(WENY) -- During the early morning of Thursday emergency crews responded to a structure fire at an attached garage located on Alley Kahn Drive in Big Flats The Town and Country Fire Department and the Tompkins Corner Fire Department arrived on the scene to put out the flames Big Flats Fire Chief told WENY News that the garage sustained minor damage officials say the residents cannot live there for now due to fire-related damage to the electrical wiring connected to the house Officials reported that there were no injuries as a result of the fire A recently-formed group of citizens known as Big Flats Defenders is asking Gov Kathy Hochul to put high priority on cleanup of a former fertilizer plant they say is threatening water supplies in the town The location in question is a former Agway fertilizer facility at 83 Hammond St The group, which is working in conjunction with Ithaca-based environmental research firm Toxics Targeting sent a letter to Hochul requesting the former Agway site be comprehensively investigated and remediated to restore the site to "pre-disposal conditions to the extent feasible…" as mandated by state regulatory requirements The letter referred to documents from the state Department of Environmental Conservation and U.S Environmental Protection Agency indicating nitrite fertilizer and the chlorinated pesticide Dieldrin were reportedly dumped for decades at the factory site into an on-site "lagoon" and "over the bank." Those legacy contamination concerns were never cleaned up "Even though nitrate and Dieldrin contamination at the factory site reportedly exceeded state groundwater cleanup requirements no comprehensive remediation of the site has ever been undertaken to safeguard the health of local residents and the source of Big Flats' drinking water supply," Big Flats Defenders coordinator Shannon Keach said in a news release "The factory site has reportedly caused pollution problems for more than 65 years and must be completely cleaned up without any further delay," Keach said There is also a proposed housing project planned for that site and the group wrote to Town of Big Flats officials asking them to withhold all regulatory approvals for that project until documented contamination concerns have been comprehensively investigated and remediated "It would be shockingly irresponsible for Big Flats authorities to permit redevelopment of the factory site before all its known contamination concerns are completely cleaned up," said John Little a Big Flats Defenders member and local homeowner "It is imperative that this legacy dumping site must be remediated before the property is permitted to be redeveloped or its known contamination problems will continue to imperil our community's health for decades to come," Little said Town officials say most of the approvals for the proposed housing project are already in place the town was awarded over $1.3 million through Empire State Development to support the Soaring Heights Landing Family Housing project which promises to "transform the abandoned Agway packing facility and additional buildings on the property through demolition and environmental cleanup." the site will feature affordable family housing units which will be owned and operated by a local non-profit housing agency The addition of a sewer main extension will efficiently serve the new housing ensuring modern infrastructure supports the community's growth," states the project description Business Van Etten manufacturer Vergason Technology has new owners. What's next for company. The 5.8-acre site was sold by Agway in 2002 and the current listed owner is John Reed of Corning according to the Chemung County Real Property Tax Service Drinking water contamination associated with nitrate fertilizer in well water was originally documented circa 1959 in residential wells near the facility DEC assessed the site but has never remediated it Hochul must require all pollution on and around the factory site to be totally cleaned up before the property is permitted to be redeveloped," said Toxics Targeting President Walter Hang "That is why the local residents and I wrote to the governor and Big Flats officials." DEC has not yet responded to a request for comment (This story has been updated to add new information.) Follow Jeff Murray on X (Twitter) @SGJeffMurray To get unlimited access to the latest news please subscribe or activate your digital account today Give today to support the programs you rely on Chemung County residents are raising concerns about soil and groundwater contamination at a proposed housing development site who call themselves “Big Flats Defenders,” want a thorough investigation and total remediation of a site that used to be home to the Agway Fertilizer Plant the town has plans to build a senior housing development on top of the site Waste from fertilizer and pesticide manufacturing at the site was dumped nearby for decades The state Department of Environmental Conservation (NYSDEC) has documented that chemicals—including nitrates and the insecticide Dieldrin—were found in groundwater beneath the site at levels that exceeded the state’s groundwater maximum contaminant levels (MCLs) Dieldrin was banned in the U.S Both contaminants pose environmental and health risks Big Flats resident Greg Goldwaith said he is worried about the pollution I would watch the railroad cars being unloaded off the railroad spur,” explained Goldwaith “I would see the chemicals being dumped on the ground not cleaned up and just washed away with the rain.” The site is located adjacent to the town’s municipal complex one block from an elementary school and across from a park Big Flats resident John Little said he is concerned for the children in the community “We have kids’ baseball teams out there playing all summer,” said Little “We just don't need this dirt and debris spread all over this town where our kids are going to be breathing it in and touching it.” The group sent a letter to Hochul earlier this month asking her to ensure the site is “fully restored to pre-disposal conditions to the extent feasible” and that no redevelopment be permitted on the site unless this request is met The NYSDEC sent the following statement: “The New York State Department of Environmental Conservation (DEC) Division of Environmental Remediation originally investigated the Agway Facility site in the 1980s meaning DEC did not find evidence of hazardous waste at the property which warranted listing the property on the Registry of Inactive Hazardous Waste Sites with consultation from the Chemung County and New York State Health Departments to confirm the determinations made in the 1980s no additional investigation was necessary at that time as there was a lack of potential public health exposure pathways In light of the site’s historical background and the proposal to change the former facility’s use, DEC proactively reached out to the developer and town officials to confirm the town will require a comprehensive Phase I and Phase II environmental investigation prior to final approval of the project DEC is directly communicating with the developer to ensure they are aware of their potential responsibilities if any contamination is discovered.”   Walter Hang is president of Toxics Targeting He is coordinating with Big Flats Defenders to push officials to do more “I think that this is going to be a classic case of citizens trying to educate their local authorities about the failure of the state authorities to clean up this site and it's practically right in the middle of their town,” said Hang WSKG reached out to the town supervisor and did not hear back The town’s planning board is overseeing the project For seven decades, Turk's Produce & Flower Market was a staple of the Horseheads business community ice cream and baked goods at its sprawling facility on South Main Street Third generation owner Ted Ostrander hopes he can build that appeal again at the new home for his business which for years housed Ted's Produce & Flower Market so when he decided he wanted to downsize and relocate the longtime business he didn't have to shop around for a suitable site I can see my house from here so it's very convenient for us," Ostrander said "It's about one quarter of the size but we still have all the same things," he added "We've already had a bunch of former customers in 'Do you think I'm going to pass up these good tomatoes?'" Turk's Produce was first opened by Ostrander's grandfather in the late 1940s as a produce tent on the corner of Route 17 and South Main Street in Horseheads flowers and a wide variety of other products All of the items that made Turk's a big hit will still be available fresh fruits and vegetables," Ostrander said We're waiting on our license from the state and then we'll have more More: Finger Lakes Land Trust secures property along Chemung River. How land will be utilized "We are going to expand the building and make it bigger," he added "It's just not going to go full out the way Turk's was." which was the official opening day for the new location signs that identified the property as Ted's were still on display New signs with the Turk's name would be installed soon had no trouble finding the new location Thursday Sheridan said she's a longtime Turk's patron and was happy to see the business resurface "My yard is filled with plants from them," Sheridan said To learn more about Turk's Produce & Flower Market, go to facebook.com/turksturksturks The Social Security Administration office in Big Flats might not close after all, despite initial indications from DOGE to the contrary according to the head of a union that represents Social Security employees the Social Security Administration went on the record Friday stating reports the agency is permanently closing field offices is false "SSA is committed to providing service where people need help and our local