Morning News Briefing
Written by Michael Baldwin on June 7, 2021
New York is not yet lifting its mask mandate in schools. The state Education Department on Sunday emailed guidance to the roughly 700 New York school districts that said state agencies have agreed to wait until the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention responds to the state’s request Friday for more information before lifting the COVID-19 mask mandate in schools. The Education Department says “No changes have been, or will be, made by the Executive until after Monday, to afford the CDC an opportunity to respond to the letter.” The updated guidance from the Education Department appears aimed at addressing confusion from schools after the state Department of Health on Friday abruptly notified the CDC that New York intends to lift its statewide mask requirement for schools.
The properties of the Mancuso Business Development Group on Harvester Avenue in Batavia have been sold to a New Jersey-based company. The Batavian has learned that a venture headed by the father-son team has purchased The Harvester Center Business Incubator Center at 56 Harvester Ave., the Joseph Mancuso Building at 26 Harvester Ave., and two Masse Place facilities. Currently, there are around 70 tenants in the buildings – businesses, storage areas and personal use spaces. Credited as the world’s first business incubator, The Harvester Center is a mixed-use industrial building that was founded by Joseph L. Mancuso in August 1959.
New York’s 7-Day average COVID positivity rate has reached a new low. With more than 60 straight days of decline, the rate dropped to 0.52%. Hospitalizations have also dropped to below 900…the lowest level in nearly nine months.
After a week-long investigation, Genesee County deputies arrested a 56-year-old woman from Dalton. Deputies charged Joanne Harper with petit larceny following an incident on Vallance Road in LeRoy. She’ll be arraigned in town court next week.
New York State Police issued a total of 9,214 tickets statewide during the Memorial Day Weekend enforcement campaign to combat drunk and impaired driving. Across New York, Troopers arrested 185 people for DWI and investigated 851 crashes, including 163 personal injury crashes and two fatalities. The greatest number of tickets were issued in Western New York.
The Department of Environmental Conservation is investigating a possible petroleum spill into the inlet on the west side of Horseshoe Lake in the Town of Batavia. According to the DEC, agency personnel on Saturday responded to a report of fumes and a spill, and immediately deployed containment booms, pads and a vacuum truck to skim diesel fuel from the surface of the water. Officials said the spill is currently contained and DEC’s oversight of the cleanup efforts will continue until it is complete.
The Little Free Pantry will be hosting a FREE Make-and-Take Baby Sunflower Station and sidewalk chalk art as part of the Pride Game Night and Royal Court Crowning at Batavia First Presbyterian Church from 6 to 8:30 p.m. on Friday. Make and take your own baby sunflower — soil, seed and containers provided. A Plant Sale by donation will also be offered. The Royal Court Competition begins at 7:30 p.m. and is open to all genders and ages. The theme is DISCO.
An Orchard Park man was found dead Sunday in a pond in Wyoming County. After an extensive search of the property, 41-year-old Michael R. Nicholoff was found deceased by Water Rescue and Recovery Teams. There is no foul play suspected at this time. Nicholoff was transported to the Monroe County Medical Examiner’s office for an autopsy. The investigation will continue.
