Current News

Sheriff James R. Voutour announced that Niagara County law enforcement agencies will participate in a special enforcement effort to crackdown on impaired driving. 

On Saturday, June 1, the Wheatfield Republican Club will host a golf challenge at Shawnee Golf Course, 6200 Townline Road, Sanborn. Tee off time is set for 10 a.m. 

The North Tonawanda Botanical Garden Organization is sponsoring a community work day from 9 a.m. until noon, on June 1, at the North Tonawanda Botanical Garden, 1825 Sweeney St. The public is invited to help with planting, bed maintenance, and a few special projects.

In observance of National Elder Abuse Awareness Month, Niagara County's Office for the Aging and Council on Elder Abuse will hold a public forum on the current scams targeting older adults in the community. 

Wednesday, North Tonawanda Mayor Arthur G. Pappas joined North Tonawanda Director of Parks and Recreation Alex Domaradzki, City Engineer Dale Marshall, as well as additional city officials, for a ribbon cutting ceremony in dedication of the new boat launch kiosk at Gratwick Riverside Park.

Maj. Gen. Ray Shields, the adjutant general of New York, announces the recent service accomplishment of members of the New York Army National Guard in recognition of their initial commitment to serve community, state and nation.

Senior Warren McDougald from Niagara-Wheatfield High School was awarded The Destroyer Award, Monday night at the annual Ilio DiPaolo Scholarship Award dinner in Blasdell. The award is named after the late professional wrestler Dick Beyer, who passed away in March.

On Wednesday, four Niagara-Wheatfield student athletes signed to continue their athletic careers in college. 

As both, the Niagara-Wheatfield girls and boys lacrosse teams, came into the Section VI playoffs, both teams were looking to overcome up and down regular seasons with a big run in the postseason. 

On Monday, five Niagara-Wheatfield golfers - Anthony Delisanti, Nolan Codd, Adam Liberti, RJ Delisanti and Dom Rotunno - competed in the Section VI Golf Tournament. 

On Monday, May 27, the Town of Niagara Lions and Lioness Clubs will host its annual Memorial Day seremony. The ceremony will take place at Veterans Memorial Community Park, 7000 Lockport Road, and begin at 11 a.m. promptly.

The Future Leaders Liberty Partnerships Program at Niagara County Community College, in cooperation with LaSalle Preparatory School in Niagara Falls, has been holding a career speaker series once a week after school for students.

The Buffalo Sabres mascot, Sabretooth, recently paid a visit to Niagara-Wheatfield's Errick Road Elementary School. The physical education teachers, Mr. Vekich and Mrs. Hayes, hosted an assembly they named "It's More Than A Game."

The students in Pauline Carney's cosmetology program, at the Niagara Career and Technical Education Center, held a spa day for their moms.

If you all saw the story online, you noticed that I went to Cleveland on Tuesday to report on John Beilein's introduction as head coach of the Cleveland Cavaliers. That was the newsy side of things. I'm here to tell you in this column a little of what it's like to cover a professional sports press conference. 

United Way of Greater Niagara will host its annual "Day of Caring" from 8:30 a.m. to noon Wednesday, June 26. The communitywide event, sponsored by National Grid, will host over 200 volunteers who will come together to work on projects benefiting dozens of nonprofit agencies throughout Niagara County. 

Monday, Assemblyman Angelo J. Morinello attended a press conference in Albany today unveiling a bill (A.7655) to make volunteer firefighters and EMS volunteers exempt from paying state income taxes.

On Tuesday, voters in the Niagara-Wheatfield Central School District approved the $74,400,000 budget by a 692-219 vote. 

Back on May 4, Cub Scout Packs 833 and 824 held its yearly cleanup on Liberty Drive, which Wheatfield Councilman Larry Helwig called a great success.  It seems the efforts went for not, though, as Helwig informed residents that more illegal dumping occurred just days later at the cleanup site. 

The Chamber of Commerce of the Tonawandas recently announced its May Member of the Month. RJ Jewula, owner of The Original Pancake House, is this month's honoree. 

The Oppenheim Zoo is returning to Wheatfield ... for one day. 

Runners and walkers alike; there is an event for you coming to the Town of Wheatfield in June.  Holy Ghost Lutheran Church and School, 6630 Luther St., will host the Bergholz 5K at 9:30 a.m. on Saturday, June 8. The event is seeking to promote health and wellness in the town, as well as facilities and operations at Holy Ghost. 

