batavia

Derek Geib, entrepreneur, property owner and president of the Business Improvement District, has been a tight-lipped businessman.

He didn’t have much to say when voted in as president of the BID while operating successful enterprises with Bourbon & Burger, The Coffee Press and Roman’s, all in downtown Batavia.

Now it appears as though Geib has more ventures on his to-do list, with a proposal to buy parcels 11A and 11B in the City Centre from the city of Batavia.

When reached Monday, Geib would not go on record with any comments about the purchase or his plans for the mall property. He wouldn’t even give a hint about what type of business might be going into the space formerly occupied by Valle Jewelers several years ago.

City management had previously requested permission from City Council for a reassessment of vacant properties, and 11A and B were evaluated to be worth $60,000 as fair market value by Lynne, Murphy & Associates, Inc.

Geib, operating under Geib Estates Corp., agreed to pay the price tag, plus additional expenses. Assistant City Manager Erik Fix recommended that the city “continue to foster development and activity in the Batavia City Centre, a unique downtown asset, and authorize this sale.”

“The property will go onto the tax rolls, and all the appraisal fees and closing costs will be paid by Geib Estates Corp.,” Fix said during City Council’s conference session Monday evening.

The purchase would align with the city’s Downtown Revitalization Initiative, Brownfield Opportunity Area and Strategic plans, Fix said in his memo to City Manager Rachael Tabelski.

Councilman Bob Bialkowski asked about the property’s assessed value and when the sale would actually take place. City Attorney George Van Nest said that a survey and title search will have to be completed first, which “can take a little bit of time.”

“But once that is done, we’ll make arrangements to have a closing and transfer the title,” he said.

Tabelski estimated that it would probably be in the summer, possibly in July. No one had an answer about the assessed value. According to online assessment records, the 2022 full market value is $124,000. For years, it has been sitting unoccupied. 

“Yes, put it back to work, I’m in favor of this,” Bialkowski said.

A resolution will be on the next business meeting agenda for council’s vote.

Photo of former Valle Jewelers property in Batavia City Centre from online assessment website. 

For at least the time being, CVS Pharmacy in Batavia seems to have caught up with a backlog of prescriptions, satisfying at least one of the customers that an apparent staffing shortage had vexed.

Two days ago, The Batavian published an article about multiple dissatisfied CVS customers due to unfilled prescriptions and a phone system gone awry, and during the weekend, the story reaped more than 120 comments discussing the issue and 15 emails from additional customers.

The Batavian reached out on Friday to corporate spokesperson Amy Thibault, Lead Director of External Communications for CVS Pharmacy, and she said that employees would be pulled from others stores to help shore up the gaps at the West Main Street store.

Thibault responded to The Batavian’s follow-up for an update on Sunday evening.

“Extra team members were brought in over the weekend, and they were able to get caught up on delayed prescriptions and returning voicemails,” Thibault said.

The original article began with Roberta White’s story, and how she struggled to obtain her steroid inhaler for bronchitis, compounded by severe asthma. One of her main questions was, 'What's going on?' She was happy to report this past Sunday that she picked up all of her backed-up scripts.

“They were super thorough, and they filled everything I have been waiting on. They were very nice to me and even had the pharmacist come over to explain meds, which they have never done before,” White said. “There was a new pharmacist, not anyone I had seen before. Never had such great service there.

“Whoever they brought in is doing good, but why was this not an option back when people were hurting for meds desperately?” she said. “It seems to me they failed at recognizing and handling urgent needs.”

CVS is certainly not the only company in a bind to hire more help, as many businesses are on the hunt for employees — from manufacturing line workers and corrections officers to restaurants and some post offices.

One reader emailed a comment that this issue is much more far-reaching than just this one store, and is about a stock and staffing shortage, lack of corporate responsibility, and cutting hours across the board with “all drug stores.”

Yet, there were others that praised particular pharmacies that no one seemed to have an issue with, and insurance programs were often cited as the root of stalled prescriptions. Most people did not fault the store staff, which seemed to be doing the best it could. Some people suggested calling in prescriptions early, and yet scripts often cannot be filled until the date for refill is up; others, such as Michael Tooley, chose the self-advocacy route.

“I also have experienced the same issues, which, as you stated, is not the fault of the local staff at all, but management in failing to maintain and/or replenish diminished/inadequate staffing issues,” he said to The Batavian. “I do commend the local Pharmacists (Joel in particular) for going out of their (his) way to finally communicate with me directly and make an effort at amends through an unexpected gift card.  Of course, this only happened because I was the ‘squeaky wheel’ that happened to get the grease because I emailed their Executive Office [ExecutiveOffice@CVSHealth.com] directly, mostly out of frustration after all other avenues to address the issues had failed to get ANY response.”

After all, it’s not that customers aren’t understanding, as Shannon Ferguson said.

“I’m sure they are all frustrated, but so are the rest of us. We’re all dealing with extra work, shortages, and higher costs for everything,” she said.

