Morning News Brief
Written by Tom Tharp on September 11, 2023
Kids in public schools across New York will have a new day off next year. Governor Hochul signed a new law into effect on Saturday designating Lunar New Year as a no school holiday for New York public schools. The Lunar New Year, otherwise known as Chinese New Year, will be on February 10th in 2024. Governor Hochul says the new legislation “would ensure schools are not in session on Lunar New Year, underscoring the commitment to supporting and protecting New York’s AAPI community.” Supporters of the bill said it was introduced so Asian students would not have to choose between gathering and celebrating with their families and pursuing their education.
Firefighters from across the greater Rochester area participated in the National Fallen Firefighters Foundation’s annual 9/11 memorial Stair Climb on Sunday at Innovative Field. They climbed the equivalent of 110 stories, which is the same number first responders climbed on September 11, 2001. This is the seventh year organizers have hosted the Stair Climb. The event raises money for NFFF programs that support families of More than $22,000 has been raised so far as the organization continues to accept donations. Fallen firefighters and the FDNY Counseling Services Unit.
Campers at Lei Ti Campground in Bethany held their annual auction fundraiser on Sept. 2 in support of One Soldier at a Time, and on Saturday, presented a check for $9,283 to Lauren Coe. Coe said One Soldier at a time runs three primary programs. One provides gifts for wives and mothers of military members deployed overseas for Christmas, Valentine’s and Mother’s Day. Another provides care packages for soldiers on deployment. The third, which this donation benefits, assists veterans who are homeless, impoverished, in PTSD housing or in similar hardships with care products to take care of them from head to toe, from hair-care products to socks and shirts and ties, and for veterans who have passed, suits “so they can be buried with dignity.”
The VA Hospital in Batavia is hosting a remembrance ceremony for the victims of the 9/11 terrorist attacks on the lawn in front of the Medical Center at 11am. Remarks will be given by Associate Medical Center Director Royce Calhoun, Senator George Borello, and Councilman Bob Bialkowski. The ceremony will include the placement of 3000 flags on the lawn to represent every life taken on that horrific day. Batavia VA Medical Center is the only VA hospital in the country to present a 911 flag memorial. The public is invited to attend the ceremony and view the memorial throughout the day.
Governor Hochul is asking that customers of Charter Spectrum get refunds during the cable company’s dispute with Disney. She says New York consumers are missing some of the biggest sporting events of the year. More than one-point-five-million cable viewers in New York state lost access to ESPN and other Disney-owned channels on August 31st, when Disney and Charter were unable to renew a distribution deal. Hochul has directed the Department of Public Service to ensure customers get the appropriate refunds.
The Buffalo Bills will be in the Garden State tonight as they look to start their season with a win over a division rival. The Bills are visiting Aaron Rodgers and the New York Jets at MetLife Stadium in East Rutherford, New Jersey. Buffalo is coming off a season where they once again made the playoffs but were eliminated in round two by the Cincinnati Bengals. Kickoff this evening is set for eight-15 p-m.
