Press release:

Church members in the Village of Alexander recently voted to become an independent church with the new name being The Church in Alexander.  Formerly the Alexander United Methodist Church (UMC), the status and name change became official on Oct. 6 during the Upper New York UMC Annual Conference.  Alexander UMC was 1 of 8 churches in the region that was approved to establish independent churches.

“We’re excited for this new transition and to see what God will do with His church in Alexander,” said Charlie Miller, Administrative Council Chairman.

As part of the transition process, the church is seeking a full-time pastor to lead the congregation.  Applications are currently being accepted.  If interested in applying, please reach out to the church office at 585-591-1765.

Norb Fuest, Chair of the Church Employee Relations Committee stated, “Our church family continues to be in prayer for the right person to fill the pulpit.  This is a great opportunity for someone who is being called to expand their ministry efforts and to shepherd a newly formed church.”

The Church in Alexander’s mission is to connect with others, lead them to Christ, and prepare God’s people for works of service that the Body of Christ may be built up. 

To learn more about The Church in Alexander, consider attending Sunday morning worship services at 10 a.m.  The church is located at 10540 Main Street, in the village of Alexander.  You can also check out the church’s website at thechurchinalexander.com or by searching The Church in Alexander on Facebook.

Press release:

The United States has passed a grim, heartbreaking milestone: a record number of Americans are dying as a result of a drug overdose.

Between April 2020 and April 2021, drugs – mostly synthetic opioids such as fentanyl – took the lives of more than 100,000 of our sons and daughters, loved ones and neighbors, community members, and friends. During the same twelve-month period, eleven people died in Genesee County from opioid overdoses, and fentanyl was involved in all of these deaths.

This rise in opioid overdoses across the U.S. is largely due to illicit fentanyl contaminating street drugs. Pharmaceutical fentanyl is a synthetic opioid that is FDA-approved as a patch or lozenge for the treatment of severe pain. Fentanyl is at least 50 times more potent than heroin. Most recent cases of fentanyl-related harm, overdose, and death in the U.S. are linked to illegally made fentanyl that is mixed into drugs like counterfeit painkillers and benzodiazepines, heroin, cocaine, and methamphetamine. Fentanyl has also been detected in fake pills that look like candy.

“A small amount of fentanyl, smaller than the tip of a pencil, can kill someone,” stated Paul Pettit, Public Health Director for Genesee and Orleans County Health Departments (GO Health). “This is a serious issue that impacts our children, our families and our community.”

Because we have an unregulated and criminalized drug supply, there is no way to tell if a street drug someone is using is 100 percent safe. This means that someone may use a product that they believe their body is able to tolerate, but it may actually be much stronger than they expect due to being contaminated with fentanyl, without knowing.

The opioid crisis is not confined to a particular subset of our population. The epidemic affects wealthy and poor, black and white, rural and urban, and every corner of Genesee County.

HEALing Our Communities 
The street drug supply has always been unpredictable and inconsistent – this is especially true now. People who use drugs should assume overdose risk no matter what drug they’re using, and practice as much harm reduction as consistently possible. Our community should also practice harm reduction strategies by: 

• Knowing the signs of an overdose. 
• Carrying naloxone and knowing how to use it. 
• Looking out for others in the community and administering naloxone if you suspect an overdose!

By following these harm reduction strategies, together, we can HEAL our communities and reduce preventable overdose deaths. 

State Police are looking for a person in connection to the theft of a wallet from a shopping cart at the Batavia Walmart on Oct. 27.

Troopers would like to identify the woman in the photo.

Anyone with information that may assist the investigation is asked to call (585) 344-6200.

With the holidays upon us it is a good time to remind Genesee County residents that we're fortunate to live in a community with a strong base of locally owned businesses.

Locally owned businesses are the backbone of any local community.  Local owners give back to the community in ways that chains do not, through their donations, their sponsorships, and their service on civic organizations and charities.

Communities with a vibrant local business community thrive, so we encourage you to do what you can this holiday season and throughout the year to support locally owned businesses.

These businesses support the community by supporting local news coverage.  Local news coverage is also critical to a community's health.  Facebook, Tik Tok or Instagram are never going to send a reporter to a City Council meeting or a school board meeting or cover a budget hearing or hold elected officials accountable for how they spend your tax money.  It takes local news businesses such as The Batavian that rely on your support and the support of local businesses to help keep you informed.

