VIDEO/NEWS: The Rev. Joseph L. Levesque, C.M., announced Tuesday that he will resign from his position as president of Niagara University at the conclusion of the current academic year.

Dr. Glenda R. Rose and Dr. Thomas G. Barba, of Rose Chiropractic P.C. in Lewiston, announce they will be sponsoring the 23rd annual "Doctors with a Heart Day" on Saturday, Feb. 9, from 9 a.m. to 1 p.m. for their patients.

While Lewiston readies for its first-ever Cocktail Festival in March, folks up in the Village of Youngstown have been busy in their own forms of fun to help ward off the winter doldrums.

The Lewiston-Porter Board of Education accepted, with regret, the resignation of Don Rappold, assistant superintendent for administrative services. Rappold joined Lew-Port on Aug. 1, 1987 and will leave the district at the end of business on June 30.

St. Peter's Holy Name Society in Lewiston recently installed its new officers for 2013 and 2014.

OK, let me tell you a little story.

Ice fishing is a great sport, fun, and a real challenge sometimes.

Cornerstone Community Federal Credit Union, the largest locally owned credit union in Western New York, will celebrate the grand opening of its newest location on Wednesday, Jan. 23. The new branch is located at 721 Center St., in the Village of Lewiston.

All members of the community are invited to attend and take part in the special promotions.

What began with two guys, a bar and a pizza place has, five years later, morphed into one of Lewiston's most successful eateries.

You asked for it.

In response to patron requests, the Village Bake Shoppe is now serving sandwiches. Five different paninis are on the menu, and include "The Meltdown," a Cuban, the "Gucci" grilled cheese, ham and mozzarella, and turkey and bacon club.

It was sweets for a cause as The Lewiston Village Pub and Restaurant presented "Cupcakes for a Crown" last Sunday. Featured was a student cupcake competition fundraiser, with proceeds going to assist Lewiston-Porter freshman Grace Breen as she prepares to enter as a representative in the Miss Teen USA Contest.

The Center for Women at Mount St. Mary's Hospital welcomed its first baby of 2013.

The New Year saw the swearing in of a new justice for the Town of Porter. Newly elected Wayne Pollow took his oath of office from Porter Justice David Truesdale before friends and family Tuesday at Porter Town Hall.

While the biggies were seen in New York City, Buffalo, Niagara Falls, even Lewiston, New Year's celebrations also included events in Wilson and Ransomville.

The Neptune Ski Club brought Santa Claus to Lewiston on New Year's Day to do a little skiing on the river.

The Bee Hive Ceramic Studio in Lewiston recently donated $250 to Niagara Cerebral Palsy to assist its many programs that support children and adults with developmental disabilities.

The Intersocietal Accreditation Commission has granted an accreditation to Mount St. Mary's Hospital nuclear cardiology medicine program. This three-year accreditation recognizes that the hospital's program has undergone a thorough review of its operational and technical components by a panel of experts.

Noelle LaBarr didn't want to wait a few hours to be the first baby born at Mount St. Mary's in 2013, so she became the last baby born at the expanded Center for Women at Mount St. Mary's for 2012.

Surrounded by his family, Assemblyman John Ceretto, R-C-I-Lewiston, was sworn in to office Dec. 31 by Grand Island Town Justice Mark Frentzel at the Grand Island Town Hall.

Well, the world didn't end.

We figured it wouldn't. Yet that didn't stop residents in the River Region from seizing each day and living life to the fullest this year.

The Orange Cat Coffee Co. in Lewiston hosted "The World's Shortest Christmas Party."

A community Christmas celebration was held in the Wilson High School auditorium. Several area churches came together for a fun, non-denominational celebration of Christmas.

It has been a busy few months since I crowned Lewiston's newest peach queen back in September. Not only have my classes at Niagara University been challenging and time consuming, but my ongoing fundraising efforts for the Arthritis Foundation have kept me a busy young lady, as well.

It may be the off-season for area golfers, but that doesn't mean the folks at the Niagara Falls Country Club have been quiet.

Congratulations to the following artists, winners of the Sentinel's annual holiday coloring contest, sponsored by DiMino Lewiston Tops:

Paul Beatty, representing Niagara Hospice and the Mighty Niagara Half Marathon, presented the Village of Lewiston trustees with a certificate of appreciation prior to Monday's monthly board meeting.

A little light rain didn't do anything to put a damper on Youngstown's "Christmas in the Village" event .

Retired Lewiston-Porter Elementary School teachers and staff have been donating children's gifts for several years to the Youngstown/Porter Community Holiday Baskets organization.

The Lewiston Lions Club is ending the year on a high note. Four new members - Fred Smith, Bob Hartz, Carol Sommer and Lisa Ieraci, pictured from left - were inducted during December's dinner meeting.

The Town of Lewiston continues to add sponsors to the Lewiston Family Ice Rink for its 2012-13 season.

Plans for a new recreation/community/senior center and a donation from an area hazardous waste landfiller were the newsmakers at opposite ends of an otherwise routine Lewiston Town Board work session Monday.

Emery Simon and Harold Hibbard recently purchased Frontier Lanes. They have renamed it the Lewiston Event Center, and plan to make full use of the almost three-acre property.

Over the course of 40 years, master technician Dennis Brochey has worked on more than 100,000 automobiles in his Center Street automotive shop. At the end of this month, he'll hang up his wrench.

The Niagara River Region Chamber of Commerce celebrated a ribbon-cutting ceremony Monday with new member Christina Zaroian, a licensed esthetician and the owner of La Pelle.

The Village Vet of Lewiston, a new member of the Niagara River Region Chamber of Commerce, celebrated a ribbon-cutting ceremony on Friday, Dec. 7, at its new location, 720 Cayuga St. (behind Rite Aid plaza), in the Village of Lewiston.

The Niagara River Region Chamber of Commerce celebrated a ribbon-cutting ceremony on Sunday, Dec. 2, with new member Studio 763.

Competition was stiff this year for the People's Choice Award for Best Holiday Décor at the Historical Association of Lewiston's 2012 Tour of Homes. More than 1,000 ballots were cast and, while the numbers were close, the winner is ...

The Town of Lewiston Highway Department reports leaf and brush pickups continue for town residents.

ROTC cadets from Niagara University, and students at Lewiston-Porter Middle School teamed up with the St. Vincent de Paul Society at St. Peter's Church in Lewiston to help families in need of assistance at Thanksgiving.

With the holiday season officially upon us, it's important to make time to celebrate with family and friends - and holiday lighting is a key part of those festivities. By following a few simple tips, customers can benefit from a more environmentally friendly, safe and cost-effective way to light up the holiday season.

Cornerstone Community Federal Credit Union, the largest locally owned credit union in Western New York, is announcing plans for a new branch located at 721 Center St., in the Village of Lewiston (inside the former HSBC). This latest branch will open in January 2013.