After President Obama and Canadian Prime Minister Harper today announced a new joint action plan to reduce travel times and enhance border security between the U.S. and Canada, Congresswoman Hochul released the following statement:

In the wake of the Niagara Parks Commission's decision not to recommend support for Nik Wallenda's proposal for a tightrope walk across the Niagara Gorge, representatives from New York State are encouraging Wallenda to continue his pursuit directly with Canadian officials.

The Niagara Parks Commission has rejected a bid by daredevil Nik Wallenda to cross the Horseshoe Falls on a tightrope.

"Safety and our responsibility to preserve and protect the falls, and all those who wish to view its beauty, are our paramount concern in reaching the decision we have," said NPC Chairwoman Janice Thomson.

The denial comes three weeks to the day after Wallenda made a personal pitch to the commission, which has a long history of denying what it considers to be stunts. The NPC controls all provincial parks in and around the falls and a tract of parkway that runs from Niagara-on-the-Lake to Fort Erie.

"What we're doing is re-affirming our policy against stunting," said Thomson.

The 10-member commission held a conference call Tuesday night. At that time commissioners were asked if they wanted to re-open discussion of the Wallenda proposal. However, actual voting was done on an individual basis with Thomson; the commissioners do not know how others voted.

The Opportunities Unlimited of Niagara Foundation's gift-wrap booth is open through Saturday, Dec. 24.

The City of Lockport Refuse and Recycling Committee announces Friday, Dec. 9, will be the final day for residents to make changes to their cart size. Call the City of Lockport refuse and recycling hotline at 716-439-6752 or email [email protected] by 3 p.m. Friday to make a request. Include your name, address, contact phone number, current cart size and desired cart size.

Remember and honor all of those who died on that day by lowering your flag to half-staff from sunrise to sunset on Pearl Harbor Day, Dec. 7.

The Niagara University Danceline is sponsoring its third annual dance clinic for girls ages 6 to 14 on Sunday, Jan. 29, 2012 at Niagara University.

Assemblyman John Ceretto had the honor Tuesday of acting as "Principal of the Day" at the Niagara Street School.

Patricia McGee, founder of McGee Coaching, presented "Center of the Hourglass - Middle Management - Sink or Swim?" Tuesday as part of the NU Family Business Center breakfast forum at Sonoma Grille.

Pam Buccirosso is the featured artist this month at The Winery at Marjim Manor.

The Niagara Parks Commission sure has its hands full on this Nik Wallenda wirewalk deal for the Niagara Gorge, and they probably never saw it coming.

'Flames Through Lewiston' highlights British attack during the War of 1812.

Village of Lewiston Mayor Terry Collesano said Monday his board has been inundated with comments suggesting Gary Hall build his proposed recreation center in the Village of Lewiston. Many, too, he said, have complained about comments made last month by those who oppose the building's suggested placement behind the Red Brick Municipal Building. Trustees, Collesano said, want to hear from all residents, and not just one segment. So, the Village Board is hosting a public forum on the recreation center idea at 6 p.m. on Monday, Jan. 9, 2012.

Representatives from the Buffalo Niagara Association of Realtors joined 18,000 other Realtors and guests from across the country at the REALTORS Conference & Expo held in Anaheim, Calif., Nov. 11-14.

The year's meetings encouraged Realtors to "seize the day" for the real estate industry to defend and support the rights of homeowners and real estate investors across the nation. Attendees participated in forums and shared their insights into the challenges and opportunities of local markets across the country, examined how changing political and economic landscapes are likely to affect the real estate industry, and networked with colleagues from across the U.S. and around the world.

John Ceretto and Richard Pope were on hand as a new household hazardous waste disposal unit was installed in the Village of Lewiston.

The Polish Writers Union has bestowed the honor of Best Book of 2011 in poetry on "Winter Vision," a poetry collection by Western New York author Robert M. Giannetti.

"Christmas Belles" will ring in the December season on the Stella Niagara stage in Lewiston. This rollicking comedy, presented by Theatre in the Mist, brings Fayro, Texas, to the forefront as the Futrelle sisters try to bring an updated Christmas program to the Tabernacle of the Lamb.

State Supreme Court Justice Richard C. Kloch Sr. took no action Thursday morning on a motion to dismiss the lawsuit Jerome Williams and Lewiston Management Group LLC filed against Whirlpool Jet Boat Tours and the Village of Lewiston.

Holiday-related festivities are going full swing throughout northern Niagara.

The Wilson Free Library will host its second annual Christmas Tour of Homes on Saturday, Dec. 10, from 11 a.m. to 3 p.m.

