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The YNGodess Shop in Batavia today hosted a fundraiser to benefit the family of Michael A. Tenebruso, who succumbed to cancer Aug. 31.

The fundraiser included a chicken BBQ sale and a basket raffle.

Above, Amy Kelsey and Chris Crocker, owner of YNGodess, prepare a pair of chicken dinners.

Flamenco guitarist Dan King provided entertainment. King was born and raised in Batavia and currently lives in Rochester. He just released his first album, available on Spotify and Apple Music.

Press release:

The Agriculture and New York State Horse Breeding Development Fund on Friday announced Batavia Downs Gaming & Hotel as the host of the 2019 New York Sire Stakes Finals, also known as the “Night of Champions.” The Fund’s Board of Trustees selected Batavia Downs Gaming & Hotel at a scheduled board meeting Sept. 7, following a proposal submission process. The date for the 2019 Finals has yet to be set.

The Fund invited race tracks from across New York State which host New York Sire Stakes events to submit proposals. Tracks were considered on various criteria including the offering of a 24-hour detention barn, ability to promote the event and offer an exciting fan experience. Batavia Downs Gaming & Hotel was chosen based on the merits of an impressive proposal, and its capacity to host the championship finals for the top state-bred 2- and 3-year-old Standardbred horses.

"Batavia Downs Gaming is extremely proud and excited to have been selected to host the 2019 New York Sire Stakes Finals,” said Todd Haight, director/GM of live racing at Batavia Downs Racetrack. “This series has annually been a centerpiece of our live racing presentation since its inception in 1965, as our track has been so committed to the development of New York-bred horses going back to the 1950s when we facilitated our own colt and filly stakes.

"We look forward to welcoming all the owners, horse people and horses that make the New York Sire Stakes the premier program of its kind, to Batavia Downs to enjoy our new paddock, new hotel and excellent clubhouse facilities."

“The Sire Stakes Night of Champions shines a spotlight on the excellence of our equine industry, which supports the agricultural economy across the State,” said M. Kelly Young, executive director, Agriculture and New York State Horse Breeding Development Fund. “Having hosted significant New York Sire Stakes events in the past, Batavia Downs Gaming & Hotel will provide an excellent showcase for the 2019 'Night of Champions,' our premier event of the season. Batavia Downs offers a fantastic clubhouse and fan experience that will only complement an outstanding racing program.”

The 2018 “Night of Champions” is scheduled for Saturday, Sept. 22, hosted by Yonkers Raceway. The eight-race event will hand out $1.8 million in purse money.

The New York Sire Stakes program promotes the breeding, buying, and racing of Standardbred horses in New York State, and is administered by the Agriculture and New York State Horse Breeding Development Fund. It was the first program of is kind, featuring 2- and 3-year old colts and fillies, and has become the model for state-bred racing programs in North America.

About the Agriculture and New York State Horse Breeding Development Fund:

The Agriculture and New York State Horse Breeding Development Fund is a public benefit corporation established in 1965 by the Laverne Law (Laws of New York, Chapter 567 of the Laws of 1965). The mission of the fund is to promote agriculture through the breeding of Standardbred horses and the conduct of equine research within the state. To carry out its legislative mission, the Fund administers the New York Sire Stakes races, Excelsior/State Fair Series races, and County Fair Races. Additionally, the Fund provides assistance to county agriculture societies and contributes to the statewide 4-H program and to the Harry M. Zweig Fund for Equine Research.

Press release:

The Genesee County Chamber of Commerce’s tourism program has partnered with Channel 13-WHAM to create a featured promotion that will air on FOX, The CW, and ABC.

The 30-minute show, called "It's Closer than You Think," is a sampling of what’s new in Genesee County, along with some of the county’s best outdoor recreational opportunities. It debuts tomorrow morning at 7.

“The promotion is designed to raise awareness to Rochester area residents that Genesee County is just a short drive that offers great 'close to home' recreation, dining and shopping options,” said Kelly Rapone, Tourism Marketing director for the Genesee County Chamber of Commerce. “We’d like to do another future episode that highlights even more of the county’s treasures."

Be sure to tune in to see special interviews with some of our local tourism businesses in Le Roy and Batavia, as well as outdoor recreation hot spots across the county.

