Wednesday News Brief

BERGEN TO HEAR UPDATE ON NORTERA AMMONIA LEAK

Bergen officials expect to learn more next month about the ammonia leak at Nortera Foods that prompted an emergency response in June.
Nortera has asked to attend the September 9th Village Board meeting to provide an update on its findings and conclusions following the June 17th incident. The meeting is being moved to Sage Pavilion to accommodate a larger crowd.
Officials are also working with Genesee County Emergency Management on improving how residents are notified during emergencies.
The county is considering a test of FEMA’s Integrated Public Alert and Warning System, or IPAWS, which could send targeted alerts directly to cell phones during incidents such as another chemical leak or natural disaster.
Emergency Management officials will provide an update on that system at the September 9th meeting.
The June incident occurred after a compressor failed at Nortera, releasing what the Bergen Fire Department described as a significant amount of ammonia inside the facility.

LOCAL FIRE DEPARTMENTS HONORED FOR RESPONSE TO DEADLY BUS CRASH

The Indian Falls and Pembroke Fire Departments are being recognized for their response to last year’s deadly tour bus crash on the New York State Thruway.
The departments received a one-thousand-dollar donation through Fromen Injury Law and Hope Rises’ “Honor a Hero” program.
Volunteer firefighters from both departments were among the first responders following the August 22nd, 2025 crash in Pembroke. A tour bus carrying 54 people overturned, killing five and injuring dozens more.
The program typically recognizes one first responder each month with a 250-dollar charitable donation. Organizers increased that to one-thousand dollars to recognize the departments collectively.
Firefighters chose to have the money donated directly to their department, supporting volunteers, equipment and other resources.
All first responders honored through the program this year will also be recognized during a special celebration in January.

REGISTRATION OPEN FOR ARC GLOW FRIENDS & FAMILY 5K

Registration is now open for the 22nd annual Arc GLOW Friends and Family 5K and Fun Walk in Elba.
The event is set for Saturday, September 19th and welcomes participants of all ages and abilities while celebrating inclusion and community.
The day will also feature the returning Taste of Country, with produce donated by area farmers, along with live music from Jim Catino, pumpkin painting and chalk art.
Proceeds will support Arc GLOW programs and services along with the Mary Anne Graney Scholarship.
Registration is available now at ArcGLOW.org.

NEW BARBECUE RESTAURANT OPENS IN BATAVIA

A longtime local restaurant manager is now running a place of his own.
Gilberto Ruiz Ramirez and his wife, Estrella Ruiz, have opened Texas 5 Star BBQ at 4110 West Main Street Road in Batavia.
Ramirez spent about eight years at Rancho Viejo on Ellicott Street, including four years as a manager, and says owning his own restaurant has been a goal for roughly six years.
The menu features barbecue favorites including baby back ribs and Texas brisket nachos, along with chicken cooked over an open charcoal-style grill. Ramirez says the menu will remain relatively small for now, with specials and other additions possible in the future.
Texas 5 Star BBQ also offers catering and reservations and has already booked its first birthday party.
The restaurant is open from 11 a.m. until 9 p.m. Sunday through Thursday and until 10 p.m. on Fridays and Saturdays.

CANADA STRIKES BACK WITH NEW TARIFFS ON U.S. GOODS

Canada is striking back against the United States as the trade war between the two countries escalates.
Canadian officials announced retaliatory tariffs on about 20-billion dollars worth of American goods Tuesday, following the Trump administration’s new 50-percent tariffs on Canadian products.
More than 700 U.S. products are being targeted, including steel, dairy products, appliances, farm equipment, electronics, clothing and seafood. The Canadian tariffs will range from 15 to 50 percent and take effect September 8th.
Canada is also announcing more than five-billion U.S. dollars in assistance for workers and businesses affected by the dispute.
The latest escalation follows the collapse of trade negotiations between Washington and Ottawa over the weekend.

MEASLES DEATHS REPORTED AS U.S. CASES SURGE

Two people in Pennsylvania have become the first Americans to die from measles this year.
State health officials say both victims were unvaccinated residents of Lancaster County. Their deaths come as the United States experiences its largest measles surge in decades.
More than 2,700 cases have been reported nationwide in 2026, already topping last year’s total. Pennsylvania alone has recorded nearly 400 cases.
Health officials say falling childhood vaccination rates have made it easier for the highly contagious virus to spread. The U.S. had largely stopped continuous domestic transmission of measles more than 25 years ago.
Officials are now encouraging families to check their vaccination status, saying the MMR vaccine remains the strongest protection against infection and serious illness.

NEW YORK SIRE STAKES RETURN TO BATAVIA DOWNS

Some of New York’s top two-year-old trotting fillies will take center stage tonight at Batavia Downs.
An eight-horse field will compete for more than 110-thousand dollars in the New York Sire Stakes.
Seveallisto and Jula Florence enter as two of the favorites, with each already owning two Sire Stakes victories this season. Seven Thirds is another horse to watch, coming into Batavia riding a three-race winning streak.
The card will also include two 20-thousand-dollar New York Sire Stakes Excel Series races.
First post tonight at Batavia Downs is set for 5 o’clock.