Assemblyman Steve Hawley's pitch to the committee of eight selecting the possible GOP candidate to replace Rep. Chris Collins on the November ballot got the support of Andrew Young today.

Young grabbed a couple of Hawley signs from his garage and replaced "Assembly" with "Congress" and stuck the signs in front of his business, Reliant Reality, on West Main.

Young said he made the signs on his own with "no input or awareness on Steve's part. I did it because I think he is the best man for the job. He has proven to be an effective advocate for our community and he has lived up to the highest level of integrity. Perhaps more important than anything right now, we could use some old-fashioned integrity."

UPDATE: Michael Pullinzi did it first out on Route 98, which Young noted when we spoke about his signs.

Young submitted the top photo, Pullinzi​ the bottom photo.

Press release:

The Batavia Police Department is investigating a personal injury accident which occurred on today at approximately 9:15 a.m. The accident reportedly occurred at the traffic circle and involved a bicyclist being struck by a sports utility vehicle.

Anyone with information in reference to the case may contact Officer Kyle Krtanik at the Batavia Police Department at 585-345-6350, the confidential tip line at 585-345-6370 or online. 

UPDATE: Additional information:

A female in her early 20s was riding her bicycle in the roundabout when she was struck by a gold SUV operated by a male believed to be in his 30s with short blond hair. The female sustained only minor injuries and was treated at a local medical facility. The vehicle then left the scene.

Press release:

Photo: Ed and Bev Corcoran, of Batavia, relax in their home, where he is recuperating from surgery. After running Stephen’s Table at the Assembly of God on North Spruce Street for 26 years, health issues have forced the couple to shut the soup kitchen down. Photo by Virginia Kropf.

Ed Corcoran is the first to admit he isn’t a chef, and when he stepped up to run Stephen’s Table at Batavia Assembly of God Church, he didn’t know how to boil water.

Twenty-six years and more than 250,000 meals later, Ed, 75, and his wife Bev, 72, have been forced to close the soup kitchen, after he suffered a fall in May and required brain surgery.

Stephen’s Table was an idea of a late member of the Batavia Assembly of God Church, who asked Ed to help him. After meeting with attorneys to complete the required paperwork and discovering he wouldn’t be paid to run the soup kitchen, the other man backed out and Ed was left “holding the bag.”

 With Bev’s help and plenty of donations from the community, Ed started making soup.

“Soup and sandwich was the thing people wanted most,” Bev said. “And we served a beverage and dessert. A lot of people came because they liked to joke with Ed.”

Ed developed a camaraderie with those he served, feeding not only their stomachs but their souls. Joking back and forth was as much a part of lunch as the soup.

The soup kitchen was a haven for the homeless. Some would come in the morning just to get out of the cold, and sit and have coffee and donuts while Ed cooked.

“At one time Batavia had 45 homeless, and we saw most of them,” Ed said. “It’s heartbreaking to think we had to close the kitchen.”

Stephen’s Table was open for lunch Monday through Friday and most days attendance averaged between 20 and 30. Once, they served 90, Bev said.

“We always had enough food,” Bev said. “God always provided.”

The Corcorans praised the community who supported them with donations of food – local churches, BJs, Walmart, Tops, Pizza Hut and bread stores. Then there were farmers and just people in general who brought in fresh fruits and vegetables.

In the beginning, there was just Ed and Bev, but gradually more people started volunteering to help. In the summer, a lot of youth would come to help. Genesee Justice sent people who had to do community service; GCASA sent their people; for years individuals from the ARC were sent to help.

For the past 17 years, Stephen’s Table has partnered with the Genesee County Office for the Aging’s RSVP program.

“Ed and Bev’s volunteer service this past year alone was more than 1,800 hours,” said Courtney Iberi from the OFA. “Since partnering with RSVP, Ed has volunteered more than 23,000 hours and Bev almost 9,000 hours.”

One of the RSVP volunteers was Tim Tracz, who started helping at Stephen’s Table after he retired from Corrections a year and a half ago.

