Latest news with #ErieCounty
Yahoo
27-05-2025
- Business
- Yahoo
WNY welcomes expected summer tourism boost
SILVER CREEK, N.Y. (WIVB) — Memorial Day traditionally marks the unofficial start of summer for many residents in Western New York, a time when the region typically experiences an influx of visitors. Although the official start of summer isn't until June 20, recent dry and sunny evenings have brought a distinctly summer feel to the area, especially after days of rain. WIVB News 4 spent Monday at Hideaway Bay, a luxury resort located on Lake Erie in Silver Creek. The resort is among several attractions that Patrick Kaler, CEO of Visit Buffalo Niagara, says will play a key role in drawing tourists to the region in the coming months. 'We are excited about all the possibilities that we have here in Western New York, especially Buffalo and Erie County,' Kaler said. He acknowledges that recent tensions with Canada may have some impact on tourism, but efforts are underway to promote Buffalo in new markets such as Boston, Philadelphia, and Washington, D.C. 'It has given us the opportunity to expand our overall megaphone, if you will, to tell the story of Buffalo and look at potential markets where we weren't placing advertising in the past. We are seeing some really strong numbers coming from those areas,' Kaler said. This marketing strategy is also being embraced by Hideaway Bay owners Christian Edie and Kevin Cullen. 'We just started working with Step Out Buffalo, who is a great partner. Canadian neighbors are still coming down to see us. I think we have a unique experience that transcends borders and politics a little bit, so everyone can come down to the beach and have a wonderful, shared experience,' Cullen said. Hideaway Bay offers visitors a variety of activities, including kiteboarding along the sea cliffs, fishing, saunas, and hot tubs paired with beachside food and entertainment. It's a vacation destination, especially appealing to neighbors who want to stay local this summer. 'We are here in Western New York, where there's been 10 feet of snow and lots of rain, but here we are today celebrating. It's a good time,' said beachgoer Vinny Paternostro. 'The most common thing we get daily is people saying, 'I don't feel like we're in Western New York.' I love Western New York, but it's nice to feel tropical sometimes,' said Cullen. Just 35 minutes north of Buffalo, summer events such as the Allentown Art Festival, Fourth of July fireworks at Sahlen Field, Taste of Buffalo, and the National Buffalo Chicken Wing Festival are just a few of the happenings planned over the next several months. 'We are putting out a very strong welcoming message for Buffalo and Erie County to bring in as many visitors as we can throughout the summer months, also promoting all the fantastic small businesses, our attractions, waterfront, and the great restaurants we have,' Kaler said. 'It's really nice to be here for more than just a day. You can really get into the natural environment, relax, and just enjoy feeling like you're on vacation at a beach resort somewhere,' said Edie. Dillon Morello is a reporter from Pittsburgh who has been part of the News 4 team since September of 2023. See more of his work here and follow him on Twitter. Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.
Yahoo
26-05-2025
- Sport
- Yahoo
Erie community honors veterans for their sacrifice at Veterans Park
Giving thanks to those who gave their lives to keep us free; that was the message for the third annual Memorial Day Celebration at Veterans Memorial Park. Citizens and military veterans came together to honor our military personnel who have made the ultimate sacrifice. PA Soldiers' and Sailors' Home holds Memorial Day ceremony The park's vision statement is to create an Erie County memorial park that will be a lasting tribute to all brave military veterans and their sacrifices. The ceremony featured music, speeches and powerful memories of those who died. NFL Hall of Famer Fred Biletnikoff makes stop in Erie to sign autographs, raise funds 'It's very important to remember those that paid the ultimate price that they are no longer with us. They should be honored in some way. This is the way we do it, this is why it's a national holiday,' said Kenneth Kensil, president of Veterans Memorial Park. The keynote speaker was Colonel Jeremy Crist. Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.
