The Lewiston Community Lions Club is hosting its first awards dinner on Tuesday, May 1, at the Barton Hill Hotel & Spa, 100 Center St. Tickets are $40 per person. The event starts with a cash bar at 5:30 p.m. and follows with dinner at 6:30 p.m.

On Tuesday, April 10, Niagara University will hold a press conference to announce the successful completion of "The Promise of Niagara...The next 150 years," an $80 capital campaign that began in May 2007.

Niagara Hospice has announced the creation of the DiMino Lower Niagara 5K Series.

During the month of March, Niagara University held receptions to present high-achieving students with scholarships to one of its four colleges, as well as its Academic Exploration Program for undeclared majors.

In celebration of Palm Sunday last weekend at First Presbyterian Church of Youngstown, a live donkey led off services, recalling how Jesus rode a donkey into Jerusalem on the first Palm Sunday.

If you know a young person who would like to learn a new sport, why not consider sailing? Sailing is a lifelong sport, and there is no better time to learn it than when you are young.

The Niagara River Region Chamber of Commerce will honor nine businesses and individuals at the annual Chamber Awards Gala on Friday, June 8, at the Niagara Falls Country Club in Lewiston.

The U.S. Army Corps of Engineers, Buffalo District, announced recently it has begun the process towards formation of a Restoration Advisory Board for the Lake Ontario Ordnance Works site in Lewiston.

News of interest on the Lake Ontario Ordnance Works site in northern Lewiston continues.

The Service Organizations of Lewiston group has joined forces with the Niagara River Region Chamber of Commerce's Lewiston Advisory Committee.

The Silo Restaurant will open for the season on Monday. Proprietor Alan Hastings has completely renovated the kitchen with all new, well, everything, he said. The goal is to accelerate the ordering process.

Simon Construction Co. has begun rehabbing the former "Bucket of Blood" at 65 Center St.

The arts can build bridges across cultures, generations and geographies. The Niagara Falls Bridge Commission supports the efforts of Lewiston Council on the Arts as sponsor of the Lewiston Art Festival.

Assemblyman John Ceretto, R-I-Lewiston, has announced that two solar-related manufacturers in Niagara Falls, Globe Specialty Metals and Precision Electro Minerals, will receive low-cost power from the New York Power Authority to help promote the state's new $30 million solar-energy initiative.

The Lewiston Democratic Committee has announced U.S. Congresswoman Kathy Hochul, D-27th District, will be the keynote speaker at a brunch honoring several returning military personnel from the war on terrorism. The committee will honor its Lewiston Citizens of the Year for 2012 on Sunday, April 29, at the Niagara Frontier Country Club, 1058 Lake Road, Youngstown.

State Sen. George Maziarz, R-C, Newfane, has announced that Yahoo informed him that the Town of Lockport Yahoo facility is safe from the layoffs and is, in fact, going to consolidate and expand.

The Mount St. Mary's Emergency Department received the Joseph Emmons Achievement Award at the Tri-Community Ambulance Companies annual installation dinner on Saturday, March 31.

Mount St. Mary's Hospital has announced that Dr. Sharmilee Thota has joined its staff of physicians and medical providers as it expands its maternity and gynecology services that it offers to the community.

Anyone who has an interest in the diverse history of the Niagara Region is welcome to attend the Annual Congress of the Niagara County Federation of Historical Societies.

Drs. Mary McCourt and Lawrence Mielnicki, both Niagara University professors, are seeking females over age 18 to volunteer for a study that aims to detect biomarkers for breast cancer in the urine of women.

The recent warmer temperatures have gotten many, including the Lewiston Garden Club, thinking about their gardens and other landscaping projects. The Lewiston Garden Club, which sponsors the Lewiston GardenFest, is now accepting vendor applications for its seventh annual event on Saturday, June 23, and Sunday, June 24, along Center Street in Lewiston.

