Current News

Happy summer, Grand Island!

Enjoy free fishing (no license required) at Fisherman's Landing at the South Grand Island Bridge on Saturday, June 28, in a contest sponsored by the Recreation Department from 8 to 11 a.m. and 5 to 7 p.m. Prizes will be awarded on July 1 at 2 p.m. More information is available on the "Recreation" page of the town website at gigov.com.

Summer concerts under the Grand Island Rotary Club Gazebo in the Town Commons begin on Tuesday, July 1, and run through Aug. 12. This year, two will be held at Byblos Niagara Resort & Spa: July 8 and July 22. The schedule is on the town's websitegigov.com and in the Island Dispatch. Hope to see you out enjoying some live music!

An Island group is seeking to explore environmental issues on the Island through the medium of photography.

The Grand Island PhotoVoice project began Wednesday night at St. Timothy Lutheran Church with an introductory meeting attended by more than a dozen people. The GI version of the PhotoVoice tool is meant to express viewpoints of community members regarding their health and environment in the wake of the 2013 conviction of Tonawanda Coke for polluting and violating the federal Clean Air Act.

Kim Yaeger, a facilitator and member of the St. Timothy congregation, will collect photo submissions from the community that address how the outdoor environment improves, threatens or harms health and quality life.

The process of building a new million-dollar storage and maintenance building for Veterans Park is underway.

At its meeting Monday, the Grand Island Town Board set a public hearing for Monday, July 7, at 8 p.m. in Town Hall to consider an application by Russell Certo to rezone 1881 Bedell Road from R1D to M2 for the purpose of constructing the maintenance building.

Board members held a meeting with Bedell Road residents May 21, where they explained the town would lease the property with an option to later buy it at an estimated cost of $1.2 million. The lease-and-buy option would allow the town to avoid prevailing wage laws and save 20 percent on the overall cost of the project.

Scott Stapp performed songs from his new album, "Proof of Life," and a number of hit Creed songs at a solo concert inside the Seneca Niagara Casino's Bears Den in Niagara Falls.

The picture you see here is a 'coon drinking the sweet water from the hummingbird feeder on my back porch. It had been hanging there for about three to four weeks, and when the hummingbirds came back it was a happy feeder.

State Attorney General Eric Schneiderman is offering tips to those who have been affected by increased electrical bills.

Although Wheatfield's proposed ban on equate is not ready for a vote, anti-Quasar activists continue to make sure the Town Board doesn't forget their stance.

Standing along the western terminus of the Erie Canal, U.S. Sen. Kirsten Gillibrand and Congressman Brian Higgins announced introduction of the Erie Canalway National Heritage Corridor Act (HR 4641), a bill to extend the canalway's authorization for the next 15 years.

The following is a sampling of calls received by the Town of Niagara Police between June 11 and 23.

David H. Brown of Sanborn has a new mystery in print, while Dr. Erwin Brese of Town of Niagara has a second printing in progress of his spiritual journey book.

The June 18 Niagara-Wheatfield Board of Education meeting was a night of "beginnings and endings, from celebrating retirees and graduates to welcoming aspiring youth."

The Niagara County Community Action Program Inc. announces the availability of grant funds for home repair, open to qualified Niagara County residents who own their homes and reside in rural areas of the county.

The outdoor area surrounding Seneca Niagara Casino & Hotel in downtown Niagara Falls will have a high-energy vibe on weekends this summer.

USA Niagara Development Corp. and its partner, Global Spectrum, today announced Tuesday's World Cup game featuring U.S.A. versus Belgium will be broadcast live on Old Falls Street.

Niagara Hospice's dedication to providing the highest level of care was recently recognized by the Accreditation Commission for Health Care.

Buffalo's National Garden Festival is now in its fifth year and once again features a group of outstanding private gardens to visit on your own on Thursdays and Fridays throughout the month of July.

Attorney General Eric T. Schneiderman has announced the launch of the New York state mortgage assistance program, or NYS MAP, which will provide small loans to families struggling to avoid foreclosure. The loans will assist families in securing mortgage modifications and result in more families staying in their homes.

The program is an enhancement to the attorney general's homeowner protection program, which provides struggling borrowers with free legal and housing counseling services, and has served more than 28,000 homeowners across the state since the launch of the program in October of 2012.

Borrowers can apply beginning Oct. 15.

The internationally ranked Lake Effect Furies look to solidify their Women's Flat Track Derby Association playoff bid against Cleveland's Burning River Roller Girls, while the Queen City Junior Roller Girls welcome Ithaca's League of Junior Rollers in a roller derby double-header Saturday.

Adventurous couples seeking a unique wedding photo location need not look any further. Imagine starring down Class VI rapids as you and your wedding party have the big day captured like no one ever has.

The new Niagara Jet Adventure and Niagara Tourism & Convention Corp. are looking for a couple to "take the plunge" this summer.

RestorixHealth, a management company that develops and operates wound care centers of excellence nationwide, is pleased to announce The Wound Center of Niagara is a recipient of the newly launched Wound Center of Excellence award.

