Submitted photo and press release:

Ryan Ditacchio is the commander of the Glenn S. Loomis American Legion Post 332 located in Batavia. As the head of this American Legion Post, Ditacchio purchased five flags that represent the five branches of the Military Armed Services of the United States of America, the Army, Marine Corps, Navy, Air Force, and Coast Guard.

These flags were purchased to display at various events that take place throughout Genesee County. But Ditacchio had no way of properly displaying flags, so he asked Jeff Fronk, Auto Body instructor at the Batavia Career and Technical Education (CTE) Center, if there was a way that students could create a flag display pedestal stand.

“For years, we at the Legion, have been talking about creating a display stand that would showcase these flags that represent each branch of the Armed Services. But this display needed to be portable so we could bring it to the various community events around Genesee County. When I approached Jeff, he was 100 percent behind this idea of the students creating something,” said Ditacchio, who is also the teacher’s aide for the Auto Body Program at the Batavia CTE Center.

Ditacchio and Fronk approached a few other CTE Instructors and the project took off. This week-long undertaking was the result of collaborative efforts from different Batavia Career and Technical Education Center Programs. Metal Trades/Precision Machining students created the insignias, Conservation students crafted the wood platform, Metal Trades/Welding students bonded the piping to hold the flags. Auto Body students buffed, polished and sealed the insignias. 

Since the end of June, the flag display stand has traveled throughout Genesee County for various county events and is now located outside the St. Jerome Center in Batavia. 

Andrew Geyer is the Metal Trades/Welding Instructor at the Batavia CTE Center. He noted how projects like these provide important teaching lessons for students. 

“We (the CTE Instructors) were able to give our students some insight into each of the branches of the Armed Services and what it means to serve our country,” Geyer said.

“This was an awesome collaboration and truly engaged our students,” Fronk added. 

The result of this hard work is not just a five-flag display stand, but a gift to the community that has a lasting meaning that will live for years to come.

The Batavia Career and Technical Education Center is a program of the Genesee Valley BOCES. It operates as a Board of Cooperative Educational Services offering shared programs and services to 22 component school districts located in Genesee, Wyoming, Livingston and Steuben counties in New York State. 

Photo: From left, Batavia CTE Center instructors Jeff Fronk, Rodney Staats, Ryan Ditacchio and Andrew Geyer with the flag display stand.

Batavia resident David Austin, who sent in the photos, noticed yesterday that somebody left household furniture up and down State Street.

"This table was in my yard," he said. "The chair is across the street. And down further towards BOCES, there is more. Very strange indeed. Funny thing is, it's not junk. The table isn't in terrible shape."

At Stan's Harley-Davidson on Wednesday, members of Genesee County ABATE, along with representatives of veterans organizations in Genesee County, presented a $3,000 donation to Doug Titus, treasurer of the Disabled American Veterans van program.

The money was raised by ABATE in early June on a ride, which required a donation to join, that took members from the posts of VFWs and American Legions in the region, where they picked up donations. There was also a 50/50 raffle and the ABATE kicked in the last few dollars to round the donation up to $3,000.

South Main Street Road near the Wortendyke Road intersection in the Town of Batavia will be closed beginning Monday, July 12^th for a culvert replacement project.

The project will take approximately eight weeks to complete, and that portion of the road will not be passable to traffic or emergency vehicles during that time. 

The public will be notified again once the road is reopened. 

Laura A. Wadhams, P.E.

Assistant County Engineer

From Pauli Miano:

The Elba Betterment Committee is pleased to announce the first concert in their summer concert series -- EBC Music and More 2.0 this Saturday, July 10 at the Elba Village Park.

Rockin' the Gazebo at Elba Village Park

It is located in the center of the Village on east side of Main Street.

Music starts at noon with Bobby and the Pedestrians, a local Reggae rock and roll band that will introduce listeners to a didgeridoo while they combine their original style with familiar tunes that will have you singing along and asking for more.

Second in the lineup (at about 2 o'clock) is the ever popular Genesee Ted who will be bringing the '60s and '70s rock we all love with a mix of old-school country.

Closing the day (at about 4 p.m.) will be the hard-rocking Savage Cabbage. Expect some Grand Funk Railroad and Bad Company mixed with a little Marshall Tucker, and of course, Johnny Be Good.

Tying it all together on our smaller stage will be the acoustic stylings of The Elba Guys -- John, Tom and Lee, who will be familiar to most from their long local music past. This is our first venture into the "festival" business, and after the raging, but unfortunately, restricted response we had last summer, we expect this to be a fun, musical event for the whole family.

