Buffalo news

• U.S. Citizen perishes in attack on hotel in Mali

  20-11-2015 23:59 via wivb.com
  
  MALI (AP) —  Heavily armed Islamic extremists seized dozens of hostages Friday at a Radisson hotel, but Malian troops, backed by U.S. and French special forces, swarmed in to retake the building and free many of the terrified captives. At least 19 people, including a U.S. citizen, were killed in the more than seven-hour siege, officials said.
  An extremist group led by former al-Qaida commander Moktar Belmoktar claimed responsibility for the attack in the former French colony, and many
  
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• Local patients, expert break down stereotypes

  20-11-2015 23:58 via wivb.com
  
  HAMBURG, N.Y. (WIVB)- Catherine Colangelo and Katie Lawson are your average teenagers; except that walking the down the street isn’t something they can do for more than a few minutes.
  “When I stand up sometimes I will have to sit right back down because I’m so dizzy,” Catherine told News 4.
  They both have POTS Syndrome, a common type of Dysautonomia, a condition that affects the Autonomic Nervous System, which controls basically everything we do.
  “Imagine
  
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• Local forest preserved, beneficial for residents and nature

  20-11-2015 23:56 via wivb.com
  
  In a press conference Friday morning, The Nature Conservancy and Buffalo Niagara Riverkeeper announced that 222 acres of forest surrounding the headwaters of Eighteenmile Creek was purchased for the people and nature of Erie County, and highlighted how important this was to Erie County.
  “Protecting Eighteenmile Creek is great for fish and wildlife, you’ve heard that today, but it’s also good for people,” explained Jim Howe, the Executive Director of The Nature Conser
  
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• ISIS, ISIL and Daesh: What’s the difference and why it matters

  20-11-2015 23:48 via wivb.com
  
  WASHINGTON (MEDIA GENERAL) – Deadly jihadist attacks inspired by a group known as the Islamic State are spreading around the globe and dominating headlines.
  More than a decade into its ruthless ascent to fame and power, the group’s name remains unclear.
  President Obama and Secretary of State John Kerry have juggled the terms ‘ISIS,’ ‘ISIL’ and, recently, ‘Daesh.’ Several news organizations also use “Islamic State.”
  While
  
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• Local businessman indicted on charges of fraud and money laundering

  20-11-2015 23:25 via wivb.com
  
  BUFFALO, N.Y. (WIVB) — Two high-profile Niagara Falls men have been charged in a 19-count indictment, accusing them of defrauding the U.S., wire fraud, money laundering and more.
  A grand jury returned the indictment on Friday, naming Frank Parlato Jr., 60, and Chitra Selvaraj, 41. Each are named as top officials of the Niagara Falls Reporter.
  Officials say the two men worked to defraud the IRS and government through 15 shell companies, 50 bank accounts and multiple attorney trust fund
  
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• Police offer reward after person abandons pup and it starves to death

  20-11-2015 22:54 via wivb.com
  
  NIAGARA FALLS, N.Y. (WIVB) — After police stumbled across a dog that had been dead for a week, tied to a tree in a backyard, officers are on the hunt for a suspect.
  Police say a person chained a Boxer-Pitbull mix puppy to a tree in a backyard off Linwood Avenue in Niagara falls, then left, allowing the dog to starve to death. The dog died roughly on Nov. 9, as police located it on Nov. 16.
  While a full investigation continues, police in Niagara Falls are partnering with the New York S
  
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• Jack Eichel explains his living situation with the Moulson family in adorable video

  20-11-2015 22:31 via wivb.com
  
  BUFFALO, N.Y. (WIVB) — To help ease the transition from college student to NHL star, the Sabres paired up established Sabre Matt Moulson and rookie Jack Eichel to live together during Eichel’s rookie year.
  In a new video, the Buffalo Sabres’ top draft pick and the second overall pick in the NHL draft, revealed details into his living situation with the Moulson family. The video, from Sabres.NHL.com, depicts Eichel playing with the Moulson children and showing off his favor
  
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• 64 Dunkirk NRG employees receive pink slips

  20-11-2015 21:51 via wivb.com
  
  DUNKIRK, N.Y. (WIVB) — Lawmakers pushing to keep the mothballed NRG plant in Dunkirk active and converted into a natural gas power plant recently were dealt another blow.
  Sen. Cathy Young says 64 remaining employees at NRG’s Dunkirk facility have received WARN letters, notifying them that their positions will be eliminated between February of 2016 and September of 2016.
  “It is devastating for the employees, their families, Dunkirk and Chautauqua County as a whole. If the l
  
