Current News

It's awards season - well, at least it is at Niagara University.

Congressman Chris Collins, NY-27, has announced that his staff will be available for satellite office hours throughout the community during the month of March. These satellite hours are in addition to the normal office hours at Collins' district offices in both Lancaster and Geneseo. Staffers will be holding satellite hours each month in rotating locations.

Growing the state's agriculture industry and helping New York's family farms prosper is the goal of the "Grown in New York" plan, unveiled Tuesday at a Capitol news conference by members of the Senate's agriculture committee, as well as leaders of the New York Farm Bureau. The plan is designed to strengthen the state's $5.2 billion agriculture industry by expanding markets for New York-grown products, improving the bottom lines of family farms, and investing in the future of farming.

Sen. Patrick M. Gallivan said, "Agriculture is New York's most important industry and one of its most diverse, impacting every individual and family in the state."

Applications for the 2013 lottery for Native American handicraft sales permits are now available at the Niagara Falls State Park administrative office. To be eligible, applicants must be 18 years of age or older and registered as a Native American or provide verifiable proof of Native American heritage

Congressman Brian Higgins, NY-26, spoke Tuesday from the House Floor to call on Congress to take steps to eliminate barriers to voting and ensure that every American who wants to cast a ballot is able to do so. He also spoke in support of preserving the integrity of the Voting Rights Act, whose Section 5 is currently in question before the Supreme Court in Shelby County v. Holder.

Sunnking Inc., in partnership with Camp Good Days, has created a program called "E-Scrap 4 Camp," which will facilitate recycling old electronics from participating locations to generate funds for Camp Good Days and Special Times.

Fans of ABC's "The Chew" will be able to submit questions and receive real-time responses on Twitter from the co-hosts during the eastern and central time broadcasts of the show Wednesday, March 6 (1 p.m.). Use hashtag #AskTheChew to join the conversation.

The debut Lewiston Cocktail Festival went better than expected last Saturday.

My name is Oliver. My family abandoned me last summer, and I need a new home.

Public authority debt increased to nearly a quarter of a trillion dollars in the latest reported fiscal year, according to a report released Tuesday by State Comptroller Thomas P. DiNapoli. New York relies on authorities to undertake most borrowing on its behalf, and routinely uses authority resources to plug state budget gaps.

Niagara University has been named to the President's Higher Education Community Service Honor Roll every year since the inception of the award.

The women of the First Presbyterian Church, corner of Fifth and Cayuga streets, Lewiston, will host their annual women's lenten breakfast at 9 a.m. on Saturday, March 23. The Rev. Lynette Sparks, associate pastor for outreach and evangelism at Third Presbyterian Church of Rochester, will speak.

St. James Church will be the site of a fundraiser for Akron Canine Rescued Angels. The event, featuring a basket raffle with 100-plus items, will take place from 1 to 6 p.m. on Sunday, March 24.

Hundreds of hard-working farmers have taken the rare day off to participate in New York Farm Bureau's annual lobby day Tuesday at the Capitol in Albany advocating for support of policies they say will benefit all of New York's farms.

New York State Sen. Mark Grisanti, R-I-60, a member of the Senate finance committee, asked his colleagues in the Senate Tuesday to fully restore approximately $120 million in proposed cuts in funding that supports and services people with developmental disabilities.

Grisanti said he and Senate finance chairman John DeFrancisco believe full restoration of the funding will support New York's most vulnerable residents.

Grisanti has recently met with constituents who are concerned with the proposed budget cuts that will impact the operation of the Office for People with Developmental Disabilities.

Congressman Chris Collins, NY-27, is encouraging local high school students to participate in this year's congressional art competition. The winning artist from New York's 27th Congressional District will travel to Washington, D.C., and have his or her artwork displayed in the U.S. Capitol for one year.

Niagara Falls Memorial Medical Center and 46 community partners will launch Niagara's first state-designated health home at 11 a.m. Friday.

Assemblyman John D. Ceretto helped celebrate Dr. Seuss' birthday over the weekend by reading "The Cat in the Hat" to children at the Grand Island Memorial Library. The event, also a part of "Read Across America," was intended to spur imagination and a love of reading in children.

Assemblyman John D. Ceretto took part in "Read Across America" and Dr. Seuss' birthday celebration by reading to children at the North Tonawanda Library over the weekend.

