news

Press Release:

We have been alerted through the National Funeral Directors Association (NFDA) of a scam targeting families we may have recently served. The predators are targeting those who have recently experienced a death by using recently published obituaries as well as those who may have made preneed funeral arrangements.

For the families who have recently experienced a death, scammers posing as a member of the funeral home’s staff are calling to tell families that they owe another $1,000 (or some other amount) for the service.

Families are also being contacted to say that a “security deposit” of $1,500 (or some other amount) is needed for their preneed account. The scammers threaten that if the deposit is not paid immediately, the funeral home cannot guarantee that the service will take place.

“While we have not been made aware of any specific instance of this scam happening locally, we certainly encourage all families in our community to be aware of this ongoing situation and to contact their funeral home of preference independently of any phone call received making such claims,” said Justin D. Calarco-Smith, funeral director and president of H.E. Turner & Co. and its affiliated funeral homes in Genesee and Wyoming counties. “If this is indeed happening in our area, we’d like to be aware,” added Calarco-Smith.

Press Release:

Nearly 100 youths gather in Washington D.C. to protest Altria Group, Inc.’s shareholder meeting and expose Big Tobacco’s lies and schemes to addict kids. 

Last week, Abbigayle Leone and Judith Newton - Reality Check leaders from Batavia High School - joined more than 125 youth and advocates from 15 different states to protest Altria Group, Inc.’s 2023 Annual Meeting of Shareholders. These advocates held a demonstration outside Altria’s Washington, D.C. office, while several youth activists had proxy tickets to directly address Altria’s executives and ask questions during the virtual shareholders’ meeting.

“I’m so proud of my youth for fighting against the manipulative tactics the tobacco industry uses to target them,” said Brittany Bozzer, Youth Coordinator at Tobacco-Free Genesee, Orleans and Wyoming (TF-GOW). “After using their powerful voices in Washington, D.C., the teens plan to continue to address the challenges of tobacco use in their communities back home, as well as mobilize their peers to take action.”

This year marks the eighth consecutive year that Mobilize Against Tobacco Lies (MATL), a collaborative of youth programs and national partners, gathered to expose and fight back against the tobacco giant’s lies. Reality Check youth from across New York State rallied with a coalition of seven tobacco control youth programs and five national partners, including Michigan Making It County, Texas Say What, New Hampshire Dover Youth to Youth, Coalition for a Tobacco-Free Hawaii, Wisconsin FACT, Delaware Kick Butts Generation, Indigenous Peoples Task Force, Corporate Accountability, Counter Tools, Campaign for Tobacco-Free Kids, Center for Black Health and Equity and Truth Initiative.

Altria sells the number one most popular cigarette brand among kids, Marlboro, and has long targeted kids and other vulnerable groups with its products. Altria claims to be “moving beyond smoking,” but the truth is that they rake in billions from cigarettes and other tobacco products, hook kids with new products like e-cigarettes, and fight real efforts to reduce tobacco use.

Despite Altria and the tobacco industry’s efforts, the United States has made great progress to reduce youth smoking. However, the latest government survey shows over 3 million U.S. middle and high school students still use tobacco products, including over 2.5 million who use e-cigarettes.

Reality Check is a teen-led, adult-run program that seeks to prevent and decrease tobacco use among young people throughout New York State. For more information about Reality Check, visit realitycheckofny.org.

Submitted photo courtesy of Gretchen Galley

An alleged open burn with smoke blowing into a residence is reported at 86 South Main St., Batavia.

City Fire dispatched.

Law enforcement is in route.

Press Release: 

Starting May 30, Genesee County Offices will shift their hours of operation from the previous hours of 8:30 a.m. to 5 p.m. to the summer hours of 8 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. 

As in years past, this slight shift of hours will not affect the total number of hours that County Offices will be open to the public. 

These new hours will remain in effect until Sept. 1.

Press Release:

The West Division Champion, Batavia Muckdogs, have announced their final 10 more members to their 2023 roster. The final Muckdgos include Giuseppe Arcuri from Saint Leo University, James Aselta from Lafayette College, Garrett Beaver from Salisbury University, Tucker Beving University of Wisconsin-Stout, Trace Florio from Lafayette College, Sean Ladd from Dallas College Mountain View, Eric Swiencicki from Le Moyne College, Michael Pedraza from Kentucky St. University, Ben Webber from Salve Regina University, and Lucas Lopez from St. Thomas University.

Standing at 5'9 and weighing 175 pounds, Giuseppe Arcuri is an infielder from Saint Leo University. This past year saw Giuseppe crush the ball when he hit 4 home runs, 17 RBIs, and a .934 on-base slugging. Also, in 2017, Giuseppe won a state championship with the Allentown Redbirds.

Standing at 6’1 weighing 195 pounds, James Aselta is a utility guy from Lafayette College. With an 86-mile-per-hour fastball in his arsenal as well as being able to play behind the plate and in the infield, James will be a great platoon option for this Muckdogs roster. His freshman year saw him pitch 10.2 innings, took 8 at-bats, and had a perfect fielding percentage.

