Grab your Sharpie, markers and some poster board and let your creative juices flow: We need your help in welcoming the judges who are coming to determine which small town in America will be crowned "Best for Food."

Judges coming to Lewiston for national contest; Travel Channel will be in Lewiston accompanying judges; public reception scheduled for Wednesday at The Silo Restaurant. Watch the preview video.

Lewiston is finalist in USA Today/Rand McNally "Best for Food" contest.

Ashker's Juice Bar, Bistro and Gallery opened this past week in the Village of Lewiston. The popular Center Street eatery was a little later opening this season due, in part, to the opening of a third Ashker's location (1002 Elmwood Ave., Buffalo).

Pierogi, popcorn, local honey, in-season fruits and vegetables and plenty more can be found on Wednesdays, starting June 13, at the Wheatfield Farmers Market.

The Bergholz Volunteer Fire Co. and Ladies Auxiliary's monthly chowder and baked goods sale begins at 11 a.m. Saturday, June 9, at the truck hall on Niagara Road in Bergholz.

What started as "a little shoebox store" is celebrating 30 years in business this month.

Dunkin' Donuts has announced that it will honor National Donut Day, celebrated this year on Friday, June 1, with a sweet deal for donut lovers everywhere. On June 1, participating Dunkin' Donuts restaurants in the greater Buffalo area will offer guests a free donut of their choice (while supplies last) with the purchase of any beverage.

Community Missions of Niagara Frontier Inc. will host its fourth annual "Summer Sizzler" beginning at 4 p.m. on Thursday, June 21. This annual event takes place to increase awareness and funding for families and individuals who are in crisis.

Grand Island is home to a new gasoline convenience store brand with the opening of the long-awaited Dino-Mart at the corner of Ransom and Stony Point roads.

This year, for its plant and perennial sale, the Youngstown Garden Club presents "Kitchens in Bloom."

Dunkin' Donuts is inviting Western New York residents to take advantage of the return of "Iced Coffee Day" and, in turn, benefit the region's leading children's hospital.

Lewiston has taken the first step in winning a spot in the Rand McNally-USA Today 2012 Best Small Towns in America list. Thanks to the efforts of grassroots volunteers, Lewiston netted 806 votes to win the online portion of the "Best for Food" category.

"We won the online voting contest decisively," said volunteer Lee Simonson. The second highest vote getter was Burnsville, Minn., with 580 votes.

While the victory is sweet, Simonson said it is only part of the formula that will determine the ultimate "Best for Food" winner. Rand McNally and USA Today also will consider the quality of reviews and the opinion of traveling judges.

With Mother's Day now on the back burner, Niagara University's Office of Continuing Education is offering a great gift idea for all the fathers out there.

Students in the Lewiston-Porter Middle School Honor Society are cooking up a tribute to the War of 1812 Bicentennial by hosting a spaghetti dinner on Tuesday, May 15. Proceeds will benefit OFN's educational programming.

Legends Bar & Grill and Old Falls Street, USA, are partnering up to host the first ever Cinco de Mayo Block Party on May 5.

The terrific smell of barbecue chicken and ribs will be in the air at Mount St. Mary's Hospital and Health Center on Friday, May 11. From 3 to 6 p.m., the St. Francis Guild will host its 14th annual chicken and ribs barbecue. Lewiston's The Brickyard Pub & B.B.Q will cook the food.

Lewiston currently in second place, behind last year's runner-up; lovers of Lewiston cuisine urged to double-up efforts to vote.

Nominated for USA Today's "Best of the Road, 2012 Best Small Towns in America"; Lewiston fans urged to vote and write quick reviews.

Can you help promote Lewiston to a national audience? Do you have a couple of minutes to sing Lewiston's praises?

Roman Café took first place in Niagara Frontier Publications' recent Web poll. Readers at www.wnypapers.com were asked to pick their favorite spot for a fish fry. More than 20 restaurants made the list, but Roman Café was the clear choice, with more than 60 percent of the vote.

It's a Friday night and, despite the numerous best pizza and chicken wings awards on the walls of Roman Café, a hungry gaggle of people has one thing in mind: fish.

The Historic Lewiston Jazz Festival's annual fundraiser, "Jazz & Pasta," is Sunday, April 29, at Water Street Landing, 115 S. Water St., Lewiston. The event will begin at 1 p.m. and continue to 7 p.m.

