Category: PostNews

The Public Market is seeking vendors to participate in the Community Garage Sale and Superfleas event series starting Sunday, April 24. Individuals, families or community groups are invited to purchase a space. Cost is just $35 per day for a 10’ x 30’ stall, including a parking space.

This popular garage sale series takes place on 18 Sundays throughout the spring, summer and fall from 7 a.m. – 1 p.m. Vendors selling a wide variety of items, both new and used, are welcome to participate. This is also a great fundraising opportunity for nonprofit or community organizations.

The 2022 Garage sale season will run on the following dates: April 24, May 1, June 12, June 19, June 26, July 10, July 17, July 24, July 31, August 7, August 14, August 21, August 28, September 11, September 25, October 2, October 9, October 16.

To learn more and download the application, visit www.cityofrochester. gov/garagesales, or stop in to the Market office at 280 N. Union St.

(challenger photo)

Street Sign to Honor the Memory of Visionary University District Resident

On April 30 the City of Buffalo will unveil an honorary street sign for Mrs. Gwendolyn Zinermon, who passed away unexpectedly in April of last year.

Gwen had a true gift for working in her community and she spearheaded numerous community revitalization programs and cleanups within Buffalo’s University District. During her presidency of the Stockbridge Avenue Block Club, while working closely with Buffalo Council Member Rasheed N.C. Wyatt and Buffalo Police Lieutenant Nichols, a community fruit and vegetable garden was established.

In 2016, Gwen was presented with a Proclamation by Council Member Wyatt recognizing her excellence and dedication to the University District Community.  She later became the districts Democratic Committee person and was also Co- founder and Vice President of “SHE IS Empowered” a women’s empowerment group for women within the City of Buffalo. SHE IS Empowered was founded in 2017 and focuses on Economic Empowerment, Community Engagement and Personal Development.

Gwen was very much passionate about learning and teaching and enjoyed her years as a teacher with the City of Buffalo Board of Education. Gwen engaged, uplifted, and challenged youth in the community to excel academically.

Gwen was not only beloved and well respected within her community, but she was also adored by her family. Gwen leaves footprints of love and beautiful memories in the hearts of her loving husband of 47 years Phillip Zinermon, her children, two granddaughters, and loving family near and far along with friends, neighbors and a community that adored her.

Gwen’s vision was to engage women to heal, grow and to uplift one another and their communities.

SHE IS Empowered’s mission and goal is to continue Gwen’s legacy by pushing forward with tenacity to inspire women to achieve their goals and to support their communities. 

The street sign unveiling will take place April 30th, 2022, at 11:00 am at the Corner of Stockbridge and Suffolk (Lot 453) and will be officiated by councilman Rasheed N.C. Wyatt. Organizers have  also invited Mayor Brown and New York State      

Senator Kennedy to this extraordinary event in honor of Gwen’s life and Legacy.

BROCTON, N.Y. (WIVB) — Four individuals were arrested Wednesday following a several months-long investigation into drug sales in the Westfield and Brocton areas.

According to the Sheriff’s office, just before the execution of a search warrant Wednesday on John Street in the Village of Brocton, Shawn Conway, 43, had left the residence and was stopped for driving with a suspended license. He was detained and found to be in possession of crack cocaine and fentanyl, both of which had reportedly been packaged for sales.

Upon execution of the search warrant, investigators found 8.12 ounces of cocaine, 4.84 ounces of fentanyl, 1.4 grams of meth and $447 in cash. They also located Savannah Dorsey-Carter, 22, and Donald Tolbert, 48, who had arrest warrants out of Westfield and Dunkirk, respectively.

Conway and Dorsey-Carter were each charged with criminal possession of a controlled substance in both the first and second degrees, as well as criminal possession of drug paraphernalia in the second degree.

Additionally, Conway is facing four counts of criminal possession of a controlled substance in the third degree, aggravated unlicensed operation in the second degree and a vehicle and traffic law violation of unlicensed operation, while Dorsey-Carter is facing two counts of criminal possession of a controlled substance in the third degree.