field offices are no exception," said Lee Dudek “We have not permanently closed any local field offices this year." U.S. Sen. Charles Schumer, D-N.Y., got involved after the Trump Administration and Department of Government Efficiency placed the Social Security Administration office at 3345 Chambers Roads No. 19 in Big Flats on a list of real estate lease terminations posted on the DOGE website claiming $311,690 in savings on the 11,400-square-foot Big Flats site The potential closure would make it much more difficult for Chemung County Social Security recipients to get information about their benefits But U.S. Rep. Nicholas Langworthy said he confirmed with the Social Security Administration that the Big Flats office will not close and that they are simply terminating a lease on a space that is no longer needed president of Local 3342 of the American Federation of Government Employees "It appears (DOGE) has updated their information and now it appears that only a portion of the space that is occasionally used by our hearing personnel is what will not be renewed," Halloran said "This seems to be consistent with DOGE revising their information on the savings that they have made." now simply says "agency response on no longer a need for space." The savings are now listed at $0 Part of the confusion seems to be a lack of communication on the part of DOGE as even the Social Security Administration wasn't initially made aware of plans "If DOGE is now stating that only a small portion of the office will not have to be renewed on the lease we're obviously pleased with that and we hope that remains the case," he said Local 'We can do better': DEC chief addresses Peanut the squirrel controversy, understands anger The Big Flats office has about 12 employees The next closest SSA offices are in Corning SSA works closely with local congressional delegations before closing any office permanently The uncertainty has taken a toll on workers "Employees are stressed by the confusing nature of the situation and have certainly voiced that concern," Halloran said I certainly don't know if publicizing the issue was a factor in any of this but our hope is that there will be an office in Big Flats permanently." UPDATE 4/9; The Big Flats Town Board approved new language in their local solar ordinance Wednesday night The updated law includes new language to make the solar ordinance more flexible (WENY) -- Amid ongoing discussions about solar sites across the Southern Tier the Town of Big Flats is taking steps to amend their solar ordinance A public hearing was held on Wednesday night about the local solar site laws.  Officials say the new language aims to make the solar ordinance more flexible "The reason why we did the solar ordinance was to really create what we had and then provide some flexibility for both cases In cases where there's maybe a resident or some type of impact real close let's reduce that to give them the ability to move that within the parameter of the site," said Robert Switala the Director of Planning for the Town of Big Flats The Chemung County planning board is set to review the amendment Thursday night at their meeting.  From there it will go back to Big Flats to be approved.  The amendment will apply to all future solar sites and battery storage is still not allowed in the Town of Big Flats Rising utility costs have been the top constituent complaint fielded by the offices of state reps Tom O'Mara New York State Electric & Gas will hold a Community Connection event in the Elmira area Thursday night to interact directly with customers offering resources and addressing account needs The event will be held at the Big Flats American Legion at 45 Olcott Rd NYSEG encourages customers to show up anytime during the event to meet with a customer service representative first-served basis and there will not be a formal presentation Community connection events allow NYSEG customers to get face-to-face one-on-one help with a billing concern or assistance they may require in paying their bill as well as learn about resources to help manage energy costs More: Steuben County's first legal cannabis dispensary now open on Corning's Market Street Palmesano and Friend said it was "critically important for NYSEG to conduct this direct outreach with ratepayers." The state representatives have requested that NYSEG hold similar meetings across the Southern Tier and Finger Lakes regions "Some of these billing increases have been outrageous and inexplicable," they said as well as with state officials at the state Public Service Commission and other state agencies we haven’t yet received the answers or solutions we need." UPDATE 4/9; The Big Flats Town Board approved a resolution Wednesday night creating a public hearing on the proposed West Hill Solar Project The meeting will take place on April 23rd at 4:30 p.m (WENY) -- Planning board members weighed site plans for the proposed West Hill solar project in the Town of Big Flats Tuesday night Carson Power is the developer of this site.  It sits on West Hill Road with Crest Drive as the access point.  On Tuesday the planning board approved the site plans The project proposal will move to the town board next where the town will weigh a special use permit.  The next big flats town board meeting is April 30th at 4:30 p.m Past studies indicated no public health threat at a former Agway fertilizer plant in the Town of Big Flats according to state environmental officials but with a new housing development planned for that site they acknowledge a fresh look might be warranted A recently-formed coalition of property owners, business operators and residents known as Big Flats Defenders sent a letter to Gov. Kathy Hochul, demanding cleanup of the property at 83 Hammond St. in the hamlet of Big Flats be made a top priority The group is working in conjunction with Ithaca-based environmental research firm Toxics Targeting claiming documents from the state Department of Environmental Conservation and U.S Environmental Protection Agency indicate nitrite fertilizer and the chlorinated pesticide Dieldrin were reportedly dumped for decades at the factory site into an on-site "lagoon" and "over the bank." contamination concerns were never fully addressed DEC said its Division of Environmental Remediation originally investigated the Agway Facility site in the 1980s and did not find evidence of hazardous waste at the property which warranted listing the property on the Registry of Inactive Hazardous Waste Sites with consultation from the Chemung County and New York State health departments to confirm the determinations made in the 1980s," the agency said in a statement as there was a lack of potential public health exposure pathways." But there are now plans in the works to build a new subdivision — Soaring Heights Landing Family Housing — at that location after the town in January was awarded more than $1.3 million through Empire State Development to support the project The site will feature affordable family housing units which will be owned and operated by a local non-profit housing agency With most local approvals in place for that project it is appropriate to give the Agway site another look "In light of the site’s historical background and the proposal to change the former facility’s use DEC will reach out to this developer to ensure any additional investigations or actions on the site are undertaken if issues are identified to protect public health and the environment," the agency said Animal rights How 'Peanut's Law' would protect animal welfare in wake of Peanut the Squirrel controversy according to Big Flats Defenders coordinator Shannon Keach "Members of Big Flats Defenders and I look forward to meeting with the governor and DEC at their earliest convenience to find out how our request to safeguard public health and the environment in our community will be achieved," Keach said half-way measures and inadequate cleanup proposals are totally unacceptable and will result in even greater citizen action to hold Gov Hochul strictly accountable for enforcing all state laws in my hometown," she added DEC already reached out to the developer and Big Flats officials to confirm the town will require a comprehensive Phase I and Phase II environmental investigation prior to final approval of the project "DEC is directly communicating with the developer to ensure they are aware of their potential responsibilities if any contamination is discovered," the statement said BIG FLATS, N.Y. (WENY) -- Some community members in the town of Big Flats say they're concerned about possible contamination at the site for the new Soaring Heights Landing Apartment Project they called on the town board to pause any further developments on the project it's irrefutable evidence that that property is contaminated," said Shannon Keach "It needs to be comprehensively investigated and remediated." The Big Flats Defenders are a newly formed environmental conservation coalition Several members that attended the meeting claim the property at the former Agway facility is not safe for development They alleged there's hazardous waste on or around the property and it shouldn't be the site of new apartments without appropriate cleanup The group referenced two reports from 1959 and 1995 Those reports said public water systems in the area had elevated levels of nitrates from fertilizer from the former Agway plant Members of the group have concerns that the site was not properly cleaned up "So even though the groundwater exceeded the cleanup standards according to New York State regulatory requirements," said Walter Hang, the president of Toxic Targeting Inc who helped the group put together their research "No comprehensive investigation or cleanup was ever conducted at this site and the area around it." The group is also calling on Governor Kathy Hochul to have the site investigated and fully