Current News

The Women of Payne Avenue Christian Church will hold a multi-line demonstration at 6:30 p.m. Friday, July 29, at the church, 1459 Payne Ave., North Tonawanda.

Wheatfield's Summit View Apartment Association is planning a "Summer Wind" cruise on Tuesday, Aug. 18, rain or shine, on Chautauqua Lake.

In Good Company Productions is presenting "Disney's High School Musical Jr." in the David L. Miller Bandshell in Niawanda Park, Tonawanda.

People Inc.'s Willow Senior Living will showcase its apartment building with an open house and multi-family yard sale from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. Friday, July 29.

Niagara Wheatfield Athletics Alumni along with the Niagara Wheatfield Amateur Athletics will host their first chicken dinner barbecue/basket raffle from 2 to 6 p.m. Sunday, July 31, at The Meeting Place Restaurant, 2469 Niagara Road, Wheatfield.

The Niagara-Wheatfield Board of Education will hold a 7 p.m. board retreat on Tuesday, Aug. 2 in the high school's Adult Learning Center to discuss instructional goals.

Jim Candella is chairman of this year's Wheels of Wheatfield Car Show being held noon to 5 p.m. Sunday, Aug. 21. The car show is being held in conjunction with the 33rd annual Wheatfield Family Picnic at Fairmount Park.

Neighbors living near abandoned properties at 7464 Townline Road and 2488 Reynolds St., in Wheatfield will have to continue to wait to see the decaying houses torn down by the town.

Pastors and lay people seeking to expand the breadth of knowledge they obtained from Niagara University's ministerial leadership development program will now have the opportunity to do so. The university announced today that its Office of Continuing Education will offer an advanced certificate program in applied urban ministry, beginning this fall.

The New York Power Authority board of trustees accepted the resignation Tuesday of Richard M. Kessel as NYPA president and CEO. Kessel, who has headed NYPA for nearly three years, will remain at the authority through Sept. 6 to ensure a smooth transition.

Though she's only served in the Niagara County Legislature since early June, Legislator Brittany Catchpole, D-Niagara, has already pitched New York's top leader on the county's economic priorities, scoring a face-to-face meeting with popular Gov. Andrew M. Cuomo Tuesday morning.

Fox Broadcasting Company, Syco Television and FremantleMedia North America today announced Sony Electronics as the official consumer electronics sponsor of "The X Factor," the award-winning international phenomenon created and executive-produced by Simon Cowell, which makes its highly anticipated debut with a two-night series premiere event Wednesday, Sept. 21 (8-10 p.m. ET/PT) and Thursday, Sept. 22 (8-10 p.m. ET/PT) on FOX.

A statement from Assemblyman John Ceretto on the resignation of NYPA CEO Richard Kessel.

Assemblyman John Ceretto wrote to Gov. Andrew Cuomo inviting him to visit the 138th District to discuss ideas and strategy on how to strengthen the region's tourism industry in order to revitalize the local economy, attract businesses and create more jobs.

Another day, another national scholarship earned by a student in Niagara University's College of Hospitality and Tourism Management.

The Lewiston Beautification Commission has instituted "Garden of the Week," a new award program this year for businesses on Center Street in the Village of Lewiston. The purpose of the award is to recognize companies/individuals that have beautified their places of businesses during the summer.

Visitors to the Village of Lewiston's waterfront are now a little more up-to-date on where to shop, eat and play. The first of three business and cultural directories is now in place, situated just past the Freedom Crossing monument.

Get ready, golfers, golf enthusiasts and spectators. The Niagara Falls Country Club is hosting the 53rd annual Porter Cup, taking place Tuesday, July 26, through Saturday, July 30.

Massive crowds are nothing new to Artpark & Co.

During last night's episode of Oxygen's "The Glee Project," the remaining seven contenders endured some classic "Glee"-style pain with the "Tenacity" theme.

Children from the First Presbyterian Church Vacation Bible School provided Mount St. Mary's Hospital with a series of blankets, which will be given to other children who have had surgery at the hospital. The initiative was part of the children's mission project.

Bala Thatigotla, M.D., M.R.C.S. - a general, gastrointestinal and advanced laparoscopic surgeon - will join the medical staff at Niagara Falls Memorial Medical Center effective Aug. 1.

Niagara University ranks as one of the top colleges and universities to work for among medium-size institutions in the U.S, according to a survey released today by The Chronicle of Higher Education.

Recent surveillance sampling conducted on July 22 by the Niagara County Department of Health at Olcott Beach in Olcott has determined that the water is suitable for swimming.

National Grid offers tips to help customers stay cool and save energy.

Niagara University's College of Education and the Samaritan Counseling Center of Western New York announce a new graduate course designed to integrate training for "faith-based" healing in counseling education. The course, spirituality in counseling and vocation, will commence this fall and take place at Niagara University's Academic Complex.

CraigCat is taking the nation by storm. Water lovers are now invited to get their splash on in the Niagara River, Lake Erie, Lake Ontario and nearby regions. CraigCat of Niagara is the area's newest sensation sure to accommodate riders on the water. The sport boat initiates a new level of excursion while traveling in style. A two-seater catamaran, it's ideal for fishing, relaxing, day cruising and enjoying the beautiful waters of the Niagara River.

Niagara Falls Memorial Medical Center and its Healthy Moms-Healthy Babies Coalition will celebrate the benefits of breastfeeding July 26 with a community picnic and baby shower at Hyde Park.

The 45th reunion of the Niagara-Wheatfield Class of '66 will begin at 7:30 p.m. Friday, July 29, at the Rapids Theatre on Main Street in Niagara Falls.

