The July 4 holiday weekend is traditionally a busy time for travel, and this year is expected to be no exception. YNN’s Ryan Burgess tells us about the increased police presence that’s expected on the roads this weekend, including at the border crossings.

State Police say a U-Haul truck driving north crossed into the southbound lane and hit a tractor-trailer on Route 219 in Great Valley just after 1 p.m. Friday.

According to the Chautauqua County Sheriff’s Office, 28-year-old Mitchel Treacle had a sexual relationship with a 14-year-old girl on multiple occasions from December 2010 through March of this year.

Nate Buckley was in court for a pre-trial hearing, where new evidence was unveiled by the NFTA.

A stunning turn of events in the case against Dominique Strauss-Kahn. The former IMF head still faces sex assault charges but he’s no longer under house arrest. As our Dean Meminger tells us, that’s because serious questions have developed about his accuser.

After 19 years in the State Assembly filling the seat vacated by the untimely death of his father, Sam Hoyt is getting a new title.

To say that the Buffalo art scene would be different without the work of Aimee Buyea would be an understatement.  As a co-founder of Sugar City and a founding officer of the Emerging Leaders in the Arts Buffalo, Aimee has worked tirelessly and with a variety of Buffalo organizations (CEPA Gallery, WNY Book Arts Collaborative, Squeaky Wheel, etc.) to ensure a vibrant and healthy art scene in the Nickel City.  Because of her amazing contribution and investment in Buffalo's creative community it seems only fitting that the community supports her in turn.   On June 3, Aimee was struck by a motorist while riding her bicycle with the accident resulting in serious head injuries, including a fractured skull.  Aimee has since been released from the hospital and is steadily recovering.
 
A benefit will be held for Aimee on Saturday, July 2, 2011 from 4-10 pm at Sugar City, located in historic Allentown at 19 Wadsworth St.  The event includes a dinner prepared by a roster of Sugar City's resident chefs, a Chinese auction featuring contributions from many local artists and businesses, live music by Al Larsen, The Mordaunt Sisters, and The Fucking Hotlights, a reading by Matthew Baker Thompson, and a film screening curated by Liz Flyntz.

The event will continue at 10 pm at Nietzsche's.  It will feature an all star live karaoke band and special guest DJ's ABCDJ, Frankie Rainbows, & MJB Corporation.  The proceeds of the events will directly assist Aimee with her bills while she is unable to work.  A minimum donation of $10 gets you in the door for both events.  Please consider making this event a part of your Fourth of July weekend.  For more information on Aimee Buyea and this benefit, please visit aimeebuyeabenefit.com or www.buffalosugarcity.org/.   

There were quite a few attractions drawing visitors to the Inner Harbor today, including the opening of the temporary boardwalk extension, the opening and the naming of a new eatery (Clinton's Dish) along with picnic tables, the unveiling of a passive beach, the delivery of numerous colorfully painted 'sunset chairs', activities with Explore and More Children's Museum, a children's puppet theatre by Franklin Lavoie, tours on the tall ship Pride of Baltimore and all of the rest of Buffalo Place programming that people have come to expect. It was amazing to see the large number of people enjoying the activities. Over the next few days there will be even more to see and do on the waterfront including:

Saturday, July 2
Saturday Family Fun on the Central Wharf with Explore & More Children's Museum
"Canal Era Play"
12:00 Noon to 4:00 pm - Free
Groups of more than 10 children must pre-register by calling 716/655-5131.
 
Erie Canal Story by Buffalo Tours: One Hour Guided Walking Tour
Whipple Truss Bridge - Central Wharf side
12:00 Noon to 1:00 pm - Free
 
Songs of the Erie Canal Puppet Theatre: Performed by Franklin LaVoie
Central Wharf - South Grass Area - Under the Big Trees
3:00 pm to 4:00 pm - Free
 
Susan B. Anthony: Performed by Gretchen Murray Sepik
The story of the nineteenth century women's rights leader.
Central Wharf
6:00 pm to 7:00 pm - Free
 
Let Women Vote: Performed by Hutchinson Family Revival - A program of suffrage in song.
Central Wharf
7:30 pm to 8:30 pm - Free
 
'Il Tabarro '- A One-Act Opera by G. Puccini - TE Ticketed Event
This Opera will be performed aboard the USS The Sullivans, Buffalo Naval & Military Park
9:00 pm - 10:30 pm
For ticket information call 646/294-3634.
 
