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INTERVIEW: After winning their first "Battle Round," Bria and Christina are just one round away from competing on the live shows, where the audience will decide which singer (or group) will win "The Voice."

James (Jim) R. Franey was chosen by Village of Lewiston Mayor Terry Collesano as the 2014 Village of Lewiston Citizen of the Year. Franey's service and commitment to the community has been part of his life for more than half a century, as he worked to protect the businesses and residents of Lewiston and educate the public about fire safety and prevention.

Niagara University will formally inaugurate its 26th president, the Rev. James J. Maher, C.M., during a ceremony scheduled for Friday, April 4.

Artpark & Company is set to welcome Ringo Starr & His All Starr Band to the "First Niagara presents Tuesday in the Park" concert series June 24 in the Outdoor Amphitheater. The All Starr Band will feature Toto's Steve Lukather, Mr. Mister's Richard Page, original Santana singer Gregg Rolie, Todd Rundgren and drummer Gregg Bissonette. Tickets go on sale Friday.

Season after season, without fail, the singers on "The Voice" enthusiastically talk about the friendships they've made, the company they've shared, and the memories they'll cherish.

Opposition to a proposal to rezone a parcel in the neighborhood of East River and Whitehaven roads is gaining momentum, residents said.

After three weeks of blind auditions, and more than four-dozen performances, "The Voice" began whittling down the field of hopefuls in the first week of the "Battle Rounds." Artists squared off in a duet-duel, tag-teaming on a song of their coach's choice in an attempt to show who could sing it better.

The first episode of NBC's "Crisis" was delightfully twisty. A busload of Ballard High School students is kidnapped; these teens, the offspring of D.C.'s power players, are used as pawns as their parents are forced to work for the captors.

Lewiston residents spoke in favor of the proposed Niagara Marketplace & Bistro at a public hearing Monday. The business would operate at 400 Plain St., at the corner of South Fourth Street, and serve vegan and vegetarian dishes.

The Town of Lewiston moved Tuesday on finalizing its agreement with Niagara County to fund the legal services of environmental attorney Gary Abraham.

The Lewiston-Porter Board of Education urges residents of the district to attend its weekly budget workshops on Tuesdays at 6 p.m. in the Community Resource Center (times could vary, visit www.lew-port.com for more information).

The Ransomville Volunteer Fire Co. has been chosen by Town of Porter Supervisor Merton Wiepert as recipients of the 2014 Town of Porter Citizens of the Year award. The fire company, all volunteers, leads an active schedule of community service, responding to emergencies, and is dedicated to making this area of Niagara County a great place to live.

Artpark rings in spring a day early, giving a sneak peek at who is coming to the popular "First Niagara presents Tuesday in the Park" (Daryl Hall & John Oates, Widespread Panic, Boston), and "Coors Light Wednesdays" outdoor concert series (Sublime with Rome).

Who, what, when, where, why and how - it's a journalist's call to action, and the exact set of questions "Crisis" viewers asked themselves following Sunday night's pilot.

INTERVIEW: "The Voice" is a life-changing opportunity for singer Ria Eaton. To put it bluntly, her appearance on the hit NBC reality series was like winning the lottery - a one-in-a-million shot to be plucked from obscurity, and to work with musicians she'd never be able to work with on her own.

INTERVIEW: "The Voice" is a perfect fit for singers Kat Perkins and Paula DeAnda.

Lewiston residents can weigh in Monday on plans to convert the historic Kelly House into a café and specialty market. A public hearing is scheduled for 6 p.m. in the Red Brick Municipal Building, 145 N. Fourth St.

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.

Among the many news items covered at Monday's Lewiston Town Board work session came a bombshell: Town Supervisor Dennis Brochey revealed the state Department of Environmental Conservation has moved on approving four permits with Quasar Energy of Ohio, allowing for use of upward of 2,500 acres of lands in the Town of Lewiston for the injection of processed equate from a Quasar facility in Wheatfield.

Among the many news items covered at Monday's Lewiston Town Board work session came a bombshell: Town Supervisor Dennis Brochey revealed the state Department of Environmental Conservation has moved on approving four permits with Quasar Energy of Ohio, allowing for use of upward of 2,500 acres of lands in the Town of Lewiston for the injection of processed equate from a Quasar facility in Wheatfield. State DEC approved the permits last summer; they allow for the injection/spreading of equate on lands in the town to begin almost as soon as the ground thaws.

It was learned Monday the permits were approved by DEC last August. That information was conveyed via correspondence from DEC to then Lewiston Supervisor Steve Reiter where it sat with no response.

Performing in "The Voice's" blind auditions is hard, but it's nothing compared to taking the stage for the "Battle Rounds" and the "Knockouts."

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.