When water supplies exceed capacity in the Lake Ontario-St. Lawrence River system, water levels rise. When this happens, regulation is looked to as the solution. But during periods of extreme water supply, the ability of regulated outflows to influence Lake Ontario levels is greatly diminished. In practical terms, no regulation plan can eliminate high water events on Lake Ontario or the St. Lawrence River.

On the evening of Tuesday, Oct. 22, the idea of compassionate human services will be explored at a mini-conference at Heart, Love & Soul Food Pantry and Dining Room (939 Ontario Ave., Niagara Falls). All members of the community are welcome to this free event, which will include refreshments and will be held from 5-7 p.m.

Niagara County Undersheriff Michael J. Filicetti has announced he is a candidate for sheriff.

Learn what is needed to be prepared in an emergency at "Cultures of Preparedness: Strengthening Partnerships to Build a Stronger Community," from 9 a.m. until 2 p.m. Saturday, Oct. 26, on the Niagara University campus.

Congressman Brian Higgins and City of Niagara Falls officials on Tuesday opened the Hyde Park Inclusionary Playground. The new play space was designed for children of all mobility and behavioral abilities. It gained community support via the Niagara Falls Community Development Department's participatory budgeting process.

The It Happened to Alexa Foundation announced this week it would discontinue its wide-ranging support services to victims of sexual violence effective immediately. The sudden announcement was conveyed in an email sent Oct. 14 by Kate Fowler, executive director, on behalf of the It Happen to Alexa board of directors.

Niagara County Sheriff James R. Voutour on Tuesday announced he will retire Dec 30.

October is Car Care Month at AAA Western and Central New York.

The Town of Niagara Business and Professionals Association is proud to announce that the organization will donate $500 to each of the four charities that received food donations collected at previous years parades. These charities include Community Missions, St. Vincent DePaul, Niagara Presbyterian Church and Niagara Gospel Rescue Mission.

Beginning Oct. 28, FeedMore WNY will be expanding its home-delivered meal services to include the geography currently covered by Lockport Meals on Wheels.

More than 150 professionals from the fields of criminal justice, child welfare, victim advocacy, mental health and education will gather Wednesday at the Conference and Event Center Niagara Falls to gain lifesaving information for children and adults from local and national experts.

The New York State Office of Parks, Recreation and Historic Preservation, along with the City of Niagara Falls, cut the ribbon today on a new comfort station, as well as the city's first dog park, in DeVeaux Woods State Park.

Congressman Brian Higgins announced the Department of Justice's National Institute of Justice (NIJ) awarded the University at Buffalo a grant award for $834,177 to conduct research on health effects experienced among police officers. The grant was awarded as part of the fiscal year 2019 Research and Evaluation in Safety, Health, and Wellness in the Criminal Justice System program under NIJ.

Today, the Buffalo City Mission announced the launch of its annual fall fundraising campaign, a significant annual initiative to advance its work in providing critical programs and services for the homeless of Buffalo.

Sports fans can experience six decades of Buffalo Bills football stories through exhibitions, events and programming in October at The Buffalo History Museum, located at One Museum Court.

Girl Scouts of Western New York's popular fall product program returns to help girls enrich their financial literacy and cyber-safety skills. Girls use an online digital platform to engage close friends and family to order candies, nuts, magazines, candles and other items. The fall product program runs until Oct. 26.

The Auxiliary of Niagara Falls Memorial Medical Center will hold a sale of "gently worn" men's and women's coats, jackets and blazers, along with purses and jewelry, from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. Thursday, Oct. 17, and 10 a.m. to 1 p.m. Friday, Oct. 18, in the hospital auditorium, 621 10th St.

The American Legion is 100 years old and Wheatfield American Legion Post 1451 is planning to celebrate noon-5 p.m. Saturday, Oct. 12.

Congressman Brian Higgins announced Niagara County has been awarded $450,000 in federal funding through the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency's Brownfields Assessment and Cleanup Grant Program. Brownfield sites are properties, often previously used for industrial purposes, where reuse may be difficult due to site contaminants.

The American side of the Niagara River Corridor, iconic for its world-renowned waterfalls and globally significant bird and fish populations, was designated Thursday by the U.S. as a Wetland of International Importance under the world's oldest environmental treaty, the Ramsar Convention.

