Category: PostNews

LOCKPORT, N.Y. (WIVB) — The American Craftsmen Artisan Festival kicks off June 4 in Lockport. The event runs from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. on both June 4 and June 5 on the Kenan Center Campus.

The weekend is set to be filled with art, music, beer and wine. A variety of events will be taking place throughout the weekend.

Niagara Amusement Park and Splash World opening Friday

Festival events

Artisan Festival: Over 60 fine craft artisans will fill the Kenan Arena. It will cost $5 to enter from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. on both days.Seasonal Sips Bar: An array of local beer, cider, and wine will be available at the Kenan Arena Annex from noon to 5 p.m. on both days. You need to be 21 and over to attend.Chainsaw Chix: Chainsaw Chix will be on site to transform a log into a work of art. Chainsaw Chix are professional chainsaw sculptors, dedicated to promoting and preserving the integrity of the art form and its performance. The event will be outside the Kenan Arena. Times vary for both days.Friends of the Kenan Herb Club Plant Sale: The annual plant sale features an array of perennials, annuals, and herbs. The event takes place June 4 from 10 a.m. to 3 p.m. in the Kenan Gardens.Music in the Gardens: This event features live music by Welcome Distraction on the Kenan House Gallery lawn. The event is picnic-style and free to the public on June 4 from 6 p.m. to 8 p.m. in the Kenan Center Gardens. Access to the VIP Beer Garden is $10.

Artisan Festival tickets, VIP Beer Garden tickets and information about the American Craftsmen Artisan Festival can be found on the Kenan Center website.

NIAGARA FALLS, N.Y. (WIVB) — The Niagara County Department of Health will be partnering with Niagara County school districts to offer free COVID-19 booster clinics. The clinics are for everyone 5 years and older.

The U.S. Food and Drug Administration authorized the Pfizer COVID-19 booster for children 5 to 11 years old in May. NCDOH said children 5 years and older who are moderately to severely immunocompromised should receive their booster, or fourth vaccine dose, three months after completing their primary Pfizer vaccine series, which includes a third dose.

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“Vaccinations and boosters are the most effective way to protect against severe disease, hospitalizations, or developing long-term COVID-19 complications from COVID-19,” said NCDOH Public Health Director Daniel Stapleton. “The availability of boosters for 5-to-11-year-olds provides us another opportunity to safeguard the health of our children and our communities. I urge parents and guardians to get children ages 5 and over vaccinated and boosted to ensure safe and long lasting protection.”

According to statewide vaccination rates, 31.7% of kids 5 to 11 in Niagara County are vaccinated, while 41.8% of 5-to-11-year-olds are vaccinated in New York State. For 12-to-17-year-olds, 60.8% in Niagara County are vaccinated, while 78.1% are vaccinated in New York State.

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Booster clinic schedule

June 1 from 3 p.m. to 7 p.m. at Wilson High School in the Zipp Gym FoyerJune 2 from 3 p.m. to 7 p.m. at Royalton-Hartland High School in the CafeteriaJune 4 from 9 a.m. to 1 p.m. at the Niagara Career & Tech Educational CenterJune 7 from 3 p.m. to 7 p.m. at Niagara Wheatfield in the Adult Learning CenterJune 8 from 3 p.m. to 7 p.m. at Niagara Falls City Schools at Cataract ElementaryJune 9 from 3 p.m. to 7 p.m. at Barker Jr. Sr. High School in the CafeteriaJune 13 from 3 p.m. to 7 p.m. at Lewiston-Porter in the Community Resource CenterJune 14 from 3 p.m. to 7 p.m. at Newfane in the Early Childhood CenterJune 15 from 3 p.m. to 7 p.m. at Lockport City Schools at Aaron Mossell Jr. High SchoolJune 16 from 3 p.m. to 7 p.m. at North Tonawanda HS in the Alumni Student Activity CenterJune 22 from 1 p.m. to 5 p.m. at Starpoint in the Fricano Primary Cafeteria

COVID first, second, third/additional dose for immune-compromised individuals, and initial boosters and additional boosters will be available at all NCDOH vaccination clinics. Registration is encouraged but not required.

NEW YORK (WWTI) — New Applicants can now apply for the Excelsior Scholarship for the 2022-2023 academic year.

