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The City of Batavia apparently has concluded its “hunt” for the right engineering firm to handle the City Centre/Mall rehabilitation project.

According to a memo to City Council dated Feb. 16, City Manager Rachael Tabelski is recommending that the city contracts with HUNT E/A/S of Rochester for architectural and engineering services for the design of the project’s improvements. The total cost of the contract is $99,317.

Tabelski wrote that three companies responded to the city’s Request for Proposals in connection with the $1 million Downtown Revitalization Initiative and that two were selected as finalists. From there, Tabelski met with a panel of city staff and Batavia Development Corp. members to make the final selection.

Per the memo, HUNT’s work includes the Commissary at Sibley Square, Wegmans Food Markets re-use project and the Regal Cinema Complex repurposing project.

“They bring together a team of professionals dedicated to drive the public rebirth of the Batavia City Center Mall and reestablishing Main Street as a destination,” Tabelski wrote. “The HUNT team in conjunction with Vargas Associates has a long-established reputation for the creation of adaptive reuse projects and involves customized unique approach.”

The topic is part of the agenda of Monday night’s City Council Conference Meeting, scheduled for 7 o’clock at the City Hall Council Board Room.

Other agenda items of note include:

• Public hearings to adopt the 2022-23 city budget and to amend a local law to set new water rates, meter fees and a capital improvement fee. The $29,700,792 All-Funds budget ($17,853,892 general fund) calls for a tax levy of $5,986,000.  The property tax rate is $8.94 per $1,000 of assessed value – a 78-cent decrease from the 2021-22 rate. Water rates and meter fees will go up by 1.5 percent.

• Four measures dealing with work at the Water Treatment Plant and Waste Water Treatment Plant:

(1) Issuing a bid package for a licensed construction firm to replace six filters at the Water Treatment Plant to improve efficiency and capacity of the plant’s water output;

(2) Following a bid process, award contracts to six companies to supply the various chemicals used at the facilities – quicklime, ferric sulfate, fluosilicic acid, carbon dioxide, liquid alum and liquid phosphate;

(3) Contracting with Ron Hutcheson, lowest bidder, for the harvesting of fat head minnows at the WWTP. Hutcheson has agreed to pay the city $27,000 in 2022, $28,000 in 2023 and $29,000 in 2024.

(4) Using $60,000 from the city’s sewer fund sludge reserve to conduct Maximum Allowable Headworks Loadings evaluation as part of the headworks, capacity analysis and financial planning study at the WWTP. The plan is to sample different pollutants at multiple points in the system, including the influent, effluent and lift stations, Tabelski said.

• Acceptance of a $1 million Community Development Block Grant for the installation of 2,250 linear feet of 8-inch water main along Jackson Street and to commit $414,017 from the city’s water fund reserves to pay for the remaining cost of the project.

• Acceptance of a $5,000 grant from the GO Art! Statewide Community Regrant Program to fund “Community Garden in Bloom,” the creation of a seasonal mural of multiple painted panels at the Community Garden on MacArthur Drive. The project is set to run from June through October.

Following a traffic stop on Thursday, Deputy Kenneth Quackenbush had reason to believe "criminal activity was afoot" and requested backup, which came from the K-9 unit, Deputy James Stack and "Rayzor."

The team reportedly found in the vehicle, stopped at Route 33 and West Bergen Road in Bergen, a quantity of crack cocaine and a firearm.

Arrested at the scene was Marlon O. Hibbert, 35, of Rochester.  His passengers were released without charges.

Hibbert is charged with:

• Criminal possession of a narcotic drug, a Class B felony;
• Criminal possession of a narcotic drug with intent to sell, a Class B felony;
• Criminal possession of a weapon 2nd, a Class C felony;
• Aggravated unlicensed operation 3rd;
• Unlicensed operator;
• Failure to yield the right of way at a stop sign.

Hibbert was arraigned in Town of Bergen Court and ordered held on bail of $5,000 or $10,000 bond.

Assisting in the investigation were Sgt. Andrew Hale, Deputy Nate Chamound, members of the Local Drug Task Force, and the District Attorney's Office.

“I am looking forward to this because I love the city,” Rich Richmond said this morning when asked about his selection by the City Republican Committee to replace Council member-at-large Jeremy Karas, who resigned at the end of January. “We’ve got good people living here.”

Richmond, 66, (photo at right), reported that he is expected to be appointed prior to Monday’s City Council Conference Meeting at 7 p.m. at the City Hall Council Board Room.

If that does happen, he would serve until an election in November and, if he wins in November, would serve out the remaining time in that term.

