The Veterans of Foreign Wars Downriver Post 7487's "Circle of Honor" started to be assembled on Wednesday morning. Patrol cars from the Lewiston Police Department and Niagara County Sheriff's Office escorted stone pillars down Center Street and into Academy Park. Project manager Rocco DelGrosso and his team then began to install the monument pieces.

The Lower Niagara Community Survivors group held its second annual "Rockout Cancer" event Sunday at the Lewiston Stone House. People came out to support the organization that is now offering financial and manpower services to those battling the disease.

The second annual "Rockout Cancer" will run from noon until 8 p.m. Sunday, Sept. 15, at the Lewiston Stone House, 755 Center St.

Victoria Skrlin-Kozak was crowned Peach Queen Sunday night, capping off the 62nd annual Niagara County Peach Festival at Academy Park in Lewiston.

For a few shining moments Saturday, it appeared as if Town of Lewiston Supervisor Steve Broderick had been dethroned as peach shortcake eating champion. Alas, the reigning and defending titleholder would walk away with his fourth-straight victory - after it was discovered Kiwanian Dean Beltrano cheated!

Arthur Lawson, mayor of the Village of Wilson, met recently with the Porter Town Board to express his thanks to the town on behalf of the New York State Division of Veterans Services.

On July 16, Historical Association of Lewiston Executive Director Patricia Mahoney and I received an email from Village of Lewiston Mayor Anne Welch. The mayor asked if we could assist a woman named Jane Brogan from York, Nebraska. Jane's mother was an avid collector of books that she would collect from library sales around the state.

Tens of thousands of people will visit the Niagara County Peach Festival this weekend. It's a safe bet more than a few will wonder if this is the event's final ride at Academy Park.

Village of Lewiston Deputy Mayor Vic Eydt joined with Ashley Olds, Bill Kilmer and Linda Fleck in presenting the municipality with $10,201 on Monday for the new inclusive playground project. The funds were generated at last month's "Moose's Mission" fundraiser, which was presented by Lower Niagara Moose Lodge No. 584 and Women of the Moose Chapter 1940.

In what could only be described as a sight straight out of a Food Network kitchen, The Stone House was filled with delicious desserts of every shape, size, texture and taste on Thursday night. The occasion was a ribbon-cutting for Just Desserts by Aimee - which is kitty-corner to the Lewiston wine bar. Friends and family looked on with awe at the picturesque pastries, precisely piled on serving plates.

A naturalization ceremony took place Wednesday morning at Old Fort Niagara for 20 new U.S. citizens. Individuals from 11 different countries, including Bangladesh, Bhutan, Burma, Canada, China, Congo (Kinshasa), Iran, Iraq, Lebanon, Liberia and Vietnam, took their oaths of allegiance from U.S. Magistrate Judge Michael J. Roemer, U.S. District Court for the Western District of New York.

Some people smirk when Northwest Jazz Festival in Historic Lewiston organizers state the event annually draws upward of 40,000 people. Those doubters were converted this past weekend, as people were elbow-to-elbow across Center Street, and cars were stacked all the way back to Oxbow Lane at the Lewiston event.

The Silo Restaurant is concluding a successful summer at the end of September.

Michael Hibbard's development plan, to transform the plaza at Center and North Fourth streets into a new, larger Gallo Coal Fire Kitchen, received approval at Monday's Village of Lewiston Board meeting.

Visitors and residents of the River Region are certainly fortunate when it comes to the number and variety of experiences available in the area. From the arts to fantastic fishing, jet boats to wine trails, the living history of Old Fort Niagara to the high-caliber entertainment at Artpark, the countless festivals and so much more, nary a day goes by without something new, exciting and enjoyable for visitors as well as locals to partake in.

Tens of thousands of people have watched one or more shows at Artpark this summer. Few have had an opportunity to actually be in one - that was until Thursday night. Plasticiens Volants' "Pearl: Secrets of the Sea" made its U.S. debut at Artpark in Lewiston.

This is not a drill. We repeat: This is not a drill! Dr. Giant Eyeball has returned to Lewiston - and this time he's brought his Sinister Quartet Under Ill-Fated Direction, or S.Q.U.I.D.

