On Saturday, Jan. 14, visitors to Old Fort Niagara will have the opportunity to experience life during the winter of 1757 as local re-enactors and educators from State Parks team up to present the "Snowshoe Patrol."

Five NYS regional tourism offices, in collaboration with the International Peace Garden Foundation, unveiled a new trail map pinpointing 17 historical sites. The gardens mark 200 years of peace between Canada and the U.S.

The Neptune Ski Club hosted its "Ski-A-Thon 2012" over the weekend.

Cannons were fired multiple times Sunday at Old Fort Niagara in Youngstown as a salute to Fort George, Ontario, during the "Lieutenant Governor's Levee."

The year 2011 is now fading into memory.

As we eagerly anticipate what's to come in 2012, we now look back at what was 2011. It was certainly memorable, with changes, countless ones, on a global, national, local, and even a personal scale.

For some it was a year of high expectations, some achieved. For others it might have been frustrations, possibly loss. You can say one thing though - we were all impacted by the events that occurred in the last year in some form or another.

What follows is a brief look at some of the major news reported on in the Sentinel coverage area over the past year. News, which will likely continue to impact area residents in 2012 and beyond.

As the countdown to the new year begins, the Sentinel takes a look back at 10 Village of Lewiston topics covered in 2011, all of which will impact residents in 2012.

In the spirit of giving, the Coldwell Banker Talarico Real Estate Office in Lewiston adopted a family of five from the Air Force base in Niagara Falls.

A festive atmosphere hovered over the Lewiston-Porter Board of Education meeting as students performed, people were recognized, and gifts from donors received.

A group of third-graders performed several traditional Christmas carols and the entire room joined in on "We Wish You a Merry Christmas." Student carolers, under the direction of Nicole Mosier, included Elizabeth Teal, Maya Marcyan, Makenna Barrientos, Emma Sand, Nathan Rhodes, Olivia Naughton, Julia Thomas, Meghan Baio, Graciana Auer, Ciaran Edwards, Alexandra Lee, Ellie Phillips, Jaden Lombardo and Isabella Tolliano. Vicki Mehr accompanied.

The Village of Lewiston accepted Gary Hall's gift of a new, $2 million recreation center at Monday's monthly board meeting. ... Now the question is where to put it.

Enjoying the annual "Christmas in the Village" holiday event.

The Town of Lewiston's new ice rink at Academy Park continues to gain in popularity.

Winners of the annual DiMino's Lewiston Tops-NFP/Sentinel Holiday Coloring Contest were announced recently at the Tops store on Center Street.

In only its second season in existence, Seneca Hickory Stick Golf Course has received another impressive honor.

Assemblyman co-sponsors legislation to stop cyberbullying.

John Ceretto, R-I-Lewiston, participated in a joint appearance Monday with U.S. Sen. Charles Schumer and Niagara Falls Mayor Paul Dyster to announce support for a fast tracking of federal funds to demolish a southern portion of the Robert Moses Parkway.

The project aims to remove the Robert Moses Parkway between John Daly Boulevard and Main Street and replace it with a park road, creating pedestrian access between Main Street and the Waterfront Park. Ceretto credited the plan as a boon for residents of Niagara Falls and a project that can create jobs in Niagara County.

"I have been a constant voice for finding ways for the City of Niagara Falls to attract the visitors that come to Niagara Falls State Park," said Ceretto. "This will ensure greater activity around our hotels, our casino and our restaurants, and develop our waterfront."

The Niagara Orleans Masons recently held a golf tournament at Willowbrook Golf Course to benefit Niagara Hospice.

Pam Buccirosso is the featured artist this month at The Winery at Marjim Manor.

John Ceretto and Richard Pope were on hand as a new household hazardous waste disposal unit was installed in the Village of Lewiston.

The Polish Writers Union has bestowed the honor of Best Book of 2011 in poetry on "Winter Vision," a poetry collection by Western New York author Robert M. Giannetti.

Thursday evening saw the official grand opening of the new winter ice rink facility in Academy Park, operated by the Town of Lewiston Parks and Recreation Department.

Angel to Apple celebrated "Black Friday" last week by opening at 7 a.m., and offering discounts to those who came out early

Old Fort Niagara will greet the holiday season with a bang as the historic site presents its annual "Castle by Candlelight" program on consecutive Saturdays, Dec. 10 and 17.

The annual Lewiston Christmas Walk, hosted by the Niagara River Region Chamber of Commerce, will take place in the Village of Lewiston.

The seventh annual Lewiston Tour of Homes is scheduled for Dec. 3 and 4 in Lewiston. Major sponsors of the event recently gathered in the Lewiston Museum for a photo.

Members of the Jack Beatty Hospice Memorial Regatta and the Hospice Dash committees presented Niagara Hospice with $35,000 in proceeds.

On Saturday, Nov. 12, members of the Youngstown Volunteer Fire Co., dressed in full uniform, alongside family and friends, celebrated 100 years of dedicated service.

Rivershore Inc. and the Kiwanis Club of Lewiston teamed up Monday to host an installation dinner for the Niagara County Aktion Club.

An artist's rendering of the new Academy Park temporary ice rink the Town and Village of Lewiston will open next month.

Gary Hall spoke to the Sentinel about his intentions to build a new recreation center in the Village of Lewiston.

Students in Mr. Beatty's fourth-grade class at Tuscarora Indian School recently spent a day learning about the history of Lewiston.

The Buffalo Jills visited Our Lady of Peace Nursing Care Residence to celebrate Veterans Day.

Band hits Buffalo stage on "Black Friday."

Volunteers gathered together to celebrate a successful third season of the food and cash drive held each Tuesday night at the Artpark entrances.

An aerial sketch of the soon-to-be-proposed recreation center behind the Red Brick Municipal Building on North Fourth Street.

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.

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.

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

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.

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.