Work continues at the Vestal-Endicott Bridge where repairs are expected to be completed by May 2 The Vestal-Endicott Bridge is closed for repairs to the north side approach and walkway The bridge will be open for cars and pedestrians starting at 5 p.m The repairs were originally announced in an April 22 press release from the Broome County Department of Public Works More: Endicott, Vestal house listings: What's on the market in 2025 Motorists looking to cross the Susquehanna River still have access to the state Route 26 bridge which connects the two municipalities and is located just over 1 mile east of the Vestal-Endicott bridge A popular Vestal restaurant located near the Binghamton University campus that closed three months ago is about to resume operations Buffet Star has posted a "grand re-opening announcement" online the restaurant on Vestal Road is scheduled to reopen on Friday The business on February 3 announced that the establishment would be closed temporarily The shutdown followed a January Broome County health department inspection Online records indicated two "critical" violations and 10 "non-critical" violations were found The unsigned note Facebook stated "we will be making upgrades to the restaurant and taking personal time to spend with our growing family." The reopening announcement thanked patrons "for your patience and your continued support." Buffet Star is the largest restaurant in Vestal The business opened in its current 9,100-square foot building in January 2010 Buffet Star originally operated at a smaller site in the nearby Campus Plaza A recorded telephone message on Thursday afternoon announced Buffet Star was closed for "repairs and upgrades to the restaurant." Representatives of the business could not be reached for comment Contact WNBF News reporter Bob Joseph: Email bob@wnbf.com or call (607) 545-2250. For breaking news and updates on developing stories, follow @BinghamtonNow on Twitter A popular Vestal restaurant located near the Binghamton University campus that closed three months ago is about to resume operations.\nRead More Contact WNBF News reporter Bob Joseph: Email bob@wnbf.com or call (607) 545-2250. For breaking news and updates on developing stories, follow @BinghamtonNow on Twitter The PB&J is a quintessentially American sandwich, but it's simply not as ubiquitous in other countries. Part of the reason is that peanut butter has been historically difficult to find in countries like Argentina and the Philippines where there just isn't a big appetite for the product Share on FacebookShare on X (formerly Twitter)Share on PinterestShare on LinkedInTOWN OF VESTAL (WBNG) -- The Vestal Police Department reminds residents that the Vestal-Endicott bridge will be closed for the upcoming week the Vestal-Endicott Bridge will be closed from 6 a.m The police department said the bridge closure is due to necessary repairs on the roadway the agency added that all traffic must seek alternate routes to avoid congestion and ensure safe travel The newest Hilton hotel brand is expected its debut in Broome County this summer A former 79-room Comfort Suites hotel at 3401 Vestal Parkway East is being transformed into a Spark by Hilton location The new brand was launched about two years ago It's described as a "premium economy" concept just below the "midscale" Tru by Hilton brand A Spark by Hilton sign was erected on the building this week The place operated as an independent hotel using the name "University Inn" for a short time The property is located about a mile west of the Binghamton University campus The Broome County Health Department issued a closure order for the University Inn on April 23 Some renovation efforts began in the building last summer but the Town of Vestal issued a "Stop Work Order" in August because no permits had been issued for work at the site RAJ Hospitality LLC of Connecticut acquired the property for $3 million in January 2023 who is named as the owner on a town notice posted at the building could not be reached for comment Tuesday on the plans to reopen the place under the Spark by Hilton brand Reservations for the Vestal hotel are being accepted for August 5 and beyond The site of the hotel will be a short distance west of a Tru by Hilton location at 3512 Vestal Parkway East Contact WNBF News reporter Bob Joseph: bob@wnbf.com or call (607) 545-2250. For breaking news and updates on developing stories, follow @BinghamtonNow on Twitter Gallery Credit: Stephen Lenz The newest Hilton hotel brand is expected its debut in Broome County this summer.\nRead More Contact WNBF News reporter Bob Joseph: bob@wnbf.com or call (607) 545-2250. For breaking news and updates on developing stories, follow @BinghamtonNow on Twitter - Total score: 32.64\r\n- Affordability rank: #7\r\n- Weather rank: #46\r\n- Safety rank: #45\r\n- Economy rank: #46\r\n- Education & health rank: #27\r\n- Quality of life rank: #26 Morgan City, located 70 miles from New Orleans and 60 miles from Baton Rouge, proclaims itself \"right in the middle of everywhere\"—and boasts easy access to both Lake Palourde and Flat Lake The island port is a hub for the oil field and fishing industries and residents enjoy the best of the Cajun lifestyle and water recreation and boating at Lake End Park campground and marina the median home in Broome County was listed for $198,500 The demand for homes in the Binghamton metro area, which includes Endicott and Vestal, is high, with NYdatabases scoring the city at 94.9 while supply is drastically lower at 38.8 — an issue local leaders have sought to address for years the median length a house stays on the market is 69 days which has largely remained constant over the past year president of the Greater Binghamton Association of Realtors median price increases are part of a trend that has affected the area since the COVID-19 pandemic An increase in out-of-town buyers and investors looking to move from regions with more expensive real estate housing stock is now increasing on a daily basis opening competition to local homebuyers and an influx of investors eyeing properties to flip or use as student rentals Here are six homes for sale in Endicott and Vestal in the median price range. It is possible one or more could have been sold or taken off market by the time of publication. All houses listed use information from realtor.com This 1,508-square-foot home was built in 1961 The home features a lower level garage with access to a backyard with trees More: Excited for Spiedie Fest in August? Indulge your cravings with Binghamton's best spiedies one and a half bath home in Vestal features new kitchen cabinets The 1,386-square-foot home comes with vinyl flooring throughout the house and a covered patio overlooking a large backyard Endicott: Listed at $198,000This multi-family home spans 2,541 square feet and includes four beds and four baths and features a covered porch and four-car garage this 1,036-square-foot home has four bedrooms and two and a half bathrooms The home features an enclosed front porch and new heating system one and a half bath home was built in 1957 The home has a newly updated main bathroom The 1,628-square-foot home includes a covered porch and a backyard Thousands of drivers who normally use a bridge over the Susquehanna River between Endicott and Vestal are using alternate routes this week while repair work is underway Workers with ZMK Construction of Apalachin are replacing a section of pavement and part of a walkway on the north side of the two-lane bridge A detour around the site has been in place since Monday morning Regular traffic patterns are expected to resume Friday afternoon the span will be washed to remove salt and other corrosive material that could cause the steel to deteriorate The bridge has been a vital link between Vestal and the Union District of Endicott for the past nine decades which was constructed by the American Bridge Corporation Some motorists heading south from Endicott into Vestal had noticed more of a "bump" on the bridge's north approach over the past couple of years While this week's work will address the span's most urgent issues a comprehensive bridge rehabilitation project is scheduled for 2027 WNBF NEWS VIDEO: A visit to the bridge on April 30 Thousands of drivers who normally use a bridge over the Susquehanna River between Endicott and Vestal are using alternate routes this week while repair work is underway.