Weekly top reads: Auburn Schine Theater update, Auburn fires, driver in downtown crash charged (2023)

The HideOut is in another castle.

The video game lounge that opened on State Street in Auburn in 2018 has relocated to the former Garropy's Restaurant at 1671 Clark St. Road in Aurelius. Daryl King, a partner in the business with Darryl Clark and property owner Simon Fricano, told The Citizen that the 2,500-square-foot building offers three times as much space as the previous location, plus more parking and outdoor areas.

"We wanted to expand from the beginning. We didn't want to stay stagnant," King said. "And we didn't like that area. It was right next to a bar, so there was a lot of wild activity over there."

Open beginning this week, the new location of The HideOut continues to offer the services of the old one. Its video game consoles, up to and including the PlayStation 5 and Xbox Series S, are available to customers for $11 an hour. Its Oculus Rift S virtual reality system and more than 50 games are available for $10 a half-hour. Both are available to children for free from 6 to 7 p.m. Thursdays in memory of King's late friendBreAnna Byrd, of Auburn, a promotion he calls Bre Day Free Play. And more than 4,000 retro video games and more than 25 board games are available for free every day, King said.

For popular games like "Fortnite," "Beat Saber" and the 2K sports franchise, The HideOut hosts tournaments where the atmosphere rivals that of a Syracuse basketball game, King said. The space can also be rented for birthday parties, as it has Wi-Fi, tables and chairs, and a snack bar with healthy and traditional options. Soon, a digital pinball machine with more than 1,000 games will be added as well.

In the summer, when business tends to slow down, The HideOut will now be able to host outdoor events that make use of Fricano's 6.2-acre property in Aurelius. Youth won't be hiding out inside the former restaurant playing video games, but that's not the true mission of the business, King said. It's giving them a safe, fun place to go where they can socialize, with or without parental supervision.

There's even a youth volunteer program, HideOut Helpers, that rewards participants with a Visa card, game time and a T-shirt.Responsibilities include helping customers with games and cleaning.

"I believe we've kept a lot of children out of trouble by occupying their time with something fun and safe to do," King said. "We brought a lot of kids out of their shell."

The rehabilitation of the Auburn Schine Theater appears to have fallen behind schedule once again.

Despite the owner of the dormant 1938 art deco theater sayingthat its marquee would be removed and rehabilitated last winter, the deteriorating structure remains untouched. Owner Bowers Development, of East Syracuse, shared that timeline at a meeting of Auburn City Council last June after previously telling the city it would rehabilitate the marquee in the fall of 2020.

Bowers president Bryan Bowers and Vice President Michael Licata did not respond to multiple requests for comment by The Citizen.

Licata told City Council that Bowers' rehabilitation of the Schine has been delayed in recent years by the COVID-19 pandemic. The restrictions on public gatherings in particular made it unwise to proceed with rehabilitating a venue for them, he said, and also made banks unwilling to finance the project. However, as of the time of the meeting, the project was back on schedule, he continued.

Licata and Bowers went on to tell City Council that they hoped to reopen the theater this fall. When asked by Councilor Jimmy Giannettino to be more proactive about explaining future delays in the project, Bowers said, "We'd actually like to volunteer now to come back in October or November. ... I think there's going to be a lot of progress by that point and we hope to share a lot more information."

Jennifer Haines, the city's planning and economic development director, told The Citizen this week that Bowers has not provided the city any recent updates on the Schine. She noted that the city has informed the theater owner of some windows in its entranceway that were broken last winter, which Bowers "promptly addressed" by replacing them with plywood.

City Treasurer Robert Gauthier told The Citizen Bowers owes $9,986.46 in property taxes and $505.67 in water and sewer charges. The developer has incurred similar debts in the past, and paid them.

Like the city, the New York State Historic Preservation Office has not heard anything recent about the Schine from Bowers either. The office, which holds a preservation covenant on the theater through 2036 and therefore must approve any work there, told The Citizen this week that the only work it has approved since 2017 was attaching a banner to the theater in 2021.

Whenever work resumes, Bowers remains eligible for a total of $2.2 million in state funding, Empire State Development confirmed to The Citizen this week. The theater was awarded $1.2 million through the Central New York Regional Economic Development Council in 2017, and the city was awarded a $1 million Restore NY Communities Initiative grant on the project's behalf in 2018.

Empire State Development added, "We are in constant communication with all parties and we are confident this will continue to move forward."

A possible explanation for the project's delay is Bowers being preoccupied with other ones. According to The Utica Observer-Dispatch, the developer this week completed the purchase of a Utica property that the Oneida County Industrial Development Agency has been trying to secure through eminent domain. The agency's efforts were the subject of a lawsuit by Bowers and co-petitioners, and in December the state Supreme Court ruled against the agency. It has since voted to appeal the decision, "(continuing) to try to steal this property from us," Bowers said in its purchase announcement.