Bring Your Own Lawn Chair, Lots of Food and Drinks to Purchase

Bring your lawn chair, and have lunch and maybe even dinner in beautiful Elba. BEST (Building Elba School Together) will be serving Andy's Pizza and and ice cream from Zuber Farms; Mac Daddy's Ultimate Mac 'n' Cheese; Center Street Smokehouse and Pub Coffee Hub will be there with their trucks as well.

Eli Fish Brewing Co. will be bringing the beer, and Circle B Winery the wine -- what more do you need? And last but not least (sometimes it's OK to eat dessert first) will be Lori's Delectable Edibles (think cake bites, brownies and cookies) and her delicious Bubble Tea.

Get Yours! Onion Capital of the World T-shirts

The Betterment will be selling their Onion Capital of the World T-shirts and conducting a 50/50 raffle and invites other nonprofits to contact us if you would like to have a booth or stand at any of our events.

Taking a Free Will Donation for the Down Syndrome Parent Support Group

There is never a charge for all of this great music, but we will be taking a free will donation to the Down Syndrome Parent Support Group of Genesee County. This wonderful organization provides support and encouragement to individuals with with Down Syndrome who reside in the GLOW area. Representatives will be at the park to talk to anyone who is interested in joining or assisting this group.

This and all of our summer concerts is made possible with funds from the Decentralization Program, a regrant program of the NYS Council on the Arts with the Support of Governor Andrew Cuomo and the NYS Legislature, and administered by GOART!

Our second show will be in August. Look for more information to come.

Press release:

Summer Rec at Farrall, John Kennedy, Lambert and Williams parks will be canceled today, Thursday, July 8th due to severe thunderstorm bands expected to hit late morning through the remainder of the afternoon. Summer rec anticipates being open Friday, July 9th unless otherwise communicated to families.

Summer Rec will avoid canceling in advance unless absolutely sure of unsafe weather conditions (flooding, safety threat, heat-index risk or thunder/lightening storms)

For further questions regarding Summer Rec, please contact the GLOW YMCA (585) 344-1664.

Press release:

Representatives of the organizations that support the Genesee County PAARI program will be recognized next Tuesday at a midday event at the City of Batavia Fire Department headquarters at 18 Evans St.

The local Public Safety Assisted Addiction & Recovery Initiative has gained momentum in the county, most recently having the distinction of welcoming the Batavia FD as the first fire company in New York (and one of just a few in the nation) as a participant.

The program is designed to provide support and resources to help law enforcement and public safety agencies nationwide create non-arrest pathways to treatment and recovery.

PAARI leaders in Genesee County are highlighting the significance of this development by holding a two-hour public session, beginning at 11 a.m. on July 13.

They also have changed the name of the program slightly in this area to Public Safety Assisted Addiction & Recovery Initiative instead of the official name of Police Assisted Addiction & Recovery Initiative -- while still using the PAARI acronym.

The event will feature leaders of the four public safety agencies that have signed on to PAARI: Genesee County Sheriff’s Office, Batavia Police Department, Le Roy Police Department and Genesee County Health Department.

Officials of program sponsors Greater Rochester Health Foundation, Genesee/Orleans Council on Alcoholism and Substance Abuse, and GOW Opioid Task Force also are scheduled to speak.

The GRHF will be presented with a plaque at the event for its support and funding of necessary renovations at the fire headquarters.

Complimentary food and beverage will be provided to all in attendance. Once registered, individuals will be contacted for their lunch selection.

To register for this event, click here.

For more information, contact Christen Ferraro, GRHF project coordinator, at cferraro@gcasa.org.

Photo: Representatives of Genesee County Sheriff's Office, Batavia Fire Department, Le Roy Police Department and Batavia Police Department that support the PAARI program in Genesee County. Submitted photo.

After swinging and missing on a pitch to obtain a grant from the New York State Office of Community Renewal for the replacement of 5,300 feet of water main as part of the Park Road Reconstruction Project, the Batavia Town Board is still staying in the batter’s box.

It remains steadfast in its commitment to upgrade the municipality's sanitary sewer pump station at the Valu Plaza on West Main Street.

On Wednesday afternoon, lawmakers scheduled a public hearing on the Community Development Block Grant funding for 7:05 p.m. July 21 (the board’s next meeting) at the Town Hall on West Main Street Road.

“The application is for upgrades and repairs of the sanitary sewer pump station at the West Main Street plaza,” said Town Supervisor Gregory Post, adding that he’s not sure of the cost at this time. “We’re working on that (cost projections) as we speak. It’s a rushed application because we were denied our last application for Park Road and another round of funding is coming out.”

