The Erie Canal Harbor Development Corp. board of directors met Monday and moved forward on plans to redevelop the South Aud Block at Canalside in Buffalo by entering into contracts with Ehrenkrantz, Eckstut & Kuhn, a Perkins Eastman Company, and Fontanese Folts Aurbrecht Ernst for architectural and engineering services.

Sunnking Inc., in partnership with Camp Good Days and Special Times, has created a program called "E-Scrap 4 Camp." This program facilitates the recycling of old electronics from participating local businesses to generate funds for Camp Good Days and Special Times.

On Thursday, Feb. 13, Niagara Falls High School will host a rescheduling of an education summit to discuss the impact of the Common Core Standards on New York state schools. One of the summit's key speakers will be Dr. Walter Polka, a Niagara University professor and former superintendent of the Lewiston-Porter Central School District.

Though temperatures in the area warmed up a bit at the start of the month, ice fishing continued at Wilson Harbor.

The Niagara River Region Chamber of Commerce will honor 10 businesses and individuals at its annual Chamber Awards Gala Friday, May 16, at the Niagara Falls Country Club in Lewiston.

Gov. Andrew M. Cuomo has announced the launch of the largest business competition in the U.S. Details for the Buffalo competition, as well as its new brand, 43North (www.43North.org), were revealed at a press conference at One Canalside, a newly rehabbed building overlooking the transformative new construction along Buffalo's waterfront.

CVS Caremark announced today it will stop selling cigarettes and other tobacco products at its more than 7,600 CVS/pharmacy stores across the U.S. by Oct. 1, making CVS/pharmacy the first national pharmacy chain to take this step in support of the health and well-being of its patients and customers.

"Ending the sale of cigarettes and tobacco products at CVS/pharmacy is the right thing for us to do for our customers and our company to help people on their path to better health," said Larry J. Merlo, president and CEO of CVS Caremark. "Put simply, the sale of tobacco products is inconsistent with our purpose."

"Love Letters to Niagara USA" is an anthology of reflections on places and people in Niagara County, by local residents or visitors to the region.

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

Food truck owners will have to park their mobile eateries someplace else.

After receiving feedback from local business owners opposed to food trucks, trustees let it be known they will not allow such an operation in the village.

"I think our minds are pretty much made up," Mayor Terry Collesano told members of the River Region Chamber of Commerce prior to the trustees' monthly work session Monday.

NBCUniversal will surround the XXII Olympic Winter Games in Sochi, Russia, with the most extensive multi-platform coverage and promotion in Winter Games history. The 2014 Olympic Winter Games are an "NBCUniversal Gold Symphony" initiative, which leverages the company's promotional resources to drive awareness to key events.

William Paladino met with the Village of Lewiston Planning Board Wednesday to update members on the status of his development plan. The Ellicott Development CEO intends to create a U-shaped plaza with three main units: 1) two restaurants (one fast food) and a retail store; 2) a two-story retail/bank/commercial building; and 3) a drug store. He may build condos on the lot's west end, too.

"It's taken us long to get to this point, because every time we move or tweak anything, it has to go back to the engineers and they've got to redo everything because of the site grades and slopes and things of that nature," Paladino said.

Niagara Frontier Publications Publisher Skip Mazenauer was presented the Niagara University Family Business Center Vision Award on Jan. 29. The award recognizes businesspeople who are successful, lead a family- or privately owned Western New York business, are committed to benefiting the community, and who have created something when others did not foresee an opportunity.

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.

Earlier this week, Niagara Frontier Publications learned Beatles drummer Ringo Starr & His All Starr Band were booked to play this summer at Artpark in Lewiston. The group will perform in the outdoor amphitheater Tuesday, June 24.

The John R. Oishei Foundation has made a gift of $5 million to the University at Buffalo to support construction of the new UB School of Medicine and Biomedical Sciences building on the Buffalo Niagara Medical Campus.

This year's "Pathways to Careers" internship partnership involving Mount St. Mary's, Niagara Catholic and Niagara University featured students Mackenzie Lozina and Ryan Prawel, both of NC. The pair is shown with the displays they created and exhibited in the hospital lobby as the final component of their project.

The New York Power Authority board of trustees approved funding Tuesday of up to $2 million for preliminary engineering and environmental review for the first phase of the Niagara Gorge Corridor Project, which is intended to facilitate unimpeded pedestrian and bicycle access to the gorge rim from City of Niagara Falls neighborhoods abutting the Robert Moses Parkway while making possible the restoration of natural landscapes along the gorge.

"The Power Authority is happy to be able to help kick-start the initial phase of the Niagara Gorge Corridor Project," said John R. Koelmel, NYPA chairman.

Congressman Brian Higgins, D-NY-26, applauded action by the New York Power Authority board of trustees to approve $2 million toward a project to remove portions of the Robert Moses Parkway in Niagara Falls.

NYPA funding will pay for engineering and environmental clearance for phase one of the Robert Moses Parkway project, officially called the Niagara Gorge Corridor Project, which extends from NYS Route 104 (Main Street) to Findlay Drive in Niagara Falls. According to the agreement, NYPA will pay for:

The Niagara USA Chamber proudly presents the Chamber Honors 2014 annual dinner Friday, March 14, at Seneca Niagara Casino & Hotel Event Center, 310 Fourth St., Niagara Falls. This year's honorees are:

Niagara Falls was thinking spring over the weekend as The Greater Niagara Fishing & Outdoor Expo took place inside The Conference & Event Center Niagara Falls.

