Community News

Turtle bldg

GUEST VIEW: Historic status doesn’t solve Turtle’s problems

Community News, Local News, Niagara Falls February 8, 2024 at 2:02 am

By Roger Trevino Unfortunately, the Niagara Gazette’s article on Friday regarding the Niagara Falls Historic Preservation Commission supporting efforts to designate the Turtle building as an historic landmark leaves out some important facts. First, while the Turtle building is approximately 42 years old, it was only in operation as theRead More

Beatles Tribute Friday at Batavia Downs

Beatles Tribute Friday at Batavia Downs

Community News, Featured February 2, 2024 at 4:08 pm

By Tony Farina Beatlemania Magic at Batavia Downs Gaming Beatlemania Magic will be front at center at Batavia Downs Gaming on Friday, Feb. 9, beginning at 7:30 p.m., with general admission tickets at $15 that include a $10 in free play. For all of us who remember and were excitedRead More

The Turtle

Concrete Controversy: Niagara’s ‘Turtle’ Teeters on Historic Designation

Community News, Local News, Niagara Falls January 30, 2024 at 5:03 pm

Cultural appropriation is at the heart of the City’s looming dispute and may cost taxpayers millions. A dome-shaped building on the edge of Niagara Falls State Park, commonly called “The Turtle,” is at the center of potential litigation involving the City of Niagara Falls and the property’s owners. The disputeRead More

John Gross

John Gross Bids Final Farewell

Community News, Local News December 23, 2023 at 4:50 pm

By Tony Farina “There goes another legend,” commented noted Buffalo defense attorney Joel Daniels when he heard of the passing of Niagara Falls plumbing contractor John Gross who died unexpectedly last Monday, Dec. 19, at Mount St. Mary’s Hospital, at the age of 87. John Gross served two different jailRead More

WROTB’s Batavia Downs Sponsors Riviera Theatre Holiday Event

WROTB’s Batavia Downs Sponsors Riviera Theatre Holiday Event

Community News, Featured, Local News December 8, 2023 at 12:39 pm

WROTB Revenue Helps Support Local Communities By Tony Farina The Christmas spirit has arrived and there will be a very special holiday event at the Riviera Theatre in North Tonawanda on Wednesday night, Dec. 13, at 7 when Batavia Downs sponsors a screening of the 1947 Christmas Classic “Miracle onRead More

Hochul, Albany Shovel Out $5 Million to Niagara Falls in Effort to “Revitalize” Downtown

Hochul, Albany Shovel Out $5 Million to Niagara Falls in Effort to “Revitalize” Downtown

Community News November 21, 2023 at 1:09 pm

Governor Kathy Hochul last week announced that applications are available for the Niagara Falls Small Business Property Improvement Program. The $5 million program will provide grants of up to 50 percent of total project costs, up to $100,000 per property, to eligible small businesses to foster revitalization of traditional mixed-useRead More

Former Attorney General Sues State for Wrongful Action In Dismantling WROTB and ‘Neutering’ Outlying Counties

Former Attorney General Sues State for Wrongful Action In Dismantling WROTB and ‘Neutering’ Outlying Counties

Community News, Featured, Local News, News November 13, 2023 at 8:35 pm

By Tony Farina Former State Attorney General Dennis Vacco of the Buffalo law firm of Lippes Mathias, is still awaiting responses from the state on the lawsuit he filed in September on behalf of several member counties challenging the language in the state budget in May that, in Vacco’s words,Read More

Falls Comedian “Black Ernie” Lights Up the Stage in Vegas

Falls Comedian “Black Ernie” Lights Up the Stage in Vegas

Community News, Featured, Ken Cosentino, Local News, Niagara Falls November 12, 2023 at 11:18 pm

Comedian Ernie Bivins, AKA “Black Ernie,” is making a name for himself in Las Vegas. “I’m 49, but I feel like I’m 29!” Jokes the Niagara Falls Native, whose career began here in his hometown in 2008. “I was doing shows for a few years and then I met MikeRead More

Falls Mayoral Candidate Carl Cain’s Wisdom Sharpened by Heart and History

Falls Mayoral Candidate Carl Cain’s Wisdom Sharpened by Heart and History

Community News, Elections 2023, Featured, Local News November 4, 2023 at 10:37 am

By Brandon M. Stickney “To be yourself in a world that is constantly trying to make you something else is the greatest accomplishment.” – Ralph Waldo Emerson For a time, human rights activist Malcolm X meant trouble for young Carlton “Carl” Cain. Malcolm’s autobiography, co-authored by Alex Haley, was nearly 500Read More

"Niagara Digital Campus" digital rendering courtesy of PRCG | Haggerty LLC

GUEST VIEW: Niagara Digital Campus will improve power infrastructure and help us meet climate goals

By Dennis Elsenbeck I have lived and worked in Western New York for decades now. Many in the area know me from the nearly 30 years I spent at Niagara Mohawk and National Grid (culminating in the position of regional director for Western New York), or from my role onRead More

NFMMC Leads Niagara County in Preparation for Medicaid Doulas

NFMMC Leads Niagara County in Preparation for Medicaid Doulas

Community News, Niagara Falls October 27, 2023 at 10:56 pm

NIAGARA FALLS, N.Y. — “Everyone should have a doula,” noted one mother who birthed with a doula from the Every Woman & Child Counts project. New York State lawmakers agree. Recently approved in the New York State budget, doulas across New York State may begin to certify as Medicaid providersRead More

Thursday, Oct. 7 is Marsha McWilson Day! Join her family in honoring the life of their son, Jaylan McWilson.

