Current News

Ransomville Speedway celebrated the performances of its racers and teams from the 2019 season at its annual season awards banquet, Friday Nov. 1, in the Lewiston Fire Co. No. 2 firehall.

Additional Veterans Day events in Niagara County this weekend include:

The St. Francis Guild of Mount St. Mary's Hospital will conduct its annual holiday bazaar from 8 a.m. to 4 p.m. Friday, Nov. 15, in the hospital's south (main) lobby.

The Lewiston Police Department announced this week the national Aftermath K-9 Grant Program voting results found K-9 Shadow, pictured, finishing an impressive first among the 36-department New England Region, He also tied for sixth in the nationwide six-region contest, among hundreds of law enforcement agencies.

Niagara County Community College's search for a president is finished, according to board of trustees Chairman Bill Ross. The trustees, having interviewed four finalists for the position and chosen the applicant most suited, are sworn to confidentiality on the subject, but have sent their chosen applicant to the SUNY Board of Trustees and SUNY chancellor for approval.

The Town of Porter recently received designation as a Clean Energy Community by the New York State Energy Research and Development Authority for its efforts in reducing energy use, cutting costs, and pursuing clean energy locally.

The Town of Niagara Town Board parted ways Thursday night after three-hours of discussing the budget. Councilmen Samuel Gatto, Marc Carpenter, and Richard Sirianni ran plans to trim budget lines to free up funds for other endeavors by Deputy Supervisor Charles Teixeira via phone. The resulting argument ended the meeting.

The 2019 Niagara Wheatfield "Athletic Hall of Fame" and Niagara-Wheatfield's "Falcon Wall of Fame" received a new class of inductees over the weekend. Those chosen were honored in a special ceremony.

The "Everything NT Festival" is in its second year to celebrate North Tonawanda in a special event. While the event lasts only three hours, it's packed full of good drinks, good food, an open bar, local vendors, and a basket raffle to benefit the Niagara SPCA.

Orleans/Niagara BOCES Security and Law Enforcement teacher Dudley Gilbert recently had a special guest in class. Seaman Apprentice Ryan Burbee, who graduated from Mr. Gilbert's class at the Orleans Career and Technical Education Center, stopped in to talk to the current students about his enrollment in the Coast Guard.

Sevenson Environmental Services of Niagara Falls observed Breast Cancer Awareness Month with its employees wearing pink at the company's Niagara Falls and various project locations. Shown above is a drone photo taken Oct. 22 high above Sevenson's Lockport Road yard. (Photo by Nicholas Tomkins)

The Lewiston Opera Hall, 732 Center St., will be the location of a new children's musical, "The Princess and the Pea," with performances taking place at 7 p.m. today and Sunday.

Regular physical activity, including lighter intensity activities such as walking, is associated with reduced risk of hip and total fracture in postmenopausal women, according to new research from the University at Buffalo.

The Buffalo and Erie County Botanical Gardens announced its annual poinsettia and railway exhibit will run Nov. 29 through Jan. 5. It also announced the annual Santa's workshop event and a new terrarium make-it, take-it workshop for kids will take place Dec. 14. A "BuffaLove Dollar Admission Day" will round out the fun on Dec. 27 to celebrate the holiday season.

Two commentator teams comprised top voices from ESPN's college football and NFL rosters will call ABC and ESPN's 22-game schedule during the XFL's 2020 season, beginning with the premiere telecast on ABC, Saturday, Feb. 8 (2 p.m. EST). All ABC and ESPN games will be streamed live on the ESPN app.

The University at Buffalo's Alberti Center for Bullying Abuse Prevention has earned a $1.38 million grant to develop and test an approach to reduce bullying and sexual harassment in high schools.

The accomplishments of four individuals will be recognized at Niagara University's 2019 President's Dinner, Friday, Nov. 15, at the Conference & Event Center Niagara Falls. Proceeds from the event benefit Niagara University's scholarship programs. Last year's dinner raised $330,000 toward student scholarship assistance.

On behalf of 1702 Pine LLC, Arts Services Initiative of Western New York invites Western New York-based visual artists working in two-dimensional and three-dimensional mediums to submit proposals for an outdoor public art project located at 1702 Pine Ave., Niagara Falls. The mural will appear on the building's west-facing façade facing 17th Street.

District Attorney Caroline Wojtaszek has announced her candidacy for Niagara County Court judge.

