Members of the Niagara Falls Memorial Medical Center team gathered at the hospital's main entrance Friday to show their support for the 10th annual National Wear Red/Go Red for Women Day, an event dedicated to raising awareness and funds to battle heart disease in women.

The Lewiston Council on the Arts has announced the "Lewiston Discovery Series," a new program for curious minds. The aim of the series is to share the "art of" an interesting mix of creative cultural topics. The series will be presented every other month beginning in February at the Historic Opera Hall, 732 Center St.

The programs will begin at 7 p.m. Light refreshments will be offered. No advance registration is required. A suggested $5 donation will benefit the LCA and the Opera Hall restoration fund.

Ever wonder what it would be like to smack somebody with a pie like in the old slapstick comedies?

At its annual general meeting, the Niagara Falls Bridge Commission, the binational entity that owns and operates the Rainbow, Whirlpool Rapids and Lewiston-Queenston bridges between Canada and the U.S., elected its slate of officers for 2013.

Assemblyman John Ceretto, Congressman Chris Collins and State Sen. George Maziarz attended the Lewiston No. 2 Volunteer Fire Co. installation dinner last weekend.

The New Directions Youth and Family Services board of trustees recently held its annual meeting to elect its officers for 2013.

A community education program by one of Niagara's leading cardiologists, a free community lipid panel screening, promotion of the "Go Red For Women" awareness campaign of the American Heart Association, and a hospital-wide information event are just some of the activities Mount St. Mary's Hospital is offering as part of "Heart Month" in February.

Members of St. Stephen School Mission Club lovingly decorated special placemats to be given to incarcerated men and women, through the Kairos prison ministry.

The issue of grease trap maintenance, or lack thereof, is once again rising to the surface in the Village of Lewiston.

Jennifer Pauly, president of the Niagara River Region Chamber of Commerce, and chamber employees Suzanne Raby and Linda Antonucci braved the snow and cold weather Thursday to show off this brand new sign.

Hard Rock International continues its commitment to emerging musicians of tomorrow with this year's "Hard Rock Rising," the most far-reaching battle of the bands competition in the world.

A sign that spring and a new boating season is not far away is the annual installation of officers of the LaSalle Yacht Club in Niagara Falls.

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.

David Woodley Sr., a longtime Lewiston resident, is shown with nurse Brittany Harris donating blood this week at a Red Cross blood drive at First Presbyterian Church in the village. On Wednesday, Woodley started his 21st gallon.

Mount St. Mary's Hospital has acknowledged that both its neighborhood health center and on-campus primary care medical services have earned the prestigious designation as Patient-Centered Medical Homes by the National Committee on Quality Assurance. Both facilities earned Level 3 designation, the highest level that can be achieved.

Niagara Cerebral Palsy, a non-profit agency providing high-quality care to children and adults with developmental disabilities, has announced that John J. M. Reardon was promoted to executive director and CEO. The agency also announced that Salvatore M. Passanese, Ph.D., has been elected president of the board of directors.

Lewiston just can't quench its thirst for history.

The first Lewiston Cocktail Festival will take place on Saturday, March 2.

New York's Department of Environmental Conservation announced this week it has extended the public comment period for a draft permit renewal application on file from CWM Chemical Services LLC to 60 days, and will now close comments on March 29.

CWM, a Waste Management company, currently owns and operates a commercial facility for the treatment, storage and disposal of hazardous and industrial non-hazardous wastes on an approximately 710-acre site on Balmer Road in the Town of Porter.

Niagara County Community College hosted more than 800 students from 22 Western New York school districts at Tech Wars 2013 on Wednesday. Competitions ranged from RC Heavyweight Sumo Robotics to 3D Modeling and CO2 Car Races.

Governor Andrew M. Cuomo delivered his 2013 State of the State Address Wednesday, outlining a comprehensive agenda that builds on the progress of the past two years to attract good jobs and economic growth, create a world-class education system that prepares the next generation for the future, maintain fiscal integrity and discipline, and continue to restore New York as the progressive capital of the nation.

