Current News

Hosts Kelly Ripa and Michael Strahan have announced that top morning talk show "LIVE with Kelly and Michael" will travel to sunny Florida for four shows originating from Walt Disney World Resort in Orlando, airing Feb. 18-21.

Roswell Park Cancer Institute has opened a satellite location in Wheatfield, making comprehensive cancer care available close to home for residents of Niagara County and Grand Island.

The Buffalo Sabres' season-opener against the Philadelphia Flyers on Jan. 20 drew the highest ever rating in the Buffalo market for a regular-season Sabres game, excluding the 2008 Winter Classic.

The Center for the Arts, University at Buffalo, will present Natalie MacMaster and Donnell Leahy, "Masters of the Fiddle," on Saturday, Feb. 23, at 8 p.m. in the Mainstage Theatre, located at the Center for the Arts, North Campus.

Hard Rock International continues its commitment to emerging musicians of tomorrow with this year's "Hard Rock Rising," the most far-reaching battle of the bands competition in the world.

The Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences has announced the schedule for the final round of voting for this year's Oscars.

Tickets are now available for "Polar Bites 2013," a fundraising event benefiting the Buffalo Zoo.

The Castellani Art Museum of Niagara University has been chosen to partner with Hard Rock Café, Niagara Falls USA, for the company's 2013 charity pin project. The Castellani Art Museum will receive a portion of the proceeds from sales of the pin.

CBS has announced the 11 teams that will embark on a sprint around the globe for $1 million dollars on the new season of "The Amazing Race," premiering Sunday, Feb. 17 (8 p.m.), on CBS. The teams include Buffalo newlyweds Max and Katie Bichler.

The Topper Social Club will host a fundraiser Friday to help the SPCA of Niagara Falls. A portion of every sale between 5 and 9 p.m. on Jan. 25 will be donated to the SPCA.

The Buffalo Sabres have announced the team will once again offer family packs for select Silver Level home games during the 2012-13 season. Each package costs $199 and includes: four 300 Level II tickets, four Sahlen's hot dogs, four sodas and four boxes of popcorn, for a total savings of $104.

A benefit is planned for Friday, Feb. 1, at Lewiston-Porter High School for Ronda Koban-Sortore, a 48-year-old Lewiston mother battling stage IV liver cancer.

The fourth cohort of a community outreach program leading to a certificate of applied urban ministry will be offered at Niagara University this spring. Designed by representatives of faith communities in Niagara Falls and Buffalo in cooperation with the university, the interdenominational program is intended to help pastors and lay people become more effective leaders in their respective churches and communities.

Assemblyman John Ceretto, R-C-I-Lewiston, applauded Gov. Andrew Cuomo's 2013-14 executive budget Tuesday for its proposals to increase state aid to schools, provide mandate relief and economic opportunities for Western New York.

Get ready to lose those winter blues. Toast & Jam, now in its 14th year, begins on Monday, Feb. 18, at 7 p.m. inside The Brickyard Pub and B.B.Q., 432 Center St., Lewiston. This jazz-jammin', blues-rockin', poetry-reading coffeehouse event continues until March 25.

Niagara University will host the first EMS Niagara Conference on Saturday, Jan. 26. The conference provides advanced training for emergency medical service professionals and volunteers. Participants will receive six community medical education credits.

VIDEO/NEWS: The Rev. Joseph L. Levesque, C.M., announced Tuesday that he will resign from his position as president of Niagara University at the conclusion of the current academic year.

Erie County Sheriff Timothy Howard administered the oaths of office to newly elected Grand Island Fire Co. officers on Saturday, Jan. 12, at fire headquarters, 2275 Baseline Road.

Both firematic and administrative officers were sworn to uphold their 2013 community protection duties. Howard was joined by Erie County Legislator Kevin Hardwick, New York State Assemblyman John Ceretto; representative of New York State Sen. Mark Grisanti, Ron Descenes; Grand Island town officials, including Mary Cooke, other special guests and family members in praising the selfless dedication of these GIFC volunteers.

On Tuesday, Jan. 15, the Grand Island Chamber of Commerce held its board of directors meeting and installation of newly elected directors at the Holiday Inn Grand Island.

The following incidents occurred from Jan. 7 to 13, as reported by the Grand Island Fire Co. A total of 31 calls were answered by the department during this period. The GIFC has responded to 59 calls so far this year.

