It was a small turnout for the Niagara-Wheatfield bus vote Tuesday, evening, but the district got a definite nod to purchase up to five new school buses at a cost not to exceed $500,000.

With only 683 residents voting, the final tally was 472 yes votes and only 211 no.

The district serves all of Town of Niagara, most of Wheatfield and parts of Cambria and Lewiston. Essentially, anyone who is a citizen more than 18 years old and who has lived in the district for more than 30 days can vote.

The Niagara-Wheatfield boys swim team collected a Niagara Frontier League first place with its 200 medley relay team scoring a time of 1:45.25 at last weekend's NFL meet at Lockport High School.

The Niagara Military Affairs Council recently recognized nine regional leaders for successful completion of the organization's Niagara Commanders program.

Pictured is a rehearsal scene for Theater in the Mist's production of "Driving Miss Daisy," which opens this Friday at 7:30 p.m. on the Stella Niagara stage.

Jan. 25 marked a special evening for Lewiston No. 2 Volunteer Fire Co. at its 72nd installation of officers' dinner at the firehall on Saunders Settlement Road. It was a time for the fire company family to remember and honor one of its own.

Quasar bounced back in the news this week at the Wheatfield Town Board meeting with an announcement that company officials will speak at a public information meeting Feb. 24.

The company wants to discuss with the board a site plan modification for an accessory storage tank for equate at the Quasar facility on Liberty Drive.

The meeting will begin at 7 p.m., prior to the regular Town Board meeting at Town Hall.

"It's an information meeting. It's nothing more than that," Town Supervisor Bob Cliffe emphasized. "The folks from Quasar will come and give us their ideas and talk about their design."

Niagara Falls Memorial Medical Center inaugurated a revolutionary new coordinated care program Thursday that will integrate behavioral health, primary care, wellness services, and community and social support services under one roof.

Named the Niagara Wellness Connection Center, the outpatient program will be housed in a newly constructed, $1.98 million facility on the sixth floor of Memorial's Schoellkopf Building (S-6). It will enhance accessibility, improve patient outcomes and reduce the cost of care by reducing emergency room visits and hospital admissions.

The Buffalo Zoo welcomes Jester the California sea lion.

Jester was born at SeaWorld in Orlando, Fla., in May 2002. He was a part of the U.S. marine mammal Navy program until December 2006, when he was transferred to the Aquarium of Niagara.

Opportunities Unlimited of Niagara, the Niagara County chapter of NYSARC Inc., has announced receipt of a $6,000 grant from the trustees of the NYSARC Trusts to support recreational opportunities for more than 150 individuals with intellectual and other developmental disabilities served by the agency who live in the community.

St. Francis of Assisi School, 70 Adam St., Tonawanda, will hold its annual spaghetti dinner and theme tray raffle from 3 to 7 p.m. Saturday, Feb. 1.

The Niagara County Sheriff's Office, New York State Police, Niagara Falls Police Department, Middleport Police Department and the Lockport Police Department are currently investigating a string of armed robberies that have occurred throughout Niagara County, between Dec. 24, 2013, to Jan. 9, 2014.

Niagara-Wheatfield teachers Lori Pruyn and Nicole Pasceri decided to give their students a lesson on the true meaning of the holidays. They told them about some new residents in the Buffalo area, many who had to flee their country with little more than the clothes on their backs to escape to a safer country.

Wheatfield resident Daniel Jaenecke has become an Eagle Scout thanks to helping his mom.

The second annual Operation Warmth took place on Saturday, Jan. 4, with a total of 434 items including coats (212), hats and gloves distributed. The distribution targeted homeless veterans and those in need in the City of Niagara Falls.

The Town of Niagara Beautification Committee has recognized outstanding efforts in Christmas decorating by town residents.

Chris Castellani, owner of Supermarket Liquors & Wines, and patrons of his store, located at 8438 Niagara Falls Blvd., made a major donation to the Toys for Tots Program just before the holidays.

The New York Army and Air National Guard expected to have provided military funeral services to more than 11,560 families in 2013 by the time New Year's Eve revelers welcomed the start of 2014.

