Current News

GardenFest is this weekend in Lewiston. The annual event is a time for residents and visitors to get out and explore different gardens and to take notice of the Garden Club's work in beautifying the village. In keeping with that idea, why not venture out a little further this weekend when in search of breakfast? You might find a new morning favorite food.

Village of Lewiston Deputy Clerk Karen Goodman was recognized for her 31 years of service. Mayor Terry Collesano presented her with a plaque of appreciation at Monday's Village Board meeting.

The past week was a busy one for the Artpark outdoor amphitheater. Events at the concert venue ranged from the all-new Latitude 43 Music Festival to benefit the Variety Club, to Tuesday's rain-shortened performance of Widespread Panic, to Wednesday's sold-out Coors Light concert featuring the Arctic Monkeys.

The American Red Cross encourages eligible blood donors to make and keep donation appointments to maintain the summer blood supply and help prevent a shortage. Donors of all blood types are currently needed, especially those with type O negative, B negative and A negative.

In a show of ongoing opposition in the area, the Niagara County Legislature on Tuesday unanimously approved a resolution against CWM Chemical Services LLC and its proposal to build a new hazardous waste Residuals Management Unit-2 landfill at its Town of Porter facility.

The Historic Riviera Theatre in North Tonawanda announces its 2014 Summer Film Series of movie musicals.

Sophia Smith recently had the opportunity to interview Todd Rundgren, the musical genius who will visit Artpark Tuesday as part of Ringo Starr's All Starr band concert (6:30 p.m.)

A tree was planted in Hennepin Park this week in memory of longtime bluesman "Harmonica" Dean Germele, who passed away earlier this year.

The Taste of Buffalo presented by Tops is officially rocking and rolling, marking its 31st year showcasing local food and restaurants. The country's largest annual two-day food festival returns to Delaware Avenue and Niagara Square in downtown Buffalo Saturday, July 12, from 11 a.m. to 9 p.m., and Sunday, July 13, from 11 a.m. to 7 p.m.

"The Chew" is celebrating summer with a week of sweet and savory inspirations. On Wednesday, it's a berry bonanza with "berrylicious" recipes for the whole family to enjoy. On Thursday, chef Curtis Stone and actress Yvette Nicole Brown join as guest-co-hosts. HGTV's Carter Oosterhouse and actor Michael Ealy are guests.

The following activity occurred Monday, June 9, to Sunday, June 15, as reported by the Lewiston Police Department. LPD logged a total of 127 response calls during this period.

The Arbor Day Foundation offers a book that helps people identify trees in a simple, step-by-step process. "What Tree Is That?" is available for a $5 donation to the nonprofit tree-planting organization.

Watch history come to life with the site-specific multi-disciplinary performance that honors First Nations warriors of the War of 1812, featuring Onkwehonwe families who sacrificed to protect Haudenosaunee sovereignty, culture and land.

The following incidents occurred from June 2 to 8, as reported by the Grand Island Fire Co. A total of 19 calls were answered by the department during this period.

The Erie County Sheriff's Office responded to 202 calls from May 31 to June 6. Below is a sampling of the noteworthy incidents on Grand Island.

A new ride at Martin's Fantasy Island provides a view of Canada, Buffalo and the mist from Niagara Falls, and an 80-foot spinning freefall.

A lifelong dream to open a salon has culminated in Shear Paradise.

About two-dozen supporters watched Lisa and Kevin Dilliot cut the ceremonial ribbon to open the Shear Paradise salon.

New Directions Youth and Family Services will host "A Day on the Links" on Monday, June 23, at the Lockport Town & Country Club to benefit local youth and families in Niagara County supported by New Directions' community-based programs and foster care/adoption services.

If you have a chronic illness such as diabetes, high blood pressure, heart disease, chronic pain or arthritis, a free Chronic Disease Self-Management Workshop will begin on Friday, June 27, at the Pendleton Town Hall, 6570 Campbell Blvd. The sessions run for six consecutive Fridays from 9 to 11:30 a.m.

In Niagara County, there are approximately 470 registered sex offenders. By legislation, only 270 of the most serious offenders appear on the Niagara County Sheriff's website.

I have been a Lewiston Police officer since 1990 and, in my career, I have had the pleasure of conversing with thousands of residents. One of the topics usually covered in our conversation, especially if the resident is new to Lewiston, is the question of why do you choose to live in Lewiston.

The following activity occurred from Monday, June 2, to Sunday, June 9, as reported by the Lewiston Police Department. LPD logged a total of 103 response calls during this period.

The Grand Island Alumni Association and Grand Island Central School District Athletic Director Jon Roth have announced the first sponsor of "Friday Night Under the Lights."

