River Region residents will be able to check out the latest in fire safety, view some cool fire demos, plus get a look at two new fire vehicles and one real classic as Lewiston Fire Co. No. 1 hold its open house today, starting at 11 a.m., at the North Sixth Street fire hall.

As July happenings pile up, Western New Yorkers are out and about enjoying the summer weather. Coming up, though, hype is building for the 61st tee off of the Porter Cup golf tournament at Niagara Falls Country Club. 

Earth, Wind & Fire (Tuesday) will kick-off a string of marquee performances at the Lewiston venue. The upcoming schedule includes The Flaming Lips (July 27), JoJo Siwa (July 28), Chris Isaak (July 30), Rick Springfield (Aug. 13), Paul Rodgers and Bad Company (Aug. 20), and Foreigner (Aug. 27).

Next Saturday, July 20, the Town of Porter presents its annual Summerfest benefit inside the inviting Porter on the Lake Park, located off Dietz Road on the Lake Ontario shores. Porter Supervisor John "Duffy" Johnston and Town Board members are putting out the invite to residents in the area to stop by for a day of summer fun.

Boating slipholders in Lewiston are once again out of luck.

On Tuesday, the Youngstown Yacht Club announced the 2019 edition of the Can Am Challenge has been cancelled. It was originally scheduled to run July 26-28.

Signs, utility wires and the notion of visual clutter in a historic village have been the talk of the town in Lewiston over the past three weeks. Lee Simonson's report was featured in The Sentinel on June 22 and, since then, "All the feedback I'm getting is positive on the sign/wire report."

Over the past few years, Artpark has expanded its offerings to bring in more people. In doing so, venue management has cast wider nets for musical acts - including more from the '90s.

Members of the Lewiston VFW Downriver Post were in Academy Park last week to sign the contract to begin construction of the new memorial that will feature the names of Lewiston veterans.

The Lewiston Council on the Arts has a full docket of events and activities slated for 2019.

In a recently compiled report, the former Niagara County legislator said Lewiston is choking on a hodgepodge of signs, utility poles and wires, and it needs to be saved.

Members of Lewiston-Porter's Class of 2019 will take to the stage at Artpark on Friday evening for their high school commencement ceremony. But as they receive their diplomas and special honors, one class member will not be there. He'll already be embarking on the next chapter in his life - that of service to country.

Why was the Frontier House built almost 200 years ago, and what will it look like a year from now?

On a recent trip to Sicily, former Village of Lewiston Mayor Terry Collesano visited his grandparents' hometown of Collesano in Sicily. He took the opportunity to meet Town of Collesano Vice Mayor Mariano Ferrarello. The two men exchanged gifts and had a pleasant meeting in the sign of tradition.

Earlier this week, Lewiston-Porter High School graduated its seventh cohort of students from the Academy of International Business & Finance: Domenic Barile, Miguel Bautista, Lucas Diez, Vincent Holliday, Elaina Jowdy, Angelina Steffen, Hailey Swanson and Luke Wilson.

The Village of Lewiston Department of Public Works has been replacing water meter heads since the beginning of this year. With summer projects about to begin, the DPW is looking to finish the water meter head replacement project.

Gov. Andrew M. Cuomo on Monday hosted the first meeting of community leaders and the Lake Ontario Resiliency and Economic Development Initiative (REDI) Commission, where he announced up to $300 million in funding available for communities impacted by Lake Ontario flooding. Local governments will match 15% for every dollar the state spends.

Though he's been out of office for almost a decade, people still call Richard Soluri the "Mayor."

Having toured the grounds, analyzed the topography - and even watched Sammy Hagar in concert - Artpark & Company's master plan team took the next step in creating a map of the venue's future when it hosted a public listening session on Wednesday.

Thursday evening, seven student athletes from Lewiston-Porter High School signed to continue their playing careers collegiately.

With construction now complete on 765 Fairchild Place, and people moving into the extravagant apartment complex, there was just one box left to check-off before the project was officially finished: a ribbon-cutting ceremony.

The 2019 "Tuesdays in the Park" summer concert series began this week with a pair of crowd-pleasing performances by rock 'n' roll legends Sammy Hagar and Night Ranger. The "super" show - named that way for its unique pricing and seating configurations - lived up to billing, as the acts enthusiastically ran through five decades of hit songs, paired with a generous sampling of deep cuts.

Festival season is now underway in the River Region. Next up for many is a visit out to Ransomville.

Newly appointed commissioners of the International Joint Commission spent Tuesday in Western New York, learning more about the IJC's Plan 2014 and its shoreline impacts from the high water levels on Lake Ontario in New York state and on the St. Lawrence River system in Canada.

The 14th annual Lewiston GardenFest, presented by the Lewiston Garden Club, is set for Saturday, June 15, and Sunday, June 16. The event runs from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. both days along Center Street. It includes more than 80 vendors selling flowers, plants and garden essentials, along with speakers, demonstrations, a free garden walk and a container garden contest throughout the weekend.

David and Christina Mackenzie, owners of Rock Solid Tattoos & Permanent Makeup Studio, celebrated a ribbon-cutting on Monday, May 20, at their new location at 520 Center St., in the Village of Lewiston. They have been in business for 11 years and are excited to relocate their business to Lewiston.

Memorial Day was observed Monday in the Village of Lewiston with a parade, remembrance ceremony and luncheon.

Despite warnings of lions, tigers and bears - or at least a lot of rain - the entirety of A Taste of Lewiston was dry, warm and bright on Saturday.

A statue of the Madonna that once stood in front of Niagara Catholic High School has found a new home at the foot of St. Peter R.C. Church in Lewiston. On Sunday, the Rev. Monsignor David LiPuma led a Mass of thanksgiving and dedication as he stood next to the monument of Mary.

Lewiston's Memorial Day Remembrance Committee wishes to thank everyone who has worked this spring to prepare for our third Memorial Day celebration of the lives of the men and women who have sacrificed everything for us.

Ransomville Garden Club members marked the club's 50th anniversary last Saturday with its annual planting of spring flowers. The event took place on the "four corners" in the hamlet where club members formally dedicated four new concrete planters that were installed last summer. 

Jamie Symmonds and Willow Consulting will return to Academy Park this summer for a second season of the Lewiston Artisan Farmers Market.

With the prospect of Lake Ontario water levels going ever higher, Gov. Andrew Cuomo issued an executive order Monday, declaring a state of emergency for all shoreline areas from Youngstown to Watertown

Approximately 20 members of the Lewiston Garden Club broke out their shovels, spades, pots, planters, and green thumbs on Monday for their annual planting day throughout the Village of Lewiston.

When the lights dim on the final Artpark Amphitheater show of the season, and the band is walking off stage, patrons take a moment to reflect; they savor the experience; and, about five minutes later, they ask, "Who's coming next summer?"

In celebration of Hibbard's 80th anniversary this summer, the iconic original frozen custard stand is unveiling a new flavor, appropriately named "Big Barenaked Bang." The custard features a Hibbard's original recipe made with a coffee base, espresso beans, and pieces of dark chocolate.

The Artpark & Company board of directors has confirmed selection of the lead design team for its master plan: Internationally recognized architecture and design firm SO - IL; landscape architects West 8; and theater, acoustics and digital design consultancy Charcoalblue. They are tasked with the development of a strategy to revitalize the Artpark grounds, while improving connectivity, facilities and programs.

The Nancy Price Memorial 5K race had 68 runners signed up, along with a large number of folks who walked the course and 10 kids who ran in the half-mile "fun run."

The Youngstown Business and Professional Association announced this week it is a recipient of the 2019 William G. Mayne Business Community Enhancement Grant Program award.