The Lewiston Knitwits (20 knitters and growing) gathered this fall, winter and spring to enjoy knitting and companionship twice a month at the Lewiston Opera Hall on Center Street. What began on a whim, based on a shared interest in knitting and crocheting, has happily culminated in an uplifting, shared beautification project.

The Taste of Buffalo presented by Tops Markets, celebrates its 30th birthday this summer and everyone is invited to the two-day culinary event. Expect a birthday party like no other, complete with cupcakes, cookies, chocolate and ice cream, as well as a large smorgasbord of the region's most scrumptious culinary delights, including barbecue, seafood, Asian and vegetarian.

Assemblyman John Ceretto has announced the passing of bipartisan legislation to restore funding to programs for people with developmental disabilities. Ceretto, who co-sponsored the legislation, worked with his Assembly colleagues to restore funding for the programs that people with developmental disabilities rely on to maintain their quality of life. Ceretto has been a vocal advocate for the restoration of the funding since it was cut from the budget in March.

The first phase of the multi-year plan features a $1.8 million restoration at Three Sisters Islands that includes a new trolley shelter, expanded parking area, new pedestrian walkways and overlooks, enhanced landscaping, as well as new railings.

The White Linen Tea House of Wheatfield was the winner of the People's Choice Awards for Best Culinary Samples at the Lewiston Region Tour of Kitchens held June 8 and 9. The home of Bob and Marian Granfield of Youngstown (The French Country Cottage) was the winner of the People's Choice - Best in Show for Décor and Tablescapes.

According to the American Alzheimer's Association, more than 5.4 million Americans are living with the disease, including an estimated 55,000 in the Western New York region and close to 7,500 in Niagara County.

Gov. Andrew M. Cuomo has announced an agreement between New York state and the Seneca Nation of Indians that resolves a multi-year dispute between the state and the nation. With this agreement, the state of New York recognizes and reconfirms the exclusivity of Seneca casino operations in the Western New York region, and the Seneca Nation agrees to resume payments and to make pro-rated repayments for past amounts that were in dispute.

The First Niagara Foundation is providing financial support for Community Missions of Niagara Frontier Inc. and its community soup kitchen as staff work to provide food for local families in need. Representatives made a $1,000 donation on Thursday.

A collection created by Opportunities Unlimited of Niagara artists was dedicated and blessed at a reception inside Mount St. Mary's Hospital. The works were created by people with intellectual and other developmental disabilities during fine arts classes offered through "Artisans Unlimited" at three OUN locations.

Assemblyman John Ceretto, R-C-I-Lewiston, voted Wednesday to dissolve the Buffalo and Fort Erie Public Bridge Authority, which is the subject of a dispute between the state of New York and the Canadian authorities. Ceretto voted in favor of dissolution in order to speed up needed improvements to the Peace Bridge on the American side, improvements which his camp said are being held up by the Bridge Authority.

Ceretto said he still believes a resolution between New York and the Canadian authorities can be reached.

Joan Jett and The Blackhearts performed "Bad Reputation," "Cherry Bomb," "I Love Rock-N-Roll" and a slew of new songs at Artpark, June 11, as part of the "Tuesday in the Park" concert series.

The Kiwanis Club of Lewiston, in partnership with the Kiwanis Club of Stamford, Ontario, held a ceremony Monday to rededicate a peace plaque that was established by the two clubs 50 years ago on the Lewiston Queenston International Bridge.

ReNU Niagara is moving its offices downtown - and the institute that oversees the community-minded program has a new name.

The Buffalo Niagara Association of REALTORS Inc. presented a special award from the National Association of Realtors to 19 members for 40 years of service to the real estate industry as well as the first ever Lifetime Achievement Award.

Mike Shubic, one half of the Rand McNally/USA Today "Best of the Road" "Best for Food" team the "Road Bros," returned to Lewiston this week - but not to judge its culinary offerings.

Betsy Diachun of Lewiston's years of volunteerism in her community have paid off, with the active senior being named the 2013 Senior of the Year by the Niagara County Office for the Aging.

MaryAnne Brown has worked at Niagara University since 1996. During that time, she has participated in the university's employee Day of Service every year that it's been offered.

The Buffalo Sabres have announced the hiring of John Koelmel as president of HARBORcenter, the mixed-use hockey and entertainment facility currently under construction on the Webster Block in downtown Buffalo.

Niagara Falls Memorial Medical Center has been awarded a certificate of excellence by Univera Healthcare for the highest overall performance in Surgical Care Improvement Project measures.

The Castellani Art Museum of Niagara University held a volunteer awards luncheon at the Como Restaurant. The awards are in memory of the CAM's long-time volunteer coordinator and museum shop manager Anne LaBarbera.