The Village of Lewiston Board of Trustees will hold two public hearings on Wednesday, April 18. The first conversation concerns the tentative budget for fiscal year 2012-13, while the second involves application for capital project-related bond anticipation notes.

Following Monday's work session, copies of the work-in-progress budget were given to members of the media. Clerk Anne Welch said the figures would change, so the packet was almost moot. However, Mayor Terry Collesano said "most of the big items are taken care of," and, barring any additional changes, the board would try and keep the tax rate flat at $7.12 per $1,000 of assessed valuation.

Tickets are now on sale for the fourth annual Lewiston Region Tour of Kitchens, set for June 9 and 10. The event runs from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. in Lewiston and Youngstown. Six entertaining and cooking spaces will be featured.

Niagara County Sheriff James R. Voutour reminds everyone of the "Move Over" law that took effect Jan. 1.

The 15th annual Lewiston Relay For Life is a few months down the road - Saturday, June 16, on the Lewiston-Porter High School track - but preparations are already in full swing.

Niagara County Legislature Chairman William Ross (left) and Vice Chairman Clyde Burmaster (right) present a check to the Historical Association of Lewiston for the forthcoming War of 1812 Bicentennial commemoration.

A new concert series has been added to Artpark's eventful summer lineup. The "Sundays in July" concert series will kick off July 8 and run for four consecutive Sundays through July 29. Shows begin at 3 p.m. in Artpark's Mainstage Theater.

Smelt started to show up early in the bellies of the trout caught on the bar in front of Fort Niagara. Then, all of a sudden, record breaking temperatures this year created warmer waters than usual. And Lake Ontario temperatures have risen above the magic 42-degree water temperature already, which drives the smelt up the Lower Niagara.

The "Use of resources to complete improvements ...has been the mission of the LDC."

The Niagara River Region Chamber of Commerce will honor nine businesses and individuals at the annual Chamber Awards Gala on Friday, June 8, at the Niagara Falls Country Club in Lewiston.

The Niagara River Region Chamber of Commerce celebrated a ribbon-cutting Thursday for new business Rellim Hair and Make-Up Design Studio.

Youngstown caucuses have wrapped up with the Republican voter tabulations held Monday evening. Village Democrats held their caucuses last week.

Amy Hope Witryol, D-Lewiston, will announce her candidacy for the 62nd district State Senate seat during stops along the historic Erie Canal on Friday, March 30. The tour will begin in Brockport and include stops in Holley, Lockport and North Tonawanda before concluding in Niagara Falls.

A unique event will be presented at the historic Lewiston Opera Hall, 732 Center St., Lewiston, on Saturday, April 7 at 7 p.m. E. R. (Bob) Baxter III will read from his new book, "Niagara Digressions" and sign books afterward. He'll be joined in this celebration by The Acoustic Rangers (Dave Berner, Stan Eckel, George Kobas, Kim Reeves, Jim Moran and John Merino).

The HIV/Social Dance/Crooked Arrow event is now on March 30 at the Tuscarora Nation Community House, 5226 Walmore Road, Lewiston.

Modern Corporation this week unveiled the latest addition to its growing fleet - split-body trucks. Geared to make local neighborhoods even more environmentally friendly, with split-body trucks Modern is capable of picking up both recycling and waste from residents at the same time, using only one truck.

Carol Calato, board chair of the Lewiston Jazz Festival, has announced that the organization will host its annual fundraiser, "Jazz & Pasta," on Sunday, April 29, at Water Street Landing.

The 2012 event will include jazz, pastas from area restaurants, a cash bar and a Chinese auction.

Assemblyman John Ceretto is again accepting applications in his district office for New York Conference of Italian-American State Legislators scholarships. The group will award four $1,500 scholarships - two academic and two athletic - to student applicants from around New York state.

After an hour-long executive session, the Town and Village of Lewiston municipal boards agreed Monday to abolish the three Lewiston Police Department commissioner positions.