Current News

The Buffalo Sabres announced the team is holding an auction for the jerseys, pant shells and socks worn by players in the Sabres Skills Challenge presented by New Era. The auction will be held at auction.NHL.com starting today at 4 p.m. and run until at 9 p.m. Sunday, Jan. 12.

Empire State Development congratulated seven New York-based productions that won nine awards during the 77th Annual Golden Globe Awards. The productions generated an estimated $285 million in New York spending and created over 13,300 hires across the state.

The Hollywood Foreign Press Association and American Cinematheque celebrated the best in international cinema with the 2020 Golden Globe Foreign-Language Nominees Symposium on Saturday at the Egyptian Theatre in Hollywood. The event featured a panel with all five directors of the nominated films in the Best Motion Picture - Foreign Language category. Footage is available on the American Cinematheque YouTube channel and the Golden Globes website.

After a nationwide search, The Summit Federal Credit Union has chosen Laurie Baker as president and CEO, effective Feb. 1. Baker, currently The Summit's senior vice president and chief operating officer, will replace Mike Vadala, who is retiring after working at The Summit more than 35 years - 25 as CEO.

Today's national average price for a gallon of gasoline is $2.58, no change since last week. One year ago, the price was $2.24. The New York average is $2.72, up 2 cents from last week. A year ago, the state average was $2.59.

Following a recent application for voter registration submitted by a non-citizen applying for a commercial driver's license, Erie County Clerk Mickey Kearns appeared before the Erie County Board of Elections Commissioners and addressed the potential for voter fraud under the Green Light Law.

Congressman Brian Higgins, who has advocated for action and investment at the North Aud Block, released the following statement in response to Gov. Andrew Cuomo's release of the preferred development concept for the North Aud Block:

On Monday, Dec. 30, during the Town of Lewiston's final board meeting of 2019, Kiwanis Club of Lewiston President Lee Allan presented a $1,500 donation toward the Lewiston Family Ice Rink.

The Town of Porter this week released the agenda for the upcoming Lake Ontario Preparedness Committee. The group, consisting of representatives from the Town and Village of Lewiston, Town of Porter, Village of Youngstown, Village of Barker, Town and Village of Wilson, and Town of Newfane will meet at 7 p.m. Thursday, Jan. 9, at Porter Town Hall.

Grand Island government began the transition to a one-party Town Board with a New Year's resolution to work toward town unity.

The Grand Island Fire Co. responded to nearly five calls a day in 2019, the company reported.

The Island Café in Tops Friendly Markets on Grand Island Boulevard hosted the prize giveaway for winners of the Island Dispatch 2019 Christmas Coloring Contest on Dec. 20.

Erie County Sheriff Timothy B. Howard reports his office is investigating an armed robbery that occurred on Jan. 1, at approximately 8:15 p.m. on Grand Island.

The New York State Thruway Authority, MTA Bridges and Tunnels, and The Port Authority of New York and New Jersey announced Dec. 23 the creation of Offices of the Toll Payer Advocate for customers of these tolling agencies.

The Town of Porter held its swearing-in ceremonies of elected officials Thursday at Town Hall.

The 2019 Community Christmas Baskets Program, an annual project of the Youngstown Civic Guild, saw a successful conclusion in the days before Christmas.

DiMino Lewiston Tops once again partnered with Niagara Frontier Publications/The Sentinel to present a holiday coloring contest for children.

In honor of Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. Day, Old Fort Niagara will present a special walking tour that illuminates the hidden African American history of the fort.

The Notaro Chiropractic Group, which has a location on Grand Island, will have a new location at 950 Maple Road in Williamsville opening Jan. 30.

America's favorite dance show is going back on tour this winter with "Dancing with the Stars - Live Tour 2020," featuring celebrity guests from the 2019 season of "Dancing with the Stars."

98 Degrees will step onto the Fallsview Casino Resort stage for the first time on Jan. 17-18. The American pop and R&B group will have Niagara Falls, Ontario, audience members singing to fan favorites including "I Do (Cherish You)," "The Hardest Thing," "My Everything" and "Give Me Just One Night (Una Noche)" on Jan. 17 and 18.

Grammy-winner Mandisa has kicked off 2020 with the release of her first single of the year, "Way Maker." This is Mandisa's first single to release following her chart-topping 2017 album "Out of the Dark," which featured the radio hits "Unfinished" and "Bleed the Same (feat. TobyMac, Kirk Franklin)." To listen to the track, click here.

