Current News

Once again, the Health Association of Niagara County Inc. is offering a free, six-week series that helps older adults manage chronic conditions and enjoy better health.

Hartland United Methodist Church, 8017 Ridge Road, Gasport, will hold a free weekly supper at the church each Wednesday during the Advent season. Advent is the period beginning four weeks before Christmas and marks the coming of Christ into the world.

The suppers will consist of a half sandwich, a bowl of soup, a beverage and dessert. These suppers are for anyone in the community who would like to share both food and fellowship. Scheduled dates are Nov. 30, and Dec. 7, 14 and 21 from 4:30 to 6 p.m. Food will be prepared and served by church members and other volunteers.

For more information, call 772-2376.

The Steering Committee of the Lake Ontario Ordnance Works Restoration Advisory Board, more commonly known as the LOOW RAB, announces the re-launch of its website at LOOWRAB.com accompanied by a vital call for public input on whether the Town of Lewiston should become home to a radioactive waste disposal facility.

Shawnee Sno-Chiefs Snowmobile Club, in cooperation with the Shawnee Volunteer Fire Co., will be offering a New York state snowmobile safety course, Saturday, Dec. 17, at the Shawnee Volunteer Fire Co., 3747 Lockport Road, Sanborn. Course time is from 8:30 a.m. to 4 p.m.

The course is available to children ages 10 and up. Parents are required to accompany the child at registration to sign the state required permission slip and provide a signed note for their child to take the course. Parents are also encouraged to attend the course with their child.

Students are advised to bring a pencil and/or pen and a snack. Soft drinks will be provided courtesy of Shawnee Sno-Chiefs.

Niagara University's English department is pleased to present a mini-conference featuring papers from students in Dr. Philip Collington's senior seminar English class on William Shakespeare's romantic comedies.

Helen Milleville, a resident at The McGuire Group's Northgate Health Care Facility in Wheatfield will celebrate her 101 birthday on Nov. 22.

The "Devil Without a Cause" now has a mission and (possibly) a way into Heaven.

The holidays should be a special time for everyone, especially children.

There's now a different sign on the window of the Little Yellow Artisan House on Center Street. The recent "We're leaving" notice has been replaced with store hours and the promise of even more hours of operation following Thanksgiving.

Rivershore Inc. and the Kiwanis Club of Lewiston teamed up Monday to host an installation dinner for the Niagara County Aktion Club.

An artist's rendering of the new Academy Park temporary ice rink the Town and Village of Lewiston will open next month.

Gary Hall spoke to the Sentinel about his intentions to build a new recreation center in the Village of Lewiston.

Without much fanfare, the Town of Porter adopted its $4.471 million budget Monday on a unanimous vote. The budget, detailed in last week's Sentinel and in earlier issues, includes a tax rate of $1.837 per thousand of assessed valuation for Porter property owners, an increase of roughly 9 cents over last year.

Assemblyman John Ceretto, R-I-Lewiston, has signed legislation that seeks to address a dangerous loophole in state law and help protect children from abuse.

Academy Award nominee Elisabeth Shue will join the cast of "CSI: Crime Scene Investigation," as a series regular, on CBS. Her character will be introduced in the episode scheduled to air on Feb. 15, 2012.

Shue will play the newest CSI, fresh off an anger management course, amid rumors that D.B. Russell (Ted Danson) fired her when she worked for him in Seattle.

ABC Family delivers the gift of holiday cheer with the world premiere of the original movie, "12 Dates of Christmas," starring Amy Smart and Mark-Paul Gosselaar.

The following activity occurred Monday, Nov. 7, to Sunday, Nov. 13, as reported by the Lewiston Police Department. LPD logged a total of 92 responses during this period.

Niagara coyotes are described as the Eastern coyote (canis latrans), and the theory is they migrated to New York state in the late 1930s and early '40s. In the 1970s they became very abundant across the state, and in some pockets they over-populated.

With the ink barely dry on the 2011 season, the management of Ransomville Speedway has immediately turned its focus on the 2012 year. The successes of both 2010 and 2011 with solid car counts and a great fan base has prompted a purse increase in the Mighty Taco Modifieds, Original Pizza Logs Sportsman, and Ki-Po Chevrolet Streetstocks.

