While hot humid weather may be a factor in people’s own rising temperatures regarding the Town of Le Roy’s recreation pool policy, Town Supervisor Jim Farnholz suspects there may be something else contributing to several online complaints.

“To be frank, I think social media certainly has a play in it. You know, irrelevant comments from people who live out of state or internet trolls, there's a portion of that,” he said during an interview with The Batavian Thursday. “I think the fact that we open all of our programs, except the pool, to any community member … we have multiple camps, and they have online signups. It doesn't matter where you're from; once the signup is full, it's full, regardless. So that's open to everyone. The pool is not, because there's a very strict limitation on the number of kids that can be in the pool. It's paid for by the town and village residents.”

About a week ago, the Le Roy Rec Facebook site began to draw comments from people complaining about the policy requiring that only town and village residents could use the pool. A recreation staff member then posted that “due to the dishonesty” of some, all would be required to show proof of residence with identification upon entering the premises. 

Posts such as this one from Michaela Rose Leach encouraged others to “boycott this pool because every surrounding town that has pools or splash pads allows other surrounding residents to enjoy.”

“This is clearly discrimination against certain groups of individuals,” Leach said.

JoAnne Vernaccini, in an online post, said that these kids belong to the Le Roy School district and that she could understand if the pool was free, but “they are paying for a pass.”

“I pay Le Roy taxes. Let some kids go off my taxes,” she said.

Amy Elizabeth asked if Le Roy’s splash pad was also only for town and village residents. 

No, it’s not, Farnholz said. And for good reason, he added. The pool’s capacity is 230 people. As it is, with the policy that’s been in place for five years, he said, there are waiting lines of town and village residents wanting to use the pool that’s been paid for with their taxes. 

“You get a hot day, there’s a waiting line, absolutely,” he said. 

“I would suggest people take a peek at the Stafford Park policy, and I'm not faulting Stafford at all. But, this isn't something that's unique to Le Roy,” he said. “You know, the other part of it is that running that pool in our recreation program is, with the exception of the highway department, one of our largest expenditures. The town of Le Roy spends approximately, I just did the numbers this morning, approximately $150,000 a year on the pool and rec program. And based on the agreement when the pool reopened in 2008, because it had been closed for two years, the village kind of backed out, or didn't want to operate it anymore. 

“The village only contributes $11,000 a year. So the bulk of that financial burden falls to the taxpayers of the town. And that's another reason, that it's town and village taxes that pay for it.”

The rec program employs a staff of 40 people, including five lifeguards, for the pool and two parks. They try to open up by the last week of June and remain open through Labor Day, but it’s heavily dependent on staff schedules, he said.

Apparently, some people had signed into the rec facility using Le Roy Central School as their address, and once it was discovered that they didn’t live in the town or village, their membership fees were refunded, and they could no longer use the pool.

Farnholz admitted that “we’ve had a few” nasty comments online, which more recently prompted his own response:

“Yesterday, there were many people commenting on the policy for pool usage on this site. This site was meant to be informational not for what it turned into yesterday. We try to teach young people about cyber bullying but clearly that message has fallen on some deaf adult ears. To the point at which one of our staff was sworn at and spit at by an adult. Please understand this kind of behavior will not be tolerated. Future incidents of this nature will be handled by the LeRoy PD.  If you have issues with Town policy, the Town Board meets on the second and fourth Thursday of every month. If you have an immediate concern call the town hall and I will be happy to discuss it with you.  In the future we will close the comment portion of this page as the comments from people who don't live in LeRoy or Stafford or even in NY state will no longer be tolerated. This program is run and paid for by your Town Taxes. School taxes have no bearing in this discussion. In the future please address your concerns to myself and the Town Board.”

Jim Farnholz, Supervisor, Town of LeRoy

“The school taxes have absolutely nothing to do with it, which seems to kind of confuse people a little bit. But the ire and the manner in which these people were expressing themselves just got to a point where it needed to be addressed,” he said. “And I did so; it was just unacceptable for people seeking conflict, showing up at the pool.”

At least one person took him up on the offer and asked to be put on the board’s agenda for Thursday’s meeting. Farnholz didn’t foresee anything changing with policy, but he reiterated that “people are welcome to come in and express their concerns.”

Not everyone online was against the town’s policy, including Di Dillon. 

“When I was growing up in LeRoy, where I lived all my life, when the pool opened up, it was just for the LeRoyans. We all paid to get in. That’s when the town owned it,” Di said. “Now someone else owns it, and it’s up to them to set the rules. They offered other towns nearby to help with the reopening costs and management fee, and they declined. now they want to come and use it. I think they should stand their ground.”

There are valid reasons for keeping a lid on the 230 limit, Farnholz said. He recalled, about “four or five years ago when we first started taking a look at some of the numbers.” 

“We had one weekend where we had over 800 kids in the pool between Friday and Sunday. So, that gives you the idea of, did we have extra lifeguards on? And that's really the issue. It’s paid for by the community, and we can't really fit anybody. It just doesn't work that way,” he said. “I was, like, horrified, and I worry about those things.”

