The sun was shining at the Lewiston-Porter High School track for the 15th annual Lewiston Relay For Life on Saturday, June 16. The day started at noon with the survivors lap and a speech from this year's honorary survivor, Maureen Castiglione, aka "Mama Moe."

Sandy Hays Mies, event coordinator for the Lewiston Region Tour of Kitchens, has announced the winners of the 2012 People's Choice Awards.

Lewiston Council on the Arts volunteers, board members, staff and supporters recently got together to spruce up Seneca "Bug" Park, across from the Lewiston Public Library.

Lt. Col. Owen J. Beaudoin (center) officially assumed command of U.S. Army Corps of Engineers, Buffalo District from Lt. Col. Stephen H. Bales in a formal ceremony June 21 at the Connecticut Street Armory in Buffalo.

Father's Day found my wife and me on a car cruise to Olcott, and when we came over the Eighteen Mile Creek bridge and turned north, down the main drag into town we saw this little hamlet in the Town of Newfane bustling with people.

The Start of Summer Street Dance in Youngstown Thursday saw a large crowd come out to eat, drink, dance, play with beach balls and visit with friends on a warm summer evening.

Starting next month, the Village of Lewiston Board of Trustees will have two new members. Democrat Dennis Brochey (197 votes) and Republican Nick Conde (129 votes) bested incumbents Ernie Krell (Republican, 79 votes) and Therese Mudd (Democrat, 74 votes) in Tuesday's election.

The Village of Lewiston is pulling out all the stops for the "Road Bros" visit on Wednesday. The village's Department of Public Works is pictured Tuesday hanging a sign at Eighth and Center streets welcoming "Best for Food" judges Mike Shubic and Brian Cox.

"Best for Food" judges Mike Shubic and Brian Cox are in for a treat when they visit Lewiston on Wednesday. The "Road Bros," one of Rand McNally/USA Today's Best Small Towns in America travel teams, will receive a police escort down Center Street to a gathering at The Silo Restaurant. There, they'll find a "rousing welcome."

Judges coming to Lewiston for national contest; Travel Channel will be in Lewiston accompanying judges; public reception scheduled for Wednesday at The Silo Restaurant. Watch the preview video.

Lewiston is finalist in USA Today/Rand McNally "Best for Food" contest.

Ashker's Juice Bar, Bistro and Gallery opened this past week in the Village of Lewiston. The popular Center Street eatery was a little later opening this season due, in part, to the opening of a third Ashker's location (1002 Elmwood Ave., Buffalo).

Local artist Jesse Walp and his team have been hard at work creating an interactive art installation geared toward children and nature lovers.

Preparations are now under way for the annual Cruise & Schmooze. The 2012 edition of the Niagara River Cruise & Schmooze, which benefits Niagara Hospice, will take place on Friday, July 13.

Lewiston-Porter Middle School technology teacher Mr. Mark Rivard and his tech students have been working furiously on making wooden candleholders for Lewiston Relay For Life's luminaria ceremony.

This week marks the beginning of free concerts in the Village of Youngstown. Each Friday, from 7 until 9 p.m. in Falkner Park, bands will perform for guests and visitors.

More than 120 NU employees tackled community service projects throughout Western New York on Thursday. It was all part of the university's Day of Service, an annual tradition for faculty and staff in reflection of NU's Vincentian heritage.

After a record number of votes were cast, Olcott Beach topped the leader board in WFN: World Fishing Network's "Ultimate Fishing Town" contest. The town will receive a $25,000 community donation to be used toward a fishing-related project, plus a fully produced feature story to be aired on WFN.

The long-awaited firehall renovation at Lewiston Volunteer Fire Co. No. 1 is finally at hand.

The Lewiston Peace Garden, located at 476 Center St., has definitely evolved over the years. Eva Nicklas from the Lewiston Council on the Arts explained how it began as a "funky gravel parking lot" and, after years of hard work, is now recognized as an International Peace Garden by the International Peace Garden Foundation.

