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There are six Dollar General stores in Genesee County, a seventh under development in Darien, and now an eighth planned for the Town of Byron.

The proposed location is at the northwest corner of McElver Street and Townline Road, just east of Byron-Holley Road in the hamlet of Byron.

Dollar General's purchase of the three parcels -- owned by the Byron Fire Department, Suzanne Fuller, and Suzies Byron Enterprises Inc. -- is contingent on town planners approving two variances necessary for the construction of the store.

The combined property would be less than an acre.

Griffiths Engineering of Binghamton is the project applicant on behalf of Dollar General.

The Genesee County Planning Board recommended approval of the application with the following modification: The developer receives a driveway permit from the Genesee County Highway Department.

The parcel would also be subject to address verification by the county's 9-1-1 system.

The ladies of St. James Episcopal Church have been busy baking cookies to sell on Friday to benefit Ukraine. The sale at the church runs from 10 a.m. to 6 p.m. -- or until the cookies are all gone.

Submitted photo and information.

Andrew J. Draper is indicted on a count of falsifying business records in the first degree, a Class E felony. Draper is accused of signing a fraudulent bill of sale on June 22 at Pawn Kings on Veterans Memorial Drive in Batavia. He is also indicted on counts of criminal contempt in the first degree, a Class E felony, and harassment in the second degree, a violation.  Draper is accused of violating an order of protection and taking physical action against another person on June 17 at a location on Miller Avenue, Batavia.

Andrew A. Searight and Jerrotonia A. Scarbrough are indicted on two counts of aggravated cruelty to animals under Section 353-a(1) of the Agriculture and Markets Law, a felony.  Both are accused of intentionally killing and causing physical injury to two dogs on May 10.

Dustin M. Locicero is indicted on counts of falsifying business records in the first degree, a Class E felony, burglary in the third degree, a Class D felony, and petit larceny, a Class A misdemeanor. Locicero is accused of signing a fraudulent bill of sale at Pawn Kings on Veterans Memorial Drive, Batavia, on April 26.  He is accused of breaking into a garage on Broadway Road, Darien, on June 5 and stealing a power nailer, an orbital sander, and a battery charger.

Aaron T. Hendershot is indicted on two counts of criminal mischief in the second degree, a Class D felony, and one count of obstructing governmental administration. Hendershot is accused of damaging a City of Batavia patrol vehicle on Sept. 11 and of damaging the tires of a vehicle belonging to a local resident on Sept. 10. He is also accused of intentionally obstructing a public servant from performing an official function on Sept. 11.

Ajie J. Smith-Ezell is indicted on a count of assault in the second degree, a Class D violent felony. Smith-Ezell is accused of intending to cause serious injury to another person and causing serious injury to that person on March 12 in the City of Batavia.

Marcella F. Greene is indicted on a count of driving while impaired by drugs, a Class E felony, of reckless driving, a misdemeanor, and criminal possession of a controlled substance in the seventh degree. Greene is accused of being impaired by drugs while operating a 2003 Dodge on East Main Street and North Spruce Street, City of Batavia, on April 22.

John Saddler, Jr. is indicted on counts of aggravated family offense, a Class E felony, and criminal contempt in the second degree, a Class A misdemeanor. Saddler is accused of violating a court order at 2:33 p.m. on July 10 in the City of Batavia.

Todd A. Kendall is indicted on a count of failure to verify as a sex offender, a Class E felony. Kendall, a registered Level 2 sex offender, is accused of providing a current photograph of himself to authorities in a manner and within a time period required by law.

John C. Hoogasian is indicted on a count of grand larceny in the third degree, a Class D felony. Hoogasian is accused of stealing a 2018 Chevrolet Silverado pickup truck from a location on Oak Orchard Road, Elba, on Sept. 29, 2021. He is also indicted on a count of bail jumping in the second degree, a Class E felony. He is accused of failing to appear in Town of Oakfield Court as ordered as part of a criminal proceeding.

Arthur J. Brown is indicted on a count of failure to register a change of address as a sex offender, a Class E felony. Brown is accused of failure to register a change of address within the required 10 days as a registered sex offender.

Ledeja K. Wright is indicted on counts of burglary in the second degree, a Class C felony, criminal mischief in the third degree, a Class E felony, and criminal tampering in the third degree, a Class B misdemeanor. Wright is accused of entering a residence on Holland Avenue, Batavia, on June 15 with the intent to commit a crime inside the residence. Wright is accused of damaging a television and stereo inside the residence. Wright is also accused of damaging property of another person with the intent to cause substantial inconvenience to another person.

Jeffrey D. Hall is indicted on a count of sexual abuse in the first degree, a Class D violent felony. Hall is accused of subjecting another person to sexual contact by forcible compulsion on May 24 at a location in the City of Batavia.

