Nik Wallenda will be back in town on Thursday, Aug. 23, for the first time since his historic walk over Niagara Falls. He will join State Sen. George Maziarz and Assemblyman John Ceretto at Niagara Falls State Park to discuss his visit and what's next for him.

The Marble Orchard Ghost Walks, presented by the Lewiston Council on the Arts, begin promptly at 7 p.m. on Saturdays, beginning starting Sept. 1. They continue each Saturday night through Oct. 29.

Niagara University Theatre has announced its 2012-13 season.

Steven Braddock, director of Niagara University Theatre said, "This season, you will find two Tony Award-winning musicals, three laugh-out-loud comedies by Neil Simon, Steve Martin (yes - that banjo strumming comedian) and Moliere, and a dark and lyrical mystery. In addition, our annual student-directed short play festival will offer comedies, dramas and everything in between. Also, our theater student group, the NU Players, will test their wings by entirely producing a contemporary adult drama about the searing effect of war on relationships."

Assemblyman John Ceretto, R-I-Lewiston, sent a letter Monday to Assembly Speaker Sheldon Silver to express his concerns over the legislative leader's support for Assembly bill 10807, which would allow illegal aliens who "meet certain criteria" to receive higher education subsidies at taxpayer expense.

Stacey Zahno of Ransomville, wife of powerlifting American record-holder Dan Zahno, recently set two state records.

The annual Newfane Town Celebration kicked off Friday night with Main Street filled with motorcycles for Bike Night. Lots of bikes on the street with some great custom and stock machines, old and new, along with perfect weather, brought a large crowd out to see the bikes, visit with friends and find a bite to eat.

Saturday was a great day to be in Ransomville for those who like to dance ... or to just sit and listen to the music and watch others get up and dance.

St. Peter R.C. Church Holy Name Society held its annual fundraiser during the Lewiston Art Festival on Aug. 11 and 12.

The 2012 Peach Queen contestants gathered Sunday, Aug. 19, behind the Lewiston Senior Center.

Opportunities Unlimited of Niagara Foundation Inc. will sponsor its 15th annual Celebrity Bartending Fundraiser on Thursday, Aug. 23, from 5 until 9 p.m. at the Brickyard Pub & B.B.Q., 432 Center St., Lewiston.

This year's Lewiston Jazz Festival will take place on Friday, Aug. 24, from 5 to 10:30 p.m. and Saturday, Aug. 25, from noon to 10 p.m. on Center Street. Admission, parking, and shuttles to the festival from Artpark's lower level parking lot are all free.

Win ride tickets! Win ride tickets! Win ride tickets!

The Mighty Niagara Half Marathon will be held on Saturday, Sept. 22, at 9 a.m. in conjunction with the Hospice Dash 5K Walk/Run. The half marathon, which was added to the event in 2011 (and had a turnout of more than 1,000 participants), has been expanded this year. The event will include more live bands and music, a new website at www.mightyniagarahalfmarathon.com, and a new name.

Stamp enthusiasts will have a chance to add a piece of history to their collections when the U.S. Postal Service, in cooperation with Old Fort Niagara, hosts a special pictorial postmark event at the fort's Visitor Center.

One of Niagara County's biggest events of the year, the Lewiston Kiwanis Peach Festival takes place Sept. 7-9 at Academy Park. A highlight of the festival is the grand midway featuring rides fit for all ages.

Niagara Frontier Publications is giving away three booklets of Peach Festival ride tickets.

At its annual scholarship dinner meeting on July 23, the board of trustees of the Youngstown Free Library presented the library's Ruby Carey Scholarship for 2012 to Corrine Casal.

The following activity occurred Monday, Aug. 6, to Sunday, Aug. 12, as reported by the Lewiston Police Department. LPD reported a total of 112 response calls during this period.

Saturday, Sept. 29, is New York state's day to commemorate the War of 1812, much of which took place along the waters of St. Lawrence River, Lake Ontario, Niagara River, and Lake Erie in New York and Pennsylvania. Nine communities along those waters and on the 518-mile Great Lakes Seaway Trail National Scenic Byway offer 1812-theme self-guided walking tours daily dawn-to-dusk.

On Thursday, the Niagara River Region Chamber of Commerce hosted its second business "Blender" of the summer, this time at the Youngstown Yacht Club on the shores of the lower Niagara in Youngstown.