We're all here to make Genesee County a great place to live, work, be active, and to be entertained.

• A Place for Change
• Adam Miller Toy & Bicycles
• Advanced Podiatry
• Alabama Hotel
• Alex's Place
• Alleghany Farm Services
• Angry Charlie's Smokehouse BBQ
• Batavia Assembly of God
• Batavia Downs
• Batavia Legal Printing
• Batavia's Original
• Beds N Bones Pet Lodge
• Bergen Bottle Redemption Center
• Bill Fox & Son Construction
• Batavia Bootery
• Bontrager Real Estate
• Bourbon & Burger Co.
• Bubba's Landscaping
• Byron Holley Self Storage
• C B Beach & Son Mortuary Inc
• Cedar Street Sales & Rentals
• Chap's Elba Diner
• Chapin Manufacturing
• Charles Mens Shop
• Cinquino's Pizza
• City Church
• Classic Optical
• Claudia Tenney for Congress
• Council Opticians
• Crazy Cheap Cars
• D & R Depot Restaurant
• Dan's Tire & Auto Service Center
• Dave's Ice Cream
• Deep Blue Pool and Spa
• Dumbleton Used Auto Parts Inc
• Eden Cafe & Bakeshop
• Eli Fish Brewing Company
• Erie East Windows and Doors
• Falcone Family Funeral
• Fastec
• Foxprowl
• Frontier Kitchens
• GCASA - Genesee/Orleans Council on Alcoholism & Substance Abuse
• Genesee Dental
• Georgia Pacific
• Gerace Realty - Robert/John Gerace
• Gilliana's Diner
• Gilmartin Funeral Home
• H.E. Turner & Co Inc
• Hair Studio 25
• Harris Wilcox
• Henry H Cook
• High Voltage Tattoo & Piercing
• Hodgins Printing Co
• Howard Hanna - Michelle Dills
• Humphrey's Electric & Security
• Hunt Real Estate - Marie Scofield
• Hunt Real Estate - Stephanie D'Alba
• Insurance Center, The
• Islands Hawaiian Grill
• J. Leonard McAndrew Funeral Home
• Jagged Edges Salon
• John R. Rider Real Estate
• Keller Williams - Sunny Rathod
• Ken Barrett Chevrolet
• Kreative Design Kitchen & Bath
• L&L Transmission
• Livia Beauty & Spa
• Mama Chavez's Taqueria
• Matteo & Mullen CPA'S
• Mattress By Appointment
• Max Pies
• Michael Grasso, LMT
• Mr. Wine & Liquor
• Norton's Chizzelwood
• Oakfield Fitness
• Oliver's Candies
• Optique Optical
• Pastore's Pizzeria
• Pavilion Gift Company
• Pellegrino Auto Sales
• Precision Lawn Care
• Reliant Real Estate
• Roman's
• Sallome Heating & Cooling
• Santino's Pizza
• Select Collision
• Settler's Family Restaurant
• Skyline Resort Campground & RV Sales
• Smokin Eagle Brew & BBQ
• Southside Deli
• St. Ann's Community
• Stella Collision
• T.F. Brown's
• Terance Cranston Construction
• The Coffee Press
• The Finishing Line
• The Red Osier Landmark Restaurant, Stafford
• Thompson Motors
• Tompkins Bank of Castle
• Tonawanda Valley Credit Union
• Toyota of Batavia
• Turnbull Heating & Air Conditioning
• UMMC/Rochester Regional Health
• Valle Jewelers
• VivIFY Hydration Lounge & Medispa
• Waters Basement Services
• Weed Ross Insurance Group
• William Kent Auctioneers
• Yume Asian Bistro
• Zoom Self Storage

The Le Roy Business Council sponsored a Small Business Trick or Treat on Saturday in the Village.

Twenty-one businesses participated.

Submitted photos.

Costumed ghouls, princesses, and superheroes took to the streets by 5 p.m. Monday, after several others enjoyed a work day of costumed fun.

