Thursday News Brief

KELLY’S MOTORSPORTS PARK CLEARED TO REOPEN

Kelly’s Motorsports Park in the Town of Batavia has been approved to resume operations at its Harloff Road location.
The Town Planning Board voted unanimously Tuesday night to approve the site plan and special use permit for the longtime go-kart track.
Owner Mike Lauterborn will be allowed to hold races on weekends and practice sessions during the week.
Karting competition can take place Saturdays, with gates opening at 9 a.m. and events ending by 11 p.m., while Sunday activities must conclude by 6 p.m. Weekday practices will be allowed from 10 a.m. until dusk.
The town also found the operation would not have significant negative environmental impacts.
The special use permit is valid for one year and will be reviewed upon renewal.
Lauterborn says he now plans to finalize inspections and paperwork, and hopes to allow practice sessions as soon as this weekend.
The track has hosted go-kart racing in Batavia for roughly 70 years.

SIX FLAGS DARIEN LAKE SEEKS DISMISSAL OF BURN LAWSUIT

An attorney for Six Flags Darien Lake is asking Genesee County Court to dismiss a lawsuit filed by a patron who claims he suffered second-degree burns after being forced to walk barefoot across hot pavement.
Harrison Huffman says park employees gave his sandals to another guest after he rode the Tantrum roller coaster, then refused to provide protective footwear or transportation.
Six Flags denies Huffman’s allegations and argues any injuries were caused, at least in part, by Huffman’s own actions or failure to avoid further injury.

ELLICOTT STATION RENOVATION MOVING FORWARD

More progress is being made at Ellicott Station in downtown Batavia.
The city Planning Committee has approved revised exterior plans for the former Della Penna property at 40-to-52 Ellicott Street, including updated windows and glass overhead doors.
Developer Samuel Savarino says work could begin before the end of the year, with masonry restoration, exterior work and site improvements continuing through the winter.
Savarino hopes to have the commercial building substantially completed by spring and eventually attract a restaurant or entertainment tenant.
Meanwhile, the adjacent Ellicott Station apartment project is now about 98-percent complete.
Four of the five floors are considered move-in ready, with work continuing on the top floor, parking garage and landscaping.
Savarino says PathStone is expected to take over the apartment portion once construction is complete, with tenant selection potentially beginning in early 2027.

ARC GLOW DIRECT SUPPORT PROFESSIONAL RECEIVES STATEWIDE HONOR

Arc GLOW direct support professional Dan Crofts is being recognized with the 2026 Thomas A. Maul Direct Support Professional Excellence Award.
Crofts has worked with Arc GLOW for more than 15 years and currently supports students with intellectual and developmental disabilities through the IGNITE program at Genesee Community College.
The statewide award recognizes excellence, creativity and commitment in supporting people with disabilities.
Families describe Crofts as patient, compassionate and deeply invested in helping participants grow more independent.
Crofts, who is also a published author and has written about his own experiences on the autism spectrum, will receive the award September 25th during The Arc New York’s annual awards luncheon.

FEDERAL RESERVE EXPECTED TO RAISE INTEREST RATES

The Federal Reserve is widely expected to raise its benchmark interest rate Wednesday for the first time in three years.
Fed Chair Kevin Warsh has recently warned that inflation remains too high and may require higher borrowing costs to bring prices under control.
A quarter-point increase would push the Fed’s key rate to about 3-point-9 percent.
The move would come despite President Donald Trump publicly calling for rates to be cut or left unchanged.
Inflation remains above the Fed’s 2-percent target, while rising Treasury yields have also pushed mortgage and other borrowing costs higher.
The Fed will also release updated economic projections Wednesday, offering clues about whether additional rate hikes could follow later this year.

THREE KILLED IN LOS ANGELES NEWS HELICOPTER CRASH

Three people are dead after a television news helicopter crashed and burst into flames while covering another deadly crash in Los Angeles.
NBC4 Los Angeles says reporter Eliana Moreno and pilot George Marciniw were aboard the helicopter when it went down Tuesday in the Chatsworth neighborhood.
A 29-year-old man on the ground was also killed.
The helicopter had been covering a collision between an SUV and a city bus that killed at least two people and injured six others.
Investigators have not determined what caused the helicopter crash, although an alarm could be heard inside the cockpit shortly before it began losing altitude.
The NTSB and FAA are investigating.

IN GENESEE COUNTY HIGH SCHOOL GIRLS VOLLEYBALL ACTION WEDNESDAY NIGHT—

Elba remained unbeaten with a four-set victory over Oakfield-Alabama, winning 25-20, 25-8, 12-25 and 25-12 to improve to 3-and-0.
Brynn Stackhouse led Elba with eight kills and three blocks, while Maggie Caparco recorded 15 assists, three kills and three aces. Vivian Hilchey added six kills and five aces.
For Oakfield-Alabama, Isabella Cross-Andrews finished with 12 digs and nine assists, while Allie Williams had four aces, two kills and six digs.
Elsewhere, Alexander outlasted Letchworth in five sets, 3-2, while Notre Dame swept Lyndonville, 3-0.