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Equal treatment in medicine has been a long struggle for Black Americans, Dr. Cassandra Williams told more than two dozen 400 Towers residents on Thursday following a Black History Celebration Dinner.

Williams is the medical director for Terrace View Long Term Care in Buffalo.

"I grew up on the east side of Buffalo," Williams said. "For the people that are not from Buffalo, it’s a predominantly black neighborhood. My dad had a high school education. My mom had an associate's degree. From as early as the fifth grade, I wanted to be a doctor. That's all I knew. There were none in my community, of course, but I wanted to do that. There was so much sickness, from my brother having lymphoma and taking chemotherapy at nine to my father being a brittle type-one diabetic and my grandmother having schizophrenia. I saw doctors as one of the ones that made people better."

(Her brother was cured, she said, which brought a round of applause. He currently lives in Fairport.)

Black History Month, Williams told the residents, has been celebrated in the U.S. since 1976, when President Gerald Ford recognized it nationally as a time to celebrate the achievements of African Americans.

It grew out of Negro History Week, which was started by historian Carter G. Woodson and others in 1926. They chose the second week in February to coincide with the birthdays of President Abraham Lincoln and escaped slave and abolitionist Frederick Douglass.

Then, Williams ran through important dates in medicine for African Americans.

• Dr. James Durham was born into slavery in 1762. He bought his freedom and began his own medical practice, becoming the first Black doctor in the United States. He is best known for saving more Yellow Fever patients than any other physician. 
• In 1847, Dr. James McCune Smith graduated from the University of Glasgow, becoming the first African American to earn a medical degree.
• In 1862, in Augusta, Ga., the Jackson Street Hospital was the first hospital for African Americans. It had 50 beds.
• In 1864, Dr. Rebecca Lee Crumpler was the first African American female to earn a medical degree. 
• In 1868, Howard University was established to educate African American doctors.

Howard University was needed, Williams said, because segregation prevented Black students from attending all-white schools. 

Also, in response to racism, in 1895, the National Medical Association was founded since African Americans were barred from other established medical groups like the American Medical Association.

• In 1936, Dr. William Augustus Hinton's book on syphilis treatment was the first medical textbook written by an African American.
• In 1968, Prentice Harrison was the first African American to be formally educated as a physician assistant. 
• In 1973, Patricia Bass was the first African American to complete a residency in ophthalmology. She later founded the American Institute for the Prevention of Blindness.  
• In 1981, Alexa Canada became the first African American woman neurosurgeon.

"Now, if you think about that, in 1981, she's the first African American woman neurosurgeon. That's not that long ago," Williams said. "That's like, that's after I was born. So that's recent."

The legacy of racism lingers. As of 2019, only 5% of the doctors in the U.S. are Black, while 13.6% of the population is Black.

She also discussed the disparities in health outcomes for African Americans compared to white Americans.

"There remains significant racial disparities, disparities in life expectancy, maternal deaths, and infant mortality amongst African Americans," Williams said. "Again, why? Why is that? What accounts for the Black-White health disparities? Is it family formation, culture, education, neighborhood disadvantage, employment insurance? None of these fully account for the difference when making all things equal, such as location, education, income level, city or rural, African Americans continue to have worse outcomes with most medical conditions."

One potential cause may be distrust of healthcare providers in African American communities because of past practices of the white establishment. That came up most recently during the pandemic, and there was a high rate of vaccine resistance in Black communities to vaccines.

"Granted, not just African Americans but people from all races were hesitant to take the vaccine for their own reasons, but the reason for a lot of African Americans was because of a history of unethical and racially targeted experiments," Williams said. "A few examples include gruesome experiments on enslaved people, such as doing surgery without anesthesia to see what would happen. Forced sterilization of black women ... and the very infamous Tuskegee experiment, where people who had syphilis, which could lead to anything from sores to brain damage, were not treated." 

White doctors wanted to see what would happen to untreated Black patients, so while the patients thought they were receiving penicillin shots, they were actually getting injected with a saline solution.

"Penicillin is one of the cheapest, the oldest antibiotics you can get your hands on," she said.

"They were coming and coming weekly and getting shots, just like everybody else, but they were getting saline, right? They were getting nothing, but they wanted to see, but they were doing tests on them to see sores, the brain damage, to see what would happen."

That's part of the reason Blacks in America continue to distrust the medical establishment.

"Studies have found African Americans are consistently under-treated for pain, and often when they are evaluated by medical professionals, there are assumptions, such as, they are not married, uneducated or come from a poor environment," Williams said. "This is not in history. This is today. This is current data."

As a Black woman doctor, Williams has encountered prejudice throughout her career.

"In this day and age, there have been some subtle and some not-so-subtle racial and sexist roadblocks and remarks that I've had to deal with and persevere through," Williams said. "I've probably been asked if I was a CNA, the housekeeper, the nurse, the dietitian, more than others. Even though I wear my white coat all the time -- and that's the reason I wear it all the time, because the people I work with and work around look just like me. When I walk into the room, they don't know who I am so I introduce myself. I wear my white coat. I wear my stethoscope. Some people still say. "I didn't see the doctor today. "The doctor never came and saw me. They're like, 'Doctor? I'm sure she was in here.' They're like, "Oh, that was the doctor?' 'Yeah, that was her. That was the doctor.'"

Even so, Williams loves what she does.

"At this stage of my life, I love my career choice. I love the challenge. I'm grateful to be in the profession I'm in. I thank God, who is the head of my life, for guiding my steps through this journey."

Assemblyman Steve Hawley loves learning about successful entrepreneurs who set up shop in his district, and on Thursday, Hawley met Paul Guglielmo, owner of Craft Cannery in Bergen, for the first time.

"This is what we all read about and hear about from yesteryear, in a lot of ways, an individual who has an idea -- he missed his Grandpa's Italian sauce, that Sunday tradition -- and he missed that so much that in his heart and his mind and his wallet, he said, 'Maybe I can do this and make Grandpa's sauce,'" Hawley said during a tour of the plant. "Here we are today. A great, great example of what you can do if you put your mind, hard work and long hours into an idea."

Guglielmo started bottling Grandpa's sauce in 2016, moved into the Bergen plant in 2019, and he and partner Tom Riggio purchased it in 2020.