City officials turned their thoughts to cannabis for a few moments this week as City Manager Rachael Tabelski described the plight of legal cultivators, locally Empire Hemp, which had originally been scheduled on City Council’s meeting agenda.

Company co-founders Chris Van Dusen and Shelly Wolanske were going to talk about an initiative to sell cannabis products at farmers markets, a concept being drafted in the Empire State for the summer season. However, Gov. Kathy Hochul recently squashed that move, which added yet another hindrance to a market that’s already suffered a slow roll-out of avenues to distribute and sell their products.

“(They) have been producing products in the legal market. Prior to cannabis being authorized by New York State was one that was authorized, they shifted to that market for cultivation. And they ramped up, and right now, they're sitting on over $300,000 worth of product and had to lay off four staff members because the Office of Cannabis Management cannot get retail licenses out quick enough. So there's over, I think it was 80, brands of cannabis that are certified by New York State, all sitting in warehouses full of cannabis, but only 10 legal retail outlets right now,” Tabelski said during this week’s council meeting. “And to get your product into the legal retail outlets, the majority being in New York City, you almost have to live in New York City or have a salesperson present down there. So anyone in the sales market knows you have to apply to those retail outlets to move your product. 

“So I want you to be aware of the emerging market. This is a business that has typically enjoyed the support of the city. They've stayed in the city, and they've purchased or leased more space to produce their products. And right now, they're very much hamstrung. So I just wanted to bring that to everyone's attention.”

Council President Eugene Jankowski Jr. said that he’s heard about the illegal retail sites “that keep popping up in the city, and people think they have a license” when they actually do not. 

“So you’re telling me no one in Genesee County, no one in this area, has a legal distribution license itself?” he said. 

That’s right, Tabelski said, “except if you’re on sovereign land.”

She’s referring to Tonawanda Indian Reservation, which does not have to abide by the same state regulations as other dispensaries. Van Dusen checked that site to see about the possibility of selling some product, but shop owners on tribal land wouldn’t pay what Empire Hemp, which deals with state taxes, charges, Van Dusen said.

He and Wolanske said they are disappointed with how things have happened with licensing — they were led to believe that some 30 dispensaries were to open in March — and with the prospective farmers market, however, they’re confidently looking forward. 

"Mainly down in New York City, there are only 10 dispensaries. And there's 80 brands that are trying to get on the shelves in these 10 dispensaries. So it's very challenging to maintain, and we're currently in half of those dispensaries. But there needs to be more to make this a successful program, especially in our area," Van Dusen said. "And we were held up with that court-ordered injunction with a lawsuit that just finally opened up, you know, in the Finger Lakes region in Western New York a little while ago. So now we're about six months behind New York City, and getting dispensaries opened up here. So the first one to open next week in Buffalo. And we will be in that one. We're really excited about that. Dang 716."

Another one, MJ Dispensary, is to open in Henrietta in about a month, with a few more following in the Buffalo area. It takes time to open a site and includes a final walk-through by the Office of Cannabis Management, “so once they get their license, you're looking at a good three to five months,” Wolanske said.”

One element of the industry affects another — it’s a trickle-down effect, she said — from the grower to processors and end product. Empire Hemp still has goods from 2022 “because there’s no outlets for these grow cultivators to sell at, there’s not enough dispensaries,” he said. “So the cultivators are really hurting because it’s harder for them to get it to go to the dispensaries and get on the shelves because it’s so competitive to get on the shelf space.”

“So if they had 50 dispensaries open, well then, it would change, the demand would be in our favor, we wouldn’t be selling out of everything, it wouldn’t even be a question,” he said. 

Tabelski ventured to guess what part of the problem is.

“I dare say that they're in over their head with the Office of Cannabis Management and the rollout of this program,” she said. Jankowski agreed, adding that, for what he understands the board makes — “in excess of hundreds of thousands of dollars in salaries” — they’re not doing their jobs. 

The City of Batavia is far from alone in its assessment of the state agency’s efficiency. Rev. Kirsten John Foy, a spokesman for the Coalition for Access to Regulated & Safe Cannabis, called the OCM “ineffective at every turn.”

“Growers, CAURD (conditional adult-use retail dispensaries) licensees, disabled veterans, workers, consumers, medical cannabis patients and individuals harmed by cannabis prohibition are paying the price for its ineptitude — all while the illicit market booms,” Foy said in a New York Post article. 

Similarly to what Jankowski and Van Dusen have noted locally, albeit on a lower scale, New York City Mayor Eric Adams has been tallying the number of illegal pot shops sprouting up in the absence of licensed dispensaries and manpower to close them down. In NYC, Adams’ count is 1,500, while Hochul’s office puts that number at 2,500, and law enforcement doubles that to 5,000 and estimates that illegal smoke shops are making $2,000 to $3,000 profits a day. While sites in smaller cities such as Batavia aren’t likely to claim such boons, is it a wonder why they’re popping up?

Empire Hemp will continue to operate by the book, as it has since the beginning, Van Dusen and Wolanske said. Their downtown retail store, which sells hemp products, is doing well and is self-sustaining, Wolanske said. In fact, “we’re doing better than last year,” she said. “We have a lot of faithful followers.”

