Lee Simonson, Susan Geissler, Pete Henderson and Tim Henderson (aka Josiah Tryon) welcomed Dorothy Counts-Scoggins to the Village of Lewiston on Tuesday. Almost 60 years ago, at the age of 15, Counts-Scoggins was the first black student to attend Harding High School in Charlotte, North Carolina.

The First Presbyterian Church of Youngstown will hold an informational event on caring for elderly/disabled. Venture Forthe will present "Powerful Tools for Caregivers" at 7 p.m. Monday, Jan. 23, at 100 Church St. Representatives will cover all aspects of being a caregiver and where to gain assistance.

St. Peter's R.C. School will be hosting its annual pancake breakfast and open house from 9 a.m. until noon on Sunday, Jan. 29, in the school cafeteria, 140 N. Sixth St., Lewiston.

The Lewiston Garden Club will hold its monthly meeting at 10:30 a.m. Monday, Jan. 23, at the Lewiston Public Library, 305 S. Eighth St. The guest speaker will be John Farfaglia from the Cornell Cooperative Extension, who will discuss how to identify insects on plants and how to treat them.

Students from The Lewiston Dance Center and the Grand Island Dance Center recently had a workshop with Christine Cali. She is the artistic director of the dance company CALI & CO in San Francisco, and also a dance professor at Sonoma State University in California.

In front of a packed house at Lewiston-Porter High School on Friday, the Niagara-Wheatfield Falcons defeated the Lew-Port Lancers by a score of 65-62.

Village of Lewiston Mayor Terry Collesano expressed concern last week over the re-enacted Town of Lewiston town tax. He suggested some residents might not be aware of their new obligation.

It was an appreciation for the past and present, and optimism for the future, as the Youngstown Business and Professional Association got "down to business" with its annual membership meeting, held Tuesday at the Mug and Musket Tavern.

Without much fanfare, the Town of Lewiston officially set 2017 in motion with its annual reorganization meeting on Monday.

The Village of Lewiston Planning Commission on Monday unanimously approved a second submission from Orchard Park developer James Jerge for his 765 Fairchild Place proposal, and members approved Ellicott Development CEO William Paladino's exterior plan for his multiuse plaza.

Everybody and their brother was at the debut of the Casa Lounge, the new bar and night spot located adjacent to Casa Antica.

Those walking up the stairs at 421 Center have recently noticed some changes. Oh, sure, it's still the same, world-famous Semir Huzmeli styling hair, but, within the business, many things have changed.

Two experienced nurse practitioners have joined the primary care staff at Niagara Falls Memorial Medical Center.

Joseph Cecconi, a native of Youngstown, competed on Team USA for the 2017 International Ice Hockey Federation World Junior Hockey Tournament in Montreal. He was one of 23 players from around the U.S. who competed, and brought home the gold by defeating Team Canada in a final 5-4 shootout victory on Jan. 5.

As part of its initiative to bring awareness to diabetes, Mount St. Mary's Hospital will host a "Taking Charge of Your Diabetes" class on Tuesday, Jan. 24. The daylong (8 a.m. to 5 p.m.) class will be conducted by diabetes educator Megan Kosmoski, R.N.

The new owners of the Barton Hill Hotel & Spa have closed the hotel. Under management by Coakley & Williams Hotel Management Co., the property will re-open on April 1 as the Niagara Crossing Hotel & Spa.

A new Artpark Theater Academy was announced on Monday, offering a unique experience for young performers. Artpark will present the "Broadway Jr." program from July 10 though Aug. 5.

The Historical Association of Lewiston's January program is titled, "Little Known Facts in Tuscarora History." The event will take place at 7 p.m. Thursday, Jan. 26, at the Lutheran Church of the Messiah Fellowship Hall, 915 Oneida St.

The following activity occurred Monday, Dec. 26, to Sunday, Jan. 1, as reported by the Lewiston Police Department. LPD logged a total of 70 response calls during this period. For more information on arrests and other activity, visit the Lewiston Police Department page on Facebook.

The Town of Porter spent a busy week - evidenced by changes on the Town Board and a host of actions at its Tuesday reorganizational meeting.

At Monday's municipal work session, Village of Lewiston Mayor Terry Collesano called into question tax bills received from the Town of Lewiston.

Nussbaumer & Clarke Inc., one of the region's oldest engineering and land-surveying firms, has realigned its top executives and transferred ownership.

The Town of Lewiston Senior Center held its installation of officers on Tuesday.

The Youngstown Lions Club sponsors the annual Youngstown Lions Outdoor Lighting Contest. President Richard Allen has announced winners of the contest, which was held earlier this month.

Volunteers for the Youngstown/Porter community holiday baskets gathered during the week of Dec. 12 for their annual assistance campaign. Volunteers accepted groceries and donations, organized them for needy families, and sorted and wrapped presents for children ranging from birth to teenage years.

Bill and Tina Schiavitti have teamed with Greg Robertson of Greg's Pools to launch Lewiston Redemption. The bottle and can exchange site is set to debut in the spring of 2017 at 820 Seneca St., Lewiston, right next to Greg's Pools.

The Town of Lewiston closed down 2016 with routine approvals to its final audit, recognizing the efforts of area law enforcement, and receiving some very favorable news on the Lewiston Family Ice Rink.

The Youngstown Lions Club recently recognized the work of Sandra Lahrache of the Teal Project. Her mission is to promote sexual violence prevention and awareness programs through education in Western New York-area schools, colleges and businesses.

Lauren Rose Miller is marking five years in business next Friday, and welcoming existing and future customers to stop into Rellim Hair & Makeup Design Studio from 4-7 p.m. for a special launch party.

What follows is a brief recap of our staff's favorite prominent news stories, and images of past Sentinel covers, encapsulating major events and trends in northern Niagara.

There was an air of buoyancy and optimism on Election Day inside the campaign headquarters of former Niagara Falls City Court Judge Angelo Morinello. That atmosphere was again present on Friday when Morinello was officially sworn into office as assemblyman in the 145th District.

Due to the significant response for the ninth annual free home ride program, Designated Drivers of Buffalo is still looking to add more individuals and teams of drivers. For nine years, DDOB and William Mattar have partnered to provide free rides for partygoers and their cars on New Year's Eve.

DiMino Tops Lewiston once again sponsored the Christmas Coloring Contest, wherein children decorated a holiday scene published inside the Sentinel. Entries were displayed inside the village supermarket, where winners were announced last weekend.

"It's all about being responsible." So commented Mike Mulé, president of Designated Drivers of Buffalo, earlier this week.

Faced with the prospect of 50-plus new, neon signs littering Center Street, trustees in the Village of Lewiston are looking into taking control of the roadway from the state of New York.

Mount Mary's Hospital is fortunate to have several groups with dozens of community volunteers working year-round to raise funds for the hospital.

Terry and Candice Duffy announce the engagement of their daughter, Margaret Erin of Lewiston, to Raymond Tyler Gruarin of Youngstown.

A crowd gathered at 8 a.m. Monday morning in front of the Tuscarora Heroes Remembrance to observe the 203rd anniversary of the British attack on Lewiston. Participants recognized the efforts of brave Tuscarora warriors who helped men, women and children escape the War of 1812 attack that saw Lewiston burned.

Whirlpool Jet Boat Tours proprietor John Kinney provided the Village of Lewiston Planning Commission with an update, Monday, on his property at 65 Center St.

A dental marketing agency led by Youngstown native Graig Presti has been named one of the fastest-growing businesses in America by Inc. Magazine for the third year in a row.