Current News

The New York State Senate has approved a 2013-14 budget resolution, proposed by the Senate Majority Coalition, that focuses on helping businesses create new jobs, investing additional funds in education and transportation, providing mandate relief to local governments, and restoring proposed cuts to women's health programs as well programs for the developmentally disabled.

Researchers from Roswell Park Cancer Institute and four collaborating institutions have evaluated the effectiveness of a novel curriculum to safely train surgeons on the da Vinci Surgical System, which is used to perform robot-assisted surgeries.

More than 2,500 guests will fill The Conference & Event Center Niagara Falls, 101 Old Falls St., for the 31st annual St. Patrick's Day Celebration, hosted by the Ancient Order of Hibernians

Assemblyman John Ceretto, R-I-C-Lewiston, helped pass legislation he co-sponsored to support the development of the Niagara Falls Underground Railroad as a premier destination for both academic research and tourism.

The Western New York Regional Council has announced that its workgroup on tourism will host three public input sessions to seek feedback on the "Path Through History," a program aimed at increasing heritage tourism across New York state.

After 17 years on the air at WGRZ, and 25 years in radio and television in Western New York, Pete Gallivan is trading in his microphone and camera. He has accepted a job in government, outside of television.

Artpark in Lewiston is kicking off its 40th anniversary season with a gala evening on Saturday, June 1. The celebration event will take place in the scenic Outdoor Amphitheater area overlooking the Niagara River gorge. The evening will be highlighted by entertainment and a gala dinner.

As announced Tuesday morning exclusively on ABC's "Good Morning America," newly engaged Sean Lowe ("The Bachelor") is to join the cast of "Dancing with the Stars."

"Wednesday Night Rivalry" continues tomorrow night on NBC Sports Network featuring the Philadelphia Flyers against the New Jersey Devils at 7:30 p.m. The two Atlantic Division rivals are separated by only 90 miles, and have clashed in many memorable playoff series. Coverage begins with "NHL Live" at 6:30 p.m.

The Great Lakes Seaway Trail "Blue Byway Seminar" set for April 13 at the Clarion Conference Center and Marina in Dunkirk features the worlds of forensic weather forecasting, shipwrecks and underwater exploration, maritime history, and coastal recreation - including diving and paddlesports.

Niagara University's Office of Continuing Education, in collaboration with Sodexo food services, is presenting a sushi-cooking demonstration on Friday, March 22, with renowned executive chef Billy O'Donnell.

Dean Norton, president of New York farm Bureau, released the following statement on Monday:

Assembly Speaker Sheldon Silver and ways and means committee Chairman Herman D. Farrell Jr. announced Monday the Assembly's 2013-14 budget proposal of nearly $142 billion, which closes an estimated $1.4 billion budget gap, increases aid to struggling municipalities statewide, helps communities rebuild in the wake of Hurricane Sandy, and makes critical restorations to social services programs and to providers of services to individuals with disabilities.

On Monday, the New York State Senate approved a 2013-14 budget resolution, proposed by the Senate Majority Coalition, that focuses on helping businesses create new jobs, investing additional funds in education and transportation, providing mandate relief to local governments, and restoring proposed cuts to women's health programs as well programs for the developmentally disabled.

With competition brewing steadily in the coffee category, Dunkin' Donuts has been recognized once again for keeping guests running with a superior experience. For the seventh straight year, Dunkin' Donuts has been ranked No. 1 in customer loyalty in the coffee category by the Brand Keys customer loyalty engagement index.

As the B. Thomas Golisano Center for Integrated Sciences takes shape on the south side of campus, Niagara University faculty members continue to investigate ways to furnish the state-of-the-art facility with the latest in scientific instrumentation.

Assemblyman John Ceretto, R-C-I-Lewiston, helped pass the Assembly budget resolution Monday, which increased state education aid to schools by $834 million on a year-to-year basis, secured $120 million to better treat the developmentally disabled, enhanced aid to community college students and provided additional funding for local road and bridge work.

Niagara Tourism & Convention Corp., Visit Buffalo Niagara and Wyoming County Chamber & Tourism are partnering with www.TripCentral.ca to participate in a Canadian consumer based marketing and sales program now through March 31.

