Game Recap: Baseball | 5/4/2025 12:03:00 PM 10-14 MAAC) dropped the final game of the series against Merrimack 3-1 on Sunday at Bobo Field After four scoreless innings of baseball that saw Niagara starter Nate Bennett strike out seven Warriors batters Merrimack got on the board in the top of the fifth inning with a two run homer off the bat of Jack Andrews The Warriors added one more run to their lead in the seventh, while Niagara got on the board in the bottom half of the frame with their only run of the contest thanks to Ian Huang who hit a single to left center to score Jason Green from second Bennett got the start for the Purple and White, throwing 4.2 innings. Carter Fink came in for relief, allowing one run on one hit in 2.1 innings of work. Andrew Damiani came on to finish the game throwing two scoreless innings • Bennett recorded a season high seven strikeouts • Jacob Brooks extended his on base streak to 31 straight contests Niagara is back in action on May 6 to face Le Moyne in a midweek non-conference contest First pitch at Bobo Field is slated for 3 pm Thanks for visiting The use of software that blocks ads hinders our ability to serve you the content you came here to enjoy We ask that you consider turning off your ad blocker so we can deliver you the best experience possible while you are here (WKBW) — Community members have poured in their support for Justine Burger and Kenneth Johnson Jr.’s family Donations have paid their $2,300 fine from the City of Niagara Falls for running a garden in their front yard “It’s a huge weight lifted off our shoulders,” Burger said told me that they were buying seedlings and soil to plant their garden for the fifth consecutive year the Niagara Falls DPW suddenly ended their tradition Johnson Jr. and Burger told me the city removed their entire garden without warning, and that the city explained to them that the garden was a “hazard." Burger said somebody dropped off bricks to reline a new garden in their backyard as soon as possible The City of Niagara Falls has responded to this situation Mayor Robert Restaino sent a nine-page response defending the city DPW’s actions We want to hear what’s going on in your community Share your voice and hear from your neighbors and you can hop on the coolest boat ride in the entire state If you didn't know, we have one of the World's Wonders here in our backyard, and you can get a very unique look at Niagara Falls. This past Thursday kicked off the first day that the Maid of the Mist was open for the 2025 season Due to the ice along Lake Erie and the Niagara River this year was one of the latest opening dates for the boat ride they are good for any boat ride when the Maid of the Mist is running which means that you don't have a guaranteed seat on a specific ride You will be able to find out the time you when check in at the stand in person You can get ticket information HERE READ MORE: HERE ARE SOME REASONS NIAGARA FALLS, CANADA, SHOULD BE ANNEXED INTO THE UNITED STATES There are plenty of things to do on both sides of Niagara Falls. You can hike the Niagara Gorge, head over the border to eat and drink on the Canadian side or you can even take a helicopter or hot air balloon ride One of the coolest boat rides you will ever take is back in Niagara Falls, New York.\nRead More If you didn't know, we have one of the World's Wonders here in our backyard, and you can get a very unique look at Niagara Falls. Our 2025 season is underway! Tours operate 10a-5p daily, 9a-6p Saturday and Sunday. $.. Plan your visit today: https://t.co/UtUJU4VjTR pic.twitter.com/WzYvPTNGre You can get ticket information HERE READ MORE: HERE ARE SOME REASONS NIAGARA FALLS, CANADA, SHOULD BE ANNEXED INTO THE UNITED STATES There are plenty of things to do on both sides of Niagara Falls. You can hike the Niagara Gorge, head over the border to eat and drink on the Canadian side Get up-to-the-minute news sent straight to your device UPDATE: Community members have poured in their support for Justine Burger and Kenneth Johnson Jr.’s family. Donations have paid their $2,300 fine from the City of Niagara Falls. You can read more here and watch our updated report below ORIGINAL: Just as Justine Burger and her fiancé were buying seedlings and soil to plant their garden for the fifth consecutive year the Niagara Falls DPW ended their tradition “The DPW came and took all of our materials,” Burger said “They came and totally just destroyed my soul,” Johnson Jr and Burger told me the city removed their entire garden without warning and that the city explained to them that the garden was a “hazard." who has been forced to stay at home every day after being injured at work He and Burger said that after the garden was taken away “We received a $2,300 fine in the mail," Burger said The family garden was started in 2020 by Burger and Johnson Jr.’s 15-year-old son “He came home from school with sunflowers he grew as a class project so he was determined to put them in the front yard," Burger said "We started with that and worked from there The family started aGoFundMe asking for help with the fine. It has already raised $650 “You can’t even begin to understand how much it means to us to have the community’s support,” Burger said Niagara Falls Mayor Robert Restaino