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• NY’s Attorney General releases Op-Ed on daily fantasy sports in NYS

  20-11-2015 21:23 via wivb.com
  
  NEW YORK, N.Y. (WIVB) — The Attorney General for New York State is pushing for an end to daily fantasy sports in New York State, and he’s taking his fight to the press.
  On Friday, Eric T. Schneiderman released an opinion piece to the New York Daily News arguing his reasons for booting daily fantasy sports out of New York State seemingly out of the blue.
  He signaled his position comes only from the side of the law, which bans gambling, especially sports betting, which he describe
  
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• Local case of E.coli linked to Chipotle Mexican Grill restaurants

  20-11-2015 20:44 via wivb.com
  
  BUFFALO, N.Y. (WIVB) — After a resident of Erie County contracted E.coli the Department of Health worked to learn where the toxin-producing bacteria originated.
  After an investigation into the sickness that the person contracted in October, officials learned it originated from a Chipotle Mexican Grill establishment in Amherst. The same strain of E.coli has previously been linked to more than 40 cases across the country, closing down various Chipotle restaurants.
  The largest outbreak i
  
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• Amherst PD looking for armed robbery suspect

  20-11-2015 19:45 via wivb.com
  
  AMHERST, N.Y. (WIVB) — Amherst Police are looking for a man they say robbed a Citizens Bank on Niagara Falls Boulevard Friday morning.
  Police say a dark-skinned black male “displayed a small handgun and demanded money” from a teller at the bank.
  After this, the suspect left through the front door and fled on foot, heading north with an unknown amount of money, according to police.
  The suspect was wearing a brown hooded sweatshirt, a baseball cap and black sunglas
  
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• Y-Roswell Street Team fighting to end cancer

  20-11-2015 19:43 via wivb.com
  
  BUFFALO, N.Y. (WIVB) – Roswell Park Cancer Institute has a team of students out in Western New York educating people about cancer and supporting those who have it.
  It’s called the Y-Roswell Street Team.
  Students in high school and college travel throughout the region to fight to end cancer.
  A team member spoke to News 4 about the initiative. “We are just young teenagers trying to get the word out about cancer research. We set up at tables at several different events, such as co
  
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• Tesla recalling all Model S sedans for seat belt issue

  20-11-2015 19:21 via wivb.com
  
  DETROIT (AP) — Tesla Motors is recalling its entire fleet of Model S sedans to check their front seat belts after a passenger’s seat belt became disconnected.
  The recall is the company’s largest ever, involving 90,000 cars worldwide. Tesla sent an email Friday to affected customers.
  Tesla’s other vehicle, the Model X SUV, isn’t affected. Seat belts in the back seat also aren’t affected.
  Earlier this month, a customer in Europe reported that her seat belt disco
  
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• Charges dropped in NY police videotaping arrest

  20-11-2015 19:16 via wivb.com
  
  MINEOLA, N.Y. (AP) — Criminal charges have been dropped against a suburban New York college student arrested while taking a taking a video of two friends being arrested.
  Attorney Kenneth Mollins says resisting arrest, obstruction and a drug possession charge were dropped Friday in a Long Island courtroom.
  The Suffolk County District Attorney’s office confirmed charges were dropped “in the interest of justice.”
  Thomas Demint was arrested in May 2014.
  Charges were filed aft
  
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• Accused Hillery Park rapist waives right to felony hearing

  20-11-2015 18:57 via wivb.com
  
  BUFFALO, N.Y. (WIVB) – The case against the man accused of raping and robbing a college student in broad daylight in Hillery Park on November 3rd could soon go to a grand jury. Timothy DiCenzo, 33, waived his right to a felony hearing when he appeared in city court Friday.
  According to his arrest reports, DiCenzo was dressed in camouflage and approached his victim from behind just before noon on November 3. The victim told police DiCenzo then put what appeared to be a black handgun to her
  
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• EU official says IS fighters not among refugees; Interpol welcomes EU move to secure borders

  20-11-2015 18:52 via wivb.com
  
  BRUSSELS (AP) — The European Union’s top anti-terrorism official is rejecting claims that Islamic State group fighters are entering the EU hidden among refugees.
  EU Counter-Terrorism Coordinator Gilles de Kerchove said Friday that “I don’t think you can say that Daesh (IS) is infiltrating Europe.”
  He told French broadcaster RFI/France 24 that “if there are one or two cases — and these still have to be verified — then it’s probably a tactical
  
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• Thanksgiving Week family fun

  20-11-2015 18:42 via wivb.com
  
  Family Activities for Thanksgiving Weekend!
   
