Skip to main content

Police looking for help locating possible stolen dog

By Press Release
beau stolen dog

Press release:

The City of Batavia Police Department is looking for assistance in locating a dog that may have been stolen from a residence on Masse Pl. "Beau" is a 15 month old Corgi who is white with black and gray spotting on his back end. Beau is also deaf. Beau is believed to have been taken during the morning of July 27th. If you have any information to the whereabouts of Beau, please contact Officer Quider at 585-345-6350.

Division crown secured, Muckdogs keep pressure in 11-4 win over Jamestown

By Howard B. Owens
batavia muckdogs

Even with the West Division title in the Perfect Game Collegiate Baseball League clinched, the Batavia Muckdogs showed no letup on Saturday. They scored 11 runs over the Jamestown Tarp Skunks at Dwyer Stadium in front of a home crowd of 2,143.

Eric Woodley, from Depew, made only his second appearance of the season. He came on in the fifth and pitched 2 2/3 innings, giving up only one hit and striking out three to pick up the 11-4 win.

TJ Morris, in the leadoff spot, went 3-4, driving in two runs and scoring twice. He's hitting .327 on the season.

Jacob Veczko went 1-4 and drove in three runs. Anthony Greco, from Buffalo, was 2-3 with an RBI and run scored. Bryceton Berry, from Batavia, was 1-2 with a pair of walks and three runs scored. Caleb Walker was 2-3 with two runs scored.

The Muckdogs close out the regular season on Sunday at 4:05 p.m. against Newark.

Batavia is 33-8 on the season, nine games ahead of second-place Auburn. In the PGCBL, only Amsterdam, at 35-7, has a better record.

The playoff schedule has not yet been released.

Photos by Nick Serrata.

batavia muckdogs
batavia muckdogs
batavia muckdogs
batavia muckdogs
batavia muckdogs

Pair of six-horse fields highlight opening night at Batavia Downs

By Tim Bojarski
batavia downs
Photo by Nick Serrata

Batavia Downs opened its 2024 summer/fall meet on Saturday night. The 3-year-old pacing filly division of the New York Sire Stakes was in town, featuring two six-horse fields that vied for $58,100 each.

The first division was won by A Few Choice Words (Courtly Choice-Top Choice Hanover), who made every station a winning one. 

Jim Marohn Jr. put A Few Choice Words on the point off the gate and skated through fractions of :28.2, :57.2 and 1:25.3 before Stepabovetherest (Braxton Boyd) pulled from third and tried to advance. But the closest she would get to the leader would be second, next to the pocket-sitting Leanne’s Choice (Marcus Miller) because A Few Choice Words turned for home and paced with authority to the line where she won in 1:54.

It was the third win in a row and sixth out of the last seven for A Few Choice Words, who is owned by Clancy Farms and trained by Blake Macintosh. 

Then there was an upset in the second division when She’s Epic (American Ideal-Booya Beach) shook loose and flew home late at 15-1.

Camerican (Jim Morrill Jr.) grabbed the lead from Peace Talks (Jim Marohn Jr.) just before the quarter and then tempered the pace to the half in :57.4. Camerican continued her easy lead around the third turn and up the backstretch until She’s Epic (Tyler Buter) pulled from fourth and made her way to second by three-quarters in 1:26.4. She’s Epic pulled alongside Camerican and the pace got decidedly more intense as the fillies matched strides around the final bend and into the stretch. Despite their best efforts, neither girl could get ahead until three pylons from the wire where She’s Epic lived up to her name and rode a :26.4 final panel to a one-half length victory in 1:54.

It was the third win of the year for She’s Epic ($33.40) who is owned by John Cummins and trained by Travis Alexander. 

Buter got the hat trick on Saturday after winning two $20,000 Excelsior legs with Hurricaneaphrodite (1:54, $3.90) for trainer John McDermott and Tempville (1:56.1, $4.90) for trainer George Ducharme. Ducharme also trained the winner of the third Excelsior leg, Villannah (1:55.2, $13.80) driven by Jim Morrill Jr. who also had a hat trick on Saturday night. 

Live racing resumes at Batavia Downs on Tuesday (July 30) at 6 p.m.  

Photos by Nick Serrata.

batavia downs
batavia downs
batavia downs
batavia downs
batavia downs

The Batavian's eagle drawing contest, the People's Choice winner

By Howard B. Owens
eagle drawing contest
Drawing by Brooke Follett.

The Batavian closed out its Genesee County Fair eagle drawing contest on Saturday, and Brooke Follett is the People's Choice winner.

Here drawings received the most votes from people who stopped by the Media Center on Friday and Saturday and cast ballots. She wins a ukulele.

