A feeling of euphoria seemed to spread across the Village of Lewiston last week, as news broke of a limited liability company's purchase of the Frontier House. That emotion continued into Tuesday's municipal board meeting.

The event? Well, it's the 50th anniversary of the Olcott Lions Club's legendary "Swim For Sight," of course.

It's been 34 years since the Lewiston-Porter Lancers boys basketball team last hoisted a Niagara Frontier League title. Thursday night, the Lancers reset that number back down to zero, as the team defeated Niagara Falls, 75-71, to win the 2018-19 Niagara Frontier League title.

The 195-year-old Frontier House was sold to a group consisting of Ellicott Development CEO William Paladino and Lewiston developers Jeff and Jerry Williams. Their newly formed LLC purchased the building and almost one acre of land - including a parking lot - from Hastings Lewiston Inc. for the price of $800,000.

Motorists entering the Center Street (Rite Aid) Plaza take note: On Monday, the Village of Lewiston Board voted to switch the Center Street exit from the Stone House side over to the Orange Cat corner. Additionally, trustees agreed to make the entrance both an ingress and egress - thus allowing for two-way traffic at this driveway.

Old Fort Niagara encourages the public to embrace winter and enjoy a day of living history on Saturday, Feb. 16, at its annual "Winter Woods Battle" featuring indoor and outdoor activities. The day's demonstrations start at 10 a.m. and include fur trading, shelter building, fire starting, weaponry, cooking, winter games, artisans and snowshoeing (or hiking) to a battle in the woods with complimentary hot chocolate with the re-enactors.

Get ready to lose those winter blues! "Toast & Jam" begins at 7 p.m. Monday, Feb. 18, upstairs at the Brickyard Brewing Company (BBC), 432 Center St., Lewiston. This jazz-jammin', blues-rockin', poetry-reading event is back by popular demand and continues through March 25.

When WTS Chairman Gary Hall proposed adding a tennis complex to his company's North Second and Mohawk streets property in 2013, his son, Brian, said the impetus is "My father very much cares for his employees. Building a health and wellness center for WTS employees, he felt, was the right thing to do. Health and wellness is very important. We want our employees to be happy, healthy."

The Village of Lewiston on Monday accepted a bid from Mark Cerrone Inc. to refurbish the Lewiston Landing waterfront. The Niagara Falls site-contracting and construction company submitted the lowest proposal: $1,599,500.

Though northern Niagara County certainly escaped the brunt of this week's blizzards that paralyzed much of Buffalo and Erie County, that's not to say the area didn't have its share of problems, too. The area dodged the snow bullet, but it certainly didn't escape unscathed.

Architect Jim Fittante and his fiancé, Cheryl Krouse, are taking over the property at 700 Center St., which was recently the 700 Café & Bistro. They are converting the three-room first floor into Samana Salt Spa.

The Lewiston-Porter Central School District has received a $990 STEM grant from the Toshiba America Foundation. Funds will support the Intermediate Education Center STEM program. In particular, monies will be used to purchase Ozobot robots to assist in teaching elementary students how to write code. This will provide students with opportunities to be creative thinkers and engage in higher level technology projects.

As snow-covered roads were prominently featured on local TV news stations Wednesday morning, residents in the Village of Lewiston woke up to a very different site.

"We're really happy to have this new van," said Village of Youngstown Mayor Raleigh Reynolds on Thursday, as village officials joined with elected leaders from the Town of Porter to dedicate a new 2019 Chrysler Pacifica. It will serve as the Youngstown-Porter Senior Van.

The Lewiston Council on the Arts recently received notification of its award of decentralization grant funding in support of a new event that will take place at Hennepin Park during the Lewiston Art Festival on Aug. 10-11. The gazebo area will be transformed into an Iroquois market, bringing to life the rich history of Native American traditions, and featuring traditional drumming, music, dance and free hands-on activities.

Unlike the fish it's named for, which is tiny and landlocked, the Lewiston Smelt Festival is large and needs room to expand. On Tuesday, the Niagara River Region Chamber of Commerce was granted permission by the Village Board to move the May 3 event from the Lewiston waterfront into Academy Park.

Construction is nearly complete at 765 Fairchild Place, and a May move-in date was announced on Wednesday night. The 29-unit living complex was constructed at the site of the former Fairchild Manor nursing home.

Right before Christmas, Empire State Development announced Artpark & Company was the recipient of a $100,000 award from the Western New York Regional Economic Development Council. The money will go toward the creation of a master plan - a road map outlining what Artpark could and should be now and well into the future.