Members of the Assembly Republicans' Western New York delegation today sent a letter to Lt. Gov. Robert Duffy; Kenneth Adams, president and CEO of Empire State Development; and members of the state's Strategic Plan Review Committee urging them to closely analyze Western New York's regional economic development strategic plan and allocate the funding needed to help revitalize the regional economy.

New York State Senator Mark Grisanti has scheduled three more bi-partisan listening sessions in the 60th Senate District.

The Niagara County Native Coalition invites Niagara Falls-area Native American families to come and enjoy festive fun, friends and lunch on Saturday, Dec. 10, from 1 to 4 p.m. at Zion Evangelical Lutheran Church, 1010 Michigan Ave., Niagara Falls.

WHAT: Celebration of the grand opening of the new KeyBank Pine Avenue branch. The 2,356-square-foot branch is one of 40 new KeyBank branches projected to open in 2011; four new branches and six ATM kiosks to open in the Western New York market.

An information campaign regarding the Grand Island Central School District capital project vote ramps up into high gear Monday.

The Niagara Parks Commission will meet via conference call over the next few days to make a final decision on daredevil Nik Wallenda's bid to stage a tightrope walk over the Niagara Gorge.

NPC Chairwoman Janice Thomson said commissioners and staff are currently reviewing information Wallenda provided when he appeared at a commission meeting Nov. 16. Wallenda and his delegation spoke for 12 minutes about his desire to walk across a steel and rope cable between the United States and Canada just in front of the Horseshoe Falls. Commissioners did not ask any questions.

"We have his economic impact statement and the walk proposal document," Thomson said. "The commissioners are going through that and staff has been asked to do the same thing and see if there was anything in it that we need to know and get back to us. We'll be getting that report (from general manager Fay Booker) and having a conference call and discussing the information at that time."

Reckless and impaired driving is among the leading causes of combat veterans dying or serving jail time when they return home.

The Buffalo Niagara Partnership is launching "Government Unplugged," a series that connects young professionals with elected officials. Tonight will be the first event of the series, featuring State Sen. Mark Grisanti and facilitated by Gary Schober, president and CEO of Hodgson Russ.

First Niagara Bank will present the 2011 "Downtown Christmas Tree Lighting Celebration" on Saturday, Dec. 3, in Buffalo.

The St. Francis Guild of Mount St. Mary's Hospital will conduct its annual Holiday Bazaar from 8 a.m. to 4 p.m. on Friday, Dec. 9. It will be held in the hospital's south (main) lobby. Gift items will be offered along with holiday centerpieces, gift baskets, jewelry, toys, candles and boutique items.

By spring, Wheatfield residents should be wheeling out 64-gallon totes filled with recyclables to the end of their driveways every other week.

The Town Board on Monday awarded a three-year contract for refuse and recycling to Modern Disposal. Supervisor Bob Cliffe said Modern offered the town the best deal and the most return on recycling over the other two bidders, Waste Management and Allied Recycling.

Modern offered a guaranteed minimum recycling rebate to the town of $30,000 per year, which would reduce the town's total three-year cost for refuse removal to $2,466,548 or less. The contract includes the possibility of two two-year extensions.

Final contract details have yet to be negotiated with Modern and a bid awarded for the totes.

On Saturday, Dec. 3, the Niagara County Department of Health, in cooperation with City of North Tonawanda officials, will operate a combined animal and human vaccination clinic from 2 to 4 p.m. at the Department of Public Works, 758 Erie Ave., North Tonawanda.

Niagara Hospice volunteers ask that any quilters in the community consider joining their cause to ensure each patient receiving Niagara Hospice services receives a handmade quilt.

The holidays are a good time for family caregivers returning home to tune into the signs that an older adult may need extra help to remain safe at home.

The second annual Native American Children's Benefit Concert will be held from 7 to 9 p.m. Saturday, Dec. 3, at the Lewiston Opera Hall, 732 Center St., Lewiston.

A Niagara University-facilitated initiative aimed at improving the health of Niagara Falls residents received a significant boost in the form of a $10,805 grant from the Community Health Foundation of Western and Central New York. The funding will supplement a $300,000 grant that was awarded for the project by The John R. Oishei Foundation in spring 2011.

Assemblyman John Ceretto, R-I-Lewiston, today urged the strategic plan review committee to closely analyze today's presentation by the Western New York Regional Economic Development Council.

Daredevil Nik Wallenda is choosing to see the glass half full after learning Premier Dalton McGuinty called his bid to wirewalk the Niagara Gorge an "exciting" proposal but one he's content to leave in the hands of Niagara Parks commissioners for now.