NBCUniversal will surround the XXII Olympic Winter Games in Sochi, Russia, with the most extensive multi-platform coverage and promotion in Winter Games history. The 2014 Olympic Winter Games are an "NBCUniversal Gold Symphony" initiative, which leverages the company's promotional resources to drive awareness to key events.

Opportunities Unlimited of Niagara, Niagara County's largest not-for-profit agency providing programs and services to people with intellectual and other developmental disabilities and their families, seeks nominations for individuals to serve on its board of directors and standing committees.

The New York state Educational Conference Board reports aid to education would need to rise by a minimum of $1.5 billion in 2014-15 for schools to maintain current education programs.

An avid sports fan, professor Jimmy Smith, Ph.D., was ecstatic last fall when the dean of Niagara University's College of Hospitality and Tourism Management asked if he would chaperone its annual experiential learning trip to the Super Bowl.

Niagara County Republicans backed a slate of candidates for state, federal and local offices Thursday night at the Wheatfield Community Center, lining up behind experienced incumbents seeking re-election to a host of offices.

William Paladino met with the Village of Lewiston Planning Board Wednesday to update members on the status of his development plan. The Ellicott Development CEO intends to create a U-shaped plaza with three main units: 1) two restaurants (one fast food) and a retail store; 2) a two-story retail/bank/commercial building; and 3) a drug store. He may build condos on the lot's west end, too.

"It's taken us long to get to this point, because every time we move or tweak anything, it has to go back to the engineers and they've got to redo everything because of the site grades and slopes and things of that nature," Paladino said.

The Ransomville United Methodist Church, 2573 Youngstown Lockport Road, is hosting a country breakfast Saturday, Feb. 22. The breakfast includes scrambled eggs, hash browns, sausage, fruit, pancakes, homemade baked goods, juice and coffee.

Niagara Frontier Publications Publisher Skip Mazenauer was presented the Niagara University Family Business Center Vision Award on Jan. 29. The award recognizes businesspeople who are successful, lead a family- or privately owned Western New York business, are committed to benefiting the community, and who have created something when others did not foresee an opportunity.

Ransomville United Methodist Church, 2573 Youngstown Lockport Road will host a country breakfast Saturday, Feb. 22, from 8:30 to 11 a.m.

Members of the Village of Lewiston's retail district met with Niagara River Region Chamber of Commerce leaders Wednesday. They spoke out against the idea of permitting food trucks to operate on Center Street.

"One of my problems that I have is that, when you cultivate something and you build this great harvest, and somebody just wants to come in and pick the fruit and leave," Water Street Landing proprietor Jon DiBernardo said. "It's kind of a dangerous precedent."

He suggested food trucks have an unfair advantage over brick-and-mortar eateries.

On Saturday, Feb. 8, from 9 a.m. to 1 p.m., Dr. Glenda R. Rose and Dr. Thomas G. Barba of Rose Chiropractic P.C. in Lewiston will sponsor the 24th annual "Doctors with a Heart Day" for their patients.

Community Missions Inc. will hold its 17th annual "Sweetheart Dinner" on Friday, Feb. 7, at the Sheraton at the Falls in Niagara Falls.

The Lewiston Public Library, 305 S. Eighth St., in the Village of Lewiston, announces the following for the month of February:

The 2014 Grand Island Relay For Life will hold its kickoff event Feb. 5, and those who attend should go ready to rock.

Organizers of the GI Relay have adopted "Rock-Out Cancer" as the 2014 theme for the fund drive to support the American Cancer Society. The kickoff for 2014 will take place at Veronica Connor Middle School's cafeteria, 1100 Ransom Road, on Wednesday, Feb. 5, at 7 p.m.

At the kickoff, awards recognizing achievement from the 2013 Relay will be handed out as well.

Quasar bounced back in the news this week at the Wheatfield Town Board meeting with an announcement that company officials will speak at a public information meeting Feb. 24.

The company wants to discuss with the board a site plan modification for an accessory storage tank for equate at the Quasar facility on Liberty Drive.

The meeting will begin at 7 p.m., prior to the regular Town Board meeting at Town Hall.

"It's an information meeting. It's nothing more than that," Town Supervisor Bob Cliffe emphasized. "The folks from Quasar will come and give us their ideas and talk about their design."

Congressman Brian Higgins stood with Western New York residents, businesses, and employees concerned the proposal to close the Social Security office in Amherst would have a serious impact on the population it serves.

Congressman Brian Higgins announced he has cosponsored two bills that would aid former Bethlehem Steel employees, and families of former employees, in receiving the compensation they are due for health issues resulting from unknown exposure to toxins during their employment.

Better Business Bureau is warning consumers of new scammer tricks that could cost you money. Cell phone users and credit card holders beware of unauthorized charges appearing on monthly wireless or credit card statements.

Children ages 7-12 are invited to celebrate Presidents' Day at the History Center of Niagara County from 10 a.m. to 1 p.m. on Monday, Feb. 17.

Niagara Falls Memorial Medical Center inaugurated a revolutionary new coordinated care program Thursday that will integrate behavioral health, primary care, wellness services, and community and social support services under one roof.

Named the Niagara Wellness Connection Center, the outpatient program will be housed in a newly constructed, $1.98 million facility on the sixth floor of Memorial's Schoellkopf Building (S-6). It will enhance accessibility, improve patient outcomes and reduce the cost of care by reducing emergency room visits and hospital admissions.

