Current News

This month, sites in Western New York will be among 5,000 U.S. drop-off locations collecting shoebox gifts for children overseas during Operation Christmas Child's National Collection Week, Nov. 12-19.

Ahead of Veterans Day, the New York State Department of Taxation and Finance reminded veterans of valuable tax exemptions and credits available to them, their families, and their employers.

The Buffalo Sabres announced a new season ticket exchange program, which will allow season ticketholders to trade in tickets for games they cannot attend.

Applications for Home Energy Assistance Program ("HEAP") regular benefits will be accepted beginning Tuesday, Nov. 13 - and Erie County's Department of Social Services ("DSS") anticipates receiving high numbers. The HEAP program is scheduled to run through March 31, 2019, but households are encouraged to apply sooner rather than later. Last season, more than 90,000 households in Erie County received benefits.

Singer/songwriter Mallary Hope released her brand-new single, "Christmas Is All About You," available now. Joining Hope's previously released Christmas songs, "Just A Baby (Mary's Song)" and "Mary, Did You Know?", the expectant mother of two understands first-hand the business of the Christmas season. In her new heart-felt track, Hope invites listeners to press pause, and instead experience the deeper meaning of why we celebrate.

Tyler, the Creator has unveiled his new original song "I Am the Grinch" for Universal Pictures' & Illumination's feature film "Dr. Seuss' The Grinch." Check out the official lyric video HERE.

Village of Lewiston Mayor Anne Welch on Monday unveiled a conceptual plan to revitalize Academy Park. Proposed improvements would allow the municipality's most prominent green space to be used year-round.As a result, the Niagara County Peach Festival would need a new home. Welch and the Board of Trustees discussed this with members of the Lewiston Kiwanis Club, who run the annual event.

Despite calls by some its residents to dissolve, it appears that, for now, the Village of Youngstown is staying put on considering any changes.

Neal Urban Photography will bring its annual "Photos for Toys" drive to Youngstown this year. More than 150 families from all over Western New York will have a discounted photo shoot in a beautifully designed Christmas scene when they donate an unwrapped toy. Cradle Beach Camp in Angola will distribute presents.

The Town of Grand Island Veterans Day Services will begin at 11 a.m. at the Veterans Park Memorial Wall on Sunday, Nov. 11, the 100th anniversary of the end of World War I.

The New York State Office of Parks, Recreation and Historic Preservation has announced there will be a public meeting to outline upcoming projects related to the habitat restoration of the Niagara River.

The Town of Grand Island Town Board heard a proposal for a new tree law that has been decades in the making.

On Friday, Grammy-winning CCM band Casting Crowns released an Amazon Original single "Only Jesus." The new recording is a stripped-down re-imagination of the song from their upcoming album, "Only Jesus," which releases Friday, Nov. 16.

Singer/songwriter/feminist/activist Ani DiFranco is gearing up for her memoir, "No Walls and the Recurring Dream," which will be published by Viking on May 7, 2019.

Niagara County Legislator Kathryn L. Lance announced she will step down from her seat effective immediately. Lance has been a county legislator since 2012.

Last Saturday, the Niagara-Wheatfield Falcons girls volleyball team notched the program's first-ever Section VI title. On Friday night, at Webster-Thomas High School, the girls etched another first into its history. The Falcons defeated the Irondequoit Eagles, 3-1, in the Far West Regional crossover matchup. The victory sends the girls to the New York State Tournament in Glens Falls.

Veterans Day 2018, observed Sunday, Nov. 11, brings new significance this year as it also marks the 100th anniversary of the ending of World War I (in addition to the nation's traditions of honoring its veterans who served in all wars, conflicts and in peacetime).

The New York State Department of Transportation and the New York Power Authority on Friday announced a major milestone in the project to remove an underutilized two-mile stretch of the former Robert Moses Parkway (now called the Niagara Scenic Parkway) along the Niagara Gorge in Niagara Falls, to create a park-like setting that will give residents and visitors alike unimpeded access to the gorge and provide added recreational opportunities.

Old Fort Niagara will commemorate the 100th anniversary of the armistice that ended the fighting between nations during World War I with special activities on Veteran's Day, this Sunday, Nov. 11.

The Kenan Arts Council is gearing up to be an exciting part of the holiday season. For the 38th year, the Kenan Arts Council will host the popular holiday gift show at the Kenan Center, 433 Locust St, Lockport. Dates are 5-9 p.m. Friday, Nov. 16; 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. Saturday, Nov. 17; and 11 a.m. to 5 p.m. Sunday, Nov. 18. Admission is $4.

Poloncarz, Neaverth join Niagara International Transportation Technology Coalition to highlight county, personal preparation; county retains National Weather Service 'Storm Ready' designation, is honored by NWS as Weather-Ready Nation Ambassador

Gov. Andrew M. Cuomo's administration and Niagara Falls Mayor Paul A. Dyster announced a roundtable event will take place in Niagara Falls to discuss the upcoming 2020 census and steps to ensure a full count of all New Yorkers. This will be the latest in a series of census-specific regional events to take place across the state in coming months, which will include local stakeholders and U.S. Census Bureau representatives.

