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The following were arrested at Six Flags Darien Lake during the Luke Bryan Concert on June 16.  The defendants were issued appearance tickets.

Jaxson R.W. Larsen, 21, of Lakeview Road, Lakeview, is charged with two counts of disorderly conduct after allegedly spitting on a Darien Lake security guard and knocking over a fence and threading security in the parking lot.

Cole L. Friend, 18, of Winfield Avenue, Lancaster, is charged with criminal trespass 3rd after allegedly jumping a fence into the venue.

Ryan A. Miller, 22, of Bailey Road, East Aurora, is charged with criminal trespass 3rd after allegedly re-entering the concert venue after being ejected and told not to return.

Derek J. Goodwin, 27, of Sherman Avenue, Hamilton, Ontario, is charged with harassment 2nd after allegedly punching another subject in the face.

The Genesee County Spartans outlasted the Ithaca Warriors, 16-12, in Northeastern Football Alliance semipro action Saturday night at Genesee Community College.

After Ithaca scored on an interception in the game's opening minutes, the Spartans took the lead for good with 24 seconds left in the first quarter on a five-yard run by fullback Brandon Bethel and the point-after kick by Marc Montana.

The home team made it 13-6 midway through the second quarter on a 70-yard burst up the middle by Jed Reese, who burst through the line and ran untouched to the end zone.

Montana's 28-yard field goal gave the Spartans a 16-6 lead early in the third quarter. Ithaca scored on a touchdown pass with 1:09 left in the game.

The game was marked by more than a dozen turnovers and at least that many penalties, including several personal fouls (and a couple of ejections) for unsportsmanlike conduct.

For the Spartans, Cody Wenner, Amir Cleveland, Tre Woods, Keith Neureuter and Max Rapone had interceptions, with Rapone's play ending a last-ditch effort by Ithaca in the closing seconds.  Defensive end Gunner Rapone had another outstanding game for Genesee.

The Spartans, 2-1, are home again next Saturday for a 7 p.m. clash against the Broome County Stallions.

Photos by Nick Serrata

Not to negate the dozens of local families that stopped by the Just Kings fourth annual Juneteenth Freedom Celebration event this weekend, but there was also one special visitor who drove over from Buffalo as well.

State Attorney General Leticia James heard about the festivities — vendors, live music, African dancers, a chicken barbecue, and a performing spoken word artist — and dropped by Williams Park in Batavia.

“I went to the Buffalo parade. I'm here in Batavia celebrating Juneteenth. I'll be going to Rochester shortly. And then tomorrow we're going to Orleans County, so we're doing a number of events here in upstate New York, and it's an honor and a privilege to be here in Batavia. It's absolutely beautiful. So Juneteenth, to me, represents courage. It represents resilience, it represents strength, and it represents freedom,” James said early Saturday afternoon. “And so there are still challenges that we all have to, you know, address. But if we walk together arm in arm, shoulder to shoulder, there's nothing that we cannot overcome together.”

What do you think an event like this, with these various vendors and people, means to this community?
“There's so many services, and to me, it really represents three things. It represents faith, family, and community. And that's really what this day is about. And that's what Batavia appears to be all about. So, you know, obviously, there's housing issues all across the state of New York. There's issues obviously, there's a number of migrants who have been sent to upstate New York that we've got to address, there's a crisis in affordable housing, reproductive rights is a major issue, health issues is an issue, employment issues, there's issues with regards to antitrust, there's issues with respect to social media, I can go on and on and on of the issues that we're dealing across the state,” James said. “But if we work together, I'm sure that we can come to a resolution on a lot of these issues. And I, using the strength of the law, will use my office to address those issues because the law is both the sword and shield and protecting the rights here in the state of New York, and that's what I do every day.”

What is the latest status of migrants in upstate New York?
“So I was just speaking to the county executive in Buffalo. And he indicated to me that a number of migrants were sent here (Buffalo) this morning. And he was also told that they anticipate that more will be coming here to Buffalo. And so what we've got to do is work together all across political differences and political parties to try to come to some sort of resolution,” she said. “I do know that there are individuals obviously in need of employment. There's companies up here, obviously, who need workers. So there’s workforce issues that we've got to address. But right now, it's all about housing, finding the housing, and finding the resources to pay for the housing. And hopefully, the federal government will step up and be part of this discussion.”

James has heard of Just Kings, a grassroots group of Black men with a mission to give back to the community through Christmas toy drives, school supply backpack giveaways, chicken barbecue fundraisers and the Juneteenth event.