Joseph D. Krug is indicted on a count of grand larceny in the fourth degree, a Class E felony. Krug is accused of stealing property with a value exceeding $1,000 from a location in the Town of Batavia on Feb. 16.

Jamie M. Cyr is indicted on a count of promoting prison contraband in the first degree, a Class D felony. Cyr is accused of possession of suboxone while confined to the Genesee County Jail on April 16.

Hockey players in Batavia have a new learning tool, one that Marc Staley, head coach of Batavia United, said will help younger players improve their technique and help the high school team get more proficient in its play.

Batavia Rotary Club gave a gift of a computer and large-screen monitor for players and coaches to review practices and games at the David M. McCarthy Memorial Ice Arena.

"It's an amazing gift by Rotary," Staley said. "It's obviously a pretty expensive piece of equipment, but it puts our local organization and certainly our high school program on par with anyone now in terms of having technology and ability to help these kids develop."

Staley said he's hoping youth coaches will use it to help members of their squads improve how they skate as hockey players.

"It's more technical -- how does your stride look? How's your head position, your knee, bend of your stick?" Staley said. "I mean, all those things when they can see themselves, it's a really impactful teaching tool than just telling a kid, you got to bend your knees, they don't get it, right? So this is something that right after practice, coaches can come off the ice and say, This is what I was talking about. So that's awesome."

For the high school team, which is used to reviewing a lot of film anyway, they now have a location right at their practice site to do it so the review is better synchronized with the practice.

"In particular, where we might run the power play for a couple of minutes then bring them right off, let them watch immediately what they did," Staley said. "Here's where you could have more poise. Here's the back door that's open. Here's where we need more movement. And then they get back on the ice and it can happen in some training. It just speeds up that learning curve for kids instead of waiting two days later when we can get the guy to the high school and they go, 'oh yeah, I remember that.'"

Photo: Marc Staley, head coach of Batavia United, Marlin Salmon, Batavia Rotary Club president, and John Kirkwood, assistant coach. Photo by Howard Owens.

Alexander Middle School/High School presents Little Women: The Musical on Thursday at 7 p.m. and Saturday at 2 and 7 p.m.

All performances will be in the Alexander District Auditorium and admission is free.

There will be concessions sold at intermission.

Students from 7 to 12 will perform, as well as work backstage, on lights and sound and playing with the orchestra.

The director and choreographer is Batavia resident Jacqueline Morrison. Mark Hoerbelt is the vocal music director and Drama Club advisor. Joe Paris is the set designer. Loretta Stratton is the costume designer.

A child sex predator said he was sorry today, but Judge Melissa Lightcap Cianfrini wasn't completely sold on his remorse.

Then when predator Wesley Thigpen refused to sign an order of protection to acknowledge that he had been served with it, that was almost more than the judge's patience could tolerate.

"That just shows me the kind of person you are," Cianfrini said. "Don't sign it. I don't care. I'll send the order to DOCs (the Department of Corrections), and your refusal to sign it is in the transcript. When they see it at a parole hearing, they can see how you acted." 

The 42-year-old Thigpen entered a guilty to predatory sexual assault against a child, a Class A-II felony, on Oct. 24. The plea agreement capped his sentence at 10 years to life.

"I took the plea deal because I wouldn't want to make them (his victims) go through a trial and have them traumatized again," Thigpen said during a lengthy statement that was supposed to be directed to the court but often used personal pronouns as if he was addressing his victims.

He had been previously warned by Cianfrini not to address his victims.

In his statement, Thigpen acknowledged that his victims and members of their family do not believe he is remorseful. He said he is.

"Breaking people's trust in you at such a massive level, of course they do not have faith in anything you say," Thigpen said. "I do have remorse. I am ashamed, and from day one, I've admitted it.  I didn't hide. 

"I understand the pain I caused," he added. "I am ashamed and sorry."

In 2019, while entering a guilty plea on sexual abuse charges, Thigpen called the statements against him attributed to one of his victims "(expletive) lies" after hearing the evidence the people would present against Thigpen if the case went to trial.

Today, Thigpen was less belligerent, saying he hoped his victims would find peace. 

"The shame is not with you," Thigpen said. "I understand it's embarrassing and I sympathize but the shame is not with you. You have done nothing wrong. There is nothing you did that caused this to happen. It's not your fault at all."

He added, "It's not on you. It's on me. The embarrassment and shame that I caused is on me."

It was at this point that one of the victims left the room in tears and members of her family followed.

First District Attorney Joseph Robinson objected to Thigpen's statements, pointing out that he had strayed from addressing the court to addressing the victims directly. 

Thigpen tried to explain that he was just trying to tell the court what he would say to his victims if given the chance.

Two victims spoke in court this morning, as well as their mother. 