In an effort to provide holiday meals to hungry community members, "97 Rock," WKBW-TV Channel 7 Eyewitness News, Kaleida Health and the Food Bank of WNY are teaming up for the 13th annual "Operation: Rock Out Hunger." The weeklong holiday food and fund drive will be held from 2 p.m. Wednesday, Nov. 14, through 9:30 a.m. Wednesday, Nov. 21, at a new location this year: the Millard Fillmore Suburban Hospital parking lot, 1540 Maple Road, Williamsville.

The New York State Office of Alcoholism and Substance Abuse Services (NYS OASAS) announced the opening of the Aurora Village Residential Treatment Facility, operated by Horizon Health Services. The 25-bed facility will provide addiction treatment services for women ages 18 and over.

Strengthening its position as the area leader in quality and patient safety, Catholic Health has once again earned the region's highest overall score in the Leapfrog Group's fall 2018 hospital safety grade report - and the only "A" grades in Western New York. In the national report released Thursday, Catholic Health hospitals received four of only 12 "A" safety grades that were given in all of New York state.

Members of Veterans of Foreign Wars Downriver Post No. 7487 will be distributing poppy flowers at DiMino Lewiston Tops on Friday and Saturday of this week. Donations received will go toward building a new memorial at Academy Park, as well as Lewiston-Porter and Patriot's Pen initiatives.

The Village of Lewiston Howard Hanna Real Estate Services branch recently held a 50/50 cash contest with a goal of raising funds for the John R. Oishei Children's Hospital. The initiative netted $2,000 for the Buffalo company.

Residents of Wheatfield Commons, a DePaul Senior Living Community in North Tonawanda, competed in the 11th annual DePaul Senior Olympics on Friday, Oct. 19 at DePaul's Recreation Center located at 1931 Buffalo Road, Rochester.  

Week in and week out, those who read the Falcons Flashback report in the Tribune sports section will likely find a familiar name when it comes to Niagara-Wheatfield girls cross country: Victoria Achtziger-Hughes.

Visit the Herschell Carrousel Factory Museum, 180 Thompson St., North Tonawanda, from noon to 2 p.m. on Saturdays Nov. 24 through Dec. 15 for its annual Santa on the Carrousel event.

Michael Bublé will return to KeyBank Center at 7:30 p.m. Feb. 27, 2019.

NTHS trumpeter Lila Wieclaw was selected to participate in the program through the recommendation of her teacher, Dave Manth. Congratulations were extended from the NT Fine Arts Department to Wieclaw on this accomplishment.

Amy Wojciechowski, left, infection prevention and antimicrobial stewardship coordinator at Niagara Falls Memorial Medical Center, received the Excellus BlueCross/BlueShield Quality Leaders Award from Excellus Provider Performance Improvement Manager Patricia Hope at the recently held Upstate New York Hospital Quality Initiative (UNYHQI) Best Practices Summit in Verona.

On Tuesday night, City of North Tonawanda Mayor Arthur Pappas gave his 2019 budget message to those attending the first Common Council meeting of the month.

The Lewiston Choraleers will kick off its popular holiday concert series at 1 p.m. Saturday, Dec. 1, at St. Peter's Roman Catholic Church, 620 Center St., Lewiston, as part of the annual Lewiston Christmas Walk sponsored by the Niagara River Region Chamber of Commerce. Additional performances will be held in Niagara Falls and Lewiston.

The community is invited to participate in a free "Lunch & Learn" program from 11:30 a.m. to 1 p.m. Wednesday, Nov. 14, at St. John's Episcopal Church, Main and Chestnut streets in Youngstown.

Nearly 25 years to the day of the No. 1 vs. No. 2 "Game of the Century" between Florida State and Notre Dame, QB Ian Book and the No. 3 Fighting Irish (9-0) aim to maintain their undefeated season and College Football Playoff aspirations with a win against the Florida State Seminoles (4-5) at Notre Dame Stadium in South Bend, Indiana, this Saturday (7:30 p.m. ET) on NBC. Pre-game coverage on Saturday starts at 7 p.m. with "Countdown to Kickoff" on NBCSN.

Congratulations to the 45 students from the Orleans Career and Technical Education Center who were recently inducted into the National Technical Honor Society. 

On Thursday, Dec. 6, celebrate "A Winter's Fest Eve" in Victorian style. Celebrate the Christmas season at the Niagara History Center's Col. William Bond/Jesse Hawley House, 143 Ontario St., Lockport. The house will be open for tours from 6-8:30 p.m.

At 3 p.m. Saturday, Nov 17, an evening of Indian art, music, dance, food and culture, with an international cast of performers and musicians, will be staged at the Niagara Arts and Cultural Center. The event is a tribute to Indian culture, Bollywood dance and music. The program will feature musicians and dancers transcending borders.