On April 26, from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m., Mount St. Mary's Hospital and the Drug Enforcement Administration will give the public its eighth opportunity in three years to prevent pill abuse and theft by ridding homes of potentially dangerous expired, unused and unwanted prescription drugs.

New York State Department of Transportation Commissioner Joan McDonald has kicked off the highway and bridge construction season with a message to New York motorists to use caution in highway maintenance and construction work zones.

According to US2020, by 2018, there will be 1.2 million job openings in the U.S. in the science, technology, engineering, and math fields, with a significant shortage of qualified applicants to fill them.

The Rev. Darius Pridgen of True Bethel Baptist Church led the House of Representatives' opening prayer Wednesday. Pridgen, who serves congregations in both Buffalo and Niagara Falls and holds the position of Buffalo Common Council president, was invited to address U.S. Representatives by Congressman Brian Higgins.

The Castellani Art Museum's art history series "Meet Me at the CAM" continues Wednesday, April 16, with "Dream Windows: An Exploration of the Japanese Garden," a presentation by Robert Poczik.

Cornell Cooperative Extension is looking for entrants for its 2014 photo contest. The theme is: "A Good Thing Growing - Celebrating Niagara County Agriculture." Organizers are looking to recognize, promote and celebrate:

The History Center of Niagara is taking reservations for its 2014 spring bus trip, which will be held Saturday, June 7. The daylong bus tour, running from approximately 9 a.m. to 5 p.m., will feature visits and views of some of Buffalo's most historic places.

Assemblyman John Ceretto renewed his commitment to the concept of equal pay for equal work on Tuesday, Equal Pay Day. As the sponsor of equal pay legislation in the Assembly (A8784), Ceretto is pushing to have the bill brought to the Assembly floor for a vote.

Congressman Brian Higgins, a member of the Congressional Great Lakes Task Force, spoke on the House Floor to recognize Water Week, which brings clean water advocates from all over the country to Washington, D.C., to work together to develop strategies to keep waterways healthy and ensure access to clean water for all Americans.

The Erie Canal Harbor Development Corp. announced this week the state is moving ahead on plans to redevelop and dramatically transform the soon-to-be-acquired state land holdings on Buffalo's Outer Harbor into a vibrant and accessible waterfront for residents and tourists alike.

On Tuesday, a request for proposals was distributed to consultants to develop a master "blueprint" of land use and development recommendations for 171 acres on the city's waterfront. The selected consultant team will work with the public to plan Buffalo's future on the waterfront.

Attention resident and nonresident anglers and hunters: The Niagara Tourism & Convention Corp. is alerting outdoor enthusiasts New York has made several changes to its sporting licenses this year, including a reduction in fees.

The Niagara County Industrial Development Agency board of directors has approved an application for assistance for Wurlitzer Industrial Park Inc. The park is a multi-tenant facility on the site of the former Wurlitzer organ factory at 908 Niagara Falls Blvd., North Tonawanda.

"It is just as important to keep existing infrastructure and office space as up to date as possible as it is to provide incentives for new builds," said NCIDA Chairman Henry M. Sloma. "In this instance, these upgrades and improvements will not only help retain existing companies at the industrial park who employ almost 300 residents in the local community, but also immediately creates new jobs and the potential for even more new jobs once the renovations have been made."

The Mount St. Mary's Foundation will hold its first "Amazing Grace Scavenger Hunt" Saturday, May 10, in the Village of Lewiston. Allison Violante is the chairwoman of the event.

Community leaders and elected officials will join members and friends of the Memorial Medical Center Auxiliary for a "rockin' good time" Friday when the auxiliary holds its 13th annual "Rock-A-Thon" to benefit the hospital.

Applications are now being accepted for the Ruth and William O. Sass Scholarship to encourage excellence in the field of nursing.

The Buffalo Sabres today announced the team's foundation, the Buffalo Sabres Foundation, has approved 18 requests for charitable grants throughout the 2013-14 season.

The money disbursed in the grants was raised from Buffalo Sabres Foundation events throughout the year, including the team's annual golf tournament, corporate challenge, 50/50 raffle, "UnPucked" event, pre-game autograph surprise sales, and various online auctions of team memorabilia.

"We are very proud to be able to provide funding to these worthwhile organizations," said Cliff Benson, president of the Buffalo Sabres Foundation. "These groups serve many deserving individuals throughout our community and they help make Buffalo a better place to live and work."

Old Fort Niagara will host its first re-enactment of the 2014 season April 12-13 as the historic site presents Patriots Day Weekend, a two-day event that commemorates the beginning of the American Revolution and honors all veterans.

Tina Oddy has been chosen by Village of Youngstown Mayor Raleigh Reynolds as the 2014 Village of Youngstown Citizen of the Year. With just under 20 years dedicated to making Youngstown a better place to live and raise a family, Oddy is committed to the youth of the community, helping to create programs that enrich lives.

Ann Harkins, CEO of The National Crime Prevention Council (home to McGruff the Crime Dog), and Keli Wilson, AlertID's founder, are teaming up to create awareness and support victims during Sexual Assault Awareness Month.