remediated. Most recently, the New York State Department of Environmental Conservation had testing conducted on water samples taken from the property in 2020 The DEC determined that no action was needed they think there's nothing there to investigate," said Big Flats Board Member John Hunter "They [The Big Flats Defenders] sent a letter to Hochul If the DEC doesn't want to come down and investigate it there's nothing we can do about it." The group says it wants the state to do thorough testing for hazardous waste and restore the site to its state before any contamination occurred As far as the Soaring Heights Landing Project the town board said that project is in the hands of the planning board (WENY) -- The Chemung County Planning Board reviewed site plans for a proposed 302-unit housing development in Big Flats at its meeting Thursday The development will be built on 56 acres of land off of Hibbard road and Daniel Zenker Drive It will include market rate apartment buildings The complex is expected to have one and two bedroom units Developers say the project could take up to six years from start to finish RELATED: Concept plans for 302-unit housing development brought before Big Flats Planning Board The planning board requested comprehensive traffic studies be conducted before the project can move forward They also recommended the developer consider possible amenities for buses and include walking and bike paths The board approved the zoning referral with their changes (WENY) -- The Big Flats Planning Board also looked at the site plans for the proposed Soaring Heights Landing apartment complex on Tuesday night The developer says they want to build a senior living complex on Hammond street.   The plans include ten buildings with eight apartments each.   The planning board voted to approve phase one of the site plans on Tuesday "It is therefore resolved that the Town of Big Flats Planning Board grants preliminary site plan approval to the following conditions," said Planning Board Chair Carl Masler.  "These are conditions of preliminary plan prior to final site plan approval The applicant shall obtain approval from the Town of Big Flats from the stormwater pollution protection plan to SWIFT and obtain the necessary coverage on their stormwater drainage permit Prior to the start of any disturbance on the site the applicant shall pay the required split review fee The applicant shall complete phase two environmental impact assessment statement.  The applicant should obtain approval from the Town of Big Flats Fire Department pertaining to life safety and equipment access The applicant should obtain approval from the Chemung County sewer prior to final site plan approval The applicant should obtain approval from the Big Flats Water Department prior to final site approval Those are all the conditions for the preliminary plan." The Big Flats Director of Planning explained why site plan approval is in phases "That's why I recommend the conditional approval of that because it gives them some security that the project is going to move forward to do those studies it also protects the planning board and the town itself in terms of let them get their approvals from those outside agencies and then they can advance to the final cycle," said Robert Switala The developer will have to meet the requirements for phase two before the site plans are approved.  The proposal will go before the planning board again at a later date A Chemung County Social Security Administration office appears to be a target of Trump Administration efforts to eliminate alleged waste and fraud in federal spending is alarmed such a move could be harmful to Southern Tier Social Security recipients The Department of Government Efficiency (DOGE), an agency created by President Trump and overseen by billionaire entrepreneur Elon Musk, placed the Social Security Administration office at 3345 Chambers Roads No. 19 in Big Flats on a list of real estate lease terminations posted on the DOGE website The 11,400-square-foot Big Flats site has an annual lease amount of $311,690 Schumer said in a news release DOGE needs to keep its "hands off Southern Tier seniors' and families' Social Security." He also wrote a letter of concern to Social Security Administration Acting Commissioner LeLand Dudek "The Big Flats Social Security office is the only location in Chemung County and with no clarity about the future of the office’s over a dozen employees or assurances about continuity of operations for the Southern Tier local residents deserve answers and — above all — they deserve an open office that continues to provide vital in-person services," Schumer said The Big Flats office isn't the only Social Security facility targeted for closure in New York state, Schumer added, noting offices in Poughkeepsie and White Plains last month were included on a list of office spaces up for potential sale "The potential closure of our local Social Security office would have a significant impact on Chemung County’s older and most vulnerable adults many of whom rely on in-person services and have limited access to transportation," Chemung County Department of Aging & Long Term Care Director Beth Stranges said in the release More: In wake of Elmira camping ban, how new group aims to tackle homelessness in Chemung County The entire situation has been "cruel and stressful," said Shawn Halloran "Closing this office can have devasting impacts on the workforce and the ability to provide assistance to local residents," Halloran said If the Big Flats Social Security office closes the next closest locations for Chemung County residents are in Corning READ SCHUMER'S LETTER TO THE ACTING SSA COMMISSIONER HERE: (WENY) -- The West Hill Solar Project is one step closer to starting construction The Big Flats Town Board unanimously approved a special use permit for the project on Wednesday night following a public comment session on the proposal Developers for the project said this is not the final hoop they have to jump through before starting construction the next step is to be approved for a building permit RELATED: Town of Big Flats proposes changes to local solar ordinance  people spoke out both for and against the project One common concern among those speaking was how the solar farm will look compared to its surroundings Project developers said the proposed site on West Hill Road is basically an empty field They also said the solar farm shouldn't be very visible to those just passing by RELATED: Big Flats Planning Board approves West Hill Solar Site Plans  "We really do our best to look at all angles of viewsheds for this project," said Kayleigh Furth a project developer working on the site for Carson Power We're not clearing any of the surrounding trees We're actually maintaining a 200-foot buffer of trees if you're really looking for it from certain angles this is a minimal impact on viewshed." Another concern at the meeting was where the energy from the solar farm would go Developers said all the energy will remain local "It’s connecting on NYSEG’s three-phase distribution grid "It’s not connecting to those big transmission wires This is a locally produced and distributed energy.” the site should be able to power roughly 800 homes annually developers said they will be working over the next few months to get all the final approvals They said they hope construction on the site will be able to start before the end of the year (WENY) -- A new store is coming to Consumer Square in Big Flats A coming soon sign for "Boot Barn" have gone up at the spot that formerly belonged to "Old Country Buffet" This is between Barnes and Noble and TJ Maxx the chain offers Western style boots and accessories -- along with work boots No word yet when "Boot Barn will have its grand opening in Consumer Square To apply for a job, the sign asks that applicants go to careers.bootbarn.com WETM - MyTwinTiers.com NYSEG to hold community connection event in Big Flats Students showcase innovation at Corning Community College expo Salmonella fears cause tomatoes recall in New York and Pennsylvania Dozens of properties available for bid in upcoming Chemung County Property Auction Sold-out fundraiser in Corning raises money for CareFirstNY Elmira Heights fundraiser supports high school student diagnosed with cancer New York State budget includes ban on cell phone use in schools Bath man arrested on felony charge after domestic incident in the village Multiple people in custody after police standoff in Horseheads Boot Barn, a new store specializing in Western fashion recently opened at Consumer Square in Big Flats off County Route 64 and the official grand opening weekend is set for Feb and our customers are really excited that we're here It's something that was really needed in this area We're really excited about the grand opening weekend.”  Boot Barn is a lifestyle retailer that carries a variety of western and work-related footwear offering a wide selection of work and lifestyle brands Boot Barn's new Southern Tier store opened in a large site that formerly housed the Old Country Buffet Heffernan said the new Boot Barn store will employ about 24 people at the 821 County Route 64 The business is planning a formal ribbon cutting ceremony on Friday 21 at noon in conjunction with the Chemung County Chamber of Commerce The company now operates 440 stores in 46 states “We are passionate about the western lifestyle and being involved in the local neighborhoods we serve It is an honor for us to join and support the Elmira community," Mike Love More: Fabric and craft retailer Joann closing 500 locations nationwide, including in Horseheads "It is our absolute pleasure to provide customers in Elmira with Boot Barn’s expansive selection of western and work boots and apparel We are truly looking forward to meeting the community during our Grand Opening Celebration Event and Ribbon Cutting Ceremony.” Boot Barn was founded by Ken Meany in 1978 with the first store being established in Huntington Beach acquiring Sheplers and expanding to hundreds of stores across the United States (WENY) -- The only Social Security Administration Office in Chemung County is on the Department of Government Efficiency's list of leases to be terminated they are terminating the lease because "agency response on no longer a need for space provided by Portfolio" according to New York Senator Chuck Schumer's office Schumer says if the SSA office in Big Flats closes thousands of people who rely on Social Security benefits will be without crucial help The Senator is demanding answers from federal officials about the potential closure “The Big Flats Social Security office is the only location in Chemung County and with no clarity about the future of the office’s over a dozen employees or assurances about continuity of operations for the Southern Tier local residents deserve answers and – above all – they deserve an open office that continues to provide vital in-person services,” said Schumer The Chemung County Department of Aging and Long Term Care says if the office is closed as planned it would dramatically reduce access to vital resources for Chemung County's most vulnerable residents “The lack of information from this Administration on the closing of the Big Flats Office is frightening Our employees show up to work each day looking to help their community and provide these much-needed services now they have been left in the dark,” said Shawn Halloran “Closing this office can have devasting impacts on the workforce and the ability to provide assistance to local residents This entire situation has been cruel and stressful.” Schumer wrote a letter to the Acting Commissioner of the Social Security Administration demanding answers I write with deep concerns about the potential closure of the Social Security Administration office in Big Flats Social Security offices in New York and across the country are essential to ensuring that Americans can access their hard-earned benefits The Big Flats office is the only office in Chemung County and serves New Yorkers across New York’s Southern Tier and its closure will make it more difficult for New Yorkers to access the benefits they have earned and depend on People in New York and across the country depend on local Social Security offices Social Security field offices offer a full range of Social Security services including applying for new or replacement Social Security cards applying for Social Security and Supplemental Security Income benefits making changes to benefits information and more Reliable locally accessibly in-person services are especially important for our rural communities Your plans for the future of the Big Flats Social Security office remain unclear jeopardizing the payments for New Yorkers across the Southern Tier The office was placed on a list of leased offices that will no longer have leases renewed There has been no communication from ‘DOGE’ about how New Yorkers can receive help with their Social Security benefits if this office closes I am also concerned about the office’s over a dozen staff members They deserve clarity about the future of their work and where they should go if this building is sold In an effort to cut through this chaos and get answers for New Yorkers What factors led to the Big Flats Social Security office’s placement on this list of properties not to have leases reviewed and what involvement does DOGE have in that process Do you plan to reduce or lay off any Social Security staff in the Southern Tier Where should this office’s employees report to work if this building is sold Is there an alternative plan for this office’s operations to ensure New Yorkers across the Southern Tier can access Social Security services and children depend on hard-earned Social Security benefits Closing the Big Flats office will make it more difficult for New Yorkers across the Southern Tier to access their hard-earned Social Security benefits The SSA office in Big Flats is located at 3345 Chambers Rd #19 Whether it's major shopping centers or apartment complexes 2024 saw some big-ticket commercial real estate transactions in Chemung County The year saw a few multi-million dollar deals and several others that approached $1 million Real estate data is public record. Search our online database to explore what the housing market looks like in your neighborhood Here are the top commercial real estate transactions in 2024 in Horseheads and Big Flats Horseheads: The apartment complex at 2124 Grand Central Ave. 950 County Route 64, Big Flats: The Big Flats Commons shopping center complex featuring multiple big box stores sold for $6.5 million on June 21 The property previously sold for $1.225 million in 2005 when it was classified as vacant commercial land Big Flats: The Bottchers Landing apartment complex sold for $5.55 million on June 14 The 10-acre property features 56 townhouse apartments Horseheads: The automatic car wash business sold for $975,000 Jan Two other parcels featuring carwashes were included in the sale at 900 Pennsylvania Ave Horseheads: Steve Shannon Tire & Auto Centers acquired the town of Horseheads property on March 4 for $800,000 Horseheads: The convenience store building in Horseheads sold for $700,000 on Jan The property previously sold for $212,500 in 2018 DIG DEEPER: Explore our database of Chemung County real estate transactions Big Flats: The Bobcat equipment dealership acquired the town of Big Flats property on 1.83 acres for $448,130 on April 30 Horseheads: The two-story office building in Horseheads sold for $375,000 on Sept Horseheads: Chemung Supply Corporation acquired the 57.82 acres of commercial property for $345,000 on July 31 (WENY) -- A 302-unit housing complex is being proposed in the Town of Big Flats off of Hibbard Road and Daniel Zenker Drive.  On Tuesday night developers brought their concept plan for an undeveloped parcel of land before the Big Flats Planning Board Edger Enterprises and Riedman Development and Construction are proposing market-rate units including apartments and ranch style buildings.  In total there would be 33 buildings across almost 56 acres of land.  They say the complex would have one and two bedroom units "We have seven different properties in the area between Corning there's a housing shortage.  We bring a brand of housing that people enjoy living in and and we are very confident in the market demand for that," said David Riedman the project would happen in two phases.  The first phase would include eight three-story multi-family buildings with 24 units each.  Phase one also includes a clubhouse and maintenance facility.  They say phase one could take up to 36 months to build and lease.  Once completed phase two would begin.  Phase two includes three two-story multifamily buildings with garages totaling 30 units.  It will also include 20 Villa buildings with four units each developers say it could take up to six years from start to finish including the leasing process.  The plans presented to the planning board on Tuesday night were in their first stages there's a lot of details that haven't worked out yet but they feel that they would want to start the process moving and engage with the town and get feedback both from the planning board as well as from the staff," said Carl Masler the chairman of the Big Flats Planning Board The project will have to be formally presented before any official action could be taken.  As of right now there is not a timeline for an official presentation The Social Security office in Big Flats is among the latest federal facilities targeted for closure by the Department of Government Efficiency (DOGE) under the Trump administration’s cost-cutting efforts was listed on DOGE’s website as a location where the lease will not be renewed Employees discovered the listing online but have received no official notice from DOGE or the Social Security Administration employs 14 workers who remain uncertain about their future This is the second federal office in the region affected by DOGE following job cuts at the Veterans Affairs facility in Bath Get the latest headlines delivered to your inbox each morning. Sign up for our Morning Edition to start your day. FL1 on the Go! Download the free FingerLakes1.com App for iOS (iPhone, iPad) FingerLakes1.com is the region’s leading all-digital news publication. The company was founded in 1998 and has been keeping residents informed for more than two decades. Have a lead? Send it to [email protected]. (PICTURE: SOUTHERN TIER ANIMAL CONTROL FACEBOOK PAGE)  (WENY) -- An investigation is underway after a dead dog was found in a box on the side of the road on Route 352 in Big Flats on Tuesday the brindle and white pitbull was between 2-3 years of age and it did not have a microchip or any sort of identification Animal Control said the box was frozen to the ground and they believe it was there for a while The box was found on Route 352 near Hendy Creek Road The non-profit organization said an animal cruelty investigation is now underway The organization is also urging anyone who knows anything regarding this case to speak up (WENY) --  To kick off a series of showcasing local vendors The Shoppes at Oldies But Goodies in Big Flats hosted their first community event of the season on Sunday Almost 20 vendors came out to share a variety of products with attendees including food they could also get a taste of a local food truck guests could pay to try their hand at making their own sweet treats in an Easter cookie decorating class taking place during the market "I think we have a tremendous community and there's a lot of people that have tremendous crafts [and] artist ability," said Debbie Rickard the owner of The Shoppes at Oldies But Goodies "We have tons of antique dealers that just aren't able to open up a storefront So we wanted to house these local artisans and get their business out there So we created this space to help the local artists come out and do their thing and we just kind of add to it and we just have a big happy family here and we just love having people come and show their stuff." Rickard says guests can expect up to 50 local vendors at a time for future events She adds that the store will host events showcasing more local businesses every second Sunday of the month until October The Shoppes at Oldies but Goodies is open all year around Thursdays-Mondays from 10:00 A.M and is located at 10 Carpenter Road in Big Flats For updated information on future events and any store closures, you can check out the shop's website or Facebook page Students learn the trick of the trade during Try Trades Event in Big Flats Share on FacebookShare on X (formerly Twitter)Share on PinterestShare on LinkedInBIG FLATS (WBNG) -- The Sheriff of Chemung County announced the arrest of a Big Flats man for assault was arrested on March 4 for a felony of assault in the second degree and a misdemeanor of criminal mischief in the fourth degree following a domestic incident in Big Flats Big Flats Town Court tried Dieffenbach and he was sent to Chemung County Jail There are more than 2 million Social Security beneficiaries in upstate New York, including more than 24,000 in Chemung County alone, and planned cuts to Social Security Administration staff and locations could be devastating to those recipients But one Southern Tier congressman said a local Social Security office will not close Schumer, the Senate Democratic minority leader, took part in a Zoom call with reporters Wednesday to decry plans by the Trump Administration and the Department of Government Efficiency (DOGE) to cut about 7,000 jobs and to shutter some local Social Security offices Schumer specifically addressed reports the the Social Security office in Big Flats will close and the potential harmful impact it could have on Chemung County recipients who rely on their benefits "We're trying to keep the Big Flats office open first and foremost," Schumer said I'm urging people to call their local congressmen and tell them 'Keep my office open.' "Chemung County seniors don't have good public transportation," he said "It would be hard to get to another office." Local Social Security recipients have nothing to worry about, according to U.S. Rep. Nicholas Langworthy, R-23rd District, who stated in a post on X (Twitter) that the Big Flats office will not close "I confirmed with the Social Security Administration that this office will not be closed nor will there be any layoffs," the post stated "They are simply terminating a lease on a space that was once used for hearings." Langworthy released an additional statement saying Schumer is intentionally misleading his constituents "Chuck Schumer is spreading lies and misinformation in an attempt to do damage control and appease the radicals in his own party whose sole mission in life is to take down President Trump," he said "What he won’t tell you is that under Biden the entire federal workforce was at home with no accountability for their work causing processing delays that my office dealt with firsthand Schumer said reports about the potential fate of the Big Flats location were already out there and he is addressing those concerns "Trump and Musk have already publicly announced they intend to cut 7,000 jobs from the Social Security Administration and remove critical phone services constituents in the Southern Tier rely on," he said "It was seniors and Social Security workers who first alerted my office and the public of these DOGE’s rumored plans to potentially close the office in Big Flats." The 10 counties that comprise the Southern Tier region combine for a total of more than $331.7 million in monthly Social Security benefits including about $38.75 million for Chemung County residents $43.4 million for Steuben County recipients and nearly $9.5 million for Schuyler County residents Massive cuts to services are expected as DOGE plans to cut off Social Security phone helplines and require in-person visits will lead to massive disruptions for New Yorkers relying on more than $7 billion in benefits every month especially those in the New York delegation need to stand up to DOGE and tell them to get their hands of New Yorkers’ Social Security are trying to take a chainsaw to your Social Security benefits by closing offices and adding burdensome bureaucratic rules for seniors people with disabilities and their families," he said if they continue to cut Social Security operations to the bone the system soon won’t be able to function." Emergency preparedness Saturday forum designed to help Chemung County residents prepare for extreme weather a community protest is planned for noon Monday outside the Social Security office at 3345 Chambers Road in Big Flats who said as a retiree and Social Security recipient himself he's concerned about what the potential closure of the office would mean for him "With the massive threatened layoffs and closing of offices these changes will only lead to a major crisis for the workers and the citizens who depend on these earned benefits," Manhoff said (WENY) -- The Boot Barn has officially opened it's doors in Consumer Square in Big Flats with a ribbon cutting on Friday The Boot Barn took over the location previously occupied by the Old Country Buffet The Boot Barn offers a large selection of western themed clothing and apparel such as boots The Boot Barn operates roughly 440 stores spread out across 46 states.  To apply for a job, the sign asks that applicants go to careers.bootbarn.com NY (WENY) -- Tensions ran high at a town of Big Flats town board meeting Wednesday night where a proposed apartment development was the subject of a public hearing It was standing room only at the Big Flats Community Center where one after one - residents sounded off on the proposed 110 unit apartment complex at 83 Hammond Street Called Soaring Heights Landing -- plans include two 55 unit buildings at the site of the former Agway The project is in the Town Center-2 Zoning District; a zoning amendment would need to be approved for a Planned Multi-Residential Development (PMRD).  giving some background on the proposed development they told attendees the project is intended to provide rental housing to people who make between minimum wage These may include recent high school or college graduates just entering the workforce young adults or senior citizens who cannot afford market rate apartments or have been priced out of the housing market due to high prices.  Neighbors raised questions and concerns about the potential environmental contamination of the Agway property "On behalf of those attending this evening we the people do not have a housing crisis here in Big Flats Nor do we want an affordable housing project to be built in the center of our town," said resident Roger TenEyck "You want to tear down Agway and clean it up not a four story complex," said one resident "What does this do to our property value our assessment values?" asked another "I don't think we have the infrastructure to support that kind of dwelling," said another.  According to Chemung County property tax records the former Agway property on Hammond Street is owned by John Reed The existing property has a total assessed value of $261,800 Reed said he had previously applied for a Restore NY Grant to clean up the property but the grant application was denied.  The apartment project would be built by GreenLeaf Builders based out of Rochester, and managed by the SEPP Group out of Binghamton SEPP manages 12 other residential properties in Broome and Schuyler Counties including the Watkins Glen School Apartments on North Decatur Street.  Several neighbors posed the question on if the apartments would be rented to low-income individuals said Section 8 vouchers would not be denied.  A concern brought up by a number of residents during the public hearing was the project's potential impact on the number of students at Big Flats Elementary School The Horseheads Central School District is in the process of redistricting which will increase the number of students attending Big Flats Elementary Others brought up existing issues with traffic near the school particularly at student pickup times at the end of the school day.  Horseheads Central School District Superintendent He said the district cannot take a side on the project but there is important information the town needs to consider about the impact the development could have on the district's student elementary student population "If they’re [the apartments] going to be loaded all at once I need to see projections about what age levels because I can’t guarantee you you will fit into the school," Dr what we’re trying to do what we can within the laws that’s the zoning issue; it’s going to be problematic," he later said One resident spoke out about the need for affordable housing for single mothers like her who have good jobs but need to be able to make ends meet She expressed sadness at some of the others' pointed comments about affordable housing attracting undesirable neighbors "I have never felt so unwelcome in this community other than with this project – with everyone worrying about what this project is going to bring in What it is going to bring in is great people that are fortunate to have great jobs our income is not as great," she said.  Town officials say it's people like her this project is intended for and the planning is still in its very early stages.  "It's really geared towards the individuals that for the average median income for this town is about $72,000 So workforce is classified as individuals who make say anywhere from 50-60% of that your everyday workers who make anywhere from $30,000 to maybe $70,000 – that's where it's really geared towards because then the rents are really based off of those income values And really creating more of an attainable housing stock for those people who are really out there supporting the community," said Robert Switala the Director of Planning for the town of Big Flats The proposal will again be the subject of another public hearing before the town's Zoning Board of Appeals That is happening at 7PM on September 24th It's likely the meeting will again be relocated to the Big Flats Community Center Siwalta says the project needs approval from the town board and the planning board before anything could move forward.   To review the Soaring Heights Landing Fact Sheet Deer causes I-86 pileup between Corning and Big Flats (WENY) -- The proposed Soaring Heights Landing Project was up for consideration at the Big Flats Zoning Board on Tuesday night.  The board weighed the density variance the developers had requested for the project the developer proposed workforce housing for the site at 83 Hammond Street.  After some community outcry the plans were changed to the senior living complex The site plans include ten two-story buildings with eight apartments each RELATED: Proposed plans change for Soaring Heights Landing Project apartment complex in Big Flats the Zoning Board voted to approve a density variance for this project the board but some conditions on the approval.  The Zoning Board is putting a cap on the project by not allowing any more than ten buildings with eight apartments each.  Also none of the apartments can be larger than two bedrooms.  The second condition is there needs to be annual documentation noting the number of leases and the number of occupants in each unit.  With these conditions noted the project moves forward to the next step of the process "The next step is the project goes back in front of the planning board for site plan approval," said Robert Switala the Director of Planning for Big Flats.  "They needed to get the variance tonight for the density to keep basically the project the same they'll go back in front of the planning board and they'll really address the site itself So things like the environmental that was discussed things like coordinating with the fire department those types of things will all be part of the site plan because that's more of the Planning Board purview than the Zoning Board." The Planning Board usually meets the first Tuesday of the month.  When the agenda is posted, it can be found here RELATED: Proposed Apartment Development in Big Flats Draws Concern A Horseheads-based group of environmental activists known as People for a Healthy Environment (PHE) will hold a forum this weekend to detail how people can better prepare in advance to protect their families and pets in the event of an extreme weather emergency PHE is cosponsoring the forum along with the Park Church in Elmira and the Unitarian Universalist Fellowship of Big Flats extreme weather events have become more frequent and devastating," PHE said in a news release "Science warns us this trend will increase exponentially in the future Extreme weather events will impact all of us." Business Third generation Elmira office supply store will close in June after 87 years in business The first priority during an extreme weather emergency is to preserve health and life The forum is designed to offer attendees information and strategies needed to remain safe in dangerous weather situations Coffee and tea will be provided during the event. For more information, go to facebook.com/pheinc1 PHE formed in 2009 to fight the arrival of oil and gas industry support company Schlumberger to the area Protestors demand transparency on Social Security office’s future in Big Flats NY (WENY) -- NYSEG will host an event next week for customers who have questions about their utility bills The utility company is calling it a "Community Connection" event; it will be held on March 27th at the American Legion at 45 Olcott Road South in Big Flats NYSEG customers will be able to talk directly to a customer service representative The company says they will be able to answer billing questions and help people understand their usage during the winter heating months and there will not be a presentation.  as customers say their bills have risen astronomically beyond the amount that would be expected due to recent rate hikes the most recent of which happened in May of 2024 Some customers are concerned that NYSEG's new smart meters are contributing to the higher bills The company has been quick to dismiss such claims saying there is much misinformation being spread online many customers who have reached out to WENY News point out that there is no reasonable explanation that their bills have jumped hundreds of dollars a month in some cases despite no change in their home habits.  and Assemblymen Chris Friend and Phil Palmesano are encouraging NYSEG customers to come out to Thursday's event O'Mara says his office has heard from over 300 constituents concerned about their NYSEG bills in the past two months alone.   "We're not getting a satisfactory answer from NYSEG or the Public Service Commission (PSC) We're certainly happy that NYSEG is doing this community forum in Big Flats on Thursday and I am encouraging people to go out; that have had bills not everybody's bills have been way off And the explanations that we keep getting just don't add up," Senator O'Mara said RELATED: Smart Meters or Rising Rates? NYSEG Customers Face Soaring Bills, and Share Concern  less than one percent of bills issued each month contain an error and that the smart meters are not to blame.  "Smart meters are not the reason for any high bill you may be experiencing Smart meters do the exact same thing that legacy meters or traditional meters do We test every batch that comes in," said NYSEG Director of Corporate Communications Shelby Cohen in an interview with WENY News this week.  O'Mara said they are encouraging NYSEG to hold more of these types of events across the region in the future.   A third rate hike for NYSEG is set to go into effect in May of 2025. According to the New York State Public Service Commission a NYSEG residential customer who uses 600 kWh of electricity per month will see their average monthly bill increase by $11.34 The area housing market presented some challenges for home buyers in 2024, according to data from the Elmira Corning Regional Association of Realtors covering Chemung The housing affordability index in the area has continued to decline as interest rates and prices have risen over the last few years The housing affordability index stood at 184 in November 2022 and ended November 2024 at 154 the latest month of available data for the region That marks about a 28% increase over both 2022 and 2023 The region tallied 1,182 closed sales in 2024 through November down just under 4% compared to November 2023 before dropping 4.4% in 2022 (1,522 sales) and a further 19.4% in 2023 (1,227) The number of days on the market before a sale has remained essentially flat over the last three years Median and average sales prices have continued to rise The median sales price in 2024 is $170,000 through the latest available data The average sales price in 2024 is $206,368 At the top of the market in Chemung County a dozen homes sold for over $500,000 in 2024 through the latest available real estate data highlighted by a seven-acre property at 130 Snake Hill Rd in the town of Catlin that fetched $740,000 Aug Here are 2024's top 10 single-family home sales in Elmira 155 DRIVE A STRATHMONT PK: Sold for $400,000 Jan 945 OAK HILL DR: Sold for $399,900 July 17 827 UNDERWOOD AVE: Sold for $384,000 June 11 122 ST ANDREWS DR: Sold for $525,000 June 28 Compare: See the top commercial property sales in 2024. Top 10 Big Flats home sales in 202483 VALLEY VIEW DR: Sold for $685,000 May 13 540 WEST HILL RD: Sold for $553,000 July 10 2866 NYS ROUTE 352: Sold for $394,000 March 8 Big Flats farmer's actions save property from brush fire Big Flats farmer's actions save property from brush fire A major shopping center in Chemung County is under new ownership Time Equities, Inc. (TEI) has acquired Big Flats Commons at 950 Route 64 in Elmira TEI purchased the near 45,000-square-foot shopping center for $6.5 million from NN Reit TEI is a real estate firm based in New York City The firm owns dozens of properties in New York state Big Flats Commons marks its first venture in the Southern Tier Managing Director of National Retail at TEI described the acquisition as “a strategic move aimed at expanding our presence in underserved markets.” “Time Equities' acquisition of Big Flats Commons marks a significant milestone enabling the company to continue its growth within New York state while still entering a new market from our existing assets,” said Ziff “This acquisition allows us to further establish our presence in often overlooked which will always remain an exciting endeavor for the firm.” Big Flats Commons sits off Exit 51A on I-86 providing easy access to Southern Tier shoppers The plaza hosts the only Target store in Chemung and neighboring counties Industry: More than 200 new jobs coming to Tioga County plant thanks to $100 million expansion The property covers over 6.5 acres and was acquired from Dalrymple Gravel for over $1.2 million in 2005 The property is currently assessed for a little over $4 million A multi-vehicle crash on Interstate 86 in Big Flats Tuesday evening snarled traffic and sent several people to the hospital with injuries The driver and sole occupant of a Ford SUV traveling on I-86 eastbound struck a deer crossing the highway shortly before 6 p.m. according to an investigation by the Chemung County Sheriff’s Office The impact started a chain reaction of events impacting multiple other vehicles The collision left the SUV inoperable after it came to rest on the south