told me they will have a statement on Wednesday (WKBW) — It’s one of Western New York’s most iconic attractions The Maid of the Mist launched its 140th year on the water Wednesday kicking off months of daily tours that bring guests closer to Niagara Falls than most ever get David Sheridan was visiting from New Jersey with his wife and it was their first time on the Maid of the Mist “We weren’t sure if it was running yet," he said The 20-minute ride takes guests past the base of the American Falls and into the thick mist of Horseshoe Falls The experience draws people from around the world and many said it’s a bucket-list item worth checking off “It’s a view you really can’t get from anywhere else.” The Maid of the Mist runs tours daily through the fall Tickets start at $28 for adults, and hours of operation can be found on the Niagara Falls USA website here celebrates with teammates Shayne Gostisbehere and Logan Stankoven (22) after Aho’s game-winning goal during the second overtime period of Game 5 of an NHL hockey first-round playoff series against the New Jersey Devils in Raleigh Carolina Hurricanes’ Sebastian Aho (20) celebrates his game-winning goal with teammate Seth Jarvis (24) during the second overtime period of Game 5 of an NHL hockey first-round playoff series against the New Jersey Devils in Raleigh Carolina Hurricanes head coach Rod Brind’Amour speak to the team during a timeout in the third period of Game 2 of an NHL hockey Stanley Cup first-round playoff series against the New Jersey Devils in Raleigh (AP) — The timing of an extended break before starting the next round of the playoffs proved perfect for Carolina Hurricanes star Sebastian Aho Aho is a first-time father now after his wife, Rosa, welcomed a daughter on Friday while the team had spent nearly a week practicing resting and recovering ahead of a second-round series against the Washington Capitals That offered more time for the 27-year-old Aho to savor a life-changing moment the day before Game 1 of the series against the Caps “Obviously I’m so happy that I got to be there and timing-wise it worked out She did an amazing job and I’m really It was the highlight on what had already been a big week for Aho, who was away from the Hurricanes for a personal day Friday. Roughly two days earlier, Carolina’s top-line center scored twice on the power play including the series-clincher in double overtime as the Hurricanes eliminated the New Jersey Devils in five games Carolina was the first team to clinch a second-round ticket followed by Washington (also in five games) a day later But the start of that series was on hold while the rest of the first round worked its way through to a pair of Game 7 finales out west That allowed Aho plenty of time at home at a special moment though both his and his wife’s mothers are now in town to help with the Hurricanes returning for action ‘Your life’s going to change,’” Aho said Obviously you hold your baby the first time it’s the best feeling in the world.” It marked the second first-baby arrival for the Carolina locker room in this postseason; forward Eric Robinson and wife Alli had a daughter during the first-round series prompting Robinson to tell The News & Observer of Raleigh at the time: “Holding her and staring at her all day “We are a big family in there,” Carolina coach Rod Brind’Amour said Monday “But it does remind you that life moves quickly I think we do a pretty good job of that: we try to stay in the moment and enjoy every day AP NHL playoffs: https://apnews.com/hub/stanley-cup and https://apnews.com/hub/NHL Your browser is out of date and potentially vulnerable to security risks.We recommend switching to one of the following browsers: Account processing issue - the email address may already exist Invalid password or account does not exist Submitting this form below will send a message to your email with a link to change your password An email message containing instructions on how to reset your password has been sent to the email address listed on your account NJ — The Niagara women's tennis teams fell to the No in the semifinals of the MAAC Championship in West Windsor Isabel Garica, Larisa Kotok and Saloni Tamang all were victorious at the No 1 position to an extra set but ultimately fell giving the Stags the last point of the match Thanks for visiting Game Recap: Baseball | 4/19/2025 3:20:00 PM 7-11 MAAC) fell to Manhattan 5-3 in the final game of a three game MAAC series at Bobo Field Saturday Vincent Mauro tied the game with a solo shot over the left field wall in the bottom of the fourth. Jacob Brooks followed that up with a two-RBI homer of his own to give the Purple Eagles the lead The Jaspers tied up the game in the top of the fifth inning with an RBI double from Ryan Lourdier and an RBI single off the bat of Sute Manhattan took the lead in the sixth with an infield single from Guriy Salva Manhattan added an insurance run in the ninth with an RBI single from Andrew Lewis after a Purple Eagles error put a Jaspers runner in scoring position • Niagara is now 28-34 all-time against Manhattan • Brooks has reached base safely in 25 straight games • Damiani struck out a season-high seven batters • McKay's on base streak came to an end at 20 games The Purple Eagles will stay