From the USPS -- Buffalo:

The number of U.S. Postal Service employees attacked by dogs nationwide fell to 5,803 in 2019 — more than 200 fewer than in 2018 and more than 400 fewer since 2017. For Postal Service officials and mail carriers, one bite is one too many.

The Postal Service has new technology tools to help reduce dog attacks and is championing a local program as well.   

In the Western NY District (ZIP Codes 140 through 149), there were 55 dog attacks in 2019; one more than the year before. (See full chart below of where dog attacks occurred.)

The theme for the 2020 U.S. Postal Service National Dog Bite Awareness Week, June 14-20, is “Be Alert: Prevent the Bite.” The campaign addresses aggressive dog behaviors that pose serious threats to the more than 80,000 Postal Service employees delivering mail and how communities they serve can play an integral part in their safety.

“During this difficult time, our letter carriers are delivering mail and they need to do it safely,” said Western NY District Manager Gary Vaccarella. “We are using technology and a dog awareness program to assist our customers and carriers in reducing bites.”

According to Vaccarella, technology supports carrier safety in two ways: Mobile Delivery Devices, handheld scanners used by carriers to confirm customer delivery, now include a feature to indicate the presence of a dog at an individual address; and Informed Delivery, which alerts customers to mail and packages coming to their homes, allows customers to plan for the carrier’s arrival by securing dogs safely.

In addition, Post Offices around Western NY have started using a Dog Paw program where stickers are placed on mailboxes to alert carriers that a dog is nearby. Some Post Offices piloted the program last year; a district-wide rollout is occurring for many others.

Karen Mazurkiewicz, spokeswoman for USPS in Western New York, told The Batavian this afternoon that since she's been in her job, going back to 2016, records show no postal employees in Genesee County were bitten by a dog. That's why no community in this county is on the list below.

"They've must have done a good job getting the word out," Mazurkiewicz said. "And we train our workers to use best practices to help keep them safe."

For example, if a mail carrier approaches a residence with a barking dog, and the resident opens the main door to receive mail, the carrier is encourage to place a foot against the bottom corner where the screen door opens, in case it's unlatched and the dog comes bounding out. Once the dog is safely under control, they can hand off the mail.

Mail carriers alert others who may be substituting for them on their route about aggressive dogs by filling out bright orange "dog warning" cards that are kept on file in the delivery truck.

The Postal Service offers the following safety tips for dog owners:

• When a carrier delivers mail or packages to your front door, place your dog in a separate room and close that door before opening the front door. Dogs have been known to burst through screen doors or plate glass windows to attack visitors.
• Parents should remind children and other family members not to take mail directly from carriers in the presence of the family pet. The dog may view the carrier handing mail to a family member as a threatening gesture.
• If a carrier feels threatened by a dog, or if a dog is loose or unleashed, the owner may be asked to pick up mail at a Post Office location or other facility until the carrier is assured the pet has been restrained. If the dog is roaming the neighborhood, the pet owner’s neighbors also may be asked to pick up their mail at the area’s Post Office location.

Here are the Post Offices in Western NY that had a dog bite in 2019 (Post Offices listed alphabetically):

ALBION

  1

BOSTON

  1

BUFFALO

  15

CORNING

  1

DUNKIRK

  1

ELMIRA

  4

ENDICOTT

  1

FAIRPORT

  1

FREDONIA

  1

GRAND ISLAND

  2

HORNELL

  1

ITHACA

  1

JAMESTOWN

  2

LAKEVIEW

  1

LOCKPORT

  1

NIAGARA FALLS

  2

ORCHARD PARK

  3

PENFIELD

  1

PENN YAN

  1

ROCHESTER

  14

No Western NY District Post Offices were in the national top 20 offices for dog bite attacks, as noted today in a national press release.

The Postal Service receives no tax dollars for operating expenses and relies on the sale of postage, products and services to fund its operations.

