Niagara Gazette

January 11, 2010

WHAT THEY'RE SAYING: UB named college value

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The University at Buffalo was recently named one of the best values among public universities by Kiplinger magazine.

The money-themed publication put UB at No. 70 on its list of the 100 best bargains in public education.

School were ranked using several criteria, including total cost, graduation rate and amount of financial aid issued. UB fared well in terms of student-faculty ratio (16-to-1) and freshmen retention rate (87 percent).

Topping the list was the University of North Carolina, followed by the University of Florida and the University of Virginia. The highest-ranked New York school was SUNY Binghamton (No. 5).

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Anyone who sees an out-of-state license plate in Niagara Falls appears likely to have a Michigan plate staring back at them.

The Grand Rapids (Mich.) Press recently did a story on top travel destinations for people in Michigan. Appearing at No. 7 on the list of top driving destinations for Michiganders was Niagara Falls, the paper reported, with Orlando, Fla., topping the list — both for driving and flying.

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A North Tonawanda native who’s serving as a Marine combat correspondent in Japan was recently featured in an armed forces publication.

Lance Cpl. Aaron Hostutler, 20, was profiled in the “Faces in the Ranks” section of Marines magazine.

The piece said that Hostutler signed up for a bone marrow program while in training in Fort Meade, Md., to impress a girl. Some 18 months later, he flew to California to make a donation to a teenager, with the girl — who by that point had become his wife — by his side.

Hostutler works in the consolidated public affairs office for the Marines’ base on Okinawa, Japan.

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A Niagara County farmer will have a say in agricultural matters nationwide with his recent appointment to the Department of Agriculture Fruit and Vegetable Industry Advisory Committee.

Oscar Vizcarra of Becker Farms in Gasport was one of four New Yorkers named to the board, Syracuse’s Post-Standard reported. The 25-member committee advises federal regulators on agriculture-related matters.

Contact Paul Laneat 693-1000, ext. 116.