While most of the comments were complaints about poor service, lagging prescriptions and inability to reach anyone at the West Main Street CVS by phone, others defended it by stating that it’s not the only pharmacy with such issues; the problems are about upper management and not about store staff; where are additional employees supposed to come from in a small city; and/or that no issues have been experienced.

Press release:

Brighton Securities, a Batavia Financial Services firm, will hold its 12th Annual Free Shred Day on Friday, May 26, from 12 - 2 p.m.

“Our Shred Event is a service we offer our community as a great way for them to safely dispose of their bank records, credit card statements and any other sensitive documents for secure, eco-friendly destruction and disposal. We’re proud to offer this service for the 12th year and encourage our community to participate. We will have staff on hand to help our event participants decide what to dispose of and shred, what to save, and for how long certain records should be saved,” said Steve Hicks, branch manager of Brighton Securities.

A shredding truck from Shred-Text, Inc. will be standing by for contactless disposal of your old documents. We'll also have staff on hand to help you decide what to shred and what to save, as well as you will be able to monitor on-screen, your documents as they are shredded. This is a free event, and all are welcome to attend.

Photo: File photo by Howard Owens.

Today was another successful Drug Take-Back Day, said Batavia PD officers this afternoon at the drop-off spot on Alva Place in Batavia.

Four boxes were filled with unwanted prescription drugs so they can be safely destroyed.  Det. Jason Ivison said Le Roy PD officers also dropped off several full boxes for disposal.

Batavia PD, the Sheriff's Office on Park Road, and the State Police on West Saile Drive, all operate drug drop-off boxes in their lobbies throughout the year.

Photo by Howard Owens. Officer Connor Borchert, Det. Jason Ivison, and Officer Peter Post.

After her first trip to the hospital for a nasty bout of bronchitis, Roberta White was issued a prescription for a steroid inhaler, which was sent to CVS on West Main Street in Batavia.

That was the first week in April.

As of Friday, April 21, she’s still waiting for it. In between that time, White has made additional trips to the hospital for treatment, and, eventually, antibiotics and prednisone, the steroid she needed in the first place, she said.

When she tried to contact CVS by phone, she could not get through to the pharmacy, even when the front store staff transferred her, she said. Already diagnosed with severe asthma, she struggled to breathe and walk very far with her bronchitis at its worst, she said, and couldn’t go to the store until her symptoms got better.

“I had been working with my doctor’s office, they'd call CVS … they weren’t filling my other prescriptions either,” White said. “Yesterday, I decided to contact CVS, and the phone system was down.”

She believes that her visits were an irritation to hospital staff, as they asked why she hadn’t gone to get her prescriptions filled. She explained that she couldn’t because she was continuously told that they were “on hold.” She called CVS corporate and said that not only did the person she spoke to have no answers, but also couldn’t get through to the Batavia pharmacy by phone.

Mary Jo Ognibene is shopping around for another pharmacy that will take her insurance. She wasn’t pleased that the Main Street, Batavia CVS took five and a half hours to fill her child’s two prescriptions, and another CVS branch didn’t answer the phone, she said.

Some online reviewers — for a cumulative rating of 2.8 — were equally unhappy. Carissa Augello said she understood that “there are staffing shortages, but holy cow.”

“I can’t even get through to talk to someone, and when it says I can leave a message, I can’t because the mailbox is full,” she wrote. “I’ve been waiting four days for my child’s prescription.”

Another online reviewer complained that she has “literally been waiting 3 months for my prescription to be filled.”

“Understand there (is) a shortage, but every time more comes in (they’re) supposedly out and say first come, first served, but been waiting 3 months,” Alicia Brenkus wrote.

White added that her mother, a diabetic, has also experienced a lag in getting her prescriptions. Her mom has received a message that her medications are in, and when she goes to pick them up, she’s told they’re not ready, White said.

Full disclosure: this reporter has experienced similar issues of prescriptions not being filled on time, not being able to get through to anyone on the phone after multiple attempts, and then after going in person to pick up scripts that were supposed to be ready, was told that they were not.

To be fair, the two employees that were behind the pharmacy counter during a more recent trip frantically worked to fill orders and do what they could in the moment. One of them explained that the lack of staff has put them two weeks behind.

A couple of signs were posted at the pharmacy counter that said there are issues with volume and staffing.

Apparently, that team has been struggling to fill its roster. The Batavian contacted CVS corporate Lead Director of External Communications Amy Thibault Thursday about the issues at the Batavia store.

“We’ve experienced an unexpected staffing issue at our West Main Street pharmacy, which has led to some delays in service, in-person and over the phone,” Thibault said. “We’re working to bring in additional pharmacy team members from neighboring CVS stores to assist, and we apologize for any delays patients may experience.”

Staffing shortage or not, meds — and lack thereof — are nothing to mess around with, White said. With her severe breathing issues, many medical conditions, including bronchitis, can become a life-and-death matter. “I could die from this,” she said.

