The Western New York region plays a starring role in the Hollywood biopic on Supreme Court Justice Thurgood Marshall, which hits theaters nationwide this Friday. So, too, do three Niagara University theater faculty members, who appear in key "Marshall" scenes alongside high-profile actors Chadwick Boseman, Josh Gad and Kate Hudson.

Kevin O'Brien, president of the Reverend James J. Browne Division of the Ancient Order of Hibernians in Niagara Falls, and James Andrews, chairman of the division's scholarship committee, recently presented the division's annual George B. Reed Memorial Scholarship to Niagara Catholic High School student Courtney O'Gara.

On Friday night, Buffalo Bills linebacker Preston Brown and Niagara-Wheatfield grad, Justin Gilmore were in attendance at the Falcons' football game in Clarence. The two have helped impact Niagara-Wheatfield football in a positive way this season, collaborating with the school district and booster club to put on N-W's first-ever Friday night football game.

The Western New York Regional Economic Development Council on Wednesday announced it has submitted its 2017 progress report - titled "A Strategy for Prosperity" - to New York state. The progress report details the council's achievements in implementing its strategic plan, reflects Western New York's progress on efforts to ensure sustainable and long-term growth in the five county region, and to leverage the region's advantages in key industry sectors, including advanced manufacturing, agriculture, binational logistics, energy, health and life sciences, higher education, professional services and tourism.

On Wednesday, Democrat Congressman Brian Higgins joined his colleagues on the House Ways and Means Committee for a bipartisan meeting with Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau to discuss binational collaboration as conversations continue related to the North American Free Trade Agreement.

The Rev. Dennis H. Holtschneider, C.M., Class of 1985, Ph.D., Pamela R. Jacobs-Vogt and Michael J. Nicholson, '88, have been named to the board of trustees of Niagara University. Their elections were announced by the Rev. James J. Maher, C.M., president of the university.

Soon, more women will have access to breast cancer screening that can detect breast cancer earlier, thanks to an imaging tool being developed by University at Buffalo researcher Jun Xia.

New York State Office for the Aging Acting Director Greg Olsen reminds older New Yorkers the Medicare open enrollment period runs from Oct. 15 through Dec. 7.

Congressman Brian Higgins and Buffalo Passport Agency Director James Theis announced the details of Passport Day 2017, an event that provides a convenient way for residents to renew a passport or apply for a passport for the first time.

Niagara Falls Memorial Medical Center will conduct a flu shot clinic for adults 18 and older from 3-8 p.m. Thursday, Oct. 19. The clinic will be held on the first floor of the Golisano Center for Community Health, 533 10th St.

Niagara Hospice has scheduled a volunteer training from 9 a.m. to 4 p.m. Thursday, Oct. 26, at Schoellkopf Health Center, 621 10th St., Niagara Falls.

Erie County District Attorney John J. Flynn announced Old Erie County Hall is once being illuminated in the color purple to "Shine the Light on Domestic Violence" during the month of October.

World Hospice and Palliative Care Day is this Saturday, Oct. 14. It is recognized as a unified day of action to celebrate and support hospice and palliative care around the world.

The Most Rev. Richard J. Malone, bishop of Buffalo, will celebrate a Mass of thanksgiving and dedication of the recently completed renovations to St. Peter R.C. Church and School in Lewiston at 10:30 a.m. Sunday, Oct. 15. A catered reception will follow in the school gym and cafeteria, 620 Center St. All are welcome to attend.

Criminals should take their illicit business elsewhere, the majority leader of the Niagara County Legislature said today after a series of meetings with Niagara County's district attorney prompted by new crime statistics and increased concerns about public safety.

The NHL announced tickets to the 2018 Bridgestone NHL Winter Classic at Citi Field between the Buffalo Sabres and the New York Rangers will go on sale to the public on Thursday, Oct. 12. Purchase them at 10 a.m. ET via Ticketmaster.com, the official ticketing partner of the NHL. Fans can purchase tickets on Ticketmaster and the NHL Ticket Exchange.

The Erie County Department of Senior Services falls prevention seminar series brings together a panel of experts to discuss falls, their causes, identifying home hazards and ways to improve balance, and other falls prevention topics with area seniors. The six-person panel will present an informative session at the East Aurora Senior Center (101 King St.) at 12:45 p.m. Thursday, Oct. 19. The event will include a "Stay Fit Dining" noontime meal.

As cooler weather arrives, New York Sea Grant Extension of Cornell University offers eight tips that water enthusiasts, particularly those who kayak, canoe or use a rowboat, as well as stream and ice anglers, can follow to enhance their seasonal water safety.

U.S. Senate Minority Leader Charles E. Schumer on Monday demanded the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency immediately return to Niagara County to expedite the clean-up of radioactive hotspots in Lewiston and Niagara Falls. Schumer said the EPA recently abandoned cleanup activities at one of the sites without a full explanation to local residents, and said the EPA should return to Niagara County as quickly as possible to immediately resume remaining clean-up efforts.

