OHMS band packed the downtown Jackson Square Friday evening in downtown Batavia. Photo by Steve Ognibene
As part of the weekly summer concert series in Jackson Square, the OHMS band took to the stage Friday evening and drew a couple hundred people to downtown Batavia for an evening of entertainment.
The six-piece band, consisting of music artists from around Genesee County, was enjoyed by many followers dancing in their seat and around the venue.
Next up in the concert series from 7 to 9 p.m. is Old Hippies on Aug. 23, and it concludes with the Bluesway Band on Aug. 30.
Jana Kolukanova may be synonymous with Olympic swimming and breaking records now, but when she first began in her homeland of Estonia, her athletic prowess leaned towards venues other than the pool, she says.
“I excelled at cross-country skiing and tennis, but the sports machine there told me I was a swimmer instead,” she said during an interview with The Batavian. “It took some time, but eventually I fell in love with swimming too.”
Her husband, Chris Haitz, a Genesee County native, introduced her to this area for a month during COVID in 2020, and that ended up being a whole summer visit, which in turn prompted the couple to buy a house, she said.
“It all happened organically. We had been living in Los Angeles since 2009 and never had any plans to leave, but life apparently did,” she said. “I had, of course been to this area many times over the years, and I was very open to the move. I love it here, as the people are nice and it reminds me of my home country.”
Her journey from watching the Olympics as a young girl proves that anyone's potential is within reach with the right mindset and support system.
Kolukanova’s Olympic dream was sparked at a young age during a moment of inspiration that would alter the course of her life.
"I remember watching the 1996 Atlanta Olympics and thinking, 'I think I can do this,'" she said. This realization, born from the excitement and love for the games, set Kolukanova on a path that took her from the swimming pools of her hometown to the global stage.
In the 2000 Summer Olympics in Sydney, she reached the semifinals in the 50 meter freestyle, breaking two Estonian records.
After this, college recruiters bombarded her. Auburn University won the prize, and their program won three national team championships with Kolukanova’s help. Plus, she finished a 19-time All-American, All-SEC selection, SEC Academic Honor Roll member, as well as an Academic All-American.
She kept going.
At the 2004 Summer Olympics in Athens, three seconds stood in the way of Kolukanova making another Olympic semifinal.
One year later, she broke her old Estonian records in the 50 meter and 100 meter freestyle at the FINA World Championships.
She advises aspiring Olympians to set low goals and chip away at them step by step.
"Then, set higher goals, and you must have a big picture," she said.
This philosophy of incremental progress and an overarching vision became the cornerstone of her success.
"Believe in yourselves," she said. "Thoughts have real power. If you think you can, you can do it."
However, she is quick to caution that physical prowess alone is not enough: "If you're there physically but not mentally, you're not going to do it."
She credits regular massages with helping her endure the physical demands of training and competition, allowing her to recover quickly. Additionally, she strictly followed her coaches' advice to eat within 20 minutes after training along with altitude training, practices she believes were crucial to her recovery and performance.
She eventually caught the injury bug at the worst possible time.
"If an injury comes at the very wrong time, four years of work could be down the drain—that's what happened to me, right before the Beijing 2008 Olympics," she said.
"Injuries are always the most difficult as they affect you both physically, mentally, and emotionally," she said. "You can't control how serious an injury is or how long it will take to recover fully."
While she didn't compete, Kolukanova’s experience at the Paris Olympics reminded her of the bonds she formed throughout her career.
"Reconnecting with friends, some of whom I hadn't seen in 20 years, was really great," she said.
Many of these friends are now prominent figures in their respective countries, holding important positions in international sports. The camaraderie among former Olympians and the warm welcome from the International Olympic Committee (IOC) and individual countries made the event unique.
She speaks highly of the opportunity to support Eneli Jefimova, a 17-year-old Estonian female swimmer who made the final 100M breaststroke in Paris. For Kolukanova, this meant more than cheering on a fellow athlete; passing the torch to the next generation.
"It was special to be there to encourage her and lend my support," she said.
She also witnessed French swimmer and family friend, Léon Marchand, win four gold medals. Seeing Léon achieve such incredible success was a deeply emotional experience for her. "I was very happy for the entire family," she said, her voice filled with pride and joy. "I remember holding him as a baby."
After 14 years of living in Los Angeles, she looks forward to exploring Western New York with her husband, especially in the fall because "when I visited in October, it was warm and welcoming, and the colors are gorgeous."
Her commitment to the sport remains strong, and she hopes the construction of the new pool at the Batavia-based YMCA boosts swimming's popularity in the region.
"Swimming is really popular in California," she said, expressing her desire to see similar enthusiasm in Western New York. She continues to find ways to contribute to the sport she loves, whether through mentoring young swimmers or promoting swimming in her community.