\nRead More A SMOOTHER APPROACH: A brief tour of the Endicott-Vestal bridge repair work site. Watch the video and read the WNBF News story for details about the project and what's planned for the future: https://t.co/OTyjCwik8Y pic.twitter.com/1FYc2cHUwr Legend has it that the Band-Aid was created by a Johnson & Johnson employee for his wife, who was prone to suffering nicks in the kitchen Rather than wait to return and dress the wounds at night Earle Dickson invented the Band-Aid so his wife could attend to her own wounds throughout the day The product became such a success that it's now become the standard name for most adhesive bandages Share on FacebookShare on X (formerly Twitter)Share on PinterestShare on LinkedInVESTAL (WBNG) -- UPDATE (2) -- Earlier this evening the Vestal Fire Department responded to a small fire on an electrical pole on the Vestal Parkway Dispatch said Vestal Police and NYSEG crews also responded as the fire had caused multiple power outages in the area 12 News at the scene noted that several traffic lights were also out in that area NYSEG crews are actively restoring power to those affected in Vestal UPDATE (1) -- NYSEG’s outage map states that over 2,500 in Vestal and Owego are still powerless 12 News went to the area and observed an electric pole with a fire at the top ORIGINAL STORY -- According to NYSEG’s outage map over 3,000 Vestal and Owego residents are currently without power the cause of the outage is currently unknown Stay tuned with 12 News for more information when available TGI Fridays, formerly located on the Vestal Parkway, closed last year and a new business could be occupying the space soon In January 2024, the chain announced the closure of 36 locations across multiple states The Vestal location closed in October 2024 A sign posted on the building on April 28 shows Brixmor Property Group is leasing the property Brixmor spokesperson Maria Pace said the owners are in "active negotiations to backfill" the property with "an operator that will meet the needs of the Vestal community." Pace did not disclose who the operator would be More: What will summer 2025 be like in Binghamton? Here's what Old Farmer's Almanac predicts TGI Fridays opened in April 1993 as one of the two original restaurants, with Pizzeria Uno — the Chicago-style pizza restaurant closed in April 2018 — on out-parcels of the Town Square Mall. Pizzeria Uno was replaced by Storming Crab, a Cajun seafood restaurant The nearest TGI Fridays location still open, according to the chain's website, is in Scranton, Pennsylvania A planned housing development on the Vestal Parkway is making waves with members of the Vestal Town Board opposing a PILOT agreement recently approved for the project approved a Payment in Lieu of Taxes agreement for an apartment complex proposed by Aptitude Acquisition According to Vestal Town Supervisor Maria Sexton the PILOT would cost the town and Broome County over $10 million dollars of lost tax revenue through its 20-year timespan The Agency Executive Director Stacey Duncan said the agreement will allow the development company to bring more money into the area and ultimately benefit Vestal residents More: Binghamton mayor 2025 election: What the candidates have to say on the issues The proposed development would bring a 257,000-square-foot apartment building to 4105 Vestal Parkway East which is currently occupied by the Quality Inn & Suites the project would improve an "underutilized" space creating housing for professionals looking to move to the area the project is expected to cost $69 million and will create 197 units and 10,000 square feet of amenity space including fitness space The development will also feature a 254-space parking area and 1,877 square feet of commercial space which Duncan says may be used to house a coffee shop or other business The project is expected to break ground in June the PILOT agreement will allow the developer time to work up to a full tax payment throughout the project's initial building and first years in operation they would have had to go from $180,000 in taxes to nearly $1.5 million in taxes," Duncan said "That is impossible for these developers to do It makes the project work to have that gradual step up in payment over a period of time because it provides some stability in your cost." the developer's PILOT agreement came as a surprise it was something that had gone through all our departments and our planning board," said Sexton there was never any discussion about any tax abatement whatsoever — they didn't bring it up Sexton said while she and the Town of Vestal approve of and have no issues with the proposed development the PILOT agreement is a point of contention for local leaders would result in over $10 million less for the area including $7 million less for the Town of Vestal over the agreement's 20-year time span "It is a luxury accommodation building that is going to make a lot of money for the owners," said Sexton but they shouldn't get a tax discount because of it Joann, a fabric and craft retailer, has announced that the company will be closing all of its stores across the country including the Vestal location situated at 3120 Vestal Parkway East in Broome County Just two weeks ago, the company announced the closure of 500 stores across the U.S. after Joann filed for Chapter 11 bankruptcy The Vestal store was spared in that round of closures Now, according to its website the company's assets have been auctioned off to GA Group and going-out-of-business sales will begin at all locations immediately upon approval from the Bankruptcy Court the auction results are expected to be formally approved during a hearing on Wednesday in the U.S Bankruptcy Court for the District of Delaware there is no exact closing date for the Vestal location going-out-of-business sales will begin immediately but the company expects it to take "a number of weeks" to complete the final sales “Only inventory available on-site at those stores will be part of the closing sales,” the company said in a news release More: Good Cause Eviction information sessions to be held in Binghamton Thursday. What to know. No information about specific discounts is available online some Joann stores said that base discounts ranged between 10-20% with some Christmas items being discounted as high as 75% According to Joann’s restructuring website the retailer said it is accepting gift cards through Feb The company also said item returns are not being accepted at the closing locations Please select what you would like included for printing: Copy the text below and then paste that into your favorite email application It is with profound sadness that we announce the passing of James Martin Vestal holding the hand of his cherished wife of 66 years James served our country with honor and distinction in the United States Air Force for 20 years James received numerous accolades for meritorious service he continued to serve his country through 35 years of civil service with the United States government James was preceded in death by his parents he will be deeply missed by all who had the