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Richmond Friends honor 2020 and 2021 volunteers

By Howard B. Owens

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Sue Chiddy was honored Saturday as the 2020 Friend of the Year by the Friends of the Richmond Memorial Library and Jerianne Barnes was honored for 2021 in a COVID-delayed celebration at the library.

Chiddy moved to Batavia in 1982 and learned about the Richmond Library by taking her five children there. A retired teacher, she has worked at GCC and has been involved in the planning and organizing of "The Tale of Three Counties," is on the Books Sandwiched in committee, helping bring in speakers, and she is part of the library reading group. She is also a member of the Richmond reads program. She enjoys gardening and has helped in the upkeep of the Library garden.

"I have enjoyed all of the opportunities the library has afforded us. It's been my pleasure to bring books and exciting new programs to the community of Batavia."

Barnes got her first paid library job at Prendergast Public Library in Jamestown, NY in 1956.  Jerianne and her husband Larry along with their young daughter arrived in Batavia in 1968.   In 1975, she received a Masters in Library Science from the University at Buffalo. She served as a school librarian and media specialist. Her volunteer work at Richmond has focused on reference, local history, and genealogy.  She also delivers books for the Library Visits program.

"Working here is a labor of love," Barnes says. "This is the icing on the cake, it's sweet and I am grateful."

Photos and information by Alecia Kaus/Video News Service.

Group photo: Jessica Ecock Rotundo/VP Board of Directors, Bob Conrad/Library Director, Sue Chiddy, Jerianne Barnes, and Kathy Zipkin/Pres. Friends of the Richmond Library

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Photos: ABATE rides to honor fallen officers

By Howard B. Owens

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Genesee County ABATE members held a fundraising drive today to benefit the fallen officers memorial at the Genesee County Sheriff's Office on Park Road in Batavia.

The group's goal is to raise money for a more substantial memorial rather than the metal signs currently commemorating officers who died in the line of duty.

About fifty riders participated in the run.

Photos by Alecia Kaus/Video News Service.

Top photo: Frank Gallo VP/ABATE, Tim Johnson.Pres./ABATE, John Peck, and Sheriff William Sheron.

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Farmers Market coupons available at Office for the Aging

By Press Release

Anyone 60  years or older and income-eligible can receive a Famers Market coupon booklet from the Office for the Aging.

The booklets are available at 2 BAnk St., Batavia, Monday through Friday, 8:30 a.m. to 5 p.m.

Income guidelines:

  • One person in the household, $1,986 monthly
  • Two people, $2,686 monthly
  • Three people, $3,386 monthly

Batavia man dies following crash in Lockport on Thursday

By Howard B. Owens

The Niagara County Sheriff's Office said this morning that John Kindig, 63, of Batavia, has succumbed to injuries he sustained in a single-vehicle accident at 11:47 p.m. on Chestnut Ridge Road in Lockport.

Kindig's car struck at the residence with three people inside the home.  None of the residents were injured but a deputy did need to extricate one person from a bedroom.

Previously: Batavia man seriously injured in accident in Lockport

Sponsored Post: Genesee County Fair would like to thank you

By Lisa Ace


THANK YOU TO THE GENEROUS SPONSORS & VOLUNTEERS OF THE GENESEE COUNTY FAIR - WITHOUT YOU NONE OF THIS WOULD BE POSSIBLE!