Canalside announces its final two concerts of the 2014 summer season. Moby will perform a free Thursday concert Aug. 14 at 6 p.m., and Foster the People will perform a ticketed concert Sept. 11 at 7 p.m.

For information on Canalside Concerts or to purchase tickets, visit www.canalsidebuffalo.com.

Phillip Phillips has taken us behind the light, which is the name of his new sophomore album, to expose what was hidden in the shadows. What we find, if we turn off the spotlight - forget about "Idol" and the song featured across television - is a singer/songwriter who is crafting authentic, anthemic, emotionally charged alt-rock songs that are just plain good.

Gov. Andrew M. Cuomo announced Thursday the completion of an expansion project by Diversified Manufacturing, a manufacturing and engineering services firm in Lockport, which will facilitate the retention of 130 jobs. The nearly $5 million project was supported by $450,000 in funding from the New York Power Authority.

With Independence Day right around the corner, it's important to keep safety a top priority during the upcoming holiday celebrations.

The Lewiston Council on the Arts will bring back Lewiston's own 1960s rock musicians and friends for the 10th annual "Summer of '69" concert Friday, July 11. The fun starts at 6 p.m. at the Hennepin Park Gazebo (Center and South Fourth streets).

The next set of 12 phenomenal singers from across the country will perform on this Sunday's episode of ABC's new groundbreaking reality series "Rising Star (9 p.m. on the ABC Television Network).

"The Chew" is all-new with a week of shows highlighting everything from quick and easy weeknight suppers to backyard barbecue dishes. Thursday, July 3, is a "Fourth of July Spectacular" featuring recipes and crafts to highlight your Independence Day celebration.

For four weeks in July and August, the History Center of Niagara will offer weekly children's programs. Each week has a different historical theme. The programs are open to children ages 7 through 12.

Leaders from Niagara County and Lockport city government plan to bolster local efforts to boost the morale and meet the needs of American troops deployed around the world protecting America's freedom by working to bring some of the comforts of home to the front lines.

Congressman Brian Higgins spoke from the Floor of the House of Representatives to mark the official move of the "Inside Tim Russert's Office" exhibit from the Newseum in Washington, D.C., to The Buffalo History Museum.

Wednesday night, after thousands of auditions by the best dancers around the nation, and the grueling, week-long callbacks round, the top 20 finalists on season 11 of "So You Think You Can Dance" were revealed.

The First Niagara Foundation and the Isaiah 61 Project Inc. are providing the resources necessary for job training and housing rehabilitation services for residents in the City of Niagara Falls.

The Isaiah 61 Project will target a section of the community the organization has identified for redevelopment and revitalization. Job training and education will be provided in the construction trades for residents who qualify for the program. Those receiving the training will then work to rehabilitate abandoned homes and turn them into safe, affordable housing.

The First Niagara Foundation is providing a $10,000 grant to fund the program and purchase building materials.

Assemblyman John Ceretto, Gov. Andrew Cuomo, State Sen. George Maziarz and Niagara Falls Mayor Paul Dyster will co-host a citizen preparedness training program Saturday, June 28, at 10:30 a.m. at the Conference & Event Center Niagara Falls.

Earlier this week, Assemblyman John Ceretto joined Gov. Andrew Cuomo as he officially signed legislation that combats the rising scourge of heroin addiction in New York.

The Niagara Catholic Jr./Sr. High School community recently celebrated "Green Day" on the school's campus, 520 66th St., Niagara Falls. The event was the brainchild of student and event coordinator Jeana Franjoine, who will be a senior at NC in September.

Daemen College's Rosary Hall, recognized for its Italian Renaissance Revival architecture, and designed by one of most prominent Buffalo architects of the early 20th century, will be officially designated a "Historic Landmark" at 3 p.m. July 1.

The college will host a celebration in Rosary Hall in honor of this distinguished designation by the Amherst Historic Preservation Commission. Daemen President Gary A. Olson, Amherst Deputy Supervisor Guy Marlette, commission representatives, and members of the college community are expected to be in attendance.

"We are honored to have Rosary Hall receive 'Historic Landmark' status in Amherst, which has been home to the Daemen campus since it was founded," Olson said.

Congressman Chris Collins, R-NY-27, released the following statement Wednesday on passage of H.R. 1281, Newborn Screening Saves Lives Reauthorization Act:

The second concert of the Thursday night "ArTunes" concert series will be held Thursday, July 10, at 6:30 p.m., inside the Hennepin Park Gazebo (Center Street in Lewiston). The featured act is Callahan, Daly and Jones performing folk, bluegrass and Americana.

The National Alliance on Mental Illness in Buffalo & Erie County monthly educational meeting for families of people living with mental illness will held Thursday, July 10, at 7 p.m., at St. Paul's Evangelical Lutheran Church, 4007 Main St., Amherst.

NBC Sports Group and Universal Sports Network present live coverage of the USA Track & Field Outdoor Championships this weekend, beginning Friday, June 27, at 10 p.m. on NBCSN.