Current News

More than 30 local volunteers participated in the 26th annual Liberty Drive Cleanup last Saturday.

First-term alderman Mark Berube will seek election to a full term on North Tonawanda's Common Council in November's election.

Girl Scouts of Western New York recently announced North Tonawanda Girl Scout Siana Jacobs is a 2017 Gold Award recipient. The Gold Award is the highest award in Girl Scouts. Jacobs' earned the award for a project where she organized a clothing drive and created personal hygiene kits for people in Nicaragua.

City of North Tonawanda Mayor Arthur G. Pappas recently announced the Arbor Day Foundation has again named the City of North Tonawanda "2017 Tree City USA" in honor of its commitment to effective urban forest management. The Tree City USA program is sponsored by the Arbor Day Foundation, in partnership with the U.S. Forest Service and National Association of State Foresters.

Krueger Road residents Deborah Fadel and Kelly Dueger urged the Wheatfield Town Board members to take action toward installing more walking space along Krueger Road.

Town of Niagara Supervisor Lee Wallace recently announced the 2017 concert schedule for the Music Mania Mondays events.

It's #requestarecipe week, and every day "The Chew" delivers the delicious goods fans asked for, one scrumptious dish at a time! In addition, co-hosts Mario Batali, Michael Symon, Carla Hall, Clinton Kelly and Daphne Oz welcome celebrities from TV, books and movies to the show the week of May 8-12 (1 p.m. EDT), on The ABC Television Network.

Hard Rock's "World Burger Tour" is back, and ready to take guests on an international adventure - no passport necessary!

Niagara Falls Memorial Medical Center will host its 26th annual Niagara Cup Classic golf tournament on Monday, June 5, at both the Niagara Falls Country Club and Seneca Hickory Stick Golf Course in Lewiston.

David M. Chatt has been named the winner of the 12th annual "Key to the Locks" Award. A volunteer selection panel drawn from the Lockport community chose Chatt in recognition of his work in helping to bring the 19th century Flight of Five locks to life once again.

To people of the Victorian age, a parlor in the home was a mark of social and financial status. Find out the significance and most-wanted, fashionable contents of this special room at the Niagara History Center's May family night, Tuesday, May 16, from 5:30-7:30 p.m. at the museum, 215 Niagara St., Lockport.

Fantasy Island has announced its 2017 season will begin Saturday, May 13. This year will be the first full season under the ownership of Apex Parks Group, which acquired the park last season from longtime owners Martin DiPietro and his family.

U.S. Rep. Chris Collins, R-NY-27, voted Thursday to repeal Obamacare and replace it with the American Health Care Act, which he said "will improve access, reduce costs and provide Americans with the health care system they deserve."

The prom can be one of the first major expenses for teenagers. Cornerstone CFCU would like to help one lucky member as part of its latest Facebook contest.

With just a few weeks left in the "Dancing with the Stars" competition before heading toward the finals, the five remaining couples find themselves tasked with completing two full dances on the next episode.

The Buffalo Superhero 5K Race and Wellness Walk, the first and largest race/walk in Western New York dedicated to mental health awareness, will return once again at St. George's Church in Delaware Park at 6:30 p.m. Friday, June 9. The event will be hosted by Compeer of Greater Buffalo (Compeer) and the Mental Health Association of Erie County (MHA).

The U.S. Small Business Administration is inviting area small business owners to participate in the 2017 SBA business matchmaker on Wednesday, May 10, at Salvatore's Italian Gardens in Cheektowaga.

Erie County Executive Mark C. Poloncarz issued a formal declaration of need on Thursday, requesting the Erie County Fiscal Stability Authority sell bonds on behalf of Erie County for the county's 2017 capital program.

On Wednesday, Buffalo Prep, an organization that provides educational opportunities for underrepresented college-bound students, held its 2017 Celebration of Achievement event presented by M&T Bank. The annual event honors graduating seniors who have successfully completed Buffalo Prep's academic enrichment programs.

The Center for the Arts, University at Buffalo presents "Alton Brown Live: Eat Your Science" at 7 p.m. Thursday, Nov. 2. Tickets, $57-$47, go on sale at noon Thursday, May 11. VIP packages are also available for $127 (premium seating, merchandise item).

A research paper co-authored by a Niagara University student and associate professor was awarded second place during the 2017 Korea America Hospitality and Tourism Educators Association Conference, which was held April 21-22 in Las Vegas.

Niagara County lawmakers overwhelmingly backed a resolution Tuesday that will transfer a surplus building in Lockport's downtown to the city in a move intended to help city planners bring a professional office building online in the heart of the business district.