And they look forward to finally seeing those promised 30 dispensaries, now to arrive in October, as they ride out a bumpy state cannabis program.

“So when that happens in this area, we will be set. So all that inventory is still good. It's not gone bad. So we could still sell that. And it's just a matter of getting these locations open,” Van Dusen said. “We’ve always done everything by the book, so we feel that it’ll be good that we did that. That will benefit us in the long run, because there will be less competition. Right now, we’re dealing with the illicit market. It’s really hard, especially when people are used to going into these smoke shops and paying a certain price.” 

Jose Luis Agosto Santiago, 39, of Ravine Avenue, Rochester, is charged with grand larceny 4th. Santiago is accused of stealing $1,384.90 in merchandise from Target in Batavia at 12:41 p.m. on July 6. He was issued an appearance ticket. Previously: Shoplifting suspect flees Target on foot with more than $2,000 in merchandise

David Lofton, Jr., 28, of Locust Street, Rochester, is charged with assault 2nd. Loften was arrested in connection with an incident reported at 1:28 p.m. on July 8,  in the Genesee County Jail. He was arraigned and returned to jail.

Jocolby S. Wallace, 34, of Bryan Street, Rochester, is charged with driving while ability impaired by drugs, aggravated unlicensed operation 3rd, smoking cannabis while driving, and obstructed view. Wallace was stopped on Feb. 14 at an undisclosed location in the City of Batavia by Officer Wesley Rissinger. Following an investigation, he was arrested on July 4.  He was arraigned and released under supervision.

Dominic J. Taylor, 20, of State Street, Batavia, is charged with menacing 2nd and criminal possession of a weapon 4th. Taylor is accused of displaying a knife during an incident on Grandview Terrace on July 3. He was arraigned and ordered to appear in City Court at a later date. 

Tonya M. Weber, 39, of Highland Park, Batavia, is charged with criminal possession of a controlled substance 3rd, criminal possession of a controlled substance 7th and criminal use of drug paraphernalia 2nd. Weber was arrested on a warrant on July 1 and allegedly found in possession of narcotics and drug paraphernalia. She was arraigned and ordered held in the Genesee County Jail.

Victor A. Rivera-Cotto, 55, no known address, is charged with aggravated DWI. Rivera-Cotto was arrested following a civilian traffic complaint on East Main Street in the City of Batavia. During the investigation, Officers Andrew Mruczek and Megan Crossett located a suspect vehicle and determined that Rivera-Cotto was allegedly operating the vehicle while intoxicated by alcohol. Rivera-Cotto was processed and released on appearance tickets. 

Heidi L. Klein, 48, of South Spruce Street, Batavia, is charged with petit larceny. Klein is accused of stealing from a business (Batavia PD did not release the name of the business) on June 22. She was issued an appearance ticket. UPDATE: The business was 7-Eleven on East Main Street, Batavia.

Adam B. Thomas, 34, of South Main Street, Batavia, is charged with criminal Contempt 2nd.  On July 11, Thomas was allegedly driving a vehicle on July 11 on North Street with a passenger in the vehicle who is protected by an order of protection. He was issued an appearance ticket.

Mark S. Lucas, 41, of Gregory Street, Rochester, was taken into custody on an arrest warrant on June 29. Lucas was charged on April 8 with aggravated unlicensed operation 3rd, driving with a suspended registration and operating with an expired inspection during a traffic stop on Main Street in Batavia. Lucas was issued several traffic tickets and released. The warrant was issued on June 14 after Lucas allegedly failed to appear in court. Lucas was arraigned and released on his own recognizance. The arrest was handled by Officer Stephen Quider.

Kimberly L. Blue, 34, of Hutchins Street, Batavia, was taken into custody on a bench warrant. Blue was initially arrested on Nov. 27, 2021, after she allegedly left four children under the age of 10 unsupervised for several hours. The warrant was issued on June 9, 2002, after Blue allegedly failed to appear in court. She was arraigned and ordered to appear in court again at a later date.

Shelby L. Fryer, 27, of Prune Street, Batavia, was taken into custody on two warrants. The first is a bench warrant that stems from a traffic stop on East Main Street on Jan. 2. Fryer was charged with aggravated unlicensed operation 2nd. A warrant was issued for Fryer on April 5 after she allegedly failed to appear in court. She was arrested on that warrant on April 21. She was arraigned and released. The current warrant was issued on May 3 after Fryer allegedly failed to appear in court again. The second warrant stems from an incident on April 21. Fryer allegedly lied to police about her identity in order to avoid being arrested on the previous warrant. She was charged with criminal impersonation 2nd. She was issued an appearance ticket and released. An arrest warrant was issued on May 3 after she allegedly failed to appear in court. Fryer was arrested on June 20 when she was located during a traffic stop on Washington Avenue in Batavia. She was arraigned and remanded to the Genesee County Jail on $500 cash bail, a $1,000 bond, or a $5,000 partially secured bond.

