Holiday-related festivities are going full swing throughout northern Niagara.

An information campaign regarding the Grand Island Central School District capital project vote ramps up into high gear Monday.

First Niagara Bank will present the 2011 "Downtown Christmas Tree Lighting Celebration" on Saturday, Dec. 3, in Buffalo.

The Sanborn Fire Company Band presented its annual Christmas concert at the Sanborn firehall.

Holiday celebrations kick-off early at the New York Power Authority's admission-free Niagara Power Project's visitors center, the Power Vista.

When Al Oddo retired in June, members of the Niagara University community agreed it would be difficult to imagine a faculty roster that didn't include the accounting professor of 38 years. Now they won't have to.

HART Interfaith Inc. and The Natural Link are sponsoring a raffle to benefit HART. There are three gift certificate prizes for The Natural Link products.

The seventh annual Lewiston Tour of Homes is scheduled for Dec. 3 and 4 in Lewiston. Major sponsors of the event recently gathered in the Lewiston Museum for a photo.

St. Peter R.C. School celebrated a traditional Thanksgiving luncheon on Nov. 17. Parents and grandparents were invited to share in the celebration.

America's favorite holiday tradition, Macy's Thanksgiving Day Parade returns to dazzle and enchant millions nationwide on Thursday, Nov. 24, beginning at 9 a.m. on NBC in all time zones.

In the spirit of Thanksgiving, NUSGA was challenged by the offices of student affairs and campus ministry to assist a Niagara Falls food pantry at one of its neediest times of year.

Before overfilling that plate with fat-laden, high-calorie foods this holiday season, consider this: Experts say not only are Americans getting fatter, but the numbers of those who develop diabetes is growing significantly.

The "Devil Without a Cause" now has a mission and (possibly) a way into Heaven.

The holidays should be a special time for everyone, especially children.

Town of Niagara resident Nick Occhipinti and his grandson, Vinny, drop off a donation at the bin in Town Hall supporting the second annual "Peanut Butter & Jelly Drive" to help area food pantries feed less fortunate families with children.

Memorial recently invested more than $1 million in advanced cardiac telemetry technology for its ER1 Emergency Department, ICU and inpatient Heart & Stroke Center.

As part of an initiative to promote awareness of World Diabetes Day, a group of agencies coordinated by the "Mayor's Task Group on Health" gathered at Niagara Falls City Hall.

Artpark is immediately placing a national call for entries for its third installment of the outdoor sculpture competition titled "EDGES III."

Instead, he's looking to completely cover it up.

A large crowd came out to American Legion Post 1451 to celebrate Wilson resident Bob Burtwell's 100th birthday.

The friends of Patty Wise held a benefit in her honor.

Wise was the victim of a devastating ATV accident on July 23 while visiting with family out of state. She has remained in a coma in Lakeland, Fla., ever since.

Local veterans found that the younger generation does appreciate their service at the annual Veterans Day Dinner on Thursday.

Organizers of the annual Electric Lights Parade are so excited about the results of the "care a ton" food drive, they've decided to extend the collection.

When the first African-American woman to serve in the Niagara County Legislature retires in December after an 18-year legislative career, she will leave having repeatedly commanded the attention of some of the state's top leaders.

At least two of them will be on hand to toast her retirement at a gala later this month.

H. Carl McCall, who served as state comptroller during much of the George Pataki era in state government, will be the keynote speaker at a tribute honoring the accomplishments of Deputy Minority Leader Renae Kimble, D-Niagara Falls. That tribute will be held Nov. 17 at Niagara County Community College. Also on hand will be Assemblyman John D. Ceretto, the Lewiston Republican who often worked across the aisle with Kimble on a number of issues impacting western Niagara County.

The Niagara County Early Child Care QIP is set to graduate its first cohort of child care centers.

The Niagara County Industrial Development Agency board of directors today accepted an application for assistance from One Niagara LLC for a proposed $6 million renovation of the Niagara Falls landmark on 360 Rainbow Blvd. The owners plan to create a mixed-use center focused on tourism, retail, food and beverage; office space; data services; and hospitality. In total, this would create 17 new jobs while retaining 38 jobs.

The NCIDA board also approved applications for assistance it received at the October board meeting from Olin Corporation, Gateway Harbor Inn, Frank's Vacuum Truck Services Inc., Mawhiney Trucking Inc. and Taylor Devices for projects that, combined, total $30 million in new investment and 74 new jobs, while retaining 328 current jobs.

Trustees in the Village of Lewiston on Monday opted not to talk about festival suggestions submitted by Mayor Terry Collesano's ad hoc committee. Though Collesano asked to discuss the five-person panel's recommendations for when and how to close Center Street, his colleagues asked for more time to review the letter submitted last week.

The Village Board did speak with accountant Pat Brown of Brown & Co. He informed trustees of a need to raise the water rate from $2.80 per 100 cubic feet to $3.55, and the sewer rate from $3.95 per 100 cubic feet to $4.65, to offset cost increases from the Niagara County Water District and the Town of Lewiston Master Sewer District.

The proposed increases would take effect with the Jan. 1, 2012, billing. Brown said the average Village of Lewiston resident would pay about $25 more per year.

Sabres, ECMC, First Niagara join forces to purchase breast cancer prevention and education bus.

