Dozens of Lewiston-Porter Elementary School students are rehearsing for the first public performance of the new Tuscarora Heroes song, which will be featured at this year's annual remembrance ceremony. The event is set for 10 a.m. Wednesday, Dec. 19, at the monument, located at Portage Road and Center Street in Lewiston.

The big man in the red suit arrived in Lewiston via Rainbow Air helicopter on Saturday morning. After successfully landing in Academy Park, Santa met with children and families before boarding his special Deal Realty Float. J&J Strassburg Trucking transported the holly-jolly one to the International Peace Garden, where he greeted even more youth.

The annual Community Baskets collection drive will soon be getting underway in Youngstown-Porter - and organizers can use your help.

Following a public hearing last month that led to the tabling of the Bella Rose Farm Market/Winery proposal at 1243 Ridge Road over real property questions with Modern Disposal, the Lewiston Town Board moved forward Monday with a series of approvals.

The Lewiston Christmas Walk and Tour of Homes are the highlight of a busy, festive few days in Niagara County and the River Region.

This Saturday, Dec. 1, from 1-3 p.m., Marsha McWilson will sing at What's The Point Ministries, 409 Plain St., Lewiston, as part of the "Christmas Tour of Nations" celebration.

During the time of year when children start thinking about what they want for Christmas, pre-K students at St. Peter's R.C. School learned giving can be fun, too. Students in Mrs. Shanks's pre-K 3 and Mrs. Ryan's pre-K 4 classes created a giving tree to raise money for Niagara Hospice.

In partnership with the Western New York Land Conservancy, and with funding provided by Oath Community Benefit Fund for Niagara County, under the direction of Empire State Development, Buffalo Niagara Waterkeeper has completed the final phase of the restoration project along the shoreline at the Stella Niagara Preserve's landing in Lewiston.

In her first year of business on Main Street, Rebecca Poletti has, essentially, reinvented herself. A chef who was famous in Lewiston for her cookies, scones, pies and, more recently, heavenly breakfast offerings, has come to Youngstown and discovered dinner.

As a mother and a grandmother, I understand how important it is for children to enjoy the freedom, adventure and social interaction that takes place every day on America's playgrounds - but many of our youngest residents are being left behind.

U.S. Sen. Charles Schumer paid a special visit Tuesday to the Lewiston-Queenston Bridge to announce the start-up of a phase two, $91 million modernization of the U.S. Customs Plaza at the bridge complex in Lewiston.

Get ready to kick off your holiday season in the hamlet of Ransomville.

Last month, joining a host of Halloween celebrations going on throughout the River Region, Lewiston resident Mike Carroll presented yet another one of his now-famous get-togethers at the Brickyard Pub and B.B.Q.

Visitors to Thursday's Lewiston Town Board session came away with a greater understanding on why town property owners will be contending with a tax increase for 2019 on the town's now $18,127,133 budget.

Lewiston Music will present a "Carols for a Cause" music recital at 7:30 p.m. Tuesday, Dec. 11. The event is a benefit the Heart, Love & Soul Food Pantry and Dining room at Stella Niagara Education Park, 4421 Lower River Road.

Veterans were saluted Sunday - at the 11th hour of the 11th day of the 11th month - at a ceremony held inside Academy Park in Lewiston. The event was presented by Veterans of Foreign Wars Downriver Post No. 7487 and American Legion C.C. Kenney Lewiston Post 1083.

In the Town of Porter, taxes will also be going up - but they will remain within the 2 percent cap.

Property owners in the Town of Lewiston can anticipate a tax increase for 2019.

Neal Urban Photography will bring its annual "Photos for Toys" drive to Youngstown this year. More than 150 families from all over Western New York will have a discounted photo shoot in a beautifully designed Christmas scene when they donate an unwrapped toy. Cradle Beach Camp in Angola will distribute presents.

Despite calls by some its residents to dissolve, it appears that, for now, the Village of Youngstown is staying put on considering any changes.

The Lewiston Choraleers will kick off its popular holiday concert series at 1 p.m. Saturday, Dec. 1, at St. Peter's Roman Catholic Church, 620 Center St., Lewiston, as part of the annual Lewiston Christmas Walk sponsored by the Niagara River Region Chamber of Commerce. Additional performances will be held in Niagara Falls and Lewiston.