The City GOP chair, Richmond said a Republican committee of 24 people met earlier this week at the Old County Courthouse to interview three candidates and vote on Karas’ replacement.

“I recused myself from running that meeting,” he said. “The three of us were there to answer as many questions as the committee had.”

With his selection, Richmond said he would give up his position on the Genesee County Planning Board (he’s been a member of that committee for four years), but would continue on as City Republican chair.

“My experience on the planning board will be a plus, having dealt with zoning issues and related items, but I’ve got a lot of catching up to do regarding city codes,” he said “I am also familiar with budgets as a member of the Godfrey’s Pond board of directors.”

About eight years ago, Richmond ran for a Ward seat on City Council but lost by 11 votes.

A two-vehicle accident is reported at East Main Street and Bank Street, Batavia.

Traffic is blocked.

Unknown injuries.

City Fire and Mercy EMS dispatched.

UPDATE 5:03 p.m.: No injuries.

Most history books neglect to mention the marginalized poor of the 19th Century and, perhaps, none were more marginalized than slave women and poor white women.

Genesee County in its early history was little different than the rest of the country in this respect.

"Until well into the 1950s, a typical historical treatment of our country usually excluded about half of the population, which is, of course, female," Eula said during a talk on Thursday morning at the Holland Land Office Museum. "The is an invisibility of women in many historical works."

Eula is uncovering some of that history in a book he's writing, The National is Local: Genesee County, New York, 1802 to Present.

"One example of this effort is the portrayal of the most invisible of women, at least for me, and that would include African-American slave women and poor white women," Eula said. "Both share common traits -- they have little power politically, economically. They lacked basic economic resources in both cases."

At the start of his talk, Eula noted that people often forget the history of slavery in New York prior to the Civil War.

"Contrary to popular belief, the dichotomy between a free North and a slave South is one that is not as pronounced as is usually depicted in a standard history textbook," Eula said. "The end of slavery in the northern states is far more complex than is typically assumed."

The emancipation of slaves in New York began early in the 19th Century but would take decades to complete.  There were slaves still in New York until shortly before the start of the Civil War.

In his talk, Eula shares what census records tell us about who owned slaves in Genesee County into the 1850s.

He also covers the plight of poor white women, who were often forced into the county's poor house/asylum. 

Press release:

Batavia Community Schools, in partnership with the YWCA of Genesee County and the Richmond Memorial Library, is hosting four nights of one-hour discussions of Michelle Obama’s best-selling autobiography, BECOMING.

The program is being offered to both high school students and adults, with each session focusing on a different aspect of the book examining Obama’s personal and public life as a woman, lawyer, wife, mother, First Lady, and private citizen.

The following are the dates and times for each discussion: 

Wednesday, March 2, 2022
Wednesday, March 16, 2022
Wednesday, March 30, 2022
Wednesday, April 6, 2022

9-12th Grade Group
3:30pm-4:30pm

Adult Group
5:15pm-6:15pm

Richmond Memorial Library - Gallery Room

“We’re thrilled to be partnering with the YWCA and the Richmond Memorial Library on this program. I’m especially excited to see our community have an opportunity to study and discuss such an influential and inspiring person like Michelle Obama,” said Julia Rogers, Batavia CSD Coordinator of Community Schools

Two community members will join each session as moderators, including Millie Tomidy Pepper, Executive Director, YWCA of Genesee County; Julia Rogers, Batavia CSD Coordinator of Community Schools; Felicia Cecere, Teen Services Librarian at the Richmond Memorial Library; Alayna Tatarka and Lindsey Reed from the YWCA; Shevonne Wroten from ESL; Yasmeen Hunter from the US Postal Service; Sarah Sanchez-Anderson from Navient; and Tracy Lin, a recent UB graduate. 

“I'm excited to be working in partnership with Julia from Batavia Community Schools and Felicia from the Richmond Memorial Library to bring this in-depth book review opportunity to both youth and adults in our community,” said Millie Tomidy Pepper, Executive Director, YWCA of Genesee County. “It is important to highlight this book for a multitude of reasons. It addresses her oppression as a woman of color but more importantly her ability and determination to rise above it and succeed at the highest level.” 

Refreshments will be served. There are limited spots available for each session. Attendees are encouraged to register here: https://rb.gy/kbnflm

Participants can pick up the book in advance at the Richmond Memorial Library in hardcover, larger print, ebook, or audiobook. 

Covid protocols will be in effect for these events as well as social distancing. 

Press release:

Congressman Chris Jacobs (NY-27) cosponsored the Unmask our Kids Act.