Congressman Brian Higgins announced The Veterans One-stop Center of WNY is the recipient of a Supportive Services for Veteran Families (SSVF) grant totaling $250,000 from the U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs to continue the end of veteran homelessness in Western New York. The Veterans One-stop Center will implement SSVF throughout Erie, Niagara, Genesee, Orleans and Wyoming counties.

This December, Western New York companies and organizations will compete amongst each other to build structures made entirely out of canned goods to benefit the Food Bank program of FeedMore WNY. The building of structures for the third annual Canstruction Competition is scheduled to take place Dec. 13-15 at the 2019 Fairgrounds Festival of Lights.

The website of former Congressman Chris Collins was updated Tuesday afternoon to reflect his resignation from office. It now redirects to a site with the following press release:

Pints for Progress No. 26 will take place at 6 p.m. Thursday, Oct. 10, at the Niagara Falls City Market, 752 E. Market St., Niagara Falls. Nick Spacone is the musical guest.

Today's national average price for a gallon of gasoline is $2.65, down 2 cents since last week. One year ago, the price was $2.88. The New York state average is $2.74, down a penny from last week. A year ago, the state average was $2.99.

Niagara County Legislature Chairman Wm. Keith McNall, who represents the 13th District, has officially announced his candidacy for reelection.

Niagara's Choice Federal Credit Union recently donated the proceeds from its annual charity golf tournament to local veterans organization SERV Niagara. The Niagara County-based credit union holds a golf tournament each August to raise funds for a local charity.

Niagara Falls Memorial Medical Center will honor a longtime physician and a television anchor/reporter for their service to the hospital and the community at the 2020 Premier, Memorial's annual black tie gala.

An in-depth investigative study by Better Business Bureau finds business email compromise scams are skyrocketing in frequency and have cost businesses and other organizations more than $3 billion since 2016.

Girl Scouts of Western New York will recognize nine honorees at the 2019 Women of Distinction Dinner & Awards Ceremony at 5:30 p.m. Thursday, Sept. 26, at the Hyatt Regency Hotel Buffalo. More than 430 guests are expected to attend this top women's event of the year.

The Niagara County Legislature last week unanimously approved $316,000 to support North Tonawanda's effort to upgrade Gratwick-Riverside Park.

The New York State Office of Alcoholism and Substance Abuse Services (OASAS) today announced the opening of the House of Hope recovery center in Lockport. The center is operated by Save the Michaels of the World and will provide free help and support services for people affected by addiction and their families. The center is being funded in part with $437,500 in federal funding through the State Opioid Response Grant, administered by OASAS.

Family Promise of WNY, a community organization providing temporary shelter and support to families experiencing homelessness in Western New York, will host its fifth annual "Choctoberfest" at 6 p.m. Saturday, Oct. 5, at World of Beer, located inside the Walden Galleria in Cheektowaga.

Congressman Brian Higgins, D-NY-26, announced the House Transportation and Infrastructure Committee approved the Great Lakes Restoration Initiative (GLRI) Act of 2019 (HR4031), legislation increasing GLRI funding over the next five years, from $375 million in 2022 to $475 million by 2026.

At Thursday's legislative meeting, the Niagara County Legislature accepted a $2.1 million grant that was approved by the Department of Homeland Security to support the county's effort to enhance radio communication within the fire service.

At a meeting Thursday, Niagara County Legislator Rebecca Wydysh was appointed as the first female vice chair in the history of the Niagara County Legislature.

The Niagara County Workforce Development Board and Niagara's WorkSourceOne will hold its annual fall career fair from 1-3 p.m. Wednesday, Sept. 25, at the Four Points by Sheraton Hotel in Niagara Falls, 7001 Buffalo Ave.

Congressman Brian Higgins, D-NY-26, announced a federal grant from the Department of Homeland Security's Staffing for Adequate Fire and Emergency Response (SAFER) program has been awarded to the City of Buffalo for the hiring of firefighters. The grant is for a total of $9,806,400 and administered by DHS's Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA).

Vice President and General Manager of Washington Mills Don McLeod, and Mary Ricciardi, a devoted community volunteer, will be honored at the 20th annual Good Works Gala of the Mount St. Mary's Hospital Foundation. In honor of the gala's 20th year, the theme is the "Roaring 20's."

Approximately half a million vehicles per day cross what reports cites as poor/structurally deficient bridges; 8% of local bridges rated poor/structurally deficient while 45% rated fair.