Christopher Joseph Tunney, 48, of Pierpoint Street, Rochester, is charged with criminal possession of a controlled substance 7th. Tunney is accused of possessing cocaine at the time of his arrest on a warrant out of Ontario County on July 7 at 10 p.m. at a location on Veterans Memorial Drive, Batavia. He was issued an appearance ticket.

Cologeno Anthony Gallo, 19, of Calpin Parkway, Clarence, is charged with grand larceny 4th. Gallo is accused of stealing a backpack with contents valued at more than $1,000 while at Darien Lake Theme Park on July 4 at 9 p.m.

Rebeca Rochelle Fugate, 22, of Lewiston Road, Batavia, is charged with harassment 2nd.  Fugate is accused of striking another person in the person's back with a bare hand at 6 p.m. on July 9 at a location on Lewiston Road, Batavia.

Maurice Richard McCoy, 70, of North Street, Batavia, is charged with DWI and driving with a BAC of .08 or greater. McCoy was stopped at 6:13 p.m. on July 2 on Veterans Memorial Drive by Deputy Alexander Hadsall.

Josephine Barreto, 52, of Batavia, is charged with petit larceny. Barreto is accused of stealing something from an undisclosed location in the Town of Batavia on July 6 at 9:25 a.m.  The State Police did not release further information. She was released on  an appearance ticket.

Zachary D. Leitten is indicted on three counts of aggravated DWI, a Class E felony,  DWI, a Class E felony, DWI, as a misdemeanor, and driving with a BAC of .08 or greater, a misdemeanor. Leitten is accused of driving drunk with children less than 15 years old in the car on Jan. 17 in the Village of Corfu. His BAC at the time of his arrest was allegedly .08.

Kent L. Handy, Jr., is indicted on a count of DWI, a Class E felony. Handy is accused of driving drunk on Jan. 28 in the Town of Stafford while on the Thruway. The indictment alleges that Handy was previously convicted of DWI on Sept. 8, 2015, in the City of Rochester.

Ryan J. Wanike is indicted on counts of DWI, a Class D felony, and driving with a BAC of .08 or greater, a Class D felony. Wanike is accused of driving drunk on Nov. 28 on Clinton Street Road in the Town of Stafford. His BAC was allegedly .08.  The indictment alleges that he had a prior DWI conviction on Sept. 24, 2015, in the Town of Gates.

Sarah L. Elmore is indicted on counts of aggravated DWI, a Class E felony, and driving with a BAC of .08 or greater, a Class E. felony. Elmore is accused of driving with a BAC 0f .08 or greater with a child less than 15 years old in the vehicle on Sept. 10 in the Town of Bethany on Molasses Hill Road.

Joseph C. Jeffords is indicted on counts of falsifying business records in the first degree, a Class E felony, and petit larceny, a Class A misdemeanor. Jeffords is accused of falsifying a bill of sale at Pawn King on Dec. 10 in order to conceal a theft from Dick's Sporting Goods.

Parker E. Payton is indicted on counts of aggravated unlicensed operation in the first degree, a Class E felony, DWI, a Class E felony, and driving with a BAC of .08 or greater, a Class E felony. Payton is accused of driving drunk while on a revoked license on Dec. 31 on South Street in the Village of Le Roy.

Dale W. Skaters, Jr., is indicted on one count of grand larceny in the fourth degree. Skates is accused of stealing property valued at more than $1,000 while at The Home Depot on Nov. 16.

Chad W. Main is indicted on counts of driving while ability impaired by drugs, a Class E felony, aggravated unlicensed operation in the first degree, a Class E felony, criminal possession of a controlled substance in the fifth degree, a Class D felony, and criminal possession of a controlled substance in the seventh degree, a Class A misdemeanor.  Main is accused of driving while impaired by drugs on Parmalee Road in the Town of Le Roy on Dec. 2 while his license was revoked. He is accused of possessing more than 500 milligrams of cocaine and of possessing methamphetamine. The indictment alleges that Main had his driving privileges revoked on April 27, 2017.

Isaac D. Abrams is indicted on one count of robbery in the second degree, a Class C violent felony. Abrams is accused of using force on March 10 to steal money and a safe from a dispensary on Poodry Road in the Town of Alabama.

Matthew M. Keiffer is indicted on counts of burglary in the third degree, a Class D felony, two counts of grand larceny in the fourth degree, a Class E felony, and criminal mischief in the third degree, a Class E felony. Kieffer is accused of breaking into a business in the Town of Pembroke on March 16, causing damage to the building, with the intent to commit a crime, and of stealing two credit cards.

Anthony F. Armstrong, Jr., is indicted on counts of burglary in the first degree, a Class B violent felony, unlawful imprisonment in the first degree, criminal possession of a weapon in the third degree, a Class D felony, menacing in the second degree, a Class A misdemeanor, and three counts of criminal mischief in the fourth degree, a Class A misdemeanor. Armstrong is accused of entering an apartment on Walnut Street, City of Batavia, on March 20, with the intent to commit a crime within, and of using a serrated blade knife to threaten another person and of unlawfully restraining that person. He is also accused of causing physical damage to the property.