Standing at 6’1 and weighing 175 pounds, Garrett Beaver is a pitcher from Salisbury University. Garrett will be a great addition to the Batavia bullpen due to his 9.2 innings of relief work this past season, he put up a 2.79 era, 11 strikeouts and a 1.03 whip. 

Standing at 6’0 and weighing 150 pounds, Tucker Beving is a pitcher from the University of Wisconsin-Stout. Tucker in his freshman season in 8 appearances, recorded 38 strikeouts, a 3-1 record, and opponents had a .239 batting average when Tucker was on the mound.

Standing at 6’0 and weighing 180 pounds, Trace Florio is a left-handed pitcher from Lafayette College. Trace, in high school, was named Most Valuable Pitcher and was a member of the All-FAA First Team during his junior season.

Standing at 6'3 weighing 250 pounds, Sean Ladd is a first and third baseman from Dallas College Mountain View. This past season saw Sean have a .282 batting average, 2 home runs, and a .791 on-base slugging. Also, on stolen bases, he went an efficient 6 for 7.

Standing at 5'11 and weighing 190 pounds, Eric Swiencicki is a pitcher from Le Moyne College. Swiencicki, in his 29 innings pitched this last season, saw him go 2-1 in his 14 total appearances, get 34 strikeouts, and only walk 8 batters.

Standing at 5’10 and weighing 190 pounds, Michael Pedraza is a pitcher from Kentucky St. University. Pedrazza is another addition to the bullpen where he’ll show why this past season, in his 30.2 innings pitched, he recorded 32 strikeouts.

Standing at 6’6 and weighing 210 pounds, Ben Webber is a pitcher from Salve Regina University. The second tallest pitcher on the team, Ben, in the previous season, had 3 starts in which he did not have a loss to his name and also recorded 12 strikeouts to only 3 walks.

Standing at 5’9 and weighing 175 pounds, Lucas Lopez is a second baseman from St. Thomas University. This past season, Lucas had a .216 batting average, along with 12 runs batted in and a .346 on-base percentage.

You can catch the brand new 2023 Batavia Muckdogs complete roster in their home opener at Dwyer Stadium against the Elmira Pioneers on Saturday, June 3rd. Following the opener will be a fireworks display for all to enjoy. For both individual and season tickets, as well as keeping up with future games and promotional nights, please check out our website https://www.canusamuckdogs.com/ or call 585-524-2260!

Arbor House, 350 Bank St., Batavia.  We are a community of believers and disciples of Jesus Christ. Arbor House was founded to be a place of safety, refreshment, and renewal for all. Each week we gather to hear the spoken Word, eat from the Lord’s Table, and enjoy fellowship with all who come. If you have been hurt by a church before, we want to be the place where you can find healing and hope. All are welcome! Service will be in person on Sunday morning at 10 a.m. and available live stream on Facebook. (350 Bank Street Road, Batavia) For more information about Arbor House visit arborhousefmc.com.

Ascension Parish -- Roman Catholic Community, Batavia. We are open for Mass in the Church on Saturdays at 4 p.m. and Sundays at 10 a.m. Daily Mass Mondays at 5 p.m., Tuesday through Thursday at 7:30 a.m. in the Parish Hall. Confession time is Saturdays from 3:15 to 3:45 p.m. in Church. Please join us for our Sunday streaming Mass online at 10 a.m. We invite everyone to join us on Facebook:  https://www.facebook.com/ascensionromancatholiccommunity. Please follow us on Facebook for any Mass time changes. Our webpage: www.ascensionrcc.com.

Batavia First Baptist Church, 306 E. Main St., Pastor David Weidman, where "Christ the Center, Love for All" is very evident to all who enter. We invite you to our Full Gospel Sunday services at 10 a.m.; prayer and Bible study on Wednesdays from 1:15 to 2:15 p.m.; Monday-Friday from 11 a.m. and 1 p.m. and on Saturday from 11 a.m. to 2 p.m., please come and browse in our beautifully renovated "Thrift Shoppe." You'll find many bargains, including $2, $6, and $10 bags sales on all unmarked clothing. You can also enjoy a light lunch at Lydia's Kitchen while you shop. Questions? Email:  firstbaptist2002@yahoo.com. Call us at (585) 343-9002.

Batavia First Presbyterian Church, 300 E. Main St., Batavia, invites you to join us for in-person worship on Sundays at 9:00 a.m. (Arise-relaxed with band music) or 10:45 a.m. (Sanctuary -liturgical and organ) or on Livestream via Facebook Live for both times at: https://fpcbatavia.org/  or https://www.facebook.com/fpcbatavia/videos/.

Batavia First United Methodist Church, 8221 Lewiston Road, Batavia. Our mission & vision statement:  “To be disciples, we must listen, learn, lead and love our way to God.”  Reverend Wayne Mort leads our worship service every Sunday morning at 10 a.m. in the church sanctuary. You can also find the service on Facebook.  And we invite you to learn more about Batavia First UMC by visiting our website at www.BataviaFirstumc.com.

