Lewiston Town Board in holiday mode: Work session includes Christmas activities, LPD retirement

By Terry Duffy

Editor-in-Chief

Coming off a successful Christmas Walk weekend, the Lewiston Town Board was in holiday mode with a light work session on Monday. News included a busy holiday schedule at the Lewiston Senior Center; the Recreation Department’s Christmas season public skates at Niagara University’s Dwyer Ice Arena; Christmas at the Farm in Sanborn; a street name-change above the hill; and the retirement of longtime Lewiston Police Department officer Tod Davidson.

Melinda Olick, director of the Lewiston Senior Center, spoke of many events in planning over the next few weeks.

“Yes, we have lots of fun things for the month of December at the Senior Center,” she said. “Included are a jazz concert this Friday; holiday singing on Dec. 16 by Lewiston-Porter fifth graders; the center’s first holiday craft and vendor fair on Dec. 17 and 18; and the center’s annual holiday luncheon, also on Dec. 18.”

The Rec. Department’s “Winter Skates” program has taken over at NU with a number of special day and evening events. The announced schedule includes “College Team Day,” 7:30-9 p.m. Dec. 18; “Disco Night,” 7-9 p.m. Dec. 20; “Skate with Santa,” 4:30-6:30 p.m. Dec. 21; and the “Winter Break Bash,” 12:30-2:30 p.m. Dec. 23. The all-ages fun continues during the Christmas break with “School Spirit Day,” 12:30-2:30 p.m. Dec. 26; “Disney Day,” 5-7 p.m. Dec. 27; “Bills Mafia Day,” 3:30-5:30 p.m. Dec. 28; and “New Year’s Fest,” noon-2 p.m. Dec. 30. It wraps up with “Favorite Hoodie,” 7:30-9 p.m. Jan. 8, 2025, and “Sabres Night,” 7:30-9 p.m. Jan. 15.

“The big event is Saturday the 21st, which is ‘Skate with Santa,’ and then Monday the 23rd is ‘Winter Break,’ ” Councilwoman Sarah Waechter said.

Town Supervisor Steve Broderick said many of the skate events are being sponsored by area businesses and “are absolutely free to the public, young and old alike. Please come and enjoy the open skate at Niagara for free.”

For more information on “Winter Skates,” visit the Lewiston Recreation Department on Facebook.

Councilman Jason Myers reminded residents to check out Christmas at the Farm from 11 a.m. to 3 p.m. Dec. 14-15 at the Sanborn Farm Museum, 2660 Saunders Settlement Road. Presented by the Sanborn Business and Professional Association, this event includes a holiday party for kids ages 2-12; visits with Santa and the balloon guy; coloring contests; crafts; and the Santa store.

“It’s a real kids-oriented event to meet Santa, have pictures taken,” Myers said. “They’ll have crafts and all sorts of different things.”

In more news from the session:

•Broderick announced a street name change for a roadway located off Country Club Trail.

“The request was made to the Town of Lewiston by the new owner of the Lewiston Heights luxury estate subdivision to change the name of Mountain Ash Lane, which is a stub road off of County Club Trail, to Augusta Lane,” he explained.

Broderick said he consulted with various entities, including the Lewiston Police Department, the Niagara County Sheriff’s Office, the town’s Highway Department, Niagara County Planning, and other county agencies who all gave their approval.

The matter went on to be approved by the board on a motion from Waechter and Councilman John Jacoby.

•Jacoby went on to announce the retirement of LPD officer Davidson. He shared from a letter received from the officer: “After much deliberation, it is time for badge 120 to call it day. That being said, the past 40 years of service with the Lewiston Police Department has been filled with pride. I have been very proud to serve our community as a member of this great department. Please accept this letter as my resignation letter, dated 12-1-24.”

Board members approved the Jacoby motion and accepted Davidson’s resignation, with regret.

Broderick, a retired lieutenant with the Niagara County Sheriff’s Office, commented, “I had the pleasure of working with Tod for several years, and he is a fixture in all our events here in Lewiston. I’m sure he’ll still be spotted at some of those, and just being plain-clothes. I wish him the best at retirement.”