"I'm torn to pieces," one of them said. "You made a mess of my life. The trauma affects my regular daily life. I am stuck trying to retain any relationship in my life. I can't keep a steady relationship.  It's affected me, and lately, I don't feel normal. I wish I could live a normal life."

She said she feels shame and she feels cheated.

The other victim to speak said, "it's hard to make friends with other kids and have a normal life at school.  I can't ever live a normal life and I carry this sick, dirty feeling with me.  It's hard for me to have a romantic relationship. I struggle with my body image and self-worth."

She said she's being treated for depression and is in counseling.

But she also said she has come out of the experience a strong and independent woman.

"I will never let another person hurt me the way you did," she said.

Their mother said, "My kids will never be the same because he took their childhood away.  I struggle every day because of the terrible things he did to them."

Robinson said Thigpen deserved a long prison sentence so he would have time to think about what he did.

"He stole from them not just their innocence. They will likely have this memory for the rest of their lives. They will have this memory no matter how many years he's in prison. They will move on with their lives, maybe start families, maybe have loving families, but that memory will always be with them no matter what happens."

Cianfrini had her own lengthy statement when it came time to explain her sentencing decision.

First, she addressed the victims, only she didn't call them victims. She called them survivors.

"That's a very strong thing to be in this world, a survivor," Cianfrini said. 

She said they can move on with their lives.

"You have survived something that is unsettling, but you can rise above it because you are strong. You are altruistic. You are smart. It's all of those things that are going to carry you forward in life and I believe you will have a positive impact on our society."

As for Thigpen, Cianfrini said, "Now you, Mr. Thigpen, you are poison. You are the worst kind of poison."

She added, "Sexual abuse is a poison that goes through society. It goes through whole families."

She reminded him that he had been a victim of sexual abuse and that he should know what it does to people, "and you did it anyway."

She recalled that at his hearing where he entered his guilty plea, he "tried to back peddle." 

She said he likes to write letters and told him to stop trying to write letters to third parties in order to communicate with "the survivors." 

"It's not legal," she said.

She noted that one of the victims left the room while he was making his statement and said that was because he doesn't know how to regulate his speech and understand its impact on other people. 

"You went too far and that's what you do," Cianfrini said. "You always go too far."

After Cianfrini reprimanded Thigpen for his refusal to sign the order of protection, she pronounced sentence.

Ten years to life.

Then Thigpen tried to address the court.  Cianfrini told him, "You've had your opportunity to speak." He tried again. She said, "no." Then she stood up and walked out of the chamber before corrections officers removed Thigpen from the court to return him to prison. Maybe for the rest of his life.

A vehicle has reportedly struck a pedestrian in the area of 9430 Alexander Road, Batavia.

The pedestrian has a possible leg injury and is conscious and alert.

Town of Batavia Fire and Mercy EMS responding.

UPDATE 3:53 p.m.: The patient was struck by a door that came off a motor vehicle that was involved in a motor vehicle accident. He is being transported to UMMC.

One of the two people charged with aggravated cruelty to animals for allegedly abandoning a pair of dogs in an apartment on Bank Street entered a not guilty plea in County Court today.

It was the first appearance in County Court for Andrew A. Searight, 35, following his Grand Jury indictment on the two felony counts under New York's Ag and Market Law, section 353-a(1).

His codefendant, Jerrtonia A. Scarbrough, 24, who was also indicted, is being prosecuted separately.

They are accused of abandoning two Pitbulls in apartment 60 at 337 Bank St., Batavia. The two animals were found malnourished and covered in feces in their cages inside the apartment on May 10, according to witness statements.

The male Pitbull recovered while the female Pitbull had to be euthanized. 

Searight was ordered to return to court at 10 a.m. on Jan. 3, for a preliminary conference in his case, with oral arguments on any motions in the case set for 9:30 a.m. on Jan. 24.

Previously: One of two Pitbulls found abandoned in apartment in good health while mate had to be put down

Ricardo Castillo

Ricardo Castillo, Jr., 39, of Oakfield, is charged with rape 1st and rape 3rd. Castillo was arrested in connection with an alleged crime reported on Oct. 26 in the Town of Sheldon.  He was arrested as the result of a joint investigation by the Wyoming County Sheriff's Office and the Genesee County Sheriff's Office.  Castillo was arraigned in the Town of Warsaw Court and ordered held on $100,000 bail, $200,000 bond, or $400,000 partially secured bond. Previously: Oakfield man accused of multiple counts of rape and criminal sexual act

Jacqueese Wapnieski

Jacqueese X. Wapnieski, 19, of Batavia, is charged with burglary 2nd, criminal mischief 4th, grand larceny 4th, and criminal possession of stolen property 4th. Wapnieski is accused of breaking into a house on Tracy Avenue, Batavia, at 3:04 p.m. Oct. 31. He allegedly caused damage to the house and stole various household items. He was arraigned in City Court and released under supervision. 