Pete Hayes, Class of 1974, has signed on as a gold sponsor for the event, which will herald the opening of the new Gene Masters Field at Grand Island High School. The ongoing capital construction project includes a new football stadium, complete with new turf, new seating, new scoreboard and lights.

"Friday Night Under the Lights" will be on Friday, Sept. 19, at Gene Masters Field. The festive evening will begin at 5 p.m. with a gathering of old friends, classmates and players from the past 50 years.

At its Monday evening meeting, the Grand Island Board of Education recognized the service of two departing trustees: Emily Ciraolo and Tak Nobumoto.

Superintendent of Schools Dr. Teresa Lawrence thanked Ciraolo and Nobumoto for their service. Ciraolo has been responsible for creating and helping maintain the district's Facebook page. Nobumoto has served as board president after a tenure as vice president. Nobumoto finished fourth out of four candidates up for election to three seats last month. Known for his insightful questions and orderly running of meetings, he will serve until a new president is elected in July at the board's annual reorganizational meeting.

Four members of the Niagara-Wheatfield varsity soccer team have won the state cup in their respective age bracket and will travel to Rhode Island to compete in regional competition with their premier teams at the end of the month.

It's the seniors vs. the kids as the Town of Wheatfield holds its fifth annual Fishing Challenge from 10 a.m. to noon Saturday, June 21, at Fairmount Park pond.

Orleans/Niagara BOCES will offer a driver and traffic safety education course from July 1 to Aug. 14 at the Orleans/Niagara BOCES Conference Center in Sanborn, Medina High School, and at Niagara Falls High School.

Sara Poreda, a middle school math and science teacher at Holy Ghost Lutheran School in Bergholz, has been selected to participate with approximately 210 teachers - both national and international - in the Honeywell Educators @ Space Academy in Huntsville, Alabama, from June 18 to 24.

The following is a sampling of calls answered by the Town of Niagara Police between May 30 and June 10.

The Niagara County Genealogical Society will present the free program "The What and How of Lineage Groups" at 7 p.m. June 25 at 215 Niagara St., Lockport.

The Wheatfield Garden Club will hold its annual plant sale from 9 a.m. to 1 p.m. on Saturday, June 28, at the Wheatfield Community/Senior Center gazebo, 2790 Church Road, Wheatfield.

Kyle Stoddard, 8, a student at Errick Road Elementary School and founder of Kyle's Guarding Warriors, was successful with his recent fundraiser for the SPCA and Dog Tags Niagara.

Tuesday's Town of Niagara Town Board meeting brought lots of smiles and good news for residents.

It started out on a high note with the presentation of a certificate to longtime resident Fannie Scalzo honoring her 100th birthday on June 7. Most of Scalzo's descendants also live in the Town of Niagara.

United Way of Buffalo & Erie County is accepting project submissions from nonprofit organizations in Erie County for the annual Day of Caring, the largest one-day volunteer event in Western New York, which will connect thousands of volunteers with projects that will assist area agencies.

Day of Caring will be held Wednesday, Aug. 20, from 9 a.m. until 3 p.m. It is sponsored by Wegmans, HSBC, National Grid and UAW/GM.

Organized by the United Way of Buffalo & Erie County, the annual event is designed to provide volunteer manpower to nonprofit organizations for projects and services that would otherwise cost organizations resources that could be spent on fulfilling their missions.

Kelly Nash, a running coach and supporter of Heritage Christian Services, plans to run 100K along the Heritage Trail to raise money and celebrate the 30th anniversary of the agency, which serves children and adults with developmental disabilities.

Attorney General Eric Schneiderman and San Francisco District Attorney George Gascón have announced that, for the first time, Google and Microsoft will incorporate a "kill switch" into the next version of their respective operating systems. Google's operating system, Android, runs on more than half of all smartphones used in the U.S. Microsoft's operating system is on all Nokia smartphones.

Lewiston Dance Center students recently took part in the Fairy House Festival a yearly event held at Artpark. The students dressed in their ballet costumes with fairy makeup and fairy wings and performed their ballet dances for onlookers.

The First Niagara Foundation and Veterans One-stop Center of WNY Inc. are partnering to provide a seminar on entrepreneurial success that will feature educational lectures, films and interactive discussions.

Assemblyman John Ceretto, R-C-I-Lewiston, helped passed a bill, A.10051, that would allow the Town of Niagara to sell certain lands that have been designated as parklands. These parklands the town is authorized to sell have gone unused for the past decade and have been replaced by new parklands. This move allows the town to sell the lands for economic development and improve the local economy.

"I was happy to carry this important local measure through the Assembly," Ceretto said. "Economic development and job creation are among my highest priorities, and this bill allows the Town of Niagara to expand its economy.