With competition behind her, Kolukanova hopes to become an inspiration to others.
"I want my legacy to be that I was a lover of the sport, a positive light, and always an encourager of young swimmers," she said.
Kristi Singi (left) is Jana’s former personal masseuse and current Estonian swim team masseuse; Merle Kalkurand (right) is project lead for Estonian Olympic delegation, and both are close friends of Jana. Submitted Photo
Genesee County law enforcement agencies, including the Genesee County Sheriff’s Office, City of Batavia Police Department and Village of LeRoy Police Department are participating in a coordinated effort with the STOP-DWI program to bring awareness to the dangers of impaired driving.
The statewide STOP-DWI Campaign starts on August 14 and run through September 2. Law enforcement officers across New York State are taking to the roads in an effort to stop impaired driving, prevent injuries and save lives.
STOP-DWI efforts across New York have led to significant reductions in the numbers of alcohol and drug related fatalities, however, still too many lives are being lost because of crashes caused by drunk or impaired drivers.
Highly visible, highly publicized efforts like the STOP-DWI High Visibility Engagement Campaigns aim to further reduce the incidence of drunk and impaired driving.
Don’t let alcohol take the wheel. Designate a driver.
Congresswoman Claudia Tenney (NY-24) released her Second Amendment plan, highlighting her legislative accomplishments and how she plans to build upon these existing wins to safeguard our Second Amendment rights.
Tenney has recently supported multiple initiatives working to build upon NYSRPA v. Bruen, the most significant Second Amendment win in over a decade, which was a major step in restoring the Founding Father's vision for our Constitutional rights. The Protecting Gun Owners in Bankruptcy Act, legislation she led to modify federal bankruptcy law to allow an individual debtor to exempt from their bankruptcy estate one or more firearms up to a total maximum value of $3,000. Tenney is also working to stop the Biden administration gun grab by cosponsoring H.J.Res. 44, the Pistol Brace CRA, to repeal the ATF's unconstitutional pistol brace rule. In 2012, pistol stabilizing braces were created to help disabled individuals, including many veterans, better stabilize their pistols while shooting. Now, the Biden administration is trying to ban these stabilizers.
"The Second Amendment is a constitutional right for all Americans, and as a Constitutional Conservative, one of my top priorities is to preserve and uphold this sacred right for all law-abiding citizens," said Congresswoman Tenney. "The Biden and Hochul administrations continue imposing unnecessary regulations that seek only to criminalize legal gun-owning citizens instead of keeping our communities safe. This plan highlights my efforts to safeguard our Second Amendment rights for members of our community and for generations to come. I will always fight against any efforts to infringe on the rights of all law-abiding gun owners."
To view Tenney's full Second Amendment Plan, click here.
With more than 3.8 million seniors in New York on Medicare, U.S. Senate Majority Leader Charles E. Schumer announced today that Medicare has reached new, lower, and fairer negotiated prices with 10 of the highest-spend drugs in Medicare thanks to a major provision Schumer secured in the Inflation Reduction Act that for the first time allows the federal government to directly negotiate drug prices with pharmaceutical companies.
Schumer said the 10 highly common drugs treat a variety of conditions including heart disease, diabetes, and cancer, and once the new prices go into effect in 2026 are expected to save seniors over $1.5 billion every year in out of pocket costs. This will also help save taxpayers nearly $6 billion every year.
“This is historic and will lower drug costs for over 660,000 New Yorkers. For too long, New York seniors have struggled to afford their prescription drugs and were powerless to do anything about it. The drug cost what the pharmaceutical company said it did and that was that. New Yorkers wanted fair negotiations with Big Pharma, and because of the Inflation Reduction Act, they got it. For the first time in history, Medicare has negotiated better and fairer prices for 10 high cost commonly taken prescription drugs that cover heart disease, diabetes, cancer and more,” said Senator Schumer. “This means money back in the pockets of the more than 660,000 New Yorkers who take them - putting patients and NY seniors ahead of Big Pharma profits.”
Seniors in America are paying higher prices than anywhere else in the world for commonly-taken drugs. Nationally, one-in-five seniors recently reported forgoing medication, skipping doses or cutting pills in half because they could not afford their drugs.
For many of the most commonly taken drugs, pharmaceutical companies have maintained monopolistic prices by successfully preventing generic versions of their drugs, keeping competition off the market and prices high for patients. The new Medicare negotiation program targets exactly these types of drugs and is designed to get at this very problem.
This year, Medicare selected for negotiation the 10 highest spending drugs in Medicare Part D that do not have generic versions of their drugs but are eligible for such competition.