Assemblyman John D. Ceretto, R-I-Lewiston, an outspoken opponent of the Thruway Authority's recent plan to raise tolls on commercial vehicles by nearly 50 percent, attended a public hearing in Buffalo Thursday evening to call for a halt to what he calls an excessive fee increase.

The Lewiston-Porter Academy of International Business and Finance, a volunteer group of professionals that provides students with knowledge and skills intended to give them an advantage in their future academic and professional careers, has announced one of its latest student endeavors.

For John Woodhouse, pastor of River Life Chapel in Youngstown, Gospel ministry is a process, and God began it when John was a young man of 18.

Porter Town Board members talked recycling containers and debated lending a generator in an active session Monday, that also saw the holding of three public hearings.

The board was updated on a state Department of Environmental Conservation recycling grant application from town grant writer Bernie Rotella. It also heard concerns by East Avenue resident Ernie Lavigueur on keeping residents apprised regarding any changes to the recycling program.

Kiwanis Club of Lewiston President Jerry Mosey announced this week that Kiwanis member Dean Beltrano has been named the general chairman for the 55th annual Niagara County Peach Festival. The three-day festival takes place Sept. 7-9 in Academy Park in the Village of Lewiston.

Independent Living of Niagara County recently held their seventh annual fishing contest in the Lower Niagara River. The contest was organized by ILNC for clients with disabilities.

Mike & Nate give new meaning to the phrase, "God works in mysterious ways."

Over 50 days, the two churchgoing college buddies - Mike Buonaiuto, 22, and Nate Frankoski, 26 - biked 2,500 miles to raise money for the Wounded Warrior Project.

Time to Dance hosts a free "Community Day" from 10 a.m. until 2 p.m. on Saturday, Aug. 25. The dance studio is located at 5000 Saunders Settlement Road, just past the Town of Lewiston.

Ransomville Baptist Church is holding a clothing and small household items collection drive and hot dog sale from 10 a.m. to 1 p..m on Saturday, Aug. 18, at the church (corner of Academy Street and Youngstown Lockport Road).

More than 300 Lewiston-Porter Elementary School students will take a field trip to Academy Park this October to participate in the 200th anniversary of the Battle of Queenston Heights.

Jack Hughes of Williamsville (18 minutes, 15 seconds) and Stephanie Schmidt of Sanborn were the winners in the 10th annual River Run to benefit the Center for Sports Medicine and Rehabilitation at Mount St. Mary's Hospital.

The Western New York Regional Economic Development Council will announce Tuesday night that Artpark & Company has officially completed significant improvements to its popular summer concert venue facilities.

We have photos, a photo gallery, videos, a list of winners and more.

Moose International Supreme Gov. Jim Henderson Sr. paid a visit to Lower Niagara Moose Lodge No. 584 in Lewiston on Sunday. As part of a reception in his honor, Henderson received the key to the village from Mayor Terry Collesano.

Rachel G. Weselak, MD, obstetrician/gynecologist, has been appointed to the staff at Mount St. Mary's Hospital and Health Center. Weselak will join a team of medical providers who deliver babies and provide a full range of women's health care services in the Center for Women at Mount St. Mary's Hospital.

Niagara University will host a graduate information and express registration session on Thursday, Aug. 23, for anyone interested in learning how an advanced degree can launch or enhance their career.

Members of the 1st Lewiston Militia, an 1812 re-enactor group, were present at the Lewiston Art Festival Sunday to promote the forthcoming Battle of Queenston Heights commemoration and re-enactment, which will be held in the village Oct. 12 to 14.

The echocardiology laboratory at Mount St. Mary's Hospital has been a granted another three-year accreditation by an international accrediting body. The Intersocietal Accreditation Commission has granted the accreditation following a thorough review of the hospital's operational and technical components by a panel of experts.

The Niagara River Region Chamber of Commerce will host its next business "Blender" on Thursday, Aug. 16, from 5 to 7 p.m. at the Youngstown Yacht Club.

"On an early August morning in 1945, a Boeing Silverplate B-29 Superfortress took-off from the Tinian airfield amidst an unpublicized Hollywood-like atmosphere for the first atomic strike mission in the history of civilization. The young captain made his first notation, Time Takeoff 0245, as he again performed his duties to keep the pilot on course across the vast expanse of the Pacific Ocean. So began Special Mission No. 13 with hopes to bring an end to the devastation and killing of millions that occurred during World War II."

Wayne Pollow has announced his candidacy for Town of Porter justice in the upcoming election this fall.