Current News

Warner Music Nashville recording artist Gabby Barrett has been named Radio Disney's "Next Big Thing." NBT is a multiplatform talent program that puts the spotlight on breakout artists and showcases their journey to success. The country singer will be featured in a series of exclusive NBT videos across Radio Disney, Disney Channel, the Radio Disney app, the DisneyNOW app and social media platforms.

The Village of Lewiston Recreation Department is sponsoring the Paul Mamon Memorial 3-on-3 Basketball Tournament for Boys starting at 9 a.m. Saturday, Aug. 17, at the Red Brick Municipal Building gym, North Fourth and Onondaga streets.

Lace up your running shoes and come run with 1,000 or so fellow runners as they fill the street in front of the Ronald McDonald House at 6:30 p.m. and take their mark for the start of the 18th annual Ronald McDonald House 5k Run on Wednesday, July 31. This 2019 Buffalo News "Runner of the Year" race takes place on certified/sanctioned course that takes runners through unique neighborhood streets.

USA Niagara Development Corp. announced a request for proposals for the acquisition, rehabilitation/restoration and reuse of four mixed-use properties on Third Street (441, 466, 500, 512/518), and one vacant lot (503 Main St.) in downtown Niagara Falls. USAN said revitalization of these properties, all located in close proximity to one another, represents a unique opportunity to contribute to the redevelopment of a historic commercial district in an iconic American city.

The Henrietta G. Lewis Library on the campus of Niagara County Community College serves as a repository for Niagara County regional history, and thanks to a conservation/preservation discretionary grant from the New York State Library, artifacts from this collection will be better preserved with improved access.  The $8,482 grant was one of eight of this nature awarded across the state.

Recently, the Wheatfield Lions Club hosted a picnic for the blind at the Five Senses Park on Ward Road. The picnic brought visually impaired from across Niagara County for a day of fun. 

Summer is in full gear, and with that means it's almost time for the 15th Sanborn-Lewiston Farm Museum Festival.

Recently, Wheatfield Family Dentistry held an open house fundraiser for Make-A-Wish of Western New York. The firm offered free sandwiches and ice cream from an Anderson's food truck. Other events included free pony rides from Blaze's Pony Express and a jumbo inflatable slide donated by Entercom Communications from Pig Belly Entertainment. 

The Niagara-Wheatfield Board of Education meeting to be held on July 24, will begin at 6 p.m. with an anticipated executive session. The public meeting is anticipated to begin at 7 p.m.

It is not uncommon for teachers at Orleans/Niagara BOCES to use their and their students' skills to help each other out. Case in point, building trades teacher Matt Anastasi reached out to his friend and fellow teacher, project based engineering's Scott Brauer for a favor. 

On Saturday, Aug. 10, discs will be flying when KanJam hosts the annual World Championship tournament. The event is open to anyone that wishes to participate.

It was a light and brief meeting for the North Tonawanda Common Council, but security in schools was an important item put forth to the agenda.  The council entered into an agreement Tuesday with the North Tonawanda City School District to assign a North Tonawanda police officer as school resource officer at the middle and high schools. 

From 2 to 6 p.m. on Saturday, July 20, the second Smiles for Owen fundraiser will be held. All proceeds from the event will benefit the SUDC Foundation to further support their mission to promote awareness, advocate for research, and support those affected by sudden unexpected or unexplained death in childhood.

The 2019 Canal Fest Parade strolled through Tonawanda and into North Tonawanda on Tuesday. 

As July happenings pile up, Western New Yorkers are out and about enjoying the summer weather. Coming up, though, hype is building for the 61st tee off of the Porter Cup golf tournament at Niagara Falls Country Club. 

The McGuire Group, operator of six health care facilities in New York state, was pleased to announce that Sandy McNally of Tonawanda, celebrated her five-year employment anniversary with the company, while Michael Pawlow of Wheatfield celebrated his 20-year employment anniversary with the company.

Those looking for a great soccer club with the best cost around can look no further than Niagara PAL Soccer Club.

Niagara Falls Memorial Medical Center announced Mark J. Wright will join the medical center's administrative team as senior vice president and chief financial officer effective Aug. 5.

The Region II office of the Federal Emergency Management Agency, in coordination with the New York State Department of Environmental Conservation, will host a flood risk open house meeting to inform the residents of Niagara County about the flood risks shown on preliminary Flood Insurance Rate Maps.

The Mount St. Mary's Hospital Foundation has announced its board of director members for the 2019-20 year. Joseph A. Ieraci, president at Aries Transportation, will continue to serve as chairman.

The Buffalo Sabres on Monday announced the team signed forward Dylan Cozens to a three-year, entry-level contract.

ABC has picked up a special holiday movie, "Same Time, Next Christmas," set to air this December. The movie, from Freeform Studios, stars New York Times bestselling author and singer Lea Michele, who is known for her role as Rachel Berry on the hit FOX series "Glee."

