In 2019, 7 Eyewitness News was focused on telling your stories and sharing our community's finest moments. We promise to keep finding the "good neighbors" in your neighborhood in 2020.
Here are seven of your stories that became newsroom favorites in 2019:
"First look" photos capture love between Tonawanda bride and her brother
On her wedding day, newlywed Ashley Sedar's wedding photographer captured a special moment between her and her little brother, Nick.
The siblings chose to have photographs taken of Nick's "first look" at Ashley in her wedding gown. Nick's reaction helped make the pictures go viral. The photos were also featured on GMA.
Nick stood as a groomsman in Ashley's wedding. He says after seeing Ashley, he told her, "you are the most beautiful person in the world. You are indescribable."
Buffalo "snow angel" shovels snow for neighbors despite living with MS
When a blast of December snow arrived in Western New York, 7 Eyewitness News reporter Ed Reily went out to find a "snow angel"--someone who takes it upon themselves to clear sidewalks and driveways for neighbors. The snow angel he found inspired the whole newsroom.
Michele Craver of Keppel Street in Buffalo is well known to her neighbors. She shovels snow for elderly people on her street who can no longer shovel for themselves. Craver does this despite living with multiple sclerosis. Diagnosed in 1997, she eventually had to leave her job as a letter carrier. During flare-ups, her neighbors help her with her shoveling. She says helping others helps her mentally deal with having MS.
Terminally ill firefighter receives final ride home
Firefighter and Marine veteran Gus Buczek dedicated his life to serving his community and his country. At South-Line Fire Company, he was a man that new recruits could look up to. His fellow firefighters were there to support him as he battled terminal pancreatic cancer.
In November, his fire company arrived at Roswell Park Comprehensive Cancer Center to give Buczek a final ride home from treatment.
“When one of us hurts. We all hurt,” said Tim Kopp, the fire department’s chaplain.
Buczek passed away later in November.
Tiger Woods and Valentino Dixon: Two comeback stories collide at Augusta National
In April, pro golfer Tiger Woods continued his comeback story, winning the Masters-- but his wasn't the only comeback to come to fruition at Augusta National Golf Club.
Valentino Dixon, the innocent Buffalo man who spent 27 years in prison on a wrongful murder conviction, spent the weekend at Augusta National to showcase the drawings that got his conviction vacated.
While there, he was able to meet legendary golfer Jack Nicklaus.
Dixon told 7 Eyewitness News anchor Ashley Rowe, "it was excellent, out of this world."
Six-year-old girl becomes business owner
If first grader A’isha McDuffie is any indication, the future of small business in Western New York is bright.
McDuffie's mother says her bows and bath bombs were getting expensive, so they went on YouTube together to find out how to make them on their own. A'isha learned she loved making bows, bow-ties, sugar scrubs, massage bars, and bath bombs. She even decided to start her own business, called Kiddie Kosmetics.
A'isha sells her creations at vendor events and through Instagram. Check out @KiddieKosmetics to see what she's making.
Grandmother helps grandson befriend UB Bulls players
A chance encounter on a plane led to an unlikely friendship between a local boy and a couple of University at Buffalo basketball players.
Roxanne Kish met UB Bulls guard Savion Gallion on a plane headed from Baltimore to Buffalo. As many grandmas would, Kish showed off videos of her grandson's basketball moves. She asked Gallion for a favor-- to reach out to her grandson, Justice.
Gallion followed through, and ended up attending Justice's basketball team's championship game with another UB Bulls player, David Nickelberry.
At last check, Gallion and Justice are still in touch through text messages.
Dunkirk teen credited with saving grandfather's life
A Dunkirk Middle School student's quick action helped to save her grandfather's life in December. When Hannah Rosing, 13, approached her grandfather's SUV after school that day, she found her grandfather, David Taber, Sr., slumped over at the steering wheel. Hannah says she knew to start doing CPR right away because her mother is a nurse.
Hannah called 911 and was able to tell the dispatcher her grandfather has a heart condition and was unresponsive. It was later determined Taber had a heart attack. David was rushed by EMTs to Brooks-TLC Hospital System's Emergency Department. The doctor working that afternoon says Hannah saved her grandfather's life.
Taber had this to say of his granddaughter: "She's fantastic. She's my guardian angel."