Bowers, which bought the Schine from the Cayuga County Arts Council for $15,000 in 2018, has overseen the remediation of its asbestos and other hazardous materials with the support of $800,000 in Community Development Block Grant funds from the city. The developer plans to turn the theater into a multipurpose event space, and has budgeted the project at about $6 million.

"You just can't find buildings like this anymore," Bryan Bowers told The Citizen in 2019. "You can't create buildings like this anymore."

A Syracuse man was convicted of multiple drug crimes in Cayuga County Court on Wednesday.

Chanchhayavan Chourb, 32, was found guilty following a three-day jury trial on one count of third-degree criminal possession of a controlled substance, a class B Felony, and one fourth-degree count of criminal possession of a controlled substance, a class C felony, for possessing more than 1/8th of an ounce of cocaine with the intent to sell.

According to a press release from the Cayuga County DA's Office, at approximately 1 a.m.July 1, 2022 while in the area of South Street and Chedell Place, in Auburn, Chourb, possessed approximately six grams of powder cocaine and over three grams of crack cocaine packaged for re-sale. In the aggregate, the cocaine weighed well in excess of 1/8th of an ounce.

Chourb was stopped by members of the Auburn Police Department following his failure to use his turn signal while changing lanes. Once pulled over, police learned that Chourb possessed only a learner's permit, and as the sole occupant, was not legally able to operate the vehicle.

Members of APD then ordered Chourb to exit the vehicle. Once out of the car, Chourb attempted to flee on foot, but was apprehended after a brief pursuit. Once in custody, members of APD discovered a large bag of cocaine in the northbound lane of South Street near where Chourb fled. Members of the Finger Lakes Drug Task Force were then called in to assist in the investigation.

This case was prosecuted by Assistant District Attorney Britton H. Bouchard and Deputy Chief Assistant District Attorney Susan Azzarelli.

“We are pleased with the jury’s verdict and appreciate the time and consideration the jurors gave listening to and reviewing the evidence throughout the trial.” District Attorney Grome Antonacci said in the press release. “We commend the quick response and efforts of the Auburn Police Department and the Finger Lakes Drug Task Force in removing these narcotics from our community.”

Chourb faces a maximum term of 15 years of imprisonment with three years of post-release supervision. He is scheduled to be sentenced on June 29. Chourb was remanded to the custody of the Cayuga County Jail without bail pending sentencing.

AUBURN — Auburn and West Genesee played 6 1/2 innings of even baseball

One lackluster half-inning, to open the game, ultimately decided the winner.

Four runs against in the first inning cost the Maroons in a 4-1 defeat against West Genny on Thursday at Falcon Park.

While the outcome was a setback on Auburn's win-loss record, the game reaffirmed the team's definite strength: Its pitching. The Maroons held West Genny scoreless across the final six innings to keep the game competitive.

An 0-for-6 showing with runners in scoring position prevented a comeback.

"Obviously West Genny is a program that's been elite at the AA level for years. We knew coming into today that it was a tough test," Auburn coach John Turcsik said. "We're obviously disappointed with the result. I thought we had some opportunities that we didn't capitalize on, that I'm hopefully we will later in the year.

"Even though it's an early loss, we've got a long season ahead and I'm still very optimistic about this team and what we're capable of doing."

With how Auburn's throwers have stormed out of the gates, that optimism is warranted. The Maroons opened the season in the Lumberyard Classic in Cortland over the weekend, and the pitching staff limited opponents to one earned run and five hits in a pair of victories over Newburgh and Syracuse City.

Excellence largely carried over against West Genesee. Veteran Lucas West entered in relief to start the third inning, and pitched a relatively harmless outing that kept the Maroons within striking distance despite an early four-run deficit.

His only challenge came in the top of the seventh when West Genny advanced a runner to third base, but West worked a fly out and ground ball to third base to end the threat.

In five innings pitched, he held West Genny to four hits and one walk while striking out three.

West, fellow senior Cooper Polcovich (eight strikeouts in four innings so far), junior Owen Birchard (four shutout innings over the weekend)and up-and-coming freshman Myles McBride make for a formidable staff that should keep offenses off balance this season.

"With our pitching staff, we're very fortunate to have a lot of arms and a lot of options depending on the situation," Turcsik said. "Obviously we got down in the first inning, and West came in and did a great job the rest of the game. He kept us in the ballgame when it could've gotten out of hand there. Our pitchers are gonna be the strength of our team."

Turcsik also acknowledged that his offense has work to do, especially in the game's biggest moments. In three separate innings, Auburn put multiple runners on base, but managed only one run in those situations.

