Bruce Sutherland, the Village of Lewiston's deputy mayor, was spotted Thursday painting the deck of the Welcome Center on Center and South Ninth streets.

Organizers of the annual Ransomville Lighting of the Wreaths announce this year's celebrations will take place Sunday, Nov. 27, with events taking place throughout the hamlet.

The friends of Patty Wise held a benefit in her honor.

Wise was the victim of a devastating ATV accident on July 23 while visiting with family out of state. She has remained in a coma in Lakeland, Fla., ever since.

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The second annual Lewiston-Porter Middle School PTSA fall mixer, a networking event for the Lew-Port community and a fundraiser for PTSA, took place recently.

Town of Porter Board members ended up having a lively session Monday night at Town Hall, one that stretched well beyond an hour - lengthy by Porter standards.

Local veterans found that the younger generation does appreciate their service at the annual Veterans Day Dinner on Thursday.

Election Day had few surprises in northern Niagara County, as most ran unopposed as incumbents in the towns of Lewiston, Porter, Wilson and Newfane.

The Town of Porter reminds boaters that its new boat/trailer storage ordinance, specifying seasonal restrictions for medium density residential areas is now in effect. This is taken from Article V, paragraph 80, of the town's boat storage ordinance covering storage and seasonal dates in medium density residential areas:

The 2011 golf season may be just about over, but there's still news coming from the Seneca Hickory Stick Golf Club on Creek Road.

The Lewiston Community Lions Club is partnering with the newly opened Family Video, 731 Center St., to help those in need over the holidays.

Why bake for the holidays when the Fiores will do it for you?

That's Michael Fiore's thought, anyway. He and his wife, Lindsay, are the new owners of the Village Bake Shoppe at 417 Center St., Lewiston. On Thursday morning, the store will reopen with a new look, newly painted walls, the previous staff ... and original owner Bridget Schroeder's from-scratch recipes.

Michael, who has known Bridget for several years, says her no-mix, original cakes, pies, cookies and brownies "can't be easily duplicated."

Pairing high-end products with a fresh décor, he says his plan is to develop the Village Bake Shoppe into "more of an attraction."

"I want this place to be a destination," Michael says.

Trustees in the Village of Lewiston on Monday opted not to talk about festival suggestions submitted by Mayor Terry Collesano's ad hoc committee. Though Collesano asked to discuss the five-person panel's recommendations for when and how to close Center Street, his colleagues asked for more time to review the letter submitted last week.

The Village Board did speak with accountant Pat Brown of Brown & Co. He informed trustees of a need to raise the water rate from $2.80 per 100 cubic feet to $3.55, and the sewer rate from $3.95 per 100 cubic feet to $4.65, to offset cost increases from the Niagara County Water District and the Town of Lewiston Master Sewer District.

The proposed increases would take effect with the Jan. 1, 2012, billing. Brown said the average Village of Lewiston resident would pay about $25 more per year.

The Niagara River Region Chamber of Commerce, in partnership with Manning & Napier Benefits, will host an educational seminar providing business owners with crucial answers to a variety of health insurance-related questions.

The Youngstown Free Library will accept "Food for Fines" from Nov. 8 through Dec. 10. Library patrons are encouraged to bring in non-perishable food items. In exchange, the library will waive each participant's fines.

The Village of Lewiston has a spiffy new garbage truck to replace the beaten and battered former trash hauler.

This year's Lewiston Lions Peace Poster Contest was held at Stella Niagara Education Park. First place was awarded to Camille Bennett. The second-place award went to Susan Dobrasz, who, incidentally, placed third in the 24-club district in last year's contest.

The Village of Lewiston Board of Trustees will review recommendations related to closing Center Street (for festivals or large-scale events) at its 6 p.m. work session on Monday.

In September, Mayor Terry Collesano formed an ad hoc committee to review how, when and why the village's main thoroughfare is closed. The panel wasted little time in drafting a letter that suggests the creation of an all-encompassing event application and event/procedure form.

"It seemed like there was no set application form or process to get approval" to close Center Street, said Rick Haight.

Look for a somewhat low-key Election Day, Tuesday Nov. 8, especially if you're voting in the towns of northern Niagara County.

The town budget and finances dominated for the most part at the Lewiston Town Board's recent session on Oct. 24. However there was also news of different sorts discussed at the session.