NBC's "Last Call with Carson Daly" announced that it will return to the popular South by Southwest Music Festival to host its annual music showcase in Austin, Texas, on March 13. That will be followed by a week-long spotlight of SXSW beginning Tuesday, March 19 (1:35-2:05 a.m.), through Friday, March 22.

On "Oscar Sunday," "Argo" took home the top award of Best Picture. "Argo" is a dramatic thriller based on the book "The Master if Disguise," by CIA operative Tony Mendez.

The coming month, the Buffalo Philharmonic Orchestra promises adventurous concerts, as well as some tried-and-true favorites, and it all kicks off with an opera legend lending her voice to a community effort.

Senate Republican Leader Dean Skelos and members of the Senate Republican Conference Monday unveiled the Family Tax Relief Act, a package of tax relief and reform measures designed to provide a major economic boost to New York's struggling middle class families.

"Taste Niagara 2013," an evening celebration of local foods and beverages, will take place at 6:30 p.m. Saturday, March 9, at the new Niagara Falls Culinary Institute, 28 Old Falls St.

The Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences will present a new digital restoration of "Who Framed Roger Rabbit" in celebration of the film's 25th anniversary on Thursday, April 4, at 7:30 p.m. at the Samuel Goldwyn Theater in Beverly Hills.

Assemblyman John Ceretto, R-I-Lewiston, expressed optimism Monday after the Western New York Power Allocation Board held its first meeting. The board was set up after a bill, sponsored by Ceretto to ensure power produced in Western New York stays in the region, was signed into law.

Buffalo Sabres forward Patrick Kaleta has been suspended for five games, without pay, for boarding New York Rangers forward Brad Richards during Sunday's game in New York City, the National Hockey League's department of player safety announced Monday.

Niagara University will host its annual graduate school open house Saturday, April 13, on campus in the Castellani Art Museum.

NYSARC Inc., the nation's largest nonprofit agency serving people with developmental disabilities, is urging the Legislature and Gov. Andrew Cuomo to approve a final budget deal restoring $120 million in state funding to programs and services for people with developmental disabilities.

The reduction is a result of a 6 percent, across-the-board cut, which was contained in the governor's budget. When federal funds are included, the cut is $240 million.

"These cuts are catastrophic," said NYSARC's executive director, Marc Brandt.

Have you ever been to a hibachi restaurant? My first experience was Fuji Grill in LaSalle.

NBC announced that supermodel/designer/executive producer/TV host Heidi Klum ("Project Runway") has been added as a new judge on "America's Got Talent" - marking the first time that the top-rated summer series has added a fourth judge.

Peregrine's Landing Senior Community and The Clubhouse Bro's Family Restaurant in Wheatfield have partnered together to bring "Memory Lane Café" to local residents beginning April 17.

Members of Friends of the Lewiston Public Library have voted to establish a $1,000 scholarship to be available to area high school seniors who will be attending college. The scholarship is for any student who resides within the Lewiston-Porter School District, even if attending a private school.

The Niagara County Office for the Aging is seeking nominations for Niagara County Senior Citizen of the Year. Each year the office recognizes a senior who is an integral part of the community, giving back to and serving residents of all ages.

The Lewiston Choraleers will present an Easter cantata, "Come Walk With Me - Through the Passion and Resurrection of Christ," by Pepper Choplin, at four area churches March 23, 24 and 30.

The Buffalo Niagara Association of REALTORS will hold its first ever technology fair, "Get Wired'N," on Wednesday, March 6, at the Millennium Hotel on Walden Avenue in Cheektowaga.

The Western New York community once again demonstrated its generosity as 1,307 donors contributed $72,549 to a diverse group of non-profit organizations that participated in "Spring It On," the area's first 24-hour fundraising event held March 1.

Niagara Hospice has launched a volunteer campaign to recruit dedicated and compassionate individuals looking to truly make a difference. The Power of One campaign illustrates how one hour a week from one volunteer can result in many lives changed, including that of the volunteer.

The dates for the "On the Edge Poetry" series at Niagara County Community College have been announced for the spring semester.

Discussion topics at Monday's Lewiston Town Board session were numerous and varied. A big one concerned the proposed Town of Lewiston Community Recreation and Senior Services Center.