Press release:

National Grid has temporarily suspended collections-related activities, including service disconnections, to lessen any financial hardship the COVID-19 pandemic may have on our customers.

The decision is part of the company’s pandemic preparedness plan, which is designed to mitigate the impact the virus has on our customers, our workforce and our ability to deliver safe, reliable electricity and natural gas to our customers.

“We recognize that this pandemic has brought many challenges for our customers and we want to do our part to lessen any financial impact they may face as the result of the outbreak,” said Badar Khan, National Grid’s interim U.S. president. “We are committed to our customers’ well-being during this difficult time.”

The company’s decision to temporarily suspend service terminations and collections-related activities is effective immediately.  

The company also has implemented the following employee-related actions, which will remain in place as we continue to closely monitor the pandemic:

• Limiting external meeting attendance and external visitors at National Grid facilities to operationally critical activities that are required to deliver gas and electricity to our customers;
• Restricting travel between National Grid office locations, except for operationally critical activities;
• Stopping all international business-related travel;
• Elevating the level of cleaning and disinfecting at all company facilities.

“Ensuring the health and safety of our employees and customers is our number one priority,” Khan said. “We have a comprehensive emergency response plan in place to keep the lights on and the gas flowing for our customers.

"Our pandemic team is meeting daily and we’re closely monitoring all developments associated with this evolving and complex virus.”

Khan noted that the company also is sharing its preparedness plans with regulators, federal, state and local officials, emergency response organizations, customers and other key stakeholders.

“We will continue to closely monitor this situation, review and adjust our policies and ways of working as necessary, and will keep the lines of communications open with our employees, customers and all stakeholders,” he said.

Batavia Middle School hosted a Health and Wellness Day for students at the school yesterday. The event was the brainchild of Assistant Principal Brian Sutton.

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KNOW YOUR RIGHTS! You have the right to a safe workplace. Federal laws state that your employer must provide a work area with no known health or safety hazards. You also have the right to: 

Sheriff William Sheron introduced the department's new police dog, "Rayzor," and his handler, Deputy James Stack, at the Genesee County Jail yesterday.

Stack and Rayzor begin training on Monday and should be ready for road patrol in June.

Rayzor is named after Ray Thompson, a corrections officer who died while on duty in 2002.  He is the brother of retired deputy, and former K-9 handler, Brian Thompson.

Press release:

With the continued spread of the coronavirus (COVID-19), Batavia First Presbyterian Church is suspending in-person worship and gatherings in the church building till March 26. Our desire is to follow the way of Christ by caring for the most vulnerable in our society and doing our part to stop the spread of the virus.

We will limit access to the church building to essential personnel. If you need access to the church building, please contact us at 585-343-0505 for an appointment.

We will continue to offer pastoral care and other support. We want to journey with you during this difficult time. Please contact Pastor Roula Alkhouri at roulaalkhouri@outlook.com or 585-343-0505 with your prayer or pastoral needs.

We will continue to monitor the situation to pay attention to how God will use us to be the healing and caring hands and feet of Christ in our community during this crisis.

To access our devotional and recorded worship, go to our website www.fpcbatavia.org or our Facebook page at: https://www.facebook.com/fpcbatavia/

Press release:

East Bethany Presbyterian Church has been closely monitoring the potential impact of COVID-19 and is following current recommendations from the Centers for Disease Control and New York State Health Department.

After days of prayer and discussion between the church’s governing board (the Session) and our pastor, Rev. Erin Schubmehl Jacobson, and following the recommendations of the Presbytery of Genesee Valley, we are canceling in-person worship services, including church school through March 27^th.

We will continue to update the church community on our Facebook page and our website.

A three-vehicle collision with unknown injuries is blocking traffic on East Main Street and Masse Place in the city. City of Batavia Fire Department and Mercy medics are responding.

UPDATE 4:43 p.m.: Only two vehicles were involved, each with one occupant, the driver. A white car eastbound on East Main Street reportedly ran a red light, smashing into a black car that was westbound on East Main Street and making a left turn onto Masse Place. Medics are evaluating the drivers at the scene.

Press release:  

Le Roy Central School District has made the decision to postpone our musical performances of "Into the Woods" for tonight and tomorrow (March 13 and 14).

If you have purchased tickets, please hold on to them as we hope to hold the shows in the future. For those of you who might seek refunds, further information will be communicated in the future.

Our production will stage a closed dress rehearsal tonight for Stars of Tomorrow Judges ONLY.