Press Release:

Genesee County STOP-DWI and the Genesee County Youth Bureau are joining forces with the Batavia Muckdogs to host the annual STOP-DWI Night at the Ballpark on Tuesday, July 25 at Dwyer Stadium.

The Genesee County Youth Bureau has a limited supply of complimentary tickets available for youth and their families. Get your tickets by calling 585-344-3960. Throughout the night, families can take part in a variety of fun and interactive booths, receive numerous giveaways, and have a chance to win a bike from Adam Miller Toy & Bicycle.

STOP-DWI is looking for everyone’s help cheering on 2022 TOP COP Awardees, Genesee County’s Deputy Sheriff Investigator David Moore and LeRoy Police Department’s Officer Jordan Wolcott, as they kick off the night by throwing out the first pitches of the game. Investigator Moore and Officer Wolcott are both multi-year recipients of the program’s TOP COP award and play an essential role in protecting the roadways in Genesee County.

Gates open at 5:35 p.m. and the game starts at 6:35 p.m.

Event sponsors and contributors helping make this event possible include: Batavia Police Benevolent Association, GCASA, Leroy Moose Family Center, Salmon Orthodontics, The Red Osier landmark, WNY Association of Chiefs of Police, Batavia Lions Club, Chapin Manufacturing, Graham Corporation, Kiwanis of Batavia, Polish Falcons Nest #493, O-A Lions Club, Genesee County Deputy Sheriff’s Association, Gerace Realty, Parise’s Auto & Towing and Adam Miller Toy & Bicycle.

Submitted photos

Press Release:

Batavia Downs Gaming & Hotel announced today that due to circumstances beyond their control, the concert on July 14 will no longer feature Skid Row. Great White will perform at Pepsi’s Rockin’ The Downs Summer Concert Series.

Great White has an arsenal of songs that include the Grammy nominated Best Hard Rock Performance hit, “Once Bitten, Twice Shy,” Great White has sold over 10 million albums worldwide, has six Top 100 Billboard hits, nine Top 200 Billboard albums, two platinum albums, and clocked the top of MTV four times.

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

Tickets are available for Great White right now on BataviaConcerts.com

Press Release:

If you are 45 years old or older or have a family history of colorectal cancer, now is the time to talk with your primary care provider about what screening option is right for you. According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), colorectal cancer is the fourth most common cancer in men and women.

It is the fourth leading cause of cancer-related deaths in the United States. The CDC also notes that in New York State among all races and ethnicities, the age-adjusted rate of colon and rectum cancer was 32.8 per 100,000 people in 2020. (https://gis.cdc.gov/Cancer/USCS/#/AtAGlance/).

Colorectal (or colon) cancer is a disease where the cells in the colon or rectum grow out of control. The colon is the large intestine. The rectum is the passageway that connects the colon to the anus. When screening for colorectal cancer, providers are looking for abnormal growths called polyps, which may turn into cancer over time. Removing any polyps early on may decrease the risk of cancer.

For some people, there are no symptoms of colorectal cancer at first. Most colorectal cancers begin as precancerous polyps in the colon or rectum. “The only way to determine if a person has polyps or colorectal cancer is through regular screening,” stated Paul Pettit, Public Health Director for Genesee and Orleans County Health Departments (GO Health).

“There are several types of screening (stool tests, flexible sigmoidoscopy, colonoscopy, and CT colonography) and you should talk with your healthcare provider to determine which is best for you. Early detection is key in preventing colorectal cancer and also helps to reduce a person’s risk.”

Choosing to eat healthier has shown to reduce the risk of colorectal cancer as well as other chronic diseases such as coronary heart disease and diabetes. People are also encouraged to increase physical activity, keep a healthy weight, limit alcohol consumption and avoid the use of tobacco/nicotine. Talk with your healthcare provider about how you can reduce your risk and when you should start screening for colorectal cancer.

For more information on Health Department programs and services, visit GOHealthNY.org or call your respective health department at:

• Genesee County: 585-344-2580 ext. 5555
• Orleans County: 585-589-3278

The Perfect Game Collegiate Baseball League announced its mid-season All-Stars for each division and four players from the Batavia Muckdogs made the roster.

They are Julian Pichardo, Trey Bacon, Giuseppe Arcuri, and Adam Agresti.

We don't have a photo of Trey Bacon, of Santa Fe College. He is 1-1 with five saves, for the league lead, over eight innings pitched.  He hasn't given up an earned run and has nine strikeouts.

NEW! Super sweet country ranch that’s meticulously maintained and move in ready! This solid home has so much to offer-great spacious layout, extra large eat in kitchen with tons of cupboards, cozy wood burning/coal fireplace, that leads out to fully windowed 3 season room that overlooks a beautiful park like yard! There are two very large bedrooms with great closet space, as well as the possibility of a 3rd bedroom or ideal in-law setup with its own private entrance - currently used as private work from home space! Not only is there a 2 car attached garage there is also a 24x40 garage/barn with work shop space and large storage space as well! Situated on 1.3 acres this homes location is ideal with all the quiet and peacefulness of country living surrounded by fields and trees but only minutes to town for shopping and restaurants! This home is perfect whether you are starting out or downsizing with a lot to offer to everyone and perfect for entertaining both inside and out!! Connected to public water many upgrades and super inexpensive utility bills makes this one of the most affordable country properties out there! Delayed negotiations until Monday July 17th at 7:00. Call Reliant Real Estate to see this property today! Call 344-HOME (4663).

