The Niagara Holiday Market begins its final week of operation today as the region's newest holiday destination, with a great strolling street for after-Christmas shopping, dining, skating and family fun.

Are the kids already bored with their holiday presents and restless being home during winter recess? Why not bring the entire family to the Niagara Falls Family YMCA (1317 Portage Road) Dec. 26-31 for winter recess - family style.

The Village of Lewiston Recreation Department presents a free showing of "Happy Feet" on Thursday, Dec. 29, at 7 p.m. inside the Red Brick Municipal Building gymnasium, North Fourth and Onondaga streets.

The Historic Riviera Theatre and YWCA of the Tonawandas present their Family Film Festival at the performing arts venue, 67 Webster St., North Tonawanda. The following 2012 dates have now been scheduled:

Every year, the Haseley family on Lockport Road, right across from the Niagara Falls Air Reserve Station entrance, puts up a holiday display. (photo by Marc Carpenter)

Crosby's, a division of Reid Group Inc. raised $10,000 to benefit the Western New York Affiliate of Susan G. Komen for the Cure during its month-long October breast cancer awareness promotion. Crosby's consists of 45 locations In Western New York into Northwestern Pennsylvania and has been in business since 1922. In October, Crosby's went "Pink for the Cure" at all of its locations.

One of the largest Christmas displays in the area is done by the Greinert family over three acres at 6962 Errick Road, Wheatfield. Paul Greinert carries on the tradition started 26 years ago by his dad, Ed Greinert, former town supervisor.

Visitors are welcome, but asked to stay in their cars due to the vast amount of wiring involved for the many different scenes, showing elves, snowmen, a nativity scene, shooting stars, snowflakes, candy canes, wreaths, Christmas trees, carolers, Santa's sleigh, and much more, including the toy-filled choo-choo train shown above right.

To this technician, said Hooker Lab Supervisor Art Bartlett, "Al, will you cover Christmas?"

To this, you say "Of course," for not just recently you came back from New York City after waiting for a berth on an Esso Standard tanker with your tail between your legs, with your eyes sunken in from insufficient rations. Therefore, working on Christmas Day would be more of a joy than an annoyance. Besides, there was pay.

Right off the bat it was pleasant. A little more than a mile from home, 17th and Ferry, large snowflakes in the mild winter darkness hitting you in the face, Christmas carols in your mind, you walk to work. You say "Hi" to the guard Bill Oliver, who drives in from Wilson, punch in, and walk the 150 feet to your lab building, where you analyze poison gas for the U.S. government. Wow, all those stars.

The recent Tour of Homes drew nearly 1,900 to the Village of Lewiston to see five beautifully decorated homes by some of Western New York's most talented designers.

This Christmas marks 20 years that Norm Cerrillo of Grand Island (Santa at Kelly's Country Store) has been making glad the heart of childhood.

Holiday passage over the Niagara River - and through the woods and beyond - is again free for Christmas on the three bridges the Niagara Falls Bridge Commission operates.

The Wheatfield Seniors enjoyed their annual Christmas dance on Dec. 10. (photos by Walt Bissett)

The holiday spirit is alive and well at Niagara-Wheatfield High School.

The New York Elks Association has announced this year's drug awareness poster and essay contest and an Americanism essay contest.

Passage of two capital project propositions by voters Tuesday indicates renewed trust in the school district, Board of Education members said.

The capital project, totaling $51 million, passed by wide margins. A $46.8 million proposal passed with 1,610 yes votes and 292 no votes, an 84.6 percent approval. Proposition 2, a $4.6 million project for work on the Grand Island High School auditorium and athletic fields, passed 1,361 to 516, or 72.5 percent in favor.

"I think it's a resounding demonstration that the board put together a good package, two good propositions, and I think we're starting to build back the trust that the community expects of the board," said School Board President David Goris, after the vote totals were announced in the high school Viking Mall by Superintendent of Schools Robert Christmann.

Much greater insight on the state of the radioactive Interim Waste Containment Structure was shared at the Dec. 14 session of the Lake Ontario Ordinance Works Community Action Council, held on the Lew-Port campus.

Grand Island Neighbors Foundation: need to assist Islanders down on their luck this holiday greater than last year; donations have risen even faster.

State Sen. Mark Grisanti sent a letter to Gov. Andrew Cuomo today asking him to restore funding to the NFTA.

Niagara Presbyterian Church will offer its annual living nativity through Dec. 25, with Mary, Joseph, Baby Jesus, shepherds, angels and live animals at the stable at the corner of Lockport and Military roads in Town of Niagara.

An open house will be held from 5 to 7 p.m. Tuesday, Dec. 27, at the new Cancer Education Resource Center, located in the 18th Street Community Resource Center at 1667 Linwood Ave., Niagara Falls.

