Current News

Every time I get a few dollars ahead and think I will have a vacation someplace other than Veranda Beach, a silent alarm must go off at my house.

The Niagara County Sheriff's Office Criminal Investigation Bureau is working on tracing the 7:55 a.m. 911 call on Monday reporting bombs at Niagara-Wheatfield and Niagara Falls high schools.

Early proposals for a new memorial honoring veterans were presented to the Wheatfield Town Board by its Veterans Memorial Focus Group on Monday.

Col. Donald V. McGuire, a Lewiston resident, assumed command of the New York Air National Guard's 107th Mission Support Group during an assumption of command ceremony held at the Niagara Falls Air Reserve Station on Feb. 8.

Heart of Niagara Animal Rescue held its second annual "Heart to Heart" fundraising event, "A Taste of The Niagara Region," Feb. 8, at the Lewiston First Presbyterian Church Social Hall. The event featured sample tastes from more than 20 area restaurants, plus a basket auction with row upon row of donated baskets.

The commissioners of the Niagara Falls Bridge Commission have announced the appointment of Linda McAusland to the board of commissioners, effective immediately. The addition of McAusland fills a vacant seat on the eight-person board, which is made up of four residents of the U.S., and four residents of Canada.

World-renowned rock band U2 will perform their Oscar-nominated song "Ordinary Love" for a global audience at the Oscars, show producers Craig Zadan and Neil Meron announced Wednesday. U2's exclusive Oscar show performance will be the first time the band will perform the song live.

The Niagara County American Legion Organization will host a joint visitation by State Commander Kenneth Governor, Auxiliary President Barbara Corker and Sons of the American Legion Detachment Commander John P. Chang on Saturday, March 1.

An early start to the winter heating season, coupled with sustained cold weather in January, has National Fuel Gas Distribution Corp. urging consumers to consider budget billing to spread out heating bill balances over 12 months and to check to see if they qualify for available payment assistance programs.

Without question, this winter has been cold. The month of November was 11. 7 percent colder than normal, December was 5.4 percent colder, and January was 11.7 percent colder than normal. When compared to last year, January 2014 was a staggering 29 percent colder than 2013.

Congressman Chris Collins spoke on the floor of the House of Representatives about the fifth anniversary of the crash of Flight 3407 and to honor the victims and their families.

"Late Night with Seth Meyers," launching Feb. 24 from Studio 8G in Rockefeller Center, has set its premiere week guests. The lineup includes:

Not every guardian of peace and justice was lost to the tragedy of Order 66. Introducing Kanan, a survivor of the Emperor's Jedi purge and one of the main characters of "Star Wars Rebels."

On Wednesday, State Sen. George Maziarz and State Sen. Mark Grisanti released a joint letter to The Most Rev. Carlo Maria Viganò, the Apostolic Nuncio to the U.S., in support of keeping St. Francis of Assisi open.

Congressman Brian Higgins spoke on the House Floor Tuesday to honor the contributions of the families of Flight 3407 in enacting landmark safety reforms in the wake of the tragic crash of Continental Flight 3407 in Western New York on Feb. 12, 2009.

Higgins, and the entire Western New York congressional delegation, has fought along with the families of Flight 3407 since 2009 to secure passage of the Airline Safety and Federal Aviation Administration Extension Act of 2010, and ensure the release and enactment of final rules on pilot qualifications and flight and duty times.

Congressman Brian Higgins and The Buffalo History Museum Executive Director Melissa Brown have announced plans to relocate the "Inside Tim Russert's Office: If It's Sunday, It's 'Meet the Press' " exhibit currently at the Newseum in Washington, D.C., to The Buffalo History Museum in Western New York.

"I am honored to be a part of the effort to bring a very personal piece of Tim Russert's life and work home to Buffalo," Higgins said. "We are thankful to the Russert family and commend the great cooperation between The Buffalo History Museum and Newseum to make this all happen. Tim and the Buffalo community always shared a unique love and respect for one another, and with this move that bond lives on."

"Pontiac's War on the Niagara Frontier" is an illustrated presentation that explores the little-known conflict of 1763-64, when Native American nations rose up against English forts and settlements throughout the Great Lakes.

With the "Hollywood" round ending this week on "American Idol XIII," fans can expect even more surprises, as the show prepares for "Rush Week" and the first live shows of the season.

