File Photo of Bill Brach delivering the second appeal for the Buffalo Diocese from Ascension Parish to the post office in December. The Parish received word that the appeal has been accepted for review. Submitted Photo
Friends of Ascension are celebrating a win, albeit it’s uncertain for how long, with the Dicastry's decision to accept a second appeal from Ascension Parish to halt its closure in Batavia.
Longtime parish member Bill Brach dropped that second appeal to the Buffalo Diocese in the mail in mid-December. That action was another step in a relentless process of collecting petitions, sending out updates, encouraging participation, and ongoing financial support as a display that the Sacred Heart Church community wasn’t going away without a fight.
Member Nancy Brach had said at the time that it was one thing for a parish to lose its home based on legitimate underutilization, poor physical condition, and lack of financial viability; however, none of that was the case for Ascension.
“But to close healthy churches that are needed, cared for, and loved in their communities is another story,” she said in December. “It is clear that individual parishes are being closed due to the transgressions of the Diocese.”
Those transgressions were from sex abuse lawsuits filed against the Diocese and costly settlements resulting in church closures and merging assets to pay off the plaintiffs instead of the defendants paying directly, according to prior news articles.
Attorney Ilan Schard said, “If the diocese is going to survive as an entity, other parishes, even those without claims directly against them, can contribute to help fund a settlement. It’s been done in every other settlement across the country,” according to the Buffalo News.
Brach disagreed.
“While this may be legally correct, it is ethically wrong to punish people for the sins of others,” she said.
The parish was one of more than 10 “from all corners of our diocese” that received letters from the Nuncio in Washington notifying them that their appeals had been acknowledged and accepted for further review, the nonprofit group Save Our Buffalo Churches said.
“In addition, the letters mentioned that the decrees issued were suspended pending the review in Rome. Of note, the letters all mentioned that the Dicastry would be corresponding with Bishop Fisher on the matter,” the nonprofit said in an email to The Batavian. “Cardinal Lazarus You Heung-sik is the prefect. Most of the letters were written on 3/25, the feast of the Annunciation, when we celebrate the incarnation of our Lord Jesus in the womb of the Blessed Virgin Mary, nine months before Christmas.
Also, our faith community is eager to learn about the status of the bankruptcy as well as the class action lawsuit. Since no settlement nor closure for either has been formally announced, we do not understand why the diocese is informing various parish and church offices to expect ‘bills’ for their share of the settlement,” it stated. “In the 2020 document issued by Bishop Scharfenberger entitled ReOrganizing for the Future Together, page 9 states: ‘The Diocese cannot use parish assets or property to settle claims.’ The document is linked from our webpage.”
Nonprofit members continue “to pray for abuse victims,” it states, as each parish community in the diocese continues to operate “as is,” celebrating Easter and other holy traditions and services, it stated.
“We continue to pray for the bishop, priests of our diocese as well as the faithful Catholics in our diocese as we complete the holy season of Lent,” it stated. “God bless you all.”
Emmanuel Baptist Church’s Community Garden is looking for green thumbs to come and grow! We have 20 raised 3x4 garden plots, along with water, tools, seeds, and fertilizer to help you get started.
We need gardeners!
Do you want to provide fresh veggies or flowers from the garden for your family? Come grow with us!
This year, we will be completely refilling our plots and working to keep the climbing bindweed out. We could really use some help with this project, which will begin as soon as it’s warm enough.
The cost is $15 per plot. For more information or to sign up, call 585-343-4905 or email ebcbatavia@gmail.com.
The Law Street Yard Waste Station will open for the season on Monday, April 14, for City Residents.
The station will be open from 12 p.m. to 6 p.m., Monday through Saturday, until Daylight Savings Time in November when operating time will change to 11 a.m. to 5 p.m.
The station will be closed on the following dates:
May 26 (Memorial Day)
July 4 (Independence Day)
September 1 (Labor Day)
November 27th (Thanksgiving)
The Yard Waste Station will close for the season in early December.
City residents may bring yard waste material (grass, leaves and limbs) to the Law Street Yard Waste Station as there is no spring curb side pickup of these materials.
The following items cannot be accepted at the station:
Tree stumps, building materials, rock, fill (soil and stone) other debris. Yard waste shall be free of trash (paper, plastic, bottles, cans...etc.), as this material cannot be processed.
