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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.

Trustees in the Village of Lewiston have asked The Great Foodini owner/operator Michael Attardo for more time before granting his facility contract to operate a food truck on Center Street.

A second food truck operator is interested in bringing mobile dining to the Village of Lewiston. Chef Michael Attardo, owner and operator of The Great Foodini, will present his plan to trustees at tonight's Village Board meeting.

In May, Lewiston's Christian Willmott pitched trustees The Black Market Food Truck, a mobile gourmet deli sandwich unit he drives in Buffalo. Board members were lukewarm to the idea, but didn't reject it.

Attardo, who is also a Lewiston native, and a Lewiston-Porter High School graduate, has one significant advantage ...

In the real world, someone like Raymond "Red" Reddington would certainly be looked upon as a man of questionable morals, and not the kind of person one would emulate. In fact, he would be a cautionary tale for those who would seek a life of crime and lawlessness.

The show, in fact, is not another zombie show. Nor is it typical Syfy fare, for that matter. It's not a deliciously B-movie, like, say, "Mega Python vs. Gatoroid" or "Sharknado." It's not brooding like "Being Human" or whimsical like "Eureka."

Frank Manarino recently took over Marshall Automotive & Transmission, wants to be different from others in his profession. He said the most important thing in his business is "try to just be honest to everyone."

Monday night, before family and friends, Daniel R. Gibson was sworn into office in the Village of Lewiston. Mayor Terry Collesano appointed Gibson, a Republican, to assume a portion of Democrat and former Trustee Dennis Brochey's term.

You can say one thing: The year 2013 certainly wasn't a dull, uneventful one for northern Niagara.

In 2014, the Village of Lewiston mayor intends to partner with Alan Hastings to rebuild the Frontier House, work with Bill Paladino on a new retail plaza, come up with a master plan for Academy Park, enliven the upper plateau, fix the drainage problems on Fourth Street, find new grants and keep the tax rate flat.

Vanessa Williams will perform hit songs "Dreamin," "Colors of the Wind," and, of course, "Save the Best for Last" Saturday, Dec. 28, at the Seneca Niagara Events Center in Niagara Falls.

It's been a busy couple of days for Mike Fox of Niagara Jet Adventures in Youngstown. Fox reports the first in his fleet of custom-built, advanced-tech Gatling series jetboats, manufactured by Bohnenkamp's Whitewater Customs of Meridian, Idaho, arrived in Youngstown this week following a 2,233-mile cross-country trip via trailer.

The Historical Association of Lewiston commemorated the 200th anniversary of the burning of Lewiston (Dec. 19, 1813) with its "Flames Through Lewiston" re-enactment and dedication of the Tuscarora Heroes Monument (Dec. 19, 2013).

Early Thursday morning, more than 100 British soldiers marched down River Road, from Stella Niagara to Old Fort Niagara, to re-enact the taking of Fort Niagara by the British on Dec. 19, 1813. One hundred and ten spectators in the fort watched as the British came through the postern gate and proceeded to wrest the fort from the Americans after a short battle.

More than 150 volunteer re-enactors of all ages and from both sides of the border will recreate the War of 1812 British attack on Lewiston during Thursday's "Flames Through Lewiston" event, which will feature the unveiling of the much-awaited Tuscarora Heroes Monument.

"Psych" is taking its most ambitious leap yet, with a musical episode.

Portland Det. Nick Burkhardt began the season as a zombie, was cured (but kept some super-powers), and has since dealt with the three little pigs (who were vengeful, Wesen-killing chefs), underwater sea monsters and a "Hulk"-strong boy who appeared to be possessed. Just in time for the holiday season, he will square off with "Krampus," a giant, horned villain who somewhat resembles like Santa Claus.

Santa Claus made a special pre-Christmas visit to the Village of Lewiston Saturday as part of the annual Christmas Walk. St. Nick arrived by helicopter to greet children and families. Click the link for video highlights.

It's become a Christmas tradition for my sister Teenie and I to go to Theatre in the Mist's annual holiday show. We always leave filled with holiday spirit and ready to kickoff our own Christmas preparations.

Aaron Rotella is opening The Spicey Pickle in Lewiston a little later this winter.

Just what will motivate viewers to tune in each Monday at 8 p.m.? To the non-sci-fi faithful, I offer the following: Lili Taylor and Minka Kelly.