"Summer vacation" and "teacher" - when used in the same sentence these words typically produce responses varying from eye-rolling and head-shaking to exclamations of "Boy, it would be nice to have a job that gave me summers off."

Jim and Julie Hibbard have opened a new Hibbard's Original Frozen Custard location at the sweet shop located next to Clancy's (formerly Page's Whistle Pig) at the corner of Packard and Military roads, in Niagara Falls.

The Niagara Falls Air Reserve Station hosted a groundbreaking ceremony for a C-130 aircraft simulator.

There's a new sheriff in town ... well actually, she's not a sheriff, but she is a peace officer for the Niagara County SPCA.

Niagara Organizing Alliance for Hope, or NOAH, a faith-based community organizing effort, will team with four congregations in Lockport to produce the first "Celebrate Lockport" event on Aug. 23.

The 115th annual Western New York Volunteer Fireman's Association Convention, hosted by the St. Johnsburg Volunteer Fire Co., was held July 23-26 in Wheatfield.

On July 16, Cub Scouts from Pack 833 out of Adams Firehall and their families took a trip to Regal Tips in Niagara Falls to see how and where drumsticks, drum brushes and many other cool items are actually made.

On June 12, Jessica Lamson and Brian Zuch were honored with the Niagara-Wheatfield Kiwanis' 2014 scholarship awards. The recipients and their families were treated to dinner at the Jetport Family Restaurant before Kiwanis President Mary Dohm presented the scholarship awards.

Local leaders came out in force Wednesday night to thank volunteer firefighters and EMS workers as the Western New York Volunteer Firemen's Association kicked off its 115th annual convention at the St. Johnsburg Firehall in Wheatfield.

Some 1,000 volunteer firefighters, fire police and emergency medical services personnel are expected to arrive in Wheatfield for the 115th annual Western New York Volunteer Fireman's Association Convention.

Anastasia Bajer, 2, of Sanborn, pets a goat at Olde Sanborn Days last weekend.

Quasar Energy Group's local representative Nate Carr is usually a minority of one at Wheatfield Town Board meetings when use of the company's equate as a farm fertilizer is discussed.

At Monday's board meeting, he brought reinforcements in the form of the Ohio-based company's Vice President for Technical Affairs Bruce Bailey and attorney Paul Keneally. The message was that the anaerobic digestion facility on Liberty Drive is not going to be driven out of town, and the town's moratorium and proposed ban on use of equate and building of a storage facility could be facing lawsuits.

Former Town of Niagara Supervisor Steve Richards received the expected sentence of three years probation from State Supreme Court Justice Christopher J. Burns on Monday in Lockport.

Burns said Richards could not be a political candidate during probation.

Richards had pleaded guilty to one misdemeanor charge on May 5 after being brought up on what started as 23 counts of official misconduct by the state attorney general's office. Richards' guilty plea involved having town employees pick up a drain and install it at his business.

As part of the agreement, Richards resigned from office and paid about $1,200 in restitution.

Remember the old Starlite drive-in movie on Military Road? The Town of Niagara can't bring back the joys of sitting in or on the hood of your car to watch the latest movies in the summertime in what is now Wegmans Plaza. However, local residents can bring the family and spread a blanket or bring a lawn chair to Veterans Park on Lockport Road (across from Town Hall) this summer to watch outdoor movies on a giant screen.

Puzzling Pixel LLC is a new company based out of Niagara Falls that helps business owners and organizations develop mobile ready websites and mobile apps.

A group of students at Niagara-Wheatfield High School have had a lot of questions about why more funding can't be obtained for their district.

More than 100 flags of various sizes are part of the annual Fourth of July display at the home of Paul Greinert, 6962 Errick Road, Wheatfield.

Covanta Niagara presented $250,000 to Niagara County Community College President James P. Klyczek and several members of the NCCC board of trustees, NCCC Foundation board of directors, and NCCC distinguished alumnus State Sen. George Maziarz Tuesday evening.

The June 18 Niagara-Wheatfield Board of Education meeting was a night of "beginnings and endings, from celebrating retirees and graduates to welcoming aspiring youth."

Tuesday's Town of Niagara Town Board meeting brought lots of smiles and good news for residents.

It started out on a high note with the presentation of a certificate to longtime resident Fannie Scalzo honoring her 100th birthday on June 7. Most of Scalzo's descendants also live in the Town of Niagara.

Four members of the Niagara-Wheatfield varsity soccer team have won the state cup in their respective age bracket and will travel to Rhode Island to compete in regional competition with their premier teams at the end of the month.

Assemblyman John Ceretto, R-C-I-Lewiston, helped passed a bill, A.10051, that would allow the Town of Niagara to sell certain lands that have been designated as parklands. These parklands the town is authorized to sell have gone unused for the past decade and have been replaced by new parklands. This move allows the town to sell the lands for economic development and improve the local economy.

"I was happy to carry this important local measure through the Assembly," Ceretto said. "Economic development and job creation are among my highest priorities, and this bill allows the Town of Niagara to expand its economy.

