Starting next Saturday, March 2, DiMino Tops Lewiston customers can use a special Sentinel coupon to receive a free reusable shopping bag.

There will be one entry point and one exit point at the Center Street Plaza - for now.

Last Friday, Feb. 15, multiple law enforcement and emergency services agencies conducted an active shooter exercise on the Lewiston-Porter campus. There has been a lot of press on the event in local media, for which we are thankful, as it is important for the public to both understand the amount of the preparation and to feel secure. Thank you to all first-responders and emergency management agencies who participated and who give their all every single day to keeping our community safe.

The Town of Porter has set the stage for business in 2019 with a host of reorganizational matters approved recently. Included were a number of appointments, resolutions and designations as the town set operations for the year.

David P. Burmaster of Ransomville has announced his candidacy for the office of highway superintendent in the Town of Porter.

When it comes to the City of Niagara Falls, locals are looking for progress. That can be found at Pints for Progress.

The Niagara River Region Chamber of Commerce held its winter business blender at Cask + Cow on Thursday evening. The networking event provides businesses and community leaders a chance to converse and make connections in a casual setting. It included complimentary hors d'oeuvres and a cash bar.

Stephanie Kindzia, a longtime Lewiston resident, announced she is seeking a seat on the Niagara County Legislature in the 2nd District. Kindzia, a registered member of the Independence Party, will be making her first run for public office.

The 33-minute documentary film, titled "Risking Everything," will be shown at 6:30 p.m. Tuesday, March 5, in the Brickyard Brewing Company second-floor banquet hall, 436 Center St., Lewiston. Admission is free, and the public is invited. The room is easily accessible and an elevator is available.

Wendy Guild Swearingen, a former Lewiston-Porter Board of Education member, has announced her candidacy for the Niagara County Legislature.

Stella Niagara's Center of Renewal invites the public to "come enjoy our interfaith hospitality" during two special daytime retreats during March.

A feeling of euphoria seemed to spread across the Village of Lewiston last week, as news broke of a limited liability company's purchase of the Frontier House. That emotion continued into Tuesday's municipal board meeting.

An ad hoc committee was officially appointed by the chairman of Niagara County Legislature, Keith McNall, in order to examine the local impact of the impending marijuana legalization in New York.

On Feb. 8, St. Peter's School host its annual "Valentines for Veterans" event. Students shared their thanks and support of veterans by creating valentine cards both for guests and those at the Buffalo VA Medical Center. In addition, veterans and active service members who are parishioners and/or family members of the student body were invited to join in for a special Mass to our past and current service men and women.

The Alzheimer's Association chapter is scheduling training for volunteers interested in overseeing a monthly support group meeting in the Lewiston area and willing to commit to the role for at least one year.

The Niagara County Central Rotary Club will award a total of three $1,000 scholarships to students in the Niagara-Wheatfield, Starpoint and Wilson school districts.

All is quiet at Lewiston Town Hall, with select town officials scheduled to visit the annual Association of Towns meetings in NYC next week.

Kara M. Hibbard, acting town clerk for the Town of Porter, has announced her candidacy for the position of Porter town clerk. She was appointed town clerk by the Porter Town Board in September 2018, following the retirement of Barbara DuBell. Hibbard is running for a four-year term.

Following discussion with Lewiston Police Department Chief Frank Previte this week, the Village of Lewiston Board of Trustees is expected to review its recent decision regarding traffic ingress and egress at the Center Street (Rite Aid) Plaza. The municipality's monthly meeting will be held at 6 p.m. Tuesday at the Red Brick, 145 N. Fourth St.

The event? Well, it's the 50th anniversary of the Olcott Lions Club's legendary "Swim For Sight," of course.

The Niagara County Legislature has designated Niagara County as a "Purple Heart County," through a resolution that recognizes and honors those who have received the Purple Heart Medal as a result of being wounded or killed in combat.

The Niagara River Region Chamber of Commerce will celebrate the community at the annual Chamber Gala awards dinner, to be held at Niagara Falls Country Club on Thursday, May 9. The chamber board of directors will present awards for Business of the Year and Citizen of the Year honorees in the Lewiston, Youngstown, Ransomville and Sanborn communities.

The Niagara River Region Chamber of Commerce will hold its next business blender at Cask + Cow, 840 Center St., Lewiston. The winter networking event will take place from 5-7 p.m. Thursday, Feb. 21. It gives businesses and community leaders a chance to converse and make connections in a casual setting.

