Martin (Marty) Hinz was recognized for his 23 years of service during Batavia City Council’s conference meeting Monday evening.
Hinz “brought knowledge and dedication to the city,” with his first promotion to lieutenant, followed later to captain, at the Batavia City Fire Department. He “displayed a calm and composed demeanor” in the face of chaotic situations, council members said.
Photo by Howard Owens
Ciro S. Matarazzo was honored by Batavia City Council on Monday night for his 29 years of service to the community.
Matarazzo began his career with the city while he was still in college as a laborer in the Bureau of Maintenance. He was employed in that position from 1997 to 1999 and became a heavy equipment operator for the City of Batavia in 1999, a position he held until his retirement this year. He's also worked in the same department since 2015.
Photo by Howard Owens.
Bill Davis, retired superintendent of water and wastewater for the City of Batavia, was honored Monday night by City Council for his 36 years of service to the community.
He began his career in 1986 as a water and wastewater maintenance worker. In recognition of his technical skills and work ethic, he was promoted to a senior position in 1996. As his leadership and supervisory skills developed, he earned a promotion to supervisor in 2013, a position he held until 2019 when he was promoted to superintendent.
His career spanned the construction of the Wastewater Treatment Plant and Wastewater Pump Station replacement in the1990s and the replacement of the 12-inch water main on Main Street in the 2000s.
Photo by Howard Owens
Roy Tourt was honored by the Batavia City Council at the start of Monday's meeting for his 23 years of service to local residents.
Tourt retired as superintendent of the Bureau of Maintenance after previously serving as an assistant city engineer. He also served a year in 2020 as interim director of Public Works. In 2017, he won the Douglas Zefting Award from the Genesee Valley branch of the American Public Works Association.
Photo by Howard Owens.
Steve Tufts submitted this photo of a massive cloud rumbling through Batavia during the thunderstorm that passed through the city at about 7 p.m.
Tufts said, "Good thing there was no rotation in that wall cloud -- it was heading straight for the Cornell Cooperative Extension!"
Lawley, an independent family-owned insurance broker, and employee benefits firm, is proud to announce the promotion of Susie Ott to Branch Manager of the Lawley Batavia office.
Ott has been with Lawley for 10+ years. Prior to that, she worked in the banking industry.
“There is nobody better out there to lead Lawley’s Batavia office,” said Bill Lawley, Jr., Principal of Lawley. “We wanted Susie in the Branch Manager role because of her experience, innovation, and leadership at our organization.”
Ott will lead Batavia’s office and help to strategize their personal insurance and business insurance divisions. She will also work to bring in farm/crop insurance specialty niche after the Lawley Southcott merger earlier in 2022. The Southcott merger brought in three new Lawley associates that will work under Ott’s leadership.
Ott is a Certified Insurance Counselor (CIC), a Notary Public, and maintains her New York State Property & Casualty Brokers License and her New York State Life License. She is a past member of the Genesee Region Insurance Professionals and the Cornell Cooperative Extension Board of Directors Selection Committee. Ott is a graduate of the Nationwide Insurance Basic Farm Certification Course and she also attended the Hartford School of Insurance’s Commercial Lines Producer Development Program.
Ott is a very active member of the Batavia community and insurance industry. She is a past member of Genesee Region Insurance Professionals and the Cornell Cooperative Extension Board of Directors Selection Committee.
Ott is a graduating member of Leadership Genesee and Leadership Wyoming. In 2018, she was honored as the Nationwide Insurance Community Service District Winner, in 2017 she won the Genesee County United Way Barber Conable Award, in 2016 was awarded Geneseean of the Year by the Genesee County Chamber of Commerce and is a 2011 member of the Outstanding Alumnus of Leadership Genesee.
Ott currently serves on the Rochester Regional Health, United Memorial Medical Center Board of Directors. She also chairs the Quality Committee at United Memorial Medical Center. In the past, she has served on the United Memorial Medical Center Foundation Board of Directors for 9 years, serving as President for 2 years.