The Lancers have come into the 2018-19 season with, quite possibly, one of the most talented rosters compiled in some time.

Starting Monday, Jan. 14, the Village of Lewiston Department of Public Works will begin replacing water meter heads. Residents are asked to call the clerk's office at 754-8271 to make an appointment. There is no fee for this service, which should only take about 10 minutes.

The Niagara River Region Chamber of Commerce kicked off the new year by offering complimentary Orange Cat Coffee Co. beverages to members who stopped into the office on Friday morning. "Coffee & Conversation" is a community outreach initiative the chamber launched in 2018.

As we enter 2019, it's time to take a look back.

A bridge movie isn't always the most popular - or rewarding - chapter in a series' story. But it's absolutely necessary and, hopefully, leads to a proper payoff.

DiMino's Lewiston Tops has announced the winners of its 2018 Holiday Coloring Contest, held throughout the River Region this season in conjunction with Niagara Frontier Publications/The Sentinel. The annual contest saw dozens of colorful entries submitted in three age categories, many of which are found throughout the foyer area of the Center Street store.

Sacarissa Bell Rose Lodge of the Independent Order of Odd Fellows has been busy distributing checks to community organizations. At the December meeting, it was decided to send checks of support to the Family Justice Center of Buffalo; Heart, Love & Soul of Niagara Falls; Community Cats Alive of Lewiston; and Wings Flights of Hope, of Orchard Park.

Niagara Hospice unveiled its new ambulette on Friday, ensuring quality transportation for patients will continue for many years, thanks to the donation of more than $34,000 raised by the 19th annual Jack Beatty Memorial Hospice Cruise & Clambake on July 13.

The 2018 version of the Youngstown Community Baskets campaign proved to be a success for many, with scores of volunteers assisting and upward of 50 needy families served in the Youngstown and Porter areas.

The Village of Lewiston Board of Trustees endorsed a plan to build a "circle of honor" in Academy Park. Veterans of Foreign Wars Downriver Post 7487 is raising funds to redo the monument area.

The Historical Association of Lewiston celebrated the 14th Tour of Homes event Dec. 1-2. The weekend was full of festive cheer, and attendees were given the chance to tour five beautifully decorated homes.

A remembrance ceremony was held Wednesday, Dec. 19, on the 205th anniversary of the Tuscarora Nation's brave actions to save Lewiston lives in an 1813 British attack.

The Lewiston Garden Club held is annual Christmas luncheon at the Youngstown Yacht Club on Dec. 11.

Last Saturday, St. Peter's School hosted a special luncheon with Santa Claus. Students mixed and mingled with ol' Kris Kringle as families enjoyed a full pasta meal, courtesy of the Macri family and Macri's Italian Grille.

The Niagara River Region Chamber of Commerce hosted its annual year-end member's breakfast on Wednesday at The Brickyard Brewing Company.

The farm-to-table restaurant was screening - get this - "Carmelo's: The Show," a one-part sitcom, one-part cooking show concoction thought up by marketing guru Alessandro Renzi and chef Carmelo Raimondi.

Festive trees are lining the overpass bridge and other areas within the New York Power Authority's Niagara Power Vista at the Niagara Power Project. Area nonprofit organizations provided decorations for the energy-efficient "Festival of Trees" showpieces.

The Niagara County Peach Festival will remain at Academy Park for another year.

The big man in the red suit arrived in Lewiston via Rainbow Air helicopter on Saturday morning. After successfully landing in Academy Park, Santa met with children and families before boarding his special Deal Realty Float. J&J Strassburg Trucking transported the holly-jolly one to the International Peace Garden, where he greeted even more youth.

Old Fort Niagara brims with holiday merriment, festive songs, creative crafts and booming celebrations at the annual "Castle by Candlelight," happening from 6:30-8:15 p.m. Saturdays, Dec. 8 and 15. This annual fundraiser allows visitors to step back in time and enjoy the sights, sounds and smells of the Christmas season within the candlelit-setting of the 18th century fort.

In partnership with the Western New York Land Conservancy, and with funding provided by Oath Community Benefit Fund for Niagara County, under the direction of Empire State Development, Buffalo Niagara Waterkeeper has completed the final phase of the restoration project along the shoreline at the Stella Niagara Preserve's landing in Lewiston.

Excitement is growing for an all-inclusive play area unlike anything else in Lewiston. Village officials met recently to review a near-final set of designs for Mason's Mission Playground at Marilyn Toohey Park. When completed - hopefully by next summer - the playground is expected to be almost 14,000 square feet.