Town of Niagara youngsters were enchanted at the Recreation Department's annual Christmas party last weekend.

Opening of bids for Wheatfield's new large recycling totes added holiday cheer to Monday's Town Board meeting as bids came in lower than expected.

A four-star hotel and extra airport parking have been added to the possibilities for future use.

The Opportunities Unlimited of Niagara Foundation has 2012 Daily Drawing calendars available for $30.

The Niagara-Wheatfield Board of Education ended its regular meeting last week on a high note, offering praise to teachers and students involved in an anti-bullying project at Edward Town Middle School.

The Niagara Tourism and Convention Corp. is pleased to announce the winners of its recent holiday art contest.

Two Niagara Falls USA landmarks will partner this New Year's Eve for an outdoor celebration, as Seneca Niagara Casino & Hotel will be a "Diamond Sponsor" for the Hard Rock's New Year's Eve Guitar Drop, hosted by nearby Hard Rock Café, Niagara Falls, USA. The event closes out 2011 in a fashion befitting one of the world's most popular tourist destinations, and takes place along Old Falls Street - adjacent to Seneca Niagara.

As the holidays inch closer, it's time to celebrate the great dishes and wishes of cooking and baking this celebration season at the Niagara Holiday Market's "Taste of the Season" weekend, sponsored by Wegmans, Friday, Dec. 16, to Sunday, Dec. 18, in the heart of Niagara Falls.

The three-day event will feature cooking demonstrations, tastings/pairings, celebrity chef appearances and delicious events, as a part of the Holiday Market's successful run in the Cataract City. The events are all free and will be held at Conference Center Niagara Falls on Old Falls Street, just west of the Seneca Niagara Casino. The event will run from 11:30 a.m. to 6 p.m. each day, with beverages and food samplings.

"We're thrilled to offer three jolly and yummy days in the Falls to celebrate the best of this special time of year," said Mark Rivers, the CEO of Brix and Company, the Holiday Market's organizer. "With the magic of Wegmans, our wonderful regional purveyors and special stars, I know this will be a terrific time for something for everyone. Food and wine are a highly popular element of the market itself and, we know that folks will enjoy these special events. Please come and join us!"

Other well-known participants include: First Light Farm and Creamery, Zillycakes, Woodbury Vineyards, Flying Bison Brewery, Nectars of the Vine, All That Chocolate, Brothers of Mercy, Rosina, Sahlens, Upstate Milk and Yancey's Fancy.

Appearances by "Top Chef" winner Kevin Sbraga and Cooking Channel star Roger Mooking will headline the event.

Allegiant Travel Company will host a register-to-win event at the Fashion Outlets of Niagara Falls USA on Wednesday, Dec. 14. Participants can enter to win a vacation package to either Orlando or Tampa Bay. Each winner will receive round-trip air travel, as well as accommodations at one of Allegiant's premier hotel partners, for four.

The Honorable David C. Onley will ring in the new year at Fort George National Historic Site in Niagara-on-the-Lake; the first event marking the bicentennial of the War of 1812 in the Niagara Region. Parks Canada will open the gates of Fort George to welcome regional residents and visitors to tour the buildings, watch the military and music demonstrations and learn more from site staff about its history and role in the War of 1812.

'Tis the season to be jolly.

Not feeling it yet? Well perhaps The Wilson "Community Christmas Celebration" will give you a reason to celebrate? This event promises to get you ready for Christmas and perhaps replace some of the missing cash from your wallet at the same time.

The Niagara County Diabetes Educational Program will conduct its next class on Tuesday, Jan. 3, 2012, at 7 p.m. inside Grace Lutheran Church, 716 Cayuga Drive (at Pershing Avenue), Niagara Falls.

The Weinberg Campus Garden Club Day Program provides a service to the community for those with memory impairment and their families. Its safe and secure day program includes engaging activities for the memory impaired, nutritious and enjoyable meals and snacks, and an elopement monitoring system to ensure safety.

The Bobby Militello Quartet, Al Jardine's Endless Summer Band, Joyryde and the Hitmen Horns headlines Niagara Falls Memorial Medical Center's annual benefit, "The Premier," at 5:30 p.m. on Jan. 14, 2012, at the Seneca Niagara Casino & Hotel in Niagara Falls.

Take a Christmas tour with "Jolly Old St. Nick" this weekend.

The historic Village Inn building in Lewiston is set to move.

John Ceretto, R-I-Lewiston, participated in a joint appearance Monday with U.S. Sen. Charles Schumer and Niagara Falls Mayor Paul Dyster to announce support for a fast tracking of federal funds to demolish a southern portion of the Robert Moses Parkway.

