AFL Batavia has announced its April flag football tournament to be held at a location in Batavia yet to be determined starting at 10 p.m., April 16.

There will be an awards ceremony following the championship game at Ri-Dans with food, music, and open bar for an hour.

The league says all teams from the last tournament are returning, including the defending champions, the Dream Killers.  Organizers would like to had three to five more teams. If there are 10 teams the prize pool will grow.

The entry fee is $500 per team. All teams but be local teams but out-of-town players can be on the rosters of local teams.

There is a $2,500 cash prize for the champion.

All players receive a jersey and a team photo.

Fees must be paid by March 31.

The league is also looking for sponsorships from local businesses.

For more information, email Darazian Williams at darazianw@gmail.com.

Photo: Submitted photo.

There will be a 5K walk and run to support GLOW Arc and Notre Dame's athletic department on March 12.

To register for the "Running with the Irish 5k Walk/ Run and Kids Fun Run," click here.

The Fun Run starts at 9 a.m. and is for kids ages 3-12 and will be held at Vandetta Stadium.  The Fun Run is 1/2 mile run (two laps around the track) and registration is $10 with an option to purchase a T-shirt for an additional $10.

The 5K/Walk will start at 10 am across the street at Notre Dame, 73 Union St, in the driveway.  

Registration is $25 and comes with a free T-shirt if you register before March 5th.  After that registration costs $30 and supplies of T-shirts maybe be limited.  

A corned beef and cabbage meal is also available for preorder from T.F. Brown's and can be picked up at the race.  There will only be 100 meals available.

A dozen businesses, seeking more than $500,000 in assistance, have applied thus far for financial assistance through the Genesee CARES Business Recovery Fund -- the new program that is providing up to $75,000 to small businesses negatively affected by the COVID-19 pandemic.

Jim Krencik, marketing director for the Genesee County Economic Development Center, and Michael Zimmerman of The Harrison Studio, which is overseeing the initiative, updated Genesee County legislators today at their Ways & Means Committee meeting at the Old County Courthouse.

Supported by a $1 million Community Development Block Grant, the program has been created to help businesses with 25 or fewer employees that were hurt by the pandemic to receive grants of up to $75,000. Eligible applicants are for-profit ventures within Genesee County with 25 or fewer employees.

Krencik said the 12 businesses that filled out application forms – which can be found at www.geneseecares.com – have asked for $550,000 in relief.

“If they’re all viable, we’re not sure yet,” he said, while encouraging business owners who have completed applications to follow up to make sure everything is in order.

He added that applications are taken on a first-come, first-served basis.

A crucial element to the process is that these businesses have to add at least one full-time equivalent job.

“Adding one FTE is a large increase (for small businesses),” he said. “Our goal is to have 20 to 40 businesses supported. If we get more, we could apply for additional funding.”

Krencik said businesses can apply for funds in any or all of four categories.

Those categories are as follows:

• Employment Restoration and Job Hiring -- Businesses will be eligible to receive a grant of up to $25,000 per full-time equivalent job position created, restored, or retained, up to a maximum of $60,000.

• Outdoor Dining Development -- Businesses will eligible to receive up to $50,000 in grants to facilitate outdoor dining enhancements. Eligible activities include professional and soft costs, furniture, and equipment, and working capital expenses related to expanding, installing, or improving outdoor dining and gathering spaces. Construction or renovation costs will not be eligible.

• Working Capital -- Businesses will be eligible to receive a maximum of $50,000 of grant funds to be used to assist with working capital expenditures (such as payroll, marketing, rent, utilities, etc.) for businesses that can demonstrate the impact of COVID has put a strain on their cash flow which cannot be met through other funding sources.

• Business Resiliency -- Businesses will be eligible to receive grants of up to $25,000 to support small business efforts to respond to the pandemic. Funds will be used for projects such as developing safety and resiliency plans, purchasing PPE, installing touchless point-of-sale systems, and other improvements to allow for social distances and all businesses to operate safely.

Zimmerman, responding to a question from Legislature Chair Rochelle Stein about agricultural-related enterprises, said that as long as the business meets the requirements (for profit and 25 or fewer employees), they should be eligible.

“The use of the funds is a pretty broad net,” he said, “and cover most business needs. I imagine (that a farming business) could find working capital needs to which to apply the grant funds.”

To be considered for the first round of approvals, applications must be submitted no later than March 9.