Byron Presbyterian Church, 6293 W. Main St., Byron. Service and Sunday School at 9:45 A.M. Interim Pastor, Rev. Michael Fry. Scripture Reading: Acts 2:1-18 & 1 Corinthians 12:4-13. Message: “One Spirit, Many Gifts”. All are welcome!

Calvary Baptist Church of Le Roy, 8703 Lake Street Road, Le Roy.  If you do not already have a church that you attend regularly, we would like to invite you to give Calvary Baptist Church a try.  It would be a pleasure to have you join us for worship and fellowship on a Sunday morning or at one of our other mid-week events. As a multi-generational congregation that enjoys our time together, our Sunday worship service typically includes singing a mix of both traditional and contemporary songs and hymns, a children’s message and a sermon from the Word of God. Our Sunday worship service begins at 10:15 a.m.

City Church, 210 E. Main St., Batavia, is open for Sunday morning services at 8:30 and 10 a.m., and Thursday evenings at 7 p.m. Everyone is welcome to join us for worship and a message. We also have a noon Sunday service at our St. Anthony's location at 114 Liberty St. in Batavia. You can also connect with us online, through our Facebook page, or our YouTube channel.

Corfu United Presbyterian Church 63 Alleghany Road, Corfu. Corfu United Presbyterian Church welcomes all visitors to come worship with us Sunday mornings at 10:30 a.m. in person or via our Facebook livestream led by Pastor Evan Wildhack. Our mission at CUPC is to connect with Christ, connect with others, and connect others with Christ. Children's Sunday school is held on the first Sunday of the month. Weekly Bible study is held Monday evenings at 6:30 p.m. in the Fellowship Hall. The Mission Committee will be hosting a Bingo Night on Saturday, April 29, at 6 p.m. in support of the Food Pantry. In order to play bingo, you are invited to bring in items for the pantry. There will also be fun prizes to be won. We look forward to seeing you there! CUPC's food pantry is open on the third Saturday of the month from 9 to 10 a.m. Contact the church office by phone at (585) 599-6414 or via email at office@corfuchurch.org Office hours are Monday to Thursday, 10 a.m. to 2 p.m.

Cornerstone Church of East Pembroke, part of American Baptist Churches USA, 2583 Main Road, East Pembroke. Our Sunday service is at 10:30 a.m. with Pastor Glenn Bloom preaching. Bible Study is every Wednesday at 10 a.m. We are a small church and welcome new members. (585) 762-8721

East Bethany Presbyterian Church, 5735 Ellicott Street Road, East Bethany. Our Sunday morning worship service is held at 10:30 a.m. and led by Rev. Dr. Shiela McCullough. Visitors are always welcome. You can find out more information on our Facebook page or by emailing us at ebpresbyterian@gmail.com.

Elba First Baptist Church, 31 S. Main St., Elba, is open for the main service in person at 10:45 a.m. on Sundays. For more information about our church go to www.fbcelba.net. The pastor is Michael Davis. Email: office@fbcelba.net / Phone (585) 757-2722

Emmanuel Baptist Church, 190 Oak St., Batavia. Join us for services in person or livestreamed via Facebook and EBCBatavia.com. Be part of the family today and join in the blessings of Jesus in your life!

EverPresent Church, 4 Batavia City Centre, Batavia. We welcome you to come to experience the Holy Spirit in a fresh way. Jesus wants to set you free from your bondages. Our regular weekly services are 6 p.m. Wednesdays and 10:30 a.m. on Sundays. For more information about our church go to: www.everpresentchurch.com or our Facebook page.

Grace Baptist Church, 238 Vine St., Batavia. Sunday Morning Worship begins at 9:30 a.m. There are classes for children ages nursery – 5th grade during the 9:30 hour. The service is live-streamed at www.gracebatavia.org. or view it on our Facebook page: Grace Baptist. See our website or our facebook page for all the summer events for families at Grace. “Summer’s a Happening Place at Grace”.

Indian Falls Methodist Church, 7908 Alleghany Road, Corfu. Reverend Karen McCaffery will hold a Worship Service inside the church sanctuary at 10 a.m. Sundays. Or join our service via Facebook Live or on YouTube by searching for IFUMC TechTeam. Weekly Online Bible Study and Prayer Services are held on Wednesday night at 7 p.m. via Facebook Live on “Pastor McCaffery's” page.

Le Roy First Presbyterian Church, 7 Clay St., Le Roy. Sunday morning in-person worship at 10 a.m. followed by coffee fellowship. We are an open and accepting church of all people.

Morganville United Church of Christ, 8466 Morganville Stafford. Pastor James Morasco will be sharing his sermon “Positive Vibes” this Sunday at 10 a.m. Fellowship and coffee will follow the service. Our church is located at 8466 Morganville Road.  Friend us on Facebook! or better yet, visit us Sunday! We’d love to meet you.

North Bergen Presbyterian Church, 7068 N. Bergen Road, Bergen, is open for in-person services at 9:45 a.m. Sundays. The phone is (585) 494-1255.