The 2019 Niagara County Peach Festival could be the last one held in Academy Park.

Village Mayor Anne Welch assembled a group of artists in mid-July with the intent of promoting Lewiston as an arts destination. They met again on Wednesday - this time with some notable additions - looking to implement strategies to increase public awareness.

Two summers ago, the French street theater group Plasticiens Volants wowed people when it debuted "Big Bang" Lewiston. The troupe told a story of creation through a dazzling mix of floating inflatables, videos, lights and music. Its colorful creations filled the night sky, and were manned by performers weaving in and out of the crowd.

Fine art will meet coal-fired pizza when Michael Hibbard makes over the corner of Center and North Fourth streets in Lewiston.

"Tuesdays in the Park" boasted a triple-bill with Tommy Tutone, Loverboy and headliner Rick Springfield. The "Best in Show" tour offered more than three hours of high-energy performances, complete with a smorgasbord of hit songs and some unexpected fan interactions.

Old Fort Niagara is hosting its final reenactment of the season, the "War of 1812 Encampment," on Aug. 31 and Sept. 1, at the National Historic Landmark in Youngstown. This encampment portrays the British attack on Fort Niagara during the American occupation in December 1813, and includes a special evening battle and daily activities for all.

The Lewiston Council on the Arts has revealed the winners of the 2019 Lewiston Art Festival.

A new school year is around the corner and excitement is starting to build around the Lewiston-Porter School District.

The Niagara River Region Chamber of Commerce, elected and business leaders recently celebrated a ribbon-cutting ceremony with member Bin There Dump That, a new, residential-friendly Dumpster outfit at 130 S. Fifth St., Lewiston. The company serves Niagara County and Northern Buffalo. It is online at https://wny.bintheredumpthatusa.com/home.

The Niagara River Region Chamber of Commerce celebrated a ribbon-cutting Monday with SJC Handmade. The new Village of Lewiston art gallery features acrylic fluid paintings on canvas, wood panels and more for sale by artist Stephanie Casale.

On Saturday, Aug. 3, Lower Niagara Moose Lodge No. 584 proudly presented "Moose's Mission," a benefit for Lewiston's all-inclusive playground project set to be built in Marilyn Toohey Park.

Sarah McLachlan returned to Artpark to perform with the Buffalo Philharmonic Orchestra. The musical icon, Lilith Fair creator and Sarah McLachlan School of Music founder was, per usual, vocally dynamic, making for a memorable occasion. As she did in 2014, McLachlan shared stories, explained song origins and thanked fans for supporting her now 31-year career.

Town of Lewiston Supervisor Steve Broderick was given a citation from the Sanborn Area Historical Society at the Sanborn-Lewiston Farm Museum Festival for providing the society help financing a feasibility study; purchasing the farm in 2002; continuing to support it over the years, including this year; completing the museum's parking lot and connecting the venue to the town sewers, allowing the Sanborn-Lewiston Farm Museum to be open all year for the first time.

Another year of the Porter Cup has come and gone at the Niagara Falls Country Club. In the 61st edition of the prestigious tournament, Aiden Didone of Melbourne, Australia, walked away victorious. 

Lee Simonson's public awareness campaign regarding the placement and functionality of signs and wires in the Village of Lewiston continues to gain steam. His 36-page analysis recently received an endorsement from the Niagara River Region Chamber of Commerce.

The 20th annual Jack Beatty Memorial Hospice Cruise and Clambake, a popular fundraising event held for Niagara Hospice, was held Friday, July 12, at the Porter on the Lake. The high water levels of Lake Ontario required many last-minute changes to be made, but organizers said the event was still an exceptional celebration.

The medical staff of Mount St. Mary's Hospital has awarded scholarships to four local high school students, and one hospital associate, to advance their education.

Lewiston is the summer events capital of the county. People come from around the state - sometimes farther - to explore an array of festivals, attend a concert or two, enjoy the waterfront and pay homage to history at a handful of monuments. From the first sign of spring through the last semblance of summer, Center Street is bustling and restaurants are overflowing. And yet, as Lewiston continues to make headlines for its many offerings, an important piece of village culture is being overlooked: the artistic community.

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 Saturday, 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).

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.