In related action, the Ways & Means Committee approved a resolution to create a line item in the county's budget to reimburse eligible expenses.

Press release:

St. Paul is an accredited elementary school in New York State that educates students from 3-year-old-preschool through grade 6.It provides a Christian education that fosters academics and excellence. Children experience a caring environment in which to grow in character and knowledge. Students are treated as individuals. Their unique talents, skills, and learning needs are valued and considered.

Bus transportation is available through the child's home school district, and before-school care is available.

For more information call (585)-343-0488 or send an email to stpaulbatavia@gmail.com.

It looked like the Batavia Players cast had quite a party as show Director Anthony Baldwin-Giambrone dropped empty beer bottles into a cooler near the stage Monday evening.

There was a party, he said, however, only as part of the 2022 Shakespeare in Springtime series. Beer-drinking during a yearly Shakespearean staple? Only when the setting has been switched up from the typical 16th Century scenario of kings, queens, and jesters, to a modern-day educational setting.

“We took the entire show and set it at a college, with a fraternity house and a sorority house,” Baldwin-Giambrone said during rehearsals at the new venue inside City Centre. “We had this play ready to go in March 2020 … we have two-thirds of the original cast back. We had to recast eight people, and we bumped up an actor from a small role to a lead role.”\

The show didn’t go on then, as all things COVID-19 shut it down. Fast forward two years and construction of the new theater is still in progress as new and returning cast members rehearse in The Backstage space that accommodates 84 patrons. Known as “black box theater,” this space offers a close-up view of the action. It was a welcome sight for 34-year-old Justin Chortie, he said.

“It’s nice and intimate,” the North Tonawanda actor said. “I haven’t done black box since college.”

He plays Ferdinand the King, aka president of the fraternity. Thought to be sort of snobby, his character convinces his friends to give up girls for a while. Of course, this wouldn’t be a comical love story if the king actually followed his own advice, as Chortie said, and the king’s own words get him into hot water.

Chortie believes the two-hour round trip for rehearsals is worth it. He had but one word for why: passion.

“To hear the audience laugh, it’s adrenaline almost, it’s like a drug,” he said. “I mean, it's wild. You gotta go. You’ve got kings and princesses, but they're not really kings and princesses; they're fraternities and sororities. There's all kinds of fun.”

The show is Love’s Labour’s Lost, and it’s set for 7:30 p.m. Friday and Saturday and 2 p.m Sunday at The Backstage at Main St. 56 Theater, Batavia. For those unfamiliar with this new space at Batavia City Centre, the entrance is a purple door next to Batavia Family Dental.

Love's Labour's Lost is one of William Shakespeare's early comedies, believed to have been written in the mid-1590s for a performance before Queen Elizabeth I. The King of Navarre and his three companions attempt to swear off the company of women for three years in order to focus on study and fasting. They break their oath through a subsequent infatuation with the Princess of France and her ladies. The play closes with the death of the Princess's father, and all weddings are delayed for a year.

Although Baldwin-Giambrone is no stranger to the Players troop or the Shakespeare series, this is his first time directing this particular show. A resident of Kenmore, he is one of a big handful of actors and staff driving to and from rehearsals after a more typical day job. 

For this director, he goes from being a special education high school math teacher by day to working with a cast of 18 people at night. Think Shakespeare is dull, dry, and a ho-hum display of antiquated dialect? Think again, he and his cast members said. This is a show they described as “fun and funny.”

What hasn’t been so funny is how that unyielding pandemic wiped out this show two years ago.

“We were two weeks away from opening. And then we were shut down before we opened. And then with COVID, we had to make sure we were wearing masks at all rehearsals,” he said. “And then I know my assistant director, Jane (Burk), she actually, after every single rehearsal, stayed after and wiped down all the surfaces and sprayed and cleaned everything.”

Pushing COVID repercussions aside, Baldwin-Giambrone ran with the comical theme of Love’s Labour’s Lost. He replaced the more regal characters of kings and queens with frat boys and sorority sisters and paired them by personality — over the top and very clear cut  — such as the dumb blonds and the studious ones. 

“And they’re funny because this is a comedy. So it’s very funny seeing them do their very stereotypical distinct personalities,” he said. “The biggest challenge, I would say, was rehearsing in a shorter time period … just being able to get in here and start working with people to begin scheduling and everything. It just was a lot more tight.”