North Darien Bible Church, 9768 Simonds Road, Corfu. We are open! Sunday worship service begins at 10 a.m. Children's Church classes are available for children ages birth through sixth grade, including a classroom for children with special needs. For more information, visit our website. You can also watch LIVE on our Facebook or YouTube channel. Join us from 9 a.m. to noon on the first Saturday of every month for our free community closet, full of clothing, coats, and shoes for all. (585) 547-9646.

Northgate Free Methodist Church, 8160 Bank Street Road (North Campus), Batavia. King David is one of the most prominent characters in the Biblical narrative. He is commonly known as “a man after God’s own heart,” but despite that label, he was not perfect. Far from it, in fact. Join us for our new series "David: The True Story of a King” as we unpack some of the key lessons from the many successes and failures in this noteworthy life. Join us Saturday at 6 p.m., and Sunday morning at 9:30 and 11 a.m., 8160 Bank Street Road, Batavia. For more information about Northgate Free Methodist Church and to watch our services online go to northgatefmc.com or facebook.com/northgatefmc

Oakfield-Alabama Baptist Church, 2210 Judge Road., Oakfield, NY 14125. Join us for Sunday School for all ages at 9:45 a.m., followed by our worship service at 11 a.m. every Sunday! Visit our website (www.oabchurch.com) for additional information about our church, our beliefs, upcoming activities, and past messages. Men’s and Ladies’ Bible studies also meet Thursdays at 6:30 PM on the church grounds. We look forward to worshiping and fellowshipping with you! Questions? Email Pastor Matt Ervin at mervin@tyndale.edu.

Our Lady of Mercy & St. Brigid parishes, Lake Street, Le Roy. All Masses are livestreamed Saturday at 4:30 p.m.; Sunday mornings at 7:15, 9 and 10:45 a.m. Daily Masses are livestreamed at 7:30 a.m. Monday-Friday; 8:30 a.m. Tuesday and Thursday; and 9 a.m. Saturday. View on YouTube and Facebook. Please visit the parish website.

Resurrection Parish (St. Mary and St. Joseph churches in Batavia). Services livestreaming at 5:30 p.m. every Saturday from St. Mary's Church via Facebook, or view the livestreaming Mass on YouTube by searching for Resurrection RC Parish or visit the parish website. In-person Masses are 4 p.m. Saturday and at 11:30 a.m. at St. Joseph’s Church; and at St. Mary's Church at 7:30 and 9:15 a.m. Sunday.

St. James Episcopal Church, 405 E. Main St., Batavia. Join us on Sundays at 9 a.m. on zoom, 10 a.m. in the church building, and on Facebook Live. Links and the bulletin can be found on our website: https://www.sjecbataviany.org/

St. Mark’s Episcopal Church, 1 E. Main St., Le Roy, is open for in-person services at 10:30 a.m. on Sundays. Communion will be offered to people in their seats and will only include bread. We welcome you to join us -- either in person or online. For more information, visit our website.

St. Maximilian Kolbe Parish, 18 W. Main St., Corfu. Weekend Masses are celebrated: Saturday at 5 p.m., Sunday at 8:30 a.m. at the Corfu Church Site; and at 11 a.m. Sunday at the East Pembroke Church site, 8656 Church St., East Pembroke. Weekday Masses are celebrated on: Monday and Friday at 8 a.m. in Corfu, and Thursday at 8 a.m. in East Pembroke; on Wednesday at 7 p.m. in Corfu followed by Adoration. Corfu Masses are also available for viewing on our YouTube channel. All information is on the church website and on Facebook. Email:  stmaxkolbe09@gmail.com (585) 599-4833

St. Padre Pio Parish, 56 Maple Ave., Oakfield. Weekend Masses are celebrated: Saturday at 4:30 p.m. and Sunday at 8 a.m. in the Oakfield Church Site, 56 Maple Ave., Oakfield. Weekday Masses are celebrated Monday 6 p.m. in Elba (Our Lady of Fatima Church, 65 S. Main St.); Tuesday at 8 a.m. in Elba; Wednesday at 7 p.m. in Oakfield; Thursday at 8 a.m. in Oakfield; Friday at 8 a.m. in Oakfield.

St Paul’s Episcopal Church, 6188 Main Road, Stafford. In-person service, including Holy Communion, is at 9 a.m. Sunday mornings. All  Are Welcome. 

St. Paul Lutheran Church, Batavia, 31 Washington Ave, Batavia. This coming Sunday (May 28) we will celebrate Pentecost/Memorial Sunday.  The sermon theme: “Flowing Waters of Life” is based on the scriptures from John 7:37-39. Adult Bible Class meets Sundays at 8:30 a.m. Our service begins at 10 a.m. or can be viewed 'live' on Facebook. Our Youth class meets at 9:30 am. Sunday School children will attend the service through the children's sermon and will then go to their Sunday school rooms for their studies. Communion is part of the service on the second and fourth Sundays. God continues to bless us richly as we focus on Him and His plans for our congregation and community.

The Church In Alexander, 10540 Main St., Alexander. Join us for Sunday Worship at 10 a.m. weekly. For more information, please visit our website at www.thechurchinalexander.com. We offer a Free Food Pantry for people in our community. Please call ahead if you need items from our pantry. For more information on programs and services, please contact us at (585) 591-1765 or by email at thechurchinalexander@gmail.com. Church office hours are Monday, Wednesday and Friday from 8:15-11:15 a.m.

