CNY is getting a second Trader Joe's, and the Parkway Bridge got a new dent

Happy Memorial Day weekend. We're kicking off summer with rain on the holiday, classic. The week turns things around fast with temps pushing into the low 80s by Tuesday. This edition has something for everyone: a nuclear future for Oswego County, a grocery store win for Camillus, a manufacturing story you've probably never heard of, and a full week of things to do across CNY. Let's get into it.

CNY is getting a second Trader Joe's. The grocery chain confirmed it will open a new location at Fairmount Fair on West Genesee Street in Camillus. It will take over 12,500 square feet from Ashley Furniture. No opening date has been announced yet, but Trader Joe's did post an update on its site saying the crew is working on it. The current DeWitt location on Erie Boulevard has been the only CNY option since it opened.

The take: Good news for anyone who is sick of driving out to DeWitt just for the Everything But the Bagel seasoning.

Early Sunday morning, what appears to be a cement mixer struck the Onondaga Lake Parkway Bridge. Reports of the bridge strike came in around 8:30 a.m. This isn't the first time an oversized vehicle has clipped it, and you all know it won't be the last.

The take: A classic Syracuse moment. The bridge wins again.

Constellation Energy, the company that already runs three nuclear reactors at Nine Mile Point and FitzPatrick in Oswego County, just landed nearly $30 million in federal and state grants to pursue an early site permit for one or more new advanced reactors at the Nine Mile Point site. The U.S. Department of Energy contributed $17.3 million. The New York State Energy Research and Development Authority kicks in up to $12.5 million more. An early site permit is the regulatory first step before any construction can begin, and the New York Power Authority is still running a separate process to pick where the state's first new nuclear plant in a generation will go.

The take: If this plays out, it adds to an already powerful case that CNY is becoming the energy infrastructure capital of the Northeast, which matters a lot if Micron is going to need a gigawatt of clean power in Clay.

The next time you hear someone play guitar, whether it's a big-name artist or your favorite local musician, there's a good chance a critical part of their string was made right here in Central New York. United Wire Technologies produces the super-fine wires that wrap around 80 percent of all guitar strings made and used in the United States. It was the most-read business feature on Syracuse.com this week, and it's the kind of story that hits different once you know it.

For the first time in over 100 years, a cruise will depart from the Port of Oswego. The Great Lakes Cruise sets sail this weekend, with tickets running upwards of $10,000. Yes, you read that right. It's a premium, multi-day Great Lakes itinerary, not a fishing charter, and the departure from Oswego is a genuinely historic logistical moment for a port that doesn't get nearly enough credit.

The take: Expensive and niche, but historically meaningful. Oswego was once a major Great Lakes port city. This is a small signal that somebody, somewhere, sees that potential again.

Democrats in the County Legislature, who flipped the majority last November for the first time in nearly 50 years, dropped a package of proposals Friday after 5 p.m., before a holiday weekend. The three changes: move vacancy appointments for Legislature seats from the county executive alone to a full Legislature vote, revamp the redistricting process by creating a commission selected by multiple county officials rather than the executive alone, and limit the county executive to three consecutive terms, a change already in place for county legislators.

The take: All three proposals shift decision-making power from a single office to multiple county voices. Whether that's good governance or political maneuvering probably depends on who you ask. Based on public feedback, the Friday before a holiday weekend timing didn't do the Democrats any favors on external optics.

Memorial Day opens wet, expect highs in the upper 60s and a solid chance of rain through Monday, so plan accordingly if your barbecue is outdoors. The good news: Tuesday heats things up fast, pushing into the low 80s with a mostly dry afternoon, and Wednesday looks even cleaner. The back half of the week is typical late-May CNY weather, highs settling back into the upper 60s to mid-70s with the usual chance of an afternoon shower. The weekend looks like a solid stretch for outdoor events, which the events calendar below has no shortage of.

This week's trio comes from Helping Hounds Dog Rescue in North Syracuse, three dogs waiting on the humans who were supposed to find them.

Alexus, a 1-year-old female Catahoula Leopard Dog mix at Helping Hounds, is a medium-energy girl who's great with adults and other dogs. She hasn't been cat tested and hasn't had much exposure to kids yet, so she'd do best in a patient household willing to work on her crate and house training. At 29 pounds and just one week in the shelter, she won't last long.

Billy, a 2-year-old male Dalmatian mix at Helping Hounds, spent time in foster care with kids ages 1 through 8 and did great with all of them. He's affectionate, leash-trained, sleeps well in or out of his crate, and has been left home alone without incident. He's not good with small animals, but loves people and other dogs. An active family ready to give him a little continued training would be very lucky to have him.

Chuck, a 1-year-old male Hound mix at Helping Hounds, is the most turnkey of the three - house trained, good on leash, good in the car, good with other dogs and cats, and great with kids over 5. He came up from the south looking for his forever home and would be a solid fit for a single person or a family. One week in the shelter. Go meet Chuck.

Micron is hiring FAB Engineers for its Clay campus, the semiconductor fab that will anchor one of the largest manufacturing investments in American history. This role involves leading site-wide technical programs and initiatives. Salary range is $98,544 to $124,000. Full benefits, paid time off, and family leave.

Lockheed Martin's Liverpool campus is hiring across its radar systems programs, including Integration and Test Engineers who work on some of the most complex defense electronics in the country.

Syracuse University is hiring a Chef Manager to lead the culinary direction for its central kitchen operation. The role calls for someone who can bring fresh national and international concepts to campus dining, execute high-caliber catering events, and train a team in proper technique, all with an eye toward sustainability and locally sourced ingredients. Requires at least ten years of kitchen experience and a background in high-touch catering. Salary is $80,000.

SOS is offering a $5,000 sign-on bonus for PTs. The multi-specialty orthopedic group is hiring for its outpatient rehab department, which spans five CNY locations. You'd be working alongside orthopedic surgeons, athletic trainers, and OTs in a collaborative clinic environment with access to continuing education for OCS and other specialty certifications. New grads are encouraged to apply. Salary range $70,000 - $97,500.

Bowers & Company is a Top 300 nationally ranked CPA firm with offices in Syracuse, Rochester, Ithaca, and Watertown. They're hiring a Senior Auditor to lead audit and review engagements, prepare financial statements, and work directly with partners and clients across a range of industries. Requires 3-5 years of public accounting experience and a CPA track background. Salary range $65,000 - $80,000, with flexible schedules and a full benefits package.

That's a wrap for this week, Syracuse. See you next Monday.