(WKBW) — What began as a promise between a mother and her daughter has grown into a heartfelt legacy of compassion used a wheelchair and faced health challenges from the moment she entered the world Doctors did not expect her to live past her first birthday but she defied all odds and lived 14 years so it was 14 years that were very tough for her at times," Hastings said "She was a beautiful little girl with an amazing smile and loved to laugh." Erin would bring home a sunflower seedling from school and Hastings would plant them but something peculiar happened soon after I put the plant in the ground right outside of her bedroom window most beautiful sunflower that I've ever seen," she said That sunflower has since inspired "The Sunflower Promise," a new initiative Hastings launched this year alongside her sister It is aimed at supporting grieving mothers "Our goal is to put together these care packages for other mothers that have lost a child," Hastings said when you wake up in the morning and your child is not there Thirty mothers throughout Western New York will receive sunflower-themed care packages in the first year of the program The packages include small gifts from local vendors and sunflower seeds from the same batch Erin brought home we all get a little piece of Erin," said Carver who co-founded the project with her sister Hastings said her daughter's memory continues to guide her "She truly made me the person that I am today." This year's launch of The Sunflower Promise coincides with the 10th anniversary of Erin's passing The sisters plan to deliver the care packages and hopefully expand the initiative in future years Those who would like to nominate a grieving mother for next year's care packages can click here You can follow The Sunflower Promise journey on Instagram We want to hear what’s going on in your community Share your voice and hear from your neighbors The City of North Tonawanda is embarking on a project to reimagine the Twin City Memorial Highway - the roadway that connects NT with the City of Tonawanda you probably have opinions about the Twin Cities Memorial Highway the roadway that connects North Tonawanda with neighboring City of Tonawanda and beyond “It is really a divide in the city,” Tylec said There’s not a lot of green space because of it.” including aging infrastructure and safety concerns North Tonawanda is embarking on a project to reconstruct the road Those opinions and more are what North Tonawanda officials want to hear as the city embarks on a reimagining of the highway Twin Cities Memorial Highway runs 1.2 miles from Sweeney Street Running parallel to the highway is Division Street one-way street that primarily serves residential properties The highway was constructed in the mid-1960s with plans for the roadway to continue north through North Tonawanda and Wheatfield to connect with the LaSalle Expressway in Niagara Falls via the never-built Belt Expressway Tylec said the project to redo the highway has been a long time coming Funded by a $500,000 federal grant obtained through the efforts of former Rep the city is nearing the end of a planning study that looks at environmental community and economic factors before it moves on to the project development phase water and sewer utilities need repairs or replacements and the material under the pavement is reaching the end of its useful life Over a three-year period ending August 2023 there were 92 crashes on Twin Cities Memorial Highway and Division Street and 21% of all crashes resulted in injuries a man riding an e-bike died after he was struck by an SUV at the intersection of the highway and Tremont Street Around 20,000 vehicles a day drive on Twin Cities Memorial Highway, according to the Greater Buffalo-Niagara Regional Transportation Council they try to avoid Twin Cities,” Tylec said Cars drive along Twin Cities Memorial Highway on Tuesday During two public comment sessions hosted by the city North Tonawanda residents said the ramps and intersections that connect Twin Cities Memorial Highway and Division Street can be confusing to use and those who live near the highway complained of noise and air pollution Community members expressed wanting fewer intersections and traffic lights and more sidewalks Residents also suggested combining Division Street and the highway into a single boulevard with green space “We don’t just do the public input because we have to,” Tylec said “It really does help us get a bigger picture of what community and business needs are.” the city released 12 preliminary design concepts illustrating how the highway could be transformed and received public feedback Possible design options for the reconstruction of the Twin Cities Memorial Highway in North Tonawanda The city will hold another public meeting in late summer or early fall to share final project concepts the city will seek more federal grant funding to pay for drafting construction documents Tylec said an estimated cost for a full reconstruction of the highway is around $30 million North Tonawanda is working in collaboration with the state Department of Transportation Federal Highway