Stephen E. Pike, 26, of Pavilion, is charged with strangulation 2nd and criminal mischief 4th. Pike was arrested on Nov. 2 in connection with an incident reported at 2 a.m. Aug. 6 at a location on Liberty Street. He was arraigned in City Court and ordered held without bail.

Eric Peter Doleman, 52, of West Main Street, Batavia, and Curtis Williams, 56, of Pearl Street, Batavia, are charged with promoting prison contraband 2nd and conspiracy 6th. Doleman and Wiliams are accused of conspiring to have Williams smuggle in a $20 bill into the Genesee County Jail and pass it to Doleman during a visitation. Both were issued appearance tickets.

Jason H. Freeman, 41, of Batavia, is charged with failure to appear. Freeman was arrested on a warrant on Nov. 2, arraigned in City Court, and ordered held on $5,000 bail, $10,000 bond, or $20,000 partially secured bond.

Tamera A. Innocent, 25, of Dansville, is charged with harassment 2nd. Innocent is accused of striking a man in the face with a closed fist during an argument at 2 a.m. Oct. 30. Innocent was issued an appearance ticket.

Joanne Jones, 53, of Buffalo, is charged with harassment 2nd. Jones was allegedly involved in a disturbance at a residential facility on East Main Street at 9:51 p.m. Oct. 29. She was released on an appearance ticket.

Nolan Robert Powless, 25, of Pearl Street, Medina, is charged with petit larceny. Powless was arrested on a warrant issued in the Alabama Town Court. He was processed at the Genesee County Jail and released on his own recognizance. 

Tyler M. Thomas, 30, of Batavia, is charged with petit larceny. Thomas was arrested by State Police at 7:51 p.m. Nov. 4 in the Town of Lockport. He was released on an appearance ticket. No further information released.

Michal A. Casterline, 66, of Anderson, Ind., is charged with DWI and driving with a BAC of .08 or greater. Casterline was stopped by State Police at 7:21 p.m. Nov. 2 in the Town of Darien. He was released on an appearance ticket.

Tyshon McCullough

A 27-year-old Rochester man who goes by the nickname "Fatboy" is facing 10 felony charges related to alleged dealing after a six-month investigation by the Local Drug Task Force.

Tyshon McCullough, of Bradburn Street, Rochester, is charged with five counts of criminal sale of a controlled substance in the third degree and five counts of criminal possession of a controlled substance in the third degree.  Both charges are a Class B felony.

McCullough was taken into custody on a warrant stemming from a sealed indictment on Friday while he was at City Court on a separate matter. 

He is accused of selling crack cocaine to an agent of the task force in the City of Batavia on five separate occasions. 

Following arraignment in County Court, McCullough was released on his own recognizance.

The task force was assisted by uniformed deputies and the District Attorney's Office.

There is a big game coming, and the sports boosters in Alexander are ready.

They spent Monday evening decorating the village with banners and gold and green ribbons.

Predictions for the Class D Section V football championship between cross-county rivals Alexander and Oakfield-Alabama/Elba?

"They (Alexander) will be there to play," said Jamie Schultz, in a tone that suggested, "they will bring it."  

Both the Trojans and Aggies are undefeated in 2022 and both dominated all of their opponents. The sectional will be the biggest challenge each team has faced all season.

"I think this is an anticipated game that, again, everyone's been waiting for," said Lisa Lyons. "This is the showdown of the county right now."

The game is at noon Saturday at SUNY Brockport.

Al Kurek (top photo) has a goal: To open a museum honoring veterans, the men and women from the GLOW region who served and sacrificed in the name of freedom.

He and fellow volunteers have already started collecting items to display, and some of those items have been set up for the public to view at 85 Main St., Batavia (the former Next Level Fitness location). 

"You have to know where we were in our history to know where we're going in the country," Kurek said. "You have to have personal knowledge of the sacrifices our veterans made, just to keep peace in the world. keep us safe."

The display features uniforms worn by the men and women from the GLOW region who served.  The donations were solicited through the Veteran's Services Office.  On Friday, about 20 volunteers helped install the display at the vacant gym.  The displays are on display through the windows (there's no entry).

The uniforms will be on display until Nov. 15.

Veterans Day is Friday, Nov. 11.

Photos by Howard Owens

As an elected official and small business owner himself, George Borrello said he's always found it important to maintain a relationship with the small business owners he represents.

He hopes to represent the business owners in Batavia, if he's successful in his campaign to represent Genesee County as part of the 57th State Senate District, so on Saturday, he toured several businesses in Downtown Batavia.

After COVID lockdowns, workforce challenges, a minimum wage increase, the increased cost of doing business in New York, it's more important than ever, Borrello said, for him to talk with his fellow small business owners.

