Current News

The Miss America Organization and ABC recently announced that Brooke Burke-Charvet will join Chris Harrison as co-host of "The 2012 Miss America Pageant," which will be telecast live from the Planet Hollywood Resort & Casino in Las Vegas on Saturday, Jan. 14, (9 to 11 p.m.) on ABC. Burke was co-host of ABC's live telecast of the 2011 Miss America Pageant with Harrison. The 2011 pageant drew ABC's biggest non-sports audience in the timeslot since April 2009, reaching 14.6 million viewers nationwide.

Calling all ladies! After a fabulous first "Girls Night Out" in Las Vegas, "LIVE! with Kelly" is bringing the party to the big city with "Girls Night Out: New York Edition." During the week of Jan. 30, one lucky viewer and up to four of her friends will come to the city that never sleeps for the trip of a lifetime, complete with a night on the town with "LIVE!" host Kelly Ripa.

The Town of Niagara will hold its 2012 re-organization meeting on Monday, Jan. 9, at 6 p.m. at the Calvin K. Richards Senior Center, 7000 Lockport Road (in Veterans' Memorial Park). This meeting will be the official bicentennial celebration kickoff as the Town of Niagara celebrates its 200th birthday.

Recently, six members of the Erie County Farm Bureau joined hundreds of other farm bureau members from across the Empire State in Binghamton for the New York Farm Bureau's State Annual Meeting. The event marks the time when policies are debated and voted upon by county appointed delegates. These discussions determine the agricultural policy issues to be adopted by the organization for 2012.

The Neptune Ski Club hosted its "Ski-A-Thon 2012" over the weekend.

The Niagara University Family Business Center will celebrate its ninth anniversary on Thursday, Jan. 19, with a celebration and awards banquet at Rich's Renaissance. This year's event will honor:

•Kraftwerks Inc. with the Leadership Award

•SoPark Corporation with the Vision Award

Lockport Community Television announces its winter 2012 training classes in television production. Learn to produce programming using LCTV's equipment and studio or using your own equipment for airing on the local Time Warner cable system.

As representatives in the 15-member Niagara County Legislature were sworn in around Niagara County this past weekend, several were taking oaths for the first time as elected officials.

CBS recently announced additional mid-season schedule moves, including the premiere of the next edition of "The Amazing Race" and new Friday time periods for "Undercover Boss" and "A Gifted Man."

Cannons were fired multiple times Sunday at Old Fort Niagara in Youngstown as a salute to Fort George, Ontario, during the "Lieutenant Governor's Levee."

(Via readMedia) Private and public waste haulers/transporters and solid or hazardous waste management facilities can no longer dispose of electronic waste, such as televisions, computers, computer peripherals, etc., in a solid or hazardous waste management facility located in New York, announced the New York State Department of Environmental Conservation.

Unseasonably warm temperatures and wet grounds forced Ransomville Speedway officials to postpone the 12th annual Hangover 150 for the second consecutive year.

Congresswoman Kathy Hochul released the following statement after Time Warner Cable and MSG Networks failed to reach an agreement on carrier fees, causing subscribers to lose coverage beginning Jan. 1:

Surrounded by family, friends, top county elected officials and judges, Niagara County's new family court judge was sworn in Sunday.

New year, new fund-raising campaign for the Niagara Falls Air Base.

The 2012 Bridgestone NHL Winter Classic between the Philadelphia Flyers and New York Rangers from Citizen's Bank Park in Philadelphia, which was scheduled to air today at 1 p.m., will now start at 3 p.m. on NBC to facilitate optimal game conditions, the NHL announced Sunday. NBC Sports will still begin its live NHL Winter Classic pre-game coverage at 1 p.m. with interviews, features and other content.

Charles N. DeGlopper Memorial VFW Post 9249, 2121 Grand Island Blvd., will host an all-you-can-eat "Soup Night."

As always, it will be the largest gymnastics competition to be held in Western New York this year. And, for 2012, the Graffiti Invitational, Saturday and Sunday, Jan. 7 and 8, will again take place at the Conference Center Niagara Falls.

As 2011 draws to a close, ring in the new year with skin-saving resolutions suggested by the Skin Cancer Foundation. From seeing a dermatologist, to ending your tanning routine and practicing sun protection as a way of life, here are five healthy skin habits for next year:

Orleans/Niagara BOCES will be starting its winter/spring driver and traffic education course on Feb. 6, 2012.