side of the road A Jeep Wrangler with three occupants then stopped in front of the SUV to offer assistance then slowed for a deer in the road near the accident scene and was rear-ended by a Honda Odyssey suffered significant front-end damage while the GMC sustained rear-end damage Drivers of three of the four vehicles involved in the accident scene were taken to area hospitals for treatment The driver of the Ford SUV that hit the deer suffered an arm injury and was transported to Robert Packer Hospital for treatment The driver of the Honda Odyssey was also taken to Robert Packer after complaining of general body pain The driver and a passenger in the GMC were transported to a Corning hospital for leg The occupants of the Jeep Wrangler escaped any injury None of the injuries were life-threatening which continues to investigate the incident More: Animal collisions reach peak season in New York. These counties see the most incidents Tompkins Corners and Town and Country fire departments assisted the sheriff’s office at the scene Animal-related collisions are most common near sunset “Drivers should always be on the lookout for hazards on the road but the danger of wild animals increases in the fall season,” said Elizabeth Carey director of public relations at AAA Western and Central New York “Car-deer collisions can be both deadly and costly." the Big Flats Social Security office appears set to remain open Earlier concerns arose when the Department of Government Efficiency listed the facility’s lease for cancellation Nick Langworthy clarified the lease change only impacts a small The Social Security Administration confirmed no field offices have closed this year and the DOGE website has since updated its listing to reflect zero cost savings the uncertainty has rattled the office’s roughly 12 employees Union leader Shawn Halloran reported low morale and ongoing stress but expressed cautious optimism that the office’s future is secure FingerLakes1.com is the region’s leading all-digital news publication. The company was founded in 1998 and has been keeping residents informed for more than two decades. Have a lead? Send it to [email protected] February 28—State Senator Tom O’Mara (R,C-Big Flats) and other local leaders today called on Governor Kathy Hochul and the Democrat leaders of the State Legislature to provide increased critically needed state aid for local roads and bridges in the final 2025-26 state budget Joint Senate-Assembly hearings on the governor’s proposed $252-billion budget concluded this week Hochul and the Legislature’s all-Democrat majorities are set to begin final budget negotiations throughout March The deadline for approving a new state budget is April 1.   During a news conference today at the Town of Big Flats Highway Garage the group of state and local leaders called on the governor and legislative leaders to keep strengthening New York’s commitment to local transportation infrastructure 2025 letter (see attached copy) to Hochul and legislative leaders and nearly 70 of their Republican legislative colleagues in the Senate and Assembly wrote “We once again stress that New York State's direct investment in local roads and bridges through CHIPS remains fundamental. It deserves priority consideration in the final allocation of state infrastructure investment in the budget for the 2025-26 fiscal year…Local governments will continue to struggle to address budgetary demands in the face of the state-imposed property tax cap, rising pension, health care and highway construction costs among other burdens… A stronger state-local partnership is the only solution to meeting the critical investment level needed to maintain and improve local roads and culverts… Through the renewed long-term state investment we have outlined we will finally move toward the safe and reliable local infrastructure we envision an infrastructure that will serve as the catalyst for future community and economic development, job creation, and overall public and motorist safety.”  joined by local roads advocates from across the state are highlighting their opposition to Hochul’s proposal to keep state funding at last year’s level for the Consolidated Local Street and Highway Improvement Program (CHIPS) the state’s primary source of funding for local roads They argue that the Hochul proposal fails to recognize the enormous impact inflation is having on the costs of construction and on the budgets of local highway departments according to the Federal Highway Administration’s Highway Construction Cost Index highway construction costs over the past three years have increased by 70 percent They’re also stressing the fundamental long-term need for greater state support spent $2 billion on road maintenance and improvement in the 2020 fiscal year A 2023 study of local highway and bridge needs commissioned by the New York State Association of Town Superintendents of Highways (NYSAOTSOH) found that municipalities would need an additional $32 billion over 15 years to restore locally owned roads through repaving and improvements or $2.1 billion annually that need was updated to $2.69 billion a year because of unprecedented inflation of construction materials costs local roads advocates are calling on Hochul and legislative leaders to:  -- increase the CHIPS base level funding by $250 million to a total of $848 million; -- consolidate five of the state’s local road assistance programs into two programs which would reduce the administrative burden and recordkeeping costs at the state and local levels; and -- increase the CHIPS bidding threshold from $350,000 to $1,000,000 -- or eliminate the threshold all together – to give municipalities more flexibility to pursue the most cost-effective option to bid out or perform in-house projects They are also reiterating growing concerns over the impact of a state mandate that will require all new school bus purchases to be electric. New York’s 1,600 municipalities will be responsible for ensuring that the local road system is capable of handling the significantly heavier weight of electric school buses -- A diesel school bus weighs about 10 tons per axle while an electric school bus carries about 14 tons on its front axle and 25 tons on its rear axle with diesel school bus utilization most town roads have a 10-year expected life the expected life expectancy is only 8 years due to rutting of the subgrade -- Not only is this a 20 percent shorter life but it is more costly because the subgrade failure requires the road to be replaced versus just the asphalt surface -- A town’s cost for pavement maintenance would increase from a range of $20,000 to $50,000 per mile to about $550,000 per mile for reconstruction -- New Yorks’s towns could see at least a ten-fold increase in the cost of maintaining their roads from this mandate -- This is almost solely a town and village expense county and city roads are built to a different standard and won’t be as impacted by the heavier electric school buses.  Palmesano and Friend have built a coalition of support within the state Legislature and worked closely with local transportation advocates from throughout New York on the “Local Roads Are Essential” advocacy campaign annually sponsored by the New York State Association of County Highway Superintendents (NYSCHSA) and the New York State Association of Town Superintendents of Highways The coalition notes that every $1 invested in the CHIPS program can save from $6-$14 in long-term rehabilitation costs and help ease the burden on local property taxpayers each $150 million increase in funding for local roads, bridges, and culverts results in the creation of up to 4,200 highway construction-related jobs According to TRIP, a national transportation advocacy group roads and bridges that are deficient, congested, or lack desirable safety features, cost New York motorists an additional $38 billion annually due to higher vehicle operating costs “The ‘Local Roads Are Essential’ coalition has worked long and hard over the past decade to strengthen New York State’s commitment to local transportation infrastructure Now is the time for this state to ramp up its commitment to local roads and bridges We have long stood with New York’s county and town highway superintendents We continue to believe this commitment is a fundamental responsibility and critical to the strength and success of local communities We will do everything we can to raise our voices and raise support for the local roads and bridges that are essential to New York’s future.”  