He said his company's manufacturing capacity in 2019 was about 200 gallons of sauce and related products a day, and now the plant produces 1,000 gallons a day. That includes Guglielmo's branded sauces as well as sauces and similar products for other brands.

"We're doing about 10 times what we were doing in 2019 in terms of gross revenue. Employee-wise, this was a three-employee operation on May 1, 2020, which is the day we actually took over the plant," Guglielmo said. "It was three employees. And today, we're at 19. The square footage went from the back of that old pizzeria, which was 5,000 square feet to today, it's 11,600 square feet."

Hawley said he hadn't spoken with Guglielmo specifically about possible trials and tribulations of starting a business in the challenging regulatory environment of New York, but the fact that Guglielmo has succeeded here is a testament to his hard work.

"If you put your mind on anything, no matter where you are, and you you give it your all, there never is a guarantee in life, but oft times, you're rewarded because of that hard work, that investment, and the belief in yourself and your product," Hawley said. "So it's New York, but we hope more people come, and we hope more people stay."

Three new art shows opened at GO ART! in Batavia on Thursday evening, with Lorie Longhany drawing the spotlight with a collection of work she calls, "happy paintings." 

She paints small works in her living room to tap into themes of solitude, contentment, and nostalgia. 

Also in the opening were works by Bryan Wright (who was unable to attend the opening), drawing inspiration from his enjoyment of oceans. The coastal-themed exhibition featured ocean creatures sculpted with basic metal fabrication.

On the third floor is a showcase called African Heritage through Arts and Crafts. The exhibition has a special focus on Jamaican arts and crafts alongside select pieces from Africa. This multi-artist show highlights African and Jamaican artists' rich cultural heritage and artistic vibrancy. It also contributes to the celebration of Black History Month at GO ART!

Photos by Howard Owens

Batavia needed a win on Wednesday night in its final Boys Basketball game of the regular season to clinch a Monroe County Division league championship.

A loss would mean they were co-champions.

The Blue Devils improved to 14-6 with a 76-45 win over Greece Odyssey.

"It was a big game for us in that respect. We didn't want to be co-champions," said Coach Buddy Brasky. "We wanted to be sole champions. And they've been one of the hottest teams in Monroe County over the last month, and they've been playing really good basketball, scoring a lot of points. So we really emphasized in practice leading up to this game defense and toughness."

In the second half, Odyssey (11-9) didn't help their cause, committing five technical fouls. 

"They lost their composer, which was just a shame because they're a good team, and it's just too bad that that happened to them," Brasky said. "I just warned our kids, don't retaliate. Don't talk back if they're talking trash to you. Let them do all of that, and we'll just keep playing basketball, and the score on the scoreboard will be your answer to them."

Brasky is feeling good about his team heading into the postseason.

"Well, it's just what we've been preaching all year," Brasky said. 'It's, we've got to become a defensive first team, and we have struggled with that at some times this year, and we've got to be a tougher team. Toughness and defense are the things that will lead us there, and we've had a good step forward in that way tonight."

Scoring for Batavia:

• Carter Mullen, 20 points
• Casey Mazur, 19 points
• Justin Smith, 15 points
• Gavin White, 12 points

Photos by Steve Ognibene. To view or purchase photos, click here.

The State Police report that a 54-year-old woman from Batavia died in a head-on collision on Route 98 in Alexander on Sunday.

Anya R. Rambuski was pronounced dead at the scene.

The accident was reported at about noon on Sunday.

According to troopers, Rambuski lost control of her 2016 Buick Encore, which was traveling northeast, and struck a 2021 Jeep Cherokee that was traveling southwest on Alexander Road.

The driver of the Jeep, whose name was not released, sustained minor injuries.

The NYSP Collision Reconstruction Unit and Bureau of Criminal Investigation assisted in this investigation.

Malachi J Nix, 20, of Tonawanda, is charged with burglary 2nd, criminal possession of a weapon 2nd, grand larceny 3rd, criminal mischief 3rd, and conspiracy 4th. Nix and another person allegedly broke into Barrett's Batavia Marine on May 27 and stole firearms. He was arrested on Jan. 21, arraigned in City Court and was remanded to the Genesee County Jail.

Clint J. Towne, 44, of Phelps Road, Batavia, and Steven M. Morales, 49, of Lewiston Road, Batavia, are charged with four counts each of criminal possession of a controlled substance 3rd, two counts of criminal possession of a controlled substance 3rd, tampering with physical evidence, criminally using drug paraphernalia 2nd, and aggravated unlicensed operation (Morales). Towne and Morales were arrested on Feb. 13. The was the result of an investigation into the location of a wanted suspect. During a traffic stop, Towne and Morales were allegedly found in possession of 50 grams of cocaine, an ounce of fentanyl, alprazolam tables, 46 sublingual buprenorphine/naloxone strips, and mannitol. Towne is suspected of attempting to destroy evidence. Both were held pending arraignment. The investigation was conducted by Sgt. Andrew Hale, deputies Nicholas Chamoun, Alexander Hasdall, Mason Schultz, Jon Dimming, Zachary Hoy, and Nicholas Jennings.

Marc Christopher James Cook, Jr., no age provided, of Lockport Road, Alabama, was arrested on Feb. 6 on eight separate warrants by members of the Batavia Emergency Response Team (consisting of members of the Sheriff's Office and Batavia PD). The warrants were related to charges of criminal possession of a weapon 3rd and 4th, bail jumping 2nd, two counts of criminal possession of a controlled substance 7th, bail jumping 3rd, criminal use of drug paraphernalia 2nd, and violation of a family court act. Cook was arraigned and held without bail.

Robert Maynard Smith, 73, of North Street, Blasdell, is charged with menacing 2nd.  Smith is accused of wielding a box cutter knife, threatening a worker at Eagle Star Housing, 2620 West Main St., Batavia, at 6:06 p.m. on Feb. 14. Smith was processed at the Genesee County Jail and released.

Nathan Lee Dunn, 20, of Prospect Avenue, Medina, is charged with DWI, driving with a BAC of .108 or greater, aggravated unlicensed opeatertion 1st, unregistered motor vehicle, driving without financial security.  At 12:15 a.m. on Feb. 2, Deputy Zachary Hoy responded to the parking lot at Batavia Downs to investigate a motor vehicle accident, as a result, Dunn was taken into custody. He was issued an appearance ticket.