at home for a three game conference series against Sacred Heart April 25-27 First pitch for Friday's contest is slated for 3 p.m Thanks for visiting The RCMP said three foreign nationals were apprehended in an April 13 incident at the International Railway Bridge that connects Fort Erie and Buffalo RCMP are camped out by the International Railway Bridge that spans the Niagara River between Fort Erie and Buffalo Housing of migrants at local hotels has stabilized but he hopes Prime Minister Mark Carney will raise mass deportation issue in talks with Donald Trump Trade is expected to be the primary discussion point when Prime Minister Mark Carney and U.S But Niagara Falls Mayor Jim Diodati hopes the two leaders also talk about how Trump’s promise of mass deportations of undocumented immigrants may impact Canada Particularly, a border region like Niagara, with four international road crossings and a train bridge in Fort Erie the RCMP has identified as a new spot unauthorized foreign nationals are using to enter Canada “I want to be prepared and proactive for our community we’re not going to have a repeat of what happened last time — we need to have a co-ordinated proactive approach with everyone having a seat at the table,” said Diodati Diodati is referring to a few years ago when tens of thousands of people entered Canada via Roxham Road Roxham Road was a well-travelled unofficial border crossing between Champlain used by asylum seekers hoping to enter Canada The Canadian government came up with a hotel accommodation arrangement in Niagara Falls and other cities in July 2022 to alleviate pressures on Quebec Canada and the United States reached an agreement to shut down the route The Niagara Falls arrangement caused some concern with local officials Diodati said it made an already difficult housing situation more challenging and stretched an already strained social support system “We had more asylum seekers per capita than any other city in Canada because of the amount of hotel rooms we had and it was putting extreme pressures on the community,” he said “It was just too much for one community to handle.” Diodati said the city heard from concerned residents although the federal government was dealing directly with hotels so we could be involved because we understand it’s a global problem and Canada has its role We wanted to make sure that everybody is doing their bit not just the over-the-top amount of effort for certain cities like Niagara Falls.” Diodati said the city has between 1,000 and 1,500 asylum seekers staying in various hotels — a significant decrease from the nearly 5,000 claimants transferred to Niagara Falls between Feb But Diodati is worried about how Trump’s promise to deport millions of undocumented migrants from the U.S may lead to an even bigger problem than Roxham Road “Now that we know who our prime minister is going to be as soon as we find out who the different ministers are going to be I’m going to be reaching out immediately to be proactively prepared for what might happen based on what President Trump has said,” he said and we are not even remotely equipped to handle that I want to make sure that when Carney meets with Trump that — I know they’ve got a lot of things to talk about — this must be one of the things they discuss and that’s why I want to make sure that we get that issue on the agenda Police recently thwarted yet another attempt by foreign nationals to illegally enter Canada at a cross-border train bridge in Fort Erie According to the Niagara-on-the-Lake RCMP border integrity unit three people were spotted crossing the International Railway Bridge on April 13 where a car was waiting for them in Fort Erie The Niagara-on-the-Lake RCMP border integrity unit supports four Canada Border Services Agency ports of entry and now maintains a “24-7 presence” at the railway bridge “The strategic deployment of (officers) between the Ontario ports of entry has proven to be a successful tactic in preventing illegal migration into Canada,” said RCMP Supt The unit has arrested several people attempting to illegally enter Canada since this new initiative began A Cuban national was arrested in mid-March after running across the bridge “It’s now all part and parcel of the heightened border security on both sides of the border,” said Fort Erie Mayor Wayne Redekop “We anticipate there will be a large push for refugees in particular undocumented people in the U.S I know the local groups that are engaged in welcoming and supporting refugees (in Niagara) Redekop said Fort Erie doesn’t have the infrastructure to house a large number of asylum seekers “The regional government has been engaged in this — they’ve been getting some funding from upper levels of government but really that’s where funding needs to come from and that’s where the supports need to come from,” he said “We do have international obligations with respect to asylum seekers so we just need to make sure that the infrastructure is in place and the parties whose responsibility it is for that funding will work with the local agencies to make sure that the people can be accommodated when they come cross the border.” Game Recap: Women's Lacrosse | 4/25/2025 6:09:00 PM 5-3) lost in the first round of the MAAC Women's Lacrosse