Below are the other four drawings that received the most votes.

eagle
Drawing by Tylin Torcello, 2nd place
eagle drawing contest
Drawing by Miranda Tamburlin, 3rd place
eagle drawing contest
Drawing by Teri Tamburlin, 4th place
eagle drawing contest
Drawing by Brooke Jurek, 5th place

July 27, 2024 - Jamestown Tarp Skunks v.s. Batavia Muckdogs

By Batavia Muckdogs

The Tarp Skunks look to bounce back following the loss in Jamestown yesterday to the Muckdogs. Batavia is looking to continue to add to their franchise record in wins this season which sits at 32 coming into tonight.

Saxenmayer (JAM) v.s. Chandler (BAT)

#GoDogs #BuiltDifferent

Remote video URL

 

Oakfield held its second Box Car Derby on Saturday

By Howard B. Owens
oakfield-box-car-derby

For the second year in a row, Oakfield hosted its own Box Car Derby on Saturday, this time using Bennett Avenue as the track.

The event was organized by the recently formed Oakfield Box Car Derby Association.

Here are the racing results:

Sport Division (Ages 7-10yrs) : 

  • 1st - August Rindell
  • 2nd - Eli Pamer
  • 3rd - Brynn Shildwaster 

Super Stock Division (Ages 11-13yrs) : 

  • 1st - Cody Pangrazio (winner 2nd year in a row) 
  • 2nd - Forrest Franklin
  • 3rd - Lincoln Puls 

First-place winners in both divisions won: 

  • The Sue D’Alba Memorial Trophy
  • $100 cash (courtesy of RKK Construction and Smith’s Outdoors)
  • 1 free Large pizza per month for one year (courtesy of Santino’s Pizza) 
  • An Oakfield Box Car Derby Association t-shirt (courtesy of XO, Sassy Parties) 

Second and third-place winners also received a trophy, and all participants received a gift card for 1 free ice cream (courtesy of Blondie’s Sip n’ Dip). 

Photos by Howard Owens.

oakfield-box-car-derby
oakfield-box-car-derby
oakfield-box-car-derby
oakfield-box-car-derby
oakfield-box-car-derby
oakfield-box-car-derby
oakfield-box-car-derby

Tickets and hotel deals are now on sale for Marsha McWilson Christmas concert

By Press Release

Press Release:

Batavia Downs Gaming & Hotel has announced that on Friday, December 6, Marsha McWilson will return to Batavia Downs as she performs her yearly Christmas Concert.  

Marsha brings a high energy show that features Christmas Classics and other favorites. She and the other performers have entertained concert goers for many years inside the Park Place Room. Doors are at 6:30 p.m. with music beginning at 7:30 p.m. Tickets are $15 and concert go-ers will receive $10 in Free Play.

Tickets for this event are available at www.BataviaConcerts.com.  The Hotel Deal for this event is live at this time and links can be found on Facebook or  https://www.bataviadownsgaming.com/hotel-deals/.

Teen from Batavia wins electric guitar in The Batavian's eagle drawing contest

By Staff Writer
the batavian guitar winner
Howard Owens, publisher of The Batavian, and Dylan Rendon, winner of The Batavian's eagle drawing contest.
Photo by Debra Reilly

The Batavian awarded the grand prize in its eagle drawing contest at the Genesee County Fair to Dylan Rendon, 15, from Batavia.

Dylan received his new Harley-Benton, Les Paul-style eclectic guitar during BB Dang's set at the fair on Friday evening. He started playing guitar six months ago and said the new guitar is an upgrade on his first guitar.

The contest ran from opening day to Thursday, when The Batavian's staff selected its favorite drawings from entrants who were 17 years old and young and then randomly selected the winner from among those best drawings.

The Batavian conducts eagle drawing contests with guitars as prizes to help promote music appreciation among the community's youth.

Joshua Budzinack, 18, of Batavia, is the winner in the adult category of The Batavian's eagle drawing contest.

Voting in the People's Choice Award, which gives visitors to the Media Center Booth in the Exhibition Hall at the fair a chance to pick one of their favorite drawings among the 20 drawings selected by staff.  Voting continues until 3 p.m. on Saturday.

dylan's eagle drawing
Eagle drawing by Dylan Rendon
eagle drawing contest
Marc Tillary, a staff member of WBTA, completed a drawing for The Batavian's eagle drawing competition, but because WBTA is a news partner, and Media Center partner, with The Batavian, we recognized a possible conflict of interest in including his drawing in the contest. We also recognized that his drawing would be very popular so we awarded him a special honorable mention, a $50 gift card to T.F. Brown's.
eagle drawing contest
Drawing by Marc Tillery.

