The Erie County Division of Budget and Management announced Kroll Bond Rating Agency ("KBRA") assigned a long-term rating of AA- and a "stable" outlook for Erie County bonds, another affirmative sign from an independent financial entity that the county's fiscal profile is strong and stable in 2019. In early November, Moody's Investor's Service ("Moody's") upgraded Erie County's credit rating to A1, up from A2, and noted a "stable" outlook for the county, as well, marking the highest rating the county has reached with Moody's since 1976.

Erie County Executive Mark C. Poloncarz was joined Monday by Commissioner of Parks, Recreation and Forestry Troy P. Schinzel along with Santa Claus and representatives of the Orchard Park Recreation Department to announce the return of Santa Land to Chestnut Ridge. The site is open from 11 a.m. to 3 p.m. Dec. 7-8. Again this year, the Erie County Parks Department is partnering with the Orchard Park Recreation Department to present this popular, free event that features a full schedule of family fun on both days.

The Buffalo and Erie County Botanical Gardens Society Inc. adopted a master plan for the future of the Botanical Gardens and has engaged the community to measure and gain support for the proposed 40,000-square-foot expansion. Informational meetings have been conducted with local community organizations, partners, government entities and community leaders to explain the expansion plan and secure input to ensure the plan addresses the needs of the community.

On Friday, Nov. 29, the switch will be flipped to illuminate more than 1 million lights as the Fairgrounds Festival of Lights opens its 15th season. This time-honored, Western New York holiday tradition takes place at the Erie County Fairgrounds in Hamburg.

This Christmas, Sister Johnice Rzadkiewicz and the Response To Love Center on Buffalo's East side, at 130 Kosciuszko St., are asking for help once again.

The "Pink Bag Ladies" at Trinity United Methodist Church, who make care packages for female veterans serving in all the armed services all around the world, have turned their charity to male veterans this season.

A Grand Island Plaza business is asking the Grand Island Town Board for help in addressing the issue of panhandlers.

On Thursday, scientists hosted a community meeting to update the public on the Tonawanda Coke Soil Study.

The Taste NY Market at the Western NY Welcome Center has gathered an array of local artisans to host a Holiday Makers Market for the community.

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.

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.

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.

Earlier this week, the Kaleida Health Foundation coordinated the donation of hundreds of personal care items, child care items and clothing to the Buffalo City Mission to benefit the agency's women and children's shelter, Cornerstone Manor.

Sandy and Bill Gworek Sr. will celebrate their 50th wedding anniversary this month.

Bob Artis, the Rotary District 7090 governor, visited the Rotary Club of Grand Island's recent breakfast meeting to share Rotary International President Mark Maloney's theme for the 2019-20 year: "Rotary Connects The World."

The late William Koch was honored at the Nov. 4 Grand Island Town Board meeting with a town proclamation noting his lifelong advocacy for preservation of area history.

Founded in the early '90s and based in Melrose, Minnesota, this manufacturer of premier fishing boats built for challenging conditions has been popular with fishermen on Midwest lakes, even up into the Lake Winnipeg area of Manitoba.

Grand Island Republicans swept back into office after handily winning all the offices up for grabs Tuesday on Election night.

Island veterans paraded through the halls of the Grand Island High School and Veronica Connor Middle School Thursday to the applause and thanks of Island schoolchildren in the third annual Veterans Parade.

After 12 years in business on the Island, Lynda Gieselman and the family at Island Pets and Feed decided it was time to fly the nest of their old business location and move on up the boulevard.

The Buffalo and Erie County Botanical Gardens announced its annual poinsettia and railway exhibit will run Nov. 29 through Jan. 5. It also announced the annual Santa's workshop event and a new terrarium make-it, take-it workshop for kids will take place Dec. 14. A "BuffaLove Dollar Admission Day" will round out the fun on Dec. 27 to celebrate the holiday season.

The Erie County Division of Budget and Management announced Moody's Investor's Service, on Tuesday, upgraded Erie County's credit rating to A1, up from A2, and noted a "stable" outlook for the county.

More Election Day results:

Erie County Sheriff Timothy B. Howard announced this week that Erie County Sheriff's Office K9 Viva has received a bullet and stab protective vest thanks to a charitable donation from nonprofit organization Vested Interest in K9s Inc.

The Grand Island Recreation Department reports the town's annual Veterans Day ceremony will take place at 11 a.m. Monday, Nov. 11, at the Memorial Wall of Veterans Park, 1717 Bedell Road.

Members of the Grand Island Chamber of Commerce held a ribbon-cutting ceremony last week for the new location of Grand Island Optical.

Erie County Clerk Michael Kearns was joined by Erie County Legislator John Mills, New York State Assemblyman David DiPietro, Evans Town Supervisor Mary Hosler, and representatives from the Western New York Law Center to announce the start of "ZOMBIES Property Awareness Week" in Erie County during a press conference Monday morning at a vacant and abandoned property in the Town of Evans.

Capitol Cleaners seeks gently used coats, hats, scarves and gloves for less-fortunate children and adults. The full-service dry-cleaning company will prep and distribute product from 10 a.m. until 2 p.m. Saturdays, Nov. 9 and Dec. 7, at its downtown Niagara Falls site, 1227 Main St.

New York drivers need to buck up this fall and watch for deer. AAA analyzed New York crash data and found that October, November and December are, by far, the peak months for deer crashes in the Empire State.

The Zonta Club of Buffalo is having a big celebration, exactly 100 years to the date of Zonta's founding in Buffalo - and in exactly the same place, Statler Towers.

The New York State Thruway Authority on Thursday announced an agreement with the Province of Ontario to access the addresses of Ontario residents to send a bill in the mail after they travel through a cashless tolling facility on the Thruway.

Five girls from Grand Island Girl Scout Troop 31312 earned their Girl Scout Silver Award, the highest honor for Cadette Girl Scouts in grades 6-8.

Anthony E. Zuiker, creator of the award-winning, mega-hit television show "CSI: Crime Scene Investigation," captivated a large audience on Wednesday evening as the guest speaker at the Rotary Club of Grand Island's monthly dinner meeting inside the Buffalo Launch Club.

A sprucing up at the Buffalo Launch Club is showcasing the East River venue as the ideal place for weddings, corporate events, rehearsal dinners, bridal and baby showers, and holiday parties.

Bob Mesmer is running for Grand Island Town Justice. He said he's doing it his way: running on the Working Families Party line, going door to door on his bicycle (he's knocked on 6,525 residential doors to date with 500 to go) and running a self-funded campaign.