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If "American Idol's" "thing" is to showcase less-talented singers in the hopes of getting a laugh from viewers, then "The Voice's" "thing" is to showcase more-talented singers in the hopes of inspiring viewers.

Lewiston residents can debate which pizzeria is best, where they'd rather grab a drink after work or hang out on weekends. Where time and money are spent will vary depending on the person. One unquestioned, undeniable certainty is that almost every one of them will set foot inside DiMino Tops Lewiston to grocery shop.

Across Facebook, Artpark patrons are frantically searching for an emoticon to represent a jaw dropping to the floor.

The 2013-14 winter to forget is finally starting to exit and become forgotten. With warming temperatures at hand, there's even a few tinges 'o green slowly starting to appear.

Sometimes it takes a bit of vision to get a good idea off the ground.

Skip Mazenauer purchased the Grand Island Dispatch, believing he could make the publication a success and wanting to make sure his hometown wasn't left without local news from its own newspaper.

Participants in the Grand Island Relay For Life were asked to light a fire within at a kickoff meeting Wednesday at Connor Middle School.

The kickoff begins the season for the annual Relay, a fundraiser for the American Cancer Society.

Lynn Dingey, co-chair of GI Relay For Life, said the 2014 event will run at Veterans Park, May 31 at 2 p.m. to June 1 at 2 a.m. She asked those at the meeting to work to make the 2014 event "bigger and better."

Casey Dahlstrom was named the 2014 honorary survivor at the kickoff, while Mary Dunbar-Daluisio spoke on behalf of caregivers.

There's a green ogre lurking at Niagara-Wheatfield High School, both literally and figuratively. There's also four young princesses with long red braids, sometimes they're green and sometimes not.

One look at 40-something actor Reggie Lee's résumé, and you'd swear he was twice his age. With nearly 70 acting credits to his name, Lee is one of the hardest-working actors in Hollywood - and a favorite of some of the industry's top directors.

The biggest cheers this season on the new CW series "Star-Crossed" have come when Drake stands up for his friends and evens the score with some high school troublemakers.

Actor Greg Finley, who was once a real-life troublemaker, plays Drake.

NBC's "The Voice" is the top-rated singing competition on television and well-liked by critics. But if there's one criticism the show gets before each cycle, it's that the show has yet to produce a mega star.

That could change this season thanks to "Voice" standouts Christina Grimmie and Bria Kelly.

We've seen four-coach chair turns on "The Voice," and we've seen all four coaches fight over singers. However, it wasn't until night two of the season six blind auditions that we actually saw coaches give up their chairs to a performer.

It's cliché to say a restaurant has "something for everyone."

Unless that restaurant is Brio Pizzeria.

Lewiston-Porter Superintendent of Schools Christopher R. Roser will retire at the end of the 2014-15 academic year.

Brrr! Talk about timing.

The Lake Ontario shores are chocked with far-stretching ice fields, temperatures are in the single digits, and guess what's here? The 45th annual Olcott Lions Club Polar Bear Swim for Sight.

There was joy in Wheatfield Town Hall this week at the "coming soon" possibility of a new, active Summit Park Mall.

Zoran Cocov, a Toronto developer, said Tuesday that his attorneys may have the purchase finalized by the end of the week, ending almost two years of negotiations with current owner Oberlin Plaza One LLC.

Bon-Ton, Save-A-Lot and Sears, all with exterior entrances, have continued to operate and draw customers to the Williams Road mall. However, the deteriorating interior has been closed for years and has been plagued with thefts, weather damage and broken pipes. The mall was built in 1972 and used to be a busy and active part of the community.

INTERVIEW: "Psych" is back with its final five episodes on the USA Network. Stars Timothy Omundson (Det. Carlton Lassiter) and Maggie Lawson (Det. Juliet O'Hara) recently teased the remaining episodes (and promised plenty of delicious flavor for the show's dedicated "Psych-Os").

Say goodbye to the sandwich board.

At least for now.

Trustees in the Village of Lewiston voted Tuesday to amend a portion of the municipal law dealing with sign regulations. The most notable changes include prohibition of A-frame or "sandwich board" signs, and stronger language banning flashing electronic and neon lights.

With its North Sixth Street firehall renovations complete, Lewiston No. 1 Volunteer Fire Co. wants to get the word out that among the many improvements is a newly furbished banquet hall, complete with a choice of two top-notch caterers, that's available for use in the community.

Changes are a brewing at Lewiston Town Hall and we're not even out of February.

Cancer has been a part of Casey Dahlstrom's life since he was 3 years old, but rather than run from the memory, he embraces it.

Dahlstrom will describe his life with cancer at the Grand Island Relay For Life Kickoff Feb. 26 at 7 p.m. in the Connor Middle School cafeteria. The event was postponed exactly three weeks due to bad weather. Relay For Life itself, the largest fundraiser for the American Cancer Society, will have its 12th edition on the Island at 2 p.m. May 31 and runs to 2 a.m. June 1.

A 17-year-old girl from Grand Island is the recipient of a bedroom makeover thanks to a team of local volunteers.

