Errick Road Elementary School recently hosted its second annual "Jump Rope for Heart" to raise money for the American Heart Association.

Students and staff lined up to be sheared at the "Bald For Buck$" portion of the Buffalo Sabres Alumni vs. Faculty basketball game fundraiser at Niagara-Wheatfield High School. The event raised $8,156.76.

Niagara Cerebral Palsy is celebrating its 60th birthday with a slew of events and new initiatives for 2014.

In March, the agency is holding its fifth annual Snowflake Basket Auction, the proceeds of which benefit the programs and services provided to developmentally disabled individuals and their families. The event will be held from 4 to 8 p.m. March 21 and from noon to 5 p.m. March 22 at the Niagara Falls Elks Lodge, 1805 Fashion Outlet Blvd., Town of Niagara.

All proceeds are used to benefit the persons served by NCP.

The Wheatfield Business Association inducted its 2014 officers and board members on Feb. 17 at the Meeting Place in Bergholz. Wheatfield Supervisor Bob Cliffe welcomed the WBA members in attendance and proceeded to swear in the following slate of officers:

Honorably discharged veterans living in Niagara County are now eligible for discounts at the Catholic Cemeteries of Buffalo.

Veterans who enroll in the program through the Niagara County Clerk's office are eligible for a 20 percent discount on all services at any of the Catholic cemeteries, including Gate of Heaven Cemetery in Lewiston and Queen of Heaven Cemetery in Lockport.

"By participating in this worthwhile program, we are able to honor the selfless service of these brave men and women," said Carmen Colao, diocesan director of Catholic Cemeteries. "We are proud to recognize the countless sacrifices they have made on behalf of freedom."

There's a green ogre lurking at Niagara-Wheatfield High School, both literally and figuratively. There's also four young princesses with long red braids, sometimes they're green and sometimes not.

Richard "Ricky" Jones, a Frontier Volunteer Fire Co. firefighter and U.S. Marine stationed in San Diego, died in a California highway accident last weekend.

Cub Scouts from Pack 833 out of Adams Volunteer Fire Co. and their families took a trip to the old Flying Tigers and the home of Mercy Flight. They toured the facility and learned that Mercy Flight services more than seven different counties and is funded primary through donations.

There was joy in Wheatfield Town Hall this week at the "coming soon" possibility of a new, active Summit Park Mall.

Zoran Cocov, a Toronto developer, said Tuesday that his attorneys may have the purchase finalized by the end of the week, ending almost two years of negotiations with current owner Oberlin Plaza One LLC.

Bon-Ton, Save-A-Lot and Sears, all with exterior entrances, have continued to operate and draw customers to the Williams Road mall. However, the deteriorating interior has been closed for years and has been plagued with thefts, weather damage and broken pipes. The mall was built in 1972 and used to be a busy and active part of the community.

If your new year's resolution to get up and get in shape got up and went back to the couch, Anthony Kukovica might have the answer.

Colonial Village Elementary School held its annual Invention Convention earlier this month.

Merrell Lane, vice chairman of the Niagara Military Affairs Council and a member of the Air Force chief of staff's civic leaders program, recently met with top leaders of the U.S. Air Force at the 2014 Air Force Civic Leader Program Conference in Washington, D.C.

Col. Donald V. McGuire, a Lewiston resident, assumed command of the New York Air National Guard's 107th Mission Support Group during an assumption of command ceremony held at the Niagara Falls Air Reserve Station on Feb. 8.

Early proposals for a new memorial honoring veterans were presented to the Wheatfield Town Board by its Veterans Memorial Focus Group on Monday.

Members of the Niagara Falls Memorial Medical Center family gathered inside the hospital's main entrance Friday to show their support for National Wear Red/Go Red for Women Day. The annual observance is dedicated to raising awareness and funds to battle heart disease in women.

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