Category: PostNews

BUFFALO, N.Y. (WIVB) — It is Kentucky Derby Day and Buffalo Distilling Company has a new bourbon whiskey just for the occasion.

It’s called “Bottled in Bond.” Buffalo Distilling said the bourbon was aged at least four years and is 100 proof.

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The co-founder of Buffalo Distilling told us what taste testers can expect.

“Right now, we’re releasing the Bottled in Bond, so it’s over four years old. And the Bottled in Bond significance is that it’s all been made under our roof, we didn’t bring anything in from a different distillery or different city or state.”

News 4’s Marlee Tuskes will be taking you behind the scenes at Buffalo Distilling Company, you can check her report Monday on News 4 at 5:30.

BUFFALO, N.Y. (WIVB) — Indianapolis Colts Head Coach and Bills legend Frank Reich was back in Buffalo Saturday to once again present the Call to Courage Award.

The ceremony was held Saturday morning at the Hyatt in Buffalo. Frank Reich was joined by Sean McDermott and Buffalo-born singer, songwriter Charity Gayle to award Quarterback Nick Foles with this year’s Call to Courage Award, for his commitment to the community off the field.

Reich discussed the Knot Today Foundation, the non-profit his family started several years ago.

“Well, there is basically three buckets of everything we do as a foundation goes into one of three buckets, awareness, prevention and restoration,” Reich said. “And so, Knot Today is trying to be a catalyst, trying to bring people together. We’ve been afforded a tremendous platform in the NFL, and so we want to bring together people who have like-minded and like-spirit to fight against this issue as Linda is talking about, to protect children from sexual abuse, exploitation and trafficking.”

Frank Reich thanked the Western New York community for the love and appreciation that he still receives ever since his days of playing for the Bills during the great Super Bowl years.

EVANS, N.Y. (WIVB) — A 44-year-old Buffalo man is dead after a wrong-way crash with a tractor-trailer early Saturday morning on the Thruway in the Town of Evans.

New York State Police spotted the driver, Benjamin Wence, after reports of a vehicle driving the wrong way on the I-90. Wence was driving west in the eastbound lane through Hamburg.

Troopers tried to stop Wence, following behind him in the eastbound lane with their emergency lights on. When the 44-year-old wouldn’t stop, troopers made a u-turn and crossed over into the westbound lanes following him for several miles.

Wence crashed head-on with a tractor-trailer in the Town of Evans and was killed.

The driver of the tractor-trailer suffered a minor injury, NYSP said in a news release.

An investigation into the crash is ongoing.

BATAVIA, N.Y. (WROC) — A man was pronounced dead after suffering a medical emergency and crashing on West Main Street in Batavia Saturday.

According to officials, officers were led near 390 West Main Street around 3:50 p.m. for the report of a crash involving a single vehicle. Once at the location they found a man who was pronounced dead at the scene.

Investigators say the man is believed to have experienced a medical emergency while traveling on West Main Street near the Top’s Market in the area. The car crossed over all lanes of traffic, leaving the roadway, causing it to strike a fence before coming to a rest at a nearby ditch.

First responders attempted life-saving measures but were ultimately unsuccessful. The man was pronounced dead at the scene by Coroner Peck.

No other vehicles or occupants were involved in the incident, officials reported.

An investigation is currently underway. An autopsy is scheduled to be performed by staff at Monroe County Examiner’s Office to determine the cause of death.

BUFFALO, N.Y. (WIVB) — Students from across Western New York showed off their story-telling skills Friday night at Buffalo State College.

This marks the sixth year for the “Youth Voices Conference.”

Student presentations ranged from spoken word poetry to documentary films, in celebration of stories and talents of students in grades Kindergarten through 12. It’s also an opportunity to share experiences and hear other students’ perspectives.

Students from more than a dozen local schools attended the conference.

Story and Photos by Ashley Dorcely

Toronto versus Philadelphia was 3-2 in favor of Philly going into Thursday night’s game. Toronto had fought back from a 3-0 deficit. The Raptors’ home court advantage in the Six is legendary because fans do not only gather inside Scotiabank Arena but also outside in Jurassic Park. This game would be only the third playoff game played here since the 2018 – 2019 season. The winner of the series will get to move on to Round 2, where the number one seed in the Eastern Conference, the Miami Heat await them. 