Next year, Medicare will select another 15 Part D drugs for negotiation. In 2027, it will negotiate another 15 drugs while also expanding negotiation to Medicare Part B, which covers drugs administered in a physician’s office. In 2028 and every year after, Medicare will negotiate a new set of 20 drugs. 50 million Americans are enrolled in the Medicare Part D prescription drug program, over 3 million of which are in New York.
“Lowering healthcare costs for seniors is just what the doctor ordered. I wrote my Inflation Reduction Act with the sky-high costs of health care in mind, because I know how important it is to ensure that everyone can access the medication they need,” added Schumer.
Schumer said these new Medicare drug negotiated prices will work in tandem with other major drug affordability provisions he secured in his Inflation Reduction Act, including a cap on total out-of-pocket drug costs that drops to $2,000 per year starting in January, making vaccines free for seniors and a $35 insulin cap for those on Medicare, to help make healthcare more affordable for more than 3.8 million New York seniors on Medicare.
Due to the very nature of their work, which involves traumatic incidents and injuries, police officers and firefighters have a higher likelihood of developing addictions to opioids as a result of stress and mental health issues, Lynda Battaglia says.
And as director of Genesee County’s Mental Health Department, Battaglia wants to alleviate those employees’ stressors in any way possible — beginning right alongside of them.
Genesee County Mental Health Director Lynda Battaglia
"We think of the physicality of their jobs. The extra gear and uniform and what they have to carry, what they have to do, physically, they're more susceptible to potential injury as well as acute or chronic pain, oftentimes, which is treated with opioids,” Battaglia said during this week’s City Council meeting. “On top of that, we have their continued and repeated exposure to traumatic events every day that they are working. They're responding to calls that are unpredictable. They have very high stress jobs. We couple mental health with the physical demands of the job, coupled with, you know, the potential for high risk. These disciplines are at higher risk for developing dual diagnosis, which is mental health and opioid addiction.
"So by us getting ahead of the curve and developing this program and doing check-ins, it will allow for firefighters and officers to just be able to share what's on their mind, that they can get that out instead of keeping it in. To keep it in it just grows, and that's when real problems start to be created,” she said. “So we need to address it more in the moment. I'll have specific and certified counselors assigned to this program that are culturally competent, that they understand the work that these two professions do in these two departments.”
Mental health is becoming a larger issue for public safety officers across the country, Batavia Police Chief Shawn Heubusch said. It’s part of the city’s police and fire pilot wellness program for embedded services in both departments. Services will be paid for with $18,000 from an Opioid Abatement Fund through Genesee County.
Bi-annual mental health check-ins will be scheduled every six months with licensed mental health professionals, with a focus on assessing mental health and providing support. There will be ride-alongs at least once a year to offer opportunities for clinicians to accompany officers and firefighters during their actual working shifts, plus periodic wellness workshops, which will be open to all officers, firefighters and their families, and crisis intervention as needed.
Chief Shawn Heubusch
“So a lot of the programs that we're looking at doing are, they're not groundbreaking, but they're simple and to the point. We're going to look at some mental health check-ins with our officers and our firefighters. They'll be scheduled on a regular basis. Obviously, we're in August now, so probably one before the end of the year, and then, evaluate the program moving forward right along,” he said. “So we'll have clinicians right along with the officers and with the firefighters on staff to get a better understanding of their jobs and what some of the stressors are and try to assist them with whatever that may be. A lot of it will be breaking down barriers between public safety individuals and mental health. That's the biggest thing we have to overcome.
“So we're pretty excited about the program. We've been talking about it for a long time, doing everything that we can support our officers and our public safety employees in the city,” he said. “We think this is a huge step forward, and I want to thank Linda for the opportunity to partner with us also.”
City Council President Eugene Jankowski Jr., a former police officer and retired lieutenant, added that’s “another step in a positive direction, it’s a positive thing to address this.”
Heubusch emphasized that he was not looking for any direct feedback from the clinician sessions spent with officers; there wouldn’t be any reports issued to him, and the police union has not opposed this plan, he said.
“It’s just getting the officers, firefighters, accustomed to that person that's with them, and then breaking down the barriers, having some conversation. It's not a fitness for duty type thing, or anything like that. That is really just having a support mechanism for our staff and an outlet at some point in time,” he said. “One of the biggest things that is climbing in our field is suicide, and unfortunately, officers are seeing that there's no other out for them so we want to do everything we can to wrap services around them if they need it. If something comes up where there is a need for further services or treatment, those are discussions that we'll have.”
These sessions were not going to be considered formal therapy, Battaglia said, just an opportunity for employees to talk and share with the mental health professionals.
The Genesee Transportation Council (GTC), the Metropolitan Planning Organization (MPO) for the Genesee-Finger Lakes Region, will hold one of its quarterly Board meetings on Thursday, August 22, at 8:30 a.m. at RGRTA, located at 1372 East Main Street in Rochester.
