Private First Class Doral E. Cummings fought in World War II and earned 11 medals, including the Bronze Star and Purple Heart. Unfortunately, HE passed away in 1997 and never received his Bronze Star.

Artpark rings in spring a day early, giving a sneak peek at who is coming to the popular "First Niagara presents Tuesday in the Park" (Daryl Hall & John Oates, Widespread Panic, Boston), and "Coors Light Wednesdays" outdoor concert series (Sublime with Rome).

Niagara Falls Memorial Medical Center's cardiac/stroke care center campaign received an important boost Monday with the approval of a $250,000 construction grant by the Niagara Falls City Council.

It isn't every day that National Geographic comes calling to partner on an innovative geotourism book. Yet for Niagara University professor Jan van Harssel, Ph.D., that is exactly what happened.

A sculptural wall and minimalist dining set designed by University at Buffalo architects are finalists in the international Architizer A+ Awards competition — a prestigious recognition in the world of architecture and design.

Explore & More today has two major gifts totaling more than $1 million in contributions to the museum's recently launched capital campaign for its new facility, which is opening at Canalside in 2016.

Niagara University's ROTC program was presented with the prestigious MacArthur Award Monday morning in recognition of its cadets' performance during the 2012-13 school year.

Across Facebook, Artpark patrons are frantically searching for an emoticon to represent a jaw dropping to the floor.

Lewiston residents can debate which pizzeria is best, where they'd rather grab a drink after work or hang out on weekends. Where time and money are spent will vary depending on the person. One unquestioned, undeniable certainty is that almost every one of them will set foot inside DiMino Tops Lewiston to grocery shop.

The 2013-14 winter to forget is finally starting to exit and become forgotten. With warming temperatures at hand, there's even a few tinges 'o green slowly starting to appear.

Sometimes it takes a bit of vision to get a good idea off the ground.

Skip Mazenauer purchased the Grand Island Dispatch, believing he could make the publication a success and wanting to make sure his hometown wasn't left without local news from its own newspaper.

The Aquarium of Niagara held its annual fundraising event "SEAsonings - The Original Taste of Niagara" on Thursday. Featured were samplings of food and beverages, as well as the premier of a new sea lion show.

A new historic marker, placed in honor of a famous War of 1812 heroine, will soon appear in the Village of Youngstown.

Multi-platinum singer/songwriter Sarah McLachlan will perform Monday, July 14, at 8 p.m. inside the Artpark Mainstage Theater in Lewiston.

More than 270 local high school students will convene at Niagara University on March 4 to take part in workshops on business leadership and etiquette, and compete in a new stock market challenge that's based on real-world results.

The Castellani Art Museum of Niagara University's popular "Meet Me at the CAM" programs are back this spring with a diverse lineup of presentations. Sculptor Susan Geissler will open the season Wednesday, March 26.

The Buffalo Bills and New York Giants will kick off the 2014 preseason in the NFL/Hall of Fame Game Sunday, Aug. 3 at 8 p.m. on NBC. The game will be played at Pro Football Hall of Fame Field at Fawcett Stadium in Canton, Ohio, one day after the Hall of Fame's Class of 2014 is formally enshrined.

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.

The New York State Sheriffs' Association held its election of officers at its 80th annual Winter Training Conference last week at the Desmond Hotel in Albany. Members elected Niagara County Sheriff James Voutour as 2nd vice president.

Congressman Chris Collins, NY-27, officially introduced the Kids Before Cons Act Tuesday with congressmen Tom Reed, NY-23, and Chris Gibson, NY-19, as co-sponsors.

This legislation will prohibit the use of federal taxpayer dollars to provide a college education to convicted criminals.

"The governor's latest plan to fund college educations for convicted criminals using taxpayer dollars is an insult to law-abiding citizens all across our state," Collins said. "That is why, in response, I am introducing legislation that will ensure no federal taxpayer dollars are used to fund higher education for criminals.

Members of the Western New York community came together Tuesday at Forest Lawn to pay tribute to Shirley Chisholm, the first African-American woman elected to Congress, who was recently honored by the U.S. Postal Service with the issuance of a limited-edition Black Heritage Forever Stamp.

The Opportunities Unlimited of Niagara Foundation's 21st annual "Baskets O'Plenty Auction" is scheduled for Thursday, March 13, at BPO Elks Lodge No. 346.

House Majority Leader Eric Cantor, a leading voice on the economy and job creation, will speak at 2 p.m. March 10 in Daemen's College Wick Campus Center Social Room as part of the college's newly established Distinguished Leaders Lecture Series. Congressman Chris Collins will introduce him.