Use Law Street entrance to enter and exit the City Yard Waste Station only.
Photo of Connor Gibbs, Evin Hollandsworth, and Brayden Hy.
Press Release:
The Batavia Muckdogs are excited to announce their next five signings for the 2025 season.
Some new faces join the Muckdogs as well as some local western NY talent. 1B – Connor Gibbs, LHP -Evin Hollandsworth, OF & Lockport Native – Brayden Hy, INF – Jackson Inman & INF – Grady Lacourciere join the Dogs this summer at Dwyer Stadium.
Connor Gibbs is a 6’3 first baseman from Helena, AL, currently playing at Bevill State Community College. A consistent presence at the plate, Connor delivered an impressive .316 batting average last season across 48 games and 155 at-bats.
Evin Hollandsworth is a 6’2 freshman pitcher at Saddleback College from Dana Point, CA. Before committing to baseball full-time, Evin was a standout dual-sport athlete while attending Dona Hill High School, excelling in both football and baseball.
Brayden Hy is a 5’9 freshman outfielder from Lockport, currently playing at Canisius University. Before joining the Golden Griffins, he was a standout player at Royalton Hartland High School, where he posted an impressive .417 batting average, recorded 108 hits, including 9 home runs, and 94 RBIs.
Jackson Inman is a 6’1 freshman infielder from Damascus, MD, making a strong impact in his debut collegiate season. He is currently hitting .346 on the season while adding power with three home runs with 25 RBIs.
Grady Lacourciere is a 6’2 freshman infielder from Lyme, CT, attending Hofstra University where he has started pitching. Bringing an impressive high school resume to the collegiate level, a standout athlete at Lyme-Old Lyme High School, he played four years of baseball and two years of football, showcasing his versatility and athleticism.
Opening Day is Saturday May 31 at 6:30 p.m. vs the Elmira Pioneers with free post-game fireworks. If you are someone you know has interest in sponsoring the Muckdogs, season ticket information, hosting a group event or picnic please contact General Manager Marc Witt (mwitt.canusa@gmail.com). The Muckdogs full schedule is available online at www.canusamuckdogs.com.
To bring awareness to sex and labor trafficking, Genesee County Safe Harbour will host a “Sunrise Breakfast” on Wednesday, May 7, from 8:30 a.m. to 12 p.m. at Main Street 56 Theatre (City Centre, 56 Main St, Batavia).
This free event is open to the public and aims to enhance awareness and contribute to the prevention of sex and labor trafficking in our county.
Event Highlights:
Free breakfast catered by Alabama Hotel
Keynote Speakers: Kait Gannon- Survivor, Advocate, Podcaster, Medical Social Worker & Mother accompanied with Laurie Krull- LCSW-R Clinical Social Worker, Podcaster, & Healer.
Kait & Laurie will discuss, “The Ugly Truth About the Girl Next Door”.
Opening & Closing Remarks- Presented by the Genesee County Youth Bureau and the Genesee County Safe Harbour.
Registration:
This event is free to attend, and breakfast will be provided at no cost. Registration is required to attend as seating is limited. All RSVPs are due to the Genesee County Youth Bureau by Friday, April 25. To register, please contact Genesee County Youth Bureau at Genesee.Youthbureau@dfa.state.ny.us or 585-344-3960.
For additional information, contact Genesee County Youth Bureau at Genesee.Youthbureau@dfa.state.ny.us or (585)344-3960.
Oakfield-Alabama is starting off the 2025 baseball season strong, picking up a 9-0 win over Lyndonville on Monday.
The Hornets had eight total hits.
David Schnaufer went 6 1/3 innings, giving up only three hits and walking none while striking out 10, to pick up the win. He was also 1-3 at the plate with a sacrifice fly, two runs scored, three RBIs, and two stolen bases.
Jack Cianfrini got the final two outs, both on strikeouts. He was also 1-4 at the plat with a run scored and a stolen base.
Offensive stats:
Avery Watterson, 1-3, triple, 3 Runs, 1 stolen base
Batavia defeated Brockport in Flag Football on Monday night, 52-12.
Quarterback Jaimin Macdonald was 14-24 passing for 81 yards, with three touchdowns and two interceptions. Macdonald added four carries for 33 yards and a rushing TD.
