Your Morning Edition for Friday, May 31st presented by Canandaigua Dentistry!

Auburn mayor sounds off about hotel tax denial, Hollywood Restaurant to close after 91 years, Greenidge CEO sells off shares, and Cornell study looks at grape damage caused by rain, birds, and wasps.

May 31, 2024

INSIDE THE FLX: Auburn mayor talks denial of hotel tax + former Chemung Trust building project

Auburn Mayor Jimmy Giannettino didn’t hold back when asked about the denial of the city’s proposed hotel tax. The measure, which needed to be brought forward by the city’s Assembly representative, was ultimately killed. Giannettino called it a contradiction, because that representative, Assemblyman John Lemondes carried through similar measures for Weedsport and Skaneateles. That wasn’t the only topic of discussion, though. GIannettino also gave an update on a city project that could be transformative for downtown and talked about the closure of Wells College.

What’s trending in the Finger Lakes?

The family-owned Hollywood Restaurant will close its doors on June 29 after 91 years of serving Italian and American cuisine. The restaurant announced the closure on its Facebook page. Customers are encouraged to redeem any gift certificates before the final day. [Read More]
A Canandaigua man arrested last month after being accused of raping a minor is facing even more, serious charges. Joshua Abril-Alicea, 28, of Canandaigua now faces charges of possession of child porn and receipt or distribution of child porn. [Read More]

What’s the forecast look like today?

Extended Forecast

Richard Nielens Jr., former supervisor of the town of Mentz, admitted in Cayuga County Court on Thursday to sending a sexual video to a minor. Nielens, 66, pleaded guilty to first-degree disseminating indecent material to minors, a class D felony. [Read More]
Greenidge Generation President Dale Irwin has shed more than one-third of his holdings in company common stock since the the cash-strapped Bitcoin mining company lost its state appeal for an air permit on May 8. After selling 25,000 shares for $63,797 on May 20, Irwin sold another 8,777 shares for $24,638 on Tuesday, leaving him with 70,962 shares — about 1 percent of the company’s total common shares. [Read More]
Damaged grape berries combined with vinegar flies are a recipe for promoting sour rot, a disease that lowers vineyard yields and wine quality, according to a Cornell University study reporting on field experiments in New York state. The study revealed that wasps, birds and wet weather can damage the skin on grapes and create openings for vinegar or fruit flies to lay eggs in the grape’s exposed flesh. [Read More]

Learn More!

CONCRETE JUNGLE: The Mets Implode

MORE SPORTS: Local, High School, and New York Updates

More than 1,350 acres added to Wildlife Management Area system throughout Finger Lakes

New York State has added more than 1,350 acres to its Wildlife Management Area (WMA) system in Ontario, Seneca, Wayne, and Yates counties. The newly acquired land includes 193.8 acres at Stid Hill in Bristol, 708.7 acres at Honeoye Inlet in Ontario and Livingston counties, 299.3 acres of High Tor in Naples, 96.2 acres of Junius Ponds in Junius, and 56.5 acres of Lake Shore Marshes in Wolcott.