The second-grade class at St. Peter's R.C. School, under the direction of teacher Miss Jeanne Rougeux, are learning "How to be People of God" by helping out in the community. Students donated two large bags of clothing to the St. Vincent de Paul clothing boxes.

Through Jan. 27, 2013, the Castellani Art Museum at Niagara University features "Western New York Collects: Arnold Mesches" This exhibition features works in varied media from four decades, the 1960s to 1990s, highlighting two important bodies of work: the echoes and anomie series.

The Erie Canal Discovery Center is sponsoring the seventh annual Erie Canal Art Contest to celebrate the 187th anniversary of the opening of the Erie Canal in 1825. The poster contest is open to students residing in Niagara County and enrolled in high school.

St. Peters R.C. Church invites readers to bring their pets to "The Blessing of Animals"
at 10 a.m. on Saturday, Oct. 6. Join others on the front lawn of the rectory as participants celebrate the
feast of St. Francis of Assisi, 
who was a lover of all of God's creatures.

Promote your business, organization, or community in the 2012 Niagara River Region Scarecrow Display. Artistic interpretations of a variety of scarecrows will line the main streets of Lewiston, Sanborn, Ransomville and Youngstown.

The Rivershore Foundation presented Rivershore Inc.'s third annual gala dinner on Wednesday at the Niagara Falls Country Club.

Lewiston-Porter Class of 2011 graduate Meahgan Murphy, a member of the U.S. Navy, currently serving on the USS George Washington, was recently recognized as the "GW/CVW5 Sailor of the Day" in the GW Flyer, a publication for sailors aboard the Navy's forward-deployed aircraft carrier in the Pacific.

Bandana's Bar & Grill recently held a pool tournament to benefit the programs and services of Niagara Hospice. Proceeds from the tournament, a basket auction and 50/50 split totaled more than $1,100.

Wayne Pollow and State Sen. George Maziarz won their respective primary races this past week. Pollow is running for Porter town justice, while Maziarz seeks to be re-elected for a fifth term.

I consider myself an alternative music junkie.

Members of the Lake Ontario Ordnance Works Community Action Council met Monday to discuss the ongoing technical report phases that the Army Corps of Engineers is pursuing toward a possible remediation of the Interim Waste Containment Structure at LOOW, and to review the recent CAC visit to the Niagara Falls Storage Site and plan for meetings with federal elected officials to discuss the potential of government funding for future IWCS cleanup/remediation efforts.

Margaret Dorian was crowned Peach Queen, Owen Michael Galbraith was named Peach Fuzz and Alyssa Marella Peach Blossom Sunday at the 55th annual Lewiston Kiwanis Peach Festival. Also that night, Sarah Privitera took home the Miss Congeniality award and the Sentinel's Joshua Maloni received the media award.

Ten years ago, the Castellani Art Museum of Niagara University held its first gala, "Child's Play," to raise funds to support art education programs at the museum. Every year since then, a cadre of volunteers has planned a dinner and auction that has become one the most anticipated social events of the fall.

An 1812 peace project, which took place this summer with great success in the Lewiston Peace Garden, has taken on a new dimension.

Assemblyman John D. Ceretto has announced the Conservative Party of New York endorsed him. This gives Ceretto the backing of the Republican, Independence and Conservative parties.

Niagara University is again listed among the best colleges and universities in the north, according to annual rankings released Sept. 12 by U.S. News and World Report. NU is listed 70 among 133 colleges and universities in the northeastern U.S. that provide a full range of undergraduate and master's degree programs.

Do you remember when ice was delivered by the ice man, an ice cream cone cost 3 cents, or when movies cost 14 cents? Are you nostalgic for the past? Well here's your chance to learn more about the Town of Porter and those who lived here over the past 200 years.

On Saturday evening, Sept. 22, Old Fort Niagara will present a special evening tour focusing on the construction of the 286-year-old French Castle. The tour will include live demonstrations of the woodworking, stonecutting and blacksmithing skills needed to erect the oldest building in the Great Lakes basin.

New York's leading small business association, the National Federation of Independent Business, has endorsed State Sen. George Maziarz for re-election in the 62nd Senate district.

The start of the school year marks the beginning of rehearsals for the Greater Niagara Ballet Company's presentation of "The Nutcracker." The family-oriented holiday production showcases dancers and character performers under the direction of artistic director Beverley Feder, FISTD.

Lewiston was abuzz with a different type of balls and strikes Monday as Frontier Lanes, the village's 54-year bowling alley, reopened for business.

