Local wild turkey caller gobbles up national recognition
YOUNGSTOWN, N.Y. (WIVB) — Niagara County resident Ernie Calandrelli is getting attention for sounding like a turkey. He has been turkey calling since the '70s and now his hunting skills are gaining him national recognition.
'It makes me feel good and it makes me feel like I did what I was supposed to do,' he said.
Calandrelli was recently inducted in the National Wild Turkey Federation's Grand Calling Championship Hall of Fame.
'It just set me over the top right there,' Calandrelli said. 'Just blew my mind they would consider me for that and that was pretty incredible.'
Calandrelli knows a dozen different ways to call wild turkeys. He teaches his skills at the Three F Conservation Society in Youngstown and all across the country.
'Educating kids and new hunters safety-wise and also the different aspects of turkey hunting — what's good, what's bad, what you should do, what you shouldn't do,' he said.
Calandrelli and other wild turkey hunters are getting ready for the start of the wild turkey hunting season on Thursday.
Sarah Minkewicz is an Emmy-nominated reporter and Buffalo native who has been a part of the News 4 team since 2019. Follow Sarah on Twitter @SarahMinkewicz and click here to see more of her work.
Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.
Hashtags
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
Yahoo
6 days ago
- Yahoo
‘Cheers' Actor George Wendt's Cause Of Death Revealed
The cause of death for Cheers star George Wendt is now known. The actor died from cardiac arrest, according to the death certificate obtained by TMZ. The certificate, released by the Los Angeles County Department of Public Health, lists cardiac arrest, congestive heart failure, coronary artery disease, and hypertension as underlying causes. Additional contributing conditions listed include end-stage renal disease or kidney failure, and hyperlipidemia (high cholesterol). More from Deadline Jason Constantine Dies: Lionsgate Motion Picture Group Co-President Was 55 Jason Sudeikis Pays Tribute To His Late Uncle George Wendt: "I Love Him Dearly" Loretta Swit Dies: 'M*A*S*H' Emmy Winner Who Played "Hot Lips" Houlihan Was 87 Wendt died peacefully in his sleep while at home on May 20, according to a family representative. He was 76. Wendt was on Cheers for the entirety of the show's epic run from 1982–1993. On a series full of beloved characters, his Norm Peterson was arguably the most beloved, with his entry into a scene announced each time as all the bar's patrons exclaimed, 'Norm!' What followed was usually a setup from one of his co-stars followed by a snappy one-liner from Norm. As a result of that performance, Wendt earned six consecutive Emmy nominations for Outstanding Supporting Actor in a Comedy Series, but never won. Wendt was on Cheers for the entirety of the show's epic run from 1982–1993. On a series full of beloved characters, his Norm Peterson was arguably the most beloved, with his entry into a scene announced each time as all the bar's patrons exclaimed, 'Norm!' What followed was usually a setup from one of his co-stars followed by a snappy one-liner from Norm. As a result of that performance, Wendt earned six consecutive Emmy nominations for Outstanding Supporting Actor in a Comedy Series, but never won. Prior to his work on Cheers, Wendt had a memorable turn on M*A*S*H, as well as appearances on Taxi, Soap and Alice. On Broadway, Wendt appeared as Yvan in Art (1998), as Edna Turnblad in Hairspray (2002), Santa in Elf (2010) and Joe Bell in Breakfast at Tiffany's (2013). Last year, Wendt joined Dan Aykroyd, Jim Belushi, Jon Lovitz, and Kevin Nealon in A History of the World in Six Glasses for Fox Nation. The show, from former Cheers EP Rob Long, chronicled the history of beer, wine, spirits, coffee, tea, soda and their respective impact on the world. Tom Tapp contributed to this report. Best of Deadline 2025 TV Series Renewals: Photo Gallery 2025 Deaths Photo Gallery: Hollywood & Media Obituaries 'Stick' Soundtrack: All The Songs You'll Hear In The Apple TV+ Golf Series
Yahoo
7 days ago
- Yahoo
Why is the USS The Sullivans' dry docking being delayed?