The Western New York Land Conservancy recognized the acquisition of the first protected property on the Niagara Escarpment, with a ribbon-cutting ceremony Tuesday.

The Historical Association of Lewiston announces tickets are now on sale for its seventh annual Tour of Homes, scheduled for Dec. 3 and 4 in Lewiston. Chris Castellani, Lewiston resident and owner of Supermarket Liquors and Wines, has stepped forward as the presenting sponsor of this event.

A jarring fact underscores the events and activities that Roswell Park Cancer Institute has coordinated as part of Lung Cancer Awareness Month this November: 1,500 people die every year in Erie County because of this disease, which is the biggest cancer killer in the U.S. Lung cancer kills more men than prostate cancer and more women than breast cancer.

"By getting these cancers detected early when they're small and more easily treated, we can cut that statistic down dramatically," said Mary Reid, Ph.D.

The Great Lakes Seaway Trail is a nationally recognized, authentic American road trip experience in New York and Pennsylvania. The not-for-profit Seaway Trail Inc. is reinforcing the message that the National Scenic Byway is good for the Western New York economy and local businesses with a new member incentive program.

The 518-mile Great Lakes Seaway Trail connects places such as Buffalo, Wilson, Lewiston and Niagara Falls with byway communities stretching along the St. Lawrence River, Lake Ontario, Niagara River and Lake Erie.

November is Diabetes Awareness Month and, from Nov. 14-18, Mount St. Mary's Hospital will celebrate "Diabetes Awareness Week" with an array of displays, programs and information throughout the hospital.

On Tuesday, Nov. 15, "Know Your Diabetes: Nutrition -- Dine and Discuss Diabetes" will be presented at 6 p.m. in the Mount St. Mary's cafeteria. This program is conducted by diabetes education and nutrition services at Mount St. Mary's and will feature a free, carbohydrate-counted meal with information on making good food choices. The program is free, but seating is limited. Pre-Registration is required at 298-2145.

Mount St. Mary's Hospital and Health Center will present a series of programs in November as part of its health education program and event series, with special emphasis on programs as part of its recognition of November as Diabetes Awareness Month.

On Tuesday, Nov. 1, "Counting Carbohydrates" will be presented at 6 p.m. in Room 249. This program is conducted by Diabetes Education at Mount St. Mary's and will focus on counting carbohydrates for a nutrition diet. Pre-registration is encouraged. Call 298-2145.

Over the weekend, representatives Kathy Hochul, Brian Higgins, Louise Slaughter and Tom Reed, along with senators Charles E. Schumer and Kirsten Gillibrand, called on U.S. Attorney General Eric Holder to investigate whether Colgan Airlines intentionally withheld emails from a federal agency during the investigation of the crash of the Continental Connection Flight 3407 in February 2009.

"The people in my district experienced an unimaginable tragedy that took the lives of 50 of their loved ones," Hochul said. "The 3407 families deserve to know the truth, which is why we're calling on Attorney General Holder to investigate whether Colgan and its parent company intentionally withheld key evidence during the NTSB inquiry. We will not rest until we have all the answers."

A holiday tradition is returning to the Niagara region.

The Greater Niagara Ballet Co. and the United Way of Greater Niagara are teaming up to present the "Sugarplum Fairy Breakfast" - an offshoot of the popular but discontinued "Barbie Luncheon" - on Saturday, Nov. 12. All children in attendance will receive a special Barbie doll and enter to win a "Holiday" Barbie.

Families can enjoy breakfast and interact with character dancers participating in the GNBC's annual holiday production of "The Nutcracker."

In the mounds of paperwork accompanying legal counsels for developer Jerome Williams and Lewiston Management Group LLC (the plaintiffs), Whirlpool Jet Boat Tours and the Village of Lewiston (the defendants), one tiny bit of information was missing Thursday in State Supreme Court: the original argument bringing the opposing sides before Justice Richard C. Kloch Sr. Without an attachment of complaint in a motion to dismiss, Kloch said, "I cannot do what I would love to do," and that is shelve Williams' case, which alleges the village violated the public trust doctrine.

The plaintiff contends the village's 2002 lease with the tourism company is contrary to the required usage of the waterfront land's easement, which is for the public benefit as a public recreation area.

Girls from Girl Scout Troop 70294 presented Hawk Creek Wildlife Center with a check for $370.

The Artpark & Company annual meeting was held Wednesday, Oct. 26, at the Niagara Falls Country Club to confirm the re-election of officers and new directors to the board. The meeting reviewed the successful 2011 season, which broke attendance records and saw programming growth with the expansion of children's camps, the return of the "Edges" Outdoor Sculpture Competition, the rise in popularity of the Niagara Wine Trail Wine & Culinary Festival, and the introduction of the new "Fairy House Festival."

Christopher H. Brown of Brown & Company LLP was re-elected for a fifth season as chairman of the Artpark & Company board of directors.

Get your candy bags ready!

Calling all ghosts, mummies, Draculas and Disney princesses -- get your candy bags ready! Trick-or-treating is just around the corner, literally. Local towns and villages have announced their respective Halloween trick-or-treat hours, along with a host of parties and parades, ensuring all little monsters can gather as much of their favorite treats in one evening as possible.