Nicole Doeringer scored three total touchdowns, two through the air and one on the ground. Kylee Brennan scored two touchdowns, one running and one receiving. Kaylynn Peyman added a 45-yard rushing touchdown.
Defensively, Nicole Doeringer led the Lady Devils with seven flag pulls, five for loss. Haiden Brooks recorded four flag pulls. Alyssa Turner returned an interception 60 yards for a touchdown. Kylee Brennan and Kaylynn Peyman also grabbed interceptions.
The Lady Devils improve to 1-2 and travel to Greece Olympia/Odyssey on Thursday.
Trisha Reynolds of Justice for Children Advocacy Center, left, facilitates a panel of Genesee County agency representatives as they talk about what services they can provide for victims of crime during a Criminal Justice Day program Monday at Grace Baptist Church in Batavia. Photo by Howard Owens
Although there are multiple agencies ready to help victims of crime in Genesee County, sometimes all it takes is that one person with a particular forte, Jess Marciano says.
“Having a Swiss Army knife is not always the most effective tool,” Marciano said during a Criminal Justice Day panel Monday at Grace Baptist Church in Batavia. “It might be better having somebody who is specialized … to have diversified experts. Knowing who to tap, that’s what makes this so incredibly helpful.”
Marciano represented GLOW OUT!, and was with five others — Batavia Police Youth Detective Eric Hill, Grace Baptist Church Associate Pastor Zack Dawson, Restore Sexual Assault Services Training Coordinator Bobbie Steinhauer, and Jacquelyn Wheeler and Samantha Rychlicki of YWCA, all who spoke about their local resources within the county that offered those specialized services to victims.
They were given a scenario of a mother and father that didn’t get along, and had a transgender child who was struggling with the turmoil and dad’s addiction and abusive behavior toward the mom.
How would each agency respond?
The police department would refer the family, dad in particular, to the Police Assisted Addiction and Recovery Initiative (PAARI), Hill said, plus the fire department and Genesee County Sheriff’s Office.
“You can come to us with those drug addiction problems, and we won’t arrest you,” he said. “That would be a case where we would not arrest you, but we would actually get you in touch with ConnectCare services and counseling services without any questions asked. So if we were called to the scene, or if this family came to our police department with these issues, that would be a potential avenue for them to go down.”
There’s a countywide Single Point of Access group (SPOA) for pulling multiple agencies together to discuss issues and needs; the Mental Health Department for counseling; YWCA’s domestic violence services and a safe house for mom and the child if needed; Family Court and orders of protection; Grace Baptist certified counselors; and the police department’s jurisdiction of making an arrest and getting an arraignment for the husband’s abusive actions to prevent further harm while the case goes to court.
Restore would probably focus first on mom and make sure that she had supports for the sexual assault history, and is connected with a counselor, Steinhauer said.
“Because, again, her services are all free, trying to get whatever support she needs. And because we've got counselors that serve Batavia, that would be one piece of the puzzle, and then to try to figure out what else is needed,” she said. “We have some resources for the queer community, for the parents and for the kids that just say, here's some books, here's some resources, so that you know that you're welcome here and might be supportive to what means this family have. And then always, always the hotline. Any time, any reason you wake up at 3 a.m. and because, for reasons that trauma likes to hit at 3 a.m. we have a full volunteer (schedule). These people learn to be volunteers. They work hard, and they show up at 3 a.m. for those calls, and that's why they're there.”
As for Dawson, he’d want people to show up at the church.
“I’d want them to find that church community, and life is better connected. We’re not meant to live life in isolation, and it sounds like that family is isolated,” he said. “They need relationship and they need to find safe people. One of the things that I'd encourage you to do is I know that there's safe people in the school, and teachers love the students that they have, and the way that I've tried to work is just to be a person that is known as a safe person.”
He likened a person to a four-legged chair, with each leg an extension of that being: the spiritual aspect, social aspect, emotional aspect and the physical. So if someone has suffered physical and/or sexual abuse, there’s damage that “as a church we would want to get that person out of that situation,” he said.