Trinity United Methodist Church, 75 Main St. in Attica, worships at 10:45 a.m. on Sundays, and Darien United Methodist Church, 1951 Broadway (Route 20), at 9 a.m. on Sundays.  Communion is served on the first Sunday of the month at both services. ZOOM is available for the Trinity service. Contact UncleFerter@MSN.com. For information and prayers, contact Pastor Pam at (716) 560-0290.

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"Spiritual Connections" -- The Batavian will post updates to connect people with their places of worship, religious services, fellowship opportunities, and/or spiritual advisors, etc. There is no charge for this service.

If you have information to announce, please email: news@thebatavian.com

Photos submitted by Judy Schildwaster.

The county's $1.8 million restoration of the brick and Medina sandstone of the Genesee Justice/former Sheriff's Office on West Main Street in Batavia has been a months-long project but appears to be nearing the end.

The contract for the work was awarded to Montante Construction last June after the County Legislature realized that delaying the restoration project had only driven up the cost.

The facade of the historic structure was crumbling, with large bits of sandstone falling away from the building.

Workers removed all the sandstone and restored the underlying masonry before putting the sandstone back in place.

Tom Rivers, editor of Orleans Hub, as part of a series on Medina sandstone structures in the region, wrote about the old Sheriff's home and headquarters in 2013.

The jail is part of the Genesee County Courthouse Historic District that was named to the National Register of Historic Places in 1982. The district represents the civic core of the city and includes buildings from the 1840s to 1920s.

The collection of historic structures includes the old county courthouse, former city hall, U.S. Post Office, The Holland Land Office Museum, a county office building and a Civil War monument. The jail is the only Medina sandstone building in the disitrict. St. Mary’s Catholic Church, which is close by, also is a striking sandstone structure.

The building was constructed in 1902-03. It was designed by Poughkeepsie architect William J. Beardsley in a Victorian Gothic style. Beardsley also was the architect for the Attica State Prison and many county courthouses.

The Legislature first discussed the need for restoration in 2016 and sought grants to help cover the anticipated $500,000 costs.  Last year, Chair Shelley Stein noted, “We should be kicking ourselves for not doing it sooner, but we didn’t have the money.” 

There has been a “tremendous amount of damage” that, along with inflation, tripled the initial price estimate, County Highway Superintendent Tim Hens told legislators in June 2022. "There are pieces of stone falling from the top of the porch, and many areas of it are cracked and crumbling."

Currently, the former Sheriff's Office is the office of Genesee Justice, but Genesee Justice, and the jail behind it, will relocate later this year to the new jail facility being built by County Building #2 on West Main Street Road in the Town of Batavia.

County Manager Matt Landers said Thursday evening that the county is still evaluating possible uses for the building and is going to have SMRT, the architectural firm working with the new county on the new jail, assist in that evaluation process. Landers said he has some rough ideas of what could be done with the space but isn't at liberty just yet to publicly discuss those ideas.

Photos by Howard Owens.

On Wednesday, Batavia First Presbyterian Church issued a statement through Rev. Roula Alkhouri about the church being willing to provide care for any undocumented immigrants that show up in Genesee County during this time of a local State of Emergency and related executive order. 

The order bans entities such as hotels and motels from taking in busloads of immigrants that arrive here, which is a current fear given talk that downstate New York may be sending immigrants elsewhere, including other parts of New York. 

The Batavian asked Alkhouri for clarification about whether the church intended to provide shelter as well as amenities such as food and clothing. She responded with a revised statement Thursday in response to the Genesee County State of Emergency regarding Sustainable Migration.

In short, yes -- shelter is part of the offering.

"We, the spiritual leaders of First Presbyterian Church of Batavia,  are very concerned.  While we can't solve the country's immigration issues, we are a church that helps people, all people.  Our Christian beliefs and mission compel us to show compassion and dignity to all of those in need and don’t believe that should conflict with any laws in our country. By example our church is part of a joint ministry of many churches known as 'Los Samaritanos' which provides support on a regular basis to those who are released from the Buffalo Federal Detention Center here in Batavia," she said. "This help takes the form of providing temporary shelter, food, clothing, and/or transportation. We also provide the same kind of help for those who are in a temporary crisis. We will continue to be to help others, all others, who are in need and thus we will respond as Jesus has taught us, “for I was hungry and you gave me food, I was thirsty and you gave me something to drink, I was a stranger and you welcomed me, I was naked and you gave me clothing, I was sick and you took care of me, I was in prison and you visited me.” Matthew 25:25-36."

In light of the possibility that this church, or anyone in the county, would potentially provide assistance, Landers expressed his concerns and invited others considering such a move to have a conversation with him before doing so.

Press Release:

Assemblyman Steve Hawley (R, C - Batavia) is once again partnering with the Sunnking recycling group to offer free electronic device collection and recycling for the community. Collection day will be Saturday, June 17, from 8:30 a.m. to noon at the parking lot at 5130 E Main Street Road in Batavia. 