Earlier this week, Niagara Frontier Publications learned Beatles drummer Ringo Starr & His All Starr Band were booked to play this summer at Artpark in Lewiston. The group will perform in the outdoor amphitheater Tuesday, June 24.

The Department of Agriculture and Markets is not keeping up with the demands of its inspection schedule, allowing thousands of food manufacturers, supermarkets, bakeries and other food-related businesses to operate without updated inspections, according to an audit released today by State Comptroller Thomas P. DiNapoli.

VA Western New York Healthcare System will hold a memorial service for veterans, employees and the community at 2 p.m. Sunday, Feb. 2, to honor four chaplains who lost their lives in an extraordinary act of heroism during World War II. Rabbi Allen Podet will deliver the keynote address in Freedom Hall at the Buffalo site, 3495 Bailey Ave., Buffalo.

Applications for the 2014 lottery for Native American handicraft sales permits are now available at the Niagara Falls State Park administrative office. To be eligible, applicants must be 18 years of age or older and registered as a Native American (or provide verifiable proof of Native American heritage).

The list of restaurant and catering participants has grown on an almost daily basis for "A Taste of The Niagara Region," a family-friendly event set for Saturday, Feb. 8, from noon to 7 p.m. at the First Presbyterian Church of Lewiston, 505 Cayuga St.

The John R. Oishei Foundation has made a gift of $5 million to the University at Buffalo to support construction of the new UB School of Medicine and Biomedical Sciences building on the Buffalo Niagara Medical Campus.

This year's "Pathways to Careers" internship partnership involving Mount St. Mary's, Niagara Catholic and Niagara University featured students Mackenzie Lozina and Ryan Prawel, both of NC. The pair is shown with the displays they created and exhibited in the hospital lobby as the final component of their project.

HARBORCENTER President John R. Koelmel unveiled plans for (716) Food and Sport, HARBORCENTER's 13,000-square-foot dining establishment.

"(716) will be dedicated to providing the best-in-class fan, food and sports experience," Koelmel said. "Our commitment to hospitality, quality and community will make HARBORCENTER a dining destination for residents of Western New York and Southern Ontario, as well as numerous visitors to the area."

Located on the corner of Scott Street and Washington Street, (716) will feature fare that is highlighted by Western New York culinary favorites, with an emphasis on locally produced ingredients.

National Grid has requested and received approval to defer upcoming increases in electricity supply prices for upstate New York residential and small business customers. The approval will help the company's upstate electricity customers better manage their energy costs during an unusually cold winter season.

After an investigation uncovered widespread violations of New York law requiring health insurers to offer young adults continuation health coverage on their parents' policies, Attorney General Eric T. Schneiderman announced today his office has reached a settlement with EmblemHealth Inc., a health insurance company that provides coverage to 3.4 million New Yorkers, through its Group Health Incorporated and Health Insurance Plan of Greater New York units.

Assemblyman John Ceretto co-sponsored and passed legislation to ban "convenience" animal devocalization in New York. The procedure poses significant and unnecessary health risks to healthy animals and is done simply to silence more boisterous animals. Ceretto considers this an inhumane procedure to perform on a healthy animal.

Following a Jan. 11 ice jam causing devastating flooding to homes in West Seneca neighborhoods, Congressman Brian Higgins wrote to New York State Department of Transportation Commissioner Joan McDonald urging an expedited start date and redesigned structure for the planned replacement of the Route 240 bridge over the Buffalo Creek in West Seneca.

Mount St. Mary's Hospital will celebrate Heart Month in February with its annual lipid panel screening on Feb. 9, and continuing with a series of events that will culminate with a special educational presentation on Feb. 25.

The New York Power Authority will host a special exhibit on civil rights in honor of Black History Month and the 50th anniversary of the Civil Rights Act, beginning Feb. 3 at its Power Vista, the admission-free visitors center for the Niagara Hydroelectric Power Plant.

"Extraordinary Ordinary People: American Masters of Traditional Arts" presents a journey across America through the lives of individuals whose creativity is rooted in their cultural identity and community.

Lawyer turned filmmaker Dawn Porter will present "Public Defenders: The Keepers of Civil Rights" as the keynote speaker during Hilbert's fifth annual Commemoration Celebration in memory of Dr. Martin Luther King Jr., to be held Thursday, Jan. 30, at 4 p.m. in Hilbert's Swan Auditorium.

The Niagara County Department of Health will offer a free diabetes prevention program at the Dale Association beginning Jan. 23. This is an evidence based, 16-week program, designed to help participants reduce their risk of type 2 diabetes.

The Niagara County Department of Health, in collaboration with the Niagara County Department for the Aging, will offer free chronic disease self-management workshops throughout the county.

The Museum of disABILITY History welcomes its first speaker of 2014 for its ongoing "Dialogues on disABILITY Speaker Series": Anthony Antek, author of "Bipolar Buffalo - A Mosaic of Minds Journey." His presentation, "The Bipolar Advantage: The Link to Creativity," will be held Friday, Jan. 31, from 7 to 9 p.m. at 3826 Main St., Buffalo.

The Niagara County Community College Foundation is offering scholarships for incoming and current students for the fall 2014 semester.