The Niagara County Community College Presidential Search Committee completed its mission of interviews and selecting the final NCCC presidential candidates last week and forwarded the results to the NCCC board of trustees for the final interviews to fill the open position of president of NCCC. 

Niagara County Community College has hired Donald Saph of Ransomville as the new director of campus facilities and operations. 

North Tonawanda Mayor Arthur G. Pappas will join city officials and Senior Forrester Patrick Marren of the New York State Department of Environmental Conservation for the dedication of a tree in Raymond Klimek Veterans Park, 700 River Road, North Tonawanda. 

Zachary Niemiec recently received the endorsement of Run for Something, the groundbreaking organization that recruits and supports strong voices in the next generation of progressive leadership. 

Christopher Wildey, president of Columbia Hook and Ladder Co. No. 1 in North Tonawanda, in February enrolled his company in the event. In March, FASNY selected Columbia Hook and Ladder for the honor in Western New York, a region covering 10 counties. 

Tuesday, April 23, the Sanborn Area Historical Society will host a potluck dinner at 6 p.m. and its regular meeting at 7 p.m. The events will occur at the Sanborn fire hall. 

Monday night, the Town of Wheatfield Town Board held its second regular meeting of April. To open the meeting, Dana Weber asked the Town Board what it knew regarding an article in the Tribune of Barge Brewing talking about a Bergholz location. As a resident of the hamlet of Bergholz, she was curious about the possible location.

Tuesday night, the Town of Niagara Town Board met for its monthly meeting. A topic of discussion was the former U.S. Army Reserve Base off Porter Road.

Last Saturday, the Town of Wheatfield Recreation Department hosted its annual Easter party at the Youth Center, 2795 Church Road. Children and families alike were treated to games, crafts, refreshments and snacks, a few hours out of the house and, of course, visits with the Easter Bunny. 

On Tuesday, Calamar, 3949 Forest Parkway, presented the Town of Wheatfield seniors with a donation of canned goods following its canned food sculpture contest. 

National Grid has approved an economic development grant for The City of North Tonawanda, which is undertaking a major eco-friendly construction project to upgrade and beautify a streetscape that will provide pedestrian amenities along Northern Main Street.

Niagara County Clerk Joseph Jastrzemski announced the start of the "shared services initiative," which now allows the county to expand its services to the City of North Tonawanda.

16 combined years. That is how much varsity softball experience the trio of Maddie Evarts, Mackenzie Franks and Mackenzie Quider possess on the Niagara-Wheatfield Falcons softball team.

An overlooked position in baseball sometimes is that of the catcher. Every game, the catcher is seeing a new style of pitcher, calling pitches from start to finish, helping guide the defense, throw base stealers out - oh, and they get to hit, too. As the Niagara-Wheatfield Falcons baseball team comes into a 2019 season with high expectations, it is fortunate enough to have a backstop who has done all of that for quite some time: Ethan Guthrie.

The Niagara-Wheatfield Falcons walked it off in nine innings versus the Lewiston-Porter Lancers, 5-4.

The North Tonawanda Botanical Garden Organization is sponsoring its fourth annual winter cleanup/work day from 9 a.m. until noon, on April 27, at the North Tonawanda Botanical Garden, 1825 Sweeney St. The public is invited to help with winter cleanup and preparation for planting. On the same day, NTBGO will host a Chiavetta's chicken dinner fundraiser from 11 a.m. until 2 p.m. at the Botanical Garden. Tickets are $12 and all proceeds go towards purchasing plant material and supplies for the Botanical Garden. To purchase tickets in advance, call 692-0237 or email [email protected] Remaining tickets will be for sale on April 27. This work day qualifies as community service hours for North Tonawanda High School and other organizations that require community service hours. Bring gloves and water. Contact [email protected] for any questions, or more information.

After a long cold winter, Project Pride of North Tonawanda is looking to spring forward with a series of cleanup and planting events. The group has been busy this winter discussing planting and fundraising ideas for the upcoming season.

At the New York Upstate Chapter of the American Society of Landscape Architects' annual awards celebration held on Friday, March 15, at the Corning Museum of Glass, Joy Kuebler Landscape Architect in North Tonawanda was presented three Merit Awards recognizing professional work of significant quality, innovation or professional impact. 

Recently, the Chamber of Commerce of the Tonawandas named Cipriano Realtors Inc. as its April Member of the Month. 

North Tonawanda Common Council candidates Bob Brennan and Adam Dickey have partnered with Empire United Soccer to announce an Earth Day cleanup of Gratwick Park in North Tonawanda.  The cleanup is scheduled to begin at 9:30 a.m. Monday, April 22.

Lumber City Church will host opioid overdose rescue training from 5-6:30 p.m. on Thursday, April 18, at The Hope Center, 383 Vandervoort St., North Tonawanda. The event is sponsored by the Niagara County Department of Mental Health and Substance Abuse Services. 

The EMS program, taught by Sara McCartin at the Niagara Career and Technical Education Center, had a very informative day recently at the Mercy Flight facility division headquarters in Batavia. 

On Thursday, March 27, Niagara-Wheatfield High School held a Summer Job Fair for students. From 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. in the high school's adult learning center, local employers visited Niagara-Wheatfield High School to conduct job interviews for more than 60 students.

As part of an annual tradition, first-graders at Starpoint's Fricano Primary School are bringing some joy to patients that are being cared for by Niagara Hospice.

Town of Niagara Councilman Richard Sirianni recently announced his candidacy for re-election as he seeks a second term on the Town Council. Sirianni said he has been known to be the fiscal watchdog and flourishes in that role.     

North Tonawanda Mayor Arthur G. Pappas recently announced the city will once again participate in the annual "Canal Clean Sweep,"going into its 14th year, on Saturday, April 27.

The Town of Wheatfield could see a new addition with WNY favorites in the near future, as Barge Brewing has discussed a possible location in the hamlet of Bergholz with the Wheatfield Local Development Corp.

From 10 a.m. to noon  Saturday, April 13, the Town of Wheatfield Youth Center, 2795 Church Road, in conjunction with the Town of Wheatfield Recreation Department, will host a fun-for-all Easter party. 

North Tonawanda Alderman-at-Large Austin Tylec and Third Ward alderman candidate Ed Smolinski are bringing Slow Roll to the streets of North Tonawanda. 

On Tuesday night, the Niagara County Legislature voted unanimously against a state paper bag tax that would be imposed in March of next year with the beginning of the plastic bag ban.

Spring sports in Western New York are played in some of the most brutal weather conditions. Tuesday, the offenses looked past the bitter cold, as the Niagara-Wheatfield Falcons defeated the North Tonawanda Lumberjacks in eight innings, 12-7.

Heart of Niagara Animal Rescue, a local rescue that has been saving the lives of unwanted, abandoned and homeless animals since 2012, will team up with a local school for its annual fundraiser.

The comedy "The Lottie & Bernice Show," by local playwright L. Don Swartz, will be presented the weekends of May 9-19 at the Ghostlight Theatre, 170 Schenck St., North Tonawanda. Tickets can be purchased online at www.starrynighttheatre.com.

The Opportunities Unlimited of Niagara Foundation's annual golf raffle will take place from 4-7 p.m. Sunday, May 5, at the Sanborn Firehall, 5811 Buffalo St. All proceeds will benefit individuals with developmental and other disabilities who are supported by Intandem.

The students and staff at the Niagara Academy had a successful fundraiser recently. The Orleans/Niagara's BOCES School had an egg sandwich sale in March and will use the proceeds to donate to charitable causes, pay for guest speakers and offset student costs for yearbooks and T-shirts.