Commanders from the New York Air National Guard's 107th Airlift Wing met with local Marine Corps reps for a Toys for Tots drop-off for bags of donated toys by members of the 107th Airlift Wing.

The Wheatfield Town Board on Monday approved a final refuse/recycling contract with Modern Disposal Service, retaining the right to set criteria to provide smaller recycling totes to residents who might need them.

Auditions for the world-premiere of "Frankenstein," adapted and directed by L. Don Swartz, will be conducted from 7 to 9 p.m. Jan. 2 and 3, 2012, at the Ghostlight Theatre, 170 Schenck St., North Tonawanda.

The State Department of Taxation and Finance has announced a new option taxpayers can choose to receive their state income tax refunds. Beginning next year, a prepaid card will be available as an alternative to paper checks.

The American Legion Riders from Wheatfield Post 1451 donated $500 to the Airman and Family Readiness Center of the 914th Airlift Wing at the Niagara Falls Reserve Center.

Ransomville Speedway is proud to announce and welcome Brittany Catchpole as Miss Ransomville Speedway 2012.

WGRZ proudly announces a new partnership with Antenna TV, a move that will bring classic television back to Western New York.

Post-holiday youth spiritual event returns for the fifth year in a row.

Budget comes in under county tax cap despite state mandates

Niagara County lawmakers approved a $316.5 million spending plan Tuesday night in Lockport, with a slight 1.8 percent property tax increase that is below the county's legally required 2 percent tax cap.

The 2012 county budget was approved by a 16-3 vote.

The approved budget sets a full value tax rate of $7.63 per $1,000 of assessed value, a 13-cent shift from the 2011 spending plan. Taxes remain sharply lower than the $8.78 per $1,000 in 2004. The Legislature has, despite this year's minor tax increase, managed to preserve a 13 percent tax reduction accomplished since then.

Hall of Fame Buffalo Sabres "French Connection" legend hosts meet-and-greet.

New York State Sen. Mark Grisanti, City of Buffalo Common Council Member Mike LoCurto of the Delaware District and City of Buffalo Common Council Member David Rivera of the Niagara District are working together to spread holiday cheer this year by giving Christmas trees to local families.

Assemblyman John D. Ceretto, R-I-Lewiston, today continued his fight to urge New York state to invest in regional transit in Western New York. Writing to incoming New York Power Authority President and CEO Gil Quiniones, Ceretto is requesting that NYPA provide an additional eight megawatts (for a total of nine) of low-cost power to Western New York, specifically, to the Niagara Frontier Transportation Authority.

The Grand Island Central School District will put a capital project proposal with two propositions before the residents on Tuesday, Dec. 20.

The City of Lockport is announcing that extra-capacity tags/stickers (for refuse) will be sold at the city clerk's office starting today. These tags/stickers will be sold for $2 per tag and will cover properly sealed and marked bags that are no larger than 30 gallons and/or 30 pounds placed out for collection.

Let's face it: It's finals week - the worst time of the year. You've taken about five or six classes all semester and now have about the same amount of finals; you're pondering to yourself, "What was I thinking!?!"

First, try not to cram. I know at the time it might seem like a good idea, but in the long run it isn't. Finals are an extremely stressful time; no one is denying that. However, for finals, it would be more advisable to study in small increments. In the days before your final, study that subject about a half an hour each day. The material will stick with you better this way rather than studying it all at once at ungodly hours of the night.

Don't worry, you can do this. Just read, and use some of my tips and take a deep breathe, everything is going to be OK.

The Village of Lewiston accepted Gary Hall's gift of a new, $2 million recreation center at Monday's monthly board meeting. ... Now the question is where to put it.

Congresswoman Kathy Hochul today sent a letter to Homeland Security Secretary Janet Napolitano and Commerce Secretary John Bryson requesting a timetable for the implementation of the U.S.-Canada "Beyond the Border Action Plan" and encouraging the inclusion of Western New York businesses in any pilot programs.

Time Warner Cable reiterated its pledge Sunday to not take MSG off the air through the NHL and NBA seasons. MSG is the TV home of the Buffalo Sabres.

Border Community SERVICE of Niagara University will host a free CERT training course beginning Jan. 17, 2012, at the St. Johnsburg Fire Co., located at 7165 Ward Road, in North Tonawanda (Wheatfield).

Mount St. Mary's Hospital is celebrating the nearing of completion of more than $10 million in diagnostic equipment and infrastructure improvements made at the facility over the past three years.

And starting this month, Mount St. Mary's is beginning an investment that will total more than $2.4 million for the implementation of an electronic medical record that will be needed to meet the requirements of the federal Healthcare Reform's Affordable Care Act, while enhancing patient care.

Hospital President and CEO Judith Maness said the investments would add to the overall life of the hospital building and enhance comfort for patients and employees.

"These investments in our hospital's infrastructure and building systems are critical to our sustainability and efficiency," she said.