"I just want to make sure I'm in touch with the folks here," said Borrello, a former member of the Legislature in Cattaraugus County and current holder of the 57th District (which won't include Genesee County until next year).  

He applauded the effort of downtown businesses in Batavia to band together and revitalize their community.

He said supporting locally owned businesses is important because small businesses are what drives New York's economy.

"First of all, 50 percent of our economy in New York State is supported by small business," Borello said. "They employ 50 percent of every working person in New York State. But right now, especially if you're talking about the economic driver, of our nation, it is small business. So if we allow the businesses to languish, then it's going to destroy the quality of life in communities like Batavia. It's also going to have a negative impact on our overall economy. So for me, supporting all the small businesses that are the backbone of the economy, is part of the mission of ensuring that New York stays strong."

On Saturday, Borrello visited Valle Jewelers, Eli Fish Brewing Co., Charles Men's Shop, Hunt Realtors, and Adam Miller Toy and Bike.

And there might have been a little Christmas shopping involved.

"I prefer to do what I can to support fellow local businesses," Borrello said. "But also, I found that's a better, more unique way to find gifts that I would have never thought of. So for me, it's also been a great way to, to kind of do some enhanced Christmas shopping and provide the people that I give gifts to with some unique stuff."

Photos by Howard Owens. George Borrello visiting Valle Jewelers and speaking with co-owner Carrie Lawrence.

Photo by Joanne Meiser.

Pavilion, Notre Dame, and Le Roy are all Section champions, having won their respective finals matches in Girls Volleyball.

Pavilion beat Cuba-Rushford three games to one for the Class D2 crown, and Notre Dame beat Charles Finney three games to two to win in Class D3.

The Class D wins sets up a consolidation game between Pavilion and Notre Dame on Tuesday at a location to be determined.

Le Roy beat East Rochester three games to two for the C2 championship. Le Roy will play Midlakes in a Class C consolidation game on Tuesday, location to be determined.

We emailed three questions to the candidates for the 57th State Senate District, George Borrello and Dan Brown.  Unfortunately, Mr. Brown did not respond.  

UPDATE: Dan Brown responded Sunday evening.  While we had sent a reminder to a leader in his party on Thursday, we mistakenly omitted his name from the reminder email.  Since this was our mistake, we've agreed to publish his answers even though they were received after his opponents answers were published.  His answers are at the bottom of this post.

What is the number one issue facing New York, and how will you address it in the Senate?

BORRELLO: The number one issue facing New York State right now are the disastrous criminal justice reforms – namely cashless bail and the parole law titled, Less is More – that took effect in 2020 and have been responsible for soaring crime rates in our cities and communities. Certainly, our largest cities have suffered the most under these laws: Rochester’s per capita murder rate now outpaces Chicago’s; violent crime in New York City is up nearly 40 percent; car thefts in Buffalo are up approximately 200 percent. Even in smaller communities like ours, law enforcement officials report significant increases in shoplifting, drug crimes, car theft, domestic violence and drunken driving. When individuals know that there are no consequences for committing crimes, they have no incentive to curb criminal behavior. Repealing these laws is the most urgent priority. Then, we can bring all stakeholders to the table (which wasn’t done by those who wrote the original cashless bail law) and craft smart reforms that will be fair to defendants while keeping New Yorkers safe.

What do you think you could do as a member of the Senate to bring more new businesses, start-up, homegrown businesses to Genesee County, to foster entrepreneurship in Genesee County?

BORRELLO: As a small business owner myself, I know how difficult New York State makes it for entrepreneurs and potential entrepreneurs to start and grow a business. Our state is routinely ranked as the worst place to do business in New York State. One initiative that would act as a strong incentive for entrepreneurship is a measure that I sponsor called the “First Employee Tax Credit.” This proposal is a payroll tax credit to assist small businesses with the disproportionate rise in costs that result from hiring one employee.

Another key factor in creating a climate where entrepreneurship can thrive is ensuring our rural areas have access to broadband. For far too long, broadband access in our rural communities has been nonexistent or inadequate. That is why I led the fight to get the fiber optic tax levied by the state DOT repealed. This particular tax was killing the potential for broadband projects in rural areas with costs that increased in direct proportion to the length of cable to be installed. In rural areas where miles of cable are often required just to reach a single house, this tax was simply ridiculous. After three years of advocacy and building bipartisan support, I am pleased to report the tax was finally repealed in the latest state budget. This is important progress we will be looking to build on in the coming session.    

What is one policy initiative that the political party of your opponent espouses that you think makes sense, is good policy?