Assemblyman John Ceretto met with North Tonawanda Mayor Robert Ortt at the Capitol on the New York Conference of Mayor's annual Winter Legislative Meeting. Ceretto and Ortt talked about local issues in North Tonawanda that affect their constituents and actions the state can take to help North Tonawanda lower its costs and deliver better services.

House Majority Leader Eric Cantor and Congressman Brian Higgins will be the first featured speakers in the newly established Daemen College Distinguished Leaders Lecture Series, which will bring top government and public officials to campus to share their unique perspective on critical state, national and international issues.

The Erie County Agricultural Society has created a countdown until the gates open for the 175th Erie County Fair, Aug. 6-17, with a "Think Fair Thoughts" marketing campaign.

"Only 175 days will separate Western New York from the food, rides, shows, blue ribbons and livestock the fair brings," said Jessica Underberg, assistant fair manager. "Although snow covers the grounds and temperatures hover in the single digits, we invite fairgoers to think of hot August days filled with friends, family and fun at the fair."

The Center for the Arts, University at Buffalo, and Funtime Presents welcome "The Sing-Off Live Tour" to town Sunday, March 9, at 7:30 p.m. Tickets for the UB show are $51, $37 and $32.

The Niagara River Region Chamber of Commerce will host a "Business Blender" Thursday, Feb. 20, at Bistro at the Old Fort Inn - also known as Jaguar at the Bistro - located at 110 Main St., Youngstown.

The Marine Trades Association of WNY has announced the 2014 WNY Boat Show will once again be held at The Bills Healthy Zone Fieldhouse. Buffalo's premier boat dealers will present brand-new product, from cruisers and pontoon boats to wakeboarding and fishing boats, personal watercraft and much more.

The Erie County Sheriff's Office responded to 162 calls from Jan. 25 to 31. Below is a sampling of the noteworthy incidents on Grand Island.

The following incidents occurred from Jan. 27 to Feb. 2, as reported by the Grand Island Fire Co. A total of 30 calls were answered by the department during this period. The GIFC has now responded to 140 calls so far this year, including 140 in January. For further information, visit the GIFC website at www.grandislandfire.us.

George H. Rowe, 84, of Grand Island entered into rest Feb. 1, 2014.

Erie County Legislator Kevin Hardwick has announced the Island Dispatch was named an official newspaper of the Erie County Legislature for the year 2014. The designation was confirmed at the Jan. 23 session of the legislature.

Locating a new cell tower got a little easier with the passage of an amendment to town code.

The Grand Island Town Board changed its regulations on setbacks required for towers, reducing the minimum radius needed within the tower's fall zone.

The move followed a public hearing on the matter that took place last month.

Section 407-169 (C) of town code was amended to read: "The tower must be set back a minimum from any residentially zoned property or any front yard line, and from any residential dwelling, school or historic structure, by a minimum of the lesser of one and a half times its height and any antenna attached thereto, or one and a half times the tower's highest pre-engineered breaking point, as certified by a licensed engineer in a manner acceptable to the town engineer."

The Grand Island Chamber of Commerce will hold a Business & Food Expo at Byblos Niagara, 100 Whitehaven Road, on March 22 and 23.

Grand Island High School art students Ali Price and Jason Carroll volunteered their artistic talents to spruce up the Reality Café.

The Grand Island Central School District took the uncommon step Wednesday of delaying the start of the school day two hours to deal with a spell of frigid weather.

The Erie County Sheriff's Office responded to 144 calls from Jan. 18 to 24. Below is a sampling of the noteworthy incidents on Grand Island.

The following incidents occurred from Jan. 20 to 26, as reported by the Grand Island Fire Co. A total of 30 calls were answered by the department during this period. The GIFC has now responded to 110 calls so far this year.

The Village Inn and SATO, Serene Gardens' new restaurant in Buffalo, were winners again this past Sunday at the fourth annual Buffalo Soup-Fest, held at the Buffalo Niagara Convention Center.

Shortly after 8:30 a.m. Thursday, Jan. 30, Grand Island Fire Co. rescue personnel responded to a motor vehicle accident involving a car and school bus on East River Road and Edgewater Drive.

The following activity occurred Monday, Jan. 27, to Sunday, Feb. 2, as reported by the Lewiston Police Department. LPD logged a total of 94 response calls during this period.

Can you name the 11 Finger Lakes? How about the six Great Lakes?

Golden Globe and Tony Award-winning actor Hugh Jackman returns to host The 68th Annual Tony Awards, live from Radio City Music Hall in New York City, Sunday, June 8 (8 p.m., live ET/delayed PT) on the CBS Television Network.