The lighter side of The News: Vidler’s makes the big time; A swimmingly good speech; The judge has ruled

Doing his part

Don Vidler of the East Aurora store Vidler’s received some free advertising during Sunday’s Bills-Dolphins game.

In an email, he noted that there was a brief shot of the store window from a few years ago in the introduction segment featuring Bills legend Jim Kelly and Dolphins legend Dan Marino.

“I was amazed at how quickly I received texts and Facebook messages from friends and family who caught a glimpse of the red-and-white awning and immediately recognized it,” wrote Vidler.

“And then the Bills won … I have not heard from the NFL about NIL (name, image and likeness) compensation, but I am willing to forgo future royalties in playoff game(s) if featuring photos of our storefront in pregame footage will assure victory.”

Watch out, Katie Ledecky

Kathy Hochul, award-winning swimmer?

The governor spoke Jan. 5 at a community center in Manhattan to announce a series of proposals meant to provide swimming instruction and safer pool options to children and other New Yorkers.

At the event, which previewed a theme of her State of the State address, Hochul recounted a story that she had never shared publicly because, she said, it’s “a little bit embarrassing.”

“My brothers were those superstar athletes, you know, captains of the football, baseball, basketball team. All four brothers always walking in the door with these big trophies or ribbons or championships,” she told the audience. “Here I am: very unathletic. I really felt that I paled in comparison.”

Her mother never learned how to swim but her father believed all his children, including his two daughters, should learn this skill. And she did.

“So our pool had a swim team,” Hochul said. “I was 8 years old. And they didn’t have somebody to compete in the boys’ 10-year-old-and-under competition. So someone said, ‘Why don’t you go over and try it out?’ “

Hochul said she figured she didn’t have anything to lose so she took a risk and entered the contest.

“I want to…

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