With beautiful, warm weather, a good-sized crowd and the perfect venue, The United States Air Force Blue Aces Band of the USAF Heritage Band couldn't have picked a better night to play at Hennepin Park in Lewiston than Thursday.

As reported in last week's Sentinel, delays in construction of a new plaza on Center Street in Lewiston led the Zoning Board of Appeals to rule previously granted variances had expired. The ZBA's unanimous opinion is that construction should've begun on the project within one year of the granting of eight village code modifications - by late July 2017.

Planning - albeit slowly - continues for this year's Great Contraption Race.

Old Fort Niagara welcomes the public to its "Soldiers through the Ages" military history re-enactment event on Saturday and Sunday, May 26 and 27, over Memorial Day weekend. This annual event features special displays of military vehicles, period camps from the 18th, 19th and 20th centuries, weapons demonstrations, uniform programs and hands-on activities for families. In commemoration of the centennial of the Battle of Cantigny in World War I, a special program will also be presented in the Fort Niagara Officers' Club.

Mount St. Mary's Hospital congratulated six of its registered nurses as graduates with Bachelor of Science degrees from the Niagara University School of Nursing on May 12. All graduated as part of an initiative between Catholic Health and Niagara University.

New York Power Authority representatives joined with local elected officials and members of local preservation groups at the Niagara Power Vista visitors center in Lewiston on Tuesday to commemorate the listing of NYPA's Niagara Power Project in the National Register of Historic Places.

Following-up on her successful holiday vendor fair, Lewiston entrepreneur Jamie Symmonds will debut a weekly artisan market on June 2 inside Academy Park. Each Saturday (through Oct. 13), a collection of a dozen-plus vendors will offer an assortment of locally grown or produced foods, plus handcrafted bath and body products.

Until recently, visitors to the American side of Niagara Falls had to utilize their own cellular data - sometimes while roaming - when determining where to eat, shop and enjoy themselves.

The United Way of Greater Niagara held its eighth annual meeting and awards breakfast on Friday morning inside the Four Points by Sheraton in Niagara Falls. The agency strives to make a difference in Niagara County by enhancing lives. To do so, it requires time, talent and resources. This event paid tribute to those who help the United Way achieve its mission.

More than 160 volunteers from Mount St. Mary's Hospital and the Mount St. Mary's Child Care Center were honored at the annual Volunteer Recognition Luncheon Friday at the Niagara Falls Country Club.

Participating organizations of "Cross Border Blues" recently came together in a collaborative effort at FirstOntario Performing Arts Centre in downtown St. Catharines to cross-promote events on both sides of the border. They are using the blues to build bridges across cultures, generations and geographies.

Tuesday evening at the Mug and Musket was full of news of interest for northern Niagara, as the Youngstown Business and Professional Association held its annual membership meeting.

The Lewiston Democratic Committee is recognizing Town Board member John Jacoby as its Democrat of the Year. Jacoby took office Jan. 1. He is a retired battalion chief with the Niagara Falls Fire Department.

Jeff Beck with special guest Ann Wilson of Heart will perform on Aug. 7 as part of "Tuesdays in the Park" presented by M&T Bank at Artpark. Tickets go on sale at 10 a.m. Friday, April 6.

Town of Lewiston Supervisor Steve Broderick and the Town Board have selected David Perreault as the 2018 Town of Lewiston Citizen of the Year.

The Lewiston Police Department on Sunday announced an arrest related to the 2012 hit-and-run death of Loren Jacobs on the Tuscarora Indian Reservation in Lewiston.

As spring begins to emerge, those with an interest in the area's waterways - be they lake or riverfront property owners, boaters, sportsmen or recreational users - are once again paying attention to those water levels.

The Lewiston Garden Club held its installation luncheon Monday at Apple Granny Restaurant. District 8 Director Debbie Braun installed the officers, including: President Marianne Gittermann, 1st Vice President Janet Miller, 2nd Vice President Darinda Hoffman, 3rd Vice President Barbara Stafford, Recording Secretary Sharon Low, Corresponding Secretary Judy Talarico and Treasurer Barbara Carter.

Alexander and Colleen Swavy have been chosen by Mayor Terry Collesano and Village of Lewiston Board of Trustees as the 2018 Citizens of the Year.