Championship 16-11 against Rider in New Rochelle The Broncs once again opened the scoring in the second frame but Maddy Gill completed her hat-trick to knot the game up at six. Delles found the back of the net once again but Rider beat Haley Terry twice more to garner a one goal lead heading into halftime Out of the halftime break Niagara tied the game once again with Gill potting her fourth of the game and the Purple Eagles lone of the quarter The Broncs scored four unanswered to wrap up the third quarter Rider continued their scoring to begin the fourth burying the first two goals of the quarter Delles completed her hat-trick but the Broncs responded with two goals of their own Gill scored twice more but it was not enough as the Purple Eagles fell to the Broncs Haley Terry got the start in net making six saves • Gill recorded her sixth consecutive hat-trick and ninth of the season • Delles tallied her ninth hat-trick of the season • Melanie Steigerwald recorded a career-high four points with her four assists in the contest Thanks for visiting NJ — The Niagara men's tennis teams fell to the No Trevor Masi was the lone Purple Eagle to win in the singles matches 6 spots were suspended due to Quinnipiac clinching enough points Thanks for visiting Labor union 1199SEIU United Healthcare Workers East this year began negotiating new labor contracts for about 4,000 workers across 27 nursing homes in Western New York One agreement has been nailed down; there are 26 more to go The first of those contract settlements reached was with Schoellkopf Health Center in Niagara Falls The union on Tuesday announced a three-year tentative agreement with Schoellkopf which averted an informational picket that was scheduled Workers on Wednesday ratified the contract in what the union called a “near unanimous vote.” The union said the agreement with Schoellkopf – the nursing home of Niagara Falls Memorial Medical Center – includes some of the best benefits in the region which should help recruit and retain staff The deal includes a newly negotiated weekend differential and increased shift differential pay Service workers at Schoellkopf will now make $16.75 to $22.54 an hour while certified nurse assistants will make between $20 and $26.91 per hour Licensed practical nurses will make $30 to $40.36 an hour nursing home workers will get a general wage increase of 4.5% to 5.5% in years two and three of the deal resulting in an average wage increase of 28% over three years Schoellkopf also agreed to boost pension contributions and employer contributions toward dental and optical insurance for workers A staff member helps a resident down the hall at Schoellkopf Health Center the nursing home of Niagara Falls Memorial Medical Center Workers on Wednesday ratified a three-year contract in what the union called a “near unanimous vote.” president and CEO of Niagara Falls Memorial said at a news conference Wednesday that he was proud to reach an agreement “on time and within budget.” are the most challenging jobs in all of health care because the dedication and the compassionate care that they have to provide for the most fragile said Schoellkopf now leads the way in wage and benefit standards for Western New York nursing homes “We are hoping that other facilities in the area will follow,” she said Absolut Care of Aurora Park is running at just 66% occupancy Nursing home officials say they're only operating as many beds as they can afford to staff 1199SEIU began contract talks at 27 long-term care facilities A majority of those contracts expired April 30 and the union said its goal in negotiating so many deals at one time was to empower thousands of nursing home members to bargain a standard set of wages and benefits to improve staffing across the region Some of the largest local nursing home groups own facilities involved in the talks Personal Healthcare and the Sherman family protests over staffing levels had occurred at 21 nursing homes across the region the union held informational pickets at Eden Rehabilitation and Nursing Center; Salamanca Rehabilitation and Nursing Center; Fiddlers Green Manor in Springville; Our Lady of Peace in Lewiston; Comprehensive Rehabilitation & Nursing Center in Williamsville; Williamsville Suburban Care Center in Amherst; Safire Rehabilitation of Northtowns in the Town of Tonawanda; Newfane Rehabilitation and Health Center; and Absolut Care of Gasport workers held an informational picket at Humboldt House Rehabilitation and Nursing Center in Buffalo Jon Harris can be reached at 716-849-3482 or jharris@buffnews.com. Follow him on X at @ByJonHarris Get the latest local business news delivered FREE to your inbox weekly Email notifications are only sent once a day We recognise you are attempting to access this website from a country belonging to the European Economic Area (EEA) including the EU which enforces the General Data Protection Regulation (GDPR) and therefore cannot grant you access at this time e-mail us at ngedit@niagara-gazette.com or call us at (716) 282-2311 falling to Siena 18-13 at Hickey Field in Loudonville The Saints added one more goal before the end of the half to make it a 9-6 game The Saints grew their lead to five with two goals to start the second half. Maddy Gill found the back