Pre-registration is requested of all attendees at the website https://form.jotform.com/Sunnking/Hawley23.

“Recycling is a small but impactful way we can help keep our communities clean, and I’m grateful to the good people at Sunnking for partnering with me for another year of work,” Hawley said. “Anything from cell phones to computers to TV’s can be recycled, so please, register today and help keep our communities clean!”

Press Release:

Assemblyman Steve Hawley (R, C - Batavia) is blasting his colleagues in the Assembly Majority Conference for blocking an important piece of legislation this week that would have created the state crime of stolen valor in New York. Numbered A.5701, this bill would have sought to increase the prosecution rate of the crime of impersonating a current or retired armed forces member, as currently, the federal punishment is few and far between. Hawley is livid that the Assembly Majority Conference would block such legislation.

“American Legion Commander James E. Koutz put it best when he stated: ‘Those who deliberately lie about military service, wear medals they did not earn or make claims of combat heroism they did not achieve are more than just liars. They are perpetrators of the worst kind of fraud.,” Hawley said. “Our men and women in the armed forces are valiant heroes, and the respect they earn and deserve in return for their service must not be co-opted by bad actors. To prevent the criminalization of this fraud on the state level is so inane I can’t even begin to understand why they would want to prevent it from passing into law.”

Press Release:

The Annual Celebrate Agriculture Dinner took place on March 25, at the Alexander Fire Hall. This event is held every year to celebrate Genesee County's leading industry, agriculture. The highlight of the evening was a delicious meal featuring locally produced foods prepared by the Culinary Arts Students from the Batavia Career and Technical Education Center. 

The collaboration between the Chamber's Agricultural Committee and the Culinary Arts Program, led by Chef Tracy Burgio and Denise Kaus, was a success. The Genesee County Chamber of Commerce approached Chef Tracy Burgio to cater the dinner, knowing that it would be a culinary challenge eagerly embraced by her students she happily accepted. The dinner was open to the public.

The Celebrate Ag Dinner is organized by various partners, including the Genesee County Chamber of Commerce, Cornell Cooperative Extension of Genesee County, Genesee County Soil & Water Conservation District, and Genesee County Farm Bureau. Local farms and businesses donated food grown in the county for the dinner. Chef Burgio, along with the Culinary Arts students, worked together to plan and practice the menu, which featured food products sourced from Genesee County farmers.

"Seeing the students flawlessly produce the meal, with as many attendees that were present was incredible. The operation was not only impressive, the meal was absolutely delicious and highly memorable.  We are thankful for Chef Tracy and Denise, as well as all of our local partners that made the event possible.  Without their support and the food donations, this event could not happen.  A well done collaborative effort for those in our Agricultural community, leaders in education, and students in the culinary arts,” said Genesee County Chamber of Commerce President Brian Cousins.

On June 1, representatives from the Genesee County Chamber of Commerce will visit the Batavia CTE Center to meet with the Culinary Arts students, Chef Burgio, and Kaus. During the visit, they will present a check to the Culinary Art Club as a token of appreciation.

Press Release:

Genesee County law enforcement agencies, including the Genesee County Sheriff’s Office and the Village of Le Roy Police Department, will be participating in a coordinated effort with the STOP-DWI program to bring awareness to the dangers of impaired driving.

The statewide STOP-DWI High Visibility Engagement Campaign will start Friday, May 26 and will continue thru Monday, May 30. Memorial Day weekend is one of the busiest travel holidays and marks the official start of summer. New York State Police, County Sheriffs, municipal law enforcement agencies and local STOP-DWI programs will be collaborating in force across the state in an effort to reduce the number of impaired driving-related injuries and deaths.

While STOP-DWI efforts across New York have made great strides in reducing the number of alcohol and drug-related fatalities, still too many lives are being lost because of crashes caused by drunk or impaired drivers.

You can make a difference by having a sober plan to get a safe ride because impaired driving is completely preventable – all it takes is a little planning. Visit www.stopdwi.org for more information.

Jamie Lee Broadbent, 40, of West Main Street, Batavia, is charged with grand larceny 4th.  Broadbent is accused of stealing a wallet while at Walmart at 9:02 p.m. on March 20. The wallet reportedly contained cash and multiple credit cards. Broadbent was arrested following an arrest and investigation by Erik Andre. Broadbent was arraigned in Batavia Town Court and ordered to return at a later date.

Adam Daniel Smart, 40, of East Main Street, Batavia, is charged with forgery 2nd, possession of a forged instrument 2nd, criminal possession of stolen property 5th and petit larceny.  Smart is accused of stealing $800 in cash and a black check from a location of Fargo Road on Feb. 14. He is accused of attempting to forge and cash the check on Feb. 16 at the Bank of America in Batavia. Smart was arrested on May 13 and held pending arraignment.

Shawnna Linn Lamont, 33, of Page Road, Perry, is charged with criminal possession of a controlled substance 7th. Lamont was allegedly found in possession of a controlled substance when taken into custody on two warrants at 6 p.m. on May 23 by Deputy Trevor Sherwood.  She was issued an appearance ticket.