This isn’t to say that the employees working at CVS are necessarily doing anything wrong — many are hard-working people trying to serve the needs of customers in the face of apparent staffing hardships and a dysfunctional phone system. However, customers seem to be bearing the brunt of the store’s struggles, and they shouldn’t have to wait days, weeks, and months for necessary medications.

Hopefully, Thibault’s remedy to bring in additional staff from neighboring CVS stores has already begun. Another trip to the pharmacy Friday evening found the drive-thru closed due to the staffing shortage. Adding more personnel couldn’t happen soon enough.

If you’re experiencing issues at CVS, let us know at news@thebatavian.com.

Photos by Howard Owens.

Batavia picked up their second win of the season in Boys Tennis with a 6-1 victory over Brockport on Thursday.

The deciding match for Batavia's victory was Andrew Beal and Ethan Bradley at first doubles. Beal and Bradley won 6-4, 7-6 (7-5) and took the pressure off the remaining singles matches.  Batavia is now 2-2.  

Match results (Batavia are first player(s) listed:

• Orion Lama defeated Jason Kleehammer, 4-6, 7-6 (7-4), 7-6 (10-5)
• Jack Pickard lost to Alex Kuhn, 2-6, 6-3, 6-2
• Finn Halpin defeated Lucas Rodgers, 7-6(8-6), 3-6, 7-6(10-4)
• Talyn Kennedy defeated Alex Cole, 7-5, 6-1
• Andrew Beal/Ethan Bradley defeated Arjun Dwivedi/Noah Ryan, 6-4, 7-6(7-5)
• Ben Stone/Luke Babcock defeated Bryce Gaylor/Jake Rookey 6-1, 6-3

One match was a forfeit.

Photos by Steve Ognibene.

A city site known for the creation of collectible woven baskets, novelties and other manufacturing purposes will soon be a scene of environmental cleanup at the edge of Batavia.

Basket Place LLC, at 22 Clinton St., is 22.9 acres and is bordered to the north by Clinton Street (Route 33), to the south by the Erie Railroad, and to the east and west by residences. Properties south of the Erie Railroad are commercial/light industrial in nature, with some residences intermixed, according to a state Department of Environmental Conservation Fact Sheet.

The site was used to manufacture agricultural and highway equipment from the mid-1920s until the early 1990s. The current owner operates a warehousing facility for baskets and novelty items. Beginning in the late 1980s and continuing into the mid-1990s, the United States Environmental Protection Agency (USEPA) and the NYSDEC evaluated the site.

In the late 1990s, the previous site owner, O&K Orenstein & Koppel, Inc., conducted additional investigations after the site was sold to Basket Place, LLC. The on-site and off-site remedial investigations began in 2003 when CNH Industrial Baumaschinen GmbH entered into a Voluntary Cleanup Agreement (VCA). However, the Voluntary Cleanup Program was terminated by the NYSDEC in 2018.

The cleanup activities will be performed by CNH Industrial Baumaschinen GmbH with oversight provided by the state DEC, which has determined that the Remedial Action Work Plan submitted by GHD Consulting Services, Inc. on behalf of CNH, protects public health and the environment and has approved the plan.

Remedial activities are expected to begin in May 2023 and last about five months.

The goal of the cleanup action for the site is to achieve cleanup levels that protect public health and the environment. The key components of the remedy are:

• Excavation and off-site disposal of contaminated surface soil across the Site.
• Treating contaminated soil and groundwater through soil mixing with injection of In-Situ (i.e., in place) Chemical Reduction.
• Bioremediation injection into the groundwater as a barrier to treat and prevent further off-site migration of groundwater contamination.
• Collecting and analyzing post-remedial soil and groundwater samples to evaluate the effectiveness of the remedy.
• Importing or reuse of clean material that meets the established Soil Cleanup Objectives for use as a cover system.  Placement of a cover system, including a demarcation layer over areas of spot excavations to address contamination remaining above commercial use soil cleanup objectives.
• Restoring the site cover where it is compromised, or placement of a 1-foot clean soil cover.

New York's Brownfield Cleanup Program (BCP) encourages the voluntary cleanup of contaminated properties known as "brownfields" so that they can be reused and redeveloped. The city of Batavia and Batavia Development Corporation have Brownfield programs for remediation and redevelopment of properties, such as the former Della Penna property on Ellicott Street, and the Creek Park property behind the ice arena.

These uses include recreation, housing, business or other purposes. A brownfield site is any real property where a contaminant is present at levels exceeding the soil cleanup objectives or other health-based or environmental standards, criteria or guidance adopted by DEC that are applicable based on the reasonably anticipated use of the property, in accordance with applicable regulations, the Fact Sheet states.

Action on the privately owned Basket Place parcel is to begin in May, and that will address contamination related to the otherwise known "Ex-Eaton Site" located at 22-40 Clinton St., Batavia. Refer to the green outline in the image above.

A site-specific health and safety plan and a Community Air Monitoring Plan will be implemented during remediation activities. These plans establish procedures to protect on-site workers and residents and include required air monitoring as well as dust and odor suppression measures.

