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.

Is there a better way to say thank you than free ice cream? Not if you're Ben & Jerry's! On Tuesday, April 9, from noon until 8 p.m. the Ben & Jerry's scoop shop at 1994 Military Road (Fashion Outlets of Niagara), Niagara Falls, will host the 34th annual "Free Cone Day."

Empire State Development has announced that its Niagara Falls subsidiary, USA Niagara Development Corp., is issuing a request for qualifications from prospective development teams to undertake an adaptive reuse and redevelopment of approximately 200,000 square feet in the former Rainbow Centre Mall located in downtown Niagara Falls.

"This is a great opportunity for a developer to capitalize on what is a considerable amount of unmet demand in Niagara Falls and build on the recent nearby successes like the opening of the Niagara Falls Culinary Institute," said Empire State Development's Kenneth Adams.

Jayanta Chaudhuri, M.D., has been named medical director of Grand Island Family Practice.

Niagara County Legislature Majority Leader Rick Updegrove, R-Lockport, has called into question a little-known mandate that requires Yahoo, as part of an incentive-laden package to expand its Lockport operation, to contribute millions of dollars to a Buffalo nonprofit agency.

Members of 1199SEIU United Healthcare Workers East have reached a tentative three-year collective bargaining agreement with Niagara Falls Memorial Medical Center.

Jason Zona has announced his intent to seek re-election for the Niagara County Legislature in the 5th District for 2014-15. Zona represents the Town of Niagara, as well as the Deveaux and Hyde Park areas of Niagara Falls.

Artpark is seeking active and enthusiastic volunteers to assist with various duties during the summer months (May-August). Artpark is celebrating its 40th anniversary this summer and will have many events and concerts in which volunteers can lend a hand.

Niagara University's College of Business Administration will be taking care of a lot of important business at the Buffalo Marriott on April 25.

The Lewiston/Niagara-on-the-Lake Rotary Club is hosting an event that will allow residents to not only help themselves, but to also support their local community. The Rotary Club will hold its first "Shred-It" fundraiser on Saturday, April 27, from 11 a.m. to 1 p.m. in the parking lot of Mount St. Mary's Hospital and Health Center, at 5300 Military Road, Lewiston.

Sponsored by Upstate Pharmacy, WGRZ-TV Channel 2, Compu-Mail and Niagara Falls Coach Lines, the Opportunities Unlimited of Niagara Foundation's 14th annual golf raffle is taking place on Sunday, April 28, from 4 to 7 p.m. at the Sanborn Firehall.

The Western New York Affiliate of Susan G. Komen for the Cure has announced it awarded five grants totaling $267,443 to programs providing breast cancer services in Western New York.

Researchers at Roswell Park Cancer Institute have found that a new formulation of a promising anticancer agent, the small chemical molecule FL118, is even more effective in controlling two types of cancer than a version reported in PLOS ONE six months earlier proved to be. Additional evidence also suggests that the agent may successfully treat other solid tumors as well.

The St. Francis Guild women's auxiliary of Mount St. Mary's Hospital will host a "Celebrity Bartender Night" at Honey's at 6560 Niagara Falls Blvd., Niagara Falls, on Thursday, April 18. The evening will feature employees, physicians and friends of Mount St. Mary's Hospital serving as celebrity bartenders from 5 to 8 p.m.

Ballet returns to Artpark after a 10-year absence with a stunning production of ballet's greatest comedy. The Greater Niagara Ballet Company brings "Coppélia" to the Artpark Mainstage Theater for two shows on Saturday, Aug. 17, at 2 and 8 p.m.

Some locally popular veteran performers will take the stage for a daylong music fest in an Amherst entertainment complex to benefit the Alzheimer's Association, WNY Chapter.

New York State Comptroller Thomas DiNapoli released the following statement Friday.

Friends of the Night People's 10th annual Putting Hunger on the Run 5K Race and Walk will take place on Sunday, April 7, starting at 10 a.m. on Niagara and Vermont streets in the lower west side of Buffalo.

Niagara County Community College will host a spring 2013 job fair on Tuesday, April 9, from 11 a.m. to 1 p.m. in the Main Cafeteria, G-Building, on the campus at 3111 Saunders Settlement Road, Sanborn. The job fair is free and open to the public.