  • Adams Welding & Fabrication
  • Alexander Equipment
  • Allie McIlroy
  • Allen & Debbie Dennis
  • Andy & Lori Bartow
  • April Meier
  • Arctic Refrigeration
  • Barniak Farms
  • Baskin Livestock
  • Batavia Downs
  • Batavia Country Club
  • Batavia Legal Printing
  • Batavia Restaurant Supply
  • Becky Starowitz
  • Ben & Jim Duyssen
  • Bethany FD
  • Bev Wolcott
  • Big O Farms
  • Bobbie Young
  • Burk Family
  • BW’s Restaurant
  • Byron-Bergen FFA
  • Cathy Kingdon
  • Carolina Eastern Crocker
  • Carrie Beil
  • Cedar Street Sales & Rental
  • Cheryl Mullen
  • Chris & Mike Maher
  • Clark Patterson Lee
  • Coco Landscaping
  • Cole Young
  • Country Line Electrical Distributor’s Inc
  • Dan Duyssen Farm
  • Danny Thomas
  • Dave & Brenda Dermody
  • Davis Countryside Meadows
  • Dave Reisdorf Inc.
  • Debbie Lowe
  • Debbie Starowitz
  • Dewey Produce, Inc.
  • East Town Beverage
  • Empire Access
  • Empire Tractor
  • Erie and Niagara Insurance Assoc.
  • Extreme Streetwear
  • Faith at the Fair Volunteers
  • Freed Maxik CPA's PC
  • Genesee County Chamber of Commerce
  • Genesee County Farm Bureau
  • Genesee County Sheriff's Department
  • Genesee Patrons Cooperative Insurance Company
  • Genesee Speedway
  • Genesee Valley Penny Saver
  • George & Swede Sales & Service Graham Corporation
  • Greg Post - General Contracting
  • Hazlett Services
  • Hirsch’s Dairy Farm & Custom Service Home Depot – Batavia
  • HP Hood
  • J L Kingdon Mechanical
  • J&L Ice
  • Jack & Sundae Duyssen
  • Jack MacDuffie
  • Jam at the Ridge
  • James Foss & Family
  • Jason & Crystal Heimlich
  • Java Farm Supply
  • Jeff Condidorio – Bread Delivery
  • Jeff, Kim & Olivia Lovetro
  • Jeff Parnapy
  • Jim & Pam Johnson & Family
  • Joe Lewadowski
  • Joe's Pro Shop
  • Kelly & Lilly Stalica
  • Ken Barrett Chevrolet
  • Kevin Kelkinberg
  • Kim Wolcott
  • Kitana Maher
  • Kyle Young
  • Lacy Katzen, LLP
  • L.D. Stevens Golf Carts
  • Lamb Farms, Inc.
  • Land Pro
  • Lardon Disposal/Mark Palmer
  • Larry & Sue Carlson
  • Leonard Petterson
  • Liberty Pumps
  • Lift School of Music - Laura Kauppi
  • Lor Rob Farms
  • Lori & Tony Prinz
  • LorRob Dairy Farm
  • MacDuffie Sand & Gravel
  • M&J Anderson Concessions
  • M&T Trucking
  • Maple Moon Farms, LLC
  • Margaret Perry
  • Mark Barrie
  • Mark Willis
  • McKenzie Farms
  • Michael Houseknecht
  • Milton Cat - Batavia
  • Monroe Tractor
  • Mowacres Farm
  • Norm Sr. & Pat Pimm
  • Northside Deli
  • OATKA Milk Products
  • Offhaus Farms, Inc.
  • Paul Hirsch
  • Paul Smith Refuse Service
  • Photography by Susan Meier
  • Pocock Repair Shop
  • Posy Power Peddler
  • Pumpkin Hill Veterinary Clinic
  • RKK Construction
  • R.W. Taylor Trucking & Excavating
  • Reece Starowitz
  • Reisdorf Oil & Propane
  • Reyncrest Farms
  • Ron & Chris Brown
  • Ron & Julie Radley
  • Rose Maher & Bill Davis
  • Scofield Transfer & Recycling
  • Scott Adams Trucking
  • SJ Starowitz Farms, LLC
  • SMA Farms
  • Smitty’s Amish Sheds
  • Southern Tier Fire Extinguishers
  • Stafford FD
  • Sterling Tent & Awnings
  • Steve Mel’s BBQ
  • Steve Warner
  • Steve Winska
  • Student Transportation of America
  • Stein Dairy Farms
  • Sue Rich
  • Summer Kick Off Classic Horse Show Volunteers
  • Summit Lubricants
  • T.S. Lighting, LLC
  • Talent Show Volunteers
  • Terry Hills Golf Course, Restaurant & Banquet Facility
  • The Batavian
  • The Batavia Daily News
  • The Red Osier Landmark Restaurant
  • Tim & Joanne Horine
  • Tim Adams & Steven Foster
  • Todd & Amanda Hofheins
  • Todd Berkemier
  • Tom Nesbit
  • Town of Batavia FD
  • Turnbull Heating & Cooling
  • United Healthcare
  • United Rentals
  • Upstate Niagara Cooperative, Inc.
  • Verginia Zocco
  • Volvo
  • WBTA
  • WCJW
  • William Kent, Inc.
  • Wright Beverage Distributing
  • Xylem
  • Yancy’s Fancy

*We apologize to anyone we may have missed!