Next Steps
After the applicant completes the cleanup activities, they will prepare a Final Engineering Report and submit it to NYSDEC. This report will describe the cleanup activities completed and certify that cleanup requirements have been achieved or will be achieved.

When state DEC is satisfied that cleanup requirements have been achieved or will be achieved for the site, it will approve the Final Engineering Report. DEC will then issue a Certificate of Completion to the applicant. The applicant would be able to redevelop the site in conjunction with receiving a Certificate of Completion. In addition, the applicant would be eligible for tax credits to offset the costs of performing cleanup activities and for the redevelopment of the site.

DEC will also issue a fact sheet that describes the content of the Final Engineering Report and identify any institutional controls (for example, environmental easements) or engineering controls (for example, a site cover) necessary at the site in relation to the issuance of the Certificate of Completion, the agency stated.

In 2019, remedial investigations continued at this site under the Brownfield Cleanup Program. Additional site details, including environmental and health assessment summaries, are available on NYSDEC's Environmental Site Remediation Database (by entering the site ID, C819022) HERE. 

Meanwhile, cleanup efforts have been scheduled to resume this spring at the defunct Batavia Iron and Metal on Bank Street. 

To learn more, go to the Brownfield Cleanup Program

Image of map from NYSDEC.

Press Release:

The City parking lot between Court Street and Jackson Street (commonly referred to as Save A Lot parking lot) will be having the surface milled and resurfaced beginning on Thursday, April 27.

The milling will begin on Thursday, April 27 and is anticipated to be completed on Friday, April 28. To begin, the west half of the parking lot will be closed to traffic on April 27 and then the east half will be closed to traffic on April 28 for milling. The parking lot will reopen for the weekend once completed.

The paving portion of the parking lot is expected to take three days to complete and is scheduled for Monday, May 1 through Wednesday, May 3. The parking lot will be split into thirds and will be affected similarly to how it will be for the milling operation, closing and resurfacing one section at a time until lot is completed.

Once the parking lot is completely resurfaced, City of Batavia staff will begin restriping parking spaces and driving lanes. Parking will be closed off in sections as crews work from east to west during the repainting process.

Vehicles that are using permitted parking are asked to temporarily use the City lot off of School St. or any other permitted parking areas in City owned lots.

Press release:

At approximately 1:07 p.m. the Genesee County 911 Dispatch Center received a report from the Veteran's Administration Hotline that a male subject had called them and stated they were going to get a weapon and "shoot up a school". This information was immediately relayed to patrols in the City and throughout the County working. An initial trace of the phone number provided showed the phone to be in the City of Batavia area. Patrols were dispatched to each school in Genesee County as a precautionary measure, and all county-wide schools were placed into lockout.

Officers and investigators from multiple law enforcement agencies followed up on leads and determined the threat to not be credible and, in fact, was false. Currently, a juvenile is being interviewed by the City of Batavia Detective Bureau regarding the matter, no further information regarding the juvenile will be released at this time. 

All schools were released from lockout at approximately 2:25 p.m.

We wish to thank the public, the school districts and the other members of law enforcement for their assistance during this investigation.

UPDATE, statement from Batavia Superintendent Jason Smith:

After the events of this afternoon, I wanted to provide additional information regarding today’s lockout.

At around 1:30 p.m., the Batavia Police Department received a tip that a threat had been made against a local school. While no specific school was directly named in the threat, all schools in Genesee County went on lockout.

The Batavia Police Department worked quickly to identify the suspect, and after an investigation, the threat was deemed not credible. The lockout was lifted at 2:30 p.m..

At this time, there is no additional threat to the Batavia City School District, so all school activities will resume as normal.

While this was a stressful situation for all involved, I want to thank the Batavia Police Department, our administrators, teachers, and staff for handling our lockout procedures quickly and efficiently. While we train for situations like these and have strict protocols, we never want to have to use them. I thank everyone for their quick actions and commitment to keeping our students safe.

Please feel free to reach out to me or your student’s building principal should you have any additional questions or concerns. Thank you again for your cooperation and support.

Previously: UPDATED: Schools throughout Genesee County on lockout

Rosemary Waters

Rosemary R. Waters, 37, no permanent address, was arrested on April 7 on two warrants out of City Court. On Aug. 17, Waters was taken into custody at a hotel on Oak Street, Batavia, on an unrelated warrant and was allegedly found in possession of narcotics and a modified fully automatic 9mm pistol with a 40-round magazine.  Waters was released pending lab results.  A warrant for her arrest was issued after the investigation was complete. On July 30, Waters was reportedly the passenger in a vehicle during a traffic stop on Mix Place, Batavia.  Waters is accused of providing a false name. Narcotics and a modified short-barrel shotgun were allegedly recovered inside the vehicle. A warrant was issued for her arrest. Waters was arraigned in Centralized Arraignment Court and released.