Sunday, July 3
Beginner's Yoga
Central Wharf - Grass Area
10:00 am to 11:00 am - Free
 
Intermediate Yoga
Central Wharf - Grass Area
11:30 am to 12:30 pm - Free
 
Erie Canal Story by Buffalo Tours: One Hour Guided Walking Tour
Whipple Truss Bridge - Central Wharf side
12:00 Noon to 1:00 pm - Free
 
Yogalates
Central Wharf - Grass Area
1:00 pm to 2:00 pm - Free
 
Boat Ride with Buffalo Maritime Center aboard the White Elektra or OK Clark
Commercial Slip - Central Wharf side
2:00 pm - Weather Permitting - Free
(First come-first served with no reservations accepted.)
 
Dug's Dive
Stop in at the popular waterfront basement saloon for a visit the proprietor William Douglas - operator of one of the most infamous saloons in all of the Canal District - a one-person interpretive performance
Historic Ruins - Commercial Slip
3:30 pm to 4:15 pm - Free
 
Songs of the Erie Canal Puppet Theatre: Performed by Franklin LaVoie
Central Wharf - South Grass Area -Under the Big Trees
4:00 pm to 5:00 pm - Free
 
'Il Tabarro' - A One-Act Opera by G. Puccini - TE Ticketed Event
This Opera will be performed aboard the USS The Sullivans, Buffalo Naval & Military Park
9:00 pm - 10:30 pm
For ticket information call 646/294-3634.
 
Monday, July 4
Buffalo's Annual Fourth of July Celebration - Welcome the Pride of Baltimore II
Continuous entertainment, Americana themed kid's activities, patriotic ceremonies and fireworks
6:00 pm to 10:30 pm - Free
 
Tuesday, July 5
Yogalates
Central Wharf - Grass Area
6:00 pm to 7:00 pm - Free
 
Wednesday, July 6
Boat Ride with Buffalo Maritime Center aboard the White Elektra or OK Clark
Commercial Slip - Central Wharf side
5:00 pm - Weather Permitting - Free
(First come-first served with no reservations accepted.)
 
Friends of Harmony: Concert aboard USS Little Rock
Buffalo Naval & Military Park
7:30 pm to 9:30 pm - Free
 
Sunset Yoga
Central Wharf - Grass Area
7:30 pm to 8:30 pm - Free
 
Thursday, July 7
Thursday at the Square comes to Canalside, presented by M&T Bank
Featuring: Sloan
Central Wharf & Cobblestone Streets
5:00 pm to 9:00 pm - Free


^Click to enlarge
 

One year ago, the national average for a gallon of regular gas sat at $2.75. It now runs you about $3.55 per gallon. Our John Wagner checks how that’s affecting weekend plans.

Listen to Nick Mendola live on weekdays from noon-3 p.m.

Loads of NHL free agent talk today as the unrestricted market opens up.

Hour One:
Download audio file (070111nick01.mp3)
7/1/11 Nick Mendola Hour One

Nick with Matt Sekeras of the Globe and Mail
Download audio file (Matt-Sekeres-070111.mp3)
Matt Sekeres 7/1/11

Hour Two:
Download audio file (070111nick02.mp3)
7/1/11 Nick Mendola Hour Two

Nick with WGRZ’s Ben Hayes
Download audio file (Ben-Hayes-070111.mp3)
Ben Hayes 7/1/11

Hour Three:
Download audio file (070111nick03.mp3)
7/1/11 Nick Mendola Hour Three

State Police say an accident involving a U-Haul and a semi has shut down the north and southbound lanes of the 219 just after 1 p.m. Friday.

"You're going to pay me how much? Do I have to murder someone?"

(WECK 1230) — I haven’t been the biggest supporter of Darcy Regier since 2006-07, but the pre-July 1 personnel moves he made to improve the Buffalo Sabres have been more than enough to get me to give him a second chance (as if he’s massively desirous of such an opportunity!).

Then, I read that Ville Leino had become a Buffalo Sabre and got even more excited… until I saw the price tag. At six years and $27 million, Leino had become the Sabres third-highest paid forward. Derek Roy and Drew Stafford would be paid less than a player with a commendable playoff record but 70+ career points by age 27.

I was perplexed, maybe even a little angry. Did Regier understand the concept of a salary cap? Shouldn’t he have been signing Tyler Myers to a long-term extension? I didn’t need him to get Brad Richards (in fact, I’m somewhat against it), but for real?

