Current News

New York state ended the 2013-14 fiscal year in the strongest fiscal position in years and was able to deposit $175 million in the Rainy Day Reserve Fund for the first time since 2008, according to a report on the recently enacted state budget released by State Comptroller Thomas P. DiNapoli.

Still, the $143 billion budget continues to rely, in part, on temporary funding streams to attain balance.

"After a tough few years, New York state is in better fiscal shape thanks to an improving economy and difficult fiscal choices made by the Governor and the Legislature," DiNapoli said. "

In honor of Earth Week, Attorney General Eric T. Schneiderman today presented important environmental protection initiatives undertaken by his office and provided a map showing the impact of his environmental protection bureau in every region of the state.

A special open house will be held at Gate of Heaven Cemetery, 500 Riverdale Ave., Lewiston, on Saturday, May 3, from 9 a.m. to 3 p.m.

Doodle Bugs! Children's Centers is reinforcing its educational philosophy by participating in "Screen-Free Week" May 5-11. Organizers invite families to join in reducing the use of entertainment screen media, including television, video games, computers and hand-held devices.

The Niagara Wine Trail is celebrating its 12th anniversary with the annual Wine Trail Blossoms event Mother's Day weekend. Taking place May 9-11, Wine Trail Blossoms will showcase the wineries' spring preparations. Pre-sale event tickets are now on sale and can be purchased online through May 8.

The Niagara University Family Business Center will hold its next breakfast forum Tuesday, May 6, at Giancarlo's, 5110 Main St., Williamsville. The event begins at 7:30 a.m.

The Lewiston Democratic Party is poised to have a Democrat run for the village's top office for the first time in two decades.

Big Guys Pizzeria and More isn't the only new restaurant planned for the Village of Lewiston. Russ Conrad recently purchased 800 Center St. - formerly Dennis Brochey's Automotive - and intends to convert the property into "The Cocktail Bar & Restaurant."

Supervisor Dennis Brochey created a firestorm Monday as he revealed his intent to redirect an estimated $120,000 in Modern Disposal tipping fees from Artpark & Company back to town coffers. The money, which Lewiston receives annually, has gone to help fund Artpark & Company's family programing.

The Niagara River Region Chamber of Commerce is pleased to announce the Sanborn Old General Store as the recipient of the Sanborn Business of the Year Award.

The Wheatfield Town Board on Monday hired a consultant to give advice on the Quasar matter, approved a veterans memorial and determined to seek out a culprit in a vandalism case.

The board also unanimously approved the Fairmount Park site proposed by its Veterans Memorial Focus Group for the town's new veterans memorial.

With spring slowly starting to break through, the Town of Niagara Town Board on Tuesday did some cleanup by approving a resolution leftover from winter, a contract and some road repair.

Agreement was reached on the new rental fee schedule for use of structures in Veterans Park on Lockport Road.

Town residents will face no charge for reservations at the various pavilions in the park, but must supply a returnable $100 security deposit. Rental for the Calvin K. Richards Community Center would be $25 per hour with a $150 deposit. A baseball diamond would be $50 per game with a $100 deposit.

Bright sunshine and relatively warm temperatures greeted folks who came out to Old Fort Niagara for the annual Patriots' Weekend last Saturday and Sunday.

A benefit will be held from 2 to 6 p.m. Sunday, April 27, for Donella (Miljour) Nocera of Niagara Falls at the Tuscarora Nation House, 5226 Walmore Road, Lewiston.

Rivershore Inc. has announced a new and unique 5K running event to be held in the Village of Lewiston Saturday, May 3. The Rivershore 5K will be held annually on the first Saturday of May to coincide with the Lewiston Smelt Festival, and will be the first of 10 runs in the DiMino Lower Niagara Running Series.

The event, professionally managed by Race Management Solution, seeks to support Rivershore programs while promoting the historic Village of Lewiston.

This one-of-a-kind running experience will start and finish on Lewiston Landing in front of the Barton Hill Hotel (start time 11 a.m.). Runners will experience the most challenging incline in Lewiston.

Grand Island resident Al Shreder was selected as the grand-prize winner in the recent Island Dispatch survey contest. He and his wife, Marion, received a $150 gift card from Seneca Niagara Gaming Corp.

Move over Prince George, there's American baby royalty at "The Chew" making her own splash. Co-host Daphne Oz returns from maternity leave Wednesday, April 23, and will bring her newborn daughter, Philomena Bijou Jovanovic, for a special on-air visit with Aunt Carla and Uncle Mario, Uncle Michael and Uncle Clinton.

The Zonta Club of Grand Island will award scholarships at its annual awards dinner June 24.

The Memorial Scholarship Award of $750 will be presented to a woman between the ages of 18 and 25 in memory of deceased Zontians who gave of their time and resources to improve the status of women. To be eligible for this award, the applicant must be a resident of Grand Island, at least 18 years old (not a high school senior) and be enrolled in a degree or certification program.

The Career Advancement Scholarship will recognize one woman over 25 with a $750 award. She must be a resident of Grand Island and attending or have proof of acceptance in a program to further her education or help re-enter the job market.

Making alcohol treatment more efficient and effective is the long-term goal of a $2.7 million grant to the University at Buffalo Research Institute on Addictions.

The Niagara Area Foundation has announced grants totaling more than $50,000 were awarded to nine Niagara County nonprofit organizations in 2013.

