Current News

Niagara University is one of the 332 most environmentally responsible colleges in the U.S. and Canada, according to The Princeton Review. The education services company known for its test prep programs and college rankings, ratings and guidebooks profiles NU in the fifth annual edition of its free downloadable book, "The Princeton Review's Guide to 332 Green Colleges."

So, you have an older book and you're not quite sure how old it is or if it's worth something. This presentation is for you.

The eighth season of the University Community Farmers Market will open Saturday, May 17, on the University at Buffalo South (Main Street) Campus. It will feature a variety of new and old vendors selling fresh food and local products.

If you're looking for a little something extra to kick off the warm spring season, sit back, relax and check out Hedley's new "Wild Life" album to be released May 19 by Capitol Records.

The Latitude 43 Music Festival will settle into its new home in the Outdoor Amphitheater at Artpark in Lewiston this June. The event, formerly known as PubFest, will continue its tradition of raising money for the Variety Kids Telethon.

Three New York Power Authority engineers will address the World Green Energy Symposium and Expo April 22-24 at the Conference & Event Center in Niagara Falls.

Billboard, dick clark productions and Chevrolet announced today Carrie Underwood, Ellie Goulding and OneRepublic are the top three finalists for the Milestone Award presented by Chevrolet at the 2014 Billboard Music Awards on Sunday, May 18, at the MGM Grand Garden Arena in Las Vegas.

This week, Colvin Cleaners, Western New York's "green" dry cleaner, will ramp up its efforts to celebrate "Gowns 4 Prom." The ninth annual charity event will be held 3-7 p.m. April 21-23 on stage at Shea's in downtown Buffalo. This year, with the help of Goodwill, TT New York, Continental Hair School, Boulevard Mall and Walden Galleria Mall, Colvin Cleaners has collected more than 4,000 donations of gently used gowns for girls in need to pick up for free during "Gowns 4 Prom."

This year will mark the highest number of dresses given out in the history of "Gowns 4 Prom." Over the past eight years, "Gowns 4 Prom" has given out more than 5,000 dresses. Colvin Cleaners expects to give out 1,000 this year alone.

Wound care nurse Melissa Molnar has joined the patient care team at The Wound Center of Niagara.

Motion picture, television and theater producing team Craig Zadan and Neil Meron will return to produce the Oscars for a third consecutive year, Academy President Cheryl Boone Isaacs announced today. The 87th Oscars will air live on the ABC Television Network "Oscar" Sunday, Feb. 22, 2015.

Theatre in the Mist, a local community theater group, recently presented the Lisa Gravel Memorial Performing Arts Scholarship to two students: Sabrina Kahwaty, a theatre performance major at Niagara University; and Magdalyn Chauby, a senior at Grand Island High School with aspirations to attend college for vocal performance.

NBC's Emmy Award-winning musical competition series "The Voice" has created a social media party event titled #VoiceTailgate to enhance the social media experience for fans.

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.