Mount St. Mary's Hospital has received full accreditation status from the Society of Cardiovascular Patient Care as a "chest pain" center. Mount St. Mary's is the only hospital in Niagara County with this prestigious accreditation and one of only two in all of Western New York.

The Village of Lewiston welcomed two unique visitors last weekend: Christel Jönsson and Lennart Persson of Höganas, Sweden.

Congressman Chris Collins will introduce legislation to prohibit the use of federal taxpayer dollars to provide a college education to convicted criminals. The pending legislation is in response to Gov. Andrew Cuomo's announced plan to use taxpayer dollars to fund college degree programs for convicted criminals in New York state prisons.

The Federal Bureau of Prisons provides states with funding for educational and other programs at state prisons and correctional facilities. Collins' legislation would ban states from using the federal taxpayer dollars to fund college degree programs for convicted criminals.

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.

Tully's Good Times Restaurants in Amherst, Clarence and Cheektowaga have joined forces with the Special Olympics NY Western Region to raise money for the upcoming Special Olympics New York State Summer Games, taking place June 6-8.

Artpark & Company announced on its Facebook page Wednesday that English indie band Arctic Monkeys will perform June 18 as part of the "Coors Light Wednesdays" concert series in the Outdoor Amphitheater.

Niagara County lawmakers were outraged Tuesday night at plans by Gov. Andrew M. Cuomo to give taxpayer-funded college degrees to hardened criminals doing time in New York's prisons - and became the first county in the state to go on the record opposing the prison perk.

In a rare show of bipartisan anger at the Democratic governor, county legislators unanimously passed a resolution that opposed Cuomo's college-for-criminals scheme and called on the New York State Legislature to block it. The resolution was sponsored by every single member of the County Legislature's Republican and Democratic caucuses.

New York State Sen. Mark J. Grisanti, R-I-Buffalo, announced Tuesday he has launched an online petition to gather public opposition to a recent proposal by Gov. Andrew Cuomo to give taxpayer-subsidized college classes to inmates at 10 state prisons.

The petition, "Say 'NO' To Free College For Prisoners," went live Tuesday.

"I have received numerous phone calls, emails and Facebook messages related to this initiative, and the overwhelming percentage of them are negative," Grisanti said.

"I support rehabilitation and reduced recidivism, but not on the taxpayer's dime, when so many individuals and families in New York are struggling to meet the ever-rising costs of higher education," he added.

State Sen. Mark Grisanti, R-I-Buffalo, announced Monday he will support the Compassionate Care Act, which would legalize the use of medical marijuana to treat certain diseases.

Under the legislation, licensed health care professionals would strictly supervise any use of medical marijuana. This stands to be the toughest and most regulated legislation in the nation.

"To a great extent, my decision to support this legislation resulted from my conversations with the Conte family, who are constituents of mine," Grisanti explained. "Anna Conte, who is 8 years old, suffers from Dravet syndrome, an extremely rare form of epilepsy."

Dr. Gary D. Praetzel, the man responsible for establishing Niagara University's College of Hospitality and Tourism Management and forging NU's reputation as a worldwide leader in hospitality training, will retire at the conclusion of the academic year.

University at Buffalo students and professors will build a 1,400-square-foot solar-powered home as finalists in the U.S. Department of Energy's elite Solar Decathlon competition.

Many "Love Letters" to Niagara touched the Niagara Tourism and Convention Corp. staff, but none more so than the one submitted by Beverly Weigel of Niagara Falls.

Artpark & Company and Funtime Presents welcome Morrissey to Lewiston for a concert Monday, June 16. Kristeen Young is the opening act. It's a 7 p.m. gate.

An early start to the winter heating season, coupled with sustained cold weather in January, has National Fuel Gas Distribution Corp. urging consumers to consider budget billing to spread out heating bill balances over 12 months and to check to see if they qualify for available payment assistance programs.

Without question, this winter has been cold. The month of November was 11. 7 percent colder than normal, December was 5.4 percent colder, and January was 11.7 percent colder than normal. When compared to last year, January 2014 was a staggering 29 percent colder than 2013.

The Marine Trades Association of WNY has announced the 2014 WNY Boat Show will once again be held at The Bills Healthy Zone Fieldhouse. Buffalo's premier boat dealers will present brand-new product, from cruisers and pontoon boats to wakeboarding and fishing boats, personal watercraft and much more.

The Taste of Buffalo presented by Tops is now accepting applications for its annual scholarship program, which supports local high school seniors in pursuit of higher education in the foodservice and hospitality industries. The scholarship awards up to five winners with $1,000 each to be applied toward college education.

Assemblyman John Ceretto, R-C-I-Lewiston, met Monday with Village of Lewiston Mayor Terry Collesano in his Albany office. Collesano was in Albany for the New York Conference of Mayor's annual Winter Legislative Meeting.