The Historic Riviera Theatre and Performing Arts Center in North Tonawanda continues its historic marquee restoration and improvement project with the much-anticipated installation of the historic and iconic 1947 marquee on Tuesday, April 22. Installation is scheduled to be completed Friday (weather permitting).

Under the direction of general contractor Peyton Barlow Co., the Wagner Electric Sign Company of Elyria, Ohio, completed restoration and improvements of the historic marquee by removing it from the building at the end of October and transporting it to its factory.

Congressman Chris Collins has announced the availability of approximately $1.4 million in grant funding to support specialty crop programs in New York. The funding is a part of the farm bill passed by Congress earlier this year.

The ubiquitous garage or basement refrigerator that chilled many a summer beverage. The old freezer full of icy bricks of who-knows-what dating back to who-knows-when? They probably seemed like a good idea at one time, but now they pose a substantial burden to your electric bill.

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.

Dexter Roberts was eliminated Thursday on "American Idol XIII" after he received the fewest votes. From Fayette, Ala., the 22-year-old sang "Muckalee Creek Water" on Wednesday night's performance show.

The Buffalo Jr. Sabres have announced several management and coaching changes in the organization, including the hiring of former Buffalo Sabres player John Tucker as head coach of the Junior A team of the Ontario Junior Hockey League.

Assemblyman John Ceretto, R-C-I-Lewiston, is applauding the Tax Foundation for its recognition of New York's positive tax reforms in the new state budget.

The Isaiah 61 Project is opening the ReClaim Store Friday, May 2, at 2411 Hyde Park Blvd. (Harpor Plaza), Niagara Falls. It invites the public to the store's first day of operation.

Mount St. Mary's Hospital has received the American Heart Association/American Stroke Association's Get With The Guidelines-Stroke Gold-Plus Quality Achievement Award. The award recognizes Mount St. Mary's commitment and success in implementing care for stroke patients, according to evidence-based guidelines.

Niagara Falls Memorial Medical Center has received the Get With The Guidelines-Stroke Gold-Plus Quality Achievement Award for implementing specific quality improvement measures outlined by the American Heart Association/American Stroke Association for the treatment of stroke patients.

Brian and Cathy Martin, new owners of The Natural Link, pose with a selection of hams they're selling just in time for Easter. Stop in and see them at their store, located at the corner of Center Street and Portage Road, just around the corner from Hibbard's Original Frozen Custard.

Assemblyman John Ceretto is initiating talks to seek support for two new economic development initiatives to boost the Niagara Falls tourist economy. First, Ceretto is exploring the possibility of building the new Buffalo Bills stadium in Niagara Falls. A recent report about the stadium task force named Niagara Falls as a possible site. In addition, he is looking to bring Nik Wallenda back to the area.

"Bringing the Bills to Niagara Falls would be a major victory for our community. It would give our local tourism economy a big shot in the arm and create jobs for Western New York families," Ceretto said.

During a winter season with record snowfalls, demand rose considerably in the crisis and community services division at Community Missions, located in downtown Niagara Falls.

The organization saw a 24 percent increase in demand for its crisis housing, including a sobering 156 percent increase in nights of shelter given to children during the first three months of 2014, as compared to the first quarter of 2013. CMI provided 3,091 nights of shelter within its crisis housing programs during the first quarter of 2014, compared to 2,502 over the same time period in 2013. When considering those under the age of 12, the Mission provided a total of 420 nights of shelter during the first three months of 2014, compared to just 164 in 2013.

The increased demand for nights of shelter to children has been a yearlong trend.

A Niagara University recruitment poster earned a Silver Award as part of the 29th annual Educational Advertising Awards, sponsored by Higher Education Marketing Report.

The poster, bearing the university's trademark "Education That Makes a Difference" tagline, was designed by TWG Plus.

The Opportunities Unlimited of Niagara Foundation's 15th annual golf raffle is taking place Sunday, April 27, from 4 to 7 p.m. at the Sanborn Fire Hall, 5811 Buffalo St. The event offers golf enthusiasts the chance to win more than $20,000 in men's and women's golf-related equipment and trips.

The Buffalo Sabres Wednesday announced the team signed an affiliation agreement with the Elmira Jackals of the ECHL, the professional developmental league for the American Hockey League and the NHL. Elmira joins the Rochester Americans, the Sabres' AHL affiliate, as the chief minor-league development teams for the Buffalo Sabres organization.

The Buffalo & Erie County Greenway Fund Standing Committee approved more than $1.7 million in funding recently for five projects to improve the waterfront along the Niagara River Greenway.

The following entities proposed projects that were awarded funding: Buffalo Niagara Riverkeeper, Buffalo Olmstead Parks Conservancy, Buffalo Scholastic Rowing Association, Cazenovia Community Boating Center and the Niagara 1812 Bicentennial Legacy Council. The funding is from the New York Power Authority and was made possible as a result of the federal relicensing of NYPA's Niagara Power Project in 2007.

In honor of Arbor Day, the International Association of Administrative Professionals is hosting its first tree sale fundraiser, featuring a variety of shrubs and trees supplied by Schichtel's Nursery Oregon.

The Buffalo Sabres today announced several changes to the team's coaching staff, effective immediately.

Speaking of his new restaurant, chef Michael Clark promises, "We're not going to be your everyday pizzeria."

Business partners Clark, of Niagara Falls, and Lewiston's Tony Vescio plan to open Big Guys Pizzeria and More early next month in the addition next to Hibbard's Original Frozen Custard on Portage Road. The eatery's name comes from its signature pie, a 28-inch pizza affectionately called "The Big Guy."