“And I do know that during the pandemic, they were particularly instrumental in providing individuals who are unfortunately under-resourced and who had a number of challenges. It was this organization who reached out to people in need, communities and families that were most vulnerable,” she said. “And so I really wanted to thank them, and that's why I decided to come up here and celebrate Juneteenth with these young men who are on the ground doing the work of others.”

One of those young men, Brandon Armstrong, was on the other side of the park, working the grill for the chicken barbecue. He believed the turnout was even better this year, with about 20 vendors plus a few guest performers and special guests, including an African drum band and, of course, the state attorney general.

“I think they heard about the event and just showed up. This is just some acknowledgment; it’s celebrating the freedom and just letting people be aware of the holiday,” he said. “We just try to lead by example. When we were younger, we had a few people that would do certain events for different things. Juneteenth wasn’t a big thing back then. We just saw what they did and kind of picked it up from there a little bit. There were some years that we didn’t have anything going on, so I figured we could kind of pick up from there and help out.”

The sun darted in and out of clouds throughout the day as winds occasionally flared, blowing organizational materials off of tables. Various area services and businesses were represented, from mental health and law enforcement to the Democratic Committee, McDonald’s, GO ART!, Mama Dee’z, Genesee County Public Health and — a shameless plug — The Batavian, which conducted a contest for a guitar giveaway.

The first part of the day began at Robert Morris School with many more service organizations and activities for kids and families.

Several families milled about, checking out what each booth had, including jewelry, artwork, face painting, educational materials, popcorn, pizza and other assorted foods and beverages. Vianiliz Rivera carried a goodie bag of items while enjoying an icy blue snow cone.

“I think what they're doing is they're opening what the community is truly about, the black and brown community, and having these beautiful vendors here: domestic violence, mental health, the food that is beautiful food, it's basically opening up to see what the community is about,” Rivera said. “These men, they're giving a beautiful example to the youth, actually to the Batavia community, so I'm proud of them. They're doing a beautiful job.”

All photos by Howard Owens.

Takara Odom may not have realized it Saturday, but her minion’s emergency repair may one day help the three-year-old deal with her own medical needs.

Takara, of Batavia, attended a Teddy Bear Clinic during the Creative Communities: Interactive Health Fest Saturday at Robert Morris School.

With a focus on whole body health, including physical, mental, social and emotional well-being, the event was to provide opportunities to learn about ways to strengthen one’s overall fitness, including when dealing with doctor and emergency room visits, said Laurie Ferrando of Rochester Regional Health’s Healthy Living program.

“This offers exposure to some of the things they might have to come into contact with,” she said. “It really does help with those things to make it not so scary.”

Takara brought in her baby minion for some TLC and, while wearing her own surgical cap, was allowed to see various procedures and touch the instruments used to help her baby get better. Ideally, that will ease Takara's mind down the road when and if she may need her own medical treatment because she has been exposed to objects and procedures that will now be more familiar to her in the future, Ferrando said.

Art teacher Linda Fix was at another table, where she offered a creative workshop for the day. Students Addison Forsyth and Madelyn Demena, both 12 and going into seventh grade at Batavia Middle School this fall, were each finishing up their crafts.

The girls had visited all of the tables earlier and played some games but spent the majority of their time fine-tuning their pieces — a brilliant butterfly scene for Addison and a colorful flower masterpiece for Madelyn.

Thanks to a grant through GO ART!, Fix is working on a project titled “Kindness, Empathy and You,” which will end up as a traveling exhibit of her work.

“My primary goal is to paint a large mural on the wall at John Kennedy (Intermediate) School on Vine Street in Batavia. The mural will then be professionally photographed, and will be transferred to canvas and become a traveling mural in the Batavia School system,” she said. “The workshops will concentrate on the theme of the project with expressions, and creativity through art.”

A marketing company based in Buffalo will be reproducing the mural, which is to be ready for travel by mid to later July, she said.

The second half of Saturday provided families the opportunity to visit the Just Kings Juneteenth Freedom Celebration at Williams Park.

The Business Improvement District hosted its inaugural Cider Walk, modeled after the popular Wine Walk in the Fall, in Downtown Batavia on Friday.

Photos by Nick Serrata.

Empire State Pullers hosted a tractor pull at the WNY Gas & Steam Engine Association Show Grounds in Alexander on Saturday. Photographer Nick Serrata was on hand for The Batavian to capture the 4x4 Street Legal Trucks Pull.

A steady stream of vehicles pulled through the parking lot of the DSS office on West Main Street Road, Batavia, for the annual electronics recycling event on Saturday hosted by Sunnking and Assemblyman Steve Hawley.

