Category: PostNews

BUFFALO N.Y. (WIVB) — It’s been almost two months since 10 people were killed and three others were injured at the Tops on Jefferson Avenue. The community is still healing from that racist attack.

“I think it’s beautiful — for a community that needed to come out and come together,” said Pastor Daniel Benning from the Upper Room Church of God and Christ. “That’s what this is about. It’s not about anything else except energizing our community, or re-energizing our community since the shooting.”

“It did make me nervous to even go into stores afterwards. I was uncomfortable, I felt a little on edge every time I went somewhere,” said Gospel singer DaMarka Wheeler. “I’m doing much better now. I just want everyone to know what it takes time to heal.”

To help in that process, the Upper Room Church and Canisius College put together the Buffalo Still Standing Relief Concert on the corner of Jefferson Ave and Florida Street.

“We are just here to uplift these families, to uplift the community to let them know that god is still able to strengthen you, keep you, in spite of it all,” Wheeler said.

Organizers and local lawmakers said the free concert was meant to restore the city and help people feel comfortable again.

“We wanted to lift the spirits of the people in this community. I think they deserve it,” said Cynthia Benning, the director of the Upper Room food pantry. “We’ve been through a lot and it didn’t just start two and a half months ago and so for me, I just want to see people happy and smiling and not be so fearful of coming out of their homes or getting ready to go to the store.”

“We will not stop because someone decided to do something crazy,” Daniel said. “We’re gonna go on. We’re gonna live, but we won’t live in fear.”

BATAVIA, N.Y. (WIVB) — A Batavia woman was arrested on July 2 for injuring an animal and owning an unlicensed dog after her pet French Bulldog allegedly overdosed on cocaine multiple times, according to Batavia Police.

Cassandra Elmore, 30, is said to have brought her pet French Bulldog to a veterinarian for care after it overdosed on cocaine on May 15 and May 25. She faces a separate injuring an animal charge, as the dog also got into what Batavia Police described as “some sort of narcotic” on June 21, after which, Elmore brought the dog to the vet for treatment again.

Jamestown man, a Sheriff’s office captain, dies after falling into Chautauqua Lake

Furthermore, Elmore was charged with owning an unlicensed dog, as the pet was never licensed with the City of Batavia. She was issued an appearance ticket and is due back in Batavia City Court on July 26.

CHERRY CREEK, N.Y. (WIVB) — Just before 7 p.m. on the Fourth of July, the Chautauqua County Sheriff’s deputies responded to a report of a man injured while riding an ATV in the Town of Cherry Creek, according to the Sheriff’s office.

Witnesses reportedly told deputies on-scene that the man drove the ATV into the woods. After a thorough search, deputies found the injured man.

The ATV operator was identified as Brian Erickson, 40, of Jamestown, who was found to be operating the vehicle on a public road without proper registration or license. Investigators reportedly later discovered he was operating the ATV while intoxicated.

Erickson was charged with unregistered ATV, aggravated unlicensed operation in the second degree, DWI and DWI per se. He was released with an appearance ticket for a later date.

BUFFALO, NY. (WIVB)– “That big smile on his face, it changes your whole mood.” said Jason Dust.

Dust’s service dog Sven, along with a semi-blind cat named Jameson, are using their furry faces to help other pets like them find homes.

On Sunday, the Ten Lives Club, the City of Buffalo Animal Shelter, and Resurgence Brewing Company celebrated a launch of two new brews: Sven’s Session IPA and Jameson’s Summer Ale, a part of the second-annual “Resurgence to the Rescue” contest.

Sweet Buffalo: Sven and Jameson are this year’s winners of the Resurgence summer beer can contest

The launch comes from a fundraiser that hundreds of pet owners took part in, raising $1 for every vote on a pet. The animals with the most votes were picked to be the faces of the two new beers.

Sven, the two-year-old Rottweiler, has won for the second year in a row. Dust said he wanted to help bring awareness of local organization that help pets find their forever homes.

“If we can raise money to make sure these animals are taken care of and find homes, then I would do it every year.” said Dust.

Jameson, a one-year-old rescue cat, had the most votes amongst cats. His owner, Sarah Palkowski, is excited to see him bring awareness for other animals just like him.

“Being able to see him on there, even being perfectly imperfect, it shows that shelter cats really deserve a good home.” Palkowski said. “Adopted cats and rescue cats have so much love to give, and when they’ve finally found it, they’re going to go above and beyond.”

The contest raised over $100,000 for the two animal shelters. Additionally, a portion of the proceeds from each can purchased will go to the Ten Lives Club and the City of Buffalo Animal Shelter.

Organizers encourage people to purchase the 6-pack throughout the summer and scan the QR codes on the cans to learn more about how they can help the organizations, which are always looking for donations, volunteers and to help find pets homes.

For more information on how to help the Ten Lives Club, click here. For more information on how to help the City of Buffalo Animal Shelter, click here.

BUFFALO, N.Y. (WIVB) — A male victim was stabbed on E. Lovejoy Street, near the intersection of Greene Street on Sunday around 4:15 p.m., according to Buffalo Police.

The victim was reportedly on a porch when the stabbing happened. He was taken to ECMC by ambulance with injuries that appear serious, per the BPD.

The BPD also said one person is in custody in connection with the stabbing.