Each Board meeting is open to the public. A public forum is included at the beginning of the meeting to allow for public comment on meeting agenda items before the GTC Board takes action.
Observers are welcome to attend in person or will have the opportunity to watch and participate online by visiting: www.publicinput.com/GTCBoard. On this webpage, observers will be able to listen to and view a live feed of the meeting. Individuals may also call in to listen to the audio portion with a toll-free phone number (855)-925-2801 Meeting code: 8998 and follow the prompts to record a voice message or speak in real-time during the public forum portion of the meeting. Observers will have the opportunity to submit questions and comments via chat, email to GTCBoard@PublicInput.com, or text X16216 to 855-925-2801.
The agenda and meeting materials are available at www.gtcmpo.org.
The United States Department of Transportation requires every metropolitan area with a population over 50,000 to have a designated MPO to qualify for receipt of federal highway and transit funds. GTC is the MPO for the nine-county region, which includes Genesee, Livingston, Monroe, Ontario, Orleans, Seneca, Wayne, Wyoming, and Yates counties.
The GTC Board consists of elected officials from the nine counties, the City of Rochester, and representatives of other local, regional, state and federal transportation-related agencies. The Board provides direction to the staff, establishes policy, and approves all activities and major work products, including the Long Range Transportation Plan, Unified Planning Work Program, and Transportation Improvement Program which detail how federal transportation funding is used in the greater Rochester planning area.
GTC will provide accommodations for anybody who wishes to participate in this meeting despite disability or proficiency in English. Please contact GTC at (585) 232-6240 or send email to contactgtc@gtcmpo.org to arrange for auxiliary aids or language services at least 48 hours prior to the meeting.
2023 File Photo of BID Boxcar Derby Photo by Julia Ferrini
Press Release:
The Downtown Batavia Business Improvement District (BID) invites the community to join the festivities planned for the 3rd annual BID Boxcar Derby on Saturday, August 17.
The Derby will once again be held on Ellicott Avenue in Batavia, with 24 racers competing to win the Suozzi Memorial Cup. BID Director Shannon Maute says this year’s races will be fast-paced and fun.
“We’re ready to celebrate all of our racers as they demonstrate their talents and sportsmanship,” Maute said. “This is going to be a great day. Seeing the amazing boxcar designs, the excitement on kids’ faces at our build day, and the families taking part all show why this event is so special.”
The races will start at 10 a.m. and will feature 2 racers competing at a time from the peak of Ellicott Avenue. In addition to hosting the cheering crowd, Centennial Park will host free face painting and games, with pizza, ice cream, coffee and hot chocolate available from vendors. WBTA also be hosting a live broadcast from the race.
To all motorists, Ellicott Avenue will be closed from 7:30 a.m. - 1:30 p.m. from Richmond Avenue to Washington Avenue for the safety of the racers and the spectators.
The BID Boxcar Derby is made possible by sponsorship by Alex’s Place, Batavia Downs, the Police Benevolent Association, WBTA, and several other businesses plus additional support comes from BID businesses and building owners, Mark Scuderi of the Greater Rochester Soap Box Derby, the City of Batavia, the David M. McCarthy Memorial Ice Arena, Adam Miller Toy & Bicycle, and a team of volunteers.
"It truly takes a community to bring our great race together,” Maute said. “With the generous support of our sponsors, partners and volunteers, the BID Boxcar Derby will make lasting memories for our families and racers.”
Photo of New Kids on the Block (from left to right) Danny Wood, Joe McIntyre, Jordan Knight, Donnie Wahlberg, and Jonathan Knight. Photo courtesy of Austin Hargraves.
When New Kids On The Block reunited in 2007, it was fair to wonder if the boy band would have more than just a brief second chapter.
After all, it had been 13-plus years since the five vocalists --Donnie Wahlberg, Joe McIntyre, Jordan Knight, Joe Knight, and Danny Wood – had enjoyed an initial run in which they sold some 80 million copies of its four albums worldwide -- with the 1988 album “Hangin’ Tough” and 1990’s “Step By Step” leading the way.
The guys were now in their 30s, and their teen fans of the 1990s were now well into adulthood. Had the fans moved on? Would the songs New Kids On The Block sang in their teens still resonate when performed by a group whose members were starting to approach middle age?
As it turned out, the reunited group’s first tour in fall 2008 was an all-out success, and since then the New Kids’ popularity has endured. This summer sees the group once again headlining outdoor amphitheaters that hold upwards of 20,000 people as they tour behind their third post-reunion album, “Still Kids.”
So back in 2007 did McIntyre envision a scenario where in 2024 New Kids On The Block would still be major stars and looking at what should be continued success for years to come?