The community is invited to participate in a free "Lunch & Learn" program from 11:30 a.m. to 1 p.m. Wednesday, Nov. 14, at St. John's Episcopal Church, Main and Chestnut streets in Youngstown.

Mount St. Mary's Hospital will host its diabetes education program, titled "Taking Charge of Your Diabetes." This series of two classes will be held from 8 a.m. to 12:30 p.m. Tuesday, Dec. 4, and Thursday, Dec. 6.

The St. Francis Guild of Mount St. Mary's Hospital will conduct its annual Holiday Market from 8 a.m. to 4 p.m. Friday, Nov. 16, in the hospital's south (main) lobby, 5300 Military Road, Lewiston. Gift items will be offered along with candy, baked goods, jams and jellies, holiday centerpieces, candles, jewelry and boutique gifts.

The Community Survivors Group recently raised a whopping $21,000 at a one-day benefit event held at The Lewiston Stone House.

Boy Scout Troop 829 welcomes voters and passersby to its hot dog fundraiser on Election Day, Tuesday, Nov. 6. The event will run from 5-9 p.m. at the St. Peter's R.C. School parking lot on North Sixth Street (across the street from the Lewiston No. 1 Fire Co. polling station).

The Historical Association of Lewiston has announced the formation of a Bicentennial Committee for the Village and Town of Lewiston to commemorate 200 years. The committee has been recognized by both municipal boards, and is tasked with the planning of events and hosting celebrations.

It looks like property owners in the Town of Lewiston will be facing a tax increase in excess of the 2 percent cap for 2019.

Lewiston resident Mike Carroll has announced plans for his 10th annual Halloween Bash benefit to assist a local family in need. The event will take place from 8 p.m. to midnight Saturday, Oct. 27, at the Brickyard Brewing Company, 436 Center St., Lewiston.

A report released Thursday by the Buffalo Niagara Coalition for Open Government has claimed a number of municipalities in both Erie and Niagara counties are out of compliance with state Open Meetings Laws when it comes to executive sessions.

Be expecting a tax increase for 2019, if you're a property owner in the Town of Porter.

The Village of Lewiston is hopeful it will receive two extra months to continue exploring its options with regard to the Frontier House.

The Lewiston Kiwanis continued its support of the Steve J. Washuta Cardiac Center at Mount St. Mary's Hospital with a donation of $5,000. The funds were raised from the club's annual summer clambake and are raised in honor of the late Washuta, the founder of Modern Corporation and a longtime member of the Kiwanis Club.

As part of the U.S. Drug Enforcement Administration's National Prescription Drug Take Back Day on Saturday, Oct. 27, from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. Mount St. Mary's is hosting a drive-up drop-off site to help get unused and unwanted medications out of people's homes.

Reservations are still being accepted for a program of Mount St. Mary's Hospital called "Ladies' Night Out," which will be held beginning at 5:30 p.m. Thursday, Oct. 25, at 80 Main Banquet & Catering in Lockport. This free, informational and fun event is sponsored by Precision Health Care, the Center for Women at Mount St. Mary's Hospital and Niagara Frontier Anesthesia Services LLP.

The 2018 Lewiston Walk to End Alzheimer's began at Artpark on Saturday morning. Despite threatening skies, the rain stopped and the sun came out just in time for the event to begin. A huge crowd came out to walk, take a chance on baskets in the basket raffle, visit with sponsors and plant windmill flowers in the garden.

Village Fitness Club is located at 734 Cayuga St. Hours of operations are 5:30 a.m. to 8 p.m. weekdays, 7 a.m. until 2 p.m. Saturday, and 7 a.m. until noon Sunday. For more information, call 716-998-0057 or visit www.MyVillageFitness.com.

Following a boisterous public hearing last week in Youngstown - one to consider changes in the village code on a 15-minute parking provision fronting a Lockport Street business - no action was taken by the Village Board of Trustees on Thursday night.

Budget season for the Town of Lewiston is now underway with the town's recent debut of 2019 spending plans that reflect increases over its adopted 2018 plan of $17,287,894.

The Most Rev. Richard Malone joined with students, teachers, faculty members, community leaders and friends to officially open the St. Peter's playground on Friday. The recreational space is located behind the gymnasium and adjacent to the Lewiston elementary school. It was dedicated to Dr. Irene Elia.