Morning News Brief
Written by Michael Baldwin on May 28, 2021
Directors of the Batavia Development Corporation have approved a revolving loan fund grant request of $18,800 for sidewalk replacement at Ellicott Place. The Downtown Revitalization Initiative project will result in 10 new market-rate apartments on the upper floor of the Save-A-Lot building at 45-47 Ellicott St., as well as the rehabilitation of 18,000 square feet of vacant commercial space.
Here are some updates for construction and road work that will be happening in Genesee County in the next few weeks. The Tower Hill Road Bridge west of Searls Road in Byron will be closing Tuesday for a bridge replacement project. This project is expected to take three and a half months. The County Highway Department will be doing work on June 1st and June 2nd on Swamp Road in Bergen between West Sweden Road and the Village line. The road will be closed during the day and reopened at night. On June 3nd and 4th the Highway Department will be doing work on Cook Road in Pavilion between Route 63 and Route 20. The road will be closed during the day and reopened at night.
New York officials say the state has experienced the lowest COVID positivity rates since August 27th of last year. The statewide rate has plunged to 0.65%. Just around 1,200 people remain in the hospital for virus-related issues and the number of people in Intensive Care has dropped to 300. In the latest report, there were only ten COVID-related deaths.
Independent Living of the Genesee Region welcomes Holly McAllister as a Taking Control Consumer Administrator. McAllister has a range of office work experience.
Officials from Genesee County, the City and Town of Batavia, Village of Oakfield, Village of Elba, and the Genesee County Department of Health are requesting residents connected to the Public Water Supply System to conserve water. Demands for water are outpacing supply improvements during the summer months. To avoid water emergencies, all residents served by the countywide public water system are asked to do their part to conserve water.
Western New York Off-Track Betting has confirmed that, as of now, people heading to Batavia Downs Gaming for its summer concert series performances will not be subject to testing for the coronavirus and will not be required to have face coverings. Attendees will be required to follow any CDC rules in effect at the time.
NY state representatives will join advocate Travis Flanagan and his family to announce the passage of important legislation to allow New York air ambulance services to carry and transfuse blood products while transporting patients to hospitals. The legislation’s swift passage is credited to the tireless advocacy of Travis Flanagan, who lost both legs in a tragic farming accident but could have lost his life if not for the quick actions of first responders and the fact that a Pennsylvania-based medical helicopter was able to treat him. Travis’ dedication to use his tragedy to enact positive change was instrumental in propelling this bill forward to help save lives. A joint press conference is set for Saturday morning.
The Byron Town Board will hold a special meeting via Zoom, today at noon. The purpose of the meeting will be to consider the Intermunicipal Agreement with the Town of Elba to allow residents on Transit Road to receive water from the Elba Water District, and also an Executive Session to consider strategy for presentations before the Siting Board on the Excelsior Solar Project Application.
What felt and sounded like an explosion reported Thursday night in Livingston County was an apparent earthquake. 13WHAM meteorologist Scott Hetsko confirmed the tremors felt were from a quake in southern Livingston County. Livingston County Sheriff Tom Dougherty said a preliminary report indicated it was a 2.4 magnitude quake. It was felt near the American Rock Salt mine.