POMFRET, N.Y. (WIVB) — A man was airlifted to a Pennsylvania hospital with serious injuries after his motorcycle collided with a woman’s vehicle in the Town of Pomfret just before 3:30 p.m. on Saturday, according to the Chautauqua County Sheriff’s office.

The Sheriff’s office and Fredonia Fire responded to the scene, as Merritt Wolcott, 31, of Brocton was left seriously injured following the collision.

Man dies after falling into Chautauqua Lake

According to investigators, Wolcott was reportedly traveling at a high rate of speed, westbound on Rt. 5, while on a 1996 Suzuki motorcycle, when he collided with Kaitlyn Hill’s 2013 Toyota sedan as it was traveling north on Van Buren Road, toward Lake Road.

Wolcott’s motorcycle reportedly hit the passenger side rear door of Hill’s vehicle. He was treated at the scene and airlifted by Stat Medivac to the hospital. Hill, 21, of Noblesville, Ind. was not injured, according to the Sheriff’s office.

The accident remains under investigation at this time.

review/conclusion

by George Radney

The promoters for the 19th Annual Rochester International Jazz Festival, John Nugent and Marc Iacona, estimated over 210,000 people attended the 9-day event. That’s also attributed to people wanting to be outside and listen to live music once again.

Let’s get right to the very best of the 2022 festival. Sheila E was outstanding with her P- Funk, R&B, and Latin fusion show. It was very high energy with tributes to James Brown, Sly Stone, George Clinton and her closing tribute to Prince was very moving and on point. She captured the true essence of Prince and how he really was as a performer and artist. She was also able to perform the various dances of Prince’s artist including Morris Day skip hip hop crossover moves were on point. Sheila E truly loved Prince and it shows in her musical style.

Robin Thicke also performed to over 10,000 people at Parcel 5 in the heart of downtown Rochester. Robin had a high energy performance that included his hit songs along with several Motown classics. The New Power Generation (NPG) was playing the music of Prince and you could tell from the start they were not the original band that toured with him. Their performance was disjointed and not precise at all. As a matter of fact, several Buffalo and Rochester bands could have done a better job. Once again, the real tribute to Prince was done by Sheila E.

Rochester’s Danielle Ponder who wowed another packed Parcel 5 audience on Saturday evening with her dramatic deep rooted soulful sounds. Danielle Ponder is now getting national attention and will soon become a household name as a rising powerful vocalist that brings the heat and passion in her music.

Booker T and a Soul Stax revenue was very good and memorable. Stax refers to the record label based out of Memphis Tennessee which had artist like Otis Redding, Sam & Dave, and B.B. King just to name a few. Booker T still sounds good like the record on his hits such as the MG’s “Green Onions.”

The people you may have never heard of also put on memorable and outstanding performances.

These artists included: Tivon Pennicott Tenor Sax player who took us to a higher level of consciousness; Connie Han ,a 23-year-old pianist played the piano like her hair was on fire with a very edgy blend of modern and traditional jazz; Nabate Isles a Grammy award winning trumpeter that mesmerized his audience at Max of Eastman Place with his tribute to the jazz legends Dizzy Gillespie, Doc Cheatham, Louis Armstrong and Wynton Marsalis; Samara Joy, vocalist made you feel like Sarah Vaugh reincarnated with that smooth as velvet sound.

Also: The Wayne Escoffrey Quartet at Kilbourn Hall was a straight-ahead jazz session that reminded me why I love jazz so much with its improvisational style and hard driven sound. Jonathan Scales Fourchestra at Montage was very good with his innovative steel panmist. Rochester native and Jefferson High School alum Joe Locke once again gave us some powerful playing on the Vibraphone and his band was up for the challenge. Last but not least, the legendary Blues Hall of Famer and Grammy award winning Bobby Rush gave his history and told the audience a story about 1951 when he had to perform from behind the curtain in order for the white audience would not know a black man was singing those songs. He’s well past 80 years of age but Mr. Rush has a high energy show.

The 19th Rochester Jazz Festival was quite memorable indoors and outside hopefully next year they will be able to have free shows at Parcel 5. It was truly a very nice kickoff to the summer season.

What About Me? a children’s book by Buffalo native author Regina Hennegan has been named by the Independent Book Publishing Professionals Group as one of the best indie books of 2022!

The book is a finalist of the Children’s Picture Book Non fiction (All Ages) category in the 2022 Next Generation Indie Book Awards, the world’s largest book awards program for independent publishers and self-published authors.

Award Winning Author from Buffalo NY Regina Hennegan

Hennegan born and raised in Buffalo, has owned her own daycare for over 24 years. She is a wife and mother of five and grandmother of two. At an early age she knew that reading and writing stories was her passion. “Coming from a large family reading took me away, it took me to a place of quietness, peace and serenity.” she told the Challenger News.

Hennegan began writing children’s books when her son was born 20 years ago. Her first book “Oh My Gosh” There’s a Mousse In My House was published in 2017. “What About Me” is her second book that has won her the much deserved award.

” I give all praises to God for blessing me with this gift of writing and allowing me to share it with so many children. I pray that each book will be a blessing to them” said Hennegan.

This year’s Gold Sponsors are MindStir Media, an award-winning self-publishing company that helps people from all walks of life self-publish, distribute, and market their books and IAP Career College, which offers online certificate courses in more than 100 career fields including book editing and book publishing.

Hennegan’s books can be found at Barnes & Nobles 4401 Transit Rd, and on Amazon.com

Congratulations Regina!