Wheatfield residents Monica Daigler and Julie Otto spent the day in Albany on Tuesday lobbying for legislation to require food produced with fertilizer made from sewage sludge to be labeled. They were hosted by Assemblyman John Ceretto (R-C-I-Lewiston), State Sen. George Maziarz (R-C-I-Newfane) and Assemblyman Ray Walter (R-C-I-Amherst).

For the fifth year in a row, a team from the New York Air National Guard's 107th Airlift Wing has won the annual "TAG (The Adjutant General) Match," held May 31 to June 1 at Camp Smith Training Site, Cortland Manor.

On Wednesday, May 5, 1982, at approximately 12:30 p.m., 2-1⁄2-year-old Russell Mort disappeared from his fenced-in backyard at 2080 River Road, Lot 140, in the Town of Wheatfield.

After 32 years, the Niagara County Sheriff's Office continues to actively investigate this missing person case.

The annual "Soldiers Through the Ages" at Old Fort Niagara saw large numbers of people come to learn about the evolution of military life, gear and tactics. (photos by Wayne Peters)

The week of May 18-24 was National EMS Week. This year's theme was "EMS: Dedicated for Life." On May 21, Tri-Community Ambulance Service was proud to witness the recognition of a few of its own at the annual EMS Awards Dinner hosted by Mount St. Mary's Hospital and Health Center in Lewiston at the Niagara Falls Country Club.

On Monday, the Town of Niagara Lions and Lioness Clubs observed Memorial Day with a ceremony at the Witmer Road Cemetery in the Town of Niagara.

The American Legion Wheatfield Post 1451 held its Memorial Day observance at the war memorial at the town garage on Ward Road.

Niagara Hospice and the Schoellkopf Health Center held a dedication celebration Wednesday at David's Path, a dedicated hospice unit on the Niagara Falls Memorial Medical Center campus.

"I feel like 20 pounds lighter!" the tired but happy Niagara-Wheatfield School District Superintendent Dr. Lynn Fusco exclaimed Tuesday night.

Unofficial results had just been announced that voters approved the $64.6 million N-W budget for 2014-15 by a vote of 2,559 to 1,528, despite an expected 4.78 percent increase in the tax levy (right at the district's tax cap).

The American Legion and American Legion Auxiliary Wheatfield Post 1451 have selected their candidates to represent Niagara-Wheatfield High School at the Empire Boys State and Girls State Program this summer.

Town of Niagara Town Clerk Sylvia Virtuoso was unanimously chosen Wednesday by the Town Board to be deputy supervisor and oversee town business in the absence of Supervisor Steve Richards.

Niagara Cerebral Palsy is holding its 22nd annual "Matthew J. Murphy Jr. On the Tee fore NCP" golf tournament, June 13 at Seneca Hickory Stick Golf Course, 4560 Creek Road, Lewiston. Registration and lunch are at noon, with a shotgun start at 1 p.m. Proceeds from the event benefit NCP's adult vocational program.

The event will celebrate the agency's 60th anniversary, in addition to unveiling a new award, "The Chairman's Award." This year's recipient is James Catanese.

The 31st annual Roger W. Andrews Senior Citizen Breakfast will begin at 8:30 a.m. Saturday, May 10, at the Niagara-Wheatfield High School cafeteria. The free event includes a free full breakfast, prizes, a geranium to every attendee, and a tribute to all veterans. All Niagara-Wheatfield area senior citizens 50 years and older are welcome.

Firehouse Subs, a member of the Niagara River Region Chamber of Commerce, held a grand opening ribbon-cutting with members of the chamber, elected officials, Fashion Outlets of Niagara staff and Niagara Active House Fire Co.

Bryan Lozinsky of Lewiston and Norm Schneider of Getzville met while working together over the years as meat cutters for area grocery stores.

About five years ago, the two friends started making their own sausage out of their homes for family, friends and for sale.

The Town of Niagara Lions Club held a pancake breakfast last Sunday at the St. Vincent de Paul Parish St. Leo's site in the Town of Niagara. Senior citizens ate for free.

Town of Niagara Supervisor Steve Richards submitted his official resignation and retirement to the town last Friday and on Monday pleaded guilty to a reduced charge of official misconduct before State Supreme Court Justice Christopher Burns in Lockport.

Attorney General Eric T. Schneiderman announced the conviction Monday of Steven C. Richards and his immediate retirement as Town of Niagara supervisor. Richards, 61, of Lawson Drive in Niagara, pleaded guilty to official misconduct, a class A misdemeanor, before the Hon. Christopher J. Burns in Niagara County Court. Sentencing is scheduled for July 14.

"Steven Richards has admitted that he misused his position and used town resources to benefit himself personally, abusing both his office and the trust placed in him by the public," Schneiderman said. "He has vacated his office and submitted his retirement papers last week. With Richards' retirement and guilty plea, we have ensured that hardworking Niagara families will no longer have to pay for their town supervisor's personal use of town property and resources."