Teachers and administrators drove house-to-house in Batavia on Wednesday to deliver awards and presents to the school's 8th graders who are moving onto high school in the fall.

Andersen is a 2020 graduate of Batavia High School (BHS) and is the sole senior to have already received her diploma.

The certificate was conferred upon her early, last week, so that she could make it to the United States Air Force (USAF) Academy in Colorado Springs, Colo., by June 25, where she will be preparing to begin six weeks of basic training. The BHS graduation is June 27. 

Andersen was apparently destined for USAF military service from an early age.  

Her grandfather served as a Captain in the USAF Strategic Air Command from 1964-1968. And her brother, Campbell Andersen, is a fourth-year cadet at USAF Academy, who's had a profound influence on her.

“He has shown me how much the Air Force can do for aspiring leaders,” (Maggie) Andersen said.

She's been a member of the Batavia Composite Squadron of the Civil Air Patrol (CAP) since the age of 12. CAP is a congressionally chartered, federally supported nonprofit corporation that serves as the official civilian auxiliary of the USAF. 

“My involvement with CAP has motivated me to become more and see all of the good parts of serving my country,” Andersen said.

Her excellence in academics, outstanding athleticism and a very strong desire to take advantage of every opportunity presented, positioned her to be an exceptionally desirable candidate for entrance as a cadet into the USAF Academy.  

“It takes a lot of effort to apply and be accepted to the academy,” said Andersen’s USAF liaison officer, Steven Sharpe.  

Candidates must be very involved in their community and athletics, at a leadership level. They must perform community service work, and their academic performance should be superior.

“The Air Force is seeking well-rounded leaders, and Maggie is very well-rounded,” Sharpe said. 

“She has put herself in a position to succeed, it would be hard for the Air Force to refuse her entrance.”

The application process also requires a nomination from a member of Congress, the President or the Vice President of the United States.  

With the resignation of Congressman Chris Collins, the local district did not have a Congressional representative at the time of Andersen’s nomination application. So she was nominated by members of the USAF Academy along with the staff that was left to handle the 27^th Congressional District’s business. 

As a cadet, Andersen plans to earn a Bachelor’s of Science in either Physics or Mathematics. She will likely then fulfill her commitment of five years of service to the Air Force doing research.  

Andersen attributes her success to her parents who told their children to “work hard and open every door” as they were growing up. 

“I think they took it to heart," said her mother, Kristine Andersen, adding “I am really proud of Maggie. She’s had a full life of music, sports, art, and school, while she has still been a kid. She’s worked hard to achieve this, and it’s great that she’s having a great life.” 

Little sister proudly admits to following in big brother's footsteps.

“Campbell's example, and success at the Academy, have been especially inspiring,” she said.

The Batavia School District and auxiliary programs like STEM (Science, Technology, Engineering and Math) and ACE (Achieving a College Education) have also had a huge impact on her.  

“These programs have given me the drive that the Academy looks for when they are making appointments,” Andersen said.

It is now clear to her how much one can accomplish by simply taking advantage of opportunity.

“I hope that more Batavia students go this route after learning about how they can get a first-class education through this program," said the newly minted cadet. "With tuition payment and a stipend, cadets can focus on their performance across the board.”

“I think anyone can do what my brother and I have done…they should take every chance to open every door and walk through it.”

Top inset photo, from left: Campbell Andersen, Maggie Andersen, and their mother, Kristine Andersen.

Bottom right inset photo: The siblings -- Maggie and Campbell Andersen.

Photos by Steve Ognibene.

Press release:

As part of its continuing education strategy, Genesee/Orleans Council on Alcoholism and Substance Abuse – in cooperation with the GOW Opioid Task Force – will present another Opioid Overdose Prevention Online Narcan Training.

The training is scheduled for Wednesday, June 24, and will feature three one-hour sessions – 10 a.m., 2 p.m. and 6 p.m. Attendance is required at just one of the sessions to receive credit for the training.