When pastors Jason and Michelle Norton began their church at the local YMCA with one other attendee, they had no idea their church would grow. 

“It wasn’t really a church plant,” Jason described. “It was more like a church seedling.”

The church grew slowly. 

Jason recounts some of his stressors were if anyone would show up for that week. Soon one attendee turned into five. From there, the couple moved to the YMCA’s workout room in which they would set up and transform the ordinary gym to a place of worship every Sunday. For three years, the Norton’s called the YMCA their home church. 

Now, some 60 members later and growing, the church is in its permanent home in Batavia. But it wasn’t easy. The Nortons needed to buy the building in order to honor their mortgage plan. The pair decided to launch a building campaign in which locals and others could donate to their cause and help them buy the building. The goal was to raise a whopping $50,000 in two years. 

Through the donations of the local Batavian community and businesses, they were able to raise $20,000 in-house alone. Then, an unexpected donor came up with the balance -- Pastor Greg Locke of Global Vision Bible Church in Mt. Juliette, Tenn.

Locke is known for helping build and donate to Christian churches around the country. He heard about EverPresent’s need for their building and wrote a check for $31,000. 

“At this point now, the church technically has no debt. We own our own space.” Jason said. 

To celebrate the church’s tenure, EverPresent Church is planning on throwing a celebration on Sunday.  All in the community are welcome. Attendees can expect a regular service with guest worship leader Greg Skolaski, a dedication of various ministry leaders followed by hors d'oeuvres. 

“A huge thank you,” the Nortons said to those who would be unable to attend. “The businesses of Batavia over the years, prior to paying off the mortgage, have been very generous. We do basket raffles and fundraisers; they’ve always been super generous with supporting anything that we do. A super huge thank you to every business and all those who live in Batavia and all those who have done what they could to help us be successful.” 

At a Strength in Numbers suicide prevention workshop on Sunday at Batavia Downs, Sarah Fedus recalled her late daughter found -- her love of animals, her entrepreneurship, and her passion for cheerleading, modeling, and music.

"She had a zest for life, and she lit up the room when she walked in," said Fedus, a Batavia resident.

Fedus was one of the featured speakers at the event, which was organized by Dan Clor and Sara Betz, local residents who lead Strength in Numbers, a veterans outreach program.

Betz said that because both she and Dan have been touched by losing people close to them to suicide, they wanted to use the organization to help raise awareness about suicide prevention. 

"Strength In Numbers and American Warrior has built youth mentorship programs and veteran-related programs to keep not only our youth but military veterans in a healthy headspace day after day through an array of fitness and entrainment programs," Betz said. "Dan is a Marine veteran, is the catalyst and personal connection to such a movement. We, in turn, allow veterans to become coaches within these avenues to train our youth as a way to give back to re-spark one's sense of purpose. It is equally as important for Strength In Numbers to make an impact on our Youth as a whole for a brighter future through these same wellness avenues."

Fedus recalled that In 2019, her daughter was diagnosed with anxiety and started medication and counseling, but it wasn't enough. She started hurting herself, and then in February 2020, she tried to commit suicide.

Madeline Bartz was only 12 years old.

During an admissions interview at the hospital, Fedus learned something shocking: from the age of six until she was 10, her abuser was a close contact who wasn't much older than her.

"I want to share information about childhood trauma and abuse because it is not usually the creepy person down the street that is the abuser," Fedus said. "It’s usually someone you know. Someone you wouldn’t ever imagine. According to a 2003 National Institute of Justice report, three out of four adolescents who have been sexually assaulted were victimized by someone they knew well."

Madeline apparently wasn't believed by the first adult she told -- Fedus didn't say who that was -- and that left her doubly traumatized. 

As a result, Madeline was dealing with multiple mental health issues.

In her 14th year, Madeline took her own life.

As a result of what she went through with her daughter, Fedus started Madeline Bartz Mission, Inc., a non-profit with a mission of bringing support, compassion and resources to those affected by childhood trauma and the mental illnesses they cause.

At Sunday's event, Fedus was talking publicly for the first time about what she went through with her daughter.

"When Dan and Sara first reached out to me about being a part of this event and supporting the Strength in Numbers Organization and their cause, I had no hesitation in doing so, Fedus said.  "While I do not have firsthand experience with their organization, after looking into it and seeing the great work that they do with veterans and now youth, I knew it was important to bring this to light and support them, especially in our local area. 

Betz said Strength in Numbers is partnering with suicide awareness organizations to connect with the parents of kids who need healthy outlets and offer programs to assist them as a way to explore their individuality. 

"Strength In Numbers is also a proud partner of Action For A Better Community in Rochester, attending elementary schools and offering our services at their summer camps," Betz said. "We host public events, offer luxury suite programs at live sporting and entertainment events, network to local businesses selling our branded chocolate and coffee packaged by Oliver's Candies in Batavia, and much more."