“I always enjoyed working with the elderly and became a driver for Meals on Wheels,” Tracz said. “When I still had a little more time to give, I asked Courtney what I could do and she told me about Stephen’s Table.”

Tracz said it was amazing to find anyone like the Corcorans who would volunteer for 26 years.

“I saw the dignity with which Ed treated the elderly, the poor, the substance abuser and the mentally ill,” Tracz said. “He and Bev just concentrated on serving the meals, and relationships developed.”

He said this was a story, not only of Ed and Bev, but of the community whose support made it possible and Assembly of God Church which allowed use of the building.

Ed said their agreement with Assembly of God called for rent of $1 per year.

“Basically, we had use of the kitchen for nothing,” Ed said.

Tracz recalled a man named Clarence who used to come to the soup kitchen, not for a meal, but for a place to go. He would come in and just start singing the “good old songs.”

Then there was “Bo.”

“He came more than he needed to because it gave him hope and fulfillment,” Tracz said. “People who came to Stephen’s Table knew they weren’t going to be asked for a donation and nobody was going to preach to them.”

Tracz said volunteering for RSVP at the soup kitchen proved to him, “You certainly get more than you give.”

The Corcorans said no one was ever turned away from Stephen’s Table, as long as they behaved. Only once in 26 years did they have to have two people removed for creating a disturbance.

They will cherish the memories of those they served all those years, such as the homeless man who was so cold he couldn’t carry his bowl of soup. Or the time five teenagers who came in and said they were homeless, having left home because their parents were so into drugs they couldn’t stand it.

The Corcorans are hopeful the poor and homeless will find help at other agencies, such as The Salvation Army.

“I know there is food available to the needy, but not a prepared meal and the companionship,” Bev said. “But with Ed’s health, we couldn’t think of keeping the soup kitchen open.”

Ed and Bev said they always figured they would keep going as long as the volunteers and donations didn’t stop.

“We never thought an injury would stop us,” Bev said.

Editor's Note: Click on the links below for previous coverage about the Corcorans:

• RSVP of Genesee County awards volunteers
• Ed and Beverly Corcoran, who tirelessly help feed the hungry, to receive Health and Humanitarian Award
• Corcorans honored with Health and Humanitarian Award for work feeding Batavia's needy

These are pictures from this morning of the ongoing work on the new Bethany Center Road Bridge over Route 20 in Bethany.

A foreman said the work is on schedule and they expect the bridge to be ready for traffic the first week of September.

Empire Access suffered a significant fiber network outage earlier tonight. Here is a statement from the company:

A truck struck and sheared off a pole at the interconnection point of two fiber networks providing service to our customers in the Western New York area. The damage to the fiber-optic cables is extensive, but crews are on site and will restore services as quickly as possible.

For status updates, please visit our website at:

https://status.empireaccess.com/

A car with no license plates was reported on fire on the Thruway side of the toll booth in Pembroke.

A toll taker reports the driver got out of the car and into a car driven by a female.

The car is a Nissan Altima.

Officers on scene suspect it's stolen and they are asking to see any Thruway video surveillance of the area.

Pembroke and Indian Falls fire departments dispatched.

UPDATE 10:32 a.m.: Fire is out.

The eight men who met with GOP party leaders in Geneseo yesterday to discuss their interest in replacing Chris Collins as the Republican nominee in the 27th Congressional District were met by a group of reporters as they walked into the meeting, including two hopefuls from Batavia, Assemblyman Steve Hawley, and Iraq War veteran David Bellavia.

Both Hawley and Bellavia stuck to an upbeat message about serving the district and noting the voters in the 27th are perhaps a little tired of scandal from their representative in Washington.

"We got to bring dignity back," Bellavia said. "These people (in the NY-27) have been through a lot. I mean, it's our second time around."

Bellavia was referring to Rep. Chris Lee, who was accused of posting shirtless pictures of himself on Craigslist while looking for transexual dates, and Rep. Chris Collins, currently under indictment on charges of securities fraud, wire fraud, and lying to the FBI.

