Donald Shrimpton, founder and director of the Lewiston Choraleers, will participate in a concert titled "An American Salute: Our Heritage of Faith & Freedom" on Saturday, Oct. 26, at 7 p.m. at Constitution Hall in Washington, D.C.

The Most Rev. Richard J. Malone, Th.D., bishop of the Roman Catholic Diocese of Buffalo, recently presided at a special 10th anniversary Mass of the opening of the Our Lady of Peace Nursing Care Residence.

The Castellani Art Museum of Niagara University will host its 11th annual gala on Saturday, Oct. 19. Mrs. and Mrs. T. Christopher Castellani are honorary chairs for "Dinner with Dali," the museum's major fundraiser.

Michael Freedman, Niagara University's associate director of public relations and manager of online content, has been chosen as a "Spotlight Professional" by Buffalo Niagara 360, a program for young professionals that's coordinated by the Buffalo Niagara Partnership.

Freedman was recognized during the Buffalo Niagara 360 Kickoff Celebration, which was held Thursday at Shea's Performing Arts Center.

"This is a well-deserved honor for Mike and his family," said Tom Burns, Niagara's associate vice president for PR, communications and marketing.

Rivershore Inc., Lewiston's Compass Agency serving people with developmental disabilities, held its fourth annual gala dinner Wednesday at the Niagara Falls Country Club. The event was titled "Celebrating Community Partnerships," and served as an opportunity for Rivershore to pay tribute to its numerous community partners.

Lewiston's ChrisFit is launching a new workout program just for women. The barre class, personal trainer Karen Tweedie-Oakley explained, is a "total body workout that lifts your seat, tones your thighs and burns fat."

Niagara River Region Chamber of Commerce member Dance Like A Star with Serge, a new ballroom dance studio in Lewiston, celebrated a ribbon-cutting ceremony. The business, located at 222 Portage Road, has completed renovations with a new dance floor and more.

"Music Under the Stars" was held at the Black Willow Winery and featured a selection of artisanal wines and meal paired with J & L Blvd. BBQ, and music by Busted Stuff. All proceeds of the ticket sales from the event were donated to Save-A-Pet.

Lovin My Bags by Barbara is now open in the Village of Lewiston. Owner Barbara Crouthamel, a Youngstown resident, offers a large selection of authentic designer purses imported from Italy and France.

Terrie and John Bednarczyk of The Bee Hive are pictured presenting a check to Megan Vaughan to benefit the National MS Society.

It was an unforgettable summer for Michelle Ball, a new senior at Lewiston-Porter High School.

Tuesday's primary in the Town of Porter may have paled in comparison to the supervisor's contest in Lewiston, but the lone race for town justice nonetheless was interesting.

Mount St. Mary's Hospital has announced the formation of a team of anesthesiologists to meet the expanding surgical needs of patients and physicians. The team is a combination of current and new anesthesiologists who also have specific training in pain management.

Change is coming in the Town of Lewiston.

Visit our photo gallery this week for a complete pictorial recap of the Niagara County Peach Festival.

Alexandra Casale was crowned Peach Queen Sunday night to cap the 56th annual Niagara County Peach Festival.

Purple loosestrife is really a beautiful looking plant and many would wonder why it is such an undesirable plant. But it is a plant that can pose a danger to our ecosystem without most people even noticing.

The Lower Niagara Women of the Moose Chapter 1940 recently presented a $200 check to the Mount St. Mary's Foundation in support of the hospital's Center for Women.

On Sept. 14-15, Old Fort Niagara and the New York State Office of Parks, Recreation and Historic Preservation will present a weekend of special programs that commemorate the 250th anniversary of two historic skirmishes that occurred at Devil's Hole on Sept. 14, 1763.

With the Sept. 10 primary looming around the corner, the Niagara County Republican Committee issued a statement this week with regard to the race for supervisor in the Town of Lewiston.

Over past weeks, reports surfaced that both incumbent Steve Reiter and current Town Councilman Ernest Palmer secured sufficient numbers of voter signatures on petitions to enable their candidacy in the Sept. 10 primary on the GOP line.

However, the Niagara County Republican Committee has opted to remain in the background - until this week, announcing that it has decided to come out in support of Palmer in the primary.

On Saturday, Sept. 7, St. Peter's parish in Lewiston will host a celebration to commemorate the 60 years of academic excellence and prestige that St. Peter's School has maintained. The event will begin at 4 p.m. at St. Peter's R.C. Church, where a Mass will be held. It will be followed by a reception at the Barton Hill Hotel and Spa on North First Street.