Toronto’s Gary Trent takes baseline jumper over the outstretched hand of 76ers’ Tyrese Maxey and onlooker James Harden

The Raptors came out firing. At 8:04 in the first quarter Toronto was ahead 15-10. It didn’t seem as if the Raptors were tight at all. But the 76ers James Harden was focused on attacking the basket and getting to the foul line early on. His intentions helped cut the score halfway through the first to 15-14. As the quarter continued Toronto seemed to be taking more outside shots than Philly. The Raptors finished the first up 34-29 with the home fans very much into the game. 

Chris Boucher being inserted into the lineup in the first after OG Anunoby picked up his second foul was a major injection of energy. But the second quarter started just as the first ended with the 76ers playing both a 2-3 and a 3-2 zone enticing and baiting Toronto into shooting from the perimeter. So far though Joel Embiid, the possible MVP had not made an impact offensively. 

That was not going to last long as the “Sleeping Giant” and maybe sleeper as an MVP candidate would soon awaken. The quarter was filled with a bevy of shots leading to several lead changes. At halftime the score was 62-61 Toronto ahead. The Raptors’ hopes on playing a game seven was still alive. Both teams had several double digit scorers. Chris Boucher led Toronto with 19 points. While Joel Embiid made up for his slow start leading his squad with 16 points. 

Philadelphia came out swinging like “Rocky” in the second half. By 8:48 in the third quarter the score was 76-67. Philly was hitting on all cylinders, inside and outside. I was hoping for a Chris Boucher siting after a timeout. But that was not the case. Instead there was a turnover resulting in another Tyrese Maxey three followed by a missed three pointer by Precious Achiuwa and Joel Embiid getting fouled.

The lead had now ballooned to 13. You could hear the angst in the fans stained with fear as the Raptors couldn’t make a basket. At 5:20 in the third quarter the score was 87-67 Philadelphia. OG Anunoby finally made a basket for the Raptors at about 4:50 followed by a 76ers offensive foul. 

76ers ‘ Joel Embiid shoots free throw line jumper against Raptors’ OG Anunoby, Pascal Siakam and Precious Achiuwa

But the Raptors run was quickly stopped . After a James Harden three the score at the 3:51 mark was 92-70. Coach Nurse called another timeout before things got completely out of hand. I couldn’t help but wonder how VanVleet was being missed at this time. With 30.3 left in the third the score was 97 – 75. Joel Embiid committed a foul on Chris Boucher then stepped over him a la Allen Iverson(look it up). That made Boucher jump to his feet and walk towards Embiid.

The refs had to separate them. The officials also decided to review the foul as a possible flagrant foul. This inflamed the crowd so they serenaded Embiid with some love(that’s sarcasm). At the end of the third the score was 99-78 Philadelphia. 

At the midpoint in the fourth quarter the Toronto offense seemed uncertain and discombobulated. The 76ers had taken the bite out of the Raptors and the spirit from Scotiabank fans. Even with a considerable lead by Philadelphia, the full court defense of Tobias Harris on Pascal Siakam continued. The Raptors also decided to press but they could not claw their way back into this game.

With 2:14 left in the game and the score 126-94, Coach Nick Nurse emptied his bench and the 76ers Coach Doc Rivers did likewise.

The season was coming to an end. The team from the Six would not make it to Game Seven in this series! 

sports photo journalist and educator A. Dorcely

BUFFALO, N.Y. (WIVB) — Saturday was Free Comic Book Day at over 2,000 stores worldwide, however, it also marked an important day for a local comic book publisher, who held a signing during the launch of his line of Buffalo-based heroes at Queen City Bookstore on Main Street.

Tivo Rodriguez launched Erie County Comics at the store this weekend, with the debut of the hero Rustbelt, the iron-plated protector of Erie County. Rodriguez is the author, illustrator and publisher of Erie County Comics.

He expressed his appreciation for the community’s support at the event.

“The outpouring of support has been amazing,” he said. “I’ll tell you, one thing people from Buffalo love is when they show appreciation for the city. Anything that’s Buffalo-based, I think people from Buffalo like to get behind, because I think we all have the same mutual love for our city and like to see it supported and celebrated as much as possible.”

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The comic was created in honor of Rodriguez’s grandfather, Amalio Ayala, who also stars in the story, as the man who remotely controls the mechanical powerhouse Rustbelt. Rodriguez told News 4 that when he was younger, Ayala was the one who got him into comics in the first place, taking him to the flea market and comic book store to look around.

“He’d sit out here in the car while I went through the back-issue bins for a couple hours,” Rodriguez said. “He pretty much got me into reading and comics as a lifelong hobby.”

