Eight local schools will host the top drum corps in the world when they converge on Orchard Park for the annual Drums Along the Waterfront Tour of Champions event taking place on Aug. 6 at New Era Field.

“The visiting drum corps will spend one night at each of the host schools, where these musical athletes will eat, sleep and practice,” said Drums Along the Waterfront Director Jack Gaylord Jr. “We thank the schools and the entire community for being so welcoming year after year. We could not pull off an event of this magnitude without their cooperation.”

Local school serving as hosts include:

York State Senators Chris Jacobs and Michael Ranzenhofer, AAA Western and Central New York, New York State Police and AT&T teamed up to raise awareness for AAA’s 100 Deadliest Days (the period between Memorial Day and Labor Day when teen crash fatalities historically climb 15 percent compared to the rest of the year), as well as AT&T’s “It Can Wait” public education campaign and NYS distracted driving laws.

Distracted Driving Awareness Day in Western New York was hosted June 1 at AAA WCNY headquarters, where young drivers, parents and all those who visited the Amherst AAA were educated about the dangers of distracted driving.

A “Spring into Summer” evening highlighted by a unique networking event, a preschool open house and a basket raffle will take place from 6 to 9 p.m. Friday, June 16, at Sweet Charlottes, 10255 Main St., Clarence.

“Sweet Charlottes is a space for children of all ages and abilities to play, explore and experience,” said the facility’s owner, Molly Pitman. “In addition to offering open play, babysitting services and an all-inclusive pre-school program, our overall mission is to raise awareness about support services for families affected by autism by donating a percentage of all proceeds to Autistic Services and other like-minded organizations.” The Pitmans are the parents of two children, including a son Donovan who was diagnosed with autism at 23 months.