There's a lot of familiar faces around the Town of Wheatfield that people know of and see from time to time. One of those faces is Richard Muscatello.  Monday night, at the Town of Wheatfield Town Board meeting, Supervisor Don MacSwan issued a proclamation to Muscatello for all his years of service to the municipality. 

After heavy rains suspended the contest in the first inning last Wednesday, the two teams continued the battle on Saturday, with N-W coming out as the victors, 9-0.  Despite a stellar offensive showing from the Falcons, it was all about Tommy Peltier on the mound. The senior hurled a no hitter while striking out 13 Lions.

Visitors to Old Fort Niagara over the Saturday and Sunday of Memorial Day weekend, May 25 and 26, will be treated to a timeline military event: "Soldiers through the Ages."

The Niagara County Law Enforcement Academy is holding a free information session for people interested in learning more about becoming a police officer. The session takes place at 5:30 p.m. Thursday, June 6, in the Marion House on the Niagara University campus.

Erie Canal Harbor Development Corp. will hold a public meeting and workshop Tuesday, June 18, to discuss the design for street and parking facilities on the northern part of the former Memorial Auditorium Block, more commonly known as the North Aud Block, at Canalside.

On Saturday, June 8, vacant and underutilized buildings will be transformed into a public art initiative known as "Art on Oliver Street." This initiative, led by Lumber City Development Corp. and the Oliver Street Merchants Association, aims to beautify the Oliver Street corridor, promote walkability, and bring attention to the unique buildings in North Tonawanda.

Community Missions is partnering with the YWCA of the Niagara Frontier to present an art auction on the evening of Friday, June 14, in Lockport. Approximately 160 pieces of art, memorabilia and glass will be presented by Marlin Art of New York to benefit the cause.

Artpark's 2019 'Tuesdays in the Park,' presented by M&T Bank, 13-week series lineup is now complete with the announcement of Rick Springfield presents Best in Show 2019 tour with Loverboy and Tommy Tutone. The '80s triple bill comes to the Artpark Amphitheater at 6 p.m. on Aug. 13. Tickets go on sale at 10 a.m. Friday, May 24.

In Western New York, the last name Beilein is highly known for talented coaching. On Tuesday, a Beilein was in the national spotlight, as John Beilein was formally introduced as the Cleveland Cavaliers head coach.

Catholic Health has once again received Western New York's highest cumulative overall score in The Leapfrog Group's spring 2019 Hospital Safety Grade Report, and the only "A" safety grades in Erie and Niagara counties. In the national report released last week, Catholic Health hospitals earned three of only 11 "A" safety grades that were given in all of New York state.

Kickoff your Memorial Day weekend on Friday night at Ransomville Speedway as Dunkin Donuts and 87Buf present a $2,000-to-win, 40-lap Modified special and a $1,000-to-win demolition derby.

Enjoy the beautiful countryside and take a ride on a vintage train on Saturday, June 22.

On the evening of Wednesday, May 29, the idea of compassionate education will be explored at a mini-conference at Niagara Street School, 2513 Niagara St., Niagara Falls. All are welcome to this free event, which will provide community members the opportunity to help shape the future of local education.

Now that America has spoken and Laine Hardy has been selected as the 2019 "American Idol" winner, fans of the hit singing competition program have the unique opportunity to help one of their favorite eliminated singers make one more national TV appearance, this time on "Live with Kelly and Ryan."

The New York State Office for the Aging and the New York State Office of Mental Health on Monday marked National Older Adult Mental Health Awareness Day by urging older adults, caregivers and health care providers to understand the signs and symptoms of behavioral health issues, and to screen, identify and assist older New Yorkers in accessing needed services and supports.

Jamie Brolinski, 52, of Lewiston, husband of Ailbhe (Houston) Brolinski, died Saturday, May 18, at Roswell Park Cancer Institute in Buffalo.

Firefighters representing the four largest fire service organizations in New York state descended on Albany on Monday for their annual "Government Affairs Day."

The New York State Department of Environmental Conservation is reminding New Yorkers to enjoy wildlife and their young from a safe distance and resist the urge to touch or pick up newborn fawns and other young wildlife. Human contact with wildlife can carry unintended consequences detrimental to wildlife safety and development.