Patrick Dadey also spoke about the suicide of his daughter, Makenna, who was only 13 and an 8th grader at Gates Chili Middle School, when she took her own life.

Dadey opened by playing a performance of Kenna, at age 11, singing and playing on guitar "Decline" by Miley Cyrus.

"Did you kind of see her mental illness? Most of the time, you cannot tell by looking at someone that they have a mental illness," Dadey said. "You can see a broken leg or a broken arm because that person has a cast. We need to start treating mental health like physical health and go and seek help."

Dadey said two days after Christmas in 2016, he found Kenna after a suicide attempt and had to perform CPR.  First responders were there in minutes.  She was transported to Strong Memorial Hospital and admitted to the Pediatric ICU.

Two weeks later, she died.

She was 13.

"There is not a worst failing as a parent than losing a child," Dadey said.

He founded Kenna's Fight, a non-profit that supports youth behavioral health programs.

He told the story of an event the organization founded that featured a speaker who is only one of 35 people who has survived, of 1,800, a jump off the Golden Gate Bridge.

A short time later, he got a call from a mother who said, "You saved my son's life."

A group of the boys' friends had been at the talk, and later that night, talking with their friend, they realized something wasn't right. Armed with information about intervention, the boys "took action," as Dadey put it.  The boy received the help he needed.

"At Kenna's benefit in 2019, he gave me $300 he raised from mowing lawns," Dadey said.

The Batavia Ramparts Squirt III and Peewee III travel hockey teams are having a drive-thru car wash today at J. Leonard McAndrew Funeral Home, 2 Bogue Ave., Batavia, from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. to help fundraise for the next upcoming hockey tournaments.  

They are accepting donations and also offering hot dogs and lemonade too.

CLICK HERE to purchase your tickets!

Entering the bottom of the eighth inning in their game against the Geneva Red Wings at Dwyer Stadium on Tuesday, the Batavia Muckdogs were in danger of dropping their second game in a row for the first time since mid-June when the team rallied for four runs and a 5-2 win.

With one out, Cam Carignan reached base on a walk. Rashad Robinson followed with a double, driving in Carignan to tie the game. An infield single by Josh Leadem put runners at first and third. Lucas Lopez singled to right, driving in Robinson to give Batavia the lead at 3-2.  Lopez stole second.

With two outs after Adam Agresti struck out, the Red Wings gave Giuseppe Acuri a free pass. 

Trey Bacon walked, scoring Leadem.  Cristian Bernadini singled to center, scoring Lopez.  Arcuri was thrown out at the plate trying to score, ending the inning.

Jacob Bruning, from Gasport, recorded the final three outs in his first appearance of the season to get the save. He struck out two batters.

Michael Pedraza (3-1)  got the final out on a strikeout in the top of the eighth, making him the winning pitcher.

Alexander's Ty Woods started and went five innings, giving up two unearned runs, three hits and striking out six Red Wings.

Lopez was named Player of the Game, going 3-4 with a run scored, RBI, and stolen base.  Robinson was 2-3 with a run scored, RBI, and a double.

Arcuri was 1-2 with two walks.

Nicholas Franceschi took the loss for Geneva, giving up four runs in 2/3 of an inning. Geneva's starter Drew Mun went evening innings and fanned seven giving up only one run.

Batavia remains atop the Western Division of the PGCBL at 20-9, 2.5 games ahead of Jamestown.

After a day off today, Batavia plays at home on Thursday against Elmira.  Game time is 5 p.m.

For more photos and to purchase prints, click here.

Singer Melzie Case, accompanying herself on piano, and drummer Bob Chaplin, performed a free concert at Richmond Memorial Library on Tuesday.

Photos by Howard Owens.

Police are investigating the shooting of a woman on Holland Avenue in the City of Batavia just after midnight on Wednesday.

The woman was found with a gunshot wound by officers after dispatchers received a report of a disturbance at 12:07 a.m. involving 10 to 15 people on Holland Avenue. There was a report of callers hearing gunshots. 

When officers arrived, multiple people fled. 

The woman was transported to ECMC by ground ambulance.  Police said the status of her injuries are not known.

Batavia PD states it will not release further information at this time.

Anyone with information is asked to contact Detective Sergeant Matt Lutey at 585-345-6311, the Batavia Police Department's confidential tip line at 585-345-6370.

I've enjoyed walking the streets of Batavia this summer. I am going to take you on one of my walks. This walk is like taking a trip back to when I was young. Everything is jumbled, but certain places take me back to that time. 

Walking down Liberty Street, I stopped and looked at a small new park. That was the place where my favorite bakery stood, Pellegrino's. I loved their jelly doughnuts, bread, and pizza. I loved the smell of garlic and onion from the open windows as I walked to Mass at St. Anthony's Church.

Walking by St. Anthony's Church makes my heart so sad. I can imagine hearing children playing outside for recess or walking quietly into church for Mass. I remember being at my Aunt Maggie Worth's wedding and her wedding reception at the Community Center.  I never imagined St. Anthony's would close; I know more churches will follow. Back in the day, when those church doors opened, hundreds of people would pour out of the doors, another sad chapter. 

