Current News

Some people smirk when Northwest Jazz Festival in Historic Lewiston organizers state the event annually draws upward of 40,000 people. Those doubters were converted this past weekend, as people were elbow-to-elbow across Center Street, and cars were stacked all the way back to Oxbow Lane at the Lewiston event.

Visitors and residents of the River Region are certainly fortunate when it comes to the number and variety of experiences available in the area. From the arts to fantastic fishing, jet boats to wine trails, the living history of Old Fort Niagara to the high-caliber entertainment at Artpark, the countless festivals and so much more, nary a day goes by without something new, exciting and enjoyable for visitors as well as locals to partake in.

The Youngstown Yacht club was the setting Thursday, Aug. 15, for "Creating Pathways to the Future," the signature event for Lewiston-Porter's Academy of International Business and Finance. AIBF advisory board members organized the fundraiser.

Michael Hibbard's development plan, to transform the plaza at Center and North Fourth streets into a new, larger Gallo Coal Fire Kitchen, received approval at Monday's Village of Lewiston Board meeting.

The Silo Restaurant is concluding a successful summer at the end of September.

The Grand Island Farmers Market has moved to a new location this summer, the Western NY Welcome Center on Grand Island, and is held on Thursday evenings.

Elected officials of the Town of Grand Island manned the barbecue and serving tables Tuesday to say "Thank you" to the town's employees and retirees at a picnic in the Town Commons.

Island Kids Child Care Center, Preschool & Pre-K, 1353 Ransom Road, will host a fundraiser for the Maras family of Grand Island, who were involved in a fatal car accident Aug. 17 in the Adirondacks.

Southpointe, the dormant 284-acre development conceived in the 1990s and approved in 1997, is back for a reaffirmation by the Grand Island Town Board.

Apple Granny Restaurant has a new sign, courtesy of artist John Lang (pictured) and John Lang Designs Metal Art Gallery.

Tens of thousands of people have watched one or more shows at Artpark this summer. Few have had an opportunity to actually be in one - that was until Thursday night. Plasticiens Volants' "Pearl: Secrets of the Sea" made its U.S. debut at Artpark in Lewiston.

Girls between the ages of 9-12 residing in Niagara County are invited to participate in the Western New York Girls in Sports Day, from 10 a.m. until 3 p.m. Saturday, Sept. 21, on the Niagara University campus. The event will give girls of all skill levels the opportunity to try their hand at a variety of sports at stations managed by coaches and female student-athletes from Niagara University and Niagara County Community College.

The Buffalo Sabres announced the team's season kick-off luncheon, presented by New Wave Energy, will take place on Tuesday, Oct. 1. Proceeds from the event will benefit the Buffalo Sabres Foundation.

The Buffalo History Museum's newest exhibition, "History Makers," features profiles, artifacts and imagery of 20 of the Western New York region's most historically significant and well-known figures.

Erie County District Attorney John J. Flynn spoke with the media to inform citizens about the "Red Flag Law" that goes into effect this weekend. The legislation allows certain authorities to file a petition to the court to prevent an individual who poses a potential threat to themselves or others from possessing, purchasing or attempting to purchase guns.

National Alliance on Mental Illness (NAMI) Buffalo & Erie County is now accepting registrations for its family-to-family classes for Niagara Falls. This 12-week course helps family members be effective advocates for a loved one who is challenged by mental illness.

On Friday, Republican New York State Sen. Rob Ortt held a press conference to address the newly proposed license plate renewal fees that will be mandated by the New York State Department of Motor Vehicles. Niagara County Clerk Joseph Jastrzemski joined Ortt as the senator introduced legislation that would waive the fees associated with the mandatory license plate replacement.

"Live with Kelly and Ryan" dives into its new season on Sept. 2 with a stellar lineup of talent, music, theme weeks and "live" fun all month long. Plus, the 32nd season of "Live" has officially been dubbed the "Year of the Fan," as hosts Kelly Ripa and Ryan Seacrest honor and put the spotlight on both the in-studio audience and viewers across the country.

Carl Dixon, born and raised in Canada answered an ad for a band called Coney Hatch in 1979. He went on to tour around the world, rocked long hair and a killer voice, wrote hits like "Devil's Deck," "Hey Operator" and became the lead singer for the rock legend The Guess Who in 1997.

The Town of Niagara Town Board listened to the objections of several residents from the towns of Niagara and Lewiston on the subject of Bri Estates, a proposed development north of Colonial Drive in the Town of Niagara, at a scoping meeting held during the board's regular monthly meeting on Tuesday.

Summer means a lot of things to a lot of different people, but traditionally it has always been a season to get out of the house and attend local events with the rest of the community. Nobody knows this more than right here in Niagara County, where municipalities often end up competing with one another to draw in curious visitors and longtime residents alike for their own take of summer fun.

Some fans had a bone to pick with Foreigner when the band performed at Artpark in 2012. With founder Mick Jones not on stage in Lewiston, there were no original band members in the lineup.

First launched in May of 2016 as a two-year pilot project led by the Niagara Falls National Heritage Area, the Discover Niagara Shuttle will soon be a permanent fixture along the 14-mile "Falls to Fort" route during the busy tourism season.