Robert Lee Drennen, 41, of Holley Street, Sweden, is charged with harassment 2nd. Drennen is accused of striking another person in the face at the Genesee County Jail on May 16 at 2:30 p.m.  He was arraigned in City Court and ordered to reappear at a later date.

Heather Nicole Holbrook, 38, of East Main Street, Batavia, is charged with criminal possession of a controlled substance 5th and criminal possession of a controlled substance 7th. Holbrook was charged following a traffic stop by Deputy Nicholas Chamoun at 10 p.m. on Dec. 18. Following an investigation, she is accused of possessing 500mg of cocaine and Suboxone. She was arraigned and ordered to reappear.

Margaret Nicole George, 20, and Kristen Dawn George, 26, both of Council House Road, Tonawanda Indian Reservation, are charged with grand larceny 4th. Margaret and Kristen are accused of stealing more than $1,000 from a former employer on Bloomingdale Road on April 8.

Brittany Lynn Bolton, 23, of West Main Street Road, Batavia, is charged with petit larceny. Bolton is accused of stealing $45.32 in merchandise from a store on Veterans Memorial Drive. The Sheriff's Office withheld the name of the store. Bolton was issued an appearance ticket.

Genesee/Orleans Council on Alcoholism and Substance Abuse officials on Wednesday afternoon honored six “friends” of the nonprofit agency and five GCASA Foundation scholarship award winners at their annual meeting at Terry Hills Restaurant.

Friends of GCASA awards went to the City of Batavia Fire Department, Orleans County Sheriff’s Deputy Matt Prawel, Patrick Cecere, Heather Jackson, Mercy Flight EMS and the United Memorial Medical Center MOMS Program.

Scholarship recipients for 2023 are Carly Cerasani, Arianna Hale, Valerie Pastore, Lauren Reimer and Lilly LeTourneau. They each received $1,000 for enrolling in fields relating to human services and/or social services.

FRIENDS OF GCASA

-- City of Batavia Fire Department was recognized for its role in becoming the first Public Safety Assisted Addiction & Recovery Initiative fire department in New York State. It is one of only a few fire companies in the United States to take part in PAARI, which enables people struggling with substance use to reach out to police and fire department personnel for help, without fear of arrest.

-- Deputy Matt Prawel, a school resource officer for the Albion Central School District, developed a fentanyl awareness presentation to fifth through 12^th graders, which includes a video about the deadly drug for families to view. He also is a leading member of the school’s prom awareness committee, and is committed to delivering the message of making safe and healthy choices.

-- Patrick Cecere works at the Genesee County Public Defender’s Office as a social worker/case manager. He consistently has assisted clients of GCASA as they navigate the legal system, advocating for all with fairness, professionalism and compassion.

-- Heather Jackson, an Orleans County Social Services caseworker and former probation officer, has worked collaboratively with GCASA counselors in various areas, notably assisting with patient-centered treatment plans and through programs that provide essential services to youth clients of GCASA. She also chairs Orleans County’s National Night Out, an event that brings law enforcement and community groups together in an alcohol- and drug-free setting.

-- Mercy Flight EMS, with its operations center on Call Parkway, Batavia, has been called on upon more frequently as GCASA’s medical needs have increased since the inception of its detoxification program, and was recognized for the “kind and respectful way in which personnel has interacted with clients.” Mercy Flight EMS staff also were commended for listening to GCASA’s clinical recommendations, especially when it comes to transporting individuals to other facilities.

-- The UMMC Moms Program, specifically Megan Boring and Jay Balduf, has partnered with the Health Moms/Healthy Babies initiative at GCASA. Boring and Balduf were honored for making themselves available to serve GCASA clients as a referral source to those who have yet to receive support for their substance use disorder. Boring has made great strides through her coordinator role of the Prenatal Task Force in Batavia, while Balduf shared her wealth of experience as a registered nurse and maternal health educator at UMMC Healthy Living.

FOUNDATION SCHOLARSHIPS

-- Carly Cerasani, a 2023 graduate of Pembroke High School, who is considering attending Brown University in the fall to study Psychology, with a long-term goal of obtaining a doctorate degree. She aspires to improving others’ lives, especially children.

-- Arianna Hale, a 2023 graduate of Pembroke High School, will be attending Genesee Community College in the fall to study Humanities and Social Science, with plans to go on from there to earn a degree in Psychology.  She said that she wants to focus her energies on people who need care and support.

-- Valerie Pastore, a 2023 graduate of Byron-Bergen High School, plans to attend Alfred University in the fall to study Psychology. She seeks to work in the healthcare field, with an eye on helping people through research.

-- Lauren Reimer, a 2023 graduate of Batavia High, will be receiving her associate’s degree from Genesee Community College this spring through advanced placement credits. Her future college plans are to be determined, but she plans to study Biomedical Sciences.

-- Lilly LeTourneau graduated with a bachelor’s degree from the State University of New York at New Paltz and currently is enrolled in the New York State Fellowship Program through the Genesee & Orleans Health Department. She has assisted in a project with Genesee County Mental Health to assess the impact of COVID-19 on mental health services. She is pursuing a master’s degree in social work from the University of Buffalo.