Missing out on the Park Road grant is disappointing, he said, but as the project moves forward, the town is looking at a bond resolution to pay for the approximately $900,000 cost of replacing the water main.

“We’re going to bid on Park Road in the next few weeks and we’re bonding that,” he said. “Once we receive the bids, we’ll develop a construction schedule based on that.”

A public hearing on the bond resolution for the Park Road water main and the entire capital improvement project also is scheduled July 21 at 7 p.m.

The resolution calls for the issuance of serial bonds not to exceed $975,190, offset by any federal, state, county and/or local funds received.

The $3 million Park Road rehabilitation will take place from Lewiston Road (Route 63) to Oak Street (Route 98).

Work will include new pavement, curbs and curbing from Lewiston Road to Richmond Avenue with sidewalks on both sides of Park Road, while pavement will be overlaid and sidewalks installed on one side of the road from Richmond Avenue to Route 98. The project also calls for new water lines and street lights on Park Road between Route 63 and Richmond Avenue.

Additional property enhancements of up to $395,000 at Batavia Downs Gaming will be paid for by the Western Regional Off-Track Betting Corp.

Solar Moratorium is Extended

In another development, the town board called another public hearing – this one for 7:10 p.m. July 21 to extend a moratorium on solar energy systems for up to another six months. The current moratorium is set to expire at the end of this month.

“We felt it important that we still had the moratorium in place while we work on getting our new (solar) law enacted,” Post said. “So, we’re setting a public hearing to extend the moratorium until such time that we have the legislative process complete.”

Post said the process of enacting new solar regulations has taken longer than expected “due to the extraordinary depths the (town’s solar) committee is diving into to make sure that this is well researched and well thought out. We want to make it more wholesome for the entire community and not leave anybody out.”

Post mentioned some recent developments in the solar arena that could affect the town’s handling of ground-mounted and, potentially, large-scale solar systems.

“The state’s solar agency (Office of Renewable Energy Siting) is being challenged in the courts, and NYSERDA (New York State Energy Research and Development Authority) was found out to have hired a consulting firm that also has solar and wind energy customers as clients,” he reported. “That could be a conflict of interest – hiring somebody for a million dollars that is working for solar and wind energy companies.”

Furthermore, Post said he saw that Cypress Creek Renewables LLC, which owns the rights to a pair of side-by-side 5- and 4-megawatt solar systems on Ellicott Street Road, was sold to a Stockholm, Sweden-based investment company called EQT earlier this week.

“Solar is a hot topic and we just want to do our job and make sure we do it as well as everything else,” Post said, adding that he hopes to have the town’s new solar law in place by Labor Day.

The Muckdogs battled at home on Tuesday night but in the end just couldn't put up enough runs to beat Geneva, dropping the final game of a homestand 3-2.

The team is in Niagara tonight and will play Elmira at home tomorrow.  

The losing pitcher Tuesday was George Osborne, a junior at Alcorn State University. Osborne, with an ERA of 2.34, put in six solid innings, fanning 10, but picked up his first loss (no wins) in three starts.  

Tyler Prospero, from Batavia, struck out two in a scoreless inning of work.

Cameron Conley, who will be attending Pepperdine University, raised his average to .281 with two hits. Conley has appeared in nine games, getting a hit in all but two of those games.

To view or purchase photos, click here.

Photos by Steve Ognibene Photography.

Kathy Owen dedicated a portion of the last years of her life to ensuring the stone pillars that act as markers to the opening of Redfield Parkway in Batavia were saved and restored.

It was a lot of work convincing city officials that it was actually the city that owned the pillars, that the city had a responsibility to maintain the pillars, and to finally invest in restoring the pillars.

It took eight years.

More than a year ago, Owen died.  

Yesterday evening, more than 50 Redfield Parkway residents, along with other community members, gathered in the driveway of her brother, Jim Owen, to dedicate a marker commemorating Kathy Owen and her tireless efforts on behalf of the Redfield Parkway community.

Owen was known as the "Queen of Redfield Parkway" (Jim is the "Mayor of Redfield Parkway"), and was responsible for carrying on the Redfield traditions of flags, flowers, and Christmas trees but even in her absence, her spirit remains as her friends and neighbors keep these traditions alive.

"The plaque says Kathy was an advocate of Redfield Parkway," said City Council President Eugene Jankowski. "All of you are advocates of Redfield Parkway and you make the City look even better.”

Jim got a bit emotional when thanking all who turned out to remember his sister.

"She would be very proud," Owen said. "As you know, it is her birthday today and she’s looking down saying, ‘Thank you. Thank you very much.’ ”

Press release:

Assemblyman Steve Hawley today slammed the governor’s declaration of a “statewide disaster emergency” regarding gun violence in the state. Within the governor’s executive order, he unilaterally suspends numerous laws while allocating $138.7 million toward programs he believes will reduce gun violence.