Community Missions of Niagara Frontier will host its 11th annual Feet or Famine Walk on Saturday, April 27. Registration begins at 10:30 a.m. at Whirlpool State Park, with the walk following shortly after at 11:15 a.m. Around 100-200 walkers are expected to attend, and pets on leashes are welcome.

Support continues to build with favorable news heard on the proposed Town of Lewiston Civic Center.

Metro Mattress, upstate New York's largest mattress retailer, has launched its "50 Beds in 50 Days" charitable program in the Buffalo area. This is the fourth year of the program, which promises to donate mattresses to charitable organizations throughout the Buffalo area that provide services for children in need, individuals suffering from abuse, those who are ill and in need of care, veterans, and people who are homeless or underserved.

Bob Koshinski, vice president and general manager of WBBZ-TV has announced Western New York's "hometown television station" will celebrating Dyngus Day with a special telecast of "Dyngus Day Diary" on Monday April 1, at 10:30 p.m. (with encore presentations Tuesday at 7 p.m. and Friday at 7:30p.m.). "Dyngus Day Diary" will be hosted by Ed Dobosiewicz and Laurie Lisowski Frey.

Kelly Stephens of Wheatfield, center, organized a successful fundraiser Sunday at St. James Lutheran Church in Bergholz to benefit Akron Canine Rescued Angels.

The Town of Niagara Town Board on Tuesday voted to begin the SEQR (State Environmental Quality Review) process and take all necessary steps to have lead agency status on the planned expansion of Fashion Outlets mall.

The Wheatfield Town Board's approval Monday of the town's Local Waterfront Revitalization Program and Comprehensive Master Plan doesn't mean work by the committee members is over.

Gov. Andrew M. Cuomo has announced that construction will soon begin on a $7.2 million project to rehabilitate four bridges along NY Route 33, the Kensington Expressway, in Erie County.

Community Missions of Niagara Frontier will present its annual spring concert, "Gospel Fest," on Friday, April 26, at 7 p.m. This year's program will be held at First Baptist Church, 554 Main St. (corner of Fourth), Niagara Falls. Doors open for seating at 6:30 p.m. "Gospel Fest" is a free, family-friendly event that is open to the public.

New York State Comptroller Thomas P. DiNapoli has announced agreements with Best Buy and Bed Bath & Beyond to encourage their suppliers to report on workplace safety, human and worker rights and environmental compliance.

Assemblyman John Ceretto, R-I-Lewiston, has helped finalize a third consecutive on-time state budget. Ceretto remarked the fiscally responsible state spending plan includes the lowest middle-class tax rates in 60 years, as well as additional tax relief for middle-class families. It also includes funding that will benefit students, seniors and businesses in Western New York.

This week marks the annual tradition of removing the ice boom from the Niagara River, a sign of spring, but this year also a sign of progress for Buffalo's waterfront.

The Peter and Elizabeth C. Tower Foundation has awarded a three-year grant to Niagara Falls Memorial Medical Center to establish and operate Project Runway, a community-based program to reduce drug and alcohol and drug abuse by young women.

State Sen. Mark Grisanti was successful in fighting for increased school aid for school districts located in the 60th Senate District. The New York State Legislature passed its third consecutive on-time budget, which included an increase for every school district located in Grisanti's district.

Assemblyman John Ceretto stood with his colleagues from both sides of the aisle in an effort to restore a $90 million cut in funding to non-profit providers who care for the developmentally disabled. The budget amendment was defeated by the Assembly Majority.

The cheers coming from First Niagara Center Friday will be different than usual.

Those in attendance will be praising God, and not the blue and gold of the Buffalo Sabres.

The Buffalo Zoo's polar bear cub will be out on exhibit during public hours beginning Friday, March 29. Visitors to the Buffalo Zoo can view the now famous cub, nicknamed Luna, during limited viewing hours every day from 11:30 a.m. to 12:30 p.m. at the exotic domestic animals exhibit near the zoo's main entrance.

The University at Buffalo announces First Niagara has given to UB a parcel of land to be used in the construction of the university's new School of Medicine and Biomedical Sciences on the Buffalo Niagara Medical Campus.

Dean Norton, president of New York Farm Bureau, released the following statement Wednesday:

Old Fort Niagara is looking for outgoing individuals who enjoy history to serve as volunteer tour guides for the 2013 season.