The broadcast schedule is as follows:

• 7 a.m. Saturday, Sept. 8, on 13-WHAM
• 7 p.m. on Sunday, Sept. 9, on The CW
• 6:30 a.m. Sunday, Sept. 9, on FOX
• In addition it will also air:
  • 2 a.m. Sept., 12, 13 and 19 on 13-WHAM
  • 6 a.m. Sept. 10, 11 and 13 on FOX

If you happen to miss the airing or don’t have access to broadcast channels, you can see the full episode at:  YouTube.com/GeneseeCountyNY

Over the spring and summer, we also included commercials under this theme that highlighted concerts, Batavia Muckdogs home games, golf packages, racing at Genesee Speedway, the Oatka Festival, as well as The Ramble Music & Arts Festival.

For more information on all of our local offerings, check out www.VisitGeneseeNY.com

During his eight-year journalism career, Jim Krencik covered economic development in Orleans County and Genesee County, and has often happens with a lot of reporters, he took a keen interest in the topic he was covering.

A week ago, he left his job at the Batavia Daily News and went to work for the Genesee County Economic Development Center as the new director of marketing and communications. He replaces Rachael Tabelski, who is now director of the Batavia Development Corp.

"I started to cover the GCEDC and explaining the big projects and how deals come together, what's happening in our community, that was just really spurred an interest," Krencik said. "I've always been impressed by the work they do here. I think their vision is outstanding and I want to help that mission however I can in this role."

Krenick left the Daily News after five and a half years as a hard-working reporter covering local government, mostly, in Genesee County for a job that will pay him $47,000 a year, which is substantially more than a typical reporter makes at a small-circulation paper.

"It was just very interesting looking at the variety of sites that we have here in Genesee County," Krenick said. "It's interesting looking at the number of businesses that are coming in and thinking if I could do something to help, that's beneficial to the whole community. It is wonderful to not only to share that with the public, but to help the team make that happen; that is very attractive."

Dakota R. White, 20, of Central Avenue, Batavia, and Meghan B. Blodgett, 22, of Soccio Street, Batavia, were both arrested at 3:20 a.m. on Aug. 27 at Williams Park at 101 Pearl St. in the City of Batavia. Batavia police were called there for subjects in a physical altercation. After an investigation, the defendants were arrested for a Batavia Municipal Code violation -- In Park After Hours ( 10 p.m. to 7 a.m.). They were released with appearance tickets and were due in City Court on Aug. 28. The case was handled by Batavia Police Officer Nicole McGinnis, assisted by Officer Arick Perkins.

Stefanie M. Lawlis, 35, of Central Avenue, Batavia, is charged with having a dog running at large, having an unlicensed dog and having an unvaccinated dog. She was arrested at 7:20 p.m. on Aug. 22 on Central Avenue in Batavia following an animal bite complaint. She was issued an appearance ticket for City Court and was due there Sept. 4. The case was handled by Batavia Police Officer Stephen Cronmiller.

David J. Barton, 54, of Ellicott Street, Batavia, is charged with forcible touching. At 5:15 p.m. on Aug. 28, Barton was arrested Batavia police following a complaint that Barton allegedly touched a female companion inappropriately with her consent. He was issued an appearance ticket and was due in City Court Sept. 4. The case was handled by Batavia Police Officer Arick Perkins.

Aaron L. Klein, 47, of Montclair Avenue, Batavia was arrested at 10:08 p.m. on Aug. 26 after a traffic stop on Monclair Avenue, where it was found the he was driving on a suspended license. It was also found that he was in violation of an ignition interlock device restriction and he allegedly had an open container of alcohol in the vehicle. He was issued tickets and is due in City Court on Sept. 12. The case was handled by Batavia Police Officer Christopher Lindsay, assisted by Sgt. Dan Coffey.

Jeffery C. Rogers, 33, of Old Washington Pike, Knoxville, Tenn., was arrested at 7:56 p.m. on Aug. 25 on West Main Street Road in Batavia following an investigation into a possible hit-and-run accident. He is charged with DWI; aggravated DWI; aggravated unlicensed operation of a motor vehicle in the third degree; unlicensed operation of a motor vehicle; speeding; and unlawful possession of maijuana. He was jailed in lieu of $2,500 bail or bond and was due in City Court on Aug. 27. The case was handled by Batavia Police Officer Peter Flanagan, assisted by Officer Mitchell Cowen.

Derek Elijah Wilcox, 30, of Congress Avenue, Rochester, is charged with seventh-degree criminal possession of  controlled substance. The arrest was made at 9:55 p.m. on Aug. 23 on Ellicott Street in Batavia following the investigation into a suspicious vehicle where Wilcox was allegedly found to possess crack cocaine. He was due in City Court Aug. 28 to answer the charge. The case was investigated by Batavia Police Officer Christopher Lindsay.

