As Mount St. Mary's Hospital and Catholic Health continue to provide services in this COVID-19 pandemic, the community is showing its support for the front line medical workers.

Lewiston's Memorial Day Remembrance Committee (LMDRC) announced that our Memorial Day free town and village community luncheon has been cancelled for 2020. Of course, the reason is the coronavirus. The governor has required that we not gather in large groups, and serving 500-700 people lunch under a huge tent certainly looks like what he was talking about.

Village of Lewiston Mayor Anne Welch issued the following message to the community. Click the link below for a larger version.

Niagara River Region Chamber of Commerce President Jennifer Pauly organized a conference call Thursday morning with Lewiston Police Department Chief Frank Previte, Lewiston Fire Co. No. 1 Chief Les Myers, Town of Lewiston Supervisor Steve Broderick, Village of Lewiston Mayor Anne Welch, chamber staff and board members.

Our community's new normal is drastically different than what it was one week ago. Businesses, organizations and residents have had to adapt to changes that seem to be happening by the hour. New ways of doing business has evolved with owners becoming innovative with what they have to offer. Some businesses have had to adjust their hours or close - hopefully temporarily. The workplace has changed, the community has changed, the home has changed. It is a change for everyone.

Gov. Andrew Cuomo directed all restaurants to close in-house offerings as of 8 p.m. Monday. Eateries were directed to switch over to a takeout/delivery-only model.

Lewiston-Porter Superintendent of Schools Paul Casseri provided this message via the Lew-Port website Sunday night:

With a scheduled presentation by Buffalo real estate and consulting firm Emminger Newton Pigeon & Magyar removed from the agenda, Monday's Lewiston Town Board work session took a lighter tone.

Ellicott Development's three-building mixed-use plaza is almost ready for its public.

Deal Realty announced the following on Friday:

The health and wellness of Lewiston-Porter students, families, faculty and staff are always our priority. With concern for COVID-19, commonly referred to as the coronavirus, we are closely following the guidance provided by the Niagara County Department of Health, New York State Department of Health, and Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC). This guidance is based on what is currently known about the transmission and severity of coronavirus disease and is being updated as additional information becomes available.

A wheelchair-bound veteran from Lewiston is getting a new Americans with Disabilities Act-compliant home, thanks to an organization based in New York City and a generous local community.

The Home Assistance Referral Team's annual "Rock'N with HART" fundraiser will take place beginning at 6 p.m. Saturday, March 21, at the Lewiston Event Center, 845 Cayuga St. The event includes a basket raffle, a 50/50 split and a batch of celebrity bartenders.

The Griffon and its owners are sort of like Goo Goo Dolls frontman John Rzeznik.

Twenty-five 10th grade students from Niagara Falls High School spent the day on the Niagara University campus last Wednesday as part of the Early College/Smart Scholars program, a partnership between Niagara's Rev. Joseph L. Levesque Institute for Civic Engagement and the Niagara Falls City School District to engage high school students in college/career exploration.

This week, Chief Judge Janet DiFiore of the New York State Court of Appeals said she felt confident the "unintended consequences" of New York's new cash bail reform law would ultimately undergo changes, allowing judges to regain the ability to hold suspects in jail who are deemed too dangerous for release.

During a presentation at Monday's Town Board meeting in the Town of Lewiston, Niagara River Greenway Commission Executive Director Gregory Stevens announced a public workshop regarding the lower Niagara Shoreline Trail Connectivity Study.

My column today is not going to tell you about nor make you cry about the high water levels along the south shore of Lake Ontario.

Trustees in the Village of Lewiston on Tuesday joined the New York State Conference of Mayors in calling for criminal justice reforms. Specifically, elected leaders are looking for increased protection for past victims and potential targets.

Village of Lewiston Mayor Anne Welch closed Tuesday's monthly board meeting with a feel-good story about a gray cat stuck in a 40-foot-plus tree.

Niagara River Greenway Commission Executive Director Greg Stevens invited River Region residents to attend a public meeting on the lower Niagara Shoreline Trail Connectivity Study. The event is scheduled for 6:30 p.m. Monday, March 2, at the Town of Lewiston Senior Center, 4361 Lower River Road.

Financial matters and solar were among the discussion items of interest at Monday's Lewiston Town Board work session.

The Town of Porter took further steps this week toward working as part of the state's Local Waterfront Revitalization Program in Niagara County by declaring itself as a lead agency for the project.

Multi-instrumentalist Andrew Bird will join collaborators Calexico and Iron & Wine for "The Great Summer Stroll Tour" live at the Artpark Mainstage Theater on June 15.

The Historical Association of Lewiston's next program, "The Road to the Moon Went Through Western New York," will take place at 7 p.m. Thursday, Feb. 27, at the Lutheran Church of the Messiah Fellowship Hall, 915 Oneida St.

Area fire company investigators are continuing their probe into a tragic fire that disrupted residents in two Lewiston apartments.

When The Sentinel broke news of The Como Restaurant expanding into Lewiston in 2018, one of the first thoughts - nay, wishes ... hopes ... dreams! - was that village diners would be able to pick up a pint of pastina or a quart of minestrone from the world-famous Italian kitchen.

New York State Homes and Community Renewal (HCR) announced final submission deadlines for outstanding eligibility documents required to process priority homeowner applications submitted for the 2019 Lake Ontario-St. Lawrence River Flood Relief and Recovery Program. The request for documents applies only to homeowners who submitted applications in priority categories during the eligible application periods. New applications are not being accepted.

The Village of Lewiston Board of Trustees is taking a step back from pursuing a digital sign at the corner of Center Street and Portage Road.

Join the Friends of the Lewiston Library for the first presentation of the 2020 speaker series at 6:30 p.m. Wednesday, Feb. 19. The topic, in honor of Cancer Awareness Month is "Today's Approach to Breast Cancer Care" by Dr. Stephen Edge, vice president of health care outcomes and policy at Roswell Park Cancer Comprehensive Cancer Center.

The Youngstown Free Library, located in the Red Brick Village Center, 240 Lockport St., announces the following activities for February. The library requests a parent/guardian accompany a child to all events.

There are many, many people we'll meet in a lifetime. Some stand out and, for the most part, they are really great people who have been gone for several years now, but will never be forgotten.

This past Tuesday, Town of Lewiston officials held a public information meeting regarding the proposed Lower River Road Town Park. After a brief summary of the conceptual plan, residents were encouraged to share design and amenity ideas for the park.

The Town of Lewiston reminds residents it will hold a public information meeting on the proposed Lower River Road Town Park Project at 6:30 p.m. Tuesday, Jan. 28. The session will take place at the Town of Lewiston Senior Center, 4361 Lower River Road, and is expected to feature the latest town plans on the project.

Local elected leaders are again making a push to lower the speed limit on Center Street, from 30 miles per hour down to 25 mph.

All remains quiet on the Lake Ontario shores in Olcott as debate continues in many circles on IJC Plan 2014. But that doesn't mean other, more exciting discussions for the area's summer seasons aren't taking place.

The Town of Porter got down to business for 2020 at its annual reorganization meeting, held in early January at Town Hall.

Before an overflow crowd at Town Hall on Monday, Jan. 13, the Town of Porter held a public hearing to consider a six-month moratorium covering Tier 3 Solar Energy Systems. A related measure would go on to be approved.

Planning for 2020 is underway in Youngstown.

Looking forward to spring, warmer weather, and a little green? Then join the Youngstown Garden Club at 7 p.m. Wednesday, Feb. 19, for "An Evening of Wintergreen" and garden-themed auction at First Presbyterian Church, 100 Church St.