The New York State Office of Parks, Recreation and Historic Preservation Niagara River Greenway Fund Standing Committee will hold a meeting at 1 p.m. Tuesday, March 11, to vote on funding for projects being proposed to the Standing Committee by State Parks.

Domestic pigs were brought in to the southeastern United States in the early 1500s by the Spanish explorers and settlers. In the following years, these pigs would escape from captivity, and turn into wild ones (hogs) on their own.

Dr. Glenda R. Rose, D.C., Dr. Thomas G. Barba, D.C., C.C.S.P, and the staff of Rose Chiropractic in Lewiston held their 24th annual "Doctor with a Heart Day."

With its North Sixth Street firehall renovations complete, Lewiston No. 1 Volunteer Fire Co. wants to get the word out that among the many improvements is a newly furbished banquet hall, complete with a choice of two top-notch caterers, that's available for use in the community.

The Village of Lewiston welcomed two unique visitors last weekend: Christel Jönsson and Lennart Persson of Höganas, Sweden.

Advocating for student financial aid isn't easy. Just ask Matt Nadler and Kalene Faricellie.

John Ceretto, 145th district state assemblyman, delivered Valentines made by Niagara County school children to the Lewiston Senior Center.

Applications are now available for the 48th annual Lewiston Art Festival, which will be held Saturday, Aug. 9, and Sunday, Aug. 10, in the Village of Lewiston. More than 175 professional artists will display and sell their work and compete for $5,000 in prizes in the juried show.

Harmonia Chamber Singers, directed by Robert Pacillo, present "Into Light." This unique performance will be illuminated by candlelight and highlighted by special lighting effects.

On Friday, the occupants of Our Lady of Peace Nursing Residence received special Valentine's Day treats courtesy of the children at Mount St. Mary's Child Care Center, and Village Bake Shoppe owners Mike and Lindsay Fiore.

Officer Vanik Aloian of the Lewiston Police Coat of Arms Benevolent Association recently visited with Town of Lewiston Supervisor Dennis Brochey.

He has a round, heavy looking body, a thick and long neck, and a large head. He also has pink legs and feet, and an orange bill. It is believed he had dual citizenship, U.S. and Canada. He hangs out with a floozy named "Lady Louise," believed to be a Canadian beauty.

Town of Lewiston Councilman Ernest C. Palmer announced Friday he will give up his seat on the Town Board effective next Friday, Feb. 21.

Palmer, a Republican councilman since 2007, said he has new projects he would like to pursue, and looks forward to traveling and spending time with his family. A tax accountant, Palmer said he wishes to spend more time growing his business.

"It is time to give someone else an opportunity to bring fresh ideas and energy to the board," he said.

The Niagara River Region Chamber of Commerce will host a "Business Blender" Thursday, Feb. 20, at Bistro at the Old Fort Inn - also known as Jaguar at the Bistro - located at 110 Main St., Youngstown.

Can you name the 11 Finger Lakes? How about the six Great Lakes?

A chili cook-off to benefit The Friends of Youngstown Free Library was held at Bandana's Bar and Grill on Sunday afternoon, Feb. 2. Ten people made chili and brought it in to be tasted and voted on by a large and hungry crowd.

The Lewiston Community Lions recently entertained and donated to Wings Flights of Hope, a not-for-profit organization with more than 300 pilots donating free flights for medical patients, their families and U.S. troops.

The Niagara River Region Chamber of Commerce will honor 10 businesses and individuals at its annual Chamber Awards Gala Friday, May 16, at the Niagara Falls Country Club in Lewiston.

The popular Lewiston Village Pub and Restaurant will soon have a new owner or owners.

Ken Scibetta and Ed Webster, owners of the restaurant/bar, released this statement on Facebook:

Virginia Wolbert, director of the Mount St. Mary's Child Care Center since it opened in 1987, was recently named the employee of the quarter.

Food truck owners will have to park their mobile eateries someplace else.

After receiving feedback from local business owners opposed to food trucks, trustees let it be known they will not allow such an operation in the village.

"I think our minds are pretty much made up," Mayor Terry Collesano told members of the River Region Chamber of Commerce prior to the trustees' monthly work session Monday.

