As part of the Liberty Partnerships Future Leaders program at Niagara County Community College, students from Lockport High School and North Park Junior High School will focus their community service efforts on environmental improvements this year.

Erie County Clerk Michael Kearns and the Military Order of the Purple Heart flew the Purple Heart flag Tuesday on the Church Street side of Old County Hall, making the venue the first county building to raise the Purple Heart flag as an ongoing display of patronage, hope and visibility for Purple Heart recipients.

Congressman Brian Higgins, D-NY-26, announced the award of two Department of Health and Human Services grants to Buffalo State College to prevent drug and alcohol use among youth on Buffalo's west side. Higgins is a 1985 BSC graduate.

Niagara University recognized the accomplishments of four individuals - while raising critical funds for student scholarships - during its 2019 President's Dinner, which was held Nov. 15 at the Conference & Event Center Niagara Falls.

Rising American country music star Chris Janson is bringing his charismatic songs to Niagara Fallsview Casino Resort on Feb. 6, 2020, with "Chris Janson: Real Friends Tour."

Cincinnati Cyclones goaltender Ukko-Pekka Luukkonen has been named the Warrior Hockey/ECHL Goaltender of the Week for Nov. 11-17. Luukkonen was a perfect 2-0-0-0 on the week, recording a 0.00 goals-against average and a 1.000 save percentage in back-to-back shutouts. He is the first Cyclones goaltender to post back-to-back clean sheets since the team returned to action prior to the 2006-07 season.

The Erie County Department of Public Works has announced the approval of a county energy performance contract designed to drive energy-efficiency improvements in Erie County facilities. The EPC is the end result of a project designed to select a group of facility improvement measures that will pay for themselves through energy savings in 39 years or less.

The "National Geographic Live" speaker series will once again return to Kleinhans Music Hall, with two more enlightening perspectives on the world.

Seneca Niagara Resort & Casino will welcome one of the most iconic R&B groups in history when Boyz II Men perform inside the Seneca Niagara Event Center at 8 p.m. Saturday, Feb. 15. Tickets go on sale at noon on Friday.

The largest professional soccer organization in North America, the United Soccer League, may be coming to the Queen City. Real estate developer John McClutchy has entered into a conditional agreement with the USL to bring a USL Championship club to Buffalo.

As a result of distributing a one-day record high of more than 5,200 coats at its first free Colvin Cleaners "Coats 4 Kids" event on Nov. 4, a desperate need for kids' coats exists for the two remaining free coat distributions. As a result, Colvin Cleaners is again reaching out to the community for donations of gently used kids' coats, while also providing the option of purchasing coats online or making cash donations for the purchase of coats.

On Friday, Nov. 22, golf professionals from the Western New York PGA will team up to raise money for the local Special Olympics New York golf program. They will participate in a traditional six-on-six hockey match.

The Greater Niagara Ballet Company will host its annual trivia night fundraiser at 7 p.m. Saturday, Nov. 23, inside the American Legion VFW Post at 8643 Buffalo Ave., Niagara Falls. Join in for a night of fun, with pizza, chips, a cash bar, a basket raffle, a pie auction, "catch the joker" and a 50/50 raffle.

On Dec. 5, the Lewiston-Porter Alumni Association will induct three Class of 1996 graduates into its Distinguished Alumni Hall of Fame: Adam Burns, Dr. Michael Gambacorta and Dr. Peter Gambacorta.

Western Door Playhouse presents "All Through the Night," written by L. Don Swartz and directed by Robert Priest, the weekends of Nov. 22 through Dec. 1. Show times are 7:30 p.m. Fridays and Saturdays, and 2:30 p.m. Sundays at the Woodbox Theater on the third floor of the Niagara Arts and Cultural Center, 1201 Pine Ave., Niagara Falls.

"The Kelly Clarkson Show," the No. 1 new daytime show, has been renewed through the 2020-21 season by NBCUniversal, it was announced Monday.

Through community fundraising events throughout 2019, the Buffalo Zoo has raised $13,500 to support the International Rhino Foundation (IRF) expansion of the Sumatran Rhino Sanctuary in Indonesia.

The New York State Office of Parks, Recreation and Historic Preservation and the Department of Environmental Conservation announced early-bird savings for online renewals of the 2020 Empire Pass. Customers who keep their existing card and renew online before Jan. 1 will save $15 off a single or multi-season pass. Those users who renew online from Jan. 1 to March 31 will save $10 - and any online card renewals after those dates will receive a $5 discount from the standard price.

Looking for a unique gift on your shopping list this holiday season? Look no further than the charming store located inside the Museum of disABILITY History.

Fan-favorite competition series "Food Network Challenge" is back and better than ever with new host Ian Ziering and a fresh roster of the country's top cake-makers, bakers and sugar artists going head-to-head in pop culture-themed battles to create mind-blowing works of delicious art. The six-episode season kicks off Monday, Dec. 23 (10 p.m. ET/PT), with a celebration of the beloved holiday classic "A Christmas Story," complete with over-the-top edible recreations of the iconic film's most memorable moments.