First District Niagara County Legislator Clyde Burmaster (center) visited with the Town of Porter Town Board, recently, and presented a check from the county in the amount of $1,800 to Supervisor Duffy Johnston (right) and Highway Superintendent Scott Hillman.

The time is now for Bruce Sutherland. Having served two consecutive terms as deputy mayor, the former Air Force pilot and Historical Association of Lewiston board president began his campaign for the village's top elected office earlier this week.

The Lewiston Harvest Festival, which expanded onto Center Street for the first time in 2017, is growing again in 2018.

The Niagara River Region Chamber of Commerce is pleased to announce Ed's Garage as the recipient of the Ransomville Business of the Year Award.

The annual reverse draw of Mount St. Mary's Hospital was held Feb. 28 at the Como Restaurant. Nearly 280 people attended the gathering, brought together by the Mount St. Mary's Hospital Foundation, St. Francis Guild Auxiliary and the board of associates.

The Village of Lewiston Board of Trustees on Tuesday voted to approve dates and times for summer and late fall festivals and entertainment series.

Television, film and Broadway star Vanessa Williams and her band will join the Buffalo Philharmonic Orchestra in a special concert event at the Artpark Mainstage Theater at 8 pm. Thursday, July 19. Under the baton of Stefan Sanders, Williams will perform songs that span her impressive career, including "Dreamin," "Save the Best for Last" and "Love Is."

"With the renovation, the capital improvement project that happened with the school, the art rooms, the whole fine arts wing got significant renovations, and this beautiful atrium was added on," said art teacher Brett Coppins, Class of 1992. "Once that happened, it got us to thinking about how can we bring it to the next level. We really wanted to rename this section of the school the 'Center for the Arts.' "

Representatives from the Old Fort Niagara Association, Youngstown Volunteer Fire Department, New York State Assembly, New York State Office of Parks, Recreation and Historic Preservation, and the Niagara County Legislature dedicated a new fire trailer at Old Fort Niagara on Thursday. Officials gathered in the parking lot near the fort's Visitor Center to announce the completion of the project, which has been underway for several years.

From 9 a.m. to noon Saturday, Feb. 10, Dr. Glenda R. Rose and Dr. Thomas G. Barba of Rose Chiropractic P.C. in Lewiston will sponsoring the 28th annual "Doctors with a Heart Day" for their patients. Nonperishable food items will be collected to benefit the Niagara Community Action Program (NiaCAP) food pantry in exchange for chiropractic services.

Town of Porter Supervisor Duffy Johnston recently presented a $15,000 check to Village of Youngstown Mayor Raleigh Reynolds to assist with upkeep of the senior van. The Village of Youngstown and Town of Porter share the van, which takes area seniors to doctor and hospital appointments.

The world premiere of a new musical created by and starring legendary rocker Eddie Money is being choreographed by Niagara University associate professor Terri Filips Vaughan.

Hibbard's Original Frozen Custard has served cones and cups and bowls of sweet treats to generations of Lewiston residents. This summer, the Hibbard family is hoping to dish up and distribute custard from larger serving windows.

An agreement to purchase the Frontier House appears to have fallen through, and the Village of Lewiston's most famous property is, once again, up for sale.

With a new supervisor (John "Duffy" Johnston) and two new council members (Irene Myers and Tim Adamson) sworn-in, the Town of Porter held its reorganizational meeting for 2018. Tuesday's session saw a number of authorizations, appointments and approvals, including the following:

Here is a look back at some of the top issues from 2017.

New York Army National Guard 1st Lt. Brandon Hall of Lewiston was one of three soldiers who received an award for aiding a distressed Ukrainian civilian in the city of Lviv earlier this month.

Lions Club International recently held its annual three-day Leadership Institute in Binghamton. The purpose of the Lions Leadership Institute is to provide Lions with the opportunity to enhance skills in preparation for leadership responsibilities at the club, zone, region and district level - as well as interact with fellow Lions from clubs across all of New York.

As part of a holiday luncheon program on Tuesday, the Lewiston Senior Center donated dozens of presents to needy Lewiston-Porter Central School District families, and even more canned goods to the Heart, Love & Soul Food Pantry in Niagara Falls. In addition, scarves were given to the Youngstown Porter Community Christmas Baskets program.

The giving season is underway in Youngstown.

The Lewiston Community Lions provided needed toiletries for this year's "Holiday Hero" program through the American Red Cross.