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Rebecca Swift
Rebecca is a veteran multimedia journalist serving as one of our core reporters in the Finger Lakes region. She is responsible for telling stories that matter to every day Upstate New Yorkers. Have a question or lead? Send it to [email protected].
Local winery awarded top Riesling in national magazine
Hermann J. Wiemer Vineyard’s staff is celebrating a big win they learned about last week. The Dundee Winery’s Riesling Seneca Lake placed 45th on the list of top 100 in Wine Spectator. “We’re showing up!,” ... more
Local breweries teaming up for this year’s keg tree pub crawl
Four Canandaigua breweries are competing to see who created the best decorated pyramid of kegs during an event Saturday evening. Twisted Rail Brewing Company, Young Lion Brewing Company, Frequentem Brewing Company and Peacemaker Brewing Company ... more
Thinking of a career change? Finger Lakes Community College offers courses for in-demand jobs
Training for occupations in growing sectors throughout the Finger Lakes are available for the public to take through Finger Lakes Community College. The college recently expanded to hosting classes at the Waterloo Community Center. Now, ... more
FLX Today: Three Brothers Winery talks holiday sales and events (video)
Dozens of people lined up at Three Brothers Winery in Geneva for its annual Black Friday sale. “This was the first year since Covid that we got to do it as big as we’d like,” ... more
Caregivers get a special day of pampering in Cayuga County
Next week, those who care for their ill loved ones can register for a body and soul wellness event at the Hilton Garden Inn in Auburn. It's a new kind of event for Cayuga County ... more
Pressure for big changes at RG&E grows: How could it be made a public utility company?
Members of the public are not sitting by idly while Rochester Gas & Electric schedules private meetings with the Rochester City Council, as customers continue to report billing errors and ineffective customer service. Things escalated ... more
New state law prevents prosecution of children under 12: DA Antonacci says more discretion is necessary
A new law signed by Governor Kathy Hochul earlier this year means children under 12 cannot be prosecuted in New York after December 31st. Under the new law, local social services departments will be required ... more
Cannabis attorney weighs in on Judge’s decision to temporarily ban the issuing of retail licenses
Ryan McCall is an Attorney at Tully Rinckey PLLC out of Albany. He specializes in cannabis law. “I have a lot of friends who, growing up had convictions based on cannabis-related issues,” McCall said. “Now ... more
Ontario County health official: “We got the trifecta going on out there,” with flu, RSV, and COVID cases on the rise
Ontario County Public Health Director Mary Beer says the numbers of people who have influenza, COVID and RSV aren’t being counted anymore, but she’s hearing from providers, hospitals and urgent care centers that there is ... more
New York cannabis regulators can’t issue retail licenses: Will it hurt businesses in the Finger Lakes?
A federal judge has temporarily blocked New York’s Office of Cannabis Management from issuing conditional retail licenses in the Finger Lakes, according to the Times Union. This means the state can’t issue them in five ... more
Gorham Town Board holds off on passing budget as residents continue to challenge it
Wednesday’s meeting at Gorham Town Hall started off with privilege of the floor. One of the first people to speak was Tax Collector Adrienne Smith, who was one of the only town employees left out ... more
Ontario County Sheriff-elect David Cirencione talks victory, plans for 2023: “So looking forward to the future for us”
Sheriff-Elect David Cirencione had a late election night followed by an early morning today. And he’s ready to hit the ground running. “Right off the bat today I’ve got meetings with sub-committee groups of our ... more
First ever female Cayuga County District Attorney Brittany Grome Antonacci talks making history, goals for future (video)
Brittany Grome Antonacci is making history as Cayuga County's first-ever female District Attorney. Antonacci joined us on Finger Lakes Today Tuesday, and talked about running unopposed on the ballot. "At the end of today, I ... more
Gorham residents let board know how they feel about 2023 town budget: “I can’t figure out what’s going on”
After the Gorham Town Board unveiled the 2023 budget at a meeting Wednesday, they were met with confusion and criticism. “I’m a retired electrical engineer,” resident Bob Gusciora said during the meeting. “I have done ... more
Fingerlakes Mall finds new kind of success: How did they bounce back after the pandemic?
Business is good at the Fingerlakes Mall in Aurelius, located on the edge of Auburn, according to Marketing Director Elizabeth Hebbard. She has been with the mall for ten months, and does small-tenant leasing, social ... more
New, expanding businesses on horizon in Lyons: What is spurring the growth?
Construction is underway for a new Dunkin’ Donuts on a vacant lot next to Kwik Fill on Route 31 in Lyons. Cranes were out preparing the land Monday. Town Supervisor Jim Brady took a drive ... more
Hotel Canandaigua: Should venue get access, ability to shut down public park for private events?
The answer is a hard no for Canandaigua City Councilor Renee Sutton. Sutton sat down with FingerLakes1.com after employees of the new Hotel Canandaigua proposed the concept to City Council last Tuesday. “For Hotel Canandaigua ... more
Traffic congestion in the Village of Victor: What’s the plan? What happens next?
Traffic congestion on Route 96 in the village of Victor has been an issue Mayor Gary Hadden says he’s been hearing about since he moved there at six years old. “Growing up and becoming a ... more
Clyde woman pleads guilty to manslaughter in the 2020 death of husband
A Clyde woman charged with killing her husband has accepted a plea deal. Two years after 53-year old Linda Martinez was arrested, she pleaded guilty Friday to first-degree manslaughter. “The agreed upon sentence is ... more