If you like puzzles, enjoy history or are curious about that older relative's claim of being a cousin to Scotland's Duke of Argyll, genealogy and growing your own family tree might be the hobby for you.

Gia DeGennaro-Arnold made the following statement March 22:

Jackson Browne brings his solo acoustic tour to Artpark in Lewiston Monday, Aug. 11, for a 7:30 p.m. Mainstage Theater performance. The show is a LiveNation event.

Tickets - priced at $66 and $56 for reserved indoor seating, and $29.50 general admission lawn - go on sale Friday, April 25, at noon. Purchase tickets at www.LiveNation.com, in person at the Artpark box office (weekdays, 10 a.m.-4 p.m.), or by phone at 1-888-223-6000.

For the first time, the historic Oakwood Cemetery, located at 763 Portage Road, Niagara Falls, will host two bird walks. They are scheduled for consecutive Saturdays, April 26 and May 3, at 8 a.m.

HARBORCENTER President John R. Koelmel and Erie Community College President Jack Quinn Jr. have announced a partnership that will make HARBORCENTER the home of ECC Kats hockey, beginning with the 2014-15 season.

On Sunday, April 27, the Village of Lewiston Recreation Department will hold its annual Lewiston Kiwanis and Lewiston Service Guild one-mile race for youth. The event begins at 12:30 p.m. at the North Second and Onondaga streets entrance of the Red Brick Municipal Building gym.

County and state officials will honor former Royalton Supervisor Dick Lang tonight, taking note of a lengthy public service career that spanned 34 years, as well as more than three decades spent as a wrestling coach.

Scout groups, civic organizations, families and individuals are invited to participate in a friendly competition to see who can pull the most garlic mustard, an aggressive plant that harms native wildflowers. Volunteers will join forces with the Western New York Land Conservancy for a one-day "Super Pull" at the Lewiston Plateau Habitat Area Saturday, May 10, from 10 a.m. to 1 p.m.

Seneca Hickory Stick Golf Club was honored with two national customer service awards at the recent KemperSports national leadership conference.

More than 50 runners braved rainy and windy conditions to participate in the first-ever "Run Against Hunger" held on the Niagara University campus Saturday morning.

Village of Lewiston residents can expect a mild tax increase in the next fiscal year. Trustees voted Monday to increase the tax rate to $7.26 per $1,000 of assessed valuation - an increase of 14 cents.

The Village Board approved a special use permit allowing Niagara Marketplace & Bistro to operate inside the "Kelly House" at 400 Plain St. Now called "Fresh Start," the business will offer vegan, vegetarian and organic foods.

The WNY Affiliate of Susan G. Komen has announced Corinne Leone of North Collins is the 2014 race honoree for the 14th annual Susan G. Komen Western New York Race for the Cure.

LYNC, the youth leadership program run by Leadership Niagara, will be able to include up to 100 area high school students thanks to a new commitment of $460,000 from the Irene E. Witkowski-Agrawal Foundation.

Explore & More was awarded the 21st Century Fund's $100,000 grant to be used in the exhibit designs for the new children's museum set to open in the South Aud Block of Canalside on Buffalo's waterfront in 2016.

On March 27, members of the 21st Century Fund gathered to hear presentations from the final four contenders for the grant, including Explore & More, the Boys & Girls Club of Buffalo, Habitat For Humanity and the YWCA of Niagara. Members voted that evening to select Explore & More as the recipient of the $100,000 award, out of an original field of 19 applicants.

Cornell Cooperative Extension Niagara County has announced the winner of the 2014 Niagara County Fair logo contest is Matthew McAuley of Lockport. The contest was open to Niagara County youth age 5 to 19 years. He will be awarded a $100 prize during the Farm-City Breakfast, the kick-off event for the Niagara County Fair each year.

As more moderate weather arrives across the state, the New York State Office of Parks, Recreation and Historic Preservation welcomes boaters and anglers to take advantage of New York State's abundance of recreational waterways, while encouraging them to take common-sense precautions to stay safe.

For a safe and enjoyable boating season, State Parks recommends the following:

New York State Department of Transportation Regional Director Darrell Kaminski has announced work will begin this week on a $1.8 million project to resurface US Route 62, Walnut and Ferry avenues, in the City of Niagara Falls.

Jennifer Cooper, owner of Cooper Sign Co. and Old Glory Flag and Banner of Niagara Falls, was selected by the Buffalo Niagara Chapter of the National Association of Women Business Owners as recipient of the chapter's Member of the Year Small Business Award. NAWBO Buffalo Niagara chose Cooper for her entrepreneurial drive and leadership within the organization, as well as the greater community.

The award will be presented to Cooper Wednesday, May 7, at the SBA Small Business Week awards luncheon at the Buffalo Niagara Convention Center.

The New York State Public Service Commission is participating in the nationwide effort to recognize April as "Dig Safely Month," as a way to remind excavators and contractors state law requires them to call one of the state's toll-free one-call centers before starting any excavation or digging project.

The Rev. James J. Maher, C.M., was formally inaugurated as Niagara University's 26th president during a ceremony held Friday, April 4, in the Gallagher Center.

Assemblyman John Ceretto, R-C-I-Lewiston, is highlighting increased funding in the state budget for the Niagara Frontier Transportation Authority.