"It's a beautiful green space that all of Lewiston is proud of," Nicklas said.

The Peace Garden contains a fountain, a stage, different kinds of flowering plants, and memory bricks throughout.

The garden has been host to various events over the years, including belly dancing, poetry readings, chainsaw artists, and fundraising events. But this summer will be different.

Motorists take note: The Village of Lewiston has converted the corner of Portage Road and Cayuga Street into a four-way stop. (photo by Joshua Maloni)

Hops-n-Vines, the super-cool lounge located at 490 Center St. (below Casa Antica), is celebrating its first anniversary next week. Proprietors Chris Salada, Kurt Minervino and John DiMino will host series of special events to mark the occasion.

Memorial Day observances in the area included "Soldiers through the Ages" at Old Fort Niagara, which featured activities honoring soldiers through three centuries of the fort's existence.

Buffalo Cabinetry, a new member of the Niagara River Region Chamber of Commerce, celebrated a ribbon-cutting at its showroom located inside Payne's Carpet Outlet. Members of the chamber, as well as elected leaders and representatives from the Town of Niagara Business and Professional Association, were on hand to welcome Buffalo Cabinetry into the business community.

Last August, a tollhouse used at Lewiston's suspension bridge to Canada was gifted to the village. The building was placed in the driveway of Clerk Anne Welch whose husband, Bob, a Historical Association of Lewiston volunteer, worked to refurbish the unit.

Alan Hastings, the restaurateur who put "The Haystack" sandwich on the global map, is trying his hand at something completely different this summer: restoring a beat-up auto body shop.

First Niagara Bank, Lewiston branch, was chosen for the 2012 Chairman's Award by the Niagara River Region Chamber of Commerce board of directors and chairman of the board, George Osborne.

The EmStar Emergency Department of Mount St. Mary's Hospital and Health Center recognized local emergency medical service professionals at an award's dinner on Wednesday at the Niagara Falls Country Club.

The Stella Niagara community is preparing for the 10 Mile Sidewalk and Garage Sale by cleaning out the attic.

Members of Lewiston's KeyBank branch participated Tuesday in the 22nd annual "Neighbors Make the Difference Day." Workers, including Jennifer Haseley (left) and Dawn Bonora, spruced up Academy Park, touching up soil and pulling weeds.

After several months of remodeling, 453 Center St. - formerly known as The Steelhead - is set to reopen as Town Hall.

Peaceful? Normal? Tranquil? That's not how folks will describe the lakeside community of Wilson on Friday, June 8, starting at 6 p.m. That's when this town will set the pace with its third annual Amazing Race.

Grandpaws Pet Emporium recently opened at 784 Center St., in the Village of Lewiston.

Miss Carly Posa's first-grade students at St. Peter R.C. School visited Lewiston business Enchanted Florist to buy Mother's Day presents.

The results are not yet finalized but, in tabulations from Tuesday night, it appears that Village of Youngstown residents have opted to retain Democrat Mayor Raleigh Reynolds.

The Lewiston Choraleers will kick off its sixth annual spring concert series on Saturday, June 2, at 1 p.m. at Porter on the Lake.

This summer, 10 Niagara University theater studies students and a number of students from the university's College of Business will study abroad for eight weeks at London's Anglo-American University.

Angel to Apple Clothing Boutique celebrated its sixth anniversary May 12 in the Village of Lewiston.

Alex Schmitt, Eagle Scout candidate, and members of Lewiston Boy Scout Troop 855 descended upon Joseph Davis State Park to perform trail enhancement and remediation.

Ramona Lockhart and Kathy Zasucha (pictured) have been chosen by the Town of Porter Supervisor Merton Wiepert as the recipients of the 2012 Town of Porter Citizens of the Year Award.

Village of Youngstown GOP candidates Jack W. Bush Jr., Dorothy E. Riordan and Tim Lockhart.