Some places reserved their festivities for the actual holiday — versus many that happened during the weekend — including a trunk or treat at Grace Baptist Church on Vine Street, and a Fall Festival party at City Church’s St. Anthony’s site on Liberty Street.

Of course, dozens of homes also opened their doors to giggling trick-or-treaters that seemed to be out in fewer numbers this year. Some households reported handing out less candy -- up to 50 percent less --  and online posters echoed the sentiment of disappointment that so few kids visited them. And that meant, for better or worse, more leftover Twizzlers, Snickers, fruit chews and the like.

Perhaps all of those other events -- haunted houses, trunk or treats, hay rides, carnivals -- on Friday, Saturday and Sunday -- tuckered everyone out. 

Genesee County and City of Batavia staff members felt the fun spirit during the day, dressing up in assorted themes of Old MacDonald had a Farm and 101 Dalmatians, plus a nun, skeleton, hotdog, and even a ladybug graced Ctiy Hall. 

Referee Tammi Ferringer (aka assistant county manager) called the shots in the absence of County Manager Matt Landers, who no doubt was sprucing up the decor at his house during the Human Services meeting.

Top photo of trick-or-treaters on Ellicott Avenue in Bataiva, by Howard Owens.

Photos from Genesee County and City of Batavia online sites. Photo of Tammi Ferringer, above, by Joanne Beck.

Photos by Philip Casper.

Ellicott Avenue was on Monday night, what it is every year, the hottest ticket in town for filling baskets with Halloween treats.

City Church hosted a Fall Festival at its St. Anthony's campus on Liberty Street on Monday, with activities, games, a hay ride, a bounce house, face painting, candy and grilled cheese.

There was a cute petting zoo at one house on Allanview in Batavia Monday evening.

However, the creatures looked like they hadn’t eaten in a while — they were nothing but bones.

The display was part of a Landers’ family Halloween extravaganza. From the front archway, towering villain, graveyard, and seasonal blazing orange and purple hues, the county manager’s home screamed all hallow’s eve.

“We’ve been doing it for years, my daughter’s 16 now, and we probably started it 10 years ago when she was six,” Landers said as darkness fell Monday. “I was actually thinking of scaling back, and the kids said no, dad, you’ve gotta do it.”

Placing blame on the kids aside, Landers admitted that he’s “a Halloween nut too.” 

“I love all the scary movies, I love the genre in general, I’ve got to admit,” he said.

Although he didn't don a monster mask to coordinate with the outside setup, he and wife Melissa took a peaceful dive back to the Summer of Love with tye-dye, headbands and free-flowing hair for both.

Photos by Howard Owens.

An airplane with a flat tire is stuck on the runway at the Genesee County Airport.

Town of Batavia Fire dispatched.

UPDATE 8:27 p.m.: The Town of Batavia chief is clearing the scene at the airport. "They're all set here," he reports.

Harry Rascoe (seated), director of The Recovery Station on Clinton Street Road, welcomes a variety of characters during this afternoon's Trunk or Treat event. Six vehicles -- trunks decorated with Halloween themes -- were stationed around the parking lot and each offered treats for children of all ages.

"Pirate" Jess Budzinack, right, provides treats for 3 1/2-year-old Nevaeh, and Ariel Goldstein.

Jessica Powers and her children, Aleah and Cierra Greig, embrace the holiday spirit. The Recovery Station is a program of Genesee/Orleans Council on Alcoholism and Substance Abuse. Photos by Mike Pettinella.

Disclosure: Mike Pettinella is the publicist for GCASA.

Click here to view our listings!

Photo by Kristin Smith, North Byron Road, Elba.

Photo by Tom Tharp.

Crosby's convenience stores have apparently become the target of burglars after closing hours recently.

The most recent burglary was at 12:05 a.m. on Saturday at the Crosby's on Clinton Street Road, Batavia. The store closed at 10 p.m. on Friday night.

A source said it doesn't appear that anything of value was taken, but the burglars did make a mess of the store.

The State Police are investigating the Batavia burglary, said Sheriff's Office Chief Deputy Joseph Graff.

He confirmed there was also a burglary at the Crosby's in Elba on Oct. 23, which is under investigation by the Sheriff's Office, and in Albion on Oct. 22.