The New York Power Authority and Seaway Trail, Inc. have installed three history- and nature-themed Great Lakes Seaway Trail "Outdoor Storyteller" signage units at the Niagara Power Project locations in Lewiston and the City of Niagara Falls.

The "Fort Schlosser: Guarding the Upper Landing" panel is at the project's water intakes in a scenic overlook park that is part of the NYPA project, but located in the City of Niagara Falls on the shoreline of the Niagara River. The natural history-theme Great Lakes Seaway Trail "Outdoor Storyteller" featuring the "Great Cataract of Niagara" is also here.

Two of the panels chronicle the local area's role in the French and Indian War. The panel titled "Fighting for Homeland: American Indian Allies" is located next to the outdoor turbine exhibit at NYPA's Power Vista Visitor Center for the Niagara Power Project in Lewiston.

The Youngstown Free Library, located in the Youngstown Red Brick School village center, 240 Lockport St., announces the following activities for the month of November.

The Western New York Association of Historical Agencies has announced that five awards will be presented to groups for excellence in the museum field in the 11-county WNY area, including two organizations in Niagara County.

Lewiston-Porter Middle School was buzzing Monday, but not with noise, with hair clippers.

Tables full of books of all types are available at the Youngstown Free Library's fall book sale.

The Niagara River Region Chamber of Commerce hosts its next business "Blender" on Thursday, Nov. 10, at the Lewiston Village Pub, located at 840 Center St., Lewiston.

Joe Petrozzi and his son Russ of Capitol Cleaners are again collecting, cleaning and giving gently used coats and other winter wear to the needy families in Western New York. The days for distribution to the community are Saturday, Nov. 5, and Saturday, Dec. 3, from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m.

The Historical Association of Lewiston announces tickets are now on sale for its seventh annual Tour of Homes, scheduled for Dec. 3 and 4 in Lewiston. Chris Castellani, Lewiston resident and owner of Supermarket Liquors and Wines, has stepped forward as the presenting sponsor of this event.

Nik Wallenda will appear before the Niagara Parks Commission Nov. 16 to discuss his application to walk on a three-inch wire across the Niagara Gorge between Canada and the United States.

Miss Posa's first grade class at St. Peter R.C. School in Lewiston is learning about culture, ancestry and heritage.

Youngstown Veterans of Foreign War Post 313 will hold a Veterans Day ceremony in Veterans Park 11 a.m. on Nov. 11.

The Niagara County Sheriff's Office, New York State Police and New York State Liquor Authority conducted a joint underage alcohol enforcement detail throughout Niagara County from 4 to 9 p.m. on Thursday, Oct. 27.

The "Second Saturday" concert series at First Presbyterian Church takes place starting at 7 p.m. Saturday, Nov. 12, at the church, 100 Church St., in Youngstown. Featured will be Heather Dale, Canadian recording artist, and her partner, Ben Deschamps, exploring a lively, diverse repertoire, mixing original songs with fresh twists on Celtic and folk music.

Mount St. Mary's Hospital and Health Center will present a series of programs in November as part of its health education program and event series, with special emphasis on programs as part of its recognition of November as Diabetes Awareness Month.

On Tuesday, Nov. 1, "Counting Carbohydrates" will be presented at 6 p.m. in Room 249. This program is conducted by Diabetes Education at Mount St. Mary's and will focus on counting carbohydrates for a nutrition diet. Pre-registration is encouraged. Call 298-2145.

The Wilson Lions planted new trees in Greenwood Cemetery.

Lewiston residents had their opportunity to sound off on the town's $15.6 million tentative 2012 budget and its quest for an override of the state's 2 percent property tax cap in two public hearings Monday night.

The Lockport Ladies Ancient Order of Hibernians Division II recently made a donation to the "Peanut Butter & Jelly Drive" in the form of a check for that was made out to NYSEG to be used toward covering the cost of electricity for the fundraiser.

It all started on a Sunday morning last December. Kristi Moore of Lewiston was relishing a rare moment of solitude in front of the TV (mothers of young children know what I'm talking about. ...). CBS "Sunday Morning" was airing a segment on "Beads of Courage," a charitable organization that provides arts-in-medicine supportive care for children coping with serious illness. Kristi was so touched and moved by this story that she wanted to get involved right away.

Members of the newly formed Lake Ontario Ordnance Works Community Action Council met Thursday, Oct. 20, for a lengthy information and organizing session at the Lewiston-Porter Community Resource Center.

Reading is very rewarding, but more so for the students at the Lewiston-Porter Intermediate Education Center.