"We've got to put that behind us and get a candidate that the people can get behind," Bellavia said. "Vitality is important and the Republican Party needs to bring energy back. You start by registering more Republicans and get more people to join the committees. That's the kind of a model that I'm bringing to the table and that's what I'm proud to represent."

Collins has bowed out of the race for 2018 -- a critical mid-term election for the GOP to try and retain a majority in the House of Representatives -- and now the Republicans are scrambling to figure out a legal way to get Collins off the November ballot, pick a new candidate and get that candidate's campaign up and running. All under the assumption that after the Collins fiasco, the Democrats are coming hard after this seat, fully funding Nate McMurray's effort to switch the 27th from red to blue.

Under the circumstances, Hawley suggested, the voters of the NY-27 are ready for an experienced representative with the maturity to handle the job.

"They've had a long, long road over the past eight to 10 years," Hawley said. "This is about representing people and having a feel for what it is they need and I think what they need is a calm, steady, firm hand and the ability to be able to listen to what their needs, wants and desires."

With a short campaign window, Hawley said he can raise the funds needed for the campaign, and though he can't afford to self-fund, he can make a contribution.

"I am a prolific fundraiser and the vice chairman of the Republican Campaign Committee and I have a healthy amount in my Friends of Steve Hawley account," Hawley said. "Where we should be looking is for small donations and contributions from people who think you would be able to do the job for them. Whether it's 10 dollars, 25 dollars, 50 bucks, that's really what America is all about."

Fundraising will be a challenge, Bellavia said but he also said it's going to take a lot of hard work to win the race.

"It's an 80-day election cycle," Bellavia said. "Everyone's worried about funding. The D Triple C is going to put in a lot of money into this campaign and you've got a guy out there in Grand Island -- who ... he's going to need a real estate agent to be your congressman -- but he's working his tail off. He's a good guy who's out there working hard and it's going to take a lot of elbow grease to be able to defeat him."

Hawley and Bellavia were showing up for kind of a candidates forum with 17 party leaders from the NY-27. This wasn't the formal interview with the eight county chairs nor were any decisions made about who to support as the party's nominee.

Also attending were Erie County Legislator Ed Rath, Erie County Comptroller Stefan Mychajliw, Assemblyman Ray Walter, State Senator Robert Ortt, former gubernatorial candidate and former Buffalo school board member Carl Paladino, and State Senator Michael Ranzenhofer.

Bellavia said the party bosses should pick the right person for the job, not somebody who just wants the title of congressman.

"My whole life has been about service," Bellavia said. "I mean, we were electing a congressman. Why are we doing this? Are we doing this for ourselves? Are we doing this because we're bored? Or are we doing this because it's our time and you know we held the position before but this one's really super juicy? Are we doing this because we want to serve our country? I believe that this country is worthy of any sacrifice and if I'm called to duty I'm going answer that duty you know."

Hawley also said the short election time frame will mean he needs to work hard if he's selected to represent the party but, he said, that isn't any different than what he does every election cycle.

"I have campaigned door-to-door in this Assembly District and before that for the county legislature, door-to-door all of the time," Hawley said. "Last time I didn't have an opponent. I didn't like that. I think people deserve a choice. And even though I had no opponent I still went door-to-door. Some people would say, 'What the heck you're doing here?' And I said, 'I'm here to ask for your support and listen to those questions you might have.' So, whether we've got an opponent or not, whether they're well-financed, whether they're well known, it's all about the people."

Top composite photo: Steve Hawley on the left, and David Bellavia.

Audio and images provided by our news partner, 13WHAM. For their story about the event, click here.

Dustin Wayne Bogue, 36, no permanent address, is charged with: second-degree attempted assault -- attempt to cause injury to officer/fireman/EMT/hospital staff; criminal mischief, intentionally damaging property; and third-degree criminal tampering. Bogue was arrested at 3:01 p.m. on Aug. 7 after he allegedly initiated a physical altercation with Mercy EMS paramedics at UMMC. He was arraigned and jailed without bail and will appear in City Court at a later date. The case was handled by Batavia Police Officer Marc Lawrence, assisted by Officer Frank Klimjack.