“As more states have moved to drop mask mandates on our children in schools, New York continues to bring up the rear by still forcing kids to mask up in the classroom,” Jacobs said.“Forced masking has done incredible damage to the emotional, social, and language development of children. Many younger students have now developed new speech problems as a result, with more suffering from emotional intelligence problems because they are unable to fully read facial cues.”

The Unmask our Kids Act would prohibit the Secretary of Education from providing federal funds to a local educational agency unless in-person education is available to all students and parents have the ability to send their children to class maskless.

“It is far past time to remove the mask mandate in New York schools and return normalcy to our students’ classrooms, gymnasiums, lunchrooms, and playgrounds,” Jacobs said. “I am proud to join this legislation to do just that.”

A car has hit a pole and wires are down in the area of 147 East Main St., Le Roy.

Le Roy Fire and Le Roy Ambulance responding.

Frank Baumgardner, 40, of Laurel Oak Way, Batavia, is charged with issuing a bad check. Baumgardner is accused of issuing a bad check at about noon, Jan. 5, at a location on Myrtle Street, Le Roy. The case was investigated by Le Roy Officer Stephen Cappotelli.

Johnny Gene Jenison, 51, of Clinton Street, Cowlesville, is charged with forcible touching. Jenison was wanted on a warrant issued out of Town of Batavia Court in relation to an incident reported on 10:09 p.m., July 22, at Fairbridge Inn & Suites, 4371 Federal Drive, Batavia. He was also charged with failure to report change of address.  Jenison was arraigned in Town of Batavia Court and released under supervision.

Klarissa Carol Price, 43, of Halstead Road, Batavia, is charged with trespass. Price was arrested on a warrant out of Town of Batavia Court in relation to an incident reported at 4 p.m., Sept. 28, at a location on West Main Street, Batavia. Price was released on her own recognizance. 

Chris John Bannister, 57, of Route 98, Attica, is charged with DWI, speeding, and criminal possession of a controlled substance 7th. Bannister was stopped at 1:57 a.m., Feb. 22, on Clinton Street Road, Stafford, by Sgt. Mathew Clor. Release status unknown.

Patricia A. Gibson, 32, of Pearl Street, Batavia, is charged with petit larceny. Gibson is accused of shoplifting from Walmart at 2:17 p.m., Feb. 22. She was issued an appearance ticket.

Press release:

The American Legion Auxiliary Unit #576 of Le Roy has selected five local High School Juniors girls to attend this year's New York Girls State the week of July 3rd at SUNY Brockport.

Madison Spink, Maureen Klaiber, and Allie Ingles of Le Roy High School have been selected to attend American Legion Auxiliary (ALA) New York Girls State. Selected as alternates are Carol Graves and Isabelle Blankenship of Pavilion High School.   As part of the premier ALA program, the girls will study local, county, and state government processes during this five-day nonpartisan political learning experience.

The Girls were selected to attend Girls State based on selection criteria through the Auxiliary unit and/or high school, which includes being in the top 1/3 of her class, along with consideration given to scholastic achievements, leadership, character, honesty and physical fitness. 

Representing Genesee County
Maureen Klaiber, a Junior at Le Roy High School, is the daughter of Kurt and Kate Klaiber.  She is involved in the National Honor Society, school musicals, Marching Band,  DECA, Mock Trial, Math team, and the tennis team. She has also received honors in multiple honor bands for her skills as a vocalist, percussionist, and pianist, along with recognition from the Stars of Tomorrow theater program.

Representing LeRoy Unit #576
Allie Ingles a Junior at Le Roy High School, is the daughter of  Tom and Shannon Ingles.  She participates in National Honor Society, Math team, Secretary of Student Council, Mock Trial, Metagenomics, plays and earned many honors as part of the LeRoy High School Varsity Volleyball Team and plays Varsity Tennis.  Allies is also an active member of the Jr American Legion Auxiliary for Unit #576, as well be active in the community volunteering on several service projects.

Madison Spink a Junior at Le Roy High School is the daughter of Derek and Sarah Spink.  She participates in National Honor Society, Knowledgeable Knights, Emerging Knights, Math team, Mock Trial and plays on the Le Roy High School Varsity Softball team. Outside of school is active with the Batavia Youth Bureau, Rotary Inner Act, and Our Lady of Mercy Church.

ALA Girls State attendees, known as “citizens,” receive special instruction in parliamentary procedure and organize themselves into two mock political parties. The young women then campaign, hold rallies, debate, and ultimately vote to elect city, county, and state officials. Once elected to office, delegates are sworn in and perform their prescribed duties. Attendees not elected to office are given appointments and visit the offices of those elected to share their viewpoints as citizens.

