Niagara County

Work Resumes on Rapids Rd Project

The Niagara County Department of Public Works (DPW) today announced the project on Rapids Rd, from Raymond to Goodrich Rds., and Raymond Rd, from Rapids Rd to Dysinger Rd, will resume on June 29, necessitating a detour around the Bartz-Crosby intersection. The detour will be in place for approximately 5 weeks for intersection grading and drainage work.

This work is all part of a $6 million improvement project for Raymond and Rapids roads that began last summer. Work will continue into the summer including re-profiling Rapids at Bartz-Crosby and performing cold in-place recycling (CIR) on the travel lanes. The project also includes a culvert replacement on Raymond Rd south of Dysinger Road.

The overall project is expected to be completed by early September.

The Niagara County Legislature is in session this evening at 6 p.m. at the Niagara County Courthouse in Lockport. The meeting is open to anyone who would like to attend.

For those who would like to watch the meeting from home, the meeting can be viewed on cable on Lockport Community Television (LCTV) Ch. 1303, over-the-air on WBNF-CD Channel 15.5, or can streamed on-line here: https://lctv.net/?page_id=1103

Meeting materials can be found at: www.niagaracounty.gov/agenda.

For those who want to view the meeting at a later date, it can be found in the LCTV on-demand library: https://trms.lctv.net/CablecastPublicSite/gallery/34?channel=3

Niagara County Legislator Irene Myers was joined by DPW Commissioner Garret Meal, Deputy Commissioner Jeff Gaston and Parks Supervisor Frank Rotella for an unveiling of the upgrades to Burmaster Park at Bond Lake, specially the new natural, ADA-compliant playground. Phase 1 is complete, with Phase 2 coming next spring.

The stars were out in Lewiston this weekend: Tony Danza, star of Who's the Boss.....Mario Lopez, most famous for Saved by the Bell.....and Niagara County Legislator Mike Casale, star of the annual Niagara County Economic Development Report video. Danza and Lopez are filming a Chrismas movie in Lewiston.

Had the pleasure to meet Tony Danza and Mario Lopez who are in Lewiston this week filming the Christmas movie, "Christmas at the Starlight." Happy to be able to welcome Tony, Mario and crew to Lewiston, and presented them with a commemorative Niagara County America 250 Coin.

The Niagara County Department of Employment and Training will be holding an outdoor career fair this Wednesday, June 17, at Oppenheim Park for those seeking employment. More than 80 companies with open positions are now confirmed to take part.

“Each year, we host this outdoor career fair and we consistently have dozens of employers looking for good employees, so whether you are currently unemployed or looking for a change, the right opportunity may be waiting for you,” said Niagara County Legislator Jesse Gooch, Chairman of the Community Service Committee and a small business owner whose company has taken part in this event over the years.

Donald Jablonksi, Director of Employment and Training said the event will be held from noon to 3 p.m. in Oppenheim Park, located at 2713 Niagara Falls Boulevard in Wheatfield. No appointment or registration is necessary.

“Participating employers come from a wide array of market sectors and are looking for employees in healthcare, manufacturing, the trades, office administration and more, so anyone looking for a job, regardless of skill and educational level, should join us,” said Jablonski. “Plus, our WorkSource1 team will be present to provide job seekers with servicers like resume writing and interview prep, to aid in their job search.”

To learn more about the career fair, including a full list of participating businesses, visit https://www.niagaracounty.gov/worksource_one/job_seeker/career_fair.php

Students from DeSales Catholic School joined with Niagara County Clerk Joe Jastrzemski, Legislator Tony Nemi, Purple Heart veterans and other dignitaries and community members for a special Flag Day celebration that included raising a commemorative America 250 Flag outside the courthouse in Lockport. Students sang God Bless America, read the Declaration of Independence, helped raise the flag and planted smaller flags around the Purple Heart Monument.

Watch the full celebration here: https://youtu.be/55gR2g7EZJE

The Niagara County Youth Bureau is sponsoring the Summer Food Service Program (SFSP) again in 2026 and is pleased to announce the open program site locations. Free meals will be served Monday thru Friday at the following sites in Niagara County, with the exception of Friday, July 4th holiday.