“Uh, no,” McIntyre said in a late-June phone interview. “I think If you asked any of us that 15 years later since we got back together, 16 years later, it's (pause), it's breathtaking. It definitely gives you pause. You're obviously very grateful. At the sametime, on the day-to-day, I know how much we believe, you know what I mean, and we have this concoction of personalities and desires and drive.
“The five of us all show up. So it's not a mystery as far as the day-to-day and the passion that's involved,” he said. “And you know, when something is this big for this long, for me, I get to a point where I can't keep trying to figure it out and just count my blessings and be of service…I think slowly but surely I'm at a point where I'm like hey man, I’ve just got a job to do and I'm lucky enough to have that job and I'm here to entertain the people and have a good time.”
The New Kids have certainly had quite the career. Liftoff came in 1988, when the teenage Tiffany, then at the peak of her “I Think We’re Alone Now” popularity, brought New Kids on the Block out on her Nation Area tour, putting the boys on stage in front of tens of thousands -- just when they’d released their second album “Hangin’ Tough.”
By the end of 1989, the singles “You Got It (The Right Stuff)” “I’ll Be Loving You (Forever)” and the song “Hangin’ Tough” had all topped the charts, and the New Kids were the biggest boy band going.
Another blockbuster album, “Step By Step,” followed, before the New Kids saw their fortunes wane with the 1994 album “Face The Music.” It failed to generate any hits and the group was now playing smaller venues. Following the tour, the group decided to call it a day.
Since reuniting, it’s become clear that the New Kids weren’t simply interested in taking a victory lap. They’ve toured consistently and have now released three studio albums -- “The Block” in 2008, “10” in 2013 and “Still Kids” earlier this year.
The latest album retains many of the musical trademarks of the early New Kids albums, with buoyant, danceable uptempo tracks like “Magic,” “Dance With You” and “Kids” having the familiar synthy gloss and strong pop melodies. The album also has its share of grooving ballads, including “Come Back,” “A Love Like This” and “Better Days.”
At the same time, McIntyre said some songs -- most notably “Stay,” a lush multi-faceted tune about staying -- or leaving -- long-time relationships -- pushed the group into new musical places with its instrumental breakdown.
The concerts New Kids on the Block are doing this summer will include upwards of five songs from “Still Kids,” as well as the expected hit songs from the group’s catalog.
“We you want to give the people what they want and then also mix it up for us to keep it fresh. So we’ve managed to do that,” McIntyre said. And yes, there will be dancing, although McIntyre noted the group has had to make some adjustments now that they’re in their 50s.
“I think it's a balance,” he said. “We want to keep challenging ourselves, but we want to be appropriate for our age and not run around like chickens with their heads cut off like we used to. But let me tell you, it's a workout. It’s a workout every night, especially outside in summer. But it makes it kind of cathartic. It adds to the experience, but you know, we have our signature moves and we try to build a show that is about ovement and dance and connection. I think we do a decent job balancing that out.”
New Kids On The Block performs at Darien Lake Amphitheater on Thursday, August 22.
Eden Cafe & Bakeshop is hosting a SummerFest this weekend that will include several arts and crafts vendors, music, food, a bounce house, entertainment and basket raffles.
It’s set for 11 a.m. to 7 p.m. Sunday in the parking lot behind the shop at 242 Ellicott St., Batavia.
Organizers are still accepting musical artists and entertainers from the community for the open mic-style entertainment tent. There will be a PA system and engineer provided.
Confirmed vendors so far include:
Kelly Fox (Tarot, astrology, live plants, artwork – Batavia)
Mystic Dragon Lair (crystals and merchandise – Medina) Marcia Bohn (handcrafted books – Batavia)
Spirit and Abundance (artisan plant-based cheeses – Rochester)
RTS Genesee buses are ready at Batavia City Centre just before 5:30 p.m. Thursday, per the new schedule. Photo by Joanne Beck
After two months of presentations to local companies and organizations about the changes being made to RTS Genesee’s bus route, those changes took effect this week based out of Batavia City Centre, Regional Manager Ricardo Santiago says.
The company expanded two former bus routes that were from 8 a.m. to 4 p.m. and 7:30 a.m. to 2:30 p.m. and lengthened them for a full day of 6:30 a.m. to 6:30 p.m. Monday through Friday, with more frequent stops, Santiago said.
“Routes start at 6:30 a.m. and they go all the way to the last set of buses leave out of City Centre at 5:30 p.m. servicing one last hour of bus rides throughout the county, between Batavia and Le Roy. We have four new routes that provide more service, more frequent stops, and for longer times during the day,” Santiago said to The Batavian. “Not only did we expand the hours of service we are now, we basically have a help center at City Centre where we all buses meet at the bottom of the hour, and they all leave at the same time.
