As an undergraduate student at St. John's University, Thomas King became acquainted with the Vincentian community. The Oakdale native was studying toward a degree in adolescent education (with a concentration in biology) - all while growing active in campus ministry and taking on a minor in theology.

The Veterans of Foreign Wars, Downriver Post No. 7487, has announced it will again host a Memorial Day parade, remembrance ceremony and a community luncheon on Memorial Day, which is May 29.

The Niagara River Region Chamber of Commerce is pleased to announce Sanger Farms & Bakery as recipient of the Youngstown Business of the Year Award. The Youngstown Business and Professional Association assists the chamber in providing a business nomination that has shown dedication and service to the Youngstown community.

Elderwood at Wheatfield is supporting the efforts of Lewiston Council on the Arts by sponsoring the "Blue Mondays" and "Bluegrass Mondays" concerts in Lewiston.

Tuesday, Feb. 7, marked the official community start for the Lewiston-Porter Primary Education Center and Intermediate Education Center reading initiative known as "One District, One Book."

Artpark & Company officially announced KeyBank as the new presenting sponsor of the award-winning "Tuesdays in the Park" concert series for the 2017 season. The new "KeyBank presents Tuesdays in the Park" series will present 12 concert events June 6 through Aug. 29.

It was a community celebration on Tuesday, as the Lewiston-Porter School District unveiled the signature piece of its $26 million districtwide capital improvement project at a ribbon-cutting ceremony held in the high school's new glass-enclosed atrium.

It's been a long time in progress, but, in coming years, if all goes as planned, local residents and visitors will be able to experience the scenic beauty of the Niagara River gorge like never before.

On Tuesday, the Lewiston Police Department recognized the efforts of two special women who went that extra mile over past months in their concern for the men and women of law enforcement who serve the Lewiston community.

Lee Simonson, Susan Geissler, Pete Henderson and Tim Henderson (aka Josiah Tryon) welcomed Dorothy Counts-Scoggins to the Village of Lewiston on Tuesday. Almost 60 years ago, at the age of 15, Counts-Scoggins was the first black student to attend Harding High School in Charlotte, North Carolina.

It was an appreciation for the past and present, and optimism for the future, as the Youngstown Business and Professional Association got "down to business" with its annual membership meeting, held Tuesday at the Mug and Musket Tavern.

Comedies, dramas and everything in-between will be offered from Jan. 20-28 when Niagara University presents its annual Short Play Festival. It's a smorgasbord of 10-minute, student-directed plays.

Assemblyman Angelo Morinello, R-Niagara Falls, took his oath of office on Tuesday and was sworn-in as a member of the New York State Legislature.

The Town of Lewiston closed down 2016 with routine approvals to its final audit, recognizing the efforts of area law enforcement, and receiving some very favorable news on the Lewiston Family Ice Rink.

Bill and Tina Schiavitti have teamed with Greg Robertson of Greg's Pools to launch Lewiston Redemption. The bottle and can exchange site is set to debut in the spring of 2017 at 820 Seneca St., Lewiston, right next to Greg's Pools.

DiMino Tops Lewiston once again sponsored the Christmas Coloring Contest, wherein children decorated a holiday scene published inside the Sentinel. Entries were displayed inside the village supermarket, where winners were announced last weekend.

Mount Mary's Hospital is fortunate to have several groups with dozens of community volunteers working year-round to raise funds for the hospital.

Whirlpool Jet Boat Tours proprietor John Kinney provided the Village of Lewiston Planning Commission with an update, Monday, on his property at 65 Center St.

The Old Fort Niagara Association and Niagara University have partnered on a creative project to produce 18th century men's waistcoats, which theater department students are sewing and donating to the fort's fife and drum corps.

The Barker Lions Club recently held its annual holiday party in place of a regular meeting. At that time, 30 members and partners in service gathered to celebrate the holiday together.

Lewiston-Porter special education instructor Ashli Dreher (third from left) was honored this week with Gov. Andrew Cuomo's 2016 Empire State Excellence in Teaching Award.

The Historic Lewiston Jazz Festival will ring in its 16th year with new leadership at the helm: Former Artpark & Company President George Osborne has been appointed chairman of the executive board.

The Town of Lewiston Town Board moved on approving a number of procedural items en route to dedication of the Wolf Run roadway in the French Landing subdivision at its Monday session. But not before a few questions arose.

Overcoming budget problems, the Lewiston Family Ice Rink is now a go and starting to come together at Academy Park in the Village of Lewiston.

The Lewiston Choraleers will kick off its popular holiday concert series at 1 p.m. Saturday, Dec. 3, at St. Peter's Roman Catholic Church, 620 Center St., Lewiston. The performance will be part of the annual Lewiston Christmas Walk, sponsored by the Niagara River Region Chamber of Commerce.

Richard Wood, left center, holds a citation congratulating the Holy Name Society of St. Peter Church in Lewiston on the 100th anniversary of its formation at the parish in 1916. Wood, who joined the Holy Name Society in 1950, has been a member of St. Peter's parish since 1955.

The annual Ransomville Festival of Wreaths is taking place all day Saturday and Sunday, Nov. 26 and 27, in the hamlet of Ransomville.

Last spring, 22 Niagara University students and three faculty members engaged in an intensive field-based research course in Havana, Cuba. At 6:30 p.m. Thursday, in the Castellani Art Museum, several of the participants will share stories, reflections, photographs and research from their experience.

A small change on paper made a big difference Monday, as the Village of Lewiston Historic Preservation Commission approved a modified request by Hastings Lewiston Inc. to subdivide the property at 460 Center St. Commissioners voted 4-0 to grant a certificate of appropriateness, and to move the concept along to the Planning Board.

Mount St. Mary's Hospital has received the American Heart Association/American Stroke Association's Get With The Guidelines-Stroke Gold Quality Achievement Award with Target: Stroke Honor Roll.

The Village of Lewiston Zoning Board of Appeals approved six variances for Orchard Park developer James Jerge's 765 Fairchild Place development proposal. ZBA members offered little commentary on the plan, which they've seen in various incarnations this year.

Associates and members of the community gathered at Mount St. Mary's on Friday for a special perinatal bereavement ceremony. October is Perinatal Bereavement Month.

The Town of Lewiston opened the door this week to the strong possibility of a town tax as it released its tentative $16.250 million budget Tuesday for fiscal year 2017.

New York State Sen. Rob Ortt delivered a total of $55,000 in ceremonial checks to several museum organizations throughout Niagara County. He secured the funding as part of the 2016-17 state budget, in addition to funding secured last year for museums in his district.

Ellicott Development has submitted a brownfield cleanup program application and draft remedial investigation/interim remedial measures work plan to the New York State Department of Environmental Conservation for its Village of Lewiston property.

A relatively new event - the third annual Youngstown Arts and Music Festival - takes over Falkner Park from 11 a.m. to 6 p.m. Saturday, Oct. 1.

Trustees are tentatively looking to issue a State Environmental Quality Review Act declaration of impact on the Ellicott Development plaza plan at their work session on Monday, Oct. 3. A final project vote would follow, at the regular board meeting on Monday, Oct. 17.

Days before their classmates arrived on campus, 32 Niagara University freshmen dove headfirst into exploring the institution's Catholic and Vincentian identity.

For the second year in a row, rain threatened to mar the Peach Queen Pageant finals at the Niagara County Peach Festival. Fortunately, the final round went off as planned, with the finalists on stage at Academy Park.