  BuffaloRotary Rink
  Weather permitting, Rotary Rink will open for FREE ice-skating on Friday, November 27th
  Buffalo Canalside
  Canalside calendar
  Open ice Skating – Weather permitting but expected to begin Mon., Nov. 23
  Also a good place to check out Buffalo’s famous ice bikes!
  Full skating schedule here
  Grain Elevator Light Show
  Free – After dusk show the family the fantastic light show on the Connecting Terminal grain elevators
  
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• NY trooper who caught escaped inmate in June is honored

  20-11-2015 18:28 via wivb.com
  
  WASHINGTON (AP) — The New York State Police sergeant who shot and captured an escaped murderer on the lam for three weeks this summer is being honored by a national organization.
  The National Law Enforcement Officers Memorial Fund says Sgt. Jay Cook is its Officer of the Month for November. Cook spotted escaped inmate David Sweat near the Canadian border on June 28 and shot him twice as he fled.
  Sweat had escaped from Clinton Correctional Facility in northern New York on June 6 with Richar
  
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• Perry contractor accused of scheming to defraud clients

  20-11-2015 18:11 via wivb.com
  
  PERRY, N.Y. (WIVB) — The Wyoming County Sheriff’s Office charged a Perry contractor after they say he defrauded two construction clients.
  Wyoming County Sheriff’s deputies say Richard Mix, who does business as K.I.M. Construction, was payed by a client to build a garage in May of 2014.
  Deputies say Mix received a partial payment of $12,800, performed a very small amount of work and never returned to complete the project.
  Another alleged victim of Mix filed a similar report
  
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• Border Protection officers seize $880,000 in ecstasy in Lewiston

  20-11-2015 17:47 via wivb.com
  
  LEWISTON, N.Y. (WIVB) — U.S. Customs and Border Protection Officers say they seized around 28 pounds of the drug MDMA, also known as ecstasy, from a Canadian woman.
  The street value of the drugs adds up to just over $880,000.
  Donna Campbell, 48, was at the Lewiston Bridge applying for admission into the U.S. at the time of the incident.
  An inspection of Campbell’s vehicle resulted in officers finding 16 bags containing blue and pink pills “hidden in the rear seat
  
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• Unemployment rates fall in two-thirds of US states

  20-11-2015 16:57 via wivb.com
  
  WASHINGTON (AP) — Unemployment rates fell in 32 U.S. states last month as employers nationwide added the most jobs of any month this year.
  Jobless rates rose in just three states in October and were unchanged in 15.
  Employers stepped up hiring in 40 states last month, the most since April. The biggest job gains occurred in California, which added 41,200, followed by Florida, with 35,200.
  A hiring rebound in October added 271,000 jobs, the most this year. The national unemployment rate fell
  
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• Local violinist plays in orchestra for Stevie Wonder concert

  20-11-2015 15:50 via wivb.com
  
  BUFFALO, N.Y. (WIVB) – A local violinist from Buffalo played in the orchestra for Stevie Wonder’s concert at First Niagara Thursday.
  Henri Muhammad said being in the orchestra and meeting Wonder was an outstanding. A once in a lifetime experience.
  “He’s one of the icons of music for any genre, classical, contemporary, jazz, funk. He’s definitely the artist that you want to meet in your lifetime,” Muhammad said.
  He was asked by the tour manager to play. Muhamma
  
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• French report nearly 800 raids since Paris attacks, death toll reaches 130

  20-11-2015 15:27 via wivb.com
  
  BRUSSELS (AP) — French authorities say police have conducted 793 raids since last week’s attacks on a rock concert, Parisian cafes and the national stadium.
  The new tally was announced Friday by the Interior Ministry.
  Thursday night alone, police reported performing 182 raids, detaining 17 people, and seizing 76 weapons plus drugs.
  After five nights of raids, authorities says police have detained 90 people and seized 174 weapons, including 18 military-style firearms, 84 rif
  
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• PHOTOS: Friday sunrise over WNY

  20-11-2015 14:51 via interactives.wivb.com
  
  BUFFALO, N.Y. (WIVB) — A lovely sunrise came up over western New York Friday, November 20, 2015. Here are some pictures sent to us by viewers.
  APP USER | Tap here to view the gallery.
  