The Rivershore Foundation presents Rivershore's third annual gala dinner, "Pathways to Excellence," on Wednesday, Sept. 12, at the Niagara Falls Country Club, 505 Mountain View Drive.

The Business Council of New York State Inc. has released its 2012 Voters' Guide, which measures New York State legislators' commitment to promoting fiscal reform and improving the state's economic climate by scoring their votes on key legislation during the 2012 session.

Seeing is believing for the Village of Lewiston Board of Trustees, which voted Thursday in favor of a new plan for 700 Center St., after meeting at the location and viewing exterior alterations made in contrast to a pre-approved remodel proposal.

The New York State Department of Transportation will host a public information meeting on Monday, Sept. 17, to discuss the proposed rehabilitation of three bridges over the New York Power Authority Reservoir spanning the towns of Niagara and Lewiston.

Assemblyman John D. Ceretto announced Friday his support for the $67 million bond for the Niagara Falls School District. Residents of Niagara Falls will have the opportunity to vote on the bond Sept. 25.

The boards of directors of two Niagara-area credit unions have announced that Niagara County's Federal Credit Union will merge with Niagara's Choice Federal Credit Union, effective Dec. 1.

St. Peter R.C. Church in Lewiston recently held its "Blessing of the School" along with a family picnic. Families were asked to gather on the front lawn of the rectory where Father Michael Zuffoletto began the school year with a family blessing.

The Hart Assistance Referral Team, known as HART Interfaith Inc., is a unique Niagara County program for home care referral. There are plenty of local health care agencies and service providers for individuals in need of home care, help with chores, or companionship. Yet for those who don't know where to seek these services, there are few available resources for the search process.

HART Interfaith Inc., housed at First Presbyterian Church of Lewiston, was created in Niagara County in 1982 to provide for this service gap. The program's founders recognized what HART Interfaith Inc.'s website describes as "a growing need for individuals to receive affordable help in their homes."

The Lewiston Garden Club has awarded its 2012 scholarship of $1,000 to Amanda Smith. She is a 2012 Lew-Port graduate who has begun her collegiate career at Niagara University. Smith's goal is to become an environmental lawyer.

Although mainly a nocturnal animal, beavers can be spotted occasionally during the day, and their homes or "lodges" can be seen around the county along different streams and creeks.

The Village of Lewiston Recreation Department, with the help of the Lewiston Garden Club, is sponsoring the 16th annual Lewiston Country Fair and Community Yard Sale on Saturday, Sept. 15, at the Lewiston Red Brick Municipal Building, 145 N. Fourth St.

Old Fort Niagara reports that tickets for its fundraiser will be on sale for one more week. First prize is $10,000 with a total of 15 cash prizes to be offered. Ticket sales are limited to 350 and sales continue to Saturday, Sept. 15.

Congratulations to Cecelia Byrne, who won Niagara Frontier Publications' recent "Name the Peach Queen" contest. Byrne visited www.wnypapers.com and successfully named the past five Peach Queen winners.

The 2012-13 school year for Lewiston-Porter students began a day later than usual, but was generally without problems on a warm, sticky Thursday morning.

The next meeting of the Niagara County Builders Association will be Wednesday, Sept. 12, at the Lewiston Village Pub, 840 Center St., Lewiston.

State Sen. George Maziarz announced Thursday he was able to secure funding for the five school districts in Orleans County from the Legislative Education Aid Grant Process. Each of the five districts - Albion, Holley, Kendall, Lyndonville and Medina - will receive $50,000 to spend in their district on what their top priorities are. Maziarz was joined by the school district superintendents to announce the awarding of the funding as the new school year starts.

The Marble Orchard "Ghost Walks" present both historical truths and ghostly legends. Now, you can enjoy the tours in the comfort of a carriage - just as people did long, long ago. This is courtesy of Tour D'Elegance of Niagara Inc., a locally owned and operated service run by Sue Torcasio and David Moyer.

M&T Bank will once again be the grand marquee sponsor for the Aquarium of Niagara's annual "Winds, Waves & Wines" celebration of the area's grape harvest. "WWW III" will be held from 6 to 9 p.m. Thursday, Sept. 20, at The Conference & Event Center Niagara Falls.

At Tuesday's Village of Lewiston Board meeting, trustees were unable to come to an agreement on the best course of action to rehab 700 Center St., Jack Lyon's and Kelly Wiepert's proposed wine store.