"New York is on its way, coming back stronger than ever before, rising to meet some of the biggest challenges in our history, remaining as a progressive beacon of light to the rest of the nation, and standing out as a model of effective government," Cuomo said.

On Wednesday, the Niagara County Industrial Development Agency board of directors approved applications for assistance the agency received at its December board meeting from Covanta Niagara L.P. and 210 Walnut Street for two major economic development projects in the cities of Niagara Falls and Lockport, respectively. Both projects, combined, will result in approximately $50 million of investments in Niagara County, while creating 123 new jobs and hundreds of temporary construction jobs.

Mount St. Mary's Neighborhood Health Center recently accepted a donation of $2,000 from BMP America Inc. of Medina. The funds will be used to assist those in need who visit the health center at 3101 Ninth St., in Niagara Falls.

Buffalo Bills running back Fred Jackson reacted to the news that Doug Marrone was named the 16th coach of the Buffalo Bills on his WBBZ-TV show Monday night. Jackson told co-host Bob Koshinski, "It was great just how excited he is to do this. He wants to turn this thing around."

The Niagara Junior Purple Eagles Gary Hill Memorial Scholarship committee has announced Alexander Ahne, Dylan Gagnon, Richard Minicucci and Sarah Stanczyk as the 2012 scholarship recipients.

On his first full week on the job, Congressman Chris Collins, NY-27, met with approximately 40 local farmers Monday afternoon to talk about what they want to see as part of a new farm bill.

On Saturday, Jan. 19, visitors to Old Fort Niagara will have the opportunity to snowshoe back in time and find themselves engaged in a woods battle between British and French forces.

PHOTOS: The village's newest wine bar is opening its doors to the community.

After a string of successful walk-throughs for small groups of people, the Lewiston Stone House is now ready to welcome the general public.

State Sen. George Maziarz was joined Friday by representatives of the Niagara Aerospace Museum and local leaders to announce the museum's re-location to the old terminal building at the Niagara Falls International Airport.

For the sixth year in a row, Dunkin' Donuts and the American Red Cross are teaming up for the "Give a Pint, Get a Pound" campaign, which provides a coupon for a free pound of Dunkin' Donuts coffee* to all presenting donors at Red Cross blood drives in the greater Buffalo area during the month of January.

Staff and volunteers from the Niagara Hospice Alliance are gearing up for the 2013 spring bouquet sale. The sale will run March 4-10 with pre-sale bouquets being ordered now and throughout the month of February.

"Suneel's Celebrity Gala" will feature local celebrities competing against each other in various ballroom dance disciplines.

The St. Francis Guild, the auxiliary of Mount St. Mary's Hospital, recently presented hospital President and CEO Judith Maness, left, with a check in the amount of $60,000 from its 2012 fundraising efforts.

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.

Notable events of the past year.

Area companies and schools are invited to participate in the 27th annual Hospice Buffalo spring bouquet sale, presented by First Niagara, for the event's pre-sale phase held during January and February.

Local government and education leaders in the Niagara-Wheatfield Tribune circulation area were contacted to find out their opinions on happenings, both good and bad, in their areas for 2012 and what is ahead for 2013.

Anne and Dr. Richard Sawicki organize items for a silent auction that will be held at the 2013 Premier, Niagara Falls Memorial Medical Center's annual black tie dinner and entertainment gala.

Call it an early Christmas present.

Fourteen brave men and women unwrapped certificates of completion Friday, as the Niagara County Law Enforcement Academy held its 54th graduation ceremony - its third on the campus of Niagara University.

The Grand Island Neighbors Foundation and volunteers brought pallets of donated food to the Knights of Columbus hall on Whitehaven Road for unboxing, sorting and distribution to needy Island families at Christmas.

This time of year, it's not unusual to see lighted Santas, reindeer and snowmen decorating people's yards.

Danny Maerten's house on Niagara Road in Bergholz has a dinosaur.