“We would work with dad’s addiction … it’s not just the flip of a switch. We need to walk alongside that man and help him navigate, what are the triggers for that? How can we walk alongside with you and have accountability to where we can help you be successful to conquer that?” he said. “And for the child, man, they’ve faced a lot of stuff. Some of it has been … because the parents are trying to figure out how to handle that. And so that child needs to know that they’re loved, that they’re cared for, and that blame that they might feel, that shame that they might feel, we need to help them navigate that. I want to help them see their identity isn’t just in sexuality or a gender, their identity is beyond that.”
“You’ve gotta walk with people, life is hard,” he said. “And so, you want to keep going with them for the long haul … as well as walking through what the Bible says.”
YW staff would consider it a domestic violence situation, Rychlicki said, and ask the mother to fill out an intake form, meet with a case manager and staff could serve as advocates during her time in court, offer food from the nonprofit’s pantry and help manage a safety plan.
“We’re going to meet them where they are,” Wheeler said, explaining that they wouldn’t dispense advice such as get a divorce. “We are there as a support. We’re not necessarily dictating or putting conditions on how they have to act in order to receive our services or engage with us.”
While it’s true that each agency has its own level of expertise, they do often collaborate on a case, which Hill often initiates as part of his job as coordinator, he said. A case may go before SPOA, and then to GLOW OUT! For one portion and to Restore for another need. He gave an example of when there’s an attempted suicide.
“There’s agencies that are automatically activated when certain things happen,” he said.
Trisha Reynolds, program coordinator of Justice for Children Advocacy Center, facilitated the panel and said it was a big help for all the key players to get to know one another to “make sure we’re coordinating services.” After all, the theme of the day for the more than 100 people in attendance was about healing the community through awareness.
“So that people in the community know what's out there for them. Everybody knows that there's mental health. Everybody knows about substance abuse treatment, UConnect. But then there's some other resources that we felt like maybe people wouldn't be so aware of … especially like youth detective. I mean, people hear police, they think they're just out to arrest, but they can offer so many other services and support groups and all kinds of things,” Reynolds said. “So I think we just wanted people in the community to be aware that if you find yourself as victim of a crime, there are a multitude of community agencies out there to help you.”
Joseph Robinson of the District Attorney’s Office had the job of summarizing all of the day’s presenters. Now in his sixth year with the office, he has handled domestic violence cases — “cases with people who are in the most vulnerable position in their life” — he said.
He wasn’t going to do that alone, and relied “heavily” on county agencies like those that were just up on stage, he said.
“Back then, I didn’t even know about all the other agencies involved with this, and they really helped me be able to connect with the victims, make sure the victims were heard, and that what the victims were looking for was something we took into consideration during these cases,” Robinson said. “Like the sheriff said earlier, a lot of the criminal justice system is focused on holding the offender accountable. But that’s not the only thing we do. We listen to the victims, and we make sure they’re heard in the courtroom, whether it be in the plea we offer or giving them the chance to speak at sentencing, so that they know their voice is heard, not just to us but to the courts.
“And when it comes to holding that person accountable. My job, without having the victim feel safe, feel like they can talk to us, we have no case,” he said. “These victims aren’t on their own. They don’t need to handle this on their own, there are numerous agencies out here to help them, the community is here to help them, and it really does take a village for these people to get thought he situation, to feel safe again.”
Photos by Howard Owens
Samantha Rychlicki of YWCA, right, answers a question during the panel Monday Photo by Howard Owens
Trisha Reynolds of Justice for Children Advocacy Center Photo by Howard Owens
Zack Dawson of Grace Baptist Church.
Bobbie Steinhauer of Restore Sexual Assault Services.
Batavia Police Youth Detective Eric Hill.
Jacquelyn Wheeler and Samantha Rychlicki of YWCA.
Joseph Robinson of the county District Attorney's Office gives closing remarks for Criminal Justice Day on Monday.
There will be over 5,000 eggs hidden in the park, spread out over three age groups, (0-3), (4-7), and (8-10). There will be 3 Golden Prize Eggs in every age group, where the lucky boy or girl who finds a Golden Egg will receive a large Oliver’s Chocolate Easter Bunny. The Easter Bunny will be making an appearance and available for photos.
In addition, an event that started a few years ago and continues to be a favorite with families is the daily hidden Golden Easter Egg at Centennial Park, starting this Friday, April 11, and running for 7 days until April 17.