The Youngstown Yacht Club announced its installation of new officers for the 2012 yachting season. New officers include:

The year 2011 is now fading into memory.

As we eagerly anticipate what's to come in 2012, we now look back at what was 2011. It was certainly memorable, with changes, countless ones, on a global, national, local, and even a personal scale.

For some it was a year of high expectations, some achieved. For others it might have been frustrations, possibly loss. You can say one thing though - we were all impacted by the events that occurred in the last year in some form or another.

What follows is a brief look at some of the major news reported on in the Sentinel coverage area over the past year. News, which will likely continue to impact area residents in 2012 and beyond.

As the countdown to the new year begins, the Sentinel takes a look back at 10 Village of Lewiston topics covered in 2011, all of which will impact residents in 2012.

Stars "Come on Down" and play for their favorite charities.

The Historic Riviera Theatre presents "Rhythm of the Dance," presented by the National Dance Co. of Ireland, on Sunday, March 8 for performances at 2 and 7:30 p.m.

The Historic Riviera Theatre presents "Best of Both: A Tribute to Billy Joel & Elton John" for one performance only on Friday, Feb. 17, at 7:30 p.m.

Yancey's Fancy launched its new website, www.yanceysfancy.com, with 360 Professional Services Group.

Known as "New York's Artisan Cheese," Yancey's Fancy has launched more than 50 varieties of specialty cheeses that reintroduce the flavors that made New York famous for handcrafted cheddar cheeses many years ago.

In need of a website that reflected dedication to their craft, the graphic design team at 360 PSG provided Yancey's Fancy with a full custom design that spotlights the company's complete selection of artisan cheeses. Additionally, visitors to the site can now easily search for recipes, view upcoming events, and contact customer service.

Jan. 2 is an important day for the NBC Sports Group as it broadcasts the 2012 Bridgestone NHL Winter Classic at 1 p.m. on NBC and launches the NBC Sports Network, currently VERSUS, immediately following the game at 4 p.m. with a special NHL Live post-game show hosted by Bob Costas from Philadelphia.

Keeping up a 41-year tradition, free coffee and hot tea will be available to travelers along the New York State Thruway on New Year's Eve.

Mount St. Mary's Hospital will present a series of programs in January 2012 as part of its "Health For All Seasons" health education program and event series.

Assemblyman John Ceretto, R-I-Lewiston, is looking forward to building upon the success of last year's legislative session and has received tremendous feedback from his "Community Listening Tour" to help ensure that the needs of Niagara County residents are met.

The trustees and staff of the Youngstown Free Library wish all of our patrons and community members a very happy, healthy, well-read 2012

Johnson's Fudge stand stood just a few feet back on Lower River Road between Lewiston and Youngstown, but how many knew Johnson's Boat House was on the river below?

I never knew that, and when asking around not too many of the surviving old-timers didn't know it either. Several years ago, river man and commercial fisherman Art King gave me a manila folder with some old stuff in it before he passed away, and I kept it as a treasure from Art. It had some old papers, old New York and Ontario fishing licenses, a 1950 New York state fishing syllabus, and an old, undated, Johnson's Fudge Company/Boat House six-page booklet. In there was even an old Ontario beer rationing coupon book with eight coupons left and it is dated "valid until Oct. 31, 1944," but that is another Niagara story for later.

The following activity occurred Monday, Dec. 19, to Sunday, Dec. 25, as reported by the Lewiston Police Department. LPD responded to a total of 66 calls during this period.

Need help choosing a New Year's resolution? The University at Buffalo offers its annual list of 10 suggestions for achieving health, happiness and success in the new year.

New York state recently announced it launching of a new domestic incident report repository.

In the spirit of giving, the Coldwell Banker Talarico Real Estate Office in Lewiston adopted a family of five from the Air Force base in Niagara Falls.

Linda Isenhart and the Zonta Club of Grand Island presented a check for $1,500 to Ann Dahl of the Grand Island Neighbors Foundation to help needy families in the town.

The Grand Island Town Board held memorial adjournments at its regular monthly meetings for the following Islanders during 2011: