Binghamton Area News Roundup 9/5/25
School starts, tourism grows, ICE outcry, downtown gets new restaurants, & more
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‼️Must-Reads
🏫Happy first day of school
School is back in session – this time with NO PHONES📵 and FREE LUNCH🥪
The Governor also announced a new Gritty-esque mascot to represent the new efforts (a little scary maybe?).
Check out this cute column the Press and Sun rerean from '77 about the return to school.
📽️🌈🌟Repost from Last Week - LUMA!
Setup is now wrapping up for the festival as it preps for crowds this weekend.
Want a sneak peek preview for what LUMA has in store for this year? You can see previews and a list of artists for this year's presentations on their website (or go in blind, as I typically prefer to do.
As of now, it looks like no ticketed events are listed, meaning the event is fully free to enjoy!
The festival takes place Sep. 5-6 from 8:30 pm to around midnight.
🪪Outcry as ICE Raids Take Local Restaurant Owner
Friends of an Owego resident and restaurant owner detained by ICE want him released.
A Cornell professor says there might still be an unlikely chance for the 30-year resident.
🛄Tourism Growth Increases for Broome County
According to Visit Binghamton, tourism in Broome County had a notable bump over last year (+5%), contributing hundreds of millions to the local economy.
Unfortunately stories on this seem pretty sparce and press release-y, so I would love to see this expanded on in a report or something soon (please let me know if there is one that I haven't been able to find!)
🏗️JC Arch restoration delayed
A question many have been wondering about - Johnson City's iconic Square Deal Workers Arch will not be returned this year as expected.
However, according to WNBF, they have a new plan for it to go up within the next year.
🏗️Building Broome
🌉One of the area's dilapidated railway bridges has been rehabilitated, with two more to go.
🛣️Get ready for some JC road work.
👋Openings and Closings
🍝Little Italy's saucy grip on downtown's Italian restaurant scene seems to be coming to an end, as Baci and Ianni's Trattoria is set to open at the former Social on State building, joining Gustaferro's. Head chef and Vestal Native Amarissa Scelsi (who was featured in the Press & Sun all the way back in 2016 as a teenager for going off to the Culinary Institute of America after working at P.S.) says it will feature homemade pasta dishes.
🤠Also opening downtown this weekend - the new BBQ joint and bar Blazin' Saddles is set for the former Galaxy Brewing location bringing BBQ, live music, and line dancing to Court Street.
🌇Community Spotlights
🎸Porchfest brought the wide and varied tapestry of Binghamton-area live music together on what was a beautiful day for the festival's 10th year on Sunday. The Press & Sun got some good photos here.
📜Former Broome County Historian Gerry Smith gave a write-up on the formation of Broome County in 1806, highlighting the dark and bloody history of colonial-era conquest by settlers against the indigenous Haudenosaunee confederacy residents and defenders.
🏍️A biker-led blanket drive is collecting for veterans and foster children for its second year.
🎭EPAC wants auditionees for its Rudolph musical this Christmas.
🧄Garlic Fest got record turnout.
🏛️Politics
🛑Court Street was subject to another protest on Labor Day against the current Republican administration and growing wealth inequality.
👷Broome Tioga Central Labor Council gave Josh Riley some laurels.
🏫Schools
🚥U-E's high school gets a new traffic signal at a notoriously dangerous intersection.
👮Crime & Safety
🚨A Harpursville Reverend was arrested for attempted rape of a minor.
🏢A subsidized housing complex for seniors and disabled downtown was subject to a drug bust, but that might be all given "numerous" residents reached out to NewsChannel 34 with complaints about illegal activity.
❗Do not give gift cards to a fake church scammer.
🏀Sports
🥣The Josh Allen cereal has returned.
⚾A Ponies Pitcher is heading to Queens.
⚾Another Ponies Pitcher was named Eastern League Pitcher of the Month
🏀The Binghamton Bulldogs semi-pro basketball team released this year's schedule
❤️Good News & Grants
⛽Mirabito customers raised $75,000 for the Folds of Honor organization, helping give scholarships to the kids and spouses of military and first responders who have been killed or disabled.
🏊The West Family YMCA is getting a huge grant to renovate its pool.
📰Other Stories
🛝Debate is continuing - with a survey now - about the future of Columbus Park's name
🎰A powerball ticket worth $100,000 was sold in Endicott
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