Tuesday News Brief

COUNTY SEEKING CONTRACTORS FOR $2.5 MILLION HOUSING REHABILITATION PROGRAM

Genesee County is looking for contractors to help bring vacant housing units back to life through its new Vacant Rental Program.
County officials are seeking qualified contractors to perform rehabilitation and construction work on vacant rental properties and underused spaces that will be converted into affordable housing for low- and moderate-income residents. Work could include everything from carpentry, electrical, plumbing, and HVAC upgrades to roofing, accessibility improvements, code corrections, and environmental remediation.
Projects are expected to include both single-family and multi-family properties, with rehabilitation costs typically ranging from $50,000 to $75,000 per unit.
Contractors selected through the qualification process will be placed on an approved contractor list and may be invited to bid on projects as they become available. Applications are due by July 20, with the county expected to finalize its approved contractor list in August.
County officials are encouraging minority-owned, women-owned, veteran-owned, and other diverse businesses to apply. More information is available through the Genesee County procurement portal.

 

 

GRAHAM CORP. ALREADY EYEING EXPANSION AFTER $17 MILLION DEFENSE FACILITY REACHES FULL PRODUCTION

Just six months after opening a new $17 million manufacturing facility in Batavia, Graham Corporation says the building is already operating at full production and future expansion is now under consideration.
The facility, which supports U.S. Navy submarine programs, began full production in January and was built with a $13.5 million investment from the Navy and additional funding from Graham. Company officials say the new machining and welding equipment is helping speed up production, improve quality, and meet growing demand tied to the Navy’s Virginia-class and Columbia-class submarine programs.
Graham also recently opened a new radiographic testing facility used to perform X-ray inspections on critical components. With demand continuing to grow, the company is evaluating the possibility of expanding its 41-acre Batavia campus and increasing its manufacturing footprint.
The Batavia operation currently employs about 420 people and is actively hiring welders, machinists, and engineers. Company officials say the need for skilled workers remains high as the Navy and shipbuilding industry look to add thousands of workers over the next decade.

 

LE ROY MUSICIAN RELEASES DEBUT SINGLE, CHASES DREAM OF MUSIC CAREER

A Le Roy native is taking the next step toward a career in music. Nate Yauchzee, a 2023 graduate of Le Roy High School and current student at SUNY Potsdam’s Crane School of Music, has released his first streaming single titled “In My Head.”
Yauchzee says his passion for music began in Le Roy, where supportive teachers helped encourage him to perform and grow as a musician. He wrote the song during his freshman year of college and spent nearly two years refining it before its release.
The track blends folk-country and indie influences, and Yauchzee says he handled every part of the recording, mixing, and production process himself using the school’s recording facilities. He currently serves as president of the student-run record label at SUNY Potsdam and is already working on new music, with hopes of releasing an EP later this summer.
“In My Head” is now available on major streaming platforms, including Spotify, Apple Music, and YouTube Music.

 

BATAVIA CEMETERY TO HONOR REVOLUTIONARY WAR VETERANS

The Batavia Cemetery Association will celebrate America’s 250th birthday by honoring eight Revolutionary War veterans buried in Batavia.
The special event is scheduled for July 5 at the cemetery on Harvester Avenue and will highlight the lives and service of James Holden, Benjamin Porter, Isaac Russell, John Hubbard, John Burnham, Josiah Fish, Roswell Graham, and Sheffield Foster.
Visitors can take guided tours of the veterans’ graves at 1 p.m. and again at 3 p.m. The Batavia Concert Band will perform patriotic music beginning at 2 p.m.
The event is free and open to the public. Attendees are encouraged to bring lawn chairs or blankets and enjoy an afternoon of local history and patriotic remembrance.

 

 

 

 

U.S.-IRAN TALKS SHOW PROGRESS AS NEGOTIATORS WORK TOWARD LONG-TERM DEAL

American and Iranian negotiators say progress has been made toward a long-term agreement aimed at ending the conflict that erupted earlier this year.
Vice President JD Vance said talks held in Switzerland created what he called a “good foundation” for a final deal, with negotiators reporting movement on several key issues, including keeping the Strait of Hormuz open, maintaining a ceasefire between Israel and Hezbollah in Lebanon, and establishing a framework for future nuclear inspections.
While Vance has returned to Washington, technical teams from both countries remain in Switzerland to continue negotiations. U.S. officials also announced a temporary 60-day waiver on sanctions affecting Iranian oil exports as part of the interim agreement.
Despite the progress, significant challenges remain, and both sides continue to negotiate details surrounding Iran’s nuclear program, regional security, and long-term sanctions relief.

 

 

 

GLOW ATHLETES SHINE AT NATIONAL TRACK AND FIELD CHAMPIONSHIPS

The high school track and field season came to a close over the weekend at New Balance Outdoor Nationals in Philadelphia, and a pair of local athletes turned in impressive performances against some of the nation’s best.
Notre Dame freshman Emilie Noble posted personal-best times in both of her events. Noble finished 22nd out of 77 runners in the freshman girls 200-meter dash with a time of 25.25 seconds, then followed it up with a 13th-place finish in the 400 meters, crossing the line in a career-best 56.93 seconds.
Batavia’s Karizma Wescott competed in the national championship division of the girls 400 meters and delivered a standout performance. Wescott finished 15th out of 104 athletes with a personal-best and school-record time of 54.81 seconds, winning her heat to cap off another remarkable season for the Blue Devils star.