The fun of summer continues in the River Region with the Youngstown Yacht Club Can Am Challenge, taking place Thursday, July 26, to Sunday, July 29, on village streets, the Lake Ontario waters and on the grounds of the YYC.

The Youngstown Volunteer Fire Co. invites residents to enjoy a day on the links in Youngstown at its annual golf tournament, Monday, Aug. 13, at the Niagara Frontier Golf Club.

The Niagara River Region Chamber of Commerce celebrated a ribbon-cutting ceremony and grand opening with Monica Mehta and her husband, George, at the new retail location of Monica - Jewelry Design.

Come next Saturday, stop by Porter on the Lake for a day of family fun as the Town of Porter presents the 2018 edition of Summerfest at the town park located on the shores of Lake Ontario.

John Lang Designs celebrated a ribbon-cutting ceremony at the art studio on Friday, July 6, with friends, family, business owners, Niagara River Region Chamber of Commerce board of directors and elected leaders. Mayor Anne Welch welcomed Lang and his family and staff member Allison to the Village of Lewiston in one of her first official duties in office.

The Village of Lewiston has a new mayor, as Anne Welch was sworn into office on Monday. Her four-year term began with applause, as family, friends and supporters crammed into the Morgan Lewis Village Boardroom to watch the former clerk/treasurer take the oath of office.

Town of Lewiston Justice Hon. Thomas Sheeran on Wednesday dismissed the Village of Lewiston's charges against Hastings Lewiston without prejudice. What this means is that, if the municipality moves forward with purchasing the Frontier House, the alleged building code violations become the village's responsibility. If the purchase doesn't happen, charges can be refiled against Hastings Lewiston.

The Lewiston Council on the Arts brings back Lewiston's own 1960s rock musicians and friends for the 14th annual "Summer of '69."

Just before the Fourth of July holiday, the Lewiston Veterans of Foreign Wars has announced it will embark on a major project that will transform the current Veterans Memorial at Academy Park into a "Circle of Honor" that will pay tribute to Lewiston veterans who have served this country.

On Friday, the Village of Lewiston emailed Frontier House information to prospective buyers.

Village of Lewiston Mayor Terry Collesano, far left, presided over his final Board of Trustees meeting on Monday.

The Lewiston GardenFest was well attended on a bright, sunny weekend. Plants of all sorts were on display, and the information to grow them came from numerous vendors. The event also offered garden supplies, seminars, crafts and food on Center Street.

Local elected leaders, businesspeople, current and former employees, friends and family members came out to The Silo Restaurant on Wednesday to celebrate the eatery's 20th anniversary on the Lewiston waterfront.

Former Village of Lewiston Clerk/Treasurer Anne Welch was elected mayor on Tuesday, defeating Deputy Mayor Bruce Sutherland by four votes (359-355).

Lewiston residents on Monday spoke passionately for and against the village's potential purchase of the historic Frontier House. In the end, trustees unanimously agreed to enter into a contract to buy the building from Hastings Lewiston.

Everything Youngstown held a ribbon-cutting ceremony last week with the Niagara River Region Chamber of Commerce, elected leaders, local businesses and friends and family. The retail store located at 435 Main St., in the Village of Youngstown. It is owned and operated by Sue McNaughton. The store offers Youngstown-inspired apparel and gifts.

Just in time for summer, the striking new bathhouse facility at Fort Niagara State Park is now complete.

Sponsored by the Youngstown Business and Professional Association, the Village of Youngstown, with assistance by Youngstown Police and Youngstown Volunteer Fire Co., the ninth annual Beginning of Summer Street Dance will take over the village's Main Street from 6-10 p.m.

"We finally did it," Mayor Terry Collesano said Thursday night.

Niagara County Peach Queen applications for the 2018 program are now available online at www.LewistonPeachFestival.org. The annual program for young women (ages 17-21) who reside in Niagara County will start in July. It is centered on community service.

