On April 27, the Friends of Niagara University Theatre will host the 28th annual Friends of Niagara University Theatre Gala, including a 4 p.m. production of "Into the Woods" at the Leary Theatre within the Elizabeth Ann Clune Center for Theatre, Clet Hall.

Shoppers at DiMino Tops Lewiston have begun to notice some changes to their supermarket. Owner Anthony DiMino said the best is yet to come.

Niagara Community Action Program Inc. has announced the availability of grant funds for home repair to qualified rural Niagara County residents who own their own homes and reside in one of the 12 towns in Niagara County.

The State University of New York is facing a critical crossroads, a choice between fulfilling its mission and failing to live up to its promise.

"Toast of the Town," an annual fundraiser for Niagara University's College of Hospitality and Tourism Management, is scheduled for 6 p.m. on Friday, April 12, at Statler City (107 Delaware Ave., Buffalo).

The Buffalo Sabres "Green Team," in conjunction with First Niagara Bank and Shred-it, will be teaming up to host "Shredding Day" on Saturday, March 23, from 10 a.m. to 1 p.m. at First Niagara Bank in Snyder (4467 Main St.).

The Buffalo Junior Sabres are launching an online auction program, www.jrsabresraffles.org, to help raise money for the team while also giving fans a chance to win Sabres prizes.

State Sen. Mark Grisanti, a member of the New York State Multiple Sclerosis Legislative Alliance in the Senate, and supporters are advocating for continuation of The New York state multiple sclerosis registry and during MS Awareness Week.

The Castellani Art Museum of Niagara University will host an opening reception for "Chromatic Dynamism: Color and Motion" from 4 to 6 p.m. on Wednesday, March 20. The exhibition is curated by Niagara University students.

Registration is now under way for Artpark's annual summer camps for children and teens, held throughout July and August. Returning sessions include three week-long sessions of "Art Camp," "Rock Camp" and "Advanced Rock Camp," as well as the "Advanced Art Camp" for high school students.

Congressman Brian Higgins, NY-26, spoke on the House Floor Friday to urge his colleagues in Congress to repeal the sequester by highlighting the importance of continued Great Lakes Restoration Initiative funding for projects like the cleanup of the Buffalo River.

Grab your green and get ready for some corned beef, cabbage, fine Irish culture, music and dancing, and Irish beverages this weekend. St. Patrick's Day is upon us. There are a host of events going on throughout Niagara and Erie counties where you can celebrate the "luck of the Irish" this weekend.

Every year, we are reminded of the various dangers we can encounter on the road. And while drunk driving continues to cause damage, injury and death, one of the biggest causes of accidents is distracted driving. Everyone should have a great St. Patrick's Day this year - as long as they don't push their luck.

PepsiCo, a global food and beverage company with annual revenues of $60 billion, has agreed to fully disclose all of its direct lobbying and contributions made to trade associations as well as funds paid to grassroots lobbying and tax-exempt organizations that write and endorse model legislation, according to New York State Comptroller Thomas P. DiNapoli.

New York State Labor Commissioner Peter M. Rivera has announced that New York still has nearly $4 million available in federal funding to help businesses hire long-term unemployed workers through the "On the Job" training program. These grants are proven job creators with past grants responsible for 445 businesses hiring 844 workers since 2011.

The Niagara-Wheatfield School District is holding budget information sessions at district elementary schools to explain the budget process and seek input from community members.

Give For Greatness, a new force in philanthropy for arts and cultural organizations in Western New York, has released its first round of applications for 2013 beneficiary status and funding. Beneficiaries will have the opportunity to participate in Give For Greatness' annual series of fundraising events and receive additional publicity, a chance to reach new patrons, and operating funds.

Congressman Brian Higgins, NY-26, announced Thursday that U.S. Department of Homeland Security Secretary Janet Napolitano was to sign a memorandum of understanding with Canada authorizing two phases of primary inspections of commercial cargo in Canada, including one at the Peace Bridge in Buffalo.

Congressman Chris Collins, NY-27, issued the following statement after voting for legislation preserving work requirements for welfare recipients (H.R. 890, the Preserving Work Requirements for Welfare Programs Act of 2013):

Attorney General Eric Schneiderman has called on National Football League Commissioner Roger Goodell to take strong action to ensure the NFL and all of its franchises do not discriminate on the basis of sexual orientation against players and recruits.

The Air Force announced it will retain additional airlift aircraft through fiscal year 2014 in response to a congressional mandate to retain an inventory of 358 intra-theater airlift aircraft. Included in that figure are nine C-130 aircraft belonging to the 914th Airlift Wing, down from the current inventory of 11.