Photos: Stafford Country Club digs up a little history as part of centennial celebration

By Howard B. Owens

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Members of the Stafford Country Club opened a 25-year-old time capsule as part of the club's year-long centennial celebration.

Water had gotten into the capsule but it was filled with memorabilia from 1996 when Tiger Woods ruled the golf world -- among the items in the box was a magazine with Woods on the cover.  Other items included documents of events from 1996 and the history of the club along with a restaurant menu.

Top two photos by Alecia Kaus/Video News Service. 

Pictured above, Jim Owen, Country Club member,  Mike McCarthy Pres. Stafford Country Club, Pat Garnish, Chair of Stafford Country Club Centennial Committee, Ralph Garnish, Auctioneer, Candice Bower, Centennial Committee member, Mari -Ellen Lamont, Centennial Committee member/photographer. 

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Photos below by Mari-Ellen Lamont

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Office for the Aging offers free handyman service for seniors

By Howard B. Owens

Press release:

  • Grab bar and railing installation
  • Minor plumbing repairs
  • Window and door repairs
  • Smoke & CO detector installation
  • Other non-emergency home repairs

No charge for labor for residents 60+. Some material costs may apply. Donations towards labor costs are gratefully accepted and are put back into the program.

All work done with COVID-19 screening and safe work practices in place.

Call 585-815-7979 for more information

The Handyman Program is operated as a partnership between PathStone Corporation and the Genesee County Office for the Aging.

Funded by:  Muriel H. Marshall Fund

New dads need changing tables in their restrooms, too

By Press Release

Press release:

Do you know a dad that has been in a public place with their baby and is unable to find a changing table inside the men’s restroom? Changing table inequalities have been in existence for years. In 2018, they came to the forefront when a father from Florida posted a picture on social media showing that he had to squat and change his son’s diapers on his lap because there wasn’t a changing table available in the men’s restroom.

A nationwide survey found that 9 out of 10 dads have gone into a public restroom unable to find a changing table. As a result, Pampers created the “Love the Change” campaign to provide changing tables to businesses and not-for-profits across the United States to install in men’s restrooms. Pampers has already donated 3,557 changing tables, but they are pledging to donate 1,000 more by the end of 2021.

The Genesee and Orleans County Health Departments (GO Health) are collaborating with Pampers to identify local businesses and not-for-profits throughout Genesee and Orleans Counties that would be interested in receiving a changing table for their men’s restroom. This is 100% free of charge and the only requirement is that businesses install their own changing table.

If you are a not-for-profit or business owner that is interested in receiving a changing table for your men’s room, please contact the Genesee County Health Department by calling 585-344-2580 ext. 5578 or emailing Kayla.Shuknecht@co.genesee.ny.us.

Hawley critical of speaker ending Cuomo impeachment proceeding

By Press Release

Press release from Assemblyman Steve Hawley:

”Impartial justice is a founding principle of our constitutional republic, and nobody should be above the law. Our public officials should be held to the highest standards possible, and by ending this impeachment investigation the speaker has denied justice to the people of this state and allowed potentially illegal acts to be swept under the rug.”

Sponsored Post: New listing from Reliant Real Estate; 7335 Whitney Mill Road

By Lisa Ace


New listing: 7335 Whitney Mill Road. Here's your chance to get a sweet little ranch on a quiet country road. This home is centrally located to everything -within minutes to schools shopping and thruway! Home is located in Elba school system. There has been many upgrades to the property including a new metal in 2020, all blown in insulation 2020, hot water tank 2020 and furnace is 10 years young! Newly hooked to public water and all plumbing is brand new! Inside is neat as a pin and everything is conveniently placed-great use of space!! First floor laundry and all appliances are staying. Home is located on 1.5 acres. Newly blacktopped double wide drive leading to large 2 car attached garage for all your extras! With some work this house is a real gem! Click here for more information or call Lynn bezon at Reliant Real Estate today, call 585-344-home (4663)

Owner temporarily closes Log Cabin over rodent concern

By Press Release

Press release:

The Genesee County Health Department is aware of concerns about rodents at the Indian Falls Log Cabin restaurant located in Corfu, NY. 