The Buffalo Bills and M&T Bank announced and honored the ninth annual M&T Bank "Touchdown for Teachers" program finalists and winner at a private draft party event on April 27 at the ADPRO Sports Training Center at New Era Field (Etkin is shown far right).

Congressman Brian Higgins, D-NY-26, and a majority of members in the House of Representatives approved the fiscal year 2017 Omnibus Appropriations Act by a vote of 309-118. The bill appropriates $1.070 trillion to fund federal programs through Sept. 30.

Erie County Executive Mark C. Poloncarz and the Erie County Department of Social Services have announced the opening of the Home Energy Assistance Program ("HEAP") cooling assistance program.

UB Heals, a nonprofit organization dedicated to reconnecting the homeless population with the health care system by engaging UB medical students in outreach efforts to provide care to those on the streets, won the top prize of $5,000 in the recent Pitch 10, a competition-style event where small, young or millennial-focused nonprofit organizations had a chance to "pitch" their project or idea to the public for a chance to win funding.

Coach and five-time CMA Male Vocalist of the Year Blake Shelton, multi-Grammy Award nominee Charlie Puth, and Grammy, CMA and ACM winner Maren Morris are set to perform on NBC's three-time Emmy Award-winning musical competition series, "The Voice."

Bridget Moriarty, a highly experienced theater instructor and veteran of operatic and concert hall stages, has been named an assistant professor of theater at Niagara University.

Gov. Andrew Cuomo on Tuesday declared a state of emergency for the following counties in order to expedite repair to impacted structures and construction of shoreline stabilization projects: Cayuga, Jefferson, Monroe, Niagara, Orleans, Oswego, St. Lawrence and Wayne. The governor's order empowers DEC and other state agencies to issue emergency individual permits for those larger-scale response actions that may be necessary.

Many adults recall being bullied as kids, but in this interconnected world, the taunts don't stop when the school day ends.

The Erie County Department of Senior Services and the Center for Elder Law and Justice have announced Elder Law Day 2017 will be held from 8 a.m. until 2 p.m. Thursday, June 22, at the Adam's Mark Hotel, 120 Church St., Buffalo.

Turner's TBS is about to launch a new annual television tradition by presenting all six original "Star Wars" movies together on Thursday, May 4 - also known around the world as Star Wars Day. TBS will present the original classics in order, rolling out the entire saga chronologically over 16-plus hours.

The National Hockey League and the Buffalo Sabres on Tuesday announced the NHL Scouting Combine will remain in Buffalo through 2019, with each of the next three events being held at KeyBank Center and HarborCenter.

On Tuesday, May 9, students, faculty and staff of Niagara Catholic Jr./Sr. High School will volunteer throughout Niagara County as part of their annual "Day of Caring." With almost 200 volunteers, the Niagara Catholic family will participate in activities at 18 sites throughout the area.

Grammy-nominated Essential Records' artist Zach Williams has just released a new music video for his song "Old Church Choir." Also slated as the next single to go to radio, it is the follow-up to his recording-breaking No. 1 debut hit, "Chain Breaker," which held the top spot at radio for 15 weeks.

This summer, youth will have the opportunity to work firsthand with veterinarians and animals during the Erie County Fair's inaugural Vet Camp. The half-day agricultural experience, scheduled for Tuesday, Aug. 15, and Thursday, Aug. 17, will be geared for children 11-14 years of age and will focus on three specific areas of learning:

Erie County Executive Mark C. Poloncarz announced Erie County anticipates ending fiscal year 2016 with a modest positive budget variance of nearly $3 million, the result, he said, of prudent budgeting, reductions in spending, and certain favorable results such as lower Medicaid costs primarily resulting from provisions in the Affordable Care Act.

Comedian and ventriloquist Jeff Dunham and his food-blogging wife, Audrey Dunham, are hitting the highway on a culinary road trip of a lifetime, discovering the most delicious and unbelievable dishes across the country on the new series. "Incredible Edible America with the Dunhams" premieres Monday, June 5 (10 p.m. ET/PT), on Food Network.

To celebrate a milestone 40th anniversary, TCT will hold open house event from 1-7 p.m. May 18 at WNYB, 5775 Big Tree Road, Orchard Park.

Voting is now underway for the 2017 K-LOVE Fan Awards, empowering fans to not only select winners in each category, but additionally play a part in awarding a newly renovated, mortgage-free home for a combat wounded hero or Gold Star spouse through the Military Warriors Support Foundation (MWSF).