Morning News Brief

The Batavia City Council has approved a resolution to apply for a Community Development Block Grant to help fund an estimated $1.36 million project to replace 4- and 6-inch water lines on Jackson Street with 2,250 linear feet of 8-inch water main, and another setting a public hearing on the matter for 7 p.m. July 12. If received, the grant could cover up to 90 percent of the project cost. The Council also awarded a contract from the Revolving Loan Fund Grant to help replace sidewalks at the Ellicott Place project, which is the Save-A-Lot building.

The Richmond Memorial Library will remain closed today due to a broken air conditioning system that impacts most of the library. Temperatures have reached 86 degrees in staff areas and no air flow is available. Tomorrow through Saturday, the library will try to resume hours of 9am to 1pm. Wednesday’s family program scheduled for noon will proceed as planned, and Friday’s afternoon program has been rescheduled. Air conditioning is expected to be restored next week. Lower temperatures forecast for next week may also allow them to resume normal hours of operation.

Triple-A is out with its July 4^th expected travel report. They say more than 47.7 million Americas are expected to travel for the holiday. They said this 4th of July is expected to have the second-highest travel volume on record, with only 2019 being higher. AAA said that despite the gas prices, which are expected to be high for the holiday, most Americans will travel by car.

The National Weather Service has issued a heat advisory from noon until 8 p.m. today for Genesee and Orleans counties. Heat index values in the upper 90’s expected.

This week, Genesee and Orleans County Health Departments are hosting COVID-19 vaccination clinics at their respective health departments. For the first time, each clinic will offer all three vaccines, Pfizer, Moderna and Johnson & Johnson. The Pfizer vaccine is available for anyone 12 years of age and older and the J&J and Moderna vaccine is available for anyone 18 years of age and older. J&J is one dose, and Moderna and Pfizer are two doses. Genesee County will hold their vaccination clinic tomorrow from 1:30-3:30 p.m. at 3837 W. Main Street Road in Batavia. Orleans County will hold their clinic on Thursday from 1:30-3:30 p.m. at 14016 State Route 31, Suite 101. Both vaccine clinics are available for walk-ins and registration.

Today’s national average price for a gallon of gasoline is $3.10, up 3 cents in the past week. One year ago, the price was $2.18. The New York State average is $3.15 – up 2 cents from last week. A year ago, the NYS average was $2.25. Batavia prices have edged up two cents to $3.10 a gallon. Demand for gasoline is on the rise as schools have wrapped up and summer travel is in full swing. Crude prices remain well over $70 per barrel.