Public Health Sanitarians conducted an inspection this morning, August 13th, 2021, and the owner has voluntarily closed the restaurant.

The facility will remain closed until further inspections are completed. 

Town of Pembroke opts in to amended water supply plan; county leaders continue dialogue with Town of Darien

By Mike Pettinella

And then there was one.

The Pembroke Town Board on Thursday night voted, 5-0, to sign an amended water supply agreement with Genesee County, leaving the Town of Darien as the lone municipality not to opt in to a contract that would set the stage for $10 million in sales tax distribution from the county to its towns and villages over the next 38 years.

“We felt that it was more important to secure sales tax funding than to hold out on the water agreement,” Pembroke Town Supervisor Thomas Schneider Jr. said. “In good faith, we believed that it was best to mend some fences with the county.”

In a previous story on The Batavian, Schneider indicated there were some hard feelings over the way water agreements were handled in the past, but the current board is willing to give county leaders the benefit of the doubt – believing that the legislature will attain its goal of equalizing the water surcharge.

Schneider also said he talked to County Manager Matt Landers about the potential of “bumping up” the guaranteed sales tax money to be shared with the municipalities in light of the Village of Corfu (at the end of July) and Town of Pembroke opting in.

PEMBROKE MAKES COUNTEROFFER

“Hopefully, we are thinking that the $7 million in sales tax distribution could go to maybe eight or eight and a half million – based on having Corfu and Pembroke on board.”

Genesee County’s offer to distribute $10 million in straight sales tax revenue is contingent upon universal buy-in from its towns and villages.

Without that universal buy-in, the proposal is to distribute $7 million in annual sales tax revenue and an additional $3 million in other revenue on a periodic basis over the next 38 years.

Municipalities not opting in would receive less in revenue distribution than expected to allow for the equalization of water surcharge revenue.

Legislature Chair Rochelle Stein was asked if lawmakers would consider Schneider’s proposal to increase the guaranteed sales tax distribution.

Choosing her words carefully, she replied, “Here’s what I’m going to say: Let us do our work.”

“We have not met and we won’t until Monday. So, there’s a process that we follow and let us do our work. But, certainly, that suggestion is taken and welcomed.”

FIXING UNBALANCED TAX RATES

Currently, the county’s revenue sharing process has created a situation, per state law, where towns with villages inside them have to keep two separate books and have two separate tax rates – an A fund for townwide sales tax that affects everyone and a B fund for sales tax that only affects the services of taxpayers outside the village.

Stein said the legislature’s focus has been “to be able to direct that revenue sharing into the B funds of those towns and villages; that is our focus for this entire process. And, if we can find a way to get there together, that’s our goal.”

She previously explained that the $10 million figure that the county is committed to putting into the sales tax agreement would fix the unbalanced A and B tax rate.

When asked if she thought the Darien Town Board would change is mind and opt in, Stein said she that if it did reconsider, it would need to be mindful that the county has a timetable to adhere to “that is significant because our calendar has already started.”

The legislature’s Ways & Means Committee is expected to address the situation at its meeting this Monday, with the full legislature scheduled to vote on a distribution amount on Aug. 25.

“Plus, the City of Batavia has to do this at their meetings in September and the (New York State) Office of Comptroller needs 60 to 90 days and we already want to be able to distribute our third quarter payments (in October) as sales tax,” Stein advised.

“Time is not our friend right now,” she said. “But for those six towns that have the B funds or that have villages in their towns, it is truly meaningful for their more rural taxpayers to rebalance that property tax imbalance that is occurring right now for them.”

PURSUING WATER RATE EQUALIZATION

Landers said he was “happy” to learn that Pembroke passed the resolution.

“I know that they will be hopeful that the county as a whole, not just Genesee County but the towns, will remember this 5-0 vote when it comes time for the equalization of the retail water rate charged by the Monroe County Water Authority,” he said.

“The county can recommend an equalized retail rate and, again, I’m certain that Pembroke is hoping for a spirit of cooperation seeing that they agreed to sign this agreement because they know it is best for the county as a whole.  It is in everyone’s best interest to have an equalized rate because it allows for the free flow of water a little easier between the center and western parts of the county.”