Kyle Schroeder

Kyle J. Schroeder, 26, of Clinton Street Road, Batavia, was arrested on four bench warrants issued by City Court after his alleged failure to appear to answer to charges from four separate incidents. On April 23, 2022, Schroeder allegedly entered a residence on Liberty Street and stole a pack of cigarettes.  He was arrested on three days later and issued an appearance ticket. On April 29, Schroeder was arrested on a charge of DWI drugs and criminal possession of a controlled substance 7th.  He was arraigned in City Court and released. On August 25, 2022, patrol officers were dispatched to check the welfare of an individual "tweaking out" behind a business on East Main Street. Schroeder was arrested on warrants for alleged failure to appear on prior charges and was also charged with criminal possession of a controlled substance 7th. He was allegedly found in possession of narcotics and drug paraphernalia at the time of his arrest. He was arraigned in City Court and released. On Oct. 20, 2022, when Schroeder appeared in court on another matter, he was arrested and charged with criminal mischief. He is accused of kicking and damaging an electrical lock box on the exterior of a business on Jackson Street so he could charge his mobile phone. He was released under supervision. Schroeder was arraigned in Centralized Arraignment Court, and his release status is unknown.

Josia G. Culver, 18, of Tracy Avenue, Batavia, is charged with burglary 3rd, criminal mischief 3rd, and petit larceny. Culver is accused of making a forced entry into a business in the mall, causing damage, and stealing money. He was arraigned in City Court and released under supervision. 

Shawnna L. Lamont, 33, of Page Road, Perry, was taken into custody on an arrest warrant. Lamont is accused of failure to appear on a prior charge of criminal possession of a controlled substance 5th. She was initially charged Feb. 19 following a traffic stop on East Main Street, Batavia. Lamont was arraigned in City Court and ordered to appear on May 10. 

Breanna E. Brummond, 32, of Limekiln Road, Lyons, was arrested on two bench warrants issued our of City Court. Brummond is accused of failure to appear on appearance tickets issued in connection with prior arrests. Brummond was arrested on Feb. 3 along with Brittany L. Hollaert, 26, of St. Paul Street, Rochester, after the two women were the subject of a pursuit in a U-Haul van following a reported larceny at a local store. The suspects entered a residence on Burke Drive and allegedly tried to steal the homeowner's car.  Brummond was held in jail pending arraignment in Centralized Arraignment Court.  Her current release status is unknown. Previously: Unexpected visit ends in manhunt, K-9, and arrest in city neighborhood 

Adam Edward Roberts, 31, of Cheektowaga, is charged with DWI, driving with a BAC of .08 or greater, and unsafe tires. Roberts was stopped at 4:02 a.m. on March 29 on West Main Street Road, Batavia, by Deputy Carolos Ortiz Speed. Roberts was issued an appearance ticket.

Christopher Scott Usselman, 31, no residence provided, is charged with criminal mischief 3rd and obstructing governmental administration 2nd.  Usselman is accused of damaging property inside the Genesee County Jail at 12:30 p.m. on April 18. He was issued an appearance ticket.

Kelly Anne Rodriguez, 50, of Clinton Street Road, Batavia, is charged with criminal contempt 2nd. Rodriguez is accused of violating an order of protection at 8:45 a.m. on April 12 at a location on Clinton Street Road, Batavia. Rodriguez was issued an appearance ticket.

Now that Eden Cafe & Bakeshop is approaching its one-year anniversary of being on the south side, it’s a fitting time to add something new to the menu, owner Judy Hysek says.

Move over cauli wings and hummus wraps, and make room for a glass of beer, wine or cider. Hysek has been given the nod of approval from City Council and is waiting for the state to issue her liquor license.

“We all talk to our customers. And a lot of them said that it’s just something that they would like to see us offering,” Hysek said Wednesday.  “And you know, we think it would be a good fit for our dinner crowd. I know a lot of people like to have a glass of wine or beer with their foods.

“And we’re hoping that it will help bring a little bit more business than what we normally have,” she said. “We do a lot of takeout, so we’d like to have more dining as well.”

She plans to add a few more appetizers to go with expanded later night hours, such as stuffed mushrooms.

And talks have already been in the works with Eli Fish, Hysek said, which was home to Eden Cafe during its inception and learning years. She plans to have some of Eli’s craft beers at her place at 242 Ellicott St., Batavia.

Once the license arrives, the new hours and additional appetizers will be announced, she said.

File photo of Eden's cauli wings, by Howard Owens.

You read that right - we now offer a gluten free plain bagel option on our breakfast sandwich! Just the latest addition to our menu with the wildly popular bubble teas and fruit juice cocktails. Click here to view our menu or order! #PubHub
 

Hard as it may be to imagine, it was only 55 years ago that a law preventing discrimination against who can live where was officially recognized with the Fair Housing Act. It was established in April 1968.

Genesee County Legislator John Deleo, speaking on behalf of the Legislature to celebrate this feat, shared a little history about the early days of Batavia.

“When I was a kid growing up, I was on the south side. And of course, there used to be a division. Not as bad when I was younger, but my dad and my grandfather would say the railroad tracks were the dividing line in the city of Batavia,” Deleo said during a recent county meeting. “And if you lived on the south side, you stayed on the south side with the Polish and the Italians, and so on, in the north side. And they kind of stayed there.