Thursday, Oct. 7 is Marsha McWilson Day! Join her family in honoring the life of their son, Jaylan McWilson.

Community News October 6, 2023 at 8:07 pm

Anti Gun Violence Rally, October 7, 2023, 12-4pm, Trinity Baptist Church

The Book Corner Celebrates 96 Years With Off-Beat Cinema!

The Book Corner Celebrates 96 Years With Off-Beat Cinema!

Community News, Ken Cosentino September 22, 2023 at 8:52 am

Now is your chance to be seen on national television at The Book Corner, a three story high family-owned local book store owned by Jeff Morrow. “We’re celebrating 96 years of business,” says Morrow. On Saturday, September 23rd, Buffalo-based television series Off-Beat Cinema will be filming live at The BookRead More

Niagara Falls Memorial Medical Center: A Beacon of Hope and Compassion for Homeless Asylum-Seeking Family

Niagara Falls Memorial Medical Center: A Beacon of Hope and Compassion for Homeless Asylum-Seeking Family

Community News, Local News September 18, 2023 at 8:54 pm

Niagara Falls, NY: In the early morning of September 9, Niagara Falls Memorial Medical Center (NFMMC) stepped up as an oasis of hope for a pregnant Nigerian asylum-seeker and her family, who had been turned away at the Canadian border. This dramatic incident highlighted community hospitals’ indispensable role in addressing unplannedRead More

Aquarium of Niagara – A Sanctuary For Rescued Animals

Aquarium of Niagara – A Sanctuary For Rescued Animals

Community News, Ken Cosentino August 20, 2023 at 8:21 pm

One of the most common statements that I hear from members of our community is that “Niagara Falls needs younger leaders.” It’s true – we need new blood, new ideas and youthful energy to lead the rebranding of our community. To understand how this can work, one only need lookRead More

Turning Adversity into Advocacy: The Story of Guy W. Gane, Jr.

Turning Adversity into Advocacy: The Story of Guy W. Gane, Jr.

Community News, Local News August 13, 2023 at 7:57 pm

By Staff How does someone start over after being falsely accused of a crime? This was a question we put to Guy W. Gane, Jr. recently. “You put your faith in God, and you organize a reasonable plan for your life.” Gane, who was castigated unmercifully by the media whenRead More

Travis Saturley in front of the Niagara Gorge

Local Spotlight: Travis Saturley – The Right Man For The Job

Community News, Ken Cosentino August 6, 2023 at 7:37 am

  If you’ve taken the Cave of the Winds tour at any point in the last twenty years, there’s a good chance that you may have met Travis Saturley. Travis has likely greeted over a million visitors with his warm smile and in-depth knowledge of Niagara Falls history. His loveRead More

Beth Smoke and her Papa Billy Logan

Native Boxer Beth Smoke Brings Home The Title

Community News, Ken Cosentino August 4, 2023 at 10:02 am

  Elizabeth Harris-Smoke aka Beth Smoke (Six Nations Mohawk, Wolf Clan) just won the USA Boxing Women’s Championship in the 176+ pound bracket. At 13 years old, she has a promising road ahead of her. Born in Ontario, Canada, Beth relocated to Niagara Falls, NY when she was just aRead More

Phil and some of the garbage he hauled out of Cayuga Creek

Local Spotlight: Phil Gigliotti – Guardian of the Niagara River

Community News, Ken Cosentino July 31, 2023 at 3:44 pm

  38-year-old Phil Gigliotti is a lifelong resident of Niagara Falls, NY who grew up on Cayuga Island. Today he is a husband and father, an avid sports fan,  and a collector and lover of nature. Over a decade ago, while living in an apartment on Buffalo Avenue, Phil experiencedRead More

Lovely Pollinator Meadows Proliferate along Niagara Gorge, thanks to No-Mow Policy

Lovely Pollinator Meadows Proliferate along Niagara Gorge, thanks to No-Mow Policy

Community News July 8, 2023 at 4:04 pm

One of the best things to ever happen to the city of Niagara Falls was the removal of a section of the Robert Moses Parkway. Replaced by trails, natural pollinator-friendly meadows and native trees, it’s one of the best things the Office of State Parks has ever done here forRead More

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