Landers explained that the original agreements with towns and villages dating back to the early 2000s each had “little nuances in them,” with different considerations.

“When the county took over individual water systems, the county water fund would make some compensation sometimes for that,” he said. “For example, we paid off some of the debt of the Corfu water plant for that village. All of the amended water supply agreements that the county have undertaken over the last three or four years have been uniform; we wanted to make sure that they’re all the same.”

The new agreements allow for the county, with proper notification and justification, to increase the surcharge above 60 cents (per 1,000 gallons). The original agreements were frozen at 60 cents but since then, the later agreements raised it to $1.20 to pay for Phase 2 of the Countywide Water Supply Project.

CLEANING UP THE LANGUAGE

The county manager said one of the sticking points was the county removing erroneous language in the initial agreements that guaranteed supplying water to the municipalities.

“It’s erroneous in the sense that the Monroe County Water Authority, in our agreement with them, can’t guarantee us water; there are things that can happen,” he said. “It is difficult for us to guarantee something that’s not guaranteed to us.”

He said that changes had to be made “because we need water to pay for water.”

“When we go to Phase 3, 4, 5, 6 and 7 (of the Countywide Water Supply Project), if there needs to be an increase (in the surcharge) to pay for the debt service, there needs to be a way to pay for it,” he said, adding that 20- to 30-year cash flow projections – including the retirement of some debt service -- indicate that the surcharge should not increase that much, if at all.

Landers said that he continues to speak to Darien Town Supervisor Steve Ferry Jr. about his board’s decision.

“If Darien passed a resolution next week and they signed the water agreement, it is possible that the amount in the resolution on the floor of the legislature on August 25th could be amended to be increased to $10 million,” he said. “I still have hope that we can find a path forward so that we can share the full $10 million in sales tax, and have everyone on the same water supply agreement.”

Asked if Ferry has sought concessions from the county, understanding that Darien has been paying more for water than other towns and villages, Landers would not go there.

“I don’t want to get into the subject of proposals back and forth,” he said. “I want all of that to be discussed between him and I, and our legislature and his board.”

Previously: Darien Town Board votes to not accept county's updated water agreement offer; Corfu signs on; Pembroke TBD.

Previously: Ways & Means passes measures rescinding revenue distribution payments, accepting HCA with Plug Power.

Indian Falls Log Cabin owner closes restaurant in response to concerns about rodents

By Press Release

Press release:

The Genesee County Health Department is aware of concerns about rodents at Indian Falls Log Cabin restaurant located in Corfu, NY.

Public Health Sanitarians conducted an inspection this morning, August 13th, 2021 and the owner has voluntarily closed the restaurant.

The facility will remain closed until further inspections are completed.

Oakfield-Alabama releases school reopening plan; recommends but doesn't require masks in classrooms

By Mike Pettinella

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While considering recommendations from the New York State Education Department, Center for Disease Controls and incoming Governor Kathy Hochul, the superintendent at Oakfield-Alabama Central School said the district’s reopening plan released today primarily reflects the wishes of its staff and its residents.

The plan formulated by John Fisgus calls for five days of in-person learning when classes resume on Sept. 8, with the wearing of masks or face coverings for students and staff while in classrooms left up to the individual’s personal choice.

Per the document, “Students and District staff are ‘highly recommended” to wear masks while in classrooms during instruction and learning, but it is NOT REQUIRED regardless of vaccination status. This is a personal choice and decision.”

The protocols do, however, require mask wearing on school buses, entering the school buildings and reporting to classrooms, and while traveling in the hallways between classes and/or to different locations within the buildings.

Fisgus (photo at right) said results of a survey he sent out on Aug. 5 separately to district staff and separately to residents is at the heart of the directive.

“We were looking to get a feel for their thoughts on masking -- thinking that there could be quite a difference in philosophies as, obviously, the teachers and the district staff can have a difference in opinion from that of the community,” Fisgus said.

What he found, however, was that both groups – staff and residents – were “right in line with each other,” he said.

RESPONDENTS WANT ABILITY TO CHOOSE

“Overwhelmingly, in summary, they (staff and residents) want the personal choice to wear a mask or not. It was 75 or 80 percent in favor of that,” he reported.