of the net for the Purple Eagles' only goal of the quarter Siena responded with three more goals to close out the quarter Haley Terry got the start in net making seven saves • Gill extended her team lead in goals to 51 with her eighth hat-trick of the season • Ng tied a season-high with her three goals in the loss • Peck tallied a season-high four points with two goals and two assists Niagara heads into the postseason with the MAAC Championships The Purple Eagles seeding and opponent is still TBA Thanks for visiting A 24-year-old woman received a nine-month conditional sentence followed by probation for two years for her role in a grandparent scam “She was an essential cog in the machinery of the scam without which it would not have been possible,” judge says A Brampton woman who participated in a grandparent scam which caused a Niagara senior to lose more than $28,000 has been placed under house arrest Dominique Alexander-Connell was found guilty of possession of property obtained by crime following a jury trial held in a Superior Court of Justice in St Judge Robert Reid imposed a nine-month conditional sentence followed by probation for two years The first six months of the sentence are to be served under house arrest The judge said the 24-year-old woman may not have been the mastermind behind the scheme but she played an important role in the execution of the crime without which it would not have been possible,” Reid said “She ignored the obvious warning signs that her job involved illegal activity.” Niagara Regional Police launched an investigation in November 2022 after a Lincoln man in his 90s was targeted by a scammer The caller said they needed cash to be released from custody and that a courier would attend his home to pick up the money Several individuals picked up a total of $28,500 over the course of two days Court heard the defendant was hired by a company “of which she knew nothing,” which operated from an “unknown address.” She would be picked up by a driver and taken to various locations where she would collect packages There was no evidence she benefited from the proceeds beyond the extent of her wages Alexander-Connell was wilfully blind to the fact that the envelopes contained money and the money was obtained by crime,” the judge noted According to the Canadian Anti-Fraud Centre there were more than 49,000 official reports of fraud across the country in 2024 Victims of fraud lost more than $638 million last year alone many victims also report serious emotional and psychological harm and impacts on their social life Alison Langley is a Niagara Falls Review reporter Writer David Bateman sports a head net as protection against midges with tens of small white specks visible against the black of his shirt two-winged flies that resemble mosquitoes are often found in Ontario's lakeshore but are the most concentrated in areas close to Lake Ontario two-winged flies that resemble mosquitoes are often found in Ontario’s lakeshore This time of year brings the annual swarms of midges and even though they are less pesky than mosquitoes as environmentalists take it as a sign of a healthy ecosystem According to the Encyclopaedia Brittanica midges are part of the Chironomidae family that resemble mosquitoes with small mouthparts without a piercing structure for blood feeding There are hundreds of species of midges in the GTA they are the most concentrated in areas close to Lake Ontario “Midges are usually found around ponds or streams in late afternoon and evening in swarms that produce a humming sound,” Brittanica.com said with most spending the bulk of their time as larvae and living as a fly for a few weeks at most According to Insectshield.com some biting midges can spread diseases to livestock and horses but they are not known to transmit diseases to humans in North America The midges coming out now were probably living as larvae in Lake Ontario Royal Ontario Museum entomology curator and University of Toronto ecology and evolutionary biology professor Douglas Currie said in a Toronto Star interview And the reason they’re swarming has everything to do with attracting females Males gather in a swarm to entice the females forming a mass that resembles a cloud of smoke — sometimes near a tree or big rock that serves as a focal point to hover over “That’s why we’re seeing such large populations coming out now they will disappear because they are so short-lived,” Currie said Midges can actually be a sign of a healthy ecosystem The tiny creatures play a role in the aquatic food chain not only in Lake Ontario but also in ponds Midge larvae is eaten by fish like guppies and minnows Birds and bats eat both larvae and the flying adults “The apparent inconvenience that we suffer from them flying into our eyes or nose or mouth is a small price to pay for a healthy ecosystem,” Currie said Sign in Join now, it's FREE! While Kaiser did not win the riding, she said she still had reason to celebrate, including another term for the Liberal government, and the "amazing news that "Mark Carney will be our prime minister.” Read more about what she had to say on election night here. Although residents and even town council were opposed to the roundabout, construction is set to begin in 2027. The Region is now