Following the deadly events at home, the Abbott family (Emily Blunt, Millicent Simmonds, Noah Jupe) must now face the terrors of the outside world as they continue their fight for survival in silence. Forced to venture into the unknown, they quickly realize the creatures that hunt by sound are not the only threats that lurk beyond the sand path.

Niagara County's first-born baby of 2020 made her debut at Niagara Falls Memorial Medical Center. Michaela Rose Lucatra arrived at 2:52 a.m. on New Year's Day. Nineteen inches long and weighing 6 pounds, 15 ounces, she is the daughter of Lindsey and Michael Lucatra of Grand Island.

Over the last 11 seasons, the Pritchett-Dunphy-Tucker clan has traveled the globe, making hilarious memories wherever they went - from Hawaii, Australia, Wyoming and Disneyland to Las Vegas, Lake Tahoe and New York.

New York Sea Grant has published New York's Great Lakes Coastal Resilience Index: A Community Self-Assessment guide for understanding how prepared a community is for coastal flooding and weather disasters such as wind and ice storms, ice jams and flash flooding. The publication can be read and downloaded in the "Resource: Tools" section of the New York Sea Grant website at www.seagrant.sunysb.edu/ccd/.

After a recent Town of Niagara meeting, Supervisor Wallace announced, "We have these end-of-the-year awards. We want our residents and our citizens - people in our town - and also our employees, to know that we notice when you do something that we feel is above and beyond."

The Town of Wheatfield Lions Club, in partnership with Community Care and Pellicano's Marketplace, worked together to provide community help this Christmas and holiday season for those in need.

The VIP Food Service students from the Niagara Career and Technical Education Center spread some holiday cheer to troops in Afghanistan. For the second year, students in Lisa Cook's class helped out a local Lewiston organization that tries to make the season brighter for men and women who cannot be home with their families.

Inside Voz Cycle City Inc. is a vast array of gear for everyone's favorite motorcycle enthusiast. To keep it open and running, owners Terry and Carol Vosburgh have to work hard. However, even with their busy schedules, they still find time to give back.

On a cold, rainy and snowy Dec. 14, the Kiwanis Club of Niagara-Wheatfield assisted the Salvation Army's bell-ringing campaign. Members greeted customers at the Sanborn Tops Market as they entered the market and wished them a merry Christmas as they left, offering candies and candy canes for those who wished. It was a busy five hours of receiving donations. The Kiwanians also aided the Tops employees by retrieving baskets from the wet, slushy parking area.

On their last meeting for the year, councilmen on the Town of Niagara's Town Board were given an earful by residents of Belden Center on the subjects of potholes, drainage and broken promises.

Eric Salisbury was appointed dog control officer in 2018 for the City of North Tonawanda. Since then, he's become something of a legend for the dog- and cat-loving community in the municipality. Recently, after several residents commended his service, the NT City Council awarded him a pay increase.

The Buffalo Sabres have acquired a fourth-round pick in the 2020 NHL Draft (originally owned by the San Jose Sharks) from the Montreal Canadiens in exchange for defenseman Marco Scandella.

The Western New York Land Conservancy has met its $1.6 million goal to save Mossy Point. As a headwater forest, the land will provide clean water and prevent flooding in communities downstream.

New York Attorney General Letitia James announced an agreement negotiated with Emergent BioSolutions - manufacturers of the successful opioid overdose reversal nasal spray NARCAN - in an effort to increase opportunity for additional companies to utilize the patented, proprietary spray technology that allows for life-saving drugs to be easily administered to patients.

The Hollywood Foreign Press Association and dick clark productions announced they will once again partner with Facebook Inc. for "HFPA Presents Globes Red Carpet Live," the official red carpet pre-show for the 77th Annual Golden Globe Awards.

ABC's "Dick Clark's New Year's Rockin' Eve - Part 1" ranked as the No. 1 entertainment program in late-night on New Year's Eve, dominating the combined deliveries of its broadcast competitors by 4.4 million total viewers (17.8 million vs. 13.4 million for NBC's "New Year's Eve - Late" and FOX's "Steve Harvey Live from Times Square"), and by 33% with adults 18-49 (5.2 rating vs. 3.9 rating for NBC and FOX combined).

Buffalo Sabres right wing Victor Olofsson, who led all rookies in goals (6), points (14), power-play goals (3), power-play points (5) and game-winning goals (2; tied) in 14 games, was named the NHL's "Rookie of the Month" for December.

Wojtaszek said the laws were placed in an appropriations bill by Gov. Andrew Cuomo and "pretty much passed in the middle of the night."