Current News

St. Vincent De Paul Parish's Youth Ministry is holding a pumpkin sale fundraiser through Oct. 31.

The following incidents occurred from Oct. 17 to 23, as reported by the Grand Island Fire Co. A total of 32 calls were answered by the department during this period. The GIFC has now responded to 1,233 calls so far this year.

Challengers for town government offices took jabs at incumbents.

The following is a sampling of calls received by the Town of Niagara Police between Friday, Sept. 30 and Oct. 12.

The Niagara County Diabetes Education Program will conduct its next meeting at 7 p.m. Tuesday, Nov. 1, at Grace Lutheran Church, 716 Cayuga Drive at Pershing Avenue in Niagara Falls.

The following is a sampling of calls received by the Niagara County Sheriff's Office for Wheatfield and Town of Niagara between Sept. 19 and 25.

The Niagara County Board of Elections at 111 Main St., Suite 100, Lockport, will be open for absentee balloting for the November election from 9 a.m. to noon Saturday, Oct. 29; 9 a.m. to 7 p.m. Tuesday and Thursday, Nov. 1 and 3; and 9 a.m. to noon Saturday, Nov. 5.

Wheatfield residents are invited to a free pancake breakfast on Sunday, Oct. 30.

The full spectrum of residential health care services for seniors will be highlighted from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m., Saturday, Oct. 29, during an open house at ElderWood's Crestwood Community, 2600 Niagara Falls Blvd., Wheatfield.

In an effort to enhance Empire State Development's ability to create jobs and spur economic growth in the City of Niagara Falls and throughout Niagara County, Assemblyman John Ceretto, R-I-Lewiston, is calling for increased dialogue between state lawmakers and the public authority.

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

Grand Island Fire Co. Chief Kevin Koch reports that during the period of Oct. 18 through 24 firefighters and medics handled 33 emergency incidents, including three motor vehicle accidents and a truck fire.

Shortly before 10 p.m. on Oct. 18, GIFC rescue personnel responded to a two-car collision, which occured on Baseline Road near Homeland Road. Both drivers, 83-year-old Shirley Runckel and 22-year-old Jennifer Andrews, both of Grand Island, were evaluated by GIFC medics but declined hospitalization.

Wednesday evening, the Grand Island Board of Education passed three separate resolutions related to the possible 2011 capital project affecting all five public school buildings.

The first resolution, whereby the district would initiate an environmental impact assesment, as required by state law, relative to the proposed capital project, passed unanimously with a 6-0 vote.

The second resolution, whereby the district would put Proposition No. 1, a capital improvement project in the amount of $46,822,155, to public vote on Dec. 20, passed with a vote of 5-1

With a few clicks, users of a social networking site can get information about medium- and high-risk sex offenders living in their neighborhoods

Niagara University announces Dr. Roselind Gullo Bogner, associate professor of school counseling, is receiving the career achievement award from the New York State School Counselor Association. The award is being presented to Bogner at the Statewide Conference of the New York State School Counselor Association Friday, Oct. 28, in Rochester.

The award recognizes the school counselor or counselor educator whose contributions to his or her students, place of employment, colleagues and community have been substantial and ongoing. In addition, the recipient exhibits a commitment to professional school counseling and has a record of service to the profession.

After six months of talking, debating, listening, fighting, bickering, negotiating, arguing and sometimes smiling, it remained clear Thursday night that there are still divisions and mistrust among Regional councillors about who should run economic development in Niagara.

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.

St. George's Pro-Cathedral Church, an Anglo-Catholic parish, will hold its first "Jazz Service" at 6:30 p.m. on Nov. 10 with a service titled "Fusion: Encounters of Jazz and Spirit."

The "Jazz Service" will build on a rich tradition of jazz music and worship. Some of the most recognizable names in jazz history, including Duke Ellington, John Coltrane, Dave Brubeck and Oscar Peterson, have written and performed sacred works.

The Dale Association encourages members of the community to be proactive about memory health by taking advantage of free, confidential memory screenings and information about successful aging on Nov. 15. The event is part of National Memory Screening Day, an annual initiative that the Alzheimer's Foundation of America holds each November during National Alzheimer's Disease Awareness Month.

Sylvia Virtuoso is seeking a fourth term as town clerk for the Town of Niagara.

The Pittsford Central School District is the top-rated public school system in upstate New York, according to new rankings issued today by Business First, a Buffalo-based business publication.

Niagara Falls Memorial Medical Center and the Niagara Falls City School District will host a local site for the National Prescription Drug Drop-Off on Saturday, Oct. 29.

Cut short by a power outage at its Oct. 19 meeting, the Niagara-Wheatfield Board of Education passed a resolution naming Harris Beach PLLC, as its attorney in a lawsuit filed against them by Superintendent of Schools Carl Militello.

by Olivia Bitetti

Take a break from raiding the Halloween candy this Saturday and head to Military Road in Town of Niagara for the annual Niagara Electric Lights Parade.