Alton Brown is bringing back the groundbreaking series that inspired a generation of food fans with culinary science, history, comedy, puppets, cameras inside appliances and great recipes with "Good Eats: The Return," premiering Sunday, Aug. 25, with double episodes at 10 and 10:30 p.m. (ET/PT) on Food Network. These airings mark the first new, original "Good Eats" episodes since 2012.

Multi-Platinum, Grammy winners Amy Grant and Michael W. Smith are reuniting to co-bill their popular Christmas tour this upcoming holiday season, where they will be joined by special guest Marc Martel. Incorporating a full symphony orchestra at each performance, this musical mastery is being presented by Balsam Hill.

The Breast Cancer Network of WNY (BCN), in collaboration with the Buffalo Bisons and Amherst Federal Credit Union, will present the third annual "Strike Out Breast Cancer" event on Saturday, Aug. 3. This family-friendly event includes a two-hour pre-game party downtown at Cathedral Park, a short breast cancer awareness walk to Sahlen Field, and admission to that evening's Buffalo Bisons baseball game.

Congressman Brian Higgins, D-NY-26, announced the House of Representatives passed H.R. 2500, the FY 2020 National Defense Authorization Act (NDAA). The bill authorizes $733 billion for the Department of Defense, and Overseas Contingency Operations, as well as certain activities within the Department of Energy.

In just a few days, a team of volunteers at J. Fitzgerald Group in Lockport will get to work for 24 hours straight during Western New York's 12th annual CreateAthon, kicking off at 8 a.m. Thursday.

The Erie County Department of Environment and Planning is partnering with local solid waste management boards to host "Let's Talk Recycling," a community forum to be held from 5-7 p.m. Wednesday, July 31, at the Erie County Emergency Training Facility Auditorium, 3359 Broadway, Town of Cheektowaga. This free workshop will feature local recycling experts who will be able to answer questions on recycling directly from constituents; offer an opportunity to learn what one can recycle and reuse; as well as where things go after people move them at the curb.

Buffalo State will celebrate the 50th anniversary of the Apollo 11 moon landing from 1-5 p.m. Saturday, July 20, in the Jacqueline Vito LoRusso Alumni and Visitor Center. Hosted by the Whitworth Ferguson Planetarium, the event will include hands-on activities, Apollo trivia, rocket simulations, exhibits, lectures and videos, all dedicated to the first moon landing. Space-themed food and refreshments also will be served.

New research from AAA reveals that most vehicle escape tools, intended to quickly aid passengers trapped in a car following an accident, will break tempered side windows, but none were able to penetrate laminated glass.

Both local veterans and officials participated Friday in a groundbreaking ceremony for the "Circle of Honor," the new Lewiston veterans memorial at Academy Park.

"CMA Fest," the music event of summer, brings the hottest music acts together on one stage for three full hours of epic collaborations and must-see performances, Sunday, Aug. 4 (8 p.m. EDT), on ABC. The primetime special, hosted by Thomas Rhett and Kelsea Ballerini with special guest host Bobby Bones, brings country music's ultimate fan experience to a national television audience for a 16th straight year.

The Buffalo Music Hall of Fame on Wednesday proudly announced a class that includes:

The 36th annual Taste of Buffalo presented by Tops announced its 2019 restaurant and winery award winners on Saturday. Representatives from the local media, political and business sectors served as judges.

Earth, Wind & Fire (Tuesday) will kick-off a string of marquee performances at the Lewiston venue. The upcoming schedule includes The Flaming Lips (July 27), JoJo Siwa (July 28), Chris Isaak (July 30), Rick Springfield (Aug. 13), Paul Rodgers and Bad Company (Aug. 20), and Foreigner (Aug. 27).

Next Saturday, July 20, the Town of Porter presents its annual Summerfest benefit inside the inviting Porter on the Lake Park, located off Dietz Road on the Lake Ontario shores. Porter Supervisor John "Duffy" Johnston and Town Board members are putting out the invite to residents in the area to stop by for a day of summer fun.

Come this Saturday, Trinity United Methodist Church is teaming up with Island businesses to host a new happening aimed at giving back to the Grand Island community.

Gladys Irene (Walke) Kantenwein of Niagara Falls passed away peacefully on July 2, 2019. She was 96 years old.

It was a busy session for the Grand Island Board of Education this week as the board held its annual reorganizational meeting on Monday.

"Weird Al" Yankovic is a five-time Grammy winner and the top comedy recording artist of all time. He has sold millions of records parodying Michael Jackson ("Eat It," "Fat"), Madonna ("Like A Surgeon"), Queen ("Another One Rides the Bus"), Nirvana ("Smells Like Nirvana") and Coolio ("Amish Paradise"). Yankovic is a pop culture legend recently seen as a T-shirt on "Stranger Things," and paying homage to Lin-Manuel Miranda's Broadway masterpiece with "The Hamilton Polka."