Gov. Andrew M. Cuomo announced $4 million is available under the "P-12 Schools: Green and Clean Energy Solutions" program to reduce energy use and assist with the conversion to carbon-free energy solutions for schools serving prekindergarten through grade 12 students. The program supports the state's goal to reduce greenhouse gas emissions 85% by 2050, and the governor's "Green New Deal," the most aggressive climate and clean energy program in the nation.

Fan-favorite celebrities, dancers and judges from all seasons of "Dancing with the Stars" will be headed to Atlantis Resort, Paradise Island, in the Bahamas for the ultimate VIP dancing fan getaway. The cast includes judge Bruno Tonioli, Joey Fatone of *NYSYNC, ABC News chief meteorologist Ginger Zee, NFL star and season 24 Mirrorball champion Rashad Jennings, with current season 28 pro dancers Cheryl Burke, Val Chmerkovskiy, Jenna Johnson, Lindsay Arnold, Sasha Farber, Emma Slater, Gleb Savchenko, Alan Bersten, Brandon Armstrong, Pasha Pashkov, Keo Motsepe and Daniella Karagach, plus "DWTS" alumni Sharna Burgess, Artem Chigvintsev, Tony Dovolani and Kym Herjavec. More celebrity cast members, including some fan favorites from seasons past, as well as the current season, will be announced soon. (Cast subject to change.)

On the heels of the iconic "Tournament of Champions," "JEOPARDY!" is coming to ABC in a multiple consecutive night event with "JEOPARDY! The Greatest of All Time," premiering Tuesday, Jan. 7 (8 p.m. EST), on ABC. Hosted by Alex Trebek, "JEOPARDY! The Greatest of All Time" is produced by Sony Pictures Television. Harry Friedman will executive produce.

In an effort to provide holiday meals to hungry community members, 97 Rock, Kaleida Health, WKBW-TV Channel 7 Eyewitness News and FeedMore WNY are teaming up for the 14th annual "Operation: Rock Out Hunger." The weeklong holiday food and fund drive will be held from 2 p.m. Tuesday, Nov. 19, through 10 a.m. Tuesday, Nov. 26, in the Millard Fillmore Suburban Hospital parking lot, 1540 Maple Road, Williamsville.

Artpark & Company and Funtime will present Joe Russo's Almost Dead on Friday, June 19, 2020, in the Artpark Amphitheater. Tickets go on sale at noon on Friday, Nov. 22.

"Due to a widespread technical error with Ticketmaster processing orders for Billy Joel at New Era Field this morning during the American Express presale, some fans were unable to purchase tickets. The technical error has now been repaired and American Express cardholders are now able to buy tickets through Ticketmaster.com without issue."

The Buffalo Sabres announced the team will partner with Wegmans and Entercom Buffalo for a Thanksgiving turkey drive on Wednesday, Nov. 20, to benefit local food pantries. The turkey drive will take place from 7-9 a.m. in the following locations:

The Western New York Regional Economic Development Council announced Dr. Katherine Conway-Turner, president of Buffalo State College, has been appointed co-chair of the council. Conway-Turner succeeds Dr. Virginia Horvath, who served as co-chair since 2017 and who recently retired as president of SUNY Fredonia.

dick clark productions and ABC announced Christina Aguilera & A Great Big World and Post Malone feat. Ozzy Osbourne, Travis Scott and WATT will debut world television premiere collaborations at the 2019 American Music Awards, while Green Day will roar back to the stage for a fiery career-spanning performance.

The nationwide audition tour for the upcoming season of "American Idol" may be complete, but the group of budding superstars heading to Hollywood is about to get bigger. The series that sparked the evolution of the singing competition genre is teaming up with the 2019 American Music Awards for an epic opportunity that will allow America to vote a former fan-favorite contestant through to Hollywood ahead of the upcoming premiere on ABC.

Erie County has been designated a "Clean Energy Community" by the New York State Energy Research and Development Authority, recognizing the county's leadership in reducing energy use, cutting costs and driving clean energy locally. Erie County received the designation for completing four of 10 high-impact clean energy actions identified by NYSERDA as part of the $16 million Clean Energy Communities initiative announced by Gov. Andrew Cuomo in August 2016.

Join LiveNF for a celebration of local creativity and holiday fun on Small Business Saturday, Nov. 30. The 2019 Makers Market presented by The Niagara Falls National Heritage Area will feature 120 vendors, seven musical guests, live art, and three craft workshops for kids, including the Western New York Book Arts Center Printing Letter Press.

On Friday, New York State Department of Environmental Conservation Commissioner Basil Seggos recognized Nov. 15 as "New York Recycles Day," celebrating the state's national leadership in promoting recycling and reducing waste. New York's efforts complement America Recycles Day, a national initiative to raise awareness of the economic, environmental and social benefits of reducing, reusing and recycling.

Sheriff James R. Voutour announced Deputy Chief Daniel Engert, the deputy jail administrator at the Niagara County Correctional Facility, received a Gold Key Award from the WNY Chemical Dependency Consortium at the 30th annual awards luncheon.

Niagara County's taxpayers can expect their property tax rates to be reduced to a historic low next year if the budget prepared by County Manager Rick Updegrove and Budget Director Dan Huntington is approved by county lawmakers next month.