To be eligible students must attend or plan to attend a New York State University, or New York City University, and their families must make less than $125,000 annually. They also must complete 30 credits per year toward their program of study, including summer and winter terms.

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Students applying must also be on track to graduate on time with an Associate’s Degree in two years or a Bachelor’s Degree in four years. Students who meet all of the requirements are able to apply for tuition-free college on the NYS website. Governor Kathy Hochul stressed the importance of giving New York residents the opportunity to further their education.

“It is critical that we provide New York’s students every possible opportunity to climb the ladder of success,” Governor Hochul said. “The Excelsior Scholarship helps ensure a college education is attainable to all, especially for low-income students who face financial inequities that put them at a disadvantage. I am proud to support programs that tear down barriers to higher education and provide every New Yorker a chance to pursue a quality education.” 

According to the state, more than 190,000 New York residents attend CUNY or SUNY tuition-free with the addition of the Excelsior Scholarship program. Applications for the scholarship will be accepted through August 31 of 2022.

ALBANY, N.Y. (WTEN) — New York’s Office of Mental Health is meeting once again following the mass shooting in Uvalde, Texas. They continue with their mission to help New Yorkers cope with trauma and provide necessary resources.

“It’s important to talk to your children, ask them what they know. Avoid pushing if they’re not ready and keep offering,” said Matthew Canuteson, Diversity and Inclusion Officer. He also says there’s one crucial step in the healing process for both children and adults. 

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“Keep routines and expectations going. And provide some extra check-ins.”

Canuteson says consistency is key and provides an anchor to feel safe. Some additional steps include having a community of people to go to, limiting social media use, and seeking support for yourself as well as your child. Also understanding that it’s okay to have mixed emotions. 

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“Feeling different and having these challenges is the trauma response. It’s a normal response. And that there’s nothing shameful and that there’s nothing different or that weird or strange,” he said.

Steve Moskowitz, Director of Emergency Preparedness says the recommendations from the office, while simplistic, are effective when used over time. 

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“But by doing that, you have the opportunity to process and challenge and work through things that if left unaddressed,  tend to turn into bigger issues and greater challenges to long-term mental health,” Moskowitz says after traumatic events some people may deal with intrusive thoughts. If the thoughts become too overwhelming, help is available.  

You can text “HOME” to the Crisis Text Line at 741741. You can also call the National Suicide Prevention hotline at 1-800-273-8255.

GRAND ISLAND, N.Y. (WIVB) — Niagara Amusement Park and Splash World is set to open Friday, May 27 on Grand Island to kick off Memorial Day weekend. The water park and kiddie park will be opening on Friday, with the rest of the park opening in phases after this weekend.

The amusement park opened briefly in 2021, but hasn’t had a full summer run yet. Niagara Amusement Park and Splash World is at the site of the former Fantasy Island Theme Park, which closed during the COVID-19 pandemic.

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Grand Island Town Supervisor John Whitney said the park will have the old charm of Fantasy Island with brand new rides and attractions.

According to the Niagara Amusement Park and Splash World website, the park will be open from noon to 7 p.m. on weekends starting Memorial Day weekend until the last week of June. Starting June 24, the park will be open everyday for the rest of June. The schedule has not been released past June and the website said these hours are subject to change.

Daily admission tickets are on sale on the park website for $14.99 each. Season passes will also be available, but the price has not been released yet.

BUFFALO, N.Y. (WIVB) — Buffalo Police are investigating after a man was shot on Minnesota Avenue Wednesday night.

Just after 10:20 p.m., officers were dispatched for a call of shots fired in the 300 block of Minnesota Avenue.

A 49-year-old man was shot in the arm while inside a home, Buffalo Police said.

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He was taken to Erie County Medical Center where he was treated and released.

Anyone with information is asked to call or text the Confidential TIPCALL Line at (716) 847-2255.

BUFFALO, N.Y. (WIVB) — Samuel L. Radford III of We the Parents of WNY and District Parent Coordinating Council spoke with News 4 about the new tightened security measures at Buffalo Public Schools. These changes come in the wake of the mass shootings at Tops Market on Jefferson Avenue and at Robb Elementary School in Uvalde, Texas.