asking residents to vote, either online or in person from May 5 to May 15, on design details. Learn more about the meetings and the vote here. One of the season's opening plays, performed at the iconic Royal George Theatre, is another classic farce, following in the footsteps of the wildly successful One Man, Two Guvnors of last season. Tons of Money is likely to be just as popular with its audiences, who can be expected to laugh out loud. Read the review by local reporter Joy Sanguedolce here. The Tulip Festival is underway in Niagara-on-the-Lake, signs of spring are blooming, and the display should just keep getting better. Learn about the pick-your-own farm, a lovely back-drop for photos, here. Game Recap: Softball | 4/8/2025 5:46:00 PM 1-8 MAAC) dropped a midweek conference doubleheader to Iona at Donald E The Purple Eagles fell 5-2 in game one before dropping the nightcap 7-5 Niagara started off game one getting on the scoreboard in the top of the first inning when Breanna Delaney singled up the middle to plate Hailey Cenname. The Purple Eagles doubled their lead in the third with Delaney getting her second RBI of the contest, bringing home CJ Haney The Gaels took the lead in the bottom of the fourth inning highlighted by a two-RBI ground rule double that gave Iona the lead The Gaels tacked on one insurance run in the sixth with an RBI triple Sage Jackson got the start in the circle for the Purple and White Iona got off to a quick start in the nightcap plating six runs in the bottom of the first inning Doubles from Brianna Bailey and Brooke Acker as well as a home run off the bat of Sara Pina highlighted the inning for the Gaels Delaney's bat stayed hot in the nightcap hitting a solo home run in the top of the second inning Iona answered back in the bottom of the frame with an RBI triple to reinstate their six run lead The Purple Eagles put up a three run third inning starting with a solo home run from Cenname, followed by a two-RBI single from Sophia Marrero Delaney brought in her fourth run of the day in the bottom of the seventh trying to mount a comeback for the Purple Eagles but it was not enough Aubrey Tamayo got the start in the nightcap allowing seven runs on nine hits in 5.0 innings of work Jackson came in for the final inning of the game • Niagara is now 18-30 all-time against Iona • Delaney set a season-high with her three base knocks in game one • Cenname recorded her fourth multi-hit game of the season in game one • Selah Moyer has reached base safely in each of the last six contests striking out three batters in the nightcap for a three game MAAC series against Fairfield April 12-13 First pitch for Saturday's doubleheader is slated for noon Thanks for visiting News 4 Buffalo 'These problems are not new': City of Niagara Falls responds to community's concerns about Ontario Avenue Garden 'These problems are not new': City of Niagara Falls responds to community's concerns about Ontario Avenue Garden Local film industry happy with proposed foreign film tariff Buffalo-Niagara Honor Flight Mission 19 was the 'time of a lifetime' Veterans and organizers from Buffalo-Niagara Honor Flight discuss Mission 19 parking ramp authority in proposed NYS budget A look inside Upstate Steel’s production of steel for new Bills stadium NF man found incompetent to stand trial for fatal assault Buffalo Police mourns officer’s death due to flu North Park Theatre provides moviegoers with new 4K laser projection Ryan calls on Scanlon to stop alleged plans to ‘sell off’ city’s cultural assets Buffalo man facing murder charge after allegedly stabbing teen sister to death (WKBW) — The Aquarium of Niagara announced it has a new Humboldt penguin chick The aquarium said the chick hatched last month after a roughly 40-day incubation period and weighed 87 grams at its first weigh-in Its sex will be determined by a blood test later this summer and it is being cared for by its parents this is the fifth chick for the bonded pair who arrived from Seattle’s Woodland Park Zoo in 2019 The aquarium said the chick’s hatching is a victory for the Association of Zoos and Aquariums’ (AZA) [aza.org] Species Survival Plan (SSP) as Humboldt penguins are designated as vulnerable to extinction on the IUCN’s Red List of Threatened Species you can pay $1 per vote to select the name of the chick from the following three names You can vote online here The winning name will be announced on May 17 The aquarium said the chick will remain in the nest with its parents for several weeks and is not currently viewable from the public gallery Game Recap: Baseball | 4/11/2025 5:25:00 PM 4-10 MAAC) fell in the first two games of a three game MAAC series to Siena 3-2 in game one before dropping the nightcap 2-1 at Connors Park Both teams traded runs in the first inning with Niagara getting on the scoreboard in the top of the frame with an RBI single from Curtis McKay to score Rees Kozar The Purple Eagles took the lead in the top of the third inning as Tyler ViVacqua scored on a wild pitch Niagara's lead lasted until the bottom of the sixth when Siena hit a two run homer to left center Niagara recorded three more base runners in the final innings of the game with McKay and Jacob Brooks singling, while Elijha Hammill drew a walk Matthew