Ë®¹ûÅÉAV

Owner Jackie Scanlon, who also ownsÌýSmiley's Town & CountryÌýin Owasco, made the decision after seeing a couple more restaurants come and go since buying the space at an auction in 2013.

Charlie's was operated by Charlene "Charlie" Janke and her husband, Jim Yesalusky, from December 2022 to . Before that, Drifters on Owasco was in business there from 2018 to 2022.

"It’s been a restaurant for more than 50 years," Scanlon told Ë®¹ûÅÉAV. "It’s never made money."

Still, customers are nostalgic about the lakeside spot, Scanlon said. Some remember it from the '80s as Baylor's, which burned down and was rebuilt into the restaurant it is today.Ìý

To cater to that nostalgia while staying afloat, the Lakeside Grill will keep things simple. Instead of running the risks of labor and food waste that come with a la carte restaurants, it will focus on events. Whether it's special ones like weddings and family reunions, or ticketed ones like buffet-style lunches and dinners, the staff will be able to prepare only as much food as the number of attendees need.

As the restaurant gets its feet wet, Scanlon said, she hopes to offer more to the public. That includes a small menu with traditional fare like burgers and fries. Customers will be able to order it to go, or enjoy it on the deck or dock with games like cornhole if they pull in by boat. She also hopes to introduce more themes, like the Mexican food buffet that Lakeside Grill hosted last weekend.Ìý

"People can come, pay one price and enjoy themselves," she said.

Ìý

The Auburn bakery will close Sept. 6, while the Olean facility will cease operations on Nov. 2.Ìý

"We will transition production to bakeries in our network that are better equipped to support our future growth," a spokesperson for Bimbo Bakeries USA said. "We remain grateful for our hardworking associates at these bakeries and are committed to providing them with resources and support to ease their transitions."Ìý

Bill Andre, business agent for the Bakery, Confectionary, Tobacco Workers and Grain Millers International Union Local 116, told Ë®¹ûÅÉAV the union has 41 members at the Auburn bakery. He was notified of the closure at 11 a.m. Tuesday.Ìý

Andre, who worked at the bakery for 12 years, said he was "blindsided" by the decision.Ìý

"My thoughts on corporate America is they're not making a lot of money," he said, while noting the company blamed production as a factor for the closure. "They made rolls for Burger King and fast food isn't what it used to be."Ìý

On a call with investors, Grupo Bimbo CEO Rafael Pamias said the bakeries targeted for closure are "older and less efficient" than other facilities. The bakeries account for less than 2% of the company's total capacity, he added.Ìý

Diego Gaxiola, Grupo Bimbo's chief financial officer, highlighted the advantages of closing the bakeries. Based on the timing of the closures, which will be completed by the end of this year, the company anticipates seeing financial benefits in 2025.Ìý

While the largest commercial baking company in the U.S. reaps the rewards of closing its Auburn facility, the decision disrupts the lives of workers, some of whom have worked at the bakery since it opened as Automatic Rolls in 1977.Ìý

Andre will be meeting with Bimbo Bakeries representatives to secure severance packages for the affected employees. Workers, even those who have been with the company for less than a year, will get severance pay. The duration of the pay and how long employees will remain on their health insurance plans are among the issues that must be addressed.Ìý

Auburn Mayor Jimmy Giannettino told Ë®¹ûÅÉAV the city is available to assist the bakery's staff.Ìý

"My heart goes out to the hardworking men and women who are affected by this closure," said Giannettino, who added he is "disappointed that ownership did not reach out to local or state officials to discuss whether or not this could have been avoided."Ìý

Despite its size, the Auburn plant was successful competing against other bakeries that provided buns to Burger King. Every quarter, Andre explained, the bakery's manager would transport buns to the fast food chain's headquarters in Miami. Buns from several bakeries were graded and Auburn's would often finish in the top three.Ìý

The members Andre represents work hard and do a good job, he said. He described Tuesday, when he learned of the closure, as one of the worst days of his life.Ìý

"It just hit me like a ton of bricks," he said.Ìý

Bimbo Bakeries has 20,000 employees in the U.S. and produces baked goods for several brands, including Entenman's, Sara Lee and Stroehmann.Ìý

Nicole Biever, the commission's chief of staff, told Ë®¹ûÅÉAV the closure is considered unapproved "because the institution closed without an approved teach-out plan and failed to provide the commission with information about the closure after repeated requests."Ìý

Middle States has been critical of Wells College since the school announced on April 29 that it would close after 156 years. The college closed on June 30 — the end of the academic year — and its accreditation ceased. According to the commission, the college had been accredited since 1921.Ìý

In May, shortly after Wells' announcement, Middle States said the school did not properly plan its closure. The commission approved several of the college's teach-out agreements with other institutions, while also noting that legacy agreements — like the one between Wells and Manhattanville University — are prohibited.Ìý

Wells College did not comply with requests for other information, including details about where institutional and student records will be stored. The college said student records will be transferred to Manhattanville University.Ìý

Other institutions that closed have received positive reviews from Middle States. Cazenovia College, a private school in Madison County, closed in 2023. It is considered an "approved institutional closure," but Cazenovia also announced in December 2022 that it would close after its spring 2023 semester. Wells provided a two-month notice before its closure.Ìý

While Wells is officially closed, it is working with the state attorney general's office to dispose of its assets. That process is expected to be completed over the next several months.Ìý

The New York State Department of Environmental Conservation was called in to clean 100 gallons of diesel fuel that reportedly spilled from the vehicle.

Dispatchers said around 4:15 p.m. that Fuller Road remained closed from Turnpike to Carner roads due to the turnover.

The vehicle's sole occupant got themselves out of the vehicle, 911 said, and complained of chest pain.

The New York State Police and Cayuga County Sheriff's Office, Auburn's hazmat team, ambulances from Auburn and Cayuga and fire departments from Aurelius, Montezuma and Aurora were also at the scene.

The 42,000-square-foot, 1950s school will become 15 one-bedroom apartments and 16 two-bedrooms, while another 16 three-bedrooms will be built adjacent to the school. Nine apartments will be set aside for people with intellectual/developmental disabilities, with services provided by the Gavras Center. The center has partnered with Ithaca Neighborhood Housing Services to redevelop the property.

"This is a perfect example showing how cooperation and collaboration can result in a win-win for the village of Cayuga, low-moderate income families and individuals with intellectual/developmental disabilities in and around Cayuga County to find new, safe and affordable housing options," said Bob Padula, community liaison for the Gavras Center, in a news release.

Padula told Ë®¹ûÅÉAV the three-bedroom units are expected to become available by the end of November, while the units in the former school are expected to become available by the end of March.

The total cost of the project is estimated to be $19.8 million, the center said. It purchased the former school for $350,000 in 2020. The center has received a conditional commitment of Empire State Supportive Housing Initiative and Office for People with Developmental Disabilities funds. Financing includes mortgages, federal and state low-income housing tax credits, New York State Energy Research and Development Authority incentives, a deferred developer fee and a sponsor loan. Ithaca Neighborhood Housing Services will own the property and enter a Housing Services Agreement with the center.

Those interested in the 38 low- to moderate-income apartments are asked to contact Ithaca Neighborhood Housing Services at (607) 277-4500.

Those interested in the nine service apartments are asked to email Padula at rpadula@gavrascenter.com.