The event makes it easier for people to drop of large electronic items, including TVs, as well as large amounts of electronics, all for free, with staff on hand to empty the vehicles.

Photos by Howard Owens.

Photo by Nick Serrata.

On Thursday, the Jerome Foundation awarded the William F. Brown, Jr., scholarship to Parker Dowell, a senior at Le Roy High School, who will be attending the  University of Cincinnati, majoring in marketing

Brown was a local journalist and author who at one time owned WBTA and was a founder of the Jerome Foundation. 

Each year, the foundation awards a scholarship of $1,000 a year for four years to a Genesee County student who plans to study journalism, public relations, communications or marketing in college.

Photo: Ron Chrzanowski, chairman of the scholarship committee, Christine Dowell, Jim Dowell, Parker Dowell, and Justin Calarco-Smith, president of the Jerome Foundation

Submitted photo and information

Rick Ruhlman, a fixture at Dwyer Stadium for decades, was recognized before the Batavia Muckdog's second game of a twin bill on Friday against Auburn.

He threw out the first pitch, and PA announcer Paul Spiotta read the following statement:

Rick Ruhlman, BHS Class of 1976, is an essential and beloved figure in the history of Batavia sports.

Whether on the sidelines, in the locker room, from the press box, or in the stands, Rick has enriched and encouraged Batavia athletes in countless ways over the past half century. For his labors of love, Rick was inducted into the Blue Devils Athletic Hall of Fame in 2007.

Tonight, the Batavia Blue Devils and the Batavia Muckdogs would like to thank Rick Ruhlman for a lifetime of service. Rick, you have made Batavia a better place.

The Muckdogs won the first game 9-0.  Ty Woods, from Alexander and a student at GCC, tossed six innings of shutout ball, yielding a single hit, walking one, and striking out three.  Woods picked up his first win in two starts with an ERA on the season of 0.75.

The team collected 11 hits, with Kyle Hetherington and Zach Kasperowicz getting two hits apiece.  Nine different players scored once and only once, and Kasperowicz was the only player who didn't cross the plate in the game.  He had one RBI.

Batavia won the second game 1-0. Julian Pichardo went the distance (seven innings) to pick up his second win and a complete-game shutout. He scattered three hits and one walk, striking out nine.

The Muckdogs were held to three hits.

Photos by Nick Serrata.

A proposal to place a Seneca Nation-owned full casino in the City of Rochester reportedly is on hold.

On Friday, New York Assembly leaders – following a protest in Rochester by unionized gaming workers -- announced that the chamber will not vote on a new 20-year compact between the state and the Seneca Nation despite the Senate’s robust approval of it.

“I believe the Seneca Nation deserves a fair deal. However, the sentiment of the Assembly’s Monroe County delegation, coupled with the potential loss of union jobs, is concerning, and we cannot move forward with a vote on the compact at this time,” said Assembly Speaker Carl Heastie on Twitter.

News of a potential deal to build a casino in Rochester came to light earlier this week, prompting immediate and strong opposition from local government officials, politicians and representatives of Batavia Downs, Hamburg and Finger Lakes gaming facilities.

"The state needs to make sure that they get local input, to make sure they have an economic analysis done relative to siting such a casino in Rochester, period, and we want to make sure we safeguard the jobs that we have at Batavia Downs as well as the money we return to our communities," said Henry Wojtaszek, president and chief executive officer of Western Regional Off-Track Betting Corp., when contacted this morning.

Assemblyman Steven Hawley made his feelings known on Thursday, stating that the construction of a new casino in the area “would be damaging to the local economy and would jeopardize the more than 400 jobs at Batavia Downs.”

“Local officials and New York lawmakers were also not included in any discussions between the governor and the Seneca Nation,” Hawley added.

In a statement released to the press, Seneca Nation President Rickey Armstrong Sr. blamed the governor’s office for failing to keep local leaders informed throughout the negotiations.

Calling the Assembly’s decision “despicable,” Armstrong said the Seneca Nation did not impose a non-disclosure agreement despite what Gov. Kathy Hochul’s administration had claimed.

A portion of Armstrong’s statement is as follows:

“The blame for keeping Rochester officials out of the loop lays directly at the feet of the Executive. The Executive and the Nation agreed not to negotiate through the press or in public, but contrary to media coverage, the parties never entered into a Non-Disclosure Agreement.

“The Nation regularly consulted our own legislative branch and expected that the Executive was doing the same. The Executive's claim that it was legally barred from communicating with other State officials is simply inaccurate. The Executive was free to communicate with local officials throughout the process on what it was negotiating for and what it agreed to.