One hundred sixty-five golfers took to the links Tuesday at the Niagara Falls Country Club for the 22nd annual Niagara Cup Classic golf tournament. The event raised $40,000, which will support health care programming at the hospital, particularly cardiac and stroke services.

VIDEO/PHOTOS: Billy Idol kicked off the 2013 "Tuesday in the Park" concert series at Artpark. The rebel rocker performed songs including "White Wedding," "Eyes Without a Face" and "Dancing with Myself."

Amid drenching rain and unseasonably cold temperatures, baseball teams from Depew, Lewiston-Porter, Starpoint and Wilson followed through on their commitment and played in the "Homerun for Hospice" tournament. The event raised an impressive $2,137.80 for Niagara Hospice.

HART Interfaith will mark 30 years of providing a valuable home care service to the Niagara County community when it holds its dinner and recognition affair Wednesday, June 12, at the Niagara Falls Country Club in Lewiston.

The Niagara River Region Chamber of Commerce will present the River Region Chamber Golf Classic on Monday, June 24, at Seneca Hickory Stick Golf Course.

While the Avett Brothers technically kicked off Artpark's 40th anniversary on May 24, many will consider the upcoming week as the official start of the summer season.

Gov. Andrew M. Cuomo has announced a new recreation space on Buffalo's Outer Harbor is now open to the public. Lt. Gov. Robert J. Duffy, local officials and students from City Honors cut the ribbon and unveiled the site's new name, "Wilkeson Pointe."

The state invited middle school classrooms from Buffalo Public Schools to name the site, which was formerly called "Parcel OH." The winning submission came from the eighth grade classroom of Michael A. Serotte, a U.S. history teacher at City Honors.

Wilkeson Pointe is now open to the public from dawn to dusk seven days a week.

A delegation of local officials and community leaders, organized by the Niagara Military Affairs Council, returned last week from a two-day visit to Washington, D.C., where the group met with federal elected officials and Air Force leadership.

Amberleigh Retirement Community in Williamsville recently hosted a "Cutest Cupcake" bake-off among its residents and staff to benefit the Alzheimer's Association of WNY.

Calling all fishing and outdoor sports vendors: "Get hooked" on the first-ever Greater Niagara Fishing & Outdoor Expo, to be held at The Conference & Event Center Niagara Falls, on Jan. 24-26, 2014. The expo promises to be the largest event of its kind in Niagara County, with more than 125 regional vendors from the U.S. and Canada, live fish, animal displays and larger outdoor retailers expected.

Congressman Brian Higgins, NY-26, joined Cameron Davis (U.S. Environmental Protection Agency senior adviser on Great Lakes issues) and Western New York leaders and community members for discussions on the future of the Great Lakes.

Congressman Chris Collins honored the late John Chase, a WWII veteran from Batavia, by presenting his family members with the medals he earned in service.

VIDEO: Memorial Day was observed in the Village of Lewiston with a parade down Center Street, a remembrance ceremony in Academy Park, and a luncheon at the newly remodeled Lewiston No. 1 Volunteer Fire Co. firehall.

The Lewiston Village Pub and Restaurant's annual fundraiser, Pubfest, returns to the village's Academy Park next weekend with some big changes. Out are the kiddie rides and carnival atmosphere. In are two national bands, The Trews and USS, and an increased emphasis on raising money for the Variety Kids Telethon.

With Memorial Day here, Attorney General Eric T. Schneiderman has released a guide listing some of the most common summer frauds targeting the state, and offered tips to protect New Yorkers from abuse.

A growing problem during warm-weather months, unscrupulous scam artists prey on New Yorkers as they embark on home improvement projects and plan family vacations. Schneiderman urged New Yorkers to notify his office of any summer scams designed to dupe unsuspecting consumers.

Two first-time events are scheduled this June to assist the Niagara County SPCA. One involves taking a walk in Hyde Park in Niagara Falls. The other is a firefighter competition, part of a five-day Jamboree set for the old Summit Park Mall in Wheatfield.

AccuWeather.com reports the tropics are already heating up and Atlantic hurricane season will begin in a few days. The National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration released its 2013 Atlantic Hurricane Season Forecast Thursday, predicting another active season.

Elected, community and business leaders are reminding local residents and companies of the opportunity to share their story with the judge considering the sentence in the federal case against Tonawanda Coke.

On Friday, New York State Sen. Mark Grisanti, R-I-Buffalo, and New York State Assemblyman Sean Ryan, D-WF-Buffalo, announced legislation to reform the Niagara River Greenway.

In what has become something of a rite of spring, more than 50 National Grid employees returned to Gill Creek Park in Niagara Falls Wednesday to continue efforts to beautify and transform this popular public park and community asset into one of Niagara County's most picturesque and useful green spaces.