Niagara Falls Memorial Medical Center has been awarded a Comprehensive Center accreditation by Metabolic and Bariatric Surgery Accreditation and Quality Improvement Program, in partnership with the American Society for Metabolic and Bariatric Surgery. A MBSAQIP accreditation formally acknowledges NFMMC's commitment to providing and supporting quality improvement and patient safety efforts for metabolic and bariatric surgery patients.

SUNY Distinguished Professor Paresh Dandona, M.D., Ph.D., one of the world's leading experts in the treatment of diabetes and vascular disease, will be honored with the Madras Diabetes Research Foundation's 2020 Life Time Contribution Award in Chennai, India, in July. He is the eighth scientist to receive the award.

FeedMore WNY kicked off the new year with notable developments, as the nonprofit continues to grow and enhance its services and partnerships that fight hunger and nourish vulnerable community members of all ages.

The Buffalo History Museum and the Buffalo Jazz Collective present the winter/spring season of "Jazz on 2nd Sundays." The concert series showcases many of the most esteemed jazz musicians of the area, and celebrates the jazz heritage of Buffalo. Concerts will be held from 2:30-4 p.m. the second Sundays of January, February and March.

Join the History Center of Niagara for children's program about women of African American decent who made their mark on U.S. history. The event will take place from 10 a.m. to 1 p.m. Monday, Jan. 20, at 215 Niagara St., Lockport.

The Lewiston Council on the Arts is already at work on this summer's Lewiston Art Festival. Two items of interest were announced Tuesday:

The New York State Office of Parks, Recreation and Historic Preservation will issue temporary seasonal dock permits for up to 50 docks along the West River Shoreline Trail on a first-come, first-served basis for the 2020 season.

The Aquarium of Niagara is offering its lowest admission rates of the year to local families during Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. weekend. Members of the Western New York community can pay just $7.16 to meet more than 120 species of aquatic life and participate in the daily schedule of penguin feedings, sea lion shows and seal presentations.

Lake Shore Bancorp Inc., the holding company for Lake Shore Savings Bank, recently announced the bank awarded $14,000 in grants to local nonprofit organizations throughout Erie and Chautauqua counties.

Girl Scouts of Western New York and Girl Scouts of the USA officially launch the 2020 Girl Scout Cookie season, when Girl Scouts across the U.S. become entrepreneurs as they earn money to power their own leadership opportunities and adventures. This season, Girl Scouts is announcing a sweet new way to celebrate young female leaders: refreshed packaging reflecting the experiences cookie earnings make possible for girls.

The Sisters of St. Francis at Stella Niagara are having a craft show on June 26 weekend. All the items are handmade by the sisters. Proceeds will benefit the Alzheimer's Association of WNY.

Gov. Andrew M. Cuomo on Monday unveiled the 29th proposal of his 2020 State of the State: a $300 million plan to reimagine the Erie Canal by creating recreational activities on the Canal to boost tourism, mitigating flooding, enhancing irrigation and recreational fishing and restoring wetlands. Cuomo is recommending the New York Power Authority board, which now oversees the Canal Corp. as a subsidiary, approve the $300 million investment over the next five years at the board's January meeting.

The Niagara Falls City Council is seeking candidates for various boards and commissions. It seeks people for immediate opportunities as well as openings that may arise in the near future.

Sen. Chris Jacobs is calling on the leadership of the State Senate to immediately repeal the so-called "Criminal Justice Reforms" on the first day of legislative session, this Wednesday, Jan. 8. The new laws, which went into effect Jan. 1, mandate the release of most criminal defendants without bail.

Bringing together the region's farming community and the services necessary for daily operations is the goal of the 10th annual Western New York Farm Show, Jan. 30 through Feb. 1 at the Erie County Fairgrounds in Hamburg. The exposition is sponsored by the Erie County Agricultural Society.

The Neighbors Foundation of Grand Island thanks the hundreds of individuals and organizations who contributed to our successful 2019 holiday distribution. Fifty-three of your neighbor families were helped with food baskets and, where appropriate, gift cards for their children.

The Historical Association of Lewiston's first program of 2020 program, "Saving Sergeant Niland: The Local True Story Behind Spielberg's Epic Film," will take place at 7 p.m. Thursday, Jan. 23, at the Lutheran Church of the Messiah Fellowship Hall, 915 Oneida St., Lewiston. Historian Douglas DeCroix will keynote.

The Buffalo Sabres announced the team is holding an auction for the jerseys, pant shells and socks worn by players in the Sabres Skills Challenge presented by New Era. The auction will be held at auction.NHL.com starting today at 4 p.m. and run until at 9 p.m. Sunday, Jan. 12.

