🌊 Thursday, March 5, 2026
All the news that's fit to get wet
☁️ Weather — NY Side
Currently: Chilly and moody, like a local who just found out the casino parking lot is closed. Temperatures hovering in the low-to-mid 30s°F this morning with a damp northwest wind that has zero interest in being polite about it.
After a brief brush with warmth earlier this week (45°F on Tuesday — practically flip-flop weather by Niagara standards), we're sliding back into a classic early-March sulk. AccuWeather data shows today's high near 45°F with a low of 39°F — warm enough that your snow boots feel overdressed, cold enough that your spring jacket is still a lie.
A Small Craft Advisory is in effect for Lake Ontario: east winds 15 to 25 knots and waves 5 to 8 feet are expected on the nearshore waters from the Niagara River to Hamlin Beach, from 7 AM Thursday to 10 AM Friday — winds and waves could capsize or damage small craft. Leave the kayak at home.
| Day | Condition | High (°F) | Low (°F) |
|---|---|---|---|
| Thu Mar 5 | Partly cloudy, breezy | 45 | 39 |
| Fri Mar 6 | Mostly cloudy | 44 | 38 |
| Sat Mar 7 | Mild, sun returning | 52 | 36 |
| Sun Mar 8 | Sunny warmup | 55 | 40 |
| Mon Mar 9 | Mostly cloudy | 51 | 42 |
Data sourced from AccuWeather monthly historical/forecast blending for Niagara Falls, NY 14301.
📍 National Weather Service Buffalo
🍁 Weather — Ontario Side
Currently: The Falls side woke up Wednesday wrapped in a fog so thick you could set a mystery novel in it. Environment Canada issued a Yellow Advisory for the Niagara Falls – Welland – Southern Niagara Region, warning of near-zero visibility in fog with travel expected to be hazardous in some locations and visibility likely to be suddenly reduced at times. Very on-brand for early March on this side of the river.
Today brings sunny skies with fog patches dissipating this morning, winds up to 15 km/h, and a high of 6°C. That's practically a Niagara heat wave. Don't let it fool you — the wind chill was sitting at minus 4°C this morning. Dress in layers. Many, many layers.
The week ahead shapes up nicely: Friday brings a mix of sun and cloud with a high of 10°C (!) and a low of plus 5 overnight; Saturday looks cloudy with a high of 11°C. Yes, you read that right. Double digits. Somebody tell the potholes.
| Day | Condition | High (°C) | Low (°C) |
|---|---|---|---|
| Thu Mar 5 | Sunny, fog clearing | 6 | 0 |
| Fri Mar 6 | Mix of sun & cloud | 10 | +5 |
| Sat Mar 7 | Cloudy | 11 | +3 |
| Sun Mar 8 | Cloudy periods | 7 | +2 |
| Mon Mar 9 | Clearing | 5 | -3 |
Data sourced from Environment Canada / St. Catharines Niagara District Airport observations and forecast.
📍 Environment Canada – Niagara Falls, ON
🗽 NY Side News
🎰 Seneca Nation Tightens Security After Threats to Casino, Leaders
Seneca Nation leaders are taking additional safety precautions after receiving several threats last week, including one related to Seneca Niagara Resort & Casino in Niagara Falls. The situation prompted a swift and visible response from Seneca Gaming Corp., which moved quickly to reassure the public.
The Seneca Gaming Corp. stressed that following the casino threat, security teams swept all three of the Nation's gaming properties, including Seneca Niagara Casino & Resort, with no interruption to casino operations.
Enhanced security measures, including metal detectors and X-ray machines, have been put in place at entrances to the Nation's office buildings, and additional Nation marshals have been placed in and around Seneca office buildings. Officials are also encouraging members to make appointments in advance for personal business at those locations. The Falls wishes the Seneca Nation community safety and peace — and notes that the blackjack tables are, thankfully, still open.
(Niagara Gazette) (Lockport Journal)
💧 $2 Million State Grant to Restore Gill Creek at Hyde Park
Announced Wednesday, Niagara Falls Mayor Robert Restaino said the city has been awarded $2 million in state funding to help carry out a major restoration project at Gill Creek, which runs through Hyde Park — New York State's largest urban park outside of Manhattan's Central Park.