“We’re pleased to be able to present our second online training and look forward to hearing GCASA’s Prevention Educators’ new perspective on addiction, the opioid crisis and the administration of Narcan,” said Christen Ferraro, GOW Opioid Task Force coordinator.

Topics to be discussed include the disease of addiction, a brief history of the opioid crisis, signs and symptoms of opioid use and overdose, the overdose reversal drug Narcan, administration of Narcan and where to obtain Narcan.

Those who successfully complete the training will receive a Certificate of Completion and a free Narcan nasal spray kit, Ferraro said.

To access a registration form, click here. To access a pre-test, click here.

Both forms should take only a few minutes, Ferraro said, and both must be completed in order for the participant to receive his or her link to the training.

“Both forms should only take a few minutes and there are no wrong answers,” Ferraro noted.

The registration deadline is June 23.

For more information or to have the registration documents emailed, contact Ferraro at cferraro@gcasa.org.

City police are responding at the request of Sheriff's deputies who are on scene at a fight at Batavia Commons, 444 W. Main St., Batavia. It's the shopping center where Dollar Tree and Harbor Freight Tools are located.

Public Notice

Though the City of Batavia Planning and Development Committee will be holding its June meeting, as per executive orders regarding COVID-19, face-to-face public hearings are still not allowed. It meets at 6 p.m. on Tuesday, June 16.

Here a PDF link of the agenda.

Any person wishing to comment on the following proposals, should submit an email to:   drandall@batavianewyork.com, or call (585) 345-6327 prior to June 16. Comments may also be placed in the drop box hanging on the wall to the right of the outside doors at City Hall.

1. DePaul Apartments -- 555 E. Main St., Paul Schreiner, PE, agent for DePaul Apartments – Special Use Permit for the construction of a 20,100-square-foot, two story, 20 dwelling-unit addition to an existing 49,786-square-foot 42 dwelling-unit “large-scale multifamily development” building.

2. Clinton Gardens Subdivision -- 387 Garden Drive Rear, Robert Pidanick, senior project manager for Nussbaumer & Clarke – Major subdivision of this property into six separate parcels.

For questions, please call the Bureau of Inspection at (585) 345-6345.

Chamber of Commerce Seminar with Public Health Director Paul Pettit on Phase 3 reopening

Press release:

• As of 2 p.m.
  • Genesee County received two new positive cases of COVID-19, for a total of 201 positive cases.
    • The positive individuals reside in Batavia.
    • One of the new positive individuals is in their 20s and one of the new positive individuals is in their 30s.
    • The new positive cases were not on mandatory quarantine prior to testing positive.
    • Two of the previous community positive cases have recovered and have been released from mandatory isolation.
    • Zero of the total active positive cases are hospitalized.
  • Orleans County received two new positive cases of COVID-19, for a total of 246 positive cases.
    • One of the new positive individuals lives in Carlton and one of the new positive individuals lives in Murray
    • One of the new positive individuals is in their 20s and one of the new positive individuals is in their 50s.
    • Neither of the new positive cases were on mandatory quarantine prior to testing positive.
    • Two of the previous community positive cases have recovered and have been released from mandatory isolation.
    • Fifteen of the total active positive cases are hospitalized. Please note those in the hospital may be from the community or a state-regulated facility. We do not separate them out to protect their privacy.

Ice cream, ice cream, we all scream for ice cream.

While they didn’t shout it out, Genesee County legislators made it clear that they missed enjoying the frozen dairy treats that are distributed once a year by the Genesee County Dairy Princess Court during the ceremony designating June as “Dairy Month.”

The reading of the proclamation by Legislator Gregg Torrey kicked off this afternoon's legislature meeting, which took place via Zoom videoconferencing.

In part, the decree stated that the “Dairy Industry has contributed to the development and prosperity of our community since the earliest formation of Genesee County … and that dairy farmers and farmworkers strive to produce wholesome dairy milk, which is used to make delicious dairy products … that provide health benefits and valuable nutritional benefit to residents locally, regionally and globally.”

