Niagara Falls
THE
NIAGARA REPORTER
LOCAL NEWS  •  LOCAL VOICES  •  LOCAL MATTERS
Local NewsNiagara County

Riviera Event Raises Nearly $8,000 for Community Outreach

N
Niagara Reporter-  ·  December 23, 2023
Riviera Event Raises Nearly $8,000 for Community Outreach
SharefXin✉

By Tony Farina

The Batavia Downs-sponsored holiday movie event on Dec. 13 at the Riviera Theater in North Tonawanda was a big success and along with 21 local restaurants who donated 10 percent of their proceeds that night, cash totaling more than $7,500 was presented to Twin Cities Community Outreach on Thursday to help with their Christmas season work.

“It was just a great program at the historic Riviera and we were so glad to be able to give the money to Community Outreach in time for Christmas,” said Henry Wojtaszek, president and CEO of Batavia Downs Gaming & Hotel and Western Regional Off-Track Betting (WROTB).

Wojtaszek joined other local notable officials on Thursday to present the cash to Bobbie Seekins and Linda Finikin of Community Outreach at the Riviera Theater who welcomed the good deed cash with open arms, calling it an opportunity to help so many people during the holiday season.

Among those on hand were Niagara County Legislators Randy Bradt, Rich Andres, Jesse Gooch and North Tonawanda Councilmen Joe Marranca and Joe Lavey.

This photo was taken at the Riviera Theater at the cash presentation to Twin Cities Community Outreach from Batavia Downs Gaming & Hotel and 21 local restaurants. From left are Batavia CEO Henry Wojtaszek, Legislators Rich Andres, Jesse Gooch, Twin Cities’ Bobbie Seekins and Linda Finikin, Legislator Randy Bradt, and North Tonawanda Councilmen Joe Lavey and Joe Marranca.

Wojtaszek said the holiday giveaway was in keeping with WROTB’s help to Niagara County to support arts and cultural organizations with the Cultural Endowment Fund. WROTB has contributed more than $  240 million to its 15 member counties and two member cities since it was founded back in the early 1970s.

Twin Cities Community Outreach provides food pantries, school supplies, clothing, and toy giveaways.

SharefXin✉

Comments (0)

Leave a comment

More From Niagara Falls Reporter

Niagara Falls Hosts Oldest State Park But State Needs to Provide More Assistance
Featured

Niagara Falls Hosts Oldest State Park But State Needs to Provide More Assistance

By tony Farina · August 26, 2026

By Tony Farina The Niagara Falls State Park, located in Niagara Falls, N.Y., and created in 1885, is recognized as the oldest state park in the U.S. and contains the American Falls, the Bridal Veil Falls, and a portion of the Horseshoe Falls (also known as the Canadian Falls). Following a $44-million refurbishment of the 221-acre park in 2003, in 2007 it was named the 10 th most beautiful spot in America by “The Today Show.” According to the state’s Office of Parks, Recreation, and Historic Preservation, the State Park receives more than nine million visits each year. It is

Featured

WEBR to Launch Katie Daye Show on Monday

By tony Farina · August 21, 2026

By Tony Farina There is much excitement in the airwaves at WEBR The Breeze as station manager and program director Frank Miller has announced that beginning on Monday, Aug. 24, the talent he has been hoping to bring in for some time will be joining the WEBR midday lineup from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. every weekday. “We’re just thrilled to be launching the Kadie Daye show on Monday, and we are so looking forward to having a talent like Kadie on our airwaves at WEBR AM 1440, FM 105.3 and FM 106.9,” Miller said in talking about the new

Far Too Often, Promises Have Proved Empty; Niagara Falls Needs Progress And Strategic Planning
Featured

Far Too Often, Promises Have Proved Empty; Niagara Falls Needs Progress And Strategic Planning

By tony Farina · August 4, 2026

By Tony Farina Promises are nice and they bring hope for the future. But unfortunately, most of the time, promises have fallen flat for the City of Niagara Falls, some succeeding but many turning out to be empty promises and major disappointments. At this point, Niagara Falls doesn’t need more failed promises. What the city needs is progress to build a better future and a plan to make it work. City leadership must bring it all together. While there are promises to build a better future on the table and being talked about, like Centennial Park and the Niagara Digital

Governor Issues Response To McMurray’s Letter on Slag Concerns
Featured

Governor Issues Response To McMurray’s Letter on Slag Concerns

By tony Farina · August 4, 2026

By Tony Farina The radioactive slag bubbling up across Niagara County in recent weeks, triggering state and federal testing and some remedial work and family relocations, is the ongoing and seemingly never-ending legacy of the environmental desecration of the past 100-plus years by massive corporations dumping toxic waste that was the subject of Christen Civiletto’s book Thundering Waters. “What we have again is an environmental storm,” said attorney and former Grand Island Supervisor Nate McMurray, a candidate for election to the 45th District State Assembly seat now open because of the retirement of Angelo Morinello. McMurray will run for the