The grant was made available through New York State's Water Quality Improvement Program (WQIP), which provides funding for projects that aim to improve water quality, reduce flooding risks, and promote restoration. Hyde Park hosting nine million visitors a year means this upgrade won't just benefit locals — it'll give tourists something to look at besides the guy feeding pigeons.
Construction is expected to begin in spring 2027 and be completed by summer, with the project set to reduce erosion, reduce flooding risk, and create healthier, more accessible green space in Niagara Falls.
🔥 Fire Investigators Comb Through Gordie Harper's Bazaar Ruins in Newfane
Niagara County fire investigators continued picking through the rubble of the former Gordie Harper's Bazaar in Newfane Tuesday, looking for clues about the cause of the blaze. The fire has left a void in the community — the building had been a beloved local landmark.
Nancy Smith's vision of the Apple Barrel at Gordie Harper's Sports Bar has been ruined by the fire, and local investigators were continuing their work at the scene. Fire officials have not yet released an official cause determination as the investigation remains active.
Anyone with information related to the fire is encouraged to contact the Niagara County Fire Investigation Unit. In the meantime, the community is rallying — because that's what Niagara does.
🌿 Niagara Falls Niagara Gospel Mission Program Takes a Swing at Recovery
Participants in the Niagara Gospel Mission's Recon program are hitting the Paddock Golf Dome as part of a faith-based journey toward recovery, discipline, and reconciliation. The program uses the driving range to help participants find focus, routine, and a reason to get out of bed — even in March.
The Recon program, which works with individuals battling addiction and life challenges, is using the sport's meditative rhythm to complement its broader rehabilitation approach. There's something poetic about learning to aim when life has felt like everything is off-course.
It's the kind of story that reminds you that communities are made of people, not just politics. Hat tip to the Mission for this one.
(WKBW)
🏒 Sabres Are HOT — And Tonight's Watch Party Is Right Here
The Sabres have been the best story in Western New York all winter. Over the past three months, the Sabres have morphed into a heavyweight that appears capable of wreaking havoc in the postseason. Most recently, the Sabres honored Olympic gold medalists Tage Thompson, Jack Eichel, and Noah Hanifin, then beat the Vegas Golden Knights 3-2.
And tonight, you don't have to drive to KeyBank Center. Seneca Niagara Resort & Casino is hosting a free watch party for the Buffalo Sabres' March 5 game against the Pittsburgh Penguins, with former team captains Gilbert Perreault and Mike Foligno expected to attend at Stir, the bar next to the gaming floor.
Said Steve McCarthy, VP of Operations at Seneca Niagara: "We are bringing all of the excitement of a Buffalo home game to Seneca Niagara Resort & Casino for what promises to be one of the most exciting nights of the season." Perreault AND Foligno in the house. This is not a drill.
(WGRZ)
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🏛️ Niagara Amalgamation Saga: The Drama That Won't Quit
It has been the political telenovela of the winter. The core question: should Niagara Region's 12 municipalities merge into four — or even one? It's an urgent push by the Niagara Region's chairman to consolidate the 12 municipalities that make up the area — a divisive proposal that some say is all about politics, reducing the question to four cities, or just one, from a letter sent by newly appointed Regional Chairman Bob Gale to 12 mayors and Ontario's municipal affairs minister.
Regional Chair Bob Gale was criticized at the Committee of the Whole meeting on Feb. 26 after he said he was going to send recommendations to the province, and Niagara's regional council then voted to hold back Gale from "any further action" concerning amalgamation, while recognizing it needs to do its own review on how services are working and are shared among the 12 municipalities.
Now Gale appears to be walking it back slightly. Gale acknowledged "the current structure of 126 municipally elected officials across 12 municipalities and 31 members at regional council is not as lean, efficient or affordable as it should be," but has acknowledged the lack of support for full amalgamation as he previously proposed. The debate rolls on — and the 126 elected officials are watching very, very closely.
(CBC Hamilton/Niagara) (The Trillium)
👀 Ford Punts: Says Amalgamation Must Come "From Niagara, By Niagara"
Following letters from Niagara's regional chair which suggest potential amalgamation, Ontario Premier Doug Ford says he "is not going to make that decision," leaving the debate to the chair and 12 mayors.