Photos: Bacon Brothers entertain fans at Batavia Downs

By Howard B. Owens
bacon brothers at batavia downs

The Bacon Brothers, touring in support of their fifth studio album, Ballad of the Brothers, stopped at Batavia Downs on Friday night.

Brothers Kevin Bacon, famed actor, and Michael Bacon, an Emmy-winning songwriter, formed their duo 30 years ago.

Their sound is solidly Americana, and their songwriting has earned them a strong fanbase.

Previously: Bacon Brothers celebrate 30 years of music with new album and upcoming tour

Photos by Nick Serrata.

bacon brothers at batavia downs
bacon brothers at batavia downs
bacon brothers at batavia downs
bacon brothers at batavia downs
bacon brothers at batavia downs
bacon brothers at batavia downs
bacon brothers at batavia downs
The Landshark Brothers opened for the Bacon Brothers.

One of Genesee County's long-serving Democratic leaders ready to cast ballot for Harris at DNC

By Joanne Beck
lorie longhany
Lorie Longhany

Lorie Longhany’s mind was on personal business that Sunday afternoon six days ago when a history-making decision was making news. Then she got a phone call from the county’s Board of Elections deputy commissioner.

“She told me that President Biden bowed out. And as soon as it happened, even before I could get on Twitter or Google anything I had already decided in my head, it’s got to be Kamala Harris, I don’t care what anybody says, I’m backing Kamala Harris. And so I guess I was thinking the way most everybody else was,” Longhany said during an interview with The Batavian. “I felt strongly about Joe Biden, and I feel even more strongly about Kamala Harris, I’m excited.”

Longhany will get that chance since, in December, she was nominated as a delegate for New York State’s 24th Congressional District to the Democratic National Convention. She didn’t apply for the role, but was recognized for her years of service and involvement to the party.  

This won’t be her first rodeo, so to speak, as Longhany, Genesee County’s Democrat election commissioner, was also a delegate for former President Barack Obama at the Charlotte, NC, convention for his second term and was on the ballot for the 2016 presidential candidate Hillary Clinton. 

She didn't make it that time.

“I got beat. Not by a lot. I got beat because they pick a female, male, female, male, and the male got in, and I didn’t get in,” she said. But I went to that one, too. That was in Philadelphia. I went just as a Hillary supporter.”

This one has so far been somewhat different, however, since Harris hasn’t actually run for the position and has been preliminarily nominated on a Zoom call.

“I’ve had mixed feelings about it because I really think that Joe Biden has been the most consequential president, maybe not of my lifetime, but a good part of my lifetime. He's accomplished so much. And most of it is just not even recognized by people,” she said. I look around Genesee County, and there's a lot going on. And maybe none of it has to do with some of Biden’s, with the infrastructure bill and the Chips and Science Act, but I have a good idea that some of it does. I think he's made a lot of good things happen in four short years.”

Although she’s a big Pete Buttigieg fan, Longhany also believes that Harris, as a former attorney general and prosecutor in a major city, brings a lot to the table.

“I like her a lot; I’m very energized by this candidacy right now. And even though I love Joe Biden and I think the world of him, and I think he’s the most compassionate man that I’ve ever seen in public office, I didn’t have this kind of energy. I wasn’t that excited about going to Chicago. I’m excited to go to Chicago now,” she said. “I think she carried a lot of Biden’s good stuff with her. She’s a woman, or she’s a woman of color; it’s that we’re ready for this. And we don’t have to sugarcoat it anymore. I think she can bring so much to the table.” 

The first Monday she’s in Chicago, there's an early delegate breakfast meeting, and that week, she rolls through a convention that she will be “learning as I go,” she said. 

“I don’t know the process for this; it's different from the last two,” she said. Because I am a pledged delegate to Joe Biden, I think he has to release all the delegates because it’s huge. Well, I’m not going to guess; it’s just, I’m gonna play it as it goes.”

She hasn’t landed on who she thinks Harris should pick as her vice president, but the right names have been bandied about: Josh Shapiro from Pennsylvania, Mark Kelly from Arizona, Gretchen Whitmer from Michigan, and maybe even  Buttigieg will get some consideration — any of them would be a good choice, Longhany said.  

She said she would definitely strap in for a debate between Harris, the Republican contender, whoever Harris picks for a V.P. and the newly announced J.D. Vance. She has cringed at the level that political discourse has sunk to lately.

“We shouldn’t be doing this to each other,” she said. "I don’t like the tone, the tenure, or the rhetoric—I don’t like any of it.”

She will be packing for a week-long convention in mid-August, with the event wrapping up with what members hope is a final nomination for Harris. There might not be a world wrestling icon up on stage as there was for the Republican convention, Longhany said, but there might be Carole King, James Taylor, and — who knows — Taylor Swift and her Swifties, perhaps? coming out in solidarity against recent politically charged comments about single, childless “cat ladies.” 