“The failure of the Executive to communicate with its own government speaks to the utter disregard the Governor had for this process.”

The state’s gaming compact with the Seneca Nation expires on Dec. 21, leaving the door open for the Senate and Assembly to vote on a revised agreement.

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The UMMC/RRH Lemonade Stand, after a successful debut last summer, was back at Centennial Park on Thursday, this time with live music.

One reason to bring it back, said Lori Aratari, senior development officer for UMMC, was that last year's event raised $15,000, which was double the amount anticipated.

That's great, but really, it really is about the kids.

"That's the biggest thing," Aratari said. "We're getting kids involved in philanthropy at a young age and showing them the importance of giving back and especially supporting health care in our community."

This year, donations to the event will be used to assist patients dealing with congestive heart failure.

"We're going to be able to purchase these kits. They're $60 each, and these kits have some tools that patients can use to help keep them out of the hospital," Aratari said. "The tools include a digital scale and a blood pressure machine that's digital. So being able to give them the tools will help keep them home and keep them healthier."

There were 260 patients who came through UMMC in the past year to be treated for congestive heart failure. 

"If we can get every one of them a kit, that would be wonderful," Aratari said. "Every dollar we raise will stay here and will allow us to buy those kits."

Photos by Howard Owens.

When the Rev. Shiela Campbell McCullough, pastor of Bethany Presbyterian Church, learned of Batavia’s cultural history, she was surprised, to say the least, about one particular person who lived and died here.

Her name was Adeline “Addy” Barbara, as listed in the 1850 census. Her gravestone, weathered and worn, bears the etching of her burden from age 4 until she died at 50: “faithful colored servant.”

“I never thought about it here in Batavia until (City Historian) Larry Barnes unearthed it, and then he published his findings (in the book “History by the Hearth”). And then it was not until Mike Stuart … brought it to my attention I had no knowledge of this, and when Mike met me at the cemetery to show me the marker, it was overwhelming. I was so full of pain,” McCullough said during an interview with The Batavian. “I’m a grandmother, and at that time, my granddaughter was four years old. And I just could not even imagine someone treating her like that. And the mere thought that just a four-year-old child was snatched from her mother, and I put my daughter in the place of her mother. I mean, in my mind, it was just, that was painful. And the only thing I could do is to lay some flowers at her marker.”

Turns out that’s not the only thing she could do. McCullough and members of Batavia First Presbyterian Church, including the Rev. Roula Alkhouri and her husband Mike Stuart, and Batavia Cemetery Association will not only remember Addy and celebrate her life during Juneteenth’s Freedom Day at 10 a.m. Monday, but will also reclaim the narrative from those words so horribly skewed on the gravestone, McCullough said.

A faithful servant? “That’s not the truth,” she said.

“Honoring Addy is paramount in certain form and fashion, but we’ll be pointing out the truth, and being her voice: no, no, no, I didn’t have a voice in the matter. I was a slave,” McCullough said.  “It’s a celebration of her life, but more than just her life, her humanity. To be a slave, especially in America, meant you were sub-human, which meant the animals had more value than you.”

McCullough thinks about that fragile child and all of her “little girlness.” She would have been attending preschool in present day America instead of doing chores and being stripped of her family, her rights, choices, and future.

Another action that organizers will take in her name and spirit is to restore the marker, not to destroy any of the history, the reverend said, but to enhance it and, again, “reclaim the narrative” with scripture affirming Addy’s spiritual worth in the eyes of God versus how she was undervalued by her human owners.

The graveside service to honor Addy is to begin at 10 a.m. Monday at the Historic Batavia Cemetery, 65 Harvester Ave., Batavia.

She lived from 1807 until she died Jan. 28, 1857, according to the marker, Batavia Cemetery Association President Sharon Burkel said, and lived with the family of Episcopal priest Rev. Lucius Smith.

“She’s listed right in the census with them in 1850 … We don't know a whole lot about her,” Burkel said. “We had thought for many years, because that section of the cemetery is where the first plots were laid out in 1823, that was the part where a lot of the people buried in there were from St. James Church and the Presbyterian Church. They owned the cemetery initially.”

This service is a reminder of the importance of recognizing and confronting the legacy of slavery in our society, organizers said. All are welcome to attend and pay their respects. 

It’s an important part of Batavia’s history, and people might want to attend to acknowledge our shared history, McCullough said.

“To acknowledge that we have a responsibility to make this world a better place for the generations that come behind us to begin to see our shared history, as also the type of legacy that we're leaving behind,” she said. “At least I do, I want to leave my granddaughter with the truth of who she is, where she comes from, which includes being an American in this country. I want her to know all the ins and outs, the good and the bad. I want her to know.”