Natasha (Stein) Sutherland, co-owner of Stein Farms and a member of Genesee County Farm Bureau, said the honor holds a special meaning for rural counties such as Genesee.

“It is well-earned and it happened at a perfect moment (where) we can stop and say ‘thank you, Dairy’ but also thank you to each other during this time when support is so needed and the industry is finally reopening,” she said.

After that, Dairy Princess Miah Werth, a junior at Elba Central School, pointed to dairy’s nutritional value as she thanked the legislature for recognizing the industry.

“Dairy is extremely important for our health as it provides a unique variety of nutrients that our body needs,” she said, noting that milk and cheese contain high percentages of essential vitamins and protein.

Werth said the Genesee County Dairy Court’s No. 1 goal is to educate the public on “how hard dairy farmers work every day.”

“It is important for us to continue to support them as they have always been the heart and backbone of our county,” she said.

She then introduced the members of this year’s Dairy Court:

Dairy Ambassadors -- Amelia Brewer, Jillian Brewer, Georgia Luft, Carolyn Sybertz and Maggie Winspear.

Dairy Maids -- Chloe Lamb, Claire Lamb, Caroline Luft and Annalise Sybertz.

Legislator Marianne Clattenburg thanked the young ladies for their efforts, and left them with a reminder of past years.

“I wish we could be with you because we’re really missing our ice cream,” she quipped.

Near the end of a hot day, Cassandra Wroblewski was bored so she decided to draw flowers on the sidewalk outside her apartment on Ellicott Street in Batavia.

Wroblewski said she is a crafter and an artist who is busy every day with her creations but decided she needed to go outside to be creative for a change.

Press release:

Following his continuous calls for reforms to the Paycheck Protection Program (PPP), U.S. Senate Minority Leader Charles E. Schumer today announced the unanimous Senate passage of the Paycheck Protection Program Flexibility Act.

This bipartisan bill makes critical changes to PPP, including expanding the loan forgiveness period from eight to 24 weeks, allowing small businesses greater flexibility in the use of funds for non-payroll expenses like rent and utilities. It also sets a new rehiring deadline -- by the end of the year -- to allow small businesses to receive full forgiveness of their loan.

Schumer explained that these reforms were absolutely necessary because the impact of the coronavirus crisis is long lasting and requires a program that recognizes the realities faced by small businesses that have a long road ahead to full recovery.

“These changes to the PPP program provide desperately needed flexibility and relief to countless small businesses in Upstate New York,” Senator Schumer said. “We worked day and night to pressure and persuade senators on the other side of the aisle to urgently get this done, and not wait to provide relief.

"This deal gives small businesses a more discretion and a realistic timeline to deploy the assistance they received to bring back employees and keep the lights on.”

The Paycheck Protection Program Flexibility Act is especially important for New York, Schumer explained, because New York State tends to have higher rent and utility costs compared to the rest of the country.

The senator also stressed that the bill would not solve every problem in PPP and that more must be done to promote access for rural and minority-owned businesses and nonprofits struggling to get the help they need.

Legislation like the HEROES Act, Schumer said, is still urgently needed to provide additional help not only for small businesses, but also for homeowners, renter, essential workers, medical facilities, local and state governments, and more.

The bill previously passed the House of Representatives 417-1 and following Senate passage was signed by President Trump last week.

Details on some of the main reforms in the Paycheck Protection Program Flexibility Act are provided below:

First, the Paycheck Protection Program Flexibility Act expands the loan forgiveness period from eight weeks to 24 weeks. Currently, workers may be brought back for the eight weeks, but then face a cliff after that short period and may be laid off again.

Second, the legislation removes the 25-percent restriction imposed by the Trump administration on the use of loans for fixed costs, like rent, mortgage, and utilities, and replaces it with a new 60-40 payroll to non-payroll breakdown in the use of the loan, allowing more flexibility for helping small businesses and nonprofits with all expenses to survive this crisis, which is essential to the long-term employment prospect of the workers.