The project aims to remove the Robert Moses Parkway between John Daly Boulevard and Main Street and replace it with a park road, creating pedestrian access between Main Street and the Waterfront Park. Ceretto credited the plan as a boon for residents of Niagara Falls and a project that can create jobs in Niagara County.

"I have been a constant voice for finding ways for the City of Niagara Falls to attract the visitors that come to Niagara Falls State Park," said Ceretto. "This will ensure greater activity around our hotels, our casino and our restaurants, and develop our waterfront."

Environmental Conservation Chairman Sen. Mark Grisanti and Sen. Patrick M. Gallivan heard testimony from numerous groups today that included members of the hydrofracking industry, statewide environmental groups, scientists and academics, all individuals who understand the issue of hydraulic fracturing.

Representatives from Coca-Cola Bottling Company of Buffalo and Tops Friendly Markets today announced a customer-driven fundraising campaign to raise funds for patient quality-of-life programs at Roswell Park Cancer Institute.

Border Community SERVICE of Niagara University is offering a free emergency preparedness workshop for all Western New York Boy Scouts and Girl Scouts.

The Roswell Park Cancer Institute Genome Project was approved Thursday as part of Gov. Andrew Cuomo's Regional Economic Development Council initiative.

In conjunction with the collection and distribution program at Historic Holy Trinity, a fundraiser will be held on Saturday, Dec. 17, at the former Holy Trinity School, 1419 Falls St., Niagara Falls. The hours are 10 a.m. to 1 p.m.

From Jan. 20-28, 2012, NU Theatre's annual Short Play Festival makes for a fascinating dose of theater - and at bargain prices.

The St. Francis Guild Auxiliary of Mount St. Mary's Hospital recently presented a check in the amount of $60,000 to President Judith Maness.

National Grid understands the importance of celebrating the holiday season with family and friends, and warm, colorful lighting.

Members of the new Lake Ontario Ordnance Works Restoration Advisory Board met for what could be termed a very constructive session, Tuesday, Dec. 6, at the Lewiston-Porter Community Resource Building alumni room.

As part of this weekend's Youngstown "Christmas in the Village," members of Youngstown Boy Scout Troop 829 and Pack 829, Youngstown Girl Scouts and the Youngstown Volunteer Fire Co. Explorers will be conducting their food collection drive tomorrow en route to packing and distribution to area needy next weekend. And they are asking for your help.

The Niagara Orleans Masons recently held a golf tournament at Willowbrook Golf Course to benefit Niagara Hospice.

The Helping Hands dinner dance is scheduled for Saturday, Dec. 17, at the Cornell Cooperative Extension of Niagara County, 4487 Lake Ave., Lockport. The event runs from 5 to 11 p.m., and is presented by Former Troopers Helping Hands Inc., sponsored by the Association of Former New York State Troopers Inc., Niagara Frontier Chapter.

Assemblyman John Ceretto, R-I-Lewiston, spoke Thursday on Western New York's receipt of $100.3 million through the Regional Economic Development Program in economic development funding and tax credits to help revitalize its local economy and create jobs. The funding was distributed according to a merit-based system in which the 10 regional councils competed for competitive grants.

Assemblyman John Ceretto, R-I-Lewiston, released the following statement Thursday regarding his vote to pass Gov. Andrew Cuomo's tax-reform package:

The Niagara Region of the Office of New York State Parks, Recreation and Historic Preservation has announced its winter 2012 programming, which starts with a "First Day Hike" on Jan. 1, 2012. As always, events are free and open to the public, but registration is always encouraged due to limited space.

State Sen. Mark Grisanti Thursday announced his endorsement of Gov. Andrew Cuomo's plan to overhaul state income tax rates as a means toward middle class tax relief.

Holiday themed events within the local community.

A local tradition continues this holiday season. The Greater Niagara Ballet Company presents its 34th annual production of "The Nutcracker."

The Lewiston Community Lions Club and new entertainment store Family Video are getting into the holiday spirit and donating time and resources to the less fortunate.

Pop or soda, the generic term for carbonated beverages has been a source of friendly debate between soft drink aficionados for decades.

From the Niagara USA Chamber:

Gov. Andrew Cuomo and the Regional Economic Development Council have announced the economic development awards. The Niagara USA Chamber of Commerce is happy to announce that the Western New York Regional Economic Council was awarded $100.3 million for economic development projects, and was also named one of the "Best Plan" awardees.

Many Niagara County projects received funding, including $2 million for Niagara County Community College's Culinary Institute, $970,000 to complete the Niagara Falls Airport's master plan, and $400,000 for Lockport's Home Ownership Program.

Calspan, a Niagara USA Chamber member, received $1.294 million.

Representatives from Roswell Park Cancer Institute and Dunkin' Donuts gather to announce the "Cups for Roswell" program at Roswell Park Cancer Institute in Buffalo on Wednesday.