Dorothy Gerhart of Alabama had to drop her former role of Holofernes for the sorority mom, Boyet. It wasn’t really a bigger role, she said, because she counted the lines, and they were about equal. However, the mom role provided opportunity for more fun, she said. Her outfits are wild and colorful, with leopard, tie-dye, and purple pok-a-dot patterns. 

“I think she graduated from college but never really left,” Gerhart said. “She sees herself as one of the girls. She’s kind of the comedy relief, with a lot of funny lines.”

Aaron Klafehn is another newcomer to the Players, though not at all new to acting, he said. Working in quality control for HP Hood in Batavia, the 34-year-old discovered Batavia Players through his partner, the show's assistant costumer Marshall McCall. Klafehn has been interested in theater since elementary school. He plays the role of Costard, who he describes as a “chaos-causing math teacher.”

“He purposely does things incorrectly, to try and get a rise out of someone else,” Klafehn said, adding that he had a hiatus from theater during the last couple of years. “I fell right back into it, and am making new connections. It’s much different than the day-to-day aspects of what I do. It’s fun to bring someone’s creation to life. I try and make sure that it's as organic to the character that I'm creating as possible, rather than trying to imitate or copy someone else's. I'm excited to be back performing again, and very excited to see the new performing space when it's finished.”

Tickets are $15 for adults, $13 for students and seniors. To purchase tickets, go to: showtix4u.com

Top photo: Shaun Coburn, Justin Chortie and James Barcomb run through a rehearsal Tuesday night of Batavia Players' upcoming Love's Labour's Lost, which is set for 7:30 p.m. Friday and Saturday and 2 p.m. Sunday at The Backstage at Main St. 56 Theater, Batavia City Centre. The actors are joined by Sam Bowman, shown in the fourth photo from the top, during mandatory masked rehearsals for the Shakespeare in Springtime Series comedy by Batavia Players. Photos by Howard Owens. Editor's Note: Due to scheduling conflicts, this rehearsal was not in costume. 

The front display windows of Charles Men's Shop in Downtown Batavia are now draped and dabbed in blue and yellow, the colors of the Ukrainian flag.

Co-owner Don Brown said the display is about supporting freedom and backing the Ukrainian people. It's not necessarily about supporting the Ukrainian government, he said.

"We're on the side of those willing to fight for their freedom," Brown said.

Le Roy High School is presenting a production of the Disney musical Newsies on March 10, 11, 12, 18 and 19 in the school auditorium.

Newsies is the story of a homeless NYC newsboy, Jack "Cowboy" Kelly, who befriends two newcomers to the trade.  Newspaper publisher Joseph Pulitzer sets new rules that make it harder for newspaper hawkers -- newsies -- to make a buck so the boys go on strike. A journalist sympathetic to the boys' cause gives them some tips on public relations and the newsies battle grips the city.

The story is based on an actual labor dispute between newspaper salesboys and Pulitzer in the summer of 1899.  For more on the history behind the story, click here.

Performances in Le Roy are:

• March 10, 7 p.m.
• March 11, 7 p.m.
• March 12, 7 p.m.
• March 18, 7 p.m.
• March 19,7 p.m.

Tickets can be purchased at leroycsd.org or at the auditorium, 9300 South Street Road.

For more photos or to purchase prints, click here.

Kaleb J. Bobzien is indicted on seven counts of rape in the third degree, seven counts of criminal sexual act in the third degree, three counts of criminal contempt in the second degree, two counts of aggravated family offense, and one count each of forcible touching and endangering the welfare of a child. Bobzien is accused of forcibly touching on June 1 another person's sexual or other private parts for the purpose of degrading or abusing the person or for the purpose of gratifying his own sexual desire. He is accused of acting in a manner injurious to a child under 17 years old on June 1. He is accused of engaging with sexual intercourse with a person less than 17 years old while being at least 21 years old himself, on dates of between May 9 and May 15, May 16 and May 22, May 23 and May 29, May 30, and June 5, June 6 and June 12, June 13 and June 19, and June 20 and June 26. He is accused of three times violating a stay-away order of protection. He is accused of violating a Family Court order on three occasions.