Kelly M. Howell, 32, of Monclair Avenue, Batavia, is charged with: endangering the welfare of a child; possession of a hypodermic instrument; second-degree criminal use of drug paraphernalia; and criminal possession of a controlled substance, 7th. The charges stem from an incident 6:07 p.m. on Aug. 14 in which narcotics and narcotics equipment were allegedly found inside this female's residence on Monclair Avenue, where three children under the age of 17 had the ability to gain access to them. Howell was jailed in lieu of $10,000 cash or bond and was due in City Court on Aug. 15. The case was handled by Batavia Police Officer Chad Richards, assisted by Officer Christopher Camp.

Robert M. Sindon, 37, of West Genesee Street, Clyde, is charged with: DWI -- with a BAC of .08 percent or more; DWI; Leandra's Law DWI -- passenger less than 16 years of age. Sindon was stopped at 5:37 p.m. on Aug. 6 on East Main Street in Batavia following an investigation into a traffic complaint. It was alleged that he was driving a vehicle while intoxicated with two children under age 15 as passengers. He was jailed without bail and was due in City Court on Aug. 7. The case was handled by Batavia Police Officer Stephen Cronmiller, assisted by Officer Christopher Lindsay.

Kevin M. McCoy, 51, of Central Avenue, Batavia, is charged with: third-degree criminal mischief -- property damage greater than $250; second-degree criminal use of drug paraphernalia; and second-degree harassment -- physical contact. McCoy was arrested on East Main Street in Batavia on Aug. 13. Police were called to an address there at 12:38 a.m. after McCoy allegedly broke an apartment window. McCoy had fled the scene but showed back up there awhile later. After attempting to elude police again, he was eventually apprehended and arrested. He was arraigned in City Court and jailed without bail. He is due in court again on Aug. 23. The case was handled by Batavia Police Officer Nicole McGinnis, assisted by Officer Felicia DeGroot.

Paul J. Doctor, 40, of Oak Street, Batavia, is charged with: criminal possession of a controlled substance, 7th; second-degree criminal use of durg paraphernalia; unlawful possession of marijuana; and speeding. He was arrested at 10:15 p.m. Aug. 5 on Clinton Street in Batavia following a traffic stop for speeding. He was allegedly found to be in possession of a crack pipe, chore boy, plunger with drug residue and marijuana. He was due in City Court on Aug. 14. The case was investigated by Batavia Police Officer Jason Davis, assisted by Officer Christopher Lindsay.

Jason M. Frens, 47, of Griffin Road, Basom, is charged with second-degree criminal use of drug paraphernalia and seventh-degree criminal possession of a controlled substance. Frens was arrested on the charges following a traffic stop at 10:15 p.m. on Aug. 5 on Clinton Street in Batavia. He was a passenger in the vehicle that was stopped and allegedly was found to be in possession of a crack pipe, chore boy, and plunger with drug residue. He was due in City Court on Aug. 14. The case was investigated by Batavia Police Officer Jason Davis, assisted by Officer Christopher Lindsay.

Andrew M. Cerrillo, 27, of Stony Point Road, Grand Island, is charged with: felony DWI -- previous conviction offense within 10 years; speeding; no turn signal; and expired 2017 10-day inspection. He was arrested at 3:35 p.m. on Aug. 14 on Main Road in Stafford after he was stopped for speeding. He was jailed on $5,000 cash or $10,000 bond. The case was handled by Genesee County Sheriff's Sgt. John Baiocco, assisted by Deputy James Stack.

Alexandria Claire Pisarek, 25, of Maple Avenue, Oakfield, is charged with seventh-degree criminal possession of a controlled substance. She was arrested at 5:08 p.m. on Aug. 15 following a transport to GC Jail. She was allegedly found to be in possession of 20 small bags of heroin. She is due in City Court to answer the charge on Oct. 16. The case was investigated by Genesee County Sheriff's Deputy Joshua Brabon.