Chad Matthew Winkelman, 32, of Fullington Road, Attica, is charged with DWI, driving with a BAC of .18 or greater, moving from lane unafely, and drinking alcohol or using cannabis in a motor vehicle. Winkelman was arrested by Deputy Jacob Kipler following a report of a motor vehicle accident at 11:42 p.m. on Feb. 2 on Sandpit Road, Alexander. He was processed at the Genesee Jail and released.

Kenneth G. Muckle, 56, of Franklin Street, Batavia, is charged with petit larceny and conspiracy 6th. Muckle is accused of stealing merchandise from a store (the Sheriff's Office withheld the name of the store) on Veterans Memorial Drive on Feb. 5. He was processed at the Genesee County Jail and released.

Charles Phillip Stevens, 38, of Clinton Street Road, Batavia, is charged with criminal possession of a controlled substance 7th. Stevens was allegedly found in possession of buprenorphine/naloxone and cocaine during a traffic stop on Feb. 10 by Deputy Nicholas Chamoun.

Christopher Earl Merrell, 62, of Bank Street, Batavia, is charged with DWI, driving with a BAC of .08 or greater, aggravated unlicensed operation, and moving from lane unsafely. Merrell was arrested by Deputy James Stack following an investigation into a motor vehicle accident reported at 6:37 a.m. on Feb. 15 on Batavia Elba Townline Road, Batavia. He was released on an appearance ticket.

Lakeisha A Gibson, 38, of Batavia, is charged with harassment 2nd. Gibson is accused of hitting another person multiple times during a fight on Bank Street on Jan. 21. She was issued an appearance ticket.

Christina M. Corde, 39, of Batavia, is charged with petit larceny. Dordes is accused of shoplifting from Dollar General on Jan. 15. She was issued an appearance ticket.

Jennifer C. Moscicki, 48, of Batavia, is charged with petit larceny. Moscicki is accused of stealing property from another person on Central Avenue in January 2022. She was arraigned in City Court and released.

Julie L. Dutton, 29, of Batavia, is charged with petit larceny. Dutton is accused of using a counterfeit $100 bill to receive change at a local business on Jan. 20. He was issued an appearance ticket.

Donovan I. Reese, 18, of Batavia, is charged with criminal obstruction of breathing. Reese is accused of grabbing another person and applying pressure around the person's neck during a fight on Sumner Street on Jan. 16. He was issued an appearance ticket.

Thomas J. Mitchell, 35, of Batavia, is charged with criminal possession of a controlled substance 7th. Mitchell was allegedly found in possession of cocaine on Nov. 8 while being arrested on an unrelated matter. He was arrested on Jan. 16 on the drug charge and issued an appearance ticket.

Hailee N. Callicutt, 24, of Batavia, was arrested on Jan. 12 on three warrants. Two warrants were related to traffic stops. She was also charged with bail jumping 3rd. She was arraigned and released.

Jacob J. Frayne, 27, of Darien, was arrested on Jan. 17 on a warrant. He allegedly failed to appear on a prior DWI arrest. He was arraigned and released.

Carl Hyde, the town supervisor for the past 12 years in Bethany, has spent a lot of time pouring over the state budget and he's tired of the wasteful spending.

He thinks he can fix it, and that means he needs to beat Gov. Kathy Hochul in the general election on Nov. 3, 2026.

To get there, he needs the support of the state's Republican leadership.  On Tuesday, the Genesee County Republic Party Committee gave Hyde their blessing to approach state leadership in Albany about becoming the state party's standard bearer in 2026.

"I want to make New York better for future generations," Hyde told The Batavian on Thursday morning.

Hyde is 62, an honorably discharged U.S. Navy veteran who has served the Genesee County veterans community for decades, most recently as head of the WNY National Cemetery Honor Guard. He is married with two children and one grandchild. He attended Pavilion Central School, has been a Little League coach, has worked in construction, and is a member of the Bethany Volunteer Fire Department.

He distributed a flyer on social media to test out his campaign themes and was encouraged by the positive response, he said.

Asked about the prospects of a small-town supervisor running for statewide office, he said his would be a grassroots campaign focused on state spending.

"I've been doing governmental accounting for the last 12 years," Hyde said. "I know how to read a budget. I know I can see the problems in the state's budget because somebody thinks they have a free hand to dole out money whenever they want to."

He gave two primary examples of waste in the state's budget.  Since 2019, the Thruway Authority has lost more than $270 million in unpaid fines. The Mass Transit Authority has a $33 billion deficit. He wants to tackle those issues.

On the Thruway issue, he proposes signing reciprocal agreements with other states to collect fines. When people want to renew registrations or drivers licenses, they can't until they pay their tolls and accumulated fines.

He wants to bring back toll booths, which makes it easier to pay tolls because not everybody has an EZPass, even NYS residents.

Traditionally, conservatives object to Thruway tolls as another tax on New Yorkers.  Hyde acknowledges the reality of the massive expense involved in maintaining the Thruway.

"Here's the thing with the Thruway, you've got 560 miles of Thruway road, hundreds and hundreds of buildings, and they all need to be maintained. So when Governor Dewey touted that eventually it would be free, it was a lie," Hyde said.

Without tolls, he said, the cost of the Thruway would mean higher taxes for every New Yorker, which wouldn't be fair, he said.

With the MTA, he said he would order a thorough forensic audit to find what causes the MTA to run at a deficit and then work to correct the issues uncovered by the audit, he said.

Among government waste he's spotted is $7 million spent for increased police officers for 30 days.  That is wasteful, he said, because it doesn't fix any problem. Hiring more cops, he said, would be a better long-term solution.

He thinks he can make a convincing case to party leaders that a small-town supervisor fixated on the budget is the right approach to challenging the Democratic machine in New York.

"My pitch is going to be, I'm going to take the state's budget with me, and I'm going to throw it on the table and I and talk about some of the issues that are in the budget, with all the new, upcoming programs for the 25-26 budget that shows millions of dollars being spent on a personal agenda and that's being paid for by the taxpayers and they don't even know about," Hyde said. "I mean, unfortunately, in my spare time, I read the state's budget."

Another example, there are 12 programs in the state budget, he said, for getting kids out of the house to go swimming that, he said, "people don't even know about."

For any GOP candidate, Democrats, of course, are going to want to talk about more that financial matters. They will bring up Donald Trump (a 56 percent disapproval rating in New York), and cultural war issues.