The 195-year-old Frontier House was sold to a group consisting of Ellicott Development CEO William Paladino and Lewiston developers Jeff and Jerry Williams. Their newly formed LLC purchased the building and almost one acre of land - including a parking lot - from Hastings Lewiston Inc. for the price of $800,000.

Knee pain is one of the most common orthopedic ailments, affecting more than one-third of Americans. As weight-bearing joints, knees can support up to five times one's total body weight. Sudden injury, years of playing sports and other physical activity, or an underlying medical condition can cause pain, swelling, stiffness and decreased mobility.

The Mount St. Mary's Hospital Foundation will hold its annual $1,000 reverse draw dinner fundraiser on Wednesday, March 27, at The Wurlitzer Building, 908 Niagara Falls Blvd., North Tonawanda. Sister Nora Sweeney, D.C., social worker at the Mount St. Mary's Neighborhood Health Center, will be honored for 10 years of service to those in need.

The Historical Association of Lewiston's February program, "Blanche Stuart Scott - Untamable Tomboy of the Air," will be held at 7 p.m. Thursday, Feb. 28, at the Lutheran Church of the Messiah Fellowship Hall, 915 Oneida St.

Natalie Smith a 2018 graduate of Lewiston-Porter High School was named to the fall 2018 dean's list at the University of New Hampshire. Smith earned highest honors with a grade-point average above 3.85 in University of New Hampshire's biomedical pre-veterinary program for the fall semester.

Lewiston-Porter High School announces this year's musical, "The Addams Family," will open at 7 p.m. Friday, Feb. 15, in the high school auditorium.

Motorists entering the Center Street (Rite Aid) Plaza take note: On Monday, the Village of Lewiston Board voted to switch the Center Street exit from the Stone House side over to the Orange Cat corner. Additionally, trustees agreed to make the entrance both an ingress and egress - thus allowing for two-way traffic at this driveway.

The Home Assistance Referral Team (HART) hosted its annual recognition luncheon honoring caregivers Thursday at Lewiston's First Presbyterian Church.

Mount St. Mary's Hospital conducted a special ceremony on Thursday as part of its Black History Month events. The ceremony was held in front of a capacity gathering in the cafeteria.

Niagara University has strengthened its binational presence with the establishment of an additional location for its Niagara University in Ontario program in Vaughan. The site is also the first-ever university to be established in the City of Vaughan and York Region, and supports Niagara University's commitment to becoming the premier binational university within the Province of Ontario.

Old Fort Niagara encourages the public to embrace winter and enjoy a day of living history on Saturday, Feb. 16, at its annual "Winter Woods Battle" featuring indoor and outdoor activities. The day's demonstrations start at 10 a.m. and include fur trading, shelter building, fire starting, weaponry, cooking, winter games, artisans and snowshoeing (or hiking) to a battle in the woods with complimentary hot chocolate with the re-enactors.

The Niagara River Greenway Commission will meet Tuesday, March 12, to determine the consistency of the 64th round of projects. The meeting will begin promptly at 3 p.m. in the Town of Lewiston Board Room, 1375 Ridge Road. The general meeting will be preceded at 2 p.m. by the business meeting.

Get ready to lose those winter blues! "Toast & Jam" begins at 7 p.m. Monday, Feb. 18, upstairs at the Brickyard Brewing Company (BBC), 432 Center St., Lewiston. This jazz-jammin', blues-rockin', poetry-reading event is back by popular demand and continues through March 25.

When WTS Chairman Gary Hall proposed adding a tennis complex to his company's North Second and Mohawk streets property in 2013, his son, Brian, said the impetus is "My father very much cares for his employees. Building a health and wellness center for WTS employees, he felt, was the right thing to do. Health and wellness is very important. We want our employees to be happy, healthy."

The Village of Lewiston on Monday accepted a bid from Mark Cerrone Inc. to refurbish the Lewiston Landing waterfront. The Niagara Falls site-contracting and construction company submitted the lowest proposal: $1,599,500.

Niagara Hospice unveiled its branded ambulette on Tuesday after it was wrapped with the organization's logo and colors by Streamline Designs, a vehicle wrap and vinyl graphics installation company in North Tonawanda. The new ambulette was purchased and put into service last month thanks to more than $34,000 raised by the 19th annual Jack Beatty Memorial Cruise & Clambake held last July.

Mount St. Mary's Hospital and its St. Francis Guild Auxiliary are currently seeking volunteers to help in service to the community and the overall organization. The hospital has openings for both volunteer drivers and assistants for its "VanGo" patient transportation service. Volunteers are asked to drive in four-hour shifts between 8:30 a.m. and 3:30 p.m.