Yahoo
24-05-2025
- Politics
- Yahoo
Erie County lawmaker, prisoner rights groups weigh in on use-of-force case
BUFFALO, N.Y. (WIVB) — An Erie County lawmaker and prison rights groups are weighing in on an alleged use-of-force case that WIVB News 4 shared earlier this week. Erie County Legislator Taisha St. Jean Tard is leading the charge to reestablish an Erie County Correctional Special Advisory Board that she hopes will increase transparency and provide more oversight and accountability. It's an issue that she has been pursuing since entering office in January. 'When I saw the video, it really made me uncomfortable and sad,' St. Jean Tard said. 'That's one of the reasons why I decided to have this correctional advisory board. This is one of the main reasons, to oversee incidents like this. So, this is why I'm pushing it. I'm really going to have this board ready to go in June because I don't want these incidents to continue.' The Erie County Sheriff's Office has refuted the allegations in the lawsuit, saying 'the actions taken by staff were in line with policy and procedure.' News 4 reached out to the Erie County Sheriff's Office Friday, who said 'the pervasive and intentional introduction of contraband to our correctional settings is a top priority for our staff. If we miss something getting in, the results can be catastrophic.' Cash is now suing Erie County and several of the correctional officers involved in the incident from January of last year which, according to the lawsuit, resulted in a broken tooth that required oral surgery. 'It is just beyond the pale,' said Steven Hart, an organizer with the Western New York Halt Solidarity Campaign. 'It is so unacceptable and so unnecessary, so gratuitous what was done to him.' Hart feels the officer who pried Cash's mouth open with the flashlight should be disciplined. 'I do think that firing would be appropriate,' Hart said. 'That we shouldn't tolerate behavior like that within a jail or prison.' That's a sentiment that's shared by Jerome Wright, co-director of the New York State Jails Justice Network, who's been through something similar. He told us how incidents like this can have a ripple effect when it comes time for that person to reenter society. 'This is what we're sending back to the streets,' Wright said. 'That's not public safety. How are you making the public safe by traumatizing people, brutalizing them and then sending them out? How is that making you safe?' That's why Hart believes it's imperative that accountability and oversight are a priority moving forward. 'I think we have to address not just how bad this event was, but what the root cause is,' Hart said. 'Which is the lack of oversight, of transparency, of accountability in our … prisons and jails in New York State.' Rob Petree is an anchor and reporter who joined the News 4 team in 2025. See more of his work by clicking here. Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.
Yahoo
22-05-2025
- Politics
- Yahoo
Independent voters frustrated with closed primaries amid low voter turnout
Only 25% of registered voters in Erie County cast their ballots in the primary election on Tuesday, but thousands of independent voters in the county were not among them. Pennsylvania is one of 10 states in the country with a closed primary election system, meaning over a million independent and third-party voters aren't allowed to vote in primary elections. 2025 Primary Election Results: Erie County One Erie County voter has switched her party affiliations throughout the years and recently registered as an independent, but when she showed up to vote on Tuesday, she was turned away. 'They said, 'No, sorry, you're an independent, you're not allowed to vote today.' Oh my gosh, I have such strong feelings about our community. I would love to participate in helping make these decisions. I don't know why I'm getting alienated because I'm not participating in the two-party system,' said Vinni Sanfilippo, an independent voter from Millcreek Township. Sanfilippo said she's extremely frustrated with the system, and just because she doesn't commit to a party doesn't mean she doesn't care about what's on the ballot. Another party-affiliated voter agreed and said that independents should be able to exercise their right to vote in primaries. PA senator advocating for open primaries for independents 'I think they should have the right to vote. They can vote in the main election, and the whole election is paid by everybody, so their voice should be heard,' said Michael Sekerak, a party-affiliated voter. However, some state lawmakers like Senator Dan Laughlin have been pushing to allow independents to vote in primary elections. 'Unaffiliated voters are the fastest-growing segment of our electorate, and that's not by accident—both parties bear some responsibility for alienating voters, and in places like Erie, Pittsburgh, Allentown, and Philadelphia, many are choosing to register with a party they don't truly affiliate with just to have a voice in primary elections, which is why open primaries are essential to ensuring fair representation for all Pennsylvanians,' said Laughlin, Pennsylvania State Senator. Laughlin is the prime sponsor of the proposed Senate Bill 400, which would allow non-affiliated voters to choose a party to vote with during the primaries. Close Thanks for signing up! Watch for us in your inbox. Subscribe Now As of now, that bill has been referred to the Senate State Government Committee, awaiting a vote. 'I've never done anything to be ostracized like this, and it feels extremely frustrating as a real American citizen to be in this position right now,' said Sanfilippo. Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.
Yahoo
17-05-2025
- Yahoo
Man dies after motorcycle crash in Erie County
ERIE COUNTY, Ohio (WJW) — A Norwalk man died after a motorcycle crash Friday night in Erie County, a new release from the Ohio State Highway Patrol said. Nearly 40,000 Summit County residents without power after storms: FirstEnergy According to the release, troopers from the Sandusky post responded to the area of SR 61 south of Chapin Rd. around 8:30 p.m. A preliminary investigation found the motorcyclist, identified as 57-year-old Mark Hoover, was going south on 61. After coming around a curve in the road, Hoover reportedly drove off the right side of the road then hit a ditch and a utility pole. Local law enforcement raids net large amount of guns, drugs and cash He was not wearing a helmet at the time of the crash, troopers reported. Hoover was treated by North Central EMS and declared dead at the scene. The crash remains under investigation. Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.