"But as time has gone on, and due to the Fair Housing Act here, I think it really helped out, I mean, I think we still have a few problems, but we don't tolerate it here in Genesee County. We're all in the ship together.”

Before that piece of legislative action, prospective home-buyers and renters had much less chance of getting into properties and neighborhoods if they weren’t deemed of the right ilk — ethnicity, skin color, or culture. And although that hasn’t gone away, the Fair Housing Act has been one measure to recognize the issue and serve as a legal avenue for folks to lean upon when encountering such issues.

Genesee County officially celebrated the month of April for the establishment of the Fair Housing Act on April 11, 1968. Deleo read the proclamation as follows:

The County of Genesee celebrates the month of April as the anniversary of the establishment of the Fair Housing Act,
enacted on April 11, 1968. This Act outlines a national policy of fair housing for all individuals who live in the United States, and WHEREAS, the Fair Housing Act prohibits discrimination in housing based on race, color, sex, disability, religion, family status and national origin, and is committed to recipients of federal funding to affirmatively further Fair Housing in
their communities, and

WHEREAS, the County of Genesee is committed to the mission and intent of Congress to provide fair and equal housing opportunities for all, and WHEREAS, Fair Housing is essential to the ethical commitment of the County and is crucial to serving our community. Now, therefore, be it RESOLVED, the Genesee County Legislature fully embraces fair and equal housing opportunities and promotes an inclusive community devoted to Fair Housing.

Be it further RESOLVED, that the Genesee County Legislature proclaims the month of April 2023 as “Fair Housing Month” advocating for equal housing opportunities for all residents and prospective residents of Genesee County.

Deleo presented a proclamation to Nate Varland of Batavia Housing Authority, which oversees Edward Court, The Pines, The Terraces, and 400 Towers in the City of Batavia.

The Batavia Housing Authority’s board members work every day to “provide high quality, safe, affordable housing here,” Varland said.

Photo of Legislator John Deleo presenting the proclamation to Nate Varland of Batavia Housing Authority during a Genesee County Legislature meeting, by Joanne Beck.

GO ART! hosted a steel drum band concert in the City Centre concourse on Saturday.

The featured bands were: 

• Ithaca College, “I C Steel” 
• Steel Alchemy Community Steelband from Geneseo
• Rochester Institute of Technology’s “Tiger Steel” 
• Lancaster High School, “Carnival Kids Steel Orchestra”  

Photos by Howard Owens

Press release:

Officials from Batavia Downs Gaming and Hotel announced that their inaugural Jackpot 5k will be taking place on Saturday, June 17th.  Proceeds from the race will benefit local community groups and WNY Heroes, an organization that works with Veterans and their families across WNY, including Genesee County, to provide support and assistance.

This family-friendly 5K will start at 9 a.m. and finish at Batavia Downs. The start will be out in front of the facility, following a course around the streets near Batavia Downs and ending at the actual finish line on the Harness Track.  The post-race party will be on the track apron, where an awards ceremony for 5 different age groups will be held.

The early Bird price is $25, and participants can sign up at https://runsignup.com/race/ny/batavia/bataviadownsjackpot5k

Racers will receive $25 free play, a T-shirt, a post-race drink and snack.  The price increases after May 15, so those wishing to race or walk are urged to sign up as soon as possible.

“We here at Batavia Downs are looking forward to hosting our first 5k event, “said Batavia Downs CEO and President Henry Wojtaszek.  “We’ve wanted to do something like this for a long time, and having a course that incorporates the track is a unique twist you won’t find with other local 5k races.  We’re proud to be partnering with WNY Heroes on this event.  As a veteran myself, I know that WNY Heroes does great work locally, and we are honored to be hosting an event that will raise funds and help them gain exposure for the important work they do.”

The race is sponsored by Michelob Ultra, Nutrl, Tops Friendly Markets, Pepsi, Vivify, Red Bull and Pizza 151.

Press release:

The Holland Land Office Museum is proud to announce the next edition of its Guest Speaker Series on Wednesday, April 19, at 7 p.m. The museum welcomes local author and presenter Rick Falkowski as he shares the histories of those who made our area what it is from its beginnings in the early 1800s. The subjects include such significant persons and events as Red Jacket, Joseph Ellicott, the War of 1812, and the Erie Canal, among many more. Copies of Falkowski's books will be available. Admission is $5 or $3 for museum members. Please contact the museum at 585-343-4727 or hollandlandoffice@gmail.com if you plan to attend.

The Holland Land Office Museum is proud to announce the next edition of its Concert Series on Thursday, April 20, at 7 p.m. as it welcomes back local guitarist and musician Steven Kruppner. The concert will be an hour and a half from 7-8:30 pm featuring a wide array of tunes, focusing on the singer-songwriter as a storyteller. Admission is $5 or $4 for museum members. If you would like to attend, please contact the museum at 585-343-4727 or hollandlandoffice@gmail.com.