Noah Charles Stiles, 18, of Westcott Road, Medina, is charged with petit larceny. He was arrested at 5:30 p.m. on Aug. 27 on South Main Street in Batavia after it was determined he allegedly stole several items from a house. He was issued an appearance ticket and is due in City Court on Sept. 11. The case was handled by Batavia Police Officer Matthew Wojtaszczyk, assisted by Officer Christopher Lindsay.

A 16-year-old male lives in the City of Batavia was arrested at 8:30 p.m. on Aug. 18 after he allegedly stole an iPhone was another person. The incident occurred on Lewis Place, Batavia. He was processed and released with a ticket to appear in City Court on Aug. 28. The case was handled by Batavia Police Officer Mitchell Cowen.

Bailey M. Burns, of Prospect Street, Attica, was arrested on a bench warrant on Aug. 23 after he failed to appear at the Genesee County Jail for his sentenced weekend incarceration. He was jailed in lieu of $2,000 bail or bond and was due back in City Court on Aug. 24. The case was handled by Batavia Police Officer Catherine Mucha, assisted by Officer Jason Davis.

Bleyke Z. Culver, 22, of Walnut Street, Batavia, was arrested on Aug. 16 on a bench warrant out of City Court for failing to appear on a charge was second-degree criminal contempt. He was jailed in lieu of $1,500 bail or bond and is due in City Court on Sept. 13. The case was handled by Batavia Police Officer Catherine Mucha, assisted by Officer Jason Davis.

Photo, from left: Melissa Keller, Chase Zuber and Ben Kron.

Submitted photos and press release:

Members of the Genesee County 4-H Swine Club competed in the Youth Swine Competitions at the 2018 New York State Fair.

Melissa Keller, Ben Kron, and Chase Zuber each exhibited Market Hogs and Breeding Hogs in the 4-H/youth swine competitions.

In addition to competing with their hogs, youth members were also able to participate in many other knowledge contests and public presentations.

Each contest awards points to the youth’s overall score, those points were then used to award Empire Youth Swine Scholarships.

The scholarships were presented by the New York Pork Producers.

The following Genesee County youth participated in the contest: Cheyanne Isaman, Melissa Keller, Ben Kron, and Chase Zuber.

Genesee County’s own senior 4-H member, Melissa Keller capped off her 11 year 4-H career by winning Grand Champion -- Empire Youth Swine Scholarship Winner.

There were 40 youth from across New York competing in the contest and Genesee County 4-H Swine members won several top-five placings in the different contest areas. 

Senior Project Records:

• Melissa Keller -- 1^st
• Ben Kron – 3^rd

Senior Interviews:

• Melissa Keller -- 1^st

Knowledge Swine Review/ Quiz:

• Senior Division -- Melissa Keller -- 1^st
• Junior Divisions -- Cheyanne Isaman -- 3^rd

Public Presentations:

• Senior Division -- Melissa Keller -- 1^st
• Junior Division -- Chase Zuber -- 5^th

Senior Swine Judging:

• Senior Division -- Melissa Keller -- 1^st
• Junior Division -- Chase Zuber -- 3^rd

Senior Skillathon:

• Melissa Keller -- 2^nd  

Educational Poster:

• Senior Division- Melissa Keller -- 1^st
• Junior Division- Chase Zuber -- 5^th

Top 10 in Each Division:

• Division A:  Melissa Keller – 1^st, Grand Champion
• Division B:  Cheyanne Isaman -- 6^th place

Congratulations Genesee County 4-H Swine Club Members on Doing your Best at the 2018 New York State Fair!  To learn more about Genesee County 4-H visit: http://genesee.cce.cornell.edu/

A three-car collision, with unknown injuries, is reported at 220 Ellicott St. in the City of Batavia. It is blocking traffic. City fire and Mercy medics are responding.

The House Ethics Committee has announced it will convene a special panel to investigate Rep. Chris Collins and his alleged insider trading activities as a member of Congress.

The investigation will be led by Rep. Mimi Walters, a Republican from California but will not begin until federal criminal proceedings against Collins have run their course.

Collins was arrested Aug. 3 and accused of securities fraud, wire fraud, and lying to the FBI.

The Erie County businessman is accused of calling his son, Cameron Collins, with a stock tip after receiving word, as a member of the board of Innate Innate Immunotherapeutics, that a drug under development to treat secondary multiple sclerosis had failed a key clinical trial.

