Thursday News Brief

OAKFIELD-ALABAMA STILL WAITING ON MORE THAN $665,000 FROM PLUG POWER

Oakfield-Alabama Central School says it still has not received more than 665-thousand dollars owed this year by Plug Power.
The unpaid total includes roughly 308-thousand dollars in a Payment in Lieu of Taxes agreement and another 357-thousand under an education investment agreement.
Both payments were due September 1st.
District Business Administrator Laura Kowalczyk says delinquency notices have been sent and the district is now following the enforcement terms included in its agreements.
Those terms allow the district or other taxing jurisdictions to pursue the unpaid money through court action after required notice periods. Late payments can also trigger penalties and monthly interest.
The missed revenue has already affected district cash flow, forcing Oakfield-Alabama to temporarily borrow from reserves before other revenue arrived.
Officials had previously been told Stream U.S. Data Centers, which plans to purchase Plug Power’s STAMP property, could take over the obligation, but that has not happened.
Plug Power discontinued plans for its STAMP hydrogen project earlier this year.
The Town of Alabama and Genesee County say Plug Power remains current on payments owed to them.

BATAVIA CITY COUNCILMAN NICHOLAS LORD ANNOUNCES PLANS TO RESIGN

Another vacancy is coming to Batavia City Council.
Councilman-at-Large Nicholas Lord has confirmed he plans to resign at the end of the year as he prepares to relocate his family to Kenmore in Erie County.
The 30-year-old Republican, elected in November 2025, says family and work responsibilities prompted the move.
Lord says the decision was difficult, emphasizing his family’s longtime ties to Batavia and their investment in the community.
City Council President Eugene Jankowski Junior says he has not yet received official notification of Lord’s resignation.
Lord’s departure will create another council vacancy following the recent resignation of Sixth Ward Councilwoman Tammy Schmidt.
Despite the upcoming move, Lord says he still plans to participate in this weekend’s Homeless for Hunger food drive at First Presbyterian Church, where he’ll spend 48 hours living outside to raise awareness and collect donations for local families.
Lord says he hopes to remain connected to Batavia even after leaving office.

GENESEE COUNTY TO CONSIDER FULL TAX EXEMPTION FOR DISABLED VETERANS

The Genesee County Legislature will hold a public hearing November 23rd on a proposed property tax exemption for qualifying permanently and totally disabled veterans.
The proposal would allow a full county real property tax exemption on the primary residences of eligible veterans under state law.
The hearing begins at 5:30 p.m. at the Genesee County Old Courthouse on Main Street in Batavia.
Residents will have an opportunity to comment, and copies of the proposed resolution are available through the Clerk to the Legislature.

MEDAL OF HONOR RECIPIENT DAVID BELLAVIA DELIVERS POWERFUL VETERANS DAY MESSAGE AT BATAVIA HIGH SCHOOL

Medal of Honor recipient David Bellavia delivered a message of unity and gratitude during Batavia High School’s Veterans Day assembly Tuesday.
Bellavia, honored for his heroism during the 2004 Battle of Fallujah in Iraq, told students that Americans from all backgrounds share a deep appreciation for those who serve.
He offered special recognition to Vietnam veterans, praising their service despite the hostility many faced upon returning home.
Bellavia also emphasized the importance of treating others with dignity and respect, reminding students that the freedoms Americans enjoy give service members something worth defending.
The ceremony included musical performances and recognition of local veterans in attendance.

FED OFFICIALS SIGNAL POSSIBLE FASTER RATE HIKES AS INFLATION SPREADS

New inflation data is raising concerns that price increases are becoming more widespread across the U.S. economy.
Consumer prices rose 4-tenths of a percent in October, while core inflation increased 3-tenths, according to the Labor Department. Costs climbed across housing, food, medical care, insurance and recreation.
That broader pressure has Federal Reserve officials discussing additional interest-rate hikes, which would increase borrowing costs for mortgages, auto loans and credit cards.
Dallas Fed President Lorie Logan says she supports two more quarter-point increases and could favor moving more quickly this winter. Governor Christopher Waller has said a half-point hike should also be considered.

HISTORIC OCEAN LINER TO BECOME WORLD’S LARGEST ARTIFICIAL REEF

A legendary American ocean liner is preparing for one final voyage — to the bottom of the Gulf of Mexico.
The SS United States, once the fastest passenger ship in the world, is scheduled to be intentionally sunk Wednesday off Florida’s Gulf Coast.
At 990 feet long, the vessel is actually longer than the Titanic and set a transatlantic speed record during its maiden voyage in 1952.
The ship carried celebrities, royalty and future presidents before being retired in 1969.
The 13-and-a-half-million-dollar project will transform the vessel into the world’s largest artificial reef, creating a habitat for marine life and a destination for recreational divers.
The ship will rest about 180 feet underwater, roughly 25 miles southwest of Destin, Florida.
Its iconic smokestacks have been preserved for a future museum.

GENESEE COMMUNITY COLLEGE TO HOST NATIONAL WOMEN’S SOCCER CHAMPIONSHIPS

Some of the nation’s best junior college women’s soccer teams are coming to Batavia this week.
Genesee Community College will host the NJCAA Division Three Women’s Soccer National Championships beginning Thursday, featuring eight teams from across the country.
The host Cougars enter as the fourth seed following their regional championship victory and will face Suffolk Community College Thursday afternoon at 4 o’clock.
Two-time defending national champion Delta College enters as the top seed.
Tournament play continues through Sunday, with the national championship game scheduled for 3 p.m. at GCC.