BORRELLO: One area of policy where I am in agreement with my colleagues on the other side of the aisle is on the need to provide more funding and support for those who care for our most vulnerable residents. The Cuomo administration neglected this segment of our human services community for years, resulting in wages for direct care providers that were often less than the starting pay at fast food restaurants. Not surprisingly, this has created a crisis-level workforce shortage among the non-profit providers that care for those with intellectual and developmental disabilities. Providers cannot find or retain staff, programs are closing and individuals are not having their needs met. We made some headway in addressing this crisis in this year’s budget, with a 5.4 percent statutory cost-of-living adjustment as well as some recruitment and retention initiatives, but more still needs to be done. There is strong bi-partisan support on this issue, so you can be sure I will be working with my colleagues on both sides of the aisle to make more progress.

Answers from Dan Brown.

Q1: Taxes. NY state carries some of the highest personal tax rates in the nation. The tax on our income, prepared food, clothing, fuel, property, school, and the tolls to drive on our roads - we are overtaxed, forcing those who can to either live or shop out of state.  The state government needs to attempt to follow the same tax regulations as schools and municipalities. As a fiscally conservative town supervisor of Great Valley for the past 17 years, the town has never exceeded the tax cap and has maintained a healthy contingency reserve. When I look at the 57th District, I see my town in every community. We need to rein in spending locally and especially at the state level and make our state affordable for our seniors, our working force, and our youth.  

Q2: Businesses are struggling to find a workforce. The development of educational agencies around the needs of local businesses is mandatory. I am a huge proponent of trade and technical schools. Apprenticeships to training people and specialized programs affording our young people the knowledge to be able to fill job vacancies here. Regardless of the job site in the 57th District, the technician shows up with a laptop before a wrench. Second, our infrastructure is lagging, power, water, sewer, and roads; every business looks for those fundamentals before the ground is broken on any project. A solid infrastructure shows a commitment to businesses. 

Q3: The Anti-Crime Initiative, municipalities need all the help they can get in mitigating the level of crime occurring in large cities. Bail Reform goes hand in hand and needs to be overhauled as well. The negative impact it has on our communities is felt far and wide, as the chairman of the Cattaraugus County Town Supervisors Association, every one of us is frustrated. Every local, county, and state judge feels that way. It creates an unsafe situation for the police, our friends, and our neighbors. It’s a priority. 

Steve Hawley, a Batavia resident, and Jennifer Keys, a Le Roy resident, are running for the 139th Assembly District.  We emailed three questions to each candidate and are publishing their answers verbatim. 

What is the number one issue facing New York, and how will you address it in the Assembly?

HAWLEY: The number one issue in NYS continues to be the majority party and Governor’s out-of-control spending penchant.  This year’s state budget is a whopping $220.5 BILLION foisted on our taxpayers during one of the worst inflationary times ever. Property taxes, income taxes, gasoline, grocery & heating expenses for our homes and apartments are literally bankrupting my constituents. Just like any business or family, the government needs to “live within its means.”  Additionally, we need to reestablish a criminal justice system that makes our neighborhoods & streets safe again.

KEYS: I believe that the ability to access needed services that are put into place to help lift people up is the number one issue. The barriers are often insurmountable and increased by too many costly layers of government. I will work to identify and implement ways to streamline services for everyone who needs them and also to eliminate unnecessary layers of government. As someone who has worked as a community mental health worker for two or more decades, I have experienced the barriers to accessing behavioral health services, development services, social services, and medical help. The pandemic exposed that folks were not getting paid enough to do the work they were doing and has since increased the shortage of providers across the board. We have a significant shortage of providers in this state for some of our most needy citizens from birth to death, Early Intervention to Office of the Aging. There are waitlists to have basic needs met, such as housing, primary care and dental care. All of this needs to be addressed, including the barriers to hiring more staff. When people cannot get their basic needs met, their stress level increases and they can get stuck in fight, flight, or freeze mode, which can prevent them from getting a job, which then continues the cycle of unstable housing, which then continues everything else. When people live at a lower-than-subsistence level the stress of everyday life becomes their primary focus and that is not healthy for them, their families, or for our society. All of this needs to be addressed in order to increase the functioning of our society.  

What could you do as a member of the Assembly to bring more new businesses, start-ups, homegrown businesses to Genesee County, to foster entrepreneurship in Genesee County?

HAWLEY: Our Free Enterprise system has taken serious hits over the last several years.  Working long hours, taking risks and believing in one’s self needs to be re-established as a laudable attribute.  We need to foster, as elected officials, a philosophy that encourages individuals, existing businesses already located in NYS and others who may be looking to locate here a welcoming and encouraging atmosphere by changing the reality that NYS is the 49th worst state to do business in and the highest taxed state in the nation.  How do we do this…..by being responsible…..lowering taxes and fees, fewer adverse mandates and reducing the amount of red tape our state foists on individuals and businesses.  We need to encourage, not discourage, success!