The Sanborn Band will be performing a concert of summer classic favorites at the Wilson Historical Society Grounds, 645 Lake St., Wilson, at 2 p.m. Sunday, July 24.

Area students are having a blast this summer at the Orleans/Niagara BOCES Career and Technical Education summer camp. The program, which is in its first week, is exposing students entering the fifth to seventh grade to different career opportunities.

The Ransomville Volunteer Fire Co. announces its fifth annual Summer Raffle will take place Saturday, Aug. 6, at the firehall, 2521 Youngstown-Lockport Road.

If you don't go on vacation this summer, here's a day trip that will feel like a vacation.

Friends of the Lewiston Public Library announce the winner of its Fountain of Gold raffle, drawn on June 26 during the Lewiston GardenFest.

Niagara County is experiencing a heat wave that is expected to last for the next several days. Heat waves can have serious health effects or even cause death in overheated individuals. The Niagara County Public Health Director, Daniel Stapleton, offers some common-sense measures the public can take to prevent health consequences of heat exposure.

Western New Yorkers could be dealing with record-breaking heat the rest of this week, with high humidity and temperatures predicted to top 90 degrees the next three days.

by Joshua Maloni Village of Lewiston trustees received an earful Monday from Oneida Street resident Jacqueline Lampman at their monthly board meeting. They heard complaints on everything from traffic models to spending patterns. "It's not a quiet place to live anymore," Lampman said of the village. She began her comments with observations of the north Fourth Street and River Road areas. "(Cars were) going 50 mph," she said, noting they weren't stopping, either. But, with the arrival of Lewiston Police vehicles, "It stopped. These people significantly slowed down." Lampman said quality of life in the village has diminished with the increase in concerts and other large events. "You just keep adding them (festivals), and adding them, and adding them," she said. "Now I've got tour buses (driving down my street) ... I've got Modern (Disposal trucks) in the middle of the night. ... It's horrible." "I didn't come into this village to listen to rock music at 8:30, 9 o'clock," she said. "I know I'm not the only one who feels that way." Lampman said Ridge Street has become a "horrible" haven for "bar traffic"; village parks have become overrun with "older kids from Niagara Falls" who "intimidate all the younger kids"; and questioned spending for recreation programs. Trustees listened to Lampman, but didn't engage her in a debate. "We are working to try to make things better," Mayor Terry Collesano said. He stated sound levels were adjusted at Artpark and Water Street Landing (two popular noise complaint targets), and parking adjustments were implemented for "Tuesday in the Park" concerts. Wiz Khalifa concert questioned The Artpark conversation turned to the Wiz Khalifa concert on Aug. 4. The 23-year-old Pittsburgh rapper is currently on his "Rolling Papers" tour. "There could be some very tense moments that night," Village of Lewiston Police Commissioner Al Soluri said. "We don't want a reoccurrence of what happened in Niagara Falls." Soluri was referring to a July 2 concert at the Rapids Theatre on Main Street, which ended with a shooting, several fights and multiple arrests. Responding after the meeting, Artpark & Co. President George Osborne said, "The Wiz Khalifa concert should not be compared to the 'after hours' private party at the Rapids Theatre. Wiz Khalifa plays to a demographic of 16 to 20 year olds, and our concert is scheduled to end at 10:30. The Rapids party didn't even start until 11 p.m." Lewiston Police Chief Chris Salada said Osborne would not cancel the show. Khalifa's show is a ticketed, Mainstage Theater event. Soluri said the previous indoor show, the July 13 Black Keys concert, was larger than police expected. "Chris doesn't know when they have a big crowd coming," Soluri said of ticketed events. Salada said he is ready for the Khalifa show. "We're going to have all our guys in, and we're going to try and get some (Niagara County) Sheriff's Department and state police in there for that, too," he said. Salada also is preparing for larger outdoor crowds. Artpark's next two "Tuesday in the Park" concerts feature Lynyrd Skynyrd and ZZ Top. Weather permitting, crowds are expected to range from 15,000 to 25,000. "The next two weeks are probably going to be our biggest," he said. "Besides the coverage we now have between the state police and sheriff's department, I'm also going to write a letter to the Town of Niagara - (Police Chief James Suitor) says he could probably give me five guys - and I'm going to get at least one officer from Youngstown to supplement the patrols for those nights." Salada and the Lewiston Police Department also have worked this summer with New York State Parks Police, Niagara County Auxiliary Police and U.S. Border Patrol to ensure crowd control, run driving while intoxicated checkpoints, and direct traffic out of the village. News and Notes •Music promoter Steve Goodman was granted permission to host the first "Hot Pepper & Salsa Festival" on Aug. 16-17 at Academy Park. Proceeds will be used to pay for security cameras, which will be installed on Water Street. •The Village of Lewiston Recreation Department is planning a Facebook course this fall for people looking to learn the ins and outs of the social networking site. The department was also given permission to use Marilyn Toohey Park and the Red Brick Schoolhouse grounds for its 15th annual Country Fair and Community Yard Sale on Saturday, Sept. 17. •Theatre in the Mist was granted a facility contract to use Academy Park from 5 until 9 p.m. on Thursday, Aug. 25, for a Chiavetta's chicken barbecue fundraiser. Proceeds will benefit the company, which is staging "Annie" in September. •Paving was expected to end this week. The Department of Public Works placed new blacktop on Mohawk and South Ninth streets.

Niagara County Sheriff's Deputy Allen Gerhardt continues his recovery from surgery at Erie County Medical Center in Buffalo following a serious automobile accident early Monday morning on Lake Road in the Town of Porter.