Only 545 people turned out Tuesday to vote on the proposed $11.085 million Niagara-Wheatfield School District capital project referendum.

The Niagara County Community College Foundation has named two Distinguished Alumni to co-chair the annual Scholarship Gala -- State Sen. George Maziarz, '74, and Richard Winter, '74, along with their wives, Beverly Maziarz and Peggy Sekera Winter.

As your child moves from elementary to middle school, both of you may find yourselves struggling with the transition. According to Nitasha Seth of the Kenmore Huntington Learning Center, your role now is as important as it was during pre-adolescence.

Parents and their middle school daughters are invited to Mount St. Mary Academy for an open house on Sunday, Sept. 26, from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m., or on Monday, Sept. 27, from 6 to 8 p.m. Tours and information sessions will be offered. No advance reservations are required.

Cardinal O'Hara High School will hold an open house Sunday, Sept. 26, from 9:30 a.m. to 12:30, and Monday, Sept. 27, from 5 to 8 p.m. The school is located at 39 O'Hara Road.

The Starpoint Central School District is accepting nominations for the Alumni Walls of Fame for the 2010-11 school year.

Buffalo Academy of the Sacred Heart, a Catholic school for girls in grades 9-12, will welcome prospective students to its annual open house on Thursday, Sept. 30, from 5 to 7 p.m., and Sunday, Oct. 3, from 11 a.m. to 2 p.m.

State Sen. George Maziarz will host a free Child Safety Day on Saturday, Sept. 18, at the North Tonawanda City Hall, 216 Payne Ave. The event runs from 9 to 11 a.m.

A retirement party for Lee Wallace, former athletic director at Niagara County Community College, will be held Friday, Oct. 8, at Antonio's Restaurant, 7708 Niagara Falls Blvd., Niagara Falls.

Local students interested in attending one of the nation's military colleges are invited to participate in an informational session hosted by Congressman Chris Lee, R-NY 26th District, at 7 p.m. Tuesday, Sept. 28, at Clarence High School, 9625 Main St., Clarence.

Niagara County Community College and the Niagara-Orleans Counselor's Association will host the 16th annual College Fair for high school students and their families on Thursday, Sept. 23, from 6:30 to 8 p.m., on the Sanborn campus of NCCC, in the main dining room.

Michael J. Freedman has been named to the newly established position of assistant director of public relations and manager of online content at Niagara University.

In a special meeting last week the Lewiston-Porter Board of Education took action on several personnel issues.

On Saturday, Sept. 18, the Greater Niagara Ballet Company will hold open auditions for its holiday production of "The Nutcracker."

The Castellani Art Museum is hosting its eighth annual fundraising gala "Fly Me to the Moon" is planned for Saturday, Oct. 16.

St. Peter R.C. School in Lewiston has announced the appointment of Denis P. Coakley as principal. Coakley, who currently serves as director of pro-life activities for the Diocese of Buffalo, will assume this new role as of Sept. 20.

Niagara University's Office of Continuing Education is accepting registrations for its fall 2010 schedule of courses. Credit-free classes are offered in person and online.

It was back to school in the Niagara-Wheatfield School District on Wednesday morning.

Pick up a newspaper anywhere in the country and the headlines will confirm that the United States Constitution is still centrally important to the everyday lives of Americans.

The Castellani Art Museum's popular "Mixers at the CAM" series continues on Friday, Sept. 17.

Some Niagara-Wheatfield residents are wondering how, in these tight economic times for schools, the Board of Education can be putting to a vote an $11 million capital project that includes more than $4 million in safety updates and the rest in Greenway plans to create and improve recreational opportunities for students and the community.

Niagara University has announced that Christopher Sheffield has been promoted to the position of university planner, a role that will make him responsible for ensuring the support of -- and continuous progress toward -- institutional excellence and distinction. Prior to assuming the position in June, Sheffield had spent the previous nine years as Niagara's assistant dean of student affairs.

Niagara Falls Memorial Medical Center will honor the Rev. Joseph L. Levesque, C.M., president of Niagara University, and Ajit Trivikram, M.D., for their service to the hospital and community at the 2010 Premier.

Wednesday, Sept. 8, will be the first day of school in the Niagara-Wheatfield School District.

The Village of Lewiston Recreation Department reports its annual Country Fair and Community Yard Sale will take place Saturday, Sept. 18.

The Lewiston Dance Center has announced that Alexandra Westadt and Madison Cichocki have been awarded the Abbondanza-Gallo Dance Scholarship from the center for the year 2010-11. Lewiston Dance Center's junior scholarship winner for the 2010-11 dance season is Holly Kolkmeyer.

On Aug. 22, the Kiwanis Club of Lewiston hosted its annual picnic for contestants vying for the title of 2010 Peach Queen.

The Niagara-Wheatfield Board of Education approved the 2010-11 school tax rate at its meeting last week.

Lewiston-Porter's Athletics Department announces the following fall 2010 start dates for students:

Xtreme Wheels Indoor Skate Park is hosting a World Rolling Series inline skate competition on Saturday, Sept. 11, from 2 to 10 p.m.

The Lewiston-Porter Board of Education accepted Superintendent Christopher Roser's recommendations for the 2010-11 tax warrant, which included a slight tax levy increase for Lewiston and a reduced levy for Porter. The board appropriated $1.8 million to be kept in the fund balance, the same as last year.

Niagara University announced Monday that it has received a $2 million gift from James and Mary Glynn and their family.

Marvin Maziarz of Niagara Falls has been reappointed to a seven-year term on the Niagara County Community College Board of Trustees by the Niagara County Legislature.

The deadline to sign up for the LaSalle High School Class of '65 reunion is Sept. 8, so it's not too late to join classmates at Antonio's Restaurant, Banquet and Conference Center on Niagara Falls Boulevard and get re-acquainted with long lost pals.

The LaSalle Senior High School Class of 1962 is planning for its 50th class reunion. The event will be held June 30-July 1, 2012.

Niagara University announced today that it has received a $2 million gift from James and Mary Glynn and their family.

Foreigner has teamed up with VH1's Save the Music Foundation to support the continuation of arts programs in schools across the U.S. When the band performs as part of Artpark's "Tuesday in the Park" concert series on Aug. 17, $1,000 will be donated to Wilson High School.