KEYS: I do not have a business background, as is well known, but I do recognize that business, particularly small business, is the backbone of our communities. I want to hear from experts in the field, the entrepreneurs themselves, about what it is that they need in order to keep their doors open and to hire more folks. I want to know the barriers and then to partner with other members of the assembly and state senate to create the change that is identified in order to promote increased entrepreneurial ship. My husband and I are raising our family here and, like everyone else, would like our children to have the opportunity to stay here and have their daily needs met.

What is one policy initiative that the political party of your opponent espouses that you think makes sense, is good policy?

HAWLEY: I fully support increasing the availability and accessibility of mental health services.

KEYS: I am not here to play party politics. I am here to represent everyone in the 139th Assembly District in an effort to make a positive impact on the daily lives of everyone who lives here and everyone who chooses to come here in the future. 

The race for the redistricted NY-24 is between Claudia Tenney and Steve Holden.  We emailed both campaigns three questions with the intent of publishing their verbatim answers. (NOTE: For the first hour or so this post was up, we said Mr. Holden did not respond; however, he had responded but the response did not come up in a search of my inbox. The campaign resent the answers and we were able to locate the original, timely response, using that sender's name in search. We've added his answers.)

What can you do as a member of Congress to make Congress less partisan and more productive? Would you renounce party membership if it would help Congress serve the American people better? 

HOLDEN: Now more than ever, our country needs political leaders who understand service and sacrifice, who are skilled and practiced in servant leadership, and who are trained to work with diverse teams to overcome obstacles and accomplish their missions. As a veteran with 20 years of military experience, both at home and abroad, I have those skills. I believe that members on both sides of the aisle will realize quickly that I am mission-oriented and eager to work with anyone and everyone, regardless of their party affiliation, to address the many challenges we face. I do not see members of the other party as the enemy, and I will always consider all opinions and ideas on their merit.

All that one person can do is be true to the oath that we swear as Congressional representatives “...I will well and faithfully discharge the duties of the office on which I am about to enter...” I will take that oath seriously. I don’t believe that renouncing party membership will help to better serve the American people. I am a proud Democrat, but I am also my own man.

If given the honor of serving in Congress, I will represent everyone in the 24th district, whether they voted for me or not. I am proud to have garnered the support of Republicans like Geneseo resident Dick Platt, a veteran of the Korean War, and many others whom I have met on this journey. I will never let my party affiliation prevent me from supporting legislation that I believe is good for America and good for the people in my district, regardless of who proposes it. That is how I will fulfill my oath.

TENNEY: As I took my oath of office last February, I was honored to reaffirm the bipartisan commitment to civility I first took as a member of Congress in 2017. If voters in New York’s 24th Congressional District return me to Washington as their representative, I will continue working with my colleagues - Republicans and Democrats alike - to promote constructive discourse, model positive leadership, and advance productive policies. Our country faces many challenges today. From rising crime to soaring inflation, families and small businesses are hurting. Our nation needs principled leadership now more than ever, and I have a strong record in Congress of working together to find solutions that deliver real results for seniors, families, and small businesses. After hearing heartbreaking stories from countless individuals across New York State who were locked out of nursing homes and cut off from their loved ones during the pandemic, I introduced the bipartisan Essential Caregivers Act. This bill ensures residents of long-term care facilities never again suffer alone in isolation without the support of their families, as thousands were forced to do in New York. This bill is a bipartisan win, with nearly 80 cosponsors from both parties. It is a compassionate policy solution that will meaningfully enhance the quality of life for seniors and their families. I am a lifelong registered Republican. I would not, nor is it necessary, to renounce my party affiliation. I would not advise anyone to do that, as robust debate in our free marketplace of ideas is the cornerstone of our Constitutional Republic. 

What could you do as a member of Congress to bring more new businesses, start-up, homegrown businesses to Genesee County, to foster entrepreneurship in Genesee County? 

HOLDEN: As a small business owner, myself, I know how difficult New York State makes it for entrepreneurs and potential entrepreneurs to start and grow a business. Our state is routinely ranked as the worst place to do business in New York State. One initiative that would act as a strong incentive for entrepreneurship is a measure that I sponsor called the “First Employee Tax Credit.” This proposal is a payroll tax credit to assist small businesses with the disproportionate rise in costs that result from hiring one employee.

Another key factor in creating a climate where entrepreneurship can thrive is ensuring our rural areas have access to broadband. For far too long, broadband access in our rural communities has been nonexistent or inadequate. That is why I led the fight to get the fiber optic tax levied by the state DOT repealed. This particular tax was killing the potential for broadband projects in rural areas, with costs that increased in direct proportion to the length of cable to be installed. In rural areas where miles of cable are often required just to reach a single house, this tax was simply ridiculous. After three years of advocacy and building bipartisan support, I am pleased to report the tax was finally repealed in the latest state budget. This is important progress we will be looking to build on in the coming session.    

