The Niagara Falls Family Y invites families to attend "Healthy Kids Day" from 1 until 5 p.m. on Saturday, April 27. This free and interactive event is designed to help family members form healthier habits together. It includes children's fitness assessments, arts and crafts, "no-bake" cooking, healthy nutritional information and more.

The "Springsational" craft and vendor fair will be held Saturday, April 27, from 11 a.m. to 4 p.m., at St. Peter Lutheran School, North Ridge (gymnasium), 4169 Church Road, Cambria (between Route 104 and Route 93).

The Niagara River Region Chamber of Commerce and Leadership Niagara presented a "Bowling Blender" Wednesday at the new Lewiston Event Center.

Niagara County leaders intent on protecting the Niagara Falls Air Reserve Station and its 3,000 jobs are set to hire a consulting firm specializing in protecting military installations from defense cuts as the Obama administration gears up to potentially launch a new round of base closures.

On April 20-21, visitors to Old Fort Niagara will have the opportunity to explore the beginnings of the American Revolution with musket firings, storytelling, living history programs and ceremonies honoring veterans of more modern wars.

The National Rifle Association released this statement on Wednesday:

Artpark will host Canadian pop-rock band Marianas Trench with Air Dubai for a concert Saturday, June 15.

Tops Friendly Markets, a leading full-service grocery retailer in upstate New York, northern Pennsylvania and western Vermont, has announced the company has won CenterState Corporation for Economic Opportunity's (CenterState CEO's) Business of the Year Award in the "more than 50 employee" category.

For the first time in American history, on April 22, people in 200 cities and 45 states will join and will walk together in solidarity to raise awareness of child abuse and crimes against children at the inaugural Million March Against Child Abuse.

Western New York welcomes back The Tragically Hip with special guest Grace Potter & The Nocturnals for a performance Friday, July 19. The event is part of The Outer Harbor Concert Series.

The silver anniversary Developmental Disabilities Awareness Day conference is on Thursday, May 23. It will feature Western New York professionals and businesses that specialize in services for people with developmental disabilities. The full-day conference will be held at The Conference Center Niagara Falls, 101 Old Falls St.

The Niagara County Law Enforcement Academy is holding an information session at 6 p.m. on Wednesday, April 10. The event will take place in Dunleavy Hall, Room 127, on the campus of Niagara University.

With spring weather finally here in Western New York and Northwest Pennsylvania, people are beginning to think "road trips" and entertainment. Seneca Allegany Casino & Hotel will offer the best of both worlds from April 11-14 with the second annual Seneca Allegany Casino RV show, presented by Colton RV.

Heart of Niagara Animal Rescue took in its first dog rescues recently, adoptions are underway and the organization is growing and needs more volunteers. The public is invited to attend a volunteer/foster meeting this Tuesday, April 16, from 6 to 8 p.m. at the Lewiston Public Library (Community Room), 305 S. Eighth St.

Registration is now open for the fifth annual "Run with the Rapids" 5K, on Saturday, May 18, in downtown Niagara Falls. This USA Track & Field-sanctioned race benefits the Downtown Niagara Falls Business Association.

State Sen. Mark Grisanti, R-I-60, recently announced the appointment of Hamburg resident Ric Dimpfl as his fire, EMS and emergency services liaison for the Southtowns portion of the 60th New York State Senate District.

Robert B. Engel, president and chief executive officer of CoBank, has been named to the board of trustees of Niagara University. His election was announced by the Rev. Joseph L. Levesque, C.M., president of the university.

The second guest speaker in Lewiston Council on the Arts' new Discovery Series is Susanne Schillings, pastry chef and owner of Exclusively Schillings. Her presentation, "Art & Mystery of Chocolate," will take place on Wednesday, April 17, at 7 p.m., in the Historic Lewiston Opera Hall, 732 Center St.

Congressman Chris Collins, NY-27, is co-sponsoring legislation in the House of Representatives that would help create a more accurate picture of America's unemployment problem.

Two of the most celebrated names in jazz will perform at Artpark's Mainstage Theater as part of the venue's summer-long 40th anniversary celebration: Jazz at Lincoln Center Orchestra with Wynton Marsalis on June 24, and Chick Corea & The Vigil on Aug. 2.