In the second, Birchard and Caden Becker hit back-to-back singles with none out but failed to come home following a double-play and line out to end the inning.

Similarly in the third, Polcovich hit a single and Jason Irwin worked a walk to put two runners on with two outs. West Genny also worked out of that jam.

Auburn was able to break through in the fifth. Mac Maher, Steven Ambroggio and Polcovich all reached on walks to load the bases. Then, in a nine-pitch at-bat, Irwin forced a fourth consecutive walk to bring a run home and cut the Maroons' deficit to three.

West Genny was able to limit the damage, however, by forcing Auburn into consecutive outs. That was, effectively, the ballgame.

"We've gotta improve on our hitting," Turcsik said. "We've gotta do the little things and have better approaches at the plate, if we want to be a team that plays far into the postseason this year."

While Auburn drops to 2-1, Turcsik has plenty of hope concerning the Maroons' chances in league play and in the section this year. The Maroons are only one year removed from winning the Salt City Athletic Conference title in 2021, and were the runners-up in 2022.

One notable difference for 2023: The Maroons bumped up a classification from Class A to Class AA. That only exasperates the challenge of reaching a third consecutive section final game.

"Our goal every year is to win a league championship and play far into sectionals," Turcsik said. "On paper, by all means we have a team with potential to do that. We've just gotta go out and get the job done. I think these guys are very capable, as long as we stay healthy and continue to improve each day and each game.

"There's a lot of pressure there, playing in sectional championships the last two years, and I think these guys feel it a little bit. But at the same time, it's a veteran group and I'm confident."

Flickering lights inside Auburn City Hall were the first indication that something was wrong.

New York State Electric and Gas found the source of the problem: An underground power line fire.

Auburn Fire Chief Mark Fritz told The Citizen that he was at City Hall on Monday for a meeting with senior-level staff members. At the beginning of the meeting, the lights were flickering. He, along with Auburn City Manager Jeff Dygert and maintenance personnel, went to the utility room in the building's basement.

"There was an odor of something burning, "Fritz said. "We shut the power off, the main breaker to the building, and requested NYSEG to the scene." He added that they could hear arcing or shorting coming from outside of the building.

When the NYSEG crew arrived, they lifted a manhole cover outside City Hall. Arcing could be heard in the manway, Fritz said, and smoke began to billow out of it.

NYSEG shut off power while continuing to investigate the source of the smoke. More than 1,100 customers lost power, mainly in the downtown area. Traffic signals weren't working during the outage. Auburn police officers directed traffic at major intersections.

An Auburn Fire Department engine company responded and walked through City Hall to ensure there were no hazards, Fritz said. Auburn City Clerk Chuck Mason told The Citizen that City Hall closed due to the fire and subsequent power outage. Employees were sent home for the day.

Shelby Cohen, a NYSEG spokesperson, said the problem originated at the North Green Street substation but did not have more information. Fritz said crews found a short in one of the underground power lines.

"They were able to isolate the short to a relatively short area," he said.

Power was restored Monday night. City Hall will reopen Tuesday, Mason said.

The New York State Department of Health is investigating a video that appears to show a nurse asleep while standing and working at Auburn Rehabilitation and Nursing Center on Sunday.

Jeffrey Hammond, the department's deputy director of communications, confirmed the investigation to The Citizen on Wednesday.

"The (department) has made it a top priority to hold nursing homes accountable for the quality of care they provide," he said.

Hammond declined further comment due to the investigation being open. But he encouraged nursing home residents and their families to share complaints or concerns with the department's Centralized Complaint Intake Unit at health.ny.gov/facilities/nursing/complaints.htm or 1-888-201-4563. Complaints are kept confidential, and the outcomes of reviews are shared with complainants.

According to state Department of Health records, the nursing home was the subject of 62 complaints between Feb. 1, 2019, and Jan. 31 of this year. It had 75 complaints and 10.9 citations per 100 occupied beds, compared to the state averages of 49.9 and 2.6, respectively. The nursing home was fined $17,000 last July for allowing two staff unvaccinated against COVID-19 to work there.

The 92-bed nursing home at 85 Thornton Ave. is also continuing its own investigation into the video, Administrator Judson MacCaull told The Citizen on Wednesday. He declined comment on the current employment status of the nurse depicted in it. He also said the certified nursing assistant who recorded and posted the video on Facebook, Alexxis McNeil, is still employed by the nursing home.

"Once the investigation is complete and we have an opportunity to carefully consider the findings, we will make personnel decisions in accordance with the law and consistent with our commitment to the health and safety of our residents and staff," MacCaull said. "We appreciate your understanding of the need for a fair and complete review and to avoid premature speculation or rushes to judgment."