“This emergency declaration is yet another instance of the governor going above our heads in the Legislature to haphazardly expend funds aimed to try and solve the wrong root problem,” Hawley said. “The reason for the rise in crime as of late is no mystery, and until the governor admits bail reform was a failed experiment with deadly consequences, I fear the terrible violence in our communities will persist.

"Our constitutional freedom to own guns isn’t the problem that’s causing this violence, it’s the dangerous revolving-door the governor has created in our penal system that’s giving dangerous individuals more opportunities than ever to harm the innocent, or victims of their previous crimes.”

​Hawley for months has called for the rollback of bail reform laws, which limits a judge’s ability to use their discretion to issue bail to those they know to be dangerous. He argues that this law has created a revolving door for dangerous criminals, who have often been released back into the public after being arrested following the implementation of bail reform. These criminals often reoffend and cause further violence in the communities they’re released into.

The shovels went into the ground at Oakfield-Alabama as soon as the summer break started on a $15.3 million capital improvement project at both the high school/middle school and the elementary school and yesterday Superintendent John Fisgus and a group of contractors gave members of the school board a tour of the work followed by an official groundbreaking ceremony.

The project includes reconstruction of the entry, parking lot, passenger pick-up, and bus lanes at the elementary school. The elementary school is also getting a remodeled cafeteria and kitchen, new main office, nurse's suite, and main entrance. There will also be a new teachers' lounge, remodeled gym with new bleachers.

The schools are also getting new, brightly colored -- blue and gold -- tennis courts.

The HS/MS is getting a remodeled auditorium.

In the fall of 2022, all of the windows of the HS/MS will be replaced and the school will get a new entrance, new atrium, and new main office.

Press release -- Updated at 3:48 p.m. with statements from Town of Pembroke Supervisor Thomas Schneider Jr. and Congressman Chris Jacobs (NY-27):

Agriculture Secretary Tom Vilsack today (July 7) announced that the United States Department of Agriculture (USDA) is investing $307 million to modernize rural drinking water and wastewater infrastructure in 34 states and Puerto Rico (PDF, 224 KB).

“Expanding access to drinking water in our rural communities and cleaning up existing systems are essential to moving our region forward,” Sen. Chris Jacobs said. “With this funding, Pembroke will not only be able to provide more residents with safe drinking water, but also attract new small businesses and residents. This is a much-needed investment in Western New York, and I will continue to advocate for more water resources for our region.”

In Genesee County, the sole recipient for this round of loans and grants for residents without safe, potable public water service is the Town of Pembroke. It will receive a total of more than $9 million -- comprised of a $5,306,000 loan and a grant for $3,744,000 in Rural Development investments -- to create Water District #4.

“It is important to bring municipal water to every resident in the Town of Pembroke and to do it at a reasonable cost," Pembroke Town Supervisor Thomas Schneider Jr. said. "This funding helps the town in accomplishing that."

The investments being announced today follow President Biden’s announcement last week of a Bipartisan Infrastructure Framework that will make the largest investment in clean drinking water in American history. The Framework will replace all of the nation’s lead pipes and service lines, helping address barriers faced by communities of color, Tribal communities, and people who live in rural America.

“Every community needs safe, reliable and modern water and wastewater systems,” said Secretary Vilsack. “The consequences of decades of disinvestment in physical infrastructure have fallen most heavily on communities of color. This is why USDA is investing in water infrastructure in rural and Tribal communities that need it most – to help them build back better, stronger and more equitably than ever before.”

USDA is financing the projects through the Water and Waste Disposal Loan and Grant Program. The investments will help eliminate outdated pipes and service lines to safeguard public health and safety in rural communities. They will improve rural infrastructure for 250,000 residents and businesses.

USDA is announcing investments today in Arkansas, Arizona, California, Colorado, Georgia, Idaho, Iowa, Illinois, Indiana, Kansas, Kentucky, Louisiana, Maryland, Maine, Michigan, Minnesota, Missouri, North Carolina, North Dakota, New Jersey, New Mexico, New York (total of five projects statewide), Ohio, Oklahoma, South Carolina, South Dakota, Tennessee, Texas, Utah, Virginia, Vermont, Washington, Wisconsin, West Virginia and Puerto Rico.

