Need Your Southern Tier New York News Fix? Get Updated Here

Every week, we recap some essential local news we reported on 1290 AM/92.1 FM WNBF, our Townsquare Media Binghamton sister radio stations on-air, our websites, and social media platforms.

Catch up on local and regional news items in a short recap we reported on for the week of October 14, 2024, from WNBF's Bob Joseph, Don Morgan, and the Townsquare Media staff. For the complete article (if available), click on the headline.

More Layoffs at Endicott iM3NY Battery Factory

(Bob Joseph)
Dozens of people who had been working at the iM3NY battery production facility in Endicott have lost their jobs. People familiar with the situation at the struggling operation at the Huron Campus said about 20 people were laid off last week. About 30 additional workers were let go on Monday. The company has been working for years to correct issues with its lithium-ion battery technology. iM3NY's Facebook page hasn't been updated for months. The last post dated November 30 stated the company had "multiple open positions in several departments." As of Tuesday, the company's website showed a single open position - for a maintenance engineer.

Binghamton University President Harvey Stenger Stepping Down

(Bob Joseph)
Harvey Stenger has announced that this will be his final year serving as president of the university. Stenger on Friday revealed his plans to step down from the leadership role nearly 13 years after he was appointed by the State University of New York board of trustees in November 2011. He started as president the following January. Stenger plans to remain on as president until a successor has been chosen. During Stenger's time as president, Binghamton University has expanded its Health Sciences Campus along Corliss Avenue in Johnson City. The university also acquired the former Gannett printing plant in the village. That building has been used for a speech clinic and for storage of library materials. The site is to be turned into a federally-funded battery research and development facility.

Southern Tier Part of The New York Green Infrastructure Project 

(Don Morgan)
On October 17th, New York State Governor Kathy Hochul announced $60 million in Green Resiliency Grant funding to support 13 transformative green infrastructure projects throughout the Empire State. According to the Governor's Office, these projects will combat the effects of climate change, especially in flood-prone and disadvantaged communities. The Clean Water, Clean Air, and Green Jobs Environmental Bond Act supports the GRG program. The announcement notes that this will deliver on Hochul’s commitment to protect New Yorkers from extreme weather and ensure equitable access to clean water resources. This project is designed to integrate bioretention basins, porous pavement, vegetated swales, and riparian buffer restoration to manage stormwater and improve resilience to flood events at the historic Roberson Mansion and associated facilities in Binghamton according to Governor Hochul's Office.

SWAT Team Called to Binghamton Neighborhood After Gun Threat

(Bob Joseph)
A busy Binghamton street was shut down as police responded to a report that a man had threatened another person with a shotgun. The incident started around 1:45 p.m. Thursday at 205 Robinson Street on the city's East Side. Police officers were advised of a dispute between a landlord and tenant. They were told a man came out of the two-family house armed with a shotgun. The man was taken into custody without incident a short time later. A woman and child who also had been inside the house emerged and were taken to a nearby police vehicle.

Researchers Growing "Alternative Lawns" in Vestal Neighborhood

(Bob Joseph)
Trees were recently cleared from a section of a Binghamton University nature preserve in Vestal for a lawn-growing experiment. Amber Churchill, assistant professor of ecosystem science, is leading the project, which is taking place a short distance southwest of the Vestal campus. A sign at the fenced-in site said the research is being conducted for the "Pasture and Lawn Enhanced Diversity Global-change Experiment" - PLEDGE. According to the sign, "alternative lawns" are being grown as part of the project. The "mini-lawns" are each planted with different combinations of three species. Potential benefits could include reducing mowing frequency and fewer fertilizer applications. The need for irrigation could also be reduced and pollinators could be supported.

The Annual BC Holiday Of Lights Is Set To Return At Otsiningo Park

(Don Morgan)
The annual BC Festival of Lights dates will be from November 14th, 2024 through January 5th, 2025. Hours will be 5 p.m. to 9 p.m. Sunday through Thursday and 5 p.m. to 10 p.m. on Fridays and Saturdays. In addition to an amazing holiday light display throughout the park, the BC Festival of Lights will also feature 14 Santa nights for photos in a heated tent, holiday gifts and food from local vendors in Santa's Village, balloon glows (weather dependent), and two fireworks nights - November 29th and New Year's Eve December 31st. Special events are in the works as well, including performances from local school and church choirs, and even Alyssa Crosby appearing at the BC Festival of Lights on Sunday, December 22nd.

Construction to Start for 80-unit Endwell Apartment Complex

(Bob Joseph)
Site preparation work is getting underway for a major housing project near Maine-Endwell Senior High School. CDS Housing of Webster is developing a four-story building on Hooper Road, just south of the Farm-to-Market Road intersection. CDS initially had considered constructing a 115-unit complex but the plans were scaled back to reduce the cost of the project. The company now intends to build a structure with 80 units. A CDS affiliate acquired the six-acre site in 2022 for $475,000. The new complex will be located next door to the Marian Apartments building.

New Yorkers Have Just 10 Weeks to Prepare for This Rush

(Don Morgan)
The U.S. Postal Service has already set the 2024 schedule for getting those cards and gifts out on time and to their destination before the holidays hit for Hanukkah (Dec. 25–Jan. 2), Christmas (Dec. 25), Kwanzaa (Dec. 26–Jan. 1), and other holiday traditions. The USPS advises that the earlier you send, the better: Don’t delay, mail and ship today! For 2024 Holiday Shipping Dates for International Mail for expected delivery before December 25th, visit the United States Postal Service website.

 Addiction Center Clinic Planned for Binghamton's First Ward

(Bob Joseph)
A Binghamton-based agency wants to open a clinic for substance abuse disorder patients in the city's First Ward. The Addiction Center of Broome County is planning to set up the facility in a three-story brick building at 15 Charles Street. The organization acquired the building just north of Clinton Street two years ago for $1.2 million. Representatives of the Addiction Center provided details about their proposal for the site during a city planning commission meeting. The medically supervised outpatient clinic is to be located on the first floor of the building. There would be 41 clinical offices, 12 group therapy rooms, and four medical exam rooms.

Get our free mobile app