This first-of-its-kind happening will take place rain or shine at 9 a.m. Saturday, Aug. 2, in the lower Niagara River between Lewiston and Youngstown. Briefly put, it's a new type of on-river competition/social experience to benefit the It Happened to Alexa Foundation.

Though much of next week's forecast shows rain, it looks like the sun will shine Saturday, May 3, when Community Missions Inc. hosts its annual Walk for Niagara at Whirlpool State Park.

Around 200 walkers are expected to attend the event, rain or shine, to raise awareness and funds for Niagara County's underserved population.

Artpark welcomes Philadelphia's Enchantment Theatre Company as it presents two Mainstage Theater performances of "Aladdin & Other Enchanting Tales" Thursday, May 1, at 10:30 a.m. and 6:30 p.m.

Niagara University's College of Education held an event Wednesday to officially unveil the Family Literacy Center.

The FLC, which is housed in the university's Academic Complex, is an on-campus educational opportunity for graduate students to demonstrate teaching while enhancing the literacy performance of at-risk readers and their families.

The Niagara University Student Veterans Organization will hold its second annual Memorial Day disc golf tournament at Joseph Davis State Park Saturday, May 24.

The Latitude 43 Music Festival will settle into its new home in the Outdoor Amphitheater at Artpark in Lewiston this June. The event, formerly known as PubFest, will continue its tradition of raising money for the Variety Kids Telethon.

Theatre in the Mist, a local community theater group, recently presented the Lisa Gravel Memorial Performing Arts Scholarship to two students: Sabrina Kahwaty, a theatre performance major at Niagara University; and Magdalyn Chauby, a senior at Grand Island High School with aspirations to attend college for vocal performance.

Rivershore Inc. has announced a new and unique 5K running event to be held in the Village of Lewiston Saturday, May 3. The Rivershore 5K will be held annually on the first Saturday of May to coincide with the Lewiston Smelt Festival, and will be the first of 10 runs in the DiMino Lower Niagara Running Series.

The event, professionally managed by Race Management Solution, seeks to support Rivershore programs while promoting the historic Village of Lewiston.

This one-of-a-kind running experience will start and finish on Lewiston Landing in front of the Barton Hill Hotel (start time 11 a.m.). Runners will experience the most challenging incline in Lewiston.

During a winter season with record snowfalls, demand rose considerably in the crisis and community services division at Community Missions, located in downtown Niagara Falls.

The organization saw a 24 percent increase in demand for its crisis housing, including a sobering 156 percent increase in nights of shelter given to children during the first three months of 2014, as compared to the first quarter of 2013. CMI provided 3,091 nights of shelter within its crisis housing programs during the first quarter of 2014, compared to 2,502 over the same time period in 2013. When considering those under the age of 12, the Mission provided a total of 420 nights of shelter during the first three months of 2014, compared to just 164 in 2013.

The increased demand for nights of shelter to children has been a yearlong trend.

The Opportunities Unlimited of Niagara Foundation's 15th annual golf raffle is taking place Sunday, April 27, from 4 to 7 p.m. at the Sanborn Fire Hall, 5811 Buffalo St. The event offers golf enthusiasts the chance to win more than $20,000 in men's and women's golf-related equipment and trips.

A Niagara University recruitment poster earned a Silver Award as part of the 29th annual Educational Advertising Awards, sponsored by Higher Education Marketing Report.

The poster, bearing the university's trademark "Education That Makes a Difference" tagline, was designed by TWG Plus.

Speaking of his new restaurant, chef Michael Clark promises, "We're not going to be your everyday pizzeria."

Business partners Clark, of Niagara Falls, and Lewiston's Tony Vescio plan to open Big Guys Pizzeria and More early next month in the addition next to Hibbard's Original Frozen Custard on Portage Road. The eatery's name comes from its signature pie, a 28-inch pizza affectionately called "The Big Guy."

Catholic Charities of Buffalo will give away a generously donated 1999 Harley-Davidson FLHR Road King motorcycle. Only 200 tickets will be sold at $100 each and the drawing will be held at noon May 9 at Catholic Charities Montante Administrative Center.

3 Doors Down has announced summer tour plans, including a July 23 Artpark date in the Outdoor Amphitheater as part of the venue's "Coors Light Wednesdays" series.

Brad Arnold, Chris Henderson and the members of 3 Doors Down have assembled in a Nashville studio writing songs for their sixth studio album, to be released in 2015.

On Wednesday evening, April 9, eight men and one woman representing the Niagara County Auxiliary Police Department graduated from the Niagara County Auxiliary Police Academy.

In an effort to reach out further to the community, Youngstown Police Chief Chris Salada announced this week a series of new initiatives intended to make his department more visible to village residents and businesses.

Kiss winter goodbye: Hibbard's is open.

Hibbard's Original Frozen Custard officially began its summer season Friday in the Village of Lewiston. On a warm spring evening - after a long, cold winter - children and families lined up to grab the first ice cream treats of the season.

Congressman Brian Higgins announced Roswell Park Cancer Institute has been awarded $406,247 in grant funding from the National Cancer Institute. The two-year federal grant will provide $221,589 toward the project in the first year, and $184,658 the following year.

"We know that cancer research saves lives," said Higgins, a member of the House Cancer Caucus. "The certainty of continued funding from sources like the National Cancer Institute that allows researchers to explore a wide range of treatment options is critical to the goal of finding a cure."

The grant will allow Roswell Park researchers to study an innovative new treatment, anticancer agent FL118, for pancreatic cancer.

