The debut Lewiston Cocktail Festival went better than expected last Saturday.

My name is Oliver. My family abandoned me last summer, and I need a new home.

The women of the First Presbyterian Church, corner of Fifth and Cayuga streets, Lewiston, will host their annual women's lenten breakfast at 9 a.m. on Saturday, March 23. The Rev. Lynette Sparks, associate pastor for outreach and evangelism at Third Presbyterian Church of Rochester, will speak.

Members of Friends of the Lewiston Public Library have voted to establish a $1,000 scholarship to be available to area high school seniors who will be attending college. The scholarship is for any student who resides within the Lewiston-Porter School District, even if attending a private school.

The Niagara County Office for the Aging is seeking nominations for Niagara County Senior Citizen of the Year. Each year the office recognizes a senior who is an integral part of the community, giving back to and serving residents of all ages.

The Lewiston Choraleers will present an Easter cantata, "Come Walk With Me - Through the Passion and Resurrection of Christ," by Pepper Choplin, at four area churches March 23, 24 and 30.

Discussion topics at Monday's Lewiston Town Board session were numerous and varied. A big one concerned the proposed Town of Lewiston Community Recreation and Senior Services Center.

The Most Rev. Richard Malone, bishop of Buffalo paid a pastoral visit to the Sisters of St. Francis of Penance and Christian Charity and to Stella Niagara Education Park on Wednesday, Feb. 20.

The Lewiston-Porter School District announces that the kindergarten registration process for students entering school this fall will be getting under way in coming weeks.

William Beyer and Stephanie Speziale have opened Studio 763 in the Village of Lewiston.

The second annual "Billiards for Books" benefit for Friends of the Youngstown Free Library took place at Brennan's Irish Pub on Main Street in the village.

Niagara County Legislator John Syracuse joined Newfane town officials and state representatives in honoring four Olcott volunteer firefighters for their heroic rescue of the passengers of a boat that sank in Lake Ontario during last year's Independence Day holiday.

Jennifer Pauly, president of the Niagara River Region Chamber of Commerce, draws a winner for the annual Lewiston Lions' Valentine's Day drawing. Darrell Smith took home the $1,000 prize.

Norma V. Dixon, a woman whose grace, kindness and strength of character enriched her beloved community of Lewiston as well as the lives of her many friends and family, died Wednesday, Feb. 13, 2013, in Schoellkopf Health Center. She was 97.

Dr. Glenda R. Rose, D.C., Dr. Thomas G. Barba, D.C., C.C.S.P., and the staff of Rose Chiropractic in Lewiston, held their 23rd annual "Doctor with a Heart Day." Chiropractic adjustments and examinations were exchanged for donations of food collected to benefit the Niagara Community Action Program's food pantry.

The Niagara University Family Business Center will present a breakfast forum, "When Disaster Strikes, Are You Prepared?", for private and family owned businesses on Tuesday, March 5.

Niagara University has announced that Thomas A. Chambers, Ph.D., has been promoted to the position of associate vice president for academic affairs.

"Spring It On," a new, 24-hour online giving event designed to raise awareness and funds for not-for-profit organizations in the Buffalo/Niagara community, will take place from 12:01 a.m. until 11:59 p.m. on Friday, March 1.

Dig out the bathing suits and grab your friends. The 2013 Olcott Lions Club "Swim for Sight" at Krull Park in Olcott Beach is just around the corner.

The Niagara Junior Purple Eagles Squirt Select team earned the runner-up spot in its division in the Jamestown Mid-Winter Classic Tournament last weekend.

ECOsponsible project manager Dennis Ryan met Tuesday with Village of Lewiston trustees to update them on his company's intent to use the lower Niagara River to generate electricity through hydrokinetic turbines.

The Niagara County Municipal Clerk's Association inducted its new officers on Thursday.

Robert Matthews was recently elected president of the Empire State Bed and Breakfast Association. Matthews had been attending the ESBBA meetings with his wife, Sunny Matthews of Sunny's Roost Bed and Breakfast, for the past year and a half when he found himself nominated for the position.

Three remaining Robert Moses Parkway North alternative designs are in agreement regarding the section of roadway between Main Street and Findlay Drive. (Image courtesy of the scoping report presentation.)

Lewiston No. 2 Volunteer Fire Co. will hold a "A Night at the Races" fundraiser on Saturday, March 9, at 7 p.m. in the firehall, 1705 Saunders Settlement Road.

Tuesday night, the Lewiston Porter Board of Education received the proposal for phase two of the capital project from Steve DiMatteo, of Gordon W. Jones Associates Architects.

The Lewiston-Porter High School Air Force Junior ROTC will host its fourth annual Cadets vs. Faculty Basketball Fundraiser on Friday, March 1, at 7 p.m. in the high school gym. The Lewiston-Porter Players in Progress (PiPs) will perform during the game and the cadets will hold a basket raffle and selling concessions during the game.

The 10th annual USPA Red Brick Bench Press Championship drew 135 weightlifters to Buffalo's Connecticut Street Armory last Saturday, Feb. 16, to raise funds for the Friends and Family of Western New York Military.

Niagara University's "What's On Your Mind?" advertising campaign garnered a silver medal in a national competition of college and university marketing materials.

REVIEW: Why not try something new for dinner tonight? Head out to the village of Lewiston to one of its local gems, Carmelo's Restaurant.

The Niagara River Region Chamber of Commerce will honor 10 businesses and individuals at the annual Chamber Awards Gala on Friday, May 17, at the Niagara Falls Country Club in Lewiston.

Whether it's cold, chilly or freezing outside, it will be cozy comfy inside the Aquarium of Niagara as it holds its first fundraiser of the year, "SEAsonings - The Original Taste of Niagara." The popular event is March 7 from 6 to 9 p.m. at the Whirlpool Street facility.

Knitting groups and clubs are cropping up everywhere, and a new group of knitters, the "Lewiston Knit-Wits," has launched a new knitting club in Lewiston.

The Lewiston Republican Committee recently elected new officers to lead members. Elected were Bob Ciszewski as chairman, Mark Davis as vice chairman, Ron Winkley as secretary and Bill Conrad as treasurer.

The Lewiston "Knit-Wits" recently met for the first time at the historic Lewiston Opera Hall. Organizers report a very successful turnout and said everyone enjoyed a relaxed and inspiring evening. At the first meeting, members adopted this motto: "Commit senseless acts of beauty and random acts of knitting!"

The Village of Lewiston Board of Trustees will meet Tuesday to discuss underwater hydropower turbines.

The Lewiston Town Board will hold a meeting on Monday, March 4, at 6 p.m. in Town Hall, 1375 Ridge Road, to discuss the proposed Lewiston Recreation and Senior Center.

The Porter Town Board session was more or less routine, with non-eventful public hearings and a host of procedural approvals being the norm.

"Billiards for Books," a pool tournament with proceeds benefitting the Youngstown Free Library, returns Saturday, Feb. 23, beginning at 4 p.m. at Brennan's Irish Pub, 418 Main St., Youngstown.

Author Dick Lang will be a guest speaker on Monday, Feb. 25, at 7 p.m. at the Wilson Historical Society.