City of Elmira Mayor Dan Mandell said “CHIPS funding is essential for the City of Elmira to maintain our roads The climate in our area plays a major role in the deterioration of our localroads our roads will become dangerous to drive on and subsequently will become a public safety hazard The City of Elmira does not have the financial resources to adequately maintain our roads to keep them safe I urge the Governor to increase CHIPS funding in her budget to assist municipalities like the City of Elmira to assist in maintaining andrepairing our roads.” “While Local governments have made some progress in recent years receiving increases in funding related to roads and highways those increases continue to be eroded by the hyperinflation of the last four years the Governor has proposed a $19 billion dollar increase in the state budget but plans to keep CHIPS funding flat in the executive budget If the State of NY can afford to spend billions more in 2025 it can surely increase current levels of funding for repair and replacement of our roads and highways Road and highway funding programs such as CHIPS and Pave Our Potholes should be increased annually to keep up with inflation Roads are a non-partisan issue and should be funded appropriately.” Town of Elmira Highway Superintendent and current President of the New York State Association of Town Superintendents of Highways “Local highway departments work tirelessly to maintain and improve our infrastructure despite rising costs Together with NYSCHSA our members are requesting the commitment of state leaders to prioritize infrastructure investment with a $250 million increase to CHIPS in the 2025-26 Enacted Budget Strong infrastructure is the backbone of economic growth and the quality of life for all residents across New York State." “New York's local roads and bridges are the backbone of our state's infrastructure yet they are continually underfunded and underappreciated With the skyrocketing costs of construction materials and an increasing strain from climate-related challenges our local governments need immediate and significant support It is essential that we secure the funding necessary to restore and maintain our local transportation network but to preserve the economic vitality of New York We must act now to ensure our infrastructure remains strong and resilient for generations to come." “The Consolidated Local Street and Highway Improvement Program (CHIPS) is vital to the repairs rehabilitation and modernization of our local roads and bridges Emergency Winter Recovery (EWR) and Pave our Potholes (POP) are programs that help offset our local highway budget and not only keep our roads in great shape but also help keep our tax base stable in the town The Town of Big Flats maintains 76 miles of roads annually and this would be almost impossible without these state funded programs I ask that Governor Hochul reconsider and allocate more funding to local municipalities.”  Schuyler County Superintendent of Highways and Facilities “Local Highway Departments maintain 87% of New York’s 112,000 miles of highways and more than half of the states 16,000 highway bridges Only 13% of the States highways are maintained by NYSDOT It is deeply disappointing that the Governor’s executive budget contains no similar additional funding for our local highways and bridges despite continued explosive growth in construction and supply costs It is critical that an additional $250 Million be added to the 2025-2026 budget for local highway programs. Every highway department relies heavily on these flexible funding sources which distribute vital and reoccurring state funding through a formula and should be spread to every local government in the state.” PHOTO: Turk's Produce and Flower Market (WENY) -- After more than 70 years in business in Horseheads a local establishment is moving to Big Flats Turk's Produce and Flower Market announced on FaceBook Monday that their Horseheads location has been sold.  Turk's operated on South Main Street for more than 70 years The new location will be at 9 Winters Road in Big Flats set to open in Spring of 2025.  Turk's says their legacy will continue and they thank the community for their support Social Security office in Big Flats listed on DOGE website; lease to not be renewed PHOTO: Chemung County Sheriff's Office UPDATE 12/28: According to the Chemung County Sheriff's Office Deputy Kaitlyn Fletcher was injured while directing traffic away from a one-car accident in the town of Big Flats on December 27th.  The Sheriff's Office says Deputy Fletcher was parked at the accident stopped partially on the shoulder of the road with her blinker on directing traffic away from the scene Sheriff Schrom says as Deputy Fletcher was preparing to get out of the car a semi-tractor trailer failed to move over and hit Fletcher's car.  They say the truck was driven by Morris Reddout.  The impact sent the patrol car off the shoulder and down an embankment causing extensive damage to both the patrol car and truck Deputy Fletcher was taken to Corning Hospital to be treated for minor injuries The Sheriff's Office says driver of the tractor trailer was not injured and was issued tickets for Failure to Yield for an Emergency Vehicle and other violations The driver in the first accident was taken to Corning Hospital for treatment and released Sheriff Schrom says he would like to remind all drivers about the Move Over Law NY (WENY) -- A Chemung County Sheriff's deputy was taken to the hospital after an accident involving a tractor trailer Friday evening in the eastbound lane of Interstate 86 in Big Flats near the county line. According to Chemung County Sheriff Bill Schrom the deputy was investigating an unrelated accident and attempting to get traffic to move over into the passing lane That's when a tractor-trailer clipped the sheriff's office patrol car Schrom says the deputy was not seriously injured but was taken to the hospital for minor injuries.  The accident caused a portion of I-86 eastbound to be shut down for several hours Eastbound traffic was diverted off the highway at Exit 48 More information is expected to be released soon.  Party City has officially announced the closing of all of stores across the United States. CNN reported that the company informed employees of the closure on Friday This announcement comes after the company filed for bankruptcy in January 2023 and began closing some locations across the country in an attempt to restructure and reduce the company's debt Party City stated that it has been "operating in an immensely challenging environment with inflationary pressures on both costs and consumer spending," and explained that its "best efforts were ultimately not enough to overcome these challenges." While an exact closing date for the remaining locations is still unknown and the Party City website states that they will be closing their doors soon How many locations are in the Southern Tier?There are two Party City stores in the Southern Tier: one on Harry L Drive in Johnson City and one in Big Flats Consumer Square on County Road 64 in Elmira It is currently unknown when these locations will close their doors The Johnson City store manager referred all requests for comment to the corporate office Party City Media had not returned a request for comment Monday More: Documentary on Southern Tier Medal of Honor recipient will stream on Prime Video, Apple TV. How to watch According to USA Today there are more than 40 locations throughout the state (WENY) -- Thursday afternoon marked day three of the trial for the woman accused of hitting and critically injuring Chemung County Sheriff's Office Investigator Michael Theetge with a car last March Fatiuna Massaline testified about what she says happened on March 29 RELATED: Inv. Theetge Testifies at Trial of Woman Accused of Causing Critical Injuries  Massaline testified that she and her ex-boyfriend were at the Big Flats Target to pick up engine oil for her Cadillac that had broken down she had borrowed a family member's car She says she was parked in the car waiting for Haley who was the only one who went inside Target a man who she says is like a father figure to her Massaline saw Haley leaving the store which prompted her to pull the car around to pick him up When Massaline pulled out of the parking spot She says this is because it was reminiscent of a time when she almost got kidnapped around two or three years prior caused her to have a panic attack and begin rushing to pick up Haley and leave who Massaline says had a past with shoplifting began running around the time she rounded the corner of the parking lot to drive toward the store entrance When she saw him running and eventually being chased she shared that she was going to leave him there and said she had no idea the men chasing him were officers as they were in plain clothes and she saw no marked vehicles "They weren't in any marked vehicles and I didn't see any uniform to identify them as one," Massaline testified when asked if she knew who was chasing Haley She said she thought it could be a Target employee or random people chasing him in the parking lot.  When asked by the defense attorney if she would have stopped if she had known it was police Surveillance video from Target was shown to the jury where the car Massaline was driving pulling out of a parking space and being blocked by an unmarked police car and her driving around the car to get away The plainclothes officer gets out of that vehicle and begins chasing after the black Impala while another silver unmarked car comes into the frame and begins following Massaline's car through the parking lot Massaline is then seen driving through parking spots to evade the vehicles is seen running into the frame towards the car before being caught almost immediately by other officers while Theetge can be seen lying on the ground The Impala can be seen then driving towards the backside of the Target store to get away.  Massaline testified to the panic and chaos she felt at that moment when she said she made her way through the parking lot to attempt to find an exit. Massaline claims she did not realize that she had hit and injured Theetge at the time Massaline says she just wanted to go home to Ithaca and her son; however She says he told her to park the car and leave due to her "chaotic state." After exiting the Target parking lot utilizing the back road behind the store Massaline said drove to a nearby car dealership She then shared that she had hidden under a Lowe's tractor-trailer where she heard and saw sirens and emergency vehicles heading back toward Target before getting an Uber/Lyft to the nearby Walmart RELATED: One in custody, search for another follows hit and run that injured Chemung County Sheriff's investigator  she says Freeney instructed her to change her appearance and then took an Uber/Lyft back home to Ithaca.  she had been informed of the extent of the incident Her mother then obtained legal representation for her before Massaline turned herself in on Saturday March 30.One more witness for the defense is set to testify on Friday at 9:00 A.M WENY News will continue to provide updates on whether or not a verdict is to come soon and what that decision will be.