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The Village of Lewiston Board of Trustees held its annual organizational meeting on Monday. Several individuals were re-appointed, but two significant changes were made to the Historic Preservation Commission/Planning Board.

Michael Gentile has been elected president of the Lewiston-Porter Board of Education for the coming year. Serving as vice president will be outgoing president Jodee Riordan.

"So many families are struggling with hopelessness and despair," stated Mike Chorey, a native to Grand Island who is a pastor at Cross River Church in Niagara Falls. Chorey was speaking about the impetus for a Gospel crusade, the "Field of Miracles: The Return," which will be coming to Sal Maglie Stadium for three days in August.

The Town of Niagara started the holiday week Monday evening with a bang-up affair in Veterans Park.

The eighth annual "Paddles Up Niagara," presented by the Niagara River Greenway Commission - the organization that initially created a 25-mile length paddle-sport trail in the Niagara River in 2006 - is to take place along the southeastern shores of Grand Island on Saturday, July 27.

On July 9, 1759, Capt. Walter Rutherford entered French-held Fort Niagara and demanded the fort's surrender. He set in motion a chain of events that would forever change the history of the Niagara region and all of North America.

It's time to celebrate the beginning of summer and enjoy the beautiful weather. So if you're looking for a day full of activities and family fun, the Porter on the Lake Summerfest is the place to be.

Celebrate Independence Day in style, with the following activities in the area:

The annual Father's Day Lawn Mower Race on the Island's West River took place over the weekend to raise money for the Grand Island Relay For Life in its ongoing support of the American Cancer Society.

Summer has arrived in Western New York with plenty of heat and humidity.

Senior citizens should take special care this time of year as the risk for heat-related illnesses, such as heat stroke and heat exhaustion, increases with age, according to the National Institute on Aging.

Adam Duritz and Counting Crows have recorded nine Top 10 singles. When the band performs Friday in Buffalo, fans can expect to hear all of them. ... Or none of them.

Frankly, we don't know what you'll hear from Counting Crows. ... And neither does the band, for that matter.

Artpark welcomed its largest crowd of the summer, more than 10,000 in total, for "An Evening with Chicago." The legendary American band performed two sets and offered hit songs including "25 or 6 to 4," "If You Leave Me Now," "Another Rainy Day In New York City," "Does Anybody Really Know What Time It Is?" and "You're the Inspiration."

On "Skywire Live with Nik Wallenda," tightrope walker Nik Wallenda, "The King of the High Wire," made history as the first person ever to cross over the Grand Canyon.

The Niagara Tourism and Convention Corp. has put together a giant scroll signed by Niagara Falls leaders and visitors offering daredevil Nik Wallenda best wishes as he prepares to cross the Grand Canyon on a tightrope Sunday night.

Music has become a game of numbers for legendary Illinois-bred band Chicago.

By a unanimous vote Monday, the Village of Lewiston Board of Trustees voted against accepting Primrose Lane, one of two roads in the Gardens at Oxbow subdivision, as a village street.

On Saturday, June 29, and Sunday, June 30, the Niagara Pioneer Soccer League will host the Northern Customs Services' 29th annual Niagara Pioneer International Soccer Tournament.

Benjamin Franklin once said, "In this world nothing can be said to be certain, except death and taxes."

Come Tuesday, we can reasonably add something else to that list of certainties: The only thing pouring down from above at Artpark will be hit songs.

The first phase of the multi-year plan features a $1.8 million restoration at Three Sisters Islands that includes a new trolley shelter, expanded parking area, new pedestrian walkways and overlooks, enhanced landscaping, as well as new railings.

The First Niagara Foundation is providing financial support for Community Missions of Niagara Frontier Inc. and its community soup kitchen as staff work to provide food for local families in need. Representatives made a $1,000 donation on Thursday.

A collection created by Opportunities Unlimited of Niagara artists was dedicated and blessed at a reception inside Mount St. Mary's Hospital. The works were created by people with intellectual and other developmental disabilities during fine arts classes offered through "Artisans Unlimited" at three OUN locations.

Joan Jett and The Blackhearts performed "Bad Reputation," "Cherry Bomb," "I Love Rock-N-Roll" and a slew of new songs at Artpark, June 11, as part of the "Tuesday in the Park" concert series.

Mike Shubic, one half of the Rand McNally/USA Today "Best of the Road" "Best for Food" team the "Road Bros," returned to Lewiston this week - but not to judge its culinary offerings.