Inside the Golden Egg are instructions on how to take the Golden Egg to the big Easter Egg Hunt on April 19 to claim a large Oliver’s Chocolate Easter Bunny. The Golden Egg will be hidden at different times each day over the course of the seven days to try and accommodate varying schedules for different families.
We ask that families that find the daily Golden Egg please message the Batavia Kiwanis Club on Facebook with a picture of their kid(s) that found the Golden Egg so we can post on our Facebook page and alert others that the Golden Egg has been found that day.
This is a fun, free, family event that gets everyone outside to enjoy the park and spend time together. There may be other Easter Egg Hunts in the area, but there aren’t any other daily Golden Easter Egg Hunts! Come on out and continue a tradition or make a new one!
HOME SHOW Special: Sign Up for Early Access pass before the end of April and get the first month of membership for only $1 or $8 off an annual membership. Visit my.thebatavian.com to sign up and use the coupon code HOME25.
A 45-year-old Le Roy resident has been charged in a 2023 burglary of Crocker's Ace Hardward.
Officer Matthew Nielson worked the cold case and identified the suspect, who allegedly stole thousands of dollars in merchandise in the overnight heist.
Nielson had few leads to work with, according to Chief Greg Kellogg.
"Through persistent follow-up, detailed investigative work, and strong attention to detail, he successfully identified the suspect and personally made the arrest," Kellogg said. "This arrest is the result of Nielson’s dedication and resolve, demonstrating the commitment of the LeRoy Police Department to holding offenders accountable — no matter how much time has passed. His work on this case reflects the professionalism and determination that the department strives to deliver every day."
Andrew J. Paladino was taken into custody. He is charged with burglary. No other charges were listed in the release. His release status is unknown
Marian Velma Dworzack toasts to her century of life with family, including daughter Sheila Craver, left, and son Steve Dworzack, second to her right, Saturday at Miss Batavia Diner. Her younger siblings are seated to her left, brother Richard Cramer and Shirley Kriger. Photo by Joanne Beck
Marian Dworzack -- who credits her longevity to always carrying a song in her heart -- celebrated her 100th birthday on Saturday during a party hosted by her children, Sheila Craver and Steven Dworzack, at Miss Batavia Diner.
The family enjoyed a toast with champagne, birthday cupcakes, and plenty of smiles.
Marian was born in 1925 on her grandfather’s farm in Basom, the eldest daughter of Chauncey and Eleanor Cramer. She attended Oakfield School and graduated from Corfu High School in 1943, where she was a ping-pong champion and star of the school musical.
She worked at the Brown Knitting Company in Warsaw until she married Chester Dworzack in 1946. They operated a small dairy farm in Varysburg until 1962. Avid ballroom and square dancers, they belonged to the Batavia Twirlers and WyCo Promenaders. Marian also sang with the Sweet Adelines. She was an active member of St. Vincent Church in Attica, where she belonged to the Catholic Daughters and the Altar & Rosary Society. After Chet’s retirement in 1980, they moved to the city of Batavia, where she now resides.
Marian is a 45-year breast cancer survivor. In addition to her two children, she has seven grandchildren, six great-grandchildren and four great-great-grandchildren.
Spanning the generations are daughter Sheila Craver, left, 100-year-old mom Marian Velma Dworzack, and great-granddaughter Kayla Stone. Photo by Joanne Beck
Downtown Batavia didn't lack enthusiasm from at least 300 people carrying signs and chanting during a national Hands Off! protest Saturday. The event was one of hundreds across the country to oppose the actions of Donald Trump and Elon Trump. Photo by Howard Owens
Although there were signs admonishing Donald Trump and Elon Musk, Corfu resident Matt Steinberg didn't see it as being political and instead focused on what he believed was the bigger picture in downtown Batavia this weekend.
Steinberg chose to speak up for libraries, which he displayed on his sign while standing along Main Street.
“Well, because there's no reason to cut these. I mean, education is how we sort of advance as a country. People need to have an education and know what has happened in history, good and bad. And you learn that partially at libraries. And fascists, that's how they start. They try to have an uneducated citizenry, and that's got to be the reason that libraries are a target,” he said, as one of at least 300 people in the Hands Off! protest Saturday outside of City Hall. “I do feel that our local libraries will be affected. The small libraries depend more heavily on government support, even the big ones, like in Buffalo, Erie County, that also depends heavily on government support, because it essentially is a free function. And there are certain things in the world that should exist that don't need to generate a profit, and libraries are one of them.”