privilege of knowing him In lieu of flowers, please consider a donation to Wounded Warrior Project A memorial service to celebrate James's life will be held on March 24 A burial ceremony will take place at Fort Logan National Cemetery immediately following the service Horan & McConaty Funeral Service and Cremation - Southeast Denver/Aurora Enter your phone number above to have directions sent via text This site is protected by reCAPTCHA and the Google Privacy Policy and Terms of Service apply Service map data © OpenStreetMap contributors Russell Farms opened its Vestal location early this year In a Facebook post announced the opening date for the 2025 season would be Friday Bakery manager Angie Russell said Thursday the Vestal market normally opens the week before Mother's Day but the market's new building allows them to open earlier "We wanted to be there for Easter this year," Russell said "We wanted to be able to service our Vestal customers sooner than normal and the building allows us to do that now." More: Why is Easter so late this year? What to know about date, events in Binghamton Russell Farms will now be stocked full of Easter items just in time for the holiday Russell said the market will feature Easter home décor chocolate from a chocolatier in Lancaster County there will also be Easter flowers available While their Brackney location is open year round, the Vestal market is open seasonally and normally closes for the year in late December Russell Farms in Vestal will be open 8 a.m Vestal and Endicott residents will need to look for alternate routes for several days due to a bridge closure the Broome County Department of Public Works announced the closure of the Vestal-Endicott Bridge starting at 6 a.m The bridge will reopen later in the week at 5 p.m More: Recycle old paint in Binghamton: What to know about drop-off event the bridge will be closed for repairs to the north side approach and walkway Motorists looking to cross the Susquehanna River will still have access to the state Route 26 bridge Vestal Teachers' Association held a rally in early April to demand a contract settlement for the teachers at the Vestal Central School District teachers and retired teachers stood along Main Street with signs as cars passing by honked in support Teachers at Vestal School District say they have been working under an expired contract since June 30 the president of the Vestal Teachers Association said they presented the board with a proposal that would “potentially save taxpayers millions of dollars over the next decade.” Herringshaw said negotiations began in February 2024 but were not reached before the contract expired in June that year Vestal Superintendent Clifford Kasson said 70% of the district's budget derives from employee expenses covering an estimated 700 instructional and non-instructional employees the issue boils down to how the administration can support its students and teachers without entering a financial deficit "People don't like to hear that you can't get everything you ask for," Kasson said "and we're trying to give as much as we can." Among the issues involved in negotiations are planned raises for Vestal teachers health care and retirement plans and a series of after-school staff meetings The proposal from the district includes a 4.5% raise for the 2024-25 school year then a 3.8% raise in 2025-26 and in 2026-27 The VTA is asking instead for a 4% raise in 2025-26 and 2026-27 which they said matches other Vestal union raises in recent contracts including the Vestal Administrators Association's three-year contract negotiated in 2024 Kasson said the raise for the administrator cabinet is "not any more than anyone else." "I would never ask for more for us than what everyone else is getting," he said the average salary is more than a teacher's and Kasson pointed to the difference in responsibilities Kasson said he is responsible for about 700 employees The VTA's current health insurance coverage is roughly $34,000 per plan The district collaborated with other unions in Vestal to switch over to a cheaper PPO plan The PPO plan requires physicians to be in network and includes a $10 copay Kasson said the additional funds saved from the proposed switch would be shared between the district and would also contribute to the 4.5% raise offer for the current school year The district is currently covering 86.5% for active employee plans The VTA is proposing a 16.5% increase for retiree coverage to equal the amount of active employee coverage The district has instead offered and 8% increase for retiree coverage The district offered to pay out any unused sick days at $20 a day when teachers file for retirement granting about $4,000 in the first year to those teachers who do not use their 200 sick days The VTA rejected part of the administration's proposal that would raise the retiree medical coverage to "78% for life" because it would also require retirees to switch over to a Medicare Advantage plan at the age of 65 Looking at how this would impact finances five to 10 years down the line Kasson said the district would not be able to manage the teachers' proposed retiree coverage increase without going above the current 2.29% tax levy later down the road One element of the negotiations referenced at the recent rally for Vestal teachers was a proposed series of staff meetings after school hours Daniel Little said he came out to the rally to support his wife "is proposing that they do work outside their scheduled work time for no pay.”  The district wants to include six facility meetings throughout the school year in the contract requiring each department or grade to stay after school for one hour for "collaboration" and brainstorming on questions like "How can we support teachers How can we make sure that the instruction that's happening in the classrooms is at a high level?" Kasson pointed to the proposed 4.5% raise for teachers as financial coverage for those hour-long meetings the VTA called to lessen the number of meetings from six to two "Nobody is going to agree to an undefined amount of work," Herringshaw said The VTA president role also currently requires three full days of teaching the remaining two days are covered by substitute teachers The teacher coverage for those two days costs the district $16,000 a year The district is proposing the VTA president to work a total of five days to match the full-time salary and benefits Herringshaw is currently receiving The two non-instructional days are used to hear the concerns of union members and address issues before they become "significant issues" according to Herringshaw and it has worked well...[Kasson] is the first superintendent who has chosen that he does not like it." said Herringshaw "For a minimal cost it stabilizes instruction for students and allows access to the members and the district Carol Frost is a retired elementary school teacher is for the person who is too shy to negotiate for themselves," she said at the April 1 rally a math teacher at Chenango Forks High School said he has dealt with similar issues when it comes to contract negotiations More: Greater Binghamton Health Center expansion: NY adds beds at state-operated facilities if we didn’t have a union to support each other "but it definitely pays the bills and that’s really what people are looking for.”   Janice Strauss and her husband Geoff Strauss are both retired teachers Geoff Strauss worked in the Union-Endicott Central School District for 33 years and said at the rally he believes teachers have been underpaid for many years "We're committed to serving the students in the community of Vestal," Herringshaw said "We're asking for the share in the savings we're asking for raises that are commensurate with the other bargaining units and if we are going to discuss meetings we need to have a definition of what that meeting looks like and the work associated with it."  