Get Local: Your daily rundown for Friday, June 6th!
We've got the latest on a big plan for a former manufacturing facility in Auburn, an update on a serious Wayne Co. crash, and new details on a plan for Skaneateles Lake! All that plus more here!
Former Bombardier plant in Auburn sold for industrial redevelopment
A long-vacant manufacturing plant in Auburn has been sold to Auburn East LLC, an affiliate of Commercial Development Company, Inc., for potential industrial redevelopment. The 15-acre site at 151 Orchard Street, formerly operated by Bombardier, includes over 237,000 square feet of industrial space and extensive infrastructure. The developer will evaluate whether to retain or redevelop the property based on market demand. Local officials welcomed the sale as a major opportunity for revitalization in Auburn’s West End.
Finger Lakes Forecast: Wet Friday, nice weekend.
The Finger Lakes region is in for a wet Friday with showers and thunderstorms likely through the evening, tapering off overnight. Saturday will bring clearing skies and mild temperatures, with sunshine returning by afternoon. Another round of scattered showers is expected Sunday afternoon into Monday, with the highest chances for thunderstorms on Monday. The middle of next week looks more settled, with gradually improving conditions and sunshine returning by Thursday.
Fast 5: What’s happening in the Finger Lakes?
A driver was airlifted to Strong Memorial Hospital after a violent crash early Thursday morning in Palmyra. Julie Baker was traveling north on Maple Avenue around 2:08 a.m. when her vehicle left the road, struck an embankment, and flipped multiple times. The Wayne County Sheriff’s Office determined that unsafe speed and failure to stay in her lane caused the crash. Emergency responders from the Palmyra Fire Department and Wayne County Ambulance assisted at the scene.
The Finger Lakes Land Trust has launched a major conservation initiative to protect over 100,000 acres of forest between Hemlock Lake and the High Tor Wildlife Management Area. Supported by a $100,000 state grant and matched with private donations, the Hemlock to High Tor Initiative aims to preserve one of the region’s largest contiguous forested corridors. The project will safeguard water quality, stabilize terrain, and protect critical wildlife habitats. Lindsay McMillan has been named project director, bringing experience from regional watershed and conservation efforts.
Brothers Dave and Doug Wayne have donated $1 million to Auburn Community Hospital, matching the largest gift in the facility’s history. The contribution follows the sale of their Auburn-based business, D&W Diesel, and reflects their commitment to giving back to their hometown. Inspired by their late father-in-law’s life-saving care at ACH, the donation supports the hospital’s $50 million capital campaign to expand and improve services. Hospital leaders praised the gift as a major step toward enhancing local healthcare and encouraged broader community involvement.
A 76-year-old man from Ontario, Wayne County, has been arrested on felony charges of raping a child under the age of 11. David J. Smith was taken into custody on June 4 following an investigation by the New York State Police Bureau of Criminal Investigation in Williamson. He was charged with two counts of first-degree rape and arraigned in Wayne County CAP Court, where he was held on $50,000 cash bail. Authorities say the abuse occurred at Smith’s residence, and an order of protection was requested for the victim.
New York State has officially approved a major plan to reduce phosphorus pollution in Skaneateles Lake, which supplies unfiltered drinking water to over 150,000 people. The Skaneateles Lake Watershed Nine Element Plan targets harmful runoff from stormwater and septic systems, aiming to curb algae blooms and protect water quality. The plan was developed through years of collaboration among state agencies, local governments, and environmental groups, and unlocks new funding opportunities. Officials say it builds on past efforts and will use scientific monitoring and best practices to guide implementation and track progress.