Jan. 25 marked a special evening for Lewiston No. 2 Volunteer Fire Co. at its 72nd installation of officers' dinner at the firehall on Saunders Settlement Road. It was a time for the fire company family to remember and honor one of its own.

William Paladino met with the Village of Lewiston Planning Board Wednesday to update members on the status of his development plan. The Ellicott Development CEO intends to create a U-shaped plaza with three main units: 1) two restaurants (one fast food) and a retail store; 2) a two-story retail/bank/commercial building; and 3) a drug store. He may build condos on the lot's west end, too.

"It's taken us long to get to this point, because every time we move or tweak anything, it has to go back to the engineers and they've got to redo everything because of the site grades and slopes and things of that nature," Paladino said.

Earlier this week, Niagara Frontier Publications learned Beatles drummer Ringo Starr & His All Starr Band were booked to play this summer at Artpark in Lewiston. The group will perform in the outdoor amphitheater Tuesday, June 24.

Wilson has a new coffee shop. The Wilson Brew Co. held its grand opening Saturday, Jan. 18. There were drawings and giveaways for the large crowd that came out on a snowy morning to attend the opening.

Town of Lewiston Supervisor Dennis Brochey officiated the Jan. 14 swearing-in ceremony of the Lewiston Senior Center officers. Officers for 2014 include:

"Cute little buggers, aren't they?"

The Niagara River Region Chamber of Commerce is participating in its first strategic planning process.

"With changes happening in health care and the way that our funding is, I wanted to make sure that we would have a plan in place for the next three to five years to follow and to grow," Chamber of Commerce President Jennifer Pauly said.

Artpark & Company is seeking schools, Scout troops, regional artists, community groups and families to create fairy houses for display at Artpark's annual Fairy House Festival. The popular event returns to Artpark Sunday June 8.

Trustees in the Village of Lewiston have asked The Great Foodini owner/operator Michael Attardo for more time before granting his facility contract to operate a food truck on Center Street.

Descendants of the Townsend family of Lewiston recently donated an original 1815 Village of Lewiston map to the Historical Association of Lewiston. It is the oldest original map now at the Lewiston Museum.

Eighty-seven school districts - 13 percent of school districts statewide - have been designated as fiscally stressed under State Comptroller Thomas P. DiNapoli's Fiscal Stress Monitoring System, in a report released this week.

And Lewiston-Porter has the unfavorable distinction of being ranked the second-worst school district in New York state in terms of "significant fiscal stress," the report finds.

DiNapoli's office evaluated 674 school districts with fiscal years ending on June 30, 2013.

Heart of Niagara Animal Rescue's second annual "Heart to Heart" fundraising event, "A Taste of The Niagara Region," will take place Saturday, Feb. 8, from noon to 7 p.m. at the First Presbyterian Church social hall, 505 Cayuga St., Lewiston.

At the recent board meeting of the Niagara River Region Chamber of Commerce, elections were held to fill open positions. Also, the Chamber of Commerce has hired Marlo Briglio of Lewiston to fulfill the part-time administrative assistant position.

Monday night, before family and friends, Daniel R. Gibson was sworn into office in the Village of Lewiston. Mayor Terry Collesano appointed Gibson, a Republican, to assume a portion of Democrat and former Trustee Dennis Brochey's term.

Local residents had a brief, but enjoyable ride in the lower Niagara gorge on New Year's Day as Niagara Jet Adventures held another of its test runs for its new jetboat "Gonago:go:h."

The Center for Women at Mount St. Mary's Hospital welcomed its first baby of 2014 at 11:15 a.m. on Thursday, Jan. 2, with the arrival of Charles James Arthur Farrell. Charles is the son of Ellen Gromoll and Kevin Farrell of Niagara Falls.

Town of Lewiston Justice Hugh Gee administers the oath to Dennis Brochey as the new supervisor's wife, Cathy, holds the Bible. The ceremony was held New Year's Day at the Lewiston Senior Center.

St. Peter R.C. School students in Lewiston decided to give back to families in need during the holiday season. Instead of exchanging gifts among themselves, the students decided to purchase new clothing and toys and household items for families in the area.

Pictured are the Mount St. Mary's Hospital and Health Center board of associates officers for 2014. Shown from left: President Steve Broderick, Secretary Alfred Frosolone, Past President Ron Villani, Treasurer Don Thurman and Vice President Robert Fagiani.