Third, the proposal makes Dec. 31st the deadline to rehire workers in order to get full forgiveness on the loan, a more realistic timeline given the expected length of this public health and economic crisis.

Fourth, the proposal extends the terms of the loan from two years to at least five years for any part of the loan that is not forgiven, helping to ensure small businesses and nonprofits are not saddled with quick repayment while recovering from this crisis.

Albany – Every year more than 1,000 Americans are killed or seriously injured when they engage in unsafe behavior at railroad crossings.

New York Operation Lifesaver works to eliminate these preventable incidents and educate the public about all aspects of train safety.

On Thursday, June 11, in honor of International Level Crossing Awareness Day (ILCAD), New York Operation Lifesaver will place ads throughout New York State urging people to be patient and safe at railroad crossings.

For 12 years, ILCAD has focused attention on the preventable incidents that occur at railroad crossings throughout the world. “Operation Lifesaver Inc. the national organization which New York Operation Lifesaver is affiliated with, has celebrated ILCAD since it began in 2009.

We are proud to join the ILCAD outreach with our #StayPatientStayAlive statewide campaign,” said New York Operation Lifesaver Board President Daniel Bates.

During June 11, 2020 as part of the #StayPatientStayAlive campaign, New Yorkers will see ads like the sample below when they go online or use apps on their phones.

The campaign, called #StayPatientStayAlive, seeks to get New Yorkers to be slow down and stay safe at railroad crossings.

“Our goal with #StayPatientStayAlive, campaign is to save lives,” Bates said. “That’s the goal of Operation Lifesaver organizations throughout the U.S. and the globe.”

From Jocelyn Sikorski, executive director, Genesee County Youth Bureau:

The City of Batavia and Genesee County Youth Boards hold a Youth Recognition Banquet annually to recognize those youth and adults who continuously go above and beyond for our community. The Youth Recognition Awards are presented to youth who are positive role models, have performed outstanding service for their community, and/or have assumed extraordinary roles within their families.

The Adult Youth Worker Award is presented to a paid professional who emulates dedication and service to youth and families above and beyond their paid position.  The Adult Volunteer Award honors an individual who is a role model for the youth of today and gives of themselves to better the life of children.  

Even though the banquet scheduled to take place this spring was cancelled due to the COVID-19 pandemic, the Youth Boards wanted to share and celebrate these individuals.

We would like to recognize the 20 youth and two adults who would have had a night to celebrate their contributions with their nominators, family and friends by sharing a brief bio about each of them and why they were selected by the boards to receive the awards in 2020.

They are all in receipt of their awards at this time, which include Commendations from Genesee County Legislature, City Council, Assemblyman Steve Hawley, and Senator Michael Ranzenhofer. They also received T-shirts and a certificate from the two Youth Boards.

The City and County Youth Boards congratulate all our 2020 recipients and thank you for your commitment and service to our youth and community!

This year’s recipients of the Youth Recognition Awards are: 

Amanda Bergman, 17, of Notre Dame High School has exceeded all expectations in regards to community service. She has contributed time to many organizations such as Challenger Sports, Interact Club, The Diocesan Youth Board, Stone’s Buddies and Crossroads House. During her work setting up events at her parish and working at the Crossroads House garage sale, Amanda has had many intergenerational conversations full of insight and advice. 

Justine Bloom, 17, of Byron-Bergen Central School, proactively participated in starting the Alliance for Equality Club, a club devoted to supporting the LGBTQ+ youth in her school and community. She went above and beyond with researching regulations and using proper delegation and chains of command to start the club. Justine holds many roles in Alliance for Equality, including cofounder, vice president and treasurer. Justine is also a member of GLOW OUT, an organization in Genesee County that provides education and awareness around the LGBTQ+ community. 