Patrick S. Rumble, 31, of Hutchins Place, Batavia, is accused of first-degree criminal contempt, third-degree robbery, and fourth-degree grand larceny. Rumble was arrested then arraigned in City Court on Aug. 9. He was arrested on a warrant for the charges. On Aug. 1, he allegedly stole a cell phone from an individual's hand and that person had a stay away order of protection against Rumble. During the course of the crime, Rumble allegedly pushed and struck the victim, all in violation of the court order. He was jailed in lieu of $5,000 cash and $10,000 bond and was due in court today (Aug. 16). The case was handled by Batavia Police Officer Jamie Givens.

Jeffrey Michael Johnson, 30, of Jackson Street, Batavia, is charged with second-degree harassment. He was arrested at 8:18 p.m. on Aug. 5 at 101 Jackson St. in Batavia after he allegedly pushed a female during an incident. He was due in City Court on Aug. 14. The case was handled by Batavia Police Officer Mitchell Cowen, assisted by Officer Stephen Cronmiller.

Andrew J. Duckworth, 39, of Monclair Avenue, Batavia, is charged with first-degree criminal contempt and fouth-degree criminal mischief. Duckworth was arrested at 6:04 p.m. on Aug. 13 following a domestic incident on Montclair Avenue in which he allegedly damaged property and violated a court order of protection. He was jailed without bail and was due in City Court on Aug. 14. The case was handled by Batavia Police Officer Marc Lawrence, assisted by Officer Christopher Lindsay.

Ahdeosun R. Aiken, 20, of Ellicott Avenue, Batavia, is charged with second-degree criminal contempt. At 8:19 p.m. on Aug. 3 Aiken was arrested on Walnut Street in Batavia for allegedly violating a stay away order of protection. He is accused of being at the protected party's residence during an incident. He was released on his own recognizance and was due in City Court on Aug. 6. The case was handled by Batavia Police Officer Christopher Lindsay, assisted by Officer Jamie Givens.

Carrie L. Hensley, 41, of Highland Park, Batavia, is charged with: DWI; aggravated unlicensed operation of a motor vehicle in the third degree; and DWI with a BAC or .08 percent or more. She was arrested at 12:16 a.m. on Aug. 13 on Central Avenue in Batavia after she was allegedly found to have driven a motor vehicle while intoxicated. She was issued appearance tickets and is due in City Court on Aug. 22. The case was handled by Batavia Police Officer Christopher Lindsay, assisted by Officer Felicia DeGroot.

Steven D. Clattenburg, 58, of Washington Avenue, Batavia, is charged with: not wearing a seat belt; DWI; DWI -- with a BAC or .08 percent or more; and unlawful possession of marijuana. Clattenburg was arrested at 7:37 p.m. on Jefferson Avenue in Batavia following a traffic stop for no seat belt. He was issued appearance tickets and is due in City Court on Aug. 22. The case was handled by Batavia Police Officer Stephen Cronmiller, assisted by Officer Christopher Camp.

Kyle A. Scheuerlein, 25, Leyland Lane, Aurora, Ill., is charged with: DWI -- first offense; refusal to take a breath test; and failure to stop at stop sign. He was arrested at 1:16 a.m. on Clinton Street in Batavia on Aug. 4. He was issued tickets and released. He is due in court on Aug. 22. The case was handled by Batavia Police Officer Matthew Wojtaszczyk.

James R. Tillery, 46, of Farwell Drive, Batavia, is charged with second-degree harassment -- physical contact. He was arrested at 1 a.m. on Aug. 11 on Farwell Drive following an incident in which he allegedly struck someone. He was issued an appearance ticket and was due in City Court on Aug. 14. The case was handled by Batavia Police Officer Marc Lawrence, assisted by Officer Kevin DeFelice.

Justin T. Gladney, 29, of North Spruce Street, Batavia, is charged with petit larceny. He was arrested at 4:30 p.m. on East Main Street in Batavia and is accused of stealing a bicycle. He was issued an appearance ticket and was due in City Court on Aug. 14. The case was handled by Batavia Police Officer Christopher Lindsay, assisted by Officer Chad Richards.