The Vestal School Board adopted a $97 million budget for 2025-2026 school year at its April 16 board meeting The VTA and the district are still in the process of negotiating Give today to support the programs you rely on Town of Vestal Board Member Stephen Donnelly is stepping down amid multiple legal claims over the failure of his business Donnelly said he is resigning because he’s moving and is not allowed to serve as councilman while residing outside of Vestal His last day as councilman will be April 15 He filed for bankruptcy last year after his construction company but also that the resignation was not because of his financial situation or the lawsuits filed against him “The bankruptcy caused a lot of issues for me including losing my own home,” Donnelly said “I don't have a way to still serve my constituents in Vestal if I'm not a Vestal resident.” Bankruptcy Court and in Broome County Supreme Court In one filing, Chemung Canal Trust, an Elmira-based bank, accuses Donnelly of fraudulently representing his assets to extend a credit agreement The bank alleges that Donnelly falsely represented his finances and assets to extend a line of credit including that he had “stocks and bonds” valued at $500,000 and a $350,000 life insurance policy the lawsuit claims Donnelly overstated his personal assets “by at least $850,000.” Donnelly said claims that he falsely represented his finances and assets are untrue He said the life insurance policy statement in his application was a mistake and that his stocks and bonds included stocks in his company which he said were more valuable at the time “I didn't have the critical knowledge to run a construction company “I'm not saying that there was nothing that was done wrong He said the bank is alleging he acted fraudulently because it does not want to have its debt discharged in bankruptcy court and lose money which I could have easily provided,” he said Donnelly, a Republican, announced in January he would not be running for reelection In a statement released before Donnelly announced his resignation Democratic Town Supervisor Maria Sexton said the town board members were aware of the legal filings “We understand the concerns of our residents," Sexton wrote Donnelly was removed from all Town Committees in 2024.” Diners and employees were forced out of the Texas Roadhouse restaurant in Vestal when a fire broke out in the kitchen The blaze at the business on the Vestal Parkway across from the Binghamton University campus was reported around 6:45 p.m A substantial amount of smoke was seen pouring from the roof area of the restaurant for a time The fire apparently was brought under control quickly and no injuries were reported The Broome County Health Department was notified of the fire An inspection will be conducted before the restaurant is given permission to reopen The lights were on inside the Texas Roadhouse building early Friday morning No fire or smoke damage was visible from the outside of the business There were no signs posted indicating a fire had occurred or when operations would resume The Texas Roadhouse restaurant at 4399 Vestal Parkway East opened in November 2003 The eatery was so popular in the first few weeks of operation that traffic backups occasionally occurred on the Parkway Access to the place initially posed some challenges because some first-time visitors tried to enter its parking lot by cutting across the approach to Route 201 including improved signage and additional traffic control measures Diners and employees were forced out of the Texas Roadhouse restaurant in Vestal when a fire broke out in the kitchen.\nRead More this Denny's location is just one of many to face recent closure By - January 16 students will face a culinary change just off campus as the popular Denny’s location has permanently closed a sign on the front door of the Vestal Parkway storefront announced its permanent closure thanking staff and guests for their ongoing loyalty “Deciding to close a restaurant is never an easy decision,” Denny’s Media Team wrote to Pipe Dream “Denny’s has 33 other locations in New York We’d like to thank our team members and local community for their love of the Denny’s brand.” the restaurant was within walking distance of the University students would flock in groups to order a chocolate milkshake or a stack of buttermilk pancakes with friends As they discussed the 10-page papers they were actively procrastinating or the latest romantic interest from their biology class students could find time away from the Lecture Hall or their dormitories and immerse themselves in a small piece of the Vestal community affordable and welcoming that it really made for the perfect easy night out with campus friends,” wrote Liam Steele a junior majoring in environmental science “I find it hard to believe business was going bad for that location with all this in mind Denny’s was traditionally known for its 24-hour revolving door of patrons the joint is also undergoing some other changes including alterations to its menu and loosening up on the 24-hour requirements the executive vice president and chief global development officer of Denny’s said keeping a restaurant open 24 hours isn’t always feasible considering the small number of customers taking advantage of their services during those hours as many restaurants have begun cutting back on their operating hours 24-hour restaurant service saw an 18 percent decline and that “New York [City] has lost 13 [percent] of its 24-hour restaurants.” CNN reported that Denny’s would be closing 150 locations over the following year The Vestal Parkway Denny’s is just one of the many to be shut down The company is primarily shutting down “underperforming restaurants” contributing to financial decline It plans on beginning a renovation campaign to address its dated appearance and other inconsistent practices originally as a California coffee and donut shop called Danny’s Donuts eventually settled on a simpler version — Denny’s “I loved it because my perception of American culture coming in leaned [heavily] on the diner and Denny’s side,” wrote Jithin George ‘24 For students still looking to enjoy a classic American meal at a Denny’s the Front Street location is the next closest to the University and is open 24 hours (WBNG) -- The Big Lots in Vestal will close early Monday at 8:30 p.m According to Vestal’s Big Lots spokesperson The company plans to close its doors forever on March 16 The closure follows the announcement that Big Lots will close 300 stores nationwide The 150 Vestal Parkway West store is hosting a sale of all store fixtures The Town of Vestal has unveiled a new website and app for residents Vestal Town Supervisor Maria Sexton said in a statement is designed "to improve communication between our Town Personnel and our residents." It will serve as a central hub for all town information including board meeting agendas and minutes park and recreation information and a way to pay bills online In order to pay bills using the new website, readers can access the "pay your bills" section, which also allows residents to pay tickets directly online. The site's "document center" features hundreds of forms meeting minutes and agendas for the Town Board and various departments including code enforcement and the Town of Vestal clerk A contacts page allows visitors the chance to reach department heads through the phone or over email, and includes office addresses for those looking to visit in person. Readers can support Vestal recreation programs through the website's "sponsorships" page which includes various packages for each