Tim McArdle, Principal, Le Roy Jr.-Sr. High School

A car is on fire in the driveway at 8480 Peachey Road in Bergen. It is about 25 feet from the house. Bergen Fire Department is responding, The location is between North Lake Road and Kendall Road.

Press release:

Northgate Free Methodist Church has been closely monitoring the potential impact of COVID-19 and is following current recommendations from the CDC, local health departments / government officials and the most recent guidelines from NY Governor Andrew Cuomo.

After days of careful consideration, prayer and discussion between Northgate’s Management Team, we have come to the following conclusion: In cooperation with those trying to keep our surrounding communities safe, we are canceling all in-person worship services, including activities for children and students this weekend.

Small groups, due to the size restrictions set forth by the government, will be allowed to meet at their personal discretion, offsite.

Because we value gathering together as a community of believers, we are encouraging the community to join us online on our Facebook Live feed for worship on Saturday evening at 6 o'clock.

That recorded service will then be available at any time to be used for personal worship time this Sunday. The recorded worship service will also be posted for viewing on our website at northgatefmc.com.

Please invite people to join in with us as you would on any given Saturday or Sunday. News updates will be made available at northgatefmc.com/news

Plans for next week and the weeks ahead remain fluid at this time. We will be evaluating the circumstances day to day and will keep the community abreast of the details as they become available.

Press release:

The Genesee County Chamber of Commerce has postponed their seventh annual Home Show due to Governor Cuomo’s coronavirus ban on gatherings of 500 or more people. The Home Show was scheduled for April 3-5 at the Falleti Ice Arena.

The Chamber plans on postponing the Home Show until later this year at a time when the pandemic ban is lifted. 

“The purpose of our Home Show has always been to put our area businesses in front of as many potential customers as possible,” said Chamber President Tom Turnbull. “We are trying hard to come up with ways to do just that during these extraordinary times.”

A pole and wires are down on the South Byron Post Office building, which has been evacuated. It's at 7545 Byron Holley Road. Byron and South Byron fire departments are responding. There is no smoke or fire.

Press release:

Genesee Valley Educational Partnership (GVEP) school districts are collaborating and communicating on a daily basis to review best practices and guidance in order to strategize the best path forward in our response to the COVID-19 situation.

Our local health departments and medical professionals are essential partners in our collaboration and decision-making process.  

Even though information related to the situation is changing rapidly, all GVEP districts count student safety as our top priority. Our district teams are acting based on the latest guidance from local, regional, and New York State Departments of Health, the Centers for Disease Control, and the New York State Education Department in addition to reviewing their local emergency response plans.

Our collaboration on a regional level informs the decision-making on the district level. Each district may make decisions related to events and school trips based on factors unique to their schools and community yet all districts have student health and safety as our top priority.

We appreciate your continuous support and patience as we navigate this situation.

Kevin MacDonald, District Superintendent -- Genesee Valley Educational Partnership

Ken Ellison, Chairman -- Genesee Valley Chief School Officers Association            

Genesee County Schools

• Alexander Central School, 3314 Buffalo St., Alexander, NY  14005
• Batavia City Schools, 260 State St., Batavia, NY  14020
• Byron-Bergen Central School, 6917 W. Bergen Road, Bergen, NY  14416
• Elba Central School, 57 S. Main St., Elba, NY 14058
• Le Roy Central School, 2-6 Trigon Park, Le Roy, NY  14482
• Oakfield-Alabama Central School, 7001 Lewiston Road, Oakfield, NY  14125
• Pavilion Central School, 7014 Big Tree Road, Pavilion, NY  14525
• Pembroke Central School, P.O. Box 308, Corfu, NY  14036

Submitted photo and press release:

Genesee County 4-H Dairy Club members recently participated in the Finger Lakes Regional 4-H Dairy Quiz Bowl Contest.

The contest tested their knowledge of the dairy industry, dairy products, farming, government, and bovine anatomy.

There were several rounds of competition. Youths were given individual questions, followed by team questions where they could work as a group to answer. Each round ended with toss-up questions where the quickest participant to buzz in was given the chance to answer.  

