On Wednesday, June 12, DiMino's Lewiston Tops held its annual scholarship dinner at the Niagara Falls Country Club.

First Presbyterian Church of Lewiston recently announced its four scholarship winners for 2019: John McNally, Andrew Brown, Angelina Steffen and Miguel Bautista. Awards are presented annually in honor of church parishioners.

Artpark & Company's first Strawberry Moon Festival served as a means to educate the community on the Tuscarora and Cayuga nations through Native American singing, dancing, crafts, fare and even a parade. Culture and customs were defined, explained and then presented to hundreds of onlookers - onlookers who were invited to become participants.

Ransomville Speedway will get racers and fans from both sides of the border ready for a busy holiday week this Friday, June 28, with "Fireworks Night at the 'Big R' " presented by uBreakiFix of Western New York, Hy-Tech Concrete, Moley Magnetics, Hebeler Sales & Service and Scott Joy Trucking.

This summer, the Niagara University Theater Department's 40-year tradition of entertaining children and families with its N.U.R.T. storytelling troupe continues.

The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency announced $9.3 million in supplemental funding for 24 current successful brownfields revolving loan fund (RLF) grantees nationwide.

In a recently compiled report, the former Niagara County legislator said Lewiston is choking on a hodgepodge of signs, utility poles and wires, and it needs to be saved.

Niagara County's longest-running annual youth sporting event is set to kick off once again next week.

Members of Lewiston-Porter's Class of 2019 will take to the stage at Artpark on Friday evening for their high school commencement ceremony. But as they receive their diplomas and special honors, one class member will not be there. He'll already be embarking on the next chapter in his life - that of service to country.

The Village of Lewiston Board recently learned it's the recipient of an unexpected gift.

Why was the Frontier House built almost 200 years ago, and what will it look like a year from now?

Mount St. Mary's Hospital has unveiled a fourth series of works from artists of Intandem. The works were created by people with intellectual and other developmental disabilities during fine arts classes. The newest display is located in the hospital's main hallway.

Evy Magnusson Newlin, 92, was called home on the morning of May 27, 2019. She was predeceased by her husband, Lyman Newlin.

There is a line - a chorus, in fact - in The O'Jays' hit 1975 song that says, "Got to give the people/Well, well/Give the people what they want."

For those interested in learning more about the different types of bariatric surgery and whether one may be right, Trinity Bariatric Surgery will hold a free seminar at 6 p.m. Thursday, June 28, in Room 249 at Mount St. Mary's Hospital, 5300 Military Road, Lewiston.

Funtime Presents, Back2Back and Artpark will present Kip Moore, Mitchell Tenpenny and Tyler Rich in concert at 6 p.m. Friday, Aug. 9, as part of the "Coors Light Concerts" series in the Artpark Amphitheater. Tickets go on sale at 10 a.m. Friday, June 21.

Carol Anders and the Barker Parents Music Boosters received the Robert J. Uplinger Award, the highest service award given by New York-Bermuda Lions Multiple District 20, at the Barker Lions Installation dinner.

The New York Power Authority will enhance Gov. Andrew M. Cuomo's Smart Street Lighting NY program to include a maintenance service option for interested municipalities.

The Niagara Falls Chapter of the Daughters of the American Revolution is collecting gift cards from Tim Hortons, Tops and Wegmans to be distributed to homeless veterans through the Homeless Veterans Resource Center in Buffalo.

The Lewiston Garden Club managed to avoid the rain Saturday morning and kick off the 2019 GardenFest with the annual butterfly release.

On a recent trip to Sicily, former Village of Lewiston Mayor Terry Collesano visited his grandparents' hometown of Collesano in Sicily. He took the opportunity to meet Town of Collesano Vice Mayor Mariano Ferrarello. The two men exchanged gifts and had a pleasant meeting in the sign of tradition.

Earlier this week, Lewiston-Porter High School graduated its seventh cohort of students from the Academy of International Business & Finance: Domenic Barile, Miguel Bautista, Lucas Diez, Vincent Holliday, Elaina Jowdy, Angelina Steffen, Hailey Swanson and Luke Wilson.

Despite those seemingly never-ending rains -- not to mention the high water conditions on area waterways -- summer is very much here in the busy River Region.