recreation event of the year The site also has an updated calendar which currently includes all town events planned through June Download the Town of Vestal app on Apple or Android devices by visiting the town's website — links to the App Store and Google Play can be found at the bottom of the screen users can allow notifications to receive updates and alerts from the town More: Country music star to take the Binghamton stage in May: What to know about outdoor concert Choose to enable or disable notifications for emergency alerts board meeting minutes and general town announcements Work is moving forward on the development of a massive housing project in the town of Vestal Crews began clearing the 43-acre site between Bunn Hill and Jensen roads began one year ago and construction operations started last October A Georgia company - Landmark Properties - battled local opponents of the project for several years before receiving approval to build the project which is located less than a mile south of the Binghamton University campus Excavation activity is continuing at the site large dump trucks continued delivering more material before construction starts on the 161 "cottage-style" units A Landmark Construction representative in Vestal was not authorized to discuss the project with a reporter The developers have not been available for comment The land where the student housing is being built was owned by the Kradjian family A sign at the site indicates cottages with two to five bedrooms will be available Landmark Properties has indicated people will be able to choose from "15 unique floor plans." The complex is to include a 12,000-square-foot clubhouse and a heated outdoor pool It will have a total of 700 beds and 554 parking spaces The Vestal project will be the third housing development for Landmark Properties in New York state The company currently has a complex in Buffalo and is planning to open one in Syracuse late next year WNBF NEWS VIDEO: If you drive by the construction site This is was what was going on off Bunn Hill Road on April 10 Work is moving forward on the development of a massive housing project near the Binghamton University campus in Vestal.\nRead More "RETREAT" IN VESTAL: Some nearby residents didn't want it but a Georgia developer prevailed in court and the massive student housing project is moving forward. Here's a look at what's going on at the site. Watch the video and read the WNBF News story: https://t.co/HA0StfLpmh pic.twitter.com/rLxKufmJ6p The AKC deemed this relatively recent breed the \"Peter Pan of the sporting group\" for its youthful vibrancy and happy-go-lucky attitude known for constantly wagging its tail The breed is named for its flat-lying coat which is either black or dark reddish-brown Vestal Town Board member Stephen Donnelly resigned from his position Friday in an afternoon email to town clerk Debra Wallace Donnelly said he will be resigning effective April 15 because he is moving out of the town His departure comes amid a lawsuit claiming he falsely represented his assets as well as personal and business bankruptcies which state he owes nearly $3 million for loans "I would like to thank you and the rest of the Town employees for what I consider an honor to have served the people of Vestal," Donnelly said in his email to Wallace Donnelly's resignation comes a day after town supervisor Maria Sexton issued a news release referencing "allegations against Councilman Donnelly" that had raised concerns among residents and confirming Donnelly had been removed from all town committees in 2024 Sexton did not specify what those allegations were in the news release but the statement came after reports that Chemung Canal Trust Company filed a lawsuit against Donnelly Donnelly had previously announced in January he would not seek reelection saying he wanted to spend time with his family as well as "other professional priorities." He also pointed to "serious concerns on the new supervisor." More: Binghamton City Council to vote on overriding Good Cause Eviction veto According to the debts listed in the bankruptcy filing In a June 2024 judgement from Broome County Supreme Court Judge Eugene Faughnan Donnelly was ordered to pay $289,000 to Stewart & Jensen Road Associates The costs include $285,000 of overdue rent payments with the rest made up of fees including attorney's fees Donnelly filed a petition for individual bankruptcy with the United States Bankruptcy Court for the Northern District of New York Court documents indicate Donnelly owes a total of $1.6 million Atlas James and Donnelly owed more than 50 creditors about $2.7 million at the time of filing When asked about the town's statement on Thursday Donnelly said in an emailed statement he feels regret for the issues created by Atlas James and is working to help those negatively affected by the company "I started a construction company with the hope of really building it to a large scale as a legacy piece for our son," he said "I was the sole owner and it failed miserably as I did not have the critical knowledge necessary to run a construction company and unfortunately a lot of people got hurt as a result nor did I dodge any responsibilities including paying back deposits for customers that had paid us for work." I did nothing wrong and this is part of a bankruptcy proceeding Bank accuses Donnelly of overstating assetsAccording to the personal bankruptcy document Donnelly has at least five pending cases within the last year with plaintiffs including Knightsbridge Funding LLC Donnelly was also sued as recently as January in a complaint filed by Chemung Canal Trust Company a $100,000 business line of credit in 2019 the bank alleges Donnelly lied about various assets in order to receive a new $100,000 line of credit The lawsuit states Donnelly claimed to have $500,000 in stocks and bonds a life insurance policy worth $350,000 cash a checking account with $31,500 and personal belongings totaling $100,000 — a personal net worth of about $1.4 million While the bank did not extend a new line of credit it agreed to term out Donnelly's prior line of credit the bank asked for proof of Donnelly's claims regarding his net worth when negotiating his line of credit renewal in 2022 Donnelly provided a 2022 bank statement showing he had $31,500 in a checking account copies of his investments in stocks and bonds and a copy of his homeowner's policy the plaintiff outlined several issues with the provided information claiming Donnelly falsely overstated his assets by $850,000 when originally applying for credit Chemung Canal Trust Company is asking for nearly $86,000 in addition to attorney's fees and other expenses determined by the court Donnelly has been at odds with Sexton on several issues since she was elected in November 2023 including the Bunn Hill development project school resource officers and a tax collection survey and he sparked a large community response in January 2024 after stating a Dairy Queen would land on the Vestal Parkway he engaged in a verbal altercation with another man that turned physical in front of the George F Johnson Elementary School following a spring concert The Broome County Sheriff’s Office charged Donnelly with two counts of second-degree harassment and two counts of disorderly conduct but the court granted a one-year adjournment with contemplation of dismissal meaning if Donnelly did not accumulate any additional charges before October 2024 Both the Town of Union court and the Broome County District Attorney’s Office have not commented further on the case Despite a new deal to keep some Big Lots stores across the country open Big Lots locations in Broome County are among hundreds that will soon close Months after filing for bankruptcy and announcing