Hyde said he's prepared.

First, he said, "I'm not Donald Trump. I have no crazy ideas to go out and do a lot of wild stuff. I just want to fix the budget. I want to fix the taxes in New York State. I want to reduce the deficit."

On the cultural war issues, he takes a live-and-let-live stance.  He isn't out to force anybody to believe anything or live according to other people's desires.

"If you're transgender, if you're happy, and you're not harming anybody else, what does it matter?" Hyde said. "I mean, you know, just because somebody's gay doesn't mean somebody's got the right to go out there and take a swing at them. You know, leave them alone. They're Americans, too. They're citizens of the state of New York. Leave them alone. They're working. They're doing what they need to do to survive in 2025, 2026, whatever, it's their business."

He said he doesn't agree with recent campus protests but, again, his stance is to leave people alone.

"If people are Jewish, leave them alone. If you're Palestinian, leave them alone. I don't care," Hyde said. "If you're here as an American to make your life better, don't be causing trouble and, you know, hating people just because they're different than you, because if we all hated everything who is different, there'd be a lot of people who wouldn't be here today."

Those aren't the issues he wants to focus on. He wants to talk money and tell the story of his 12 years as a supervisor in Bethany and what he's learned about sound financial management.

"I'm not independently wealthy, and anybody who knows me knows that, but my background in governmental accounting is as a town supervisor who took a town that was going to run out of money to a town that can get loans at low interest, can pay cash for trucks, dump trucks, plow roads," Hyde said. "I had the experience to fix the state, to turn it around, you know, and to possibly make it into a state where we would finally see a reduction in taxes."

Byron-Bergen beat Holley 39-27 in Girls Basketball on Tuesday.

Scoring for the Bees:

• Janessa Amesbury, 21 points
• Riley Shallenberger, 8 points

Holley

• Zoey Wolfe, 11 points
• Alivia Wolfe, 10 points

"Janessa Amesbury scored all of her 21 points in the second half, and Riley Shallenberger scored 8 points in the second half, allowing us to overcome an 18-7 deficit at the half," said Coach  Rick Krzewinski. "We turned it around, out-scoring Holley 32-9 in the second half. With the win, we move to 14-2 and go to Alexander Thursday.

Photos by Jennifer DiQuattro

The damage was too extensive from an industrial fire at 20 Howard St., Batavia, on Nov. 9 for investigators to determine the cause of the blaze.

The massive fire destroyed a 4,160-square-foot structure, built in 1941, where Baskin Livestock processed dry dog food into feed for hogs.

The fire investigation team of Captain Jamie Call, Captain Michael Morris, and Firefighter Christina Marinaccio determined the fire started in the southwest corner of the structure.

City Fire was dispatched to the call at 7:47 a.m. after dispatchers received reports of a large quantity of black smoke coming from the building.

When Captain Mike Morris opened truck bay doors when he arrived on scene, he confirmed a large fire and requested a second alarm.

Because it was a heavily involved fire already, Morris, the incident commander, determined the priority for firefighters was protecting other buildings nearby. 

He requested a third alarm.

A short time later, Chief Josh Graham arrived on scene and assumed command.

Fire crews worked the fire for over 12 hours, with a single crew remaining on scene until 10 p.m.

"Due to the difficulty with access and size of the structure, crews were working on and off for the next four days," Graham said. "This also included the use of an East Pembroke Fire Department utility vehicle, which aided us in getting to hard-to-reach spots."

Graham indicated that investigators put a lot of effort into trying to determine the cause of the fire.

“I applaud the fire investigation team for their tireless work as well as all of the crews that responded to this incident,” Graham said.

Graham reported two minor injuries to city firefighters at the scene. They were evaluated by Mercy EMS medics and continued working the fire after being checked out.

The City of Batavia Fire Department was assisted by the City of Batavia Police Department, Genesee County Emergency Dispatch Center, the Town of Batavia Fire Department, the Leroy Fire Department, Stafford Fire Department, East Pembroke Fire Department, Mercy EMS, Genesee County Office of Emergency Management, City of Batavia DPW, City Manager, Assistant City Manager, City of Batavia Codes Department, NYS DEC, National Grid, and National Fuel.

Jason Ostrowski is definitely excited about his upcoming concert at Batavia Downs.

Why? He loves playing rock and roll. He loves Elton John and Billy Joel. With a background in musical theater, he loves performing. He loves meeting people. And, he won't be far from his hometown, Rochester.

More than once during an interview with The Batavian about his Feb. 27 show (doors at 6:30 p.m., show at 7 p.m.), Ostrowski said about performing, "I love it. I absolutely love it.

Ostrowski isn't sure where this love for music and performance came from but it started young.

"Nobody in my family is in entertainment at all," Ostrowski said. "(Starting in) kindergarten, I was bothering my parents for lessons, and then I took classical for about six years. I hated taking it. I loved my teacher, but I hated classical piano. And then I learned rock and roll."

In high school, at Greece Athena, he discovered musical theater.  He was inspired to get his degree from SUNY Fredonia in musical theater and he chased a career as an actor.

His resume includes roles on Broadway, cast on national tours for major Broadway productions, and regional musical theater.  His TV roles include co-starring roles on FBI: Most Wanted, Bull, The Detour, WeCrashed, and A Crime to Remember.

"I've been very lucky working for as long as I have in the entertainment industry and being able to support myself," Ostrowski said. "And the piano playing has always been there for me."

Ostrowski's path toward doing concerts featuring the music of the likes of Elton John and Billy Joel began when he was on Broadway in a show where cast members played their own instruments; then, on his own, he started playing more rock and roll on piano.

"I always thought, 'Oh, that would be fun to do for people. But I guess I was a little too shy or something," Ostrowski said. "In 2014, I learned how to do dueling pianos in Orlando, Florida. From there, I was just hooked on performing behind the piano."

Ostrowski was more of a Billy Joel fan (he's even met him a couple of times) but people always told him he looked like Elton John, so he explored his music and found it compelling, so he developed a live act around John's music. He said it's not exactly a tribute show.

"I started putting on my Nana's costume jewelry and some sparkly clothes and doing an Elton John show," Ostrowski said. "It's not an impersonator show because you already know it's not him. I look enough like the guy. I'm not going to try to pretend to be him but to capture the essence of his music and performance. What I do live hopefully translates, and that gives people an experience that, if they haven't seen him, can come close to what it would be like to hear that music live by him. And I love doing it. I love it."