Every spring, approximately 25,000 young women across the country are selected to attend ALA Girls State programs in their respective states. Two outstanding citizens from each of the 50 ALA Girls State programs are then chosen to represent their state as “senators” at ALA Girls Nation held in Washington, D.C. in July.

Congratulations Girls.

Genesee County legislators on Wednesday afternoon – in the clearest of terms – asked Congressman Chris Jacobs for his help in finding federal money to assist the municipality with its multimillion dollar Countywide Water Project.

Legislature Chair Rochelle Stein set the tone for the roundtable discussion at the Old County Courthouse by emphasizing that residents’ quality of life and the county’s economic development hinge upon the amount of water flowing into the City of Batavia and Genesee’s towns and villages.

The purpose of the meeting – it lasted about 50 minutes -- was to educate Jacobs on the details of the water project, which is nearing the end of Phase 2 of a planned four-phase initiative.

County Engineer Tim Hens said the cost of the project is staggering -- $20 million for Phase 1, $23 million for Phase 2 (which will bring in another 2.4 million gallons per day), $85 million for Phase 3 (another 6 million gallons per day and the elimination of the aging City water plant) and an estimated $50 to $60 million for Phase 4.

“We’re at a point now where we can’t manage it on our own,” said Stein, asking Jacobs and his staff to explore all options through the network of federal agencies.

County Manager Matt Landers said the county “is on the same trajectory with the same issues and the same concerns,” referring to having to impose water restrictions at peak summer times and delays in completing Phase 2 due to COVID-19.

He said the bulk of the water generated by Phase 2 is “largely spoken of for other developments, expected growth and other water districts (including the Town of Bethany) coming on line.”

“So, we’re going to be chasing our tail; we’re in the same position for the next five or six years until Phase 3 comes on board,” he said, adding that Phase 3 is at the design stage. “Phase 3 brings us extra water, but it really doesn’t put us in position for the next generation …”

Landers said the county has taken steps to attract funding – enlisting a lobbying firm, hiring grant writers and using its resources (such as $8 million of American Rescue Plan Act funding) – but is in need of outside help to avoid placing the burden on taxpayers.

He said that breaking Phase 3 into a couple dozen smaller projects, such as individual pump stations or towers at $2.5 million, for example, could be the best way to present it to funding entities such as the United States Department of Agriculture or the Environmental Protection Agency.

Hens said the county estimated, in 1998, a 40-year forecast of needing 10 million gallons per day, but it already has hit that amount. Now, they’re looking at 21.5 million gallons a day for Phase 3 and Phase 4.

“The growth of the water system has far exceeded our expectations for not only residential demand,” Hens said, but also for dairy farmers, who comprise the county’s largest industry. “Cows drink probably eight times what the average human consumes in a day, so the usage on farms is pretty high.”

He also said the water project has fostered the expansion of the county’s food processing industry, mentioning HP Hood (that uses a million gallons per day) and O-At-Ka Milk Products.

Stein, noting that the Tonawanda Creek is an “environmentally-threatened water source,” wondered out loud whether there is an environmental bill coming out where funding for public water could be allocated. She also asked if some sort of “social justice” funding was available in light of the amount of low- to moderate-income citizens in the city and county.

While Genesee County is proud of its dairy and food processing industry, Stein said it lost an opportunity to attract the Great Lakes cheese plant in Le Roy because of limited access to water.

“We don’t want to be in that situation forever,” she said. “… seeking those federal dollars is really important to us. Our conversation is meaningful … and you’re going to talk about that when you’re in Washington.”

Jacobs said he and his staff would “scour departments within Washington, D.C., to find good fits for opportunities for this very important project.”

He said that water and broadband (internet) are “common needs” throughout his Congressional district that he continues to advocate for. The Republican said that as a member of the House Agriculture Committee he is learning about the problems facing rural communities and “hopefully, we’ll be in the majority next year and I will be in a better position to advocate as well.”

Derek Judd, who serves as Jacobs’ legislative director, said by video that low cost, long-term financing for water infrastructure is in the works but advised legislators to be prepared for a long timeline when it comes to Congress-supported community project funding projects.

Landers said Jacobs “should be proud” of the fact that Genesee County has developed a regional water supply in conjunction with the Monroe and Erie county water authorities and (with Niagara County in the future at the WNY STAMP site in the Town of Alabama).

Both Stein and Landers pointed out the “partnership” the county has with the city, towns and villages, and hoped that Jacobs would communicate their message to his colleagues at the nation’s capital.