"They go out and they do their run, and all buses come back within the hour," he said. "They're back at City Centre so people can transfer from one location to another and proceed to the next location.”
The bus stop is to the left of the former J.C. Penney building, though that will move after the new police facility is completed, he said. A more permanent bus stop with shelter for patrons will be set up on Alva Place next April, he said.
A misnomer is that the dial-a-ride has been eliminated, which isn’t true, he said. That service is on a first come, first served basis, and is urged for riders going to areas not serviced by the regular bus routes.
The company has attempted to educate the public via a public hearing and information sessions to get the word out about the change.
“One of the things we’ve done is we’ve been going out for the last eight weeks and making presentations to Office for the Aging, ACE Employment, DSS (and others)," he said.
A few readers have contacted The Batavian with questions about this change, so here's a reminder about the routes and where to get more information.
The expanded courses are to improve the frequency of routes in Batavia and Le Roy, simplify the route structure and provide RTS enhanced ability to improve service through reliability and new destinations, a company press release states.
New RTS Genesee Service includes four routes:
Route 210, Batavia West, which serves Big Tree Glen, the VA, Tops, Walmart and Target.
Route 211, Batavia South, serving Birchwood Place, the VA, Tops, Walmart and Target.
Route 212, Batavia East, which goes to 400 Towers, Washington Towers, United Memorial Medical Center and the Department of Social Services.
Route 214, Le Roy/Stafford, which serves Royal Apartments, Tops, Save-a-Lot, Le Roy Meadows and DSS. The bus also provides service within Le Roy and a connection to Batavia.
All routes will meet at a common transfer point at Batavia City Centre. Dial-a-Ride service will remain as an option. Schedules and holiday observances are available on the RTS website.
For more information, call RTS Genesee at 585-343-3079 or visit www.myRTS.com.
Congresswoman Claudia Tenney (NY-24) released her Make Voting Great Again Plan to highlight the Election Integrity Caucus’ commitment to enhancing the security, transparency, and efficiency of elections in the United States.
This plan underscores the pivotal role of the Election Integrity Caucus in restoring faith in the electoral system through comprehensive reforms. Tenney, co-chair and founder of the Election Integrity Caucus, has introduced a series of bills working to ensure that American citizens in every state have confidence in free, fair, accurate, and transparent elections.
“Problems surrounding the integrity of our country’s elections have rightfully come to the forefront, driven by growing concerns over issues such as voter fraud, cybersecurity threats, and burdensome administrative challenges," said Congresswoman Tenney. "As a result, many Americans have lost confidence in the integrity of our elections, underscoring the urgent need for robust measures to protect the electoral process. The Election Integrity Caucus has been working tirelessly to introduce legislation like the End Zuckerbucks Act, which prohibits partisan, private funding of our elections, and the Promoting Free and Fair Elections Act, which bans Biden’s federal agencies from engaging in partisan voter operations at taxpayer expense. As we head into the 2024 Election, let’s Make Voting Great Again and restore faith and transparency in our electoral process.”
To view Tenney’s full Make Voting Great Again Plan, click here.
The City of Batavia is launching a Hometown Heroes Banner Program as a living tribute for our community to honor past and present members of the Armed Forces and their family members.
The banners will be placed on Redfield Parkway and Richmond Ave. from Memorial Day until Labor Day starting in 2025 and continuing annually. These banners are available for purchase to anyone wishing to honor a loved one and have a life span of approximately 3 years.
If you would like to participate, have someone that you would like to honor, or would like to sponsor a veteran/family, please contact the program administrator at jbest@batavianewyork.com or 585-345-6375. All orders are due by February 1, 2025.
On Saturday, September 21 the 2nd Annual Ricky Palermo Foundation Comedy Night will be held inside the Park Place room featuring comedy from Nick Marra, Dan Viola, and Tim Meier.
Attendees will receive a buffet dinner, free drink, and $25 in Free Play. Sponsorship packages are also available, including signage, VIP seating, vocal recognition, and additional drink tickets.
“We had so much fun last year we decided to do it again,” said Ricky Palermo, President and CEO of the Ricky Palermo Foundation. “Through this great event we were able to raise awareness and much needed funds to help our community and continue to find a cure for spinal cord injuries. We look forward to seeing people back again this year at Batavia Downs.”
Tickets are $60 and can be purchased by going to rickypalermofoundation.org/store-1.
City of Batavia officials are working to get the lead out.
From pipes in a way that’s not harmful to drinking water, that is.
For anyone familiar with the horror stories that came out of Flint, Mich., no one here wants a repeat of that, and they are working hard now to reduce the chances of it happening.