"Preliminary indications all look to be similar MOs," Graff said. 

Press release:

Just a reminder to voters about Early Voting times and locations.

There are nine days of early voting beginning Oct. 29 thru November 6 at the ARC Community Center, 38 Woodrow Rd., Batavia.

The schedule:

• Saturday, Oct. 29, 9 a.m. to 5 p.m.
• Sunday, Oct. 30, 9 a.m. to 5 p.m.
• Monday, Oct. 31, 9 a.m. to 5 p.m.
• Tuesday, Nov. 1, noon to 8 p.m.
• Wednesday, Nov. 2, noon to 8 p.m.
• Thursday, Nov. 3, 9 a.m. to 5 p.m.
• Friday, Nov. 4, 9 a.m. to 5 p.m.
• Saturday, Nov. 5, 9 a.m. to 5 p.m.
• Sunday, Nov. 6, 9 a.m. to 5 p.m.

The poll site is accessible.

Call the Genesee County Board of Elections with any questions or concerns -- (585) 815-7804.

 

Press release:

The following phone lines are currently experiencing outages:

• Administrative (585-345-3000)
• Non-emergency Genesee County Dispatch Center (585-343-5000)
• Genesee County Jail (585-343-0838)

THE EMERGENCY 9-1-1 PHONE LINE IS WORKING.  Due to the sporadic nature of the outage, it is highly recommended to use a cell phone if you are experiencing a true emergency. 

Until the issue is resolved, other alternatives for non-emergency/administrative communication include e-mail to 911.Center@co.genesee.ny.us, Sheriff.Dept@co.genesee.ny.us.

We apologize for any inconvenience and hope that this issue is resolved shortly.

Dave Robinson, Graig Nettles and Alan Trammell all reached the pinnacle of success in professional sports.

Robinson was a star linebacker for the Green Bay Packers teams that won NFL championships in 1965, 1966 and 1967 – the latter two culminating with victories in Super Bowl I and Super Bowl II.

Nettles was a power hitting and Gold Glove third baseman for the New York Yankees teams that won the World Series in 1977 and 1978.

And Trammell was an elite shortstop who earned World Series MVP honors in leading the Detroit Tigers to the title in 1984.

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Legends & Stars is a bit hit with sports' memorabilia fans

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The trio was in town on Sunday, putting their signatures on a variety of sports memorabilia for collectors at the Legends & Stars show at Batavia Downs Gaming. Each of them gave about five minutes of their time to The Batavian.

ROBINSON PLAYED FOR TWO GREATS

Dave Robinson’s stellar NFL career took place in Green Bay (1963-1972) and Washington (1973-74), playing for two legendary coaches – Vince Lombardi and George Allen, respectively. He said he still follows both teams and felt mixed emotions when they faced off against each other last week.

“Once a Packer always a Packer,” Robinson, now 81, said. “I really wanted to see the Packers break that (then three-game) losing streak that they had, but I hated to see them do it against the Commanders (formerly Redskins) – and they didn’t. But that's the only time I really have a conflict is when the two teams play each other.”

Robinson brought up Lombardi and Allen, noting that they were similar in their approach to the game.

“They both did things thousands of times, so it became second nature to you,” he said. “The difference was that when Lombardi did it, he did it in a thousand different ways. George used to do the same thing over and over again. So, his game got a little stale by the end of the season. That’s why his playoff record wasn’t that great because the players weren’t as motivated. They had heard it all before.”

Robinson is one of a dozen “Lombardi” Packers inducted into the Pro Football Hall of Fame, his honor coming in 2013.

“I think there are six in there from the defense,” he said. “We didn’t know that we’d end up in the Hall of Fame, but we knew we had a tough bunch of guys.”

He said that Lombardi, understanding that most quarterbacks were right-handed and teams tended to run more plays to the right, built up the left side of the defense.

“We had Willie Davis to my insider, Herb Adderley to my outside, inside linebacker was Ray Nitschke and safety was Willie Wood,” he offered. “When you looked to your right, there were five future Hall of Famers on the field at one time.”

Following Green Bay’s victory over the Oakland Raiders in Super Bowl II, Robinson said he went up to tell Oakland (and former Buffalo Bills) quarterback Daryle Lamonica “nice game,” when Lamonica shared that he was told all week to not throw the ball to the right.