Donald Tolbert, 48, was brought in on an arrest warrant for criminal possession of a forged instrument in the second degree and grand larceny in the fourth degree.

Steven Andrews, 57, is facing a charge of criminal nuisance in the second degree for maintaining a residence where others engaged in unlawful conduct.

All four were taken to the Centralized Arraignment Program at the Sheriff’s jail.

The investigation was conducted by three Chautauqua County Sheriff’s office units: the Southern Tier Regional Drug Task Force, SWAT and the Criminal Investigative Division, as well as Dunkirk Police.

NIAGARA, N.Y. (WIVB) — On Tuesday night, Amazon met with Niagara Town Board members at a workshop to discuss the new mega-distribution facility planned for Lockport Road.

Project leaders from Amazon, Phillips Lytle LLP, JB2 Parnters, LLC, Langan Engineering and SRF Associates presented to the board members. This is similar to the presentations they made previously with the Niagara County Planning Board and Zoning Board.

Initial planning stages are in the works for a giant new distribution facility at 8995 Lockport Rd. in the Town of Niagara. This warehouse will be a first mile facility, meaning it will primarily serve local residents who buy products from the company.

Amazon mega-distribution center moves forward in Niagara County

“If you’re buying your annual Bills gear, it’s going to be stored in a facility like this close by,” Amazon Economic Development Manager Maura Kennedy said.

Niagara County officials confirmed the e-commerce giant was coming to Niagara County, after months of going by the moniker Project FiFi. The project cleared the County Planning Board last month.

The proposal will create jobs both at Amazon and during the construction process.

“We’re really looking to bring economic opportunity to the jurisdiction through this investment. We’re looking to create 1,000 full time positions. All [of them] on average make $18 or more per hour,” Kennedy added.

One main concern from the Town Board members and residents is traffic. The site has three entrances off of Lockport Road. Almost 500 trucks will enter and exit the facility over the course of 24 hours, seven days per week. There is also an exit on Tuscarora Road for passenger vehicles. An initial traffic assessment was completed by SRF Associates, which concluded that peak hours for the facility do not interrupt prime commuting times at the main intersections.

“They have shifts that occur in the morning and in the evening. Those shift times don’t overlap with the intersection peak hours,” Amy Dake, senior managing traffic engineer at SRF Associates, said.

Some suggestions included making adjustments to Interstate 190 to accommodate more traffic. Additionally, the Board wants to learn more about the economics and how the facility will generate money for the town.

“Typically a facility of this size is going to generate significantly more in tax revenue than it will in cost to the town,” Kim Mason, partner at Phillips Lytle LLP, continued.

Local officials were mostly optimistic, saying they want the project to go through, from what they have seen so far.

“We are a little guarded because we are concerned about our constituents, but I can’t say a negative about anything so far. I think you guys did your homework before you even brought us a presentation,” Deputy Supervisor Charles Teixeira said.

The next steps will come in May when the project goes before the Town, Zoning and Planning Boards again. There will also be a public comment period before a final vote.

The company was already planning to call Western New York home, but that project fell apart when residents on Grand Island pushed back in 2020. In the same year, Town of Niagara Supervisor Lee Wallace sent a letter, saying his town was “fully on board and committed to assist in bringing this great project to Niagara County.”

The facility will be four stories, more than 3 million square-feet, built on a 216-acre plot and will feature 55 loading docks, 414 trailer parking stalls, 1,755 parking stalls and two guard buildings. This will cover 7% of the property, according to the application by JB2 Partners, LLC., and 105 acres will be left untouched.

Major e-commerce facility proposal goes to Town of Niagara planning board in April

The Town of Niagara posted several of the planning documents on their website. Meeting minutes from the March Planning Board meeting can be found here.

BUFFALO, N.Y. (WIVB) — A federal judge is dropping the criminal case against a Buffalo woman, accused of running over police officers during a protest in the summer of 2020 and illegal possession of a weapon.