Delvecchio got the start on the mound for the Purple and White, throwing 7.2 innings, allowing three runs on four hits, punching out five batters. Carter Fink came in for relief to pitch the final 0.1 innings Siena got on the scoreboard first in the nightcap plating a run on a Purple Eagles error in the first inning The Saints doubled their lead in the next inning with an RBI-double from Jeremy Sangalang Niagara cut the Saints lead in half in the third with an RBI-double off the bat of McKay to bring home Hammill That would be all the scoring as the Purple Eagles only had one more base runner the rest of the game • Niagara is now 24-35 all-time against Siena • Delvecchio tied a season high striking out five batters • Hammill extended his team lead in stolen bases to eight • Brooks extended his hitting streak to 18 straight games with one base knock in each game • McKay improved his on base streak to 15 straight contests with hits in each contest Niagara wraps up the three game MAAC series against the Saints Sunday April 13 with first pitch being slated for noon at Connors Park Thanks for visiting Matteo Anello and Henry Saenz have lived near the Goodyear chemical plant for decades without knowledge of the carcinogens emitted from the plant Toxic pollution from the Goodyear Tire and Rubber Co chemical plant in Niagara Falls may be far worse than the state has previously suggested according to a new analysis by a former lawyer for unionized workers at the facility which uses Goodyear’s data that it supplied to the state and Environmental Protection Agency The New York State Department of Environmental Conservation approved the plan in February from the tire maker to reduce emissions of ortho-toluidine The analysis by Steven Wodka measures something called “fugitive emissions,” which is pollution that comes from the plant’s leaky valves and other problems that may prevent harmful gases from leaving the plant via its smokestacks and combines it with the emissions leaving the plant’s stacks the total pollution the company is sending into its surrounding neighborhood may be more than 400 times higher than what the state considers “safe.” This makes the situation at Goodyear a potential public health crisis Wodka wrote in a letter to the state’s Department of Environmental Conservation the DEC repeated its earlier declaration that there is “no imminent public health risk to the community from Goodyear’s emissions,” the agency wrote in an email to The Buffalo News Ortho-toluidine is an organic chemical used to make hair dyes Goodyear uses the compound to create an anti-cracking solution for rubber tires Exposure to ortho-toluidine is known to cause bladder cancer irritate people’s eyes and skin and can lead to anemia as well as serious conditions that come from lowered blood-oxygen levels The chemical can also cause skin lesions and central nervous system issues that include dizziness according to the National Institutes of Health chemical plant operates across the street from a Niagara Falls neighborhood that is exposed to toxic emissions “The State of New York has a moral obligation to inform the hundreds of families that live within the areas impacted by the real world current combination of both stack and fugitive emissions and the parents of the children who attend the Cataract Elementary School that their health is at risk from the emissions from the nearby Goodyear plant,” Wodka wrote in an April 8 letter to DEC Region 9 Director Julie Barrett O’Neill The Goodyear plant is home to one of the worst-known outbreaks of occupational cancer in the nation due to ortho-toluidine At least 78 workers have been diagnosed with bladder cancer since the 1980s Goodyear repeated DEC statements that the public was not at risk from ortho-toluidine emissions the health and safety of our associates and the communities in which we work is our top priority,” a spokesperson wrote “The DEC and New York State health authorities have publicly stated that historical emission limits are ‘currently protective of the surrounding community’s air quality’ and ‘there is no risk to the community’ based on their modeling.” The state had previously estimated up to 0.14 micrograms per cubic meter of ortho-toluidine could be emitted from the plant over Niagara Falls neighborhoods DEC guidelines suggest limiting emissions of the chemical to 0.02 micrograms per cubic meter because it is a potent carcinogen known to cause bladder cancer and other detrimental health effects shows the possible extent of carcinogenic ortho-toluidine emissions coming from the Goodyear chemical plant in Niagara Falls But Wodka’s analysis points out that the DEC is only counting the pollution coming from the company’s smokestacks Far more pollution leaks out of the plant than what is measured from the stacks Putting the stacks numbers together with the fugitive emissions Wodka calculated that up to 8.89 micrograms per cubic meter of ortho-toluidine could be flowing into the air from the Goodyear plant Environmental Protection Agency air pollution dispersion program (AERMOD) and shows three large irregular-shaped circles around the Goodyear Plant where the ortho-toluidine is likely to be polluting the air He added pollution data into the program from stack testing