The family of the late Robert O. Steinjan Sr. recently presented a check for $7,750 to Niagara Falls Memorial Medical Center in support of the medical center's cardiac and stroke care unit. The gift represents proceeds from the fourth annual Robert O. Steinjan Sr. Memorial Car Show, held this summer at Hoover's Dairy Store in Sanborn.

This is not a drill. We repeat: This is not a drill! Dr. Giant Eyeball has returned to Lewiston - and this time he's brought his Sinister Quartet Under Ill-Fated Direction, or S.Q.U.I.D.

Gov. Andrew M. Cuomo signed legislation (S.3756/A.55) waiving the state fee for marriage licenses for active duty members of the U.S. armed forces or their spouses. The bill also gives local governments freedom to waive the fees they charge for marriage certificates for active duty service members or spouses.

Gov. Andrew M. Cuomo announced $6.4 million in grants from the Ralph C. Wilson, Jr. Foundation, in addition to $4 million in state funding, which will support ongoing improvements to the Genesee Valley Greenway State Park and the Niagara Shoreline Trail in Western New York. The projects will help make key connections to the Empire State Trail. The not-for-profit Ralph C. Wilson, Jr. Foundation was created after the 2014 death of Wilson, the former owner of the Buffalo Bills and a co-founder of the American Football League.

The Northwest Jazz Festival in Historic Lewiston, NY will present some of the top Western New York musicians, as well as a sampling of the country's best-in-genre artists. The adult-centric event is set for Friday, Aug. 23, and Saturday, Aug. 24, on Center Street.

"Only Have One," the latest single from acclaimed Bethel Music worship leaders Paul and Hannah McClure, is now available. Penned by The McClures along with Seth Mosley (for KING & COUNTRY) and Matt Hammitt (Sanctus Real), the soulful selection is currently featured on Spotify's "New Music Friday Christian" and "Sing A New Song" playlists, as well as Apple Music's "Today's Christian" and "Worship Today" playlists.

Guy Fieri has traveled the world tasting the greatest food, visiting incredible restaurants, and meeting amazing chefs. On Saturday, Sept. 28 (12:30 p.m. ET/PT), these famous chefs bring the big-time flavors to the new season of "Guy's Ranch Kitchen."

As a new academic year begins, the University at Buffalo is implementing extensive changes to Greek life at the university, and is lifting its suspension on all but one Greek-letter social fraternal organizations as the new measures are put into place.

New York State Sen. Chris Jacobs, R-60th, criticized what he called "Gov. Cuomo's blatant money grab on already over-taxed New Yorkers," in response to the governor's recent announcement that millions of New York drivers will be required to purchase new license plates beginning next year, regardless of the condition of their existing plates. The cost will be $25 and an additional $20 to keep an old plate number.

For Lewiston concertgoers, Tuesday night was, well, a "Rock 'n' Roll Fantasy," as Bad Company with Paul Rodgers headlined a concert at Artpark. The show was one of only two-dozen live dates for the band in 2019.

With a lineup of celebrities including a supermodel, a former White House press secretary, a "Bachelorette," pro-athletes from the NFL and NBA, a Supreme and a TV icon to name a few, "Dancing with the Stars" is waltzing its way into its anticipated upcoming 2019 season. The new celebrity cast is adding some glitzy bling to their wardrobe, breaking in their dancing shoes and readying themselves for their first dance on the ballroom floor, as the show kicks off Monday, Sept. 16 (8 p.m. EDT), on ABC.

NBC's "Sunday Night Football," primetime television's No. 1 program for an unprecedented eight consecutive years, will unveil an all-new show open with Carrie Underwood this season. It will include a nod to the first NBC "SNF" open in 2006, featuring a new rendition of the original "Waiting All Day for Sunday Night" music.

WWE and USA Network announced an agreement in principle to air WWE's weekly Wednesday night show, "NXT," live on USA Network at 8/7c starting Sept. 18.

James Bond Producers Michael G. Wilson and Barbara Broccoli today released the official title of the 25th James Bond adventure, "No Time To Die." The film, from Albert R. Broccoli's EON Productions, Metro Goldwyn Mayer Studios (MGM), and Universal Pictures International, is directed by Cary Joji Fukunaga ("Beasts of No Nation," "True Detective"). It stars Daniel Craig, who returns for his fifth film as Ian Fleming's James Bond 007.

As he treats fans to his acclaimed live show on the summer festival circuit, TobyMac has also announced his latest project, "The St. Nemele Collab Sessions." Available Aug. 23 across all DSPs and physically on Sept. 27, the LP features fan favorites including his latest RIAA Gold-certified single "I just need U.," "Everything" and "The Elements."

Courtney Corbetta, Class of 2015, Niagara University communication studies alumna and feature reporter and co-host of "AM Buffalo" on WKBW-TV Channel 7, will return to Monteagle Ridge as a special guest speaker on Saturday, Sept. 7.

The stars will shine at Seneca Niagara Resort & Casino when the Seneca Niagara Event Center welcomes the 19th annual Native American Music Awards at 7 p.m. Saturday, Nov. 2; and Wayne Brady at 8 p.m. Saturday, Nov. 30.