Fresh from organizing the second annual "A Taste of Lewiston," the Lewiston Council on the Arts has released the rest of its culturally enriching - and entertaining - lineup for 2018.

Hundreds were part of a special experience last weekend as the 2018 American Cancer Society's Greater Niagara Relay For Life took place from Saturday afternoon to Sunday morning at Reservoir State Park in the Town of Niagara.

On Saturday, June 2, members of the Youngstown Lions Club volunteered at this year's "Tour De Cure," greeting participants and handing out food and refreshments at McFeely Plaza in Fort Niagara State Park.

The Lewiston-Porter Class Reunion Committee met on Thursday at the home of Vicki DeVantier to finalize a few plans for its 50th class reunion.

Saturday marked the official start of the Lewiston Artisan Market at Academy Park. Local elected leaders joined organizer Jamie Symmonds of Willow Consulting to welcome residents, merchants and guests - who started showing up as soon as the market opened at 8 a.m.

Right before Memorial Day, members of the Lewiston Beautification Committee and Lewiston Garden Club joined forces to put together flowerpots on Center Street.

Planning - albeit slowly - continues for this year's Great Contraption Race.

Eight variances granted to Ellicott Development in July 2016 for its Lewiston plaza project were declared void on Tuesday. The village's Zoning Board of Appeals said the Buffalo real estate company failed to commence construction within the period of time listed in municipal code.

Old Fort Niagara welcomes the public to its "Soldiers through the Ages" military history re-enactment event on Saturday and Sunday, May 26 and 27, over Memorial Day weekend. This annual event features special displays of military vehicles, period camps from the 18th, 19th and 20th centuries, weapons demonstrations, uniform programs and hands-on activities for families. In commemoration of the centennial of the Battle of Cantigny in World War I, a special program will also be presented in the Fort Niagara Officers' Club.

DiMino's Lewiston Tops is once again sponsoring the open gardens during the 13th annual Lewiston GardenFest. The event scheduled for June 16-17, is free to attend.

On Tuesday, Endless PAWSibilities celebrated a ribbon-cutting ceremony with the Niagara River Region Chamber of Commerce board of directors, elected leaders from Lewiston, and friends and family. Endless PAWSibilities is a dog grooming business owned by Tyler Smith.

Following some spring construction, the world-famous Hibbard's Original Frozen Custard opened for the 2018 season on Sunday.

Following-up on her successful holiday vendor fair, Lewiston entrepreneur Jamie Symmonds will debut a weekly artisan market on June 2 inside Academy Park. Each Saturday (through Oct. 13), a collection of a dozen-plus vendors will offer an assortment of locally grown or produced foods, plus handcrafted bath and body products.

Go back in time. See a stunning sunset. Enjoy salty and sweet delights. Where is this utopian destination? In Western New Yorkers' own backyard at Olcott.

Cars were zigzagging, traffic lights were swinging, and electricity was spotty, but it was going to take more than that to stop the Lewiston Smelt Festival.

Freshman architecture students from the University at Buffalo are ready to unveil the wondrous wooden structures they created this semester, which will be on display at Artpark in Lewiston.

Law enforcement personnel who died in the line of duty will be honored at 7 p.m. Wednesday, May 16, at the 21st annual Niagara Interfaith Chaplaincy Police Memorial Service.

On Tuesday, two-term Deputy Mayor Bruce Sutherland was the top vote-getter in the Republican Party caucus. Two days later, former Clerk/Treasurer Anne Welch garnered the most tallies at the Democrat Party caucus.

Longtime Village of Lewiston Clerk/Treasurer Anne Welch received the Democrat Party nomination for mayor at Thursday's caucus, and will challenge Bruce Sutherland in the June 19 election.

An annual tradition continued last weekend in the Village of Lewiston, as volunteers came to the Red Brick Municipal Building ready to volunteer their time and talent in cleaning municipal grounds.