Arthur J. Brown is indicted on counts of menacing a police officer, criminal possession of a weapon in the second degree, tampering with physical evidence, criminal possession of a controlled substance in the seventh degree, obstructing governmental administration in the second degree, and driving while ability impaired by drugs. Brown is accused of placing a police officer in fear of his physical safety by displaying a deadly weapon on Sept. 19 at a location in the Town of Stafford. He is accused of possessing a loaded firearm. He is accused of possessing cocaine. He is accused of fleeing the scene of an incident. He is accused of driving a 2008 Pontiac on Route 237, Stafford, while impaired by drugs.

Jillian E. Antinore is indicated on counts of felony DWI, felony driving with a BAC of .18 or greater, and aggravated unlicensed operation. Antinore is accused of driving drunk on Oct. 12 on Ellicott Street in the City of Batavia. She is accused of driving without a valid driver's license. 

Nathan W. Stringer is indicted on four counts of felony aggravated DWI and one count of felony DWI.  Stringer is accused of driving drunk on Aug. 28 on Route 77 in the Town of Pembroke with four children less than 15 years of age in the vehicle.

Paul A. Inostroza is indicted on counts of attempted assault in the second degree, criminal obstruction of breathing, reckless endangerment in the second degree, and harassment in the second degree.  Inosroza is accused of slamming a woman's head against a wall on Sept. 5 at a location on East Main Street, Batavia. He is also accused of applying pressure to that person's neck. 

Directors of Western Regional Off-Track Betting Corp. have approved spending up to $190,212 to install a new sewer pipe extending from the Genesee Park Place apartments to an area in front of the Hotel at Batavia Downs on Park Road.

The board, at its meeting last week, approved a resolution to accept a proposal by Town of Batavia officials to put in the pipe as part of the Park Road Reconstruction Project that is set to get underway this month.

“We believe the sewer pipe project will cost around $260,000 and we’ve made a request to owners of the Park Place apartments to split the cost,” WROTB President Henry Wojtaszek said today. “The board agreed to a maximum of $190,000 to take into account any overruns or contingencies, and in case we have to do it on our own.”

Wojtaszek said putting in the sewer line will eliminate the need to use an old pump station just south of Alex’s Place and will result in lower costs to the corporation.

Town Engineer Steve Mountain agreed, adding that it would be more efficient if that work is done as part of the major renovation of the road.

“We posed that to them if they wanted to consider it now rather than later,” Mountain said. “Now's the time -- before the road is built.”

WROTB previously agreed to spend about $450,000 in enhancements to the $4.077 million project -- improvements such as trees, street lights, increasing the size of the sidewalks and replacing the fence along the parking lots.

Mountain said the main water pipe is being delivered today or tomorrow and work will start in a couple weeks. Catco (Concrete Applied Technologies Corp.) Construction of Alden is general contractor for the project, which is expected to take several months, possibly until the end of the year.

“I guess you could say this is the calm before the storm,” Mountain said. “Everything will get started when the weather starts breaking.”

He noted that there will be lane shutdowns during construction but traffic will be maintained.

“There'll be times when it'll be stop and go for sure,” he advised.

The project calls for the installation of new pavement, curbs and curbing from Lewiston Road to Richmond Avenue with sidewalks on both sides of Park Road; overlaying of pavement and installation of sidewalks on one side of the road from Richmond Avenue to Route 98, and installation of new water lines and street lights on Park Road between Route 63 and Richmond Avenue.

Photo: WROTB President Henry Wojtaszek points north on Park Road, where a new sewer line running from Genesee Park Place apartments to Batavia Downs Gaming will be installed as part of the Park Road Reconstruction Project. Photo by Mike Pettinella.

It was a bit FeBRRRary and a lot FeBREWary in Downtown Batavia on Saturday as throngs of beer lovers descended on local businesses to sample a variety of beers from regional breweries.

The LED lights that illuminate the Old Courthouse at Main and Ellicott in Batavia are now rotating in the hues of Ukraine, yellow and blue.

Those are the colors of the country's flag in honor of its blue skies and flaxen fields of wheat.

The color scheme was unanimously approved by the Genesee County Legislature.

Press release:

Due to the recent decline in COVID-19 hospitalizations, cases, and an increase in vaccination rates across New York State, the statewide masking requirement for K-12 students and children 2+ in childcare settings will be lifted effective Wednesday, March 2^nd. Additionally, masks will no longer be required on school buses. Counties and cities with higher transmission rates will have the authority to require masks in schools. Parents/guardians may still choose to send their children to schools in masks.