the closing of all stores, Big Lots recently reached a deal that will allow for hundreds of stores across the United States to remain open. The retailer on Friday announced a transaction with Boston-based asset liquidation firm Gordon Brothers Retail Partners resulting in the transfer of up to 400 Big Lots stores to Variety Wholesalers Variety Wholesalers plans to operate the stores acquired in the deal under the Big Lots brand and may employ current Big Lots employees at the stores and the one or two of Big Lots distribution centers it plans to acquire, according to a press release from the companies The Vestal Big Lots closure announcement comes just a few months after Big Lots in Binghamton closed its doors More: Planning vacations, celebrations in 2025? Check next year's holiday calendar no plans to close the Vestal store were announced Broome County residents who have always wanted to own a fire station now have that opportunity The old Vestal Fire Department Station 4 has been listed for sale The original building on the Vestal Parkway east of Jensen Road was constructed in 1952 A two-bay addition was built at the station about three decades later The fire station hasn't been in use since November 2023 when a newly-constructed facility went into operation The new $7.5 million station is located a short distance west of the old facility Vestal Fire District voters this month approved a plan to sell the property at 3341 Vestal Parkway East Maureen Wilson of Pyramid Brokerage Company said prospective buyers have already expressed an interest in acquiring the site She said "a couple of offers" have been received The newly-zoned commercial property is in the center of Vestal Parkway corridor which has a high traffic count that should make it attractive for future development Although the fire station is several decades old Wilson said there actually has been an indication that it may not be removed for a new project She said a prospective developer has indicated an intention to preserve the building for a future use Broome County residents who have always wanted to own a fire station now have that opportunity.\nRead More Although the olive loaf is similar to Italian mortadella sliced sausage meat with cubes of pork fat this former American favorite deli meat is a mixture of pork the olive loaf has been associated with more popular cuts like bologna and is not typical to find on mainstream grocery store shelves local residents are hoping a similar craft store could take its place JOANN going-out-of-business sales are underway across the country and the Vestal store in the Parkway Plaza is closing The store is expected to remain open through the end of May, or until inventory runs out. The lease is up for auction so a new business will ultimately take the spot between Target and Ross Dress for Less Brixmor Property Group owns the Parkway Plaza and spokesperson Maria Pace said the owners are in "active negotiations with retailers that will meet the needs of the Vestal/Binghamton communities." We asked Broome County residents what they'd like to see replace JOANN in Vestal Many Broome County residents who responded to a Press & Sun-Bulletin online callout said they want to see a Hobby Lobby or Trader Joe's take JOANN's place in Vestal Other suggestions included Doug's Fish Fry Hobby Lobby would be a clear substitute for JOANN as it could provide crafters in the community with some of the same products 55% of readers suggested a Hobby Lobby or other craft store or hobby shop that could replicate JOANN's offerings The Vestal vacancy has also prompted a familiar call for a Trader Joe's in the area with 34% of people who responded calling for one Trader Joe's is opening a new store in New York When asked in February what it would take to bring the grocery store to Vestal Vestal Town Board member Glenn Miller said it would require direct outreach Local government leaders have also encouraged residents to visit the Trader Joe's website and submit an online request for a store The company's website says "there are no guarantees (WBNG) -- The Vestal Police Department said April 26 is DEA National Drug Takeback Day Officers said if you have old or unwanted prescription medication you can see Investigator Giblin in front of the police department from 10 a.m The department cannot accept needles or liquids there is a collection box in their lobby that is accessible anytime Buffet Star announced that the restaurant is temporarily closing its doors to the public The restaurant posted their decision to Facebook on Monday explaining that they will be "making upgrades to the restaurant and taking personal time" with family Buffet Star's decision comes one month after the Broome County Health Department issued two critical violations and 10 non-critical violations to the restaurant The two critical violations are as follows; More: Where to watch the Super Bowl: These local bars, streaming services will air the big game The 1H violation is a "category 1 public health violation," according to the inspection report The 10 non-critical violations are regarding cleanliness Buffet Star noted that the restaurant will be closed "until further notice," and that any updates will be posted to their Facebook page Facing multiple claims in bankruptcy court Donnelly said that he plans to move away from Vestal By - April 9 Months after announcing that he will not run for a second term will soon resign from his position as he plans to leave the area He submitted his resignation on March 28 and will officially step down on April 15 with his seat expected to remain vacant until the November election He faces multiple claims in bankruptcy court related to the closing of Atlas James Donnelly said that he is resigning because he is moving out of Vestal He reiterated this in a statement to Pipe Dream saying he cannot serve on the board if he no longer lives in the town In a lawsuit filed by Chemung Canal Trust Company Donnelly is accused of overstating his assets by at least $850,000 in a personal financial statement submitted to the bank in December 2022 The statement was sent while Donnelly tried to renew a $100,000 line of credit for him and his firm Chemung Canal Trust Company seeks attorney’s fees and $86,000 that it claims he still owes released a statement regarding the case against Donnelly “The members of the Town Board are aware of the allegations against Councilman Donnelly,” Sexton wrote “The allegations are unproven at present and will be resolved by the Judicial system The Vestal Town Board does not have any authority under New York State Law to remove elected officials.” “We understand the concerns of our residents,” she continued Donnelly was removed from all Town Committees in 2024 Town Council members do not have access to Town funds.” Sexton did not return Pipe Dream’s request for comment Donnelly’s construction company shut down in November 2023 and filed for bankruptcy in February 2024 owing an estimated $1.1 million to creditors Donnelly filed for individual bankruptcy four months later He released a statement to those impacted by his construction company’s collapse saying he “did not have the critical knowledge necessary” to run the business and intended to pass the company to his son as a “legacy piece.” He said that “a lot of people got hurt as a result.” nor did I dodge any responsibilities including paying back deposits for customers that had paid us for work,” he said “The reality is that things have been very tough for me and my family over the past year or more and we are actively doing everything we can to try and make things right with everyone attending events that are important for business to rebuild and make things right with people who lost out because of my