Congressman Brian Higgins and Village of Williamsville Mayor Brian Kulpa announced a plan to preserve access to Social Security services for residents in northern Erie County. Under an agreement with the Village of Williamsville, residents will be able to connect with Social Security Administration caseworkers directly from Village Hall.

The Western New York Regional Economic Development Council has joined DePaul Properties to celebrate the opening of Riverside Apartments in Buffalo. The 68-unit affordable housing development is completed on the strength of a $3.25 million award it received as part of Gov. Andrew M. Cuomo's Regional Council initiative. The project created more than 350 local construction jobs and 40 new, permanent jobs. Funds awarded by the WNYREDC will help generate more than $21 million in economic activity for the region.

In 2013, Community Missions provided 75,980 meals to those in need in Niagara County. With demand again increasing in 2014, the Patrick P. Lee Foundation has awarded a $30,000 grant, covering a year's worth of food purchases within agency's soup kitchen.

Niagara Hospice and the Schoellkopf Health Center held a dedication celebration Wednesday at David's Path, a dedicated hospice unit on the Niagara Falls Memorial Medical Center campus.

USA Hockey announced it would bring two major world championships to Buffalo in 2015, with both being staged at the soon-to-be-completed HARBORCENTER.

New York State Sen. Mark Grisanti recently received a Humane Leadership Award from the American Society for Prevention of Cruelty to Animals.

Niagara County lawmakers approved a three-year pact Tuesday with the Niagara Tourism and Convention Corp., the publicly funded tourism promotion agency operated under a joint agreement between the county and the cities of Lockport and Niagara Falls.

Russian producer, broadcaster and creative thinker Zamir Gotta visited Niagara Falls last weekend. Zamir, head of Gotta Media LLC, sampled local cuisine and toured world-famous attractions.

Attorney General Eric T. Schneiderman has released a new report prepared by his environmental protection bureau detailing the dangers microbeads - tiny plastic beads that are included in many commercial cosmetic products - pose to New York's waterways. The report, titled "Unseen Threat: How Microbeads Harm New York Waters, Wildlife, Health And Environment," highlights the need to pass the attorney general's Microbead-Free Waters Act, proposed earlier this year. This bill would make New York the first in the nation to ban the sale of products containing microbeads.

Congressman Brian Higgins and Town of Amherst Supervisor Dr. Barry Weinstein recently presented the Bronze Star and additional military commendations to World War II veteran Bruno Yetto.

Arts Services Initiative of Western New York has announced details of its inaugural "Spark" Cultural Awards. The awards party, "Celebrating Those Who Ignite Arts & Culture," will take place Wednesday, June 25, from 5:30 to 8:30 p.m. at the Hotel@The Lafayette.

Gov. Andrew M. Cuomo today announced more than $9 million in funding awards for two restoration projects at Niagara Falls State Park that underscore the progress being made in support of the Niagara River Greenway as well as the continuing revitalization of the New York state park system.

Residents of an East Side Buffalo neighborhood who have been without a local source for primary or dental care since 2009 now have both, thanks to services being provided in the new Erie County Health Mall.

Whirlpool Jet Boat Tours announces a new offering on the Lower Niagara River. Niagara Sunset Cruises will run dining and sightseeing cruises aboard the Niagara Belle beginning July 1. The Niagara Queen will join the fleet in the spring of 2015.

Erie Canal Harbor Development Corp. has announced a diverse lineup on Buffalo's waterfront. Thirty concerts will rock the park, including 10 free Thursday concerts and four ticketed concerts.

Canalside is bringing the likes of Buffalo favorite and lead singer of the Tragically Hip, Gord Downie & The Sadies; reggae fusion artist Shaggy; neo soul/indie pop group Fitz and the Tantrums; and the Buffalo Philharmonic Orchestra, featuring the music of Earth, Wind and Fire and Michael Jackson.

Celebrities, world leaders and tourists from Canada and around the world will once again have a chance to ride the iconic Maid of the Mist when the boats are launched in Niagara Falls, New York, beginning Saturday, May 10, at 10 a.m.

The Niagara 1812 Legacy Council received the Bi-National Beacon Award at Monday's Travel & Tourism Beacon Awards presented by Visit Buffalo Niagara. The awards ceremony took place at the Buffalo Niagara Convention Center in conjunction with National Travel & Tourism Week, which runs from May 3 to 11.

They are lines that often divide, but on May 17 at 11 a.m., Western New Yorkers will cross the lines of race, ethnicity and poverty to show that Buffalo stands for a more united future.

The Niagara Tourism & Convention Corp. and Niagara County today announced an agreement in principle that would extend the tourism agency's contract with the county for three years, effective June 1, 2014, until June 1, 2017.

Roswell Park Cancer Institute has been awarded a five-year, $1.5 million contract to operate the Western New York Tobacco Health System Change Center. It is funded by the New York State Tobacco Control Program and will promote systems changes supporting expanded tobacco-cessation services throughout Allegany, Cattaraugus, Chautauqua, Erie, Genesee, Niagara, Orleans and Wyoming counties.

Peregrine's Landing Senior Community of Cheektowaga has collected a generous donation for Ben Sauer. The staff, residents and guests held a basket raffle throughout the month of April, sold candy bars, and collected pop can refunds. The staff celebrated weekly with "Blue" surprises in its life enrichment program and dining services to support his cause.