The Niagara River Region Chamber of Commerce, Village of Lewiston and The Silo Restaurant, in cooperation with the Niagara River Anglers, will celebrate one of the region's most famous natural resources as they host the Lewiston Smelt Festival.

Tucked just off Lewiston's main drag - Center Street - sits one of the village's most versatile dining venues. A mix of traditional Hellenic foods and regular pub fare, Syros Family Restaurant offers a fine selection of dishes at reasonable prices.

The Silo Restaurant will open for the season on Monday. Proprietor Alan Hastings has completely renovated the kitchen with all new, well, everything, he said. The goal is to accelerate the ordering process.

Dunkin' Donuts will support efforts to cure muscular dystrophy, ALS and related diseases by collecting donations in its Buffalo-area restaurants to benefit the MDA through the "Make a Muscle, Make a Difference" campaign.

The initiative will run from April 8 through April 18 at participating Dunkin' Donuts restaurants throughout the greater Buffalo area.

Tickets are now on sale for the fourth annual Lewiston Region Tour of Kitchens, set for June 9 and 10. The event runs from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. in Lewiston and Youngstown. Six entertaining and cooking spaces will be featured.

Every year since 1979, Ben & Jerry's fans have asked the same question over and over: "Why?! Why do you give away free ice cream for one day every year?"

Carol Calato, board chair of the Lewiston Jazz Festival, has announced that the organization will host its annual fundraiser, "Jazz & Pasta," on Sunday, April 29, at Water Street Landing.

The 2012 event will include jazz, pastas from area restaurants, a cash bar and a Chinese auction.

This year, the Greater Niagara Frontier Council, Boy Scouts of America is hoping that those who have experienced the benefits of Scouting will attend its second annual Fire and Ice fundraising dinner. The event takes place from 6 to 9 p.m. Thursday, March 29, at Templeton Landing at the Erie Basin Marina.

High prices and poor quality is the norm at many restaurants. Residents of Lewiston would agree this is not the case at The Lewiston Village Pub, located at 840 Center St. The Pub provides a quality atmosphere and an array of dishes - and not only pub foods, but higher cuisine, too, and at reasonable prices.

Casa Antica hosted a traditional St. Joseph Day Table on Monday.

Chef extraordinaire Jack Soldano and his family will be cooking up a storm on Monday, March 19. Casa Antica is offering a traditional St. Joseph Table with plenty of Italian favorites.

Roman Café has sizeable lead in fish fry contest. Vote for your favorite fish fry at www.wnypapers.com.

Foodies Event hosted by The Social Media Club of Buffalo.

Located in Buffalo's theater district, Encore presents a sort of closure to a theatergoer's evening. The restaurant's happy hour can also represent a final and entertaining conclusion for anyone's evening, or it can stand alone as a frequent hot spot for those in need of an upscale dining experience.

Encore has two floors and outdoor seating for when the weather is warm. The hardwood floors, brick walls and beautiful fire places give a rustic and spacious feel. With so much space the restaurant can play host to large parties, and can provide a private dining area for any event you may want to hold.

The bar is also large and spacious and continues with the restaurant's rustic setting.

Star of "The Real Housewives of New Jersey" and "Celebrity Apprentice" to feature recipes from "Fabulicious!: Teresa's Italian Family Cookbook"

The Bergholz Fire Co. and Ladies Auxiliary's monthly chowder and baked goods sale will be held at 11 a.m. Saturday, March 10, at the truck hall on Niagara Road in Bergholz.

Chef Remy Orlowski will present a night of cooking authentic Polish dishes as part of the Niagara-Wheatfield Continuing Education on March 20, just in time for the Easter holiday.

Tops Friendly Markets has announced that the company is encouraging its customers to celebrate National Nutrition Month with the NuVal Nutritional Scoring System, a unique food ranking system found at Tops stores that helps consumers find the best nutrition on supermarket shelves. Launched as National Nutrition Week in 1973 and "promoted" to National Nutrition Month in 1980, the March event was created by the American Dietetic Association to encourage better eating habits.

Just in time for Easter, Niagara Frontier Publications' new Web contest seeks an answer to one of life's great questions: Which restaurant has the best fish fry?

We're looking for the freshest catches, the tastiest batters and the best bang for the buck. The restaurant with the most votes will receive a special recognition, bragging rights, and a full write-up in our three main newspapers (The Sentinel, The Tribune and The Dispatch).

Those nominating an eatery will enter to win a prize of their own. One lucky participant will be drawn from a hat and receive a $25 gift certificate to an area restaurant.