Mike App, executive vice president of Electroscan, Inc., which will be performing work throughout the city to detect lead pipes on properties, gave an overview this week of Swordfish, a technology that can get the job done without having to drill 10-foot-deep holes on someone’s land.
Mike App, executive vice president of Electroscan, Inc.
“We have lead, we have lead everywhere. The reason they used lead, to be totally honest, is because nothing happens to it,” App said during Monday’s City Council meeting. “Unfortunately, reality has come back to get us a little bit. We’re all trying to get rid of it, and when we talk about lead we talk about Flint. Flint was the genesis of the entire thing.”
That genesis has since led to the Environmental Protection Agency creating a deadline and requiring that all 50,000 community water systems complete and submit inventory of their lead service lines by midnight Oct. 16, according to Electroscan’s website. The company takes it so seriously, that it has a clock ticking off a countdown by seconds of how much time remains.
There are some half a million lead pipes within the 60 counties in New York State, App said, and the Department of Health has issued grants to help municipalities, including Batavia, complete this task during the next two and a half months.
Electroscan will mail out a letter to Batavia residents informing them that the company will be making a visit, City Manager Rachael Tabelski said.
“It wasn't random samples. It was actually particular homes where we believe lead could be. So if you do get a letter asking you to participate, we strongly advise it right now. There more than likely isn't going to be high levels of lead coming out of your water system. However, the change over to Monroe County Water, that is the issue,” she said of the city’s future plan to make a switch to the new water source. “Not only is it good to get the lead out in general, but right now, you kind of have enough scale built up where you're not having pieces of lead not coming into your water.
"However, when we do the water and the source change, that's a whole different story, and we will need to have either chemical mitigation of the water coming in or elimination of all wet pipes in the city to make sure all our residents are safe," she said. "So it's a process.”
For anyone not familiar with the water crisis in Flint a decade ago, the city changed its municipal water supply source from the Detroit-supplied Lake Huron water to the Flint River, and that switch caused water distribution pipes to corrode and leach lead and other contaminants into municipal drinking water.
Although there hadn’t been issues with the city’s current water source, that introduction of new water created a crisis that reportedly exposed tens of thousands of Flint residents to dangerous levels of lead and outbreaks of Legionnaire disease that killed at least 12 people.
Batavia management doesn’t want to disturb the apple cart in any such way while planning on a switch to Monroe County Water Authority. They are looking for citizens to help out by responding to the letter if they receive one and making an appointment.
To view a video about how Swordfish works to detect lead pipes on a property, go HERE.
There are three ways to schedule an inspection with the company, and these options will be provided in letters being sent out to city property owners.
They are:
1. Scan the QR code.
2. Visit Electroscan’s website.
3. Call the Electroscan Swordfish Help Line at 315-856-3156 and speak to a customer service representative to book an appointment.
The Batavia Cemetery Association is excited to announce that the annual Halloween Candlelight Ghostwalk will be held on Saturday, October 19!
Join us for some spooky fun on a ghost walk through the Historic Batavia Cemetery on Harvester Avenue to meet the famous and infamous movers and shakers who not only shaped and influenced the City of Batavia, but the United States and the world.
The guided tour on candlelit paths will bring guests to hear men and women, who, for various reasons, held great power and exerted great influence in their day, were victims of tragic events, or both.
Confederate Major Philemon Tracy, one of the few Confederate officers buried in the north; surveyor and land developer of western New York Joseph Ellicott, a man of great power and great flaws; and William Morgan, who disappeared and was allegedly murdered before he could reveal the secrets of the Masons, will tell their stories.
Listen to Utopian socialist Albert Brisbane; Mary Elizabeth Wood, the first librarian at the Richmond Memorial Library and founder of the first library school in China; and Dr. Martha Morgan, compassionate doctor who spent most of her professional life working at the State Lunatic Hospital in Harrisburg, Pennsylvania.
Meet Civil War General John H. Martindale, and maltster and brewer Eli Fish. Shipping and railroad magnate Dean Richmond and his wife Mary will greet guests in their beautiful mausoleum on the last stop of the tour.
Tours begin at 7 p.m. and run every fifteen minutes until 8:45 p.m. Admission is $15. Reservations are required. Proceeds benefit the upkeep and restoration of the cemetery. For more information or reservations, go to Events at bataviacemetery.org
The Batavia High School Class of 1984 is thrilled to announce their 40th reunion celebration! Mark your calendars for an evening filled with memories, laughter, and fun on Saturday, August 24, 5 p.m. - 10 p.m.
Mingle and Reconnect with Old Friends
Alumni and guests are invited to gather for an informal get-together at the Terry Hills Golf Course & Banquet Facility 5122 Clinton Street in Batavia. This relaxed atmosphere is the perfect opportunity to reconnect with classmates, reminisce about old times, and create new memories.