New York State Comptroller Thomas P. DiNapoli has announced he has reached agreement with five Fortune 500 companies - Southwest Airlines, Dr Pepper Snapple Group, Plum Creek Timber Company, Harley-Davidson and Noble Energy - to disclose political spending made with corporate funds.

After a tour of one of the largest gun shows in the state of New York, Attorney General Eric T. Schneiderman has announced that three more gun show operators have agreed to follow the model gun show procedures developed by the his office to promote uniform gun show operations across the state.

As the Buffalo Philharmonic Orchestra prepares for its May 8 performance at "Spring For Music" at Carnegie Hall, it has partnered with M&T Bank and United Way in New York City to send underserved students to concerts.

The Buffalo Sabres have announced the return of their popular "Fan Appreciation Night" to mark the team's final home game of the 2012-13 regular season against the New York Islanders on April 26.

New Directions Youth and Family Services, a Western New York leader in providing services for at-risk children and families, will host a Wyndham Lawn Home for Children job fair on Saturday, April 13, from 10 a.m.until 2 p.m. at Henrietta G. Lewis Campus School, 6395 Old Niagara Road, Lockport.

The Association Free Lutheran Bible School Concert Choir will present a music concert at St. Peter's Lutheran Church, 6167 Walmore Road, Sanborn, at 7 p.m. Tuesday, April 9. It is free and open to the public.

The Friends of the Youngstown Free Library will host its annual "Desserts and Wine in the Stacks" fundraiser on Friday, April 19, from 6 to 8 p.m. at the Youngstown Free Library, 240 Lockport St. The event is suitable for adults and children.

Parents and caregivers of children with special needs can improve skills to effectively speak up for their child's needs at "Skills for Effective Parent Advocacy," from 7 to 8:30 p.m. Monday, April 8, at the Wheatfield Community Center, 2790 Church Road, Wheatfield.

The North Tonawanda History Museum, 54 Webster St., will present, a return engagement by Milton C. Sernett, professor emeritus of African-American studies and history at Syracuse University, with a program on "Harriet Tubman: Myth, Memory, and History" at 2 p.m. Saturday, April 6.

The Beach House has won Niagara Frontier Publications' second annual Best Fish Fry contest. Following a record number of entries, the Grand Island restaurant netted 13.1 percent of the 268 votes - more than double the tally of the second-place winners.

The tax rate in the Village of Lewiston will remain the same for another year.

State Sen. Mark Grisanti, R-I-60, has urged his colleagues in the New York State Senate and New York State Assembly to pass the Protect Our Children Act, which would protect children from cruel and repeated maltreatment.

Sherria M. Lewis, P.A., has been appointed to the medical staff at Summit Family Medicine.

The Niagara County Industrial Development Agency, in conjunction with The Niagara County Center for Economic Development, Chamber of Commerce of the Tonawandas, Niagara River Region Chamber of Commerce, Niagara USA Chamber, Town of Niagara IDA and Town of Lockport IDA, are sponsoring a free series of business workshops to be held throughout Niagara County for all current or prospective businesses interested in learning more about various incentive programs offered by local and county economic development agencies

The U.S. Small Business Administration has approved more than $2 billion in disaster loans to 32,500 residents and businesses in states affected by Hurricane Sandy - further expanding SBA's response to what is already the third largest natural disaster in U.S. history for the agency.

The New York State Department of Environmental Conservation has adopted a spruce grouse recovery plan to enhance and restore spruce grouse populations in New York State, DEC Commissioner Joe Martens announced Friday. The final spruce grouse recovery plan is now available on DEC's website at http://www.dec.ny.gov/animals/89794.html.

The Chamber of Commerce of the Tonawandas is hosting the 2013 TNT Expo this weekend, Saturday, April 6, and Sunday, April 7, from noon to 4 p.m. at the Student Alumni Center, 405 Meadow Drive, North Tonawanda.

William L. Ross has been re-elected the chairman of the Niagara Power Coalition for the ninth consecutive term. Ross will also hold the dual positions of president/CEO of the NPC.

The Niagara Hospice Alliance announced two additional volunteer training sessions for individuals interested in making a difference in the lives of Niagara County residents faced with end-of-life illness.

Niagara University will host its annual Graduate School Open House on Saturday, April 13, in the Castellani Art Museum on campus.