It was a chaotic scene on June 1, 2020, with officers injured, bullets flying and a car speeding away.

“I was very happy that the case was dismissed, I still apologize to the officer, I never meant for anything to happen,” said Deyanna Davis, in regards to the charge of illegal possession of a weapon. Davis is no longer on home incarceration or electronic monitoring, relating to the federal case.

Davis was behind the wheel with two other men, Semaj Pigram, 25, and Walter Stewart, 28, when they slammed through a police blockade on Bailey Avenue, during a period of social unrest after the murder of George Floyd in Minneapolis.

Davis was initially charged in federal court with a single count of illegal possession of a firearm. On Tuesday, federal court Judge Richard Arcara dismissed her case, at the request of federal prosecutors.

“Its always been our contention that she was carjacked and that this weapon was the instrument used to take over the vehicle take over control of the vehicle,” said Sam Davis, Deyanna Davis’ attorney. There is no family relationship between the two.

“There was never any indication that she actually touched or came in contact with this weapon,” Sam Davis added.

Davis says she was on her way to the store and came across the protest, then sped off after seeing tear gas. She says she still deals with injuries from begin shot in the back and the stomach.

“I do still have troubles getting around sometimes, it does hurt a lot I never going to be the same,” Davis said.

State Police Trooper Ron Ensminger will likely never be the same either. He suffered a broken leg and a shattered pelvis after being run over. State Police say Ensminger retired in January due to his injuries.

Davis still faces state charges from the Erie County District Attorney’s Office — two counts of assault — for the injuries to the officers. This case is scheduled for July, according to the DA’s Office.

Sam Davis says their defense is building momentum, in getting those charges dropped, with the federal case now being dismissed.

“I believe this was purely an accident, she was shot subsequent to that this wasn’t malice, forethought, she didn’t intend to hurt him,” Davis said.

If convicted on the assault charges, Davis could get a max of 25 years in prison. Because of the federal case, Davis was on home incarceration with electronic monitoring, but that is no longer happening. Federal charges are still pending against her two co-defendants and according to court documents, plea negotiations are ongoing.

Davis’ defense attorney says Deyanna Davis is not a cooperating witness for the prosecution.

BUFFALO, N.Y. (WIVB) — Now open from Wednesday until Saturday between the hours of 10 AM and 5 PM, the Buffalo History Museum has launched their Pan-American Exhibition that takes a look at some of Buffalo’s rich history.

The exhibit will be around until the fall of this year, but it’s a perfect opportunity for parents and students to explore the Queen City in a way that promotes Education.

To learn more about the exhibit or the museum, click here.

NIAGARA FALLS N.Y. (WIVB) – The tourism season in Niagara Falls is approaching and some businesses are hoping for a busy summer and a fresh restart. Third Street Retreat Eatery & Pub is finally re-opening, after being closed for 2 years during the pandemic.

Owner Emory Weber is done putting his business on hold. Weber, along with the help of his girlfriend, Natasha Goutova, are getting the business, back up and running. The restaurant, located on Rainbow Boulevard in the Falls, has a soft reopening this Friday.

“Because tourism is about to commence, and we’ve been closed for two years, that’s a long time,” Goutova, who’s a Canadian resident, said. “There’s still overhead even though the restaurant is closed you’re still paying rent, you’re still paying utilities, you’re still a business, you still have a presence in people’s minds and in the city, so it’s about time.”

“We also have a lot of locals like tenants and stuff, here in the building as well that come down. All great patrons and friends so I’m looking forward to being able to be open for them again,” Weber said.

Now that there’s fewer restrictions on border travel, and on businesses, Weber says he’s able to focus more on growing the restaurant.

“t just seemed like the right time. We’re you know getting ready for summer, want to be prepared for the June, July, August months,” he said. “Just kind of getting a feel for everything, getting things in place and getting ready to go,”

Weber is expecting to see more customers and tourists from Canada since people no longer need a negative COVID-19 test to cross the border. That requirement was lifted on April 1st. Travelers still need to be up to date on their vaccinations to cross back and forth between the two countries.