mistakes.” “I feel regret on a daily basis and know that I am working hard every single day to rebuild our lives and the lives of those around us who were affected by the construction company,” he added TGI Fridays, located on the Vestal Parkway, is the latest to be shuttered amid the chain's sweeping closures across the country A sign on the door of the building Friday stated the restaurant was closed as of Thursday The restaurant is "extremely grateful" to the "loyal guests and team members," the message to customers read The Vestal restaurant's website was no longer operational on Friday morning. TGI Fridays opened in April 1993 as one of the two original restaurants, with Pizzeria Uno — the Chicago-style pizza restaurant closed in April 2018 — on out-parcels of the Town Square Mall More: Seasonal temperatures are coming to Binghamton. Here's this weekend's weather forecast Where is TGI Fridays still open?In January, the chain announced the closure of 36 locations across multiple states most of which were in the states of New York The nearest TGI Fridays location still open, according to the restaurant's website, is in Scranton, Pennsylvania In the note posted on the Vestal restaurant's door the business encouraged customers to look for the restaurant "in airports and other cities across the country." Vestal Town Council member Stephen Donnelly has announced he will not be running for reelection In an email statement, Donnelly said he believes change is necessary in Vestal, but that new candidates will be able to provide that for the town. Donnelly, a Republican, was elected to the seat in 2021 with two positions on the ballot every two years Vestal Town Board members Glenn Miller and Robert Greene Donnelly's seat and Democrat Sue Messina's are up for election in 2025 who lost the Democrat primary to Sexton but later ran as a Conservative More: Fly to the Super Bowl from Binghamton: How much it would cost you Donnelly said his reason for deciding not to run in November comes from wanting to spend time with his family as well as "other professional priorities." "I have and continue to accomplish many tasks while in office however my serious concerns on the new supervisor and its impact on the Town remain," he said "Things must change and I feel the new candidates coming in will be able to carry the torch and do what is right for the employees residents and beyond once my position officially ends on December 31 Donnelly said he will continue to work hard and fight for what he believes is right for the town until the end of the year He also expressed his appreciation for the personal connections he has made throughout his time on the Vestal Town Board which he said will continue to affect him through his position and beyond is closing its doors after 111 years of business In a statement posted to Facebook on Monday owners Birdie and Bill Levine said the decision to close the store was made with "sadness and a sense of gratitude." "This is truly a decision we don't want to do; we certainly don't need to do; it is not something we look forward to," the post states The owners expressed their gratitude in serving the local community for the last century noting their nomination as "#1 Jeweler in the Southern Tier" for nearly 40 years Van Cott Jewelers will be holding going-out-of-business sales starting Tuesday though the post does not indicate an official closing date for the store More: Five Binghamton University student visas revoked by Trump administration. What we know your trust and for allowing us to be a part of your lives for all these years," the post states "The memories we’ve shared with you will stay with us forever." Starting on Monday, April 28, 2025, the Vestal Endicott Bridge will be closed for much-needed repairs to the North side approach and walkway will affect all through traffic in the area The Vestal Endicott Bridge begins just beyond the full-service gas station in Vestal, spans over the river, and ends at Route 17C in Endicott It serves as an important link between these two communities and its closure will require drivers to find alternate routes during the repair period The Broome County Department of Public Works is undertaking repairs to the North side approach and walkway of the Vestal Endicott Bridge These improvements are necessary to ensure the safety and longevity of the bridge allowing it to continue serving the community for years to come During the closure, all through traffic will need to find alternate routes Motorists are encouraged to plan their trips accordingly and allow extra time for detours Local traffic will still be able to navigate around the area but commuters should be aware of potential delays The repair work is part of ongoing efforts by the Broome County Department of Public Works to maintain infrastructure in the region the Vestal Endicott Bridge will be safer and more reliable for all users The Vestal Endicott Bridge will be closed for repairs from April 28 to May 2, 2025, affecting traffic between Vestal and Endicott.\nRead More Starting on Monday, April 28, 2025, the Vestal Endicott Bridge will be closed for much-needed repairs to the North side approach and walkway The Vestal Endicott Bridge begins just beyond the full-service gas station in Vestal, spans over the river, and ends at Route 17C in Endicott The Broome County Department of Public Works is undertaking repairs to the North side approach and walkway of the Vestal Endicott Bridge During the closure, all through traffic will need to find alternate routes The repair work is part of ongoing efforts by the Broome County Department of Public Works to maintain infrastructure in the region The Vestal Fire Department was sent to the Binghamton University campus to investigate a possible smoke condition that triggered a building's fire detection system Authorities said the alarm came in around 4:30 a.m there was a "hazy condition" in a first-floor room of the Science II building on West Drive units from a single Vestal fire station were dispatched to the scene But the department's other three stations were requested to respond as a precaution after the haze situation was reported Firefighters investigated the situation and found there was no fire problem The haze apparently was caused by an autoclave A Binghamton University spokesperson told WNBF News that the issue was related to steam from the autoclave the spokesperson wrote the "situation was remediated fire alarm reset and there was no operational impact." The fire department cleared the scene around 6:20 a.m The Vestal Fire Department was sent to the Binghamton University campus to investigate a possible smoke condition that triggered a building's fire detection system\nRead More - Chlamydia cases: 421.3 per 100K (#34 nationally 54,645 cases)- Gonorrhea cases: 145.3 per 100K (#32 nationally 18,851 cases)- Primary and secondary syphilis cases: 10.8 per 100K (#39 nationally A national diner chain location and a local diner both made big changes to their operations in the final days of 2024 Denny's Diner in Vestal is now permanently closed and Danny's Diner in Binghamton the Vestal Denny's location is now permanently closed according to a sign posted on the door of the establishment The sign directed customers to the chain's remaining Binghamton location at 1250 Upper Front St and thanked its staff and guests for "all the years of continued loyalty and patronage." Denny's announced plans for sweeping closures in October including 50 locations to be shuttered by the end of 2024 Danny's Diner It will stay open until the building is sold According to Jessica Dillenbeck Real Estate LLC the diner is for sale because "it is simply time to retire." Ross Dress for Less officially opened its doors in Vestal