The Feb. 27 show will feature both the music of John and his idol, Joel.

He said Joel is his biggest influence as a singer, piano player, and writer.  Ostrowski has singles and EPs of his original music on streaming platforms and is anticipating releasing an album later in 2025.

"I've always written. I've always been, I guess, I've always been a little timid about it, like, uh, nobody's gonna like this or whatever," Ostrowski said. "But now, as I reach 50, I'm like, 'Well, who cares?' So I actually started work on an album in December, and in March, I'm going back to recording in New York City with this producer who was Bruce Hornsby's guitar player for 16 years, and he's worked with Dave Matthews and Ben Folds. He really likes my writing, so we started work on just a little album, four or five songs, but it's exciting, and it's gotten me excited about my own music again."

Ostrowski isn't surprised the music of legendary rockers like John and Joel remains popular, not just with the generation that grew up with John's songs on AM radio.

"I'm on ships quite a bit, and generally, the crowds are people who grew up with Elton John, but every now and then, I get young people and young teenagers out in the audience, and they're singing along to every single song," Ostrowski said. "There's some kind of magic in performing some of this music that's 56 years old now, much older than some of these people listening to it, and they know every single lyric. It really is a rush to just play this rock and roll music."

John, he said, is particularly thrilling.

"He's such a theatrical performer in how he dresses and presents himself," Ostrowski said. "So to be able to do that and sit behind the piano and play this amazing music with incredible bands is all I need. I love it. Absolutely love it."

Tickets are available through Eventbrite, starting at $13.37.

What do three lifelong friends who enjoy cutting hair do when the opportunity arises -- they open a barbershop together, of course.

The Local Barbershop is located at 466 Ellicott St., Batavia. It was previously Canzoneri's Barbershop. The former owner Joe Canzoneri left to pursue a business opportunity in Buffalo.

The new owners are Alton Rupp, Tommy Slenker, and Damian Hargrave.

"We all went to Alexander High School, so we wanted to collectively own something one day," Rupp said. "It's just a matter of when the opportunity came up, we jumped on it, and it's been a good time, man. It's been a lot of fun."

All three emphasized that they like the idea of community, that they're doing something for the community, and they're offering a community.  Their open casual floor plan with couches and chairs in the middle and a beer cooler on one wall is inviting.

"We want to bring back that home-like atmosphere," Rupp said. "Come in, hang out, have some fun. More than anything— and I'm not saying the other ones don't have that— I think what we have going here in the middle, a centralized location, is that clients come in, hang out, and chat with each other. We've had a lot of clients intermingle already, so it's been awesome."

Slenker also thinks the location is conducive to getting attention and building community.

"The space itself -- we got plenty of eyes on us, with (Route) 63 being right here in the outskirts of Batavia, so we're not right in the thick of things, but we like having plenty of parking, and the building's definitely identifiable," Slenker said.

Hargrave said that comes with being one of the owners, where the business can reflect who they are.  Otherwise, it's business as usual.

"Honestly, it feels like same old, same old, you know, you're kind of just cutting hair," Hargrave said. "It's been nice to get a lot of love and feedback from the community. What I like most is just being able to make it what we want, just making it how it is, and controlling the dynamic, you know, whether the TV's on, the music's going, everything that people see, just making it a better experience and being in control of that compared to when you're just a barber in another shop, you might not have a say in that kind of stuff."

The Local Barbershop can be reached at 585-483-3060.

There were plenty of jokes at Scott German's retirement party at Batavia Downs on Saturday night along with kudos for a job well done during his 21 years as county treasurer.

German retired four months shy of being Genesee County's longest serving treasurer, the culmination of 31 years total working in the treasurer's office.

But the goodbye was also a hello because German has taken the part-time job of Republican Election Commissioner at the Board of Elections.

"I'm happy that he's staying with county government," said County Manager Matt Landers, who started working for the county 21 years ago as German's deputy treasurer. "He's gonna help us out on the election side. So it's interesting. It's a retirement bash and going away, and I'll give him a big hug at the end of the night and say, 'I'll see you on Monday.'"

Kevin Andrews, the new county treasurer, got in a few zingers while roasting his former boss.

German only faced an election opponent once over his five terms, in the first year, he stood for election (after being appointed mid-term by then Gov. George Pataki).  That doesn't mean, however, that there weren't write-in votes.

"I honestly can't remember which year this happened, but Scott shared with me that one year when he ran for office, one of the write-in votes against him for county treasurer was an old sock," Andrews said.

So, Andrews wrapped up one of his old socks and gave it to him as a present. Just so he would have a moment of that write-in vote (top photo).

Andrews also praised his mentor.

"Sincerely, though, you've always been supportive of me, especially when I have been overly self-critical," Andrews said. "I appreciate the many conversations that we've had over the years where you've offered advice or encouragement when I've needed it personally; Scott, I want to say that it has been a pleasure and honor working with you."

Legislature Chairwoman Shelley Stein praised German for the millions of taxpayer dollars his diligent work has saved the county and the millions he earned for the county through wise investments.

"You've been passionate and you have been aggressive in your approach to county government," Stein said.

Garrett Macdonald, a consultant with Three+1 based in Rochester (Macdonald is also a Genesee County resident and a second cousin of German's, though they never met until they started working together), helped provide German with the strategy to invest the county's cash reserves.

"There's very few treasurers where you walk into their office, and they look at you dead in the eyes, and they say, 'I want to do everything I possibly can to earn and save and help my taxpayers,' and that has been a stamp on Scott's legacy for Genesee County, doing whatever he possibly can to take care of his constituents and taxpayers," Macdonald said.

When German closed out the evening, he put some hard numbers on those accomplishments. He said the county, by investing reserves, has earned $21 million for the general fund and more than $28 million overall.

"In 2004, the county's fund balance was $5.4 million, and at the end of 2023 the fund balance is $22.2 million," German said. "The total fund equity in 2004 was $11.8 million, but at the end of 2023, fund equity was over $84 million. Personally, I am very proud of those numbers, and I have turned over to Kevin accounting that is in a very strong financial state. So Kevin, don't screw it up."

Hawley took note of all the praise for German's handling of the county's finances and mused that it would be nice if state government could do as well.

