A lucky lady from Rochester, N.Y. hit it big yesterday at Seneca Niagara Casino & Hotel in Niagara Falls, N.Y. – to the tune of half a million dollars. At 1:50 p.m., she reached the bonus round on the Geisha Millioni$er™ slot machine by Aristocrat and correctly unveiled the three “Grand jackpot” coins, winning $500,004.

The player, identified as Monica, played the maximum bet of $2 on the progressive penny slot machine, which is one of 4,000 slots at Seneca Niagara Casino & Hotel. This lucky lady hit the life-changing jackpot after playing 10 minutes on the game.

Monica felt a state of disbelief upon winning the jackpot, especially since she selected the three correct coins by looking away from the screen. “I have two favorite machines, and Geisha is one of them that I always play,” she said. “When I won, I phoned my children and told them Christmas came early.”

BUFFALO, NY - Getting a memorial to those who served in the wars in Iraq and Afghanistan, built at the Buffalo and Erie County Naval & Military Park, took a big step toward completion this week.

Thanks in part to a donation from the Basil Family of Dealerships.

The Western New York Iraq Afghanistan Memorial; WNY I AM was the idea of a group of veterans and supporters who knew it was about time to recognize those who served in those wars.

The monument was designed by artist, and veteran, Ralph Sirianni.

Made of red granite, the three stone memorial will stand in the park along side those of other conflicts in which Western New Yorkers fought and died.

Channel Two Photojournalist Dooley O'Rourke explains how the two groups came together.

Watch the story in the viewer above.

BUFFALO, N.Y.-The HarborCenter project reached another big milestone Thursday.

Truck poured concrete to create the transfer beams over Perry Street that will connect HarborCenter to First Niagara Center.

"You'll be able to see the bottom of these beams that we're pouring today when you either leave a Sabres game, walk underneath Perry Street or drive underneath Perry Street you'll see the bottom of what we're doing today. 

The project is on schedule with the ice rinks, sports bars and shops scheduled to open next fall.