Administration and the Greater Buffalo Niagara Regional Transportation Council To learn more about the project and submit thoughts and feedback, visit tcmhforward.org Subscribe to our Daily Headlines newsletter Email notifications are only sent once a day The City of North Tonawanda is embarking on a project to reimagine the Twin City Memorial Highway - the roadway that connects NT with the City… Erie and Niagara counties have been renamed to honor service members killed in action Monday in the area of Twin Cities Memorial Highway and Tremont Street Get up-to-the-minute news sent straight to your device 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 (WKBW) — A 57-year-old man is being treated for serious injuries after he was hit by a vehicle in North Tonawanda Police say the man was hit on the 1200 block of Payne Avenue on Thursday night They say the suspect involved in the crash left the scene First responders rendered aid to the victim until he was eventually taken to ECMC to be treated for his injuries Police announced that 38-year-old Joshua P Myles-Jones of North Tonawanda was arrested and charged with second-degree assault and leaving the scene of an accident resulting in serious injury Myles-Jones was arraigned in North Tonawanda City Court and remanded to the Niagara County Jail (WKBW) — The North Tonawanda girl's Varsity basketball team has lofty goals and the talent to achieve them "I think we all want to win a State Championship," freshman guard Lilly Day said It's not often you hear a freshman with such high standards but it's even rarer to find a freshman who has already surpassed 1,000 career points Lilly averages more than 20 points per game this season but isn't the Lady Jacks' top scorer That honor belongs to her older sister Annabelle who is averaging nearly 25 points per game The junior guard returned to North Tonawanda this season after spending the last several seasons at Cardinal O'Hara The chemistry with her younger sister immediately formed in their first season together as teammates “It’s kind of like twin telepathy," Lilly said and she will do a backdoor cut and it’s a wide open lay up.” The Day sisters are each other's biggest supporters but their competitive fire to be the best sister takes both of their games to a different level “They’ve got this inner compete that they’ve got to beat each other," head coach Michael Mills said They want to beat each other out for being the best.” Basketball is in their blood and it's brought their entire family closer in the process is a former Super 7 athlete for her excellence in basketball Now the two youngest Day sisters are continuing to make a name for themselves “I grew up in a basketball family and my family all compete," Annabelle said "It’s nice trying a sport I hadn’t played before and then following my older sister.” "I’ve always played against my sister in practices and in training so playing with her is really exciting and I’m just so happy to play with her.” (WKBW) — A unanimous vote by North Tonawanda’s city council has restricted the use of nuclear energy for cryptocurrency mining which is a move that residents said is a win for environmental protection and public health The decision came after months of debate over Digihost a crypto-mining plant that had been exploring the possibility of using a small nuclear reactor to power its operations “The whole idea behind this is to make sure we are protecting our neighborhoods,” said City of North Tonawanda Mayor Austin Tylec North Tonawanda currently lacks zoning laws that address wind, hydro and nuclear energy, but this new legislation prohibits micro-nuclear energy facilities within city limits The law, which took a few months to craft together is meant to give officials time to consider the long-term effects of such energy sources “This legislation really hits the brakes,” Mayor Tylec said we just want to make sure we cover our bases and protect our neighbors.” who has a background in environmental science “My biggest issue with nuclear was that once it’s produced in a location the way things are going with the federal government it has to remain at that location,” Kanack said when the company is no longer around or whoever made the nuclear mess the people are left to clean it up,” Kanack added a resident who lives near the Digihost facility “Nobody wants nuclear power in their backyard," he said We don’t even want the noise that is still going on.” Polito emphasized that pollution from such facilities affects surrounding communities as well “People have to be concerned about the air they are breathing,” he said “Unless we control businesses that do things like this and it doesn’t matter if you live in North Tonawanda or anywhere else.” Mayor Tylec said the city has secured a $125,000 state grant to update zoning codes ensuring regulations align with modern energy and environmental standards (WKBW) — A North Tonawanda man is facing charges in connection to the alleged sexual abuse of a minor the department was made aware of the alleged sexual abuse of a minor after an initial complaint was reported in February by a