The O-A survey featured seven questions about masks, with respondents asked to rate their choices from strongly disagree to strongly agree. Fisgus said he received more than 400 responses.

The questions were as follows:

  • Students age 4-11 years old who cannot be vaccinated at this time should be required to wear masks at school at all times.
  • Students age 12 and older who can be vaccinated and are not should be required to wear masks at school at all times while indoors.
  • Students age 12 and older who can be vaccinated and are vaccinated should be required to wear masks at school at all times.
  • Adults who are not vaccinated should be required to wear a mask.
  • Adults who are vaccinated should be required to wear a mask.
  • The O-A district should require that all staff and students wear masks at all times while in school.
  • The O-A district should leave mask wearing for staff and students as a personal choice and decision.

“Knowing what our local community wants and what our district staff is favoring, that is what we’re going to base our decisions on at this time,” he said. “But also know that we will have flexibility as we will be watching the seven-day rolling average. If something comes down that we’re having an increase in spread or whatever, certainly these protocols can change.”

INSIDE THE O-A REOPENING PLAN

Other key points of the O-A reopening plan are as follows:

  • While we will try to maintain 3-6 feet of social distance, some classrooms and learning activities will return to group work with close collaboration among students and our teachers.
  • Physical Education classes, Band and Chorus Ensembles and lessons, will return to normal operations in their regular classroom environments.
  • Cafeteria operations will return to normal. Students will be seated at our original tables as assigned within each of our buildings.
  • If anyone prefers to wear a mask while on campus, they will have the ability to do so with the respect of all students and staff members.
  • The District will continue its high levels of ventilation, sanitation, and cleaning each day.
  • We ask that each student and District staff member continue the practice of good hygiene by washing hands frequently and maintaining the proper social distance from one another, whenever possible.
  • We ask that your child(ren) and our District staff members stay home when ill and  contact the appropriate school nurse.
  • It is NOT REQUIRED for families and District employees to fill out the daily health screening form in ParentSquare this year.
  • In the absence of any future school mandates regarding interscholastic sport competitions from NYSPHSAA, masks are *highly recommended* but NOT REQUIRED during practices and competitions. Players and coaches have the personal choice and right to wear a mask if desired.
  • Our extracurricular activities and events at school will take place throughout the year and the wearing of masks is *highly recommended* but NOT REQUIRED by students and advisors. Any outside visitors to our campus for school events are *highly recommended* to wear masks, but it is NOT REQUIRED, regardless of vaccination status. This is a personal choice and decision.

*Please be advised of the following regulations regarding “close contacts” and “quarantining”:

  •  A Close contact is defined as someone who was within 6 feet of an infected individual for a cumulative total of 15 minutes. Close contacts, along with the infected individual, will need to quarantine if identified in contact tracing efforts. In the classroom setting, the close contact definition EXCLUDES students who were within 6 feet of an infected individual if BOTH the infected individual and exposed student(s) were wearing a mask.
  • Fully vaccinated students and teachers ARE NOT required to quarantine, however, they should be tested 3-5 days after exposure, even if asymptomatic, and wear a mask until their test result is negative.
  • Quarantine period is 10 days.

DAILY MONITORING WILL TAKE PLACE

The District will continue each day to monitor the health and wellness of our students and District staff, along with the localized spread rate of COVID-19 and the Delta variant in Genesee County and our surrounding towns and villages.

Please be advised that the above protocols and procedures could change within 1-12 hours if the District feels it necessary for the health and protection of our students and District staff. Decisions will be based upon our current health status within our buildings and may be based upon the 7-day rolling average of transmission in our area. As well, any future mandates from the NYSDOH or NYSED may alter these plans.

Fisgus said the district’s board of education signed off on the reopening plan and he met with the teachers’ union earlier today to share the guidelines. On Thursday, he participated along with other superintendents in a Zoom meeting with Genesee Valley BOCES District Superintendent Kevin MacDonald.

“We’re all working together to try to figure out what is best for our region but, more importantly, what’s best for our local school districts,” he said.

Fisgus expects that the reopening document “will be fiercely circulated around the area,” and decided to release it despite receiving NYSED’s guidance late yesterday afternoon. Also, on Thursday, Hochul came out in favor of universal mask wearing in schools.