The LaSalle Yacht Club has turned its Pasta Sauce Off benefit over to two successful fundraisers who are all of 11 years old.

On Feb. 10, the Grand Island Board of Education worked through a varied agenda, including information on Grand Island's 2014-15 budget and a report on the three-year capital improvement project. All board members were present, including Donna Tomkins and Paul Krull via Skype.

Regarding the New York state budget, the board unanimously approved a resolution to get rid of the Gap Elimination Adjustment, GEA. Each year since 2009-10, foundation aid to school districts has been frozen at 2008-09 levels. In addition, aid may be taken from school districts and applied to the New York state budget to close deficits.

New recycling carts will soon turn up on Island roadsides.

Republic Services will soon provide 95-gallong recycling carts to every home on the Island at no cost to taxpayers.

Many "Love Letters" to Niagara touched the Niagara Tourism and Convention Corp. staff, but none more so than the one submitted by Beverly Weigel of Niagara Falls.

On Friday, the occupants of Our Lady of Peace Nursing Residence received special Valentine's Day treats courtesy of the children at Mount St. Mary's Child Care Center, and Village Bake Shoppe owners Mike and Lindsay Fiore.

Town of Lewiston Councilman Ernest C. Palmer announced Friday he will give up his seat on the Town Board effective next Friday, Feb. 21.

Palmer, a Republican councilman since 2007, said he has new projects he would like to pursue, and looks forward to traveling and spending time with his family. A tax accountant, Palmer said he wishes to spend more time growing his business.

"It is time to give someone else an opportunity to bring fresh ideas and energy to the board," he said.

Artpark & Company and Funtime Presents welcome Morrissey to Lewiston for a concert Monday, June 16. Kristeen Young is the opening act. It's a 7 p.m. gate.

INTERVIEW, VIDEO: Jeri Ryan, who cut her teeth in science fiction as Seven of Nine on "Star Trek: Voyager," is returning to the genre with a multiple-episode guest-starring arc on "Helix" (and this time she's literally cutting her teeth).

On Friday, March 21, "Giants of Buffalo: Television" will feature the legendary WKBW Channel 7 TV news team Irv Weinstein, Rick Azar and Tom Jolls.

On Thursday, Feb. 13, Niagara Falls High School will host a rescheduling of an education summit to discuss the impact of the Common Core Standards on New York state schools. One of the summit's key speakers will be Dr. Walter Polka, a Niagara University professor and former superintendent of the Lewiston-Porter Central School District.

Paul McCartney and Ringo Starr will perform together on "The Beatles: The Night That Changed America - A Grammy Salute." The primetime entertainment special will celebrate the legacy of the seven-time Grammy Award-winning Beatles and their groundbreaking first appearance on "The Ed Sullivan Show."

Interview: Southern rockers 3 Doors Down are giving fans a chance to catch their set in a way so intimate you'd think you were sharing a living room, or jamming in a basement.

The Niagara River Region Chamber of Commerce will honor 10 businesses and individuals at its annual Chamber Awards Gala Friday, May 16, at the Niagara Falls Country Club in Lewiston.

Long before fans found out there wouldn't be a ninth season of "Psych," one thing was certain about season eight: This year has been nothing short of a victory lap for the USA Network's hit comedy.

Food truck owners will have to park their mobile eateries someplace else.

After receiving feedback from local business owners opposed to food trucks, trustees let it be known they will not allow such an operation in the village.

"I think our minds are pretty much made up," Mayor Terry Collesano told members of the River Region Chamber of Commerce prior to the trustees' monthly work session Monday.

William Paladino met with the Village of Lewiston Planning Board Wednesday to update members on the status of his development plan. The Ellicott Development CEO intends to create a U-shaped plaza with three main units: 1) two restaurants (one fast food) and a retail store; 2) a two-story retail/bank/commercial building; and 3) a drug store. He may build condos on the lot's west end, too.

"It's taken us long to get to this point, because every time we move or tweak anything, it has to go back to the engineers and they've got to redo everything because of the site grades and slopes and things of that nature," Paladino said.

Members of the Village of Lewiston's retail district met with Niagara River Region Chamber of Commerce leaders Wednesday. They spoke out against the idea of permitting food trucks to operate on Center Street.

"One of my problems that I have is that, when you cultivate something and you build this great harvest, and somebody just wants to come in and pick the fruit and leave," Water Street Landing proprietor Jon DiBernardo said. "It's kind of a dangerous precedent."

He suggested food trucks have an unfair advantage over brick-and-mortar eateries.

Earlier this week, Niagara Frontier Publications learned Beatles drummer Ringo Starr & His All Starr Band were booked to play this summer at Artpark in Lewiston. The group will perform in the outdoor amphitheater Tuesday, June 24.

Wesen Monroe (Silas Weir Mitchell), a part-wolf blutbad, and Rosalee (Bree Turner) a part-fox fuchsbau, are not only the "normal" ones on "Grimm," but actually provide grounding for the "human" characters.