New York’s 307-member delegation includes 268 pledged delegates who are eligible to vote on the first ballot at the convention. If Harris wins at least 1,976 votes in that first round, she would win the Democratic presidential nomination outright. 

According to cityandstateny.com, an unofficial survey of delegates by the Associated Press found that Harris had the support of at least 1,640 pledged delegates, not including New York’s delegation, prior to the vote. With the support of New York’s 268 pledged delegates, Harris had the support of at least 1,908 delegates – putting her fewer than 100 delegates away from securing the nomination in the first round of voting. 

Shortly after the New York vote, California’s delegation held its own vote, and its more than 400 delegates unanimously pledged to support Harris. That put her well over the 1,976-vote threshold needed to secure the nomination, cityandstate.com stated.

There were so many delegates crammed onto the Zoom call that only four or five faces could be seen at once, Longhany said. As far as she could tell, that vote was unanimous for Harris.

If Harris somehow fails to reach 1,976 votes in the first round at the convention, then New York’s other 39 delegates would come into place. They are “automatic” delegates, also known as “superdelegates,” who can only vote if no candidate gets enough support the first time around.

Longhany is a former Democratic County Committee Chair and currently serves as one of two Genesee County election commissioners. Both major parties are represented at the Board of Elections. The Republican commissioner is Richard Siebert.

As election commissioner, Longhany wants folks to know that she’s careful to leave politics at the doorstep when she enters the Board of Elections office. It's her job to ensure that everyone’s vote counts no matter what side of the aisle they’re on and who they’re voting for. 

“I don’t want people to worry about elections in Genesee County, that everybody can vote easily,” she said. “I want people to trust that I care about this job, even if they’re not voting who I want them to vote for … when I’m in the office, there’s no politics in that office.”

Sponsored Post: Saturday - KIDS DAY TAKE TWO & HP HOOD DAY at the Fair

By Sponsored Post
Genesee County Fair

Saturday, July 27th - KIDS DAY TAKE TWO & HP HOOD DAY at the Fair
•. 8 AM Summer Kickoff Classic Open Horse Show Showmanship & Western ( Horse Area) 
•. 8:30 AM – NIOGA Dairy Showmanship Show (Main Show Ring)
•. 10 AM – Exhibition Halls & Buildings Open
•. 10:30 AM—NIOGA Dairy Show (Main Show Ring)
•. 12 PM – 9 PM—Midway Opens Kids 16 & Under Ride for $20/wristband from 12 PM—4PM
•. 1 PM – Color Wars (Grassy Area behind I-Got-It)
•. 3:30 PM- Small Fry Tractor Pull (Exhibition Building) Sponsored by Upstate Niagara Cooperative, Genesee County Pamona Grange, In Memory of Duane Schmigel
•. 7 PM – Screaming Diesel Shootout Semi Pulls, Modified Pick up, Street Pick up, Mini Mod Tractors 
•. 7 to 11:00 PM – Nerds Gone Wild  – (Entertainment Tent)
**FIREWORKS at the completion of the Screaming Diesel Shootout**
•. 10 PM – Exhibit Halls & Buildings Close

  • Daily at the Fair:
  • Air Sculpture (Balloon Display and Demonstrations) (All Day Every Day)
  • Pig Racing – Show Schedule (SAT 4pm, 6pm & 8pm; SUN 4pm, 6pm & 8pm; MON 4pm, 6pm & 8pm; TUES 4pm, 6pm & 8pm; WED 2pm, 4pm, 6pm & 8pm;  THURS 4pm, 6pm & 8pm; FRI 2pm, 4pm, 6pm & 8pm; SAT 2pm, 4pm, 6pm & 8pm)
  • Niagara Down Under (All Day Every Day)
  • Pony Rides (All Day Every Day)
  • Chain Saw Carver (All Day Every Day)
  • Fame Racing – Radio Controlled Car Racing (SAT 3pm, 5pm & 7pm; SUN 3pm, 5pm & 7pm; MON 3pm, 5pm & 7pm; TUES 3pm, 5pm & 7pm; WED 1pm, 3pm, 5pm & 7pm; THURS 3pm, 5pm & 7pm; FRI 1pm, 3pm, 5pm & 7pm; SAT 1pm, 3pm, 5pm & 7pm)
  • Fair Trivia Hunt – All Day (July 20th-26th) – Exhibition Building – DAILY PRIZES
    Events & times on the schedule are subject to change. Follow us on Facebook to keep up to date with changes.

Top Items on Batavia's List

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.
Tags: Jobs offered

Authentically Local