After receiving the call, according to Federal documents, Cameron began selling his holdings in Innate after receiving the call but before the news of the failed trail had been released to the public, as well as calling other friends and family to share the news with them. As a result, the group of stockholders reportedly sold off more than 1.4 million shares of stock.

According to House rules, the Ethics Committee must open an investigation anytime a member of Congress is arrested. Politico reported its unusual for the committee, which is controlled by Republicans, to announce an investigation so close to mid-term elections.

The committee will also investigate Rep. Duncan Hunter, a Republican representing Eastern San Diego County, including El Cajon. Hunter is accused, like his father, who held the same seat for 21 years prior to his son, of using campaign funds for personal expenses. Collins and Hunter where the first two members of Congress to endorse Donald Trump during the GOP primaries.

Officer Arick Perkins with Lilly after Lilly escaped from the stables at the Genesee County Fairgrounds last night.

Perkins happened to spot Lilly on Cedar Street, and after a brief foot pursuit, with the assistance of Officer Felicia DeGroot, Perkins was able to corral Lilly. Lilly was returned to her owner, Meg Hayes.

Photo below of Perkins and DeGroot with Lilly, courtesy Meg Hayes.

Batavia Middle School invited parents to an open house Thursday evening, after the first day of school, for a chance to meet teachers and find out about their children's classes and expectations. 

There were also activities and food trucks for the families.

Above, Tricia Grillo, with her son Dom, meet with teacher Gigi Dombrowski about his eighth-grade math class.

Spanish teacher Julie Trzaska with eighth-grader Hailey Smith, her father Charles Richmond, and her brother Noah, who is in fifth grade.

Long-term sub Kayleigh Meyers in the ELA class with the four books eighth-graders will read this year: "Inside Out and Back Again," "To Kill a Mockingbird," "Omnivore's Dilemma," and "Unbroken."

Press release:

This week was the first day of school not just for students returning from summer break, but for returning and new School Resource officers in Genesee County.

Students entering school doors this week at Pembroke, Alexander, Pavilion, Byron-Bergen and Genesee Valley Educational Partnership’s (BOCES) Batavia Campus were greeted with familiar faces and new faces as Genesee County School Resource officers begin the school year. 

New SROs Deputy Patrick J. Reeves (Pembroke), Deputy Eric J. Meyer (Alexander) and Deputy Cory W. Mower (Pavilion) are excited to embark on this new assignment.

They have recently completed School Resource Officer training and have shadowed existing SROs Deputy Chad P. Cummings (Genesee Valley Educational Partnership’s –BOCES, Batavia Campus) and Deputy Matthew R. Butler (Byron-Bergen) to learn  from experiences both have had over the years in this position.

Sheriff William Sheron stated that it is his goal to establish a School Resource Officer in all county schools to ensure the safety and protection of the students and faculty.

“Although the cost associated with placing a School Resource Officer in the schools is significant, I believe the safety and security of our children should be of the utmost precedence,” the sheriff said. 

Press release:

Darien Lake, a Six Flags Theme Park, and the Coaster Capital of New York, is holding its fourth annual Harvest Festival Sept. 8 through 23, featuring local performers, food trucks, crafters and fun activities throughout the park, all set against the beautiful fall foliage of the season.

Harvest Festival activities that are included with park admission:

• Local food trucks including Eat Greek, The Cheesy Chick and Center Street Smokehous, plus seasonal in-park fall treats;
• Stage entertainment with international bands, local performers and dance groups;
• Regional arts and craft vendors;
• Hay-mazing Adventure – a fun kids’ maze;
• Harvest Fest Express hayrides;
• Keg Tap and Beer Slides (for ages 21 and up); and
• Ignite the Night Laser show on the lawn Saturdays at 8 p.m.

Vacationing guests will have access to special harvest-themed activities each Friday evening before the Festival, including Magical Pumpkin Forest, when guests will plant seeds at night and “harvest” their pumpkins the next morning. There will also be fall-themed crafts in the hotel and a family-friendly movie on the laser lawn at 9 p.m.

The Harvest Festival takes place Sept. 8, 9, 15, 16, 22, and 23; and Saturdays 11 a.m. – 7 p.m., and Sundays, 11 a.m. – 5 p.m.        

Darien Lake is also announcing the extension of its special Flash Sale, now through Sunday, Sept. 9, featuring the best deal of the year — savings up to 70 percent off on a 2019 Season Pass, which also includes admission to 2018 Fright Fest^®, a new Halloween event this October.