"On Monday, October 9, 2017, a wet weather event - heavy and prolonged rainfall - in Niagara Falls resulted in a discharge/overflow from the NFWB's wastewater system. As with other recent overflow events, this resulted from the volume of flow into the NFWB wastewater system exceeding the system's existing storage and plant processing capacity. NFWB has no way of controlling for color or turbidity with respect to the overflow water during a wet weather event."

Multicom Entertainment Group and Choice Studios Group/Choice Films & Theatricals brought "After the Sun Fell" to the 11th annual Buffalo International Film Festival for a special screening Sunday inside the North Park Theatre.

JoAnn Falletta is taking the Buffalo Philharmonic Orchestra to Poland in March 2018 to perform in four different cities and four acclaimed concert halls. The tour comes at the invitation of Elzbieta Penderecka, president and founder of the Ludwig van Beethoven Easter Festival, an annual two-week festival in Warsaw that features many of Europe's leading orchestras, ensembles and the world's great soloists.

As mom Bridget watches, William (age 5), Fiona (7), and Emma (3) Campbell are seen painting the office during the chapel's "Love Serves" community partnership event at the Lockport CARES campus on Saturday.

In Western New York, fall brings a rich harvest of apples and other crops. Throughout its history, Niagara County's farms have produced a cornucopia of fruits and vegetables. Agricultural past and present will be explored with local farmer Karen Sherwood at "Farms and Apple Orchards in Niagara County," the Niagara County History Center's next "Family Night."

The New York State Office of Parks, Recreation and Historic Preservation and the Beaver Island State Park Memorial Tree Planting Project have announced they will hold the next memorial tree planting ceremony at 10 a.m. Saturday, Oct. 28.

From 2-7 p.m. Sunday, Oct. 15, there will be a basket raffle to benefit the family of Kaeden Mitchell at the Sikora Post, 950 Payne Ave., North Tonawanda.

The St. Francis Guild of Mount St. Mary's Hospital is hosting the Pink Elephant Luncheon and Basket Auction Saturday, Oct. 21, at the Niagara Falls Country Club. Tickets are only available in advance by calling 716-298-2144.

Starting the celebration of World Polio Day (Oct. 24) a little early, Rotary Club of Lewiston/Niagara-on-the-Lake Secretary Tom Gerbasi, left, presented the club's annual contribution to District 7090 Gov. Reg Madison. Funds will be used in Polio Plus-Rotary's efforts to eradicate polio.

Pictured are volunteers who ran a pig roast Sunday at the DeGlopper Veterans of Foreign Wars Post No. 9249 to raise money for the expansion of the DeGlopper Memorial.

Grand Island Fire Chief Chris Soluri has announced that a special awards presentation will take place during the scheduled Fire Prevention Open House on Friday, Oct. 13, between 5 and 8 p.m. at fire headquarters.

The Town of Lewiston began the review process on its tentative $17.287 million spending plan Thursday, in discussions with Supervisor Steve Broderick, Town Board members, Finance/Budget Director Martha Blazick and town department heads.

Jamie Hagerty, an 18-year-old Niagara University student majoring in psychology, won the Niagara County Peach Queen scholarship pageant last month. She also competed for Peach Queen in 2016, placing third. Jamie evolved as a contestant this year in her stage presence and ability to answer questions under pressure.

Lewiston fire crews are credited with staging a quick response to a structure fire in the village late last month. The Sept. 29 call on the 400 block of Plain Street involved a garage structure fire, fully engulfed in a historical section on the village's west side - an area of well-maintained residences, the nearby Lewiston Historical Museum and numerous businesses around the block on the Center Street strip.

On Wednesday afternoon, representatives from New York state came to DeGraff Memorial Hospital to break ground on a nearly $8 million project, which calls for 17 treatment bays, including a trauma room, dedicated bariatric room and an airborne isolation room.

A tech startup that features four Niagara University students and alumni among its employees was awarded $500,000 during Thursday night's 43North business plan competition.

New York State Sen. Chris Jacobs announced a major funding award of $500,000 to support the construction of a new science, technology, engineering, and math (STEM) education center at Cradle Beach Camp. The Western New York STEM Center for Youth will become a year-round destination for school groups and youth agencies seeking to provide hands-on experiential learning. The estimated cost of the project is slightly under $1 million.

Congressman Brian Higgins announced a federal grant totaling $398,750 for clinical research focused on Parkinson's disease at the State University of New York at Buffalo. The award is provided through the National Institutes of Health Institute of Neurological Disorders and Stroke.

The Rev. Canon Cathy Dempesy-Sims, canon for connections in the Episcopal Diocese of Western New York, visited Niagara Falls Memorial Medical Center's Cardiac/Stroke Care Unit on Tuesday to bless the first of 150 new patient walkers being placed into use at the hospital.

Beginning today, the American Falls Gorge Trail (trail No. 3) that connects the Great Gorge Railway Trail (trail No. 4) to the Schoellkopf Power Plant site will be closed for 30 days while contractors work to construct improved access from the trail to the water's edge at a popular fishing location.

Residents would like to see a possible community center near Veterans Park, and not in the town center, the Town Board was told Monday.