“We are very happy that New York State has lifted the mask mandate in schools and childcare settings and that local officials will have the authority to make decisions regarding mask mandates,” stated Lynne M. Johnson, Chairman of the Orleans County Legislature. “We have previously said that Orleans County would not continue that mandate if the decision were left to us. We continue to hold that view and want to be clear that Orleans County will NOT be implementing any local mask mandate for our schools”.

According to the updated metrics released by the CDC regarding community transmission levels, Genesee and Orleans Counties have fallen into the “Medium” category based on the CDC data. “The Genesee and Orleans County Health Departments will not require masks in schools” stated Paul Pettit, Public Health Director for Genesee and Orleans County Health Departments. “Masking will be optional and we will continue to work with school districts in both counties to monitor COVID-19 transmission rates and respond to clusters and other issues that may arise to keep students safe and in school.”

“We encourage residents to make the best choice for their children, themselves, and their personal level of risk as to whether or not they wear masks in public places including schools. We continue to encourage residents to get vaccinated, boosted, and stay up to date on their vaccines,” stated Pettit.

“Some residents will choose to continue to wear masks in public places for their own safety,” stated Rochelle M. Stein, Chairman of the Genesee County Legislature. “We encourage residents to respect others' personal choices and discourage mask shaming in our community. We also encourage our residents to continue focusing on personal good health practices. Masking provides another important layer of protection from COVID-19.”

At this time, masking requirements are still in effect in state-regulated healthcare settings; homeless shelters; state-regulated adult care facilities and nursing homes; correctional facilities; domestic violence centers; buses and bus stations; trains and train stations; subways and subway stations; planes and airports. People who have had symptoms of COVID-19 are still required to wear well-fitted masks in public for five additional days (day 6 through 10) after the end of the 5-day isolation period.

Somebody apparently thinks that would make a fine item to own for themselves.

Recently, somebody cut down and stole the sign.

Until about 2013, the sign is well known for its phrase, "POP: Just Right."  That was changed because it didn't seem welcoming to some people.

Mayor Norm Itjen asks that anyone with information contact the Genesee County Sheriff's office at (585) 345-3000 or the VIllage of Elba @ (585) 757-6889.

Photo by provided by Norm Itjen.

When it comes to uncovering and writing grants to “elevate” the status of local arts and culture, the executive director of the Genesee-Orleans Regional Arts Council is leaving no stone unturned.

Appearing before the Genesee County Legislature’s Human Services Committee on Monday afternoon, Gregory Hallock reported that he is committed to locating funding for capital projects at the GO ART! building at 201 East Main St. – with the installation of a new elevator at the top of the list – as well as for programs and support of community artisans.

“We received over a half-million dollars in grants this year,” he said. “I’ve been working my butt off writing grants. So, we’re kind of excited about everything that we’re going to be doing – excited about giving out more money.”

Hallock said the majority of the $500,000 went for building repairs, but some was used to subsidize programming and $50,000 from Restart NY was given out to deserving organizations in the two counties.

He said he missed out on the latest round of funding for an elevator at the three-story facility, but is hoping that a grant that he is applying for through the NYS Preservation League could pave the way for the $400,000 or more needed to put in the elevator.

“It’s an historical building, so we’re looking for the preservation league to do an updated study and include an update to the elevator study that we started,” he said. “We need to see what we can do with the empty spaces, including the use of the third-floor attic. I also have heard a rumor that a state grant for handicapped accessibility is possible.”

Hallock said GO ART! will be receiving $40,000 more than it got this year to fund Reach Grant (Community Arts), Spark Grant (Arts in Education) and Ripple Grant (Individual Artist) awards.

“This year, we gave out more than $44,000 in Genesee County for our cultural happenings, which is part of a $70,000 pot split between Genesee and Orleans … and next year, we’ll be giving out $107,800 in grants,” he said. “So, we’re really excited. We got a top end score with the state, which is awesome.”

This year saw the completion of several projects, including the library, podcast studio and dance studio, Hallock said.

He noted that “some massive grants” are coming out for artists in residence.

“We’ll be applying for those for artists coming out to our area to plaster Genesee County with murals. We are concentrating on the cultural aspects of it and the folklorist traditional aspect of it. We want to represent all of the communities within our counties.”

Hallock said he has been conducting extensive research of grant databases at the main libraries in downtown Buffalo and Rochester, and has developed a connection with the Ralph C. Wilson Jr. Foundation.

