Get Your Southern Tier New York News Update 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 28, 2024, from WNBF's Bob Joseph, Don Morgan, and the Townsquare Media staff. For the complete article (if available), click on the headline.

Gorick Fights Fines in Binghamton Parking Ramp Injury Case

(Bob Joseph)
A Broome County company is contesting penalties assessed by a federal agency after a worker was hurt on a downtown Binghamton demolition project. Gorick Construction faces nearly $20,000 in fines in connection with an investigation conducted by the Occupational Safety and Health Administration. A man sustained a leg injury at the old Water Street parking garage on January 29, 2024. The worker - whose name was not released - reportedly became trapped under some concrete on an upper level of the city-owned structure. Binghamton police detectives interviewed workers at the demolition site shortly after the incident occurred. They turned the information they gathered over to OSHA. The federal agency issued two "serious" citations to Gorick Construction on July 24. The initial penalties in the case totaled $19,359.

Manufacturing May Start Next Year at Old Binghamton Power Plant

(Bob Joseph)
An abandoned electricity generating facility in Binghamton's First Ward is getting a new lease on life as it's being transformed into a manufacturing plant. Connecticut-based Firomar now expects to start producing high-efficiency exterior building panels at the Charles Street site early next year. The company has been working for about five months to renovate the former cogeneration plant that once produced power for the sprawling Anitec Image Corporation manufacturing complex. Project manager Paolo Maccabrunni recently told the city planning commission that initial production at the site could begin as soon as November. It now appears the timeline for launching operations has been pushed back by a few months.

New York Increasing This Surprisingly Common Driving Fine

(Don Morgan)
According to the Broome County website, there were 130 violations countywide in September 2024. In June 2024, there was a yearly high (so far) of 379 violations. Not only is it illegal to pass a stopped school bus during pickup or discharging students, there is also a fine attached to the violator. The first-time fine for illegally passing a school bus is from $250 to $400 and/or possibly 30 days in jail. Repeat offenders can face up to $1,000 in fines and up to 180 days in jail. As of November 1, 2024, that maximum fine is increasing by $500 to $1500. According to the New York State Governor's website, Kathy Hochul signed Legislation S.9504A/A.3120A which increases penalties for overtaking and passing a school bus. The Governor's website notes that the fine for a third or subsequent violation within three years will rise from $1,000 to $1,500. This targets repeat offenders specifically.

Binghamton University Students Homeless After West Side Fire

(Bob Joseph)
A fast-moving blaze on Binghamton's West Side caused heavy damage to a two-story apartment house. The fire at 134 Beethoven Street was reported around 3:10 p.m. Wednesday. Several Binghamton University students live in the building. Neighbors reported flames were showing from the roof area near the rear of the structure. Firefighters forced entry at a first-floor door to search for possible occupants. There were no reports of injuries. Sections of Beethoven and Haendel streets were closed due to firefighting activity. Public records indicate the building is owned by 134 Beethoven LLC of Commack, Long Island.

Program Funding Supports Binghamton East Middle School Families

(Don Morgan)
According to Broome County District Attorney Battisti's Office, on October 30th, a $25,000 grant to support the Astor D. Rice Foundation’s FACE (Family and Community Engagement) program was announced. This grant will extend the program's services beyond the 20 to 25 students directly involved in the FACE Program. According to the announcement, it will enhance essential resources for students and their families at Binghamton East Middle School. The grant will promote academic and social development during the students' critical formative years. Battisti's Office notes that the FACE Program focuses on providing proactive assistance through mentoring, educational resources, and community involvement.

Johnson City's Lester Avenue Bridge Reopened After Makeover

(Bob Joseph)
Vehicles and pedestrians are again using a bridge linking Johnson City's downtown business district with the North Side of the village. The Lester Avenue bridge which goes over the Norfolk Southern Railway tracks reopened late Monday morning. The span had been closed to traffic since April 1 for the $2.7 million rehabilitation job. Thomas Anderson of Vector Construction, the project contractor, said the work on the bridge deck required more concrete than originally planned. That added about four weeks to the length of the project. Crosswalks with pedestrian-activated warning lights have been placed at both ends of the bridge.

Illegal to Wear Apparel Displaying Certain Things When Voting

(Don Morgan)
According to the National Conference of State Legislature website, there are rules in every state in the nation about things like limiting the display of signs, handing out campaign literature, soliciting votes within a pre-determined distance of a polling place, and even restrictions on the type of apparel that a voter is allowed to wear when at the polling place. New York State is one of 21 states with statutory restrictions on apparel. That includes displaying a political banner, button, poster, or placard shall be allowed in or upon the polling place according to the National Conference of State Legislatures.

Fire Tears Through Downtown Binghamton Apartment House

(Bob Joseph)
The second major apartment house fire in Binghamton in less than 24 hours caused heavy damage to a downtown building. The blaze at 38 Pine Street was reported shortly after 7 a.m. Thursday. The two-and-a-half-story building is located between Fayette and Chapman Streets, one block south of Mirabito Stadium. An initial report indicated an explosion may have been heard before flames began shooting through the roof of the house. Several people were inside the building when the fire broke out. It appeared everyone was able to get out of the burning structure. No injuries were reported. The fire appeared to be under control about an hour after it had been reported.

Construction Starts on 700-Bed Vestal Off-Campus Housing Project

(Bob Joseph)
Work is underway on a massive cottage-style housing project near the Binghamton University campus in Vestal. Crews started site preparation operations for the residential development on the 43-acre site between Bunn Hill Road and Jensen Road. Landmark Properties of Athens, Georgia has been planning the project for six years. It will total more than 314,000 square feet and include 161 units. Development of the project was delayed by legal challenges brought by a group of residents who wanted to maintain the rural character of that section of Vestal. Their fight ended last March when a state appeals court ruled against the effort to block the project.