Buffalo-Niagara certainly appears to be getting off easy this time around when it comes to dealing with our winter weather. Plainly put, it's been a dull one, with milder temperatures more often than not dictating the weather patterns.

This past Tuesday, a significant event was marked at the Town of Lewiston Senior Center. With dozens of visitors on hand, including town officials, area seniors and center members, family and many, many friends, Jeanette Collesano bid her goodbyes to all as Senior Center director.

Niagara River Greenway Commission Executive Director Greg Stevens invited River Region residents to attend a public meeting on the lower Niagara Shoreline Trail Connectivity Study. The event is scheduled for 6:30 p.m. Monday, March 2, at the Town of Lewiston Senior Center, 4361 Lower River Road.

Bright Eyes with special guest Lucy Dacus will perform at the Artpark Mainstage Theater on Sunday, June 14. This concert is a Funtime Presents event. Indoor reserved tickets ($46-$102) will go on sale at noon Friday, Feb. 21.

Rarely does one find a cask party in Niagara County - which made the Brickyard Brewing Company's event Saturday all that more special.

For 15 years, the Brickyard Pub & B.B.Q. has been Lewiston's go-to place for killer Bs: barbecue and beer.

Third-, fourth- and fifth-grade students in Lewiston-Porter's multiage service learning classrooms are collecting items for soldiers stationed overseas. As part of "Peace For Our Patriots," the youngsters are sending troops pieces of home to make tours of duty more agreeable.

Artpark will present Chicago live at the Mainstage Theater at 7:30 p.m. Friday, Aug. 7. Indoor reserved tickets and general admission lawn tickets ($30-$129) go on sale at 10 a.m. Friday, Feb. 14.

When The Sentinel broke news of The Como Restaurant expanding into Lewiston in 2018, one of the first thoughts - nay, wishes ... hopes ... dreams! - was that village diners would be able to pick up a pint of pastina or a quart of minestrone from the world-famous Italian kitchen.

Ken Rosa, senior manager, law enforcement relations for Aftermath, visited the Lewiston Police Department this week for presentation of the Aftermath K-9 $1,000 grant.

"Winter Woods Battle" returns to Old Fort Niagara from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. Saturday, Feb. 15. It will feature cordwaining as a new demonstration along with its assortment of indoor and outdoor living-history activities for visitors.

Niagara County Emergency Services Director Jonathan Schultz told the Lake Ontario Planning Committee that current Lake Ontario water levels are already higher than at a similar period a year ago. Schultz said the current water level is 246.59 feet, about 9 inches above where they were on this date one year ago.

The Village of Lewiston Board of Trustees is taking a step back from pursuing a digital sign at the corner of Center Street and Portage Road.

The Village of Lewiston plans to break ground this spring on a $750,000 inclusive playground at Marilyn Toohey Park. Mayor Anne Welch said a groundbreaking ceremony will take place as part of the 25th annual "Spring Fling" on Sunday, May 3.

Live Nation will present The Head and The Heart with special guest Margo Price live at the Artpark Mainstage Theater at 8 p.m. Wednesday, May 27. Indoor reserved tickets and general admission lawn tickets ($29.50-$59.50) will go on sale at 1 p.m. Friday, Feb. 7.

Sacarissa Bell Rose Lodge of the Independent Order of Odd Fellows (IOOF) has been busy distributing checks to community organizations. At the January meeting, it was decided to send checks of support to the Red Jacket Club; Heart, Love & Soul of Niagara Falls; and Community Cats Alive of Lewiston.

Local elected leaders are again making a push to lower the speed limit on Center Street, from 30 miles per hour down to 25 mph.

All remains quiet on the Lake Ontario shores in Olcott as debate continues in many circles on IJC Plan 2014. But that doesn't mean other, more exciting discussions for the area's summer seasons aren't taking place.

The New York Power Authority has successfully piloted a robotic technology that can navigate inside a power transformer to effectively identify any operational issues while reducing unplanned down time and reducing risk to personnel. The new inspection tool marks NYPA's latest investment in enhancing reliability and cost-effectiveness of its electricity generation assets and transmission network as part of New York's growing strength in technological innovation.