"We've heard about the fact that you saved taxpayers millions and millions of dollars," Hawley said. "You've also earned the county millions and millions of dollars. And we wish that some of your philosophy of governing and finances would translate to the state of New York, I'll give Kathy Hochul your best and tell her to read your upcoming book on how to make money and not have to spend money just because it's there."

Elba beat Wheatland-Chili on Thursday in Girls Basketball on Senior Night at Elba.

Elba scored 66 points to 20 points for Wheatland.

Scoring:

• Sydney Reilly, 16 points
• Brea Smith, 14
• Mariah Ognibene, 10
• Lydia Ross, 9

Photos by Debra Reilly

Hey, golfers, snow and cold got you down? Tyler Crawford is ready and waiting to help you drive away those winter blues.

At the beginning of 2025, he opened The Sim, a shop in Batavia's City Centre where golfers can keep their game sharp even on the coldest of days.

He's providing a golf simulator for foursomes or practice rounds throughout the winter months and after dark in the summer.

"It's playing golf indoors," Crawford said. "You're hitting everything from a driver to a putter. Alot of these indoor facilities, you don't putt or you chip instead of using your putter. I think that's something that's nice and unique. Here, you use your putter. The main reason I wanted to do it was just to play golf indoors in the winter. I got into golf pretty heavily these last few years, maybe a league or two, and I can't afford to travel to play golf all winter long. Really, who can? So I figured I'm not the only one. It's been going good."

The Sim is open by appointment, Crawford said. You can call or text him at 585-356-9358 to book a tee time. He will take tee times as early as 6 a.m. and he's had golfers playing a round as late as 11 p.m., he said.

He said he expects to be open during the summer, either for the golfers who didn't get in enough holes during daylight or for parties and company events.

Currently, he sells memberships. A membership isn't required but membership does have its advantage, such as $10 off a round ($50 an hour for non-members, $40 for members). Non-members must book at least 24 hours ahead.

"As a member, you get to leave your bag in our members' bag room," Crawford said. "You don't have to lug the clubs in and out or leave them in the garage or in the car. And we're going to host a little Club Championship at the end of the year."

As for liquor, he's applied for a license for BYOB. For food, Everybody Eats is just a few doors down from Crawford's shop.

Crawford said he thinks the mall, with the renovation and growth plans in progress, and the current mix of property owners, is a good spot for his business.

"There's a lot going on in here, and I think there's more to come that we'll see here in the future," Crawford said. "I think food and drink will be readily available right outside the doors. And I definitely plan on marketing and planning to work with everyone who's in here serving food."

At Wednesday's basketball game between Notre Dame and Oakfield-Alabama at O-A, a song with crude language was apparently played during a break in the action.  

Videos provided to The Batavian indicate some sort of confrontation between a couple of adults who attended the game and O-A Superintendent John Fisgus.  One video is blurry with no discernable audio, and the other is very short with no significant statements, so it's hard to say what happened.

A person who complained to The Batavian about the incident said the song contained racial slurs.

Fisgus issued the following letter to members of both school communities and in response to a request from The Batavian for a comment on the incident, provided it to The Batavian.

Dear Notre Dame High School and Oakfield-Alabama School Communities,

On behalf of the Oakfield-Alabama School District, I sincerely apologize for an event that occurred during the Varsity Men's Basketball game on Wednesday, February 5, 2025, in our
gymnasium. After the game concluded, I was approached by some concerned parents who brought to my attention the inappropriate lyrics of a song played during the contest.

Upon further investigating this situation, I confirmed that the song contained very inappropriate lyrics and language and should never have been played. Please know that this song's selection was unintentional, and I am utterly embarrassed that this occurred.

Again, my sincerest apologies to all the attendees and fans who showed up to root for their children and respective teams that evening. Our school and its environment is a place where everyone should feel respected, valued, and safe. Please know that we will have extra measures in place to prevent this situation from occurring again.

My sincerest apologies to anyone affected or hurt by these actions. We look forward to having the Notre Dame School Community at future events on our campus.

Opening Friday at the Main St. 56 Theater in Batavia is the Batavia Players' production of Agatha Christie's "The Mousetrap."

A murder mystery, it is Christie's most popular play and is directed by Sophie Houseman.

Set in a cozy guesthouse nestled in the snowy English countryside, run by a husband and wife new to the hospitality business, a group of strangers become trapped by a snowstorm. When a police detective arrives with chilling news—a killer is among them—secrets begin to unravel, and tensions rise.
Everyone is a suspect in this classic whodunit, filled with Christie’s signature twists and turns. 

Show times are Friday and Saturday at 7:30 p.m. and Sunday at 2 p.m.

Tickets are $24 for adults at the door and $22 for students and seniors. Tickets are $2 cheaper if purchased online.

Photos by Howard Owens.

A 10-year-old who was rescued from a house fire at 3 Vine St., Batavia, early Thursday morning, has died, according to the Batavia Police Department.

The name of the child has not been released.

The child's two siblings, ages 4 and 12, are in critical condition at Strong Memorial Hospital.

The fire remains under investigation by Batavia PD and the Batavia Fire Department.

The fire was reported at about 12:30 a.m. when a downstairs neighbor heard the smoke alarms going off.  The neighbor, Dennis Say, said he called emergency dispatch and while the children were yelling that they were trapped, he tried to break down a locked door but was unsuccessful.

An initial fire crew was on scene and minutes and quickly extricated two children and a third child was located and carried from the house a short time later.  All three were quickly transported by Mercy EMS to UMMC before being transferred to Strong.

Anyone with information related to the incident is asked to contact Batavia PD at 585-345-6444.

Rep. Claudia Tenney announced late Wednesday that members of staff were the targets of violent threats.

The Batavian asked a spokeswoman for Tenney for copies of police reports or other documents substantiating the claims. She said Tenney's office would make no further statement about the matter.

The public information officer for Capitol Police also declined to confirm the alleged threats.

Here is Tenney's statement;

“Unfortunately, our team had to contact law enforcement today on three separate occasions due to threats of violence and intimidation against our staff members. I am appalled by these threats and am calling on everyone to express their First Amendment Rights in a peaceful and compassionate way. Our team of expert caseworkers are dedicated to serving all of the constituents in NY-24 with compassion and professionalism. I can confidently say that our team is among the very best in Congress. I am grateful to the Capitol Police and local law enforcement for their swift response and commitment to the safety and security of everyone who is seeking help in our offices as well the safety and security of our staff. If you have a comment our concern you would like to share with our office, please visit tenney.house.gov to speak to a member of our team.”