The Holland Land Office Museum is proud to announce the next edition of its Java with Joe E. series on Thursday, April 27, at 9 a.m. This month's presenter is Larry Barnes, the City of Batavia Historian. Larry will be sharing his travels across the United States over the past decade to the other locations named Batavia, all nine in total, the others in: Ohio, Michigan, Illinois, Iowa, Wisconsin, Arkansas, Montana, and California. He shares the origins of their names and compares their features to our own community. Admission is free, and coffee and donuts will be provided. Please contact the museum at 585-343-4727 or hollandlandoffice@gmail.com if you plan to attend.

Nineteen miles of electrical wiring.

That’s one of the amazing facets making up the new $70 million county jail, Legislature Chairwoman Shelley Stein said Monday after taking a tour of the facility-in-progress.

Stein and fellow legislators Gary Maha, Marianne Clattenburg, Brooks Hawley, John Deleo, Gordon Dibble, Chad Klotzbach and Christian Yunker were afforded a special inside glimpse of the jail under construction between County Building 2 and the animal shelter.

Members of the media were not invited to participate. The Batavian asked Stein why not.

“The people who go to work there every day, they sign in, and they sign out, they have an obligation to the eventual public safety of that building. We sign in, we sign out, no pictures,” she said. “This today was an awareness of how far our building has come, to help us, those of us that have been involved in the design, been involved in funding, to see where we are and to ask questions. So it's an obligation of ours, to the public, to the public safety, that the sheriff has responsibility of.”

The Batavian asked why couldn’t a few members of local media sign in just as legislators did.

“I don’t know the answer to that question. I’m gonna be real honest. It would not be something that’s comfortable to me, because you’re going to see there are open places that are not yet fully built out, to protect what’s inside, such as our wiring, our Internet things like that,” she said. “Again, it is all about protecting, those are people who will be held there. And it’s protecting our staff, who will be helping to keep everybody safe and secure.”

It’s not about keeping any secrets from the public, she said, especially since Senior Project Manager Carl York from The Pike Company presents a monthly report about jail progress. She deferred to Sheriff William Sheron, as the one who oversees the jail and public safety, for answering when the public will be able to see photos of the jail’s interior via a media tour.

“I would say at some point, I don't think we're there right now. Because, you know, it's still in the developmental stage where I'd rather have you see more of a finished product,” Sheron said. “I’d really rather have you see the finished product rather than, for safety concerns, I don't want those kinds of pictures out in the media, that, you know, here's how the wiring is or whatever. It's really about the safety and the welfare of those people who are in our care and custody, and also our staff.”

He estimated that a tour might be more feasible closer to the end of the year.

During his report to the Public Safety Committee after the tour, Sheron reviewed some “project quick facts” about what has gone into the jail so far, including:

• 55,000 cubic yards of earthwork
• 115,000 building concrete masonry units
• 190 tons of structural steel
• 57.5 tons HVAC ductwork
• 19 miles electrical wiring
• 1,800 electrical light fixtures

The footprint is 101,377 square feet of four-pod configurations with 184 beds. The facility will house jail administration staff and Genesee Justice.

Photos of the jail by Philip Casper. Photo of Diana Prinzi and Sheriff William Sheron by Joanne Beck.

Press release:

Tompkins Community Bank announced that Diane Torcello has been promoted to president of the bank’s Western New York (WNY) market. Previously, Torcello served as senior vice president and community banking manager. In her new role, she is responsible for the bank’s growth, community and client engagement and stakeholder relations throughout its Western New York market as well as fostering relationships with clients of Tompkins insurance and wealth affiliates.

“Diane has a proven record of leadership expertise and excellence as a community banker throughout the region, from Rochester to Batavia to Buffalo and their surrounding communities,” said John McKenna, president of Tompkins Community Bank. “Having witnessed first-hand her dedication over the past ten years, I know that her vast knowledge of financial services and commitment to collaboration makes her the ideal leader to build on our success in Western New York.” 

A veteran of the banking industry, Torcello is well-known throughout the community for her expertise in retail, commercial, operations, and branch management. She began her career as a teller at The Pavilion State Bank and steadily rose through the company’s ranks into the position of commercial lender.

Torcello began her 18-year tenure with Tompkins as vice president and branch manager before being elevated to senior vice president and community banking manager in 2013, a position she has held for the past decade. In this role, Diane is responsible for the leadership of all staff and operations of the Western New York branch network, as well as the direct involvement and management of the largest deposit relationships. She also interacts routinely with the Tompkins WNY bank board on business development and strategy.

Most recently, Torcello was named one of the Rochester Business Journal’s Women of Excellence in the publication’s 2023 awards announcement. She is also a past recipient of the Women in Business Award from the Batavia Daily News and the 40 Under 40 from Buffalo News.

“Diane’s impact on both the Tompkins community and the community at large has been immeasurable over her remarkable career,” said Jim Fulmer, board chair of Tompkins Community Bank. “Her dedication to the professional growth of her team, and the economic health of her community, is emblematic of our mission to its core.”