BOCES LEADER: 'WE'RE IN A HOLDING PATTERN'

MacDonald, speaking for the 22 schools affiliated with Genesee Valley BOCES, said most districts are in “a bit of a holding pattern” as recommendations continue to come out.

“We’ve heard now that incoming Governor Hochul is in favor of school masks, so I guess, right now, there’s not a rush. We know we have to communicate with our communities what’s happening, but in terms of a mask mandate, I don’t think we’re there yet,” he said.

MacDonald said he plans to touch base with other administrators on a weekly basis until the first week of September, with the overarching goal of ensuring “we get all kids in school every day in the safest way possible for students and staff.”

“Each superintendent has the best feel and bead on their community and what they think is best, and in the end that’s what we all have to do – what we think is best,” he said.

Notre Dame High School Principal Wade Bianco said the private school’s plan is to follow the guidelines set by the state and the county in order to comply.

“We’re going to try to give the kids the least restrictive environment as possible, based on those guidelines,” he said, adding that he has scheduled a staff meeting for next Wednesday and expects a reopening plan decision to be made at that time.

Video: Nortons host grand opening for craft business in Alexander

By Howard B. Owens
Video Sponsor
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Fran and Bobbi Norton celebrated the grand opening of their craft business on their property on Gilhooly Road in Alexander on Wednesday.  

The couple started in the woodworking business many years ago building various wood products and then added Amish-made goods to their inventory.  They've sold their goods at the former Norton Enterprise showroom in Batavia as well at events in the area such as the WNY Steam Show, AppleUmpkin, and Attica Furniture Days.  After Bobbi's retirement from Batavia City Schools, they decided to open a retail store attached to their workshop behind their house at 4309 Gilhooly Road, Alexander.

Batavia man seriously injured in accident in Lockport

By Howard B. Owens

A 63-year-old Batavia resident was seriously injured in a single-vehicle accident at 11:47 p.m., Thursday, in Lockport.

John Kindig was found unresponsive in his vehicle after it struck a house at 7098 Chestnut Ridge Road, according to a release from the Niagara County Sheriff's Office.  He was extricated from the vehicle and transported by Mercy Flight to ECMC.

Three people were in the residence at the time and none were injured. Deputy Jacob Kenny assisted one resident who was trapped in a bedroom.

The accident is being investigated by the NCSO's Accident Investigation Unit.

Lockport's code enforcement officer Brian Belson declared the residence a total loss and ordered the residence demolished immediately. 

Responding volunteer fire departments: Wright's Corners, Terry's Corners, South Lockport, along with Niagara County's Technical Rescue Team.

 

Law and Order: Two DWI arrests reported

By Howard B. Owens

Pamela Lynn Palaszynski, 35, of Bank Street Road, Elba, is charged with felony DWI, driving with a felony BAC of .08 or greater, moving from lane unsafely, and speed not reasonable and prudent.  Palaszynski was arrested by Deputy Trevor Sherwood following a car-into-house complaint at 11:59 p.m., Aug. 7.  Palaszynski was released on an appearance ticket.

Teresa Marie Stephenson, 31, of Cedar Street, Batavia, is charged with DWI and driving with a BAC of .08 or greater. Stephenson was arrested by Deputy Trevor Sherwood at 2:54 a.m., Aug. 6, on Bethany Center Road, Bethany, for allegedly driving drunk.  She was released on an appearance ticket.

Keith Alan Stevens, 63, of Forest Edge Drive, Batavia, is charged with failure to report a change of address within 10 days as a registered sex offender. Stevens was released on an appearance ticket.

Lyndsay Taylor Young, 38, of State Street, Batavia, is charged with petit larceny. Young is accused of stealing $206.03 in merchandise from Walmart at 4:04 p.m., Thursday.  She was released on an appearance ticket.

Ray Spencer-Lindquist Saile, 19, of Judge Road, Tonawanda Indian Reservation, is charged with criminal contempt 2nd. Saile is accused of violating a stay-away order after being found with the protected party at the protected party's house.  Saile was arraigned in Town of Alabama Court and ordered held on $2,500 cash bail.