Nusantara Arts, in collaboration with the Buffalo Museum of Science, will present an evening of Javanese music and art by Buffalo Gamelan Sari Raras Irama from 6:30-9:30 p.m. Saturday, Jan. 11, at the Buffalo Museum of Science at 1020 Humboldt Pkwy. The concert will take place on the second floor, in front of Hamlin Hall's Seymour the Mastodon.

Registration is now open for Parks & Trails New York's 22nd annual Cycle the Erie Canal tour, an opportunity to bike across New York and "take in the rich history of the legendary canal that transformed America." The eight-day, 400-mile recreational bicycle tour from Buffalo to Albany is scheduled for July 12-19.

The New York State Office of Addiction Services and Supports today announced the availability of up to $900,000 in funding for prevention providers to expand the "Triple P" "Positive Parenting Program," an evidence-based practice shown to reduce risky behaviors among youth. Up to nine awards of a maximum of $100,000 each will be issued through a request for applications process overseen by OASAS. Funding for this initiative is being provided through the federal State Opioid Response Grant.

The Historic Palace Theatre has received a $100,000 grant from The John R. Oishei Foundation in support of its "Act II - A Grand Restoration" renovation project. This gift will support the Palace's larger $3.3 million "Act II" project.

After a nationwide search, The Summit Federal Credit Union has chosen Laurie Baker as president and CEO, effective Feb. 1. Baker, currently The Summit's senior vice president and chief operating officer, will replace Mike Vadala, who is retiring after working at The Summit more than 35 years - 25 as CEO.

Following a recent application for voter registration submitted by a non-citizen applying for a commercial driver's license, Erie County Clerk Mickey Kearns appeared before the Erie County Board of Elections Commissioners and addressed the potential for voter fraud under the Green Light Law.

Today's national average price for a gallon of gasoline is $2.58, no change since last week. One year ago, the price was $2.24. The New York average is $2.72, up 2 cents from last week. A year ago, the state average was $2.59.

Congressman Brian Higgins, who has advocated for action and investment at the North Aud Block, released the following statement in response to Gov. Andrew Cuomo's release of the preferred development concept for the North Aud Block:

On Monday, Dec. 30, during the Town of Lewiston's final board meeting of 2019, Kiwanis Club of Lewiston President Lee Allan presented a $1,500 donation toward the Lewiston Family Ice Rink.

The Town of Porter this week released the agenda for the upcoming Lake Ontario Preparedness Committee. The group, consisting of representatives from the Town and Village of Lewiston, Town of Porter, Village of Youngstown, Village of Barker, Town and Village of Wilson, and Town of Newfane will meet at 7 p.m. Thursday, Jan. 9, at Porter Town Hall.

In honor of Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. Day, Old Fort Niagara will present a special walking tour that illuminates the hidden African American history of the fort.

DiMino Lewiston Tops once again partnered with Niagara Frontier Publications/The Sentinel to present a holiday coloring contest for children.

The 2019 Community Christmas Baskets Program, an annual project of the Youngstown Civic Guild, saw a successful conclusion in the days before Christmas.

The Town of Porter held its swearing-in ceremonies of elected officials Thursday at Town Hall.

The New York State Thruway Authority, MTA Bridges and Tunnels, and The Port Authority of New York and New Jersey announced Dec. 23 the creation of Offices of the Toll Payer Advocate for customers of these tolling agencies.

Erie County Sheriff Timothy B. Howard reports his office is investigating an armed robbery that occurred on Jan. 1, at approximately 8:15 p.m. on Grand Island.

The Island Café in Tops Friendly Markets on Grand Island Boulevard hosted the prize giveaway for winners of the Island Dispatch 2019 Christmas Coloring Contest on Dec. 20.

The Grand Island Fire Co. responded to nearly five calls a day in 2019, the company reported.

Grand Island government began the transition to a one-party Town Board with a New Year's resolution to work toward town unity.

Niagara County's first-born baby of 2020 made her debut at Niagara Falls Memorial Medical Center. Michaela Rose Lucatra arrived at 2:52 a.m. on New Year's Day. Nineteen inches long and weighing 6 pounds, 15 ounces, she is the daughter of Lindsey and Michael Lucatra of Grand Island.

New York Sea Grant has published New York's Great Lakes Coastal Resilience Index: A Community Self-Assessment guide for understanding how prepared a community is for coastal flooding and weather disasters such as wind and ice storms, ice jams and flash flooding. The publication can be read and downloaded in the "Resource: Tools" section of the New York Sea Grant website at www.seagrant.sunysb.edu/ccd/.

Eric Salisbury was appointed dog control officer in 2018 for the City of North Tonawanda. Since then, he's become something of a legend for the dog- and cat-loving community in the municipality. Recently, after several residents commended his service, the NT City Council awarded him a pay increase.