Current News

The Historical Association of Lewiston's April program, "Mysteries of Niagara Falls: Some of the Lesser Known Stories," will take place at 7 p.m. Thursday, April 25, at the Lutheran Church of the Messiah Fellowship Hall, 915 Oneida St.

A sure (and satisfying) sign of spring: Hibbard's Original Frozen Custard officially opened for the 2019 season on Monday.

Artpark & Company announced the return of Plasticiens Volants, the world-renown French street theater group that visited Lewiston in 2017. PV will stage the U.S. premiere of its show "Pearl: Secrets of the Sea" on Aug. 22.

An oral medication developed to treat patients with Type 2 diabetes has been approved by the European Commission for patients with Type 1 diabetes, in large part due to pioneering research conducted and advanced by a University at Buffalo researcher.

More than 25 downtown Niagara Falls businesses are joining together to prepare for the upcoming tourist season by hosting a collaborative hospitality industry job fair on Wednesday at the Niagara Falls Train Station, 825 Depot Ave. W.

Darci Lynne Farmer who, at just 12 years of age won NBC's "America's Got Talent" for her singing ventriloquism, is taking her act to Western New York. She will bring her all-new "Fresh Out of the Box Tour" to the Gusto Grandstand at the Erie County Fair.

Erie County Clerk Michael P. Kearns is again teaming up with Unyts and the New York Alliance for Donation (NYAD) during Donate Life Month to increase enrollment in the New York State Donate Life Registry.

FeedMore WNY is holding a spring flower sale in partnership with Lavocat's Greenhouse and Nursery. The fundraiser will accept orders until Friday, April 26. A portion of the proceeds will benefit FeedMore WNY's Meals on Wheels Program, which provides nutritious food and friendship to homebound seniors and disabled individuals.

For NBC's Red Nose Day primetime programming lineup, Hollywood's biggest stars will unite for a cause, testing their pop culture prowess and raising money for children in need on a special episode of "Hollywood Game Night." Hosted by Emmy Award-winner Jane Lynch, the special Red Nose Day edition of "HGN" will air Thursday, May 23 (10 p.m. ET/PT).

As celebrity stalkers regularly make headlines, a two-hour "20/20" documentary takes a look at one of the first celebrity stalking cases almost 30 years ago. Rebecca Schaeffer, a promising young actress known for her role on the hit sitcom "My Sister Sam," was preparing to audition for the movie role of a lifetime, a part in "The Godfather Part III," when her longtime stalker, an obsessed fan named Robert John Bardo, trekked across state lines and shot her point blank at the door of her Los Angeles home, killing her.

Patrons hopped to Lewiston on Saturday to participate in the first "Shop Hop." The spring and Easter-themed event provided a plethora of shopping deals across the business district, as well as an appearance by the Easter Bunny.

The Home Assistance Referral Team's annual "Rockin' with HART" fundraiser was staged Saturday at the Lewiston Event Center on Cayuga Street. The event included a basket raffle, a 50/50 split and a batch of celebrity bartenders vying for tips for HART.

The Opportunities Unlimited of Niagara Foundation's annual golf raffle will take place from 4-7 p.m. Sunday, May 5, at the Sanborn Firehall, 5811 Buffalo St. All proceeds will benefit individuals with developmental and other disabilities who are supported by Intandem.

Buffalo Sabres General Manager Jason Botterill on Sunday announced head coach Phil Housley was relieved of his duties.

Erie County Executive Mark C. Poloncarz announced a slate of county public works projects that are planned for 2019 on Monday, March 25. This year, Erie County will spend over $40 million to maintain and repair county roads along with bridges and other structures, including curbing and drainage. The work will be completed by the Erie County Department of Public Works and is scheduled to begin as soon as the weather allows.

Gordon A. Williams, a local contractor, at 97 years of age passed peacefully in the presence of his daughters on March 29, 2019, after a short illness.

People who compost are able to improve the health of their gardens, as well as reduce the amount of waste that they leave for the garbage truck each week, said master gardener Bonnie Benton. Benton spoke to a full house at a presentation organized by the Grand Island Farmers Market and sponsored by the town's Conservation Advisory Board on March 28 at the WNY Welcome Center.

Tin Pan Alley's pending sale is one of many changes across Ken Bryan and Eric Matthews' four-restaurant footprint.

The Town of Grand Island is considering formation of a task force to address its aging water infrastructure and consider an expansive overhaul of hydrants.

