AMHERST, NY- Rain or shine, thousands of Western New Yorkers will be walking with a purpose Saturday as they take part in the Susan G. Komen Race for the Cure. It's an opportunity to raise awareness and funding for breast cancer research, celebrate survivors, and pay tribute to those who have lost their battle.

Deanne Tripi of Amherst has been part of the Race for the Cure since its inception.

"I would run just a single person without a team and every year I was so inspired to see all the women wearing pink t-shirts which symbolized survivors," said Tripi.

She never imagined the cause would hit so close to home. Deanne's sister, Claudia Tripi Sanger, was diagnosed with stage 2 breast cancer at the age of 42.

Claudia was a wife and mother of three children, one with special needs. As her disease progressed, Deanne formed a Race for the Cure team called Claudia's Crew to keep her sister's spirits up.

St. Benedict Parish will be holding its 9th annual 5K Run & 1 Mile Family Walk on Tuesday, June 18. The family walk start time is 6:15PM followed by the run. Join the post-race party immediately following the run. Includes great food, beverages, desserts, live music by The Buffalo 5, children's bounce house & activities. Lots of fun for ALL ages. St. Benedict's is located at 3980  Main Street, Amherst at the corner of Main and Eggert.  For information call the school at 835-2518 or check the parish web site at www.saintbenedicts.com.

2013 5K Race Brochure and Entry Form

AMHERST, NY-Some leaders in Amherst want to make the Town Board a bit bigger, but a judge Wednesday blocked them from holding a referendum that was scheduled for Tuesday, June 11th.

One of the town's councilmembers, Mark Manna (D), has sent a letter to town leaders asking them to give up the fight.

Manna is asking the town attorney not to appeal the judge's ruling that will keep them from putting the "upsizing" decision before the voters. He says the attorney already has plenty on his plate. "The town currently faces lawsuits that could potentially cause up to tens of millions of dollars in taxpayer money," said Manna. "I'd rather have the time and energy of our town attorneys focused on those cases and not defending the action the public has already voted for."

Some 70% of Amherst voters decided in 2010 to downsize the Town Board from seven to five members.