Jackson Browne brings his solo acoustic tour to Artpark in Lewiston Monday, Aug. 11, for a 7:30 p.m. Mainstage Theater performance. The show is a LiveNation event.

Tickets - priced at $66 and $56 for reserved indoor seating, and $29.50 general admission lawn - go on sale Friday, April 25, at noon. Purchase tickets at www.LiveNation.com, in person at the Artpark box office (weekdays, 10 a.m.-4 p.m.), or by phone at 1-888-223-6000.

HARBORCENTER President John R. Koelmel and Erie Community College President Jack Quinn Jr. have announced a partnership that will make HARBORCENTER the home of ECC Kats hockey, beginning with the 2014-15 season.

More than 50 runners braved rainy and windy conditions to participate in the first-ever "Run Against Hunger" held on the Niagara University campus Saturday morning.

Village of Lewiston residents can expect a mild tax increase in the next fiscal year. Trustees voted Monday to increase the tax rate to $7.26 per $1,000 of assessed valuation - an increase of 14 cents.

The Village Board approved a special use permit allowing Niagara Marketplace & Bistro to operate inside the "Kelly House" at 400 Plain St. Now called "Fresh Start," the business will offer vegan, vegetarian and organic foods.

Artpark & Company announced another batch of bands Monday in the "Tuesday in the Park" and "Coors Light Wednesdays" outdoor concert series. Tickets for these events will go on sale Friday, April 11, at 10 a.m.

Acts include:

Spring has sprung, and winds of change are brewing in Youngstown.

Last Saturday, Cash Cunningham of Cash Realty & Auctions held an auction of the former Brennan's Irish Pub. Roughly 20 potential buyers attended the event. When all was said and done, it was Mike Fox who acquired the building

The Niagara Tourism and Convention Corp. launched its new website Wednesday as part of its quarterly sales meeting. Located at http://www.niagara-usa.com/, the website provides guests with numerous things to do and offers ways to explore Niagara Falls. It also provides trip-planning tips and hotel reservation options.

Officials with Seneca Gaming Corp. announced a blockbuster summer entertainment lineup they hope will delight tens of thousands of music and comedy lovers. The "Summer Rush" 2014 schedule was unveiled on a 20-by40-foot high-definition screen in the heart of the gaming floor at Seneca Niagara Casino & Hotel - a fitting display for a larger-than-life entertainment series.

HARBORCENTER President John Koelmel and Tim Hortons President and CEO Marc Caira have announced a one-of-a-kind Tim Hortons Cafe & Bake Shop will open at HARBORCENTER this fall.

The Niagara University student chapter of the Club Managers Association of America has been named the best in the nation for a fifth consecutive year. The announcement was made during the 87th World Conference on Club Management and Club Business Expo.

Plans are already underway to enhance the "greening" of the Lewiston Art Festival, which will take place Aug. 9-10.

It's a fundraiser unlike any other - and proceeds benefit injured and orphaned wildlife.

Join Wild Kritters of Niagara County Inc. Sunday, April 13, for its eighth annual basket raffle.

Artpark & Company is set to welcome Ringo Starr & His All Starr Band to the "First Niagara presents Tuesday in the Park" concert series June 24 in the Outdoor Amphitheater. The All Starr Band will feature Toto's Steve Lukather, Mr. Mister's Richard Page, original Santana singer Gregg Rolie, Todd Rundgren and drummer Gregg Bissonette. Tickets go on sale Friday.

Carol Calato, board chairwoman of the Historic Lewiston Jazz Festival, has announced the organization will host its annual fundraiser Sunday, May 4, at Water Street Landing, 115 S. Water St., Lewiston. The "Jazz and Pasta" event will begin at 1 p.m. and continues through 7 p.m. All proceeds support the Jazz Festival.

William Conrad of Sanborn took his oath Monday as the newest member of the Lewiston Town Board. Conrad, the former chairman of the Town of Lewiston Zoning Board of Appeals, was the top choice of Supervisor Dennis Brochey. He won unanimous approval from Town Board members to fill the seat vacated by Ernie Palmer.

With spring just around the corner, Artpark and Parks and Trails New York are seeking community volunteers to lend a hand tidying up the Earl W. Brydges Artpark State Park for the upcoming summer season of events and family fun.

Skaters from Niagara Falls Memorial Medical Center and Mount St. Mary's Hospital and Health Center faced off Friday at the Hyde Park Ice Pavilion in a spirited contest to raise money for cancer research.

The First Niagara Foundation and Community Missions of Niagara Frontier Inc. are partnering to provide food for local families in need through the community soup kitchen. The kitchen opens its doors six days a week for a well-rounded, nutritious lunch.

The Rev. James J. Maher, C.M., will officially be inaugurated as Niagara University's 26th president on Friday, April 4. Last night, 10 high-achieving students were inducted into a prestigious society bearing his office's name.

Lewiston residents spoke in favor of the proposed Niagara Marketplace & Bistro at a public hearing Monday. The business would operate at 400 Plain St., at the corner of South Fourth Street, and serve vegan and vegetarian dishes.

The students at Edward Town Middle School are lending their artistic talents for decorations for the annual Gliding Stars skating show on March 28 and 29 at the Northtown Ice Center (formerly Pepsi Center).

Six Niagara University students became lifetime members of Lambda Pi Eta, the honor society for undergraduate communication students, during an induction ceremony held Wednesday in Dunleavy Hall.