counselor from the North Tonawanda City School District He was arrested on March 17 after a review by the Niagara County District Attorney's Office and charged with second-degree sexual abuse and endangering the welfare of a child 7 News has learned through public records that Fingerlow Jr Become a Sponsor Fans of artisanal breads and baked goods have it pretty good in Western New York these days Adding to the growing mix of old world micro bakeries is Anastasia’s Artisan Bread a small batch bake shop and café located in North Tonawanda The shop is Founder/Bakery Chef Anastasia Nikolaeva’s first brick and mortar location although she’s been conducting business long before the auspicious opening Anastasia has been wholesaling her breads and pastries to a number of shops and cafés through her wholesale baked goods business Anastasia decided that the time had come to open her own shop while continuing to wholesale her scratch products European-style sourdough bread and pastries This sourdough is like few have had before: patiently fermented to just the right taste I bake in small batches using the best locally sourced products going organic with many of the main ingredients.” Anastasia – a UB Engineering MS graduate who decided to follow a more “natural” path – first got her start in the world of baking by making “out-of-the-bun” meals for her family at her home kitchen What was initially a passion play soon became a blooming hobby Anastasia began to research best practices which included visits to long established bakeries including a stopover to northwest Europe where she found boundless inspiration Along with selling her increasingly popular baked goods to shops and cafés Anastasia popped up at local farmers markets and offered delivery service to customers who couldn’t wait to get their hands on her old world Some of Anastasia’s tantalizing offerings include baguettes (parmesan, Greek olives, sun dried tomatoes, cherry walnut), apple raisin rolls, cardamom buns, ciabatta, rogaliki, dinner rolls, and various artisan breads such as New Zealand cheddar, rustic olive, and roasted garlic (see more selections) Customers can visit the North Tonawanda shop to make a purchase or they can stop at one of the following Overwinter locations:  –  Williamsville:  5548 Main Street   –  Elmwood:  814 Elmwood Avenue   –  Buffalo Downtown:  9 Genesee Street Anastasia has built her artisan bread shop in ways that have been truly natural and organic baking in her own kitchen for her loved ones then committing to the farmers’ markets and cafés she has systematically grown her business in a healthy manner and can’t wait to visit her new shop I’m heading over to Overwinter on Elmwood to see what they have to offer Judging by all of the incredible images on their Instagram page I know that the selections are going to be beyond wholesome and delicious As one of the region’s most read publications since its launch in 2004 Buffalo Rising’s diverse editorial team delivers a wide range of relevant content to our readers as it unfolds in real time An independently owned and operated digital publication Buffalo Rising provides editorial and critical reviews on all topics that relate to Buffalo Click Here to Share Your Story You might recognize the name Frankie Primo’s +39 from the Chippewa Strip where it was opened by Joe Manno in 2015 Manno took his idea into North Tonawanda (hence the slight name change) into the former Crazy Jake’s location There’s a spacious dining room with long bar and a large outdoor d… Linda Murray wouldn’t have dreamed of leaving her Town of Tonawanda home to go to North Tonawanda to grab a cup of coffee with a friend or seeing a show at the Riviera Theatre sipping a beverage at Coffee and Stone Cafe on Webster Street Coffee and Stone on Webster Street in North Tonawanda rather than going to downtown Buffalo,” said one frequent visitor If you haven’t been to North Tonawanda in a while you might be surprised to know that anyone would refer to it as having a “vibe.” But the city that borders two of the most historic waterways in the world – whose best days seemed linked to bygone industries – is in the midst of a renaissance On the Niagara River, where Hungarian and Polish workers at Tonawanda Iron & Steel once filled thousands of railroad cars with pig iron, luxury waterfront apartments with their own pickleball courts dog park and boutique movie theater now rise into the sky At the former Wurlitzer factory on Niagara Falls Boulevard jukeboxes and even aircraft components during World War II patrons now sip beer on the patio at Woodcock Brothers Brewing Co and sample orange chocolate ice cream at Platter’s Chocolates And where mules once pulled packet boats on dusty paths along the Erie Canal on Sweeney Street, pleasure boaters now dock their craft two and three deep, venturing into the city to listen to live music at Gateway Harbor or turning onto Webster Street to catch a show at the historic Riviera Theatre shop at one of the growing number of boutique retailers or choose from a roster of restaurants A boat passes by Gateway Harbor on a sunny day during the