TENNEY: In both Albany and Washington, I have always fought to put the taxpayers first by upholding free-market principles that encourage innovation and entrepreneurship. I grew my family's newspaper and manufacturing business in New York, so I know what small business owners face when trying to grow and thrive in this business-unfriendly state. To help our small business community, in 2017, I stood up to entrenched special interests in New York to support and pass the historic Tax Cuts and Jobs Act (TCJA), which ensured working Americans could keep more of their hard-earned money. Today, while my opponent would eliminate the Trump tax cuts, I am an original cosponsor of the TCJA Permanency Act to make this vital relief permanent for small businesses and families. In addition to easing the tax burden, I am also focused on reducing the regulatory burden small businesses and entrepreneurs increasingly face. President Donald Trump’s administration required two regulations be cut before any one new regulation could be put into place. This was a policy innovation that effectively empowered job creators and small businesses and encouraged greater growth and innovation. The Biden administration has sadly returned to business as usual by once again embracing big government regulatory overreach. This makes it harder than ever for our small businesses and family farms to compete and grow, which is why I am fighting in Washington to restore sanity and discipline to the regulatory process. 

What do you think is the best Federal program, and would you fight to keep it if under attack, and what is one Federal program you would cut if you could? 

HOLDEN: One area of policy where I am in agreement with my colleagues on the other side of the aisle is the need to provide more funding and support for those who care for our most vulnerable residents. The Cuomo administration neglected this segment of our human services community for years, resulting in wages for direct care providers that were often less than the starting pay at fast food restaurants. Not surprisingly, this has created a crisis-level workforce shortage among the non-profit providers that care for those with intellectual and developmental disabilities. Providers cannot find or retain staff, programs are closing and individuals are not having their needs met. We made some headway in addressing this crisis in this year’s budget, with a 5.4 percent statutory cost-of-living adjustment as well as some recruitment and retention initiatives, but more still needs to be done. There is strong bi-partisan support on this issue, so you can be sure I will be working with my colleagues on both sides of the aisle to make more progress.

TENNEY: There are a range of programs at the federal level that responsibly deliver targeted resources to those in need with strong oversight and accountability. One of these programs is the Community Services Block Grant, which provides financial assistance that is specific to local needs to advance core priorities like reducing poverty and increasing self-sufficiency. This program is about providing those in need with a hand-up, not a handout. I also have been honored to support the Assistance to Firefighters Grants Program, which provides much-needed assistance to firefighters and first responders, helping fund vitally important training operations and equipment upgrades. But unfortunately, Washington never misses an opportunity to misuse and abuse taxpayer dollars. For instance, following passage of the partisan American Rescue Plan Act, nearly $800 million was spent on stimulus checks for convicted criminals. Then in the so-called Inflation Reduction Act, as much as $80 billion was set aside for an army of new IRS agents that would be responsible for launching new audits of low- and middle-income taxpayers. And if all that wasn’t bad enough, President Joe Biden’s recent unilateral and unconstitutional decision to cancel federal student loan debt for high earners was especially egregious. This proposal, which will cost at least $300 billion, bypassed Congress and is blatantly unfair to those who paid off their college debt or who simply chose not to attend. These hardworking Americans are now stuck footing the bill for the 10% of Americans who still have debt outstanding, which includes doctors, lawyers, and other individuals with extremely high earnings potential. These examples are just the tip of the iceberg when it comes to Washington’s reckless spending. One of my top priorities in Congress to tackle inflation and restore prosperity to our region is to ensure greater fiscal responsibility. We should support those programs that work and eliminate those that do not while enhancing accountability and transparency across the board. 

Bethany Fire has been dispatched to Route 20 and Transit Road for a woman who fell off a motorcycle.

A chief on scene reports back pain and possible extremity injuries. The chief says he doesn't see anything too traumatic.

The woman was a passenger on the bike it it appears to have been a slow fall.

Mercy Flight out of Olean is on a ground standby until Mercy medics arrive on scene and can evaluate the patient.

UPDATE 12:24 p.m.: Mercy Flight is not required.

UPDATE 12:35 p.m.: Patient being transported to Strong. Bethany back in service.

Byron-Bergen remains invincible in girls soccer, winning the Far West Regional Championship over Frewsburg today 6-2.

The win sends the Bees to the state semifinals next week.

Goals:

• Mackenzie Hagen, asisted by Emma Starowitz
• Emma Starowitz, assisted by Mackenzie Hagen
• Mackenzie Hagen, assisted by Kendall Phillips
• Mackenzie Hagen, assisted by Ava Gray
• Emma Starowitz, assisted by Mackenzie Hagen
• Mia Gray, assisted by Grace Diquattro.

The Bees are now 22-0 on the season.  The state semifinal is Saturday at Cortland High School at 12:30 p.m.  The Class C state final is the following day in Cortland (location TBD) at 10 a.m.