“The foundation just gave millions of dollars to the Community Foundation for Greater Buffalo (for arts and culture in the region) and we’re involved with them, hosting meetings with them,” he said. “I'm hoping that this means something for our future. But I got myself on the panel during that time because I want to make sure that funding comes here.”

In related action, the Human Services Committee voted in favor of a $7,500 allocation from Genesee County to GO ART! for 2022.  The funding -- $1,000 more than what was appropriated in 2021 -- is subject to approval by the full legislature.

Oakfield-Alabama turned on the jets in their Class C2 sectional semifinal, running away from cross-county rival Pembroke for a 61-31 victory.

For the Hornets:

• Gaige Armbrewster, 18 points, five rebounds, eight assists
• Kam Cusmano, 12 points, four rebounds, three assists
• Kaden Cusmano, 11 points 10 rebounds, four assists, three blocks
• Kyle Porter, eight points
• Jordan Schlagenhauf, seven points

For the Dragons, Tyson Totten scored six points and Cayden Pfalzer scored five.

The Hornets are now 21-1 on the season.

"Getting to this point in the season is something special," said O-A Head Coach Ryan Stehlar. "You have to make the most of your opportunities and I felt we did that tonight against a very good team.  Coach (Matt) Shay is a great coach and prepares his teams so well.  We had to be locked in defensively from the start.  The boys made that their main priority.  I loved the energy they brought and the focus they had on both ends of the floor.  The crowd and support at GCC was fantastic and made for an exciting game.  I can't thank our fans and community enough for their constant support.  We are going to enjoy this game tonight but will need to get back to work tomorrow for the next step."

The next step is against Lyons (21-1) at 7 p.m., Friday, at Victor HS.

Photos by Karly Smith.  For more, click here.

A motor vehicle accident with entrapment is reported on the Thruway in the area of mile marker 384 is reported.

Le Roy Fire and Le Roy Ambulance responding.

Town of Batavia Fire requested mutual aid.

UPDATE 1:04 p.m.: One person trapped. Extrication has begun.

UPDATE 1:15 p.m.: Patient extricated.

UPDATE 1:31 p.m.: All units back in service.

Societal and philosophical changes in mental health treatment are causing the expected closure of Genesee County Mental Health’s Continuing Day Treatment program, but department officials are providing assurances that no one in need of these services will “fall through the cracks.”

Bob Riccobono, director of clinical services, and Nancy Hendrickson, supervisor of the CDT, on Monday presented a resolution to the Genesee County Legislature’s Human Services Committee that calls for the elimination of CDT programming within the next few months.

Reinforced through research conducted by Lynda Battaglia, Mental Health & Community Services director, and supported by the county’s Community Services Board, Riccobono shared a brief history of CDT and some factors that entered into the decision to shift to more clinical and therapeutic outpatient programs.

“Back in the 1950s, clients were treated in hospitals, but then we developed medications to the point where clients could then be released and go back to the communities where they came from,” he said. “But the problem was that the communities that were receiving these mental health clients, they didn't have the resources available. So, the state was giving aid to all the counties to develop community mental health centers. And part of that was to create day treatment programs for the more severe mentally ill.”

He said these programs worked very well in tandem with community residences to house people with mental health issues.

SOCIAL ACTIVITIES CURTAILED

“When I started my career back in the early 90s, we did all kinds of programs with the clients. We did camping trips, ceramics, woodworking – all kinds of different things like that. Then the state came and starting telling us you can't do those kinds of programs; it had to be more rehab-oriented,” he explained.

Those restrictions, combined with a decline in referrals from state hospitals, led to a decrease in the day treatment program population, he said, and because of that, “the funding dried up.”

“(Previously) it was the day treatment programs that were carrying the clinic. Now it's the exact opposite -- the clinic is carrying the day treatment program,” Riccobono said. “It’s not anything that the day treatment program is doing; that’s just how the funding is allocated.”

Riccobono said the state changed its philosophy – advocating for mental health clients to be integrated into the community. As a result, community residences closed and clients were treated in apartment programs or at their own apartments. Today, GCMH is just one of 13 agencies in New York with a CDT and most of them are downstate.

When the COVID-19 pandemic hit in 2020 – making it more difficult to coordinate group settings – the handwriting was on the wall, he said.

“That was sort of the final nail in the coffin because the past two years we couldn't do the same kind of treatment we were doing before,” he said.

