Your Binghamton Areas News Recap For The Week Of May 11

Whether you lead a busy life or don't get to find out all that's happening news-wise in our community, this is why each week, we recap in an article some of the essential local news we reported on 1290 AM, 92.1 FM, and 93.9 FM WNBF, our Townsquare Media Binghamton sister radio stations, as well as on our websites and social media platforms.

Catch up on some of the latest local and regional news items in a short recap we reported on for the week of May 11, 2026, from WNBF's Bob Joseph, Don Morgan, and the Townsquare Media staff.

Garnar: Plan Being Developed to Use Endicott Kmart Building

(Bob Joseph)
The future looks brighter for the abandoned Kmart building in the old Endicott Plaza. The once-popular discount department store went out of business without holding a special sale due to the massive flooding that occurred nearly 15 years ago. Broome County Executive Jason Garnar said a developer wants to put the building back into use. He told WNBF News the unnamed developer is looking to get written agreements with prospective tenants. Garnar said once there is a commitment from tenants, the county can move forward to secure some state funding that could be available for the project.

Ross Park Carousel Faces New Delays Before Reopening

(Bob Joseph)
The effort to put the historic carousel at Binghamton's Ross Park back into service has encountered another unexpected hurdle. At one point, there was hope the carousel could be open to offer holiday rides last winter, but that didn't happen. Construction of the new enclosure for the merry-go-round has been completed, but a new snag has developed. Mayor Jared Kraham said the people doing the restoration work in Connecticut discovered there is a mechanical problem with the carousel's gear system. The mayor said either an original part must be located or it will have to be "custom-fabricated." He said the city is working with the restoration company to complete what he described as "a complex project."

Chittenango and Marathon Awarded $4.5 Million Each For Growth

(Don Morgan)
Transformational projects for communities in Central New York were recently announced by New York State Governor Kathy Hochul. The Village of Pulaski, Chittenango, and Marathon were all announced as award-winning communities as part of two economic development programs: the Downtown Revitalization Initiative and NY Forward. The Village of Pulaski was a Round 8 winner with a $10 million DRI award. The Village of Chittenango, a Round 3 winner, will receive a $4.5 million NY Forward award. The Village of Marathon is also a Round 3 winner of a $4.5 million NY Forward award.

Broome County Not Likely to Adopt Gas Tax Holiday

(Bob Joseph)
Despite the growing talk of giving motorists a tax break at the gas pump, it appears Broome County won't be moving to suspend the local fuel tax. Lawmakers four years ago approved a six-month cap. Broome County Executive Jason Garnar indicates another local gas tax holiday seems unlikely. During a recent WNBF News interview, Garnar said "we did that in tandem with the state" in 2022, "and we did not see any noticeable effect." He said, "the prices just continued to go up." While the tax cap four years ago didn't appear to help consumers, Garnar said it created a bit of a revenue shortfall for the county. He notes Broome County government "now is spending a lot more money on putting fuel into our own vehicles."

Binghamton's Oldest Church is Covered Up for Urgent Project

(Bob Joseph)
People passing by what's considered to be the oldest church in Binghamton may have been surprised to see that the historic parish house was wrapped in black protective material. The covering was put in place before a team began work on a major project at Christ Episcopal Church at Henry and Water streets. Rev. Scott Parnell, the church rector, said it recently became clear that the roof of the structure needed to be replaced. Workers started the job Thursday morning by putting the protective covering over most of the exterior of the downtown building. They then began removing the old roof before installing the replacement material. Parnell said he expected the project would be completed quickly.