The New York Power Authority, in recognition of Native American Heritage Month, will host a variety of cultural activities, presentations and performances Saturday, Nov. 16, at its Niagara Power Vista, 5777 Lewiston Road. Visitors can help build longhouses and learn about the history of lacrosse.

A Niagara County resident received statewide honors at the Cerebral Palsy Associations of New York State conference on Oct. 28. The honoree was chosen from nominees across New York.

Dak Prescott and the division-leading Dallas Cowboys (5-3) host Kirk Cousins and the Minnesota Vikings (6-3) on NBC's "Sunday Night Football" this week in a battle between NFC playoff contenders. The matchup features two of the league's elite rushers: Minnesota's Dalvin Cook, who leads the NFL in rushing yards this season, and Dallas' Ezekiel Elliott, who won the rushing title in 2018 with 1,434 yards. Coverage begins at 7 p.m. ET on NBC, followed by kickoff at 8:20 p.m. from AT&T Stadium in Arlington, Texas.

Ronald McDonald House Charities of Western New York (RMHCWNY) announced it has received a $10,000 grant from Richs Products. The grant funded the refresh of the kitchen at the Buffalo Ronald McDonald House on West Ferry Street.

Old Fort Niagara, the 18th century historic site, is getting ready for its popular Christmas event in a very 21st-century way.

When Jordan Feliz gave up, his life changed forever.

New activities, outdoor décor, returning favorites and special events highlight "Jingle Falls USA," a collaborative three-day holiday festival celebrating its third year in downtown Niagara Falls, Nov. 30, Dec. 7 and 14.

The Erie County Division of Budget and Management announced Moody's Investor's Service, on Tuesday, upgraded Erie County's credit rating to A1, up from A2, and noted a "stable" outlook for the county.

More Election Day results:

The Republican Party in northern Niagara County scored major victories on Election Day in the Town of Lewiston and in the legislature.

For the last two years, the Niagara-Wheatfield Lady Falcons volleyball team had appeared in the Section VI Class A finals. Vying for a third straight visit Tuesday night, the team fell short on the court versus the Hamburg Bulldogs, 3-1.

Two large gifts to the new playground project were announced prior to Monday's Village of Lewiston Board of Trustees work session.

For the first time ever - and joining judges Len Goodman, Bruno Tonioli and Carrie Ann Inaba - two guest judges will be in the ballroom: Emma Bunton (Baby Spice) of the Spice Girls and Joey Fatone of *NSYNC (a "DWTS" alum). Bunton will judge the girl group dances, while Fatone will judge the boy band dances.

The deleterious effects that obesity has on an individual's health and the difficulty of reversing it in adults are well-known, ranging from diabetes and heart disease to cancer. For these reasons, obesity prevention in babies and children in populations at high risk is increasingly seen as a critical way to address the obesity epidemic.

"The Legend Lives On."... At 7 p.m. Tuesday, Nov. 19, Lewiston Council on the Arts proudly presents "A Tribute to the Edmund Fitzgerald" at the Brickyard Brewing Company, 436 Center St., Lewiston. This multisensory, multimedia tribute will be hosted by artist and Edmund Fitzgerald enthusiast Thomas Paul Asklar, who will commemorate the 44th anniversary of the disaster.

The Country Music Association has revealed its 2019 Willie Nelson Lifetime Achievement Award recipient: iconic country music star Kris Kristofferson.

American Medical Response in Buffalo will receive an AMBY Award today at the American Ambulance Association's annual conference and trade show awards reception in Nashville. AMR will receive an AMBY in the Employee Programs category.

The Buffalo History Museum continues its tradition of "Giants of Buffalo," a series of programs dedicated to individuals who have made extraordinary contributions in their life's vocation, with "Giants of Buffalo Film: Tom Fontana."

Niagara Falls Memorial Medical Center has named its co-chairs for the 2020 Premier, the medical center's annual black tie gala: Rajinder Bajwa, M.D., F.I.D.S.A.; Simmanjeet Mangat, M.D.; Marnie LaVigne, Ph.D.; and Robert Fohl.

Niagara University's Niagara Global Tourism Institute announced the affiliation of its emerging TReC incubator with the Business Incubator Association of New York State Inc.

Big names in entertainment are coming to Niagara Fallsview Casino Resort in February 2020, including award-winning singer and songwriter Josh Groban, country sensation Scotty McCreery, pop legend Peter Noone and comedian Nick Offerman.