Grand Island High School has announced that Job Search Seminar will be held Thursday, Feb. 14, at the Holiday Inn Grand Island, 100 Whitehaven Road, from 8:30 a.m. to 1 p.m. Breakout sessions will be provided by local colleges.

Job Search Seminar was developed by the Grand Island High School Business Department in response to local businesses and their need for more qualified and prepared student workers.

The Grand Island Central School District (until May 1) will make available to all hall walkers an individual locker in which to store their personal items while exercising. These lockers are conveniently located close to the high school Viking Mall.

Call Bobby Cushing at 773-8820, ext. 6, between 9 a.m. and 1 p.m. to obtain a locker number and personal locker combination number. Should there not be a person to answer a phone call, press "0" and leave a message, which will promptly be returned.

The next airing of Grand Island High School's Viking Vision news program establishes another milestone for the student-driven news program.

The Erie County Sheriff's Office responded to 160 calls from Jan. 5 to 11. Below is a sampling of the noteworthy incidents on Grand Island.

On Sunday, Dec. 30, the Buffalo Launch Club installed its new board of directors for the 2013 season.

The Launch Club is one of the oldest and most highly regarded powerboat clubs in the United States. Newly installed Commodore Andy Barbasch says that the club is anticipating one of its best years ever; "While half of our members are non-boaters who join for the facilities and activities, our boating members consider the park-like setting of the 95-slip marina the premier boat club in WNY."

"LIVE with Kelly and Michael" co-hosts Kelly Ripa and Michael Strahan have announced an exciting opportunity for mothers across the nation: "LIVE's Search for Unstoppable Moms."

The Billboard Music Awards are set to return to ABC and will be broadcast live from the MGM Grand Garden Arena in Las Vegas Sunday, May 19 (8 p.m.), sponsored by Chevrolet and the Las Vegas Convention and Visitors Authority. The show will also honor Prince with the Billboard Icon Award.

A sign that spring and a new boating season is not far away is the annual installation of officers of the LaSalle Yacht Club in Niagara Falls.

Niagara Catholic Junior-Senior High School is offering several new programs for the 2013-14 school year.

The Niagara County Department of Health has a limited supply of flu vaccine for people ages 4 and up. The nursing division immunization program will hold a flu vaccination clinic from 9 a.m. until noon on Thursday, Jan. 24. It will be by appointment only, at the Trott Access Center, located at 1001 Eleventh St., Niagara Falls.

Katie Couric has scored the first on-camera interview with Manti Te'o for her nationally syndicated daytime talk show, "Katie." Couric will sit down with Te'o and his parents, Brian and Ottilia Te'o, who are speaking out for the first time on camera.

Brews, food, music and art: The "Art of Beer," the annual fundraiser for the Niagara Arts and Cultural Center, will be held from 6 until 9 p.m. on Friday, Feb. 22. Craft beer lovers, who also appreciate great food and music, will pack the NACC for the seventh annual event. Last year, more than 500 patrons were in attendance.

The Buffalo Sabres have announced that Sabres broadcaster Rick Jeanneret is still under the weather and will not be on the broadcast for Monday night's Sabres game against the Toronto Maple Leafs. Kevin Sylvester of "Sabres Hockey Hotline" will handle the play-by-play duties for the broadcast, with Rob Ray handling the color commentary.

There was a clear thirst for the return of the NHL as Saturday's two-game regional coverage on NBC scored a 2.0 overnight rating (3:30-6:15 p.m.), resulting in a host of records and milestones, according to official data released Sunday by The Nielsen Company. The 2.0 overnight was (excluding Winter Classics):

Dr. Glenda R. Rose and Dr. Thomas G. Barba, of Rose Chiropractic P.C. in Lewiston, announce they will be sponsoring the 23rd annual "Doctors with a Heart Day" on Saturday, Feb. 9, from 9 a.m. to 1 p.m. for their patients.

A retirement party is being planned for outgoing Niagara Catholic Junior-Senior High School Principal Bob DiFrancesco from 1 to 4 p.m. Sunday, March 10, at The Como Restaurant, 2220 Pine Ave., Niagara Falls.

Registration for the Niagara Pioneer Soccer League 2013 house league season is approaching.

"Bon Jovi Because We Can - The Tour" has just added a Buffalo concert at First Niagara Center at 7:30 p.m. on Sunday, Feb. 24.

Robert A. Savoy, entered into rest Jan. 10, 2013. He was a resident of Grand Island.