Robinson said that Lamonica told him that by the fourth quarter, he thought he had lulled the Packers to sleep and tried to hit receiver Fred Belitnikoff with a quick slant to that side. That’s when Adderley intercepted the ball and returned it 60 yards for the first defensive touchdown in Super Bowl history.

“I said to him, ‘They told you don’t do it. You should have listened to your coaches,” Robinson said with a hearty laugh.

NETTLES CRITIQUES CURRENT YANKEES

Nettles, now 78, said he continues to follow the fortunes of the Yankees, the club he played on from 1973-83. All told, Nettles played for six teams – ending his 22-year career in 1988.

Assessing this year’s loss to Houston in the American League Championship Series, Nettles said it seemed as though the Yankees’ hitters were swinging for the fences.

“Well, to me it looked like everybody’s trying to hit home runs instead of getting base hits,” he said. “A lot of strikeouts and a lot of swinging at bad pitches. It seems they would take a good pitch and swing at the bad pitches.”

He said he noticed many times that batters were taking the first pitch, which would end up right over the heart of the plate.

“For some reason, guys like to take the first pitch and that’s usually the best pitch. My theory was to guess strike on the first pitch and swing at it,” he added.

When asked about Aaron Judge and his American League record 62 homers, Nettles said “it was great for baseball and I sure hope he stays with the Yankees.”

“You know, he gambled on himself with the contract (by not signing a long-term deal with New York prior to the season) and now he’s got every right to listen to the offers,” he said. “But I hoe he stays in New York with the Yankees.”

When asked why he doesn’t attend Yankees’ Old Timers Day festivities, Nettles said “they stopped inviting me about five years ago and I don’t know why, really.”

“I don't know if somebody – whoever is in charge, somebody doesn't like me. I don't know.”

When asked if his nickname “Puff” stemmed from him being a practical joker, Nettles said he got that moniker from his ability to leave the scene without anyone noticing.

“It’s just that I could disappear quickly, after a couple of beers,” he said. “I just say goodbye. I don't even say goodbye. If I had one night having too many beers, the next day I was hurting. So, the next night I just left after about two beers … and they didn’t know where I went.”

When asked about the 1978 playoff game against the Boston Red Sox (won by the Yankees, 5-4), Nettles talked about the last out – a foul pop-up off the bat of Carl Yastrzemski that landed in Nettles’ glove.

“I’m just glad it wasn't hit very high because I didn't like pop-ups,” he said. “That was the hardest thing for me because you never practice them; you can’t practice them during batting practice.”

TRAMMELL REMEMBERS MAGICAL YEAR

The 1984 Detroit Tigers arguably is one of the greatest teams ever – a team that won 35 of its first 40 games, went 104-58 during the regular season and captured the World Series in five games against the San Diego Padres.

Trammell, now 64, was the leader of that bunch, which was managed by the legendary Sparky Anderson, and included stars such as relief pitcher Willie Hernandez (who won the AL MVP and Cy Young Award), second baseman Lou Whitaker, catcher Lance Parrish, outfielders Kirk Gibson and Chet Lemon and starting pitcher Jack Morris.

When asked about the team’s place in MLB history, Trammell said, “I’m not going to be the one to try to rank it because that’s too hard, but during that particular year … it didn’t matter if we were playing the 1927 Yankees (with Babe Ruth), we were going to win.”

“That was just our feeling. Going into the Series, if you don't feel confident that you’re going to win, then you shouldn’t be there. So, my point is that it was our year and nobody was going to beat us in that particular year.”

Trammell, who was inducted into the Baseball Hall of Fame in 2018, mentioned that the 35-5 start is the best in baseball history, adding that the team won 17 road games in a row as well.

“We were confident and we had a pretty balanced team,” he said. “I was hoping that maybe we'd be able to win another championship, but unfortunately, that didn't happen. But at least for that one year, we were the best.”

Photo: Dave Robinson, an All-Pro linebacker with the Green Bay Packers, displays his Pro Football Hall of Fame ring to Ken Van Remmen of West Seneca during Sunday's Legends & Stars show at Batavia Downs Gaming. Photo by Mike Pettinella.