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.

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.

The statistics are alarming.

According to a community report released by the John R. Oishei Foundation's Mobile Safety-Net Team, poverty in Niagara Falls is growing, while the city's population is shrinking.

Tickets are now on sale for the second annual "BuffaLoveFest," an event featuring all things "Buffalo." "BuffaLoveFest" will take place Friday, May 30, from 5:30-9 p.m. at the Buffalo Zoo.

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.

Niagara Falls Memorial Medical Center Auxiliary President Jane Grenke, right, and Vice President for Operations Patricia Berggren, center, presented a $100,000 auxiliary gift to medical center Vice President for Foundation and Community Relations Ann Marie Tucker.

Pictured, event organizers, artist/designer Mary Grace Ohrum (left) of the Niagara Arts and Cultural Center, and Celina M. Robinson of the Monarchs Dance Co. of Buffalo oversee a casting call of models Sunday at the Tri-Main Center in Buffalo.

The New York Power Authority Thursday announced work is underway on an energy master plan for the City of Buffalo to reduce overall energy costs and carbon emissions, advance energy sustainability, and support green industries and jobs. In addition, a new page on the NYPA website has been created to solicit ideas from the public and present details about the master plan process.

The energy master plan being undertaken in partnership with the City of Buffalo is one of five such plans NYPA is spearheading for New York municipalities. The other cities are Albany, Rochester, Syracuse and Yonkers.

Do you know someone who deserves the "Key to the Locks" award? Once again, a Niagara County citizen will receive this honor as one who "best promotes and exemplifies the community spirit, heritage and integrity of the historic Erie Canal." This year's "Key to the Locks" award will be presented Sunday, May 4, at 2 p.m., at the Erie Canal Discovery Center, 24 Church St., Lockport.

If you'd like to recommend a recipient, visit the Niagara History Center, 215 Niagara St., or Niagara County Historian's Office, 139 Niagara St., for a nomination form. You can also visit Niagara History Center's website at http://niagarahistory.org/9th-annual-key-to-locks-award/ for a copy of the form.

Secondhand smoking is linked with pregnancy loss, including miscarriage, stillbirth and tubal ectopic pregnancy, according to new research from scientists at Roswell Park Cancer Institute and the University at Buffalo. The study findings, published online by the journal Tobacco Control, mark a significant step toward clarifying the risks of secondhand smoke exposure.

A volunteer open house, student art show and the popular "Museum After Hours" event will take place in March at Buffalo Niagara Heritage Village, 3755 Tonawanda Creek Road, Amherst.

More than 2,500 guests will fill The Conference & Event Center Niagara Falls (101 Old Falls St.) for the 32nd annual St. Patrick's Day Celebration, hosted by the Ancient Order of Hibernians, Monday, March 17, beginning at 5 p.m.

It was standing-room-only Friday as Niagara Falls Memorial Medical Center held its seventh annual Black History celebration luncheon and wellness fair.

KHM Counseling of Niagara, a Niagara River Region Chamber of Commerce member, held a ribbon-cutting and grand opening ceremony Thursday, Feb. 13, at its new office location at the Power City Building in Niagara Falls. Tours of the historic Power City Building were given during the open house celebration.

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.

Ten innovative education and preservation projects will get off the ground this year with funding support from Erie Canalway National Heritage Corridor. Congressman Brian Higgins joined representatives from the Erie Canalway National Heritage Corridor to announce $65,630 in grants, which will be matched by an additional $478,000 in private and public project funding raised by grant recipients.

The grants are aimed at inspiring people to learn more about New York's legendary canals and further explore the Erie Canalway National Heritage Corridor.

Congressman Brian Higgins and The Buffalo History Museum Executive Director Melissa Brown have announced plans to relocate the "Inside Tim Russert's Office: If It's Sunday, It's 'Meet the Press' " exhibit currently at the Newseum in Washington, D.C., to The Buffalo History Museum in Western New York.

"I am honored to be a part of the effort to bring a very personal piece of Tim Russert's life and work home to Buffalo," Higgins said. "We are thankful to the Russert family and commend the great cooperation between The Buffalo History Museum and Newseum to make this all happen. Tim and the Buffalo community always shared a unique love and respect for one another, and with this move that bond lives on."

The Erie County Agricultural Society has created a countdown until the gates open for the 175th Erie County Fair, Aug. 6-17, with a "Think Fair Thoughts" marketing campaign.