Several Niagara County lawmakers took their oaths of office Wednesday as a new Legislature with three new faces began to take place around a core of veterans, including an 11-member supermajority that will continue to lead the deliberative body after 10 years in charge.

Marguerite C. Newton, design drafting technology professor at Niagara County Community College, received the Dr. Carol Jamieson Award at a ceremony held recently on the NCCC Sanborn campus.

The Town of Wheatfield Lions Club and Pellicano's Meat and Produce Store are providing 16 food baskets for needy families in the Town of Wheatfield.

Cold, snowy weather didn't stop Town of Niagara youngsters from enjoying the annual Recreation Department Christmas Party.

The Wheatfield Town Board said "so long" to one of its own as it honored Councilman Kenneth Retzlaff.

Lighted Christmas displays are once again delighting passersby at the residence of Paul Greinert, 6962 Errick Road, Wheatfield.

The main attraction at the annual Wheatfield Christmas party for town youngsters was, of course, the big man himself and Mrs. Claus, too.

The Adams Volunteer Fire Co. will hold its annual Santa Claus Drive by visiting area neighborhoods in its fire district

Santa is coming to the front of the DePlato house at 2430 Washington St., Bergholz, from 6 to 8 p.m. Saturdays, Dec. 14 and 21.

The 2013 K-Kids (Kiwanis Kids) of West Street Elementary School recently opened the first assembly at their school. As each member introduced themselves on stage they articulated the "7 Habits of Highly Effective People," a book by Stephen R. Covey, a leadership/ take responsibility outline.

It's time for a serious message from the shelter. The Niagara County SPCA made the commitment to become a no-kill shelter in July of 2012, and we consistently work toward saving every animal that we can regardless of cost; regardless of physical space; regardless of the constraints in staffing, compensation from contracts and resources in general.

Without a doubt it has been a struggle for the shelter both financially and in terms of space.

Members of Western New York's Congressional delegation are pressing the Department of Homeland Security to establish missions at the Niagara Falls Air Reserve Station.

In a letter to the acting secretary of DHS, Congressmen Chris Collins and Brian Higgins, joined U.S. sens. Kirsten Gillibrand and Charles Schumer in urging the department to consider NFARS as a regional location for several DHS missions, including Immigration and Customs Enforcement, Customers and Border Protection, and certain operations of the U.S. Coast Guard.

Tim and Mary Hayes, lifelong residents of Wheatfield, where they have also raised their two sons, have always been the first in line to help someone in need.

Gettysburg wasn't the only place celebrating the 150th anniversary of Abraham Lincoln's delivery of The Gettysburg Address on Tuesday.

Adell's School of Dance took first place in the dance segment of the Niagara Electric Lights Parade, hosted by the Town of Niagara Business Association. The parade routine was presented by the studio's performance competition team, pictured, which is comprised of 70 dancers from the region.

The Niagara County SPCA is pairing with local veterans' groups and representatives from Niagara University to bring healing to veterans in the community and animals in the animal shelter.

On Monday, Nov. 11, the Town of Niagara Lions and Lioness clubs will host their annual Veterans Day ceremony at 11 a.m. at Veterans Heights Park, located at the intersection of Lawson and Bellreng drives in the Town of Niagara.

Official election results haven't been released by the Niagara County Board of Elections yet, but unofficial results show Republicans and incumbents did well in Tuesday's races.

The winners were announced for the Niagara Electric Lights Parade held along Military Road in the Town of Niagara. The parade was judged by NY-PENN Judging Association Inc.

Members of the Grand Island, Lewiston/Niagara-on-the-Lake, Niagara County and Fort Erie Rotary clubs got together on Oct. 30 for chili from Ms. Thank You at the Lewiston Moose Lodge, followed by a ghost walk by the Lewiston Council on the Arts' Marble Orchard Players.

Proud fourth-graders at Errick Road Elementary recently unveiled their first outdoor sculpture titled "Vertebrate Spines."

The ninth annual Electric Lights Parade will once again jump-start the holiday season, starting at 5:30 p.m. Saturday, Nov. 2, along Military Road in the Town of Niagara.

Students and staff at Niagara Wheatfield's West Street Elementary School had a visit from the Sanborn Volunteer Fire Department in honor of Fire Prevention Week.