He said it was well worth his time to attend the event and protest for two hours alongside hundreds of others with various other causes. For the most part, the event was a peaceful demonstration of free speech in action, including a few motorists who apparently opposed the action by displaying Trump flags and expelling diesel exhaust close to protesters.
“It’s easier to give a finger or accelerate your truck than to engage. We’re trying to reverse what’s happening,” Steinberg said. “I’m here because I don't like the direction that the current administration is piloting the country, and I don't feel like I don't want to just take it lying down. ”
Individuals, couples, friends, and whole families came out to participate. Jen Reardon of Batavia gathered with seven relatives — including some first-time protesters that drove from Hamburg and Alden, and their grandmother — all wearing neon-colored matching “Resist” T-shirts.
This event wasn’t about getting together for a one-time cause but about concerns and conversations they’ve been having daily, Reardon said.
“We’re worried about our country absolutely crumbling and falling apart. And anything that we can do -- we need to resist and fight it,” she said. “And try to keep things funded that are important to people, and social security, Medicaid, Medicare. How are people going to live without that and all of the other things they talk about, SNAP benefits being cut, museums and libraries being cut? Head Start being cut. They’re programs that help a lot o families all over the country, and with the money gone, what is going to happen to people?”
There seems to be a fair amount of people online saying that this isn’t necessary and asking why people are protesting. How do you respond to that? “I’d say stop watching Fox News and start to watch almost any other place you an get news from; not Newsmax and not Fox News, and learn the real story of what is happening, because those media outlets are are friendly to Trump are not telling the Americans the truth of what’s happening,” she said.
Are you doing any other events like this? “Well, we found out that there’s something going on on April 15 at the town hall (at Arc Community Center), so we plan to attend that as well. And then as things come up, this was kind of our first jump into it,” she said. “But we’re really to do what we need to do to keep the lifestyle that we love here, and the freedoms that we have here that other people across the world do not have.”
The family members each carried a sign with a different cause — the forests, LGTBQ rights, recovery funds, social security, the library and art.
Taylor Peck of Batavia works in the substance addiction field and is concerned about funding for rehab and recovery and issues more personal to her. Participating in this protest “definitely” accomplished something, Peck said.
“So we're getting our voices heard, our message across. It's a scary time to be a gay woman in America. And I mean, I just want to take a stand. I work for UConnectCare here in Batavia, and I care a lot about the clients that I work with who are in recovery. So that's why my sign says recovery funds.”
Admitting that her group was “fired up,” Reardon jumped back in to add that she's concerned about cuts to education, libraries, and museums. It is “trying to make us dumb,” she said.
“Things where you can go and learn about history, and women’s rights and gay rights and the veterans,” she said. “It’s a whole lot of things that mean a lot to all kinds of people.”
Both sides of Main Street were lined with people and chants of “hey, hey, ho, ho, Donald Trump has got to go,” as motorists drove by honking their horns. There was a bright green umbrella with the word Truth written across the top and messages for “Congress, get DOGE” and “Congress, put your hands back on the wheel.”
A protester wearing the classic “Hand Maid’s Tale” garb of a floor-length ruby red dress and symbolic oppressive white head piece, known as wings, walked up and down the sidewalk with a megaphone, leading a chant of “this is what democracy looks like.”
Holding a sign with democracy written on it, Amy Fagan is “displeased with the Trump administration,” she said, and appreciated the fact that “a red county” would have people stand up against him in protest.
“Because there’s so many things that I think are being attacked that I figured democracy covers a lot of it, and then the social security in particular, people like me have paid into it our entire lives. And what’s going to happen if it goes away?” the Batavia resident said. “It’s not fair, it’s not right. It’s dangerous for the older people to not have that income coming in, because we’re not millionaires and billionaires.”
And what do you say to those people who think this is premature and this is worry for nothing? “If you wait for too long, then it’s going to be too late, and if it’s too late, there’s nothing that you’re going to be able to do about it,” she said. “People need to see that there are those of us who disagree and that maybe they don’t want to come out because they’re afraid of what their family might think. Or, just know that there’s a group of us out here that support you.”