New York State Assemblyman Angelo Morinello on Wednesday said he supports the Village of Lewiston's goal to lower the speed limit on Center Street to make the roadway more walkable. He contacted Niagara Frontier Publications to clear the air, in light of reports he received from Tuesday's Board of Trustees meeting.

Niagara Physical Therapy is excited to publicize the successful transfer of ownership from its founder, Dr. Louis Cacciatore, to long-time employee Dr. Steve Doermer.

Barenaked Ladies return to the Artpark Amphitheater with the sixth edition of their "The Last Summer On Earth Tour" on July 7 as part of the "Tuesdays in the Park presented by M&T Bank" concert series. Barenaked Ladies will be joined by Gin Blossoms and Toad the Wet Sprocket.

Construction is continuing on the second-floor living quarters above The Como Deli and The Country Doctor at South Sixth and Center streets in Lewiston. Owner Zach Casale is renovating the units while also adding a clock tower.

Two Lewiston businesses originally slated to become part of the renovated Fourth and Center streets complex are moving. The owners of Brewed and Bottled Craft Beer Shop and Sgt. Peppers Hot Sauces said the corner's concept just wasn't the right fit for them. As such, they're headed to 442-444 Center, a property developed by attorney and Town of Lewiston Councilman Alfonso Marra Bax.

Visit WilsonNY (formerly known as Wilson Community Tourism), serving the Town and Village of Wilson, elected a new slate of officers with their terms beginning on Jan. 1.

The Lake Ontario Preparedness Group met Thursday in Porter Town Hall to hear updates on local tourism initiatives, and to jointly sign a resolution opposing the International Joint Commission's Plan 2014.

The Lewiston-Porter School District Board of Education on Monday announced the appointment of Bradley Rowles as the new principal of Lewiston-Porter High School.

The Lewiston Council on the Arts is already at work on this summer's Lewiston Art Festival. Two items of interest were announced Tuesday:

DiMino Lewiston Tops once again partnered with Niagara Frontier Publications/The Sentinel to present a holiday coloring contest for children.

The 2019 Community Christmas Baskets Program, an annual project of the Youngstown Civic Guild, saw a successful conclusion in the days before Christmas.

The Town of Porter held its swearing-in ceremonies of elected officials Thursday at Town Hall.

Joined by family, friends and supporters, nine officials were sworn into office Jan. 1 at the Town of Lewiston Town Hall.

Stella Niagara students and faculty took part in a reverse Advent calendar this Christmas season.

Winter cold also wasn't enough to cancel Lewiston's annual War of 1812 remembrance ceremony Thursday at the Tuscarora Heroes Monument on the corner of Center Street and Portage Road.

Gallo Coal Fire Kitchen owner Michael Hibbard recently took over the property at 453 Center St., formerly Center Cut: The Village Steakhouse. Hibbard said he hopes to open "Gather" sometime in February.

Jamie Symmonds' recent Holiday Market at the Brickyard Brewing Company was a success, with scores of people attending and myriad vendors showcasing their wares for guests.

Attendees of the 15th annual Lewiston Tour of Homes had an opportunity to vote on their favorite home as "Best in Show." The "Par for Christmas" house decorated by Fay Bailey of Fay Bailey Designs, and Catherine Rotella and Al Piccirillo of Piccirillo's Florist, is the winner.

"There's a lot of history, if people will just take the time to look," Russell H. Piper Jr. said Sunday.

On Friday, the Niagara River Region Chamber of Commerce celebrated a ribbon-cutting with Meraki Salon & Spa and owner Lisa Carney-Brochey. Meraki means to do something with soul, creativity or love; to put something of yourself in your work.

Tedeschi Trucks Band's "Wheels of Soul Tour" returns to the Artpark Amphitheater on July 14, 2020, as part of the "Tuesdays in the Park presented by M&T Bank" series. Tedeschi Trucks Band will be joined by eight-piece soul band St. Paul and the Broken Bones plus singer-songwriter and multi-instrumentalist Gabe Dixon. Tickets go on sale at 10 a.m. Friday, Dec. 13.