done at Goodyear in 2022 and fugitive emissions data the company submitted to the EPA in 2023 the company could take interim steps to curb the amount of ortho-toluidine it emits as soon as this spring with permanent measures to be installed by late 2026 His map had similar results to EPA models that also combine stack and fugitive emissions both with the global nonprofit organization Environmental Defense Fund It’s likely the slight differences between Wodka’s model and EPA’s were due to different meteorological data and pollution release heights being input The outermost circle stretches from near the intersection of Niagara Street and Hyde Park Boulevard south along Buffalo Avenue Niagara Community Center and Cataract Elementary School and reaches north over Niagara Falls Boulevard and the landfill along Packard Road Wodka’s analysis shows there could be concentrations of ortho-toluidine of up to 0.02 micrograms per cubic meter – right at the state’s health guideline limit Two additional circles show the neighborhood closest to the Goodyear plant could be subjected to concentrations of the chemical of 0.1 to at least 0.2 micrograms per cubic meter – up to 10 times more – according to Wodka’s analysis Wodka’s modeled concentrations of ortho-toluidine far exceeded that of the state’s analysis because he included both the fugitive emissions coming from the plant as well as the stack emissions Fugitive emissions come from leaks in valves while stack emissions are specially piped through pollution reduction equipment and come from what can look like chimneys extending from the roof of the plant The state has only measured emissions coming from Goodyear’s stacks created by the New York State Department of Environmental Conservation in September shows how much ortho-toluidine Goodyear is emitting in Niagara Falls The state’s limit for ortho-toluidine is 0.02 micrograms per cubic meter – this map shows Goodyear polluting up to 0.14 micrograms per cubic meter About 133 pounds of ortho-toluidine were emitted from Goodyear’s stacks in 2023 while 1,211 pounds were emitted through fugitive sources the same year according to data that Goodyear itself reported to the EPA It makes no sense DEC only measured stack emissions from Goodyear because those emissions are carefully pushed through pipes high into the air so when they reach humans they are more diluted Fugitive emissions are typically released from plants at or near ground level “The most concerning emissions from my perspective to workers and people who live around the fence line In January, the state ordered Goodyear to reduce its stack emissions of ortho-toluidine. Temporary pollution control measures were set to be in place by April 10 while permanent controls must be in place by Oct The temporary pollution control measures were expected to reduce ortho-toluidine stack emissions to 0.047 micrograms per cubic meter, still more than twice the state’s health guideline of 0.02 micrograms per cubic meter, according to an emissions control plan submitted by Goodyear to the DEC in late January the state allows facilities “wiggle room” to pollute up to 10 times above its health guidelines as long as the best available pollution control measures are in place officials told The Buffalo News in January the DEC claimed the 1,211 pounds of fugitive emissions reported by Goodyear to the EPA are “grossly overestimated.” It further explained that the fugitive emissions data should be used as a tool “to determine if a company requires further evaluation based on conservative estimates of potential releases from a facility.” Wodka thinks it would be far-fetched for Goodyear to admit it was emitting 1,211 pounds of fugitive ortho-toluidine into a Niagara Falls neighborhood unless those leaks were actually happening an activist with the grassroots environmental organization Don’t Waste NY who has been fighting against the ortho-toluidine pollution from Goodyear was similarly aghast at the concept of Goodyear reporting more carcinogenic pollution from its plant than what was actually occurring “Why would Goodyear overestimate their leaking valves?” she asked Houses on Girard Avenue across from the Goodyear plant Residents of the area are rallying in hopes that Goodyear will be a less-polluting neighbor Rabe and other community activists are demanding the DEC order Goodyear to conduct testing on its stack emissions to check whether the interim pollution control measures installed are actually working The coalition is also calling for DEC to require Goodyear rein in the fugitive emissions of ortho-toluidine to protect the community president of the NAACP Niagara Falls Branch said DEC is harming a community by not taking stronger action to require Goodyear reduce ortho-toluidine emissions “Why won’t they do what’s in the best interest of the community?” Kimble “This is an injustice to the entire city of Niagara Falls.” Reach climate and environment reporter Mackenzie Shuman at mshuman@buffnews.com or 716-715-4722 Subscribe to our Daily Headlines newsletter met with the DEC to learn more about pollution from the Goodyear plant … Reports of fugitive emissions that could be increasing levels of ortho-toluidine should be thoroughly investigated and whatever is causing tho…