Tournament Chairman Captain Steve Drabczyk of Lewiston Bait & Tackle sends word of another successful walleye tournament held on the lower Niagara River Aug. 24. All fish entered were caught at the Niagara bar in front of Fort Niagara.

The Opportunities Unlimited of Niagara Foundation held its 16th annual "Celebrity Bartending" fundraiser at the Brickyard Pub & B.B.Q., raising more than $17,000 for people with developmental disabilities.

The Kiwanis Club of Lewiston hosted its annual get-together for the Peach Queen candidates at Pletcher Road Park. The event featured a meet-and-greet of the candidates with Kiwanis members and visitors, a picnic and games.

The Historical Association of Lewiston presented the Heenan Brothers and their "Canal Blues" music at the Hennepin Park Gazebo.

Bass. You can catch them from shore; you can catch them by boat; catch them on live bait; catch them on artificial bait; you can troll for them or still-fish for them and it makes no difference. This summer in Western New York, we have enjoyed some of the best smallmouth bass fishing available anywhere.

Alan Hastings has made a name for himself on the Lewiston waterfront, working with his father, Richard, to transform a coal silo into one of the village's most popular restaurants.

Now, he hopes to do the same with the long-dormant Frontier House.

CWM Chemical Services in Porter announced Wednesday that the state Department of Environmental Conservation has approved its application for renewal of its 6 NYCRR Part 373 overall site wide/RMU-1 permit for its Balmer Road hazardous waste landfill facility.

"The NYSDEC has reviewed all public and CWM comments, including those made during the legislative public hearing and have not identified any substantive and significant issues specifically related to the CWM Permit renewal application," wrote David S. Denk, DEC regional permit administrator, in a letter to Jill A. Banaszak, CWM technical manager.

"The NYSDEC has reviewed all public and CWM comments, including those made during the legislative public hearing and have not identified any substantive and significant issues specifically related to the CWM Permit renewal application," wrote David S. Denk, DEC regional permit administrator, in a letter to Jill A. Banaszak, CWM technical manager.

Members of the public have received their first look at the proposed Ellicott Development project eyed for Center Street. At Monday's Village of Lewiston Planning Board meeting, David M. Hall, planning and development coordinator for the Buffalo-based property management firm, informed attendees - including four members of the Village Board of Trustees - of his company's intention to build the village's first north-side plaza.

The development would begin on Center Street and lead down to Onondaga Street. Potential tenants include a fast food restaurant, a bank and a drugstore.

Park improvements and SPCA issues occupied significant portions of an otherwise low-key Porter Town Board session this past Monday.

Niagara Jet Adventures of Youngstown, a new jetboat operation expected to debut this fall in the lower river region, announced the winner of its "Name our Fleet Member" contest.

Families enjoyed a summer sunset and movie at Artpark's fifth annual free Family Movie Night, presented by the Lewiston Kiwanis Club. Special guests included the Peach Queen, Peach Fuzz and Peach Blossom, and this year's Peach Queen contestants.

Old Fort Niagara was once a strategic encampment that controlled access to the Great Lakes and was the setting for some of some of America's notable revolutionary era battles.

Susha Shoes, a new shoe boutique in the Village of Lewiston, celebrated its grand opening and ribbon-cutting with the Niagara River Region Chamber of Commerce, local elected officials, business owners and friends and family on Friday, Aug. 9.

The Village of Youngstown announces its annual Community Picnic will take place on Saturday, Aug. 24, from noon to 4 p.m. at Falkner Park.

Held each August since 2004 when the village first offered the event as part of its 150th year celebration, the picnic has become a family-oriented affair.

The weather was perfect and the art exceptional as record crowds descended on the Village of Lewiston last weekend for the holding of the 47th annual Lewiston Art Festival, presented by the Lewiston Council on the Arts.

Lewiston-Porter High School Team No. 1 took second place in the annual KeyBank Chalk Walk Competition, held Saturday at the 47th annual Lewiston Art Festival in the village. Above, Team No. 1 members Elizabeth Gatto, Janine Cubello and Alexis Morford appear with their entry.

Members of the Kiwanis Club of Lewiston, organizers of the 56th annual Niagara County Peach Festival, report final planning is underway for the annual fall favorite, set to take place Friday, Saturday and Sunday, Sept. 6 to 8, at Academy Park in the Village of Lewiston.

The common snapping turtle was adopted in 2006 as the official New York state symbol. The naming came from a vote of the state legislature.

Lynyrd Skynyrd drew a sold-out crowd at Artpark Tuesday. The classic rock all-stars performed a slew of hit songs for the happy audience.