On a bright Sunday morning, the spotlight was cast upon Town of Lewiston Supervisor Fred Newlin, who was honored that day as Democrat of the Year by the Town of Lewiston Democratic Committee. With dozens in attendance at the Niagara Falls Country Club, friends of the supervisor, ranging from Democratic chair Diane Roberts to Lewiston Councilman Mike Johnson, state Assemblywoman Francine DelMonte to City of Niagara Falls Mayor Paul Dyster, and others, all offered their praise on Newlin’s contributions to the town’s quality of life thus far in his growing political career.

For Lewiston residents, all concurred the most notable thus far has been Newlin’s efforts in working to finalize the New York Power Authority relicensing settlement, which in addition to annual NYPA monies to the town for capital improvements and recreation and tourism projects, also channels in 6.5 megawatts of highly desired monthly power allocations to the town for use as it sees fit. Under Newlin’s direction, all town property owners are sharing in the benefit in the form of reduced monthly electrical costs – some seeing their monthly bills drop by 25 to 35 percent or more. “I don’t know about you, but I sure like opening my electric bill these days,” said Roberts.

Niagara Falls Mayor Dyster spoke of the ancestral similarities both he and Newlin share, and of the growing bond and cooperative element the two communities have. “We share a lot in common,” said Dyster, as he joked of how the