Sen. George Maziarz, R-C-Newfane, chairman of the New York state senate energy and telecommunications committee, said Thursday that a downstate senator's attempt to levy a new tax on customers of DirecTV, DISH Network, and similar services is dead on arrival.

The public will have the opportunity to see and learn about original Wampum belts of Native Americans this weekend. Two presentations, both free and open to the public, will take place on March 16 and 17 as part of the statewide "Two Row Wampum Renewal Campaign," an educational initiative that commemorates 400 years since the first treaty between Haudenosaunee and European settlers.

The Castellani Art Museum of Niagara University is featuring works by Josh Iguchi in the second installment of its new series, "Western New York Collects."

The New York State Office of Parks, Recreation and Historic Preservation has announced there are four lifeguard exams scheduled in the Niagara Region for the 2013 season.

Waste Management has been recognized by the Ethisphere Institute as one of the 2013 World's Most Ethical Companies. Ethisphere is a leading international organization dedicated to the creation, advancement and sharing of best practices in business ethics, governance, anti-corruption and sustainability.

Merrell Lane, the chairman of the Niagara Military Affairs Council since 2005, has been awarded the New York State Conspicuous Service Medal for his service to the New York Air National Guard and the Niagara Falls Air Reserve Station.

The WNY Toy, Comic Book & Collectible Show will be held from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. March 16 at the Knights of Columbus, 2735 Union Road, Cheektowaga.

In front of an impressive number of Niagara University faculty, staff, students and community members, the Rev. James J. Maher, C.M., was announced as the school's 26th president at a community meeting on Wednesday.

The Niagara Falls Air Reserve Station held a town hall style meeting Wednesday for civilian employees of the 914th Airlift Wing regarding actions to be taken in the event that sequestration-triggered Department of Defense civilian employee furloughs go into effect next month.

In an effort to protect the lives of consumers and firefighters, Assemblyman John Ceretto is pleased to announce his co-sponsored bill (A.1041) preventing retailers from selling electrical products with fraudulent Underwriter's Laboratory (UL) labels passed the Assembly on Wednesday.

Assemblyman John Ceretto delivered more than 500 constituent emails to the office of Gov. Cuomo and spoke with him Wednesday asking for a full restoration of funding for developmental disability programs in this year's final budget.

Buffalo Bishop Richard J. Malone released the following statement Wednesday:

U.S. Housing and Urban Development Secretary Shaun Donovan awarded more than $182 million Wednesday to renew support for 653 local homeless housing and service programs in New York state.

Tully's Good Times Restaurants in Amherst, Clarence and Cheektowaga have joined forces with the Special Olympics-Western New York Region to raise money for the upcoming Special Olympics New York State Summer Games starting on June 14.

The 26th president of Niagara University will be the Rev. James J. Maher, C.M., D.Min.

The Catholic and Vincentian institution announced Maher, currently the executive vice president for mission and student services at St. John's University, would succeed the Rev. Joseph L. Levesque, C.M.

The Niagara County Industrial Development Agency board of directors conducted its annual reorganizational meeting on Wednesday. Scott P. Kiedrowski, the clerk and treasurer and registrar of vital statistics for the City of North Tonawanda, was elected chairman. He will have time to consider his slate of officers, as well as committee chairs and members, which will be voted on at the April 17 board of directors meeting.

State Sen. George Maziarz announced the New York State Senate unanimously approved legislation (S.1095) he sponsored to expand and rename the Niagara Wine Trail and Niagara Escarpment Wine Trail. In effect, the wine trails would be enlarged to encompass all of Orleans County and Western Monroe County, bringing more wineries than ever into the popular wine trails' network.

"The wine industry in the greater Niagara Region is growing so fast that our laws designating the various wine trails must keep up with the pace of growth," Maziarz said. "Agritourism is an important part of the regional economy and the state must act now to support it."

The Ontario Junior Hockey League has announced that Michael Peca of the Buffalo Jr. Sabres was named the recipient of the 2012-13 OJHL Coach of the Year Award. Peca is a former Buffalo Sabres captain.

State Labor Commissioner Peter M. Rivera and Empire State Development President, CEO and Commissioner Kenneth Adams have announced a new state-wide employer outreach tour called "Work For Success" that provides training and employment for the formerly incarcerated. The tour will begin with outreach events in New York City, Albany, Syracuse, Rochester and Buffalo.