Article by Sharon Burkel
Batavia Cemetery Association

Many famous and influential citizens are buried in the Historic Batavia Cemetery on Harvester Avenue, and their stories are familiar to many. The founding families of Batavia: the Ellicotts, the Richmonds, the Brisbanes, and the Carys; the Confederate soldier Philemon Tracy and his uncle, Judge Phineas Tracy, who brought Philemon’s body back over enemy lines for burial; and the infamous William Morgan, the man who threatened to reveal Masonic secrets, was kidnapped and disappeared. But every stone in a cemetery represents the story of a person who played a part not only in the lives of their friends and family but also in building the fabric of the community. Sometimes their stories get lost in time, especially when there is no gravestone.

Such is the case of Watson Bullock, a Black entrepreneur, businessman, and activist who lived in LeRoy and Batavia in the late nineteenth and early twentieth centuries. Russell Nephew, a Batavia resident who collects Batavia artifacts, contacted the Batavia Cemetery Association after he received a request from Glenn Hinson, Associate Professor of Folklore and Anthropology at the University of North Carolina, Chapel Hill. Professor Hinson is doing research on the Bullock family and inquired if Watson is buried in the Historic Batavia Cemetery on Harvester Avenue.  The cemetery’s old records show that Watson, his wife Martha, and four of his children rest in the northeast corner of the cemetery. Mr. Nephew and this writer walked the cemetery to find their graves, and discovered they are all unmarked.

Ruth McAvoy writes in her book The History of Batavia, “One family that contributed to the local area was that of the Watson Bullocks who for many years lived at 113 Liberty Street. The Bullocks moved to Batavia from LeRoy about 1880. For years, the Bullocks ran a drycleaning establishment and manufactured and sold bluing (which adds a trace amount of blue dye to white fabric during laundering to improve its appearance) in bottles that still turn up in local dumps. A manuscript history of the Free Methodist Church identifies Watson Bullock as the man who preserved the $50 from the sale by the church of the Holland Land Office and made sure that the money would be available when the Methodist Society was ready to purchase a new place of worship. He was also one of the founders of the Emancipation Celebration Society.”

Mr. Bullock was born in North Carolina sometime in 1844 and moved to LeRoy after the Civil War with his family, who were reported to be ex-slaves.  In 1871, a newspaper ad in The LeRoy Gazette shows he was cleaning and repairing clothes in LeRoy, which continued until he married the widow, Martha Butler, on May 6, 1878. She was a hairdresser in LeRoy. Business ads in The Daily Morning News indicate that in October 1878, they moved to Batavia to establish a dyeing and cleaning business at 104 Main Street; that in April 1880 they moved their home and business to the southwest corner of East Main and Cemetery Streets (now Harvester Avenue), and again in June 1880 to 6 State Street. The Batavia Daily News ads show they moved in July 1881 to 25 Jackson Street, in 1889 to 30 Liberty Street, in 1891 to 9 South Liberty Street, and in 1902 to 113 South Liberty Street, where they remained until Watson’s death on March 21, 1918. During these years the Watsons manufactured and sold liquid bluing, five different colors of ink for dyeing, created the “London Carpet Renovator” to clean carpets in place, repaired and cleaned clothes, and sold second-hand household items and clothes, books, notions, and patent medicines.

The Bullocks’ life was not easy. Professor Hinson relates that they lost seven of their eight children by 1890 and wrote, “That’s a long hard list…and with none living more than ten years.” Three of the children buried in the Batavia Cemetery died within four months in 1890 of consumption (pulmonary tuberculosis): Hattie, on July 19^th, aged 1 year, 3 months; Edmund, on September 2^nd, aged 6 years; and Watson, on November 15^th, aged 1 year, 7 months. The fourth child, Eva Estelle, died on August 4, 1871, aged 9 years.

An article by Alice Zillman Chapin in The Batavia Daily News dated Saturday, April 8, 1961, entitled “There is Civil War Issue Behind Church’s Centennial,” tells that a “mystery book,” which had been discovered in the attic of the Cattaraugus Free Methodist parsonage in 1959, revealed that the Batavia Free Methodist congregation in Batavia had been founded in April of 1861, not 1878 as they had previously thought. The Free Methodists were staunch abolitionists and had broken with the Methodist Episcopal Church throughout the United States.

Chapin writes, “It was an ex-slave from North Carolina, Watson Bullock, who was responsible for keeping the newborn Batavia Free Methodist Church on its feet. Under his leadership, meetings were held in two rooms of the house at the west corner of East Main and Harvester Avenue. Strangely enough, by 1880, the Holland Land Office entered the picture. The building was purchased by the Free Methodists from Ruth Bryan whose mother had conducted the Bryan Young Ladies’ Seminary there. Church meetings were held on one side of the building, which was, according to records, divided by a long hall. Apartments made up the other side.”