Guests who take advantage of this special offer will receive a free upgrade to a Gold Season Pass with every Pass purchased. Gold Season Passes include admission to Six Flags Darien Lake and any other Six Flags theme park, as well as free parking, special admission offers for friends and a free drink bottle with paid refills.

During the Flash Sale guests can also join the Six Flags Membership program for 65 percent off the Season Price and receive three free bonus months. Six Flags Membership includes all of the benefits of Season Pass plus more than 50 additional benefits such as unlimited soft drinks, preferred parking, walk-on passes for rides, and exclusive waterpark seating. Members can also participate in Six Flags Membership Rewards, a new loyalty program that allows guests to earn valuable prizes for just for riding rides, seeing shows, and having a great time at the park.

It still remains likely that the Muckdogs will be back in Batavia for the 2019 season but General Manager Dave Chase said today he won't be back.

"It was a one-year deal," Chase said. "I finished that year. Ben and I have talked about me continuing as a consultant for some period of time but I don’t think I’ll be here next season."

Chase has lived at the Quality Inn & Suites this summer but at one point thought about renting an apartment downtown with the idea of staying longer but decided against it.

"I will admit I go back and forth," Chase said. "There are parts of Batavia that I really like but I did it for a year and that’s what I wanted to do and it was a difficult year, professionally and personally."

Chase said he has had medical issues doing the year that made things more difficult.

"The reality is this is my third city in four years," Chase said. "I’ve sort of developed a reputation of going into troubled markets and none of them have failed yet so I might have one or two more years of that lifestyle left in me."

He thinks he will leave Batavia in good shape but the day the Muckdogs leave Batavia is still close at hand. It gives the team two or three more years before moving.

"That's still better than it was a year ago," he said.

At the start of the season, associates of one of baseball's top executives, Larry Lucchino, former president and CEO of the Boston Red Sox and co-owner of the AAA team in Pawtucket, inquired about the Batavia franchise, Chase said.

The scenario discussed at that time involved the Muckdogs either moving to Pawtucket or Worcester. 

There have been no further discussions since but it's been announced that the Pawtucket franchise will move to Worcester, where a new stadium is being built.

The problem with any such move is that the Red Sox have territorial rights over the area and currently, the NYPL team in that market is Lowell, a Red Sox affiliate. For the Muckdogs to move to Pawtucket, the team would need to become the NYPL Red Sox affiliate and the Lowell franchise would have to move to another city.

One reason the Muckdogs haven't moved yet is there appears to be no city in the Northeast that has the facility and market availability to accommodate a short season Class A team, so if Lowell had to move the league would face the same difficulty in trying to relocate that team.

The earliest, apparently, any of this can happen, is 2021.

Meanwhile, the affiliate agreement between Batavia (which has not gone bankrupt, contrary to a story in the Lowell Sun), and the Marlins is up for renewal. The renewal is expected to take place by the end of the month. The length of any such agreement could complicate a move by Batavia to New England.

Chase is confident the Marlins will return to Batavia in 2019. He said when the team packed up after the last game, they left a lot of equipment behind.

"That seems to indicate a desire to come back," Chase said.

According to Ellie Mae Millennial Tracker, 77 percent of Millennials who bought homes in July where single.

That's the fourth highest total in the nation, according to the tracker.

Lynn Bezon, co-owner of Reliant Realty, said that percentage may be masking a trend she sees: Which is for only one member of a Millennial couple to take out the mortgage to buy the house.

"One person in the couple may not be creditworthy or not have the income (to qualify)," Bezon said.

Sometimes, the couple isn't married and a parent has recommended only the person who has the means to make the purchase take out the loan.

"I don't get a lot of single Millennial buyers," she said.

Millennials are generally considered to be people born in the early 1980s through the mid-1990s, so some Millennials are now in their 30s, and that's the age where more single Millennials will buy a house, she said, though it's still not common.

A common reason one person in a couple might not qualify for a loan yet is the other person weighted down by college debt. 

That is also the number one reason Millennials don't buy homes at all, she said.

Sometimes they have to wait for the right job to come along that pays them enough to diminish the negative effect of student loans on credit applications. 

The city's with higher single-Millennial purchasers are:

• Bay City, Mich., 82 percent
• Cheyenne, Wyo., 82 percent
• Norwalk, Ohio, 80 percent

A year ago, Assistant County Manager Matt Landers really wasn't sure why DWI the number of arrests were down for the first part of 2017 but it was a countywide trend.