“Because it happened to children and in a school, it just makes you that much more on edge and concerned about what’s going on with our kids, with out community and with our country,” said Radford.

BPS to have “consistent police presence” near schools

The tightened Buffalo Public Schools security measures announced on Wednesday morning requires anyone who wants to enter a school building to call ahead and get prior approval. The school district said this includes parents, caregivers, siblings and vendors.

With the new safety measures at Buffalo Public Schools, Radford said that the way the changes were implemented were insensitive and that the school didn’t partner with parents to make this decision.

“I looked around on other websites for other school districts to see if other school districts did the same thing. Why is it only in Buffalo Public School District where you got to call in advance?” said Redford.

Radford said the district has other security measures in places, such as the doors being looked, getting buzzed in and getting searched upon arrival. He doesn’t think parents should need to call in advance.

“I’m concerned that if we’re the City of Good Neighbors, why is the urban school district where we have the highest percentage of people of color, people with low income treated differently than everybody else? If just seems unfair to me,” said Radford.

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Radford said there is a disconnect between what parents want and what the school district is offering. He wants the district to bring parents into the conversation before making any big decisions, including tightening security measures. He noted that BPS was the last school to go back to in-person from the COVID-19 pandemic.

“Buffalo Public Schools is the last public school district in all of New York State to get back into school last year. We just now were able to come back into the school in March of this year. And now we have the knee-jerk reaction and we’re going to lock parents out?” said Radford.

BUFFALO, N.Y. (WIVB) — Jonathan Lacey, a retired FBI special agent and principal at Security & Training Solutions, LLC, spoke with News 4 about how to stay safe in active shooter situations. This comes in the wake of the mass shootings at Tops Market on Jefferson Avenue and at Robb Elementary School in Uvalde, Texas.

Lacey said the FBI statistics on active shooters came out earlier this week. Since 2019, the number of active shooter incidents more than doubled from 30 to 61 in 2020.

Buffalo schools tighten security measures, require visitors to call ahead

“It’s just really sad that this is an issue that our society could prevent,” Lacey said.

Lacey noted that kids in school have lockdown drills frequently and are familiar with the phrase, “Run, Hide, Fight.” He said every generation has an issue they’re concerned about. One example could be hiding under a desk from a Russian nuclear attack.

Lacey gave the following advice for staying safe in potential active shooter situations:

When walking into a new space, look for exitsPay attention and limit distractions in your daily lifeThink about your limitations, such as shoes that would affect your ability to run or those who are with you

BPS to have “consistent police presence” near schools

“All rules of civility are out the window in an active shooter situation. You’re allowed to go through the kitchen. If there’s a staff only sign, that doesn’t matter when the bullets are flying,” Lacey said.

“The common characteristics of these attacks: they’re quick, they happen fast,” he added. “So we need to short circuit that normal physiological response to freeze, and we do that through training, through thinking it through in advance.”

BUFFALO, N.Y. (WIVB) — Starting May 27, the Erie County Department of Health (ECDOH) will be offering COVID-19 vaccine booster doses to eligible children from 5 to 11 years old. The doses will be available at county-run clinics.

Children from 5 to 11 years old are eligible to receive the Pfizer booster dose at least five months after completing the two-dose Pfizer vaccine series. The U.S. Food and Drug Administration authorized the Pfizer COVID-19 booster in this age range in May. ECDOH COVID vaccine clinics offer first and second doses, additional doses for those with severely immunocompromising conditions, and booster doses for those eligible.

Pfizer says 3 COVID shots protect children under 5

“You can think of COVID-19 vaccines as working like a battery,” said Commissioner of Health Dr. Gale Burstein. “The initial series give you protection against illness, but its protection can fade over time, much like a phone battery’s charge. Booster doses do exactly that – boosting your immunity, adding to your body’s ability to fight off infection.”

You can find out if you’re eligible for a booster dose on the New York State Department of Health website. ECDOH COVID vaccine clinics are not currently offering the Johnson & Johnson vaccine.

The full schedule of COVID clinics is available on the ECDOH website or by calling (716) 858-2929. COVID vaccines are also available at the Jesse Nash Health Center at 608 William Street, Monday through Friday from 9 a.m. to 3 p.m. on days that the ECDOH health clinics are open.

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