Data centers are big, noisy, use too much energy, and pose a risk to watersheds, more than two dozen speakers told the staff of the Genesee County Economic Development Center at three public hearings on Monday in the town of Alabama.

The hearing was held at the rec hall of the Alabama Volunteer Fire Department and was attended by more than 50 people. Some brought signs or wore T-shirts expressing their opposition to locating a data center at WNY STAMP.

They came from Syracuse, Buffalo, Rochester, Niagara County, Orleans County, and Genesee County, including the Tonawanda Seneca Indian Reservation.

The proposed projects are massive -- all more than 750,000 square feet, or more than 13 football fields -- and will range in cost from $2.2 billion to $6.32 billion. They would each create from 100 to 200 jobs.

The three projects are STREAM U.S. Data Centers, LLC, Project Rampart, LLC, Potentia Holdings, LLC.

Exactly what kind of data the proposed centers would store and retrieve is unclear, but data centers typically provide services for artificial intelligence, cryptocurrency data mining, data analytics and storage, IT and telecommunications, and co-location services for major corporations.

Stream Realty Partners builds data centers for Fortune 500 companies. PRP Real Estate Investment Management backs Project Rampart, and its clients include Meta (Facebook), Microsoft, and Amazon.  Potentia Capital is an Australian private equity firm specializing in technology, software, and tech-enabled services.

These sorts of projects are usually backed by a consortium of private equity investors, often global in nature. 

CORRECTION from prior version of the story: Neither Steam nor Project Rampart are seeking property tax exemptions, just sales tax and mortgage tax exemptions.  The Stream project would generate $10.9 million in annual revenue for local municipalities and school districts, and Project Rampart, $10.3 million annually. Potentia is seeking $42.7 million in property tax exemptions over 20 years, resulting in an average of $7.1 million in annual PILOT fees.

Many speakers questioned whether data centers fit into the promised profile of WNY STAMP, which was sold to the community as a high-tech manufacturing hub, much like the Edwards Vacuum plant currently under construction.

Edwards is promising 600 jobs in a 240,000-square-foot facility, or one job per 400 square feet. Stream is projecting one job (at a salary of $89,000 annually) per 7,800 square feet, Rampart, one job ($64,000 annually per 7,142 square feet, and Potentia, one job ($129,000 annually) per 4,460 square feet.

There is only enough space available in STAMP for one of these data centers, so the GCEDC board will need to decide whether to reject all of them or pick only one of them for approval.

Data centers have been controversial in other communities, and several speakers brought up issues with the Digihost Fortistar Niagara County facility. It is a 60 MW cryptocurrency mining operation located off Erie Avenue in North Tonawanda. Residents there have protested against noise pollution, leading the city to ban the facility from expanding for two years. 

Other complaints about the facility have included excessive greenhouse gas emissions, 

There have also been complaints about noise from data centers in Loudoun County, Virginia, Granbury, Texas, and Fairfax County, Virginia.

Health concerns from data centers include stress and anxiety, hearing loss, disrupted sleep, and even cardiovascular risk.

The controversy in Niagara County about data centers may have contributed to chasing away Kevin O’Leary, of Shark Tank fame, when he sought to build a data center in the region. He claimed the project was fully funded and would have created thousands of jobs. He said he ran into significant roadblocks raised by local politicians and state policies. 

He reportedly said on CNN, "It got so bad with the politicians in the local region and the state policy, we moved it to Norway, and all the jobs. Norway has it now. Thousands of jobs coming out of that! That’s New York. Uninvestable.”

While many speakers on Monday focused on these issues, the only matter before the GCEDC board, when the projects come up for a vote, is economic -- will a data center create jobs and help grow tax revenue in Genesee County? NOTE: The environmental issues will come before the board during the SEQRA, if GCEDC is lead agency.

If approved by the board, the winning project must jump through a series of regulatory hoops, including:

• State Environmental Quality Review Act (SEQRA) compliance, which assesses potential impacts on air quality, water resources, wildlife, and other environmental factors.  GCEDC has applied for lead agency status for the SEQRA review.
• Air and Water Quality Permits, which cover air emissions and water usage.  It would be up to the Department of Environmental Conservation to provide the permits.
• The project must comply with the Climate Leadership and Community Protection Act (CLCPA), which focuses on greenhouse gas emissions. There would also be a requirement for energy consumption disclosure.
• The town of Alabama's local zoning boards and the Genesee County Planning Board would review the projects. The project would need to comply with existing noise ordinances, for example, as well as other land-use regulations. As part of the public hearing process at the local level, the developer would need to address community concerns about noise, emissions, and resource usage.

Highlights of speakers' remarks (not all speakers included):

Madeline Nyblade, an assistant professor at SUNY ESF with a Ph.D. in Earth and Environmental Sciences, specializing in hydrology.
Nyblade expressed concern about the hydrology of the region, which includes wetlands and clay-rich soils that create perched water tables. The area is upstream from critical ecosystems such as the Tonawanda Seneca Nation lands, the Tonawanda Wildlife Management Area, and the Iroquois National Wildlife Refuge, making it susceptible to downstream impacts.

“This land is wetland, part of this larger wetland complex, yet none of the proposals take into account the wetlands that will be destroyed,” she said.

Margaret Wooster, reading a letter from Allies of the Tonawanda Seneca Nation, Western New York Environmental Alliance, and 57 other environmental, faith-based, human rights, and good governance groups.
The letter states that the project contradicts New York State’s and international commitments to environmental sustainability, social responsibility, and long-term stewardship and expresses concerns about the destruction of wetlands. The data centers will consume 200 megawatts of electricity annually, straining regional energy systems, she said. The centers would also use 800,000 gallons of fresh water daily. She also raised concerns about air pollution. 

“Industrial runoff, hydrological disruptions, and heated water discharge from a data center would devastate these fragile ecosystems,” she said.

Joseph O’Malley (reading a statement by John Whitney)
The letter noted the area is a 20,000-acre network of wetlands and wildlife refuges critical to biodiversity and carbon sequestration. 