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• PHOTOS: Hostages taken in Mali hotel

  20-11-2015 14:24 via interactives.wivb.com
  
  BAMAKO, Mali (MEDIA GENERAL) —  A group of 10 gunmen stormed a Mali hotel, holding up to 170 hostages Friday, Nov. 20, 2015. Three people have been confirmed killed, while several hostages have been freed.
  APP USERS | Tap here to see the photos.
  
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• Suicide blast, bombing strike Baghdad Shiite mosque, kill 10

  20-11-2015 12:32 via wivb.com
  
  BAGHDAD (AP) — Iraqi security officials say a suicide blast and a roadside bomb have targeted a Shite mosque in a southern Baghdad neighborhood, killing 10 people.
  Police officials say the attack happened in the Nahiyet al-Rasheed neighborhood where a roadside bomb went off first on the street outside the mosque, just as worshippers were finishing Friday prayers. Within minutes, a suicide bomber inside the mosque detonated an explosives vest.
  The officials say 28 people were also wounded i
  
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• How ‘female Viagra’ works and who it’s right for

  20-11-2015 12:20 via wivb.com
  
  GRAND RAPIDS, Mich. (WOOD) — Women in Grand Rapids, Michigan are asking about the first drug approved by the U.S. Food and Drug Administration to treat women who have a sexual desire disorder, but only a few have gotten prescriptions in the drug’s first month and only a small group of women will qualify for it.
  The drug is called Addyi, or flibanserin. It was released October 17, and it requires a prescription from a qualified doctor. Addyi is designed to treat a condition calle
  
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• Gunmen attack hotel in Mali’s capital, killing at least 20

  20-11-2015 12:02 via wivb.com
  
  BAMAKO, Mali (AP) — Heavily armed Islamic extremists seized dozens of hostages Friday at a Radisson hotel, but Malian troops, backed by U.S. and French special forces, swarmed in to retake the building and free many of the terrified captives. At least 20 people, including one American, were killed along with two gunmen during the more than seven-hour siege, a Malian military commander said.
  An extremist group led by former al-Qaida commander Moktar Belmoktar claimed responsibility for the
  
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• Gunmen attack hotel in Mali’s capital, killing at least 19

  20-11-2015 12:02 via wivb.com
  
  BAMAKO, Mali (AP) — Heavily armed Islamic extremists seized dozens of hostages Friday at a Radisson hotel, but Malian troops, backed by U.S. and French special forces, swarmed in to retake the building and free many of the terrified captives. At least 19 people were killed in the more than seven-hour siege, officials said.
  An extremist group led by former al-Qaida commander Moktar Belmoktar claimed responsibility for the attack in the former French colony, and many in France saw it as a ne
  
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• 18 bodies found after jihadists attack Malian hotel

  20-11-2015 12:02 via wivb.com
  
  BAMAKO, Mali (AP) — Islamic extremists armed with guns and grenades stormed the luxury Radisson Blu hotel in Mali’s capital Friday morning, and security forces swarmed in to free guests floor by floor. As evening fell, officials said no more hostages were being held and that 18 bodies had been found.
  Special operations forces from America and France assisted Malian troops in the swift response.
  An extremist group led by former al-Qaida commander Moktar Belmoktar claimed responsibilit
  
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• Israeli PM welcomes Pollard’s release

  20-11-2015 11:43 via wivb.com
  
  JERUSALEM (AP) — Israel says the United States has freed convicted spy Jonathan Pollard from federal prison after nearly 30 years and the Israeli prime minister has issued a statement welcoming the release.
  Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu said in the statement on Friday that “the people of Israel welcome the release of Jonathan Pollard. After three long and difficult decades, Jonathan has been reunited with his family. May this Sabbath bring him much joy and peace.”
  Ther
  
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• Radisson hotel in Mali attacked; 170 hostages taken, 3 dead

  20-11-2015 11:31 via wivb.com
  
  BAMAKO, Mali (AP) — Men shouting “God is great” and armed with guns and throwing grenades stormed into the Radisson Blu Hotel in Mali’s capital Friday morning and seized 170 hostages.
  The U.S. Embassy in Mali asked citizens to shelter in place amid reports of an “ongoing active shooter operation” at the hotel in Bamako. People in the area ran for their lives along a dirt road as a soldier in full combat gear them to safety.
  Malian army commander
  
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• Islamic extremists attack hotel in Mali’s capital

