With winter storms coming almost continuously in some areas this season, heavy snow and ice strains roofs and puts one at risk of significant property damage.

Turner Classic Movies has unveiled the complete list of 20 cities that will be treated to a free theatrical screening of the classic "Casablanca" (1942) on Tuesday, March 4.

Counties yesterday called on state lawmakers to include all preschool children in any effort to expand universal pre kindergarten in New York state.

Congressman Chris Collins will introduce legislation to prohibit the use of federal taxpayer dollars to provide a college education to convicted criminals. The pending legislation is in response to Gov. Andrew Cuomo's announced plan to use taxpayer dollars to fund college degree programs for convicted criminals in New York state prisons.

The Federal Bureau of Prisons provides states with funding for educational and other programs at state prisons and correctional facilities. Collins' legislation would ban states from using the federal taxpayer dollars to fund college degree programs for convicted criminals.

The New York State Public Service Commission, as part of its continuing effort to improve natural gas safety, has directed gas utilities in New York to conduct a risk assessment of their distribution systems, focusing primarily on areas where third-party excavations might have occurred after the installation of gas pipes.

At its Feb. 19 board of directors meeting, Arts Services Initiative of Western New York appointed three new directors.

Niagara University's College of Education and College of Arts and Sciences are partnering to offer a new dual-degree program designed to train the next generation of mental health practitioners.

Merrell Lane, vice chairman of the Niagara Military Affairs Council and a member of the Air Force chief of staff's civic leaders program, recently met with top leaders of the U.S. Air Force at the 2014 Air Force Civic Leader Program Conference in Washington, D.C.

Tully's Good Times Restaurants in Amherst, Clarence and Cheektowaga have joined forces with the Special Olympics NY Western Region to raise money for the upcoming Special Olympics New York State Summer Games, taking place June 6-8.

The University at Buffalo will host the 11th annual Safe Schools Initiative Seminar for law enforcement and schools on Monday, March 17, from 8:30 a.m. to 4 p.m. in the Center for the Arts on the UB North Campus. The event is free, but registration is required.

This year's seminar - "The Role of Leadership in Making our Schools Safe" - will be led by retired U.S. Army Col. Danny R. McKnight, a distinguished and highly decorated veteran who served 28 1/2 years as a U.S. Army Ranger.

McKnight's presentation will highlight the unparalleled commitment and leadership required to be successful when executing operations in the most difficult and severe situations.

Assemblyman John Ceretto, R-C-I-Lewiston, is calling for the restoration of the cuts to education funding from 2011 with the Partnership for Smarter Schools, a bipartisan alliance of parents, teachers and education professionals working to improve New York schools.

Advocating for student financial aid isn't easy. Just ask Matt Nadler and Kalene Faricellie.

Artpark & Company announced on its Facebook page Wednesday that English indie band Arctic Monkeys will perform June 18 as part of the "Coors Light Wednesdays" concert series in the Outdoor Amphitheater.

Tops Friendly Markets, a leading full-service grocery retailer in upstate New York, northern Pennsylvania and western Vermont, announced today the company is boosting its support for Roswell Park Cancer Institute in a big way this year by signing on as a "Big Wheel" sponsor for The Ride For Roswell 2014, which will be held Friday, June 27, and Saturday, June 28.

The new sponsorship significantly extends Tops' existing support for RCPI, best known through its annual Run/Walk for Roswell. The Tops Run/Walk is a family-friendly event held each August in Williamsville to raise funds through Roswell Park's Team Cure Challenge program. Over the past six years, the event has raised more than $625,000 with the support of Roswell Park, the local community, vendor partners and Tops associates.

Niagara County lawmakers were outraged Tuesday night at plans by Gov. Andrew M. Cuomo to give taxpayer-funded college degrees to hardened criminals doing time in New York's prisons - and became the first county in the state to go on the record opposing the prison perk.

In a rare show of bipartisan anger at the Democratic governor, county legislators unanimously passed a resolution that opposed Cuomo's college-for-criminals scheme and called on the New York State Legislature to block it. The resolution was sponsored by every single member of the County Legislature's Republican and Democratic caucuses.

Assemblyman John Ceretto, R-C-I-Lewiston, came out in opposition to Gov. Andrew Cuomo's plan to offer a free college education to prisoners.

Attorney General Eric T. Schneiderman today issued a warning to New Yorkers based on numerous complaints received by his office from consumers who have been contacted recently by scam artists posing as representatives of Microsoft or an organization allegedly affiliated with Microsoft, such as P.C. Solutions.

Free health screenings will be the order of the day on Saturday, March 1, when Memorial Medical Center wraps up American Heart Month with "Heart Smart: A Free Wellness and Education Event."

If you are not familiar with a "gran fondo," you are not alone. A "gran fondo" is a type of bicycle ride that originated in Italy and is becoming increasingly popular in the U.S. The name translates to "big ride" and is known as a "party on wheels," with scenic routes, open country roads, and fun pit stops to enjoy along the way.