For veterans living in rural areas of Niagara County, accessing services can often be extremely difficult, if not impossible. While cities are generally more equipped to handle a veteran's needs, many rural vets, particularly those with disabilities, are unable to reach these areas to get the help they require.

St. John's Episcopal Church will hold its annual Strawberry Fest from 11:30 a.m. to 5:30 p.m. Saturday, June 22, on the church grounds on Main Street in Youngstown.

Anthropology students from SUNY Buffalo State College are spending time at Old Fort Niagara this month. They are participating in an archaeological field school that is actively excavating Building 428, a barracks spanning the years 1756-1813 near the North Redoubt. Built by the French in 1756, it disappears from maps and plans in 1814 without records of why or how. The barracks housed soldiers while they were garrisoned at the fort.

"Whether you have a green thumb or are just beginning to plant, this year's Lewiston GardenFest offers plenty of ideas and inspiration to enhance one's own outdoor space," said Sharon Low, Lewiston GardenFest co-chair. "This year we are encouraging festivalgoers to grow together and to make gardening a family affair with offerings for gardeners and future gardeners of all ages!"

In honor of National Flag Day, Niagara County Clerk Joseph A. Jastrzemski presented a flag-raising ceremony on Friday, unveiling three new flagpoles in which U.S. military veterans who served in World War II, Korea, Vietnam and the Middle East raised the American, state and county flags in front of the county courthouse.

The Village of Lewiston Department of Public Works has been replacing water meter heads since the beginning of this year. With summer projects about to begin, the DPW is looking to finish the water meter head replacement project.

On Tuesday, the Niagara Greenway Commission determined the refurbishment of the U.S. Military Post Theater at Fort Niagara State Park was in keeping with the Greenway Plan's goals, principles and vision. Niagara Post Theater Inc. (NPT) is requesting $120,000 to repair the theater's ailing roof. The nonprofit group is slated to go before the Host Community Standing Committee in September for final approval.

The board of associates of Mount St. Mary's Hospital recently held its "Past President's Recognition Dinner" at Casa Antica. Recognized for their service were Alfred Frosolone (2016-17), past CEO of Niagara's Choice Federal Credit Union; and Robert Ingrasci, CPA (2018), principal with Lumsden McCormick LLP.

The 10th annual "Festival of Fathers" will be held from 11 a.m. until 2 p.m. Saturday, June 22, at the Hyde Park Splash Pad in Niagara Falls (corner of Hyde Park Boulevard and Pine Avenue). The festival, which is free and open to the public, will include games, prizes, snacks and crafts, as well as activities to engage children and parents together.

Jason Myers recently announced his candidacy for a seat on the Lewiston Town Council.

Representatives from the Olmsted Center for Sight in Buffalo recently visited the Barker Lions to present "Dining in the Dark." This program allows each guest to experience eating dinner as someone who is blind or visually impaired would.

The Niagara Junior Purple Eagles 9U travel team recently notched a 16-3 victory over the AnJo Bombers. The game was played at Harley Field in Lockport, a unique site that's actually privately owned by the homeowner.

Youngsters are invited to see trucks, electric cars, heavy equipment - even an armored assault vehicle and "Pinky" the pink concrete mixer - at the New York Power Authority's family safety fair and touch-a-truck event on Saturday, June 15, at the Niagara Power Vista.

The Castellani Art Museum of Niagara University continues its "Western New York Collects" series with an exhibition of works by Allan D'Arcangelo. An opening reception will be held from 5-7 p.m. Thursday, Sept. 19. The exhibition will be on view from June 23 through Dec. 13.

The Castellani Art Museum presents "For the Love of Art: A Tribute to Gallerist Nina Freudenheim." The work is on display from July 2 through Jan. 12, 2020. An opening reception is set for 5 p.m. Thursday, Sept. 19.

This week's "Tuesday in the Park" concert offered an energetic, ferocious opening act in Miss Velvet & the Blue Wolf. What followed was Fishbone's musical cornucopia of funk sounds - metal, ska and rock, included.

Gov. Andrew M. Cuomo on Monday hosted the first meeting of community leaders and the Lake Ontario Resiliency and Economic Development Initiative (REDI) Commission, where he announced up to $300 million in funding available for communities impacted by Lake Ontario flooding. Local governments will match 15% for every dollar the state spends.