“The GCEDC STAMP site is situated in an area with deep cultural and ecological significance," the letter stated. "It is central to Western New York’s heritage, including that of the Haudenosaunee people and the Tonawanda Seneca Nation.”

It also called into question the "excessive" financial incentives given the limited number of jobs expected. 

“Public funds should not be used to incentivize these uncertain benefits, not without first conducting an independent economic analysis of the costs and benefits,” he said.

The long-term costs could outweigh any short-term financial gains, he said, especially if rapid technology advancements render the facilities obsolete in a few years. 

Dr. Kirk Scirto, a family physician who treats patients from Tonawanda Seneca Nation and is a public health specialist
He said the data centers would emit at least 500 tons of carbon dioxide annually and burn 60,000 gallons of diesel fuel per year, leading to air pollution that disproportionately affects the nearby Tonawanda Seneca Nation.  The noise, he said, would be 50–90 decibels, "akin to jet engine noise." The projects he said are a threat to The Big Woods, a key hunting ground for residents of the reservation. Water usage, he said, would deplete resources for the surrounding counties. The superheated discharge water, which could also contain toxins, could harm downstream fisheries. If the centers are used for AI, AI could lead to significant job loss throughout the United States.

"In medicine, we study how parasites suck up the nutrients or resources while harming them," Scirto said. "Well, that's exactly what these data centers are -- parasitic centers that would suck up an immense amount of the drinking water of Niagara, Orleans, Erie and Genesee county residents. They would also steal a huge amount of their energy in exchange for a barrage of contamination. What's more, hardly any jobs would be offered to local residents."

Diane Sirczyk, representing the Atlantic Chapter of the Sierra Club
"Data centers around the country are notoriously dirty and noisy consumers of vast amounts of electricity, which are straining electric grids, emitting large volumes of greenhouse gas pollution and undermining our country's ability to transition away from fossil fuels," she said.

She noted that Project Potentia, if approved, would require 195 megawatts of electricity per year, which is enough to power about 32,000 homes.

She suggested the data centers would not comply with CLCPA.

Barbara Jonathan
Jonathan said she lives near Big Woods. She expressed concern about the impact on future generations, given the potential for a negative environmental impact. She expressed concerns that the data center will have no accountability and no relationship with the local community once built. 

“Where are these people who operate these data centers? Are they going to really give a damn about you or me?” she said.

Sarah Howard, a resident of Syracuse
Howard opposed the incentives and criticized GCEDC for a "lack of transparency" and "procedural flaws." 

She expressed environmental concerns, concerns about energy consumption, and a lack of a significant number of jobs created by the projects.

“The revised EAF states no water is needed for cooling but includes an 8-acre retention pond holding 10 million gallons. This raises serious questions about transparency," she said.

Howard was the only speaker who steadfastly refused to stop talking at the end of her time limit.

Maggie Cowen (reading a statement from a person named George)
Cowen noted that wastewater from a data center could contaminate Orleans County rivers and creeks, ultimately reaching Lake Ontario and affecting its growing tourism industry, notably fishing.  Cowen noted that a data center in Niagara County generates noise levels from its cooling fans of 85 decibels. Cowen argued that a data center provides no meaningful value to the community. 

Cowen fought back tears near the end and said,  "I've got a little bit more time, so I just like to say, like, this is one of the few natural areas remaining in this region of the state, and it seems ridiculous to throw away."

Evelyn Wackett, Buffalo resident and environmentalist
The STAMP project threatens endangered and threatened species, she said, including the short-eared owl, northern harrier hawk, monarch butterfly, and bog turtles. She said a data center would draw six million gallons of water from the Niagara River daily. 

“Yesterday was World Wetlands Day," she said. "I want to celebrate the wetlands. I don’t want to see them destroyed.”

Kristen Moser, a wildlife photographer from Syracuse
Moser said these projects do not belong near the Tonawanda Seneca Nation or the surrounding wildlife refuges, including the John White Wildlife Management Area, Iroquois National Wildlife Refuge, Tonawanda Wildlife Management Area, and Oak Orchard Wildlife Management Area.

“The Big Woods is home to over 100 species of birds, many of which are dependent on undisturbed areas to reproduce,” she said.

She played a recording of birds singing in the woodlands and then a recording from the same spot when a supply truck for one of the STAMP projects passed by. The birds were silent and only the truck could be heard.

"That's what you'll be hearing if these three data centers go in," she said. "If any of this continued destruction continues, the data center would be one of the closest complexes to this exceptional forest. The sound of the trucks will be multiplied by the constant industrial sounds of the center. Noise pollution will not only impact and displace wildlife in the Big Woods, it will forever destroy the peace and serenity of this sacred land for the people of Tonawanda."

Katie Rivers, Alabama
Rivers said she has lived near the project site for 30 years. She said development has already disrupted local wildlife, particularly deer, which have been displaced from their natural habitats. She suggested economic developers and planners prioritize corporate interests over community welfare.

“It seems like you’ve all been bamboozled," Rivers said. "I can’t even imagine that you think this could be beneficial to anybody in the town.”

Angela Carlson, from Oakfield, now living in Batavia
She claimed that a cost-benefit analysis has not been produced, violating General Municipal Law 859-a. She highligned the environmental risks of the project and its potential adverse impact on threatened species such as the northern harrier and short-eared owl. 

She called on GCEDC to produce a cost-benefit analysis, disclose the names of the owners and operators of the projects, conduct a comprehensive noise study, and provide more opportunities for public participation. 

“One cannot claim to care about the environment while continuing to disregard and disrespect the rights of Indigenous peoples,” Carlson said.

A house fire at 82 Main St., Corfu, was reported shortly after 9 a.m. on Monday.

When the Corfu Fire chief arrived on scene reported a full-involved structure fire on the first floor of the house. He immediately called for a second alarm, which included the city's FAST Team, Town of Batavia Fire, and Pembroke Fire.  Elba Fire and Darien Fire also dispatched.

The resident and her pet were not at home at the time, according to Tim Yaeger, emergency management coordinator. He said the resident was on her way to the airport when she learned of the fire. She returned to the scene.

The cause of the fire is unknown at this time and will be investigated, Yaeger said..

The 2,128-square-foot residence was built in 1900 and remodeled in 1940, according to county tax records. Its assessed value is $186,890. The listed owner is June Myers.

Photos by Howard Owens.