She is Co-Chair of the United Way Day of Caring and has served in this role since 2008 when it began. She has also served on the United Way Allocations Committee for Genesee County and co-chaired the Genesee County United Way Campaign in 2008 and 2019.
Ott has been involved in the Batavia Rotary Club since 2004 and will be the 2023 incoming President. She is a past Batavia Development Corporation Board Member. In 2018, Ott was selected to be one of the 20 committee members for the Batavia Downtown Revitalization Initiative where $10 million dollars was awarded to businesses in Batavia’s Downtown.
“It is a privilege to be part of the Lawley organization. I am excited to move into the Branch Manager role to help lead the team I have been a part of for over a decade,” said Ott.
Rufus Garrett Johnson, 28, of Park Way, Chili, is charged with petit larceny. Johnson is accused of stealing multiple items from Walmart at 9:36 a.m. on April 24. Johnson was processed at the Genesee County Jail and released on an appearance ticket.
Cameron J. Sokolowski, 29, of Batavia, he's charged with harassment 2nd, menacing 2nd, unlawful imprisonment 2nd and criminal mischief 4th. Sokolowski allegedly threatened a woman with a knife and threatened to kill her. He's also accused of damaging property and not allowing the woman to leave the room. Sokolowski was arraigned in city court and released under supervision. CLARIFICATION: Sokolowski was originally arraigned on April 8st and held on $20,000 bail, $40,000 bond and $80,000 partially secured bail. He was then arraigned on April 21st on four separate misdemeanors and one violation in City Court and held on bail of $100 bail each on two separate commitments. He was not released under supervision. (Source, Jail Superintendent William Zipfel).
Tonya M. Weber, 38, of East Main Street, Batavia, is charged with petit larceny. Weber is accused of stealing from a business on East Main Street, Batavia. Weber was issued an appearance ticket.
Lakeisha A. Gibson, 35, of Albion, is charged with assault 3rd, menacing 2nd, criminal possession of a weapon 3rd, endangering the welfare of a child. Gibson is accused of hitting another person in the face, causing an injury, and threatening to stab that person with a pair of scissors. Gibson was arraigned and City Court and released under supervision.
Robie Dersham, 53, of Batavia, is charged with DWI and driving with a BAC of .08 or greater. Dershamwas stopped by State Police at 12:38 a.m., April 24, at a location in the Town of Bethany. Dersham was issued an appearance ticket and released.
Anthony J. Gonzales, 30, of Batavia, is charged with petit larceny. Gonzales was arrested by State Police in connection with an incident reported at 7:33 PM, April 22. Gonzales was issued an appearance ticket. No further information released.
Northgate Free Methodist Church held a Kids Color Run today in Batavia.
Photos by Allison Lang.
Troop Leader Melissa Sciortino holds a trash bag while Girl Scouts Lana, left, and Kennedy, gather garbage dropped on the ground by people at DeWitt Recreation Area in Batavia.
Also helping from Troop 60870 in Spencerport was Isabella.
The girls were earning badges for environment, hiking and wilderness.
The clean-up was part of the Genesee County Parks Department celebration of Earth Day at DeWitt.
Heidi Young, with the Genesee County Soil and Water Conservation District, loads a pair of trees into the truck of Joe Reif, of Clarence, as part of the department's tree and shrub program for 2022.
Area residents were able to pre-order a variety of trees and shrubs for spring planting from Soil and Water and pick them up today at the Agri-Culture Center on East Main Street Road, Batavia.
This year there were 41 tree and shrub options for sale and 15 different multi-stem packages. Items ranged from evergreens, hardwoods, fruit trees, and flowering shrubs, to perennial flowers and ferns. Items that were not offered in a while have reappeared in the catalog this year, including white cedar transplants, yellow birch, pin cherry, and white flowering dogwood.
Photos by Howard Owens
Author Barbara Knight held a reading of her new book “Lily’s Healing Journey” at GO Art! this evening.