  20-11-2015 11:31 via wivb.com
  
  BAMAKO, Mali (AP) — Islamic extremists armed with guns and throwing grenades stormed the Radisson Blu hotel in Mali’s capital Friday morning, killing at least three people and initially taking numerous hostages, authorities said.
  The Brussels-based Rezidor Hotel group that operates the hotel said early on that the assailants had “locked in” 140 guests and 30 employees.
  Malian troops reacted quickly. As people ran for their lives near the hotel along a dirt road, the soldi
  
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• Highlights: St. Francis ends Canisius’ reign

  20-11-2015 06:07 via wivb.com
  
   
   ORCHARD PARK, NY(WIVB)-  Canisius scored first but St. Francis scored all the points after that. The Red Raiders fell behind 7-0 in the 1st quarter but answered by rattling off 42 straight points to knock off the 3-time defending champs 42-7. St.
  Francis was paced by running back Brandon Metz who finished with 116 yards and three touchdowns and quarterback Jerry Hickson tossed 3 tds. It’s the Red Raiders 1st postseason title since 2011.
  
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• Bon-Ton settles with Attorney General on victim’s civil rights

  20-11-2015 02:52 via wivb.com
  
  CLARENCE, N.Y. (WIVB) – The Bon-Ton Stores, Inc. has reached an agreement with New York Attorney General Eric Schneiderman threats against an employee who is a domestic violence survivor.The Bon-Ton store at the Eastern Hills Mall in Clarence was accused of discriminating against a victim of domestic violence.
  The case involved Schneiderman’s Civil Rights and Labor Bureaus, which accused Bon-Ton of treating an employee who is a survivor of domestic violence differently than they wou
  
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• Value of “zombie homes” set at $100 million, in Erie County

  20-11-2015 01:48 via wivb.com
  
  BUFFALO, N.Y. (WIVB) – “Zombie Homes”, and State Assemblyman Michael Kearns’ “Shame the Banks” campaign were front and center at a hearing Thursday afternoon at Buffalo City Hall, but it was more about what has become a regional problem.
  Organizers called it a “Foreclosure Summit”, blaming mortgage foreclosures for a big part of the zombie home problem.
  The Common Council’s Legislation Committee hosted the special meeting, because most of Er
  
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• Explore & More gets $1 million from Delaware North

  20-11-2015 00:33 via wivb.com
  
  BUFFALO, N.Y. (WIVB)- Explore & More is one step closer to moving it’s Chlidren’s Museum to Canalside.
  Delaware North has donated one million dollars toward the total goal of $18 million to move the museum from it’s home in East Aurora to the former site of Memorial Auditorium. Almost half of that goal is now achieved.
  “I like to say Buffalo isn’t where we are, it’s who we are and that’s a sentiment that’s shared by my brother Jerry and Dad , o
  
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• Local kickboxers, father and son, to share fight card

  20-11-2015 00:29 via wivb.com
  
  BUFFALO, N.Y. (WIVB) — They share the same name and the same passion. And on Saturday they’ll share the same fight card.
  A local father-son duo of kickboxers are likely among the minority of such pairs because fighting has brought them closer.
  Sean Maurice Felton and his son, Sean Maurice Felton, Jr., are also known in the kickboxing ring as Papa Sean and Superfly.
  They’re two men, related by blood and separated by more than 20 years, who will fight just a few bouts apart on Sa
  
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• A new home: rescued pup starts over in WNY

  20-11-2015 00:20 via wivb.com
  
  PENDLETON, N.Y. (WIVB)- News 4 accompanied volunteer pilot Dan Drennan on a rescue mission to Sutton, West Virginia in October.
  Drennan flies for Pilots N Paws, a non-profit that connects shelter dogs with local rescues and fosters, to help them find homes.
  Thursday, we checked in with one of the puppies Dan flew.
  His name is Brover.
  The now eight pound Terrier-Chihuahua mix was flown from Sutton to Western New York along with more than a dozen other puppies.
  Brover’s new owner, Brian
  
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• Fire and Ice; Local exhibit combines art and science

  20-11-2015 00:02 via wivb.com
  
  BUFFALO, N.Y. (WIVB) – Two Western New York photographers are bringing together things that are different in almost every way. The Fire and Ice exhibit is opening this weekend at the CEPA Gallery on Main Street.
  The exhibit will feature very close-up and high definition pictures of Western New York snowflakes taken by Douglas Levere, and Alan Friedman’s beautiful images of the Sun taken from his back yard in Buffalo. The trick is bringing these two things to
  
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