PHOTOS: Celebration of community at Niagara River Region Chamber Gala awards

A priest, a bartender and a TV talk show host walk into a country club. …

What could be the start of a joke was actually a remarkable sight to see, as a diverse group of community leaders came together Thursday evening inside the Niagara Falls Country Club to honor the River Region. More specifically, people from all walks of life joined in for a meal, an awards ceremony, and a tribute to the local leaders and businesses that make the Lewiston-Porter-Ransomville-Sanborn-Youngstown areas the envy of the rest of Western New York.

The Niagara River Region Chamber of Commerce celebrated the community at the annual Chamber Gala awards dinner. Its board of directors partnered with elected leaders and business associations to recognize the following (click to read the profile):

•Chairman’s Partnership Award – NIAGARA FRONTIER PUBLICATIONS

•Lewiston Business of the Year – CASA ANTICA

•Youngstown Business of the Year – THE YOUNGSTOWN GALLEY

•Ransomville Business of the Year – RANSOMVILLE SPEEDWAY

•Sanborn Business of the Year – G-MAC’S INN

•Village of Lewiston Citizen of the Year – REV. MONSIGNOR DAVID G. LiPUMA

•Village of Youngstown Citizen of the Year – SHAWN D’LUHY

•Town of Porter Citizen of the Year – GARY ZANARDI

•Town of Lewiston Citizen of the Year – GLENN WIENKE

Awards were given based on leadership, dedication and achievement in the community. Those chosen have contributed significantly to the success of the region.

Chamber President Jennifer Pauly welcomed the crowd and then turned hosting duties over to WKBW-TV Channel 7 anchor Keith Radford, chamber board Chairwoman Christine O’Hara and Bryan Plunkett of AXA Advisors.

The Niagara River Region Chamber of Commerce is a personalized chamber whose mission is to unify the region and to promote it as a premiere place to live, work and play. The organization is responsible for coordinating efforts in the marketing and promotion of tourism, business development, quality of life and the history and culture of the region, which encompasses Lewiston, Youngstown, Ransomville and Sanborn. For more information, visit www.NiagaraRiverRegion.com. (Photos by Joshua Maloni)

SCENES FROM THE CROWD: