James and Jayne Brasser recently presented Odd Fellow members of Sacarissa Bell Rose Lodge No. 307 artifacts inherited from William James, a prominent Lewiston Odd Fellow during the 1970s.

Have you ever wondered what makes the Niagara Escarpment a geological and ecological wonder? Did you know that the entire escarpment zone in Canada has been permanently protected as a World Biosphere Reserve for its distinctly unique characteristics?

Seneca Hickory Stick Golf Course announced this week its selection as the host course for the 2013 Western New York PGA Section Championship on Aug. 19 and 20. The prestigious regional event comes to the Robert Trent Jones II-designed course in just its third full season of existence.

The Youngstown Free Library Association held its annual meeting on Jan. 28, where reports were presented and elections of officers announced.

Niagara Frontier Publications is proud to announce noted food blogger Jude Russo Caserta is now a contributing writer for its website, www.wnypapers.com. A new version of her column, "Jude the Foodie," appears online each Monday.

"We are thrilled to be working with Jude, a well-liked and well-respected foodie," said Web Co-Editor Joshua Maloni. "Food is always a popular topic, and we're happy to have a tried and tested home cook and world traveler contributing stories, recipes and dining-out pieces for our website."

The new Lewiston Event Center (formerly Frontier Lanes) kicks off its "Friday Night Live Music Entertainment Series" on Feb. 15. Dave Stayner will perform from 8 until 11 p.m.

The Friends of Local History will present a free lecture on ice bridges in the Niagara River from 6 to 8 p.m. Tuesday, Feb. 19, at the Niagara Falls Public Library.

For the 28th year, the Kenan Center in Lockport will present the Storrs All High Photo Show, featuring the work of high school students from across Western and Central New York. This year's show opens Sunday, March 3, with a free public reception from 2 until 5 p.m. at the Kenan Center House Gallery, 433 Locust St., Lockport.

In an effort to improve upon what he called failings in the SAFE Act, and to reduce violent crimes in the communities, Assemblymen John Ceretto joined several of his colleagues Wednesday at a forum to discuss the issues of mental health, school safety, gun violence and general public safety.

The Historical Association of Lewiston and the Village of Lewiston Recreation Department present "Dave Ruch Family Concert" at 3 p.m. Saturday, Feb. 23. The event will be held at the Red Brick Municipal Building, 145 N. Fourth St.

Eighteenth century taverns were places people went to quaff a pint of ale, catch up on the village gossip, or discuss the latest news from England. Some were refined, others rowdy, but they all played an important and colorful role in the colonial community.

The Historical Association of Lewiston announces the availability of a just-minted "Tuscarora Heroes" commemorative coin.

The New York State Office of Parks, Recreation and Historic Preservation has announced that the draft scoping report for the Robert Moses Parkway North/Niagara Gorge Corridor project will be available for the public to review beginning on Wednesday, Feb. 20, with a public open house. The open house will take place from 3 until 7 p.m. in the Cataract Room at the Conference Center Niagara Falls, 101 Old Falls St.

The format of the open house will allow the public to review the alternatives derived from the scoping process and to have questions answered by the consultants. Members of the public can also leave written comments. The plan covers the area of the Robert Moses Parkway from Main Street in the City of Niagara Falls to the Village of Lewiston.

The Town of Porter Historical Society's February meeting features a program on the Civil War, Monday, Feb. 18, at 7 p.m. at First Presbyterian Church of Youngstown, 100 Church St.

The Marlboro Inn Roadhouse Grill will celebrate its first anniversary Saturday, Feb. 9, with specials and T-shirt giveaways.

State DEC has announced that the application period for its cooperative Day-Old Pheasant Chick Program to enhance opportunities for pheasant hunting in New York is under way.

The Lewiston-Porter Air Force Junior ROTC will hold a food drive to support the Ransomville Care-N-Share Food Pantry. The cadets will be collecting non-perishable food items in the high school from Feb. 11 to 15, and at the DiMino's Lewiston Tops Market on Feb. 16 from 9 a.m. to 3 p.m.

The Niagara Falls Country Club, 505 Mountain View Drive in Lewiston, announces the following activities for this month:

Contacts are being made, albeit slowly, as the Lake Ontario Ordnance Works Community Action Committee has begun its outreach to federal legislators with a goal of enlisting their interest of future government funding for potential cleanups at the Niagara Falls Storage Site.

