Morning News Brief
Written by Tom Tharp on March 13, 2023
The rest of the state is getting plenty of snow, we may get a couple of inches. Genesee, Orleans and Wyoming Counties are under a winter weather advisory with 4-7 inches of snow expected between 6am today and 8am Wednesday. Gusts of up to 35 miles per hour could blow snow over roads and cause reduced visibility. The rest of the state is expecting a storm that could bring up to two feet of snow for some areas. Gov. Hochul is urging people to stay home and avoid any unnecessary travel. Hochul declared a state of emergency at 8 p.m. in anticipation of the developing Nor’easter. This state of emergency does not include Monroe, Livingston, Orleans, Genesee, or Wyoming counties.
Governor Hochul’s 2024 budget includes a demand that Municipalities increase their housing by 1 percent annually and that New York State will build 800,000 new homes in the next 10 years. The city council in Batavia is putting together a resolution to send to Albany to urge Hochul to reevaluate the plan based on the impact it will have on communities. Batavia may be stripped of any local zoning, planning or land-use regulations powers if housing targets are not met and allow mixed-income multi-family projects to take advantage of a fast-track housing approval process, city leaders say. Other concerns are that there isn’t enough demand for affordable housing in Batavia but there is a demand for housing for those making 50-75 thousand dollars a year. County and city officials agree that housing must remain with local municipal comprehensive plans.
The Rochester Fire Department has reported battling a large warehouse fire on the city’s West Side. Fire crews responded to a call on Otis Street at around 5:45 p.m. on Monday. When firefighters arrived, units found pallets that had caught fire, which resulted in the fire spreading rapidly and consuming the entire warehouse. The department has said that three walls and the building roof collapsed in the fire. One firefighter was injured at the scene and is receiving treatment at the hospital. He is expected to survive. All residents in the area were evacuated due to concerns of heat exposure. Fire units installed hosing systems outside some nearby homes to prevent the fire damage from spreading. No cause for the fire has been determined at this time.
Those fluffers are worth their weight in gold! Or at least people gave generously to keep them fed and cared for. The March 4th Fur Ball Gala Fundraiser at Batavia Downs raised 20,000 dollars for our furry friends. The benefit raised money for the Volunteers for Animals, The Animal Shelter of Genesee County, SPCA of Wyoming County and the SPCA of Niagara County. Thurman Thomas was on hand to take pictures and sign autographs. 70 baskets were raffled off. Monies from the gala will be used by the charities to feed and support the hundreds of animals in their care.
The Genesee County Health Department has been given a 5 year grant to give out free Radon testing kits to Genesee County residents. Radon is a colorless, odorless gas that comes naturally from the soil and can cause lung damage that can lead to cancer. New homes and older homes both can get a buildup of this gas. Tests are available for free to Genesee County residents if they request a kit from the Health Department but there is a finite supply. If you live outside Genesee County you can buy one at a hardware store for about 15 to 20 dollars. If you have high Radon you can get a contractor to install a Radon mitigation unit at your own expense. To contact the Health Department call 585 344 2580 Extension 5555.