Canal Fest of the Tonawandas Words used these days to describe North Tonawanda include “vibrant,” “exciting” and “welcoming” — a remarkable turnaround for a city whose best days once seemed behind it “It’s been incredibly exciting to watch everything unfold,” North Tonawanda Mayor Austin Tylec said It started more than 25 years ago with a steady stream of small restoration initiatives on Webster Street city officials also embraced one of North Tonawanda’s biggest assets – it’s largely ignored waterfront – with projects to increase access and attract boaters and visitors took office in 2022 as the youngest mayor in the city’s history at 29 years old “A lot of people don’t realize that we’re surrounded by three sides of water that people can enjoy a diversity of foods “You don’t have to leave town to grab a good meal North Tonawanda – still and always NT for short – is known as the Lumber City after its main industry of the past. But in recent years, brownfield cleanup and public investments into the city’s waterways infrastructure and historic buildings have attracted private investment that has transformed the city and made it a destination among residents and tourists alike Sales tax receipts have been growing by 5% to 10% every year since Tylec has been in office “The state has really recognized that we’re a good steward of public money with all of these public projects in the public realm we’ve really been able to set the stage to attract private development,” said Laura Wilson executive director at the Lumber City Development Corp. “And that leverages the public and private money together.” Since its inception in 2004, LCDC has secured millions of dollars in grants that it has administered throughout the city. That includes $2.5 million through the Smart Growth Community Initiative for downtown and waterfront enhancements, and $10 million from the state’s Downtown Revitalization Initiative, for a slew of public and private projects in the city It helps that the city is bounded by the Erie Canal and the Niagara River has an abundance of marinas and public waterfront parks which has been restored beyond its former glory as a movie house with a soon-to-open expansion to bolster what has become a popular live venue hosting such stars as Lindsey Buckingham The Riviera Theatre is an anchor institution of North Tonawanda restored and hosting stars like Lindsey Buckingham of Fleetwood Mac and singer-songwriter Bruce Hornsby Many trace the beginning of the city’s evolution to 1998 when Pinochle Park was transformed into Gateway Harbor – the western terminus and gateway to the Erie Canal With an initial investment of $1.1 million from the state Canal Corp. the previously neglected canalside park got a new retaining wall and docks as well as a park and pavilion with new landscaping and lighting West Herr donated a "significant amount" for naming rights that will help continue an expansion project that includes additional lobby space That led boaters from near and far to discover the area “Water draws a lot of people,” said Donna Burgio an early and important investor in North Tonawanda’s historic downtown buildings with her husband where they built a home on the canal on Sweeney Street in 1990 the couple didn’t venture too much into North Tonawanda – they would go over the bridge and off to Niagara Falls Boulevard or Buffalo But after investing in an office building at Sweeney and Webster streets he became aware of many things in the city that needed some changes,” Donna Burgio said but he’s very knowledgeable and saw what could happen,” Donna Burgio said He would help start Lumber City Development Corp. and the couple would pour money into Webster Street buildings including those that would become Crazy Jake’s (now Frankie Primo’s) and Canal Club 62 capitalizing on traffic headed for the Riviera and building off momentum from the expansion of Dwyer’s Irish Pub next door to the theater which headed up beautification projects in the area “We’re very proud of how North Tonawanda has been turning out,” Donna Burgio said “We’re just kind of sad because we can’t find a parking space when we go to a restaurant now.” Barbara and Kevin Hughes were important investors buying and transforming a block of buildings at the northern end of Webster Street they opened popular French restaurant Webster’s Bistro in 2013 and their renovated buildings are home to businesses that include Just Say Cheesecake bakery and café as well as an appliance shop and brunch restaurant FIGMOR they’re not going to make it.’ They had no faith in a French American bistro opening 11 years ago on Webster Street,” Barbara Hughes said “Who’s going to support a French American bistro in North Tonawanda Chris DelPrince went to work fixing up the market – securing tens of thousands of dollars of monetary and in-kind donations from the retail contacts he had made in Western New York over the years They have torn down a dilapidated building at the rear of the bistro where they plan to build two- and three-bedroom apartments to be completed early next summer they will open travel agency Webster’s Travel and Hospitality down the street at 83 Webster “The business climate is very welcoming here,” Barbara Hughes said referring to everyone from the LCDC to the city’s elected leaders and they know the value it brings to both the visitors and the citizens.” Clarence-based developer VisoneCo took North Tonawanda’s evolution to the next level when it built 600 River Road on formerly vacant and polluted land on the Niagara River The $20 million waterfront apartment and townhome project was the most expensive housing development in North Tonawanda’s history when it opened in 2019 “We brought a lot of developers from around Buffalo to take a look at it and give us some thoughts unventured,” said VisoneCo chief operating officer Tom Celik and a test for the NT market – a test the city seems to have passed bringing the complex and its resortlike amenities to a total of 205 residential units The Shores Waterfront Restaurant on Tonawanda Island in North Tonawanda is a popular summer spot where the city recently invested in sidewalks trees and other infrastructure as a way of connecting the city’s thriving downtown to other parts of the city a prime but underdeveloped site that is home to the Shores Waterfront Restaurant but by putting in sidewalks and infrastructure and lighting it just made that corridor more attractive,” said Wilson at LCDC NORTH TONAWANDA – David Burgio’s commitment to North Tonawanda didn’t end when he stopped being mayor in 2006 are making some major investments in the city they moved to 25 years ago The couple founded Project Pride with the goal of revitalizing Webster Street and has purchased and renovated three abandoned It also fed into two more projects that are underway: the transformation of a former lumber mill into class A office space at 211 Main St. and a $23 million mixed-use development with market-rate apartment units and commercial space at the highly visible Metzger Removal site at 235 River Road is being taken on by Kelly Culp-Burton of KCB Architecture and will be North Tonawanda’s first net-zero emissions building KCB will turn the building into incubator space for design businesses including architects landscape architects and construction-related businesses in a collaborative environment Alliance Homes is developing 3 acres that will include 72 market-rate apartments as well as commercial space on the ground level Kelley Culp-Burton and Joy Kuebler have sought to convert the century-old building at 211 Main St The project emphasizes walkability and pedestrian engagement with sidewalk connections along Thompson and Main streets bicycle parking and connections to the Empire State Trail and Erie Canal Bicycle Path The developer has been accepted into the DEC Brownfield Cleanup program to assist with site cleanup The projects continue downtown’s momentum between Webster Street and Tonawanda Island our goal is to really expand that footprint to Tonawanda Island,” Wilson said who owns Total Wrecking & Environmental have acquired a 21.46-acre stretch of land on the west side of the small island in the Niagara River giving them more than 1,500 linear feet of waterfront property in North Tonawanda which own Total Wrecking & Environmental have acquired a 21.5-acre stretch of land on the west side of the small island in the Niagara River giving them more than 1,500 linear feet of waterfront property The city is also looking for a developer for a 3.3-acre, city-owned waterfront parcel at 78 Bridge St where it would like to see a high-density development with residential and commercial space “The city identified that as another catalyst that’s a domino that needs to fall to really jump-start efforts on the island,” Wilson said The cumulative effect of the past 25 years is hard to miss But Tylec said the goal is to build on the city’s newfound reputation as a destination and continue to grow the city’s economy and population because we know you’ll be here again,” Tylec said Get the latest local business news delivered FREE to your inbox weekly North Tonawanda has seen a steady stream of improvements that have turned the city from an aging postindustrial relic to a vibrant destinatio… Andrew Romanowski's Alliance Homes is counting on between $3.6 million and $4.8 million in tax breaks from the Niagara County Industrial Devel… The small strip plaza in Clarence that used to be home to Paula's Donuts will soon become new homes for residents and businesses is one of the youngest mayors in North Tonawanda's history NY (WKBW) — A controversy has erupted in North Tonawanda after police questioned Jacob Quinn about a parody Facebook page impersonating the mayor The incident began on January 21 when Quinn confronted the city council accusing Mayor Austin Tylec of using the police to target him over the parody page The mayor expressed concerns that the page was spreading harmful misinformation "For the past few years a fake Facebook page posing as Mayor Austin Tylec has been spreading harmful misinformation," Mayor Tylec said in a statement "This goes beyond the realm of free speech—it's a deliberate attempt to mislead the public and create chaos." The