PANDEMIC HURT PROGRAMMING

The GCMH CDT program, prior to the pandemic, ran five days a week from 10 a.m. to 2:30 p.m., with clients coming in from one to five days, Hendrickson said.

“During that time, we were in group rooms where we sat very close to each other,” he said. “Clients milled around together in the hallways. When the pandemic happened, we had to maintain social distancing. And we are not able to accommodate it (very well) with social distancing in our buildings.”

Hendrickson said the state began reimbursing the department for daily phone calls made to clients, so the strategy changed to a combination of in-person and telephone sessions.

“Now, we have to talk to the clients in order to bill five days a week,” she said. “And groups are small. People can’t congregate in the hallways like they used to. We cannot serve lunch like we used to because of the lack of space and, primarily, the six foot distancing.”

Staffing is another issue, Riccobono said.

“The other thing that's going on is that I can’t hire clinical staff in the outpatient clinic. It’s that much harder to hire people to go into the day treatment program because most of them never heard of that,” he noted.

MOVING STAFF TO OUTPATIENT CLINIC

Going forward, the plan is to take four GCMH employees from the day treatment program and incorporate them into the outpatient clinic.

“So, most of your clients are going to remain with their therapist, and also be seeing the same psychiatrist that they're seeing in the day treatment program,” Riccobono said. “In addition to that, because we're going to have more staff available in the outpatient clinic, we're going to look at some different programs that we can do, such as an intensive outpatient program.”

He said a long-term approach hasn’t been finalized yet, but GCMH leaders are reaching out to other places that offer intensive outpatient services to see how they operate.

Legislator Gordon Dibble, who serves on the Community Services Board, said CDT “is just a program that seems like it just run its course.”

“And in the shutting down of the program, everything I’ve heard seems to be well thought out,” he said. “So, it's going to get done and get done right.”

Hendrickson said that no employee will lose their jobs. Two full-time therapists will move to the clinic with one of them assigned to develop the intensive outpatient program.

ALL CLIENTS WILL BE PLACED

Riccobono emphasized that the state Office of Mental Health will not allow GCMH to close the program until every client has been placed and is seeing a therapist.

“No one is going to fall through the cracks,” he said.

The Human Services Committee voted in favor of the resolution, which indicates a loss of about $174,000 in anticipated state aid for CDT services. It also notes that staff reallocation will allow existing personnel expenses to be offset by Medicaid, Medicare and third-party insurance.

The resolution will be considered by the Ways & Means Committee on Wednesday.

Notre Dame forced 34 turnovers, often snatching the ball from opponent's hands mid-dribble and covering the steal into a score, leading to 72-39 win over Romulus in the Class D2 bracket.

The win sets up a dream match-up for local basketball fans with a rivalry match for the D2 boys' championship on Friday against the Elba Lancers.

"Our defense carried us tonight," said Head Coach Mike Rapone. "Offensively we missed a lot of the shots that we normally make and we didn't do well at the free-throw line either but our defense was excellent we carried us all night long got us a lot of easy shots in transition and the kids played hard and they've done it all year. They battled. They weren't having the best shooting night but they worked their way through it and I'm just proud of the approach that we had."

Colin McCulley, who recently returned to the lineup from an ACL injury, led the team with 23 points. Jimmy Fanara scored 16, Cody Henry, 10, and Jordan Welker, seven.

Saturday's championship match with Elba is at 11 a.m. at Letchworth.

In a close matchup two girls' semifinalist teams, #2 Notre-Dame and #3 Genesee Valley made a game of it for a chance to play this week for Class D1 championship.

Notre Dame came away with a five-point victory 31-26. 

After a slow first quarter down by 4 after the opening quarter, the Irish got some buckets from Emma Sisson who finished with a game-high nine points on the night.

Genesee Valley's Mary Hamer dropped eight points in the first half and 14 total on the night.

The two teams were tied at 12 at the half.

Notre-Dame rallied in the third with points by Avelin Tomidy, Judah Macdonald, and Lindsey Weidman to take the lead 23-16 after three-quarters of play.

Maylee Green had six points, Tomidy, MacDonald, and Weidman, five each.

The Irish kept the pace to maintain the lead and ball possession right to the end and win and advance to the finals.

Notre Dame will take on #1 Filmore at 8 p.m., Friday at Letchworth.

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Photos by Steve Ognibene