Chapin continues, “With finances somewhat shaky, the little band of Free Methodist pioneers sold their historical Land Office church to Kate and Edna Clapsaddle Lawrence…. With much foresight, the ex-slave, Watson Bullock, held the money from the Land Office sale in trust, feeling certain that somehow, someway, the Batavia group would be able once again to purchase their own church building. Church records show, interestingly enough, that there was some dispute as to how the funds should be spent, but Mr. Bullock staunchly guarded the money for four years. By 1893, with funds from the Bullock account, the half-completed property at Ellicott St. and Linwood Avenue was purchased. The Batavia Methodist Episcopal Church had abandoned plans for the building and put the unfinished structure up for sale. Originally the Free Methodists planned it as a mission to the foreign-born of the city but it later became their church home.”

Although they suffered unimaginable grief in the loss of their children, Watson and Martha were always concerned about their community and fellow man and faithful to their church. Articles in The Daily News reported they collected clothing for the “…suffering colored refugees of Southern Kansas…” after a nine-month drought in 1880-81, allowed their business at 9 South Liberty Street to be used as a District 6 polling place in 1891, and held Free Methodist prayer and home missionary society meetings at their different homes. In 1900, Watson was sworn in as an officer (Orderly) of the Salvation Army. He had a float in the 4^th of July parade in 1907 and was elected as an alternate delegate for District No. 5 to the Prohibition County Convention in 1910. He donated 10% of his sales in December 1914 to the Belgian Relief Fund as the German-occupied country was suffering great food shortages in World War I. In 1917, Watson was elected chairman of the new Emancipation Celebration Society.

The Daily News reported Watson’s death on March 21, 1918:

Well-Known Resident Died Following Stroke of Apoplexy

“Watson Bullock died about 6 o’clock this morning at his home, Number 113 South Liberty Street. He had been confined to his bed about ten days and it was believed that he suffered a stroke of apoplexy (cerebral hemorrhage).

Mr. Bullock was 73 years old and had resided in Batavia about 50 years, being well-known and respected. He was a trustee of the Free Methodist Church of Ellicott Street and was an active supporter of the Salvation Army. For several years he manufactured and sold blueing in wholesale and retail quantities and in recent years he had conducted a secondhand store. Besides his wife he is survived by son, John Bullock, a daughter, Miss Adeline Bullock, both of whom reside at home, and a stepson, George Butler of Beaver Falls, Pennsylvania.

Mr. Bullock came north with his parents from North Carolina, where the family was in slavery before the Civil War. The family lived in Leroy for a short time, before coming to Batavia.”

Alice Chapin also wrote about Bullock’s passing, “Watson Bullock was widely loved and respected by townspeople of all faiths in Batavia. Readings in the ‘mystery’ record book tell that in 1918, when he died, the Free Methodist Church that he so dearly loved, was crowded with prominent people who came to honor him for his faithfulness to his God, his church and his community.”

On April 6, 1918, The Daily News reported the value of Watson’s estate as “…$4,650, of which $450 is in personal property.” ($85,650 today!) It was left to Martha as executrix and would go to the children at her death. Sadly, Martha Bullock died May 2, 1936, at the age of 89 at the Genesee County Poor Farm in Bethany.

The Free Methodists sold their building on Ellicott Street to Mt. Zion Baptist Church and built a new church on Bank Street in 1968, which is now Arbor House, part of Northgate Free Methodist Church. When the new church was dedicated, Dorothy Parker wrote in The Daily News on April 27, 1968, that according to a history written by longtime parishioner Mrs. Erwin Worthington, “Watson Bullock, an ex-slave who had operated a large dry cleaning business in Le Roy and Thomas Hill, body servant to a Confederate officer, were members of this early church.”  She also recounts that the Holland Land Office building was sold for $500, not $50 as McEvoy said and that the money was ‘…banked by Watson Bullock, rather than returned to the church conference as was customary. Mr. Bullock was determined to re-activate the church in Batavia.’”

For many years, it was thought that the only person of color buried in the Historic Batavia Cemetery was a woman named Addy. The inscription on her stone reads, “For 46 years the faithful colored servant of the Reverend Lucius Smith and family. Died January 28, 1857, aged 50 years.”

The Association thanks Professor Hinson and Russell Nephew for bringing to light the story of the Bullock family and their contributions to the Batavia community. Every soul in a cemetery has a story, and they all deserve to be remembered.