Lockport
Altro Park – 201 Willow Street
(6/29 – 8/21- Breakfast 9:00-10:00am / Lunch 12:00-1:00pm)
Lockport Salvation Army – 50 Cottage Street
(6/29 - 8/6 –Lunch 11:30am-12:00pm – Closed Fridays)
The SYC Culture Lab – 400 West Avenue
(6/29-8/21 – Breakfast 10:00-10:30am/Lunch 1:00-1:30pm)

Niagara Falls
Niagara Falls Public Library - 1425 Main Street
(6/29 – 8/14 - Lunch 12:00-12:30pm)
Packard Court Community Center – 4300 Pine Avenue
(7/6 - 8/7 – Breakfast 9:00-9:30AM / Lunch 12:00-12:30PM)
Niagara Falls Salvation Army – 7018 Buffalo Avenue
(7/6 – 7/30 - Lunch 12:00-12:30PM – Closed Fridays)
Chosen Fellowship VOH Center – 1609 22nd Street
(6/29 – 8/27 – Lunch 11:00am-1:00pm – Closed Fridays)

North Tonawanda
Payne Park - 858 Payne Avenue
(6/29 - 8/28 – Lunch 12:00-1:00PM)
Spruce School Park– 195 Spruce Street
(6/29 – 8/28 – Lunch 12:00-1:00PM)

Gasport
Veterans Park – 7992 State Street
(7/6– 8/7 – Breakfast 9:00-10:00AM / Lunch 12:00-1:00PM)

Free meals will also be served at the following locations in Erie County:
Kenmore/Tonawanda
Sheridan Parkside Community Center - 169 Sheridan Parkside
(6/29 – 8/21 - Lunch 11:00-1:00PM)
Lincoln Park – 299 Decatur Rd.
(6/29 – 8/21 - Lunch 11:00-1:00PM)

This program ensures that children who are economically disadvantaged continue to receive nutritious meals during summer vacation. Meals are comparable to the National School Breakfast and National School Lunch Programs throughout the school year. The Summer Food Service Program is a federally funded program that provides free meals to all children at approved SFSP sites. Sites are located within areas that have significant concentrations of low-income children. Meals are provided to children age 18 and under. Acceptance and participation requirements for the program and all activities are the same for all regardless of race, color, national origin, gender, age, or disability, and there will be no discrimination in the course of meal service.

Contact Benjamin Bunker or Rodney Alaimo for further information, including specific dates and times of site operation at 278-6873.

“In accordance with Federal civil rights law and U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) civil rights regulations and policies, the USDA, its Agencies, offices, and employees, and institutions participating in or administering USDA programs are prohibited from discriminating based on race, color, national origin, s*x, disability, age, or reprisal or retaliation for prior civil rights activity in any program or activity conducted or funded by USDA.

Persons with disabilities who require alternative means of communication for program information (e.g. Braille, large print, audiotape, American Sign Language, etc.), should contact the Agency (State or local) where they applied for benefits. Individuals who are deaf, hard of hearing or have speech disabilities may contact USDA through the Federal Relay Service at (800) 877-8339. Additionally, program information may be made available in languages other than English.

To file a program complaint of discrimination, complete the USDA Program Discrimination Complaint Form, (AD-3027) found online at: http://www.ascr.usda.gov/complaint_filing_cust.html, and at any USDA office, or write a letter addressed to USDA and provide in the letter all of the information requested in the form. To request a copy of the complaint form, call (866) 632-9992. Submit your completed form or letter to USDA by:

(1) mail: U.S. Department of Agriculture
Office of the Assistant Secretary for Civil Rights
1400 Independence Avenue, SW
Washington, D.C. 20250-9410;

(2) fax: (202) 690-7442; or

(3) email: [email protected].

This institution is an equal opportunity provider.

The Niagara County Department of Health (NCDOH) is monitoring a confirmed case of measles in an Erie County resident who recently traveled abroad. At this time, there are no confirmed cases of measles in Niagara County.

Because the infected individual visited several public locations in Buffalo during their infectious period, NCDOH is alerting Niagara County residents to potential regional exposure risks on May 24 and May 28, 2026.

Anyone who visited the following locations during the specified times should immediately consult their healthcare provider, monitor for symptoms, and verify their immunization status:

Golisano Children’s Hospital of Buffalo Emergency Department (formerly Oishei Children’s Hospital, 818 Ellicott St., Buffalo)
May 24 between 7:30 a.m. and 4:30 p.m.
May 28 between 12:00 p.m. and 9:30 p.m.

1021 Broadway, Buffalo (Includes Jericho Road, Broadway Pediatrics, USPS, UBMD, and the Care Management Coalition)
May 28 between 10:30 a.m. and 2:00 p.m.

Residents who may have been exposed should watch for symptoms for the next 21 days. Symptoms include a high fever, cough, runny nose, watery eyes, and a subsequent rash. If you develop these symptoms, please call your health care provider or clinic before going in person so the facility can prevent exposing others.

As of January 1, 2026, Niagara County MMR vaccination rate for children ages 24-35 months that received 1 MMR dose before their 2nd birthday is 87.7%. A complete two-dose series of the MMR vaccine provides maximum protection. Residents who are underinsured or uninsured, or who are having difficulty scheduling an appointment with a primary care doctor or pharmacy, can access vaccinations through the NCDOH Immunization Clinic.

Clinics are available by appointment at the Trott Access Center in Niagara Falls and 55 Stevens Street in Lockport. To check eligibility or schedule an appointment, call the NCDOH Nursing Division at (716) 278-1903.