McNeil, however, told The Citizen she was informed by the nursing home's human resources department that sharing the video publicly violated HIPAA, the federal law restricting the release of medical information. Upon being told she would be fired as a result, McNeil instead quit, she said. To the best of her knowledge, she is no longer an employee of the nursing home.

McNeil's video, which she posted Tuesday morning, has been viewed more than 450,000 times and shared more than 5,700.

The driver of a car that crashed into two others on East Genesee Street in Auburn in January has been charged with eight offenses.

Joel Edward Rusin Jr., 21, was charged Saturday with fourth-degree (reckless) criminal mischief, a class A misdemeanor, as well as aggravated DWI, driving while ability impaired combined drugs and alcohol and more for his role in the Jan. 21 crash, the Auburn Police Department said in a news release Sunday.

The charges were delayed because Rusin's blood was sent to the New York State Police Crime Laboratory System for toxicology, which found his blood alcohol level was .2%, more than twice the legal limit of 0.08%.

Rusin turned himself in Saturday, and was processed and released on an appearance ticket.

Police said the crash was set in motion by a fight at Swaby's Tavern on South Street at about 11:50 p.m. that night. A Michael E. Stanton, 25, was arrested there for disorderly conduct, a violation, and resisting arrest, a class A misdemeanor. Afterward, as police were escorting Rusin's brother to a patrol vehicle, Rusin pulled up next to the officers in his BMW and sped away eastbound at what police estimated to be 65 mph.

He then lost control of his car and crashed into a Chevy Silverado parked at the corner of East Genesee Street and Seminary Avenue, flipping it on its side and sending debris all over the street and sidewalk. A Subaru Legacy was also damaged, and Rusin's car was totaled. He was the only person injured in the crash.

Rusin subsequently ran from his car, which was stopped in the middle of the street on East Hill. Police located him at his residence at 19 Myrtle Ave. a short time later. He was transported to the emergency room at Auburn Community Hospital for his injuries in the crash, and while there voluntarily submitted to a blood draw, police said.

Rusin's other charges are DWI (first offense), reckless driving, leaving the scene of a property damage accident, speeding and failure to keep right.

TRIANGLE, Va. — A woman who police say was abducted from her New York home has died following a shootout between her alleged kidnapper and police on the side of a northern Virginia highway.

The man who allegedly abducted her was also shot and suffered life-threatening injuries, police said.

Virginia State Police said Thursday that a trooper spotted a Jeep Cherokee on Wednesday night on southbound Interstate 95 near Springfield. Police in New York had said the Jeep was associated with the abduction of 34-year-old Tatiana David of Ithaca.

Police pulled the Jeep over. A trooper made contact with the driver and returned to his patrol car. As the trooper walked back to the Jeep, the driver sped off, and police pursued.

The Jeep ran off the road about 20 miles south of where police initially made contact, as state police say they positioned vehicles around the Jeep to force it to stop.

State Police say the driver began firing shots as troopers approached the Jeep. Troopers returned fire.

Police say David died at the scene while the driver, a 34-year-old man from North Chesterfield, was taken to the hospital for treatment.

No police officers were injured.

Police say a firearm was recovered from the Jeep.

Virginia State police did not identify the driver by name in their press release, but said the trooper who first pulled the Jeep over identified the driver as the abduction suspect. Authorities in New York had identified the man as 34-year-old Michael Davis.

New York State Police said that David was seen Wednesday morning being forced into a white SUV on West Hill Circle in Ithaca.

They said that David and Davis were in a previous relationship and have a 4-year-old child together.

The Cayuga County Sheriff's Office said it had located a missingMontezuma woman.

In a press release on Friday afternoon, the office saidKimberly L. Tanner was "safe and well" and "no further information is available." On Thursday night, the office reported Tanner was missing.

The office thanked the public for its help in finding Tanner.

Improperly discarded smoking materials were the cause of a small fire in Auburn Tuesday morning, the Auburn Fire Department said.

Mike Grady, an assistant fire chief with the department, said a call about a fire at an apartment building at 253 Genesee St. came in around 11:03 a.m. Tuesday.

Firefighters dealt with a small blaze in the wall by the stairs closest to the entrance, Grady said, adding that the fire was extinguished in around 15 minutes. Personnel were at the scene for about 50 minutes.

It was determined the fire was caused by improperly disposed smoking materials, as someone had been smoking by the steps of the building, Grady said. There were no injuries and no one was displaced as a result of the fire, as all of the tenants in the buildings were able to go back inside after the AFD was finished.

The Auburn Police Department, Auburn City Ambulance and the City of Auburn Code Enforcement Office were also at the scene.