Becker Farms has been in the local tourism business for more than 30 years. As a fully operational farm, we offer a family-friendly experience, including a petting zoo, strawberry and apple picking and various other hands-on activities throughout the year. But for a good majority of the time we've been in business, our visitors are primarily members of the local community.

However, in the last decade, we have seen an emergence in visitors who are coming to see Niagara Falls and have added a side trip to Becker Farms and eastern Niagara County to their itinerary.

This is the result of the hard work of the Niagara Tourism & Convention Corp. as it continues to promote all of Niagara County, including eastern Niagara County.

In a special ceremony, Congressman Brian Higgins and members of the United States Marine Corps presented the family of Montford Point Marine William H. Givens Jr. with the Congressional Gold Medal for his service during World War II.

Congressman Brian Higgins and U.S. Sen. Kirsten Gillibrand announced a federal grant totaling $21,029,578 for Community Action Organization of Erie County Inc. to support early childhood education programs in Erie County.

The Niagara History Center's circa-1823 Col. William Bond-Jesse Hawley House will be open for two event weekends in advance of its 2014 season.

New York State Sen. Mark Grisanti has announced the passage of a bill that amends the highway law to designate the bridge that crosses Route 198 into Delaware Park (connecting Nottingham Terrace with Hoyt Lake in the City of Buffalo) as "Scajaquada 9/11 Memorial Bridge." The designation of the bridge was spearheaded by community activists who have been working on this project for more than three years. They seek a memorial in the city to honor those who were killed in the Sept. 11 terrorist attacks.

Seventy years after serving in World War II, U.S. Army veteran and Kenmore resident Carlton Small received the military medals he earned, including a Bronze Star, in a special presentation by Congressman Brian Higgins, Town of Tonawanda Supervisor Anthony Caruana, and Village of Kenmore Deputy Mayor Tim McCarthy.

The Niagara Tourism & Convention Corp. recently announced the promotion of two staff members. Lana Perlman was appointed director of visitor services, while Lindsey Bowman was named tourism sales coordinator.

The Most Rev. Richard J. Malone, bishop of the Diocese of Buffalo, announced earlier this week Catholic Charities' 90th annual appeal has raised $7,941,945.04 to date, representing 73.5 percent of the $10.8 million goal.

The Erie Canal Harbor Development Corp. announced this week the state is moving ahead on plans to redevelop and dramatically transform the soon-to-be-acquired state land holdings on Buffalo's Outer Harbor into a vibrant and accessible waterfront for residents and tourists alike.

On Tuesday, a request for proposals was distributed to consultants to develop a master "blueprint" of land use and development recommendations for 171 acres on the city's waterfront. The selected consultant team will work with the public to plan Buffalo's future on the waterfront.

The Buffalo Sabres today announced the team's foundation, the Buffalo Sabres Foundation, has approved 18 requests for charitable grants throughout the 2013-14 season.

The money disbursed in the grants was raised from Buffalo Sabres Foundation events throughout the year, including the team's annual golf tournament, corporate challenge, 50/50 raffle, "UnPucked" event, pre-game autograph surprise sales, and various online auctions of team memorabilia.

"We are very proud to be able to provide funding to these worthwhile organizations," said Cliff Benson, president of the Buffalo Sabres Foundation. "These groups serve many deserving individuals throughout our community and they help make Buffalo a better place to live and work."

Cornell Cooperative Extension Niagara County has announced the winner of the 2014 Niagara County Fair logo contest is Matthew McAuley of Lockport. The contest was open to Niagara County youth age 5 to 19 years. He will be awarded a $100 prize during the Farm-City Breakfast, the kick-off event for the Niagara County Fair each year.

State Sen. George Maziarz has announced the enacted 2014-15 state budget contains $40 million specifically for road repairs after this particularly harsh winter. Nearly $600,000 of this will be allocated for local governments in Niagara County in "Extreme Winter Recovery Grants."

This grant money comes on top of record-level funding for the Consolidated Local Street and Highway Improvement Program, the normal mechanism for delivering state aid to municipalities for surface improvements on locally controlled thoroughfares.

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.

The Hard Rock Café, Niagara Falls USA, officially unveiled its new menu Wednesday. The global restaurant chain is promoting its new fare with the slogan "It Tastes As Good As It Sounds," which emphasizes the eatery's unique connection to the music industry.

When the New York Times named Niagara Falls to its list of "52 Places to Go in 2014" earlier this year, the iconic photo of the waterfalls themselves was not what was featured. Instead, a photo of Old Fort Niagara's French Castle was selected to accompany the article.

Leadership Niagara will be recognized nationally for "Excellence in Innovation" by the Association of Leadership Programs on Friday, April 4, at the Southeast Regional Conference in Atlanta.

The award will be presented to Leadership Niagara's executive director, Molly Anderson, who has been at the helm of the organization for the past five years. She was invited to present her program's innovation and best practices to leadership professionals who will be attending the conference.

"In recent years, Leadership Niagara has innovated and transformed a great organization. We are sharply focused on achieving more for our participants and our region," Anderson said. "It is an honor to be recognized among hundreds of our peer leadership organizations for all the hard work thus far."

Niagara Falls Memorial Medical Center is joining forces with Niagara University to deliver an exciting new food service experience for hospital visitors, staff, students and volunteers.

New York State Sen. Mark Grisanti is proud to announce Loretta S. Thomas is the third recipient of his "Veteran of the Month" recognition program.

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.