on Friday morning with dozens of shoppers filling the store less than an hour after it opened is the only Ross location in the Southern Tier The nearest Ross store outside of Vestal is in Wilkes-Barre Situated beside Joann craft and fabric store near Target the space has previously housed other stores including a Dick's Sporting Goods Warehouse store More: Are I-81 exit signs changing in Broome County? What to know about NYSDOT highway project the location will host a grand opening on Sunday Shoppers looking for deals in the Binghamton area this Black Friday will have a variety of options to choose from with many national brands opening their stores in the early morning hours Once you've filled up on turkey and your favorite Thanksgiving side dishes use our guide to plan out your shopping day Read on to find out which stores are open on the big day and how early they'll open their doors Sign up for our newsletter: Get alerted to the latest stories to stay on top of the news Dick's House of Sport in the Oakdale Commons will be open from 6 a.m More: Looking for inspiration? Meet the Binghamton students serving 2024 Thanksgiving dinner More: Thanksgiving recipes: A feast of flavors for your holiday gathering in Stokes County to the late Arnold Newman Fulk and Reba Holland Fulk Charles worked for Hanes Dye and Finishing for over 40 years as a supervisor He served in the Pinnacle Volunteer Fire Department for twenty plus years holding the position of chief chairman of the board and serving on the board of directors throughout his years of service Charles loved fishing with his grandchildren and great grandchildren in the family pond He also enjoyed carp fishing and fishing at Kure Beach every fall with family Charles farmed with Ricky for over ten years spending much time in the coveted cab tractor with air conditioning Grandpa was always there to bail out his grandchildren when they tore up equipment or ran out of fuel on the farm Charles and Brenda spent many years and countless hours with Randy and Tammy at festivals and trade shows helping to set up and spend time with them along with people watching Charles enjoyed visiting with them at their home in Florida Charles also spent many years playing bluegrass music with his brother-in-law Odell Fain and friends He spent over 30 years playing the bass fiddle he enjoyed playing music around the house when they hosted birthday parties and cookouts and building custom made items for the house and outside Charles also enjoyed mowing his yard and landscaping it with Brenda They often spent many hours outside together taking pride in how their yard and outside sitting area looked Charles always enjoyed sitting in the shade talking to his grandchildren and great grandchildren about life and playing pranks Charles also enjoyed going to yard sales and meeting new people He was always on the lookout for a good deal While Charles loved yard sales and visiting with new people his favorite place to go was Hardee’s to gossip and share stories with his friends There were not many mornings he missed going Charles is preceded in death by three sisters; Virginia Fulk Coffey and two brothers; Dennis Fulk and Frank Fulk Katie Bobbitt (Michael) and Julie Konrad (Michael) A funeral service will be held at 2:00 PM Sunday January 26 at Volunteer Primitive Baptist Church with Elder Jimmy Joyce and Pastor Todd Lusk officiating Interment will follow in the church cemetery The family will receive friends from 6:00 PM-8:00 PM Saturday donations may be made to Volunteer Primitive Baptist Church Cemetery Fund Rural Hall Chapel - Hayworth-Miller Funeral Homes & Crematory The family of a 69-year-old Vestal man who has been missing for over two weeks is calling on the community for help and offering a reward for information related to his disappearance On Wednesday, members of the Broome County Sheriff's Office and the family of Adib "Eddie" Rouhana came together to ask for information on the missing man's whereabouts 11 around noon at his business Cars-R-Us at 1170 Upper Front St Authorities said cell phone records have revealed that the last time Rouhana used his phone was around 6 p.m The Rouhana family is offering a $20,000 reward for any information that leads to his whereabouts called his father a kindhearted man and "pillar of a very loving family." His father has been a part of the community for the last 30 years helping countless people find not only a car find friendship and find a sense of community." "We ask the community that Adib has helped for so long to please come forward and help us," he said Broome County Sheriff Fred Akshar said the office's team of detectives has been following up on every lead More: Murder, arson trial begins in 2011 fire that killed Jeffrey Aissa: What the jury heard "The bottom line is that someone saw something on January 11 and we really need that person to come forward to assist us," Akshar said The sheriff's office asks those with information including tips video footage or sightings to call the tip line at 607-778-1196 Akshar said no further details about the investigation would be released at this time Thanks for visiting The use of software that blocks ads hinders our ability to serve you the content you came here to enjoy We ask that you consider turning off your ad blocker so we can deliver you the best experience possible while you are here Nearly a year has passed since a town of Vestal councilman announced that a Dairy Queen would open at the site of a former Friendly's restaurant Stephen Donnelly posted a photo of the closed eatery on the Vestal Parkway on New Year's Day with a note stating the site "will be the future home of Dairy Queen." Donnelly wrote "a date has not yet been established There's been no activity at the Friendly's site or at a neighboring property occupied by a closed Pizza Hut restaurant since the councilman made the Dairy Queen post The two parcels are owned by units of Visions Hotels - the Corning-based company that operates the Tru by Hilton hotel on a site just to the west Donnelly told WNBF News on Monday that he has "spoken at length" recently with the prospective Dairy Queen franchise operator Donnelly said the developers still are looking forward to opening a restaurant at the site He said they are working with the restaurant's corporate officials to develop a "new timeline" for the project Visions Hotels paid $1 million for the former Friendly's and Pizza Hut sites in separate transactions before the Tru hotel opened in December 2019 A Visions Hotels representative on Tuesday said he could not comment on the company's future plans for the properties Vestal town supervisor Maria Sexton recently told WNBF News that she still has heard nothing about a possible Dairy Queen project on the Parkway Contact WNBF News reporter Bob Joseph: bob@wnbf.com. For breaking news and updates on developing stories, follow @BinghamtonNow on Twitter Nearly a year has passed since a town of Vestal councilman announced that a Dairy Queen would open at the site of a former Friendly's restaurant.\nRead More Contact WNBF News reporter Bob Joseph: bob@wnbf.com. For breaking news and updates on developing stories, follow @BinghamtonNow on Twitter - Have positive opinion of: 38%\r\n- Have heard of: 68% this Los Angeles concept has offered a nostalgic 1950s diner experience with classic burgers and hand-spun milkshakes The Johnny Rockets franchise is prominent in shopping malls and tourist areas throughout the U.S. this dish is dredged in cornmeal and fried to crispy perfection Fried green tomatoes became a Southern classic especially after the 1991 film of the same name fried green tomatoes have become a comfort staple made even tastier with a topping of zesty rémoulade or pimento cheese.