"Only 175 days will separate Western New York from the food, rides, shows, blue ribbons and livestock the fair brings," said Jessica Underberg, assistant fair manager. "Although snow covers the grounds and temperatures hover in the single digits, we invite fairgoers to think of hot August days filled with friends, family and fun at the fair."

Assemblyman John Ceretto met with North Tonawanda Mayor Robert Ortt at the Capitol on the New York Conference of Mayor's annual Winter Legislative Meeting. Ceretto and Ortt talked about local issues in North Tonawanda that affect their constituents and actions the state can take to help North Tonawanda lower its costs and deliver better services.

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.

Cheryl Flick, Nanette Rung, Christina Carter, Jennifer Kreutz-Castro, Chris Tedesco, and Marci Kramer were recently presented with the "Volunteer Team of the Year" award at the 2014 Fresh Air Fund Volunteer Leadership Conference.

Mary Beth Smiths' fourth-grade class from Catholic Academy visited Community Missions recently to donate baby items and funds from the school's walk-a-thon.

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.

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.

Sean and Doreen O'Connor, chair couple for the 2014 Niagara Catholic Jr./Sr. High School Mardi Gras Dinner and Auction, stop by to admire baskets and donations put together by Cindy Williams, Patti Rougeux, Jane Macri and Maureen Olson.

"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.

Congressman Brian Higgins stood with Western New York residents, businesses, and employees concerned the proposal to close the Social Security office in Amherst would have a serious impact on the population it serves.

Congressman Brian Higgins announced he has cosponsored two bills that would aid former Bethlehem Steel employees, and families of former employees, in receiving the compensation they are due for health issues resulting from unknown exposure to toxins during their employment.

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.

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.

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.

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:

Gov. Andrew M. Cuomo has announced that work will begin on Western New York's first design-build project to strengthen infrastructure in Niagara County. The project is composed of a $41.1 million rehabilitation of the three bridges carrying I-190 and NY Route 265 (Military Road) over the New York Power Authority reservoir in the towns of Niagara and Lewiston.

Cuomo passed New York's first design-build law in 2011, "streamlining the bureaucracy of major infrastructure projects to speed construction schedules and reduce cost."

Congressman Brian Higgins, D-NY-26, Village of Williamsville Mayor Brian Kulpa and additional local leaders announced more than $2.9 million in Federal Highway Administration funding for projects in the Amherst/Williamsville area.

Univera Healthcare has committed $70,000 over the next three years to fund behavioral health programming at Niagara Falls Memorial Medical Center's new Niagara Wellness Connection Center, set to open at the end of January.

"The Wellness Connection Center will be the first integrated service center of its kind in Western New York," said Sheila K. Kee, Niagara Falls Memorial Medical Center vice president and chief operating officer. "Under one roof, at a single location, people will be able to conveniently access primary care, behavioral health treatment, screening for drug or alcohol addiction, health and wellness education, fitness activities, community support services and financial and health insurance counseling."

Three years of exhaustive research, collaboration and consultation culminated Wednesday with the announcement by the Diocese of Buffalo of the implementation of "Faith in Tomorrow," the strategic vision for Catholic elementary schools.

The Very Rev. Richard J. Malone, bishop of Buffalo, said the diocese and The BISON Fund are collaborating on a plan to fund new scholarships for students who have applied to transfer out of low-performing Buffalo elementary schools.

"We are involved in preliminary discussions with the BISON Children's Scholarship Fund regarding a scholarship program, which could potentially increase Catholic school enrollment and positively affect the future of our elementary schools," Malone said.

ity of North Tonawanda Mayor Robert G. Ortt has announced the city will be awarded the 2013 Construction/Repair Project of the Year by the Western New York Branch of the American Public Works Association. The award is for the renovation project of the Gratwick Riverside Park Marina, which began in 2012. Phase one of the project was completed in 2013.

Michael Marino, PE, of CRA Infrastructure and Engineering Inc., was the design engineer for this initiative, and submitted the project for consideration by the awards committee.

Frank Manarino recently took over Marshall Automotive & Transmission, wants to be different from others in his profession. He said the most important thing in his business is "try to just be honest to everyone."

The Center for the Arts at the University at Buffalo has received a grant of $83,200 from Roswell Park Alliance Foundation quality of life committee. The funds will provide four artist stipends in the center's Arts in Healthcare Program at Roswell Park Cancer Institute, now in its sixth year.

The program includes six professional artists in residence, who bring their specialized art forms and skills to patients at Roswell Park.