The Wheatfield Farmers Market will reopen June 12 and run Wednesdays through Oct. 9, still outside of Town Hall, but relocated to the front parking lot to provide more visibility and convenience for both the vendors and clientele.

Earlier this season, Miles Matheson and Sebastian Monroe battered, bruised and bloodied each other in one stellar fracas. The former besties, once thick as thieves, realized they could (and probably would) kill one another if given the opportunity.

Call it a matter of consistency.

Members of the Niagara River Greenway Commission met Tuesday, May 21, at the Beaver Island State Park Clubhouse to consider three submissions for project consistency with Greenway Plan objectives.

America's search for the next great home cook begins tonight. Season four of "MasterChef" premieres at 8 p.m. on FOX. Undiscovered culinarians will seek to impress judges Gordon Ramsay, Joe Bastianich and Graham Elliot, earn a white apron, win the title of "MasterChef," and join the ranks of previous season winners Whitney Miller, Jennifer Behm and Christine Ha.

Part two of "Grimm's" season finale promises to be action-packed, as Nick (David Giuntoli), Hank (Russell Hornsby), Monroe (Silas Weir Mitchell), Rosalee (Bree Turner) and, yes, Juliette (Bitsie Tulloch) battle new breeds of evil forces in Portland.

VIDEO/PICTURES: The Niagara River Region Chamber of Commerce welcomed its largest crowd - more than 300 people - to the annual Chamber Awards Gala Friday at the Niagara Falls Country Club.

Buffalo Place Inc. announced its "Thursday at Canalside" summer concert lineup on Wednesday. This year, the entire series is moving to the Buffalo waterfront. Free weekly concerts run from 5 until 9:30 p.m.

Tops Friendly Markets, a leading full-service grocery retailer in upstate New York and northern Pennsylvania, held a grand re-opening celebration Wednesday to mark the completion of a major renovation of the family-owned and operated Lewiston Tops Market at 906 Center St.

With momentum building toward next Tuesday's Niagara Greenway Commission public meeting/review/vote to determine consistency and funding for the proposed Lewiston Civic Center, the Town Board has taken further steps to make the project a reality.

At its Monday work session, the Lewiston Town Board voted in favor of three items pertaining to the Civic Center. One of those items was paying $50,000 for a 10-acre parcel of land at Lew-Port.

Gov. Andrew M. Cuomo today announced the launch of New York's largest tourism campaign in decades, committing nearly $60 million to grow the industry, create jobs and attract even more visitors to the Empire State.

The governor's announcement came at the conclusion of the New York State Tourism Summit, where hundreds of tourism experts gathered in Albany to discuss ideas and new ways to bring tourists to every corner of the state.

"Yesterday was huge," said Niagara Tourism and Convention Corp. President and CEO John Percy on Thursday.

Vince Schiano set off on a 4,000-mile bike ride last summer to raise money and awareness for young adults suffering from cancer.

Little did he know that his cross-country venture would also inspire three young women back "home" on Monteagle Ridge to join the cause this year.

Vincenzo's Pizza House opened Tuesday in the Village of Lewiston. ... And within 10 minutes, it was filled with customers munching on old-fashioned and cheese slices.

With more than 15,000 food trucks rolling across America, it's only a matter of time before one makes its way to Lewiston - a 2012 top food finalist in the Rand McNally/USA Today "Best of the Road" competition.

One candidate is The Black Market Food Truck, a gourmet deli sandwich unit co-owned and operated by Lewiston native Christian Willmott.

On Monday, he addressed village trustees. Willmott, who called himself an "ambassador for food trucks," told board members these traveling kitchens can bolster the local economy - and help restaurants succeed.

It was epic.

It was dramatic.

It was the best episode of "The Voice."

Ever.

The Town of Niagara Town Board on Tuesday voted to take lead agency status for the expansion of Fashion Outlets of Niagara.

NBC is rewarding "Grimm" for not just surviving on Friday nights, but thriving in a 9 p.m. timeslot where other sci-fi action-adventure series have faltered. The Peacock Network is shifting "Grimm" to Tuesdays at 10 p.m. - following its highly successful reality singing contest "The Voice."

PHOTOS: A Youngstown marina owner and jetboat operators from Idaho made history Saturday in the Niagara River gorge. In the process, they drew the attention of the U.S. Border Patrol, Department of Homeland Security and the Niagara Parks Police Service in Ontario, Canada.