Your Morning Edition for Friday, Jan. 17th presented by DiSanto Propane!

Bella's in Geneva shuts down, Frazier Industrial expands in Waterloo, and Auburn hospital locked out by swatting incident. Plus a rundown of Thursday's high school hoops, and all your local headlines!

Jan 17, 2025

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Bella’s Sicilian Ristorante in downtown Geneva has closed after nearly seven years, as announced by its owners on social media. The decision was influenced by personal reasons, the challenges of managing multiple businesses, and the end of their lease. Known for its community involvement and resilience through challenges like the pandemic, the restaurant raised over $30,000 for local causes under its “Bellas Gives Back” initiative. While the Geneva location has shuttered, Bella’s Seneca Lake Steakhouse in Border City remains open and plans to incorporate elements of the ristorante, including Italian nights and live singing.

Presented by Ciccinos Pizzeria & Restaurant

The Finger Lakes region will experience a mix of winter weather this holiday weekend. Today will be partly sunny with a high near 36, but temperatures will drop into the upper 20s overnight. Saturday brings a mix of rain and snow with highs near 39, while colder air moves in Sunday, bringing chances of light snow and highs in the low 20s. Martin Luther King Jr. Day will be brisk and chilly, with a chance of snow showers, highs near 14, and gusty winds making it feel even colder.

FL1 Weather Center

Fast 5: What’s happening in the Finger Lakes?

Frazier Industrial Co. has expanded its Waterloo facility by adding a three-quarter-acre gravel storage area and plans to construct a covered storage structure later this year. The facility produces 2 million pounds of steel racks monthly with 58 employees working two shifts. While no immediate hiring is planned, the company, a local presence since 1992, sees potential for future growth.
Auburn Community Hospital was temporarily locked down on January 16 following a false report of an armed individual near the emergency room. Auburn police confirmed it was a swatting incident and cleared the scene by 8:45 p.m. Authorities condemned such hoaxes for causing unnecessary panic and straining emergency resources.
The Seneca County Sheriff’s Office held a swearing-in ceremony celebrating promotions, a return from retirement, and the addition of a new deputy. Daniel Steele was promoted to Sergeant, Christopher Felice rejoined after retirement, and Josef Shaffer was welcomed as the newest deputy. Sheriff Timothy Thompson expressed confidence in their future contributions and leadership.
Geneva will honor Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. on Monday, January 20, with a march, worship service, and community programming. The day’s events include a Memorial March, a keynote by Rev. Myra Brown, and family-friendly activities at the Geneva Public Library. Local students will be recognized in an art and poetry contest, and Hobart and William Smith Colleges will host a follow-up panel discussion on January 28.
The Finger Lakes Land Trust praised Governor Hochul’s initiatives to enhance New York’s land conservation programs. These plans include streamlining land acquisitions and increasing funding for projects in underserved areas. The Land Trust emphasized the importance of reforms to preserve critical undeveloped lands and pledged collaboration with the state to protect the region’s environmental future.

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THURSDAY HS BASKETBALL REPORT: East Rochester boys pull away to beat Red Creek; Dundee/Bradford, Marcus Whitman girls keep rolling

Thursday night featured a relatively quiet slate of Wayne-Finger Lakes High School basketball, with only nine games, many of which ended in blowout fashion. One notable boys’ game saw the top two teams in Wayne County square off, as East Rochester pulled away in the fourth quarter to secure a victory over Red Creek. Meanwhile, on the girls’ side, Dundee/Bradford and Marcus Whitman continued their impressive seasons with dominant wins, improving their records to 9-1 and 10-1, respectively.