Austin B. Nelson, 22, of Thomas Avenue, Batavia, is charged with petit larceny. At 7 p.m. on July 5, he allegedly stole money from the place of business where he was employed on East Main Street, Batavia. He was arrested and issued an appearance ticket and is due in Batavia City Court on Aug. 28. The case was investigated by Batavia Police Officer Jamie Givens.

Isaiah James Alfred Munroe, 28, of Liberty Street, Batavia, is charged with fourth-degree criminal mischief. He was arrested following the investigation into an allegation that he damaged a door to a residence on Liberty Street in the city at 4:45 p.m. on Aug. 11. He was processed at police headquarters, issued a computer-generated appearance ticket and released. He was due in City Court on Aug. 14. The case was handled by Batavia Police Officer Kevin DeFelice, assisted by Officer Matthew Lutey.

Danny D. Williams, 29, of Pearl Street, Batavia, is charged with disorderly conduct. He was arrested at 8:34 p.m. on Aug. 10 at 107 Watson St. in Batavia. His arrest came after a disturbance on Watson Street; Williams allegedly would not disperse and continued to attempt to fight another male at the location. Williams is due in City Court on Aug. 21. The case was handled by Batavia Police Officer Mitchell Cowen, assisted by Officer Chad Richards.

Dylan Richard Brandt, 25, of Larrowe Street, Cohocton, is charged with trespass. He was arrested at 8:15 p.m. on Aug. 11 at Darien Lake Theme Park after he allegedly reentered the park after having been ejected for shoplifting merchandise from a gift shop. The case was handled by Genesee County Sheriff's Sgt. Thomas Sanfratello.

A 17-year-old resident of Le Roy is charged with second-degree harassment following an incident on Main Street in Batavia at 6:14 p.m. on July 13. It is alleged that this female engaged in a physical altercation with a subject at a restaurant. She was issued an appearance ticket for City Court on Aug. 22. The case was handled by Batavia Police Officer Chad Richards, assisted by Officer Mitchell Cowen.

A 17-year-old who resides on Sheridan Road in Bergen Riga is charged with being in Austin Park on Jefferson Avenue in the City of Batavia after hours. The female was issued a ticket at 11:47 p.m. on Aug. 2 and is due in City Court on Aug. 21. The case was handled by Batavia Police Officer Peter Flanagan, assisted by Officer Christopher Camp.

A 16-year-old resident of Batavia was arrested for littering at 7:46 a.m. on West Main Street in Batavia. The male allegedly dumped garbage onto property at the Speedway and did not pick it up after he was asked to do so by store employees. He was issued an appearance ticket for Aug. 21 in City Court. The case was handled by Batavia Police Det. Eric Hill, assisted by Officer Frank Klimjack.

Two 17-year-old males who resident on Pearl Street in Batavia are charged with unlawful possession of marijuana. The charges stem from an investigation into a vehicle located in a city park after hours. It is alleged the two males had marijuana in their possession at the time -- 8:49 p.m. on Aug. 9. Both were issued appearance tickets and are due in City Court on Aug. 21. The case was handled by Batavia Police Officer Chad Richards, assisted by Officer Mitchell Cowen.

UPDATE 8:30 p.m.: Tammy Taylor has been located. She is safe.

Press release:

The City of Batavia Police Department is asking for assistance in locating the individual pictured in the attached photo. Tammy L. Taylor, age 50, of the City of Batavia, is listed as a Missing Vulnerable Adult.

Tammy was last seen on Aug. 15 around 1:30 p.m. in the City of Batavia, she is believed to have been dropped off in the area of 625 Elmwood Ave. in the City of Rochester by a transportation service for a pre-arranged appointment. At this time her whereabouts are unknown, and we are asking for the public’s assistance.