The Niagara River Region Chamber of Commerce is pleased to announce G-Mac's Inn as the recipient of the 2019 Sanborn Business of the Year Award. The restaurant has grown quickly over the past two years, revitalizing a historic building in Sanborn and bringing new business to the community.

Environmental studies at the "Lower River Road Town Park" on Lewiston's waterfront, and discussions on a new Lewiston Police Department cellphone app were among the newsmakers at the Lewiston Town Board's March 25 session.

Niagara Falls Memorial Medical Center recently hosted a Mentoring Day program for 35 diploma-bound students with disabilities. Students from Niagara and Genesee counties were paired with Memorial team members to explore a variety of health care careers with hospital departments providing hands-on projects, presentations and information on how to pursue careers in those fields.

The Lewiston/Niagara-on-the-Lake Rotary Club is sponsoring an event on Saturday, May 4, that will allow residents to not only help themselves dispose of unwanted documents, but also do something beneficial for the community, as well.

Democrat Congressman Brian Higgins announced the House of Representatives approved H.R. 1585, The Violence Against Women Reauthorization Act of 2019. Initially passed in 1994 and fully reauthorized four times since, most recently in 2013, the Violence Against Women Act (VAWA) ensured access to essential services for victims of domestic violence and abuse and established the Office on Violence Against Women within the Department of Justice.

Nine professional bakers battle it out on the new season of "Best Baker in America," premiering Monday, May 13 (9 p.m. ET/PT). Food Network's Scott Conant returns to host, tasking the bakers over seven episodes with challenges designed to put their baking skills and technical proficiency to the test for a chance to walk away with $25,000 and the coveted title.

Empire State Development announced London Stock Exchange Group (LSEG) will invest approximately $3.1 million to expand in Buffalo, moving The Yield Book Inc., a leading global provider of fixed-income analytics and data products and solutions - and part of its information services business - Into newly renovated downtown office space.

Maddie & Tae are featured on the soundtrack for the movie "Breakthrough," which includes music from and inspired by the highly anticipated motion picture. The two were sent the film and were "blown away" by the inspirational flick.

Artpark & Company announced the Ralph C. Wilson, Jr. Foundation will provide a $250,000 grant to fund the development for Artpark's future planning. Money will go toward a master plan - a long-term phased transformation that will revitalize the park grounds, improve connectivity with surrounding parks/trails/communities, facilities and programs.

The students and staff at the Niagara Academy had a successful fundraiser recently. The Orleans/Niagara's BOCES School had an egg sandwich sale in March and will use the proceeds to donate to charitable causes, pay for guest speakers and offset student costs for yearbooks and T-shirts.  

The students in Debbie Wilczak's fashion design/interior decorating program recently had a chance to help out a local business and get their schoolmates ready for prom.

Chef Scott Steiner, assistant professor and culinary arts program coordinator at the Niagara Falls Culinary Institute, was awarded the American Culinary Federation Chef Educator of the Year for the Northeast Region. 

Last spring, the Niagara-Wheatfield Falcons baseball team strolled into the Section VI Class AA final winners of nine consecutive games before their fall versus Williamsville North, 3-2.  During the streak, the bats and pitching arms of the Falcons were as hot as could be.  For the 2019 season, the team will return a bulk of the talent that led them on the streak. 

The Historical Society of the Tonawandas has announced its April program - Nikola Tesla: The Man, The Inventor.  

It's the beginning of April and, as the fresh spring air brings a renewed sense of life to Western New York, it also brings with it National Donate Life Month. Americans are encouraged to consider becoming an organ donor and giving the gift of life.

The North Tonawanda Department of Youth, Recreation and Parks announced last Thursday they are accepting reservations for the gentle yoga program - session two.

Recently, Greater Niagara Federal Credit Union announced Maria Myers was named the new branch manager of the North Tonawanda bank.

North Tonawanda Alderman-at-Large Austin Tylec is proposing legislation that will bring energy efficiency and renewable energy improvements to NT by establishing an Energize NY Open C-PACE financing program. 

An Easter egg hunt will take place at 10 a.m. Saturday, April 13, snow, rain or shine in the wooded area of Pine Woods park in North Tonawanda. The event is sponsored by the North Tonawanda Department of Youth, Recreation and Parks, the North Tonawanda Youth Board, NT Student Council and the NT mayor's office.

Last Friday, Bob Zima of Imagine Community Gardens presented on the organization at the Lumber City Church, 383 Vandervoort St., North Tonawanda. 

Niagara County Community College was established in 1962 and was temporarily located in downtown Niagara Falls.