Walking by Kibbe Park, I remember taking our daughters swimming in the wading pool. If we needed a part for our television set, there was a neighborhood store on Jackson Street we could walk to for a part for our TV set.  

Now I'm walking by the Pok-A- Dot, and that reminds me of all the times our dad took us there to give our poor mom a break from her six kids. 

Southside Deli, the former Riccobono's, is where we bought Italian cheese for Sunday sauce. Joe Rose's novelty store on Ellicott Street was where you could buy all those crazy gadgets we loved. Was that where my brothers bought caps and Chinese handcuffs? They even sold fake poop and fake vomit.  

You can't forget Angie's Restaurant, located near Joe Rose's. 

I'm now on Main Street, which fills me with sadness like all my baby boomer friends. No sense rehashing what we lost, but we shared great memories from Main Street in its heyday.  

I'm now walking by St. Joseph's Church and the school I attended as a child. Those memories are filled with nuns, jump roping, and playing basketball on the tarmac. We didn't have a gym then, so we made our fun.   

I was trying to look into Quartley's store window on Washington Ave the other day. I remembered all the mom-and-pop stores on almost every street corner. The store closest to you was your favorite. When I was young, my store was Red and White on Ross Street. We would take our recyclable glass pop bottles to the store to get our change for making purchases from the penny candy box. 

Growing up on Evergreen Drive, John Kennedy School was in our backyard. We watched it being built. I remember roller skating with our ball-bearing skates on the sidewalks, hoping I would not lose the skate key. 

Now walking has taken me to our New Pool behind MacArthur Park. It was a summer filled with swimming and friends. We couldn't wait for the doors to open, pay our 25 cents, and get our key for our locker. We wore the key on our ankles.   

Every park I would walk by had another special memory because in the summer, our days were spent at our park, and our park would be competing in the Park Parade in August. 

Walking down Richmond Avenue, I stopped and looked at the hill at State Street Park, what we called it back in our day. Going down that hill in our flexible red flyer wooden sled was so much fun on Saturday afternoons. 

It seems now that I'm in my  70s, those cherished memories just bring a smile and sometimes tears to my eyes. There is one word that describes how I am feeling:  nostalgic. It was a slower lifestyle, surrounded by family and friends and creating our memories. I hope you can also feel that contentment of the 60s I am reliving on my daily walks! 

Photos by Anne Marie Starowitz.

Press Release:

The Genesee County Economic Development Center and National Grid today announced that a 1.9-mile portion of a 115-kilovolt electric transmission line in Genesee County has been relocated to open more than 300 acres of land for future development at the Science & Technology Advanced Manufacturing Park site.

The transmission line, which had previously cut across a portion of the 1,250-acre site, now runs adjacent to it. Future tenants will join Plug Power and Edwards at STAMP and have clean hydropower delivered to them from the Niagara Power Project in Lewiston, N.Y. Delivering hydropower to STAMP aligns with New York’s Climate Leadership and Community Protection Act goal to obtain 70 percent of electricity statewide from renewable sources by 2030 on the path to a zero-emission grid.

More than $1 billion will be invested at STAMP by Plug Power and Edwards for projects that will create up to 680 new, family-sustaining jobs in the emerging green hydrogen and semiconductor sectors. Plug Power is constructing North America’s largest green hydrogen manufacturing facility with a $677 million investment that will produce 74 tons of green hydrogen a day. Edwards is investing approximately $319 million to build a semiconductor dry pump manufacturing facility that the company has dubbed as its factory of the future.

“Between Edwards and Plug Power, and recent infrastructure upgrades thanks to Governor Kathy Hochul and New York State, STAMP has generated $1 billion of capital investment and National Grid has played a vital role in helping us attract projects that will benefit Genesee County and surrounding communities, including the Buffalo and Rochester regions, for generations to come,” said GCEDC President and CEO Steve Hyde. 

“The hydropower provided by the New York Power Authority and the infrastructure built by National Grid are energizing companies of the future right here at STAMP, giving us a competitive advantage as we compete globally for companies in these emerging business sectors.”

“The electric infrastructure and equipment needed to serve STAMP customers are state-of-the-art and will provide the necessary capacity to deliver renewable hydropower to Plug Power and Edwards, as well as future STAMP tenants,” said National Grid Regional Director Ken Kujawa. He added that the transmission circuit at STAMP is paired with an additional 115 KV transmission line that will be connected to a 600-megawatt substation that is currently under construction. 

“We have a responsibility to provide affordable, reliable power to our customers and the GCEDC and Genesee County community are building something special at STAMP.” In addition to working with GCEDC on the transmission line relocation, National Grid’s commitment to STAMP has included funding from its robust suite of economic development programs, which have been used to support the site’s marketing efforts.

Since 2003, National Grid’s 18 economic development programs have provided more than $145 million in assistance, helping to create or retain more than 65,000 jobs and supporting almost $10.5 billion in private and public investment across upstate New York. More information about National Grid’s economic development programs is available at www.shovelready.com.