It's still not clear why arrests took a dip for more than six months but an interesting thing happened after a report was published about the dip -- the number of DWI arrests reported increased. The trend has continued in 2018, Landers said.

Yesterday, like last year, Landers, who is the STOP-DWI coordinator for the county, delivered his annual report on the program to the County Legislature's Ways and Means Committee.

The problem the program is facing this year is -- despite holding steady on the total number of arrests -- revenue is down for the program.

STOP-DWI is funded through fines imposed on convicted drunken drivers. Landers said he doesn't know if revenue is down because collections are down or if justices are imposing smaller fines.

With the drop in revenue, Landers is proposing a budget for 2019 that spends 40 percent less than 2018, though there will be no cuts to the amount spent on enforcement.

The STOP-DWI program provides funds to participating local law enforcement agencies for extra patrols focused entirely on DWI detection.

The $25,000 reduction in spending will mean some expenses, such as a portion of Lander's salary, will likely be shifted to the general fund.

Members of the committee said they recognized there is still a need for the program, which also assists in detecting and arresting people driving under the influence of drugs, which is a growing problem, even though there are probably fewer drunks on the road these days.

"It is better than the '80s and '90s but there’s still a need for the program," Landers agreed. "it’s a successful program."

The County and City have reached a new 40-year agreement to share the distribution of local sales tax, pending approvals by the NYS Comptroller's Office, the County Legislature and the City Council.

The agreement establishes a formula for sharing from 14 to 16 percent of local sales tax with the city.

The towns and villages in the county will be bound by the agreement but do not get a vote on the plan.

County Manager Jay Gsell said the other municipalities will receive a share calculated similar to the city's share but based on what they receive in 2018.

If approved, the new agreement takes effect Jan. 1.

Currently, the county collects a 4-percent sales tax. That would continue under this agreement. The state collects 4 percent, making the local sales tax 8 percent.

The Batavia City Council will be asked to vote on the new agreement at Monday's meeting. The Count Legislature will vote next Monday.

Gsell said he expects to hear by tomorrow if the attorneys in the Comptroller's Office will recommend approval to their boss, Tom DiNapoli. Gsell said if the attorneys recommend approval, DiNapoli will likely approve the agreement.

The City and County have been negotiating the new agreement for more than a year. A committee that included city and county staff leadership and elected officials from both bodies participated in the discussions.

While towns and villages don't get to participate directly in the agreement, the City and County need to work out a deal because, under state law, the City has the ability to levy its own sales tax.

As part of the agreement, the City agrees not to institute its own sales tax.

Students arrived at Batavia High School for the first day of classes bright and early.

Some students started the morning off with a tailgate party in the senior parking lot. That's water in those cups.

Students picking up their class schedules.

The traffic circle was jammed.

Students arriving at Batavia Middle School for the first day of classes. 

Photos submitted by Principal Ashley John Grillo.

There will be a fundraiser Sunday at The Yngodess Shop, 73 Main St., Batavia, Sunday, starting at 12:30 p.m. to benefit the family of Michael Tenebruso.

Tenebruso, who grew up in Batavia, died after a lengthy battle with cancer six days ago at age 50. Tenebruso leaves behind three children.

The fundraiser includes a chicken BBQ, live music and a basket raffle.

In April 2016, more than 400 people turned out for a fundraiser to benefit Tenebruso at Ascension Parish (top photo). 

The North Chili resident graduated from Batavia High School in 1986 and later received his bachelor's and master's degrees in Elementary Education and Educational Administration, respectively, from SUNY Brockport. 

His career in education took him to schools throughout Western New York as a teacher and administrator. While teaching at Elba he was named Teacher of the Year.

From his obituary:

Michael's persona was larger than life. He was a friend and role model to all. Most importantly, Mike’s selflessness and devotion to mankind was most evident at home where he was a kind and nurturing father to his three beautiful children. Michael battled his illness head-on for six long years, facing every set back with grace and dignity. He never gave up. Cancer did not take his passion for life, his mind, or his soul as he closed his eyes for the last time.

The Tenebruso family will be present on Friday from 1 to 8 p.m. at the Michael S. Tomaszewski Funeral & Cremation Chapel, 4120 W. Main Street Road, Batavia. There will be a Mass of Christian Burial at 10 a.m. Saturday, Resurrection Parish, 303 E. Main St. Batavia. He will be lain to rest in St. Joseph's Cemetery.