Though Ayala died a few weeks ago at the age of 88, Rodriguez was able to get large printouts of the comic for him to read prior to his passing. Ayala loved it. Rodriguez said what mattered most to him was using his work to show his grandfather what he meant to him.

“Essentially, what I wanted to get across to him, is that he is my hero,” Rodriguez said. “And I wanted to immortalize him in that regard. The highest honor I could probably give somebody, for me, is probably putting them in a comic book.”

In addition to honoring his grandfather, Rodriguez wanted to pay homage to his city.

“I have a passion for comics and a passion for the City of Buffalo,” he said. “So I wanted to put them together, and put something out there for the world, and see what people think about it.”

In addition to Rustbelt, the series will feature Buffalo-themed heroes Roller Queen, Kensington Bailey, The Courier, The 90, and the team of The Brave & Talkin’ Proud. One of those heroes may even make an appearance in the first issue of “RUSTBELT,” but no spoilers here.

Rodriguez said readers who are not familiar with Buffalo may not pick up on some Buffalo deep-cuts and Easter eggs, like Freddies Donuts and the Courier Express, so Buffalonians definitely have an advantage in catching some of the nods to the city he hid in the stories.

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Erie County Comics started as a quarantine hobby, and has now produced into a fabulous first issue, with more issues coming soon. Rodriguez said there is no confirmed timeframe on later issues, but he said they’re on the way.

“It was a one-man project, so it did take me about a year to get done,” Rodriguez said. “So there are more coming, but — it’s on the way, I’ll put it that way.”

“RUSTBELT” will be on sale at Queen City Bookstore through June 6, and Rodriguez will have more copies will be for sale at Buffalo Comicon on May 21.

For more information, visit Erie County Comics’ website at this link.

BUFFALO, N.Y. (WIVB) — Buffalo Police responded to a kidnapping/stolen vehicle call on Bailey Avenue, near Weston Avenue around 11:50 p.m. Friday.

According to police, a driver left his car running with his 6-year-old son inside as he went into a store. A suspect reportedly took off in the vehicle with the boy still in the back seat. Just after 12:05 a.m., officers found the vehicle on Andover Avenue, near Olympic Avenue. The boy was in the back seat unharmed.

The suspect reportedly fled the scene on foot.

BPD asked that anyone with information on the incident to call or text the confidential tip line at (716) 847-2255. They also urged drivers not to leave their vehicles running while unattended, as an individual can take off with a vehicle that is left running in a matter of seconds.

Black Man/Black Woman Seeds of the PO/ET/TREE, a new book by BaBa Eng, has been released by RoseDog Books

 Baba Eng

This collection of po/et/tree and essays are the expressions of a man locked down under the most inhumane conditions imaginable here in the United States of America.

BaBa Eng was sentenced to twenty-five years to life in New York State’s prison system in 1977 for shooting a man who had pulled a gun on his wife in an illegal after-hours club in Harlem, New York. When Mr. Eng discovered the enormity of the act he had committed, he dedicated himself to education and self-improvement. That pursuit, according to Mr. Eng, was so he could at least attempt to balance the scales and be able to work for his community upon release from prison.

These writings are the result of his meditations and contemplations while in prison, in solitary confinement, and upon his release.

Upon his release in 2013, BaBa, as he is affectionately known in prisons throughout New York State, became an advocate for his fellow prisoners and in the Western New York community as a social justice advocate, his writing and his work continues.

Black Man/Black Woman Seeds of the PO/ET/TREE represents the reflections of a Black Man determined to share love and justice in a world where both are so desperately needed.

Black Man/Black Woman Seeds of the PO/ET/TREE is a 96-page paperback with a retail price of $12.00 (eBook $7.00). The ISBN is 978-1-6376-4449-2. It was published by RoseDog Books of Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania.

For more information, or to request a review copy, please go to our virtual pressroom at https://dorrancepressroom.com/black-man-black-woman-seeds-of-the-po-et-tree/  or our online bookstore at https://rosedogbookstore.com/black-man-black-woman-seeds-of-the-po-et-tree/.

BUFFALO, N.Y. (WIVB) — Buffalo Police have reported a 27-year-old man is in critical condition at ECMC after being shot on E. Delavan Avenue Friday night.

The shooting took place around 10 p.m. near the intersection of Newburgh Avenue, and remains under investigation. Detectives said the man was taken to ECMC by ambulance following the shooting.

Police ask that anyone with information call or text their confidential tip line at (716) 847-2255.