Liza Monica Besczyznski, 26, of Pearl Street Road, Batavia, is charged with fourth-degree criminal michief and second-degree menacing. On July 5 the Genesee County Emergency Dispatch Center received a 9-1-1 call from a resident on Pearl Street Road in the Town of Batavia. An investigation allegedly revealed the defendant damaged another person's property and threatened them with a hammer. She was arrested and arraigned in Town of Batavia Court, then released on her own recognizance. The case was handled by Deputy Kevin McCarthy, assisted by NYS Police.

Terrell Lee Thomas, 30, of West Main Street Road, Batavia, is charged with second-degree harassment -- physical contact. On July 2 at 2:40 p.m., Genesee County Sheriff's deputies responded to an address on West Main Street Road in Batavia for a harassment complaint. It is alleged that he engaged in a course of conduct which alarmed and seriously annoyed an individual on the property. Terrell was arraigned in Town of Oakfield Court and is due in Batavia Town Court on July 20. The case was handled by Genesee County Sheriff's Deputy Zachary Hoy.

Wyatt Jeremiah Becker, of Tinkham Road, Darien, is charged with second-degree harassment. Becker was arrested at 3:12 p.m. July 6 after police investigated an incident that occurred at 5:20 a.m. that day. He was released with an appearance ticket and is due to appear in Darien Town Court on Aug. 3. The case wase handled by Genesee County Sheriff's Deputy Jonathan Dimmig, assisted by Deputy Kyle Krzemien. 

Larry Robert Walters, 23, of Alden, is charged with: driving while intoxicated with a BAC of .08 or more; DWI -- first offense; moving from lane unsafely; and failure to keep right. Walters was arrested after a traffic stop at 10:15 p.m. on Pearl Street Road, Batavia, on July 6. Walters is due in the Town of Batavia Court on July 22. The case was handled by Genesee County Sheriff's Deputy Austin Heberlein, assisted by Deputy Nicholas Chamoun.

Public Notice -- Temporary Closure 'Due to the Depleted Labor Force'

O'Lacy's Irish Pub, 5 School St., Batavia, will be closed Saturday, July 10 through Wednesday, July 14th to allow our small, overworked and burned-out staff a much-needed rest.

We thank you for your appreciation of our staff and understanding.

Sorry for any inconvenience this may cause you.

Thank you very much.

Press release:

Assemblyman Steve Hawley is announcing his annual Patriot Trip to Washington, D.C., taking place from Sept. 16 to 19, where veterans and their family members are hosted on a tour throughout the area to visit several historical sites and landmarks.

This year’s tour will feature stops at war memorials throughout the D.C. area including Arlington National Cemetery. The first day includes a stop at the site of the Battle of Gettysburg in Pennsylvania. Previous tours have included stops at the White House, the Capitol Building, Mt. Vernon, the Annapolis Naval Academy and various museums.

Participation in the trip is open to all military veterans and their family members and will cost $475 per person (includes all food, accommodation, travel, and other expenses). Those interested in participating in this year’s trip are encouraged to reach out to Assemblyman Hawley’s district office at (585) 589-5780.

“The Patriot Trip has been an important way of giving back to our veterans for years now, so after having to cancel last year’s trip, I’m elated to be able to resume the trips this year,” said Hawley. “This year will be our 14th trip, so I encourage all interested veterans to reach out to my office and join us on a trip to remember!”

Press release:

Assemblyman Steve Hawley is announcing the start of a new annual award to recognize women of distinction within the local community in a ceremony to be held in the fall. 

Constituents can nominate women of great achievement or those who have made an impact in the lives of others within their community using the form linked here. Those selected to be honored this fall will be notified regarding their nomination and the award ceremony to follow.

“There is no shortage of talented and accomplished women here in the 139th Assembly District, and after our communities were forced to come together like never before in this last year, I felt it appropriate to celebrate the life and achievements of women in our community who have made a real impact in the world, whether in business or here in our community,” Hawley said.

“I look forward to honoring individuals truly deserving of thanks and recognition, so I eagerly await nominations!”

Press release:

Batavia Downs Gaming & Hotel announced today that due to circumstances beyond their control, the concert on July 23 will no longer feature Skid Row. Batavia Downs hopes to welcome Skid Row to the summer concert series in the future.

On Friday, July 23^rd, 2021, Slaughter will perform at the Rockin’ The Downs Summer Concert Series.

The legendary rock 'n' roll band has been making music for three decades and is known for performing such hits as "Up All Night," "Fly to the Angels," and "The Wild Life."

Please note that tickets purchased for the Skid Row concert will still be honored on that date. Those wishing for a refund may do so through their point of purchase. Info can be found inside of your ticket confirmation email. Tickets purchased at the Lucky Treasures gift shop may be refunded during normal gift shop hours.

Tickets are available for Slaughter right now on BataviaConcerts.com