The restaurant is still in need of staff and are looking to hire workers for all roles.

LOCKPORT, N.Y. (WIVB) — A student at Starpoint Middle School was arrested Wednesday for making a threat at the school.

On April 8, the Niagara County Sheriff’s office received a report of a possible threat of violence at the school. The office’s Criminal Investigation Bureau investigated the threat and charged a boy at the school with making a terroristic threat, a Class D felony.

The boy was later released to the custody of his parents and given a future date to appear at Niagara County Probation. The Sheriff’s office said the school worked cooperatively to ensure the safety of its students.

News 4 has reached out to Starpoint for comment and is waiting to hear back.

WHEATFIELD, N.Y. (WIVB) – A motorcycle driver was killed in an accident Wednesday on Niagara Falls Boulevard in the Town of Wheatfield, the Niagara County Sheriff announced.

Police have not yet released information about the driver. The incident happened around 11:30 a.m.

Police said both the motorcycle and the white SUV it collided with were traveling in the same direction. They believe the SUV slowed down because the car in front of it was making a left turn, but the motorcycle did not slow down in time and hit the rear end of the SUV.

The motorcycle driver was pronounced dead shortly after after the accident. No other injuries were reported.

This is a breaking news story, check back for updates.

NEW YORK (WIVB) – Brian Benjamin spent fewer than eight months as Lieutenant Governor before resigning in the face of allegations he took part in a bribery scheme. When Governor Kathy Hochul picks her next second-in-command, she promised Wednesday to do things differently.

“We are going to do a much better vetting process,” Hochul said. “We have a very powerful vetting process that will be underway for this. But in terms of what we knew at the time, it did not rise to the level of what we’re dealing with here today.”

In their documents charging Benjamin, federal prosecutors said the former lieutenant governor lied on a questionnaire prior to his August appointment.

“Benjamin falsely stated, among other things, that he had never ‘directly exercised [his] governmental authority (either as a Legislator or Executive official) concerning a matter of a donor [he] directly solicited,'” the paperwork says.

“We did not have the truth at the time the decisions were made,” Hochul said.

But the governor’s political rivals aren’t letting her off the hook.

Speaking in Buffalo Wednesday, New York City Public Advocate Jumaane Williams, who is challenging Hochul for the Democratic gubernatorial line, said, “The current governor’s response to former Governor Cuomo was, ‘I didn’t know what was happening.'”

“The answer was I didn’t know,” Williams continued. “The answer now is, ‘I didn’t know.'”

Rep. Tom Suozzi, also seeking the Democratic line in the June primary, said, “We’ve done research on Brian Benjamin. A straight-forward Google search saw that over the past year and a half there have been all kinds of questions.”

In a statement Tuesday evening, Benjamin’s attorneys argued his actions in question were laudable, not criminal.

“He looks forward to when this case is finished so he can rededicate himself to public service,” Benjamin’s attorneys said.

Still, he has resigned from office and suspended his campaign as Hochul’s running mate. There are, however, few ways to remove his name from the primary ballot.

“There’s still nothing to prohibit the Democratic state Legislature from coming back and passing a new set of rules which could change the whole playing field,” said Erie County Elections Commissioner Ralph Mohr.

While in the November General Election, voters cast one ballot for a Governor-Lieutenant Governor ticket, they vote separately for those two offices in the June primary. This means if successful in that primary, Hochul could end up with someone else’s running mate on her ticket.

Ana Maria Archila, Williams’ running mate, joined him in Buffalo Wednesday.

“If Governor Hochul is the one that wins the primary, I will endeavor to partner with her,” Archila said. “But my commitment has always been to the people of New York.”

Diana Reyna, Suozzi’s running mate, echoed a similar sentiment.

“After the primary, should I continue, I will work with whomever is Governor,” Reyna said. “Right now, (Suozzi and I) have a path to victory.”