2020 Census shows Genesee County population fell by 2.8 percent from 2010; City of Batavia gained 135 people

By Mike Pettinella

Updated 10:10 a.m. with village population. Note that town population numbers include the village population.

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The director of the Genesee County Planning Department, the agency that coordinated the most recent census, said today that he is pleased that the number of people living in the county in 2020 was more than anticipated.

“I’m happy that we beat the projections, although I would have loved to have seen our population increase,” said Felipe Oltramari, reacting to the report issued Thursday by the U.S. Census Bureau.

The report reveals that Genesee County’s population for 2020 was 58,388 – down 2.8 percent from the 60,079 reported in 2010.

Genesee experienced the smallest drop of the four GLOW counties, however, with the others as follows:

  • Livingston, down 5.4 percent from 65,393 in 2010 to 61,834 in 2020;
  • Orleans, down 5.9 percent from 42,883 in 2010 to 40,343 in 2020;
  • Wyoming, down 3.9 percent from 42,155 in 2010 to 40,531 in 2020.

“I think we did a good job,” Oltramari said. “We beat the projections, and those were the 2019 projections. We were supposed to be at 57,808, and we ended up with 580 more than that.”

Western New York’s major counties, however, saw an increase in the number of residents, with Monroe going from 744,344 in 2010 to 759,443 in 2020 (up 2 percent) and Erie going from 919,040 in 2010 to 954,236 in 2020 (up 3.8 percent).

“I think that Erie and Monroe counties saw an increase for the first time since 1970,” he said. “We actually had an increase in the City of Batavia for the first time in a while.”

The U.S. Census Bureau report shows that the city population went up by 135 people – from 15,465 in 2010 to 15,600 in 2020.

New population figures in Genesee County towns, with the 2020 number followed by the 2010 number:

  • Alabama, 1,602; 1,869.
  • Alexander, 2,491; 2,534.
  • Batavia, 6,293; 6,809.
  • Bergen, 3,120; 3,120.
  • Bethany, 1,780; 1,765.
  • Byron, 2,302; 2,369.
  • Darien, 3,010; 3,158.
  • Elba, 2,164; 2,370.
  • Le Roy, 7,662; 7,641.
  • Oakfield, 3,145; 3,250.
  • Pavilion, 2,290; 2,495.
  • Pembroke, 4,264; 4,292.
  • Stafford, 2,424; 2,459.
  • Tonawanda Reservation, 241; 483.

Village population figures, with the 2020 number followed by the 2010 number:

  • Alexander, 518; 509.
  • Bergen, 1,208; 1,176.
  • Elba, 558; 676.
  • Le Roy, 4,300; 4,391.
  • Oakfield, 1,812; 1,813.
  • Corfu (part of Town of Pembroke), 689, 709.

Oltramari said the Census count “was no doubt affected by the COVID-19 pandemic.”

“This might explain the sudden 50 percent decrease in the Reservation population,” he said, adding that it could be an undercount caused by pandemic-related staffing issues at the Census Bureau. “The Census Bureau is responsible for outreach to tribal nations.”

The county planning department has received population data “right down to the block level,” Oltramari said, noting that he plans to dig into those statistics in the coming weeks.

More information on the 2020 Census can be found at this link:

https://pad.human.cornell.edu/census2020/index.cfm#pl

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As far as last night’s planning board meeting and referral recommendations, Oltramari said everything went as expected.

-- On the Healthy Living Campus in downtown Batavia site plan review, the board recommended that developers consider offering bicycle parking facilities adjacent to a major entrance to the facility, and, given the large amount of glass utilized in the façades, the facility install bird-friendly glass in order to minimize bird-strikes and reduce its impacts on local bird populations.

Oltramari said project managers are in the process of using special glass, including in the pool area for privacy purposes.

-- On the Brickhouse Commons mixed-use project in the Town of Pembroke, planners’ recommendations included a pedestrian connection between the development and the Tim Hortons to the east, completing a Stormwater Pollution Prevention Plan (SWPPP) and obtaining a Stormwater Permit for Construction Activity from NYS Department of Environmental Conservation (DEC) prior to final approval from the town, and making sure signs comply with the town’s zoning regulations.

Previously: Genesee County planners to consider latest version of Brickhouse Commons plan at Route 5 and 77

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