Sunday, April 19, was the 6th birthday of Justice Alesse Indigo Simmons. Another year older, and supposedly normal like any other year prior. Lots of sugary snacks, friends and families, and an overall good time. But there was one small difference with this year's party: There was a global pandemic taking place.

Did you wake up this morning unsure of what day it was? Maybe you had ice cream and a glass of wine for dinner last night after your kids ran out of excuses to not go to bed? I'm here to tell you you're not alone.

Are you getting bored out of your mind? If so, I know exactly how you feel! So, I've decided to come together with my sisters to bring you a few ideas that have given us something fun to do and have shaken up our quarantine routine.

What is the one big thing on everyone's mind today? You guessed it ... the coronavirus. Many, if not all countries are affected around the world by this fearful virus. More than 2 million people have been infected. There's no telling on when things might get back to normal.

As everyone knows by now, COVID-19 has taken over the world and caused a global pandemic since it was announced by the World Health Organization in March. All nonessential businesses are closed, and places that generally have large gatherings have come to a grinding halt.

On Saturday, April 11, an Easter Bunny Parade was held in the Village of Youngstown. Parading through the village was Youngstown Police and Volunteer Fire Co., in accompaniment with the Youngstown Lions Club.

The Buffalo Bills are in the midst of coming out of a 17-year rebuild. For the past two decades, the Bills have gone through the same cycle year in and year out. Buffalo constantly has had a quarterback-coach carousel and it was tiring the dedicated Bills fanbase.

With quarantine being extended until mid-May for New York state, college students are unsure on when they will return to school for classes, when trips could possibly be rescheduled, or when life will go back to some form of normality.

As the world progresses through the 2020 calendar year, it is obvious that this is a very strange time to be living in. Due to the outbreak of the COVID-19 virus, much of the world has seemed to shut down. The emptiness this terrible virus has caused is perhaps most obviously visible in the sports world.

A high school senior stuck home, unable to participate in extracurriculars or clubs. Not knowing if they'll be able to walk across the stage to receive their diploma. A college student is unable to walk to the library or their professor's office.

COVID-19: The disease that has changed society as we know it. Nobody really knew what to expect when the Centers for Disease Control confirmed the first case in the U.S. on Jan. 14, least of all college students.

One Capital Region pizza business, Paesan's Pizza, was fortunate enough to be featured in a review, leading to a positive impact for the business. This is known as the "Portnoy Effect," where a pizza shop sees a rapid increase in sales after its pizza is reviewed.

Your typical morning routine has changed. You find yourself at home getting ready to sit behind a screen all day. Part of your new daily routine is checking emails as frequently as you check social media.

With all this new time on our hands, we might as well use it to our advantage! Instead of seeing this pandemic as a curse we can see it as an opportunity to learn and grow.

The unsung heroes of the pandemic are school teachers. They teach the future of the world and change and enrich their students' lives for the better.

Ever since the COVID-19 pandemic, life has drastically changed throughout the year 2020. Every person has been ordered to stay at home to not spread this virus and prevent any more damage from occurring.

While quarantine is ruining peoples' plans for having fun in the sun and destroying family reunions and birthday parties, there's a few different ways you can keep the boredom away and stay busy during quarantine. From streaming and video calling, to doing puzzles and getting a head start on spring cleaning, this quarantine is making people get creative with how to spend their free time.

DeAndrew Arnold, a senior attending Barbers Hill High School in Mont Belvieu, Texas, had been suspended and told he could not walk in his upcoming high school graduation unless he cut his dreadlocks to meet his school district dress code.

Jesse's business, New House Leatherworks, was founded out of his desire to find a new hobby that fit his personality and the values he holds. He searched for years to find where his natural talent lay, picking up different hobbies, but never feeling like they were truly meant for him.

The annual "Valentine's Day Extravaganza," run by the mission committee at Mount St. Mary's Hospital, will be held today in the front lobby of the hospital.

There was an eerie feeling of knowing certain death was lingering above them. However, this was not the time to think of the inevitable. The swaying of the ship made more than 100 different seamen from all over the vessel sick; in addition, there was no space and limited food to add to the misery.

"Every time a fire alarm goes off, it's because someone was being stupid."

There's 30 seconds left on the clock. Everyone watching in the small crowd that has gathered is extremely tense. The two opponents - one a middle-aged plumber wearing a red cap and overalls, the other a tall knight equipped with a sword, a bow and other weapons - dance back and forth on the stage, trying to find an opening in their opponent's defenses. One strong hit from either combatant could end the match.

Buffalo's fan superstore does more than offer tailgating necessities and autographed memorabilia at competitive prices: Dave and Adam's facilitates free-to-play Saturday Pokémon tournaments that are open to all ages and all levels of knowledge.

Hawaii is often referred to as "Paradise on Earth." Located in the Pacific Ocean, approximately 2,100 miles southwest of the mainland, the Hawaiian Islands have become a popular destination for tourism.

Though this is the coldest time of the year, winter brings friends and family together making this the best season out of all. From watching the snow fall from the warmth of your couch to drinking a cup of hot chocolate, winter is the escape everyone needs.

How is it possible you ask? Can you enjoy a football game while being able to consume one of the most popular snacks in your surrounding area, and have it be meat-free?

The long-awaited streaming service from the Walt Disney Company finally arrived on Nov. 12. Disney+ has come and people's lives seem to have been changed for the better. The app has anything and everything a Disney fanatic would want. There is everything from classic Disney animated films like "Alice in Wonderland" to series such as "Boy Meets World" to most things Marvel Cinematic Universe and "Star Wars."

The winner of the fall 2019 "Niagara's Got Talent" has been decided: K-pop Union.

New York City. A beautiful place for the holidays. A massive Christmas tree located in Rockefeller Center, Christmas shops with lights, and music on every corner. One place, in particular, stands out in the city during the festive season - it's known as Radio City Music Hall.

Christmas is coming soon, and most people enjoy a Christmas party with friends or spending time with family. Also, there are many films that come to mind every Christmas holiday.

College is an interesting way of life. It's new, exciting, freeing, scary, messy and everything in between.

August 1962 marked the start of a journey Dr. Sharon Watkinson would never forget. She took her first step onto the Niagara University campus, with a love of English and a passion for theater. Her education would be the start of many students' collegiate careers.

Student-athletes are among the most hard-working students on any campus in the country. They work with hectic schedules throughout the academic year, from keeping up with their work in the classroom to attending practices and competitions. Athletes are left with very little time for other hobbies or an active social life.

Poverty has now taken over this once-beautiful city and now the question is what can we change in the community?