The overall program is being conducted and managed by TripCentral.ca, one of Canada's largest and most established Internet drive vacation distributors. Accommodations and attractions from all three counties are participating in the "Vacation Station," a live branded kiosk in Toronto's Union Station (the main transportation hub in the region and busiest building in Canada).

Beginning Wednesday, March 13, several roads around First Niagara Center will be shut down due to the start of construction on the HARBORcenter property. Also beginning Wednesday morning, patrons of the Sabres Store and the arena box office will be able to park in the arena's parking ramp at no charge.

Retailers Macy's, Saks Fifth Avenue and Express pledged $855,000 toward seven "showstopping" designs featured in the season two debut.

NBC will begin production on "Renovation Nation," a new home makeover competition event that will showcase the talents of the most accomplished designers and home renovators in the country, revealing stunning transformations week after week. Nate Berkus, host and executive producer, will not only guide the audience through the process, but will also serve as judge and advocate, mentoring the contestants week to week.

Turner Sports and CBS Sports have announced the lineup of broadcast teams for the third year of combined coverage of the NCAA Division I Men's Basketball Championship.

The pre-order deadline for Easter flowers and arrangements has been extended until Tuesday, March 12. The floral decorations are provided by the Niagara Floral Center and Greenhouse of Opportunities Unlimited of Niagara.

To mark Brain Awareness Week (March 11-17), the Western New York Chapter of the Alzheimer's Association is offering a number of classes geared toward outlining the differences between forgetfulness and dementia, and recognizing when loss of memory may be an indication of more serious cognitive problems.

Honor Flight Buffalo will begin its fourth year of flying World War II veterans on May 11 and June 15.

As all three Seneca Casinos in Western New York continue to grow and the expanded Seneca Buffalo Creek Casino prepares for a fall 2013 opening, Seneca Gaming Corp. will provide multiple job fairs this spring to increase its team member base.

The Lewiston Garden Club is now seeking candidates for its $1,000 scholarship for 2013.

In recognition of The Fresh Air Fund's 137th summer of bringing together New York City children and volunteer host families in New York, Gov. Andrew M. Cuomo has recognized March 20 "Fresh Air Fund Day" throughout the state.

The Town of Lewiston held the first of its information sessions on the proposed Town of Lewiston Community Recreation and Senior Services Center Monday before a packed house at Town Hall.

The following activity took place Monday, Feb. 25, to Sunday, March 3, as reported by the Lewiston Police Department. LPD logged a total of 76 response calls during this period.

On Thursday, March 14, Peace of the City Ministries will convene an evening of advocacy, truth-telling and fundraising for Buffalo's children at the Wesleyan Church of Hamburg.

The University at Buffalo Department of Visual Studies will host Dr. S. Hollis Clayson, professor of art history and Bergen Evans Professor in the Humanities at Northwestern University.

Chart-topping '60s band The Grass Roots will be one of the highlights Saturday, March 9, of the Buffalo Hearing & Speech Center's Black Tie-Dye Gala Dinner & Auction. The concert is part of the Buffalo Hearing & Speech Center Foundation's '60s-themed event at the Seneca Niagara Casino Events Center. The annual gala raises money to support the programs of Buffalo Hearing & Speech Center.

The year 2012 marked the bicentennial of the Town of Porter. For this special event, the Town of Porter commissioned Marilyn Harbison, a local quilting instructor, to create a commemorative quilt for the families of the Town of Porter.

Antique to Chic, located at 536 Center St., in the Village of Lewiston, celebrated a grand opening and ribbon-cutting with the Niagara River Region Chamber of Commerce, elected officials, local business owners and friends and family.

The Youngstown Business and Professional Association will hold a St. Patrick's Day kick-off event, Saturday, March 16, at noon, in honor of the late Neil Riordan.

St. John's Episcopal Church, Main and Chestnut streets in Youngstown, will hold a corned beef and cabbage dinner on Sunday, March 17.

Niagara County Community College will host its Spring Health Fair on Monday, March 18, from 10 a.m. to 1 p.m. in the main dining room on the second floor of the Student Center (G Building), on the Sanborn campus.

Relay For Life of Lewiston/Niagara invites the community to join for a complimentary breakfast, Saturday, March 9, from 10 a.m. to noon at Water Street Landing in Lewiston to kick off plans for the 2013 Relay.

Becker Farms & Vizcarra Vineyards has been awarded New York State Agricultural Society Business of the Year for 2013.