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!"

Operating room staff members at Niagara Falls Memorial Medical Center Monday celebrated the successful completion of the hospital's 200th robotic surgical procedure by "SAL" the Surgical Robot.

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

Country music singer Scotty McCreery got up close and personal with some of the Aquarium of Niagara's biggest stars on Friday, Feb. 15. McCreery was in town for a performance at the Rapids Theater, which marked the second stop on his Weekend Road Trip tour.

State Sen. Mark Grisanti was named "Elected Official of the Year" by the Southtowns Walleye Association, the largest single species fishing club in North America.

Josh's Journey: A Foundation of Hope, is teaming with the National Alliance on Mental Illness, to sponsor the NAMI Family-to-Family Education Program, specifically for families of persons diagnosed with serious mental illness. The 12-week series of classes begins Monday, April 8, with sessions from 6:30 to 9 p.m. at Generation Church, 1001 E. Robinson St., North Tonawanda.

Opportunities Unlimited of Niagara announces "Guardians, Wills and Trusts," a free workshop for families of people with developmental disabilities and self-advocates, presented by the Parent Network of Western New York, will take place Tuesday, Feb. 26, from 6 to 8 p.m., at 1555 Fashion Outlet Blvd., Niagara Falls.

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 Erie Canal Discovery Center/Penney Gallery will hold a "Spring Fever Antique Fair," on Saturday, March 2, from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. at the historic Hamilton House, 24 Church St., Lockport.

The Town of Lewiston launched its new website, www.townoflewiston.us, with 360 Professional Services Group.

Niagara Area Habitat for Humanity will hold two orientation meetings on the second floor of the Niagara Falls Public Library, 1425 Main St.

The Niagara Falls Country Club, 505 Mountain View Drive in Lewiston, announces "The Great Gatsby Night On The Town" happy hour will take place on Wednesday, Feb. 27, from 5 to 7 p.m. Featured will be two for one house wine with free appetizers.

Relay For Life of Lewiston/Niagara invites the community to its Oscar party, Sunday, Feb. 24, at Water Street Landing, 115 S. Water St., Lewiston.

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.

Assemblyman John Ceretto, R-C-I-Lewiston, on Friday criticized a legislative proposal to ban youth football in New York. The bill, which was introduced earlier this week, seeks to prohibit children younger than 11 from playing organized tackle football anywhere in the state.

Greif Inc., a manufacturer of industrial packaging located in Tonawanda, recently made a timely donation to Niagara Hospice.

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."

Congressman Chris Collins announced Friday that the Federal Highway Administration is sending nearly $7 million to Western and Central New York to repair roadways heavily damaged when storms hit the region during August of 2009. Severe storms and heavy flooding washed-out many roads in southern Erie, Cattaraugus and Chautauqua counties. The same storm system also caused damage in Central New York.

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.

A benefit for Dawn Daigler is planned for 2 to 9 p.m. Saturday, Feb. 23, at St. Johnsburg Volunteer Fire Co., 7165 Ward Road, Wheatfield.

ElderWood Health Care at Crestwood, 2600 Niagara Falls Blvd., Wheatfield, will host an American Red Cross community blood drive from noon to 4 p.m., Friday, Feb. 22.

Get your megaphones ready for "Cheer For the Cure," a U.S. Cheerleading Final Qualifying Competition to benefit the Juvenile Diabetes Research Foundation, springing into The Conference & Event Center Niagara Falls, Saturday, Feb. 23, through Sunday, Feb. 24.

Business taxation will be the topic at the next Wheatfield Business Association meeting on Monday, Feb. 18, at the Walmore Inn, Lockport and Walmore roads, Wheatfield.

What do bingo, candy and a pharmacy have in common?

Not much, unless they are in the hands of Christopher Sauls, pharmacist at Summit Park Pharmacy in Wheatfield, as he works his audience of senior citizens.

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.

The Niagara County Industrial Development Agency board of directors accepted applications for assistance for four tourism projects in Niagara Falls and Lockport on Wednesday. All applications will be reviewed and voted on at the board's March meeting after public meetings are held regarding each individual project.

Joshua Malik, D.O., will join the faculty of Niagara Falls Memorial Medical Center's Osteopathic Family Practice Residency Program and become a member of Memorial's outpatient primary care team at the Summit Healthplex.

A "Red Carpet Raffle" will be conducted at the Knights of Columbus Hall, 755 Erie Ave., North Tonawanda, at 6 p.m. March 23. Tickets are $30 per person or $25 each for a prepaid order of 10.

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.

People needing emergency care for orthopedic and sports injuries will have better access to specialized care beginning Monday when UB OrthoCare opens its first Niagara County center in the Summit Healthplex.

The Center for the Arts Video Production Group at the University at Buffalo has been nominated for a 2013 New York Emmy Award. The honor recognizes an informational video on the UB Solar Strand produced by the Center for the Arts Video Production Group in collaboration with a cross-cutting team of university faculty, staff and students, the New York Power Authority and key community partners.

Buffalo Sabres game telecasts achieved record numbers for the month of January with both locally and nationally televised games setting new marks for viewership.

Ever since Napoleon's younger brother honeymooned with his American bride at Niagara Falls, and Aaron Burr's daughter even prior to them in 1804, Niagara USA has been celebrated as one of the world's most romantic destinations.

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.

The Niagara County Community College Small Business Development Center and Cornerstone Community Credit Union are sponsoring free business workshops for local business owners to help their business succeed.

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.

"Casablanca," one of the top romance movies in history, will be shown at the Hamburg Palace Theatre on Valentine's Day, Thursday, Feb. 14, at 7 p.m.

The Seneca-Babcock Community Association presents The Dennis George Quizmaster Game Show on Saturday, Feb. 16, at the Seneca-Babcock Community Center, 1168 Seneca St., Buffalo. Doors open at 7 p.m. Light appetizers, a cash bar and raffles will be available.

The Buffalo Museum of Science will hold its second "Get a Clue" happy hour museum mystery event from 6 to 9 p.m. Friday, March 8.

VA Western New York Healthcare System will host the second annual "Hire a Hero" employment and education fair for veterans from 9 a.m. to 2 p.m. Saturday, March 23, in Freedom Hall at the Buffalo site, 3495 Bailey Ave.