The Rapids Theatre will host "Fostering Hope: A Gala for Every Child," a foster care program, Saturday, March 1. Proceeds will go to Every Child to help children within the foster care systems in Erie and Niagara counties.

New York State Sen. Mark J. Grisanti, R-I-Buffalo, announced Tuesday he has launched an online petition to gather public opposition to a recent proposal by Gov. Andrew Cuomo to give taxpayer-subsidized college classes to inmates at 10 state prisons.

The petition, "Say 'NO' To Free College For Prisoners," went live Tuesday.

"I have received numerous phone calls, emails and Facebook messages related to this initiative, and the overwhelming percentage of them are negative," Grisanti said.

"I support rehabilitation and reduced recidivism, but not on the taxpayer's dime, when so many individuals and families in New York are struggling to meet the ever-rising costs of higher education," he added.

Catholic Academy of Niagara Falls will host its annual basket raffle Saturday, March 8, at the school, 1055 Military Road. Doors open at 10 a.m. Drawings for the baskets begin at 7 p.m.

State Sen. George Maziarz released the following statement Tuesday:

A study conducted by a Niagara University professor and five of his students has been accepted for presentation at the International Conference on Writing Research, one of the foremost writing conferences in Europe.

Cancer has been a part of Casey Dahlstrom's life since he was 3 years old, but rather than run from the memory, he embraces it.

Dahlstrom will describe his life with cancer at the Grand Island Relay For Life Kickoff Feb. 26 at 7 p.m. in the Connor Middle School cafeteria. The event was postponed exactly three weeks due to bad weather. Relay For Life itself, the largest fundraiser for the American Cancer Society, will have its 12th edition on the Island at 2 p.m. May 31 and runs to 2 a.m. June 1.

March 1 is the deadline for all Basic STAR, Enhanced/Senior STAR and veterans property tax exemptions to be added to the assessment roll for school tax year 2014-15 and town/county tax year 2015.

The LaSalle Yacht Club has turned its Pasta Sauce Off benefit over to two successful fundraisers who are all of 11 years old.

State Sen. Mark Grisanti, R-I-Buffalo, announced Monday he will support the Compassionate Care Act, which would legalize the use of medical marijuana to treat certain diseases.

Under the legislation, licensed health care professionals would strictly supervise any use of medical marijuana. This stands to be the toughest and most regulated legislation in the nation.

"To a great extent, my decision to support this legislation resulted from my conversations with the Conte family, who are constituents of mine," Grisanti explained. "Anna Conte, who is 8 years old, suffers from Dravet syndrome, an extremely rare form of epilepsy."

Sunday night's primetime Olympics on NBC (7-11 p.m. ET) averaged 21.3 million viewers and a 12.1 household rating/19 share - more than doubling the combined primetime viewership and household rating of ABC, CBS and FOX (9.9 million viewers and 6.0 household rating), according to live plus same day fast national data released today by The Nielsen Company.

John Ceretto, 145th district state assemblyman, delivered Valentines made by Niagara County school children to the Lewiston Senior Center.

Applications are now available for the 48th annual Lewiston Art Festival, which will be held Saturday, Aug. 9, and Sunday, Aug. 10, in the Village of Lewiston. More than 175 professional artists will display and sell their work and compete for $5,000 in prizes in the juried show.

Dr. Gary D. Praetzel, the man responsible for establishing Niagara University's College of Hospitality and Tourism Management and forging NU's reputation as a worldwide leader in hospitality training, will retire at the conclusion of the academic year.

The Niagara Catholic Jr./Sr. High School drama club presents "Annie." The beloved musical highlights the struggles of an orphaned girl and her quest to find a family.

University at Buffalo students and professors will build a 1,400-square-foot solar-powered home as finalists in the U.S. Department of Energy's elite Solar Decathlon competition.

St. Stephen's Episcopal Church's annual Lenten fish fry dinners will be served from 3:30 to 6:30 p.m. every Friday from March 7 to April 11 in the church social hall, 616 Cayuga Drive, Niagara Falls.

Girl Scout Cookie fans in Western New York can tame their cookie cravings and help local girls gain important skills by supporting the Girl Scout Cookie program, a the premier entrepreneurship opportunity for girls.

New York State Sen. Mark J. Grisanti, R-I-Buffalo, has said he is opposed to Gov. Andrew M. Cuomo's proposal to use tax dollars to pay for college tuition for inmates at state prisons.

Buffalo's James Knight, ITI, took the oath of office Feb. 10 as the 2014 Western Region vice president of the New York State Association of REALTORS during the association's inauguration ceremony.

Niagara University's College of Business Administration will present awards to four area business leaders and alumni during its 24th annual Business Appreciation and Accounting Banquet Feb. 19.