Previously: In 1921, Matthew Bullock fled to Batavia on his way to Canada to escape lynching

Press release:

Assemblyman Steve Hawley (R,C,I-Batavia) has announced he will be seeking re-election to the New York State Assembly to continue representing the people of the 139th Assembly District. Having represented the region since 2006, Hawley seeks to continue to leverage the skills and relationships he’s developed over the years to ensure the voices and concerns of his constituents are heard in Albany.

“Although I will be losing the friends I’ve made over the last decade in the Town of Riga & Village of Churchville in Monroe County, I am happy to be reunited with the Town of Shelby in Orleans County and look forward to making new friends in the Town of Newstead & Village of Akron in Erie County. With that said, I am grateful to have the opportunity to continue representing the entirety of Genesee County.”

Press release:

Congressman Chris Jacobs (NY-27) joined numerous House colleagues to call on Speaker Pelosi to allow the immediate consideration of H.J. Res. 67 – A resolution invoking the Congressional Review Act to outlaw the Biden administration’s health care worker vaccine mandate.

“This administration has chosen to violate the freedoms of every American, destroy the livelihoods of hardworking men and women, and harm our critical industries to push their unconstitutional vaccine mandates,” Jacobs said. “No one, especially our heroes in health care who have supported us throughout the pandemic, should be forced to choose between their medical freedom and their ability to support themselves. These mandates are unAmerican, as is forcing anyone out of a job for making a personal medical decision. The Speaker must allow consideration of this resolution immediately to repeal this vaccine mandate.”

Fact Check: Jacobs states that vaccine mandates are unconstitutional.  There is no legal basis for the statement.  Vaccine mandates have been considered constitutional since 1905. See also this article. More recently, the current court upheld the health care worker vaccine mandate at federally funded facilities.

Press release:

Western Region Off-Track Betting (WROTB) / Batavia Downs Gaming President and CEO Henry Wojtaszek presented representatives from the Genesee County Volunteers for Animals and the Genesee County Animal Shelter with checks totaling $2,471 to help support their efforts to take care of animals in the Genesee County area.

The Puppy Paws Indoor Craft and Vendor Market, held at Batavia Downs on February 6th, was organized by Mary Bucceri, Group Sales Manager at Batavia Downs.  100% of collected vendor fees and accepted donations by attendees were given to these 2 local organizations. 

Volunteers for Animals will use the money raised for pet supplies and medical expenses for the animals.  The Genesee County Animal Shelter will use the money to repair and replace various equipment at the Animal Shelter and in the Animal Control van. in addition to purchasing safety equipment for the officers when interacting with feral cats.

“We host several vendor events throughout the year, and we are happy to use these events to help raise money for local worthy organizations,” said Wojtaszek. “We will continue to do what we can to be a good partner to local charities and organizations.”

“The Volunteers for Animals would like to give a special thanks to Batavia Downs and their continued support, “ said VFA Board President Deb Stocking.  “We work hard every year to raise enough money to continue to help the animals. The Downs has been a huge part of this goal. Thank you all for your hard work and - the dogs and cats say 'thank you' as well!”

Press release:

The City of Batavia Water Department will be repairing a water main break in the area of 3 Ross Street. There is the potential that the water may need to be shut off on Ross Street, from Main Street to Washington Avenue.

The length of time the water will be off is unknown.

Traffic will also be closed in the area of Ross Street, from Main Street to Washington Avenue while the repairs are being made.

As always, when the water is restored it may be discolored. Please refrain from doing any laundry until the water runs clear.

We apologize for any inconvenience and the public’s patience is greatly appreciated. 

A two-car accident is reported at Central Avenue and Jackson, Batavia.

Traffic is blocked.

A possible neck injury reported.

City Fire and Mercy EMS responding.

UPDATE 5:41 p.m.: Four people involved, all expected to be signoffs. Minor damage to vehicles.

A $12.1 million capital improvement project at Le Roy Central Schools is running under budget, and district officials are looking at adding three more tasks to the to-do list, Superintendent Merritt Holly told trustees at their meeting Tuesday night.

Officials will seek bids on:

• Replacing heat pumps at Wolcott School and the Jr./Sr. high school;
• Replacing curtains in the theaters at both schools; and, 
• Replacing switchgear in the Lapp Building.

"So those are the three areas that we've kicked back to CPL (civil engineer firm in Rochester), to get a design in on those, so that again, if we have money left over, then we have designs set in place to get into SED (State Education Department) to get approval," Holly said.  "If you notice those fit in very close to what we went out with before, which was heating, cooling, and those type of items, not glamorous stuff that people are going to see but stuff that we know we need to run our buildings and protect our assets."