Active in the community, Torcello has served as a board member and volunteer for several nonprofit organizations throughout her career, including the Genesee County Chamber Business Development Committee, Mary Immaculate Finance Committee, Children’s Home Committee, United Way, St. Mary’s Parish Council and Junior Achievement. She has also served as a member of the Board of Trustees at Genesee Community College for 14 years, including two as Chair. An upcoming graduate of Roberts Wesleyan University, Torcello resides in Pavilion with her husband, Ralph, although is frequently in Rochester and Buffalo visiting her two sons and their families.

Press Release:

"The Last of the Dragons" by Kristin Walter, adapted from the story by Edith Nesbit, will be performed by Genesee Community College's Children's Theatre class for local schools on April 20 & 21 at 10:30 a.m. The children will have the opportunity to talk to the cast and ask questions after the performance. If you would like more information about this, please email boxoffice@genesee.edu.

Performances that are open to the public will be held on April 20 at 12:30 p.m., April 21 at 7 p.m. and April 22 at 2 p.m. The show runs roughly an hour long and are free of charge. All are welcome to attend.

"In the kingdom of Middlefield, there is a tradition. On a princess' sixteenth birthday, she is tied to a rock, kidnapped by a dragon, rescued by a prince and lives happily ever after. But what happens when the prince is too afraid to fight, the princess wants to do the rescuing by herself, and the dragon is nowhere to be found? Adapted from the story by Edith Nesbit, The Last of the Dragons tells a tale of bravery, intelligence and unexpected friendship." - summary by Concord Theatricals.

"The Last of the Dragons" was originally produced in 2006 by the celebrated and critically-acclaimed Manhattan Children's Theatre. The show focuses on two main themes. First, it empowers girls to know they can do anything as well as boys and they should let nothing stop them from following their dreams. The Princess rejects the notion of being a damsel in distress and wants to avoid fighting the dragon all together. She hatches a plan with the Prince to avoid conflict so no one has to perish. Second, it's about not judging. It is assumed that the dragon is scary and bad just because he is a dragon. But through patience and compassion, the dragon's true nature and desires are revealed. The story challenges the notion of tradition for traditions sake, and demonstrates how the world can be vastly improved through kindness.

The script follows the original story closely while infusing contemporary humor into the dialogue. The show is directed by Rob Reiss with Maryanne Arena serving as the acting, voice, and movement coach, and Brodie McPherson as the production designer.

Children's Theatre (THE221) is a course held once a year. Students participate in auditions, rehearsals and production of a Children's Theatre play. It includes reading, analysis and interpretation of children's theatre literature. The goal of the class is to have a play to present on GCC's campus to area schools. Sometimes the show will tour the area and play at local schools and recreational sites. The students are able to explain the way children's theatre differs from other forms, analyze the design aspects of a given script and to implement experimental learning. Our college students have learned new and creative storytelling techniques that they can't wait to share with the community.

For more information contact Vice President, Development and External Affairs Justin Johnston at (585) 345-6809, or via email: jmjohnston@genesee.edu.

This year's Mr. Batavia contest features 10 Batavia High School seniors who are prepping to compete for the esteemed title at the 10th annual competition. It's set to begin at 7 p.m. Friday in the Frank E. Owen Auditorium at BHS, 260 State St., Batavia.

The students compete in multiple rounds of the event to display their various talents -- from singing and comedy to playing instruments and acting. Donations raised from ticket sales and donations will be given to the top three winners’ charities. Since 2013, the annual event has raised $32,719 for local organizations.  

This year’s contestants

Aidan Anderson
Batavia VA

 

Aden Chua
Genesee Cancer Assistance Alex Johnson
The David McCarthy Memorial Foundation Brendan Burgess Volunteers for Animals Cooper Fix
Ricky Palermo Foundation Garrett Schmidt
All Babies Cherished Ifran Armstrong Crossroads House Shawn Kimball Habitat for Humanity     Michael Marchese
Batavia City Schools Foundation Fabian Vazquez
Golisano’s Children Hospital    

Additional members of the Mr. Batavia Committee include Julia Clark, Julia Preston, Brooke Scott, Lydia Evans, Clara Wood, Nora Wood, Olivia Shell, Cassidy Crawford, Isabella Walsh, Aleeza Idress, Grace Parker, Brie Gabriel, Jakayla Rivera, Addison Glynn, Bridget Taggart, Alyssa Talone, Anna Varland, Julia Petry, Abby Moore, and Sydney Konieczny.

Hostesses for the evening’s event include Clara Wood, Maya Schrader, and Lucy Taggart.

Staff choreographers for Mr. Batavia include Saniiya Santiago and Melania deSa e Frias. 

Tickets are $10 each and will be sold to students during school lunches the week of April 17 and at the door for the community. 

Lisa Robinson, advisor for Mr. Batavia, would like to thank the Batavia City School Foundation for its help and support in collecting and distributing funds to the local organizations. 

Photos submitted by Batavia City Schools.