Delicious Food and Drinks
Throughout the evening, enjoy a generous spread of hearty hors d'oeuvres complemented by a cash bar. Your ticket price of $30 includes food and one drink (house draft beer, house wine, or house liquor).
RSVP and Stay Connected
We encourage everyone from the Class of 1984 to attend this special event! To RSVP go to BHS Class of ’84 Reunion on Facebook where you can venmo your payment, to BHS Class of 84 Batavia NY. If you do not have a Venmo account, checks will be accepted payable to “BHS Class of 84 Batavia NY”. Please mail to: Kelly J. Bermingham, 8276 Park Road, Batavia. The deadline for registration is August 16!
To update your contact information, or ask any questions, please reach out to:
AUTOMOTIVE MECHANIC CITY OF BATAVIA SALARY $25.54-$30.08 DISTINGUISHING FEATURES OF THE CLASS: Assignments in this Class require the exercise of specialized skills in tasks pertaining to the maintenance and repair of a wide variety of machinery and equipment used in public works activities, as well as to other vehicles owned or operated by the municipal employer. In smaller agencies, an Automotive Mechanic may exercise a degree of supervision over assistant mechanics or Equipment Operators performing minor maintenance and repair on equipment, with general supervision being received from a supervisor, superintendent, or other such official or designee. Does related work, as required. TYPICAL WORK ACTIVITIES: Repairs motorized and non-motorized equipment, such as trucks, tractors, mowers, graders, loaders, sweepers, rollers, compressors, and automobiles; Adjusts, repairs, and rebuilds gasoline and diesel engines; Repairs and replaces components of equipment, such as suspension systems, drive assemblies, brake systems, fuel systems, electrical systems, and cooling systems, and makes necessary adjustments to same; Carries out sanding, sandblasting, filling, painting, and related body-work tasks; Makes minor welding repairs; Operates drills, grinders, and other metal-working machines related to automotive repair functions; Performs preventative maintenance tasks which may include vehicle inspections; Attaches and removes snow plows, blades, and other attachments for motorized equipment; Maintains records of tasks performed, and other pertinent records; Requisitions parts and materials, to ensure adequate supply to maintain workflow; Acts as Equipment Operator, or wingman, as directed; May drive buses, cars, or trucks; May deliver fuel to job sites; Keeps shop area neat and clean. The above examples of duties are intended only as illustrations of the various types of work performed. The omission of specific statements of duties does not exclude them from the position if the work is similar, related or a logical assignment to the position. FULL PERFORMANCE KNOWLEDGE, SKILLS, ABILITY AND/OR PERSONAL CHARACTERISTICS: Thorough knowledge of standard automotive repair and maintenance methods; thorough knowledge of automotive repair terminology and tools; working knowledge of welding techniques; ability to make difficult repairs to heavy automotive and other mechanical equipment; ability to work from plans and specifications, and to follow rough draft sketches and oral instructions; good motor and hand eye coordination; manual dexterity. The physical demands described here are representative of those that must be met by an employee to successfully perform the essential functions of this job. Reasonable accommodations may be made to enable individuals with disabilities to perform the essential functions. While performing the duties of this job, the employee is occasionally required to reach with hands and arms. The employee constantly is required to stand; walk; and use hands to finger, handle, feel or operate objects, tools, or controls. The employee is occasionally required to sit; climb or balance; stoop, kneel, crouch, or crawl; and talk or hear. The employee must occasionally lift and/or move up to 100 pounds. Specific vision abilities required by this job include close vision, distance vision, and the ability to adjust focus. The work environment characteristics described here are representative of those an employee encounters while performing the essential functions of this job. Reasonable accommodations may be made to enable individuals with disabilities to perform the essential functions. While performing the duties of this job, the employee regularly works in outside weather conditions. The employee is frequently exposed to wet and/or humid conditions. The employee is occasionally exposed to risk of electrical shock. The noise level in the work environment is usually moderate to loud. MINIMUM QUALIFICATIONS: One year of full-time paid experience as a skilled automotive repairman. SPECIAL REQUIREMENTS: Some jurisdictions may require appointees to receive and maintain certification as a NYS Motor Vehicle Inspector, within six months of appointment. SPECIAL REQUIREMENT FOR APPOINTMENT AND CONTINUED EMPLOYMENT: 1. Possession and maintenance of appropriate valid license(s), as required. 2. In school districts where incumbent may operate a school bus, possession of a valid appropriate level New York State Driver's License is required. 3. Drivers must be at least 21 years of age. NOTE: In addition, candidates must satisfy the requirements for School Bus Driver set forth in the Rules and Regulations of the New York State Commissioner of Education. Non-Competitive Class Civil Service Applications are due to Human Resources no later than October 18, 2024.
