Unlike the fish its named for, which is tiny and landlocked, the Smelt Festival is large and needs room to expand. On Tuesday, the Niagara River Region Chamber of Commerce was granted permission by the Village Board to move the May 3 event from the Lewiston waterfront into Academy Park.

From 9 a.m. until noon Saturday, Feb. 9, Dr. Glenda R. Rose and Dr. Thomas G. Barba of Rose Chiropractic P.C. in Lewiston will sponsor the 29th annual "Doctors with a Heart Day" for their patients. Nonperishable food items will be collected to benefit the Niagara Community Action Program (NiaCAP) food pantry in exchange for chiropractic services.

Joining a growing list of community groups in the River Region helping out affected federal employees in the midst of the U.S. government shutdown, the Town of Porter will begin assisting affected personnel at U.S. Coast Guard Station Niagara in Youngstown.

After, ahem, a few years of covering the Village of Lewiston for The Sentinel, Managing Editor Joshua Maloni was rewarded this week with (no, not a raise) an official nameplate. The marker comes courtesy of the clerk's office; Maloni said it is much appreciated.

In addition to its Jan. 7 approval for construction of the town's second privately owned utility-scale solar system, Lewiston Town Board members spent much of that session with approvals on a number of procedural matters, setting the stage for town operations in 2019.

Representatives of Northwest Bank, New York Region, stopped by Old Fort Niagara on Thursday to announce a new relationship with the Old Fort Niagara Association as presenting sponsor of special events programming.

Construction is nearly complete at 765 Fairchild Place, and a May move-in date was announced on Wednesday night. The 29-unit living complex was constructed at the site of the former Fairchild Manor nursing home.

Two leading United Way organizations in Niagara County - the United Way of the Tonawandas and United Way of Greater Niagara - announced completion this week of their merger and consolidation of services. Now operating under United Way of Greater Niagara, both chapters have come together to oversee and coordinate the services of 29 organizations throughout Niagara County, supporting a total of 46 different programs in the area.

On Friday, Western New York high school basketball lovers are in for a treat. Niagara Falls High School and Lewiston-Porter will battle for the first time this season in a game that has produced almost as much hype as an NBA finals game.

Why does one need certain insurance coverage for a business?

Mount St. Mary's Hospital's nuclear medicine program has been granted an additional three-year term of accreditation by the Intersocietal Accreditation Commission (IAC) in nuclear cardiology. This reaccreditation demonstrates the facility's ongoing commitment to providing quality patient care in nuclear cardiology.

Residents and businesses in the Village of Lewiston were unexpectedly without electricity for about a half-hour Monday afternoon as National Grid made repairs to substation 087 at North Fifth and Oneida streets.

The Alzheimer's Association, Western New York Chapter, is planning a special three-part educational program for caregivers of those living with middle-stage dementia. "Vital Care for the Caregiver" will focus on:

Right before Christmas, Empire State Development announced Artpark & Company was the recipient of a $100,000 award from the Western New York Regional Economic Development Council. The money will go toward the creation of a master plan - a road map outlining what Artpark could and should be now and well into the future.

The Youngstown Business and Professional Association held its annual winter meeting Tuesday evening at Rays Tavern, with a full house in attendance.

Starting Monday, Jan. 14, the Village of Lewiston Department of Public Works will begin replacing water meter heads. Residents are asked to call the clerk's office at 754-8271 to make an appointment. There is no fee for this service, which should only take about 10 minutes.

Excitement continues to build for the Town of Lewiston's newest residential community.

Community solar is beginning to make waves around Lewiston.

The Lancers have come into the 2018-19 season with, quite possibly, one of the most talented rosters compiled in some time.

A memorial service for Dr. Gerard J. Mosey will begin at 1 p.m. Saturday at Nightengale Funeral Home, 1884 South Park Ave. (near Tifft Street), Buffalo. Mosey passed on Jan. 5.

It's probably one of the first decisions parents make - sometimes long before their baby is born. What to name the new bundle of joy?

Applications for the 2019 Native American handicraft sales permits are now available for the summer season at Niagara Falls State Park.

The Tourism Board of Newfane is hosting an admission-free showcase of the town's businesses, attractions, organizations and events from 6-9 p.m. Thursday, March 21, at the Olcott Firehall, 1691 Lockport-Olcott Road, Olcott.

Inter-Community Services announced Erin Howard of Wilson as the new executive director. ICS is the parent organization of Care-n-Share Food Pantry and Wear-n-Share Clothing Closet.

The Historical Association of Lewiston's January program is titled, "HERA - NASA's Human Exploration Research Analog." The event will take place at 7 p.m. Thursday, Jan. 24, at the Lutheran Church of the Messiah Fellowship Hall, 915 Oneida St.

The Niagara River Region Chamber of Commerce kicked off the new year by offering complimentary Orange Cat Coffee Co. beverages to members who stopped into the office on Friday morning. "Coffee & Conversation" is a community outreach initiative the chamber launched in 2018.

With 2019 underway, It Happened to Alexa continues to make news.

In the early goings of the 2018-19 high school basketball season, Lewiston Porter has made a knack for scoring a lot of points - averaging 83.6 points per game. Friday night, the Lancers hit their highest season total, eclipsing the century mark.

Each August, the Mount St. Mary's Hospital maternity department assists with the annual hot dog sale at the Lewiston Art Festival. The event is a fundraiser coordinated by volunteers from the Lewiston/Niagara-on-the-Lake Rotary Club. In a show of appreciation and community service, the club annually donates a portion of their proceeds to Mount St. Mary's.

The Village of Lewiston Recreation Department is sponsoring a youth three-on-three basketball tournament starting at 9 a.m. Monday, Jan. 21, at the Red Brick Municipal Building gym, North Fourth and Onondaga streets. The tournament will be double-elimination. The youth age groups are 11-13 and 13-16.

The Mount St. Mary's Hospital maternity department welcomed little Nova Rogers at 3:46 a.m. Tuesday, Jan. 1.

Two emergency department nurses at Mount St. Mary's Hospital were recently recognized by the U.S. Border Patrol for their assistance.

The Lewiston Community Lions would like wish readers a very happy new year. The group is currently in partnership with the Village of Lewiston and other organizations working toward the creation of an all-inclusive playground behind the Red Brick Municipal Building.

Lake Ontario VFW Post 313 in Youngstown was among those organizations that participated in the national Wreaths Across America Day on Saturday, Dec. 15.

A bridge movie isn't always the most popular - or rewarding - chapter in a series' story. But it's absolutely necessary and, hopefully, leads to a proper payoff.