The book is the story of a little girl who is happy and loves to sing, until something “yucky” happens in her life. She learns over the course of the story she realizes how deep her hurts are and finds a way to bring hope, healing and happiness back into her life.
Knight said she hopes that the book will touch hurting hearts and bring hope and healing.
Press release:
Earth Day is your chance to give back to your community and take care of the earth!!
Join us at DeWitt Recreation Area in Batavia for the Earth Day Park Cleanup on Saturday, April 23rd from 10:00 am to 2:00 pm. Celebrate Earth Day and help keep the park beautiful and the habitat safe and healthy for wildlife! Learn to make cool things from recycled materials and enjoy a naturalist-guided hike to discover natural wonders in the park. Enjoy wild games and find out what you can do each day to help the earth! Service groups, students, 4H and scouts can earn community service hours and badge requirements. Meet at Pavilion 2 for all activities. Celebration and all activities are FREE and open to the public.
Schedule of Activities:
- 10:00 am – 2:00 pm Park Cleanup Projects: Make the park beautiful and healthy for wildlife!
- 10:00 am – 2:00 pm Recycled Crafts 12:00 pm – 1:00 pm Field Games for Kids 1:00 pm – 2:00 pm Guided Hike
Celebration and all activities are FREE! Please pre-register for activities by calling 585-344-1122!
A motor vehicle accident is recorded at Seven Springs Road and Clinton Street Road.
Multiple departments responding. Mercy Flight dispatched. Traffic is being shut down in the area.
UPDATE 1:16 p.m.: The accident involves a motorcycle and dump truck.
A truck has struck a utility pole, shearing it from its base, in the area of 9516 Wortendyke Road, Batavia.
There may be no injuries.
East Pembroke Fire and Mercy EMS dispatched.
UPDATE 9:02 p.m.: The pickup truck, no further description, has left the scene. The pole is in the road. The road is being closed.
UPDATE: 9:07 p.m.: Mercy EMS response canceled.
UPDATE 9:13 p.m.: National Grid was notified about five minutes ago. No ETA given.
UPDATE 9:15 p.m.: The truck will have significant passenger-side damage, missing a headlight.
UPDATE 9:21 p.m.: The truck is possibly a 2004 F-150, dark in color.
UPDATE 9:24 p.m.: A caller reports seeing a truck matching the description with no headlight and a flat tire on Seward Road. A deputy reports finding fluid on Westbound Route 20.
Grandmaster Yuanming Zhang, a master of the ancient Chinese medicine of Qigong, which involves exercises to optimize energy within the body, mind, and spirit, with the goal of improving and maintaining health and well-being, has been in Batavia this past week giving seminars to area residents of all ages.
Last week, he taught children calligraphy as well as a form of Qigong known as a five-animal play.
Yesterday, he conducted a class for adults in Qigong using essential oils.
And today, his seminar was on pyramid meditation.
In 2005 Zhang established the World Federation of Reflex Medicine and in 2006, in conjunction with the World Reflexology Association, held a Conference for academic exchange at the United Nations Headquarters.
According to his website, Zhang, now a resident of Laguna Beach, Calif., was born into the Yellow Emperor Concealed Transcendent family lineage in Sichuan province in 1963. His entire life has been devoted to Internal Kung Fu and Traditional Chinese Medicine. He traces his lineage through renowned Zhang family ancestors back to the sage Laozi (Lao Tzu) and even further back to the Yellow Emperor of China. One of his ancestors was Zhang Liang, the 80th generation descendent of the Yellow Emperor.
Dr. Catherine Homrig, a veterinarian with Pumpkin Hill in Byron, said she has studied with Zhang for a number of years. She arranged for his visit to Genesee County and said one of his goals is to increase awareness of ancient cultural practices in China. He also wants to help people improve their health.
"One thing for people to learn about is the benefits of Qigong as a healing art and also a way of exercising, releasing stress, finding balance, and restoring good health," Homrig said. "And then again, cultural awareness. Master comes from a long lineage and so his (teaching) is the ancient traditional style. And with that comes strong energy. And they're probably not going to experience that in many places besides going to China."
