Daemen College has been presented a Certificate of Recognition for Outstanding Environmental Stewardship from the U.S. Green Building Council (USGBC) New York Upstate Chapter in honor of its campus-wide green initiatives.

Daemen President Gary A. Olson accepted the award on behalf of the college from Aliesa Adelman, who serves on the chapter’s board of directors, at a presentation held April 22 in the college’s Research and Information Commons. Also in attendance was Dr. Brenda Young, chair of the global and local sustainability program at Daemen.

“This honor underscores Daemen’s steadfast dedication and support of campus sustainability and green initiatives that are important to improving our environment,” said Olson. “We are proud of the culture of sustainability that exists at Daemen and excited to have the collaborative efforts of our faculty, staff and students recognized by the USGBC.”

TOWN OF CHEEKTOWAGA – A state audit released this month blasted the Town of Cheektowaga for mishandling public works contracts and "wasting" hundreds of thousands of dollars, in one case potentially costing taxpayers an extra $600,000 by choosing an inappropriate bid for sidewalk replacement.

The audit, conducted by State Comptroller Thomas DiNapoli's office, also criticized the town for appearing to "structure and award a bid for public works projects inappropriately." According to the audit, which analyzed the period between Jan. 1, 2010 and Aug. 28, 2013, the town "did not properly award" two contracts for both public works and a sidewalk replacement, which resulted in unfavorable contracts that "failed to act in the best interest of the taxpayers."

(Welcome to our weekly pet column, courtesy of Pet Connection Programs Inc. of Marilla. We post a new article each week, so be sure to check back on a regular basis!)

If you are wondering why your pet has developed certain sensitivities, take a look at three common sources that may be affecting your cat or dog, along with suggested remedies:

∙ Outdoor pollutants. Pollen, grasses and other seasonal allergens are prevalent sources for pet sensitivities. If you are concerned, consider a trip to the veterinarian to determine your best course of action.