GCASA BOARD ELECTIONS

Lynn Strzelecki and Bradley Mazur were elected as new members of the GCASA Board of Directors while President Tim Batzel and directors Jackie Dunham and Pattie Kepner were re-elected. All terms are three years.

Strzelecki is a previous GCASA director while Mazur, the Genesee County undersheriff, joins for the first time. Mazur is the chair of the Genesee County Stop DWI Advisory Council.

Batzel, Vice President Katie Cotter and Secretary-Treasurer Fred Rarick were re-elected.

YEAR IN REVIEW

In 2022, GCASA prevention educators provided services to more than 36,000 youth and adults, with the WNY Prevention Resource Center providing 18 trainings to nearly 500 people. The GOW Opioid Task Force lists 460 active members, with many of them trained in the administration of Naloxone, a medication that reverses opioid overdoses.

On the clinical side, GCASA opened a 16-bed detox center in Batavia in early 2022. Medication programs now serve more than 300 individuals in two locations, with clinical visits topping 21,000 last year. The Genesee Opioid Treatment Program and outpatient clinic were awarded an integrated certification to create a seamless program for outpatient services.

Disclosure: Mike Pettinella is the publicist for GCASA.

Press Release:

The second annual Flag Commemoration Ceremony for deceased members from the Batavia Police Department will take place on Wednesday, May 31 at 1 p.m. 

This year's ceremony will be held at the gravesite of Officer (ret.) Andrew McCulley in the St. Joseph's Cemetery. 

Flags will once again be installed in metal flag holders at nearly 50 graves at various cemeteries across Genesee County and plaques were affixed to deceased officers interred in the Monsignor Schwartz Mausoleum. 

We welcome all family, friends and retirees to join us for this solemn remembrance. Anyone wishing to attend should assemble by the Kelly Mousoleum at 12:30 p.m. as the procession will begin to the gravesite at 12:50 p.m. 

The flags and metal flag holders were produced and donated by H.E. Turner & Co., Inc. Funeral Home in the City of Batavia. 

Press Release:

Batavia Rotary Club’s annual Fly-In Breakfast is set for Father's Day, Sunday, June 18 at the Genesee County Airport. The Fly-In Breakfast is open to the public and features an all-you-can-eat breakfast and an opportunity to get up-close to a variety of private air craft flown in by pilots from throughout the region.

Serving begins at 7:30 a.m. and continues through 11 a.m. The breakfast consists of eggs, pancakes, sausage, juice, coffee, tea and milk. Again this year, the breakfast will feature a special Rotary Egg Bake, which includes: eggs, peppers, onions, sausage and cheese that promises to be totally delicious.

The Breakfast is prepared and served by members of the Batavia Rotary Club. Proceeds from the Fly-In Breakfast will benefit the club’s youth and community service programs.

Adult tickets are $12. Tickets for children ages 4 to 12 are $8. Children under 4 are admitted free. Tickets may be obtained at Lawley Insurance, from any Batavia Rotarian or at the door.

The Genesee County Airport is located at 4701 East Saile Drive, which runs between Route 98 and Bank Street Road, west of the City of Batavia. Saile Drive is just north of the Batavia exit of the Thruway.

The Rotary Club will serve over 1,000 breakfasts. Most of the food has been donated. Volunteer chefs and servers are Batavia Rotarians and their families.

Notice of Public Hearing

NOTICE IS HEREBY GIVEN that a Public Hearing will be held by the Town of Batavia Planning Board regarding an application for a Special Use Permit to construct a multifamily dwelling unit complex containing 80 dwelling units and garages at Med Tech Park on Stephen Hawley Drive in the Town of Batavia, NY.  This land is zoned Planned Unit Development (PUD) District – Tax Map #9.-1-213, 9.-1-214, 9.-1-215 and 9.-1-216.21.

Said hearing will be held on Tuesday, June 6, 2023 at 7:00 p.m. at the Batavia Town Hall, 3833 West Main St. Rd. at which time all interested persons will be heard.   Written comments will be accepted prior to that date.  You may email the Chairman at kjasinski@townofbatavia.com.

Press Release:

Independent Living of the Genesee Region is offering a 12-week Anger Management Class on Tuesdays from June 6 to August 29, 9-10:30 a.m., in the office at 319 West Main St. in the Crickler Executive Business Center in Batavia.

The class will be led by Debra McKnight, a Certified Peer who holds a Bachelor of Science Degree in Human Services and has extensive experience facilitating support groups.  The purpose of this group is to help individuals with Anger Issues using different Conflict Resolution Strategies to better manage and resolve conflicts in their lives.  It is open to individuals who are mandated by the Courts or Boards of Parole, as well as the general public.

A Certificate of Completion will be awarded to those who attend all twelve weeks, but class size is limited.  Pre-Registration is required, along with the $50.00 class fee (a Payment plan is available).

For more information or to RSVP, contact Cathy DeMare at 585-815-8501, Ext. 400.