Yes… and I get it.

I really hate agreeing to this move, but armed with the knowledge that Leino is a natural center I’m ready to like — not love — the move. The fact of the matter is that the Sabres have added three winners to the roster and kept a guy who throws his body around like he’s indesctructible. They also extended a gutsy mighty mite to an extremely reasonable contract.

An the anatomy of these moves points to another major surgery forthcoming… a big trade. Follow me:

1) Chris Butler & Paul Byron to Calgary for Robyn Regehr, Ales Kotalik and a second-round pick.

The Sabres entered the offseason with four RFA blueliners: Mike Weber, Butler, Andrej Sekera and Marc Gragnani. The likelihood of signing all four was fine, but the odds that the majority of them would be happy were ridiculous.

2) Trading a fourth-round pick for the rights to negotiate with Christian Ehrhoff.

This is actually the only truly un-Darcy thing that’s been done. Regier loves draft picks, but this risk was phenomenal. The 10-year deal is absolutely fine, but only plausible because T-Pegs is okay with giving a defenseman $13 in signing bonuses over the first two years of the deal.

3) Resigning Cody McCormick and Nathan Gerbe to three-year deals.

You work hard here? You stay here. Boom.

4) Signing Ville Leino for six years and $27 million.

Whether Leino as center is a smoke screen or truth, the guy has shown up beginning three seasons ago in a brief spell with the Wings. He arrived in the playoffs with Philly in 2009-10, scoring 21 points in 19 games including three goals and six assists in the seven-game Cup loss versus Chicago.

Leino also gives the Sabres 14 forwards under contract and terrific depth at defense. In fact, the guy who deserves the most credit for the upcoming Step Five is someone who wasn’t doing it on purpose: Tom Golisano.

5) Trade multiple roster players, prospects and picks for a true No. 1 center

No rewards without risks, but the Sabres have an almost gross amount of prospect depth. They’ve drafted defensemen for years and not sent them packing because of Golisano’s rules. They’ve got some terrific NHL-ready forwards as well, and now can deal those picks, which may not even be precious anymore.

It could be multiple deals: Maybe Pominville and Morrisonn go to some team short of the cash ceiling and then Sekera, Adam and a first go for a stud. Perhaps it’s a blockbuster. Maybe they land a piece we didn’t even know was available: Dustin Brown, David Backes, Zach Parise, Paul Stastny, Ryan Getzlaf, Evgeni Malkin… who knows?

It’s all on the table at this point, and that — more than a substandard free agent class — is what makes the new Sabres a threat to win a Cup as early as next year. It’s pretty awesome. If this Leino signing, however, is it, I’m going to temper my enthusiasm a bit. Tyler Ennis is a natural center, too, but what comes natural isn’t always what’s best in a league that features the best of the better.

Email: nickonweck@gmail.com

P.S. Expect Ryan Miller to post Vezina numbers again with Regehr and Ehrhoff joining the fold.

While the temporary bike trail connection and the eatery at Canalside opened to the public earlier today (more on that later), there was still a missing Canalside component that needed to be resolved. At 10am Richard Fontana, Common Council Majority Leader, help a press conference on the front steps of City Hall to discuss the state of the bistro that was scheduled to open in the Naval Museum around this time. According to Fontana, there has been some confusion between parties involved, including a restaurant operator and The City and the Naval Museum.

Although the bistro operator was already prepared to pay utilities at the site, The City expressed that an agreement would have to be made to arrange for the operator to pay for the utilities. That means that the non-issue is apparently resolved. The City also stated that the agreement would have the Naval Museum share profits with The City if and when the museum amassed $200,000 (a year) in lease payments - a long shot that the operator would do enough business to pay the museum that much money considering that the operator would only be paying a small percentage of gross sales towards the lease. That means that that non-issue is also apparently resolved.

Fontana expressed that The City would make it a priority to get negotiations back on track and is eager to have all parties sit back down at the table to draft an agreement.

Two busy intersections near the airport have reopened to traffic after Erie County spent about $1 million to install roundabouts.

Joining former UB president John Barclay Simpson and UB COO Scott Nostaja in jumping ship is UB vice president for external affairs and fellow UB 2020 lobbyist Marsha Henderson. Three months ago we reported that she was bringing in $301,926 from the state plus $134,200 from the UB Foundation for a total salary of $436,126. [...]