Stephen H. Franko III, CPA, MBA, FHFMA, has been named the chief financial officer of Mount St. Mary's Hospital and Health Center. The announcement was made by hospital President and CEO Judith A. Maness, FACHE.

The Niagara River Region Chamber of Commerce will present a "Winter Business Blender" mixer on Thursday, Feb. 21, at Brennan's Irish Pub, 418 Main St., Youngstown. The event runs from 5 until 7 p.m. and includes complimentary hors d'oeuvres and a cash bar.

In the early 1800s, one of the favorite places in the Village of Lewiston was Hustler's Tavern. It was so popular that, in 1813, when Lewiston was burned by British forces in retaliation for the U.S. attack on Niagara-on-the-Lake, Hustler's Tavern was the only building that was spared.

Following last year's "winter that wasn't," winter 2013 thus far has been with us in fine form, with cold temperatures, a fair amount of snow - and plenty of beautiful scenes. These photos were taken over the past week on the Lake Ontario shore and nearby woods near Fort Niagara.

Players and coaches at Lewiston-Porter middle and high schools worked together to raise money for their schools while also collecting donations for Niagara Hospice. Players from the winter sports teams took part in Niagara Hospice's "The Mighty Niagara" Discount Card fundraiser.

The Rev. Joanne Scott of Word of Life Ministries was the guest speaker at the annual Mount St. Mary's Hospital's Black History Month ceremony on Feb. 7. She spoke about the Emancipation Proclamation, which was approved 150 years ago in 1863 to free the slaves in the south.

Dennis Brochey is a well-known mechanic, a Kiwanis Club member and a Village of Lewiston trustee.

He can also bench press more than most of our readers.

On Saturday, Feb. 16, Brochey will host the 10th annual USPA Red Brick Bench Press Championship.

The Mission Committee of Mount St. Mary's Hospital will hold its 11th annual "Valentine's Day Extravaganza" on Thursday, Feb. 14, in the hospital's main (south) lobby.

Sara Villnave, an assistant director in Niagara University's Office of Admissions, received NU's Outstanding Employee Award for February-April 2013. Villnave was presented with the award by the Rev. Joseph L. Levesque, C.M., Niagara president.

Old Fort Niagara named Arthur and Judith Hannah of Youngstown as the historic site's volunteers of the year at OFN's recent volunteer recognition breakfast. Art and Judy have contributed thousands of hours to the fort's educational programs, including costumed interpretation, foodways programs and planning and cultivation of the fort's historic gardens.

The Village of Lewiston Recreation Department is holding two workshops on the making of ruffled scarves. One workshop will be Wednesday, Feb. 13, at 6 p.m., and the other will be Wednesday, Feb. 20, at 6 p.m. The workshops will be held at the Red Brick Municipal Building, North Fourth and Onondaga streets.

Just in time for the Valentine season, Theatre in the Mist presents "Love Letters" by A. R. Gurney. The show is on stage at Stella Niagara on Friday and Saturday at 7:30 p.m., and Sunday at 2 p.m.

PHOTOS: Louis C. Vinci was recently named 2013 president of the Buffalo Niagara Association of Realtors at a ceremony held inside Salvatore's Italian Garden's.

The Niagara County Law Enforcement Academy is immediately accepting applications for its next class of sworn recruits and pre-employment students.

Throughout the month of February, Shoppe On Main will display different quilts created by quilters who got their start at "Martha's Cupboard," the original quilt store in Newfane. Martha Ferguson, along with several other area women, taught the art of hand quilting in the store.

Rivershore Inc. has received a generous donation of land in Youngstown from village residents Richard and Karen Phoenix. Rivershore will explore ways to meet the housing needs of the Village of Youngstown through this donation.

The Lewiston Public Library, 305 S. Eighth St., announces the following programs, events and activities for February.

The Niagara River Anglers Association will hold its 29th annual Lower Niagara River Steelhead Contest on Saturday, Feb. 16, from sunrise to 2 p.m. Awards and picnic will be held at the 3F Club, Swann Road, Lewiston.

The Niagara River Region Chamber of Commerce recently traveled to Albany to attend the Chamber Alliance of New York State Winter Conference.

Legacy Drive, green space, zoning, recreation, water and CWM issues were among a host of items covered at an active Lewiston Town Board regular meeting, Monday night at Town Hall.