North Tonawanda Police Department then issued a release stating "This routine case was seemingly politicized and tried in the court of social media with claims of abuse of power on behalf of the mayor At no time did detectives give preferential treatment to the mayor or investigate the complaint any differently than any other case." The North Tonawanda Common Council has requested a thorough review of the mayor's conduct emphasizing their commitment to monitoring the situation closely Jacob Quinn has proposed a resolution to the city council to create safeguards against the alleged misuse of law enforcement "Hopefully this will be something that they approve It's not an unreasonable request that more steps go into place to protect taxpayers and the integrity of the city overall." The parody Facebook page has since been taken down and both Mayor Tylec and the city council have declined to comment further This story was initially reported by a journalist and has been converted to this platform with the assistance of AI Our editorial team verifies all reporting on all platforms for fairness and accuracy Governor Kathy Hochul has pledged over $1 billion to address climate concerns in New York with a goal of achieving 100% renewable energy by 2030 the state is exploring advanced nuclear energy though the technology is still in its early stages cryptocurrency mining company Digihost is considering using a small nuclear reactor to power its operations which relies on energy-intensive processes is seeking a sustainable and reliable power source the proposal has sparked strong local opposition Residents near the Digihost plant have voiced concerns about noise pollution safety risks and the handling of radioactive waste "I personally don't want it anywhere near my home," said Mark Polito "There are plenty of areas throughout Western New York that could tolerate this and it wouldn't affect people." "If they [Digihost] can't even manage something as simple as high noise levels and they've had three years to show that they could do that we're really skeptical that they can manage something as complex as a micronuclear reactor," Deborah Gondek "We're also concerned that this partner that they have given the class action lawsuits that we've seen at the SEC level." She raised additional concerns about the project North Tonawanda Mayor Austin Tylec acknowledged the community’s concerns particularly regarding nuclear waste security and the need for clear regulations “Concerns about what kind of regulations exist for micronuclear energy could the waste get in the hands of someone that might create harm,” Tylec said "We really just want to make sure that we safeguard ourselves from now and then open up a conversation about any types of new developments alternative energy sources and if we end up having to modify our energy sources if we end up having to modify our zoning codes again or local laws The next meeting to discuss this will take place on March 11 (WKBW) — A North Tonawanda man has pleaded guilty to manslaughter in connection to a deadly stabbing in September 2023 The Erie County District Attorney's Office announced that 29-year-old John A Rudes pleaded guilty in Erie County Court to one count of first-degree manslaughter The district attorney's office said on September 17 Rudes stabbed 59-year-old Terry Jackson multiple times in the neck inside an apartment building on the 1000 block of Kenmore Avenue Rudes also pleaded guilty to one count of fourth-degree grand larceny in a separate case where he was under investigation for stealing money from his former employer Rudes faces a maximum of 25 years in prison and is scheduled to be sentenced on March 5 (WKBW) — Several families in North Tonawanda were woken up Sunday night by a group of people destroying their Halloween decorations The city estimates the damage could cost victims thousands of dollars Videos recorded by doorbell cameras at multiple homes in North Tonawanda captured vandals knocking over slashing and destroying Halloween decorations across the city Police Chief Keith Glass and Mayor Austin Tylec told me they are investigating the matter but not everybody reports the incidents,” Glass said “We have a bunch of guys and gals working on the investigation they are even looking into it,” Tylec said “Thousands of dollars [in damage]… decorations are not cheap.” Police believe this string of crimes was committed by the same group of people Sunday night I do this for all the little kids to come by and enjoy it,” Jesse Augustine said “Get a hold of the parents and make the parents pay for everybody’s damage.” “Around midnight people there were three people that came to our house and vandalized our Halloween decorations… it’s sad a lot of better things to do than vandalize people’s property,” Kimberly LaRussa said “I hope that these individuals get caught.” a lot of love goes into the little library,” Pam Ehrke said “I hope they are caught and there is some consequence.” Glass encourages anybody else who was a victim of these crimes to report their damage to the police Share your voice and hear from your neighbors.