"In light of the recent successful seasons, we feel it's time to help out the drivers with their costs by increasing the purse in our three weekly divisions," commented co-promoter Jamie Friesen. "The full 2012 purses will be released along with the Ransomville rules structure for next year by Dec. 5," continued Friesen. "I do not foresee any major changes."

For the 2012 season - the Mighty Taco Modified feature winner will now earn $1,500, an increase from $1,200 in 2011.

The Wilson Central School District reports the middle/high school will hold an open house on Monday, Nov. 21. Classes are not being held and students will not have to report that day. The school's faculty will be on hand to meet with parents in two sessions - from noon to 4 p.m. and from 5 to 7:30 p.m.

Rebecca Christie, the new owner of Savory Sips/Village Wine Tours recently celebrated a ribbon-cutting ceremony with the Chamber of Commerce and Village of Lewiston officials.

The Lewiston Choraleers will kick off its popular Christmas concert series on Saturday, Dec. 3, at 2 p.m.

On Saturday, Nov. 19, Health System Services, a local medical equipment supplier, will host "Diabetes Awareness Day' from 10 a.m. until 2 p.m. The event is open to the public and will take place within the company's showroom at 6867 Williams Road, Wheatfield.

Highlights of "Diabetes Awareness Day" include: free gift bags and product samples for the first 50 guests; vendor information tables; guest speakers; prize drawings; and tips on healthy eating and lifestyle.

In addition, local health care professionals throughout the day will present educational seminars. Seminars include "Making the Right Choices: Foot Care & Diet," presented by Dr. Charles Rice of the Mount St. Mary's Center for Wound Healing and Hyperbaric Medicine; and "Healthy Eating Tips with Diabetes," presented by Deb Hoffman, certified diabetes educator at Mount St. Mary's.

The following is a sampling of calls received by the Town of Niagara Police between Oct. 26 and Nov. 4.

Monday evening, members of the Grand Island Board of Education met with school administrators and members of the district's facility committee to formulate an effective public information plan regarding the possible 2011 capital project. Two separate propositions, in the amounts of $46,822,155 and $4,596,629, will go to public vote on Tuesday, Dec. 20.

A Saturday matinee performance by the Spotlighters drama club at Grand Island High School will be a family reunion of sorts.

The Grand Island Town Board approved a 2012 budget last Thursday with roughly 2 percent increases in tax rates across budget lines.

The general fund appropriations total $6,764,540, with the amount raised by taxation at $2,162,590.The estimated tax rate, $3.12 per $1,000 of assessed valuation, is an increase of 2.2 percent from the 2011 rate of $3.053.

The election of Councilwoman Mary Cooke to town supervisor has necessitated a search for another council member.

Islanders celebrated a windy Veterans Day at the Memorial Wall on Bedell Road last Friday.

Grand Island Fire Co. Cadet Evan Shaw was awarded the prestigious Eagle Scout rank during a special ceremony on Oct. 28 at fire headquarters.

Kester Bleich of Grand Island receives a flag from a Boy Scout during Friday's Veterans Day ceremony at the Veterans Memorial Wall on Bedell Road.

John Anthony and John Rodriguez were promoted.

The Erie County Sheriff's Office reports its officers responded to 198 calls from Nov. 5 to Nov. 11. Below is a sampling of only those incidents the ECSO reported to the Island Dispatch.

Eight very enthused Kaegebein students had an unusual but exciting ride to school on Monday, Oct. 17. They were picked up and driven to school in Grand Island Fire Co. trucks.

The following incidents occurred from Nov. 7 to 13, as reported by the Grand Island Fire Co. A total of 28 calls were answered by the department during this period.

Harold "Sarge" Hess, entered into rest Nov. 15, 2011. He was a resident of Grand Island.

Marion "the Barber" Mancuso, entered into rest Nov. 15, 2011.

When is a procedural not a just a procedural? When the villains are characters from "Grimm's Fairy Tales."

Yolanda (Cuppari) Grande, 88, of Alexandria, Va., formerly of Niagara Falls, N.Y., died on Saturday Nov. 12, at Mount Vernon Rehabilitation and Patient Center in Alexandria, Va.