Shannon Breton, 16, of Alexander Central School, babysits during Parent-Teacher Association meetings and volunteers her time with the Big Buddy program, where she goes to the elementary building for 80 minutes every four days to mentor younger students. On top of her involvement in Student Council, Gay Straight Alliance and National Honor Society, she volunteers outside of school at the Salvation Army. Shannon has volunteered at steak dinners, Thanksgiving dinners and a shoe drive. 

Sydney Brown, 17, of Byron-Bergen Central School, has performed incredible community service for Genesee County by serving as a volunteer firefighter with the Elba Volunteer Fire Department, where she participated in 61 calls during 2019. She has recorded 87 state training hours as well. She is constantly seeking further training and has set a goal to become an EMT while continuing her work with the fire service. 

Emily Cerefin, 15, of Alexander Central School, has been volunteering her time to Challenger Sports since sixth grade. She helps participants play basketball, baseball and with swimming. Emily is also an integral part of the school’s SADD/Donate Life Club. She was planning Donate Life week, including a poster series and event to educate students and the community about the effects of drugs and alcohol. Emily has also started training for Purple Pony, an organization that provides individuals with special needs the opportunity to horseback ride. 

Elizabeth Clark, 15, of Batavia High School, has been volunteering four to six hours a week of her time at All Babies Cherished for approximately a year and a half. As a current 10th-grade student, she has already exceeded her graduation volunteer hours requirements. Elizabeth also volunteers for Meals on Wheels, Care-A-Van and for the Town Clerk of Ashford where she helps envelope tax slips and sorts them by numerical order. Elizabeth is a member of Z-Club at her school and has volunteered her time at the Zonta Holiday Festival and Jackson Primary Open House. 

Ally Flint, 17, of Le Roy Jr./Sr. High School, is a member of Rotary Interact and this year her group is working on a Butterfly Effect project and raising money to donate to support youth sports programs for underprivileged youth in the community. Ally regularly serves and prepares meals at her local community kitchen. She also provides company to the residents at the Le Roy Village Green where she plays card games and does puzzles with them. She is also a peer counselor to a group of seventh-grade students.

Tate Fonda, 16, of Batavia High School, has volunteered in many capacities on behalf of Zonta Club. She joined as a freshman and immediately jumped into leadership roles. The club as a whole depends on Tate as a dynamic member who helps with organization and brings new ideas to the group. In addition to Z-Club, Tate is active with many other school organizations such as Student Government, Model UN, Mock Trial and National Honor Society. 

Luke Geiger, 15, of Batavia High School, is a selfless young man who volunteers at many organizations, including the United Methodist Church, John Kennedy School and his own school. He has built horseshoe pits at his church, volunteered at multiple spaghetti dinners at John Kennedy School, and conducted a flag ceremony to helps raise funds for youth who would otherwise not be able to attend summer camp. Luke is also conducting an Eagle Scout project that consists of raising funds and supervising and participating with other scouts to build a hiking trail behind Northgate Free Methodist Church.

Sally LaDuke, 15, of Alexander Central School, has played an extraordinary role in the adjustment and transition of her younger siblings from developing countries into her family. Sally intrinsically knows and demonstrates an amazing array of nurturing techniques that help and guide her siblings. She is skillful at reading their nonverbal cues and is able to redirect, sidetrack, add humor and otherwise discretely help her siblings to regroup. 

Julie Muntz, 16, of Oakfield-Alabama Central School, is involved in the Youth Court program where she does exceptionally well in her role as defense attorney. Julie went to Albany this past February on behalf of the Youth Bureau to help advocate for funding and speak about how the Youth Bureau programs have made such a positive impact on her. At school, Julie takes on a big role in Link Crew, which is an organization that mentors freshman. Julie rearranged her academic schedule to tutor a student who was struggling academically.