Chenango County's LEAD WALK Program Educates On Lead Safety

(Don Morgan)
The United States banned the use of lead in the production of paint in 1978, but some older homes still have lead paint, which deteriorates with the age of these homes, and as the paint deteriorates, it causes dust to be released into the air. This is why the Chenango County Department of Public Health has decided to do something about it. Last week, staff began visiting towns in Chenango County to educate the community about the importance of Lead and Lead Poisoning. The program is called the 'LEAD WALK,' an effort that has been running for the past 14 years. According to the announcement from the Chenango County Health Department, staff walk in different towns and villages in Chenango County, with 16 locations targeted for this year (2026) with the theme - 'LEAD: Hidden Dangers in Your Home.'

Auction Set for Historic Binghamton Church Building

(Bob Joseph)
A downtown Binghamton building that had been home to a church for nearly six decades will be up for auction next month. City Church moved from the site at 255 Washington Street last September. The church relocated to a former shopping complex on Main Street on the city's West Side. City Church had sought buyers for its three buildings and two parking lots downtown. Johnson City-based Family Enrichment Network acquired two of the properties for $2.5 million in May 2024. But there has been no buyer for the large church building at the corner of Washington and Clinton streets. The original asking price for that property was $1 million. The starting bid for the upcoming auction will be $150,000. Brian Kaplan of the Marcus and Millichap real estate firm said the bidding in the online auction is scheduled to begin on June 22.

Binghamton Residents Complain About Recreational Vehicle Blight

(Bob Joseph)
Work on a plan to crack down on illegal and abandoned recreational vehicles in the city of Binghamton is continuing. Mayor Jared Kraham in January announced an initiative targeting old RVs that have become neighborhood eyesores. Under the plan, the city would hire a contractor for the "removal, demolition and remediation" of abandoned recreational vehicles parked on public or private property. Kraham told WNBF News, "We've received a lot of complaints" from people who are unhappy about RVs that have been detracting from their neighborhoods. He said those cases will be going through the legal process. The mayor said the city code pertaining to abandoned vehicles may have to be revised to help address the problem.

Binghamton To Host Community Watch Parties For World Cup Matches

(Don Morgan)
City of Binghamton Mayor Jared Kraham announced plans to host three FIFA World Cup 2026™ community watch parties. Binghamton was one of 12 cities across New York State to be selected for funding through the New York State Community World Cup Grant Program, administered by Empire State Development. Major Kraham noted that these watch parties are being presented by Airbnb, co-hosted by the American Outlaws Binghamton Chapter #183, a non-profit group dedicated to organizing support for the men's, women's, and youth U.S. soccer teams, and supported by the Binghamton Rumble Ponies and Visit Binghamton.

Three Local Charities Receive Donations From Subaru Initiative

(Don Morgan)
On May 14, 2026, Matthews Subaru presented checks to three local charities at their location on Old Vestal Road in Vestal. The presentation is a result of the annual Subaru ‘Share the Love’ initiative. This year's recipients will be The Broome County Humane Society, YWCA of Binghamton, and Meals on Wheels of Western Broome. These three important local agencies will receive a check for the following amounts:

Broome County Humane Society - $14,087
YWCA of Binghamton - $5,462
Meals on Wheels of Broome County - $3,812

According to the announcement from Matthews Subaru, the ‘Share the Love’ ran from November 2025 through January 2026. Subaru of America donated $250 per new Subaru sold or leased, and Matthews Subaru added $50 per vehicle to the customer’s choice of 4 national charities, including Make-A-Wish, National Parks Foundation, Meals on Wheels of America, and the ASPCA.

New Restaurant Opening at Former Mooney's Site in Johnson City

(Bob Joseph)
The finishing touches are being applied to a familiar site in Johnson City with a new eatery expected to open within the next few weeks. Feng Lin, a Vestal High School graduate, is the owner of Akiyo, which will be located on Reynolds Road, just east of the Oakdale Commons. The new Japanese restaurant will occupy the space where Mooney's Sports Bar & Grill had operated for several years. Mooney's, which opened in December 2019, closed last August. Feng said he signed the lease for the new business last fall. Work to remodel and refurbish the site began a few months ago. His goal is to open the all-you-can-eat restaurant by the end of this month.