Award at the 2013 Korea America Hospitality and Tourism Educators Association (KAHTEA) Conference.

On Friday, Erie Community College and Erie County Executive Mark Poloncarz joined educators and local officials to honor community leaders as part of the college's annual Advisory Council Partner and Community Appreciation Breakfast event inside its North Campus Spring Center Café.

On Tuesday, April 30, the Niagara-Wheatfield Honor Society will run its third annual Technology Night from 4 to 6:30 p.m. in the Niagara-Wheatfield High School Room E101. Students will provide free computer instruction and assistance to senior citizens or other community members who would like to update their technology skills.

Community Missions of Niagara Frontier Inc. will host its 11th annual Feet or Famine Walk on Saturday, April 27, at Whirlpool State Park.

A prominent cardiologist will join a local business executive in chairing the 22nd annual Niagara Cup Classic.

Plans are shaping up for the fifth annual Lewiston Region Tour of Kitchens, taking place Saturday and Sunday, June 8 and 9, from 10 a.m. and 4 p.m. at select addresses in Lewiston and Youngstown.

Spring has finally arrived in Lewiston and with it the 18th annual Lewiston Family Spring Fling. This is the way to celebrate that winter is over and a time to renew old friendships and make new ones.

The Auxiliary of Niagara Falls Memorial Medical Center will hold its 12th annual "Rock-A-Thon" on Friday, April 26, from 8 a.m. to 3:30 p.m. in the hospital's upper lobby.

The Lewiston/Niagara-on-the-Lake Rotary Club celebrated 75 years of service to the community with a dinner at Water Street Landing.

The game between the Pittsburgh Penguins and Boston Bruins scheduled for tonight at TD Garden has been postponed, the National Hockey League announced today.

The Niagara Region PTA is sponsoring the annual fourth- and fifth-grade spelling bee on Saturday, April 20, at the Lockport High School Auditorium, 250 Lincoln Ave.

Assemblyman John Ceretto, R-C-I-Lewiston, is sponsoring the bipartisan Public Assistance Integrity Act in the Assembly. The bill is designed to prevent public assistance money from being spent at casinos, liquor stores, tobacco retailers and adult entertainment facilities.

Less than one month after Appeal Week 2013 ended, volunteers for the annual Appeal in support of Catholic Charities of Buffalo must raise $1 million more to reach this year's $10.7 million campaign goal.

Realtors around the nation will hold open houses Saturday and Sunday during Realtor Open House Weekend. Thousands of people who have listed their home for sale will open their doors with a Realtor as host, for those interested to look around. In Western New York alone, there are more than 700 open houses this weekend.

The New York Power Authority is encouraging visitors of all ages to participate in a sculpture contest that will be one of the featured events at its "Every Day is Earth Day" celebration, Saturday, April 27, at the Niagara hydroelectric power plant's admission-free visitors center, the Power Vista.

The It Happened to Alexa Foundation, founded by Tom and Stacey Branchini, honors the courage of their daughter, Alexa, who survived a traumatic rape by a stranger who broke into her college dormitory the second week of her freshman year. The foundation provides financial, emotional and advocacy assistance to victims who prosecute their attackers.

To honor the victims of the Boston Marathon tragedy, the Newfane Saturday Running Group will host a 2.6-mile run/walk/bike/roll on Saturday, April 20, starting at 9 a.m.

Congressman Brian Higgins, NY-26, is sounding the alarm on a proposal within the U.S. Department of Homeland Security's fiscal year 2014 budget, which requests a study to determine the feasibility of collecting a fee from pedestrians and passenger vehicles crossing between the U.S. and Canada by land.

Dr. Doug Tewksbury, an assistant professor of communication studies at Niagara University, has been awarded a Fulbright Scholar grant to conduct research at the Institute on Globalization and the Human Condition at McMaster University (Hamilton, Ontario) in the fall of 2013.

The West Street Elementary School Parent Group annual basket auction and chicken barbecue last year was an "awesome" success, according to Co-President Jeff Haseley. Check out what's planned for this year's event.

NBC Sports Network's "Wednesday Night Rivalry" telecast featuring the Buffalo Sabres against the Boston Bruins resulted in record-setting regular-season viewership.

Dr. Timothy Ireland has been appointed dean of the College of Arts and Sciences at Niagara University, effective June 1.

The Grand Island Chamber of Commerce has named Paul Leuchner, recipient of the Citizen of the Year Award, as Civic Person of the Year

The annual Wheatfield Lions Club Spring Pancake Breakfast and Basket Raffle will be held from 9 a.m. to 1 p.m. Sunday, April 21, at the Henry Scibisz Five Senses Nature Park Clubhouse, located on Ward Road next to the American Legion Post 1451.

There's never been a more important time for Americans to unite and pledge that when they "see something," they "say something."

National Infant Immunization Week is being held April 20 through 27. This is an annual observance to highlight the importance of protecting infants from vaccine-preventable diseases and to celebrate the achievements of immunization programs in promoting healthy communities throughout the United States.

Congressman Brian Higgins, NY-26, received confirmation that the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency has authorized $22 million for the next stage of Buffalo River restoration. The federal funding will be matched dollar for dollar by a consortium of non-federal funding partners, through a partnership agreement between the Honeywell Corporation and Buffalo Niagara Riverkeeper, for a combined $44 million project.

The New York State Office of Parks, Recreation and Historic Preservation has announced that the golf course at Beaver Island State Park is now open.