Eva Rhoads, 16, homeschooled, has volunteered at Purple Pony for the last two years. Purple Pony is a program that provides individuals with disabilities the opportunity to benefit from interacting with horses. Eva began her volunteer work as a side walker, keeping the riders safe and engaged. She quickly progressed to leading horses, which involves monitoring the horse’s demeanor to ensure the horse is calm and the rider is safe. Volunteers are a vital part of the Purple Pony program, as it is 100-percent volunteer based.

Kelsey Schlagenhauf, 16, of Oakfield-Alabama Central School, has far exceeded the expectation of her Advanced Placement English project. Kelsey chose to hold a Christmas Toy Drive to allow less fortunate families from our community to “shop” free of charge. After much hard work, organization and advertising, she turned her school cafeteria into a winter wonderland with 500 new and gently used toys that helped 25 families. Kelsey warmed the hearts of many and brought Christmas to families who may not have had a Christmas without her hard work and dedication.

Donovan Sherman, 17, of Elba Central School,is an integral part of a student-led club called 2impact (To Influence My Peers as a Christian Teen). This group was required to be student led and he stepped up to the plate. Donovan led a project to reach out to a family in dire need of encouragement as that family’s father was diagnosed with terminal cancer. Posters were placed around the school asking to write notes of encouragement and kindness. The notes and a gift card were placed in a box and delivered to the family by Donovan. 

Madaline Spencer, 19, of Notre Dame High School, has volunteered many hours for the past two years at Vacation Bible School. In Madaline’s first year, she was an assistant group leader where she was partially in charge of a group of students. In her second year, she was promoted to leader for the activities station where she was responsible for teaching and supervising students. Over the past five years, she has also volunteered her time at multiple churches and The Salvation Army.

Montana Weidman, 18, of Notre Dame High School volunteers because she enjoys serving her community and bringing joy to the people around her. She utilizes her talents in sports and in working with people with special needs by doing partner work with special needs athletes with Genesee ARC. Every year, Montana volunteers time to the Annual Special Olympics by directing individuals to starting lines, completing paperwork and sometimes even running races with participants. She also spends time volunteering at the St. Joseph’s Penny Carnival, Tri County Flag Football, and Challenger Basketball. 

Lily Whiting, 17, of Batavia High School, spent her summer volunteering at GO ART!’s Summer Creative Arts Camp where students explore “all things artistic.” Lily is a peer leader for Source of Strength, a school program that raises awareness of suicide and combatting negative triggers. Lily has also volunteered in the community on behalf of the club at the Veteran’s Home. Lily is involved in band, chorus, orchestra, and school musicals. 

Isabella Wilder, 17, of Byron-Bergen Central School, brought the idea of starting a Gay Straight Alliance club to her school; she is currently the President of the club, Alliance for Equality. Isabella has assisted in school wide events, such as club fair, and participated in community events that bring local schools together to celebrate LGBTQ+ pride and awareness. Isabella is also involved with GLOW OUT, a GLOW region organization that helps provide the same pride and awareness at the community level. Isabella is also involved in music, volunteering at Girls Rock! And Queer Rock! in Rochester. 

Rachael Wight, 14, of Oakfield-Alabama Central School, has been a positive member of her community for many years. Rachael has been in many leadership positions, to include Spanish Club at her school, her church’s AWANA program, and the WNY Perinatal Bereavement Network. At her church, she has helped with Communion preparation, the church nursery and in the kitchen. She has also participated in ARC dance, Girl Scouts and marching band. For the ARC Dance, she was awarded the Lakin Pearce Award for helping with dance classes. 

Maxwell Whalen, 15, of Pavilion Central School, volunteers for the youth soccer program as a referee. He goes above and beyond to help the elementary students understand his calls and learn the game. Max is also active with Future Farmers of America and volunteers many hours to promote leadership and agriculture in his community. Most recently Max traveled to Albany to meet with state senators and Assembly members to discuss the importance of agriculture education in New York. Max also volunteers his time to Genesee County Youth Court. 