The curtains in the theaters have been in place since the theaters were constructed, Holly said. The immediate need is to spray them with fire retardant, but they've also reached the end of their useful life, he said. They're falling apart and should be replaced rather than just treated one more time.

Construction on many of the items in the capital improvement project will begin this spring. 

Among the items at Wolcott School:

• Convert heating controls to electronic
• Reconstruct the building's parapet
• Replace the roof
• Precast window and sill reconstruction
• Replace exterior windows
• Stair tread replacement

The construction will impact the Oatka Festival in July with construction equipment and fencing blocking some of the area used by the festival in past years for vendors.  Holly said he's met with Oatka organizers to go over options for a new site plan for the event.

COVID Update
Holly also gave the board an update on COVID testing and protocols.  

Beginning March 7, "test to stay" tests will be administered "right before school," Holly said.

Currently, tests are offered from 7 a.m. to 8:30 a.m each day.

We'll do it before school because numbers have dropped," Holly said. "If numbers come back up again, after break or whatever, we're prepared to go back (to testing) in the morning. But right now, we can handle everything that we need to just before school."

Recently, the district handed out 64 at-home tests to parents and community members. 

State Audit
Up to a half-dozen auditors from the NYS Comptrollers Office will be in Le Roy, or some working remotely, for an audit of the district.

The Comptrollers office routinely audits every government agency in the state.

"Just remember with an audit, they're not going to tell you the good things that are going on," Holly said. "It's going to be just things that obviously procedure-wise, it can be improved."

Officials have not provided the district with a precise date the audit will begin, but Holly said he expects the audit sometime in the spring, before the end of the school year.

"This is the first one I've had during my tenure here," Holly said.

Photo: Via Le Roy Central School District capital improvement project presentation.

Press release:

Assemblyman Steve Hawley (R,C,I-Batavia) is expressing relief following an announcement by the state Department of Health that it will not be enforcing a booster mandate for health care workers as they had planned to do starting Feb. 21.

Health Commissioner Mary T. Bassett said in a statement regarding the announcement that “the reality is that not enough health care workers will be boosted by next week's requirement in order to avoid substantial staffing issues in our already overstressed health care system,” echoing a sentiment expressed by Hawley and other members of the Assembly Minority in a letter they wrote last week to her and the governor asking them not to implement the booster mandate.

“The decision to hold back on implementing a booster mandate for health care workers is one that will save lives and finally offers some respect to the heroes in our hospitals and other health centers who’ve worked tirelessly on the front lines of this pandemic for years,” said Hawley. “Mandates of this nature have only served to stifle the ability of our health professionals to care for patients when we need them most. I am hopeful this may be a sign the administration is beginning to learn from the poor decisions they made earlier in the pandemic, which cost us many lives.”

The first New York State Bike Census has been developed and Genesee County certainly is going along for the ride.

County Planning Director Felipe Oltramari today said the state bicycle census – actually a survey that takes only a couple of minutes to complete – fits in well with the Genesee’s newly-adopted Recreation Plan.

“Our rec plan has a lot to say about this,” Oltramari said. “Community trails are a major recommendation of the plan (and the availability of trails is touched upon in the state census).”

Oltramari said that although the county did its own surveying through the Genesee 2050 project that created the Recreation Plan, the NYS Bike Census “will help bring those initiatives we identified up to the state level which should help when searching for funding opportunities.”

Here is the link to the state bike census:

https://nyserda.az1.qualtrics.com/jfe/form/SV_aaOKnyxZSgkskmi

Created through a partnership between the New York State Energy Research and Development Authority and Urban Cycling Solutions, the cycling census represents New York’s first statewide dataset on bicycle integration with mass transit.

The purpose of this short survey is to collect insights from cyclists and transit customers from all over the state to better understand opportunities and barriers for active first/last mile transportation.

Each participant will be entered to win one of three $150 Planet Bike gift cards as long as an email address is provided at the end of the survey.

Oltramari said county plans include expanding Ellicott Trail east and west, creating trailhead (parking/access) locations for this trail and adding connections/new corridors to form a trail network through the county.

Additionally, plans call for identifying appropriate town, county and state roads for paving of shoulders to facilitate recreational and multiuse purposes.

Per the Recreation Plan:

“In the absence of other trail facilities throughout the county, paved shoulders on the edge of certain Genesee County roadways can be enhanced to serve as safe and functional space for bicyclists and pedestrians to travel. Paving of road shoulders would be appropriate in more rural areas where there are few designated trails and expected pedestrian and bicycle activity. Walkable and bikeable shoulders could be provided along both sides of county roads routinely used by pedestrians.”