Organized by the Town of Niagara Business and Professional Association, the event is designed not only to get the upcoming holiday season rolling, but also to ensure needy local residents have full bellies when Thanksgiving arrives.

Wheatfield residents might see an even bigger tax decrease in 2012.

The YellowJackets from the University of Rochester had a tough time with Hip-hop Week on NBC's "The Sing-Off" on Monday, landing in the bottom two in the a cappella competition, but surviving as one of the seven finalists for next week's show.

November is Native American Heritage Month and Old Fort Niagara is celebrating by hosting a series of special programs.

On Nov. 5, 6 and 12, the fort will offer workshops on traditional Native American skills, such as finger weaving, cornhusk twining, beadwork, quillwork and basketry. The cost of each workshop is $40, and all necessary materials are provided. A full list of workshops and scheduling information is available on the fort's website www.oldfortniagara.org, or by calling 745-7611.

The Niagara USA Chamber presents "Economic Vision: 2012 and Beyond: Creating a Vibrant Future." The event begins at 8 a.m. on Monday, Nov. 14, at The Conference Center Niagara Falls, 101 Old Falls St. It is sponsored by National Grid.

The Niagara USA Chamber of Commerce is committed to shaping the county's future. Its "Vision 2012" initiative imagines a county built on a vibrant and robust economy. Gary Keith, vice president and regional economist with M&T Bank, will serve as keynote speaker.

Congresswoman Kathy Hochul spoke Wednesday on the House floor about putting American veterans back to work by passing the American Jobs Act.

The Niagara County Auxiliary Police is assisting the Matthew Foster Foundation raise money for families of children with cancer -- families that are having a difficult time with huge financial burdens. The NCAP is selling raffle tickets for a 2012 Ford Mustang or $15,000 cash. The drawing will be held at 7 p.m. on Nov. 10 at Cobber's, 6831 Seneca St., Elma.

The Matthew Foster Foundation works very closely with Roswell Park Cancer Institute, Essential Care, Women's and Children's Hospital and other local organizations.

From the anthem hit "Don't Stop Believin' " to the iconic rendition of "Vogue" to the pop phenomenon "Teenage Dream," "Glee" has sold more than 36 million songs. Now it's reached another impressive milestone: 300 musical performances. The 300th performance, a momentous mash-up of "Rumor Has It - Someone Like You," will debut in the upcoming all-new episode of "Glee" airing Tuesday, Nov. 15 (8 p.m.), on FOX.

Grammy-nominated singer Christina Milian was named the new social media correspondent on NBC's "The Voice."

From one of the worst to one of the fastest-growing neighborhoods, the Buffalo Niagara Association of Realtors is conducting a press conference and walking tour of the Essex Street neighborhood on Buffalo's west side.

The Niagara Social Project is inviting anyone who wants to be part of a music video to meet in front of Planet Hollywood in Niagara Falls, Ontario, Thursday morning.

For the second straight year and the fourth time in five years, Niagara University's American Chemical Society student chapter has been recognized by The Society Committee on Education. Dr. Mary McCourt, chair of Niagara's biochemistry/chemistry department, received a letter in late September from the society notifying her that the student chapter had been selected for an Honorable Mention Award for activities it conducted during the 2010-11 academic year.

More than 330 reports were submitted to The Society Committee on Education for 2010-11, with only 107 of them receiving honorable mention awards.

The first night of the popular "Haunted Fortress" fundraiser at Old Fort Niagara was a great success. A perfect autumn evening greeted 1,200 people as they came to the fort Saturday for a good time and to help raise money for programming.

Tuesday, after the remaining 17 acts performed, the judges eliminated five acts, revealing "The X Factor" top 12 finalists.

It's the No. 1 cause of death for both men and women over the age of 50. Almost 85 million Americans have early symptoms, and there are more than a million heart attacks each year. Yet in many cases, heart disease can be prevented.

"Cutting Edge: Attacking Heart Disease, will air tonight at 8 p.m. on WGRZ. The prime-time health special is the third in the series being produced and aired by the Gannett Broadcast division for its stations across the country.

In light of another teen suicide as a result of bullying, the Niagara Region PTA wants to share the details of its "Stop Bullying Now!" initiative and implore adults and children alike to learn how emotionally damaging bullying behaviors can be.

A diverse task force of dedicated volunteers (including school administrators, Niagara Region PTA board members, PTA parents and students) has been working on this initiative since January of 2010. Each of the 31 individual PTA units and two councils within the Niagara Region has received (or will receive shortly) a "Stop Bullying Now!" toolkit to assist in finding unique ways to get the message out to students, parents and school districts that bullying cannot be tolerated.