The Goo Goo Dolls will hit the road in April for a spring acoustic tour, called The Otis Midnight Sessions. The shows will be performed in a "Story Tellers" format that enables the multi-platinum, Grammy-nominated band to dig deep into an extensive song catalog spanning its nearly 30-year history.

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.

Artpark & Company is seeking schools, Scout troops, regional artists, community groups and families to create fairy houses for display at Artpark's annual Fairy House Festival. The popular event returns to Artpark Sunday June 8.

HARBORCENTER President John R. Koelmel has announced IMPACT Sports Performance will operate HARBORCENTER's 5,000-square-foot, high-performance off-ice training facility.

Trustees in the Village of Lewiston have asked The Great Foodini owner/operator Michael Attardo for more time before granting his facility contract to operate a food truck on Center Street.

Buffalo Sabres captain Steve Ott takes a moment away from signing autographs at the AT&T store in the Walden Galleria Mall to pose with Jackson, Grady and Kobee Decker. Ott was at the AT&T store to meet with fans and to assist the company in educating the community on the dangers of texting while driving.

Congressman Brian Higgins named local residents to serve as members of his service academy advisory committee. The panel recently met to interview students applying to a military academy and make recommendations to the congressman.

The tenants of People Inc. Willow Senior Living in Wheatfield recently had an outing to a nearby shop and restaurant. They enjoyed shopping at Treasure Lane - a gift shop located on Niagara Falls Boulevard - and had lunch down the street at Sawyer Creek Hotel.

Heart of Niagara Animal Rescue's second annual "Heart to Heart" fundraising event, "A Taste of The Niagara Region," will take place Saturday, Feb. 8, from noon to 7 p.m. at the First Presbyterian Church social hall, 505 Cayuga St., Lewiston.

During a mere 17-day span this spring, the two Seneca Casino resorts will be home to one of the world's premier classic rock bands, a leading country singer-songwriter, one of the most successful comedians in history, one of the most powerful rock voices from the 1980s, and an accomplished actor/director who leads a side band.

Gov. Andrew M. Cuomo today signed legislation to help protect the health and safety of dogs and cats across New York state by authorizing local municipalities to adopt more stringent laws to regulate pet dealers.

"The legislation announced today is a win for those individuals and communities across the state that have fought for the health and safety of animals under the care of pet dealers," Cuomo said. "While existing state law will be upheld, today's legislation will give support to the many local municipalities that want to ensure stronger safeguards are in place to protect the animals in their communities."

The Greater Niagara Fishing & Outdoor Expo, to be held Jan. 24-26 inside The Conference & Event Center Niagara Falls, 101 Old Falls St., is providing attendees the opportunity to learn from the pros as Mike Iaconelli and Pete Gluszek, co-founders of Bass University, head two panel discussions throughout the weekend.

For the seventh year, Dunkin' Donuts and the American Red Cross are teaming up for the "Give a Pint, Get a Pound" campaign, which provides a coupon for a free pound of Dunkin' Donuts coffee to donors at Red Cross blood drives.

"Hard Rock Rising," the world's largest and most far-reaching battle of the bands competition, will give one local band the chance of a lifetime: an all-expenses paid trip to Rome to perform at the first "Hard Rock Live Rome" music festival this summer.

The Lewiston Council on the Arts and Just Buffalo Literary Center will partner to launch a new regional poetry and music event in Niagara County. The "Lewiston Arts Café" will feature some of the finest poets and musicians in Western New York performing in a 1960s coffee house style setting.

At the recent board meeting of the Niagara River Region Chamber of Commerce, elections were held to fill open positions. Also, the Chamber of Commerce has hired Marlo Briglio of Lewiston to fulfill the part-time administrative assistant position.

As freezing temperatures blanket the state this week, in what is being called a "Polar Vortex," the Firemen's Association of the State of New York is reminding New Yorkers to be safe while heating their residences.

Though the life-threatening cold can seem harmful enough, families, homeowners and renters need to be aware of how they are heating up their homes. A space heater or a fireplace could put your home more at risk, and must be used safely. In addition, New Yorkers are urged to make sure smoke detectors and carbon monoxide detectors are operating properly and have working batteries.

Gov. Andrew M. Cuomo has announced details of a more than $2 billion tax relief proposal designed to increase economic opportunity and attract and grow businesses across the state. He said today's proposals are the next major step in New York's continued transformation to a more affordable state for businesses and families.

"Over the past three years, we have made unprecedented progress toward curbing the rise of taxes and government spending in New York, transforming a state budget with a $10 billion deficit to a $2 billion surplus," Cuomo said.

In 2014, the Village of Lewiston mayor intends to partner with Alan Hastings to rebuild the Frontier House, work with Bill Paladino on a new retail plaza, come up with a master plan for Academy Park, enliven the upper plateau, fix the drainage problems on Fourth Street, find new grants and keep the tax rate flat.