Morning News Brief
Written by Tom Tharp on March 8, 2023
Conspiracy and twists and turns surround the attempt to get Whole Foods out of Rochester according to the latest court developments. The Whole Foods store in Brighton has been planned for and under construction for 4 years but has yet to open due to multiple legal challenges and campaigns to stop it. The Brighton Grassroots and Save Monroe Avenue organizations have challenged every step leading up to the grocery store having a location in the city and according to testimony in the latest court session, it’s been orchestrated by their competitors. Wegmans has apparently been paying the local supposedly grassroots organizations millions of dollars to stop Whole Foods from opening. The latest lawsuit, which was about a nature trail that is behind the property, was decided in Whole Foods favor after a member of the local organizations admitted on the stand that they were being paid and that the lawsuits were attempts to stop Whole Foods from competing with Wegmans. Whole Foods is expected to open in the spring although an appeal is expected.
Main Street Armory can no longer host events. The Rochester Police Department held a press conference Wednesday regarding the Main Street Armory concert stampede that took the lives of two women. Prior to Wednesday’s press conference, a meeting was scheduled between the owner of the Armory, Scott Donaldson, and members of the City Corporation Counsel’s Office and the Rochester Police Department’s Licensing Unit. When Donaldson failed to show up to the meeting, Rochester Police Chief David Smith denied the Armory’s renewal application. The denial now prohibits the Armory from hosting “any public entertainment, which includes concerts, amplified music, and athletic events or games, including volleyball or cheerleading.”
Amazon is attempting to get the ability to deliver alcohol to people’s homes in New York and small liquor stores say this is a threat to their business. Currently New York liquor laws only allow an owner to operate one store. With multiple warehouse locations across NY, the law would have to change in order for Amazon to be able to deliver directly. The New York State Liquor Store Association, the Metropolitan Package Store Association, and the Retailers Alliance met in Albany on Wednesday, saying that purchasing alcohol online is not only unsafe, but bad for business. They claim that there aren’t enough safeguards in place to stop minors from ordering alcohol. UPS and Fedex already deliver alcohol from some retailers and say they are trained to ID upon delivery.
Interested in getting into collage art? GO ART! Is hosting Karen Crittenden on Tuesday March 14th to demonstrate hands on Collage Multimedia. All materials are provided at no charge. Karen is a lifelong artist who has had a love of all things colorful and accessible. Her current work has been based in collage/mixed media and photography. Non-members’ tickets are 5 dollars. Tavern 2.0.1 will be open for cash purchases.
Holland Land Office Museum is looking for volunteers to work in many positions at the museum. They need help with cleaning, gift shop, tour guides, artifacts documenters, help with setup and maintenance of the displays, landscapers, and more. Volunteer hours would be during the normal hours of operation of the museum Tuesday through Saturday, 10 am to 4 pm. If you have an interest in volunteering with the Holland Land Office Museum, get in touch with Director Ryan Duffy at 585-343-4727 or hollandlandoffice@gmail.com.
Musicians of Note, a wall of fame to honor past Batavia High School graduates in music, will host its 4th annual ceremony on March 17 in the Batavia High School auditorium at 7 p.m. Nominations were accepted until November when the committee followed through with selecting talented and deserving recipients. Nominées will be recognized with a video presentation. They will also have High School ensembles perform to celebrate those specific honorees. A plaque featuring their accomplishments will be displayed on the new Musicians Of Note wall at the High School. The 2023 honorees include Diana Dipson, 1929; Gloria McLaughlin, Retired BCSD music teacher 1970-1989; Brian Isaac, 2001; Deanna Spiotta, 2005; and Melzie Case, 2012.