Zhang teaches one more seminar, Om Fire Drago Qigong, during this visit, at 6:30 p.m. tonight at GO Art!, 201 East Main St., Batavia. No experience is necessary. Beginners are welcome. Wear comfortable, athletic clothing and non-skid shoes. The cost is $35 a person.
First two photos by Howard Owens. The remaining photos were submitted by Dr. Catherine Homrig (she is on the left in the photo below).
Batavia City schools board members have quite a full agenda for this week’s meeting, beginning with a public hearing about spending reserves for a roof repair.
There is to be a presentation about the $140,000 tab, to be taken from district reserves, for a Batavia High School roof repair. The public will be given time to voice questions, comments and concerns before the board is scheduled to vote on the work later in the meeting. It is set for 6 p.m. Thursday at the BHS library, 260 State St., Batavia.
Other agenda items include a review of the tentative 2022-23 budget, followed later by a vote to adopt the $55 million financial plan. The most recent preliminary budget in March included a nearly $3 million increase or 5.75 percent more than the current budget. The tax levy was at $20.57 million for a 5.5 percent increase, overriding the tax cap levy by $756,449.
Business Administrator Scott Rozanski is expected to go over the proposed budget up for board vote during Thursday’s meeting. The preliminary plan included spending increases of $692,575 for teacher/administrative support salaries, $481,970 more for support salaries and nearly $1 million more for fringe benefits. Those total increased numbers are $19.9 million for teacher salaries, $6.5 million for support salaries and $12,306,449 for fringe benefits.
Total salaries have gone from $19,312,386 in 2011-12 to $26,440,590 in 2022-23, or about $7 million more in the last decade. Administrative salaries have risen from the superintendent in 2015-16 at $148,92 to $165,000 currently, and for business administrator, it has increased by $40,000 in the last six years, from $123,913 in 2015-16 to $163,488. The role of department chairman has also been increased from $64,000 to $85,800 in that same time period.
There are a few decreases in spending, such as $100,820 less for operations/maintenance, $21,248 for textbooks and a $1.15 million decrease in debt service payments.
The packed agenda also includes time for the public to be heard about matters other than the roof repair, and:
Photo: Batavia City Schools Business Administrator Scott Rozanski is on tonight's agenda to present a proposed 2022-23 budget for the board's vote. File photo in 2022 by Howard Owens.
Press release:
Rain or shine, the Genesee County Master Gardeners will be hosting their annual Spring Garden Gala on Saturday, May 14, from 10:00 am to 1:00 pm at Cornell Cooperative Extension of Genesee County, 420 East Main Street in Batavia.
This annual plant sale features a variety of perennials, many of which are from the gardens of Master Gardeners. There will also be a selection of house plants. Plant sale starts promptly at 10 am. No early birds, please.
Visit the Basket Auction for garden art, gift certificates and a variety of themed baskets. Gently used garden books will also be for sale. Basket Auction drawing starts at 12:30 p.m.
New this year – Garden Garage Sale! We’ll have an assortment of gently used or maybe never used, gardening items such as containers, tools, signs, and garden decor.
Bring in a soil sample from your garden or lawn for a free pH test. (A half-cup sample of your garden soil in a clean container is plenty.) Master Gardeners will be available to answer your gardening questions.
Don’t miss your chance to pick up some great plants at great prices, plus garden art and other interesting items. Arrive at 10 am for the best plant selection. Proceeds from the sale benefit the educational outreach of the Genesee County Master Gardener Program.
For more information contact Mandy McCauley at Cornell Cooperative Extension of Genesee County, (585) 343-3040, ext. 101, or stop by the Extension office at 420 East Main Street in Batavia. Visit our website at: http://genesee.cce.cornell.edu/events for more information. Like us on our Facebook page for Gala and Master Gardener program updates: https://www.facebook.com/CCEofGenesee.
Photo: File photo by Howard Owens from 2016
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