Maria Casper, recipient of the 2020 Adult Youth Worker Award, has been an employee at Elba Central School for the past 18 years. Casper is one of the founders of Elba School’s Threads & More store, where students can shop for new and gently used clothing, shoes, and outerwear, personal hygiene items, and school supplies. Casper was instrumental in putting the store together, from installing shelves, painting the room, organizing supplies and letting students shop privately. Aside from the store, Casper goes above and beyond to support students so they have the opportunity to be a kid. Faculty at Elba School recently joined together to purchase tickets for a student who the school thought would enjoy seeing a musical in Buffalo. The student was thrilled to be given the opportunity; however, faculty soon learned that the student did not have transportation to the event. Casper stepped in and graciously provided transportation and lunch for the student. Casper is the type of employee who wants all children to feel loved and special and that is exactly what she does.

Michael Wilson, recipient of the 2020 Adult Volunteer Award, is employed with Pembroke Jr./Sr. High School. Aside from his employment, the volunteer work he does for the students and community of Pembroke is nothing short of a miracle. For the past nine years, Wilson has led the Shooting for a Cure event at the school. The purpose of this event is to raise awareness and funds for breast cancer research at Roswell Park in Buffalo. This event was started to benefit Toni Funke, the varsity basketball coach’s wife. Wilson has spent numerous hours seeking donations from local businesses and community members by writing letters and making phone calls on behalf of the event. What is truly inspiring to see is how Wilson’s students get involved in participating in the event; giving back is not only something that he teaches, but models for his students. He has also led a trip for the girls’ basketball team to deliver the check from the fundraiser directly to Roswell Park to see firsthand the impact they are making. Shooting for a Cure has raised more than $120,000 for Roswell Park, all of which is directly attributed to the efforts and selflessness of Wilson.

Press release:

“Last night, Western New Yorkers saw two vastly different candidates with two vastly different views of America and the choice is clear. Chris Jacobs will support our law enforcement, secure our borders, and fight for our small businesses to grow the economy. Nate McMurray's socialist proposals would raise taxes, make our cities and towns less safe, and threaten the constitutional rights of every New Yorker. Western New Yorkers who want to ensure President Trump has an ally in Congress and our region need to get out and vote for Chris Jacobs on June 23rd.”

-- Christian Chase, Communications Director -- Jacobs for Congress

NOTE: Libertarian Party Candidate Duane Whitmer was excluded from the debate.

A physical altercation is reported in the front parking lot of the Flying J Travel Center, 8484 Alleghany Road, Pembroke. Law enforcement is called to respond.

A clerk subsequently reported one subject, believed to be the victim, driving a Perry's Ice Cream truck, had left the front lot and was driving elsewhere on the premises.

An operator(s) of a red Volvo "Two Brothers" truck was reportedly the aggressor -- "ninja kicking" the operator of the Perry's vehicle at the time of the call.

A working barn fire is reported in Bergen at 7181 W. Bergen Road. It's gone to a second alarm. Bergen Fire Department is responding, along with mutual aid from Byron, Elba, and the Town of Batavia.

UPDATE 12:07 a.m.: The barn fire is out. The cause is under investigation.

Press release:

• As of 2 p.m.
  • Genesee County received one new positive case of COVID-19, for a total of 199 positive cases.
    • The new positive individual resides in Batavia.
    • The person is in their 60s.
    • The new positive case was not on mandatory quarantine prior to testing positive.
    • Three of the previous community positive cases have recovered and have been released from mandatory isolation.
    • Zero of the total active positive cases are hospitalized.
  • Orleans County received zero new positive cases of COVID-19, for a total of 244 positive cases.
    • Seventeen of the total active positive cases are hospitalized. Please note those in the hospital may be from the community or a state-regulated facility. We do not separate them out to protect their privacy.
    • We are truly saddened to report we have lost three of our county residents to COVID-19. All three of the individuals were residents of Orchard Rehabilitation & Nursing Center. Our deepest condolences to each of these individual’s family and friends during this very difficult time.