Niagara Falls Mayor Jim Diodati said at a news conference with Ford: "The current system is not working. We have too many cooks in the kitchen and it's too expensive to do business in Niagara." Diodati has been one of the loudest voices in favour of amalgamating — at minimum down to four cities. Currently, the Niagara region has 126 elected officials, which is more than the number of MPPs in the Ontario legislature, and Ford said the region has "too many politicians."
Meanwhile, smaller towns are digging in their heels. Fort Erie Mayor Wayne Redekop issued a statement against "forced amalgamation," saying: "Fort Erie has a proud history of strong, independent local governance. Decisions that affect our community must be transparent, evidence-based and shaped by the people who live and work here. We will continue to stand firmly against any forced amalgamation."
(CP24) (Buffalo Toronto Public Media)
🌆 Niagara Falls, ON Named a Hamilton-Niagara Top Employer for 2026
Good news from the south side of the bridge. The City of Niagara Falls, Ontario is proud to announce it has been selected as one of Hamilton-Niagara's Top Employers for 2026. Not bad for a city currently debating whether it will even exist as a standalone municipality by the time the next election rolls around!
The designation recognizes employers in the region for outstanding workplace practices, benefits, and community involvement. City staff, it seems, have voted with their feet — or at least their job satisfaction surveys.
The announcement is a timely morale boost amid the political turbulence of the amalgamation debate. A city that takes care of its employees is a city worth keeping around. Just saying, Premier Ford.
🎶 Niagara Falls, ON Invites Local Musicians to Perform O Canada at City Council
Here's your chance to shine, Niagara. The City of Niagara Falls and City Council are offering a unique opportunity for local singers and musicians to perform O Canada at Council meetings throughout 2026.
The initiative is part of a broader push to celebrate local artistic talent while grounding council sessions in community spirit. Because if you have to sit through a two-hour debate about zoning bylaws, you might as well open with a banger.
Interested performers are encouraged to reach out to the City of Niagara Falls directly. All genres welcome — though if someone shows up to nail the national anthem on bagpipes, they should win automatically.
🏘️ Niagara Region Governance: Mayors Push for Careful Approach
The region needs more time to consider the implications of amalgamating Niagara and closely examine the issues with Niagara Region's governance before making a decision, several councillors said.
Councillors pressed Niagara Region's chair on the financial case behind the proposal to merge Niagara's municipalities, with Councillor Erwin Wiens declaring: "You want to see the end of Niagara-on-the-Lake." NOTL, for its part, is not going down without a fight. Niagara-on-the-Lake Lord Mayor Gary Zalepa issued a statement saying the town "is strongly opposed to any proposal that would see our town absorbed through amalgamation," calling NOTL "the first capital of Upper Canada and a community with a distinct identity, proud history, and strong local governance."
The debate heads into the spring with no resolution in sight, and the province watching carefully. Whether this ends in a tidy merger or a decade of legal wrangling is, at this point, genuinely anyone's guess.
(Niagara Now) (CBC Hamilton/Niagara)
📅 Events — Both Sides of the Border
Thu, Mar 5 | Sabres Legends Watch Party — Stir at Seneca Niagara Resort & Casino, Niagara Falls, NY. Free event. Sabres vs. Pittsburgh Penguins on the big screen with former captains Gilbert Perreault and Mike Foligno in attendance. Doors open early; game time TBD. (Seneca Niagara)
Thu, Mar 5 – ongoing | Nightly Illumination of the Falls — Niagara Falls State Park (NY) & Queen Victoria Park (ON). March 1st–11th, illumination runs 5:30 PM–1:00 AM. Free to watch from both sides of the river. Parking on NY side: $10/vehicle (credit card only); free parking Lot #3 on Goat Island on Tue/Wed/Thu.
Sat, Mar 7 | Buffalo Sabres vs. Nashville Predators — KeyBank Center, Buffalo, NY. 5:30 PM. The Sabres are red-hot — don't miss this home matchup. (Ticketmaster)
Sun, Mar 8 | Buffalo Sabres vs. Tampa Bay Lightning — KeyBank Center, Buffalo, NY. 6:00 PM.
📸 Feature photo by Andre Portolesi on Unsplash