BUFFALO, N.Y. (WIVB) — While the USS The Sullivans have survived war, time and tens of thousands of miles, another winter Buffalo's waterfront may be its most dangerous battle yet. The community, Buffalo city leaders and Paul Marzello, the president of the Buffalo and Erie County Naval and Military Park, spoke about what is hopefully in store for future restoration efforts after the announcement of another dry docking delay. 'We've got $21 million to move forward and we're getting the question all the time. 'Why aren't we moving forward?' Marzello said. 'The simple answer is, we don't control the process. The city owns the ships. The city owns the buildings. The city owns the grounds. It's a city park.' After the ships partially sank in April, 14, 2022, New York State Assembly Majority Leader Crystal Peoples-Stokes announced $500,000 and Senate Democratic Leader Chuck Schumer secured $7.5 million in funding for repairs. Gov. Kathy Hochul also announced $10 million to repair the ships in August 2024. Marzello said due to holdups on the city level of insurance and 'administrative challenges,' plans to drydock and restore the historic ships have been pushed back to October 2026 at the earliest. He also said the city and the council chose a marine engineering firm in February to handle the project. 'That's where we are now. Nothing has been done for the last four months,' he said. ' It's very frustrating for our board, for us as an organization.' 'The city is moving diligently to put over $20 million in funding towards this project,' said Nate Marton, Buffalo's Department of Public Workers commissioner, in a statement WIVB News 4. Marton said there are no deadlines in place that the city has missed at this time. Buffalo Common Council Member Mitch Nowakowski said he works closely with the naval park and understands this is a big task. 'That's where I'm going to step in as a district member to say, 'Hey, where are we and how do we move this timeline to make sure that these assets are protected?' Nowakowski said. 'Why I have such confidence in the naval park is the dedication they have on their board and their executive director, so if they're showing us engineering reports that there needs to be an expeditious timeline to make sure that these are saved, I'm yielding to their expertise.' Visitors of the naval park said on Wednesday that they believe the ships need to be cared for to ensure they don't just become a part of Buffalo's past history. 'My grandpa was in the Navy and it was his captain's ship and I remember hearing stories from him, so [it's] really cool just to be able to visit the history and explore the area,' said Hamburg resident Hannah Meader. Others said the ships should remain in Buffalo. 'The history behind the Sullivans — every mother's heartbreak is in that ship. We really need to keep this — the ships, the planes, everything,' said Akron resident Margie Keller. 'It's so important for history for everybody to remember and for the little kids that don't know about it, it's just phenomenal. It breaks my heart to think we might lose them.' City leaders and naval park officials said they have similar goals in mind when it comes to the restoration project. To see all of News 4's past coverage on the USS The Sullivans, click here. Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.
Yahoo
04-06-2025
- Yahoo
How you can help curb hunger at your local Wegmans
CHEEKTOWAGA, N.Y. (WIVB) — If you're planning on heading out to grocery shop at any Wegmans in the area now until June 18, you can fill a backpack for a child in need with just $5. 'All you have to do is go to the register and when you're checking out your groceries, make a donation,' said Wegmans Spokesperson Michele Mehaffy. 'Three dollars, or $5, or really any amount helps. We are hoping to collect enough to be able to properly give 35,000 backpacks out this year.' Donations go directly to FeedMore WNY's program 'Fill the Backpack!' which provides shelf-stable food for local kids outside of school. This year's campaign goal will allow almost half a year of service for 65 schools, if reached. 'Because it's in schools to students directly, it's not an open pantry program, we have to fund all of the backpack program through private funds, through grants, through campaigns like this, through individual donations,' said Cait Evans, FeedMore WNY chief development officer. 'So, you're quite literally allowing us to purchase the food that will go directly to students so that they have those items in their home.' Inside each backpack are nutritious, easy-to-prepare meals like canned tuna or chicken, mac and cheese, and granola bars, helping to fight food insecurity when school meals aren't available.'About 1 in 5 children in Western New York, Erie, Niagara, Chautauqua counties are struggling with food insecurity and many of them are going to schools where they may be getting free or reduced lunch options for breakfast and lunch,' said Evans. 'When that weekend comes or the summer months come there may not be that amount of food access there that they're typically used to, so this type of program really ensures that those grocery items are in the household.'FeedMore has teamed up with Wegmans, WIVB News 4 and Renewal by Andersen to help fill the backpacks. Mehaffy says Wegmans has supported this campaign for over a decade, with the need in the community making it personal. Doing your part is as easy as heading to any Western New York Wegmans location and donating at the register before June 18. Gwyn Napier is a reporter who joined the News 4 team in 2025. See more of her work by clicking here. Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.