Beginner Division Results

• Team: Genesee/Wayne/Seneca – First-place Team

Members: Tate Zuber – Eighth-place Individual (Genesee), Connor Schultz, Julianna Smith, and Josiah Freier (Wayne/Seneca)

• Team: Genesee/Cayuga – Second-place Team

Members:  Chase Zuber – Sixth-place Individual (Genesee), Sam Patterson, Austin Hunter, and Katherine Atherton (Cayuga)

Junior Division Results

• Team: Genesee/Monroe – First-place Team

Members: Bing Zuber – Sixth-place Individual (Genesee), Justin Deleo – Seventh-place Individual (Genesee), and Owen Avedisian (Monroe)

Other Genesee County Junior Participants: Mason Werth, Maggie Winspear, and Jillian Brewer.

Senior Division Results

• Team: Genesee/Seneca –  Third-place Team

Members: Amelia Brewer (Genesee), Ian Keberle – Sixth-place Individual (Genesee), and Dale Freier (Seneca)

Photo: Genesee County 4-H Dairy Bowl participants, back row from left -- Ian Keberle, Mason Werth, Jillian Brewer, Maggie Winspear, Amelia Brewer; front row from left -- Chase Zuber, Bing Zuber, Tate Zuber, Justin Deleo.

March13: Closures, cancellations and postponements announced March 13 as precautionary measures to prevent the risk of exposure to the novel coronavirus (COVID-19):

• East Bethany Presbyterian Church has been closely monitoring the potential impact of COVID-19 and is following current recommendations from the Centers for Disease Control and New York State Health Department. After days of prayer and discussion between the church’s governing board (the Session) and our pastor, Rev. Erin Schubmehl Jacobson, and following the recommendations of the Presbytery of Genesee Valley, we are canceling in-person worship services, including church school through March 27^th. We will continue to update the church community on our Facebook page (https://www.facebook.com/ebpresbyterian/) and our website (http://ebpresbyterian.blogspot.com/).

• Le Roy Central School District has made the decision to postpone our musical performances of "Into the Woods" for tonight and tomorrow (March 13 and 14). If you have purchased tickets, please hold on to them as we hope to hold the shows in the future. For those of you who might seek refunds, further information will be communicated in the future. (Our production will stage a closed dress rehearsal tonight for Stars of Tomorrow Judges ONLY.)

• The Genesee County Office for the Aging has suspended all recreational programs at this time. Those seeking services are requested to call for an appointment 343-1611.

• Northgate Free Methodist Church in Batavia is canceling all in-person worship services, including activities for children and students this weekend (March 14-15). Small groups, due to the size restrictions set forth by the government, will be allowed to meet at their personal discretion, offsite. We are encouraging the community to join us online on our Facebook Live feed for worship on Saturday evening at 6 o'clock. The recorded worship service will also be posted for viewing on the church website. News updates will be made available here.

• The Genesee County Chamber of Commerce has postponed its seventh annual Home Show due to Governor Cuomo’s coronavirus ban on gatherings of 500 or more people. The Home Show was scheduled for April 3-5 at the Falleti Ice Arena. The Chamber plans to hold the show later this year, at a time when the pandemic ban is lifted. “The purpose of our Home Show has always been to put our area businesses in front of as many potential customers as possible,” said Chamber President Tom Turnbull.  “We are trying hard to come up with ways to do just that during these extraordinary times.”

• ​Museum Quilt Guild is cancelling its March 21 meeting and Community Service Day. This is normally held at the Batavia VA Center in the auditorium.

• The Volunteers for Animals Spay-ghetti Dinner fundraising dinner at Notre Dame High School scheduled for Saturday, March 14, has been postponed. It will be rescheduled at a later date.

• The Batavia City School District Foundation Inc. is postponing its debut Alumni Pep Rally that was scehduled for March 29 at Eli Fish Brewing Co. A new date will be determined in the future.

• Due to the recent health concerns, the 14th Annual Antique Show and Sale sponsored by the Holland Land Office Museum, which was to take place at Genesee Community College on April 17th and 18th, has been postponed. We are currently working with GCC to find a new date in the fall.

A lot of local residents had the same idea today -- stocking up for supplies at BJ's Wholesale Club in Batavia.

At about 5 p.m., the parking lot was full and lines at the registers were 10 or 12 people deep. Most shopping carts were full. There were empty shelves in the water and paper-products aisles.  

We spoke to several customers and most declined to be interviewed on camera. At least six of them with shopping carts brimming with household essentials said they were just doing their regular shopping. Some said they were stocking up but didn't want to be interviewed.

The video includes: customer Brian Odachowski who was stocking up; Legislator Gregg Torrey, who was more concerned about making sure the household supplies are ready because he and his wife are expecting a baby soon, and he spoke mainly about the county's response; and Jack Kershner who said he thinks CORVID-19 concerns are overblown.

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