Organizer Sarah Wolcott was happy with the turnout and that the protest had minimal negative occurrences.
“I am overwhelmed, but in the best possible way. I always prepared for some pushback. There has been very, very minimal, at best, if even any. There has been some. I'm not gonna say there hasn't been, but mostly it's all been positive and supportive and peaceful, which was the ultimate goal of today,” Wolcott said. “The whole point of choosing Hands Off, specifically, was that it's not just one cause, it's not just one thing being affected, it’s so many things. And I just gave people a place to come together, is really all I did. The rest kind of happened on its own. I think there will definitely be more.”
Photo by Howard Owens.
Photo by Howard Owens.
Photo by Howard Owens.
Photo by Howard Owens.
Photo by Howard Owens.
"I feel like if I don't come to protests, if I don't make my voice heard, then I am complicit in the destruction of democracy," said Matt Steinberg of Corfu. Photo by Joanne Beck
"If we just sit back and do nothing, we're gonna just see this country crumble right before our eyes," said Patricia Harrington of Batavia, fourth from left and one of the eight family members to attend Saturday's Hands Off! protest in Batavia. "It's time to get out there and take action, and even if it's just a peaceful protest, that's still doing something more than sitting there and doing nothing." Photo by Joanne Beck
“Because there’s so many things that I think are being attacked that I figured democracy covers a lot of it," Amy Fagan of Batavia said Saturday. Photo by Joanne Beck
Trippany won the annual Batavia High School event on Friday night in front of a capacity crowd in the auditorium.
The event raised in the neighborhood of $5,400 (the final total hasn't been calculated yet). Half of the funds will go to Trippany's chosen charity, Rosewell Cancer Institute.
Will Fulton, representing Genesee Cancer Assistance, came in second, and Kahler Evans, representing Bella's Bumbas, came in third. Their charities will each receive 25% of the proceeds.
Since the first year of the competition in 2013, Mr. Batavia has raised $43,052 for charity.
The event is supported by the Batavia City School Foundation along with local businesses Charles Men Shop, Main St. Pizza, Zach Korzelius at Geico Insurance, LP Graphics in LeRoy, Extreme Streetwear, Beverly's Flowers and Gifts, along with the students and staff at BHS.
This year's contestants where:
The 2025 contestants are:
Cooper Banser: Crossroads House
Jeremiah Childs: The Neri Family through Reece's Rainbow
Kahler Evans: Bella's Bumbas
Greyson Fix: The Ricky Palermo Foundation
Will Fulton: Genesee Cancer Assistance
Cooper Konieczny: Volunteers for Animals
Anthony Kopper: Suicide Prevention of Genesee County
The Goose in Oakfield, 33 South Main St., is Genesee County's new live music venue, thanks to Oakfield resident Thom Jennings and a grant administered by GO ART!
Jennings, a musician himself, got the idea during his wife's surprise birthday party at the Goose last July. Bruce Wojick, a member of the Strictly Hip, played a couple of songs.
"I got to thinking, man, this would just be a really good space for an artist-centric music event," Jennings said. "Because one of the things that's always driven me crazy when I played a happy hour acoustic event, or even as I go to more shows now, the artist isn't necessarily the focus.
It's hard, he said, for a good singer-songwriter to find a place where the audience is there to hear the music more than they are to chat with their friends.
The other inspiration for the idea came from his son Trevor, a drummer in multiple bands. He mentioned playing a gig where audience members could bring their own beer or wine.
So, during the last round of grant applications for state grants for community art projects through GO ART!, Jennings pitched the idea and approved the grant.
Evan Anstey and James Robert Kibby played the inaugural show on Friday evening.
There are shows on May 2 (Steve Novak) and June 6 (Tyler Bagwell), and there is a Christmas concert planned for December.
The Goose is a community center in Oakfield run by Susan Zeliff, Jennings' niece.
NOW HIRING seasonal agribusiness positions. CDL A & B Drivers to deliver bulk crop nutrients. Potential long-term opportunities. Great for retirees! GENERAL LABOR positions. Daily variety of indoor/outdoor responsibilities. Loader experience a plus. SIGN-ON BONUS and plenty of OT during spring/summer months. Apply in person at: 8610 Route 237, Stafford, NY www.cecrocker.com