Tammy is listed as biracial, approximately 5’03”, 120 lbs., with brown hair and brown eyes last seen wearing a black and white shirt, jeans and flip-flops. Tammy suffers from bipolar disorder, PTSD and has a diminished mental capacity. She is missing from a residential facility in the City of Batavia and may be in need of medical attention.

Anyone with information regarding Tammy’s whereabouts or anyone who has seen Tammy is asked to contact the City of Batavia Police Department at (585) 345-6350, information may also be submitted via the confidential tip line at 345-6370 or via the City of Batavia Police Department website. 

A series of strong thunderstorms is passing through the area, reports the National Weather Service.

The storms may intensify and torrential rains are possible, which could cause localized flooding.

Winds in excess of 30 mph are expected.

By Tim Bojarski, for Batavia Downs

Although Batavia Downs has had their 2018 live racing season underway since Monday (July 23), this will be the first regularly scheduled Friday (Aug. 17) of the meet due to other events going on at the facility. Friday racing will now be conducted weekly until the end of the meet with a 6 p.m. post time. 

This Friday will feature the best trotters on the grounds vying in Open I, II and III classes. But aside from the racing, there will be much more going on in front of an almost sold out clubhouse. 

The “Races to Benefit the Breast Cancer Coalition of Rochester” (www.bccr.org) fundraiser will be held at the track raising both awareness and dollars to fight this deadly disease. This annual event is one of the bigger fundraisers held by this organization and Batavia Downs has partnered with them for  years now and is proud to be a part of this very worthy cause. 

“We have partnered with BCCR for several years now and each year this event gets bigger and better” said Todd Haight, Director/General Manager of Live Racing. “It’s an opportunity for us to help raise money to defeat the scourge of cancer in our lifetime. The generosity of our patrons and horsemen always shine through and I’m sure we will see that again this week.”

There will be a silent auction held adjacent to the clubhouse with a list of prizes that will please anyone’s taste. They include: two suite tickets to the Justin Timberlake concert at Key Bank Center on Sunday (Oct. 28); two suite tickets for the Buffalo Bills versus Jacksonville Jaguars game at New Era Field on Sunday (Nov. 25); four suite tickets to the Buffalo Sabres versus Tampa Bay Lightning game at Key Bank Center on Tuesday (Nov. 13); a Buffalo Sabres autographed Jack Eichel jersey; a Buffalo Sabres autographed Danny Gare jersey; one Batavia Downs Hotel night and racing package; two Batavia Downs clubhouse racing packages; and a recliner form Max Pies Furniture in Batavia. 

The track will also be taking cash donations that will be forwarded directly to BCCR. 

Also on Friday, Batavia Downs will be offering a guaranteed $1,750 early Pick-5 pool with an $838 carry over. It's a 50-cent base wager that runs from race one to race five. Post time for the first race is 6 p.m.

From the YMCA:

This is Charitie Bruning, the new childcare director at the YMCA in Batavia.

She has nine years of experience working at the Y, including: camp counselor/teen advisor at the Lockport YMCA; youth and teen director at West Suburban YMCA, and teen and family director at Southtowns YWCA.

Her Y duties at times overlapped, and she has also served as a staff member for preschool programs, children's activities, and child supervision, and once before spent two years as a childcare director.

Bruning has an associate degree in Liberal Arts and Sciences with a concentration in Education, and a Bachelor of Science degree from Springfield College in Youth Development with a concentration in YMCA Professional Studies.

"My favorite thing about the YMCA has always been about helping families grow," Bruning said. "I love being able to provide programs that help families go from where they are the first day that they walk in the door, to where they want to be.

"We see families develop skills and grow closer to each other and form communities within our walls and beyond."

When she's not at work, she likes to walk her dog, a Yorkie named Gizmo. Bruning also likes to paint, play the ukulele and be involved in community theater.

A quote that resonates with her is: “You have brains in your head. You have feet in your shoes. You can steer yourself in any direction you choose.” -- Dr. Seuss, "Oh, The Places You’ll Go!"

(Photo submitted by the YMCA.)