Patricia Schafer has been painting for years and years, she said, but she never thought about placing her work in an art show until she started to get a little unexpected recognition.

"It was so exciting, Schafer said. "I never had a show before. I've gotten to this stage of my life without a show; though I've been painting for a long time, but I never really had confidence in my work. Through the Chili art group, I've won a couple of ribbons here and there. And I thought, Oh, wait, there is somebody who likes my stuff."

GO ART! invited the Spencerport resident to show a bit of her work in Medina, and that led to a full show that runs through August at Seymour Place in Batavia.

She's titled the show, My Whimsical Heart, a totally appropriate description of her work, which is mixed media -- mostly painting and collage -- and features bright colors, mostly people, with creative, shall we say, whimsical backgrounds.

"If I do a landscape, and I do have a couple of landscapes, people are like, 'you gotta get back to those people. We love those people and the backgrounds.' So, people recognize my work, which is nice."

She said she paints for the love of it, for the joy of it.

"This is kind of like a relaxation hobby," Schafer said. "For me, I love it. I love color, it makes me happy. If you have a day that you're kind of down about stuff, that's just why I do it."

Corfu resident Justin Reynolds describes his seascapes and landscapes as somewhere between the abstract and realism.  They're never of any place he specifically remembers visiting.

"I've been asked a lot tonight if they're from specific places, and they're really not from places. I guess they're in my head or maybe I have been and forgotten. They're all very just kind of conjured up," he said.

Painting, Reynolds said during the opening of his show at GO ART!, takes him to different places.

"I think I always gravitate (to these places), in my mind, when I think of where I'd like to be relaxed and find some peace," Reynolds said. "I think those are some of the places I picture. So a lot of times, I'm painting where I could see myself unwinding and detaching from the stresses of life."

Photographer Carla Coots, a Le Roy resident, is best known for her music photography.  She can often be found at the Smokin' Eagle in Le Roy, snapping shots of bands playing in the bar.  Some of her best work is displayed on the venue's walls.

She also likes trees. Well, she likes photographing other things, but she does like trees, and trees are the focus of her show that opened Thursday at GO ART!

Coots is a retired special education teacher.  She took up photography 16 years ago when she was looking for something to do in the arts. 

"I think that I got into it because I needed to, and it was a good, really therapeutic thing," Coots said. "Art is a form of communication. I think that it really helped me get through a lot of things that I was going through at that time."

Press Release:

The Batavia City School District is proud to announce it is one of at least 165 school districts and the Board of Cooperative Educational Services (BOCES) in New York State to receive the Utica National Insurance Group's "School Safety Excellence Award" for 2023 at the Titanium with Honors level. 

The honor is presented annually and recognizes school districts' safety efforts as they work to help keep students, staff, and visitors safe. Batavia City School District officials received a certificate to commemorate the district's safety efforts and a $500 award for use in furthering those efforts from Utica National representatives. 

Utica National's School Safety Excellence Award Program has three levels—titanium, platinum, and gold—in which schools can earn a meritorious distinction by meeting specific criteria to enhance overall safety. 

Through the program, schools with their own transportation, schools with contract transportation, and BOCES are evaluated. Categories covered include bullying prevention programs, playground safety, and other areas, and are measured using specific, quantifiable surveys. 

“We’re proud and encouraged to receive this award from Utica National,” said Batavia City School District Superintendent Jason Smith. “The health, safety, and security of our students, faculty, staff, and community is our top priority. We’re consistently evaluating our programs, and this award will certainly go towards our continued efforts.” 

"Safety and health concerns continue to be a priority in our school districts," explained Brian Saville, Senior Vice President of Utica National's Educational Institutions Unit. "Districts that go 'above and beyond' to provide a safe, healthy, and focused culture for learning are to be applauded, and we're pleased to count Batavia City School District among them."

For more than 45 years, Utica National Insurance Group has kept kids and school staff safe and currently insures more than 300 school districts in upstate New York alone. 

Stop by our booth today at the Juneteenth Festival in Williams Park for a chance to win an all in one beginner acoustic guitar kit! Fill out an entry form with your best drawing of an eagle to be entered to win!

We'll also be talking about our newest feature –  Early Access Pass. Click here for more information or to join now.

Stop by our booth this Saturday at the Juneteenth festival at Williams Park in Batavia for a chance to win an all in one beginner acoustic guitar kit! Fill out an entry form with your best drawing of an eagle to be entered to win!

We'll also be talking about our newest feature –  Early Access Pass. Click here for more information or to join now.