As a matter of his employment contract, the just-hired new city manager for Batavia, Marty Moore, recognizes he answers to the city council but as a matter of accountability, he works for the City of Batavia residents.

"As a city manager, I am hired to represent the people who live, work, and play in the city in particular and I am accountable to them," Moore said during a 42-minute video press conference with members of the local media.

"I don't see myself as being shielded from them. I see myself as having a responsibility. I've learned in my career that it's important to show myself as a servant of the people not this guy who sits back in the office and lets everything come to him. It's not my style."

Moore promises to get out into the community, join organizations, talk with residents and business owners and get to know them and what's on their minds.

His first goal will be to get to know his staff and the members of the council.

Overall, he thinks the city is in sound shape financially and plans to support and champion the ongoing economic development projects, particularly the Downtown Revitalization Initiative.

The progress Batavia has shown, in fact, is what attracted Moore to the job.

"I really did a lot of research into all of the places I applied and Batavia really impressed me with things like revitalization and bringing new businesses in, the financial structures that are set up, the good things that your previous people at the city have done, has created, I think, a good atmosphere," Moore said.

"It's a really progressive, want-to-move-forward, can-do, all-in type of attitude and that's the type of attitude that I have. It just really felt good. It felt right."

Moore and his wife, Joanne, just celebrated their 33rd wedding anniversary. She's from Buffalo and grew up in Tonawanda and still has brothers and sisters in the area. They met while Joanne's father had a job in Hawaii and Moore was studying there at the Brigham Young University campus there. 

They have seven children and five grandchildren: Jessica, 32, has two children and lives with her family in St. John's, Mich., just six hours from Batavia; Spencer lives in the Albuquerque, N.M., area, works at Sandia National Laboratories, and has three children; Aubrey, 20, is single, working on her master's degree and lives in Provo, Utah; Melissa, 24, lives in New Mexico and is engaged; Amanda, 23, just got married to a young man from Alaska and they live in Idaho where they're attending college; Christopher, 22, is also recently married and lives in Las Cruces, N.M., where he is going to college; and 17-year-old Martin Moore Jr. is near the end of his Eagle Scout project, and will be a senior in high school this year.

Moore says he enjoys the outdoors. He and his son have climbed 22 of the highest peaks in New Mexico and intend to climb the rest. He also enjoys fly-fishing and looks forward to trying out the creeks in Western New York.

For the past six years, he's been the voice of the Eunice Cardinals on a Eunice, N.M., radio station.

As for his view on what the city is doing right and where it can improve, from what he's observed so far, he said economic development is definitely heading in the right direction. The city's finances are in good shape. There is work to be done on infrastructure and he thinks grants can be pursued more aggressively. He's taken notice of property crime issues but believes Chief Shawn Heubusch is working to address that.

A big area for improvement, he said, is transparency.

"I sense there is the need for more of a feeling of openness and transparency with the employees and with the citizens," Moore said, adding a bit later, "I think when you don't have clear communication all kinds of rumors and feelings and challenges and difficulties arise."

One of the first things he wants to look into once he starts his job Oct. 15 is the housing situation in Batavia. He wants to better understand the housing needs of the city and whether they are being adequately addressed.

Related to crime, he said one of the first things he did when he became city manager in Eunice seven years ago was hire a new police chief. Together, they tackled the serious drug problem -- mostly methamphetamine -- they felt was growing in Eunice.

The days of drug dealers openly selling meth from their front porches are over in Eunice.

"(We) made it clear that drugs are not something that we will be known for in the City of Eunice," Moore said. "I'm not going to say it's perfect. Drug deals still do go on but the drug dealers have gone underground."

Out in the middle of the desert, water is a big issue for Eunice, but so are roads and sewer lines, just like Batavia.

The budget for Eunice is typical $8 million to $10 million but is currently more than $15 million because of some bonds for capital projects. There are 50 full-time employees, along with 22 volunteer firefighters, and 10 different department heads.

The economy cycles up and down with the flow of oil from the thousands of wells dominating the skyline.

"We probably have as many oil pump jacks as Batavia has trees," Moore said.