Press Release:

For the first time, the GLOW Region Solid Waste Management Committee is holding a paint ONLY collection. The program is being held as a result of the NYS Paint Stewardship Law that was passed in 2019 and went into effect on May 1, 2022. It is being paid for by fees collected by retailers that sell a specific list of paint products. At GLOW’s 2022 household hazardous waste collection in Batavia, over 40,000 lbs. of these products were collected and recycled. 

Green Sheen Paint will do the collection, which will be held on Saturday, June 10, in Pavilion. It is expected that this collection will result in less paint coming into GLOW’s August collection in Mt. Morris, resulting in shorter wait times at that collection.

In order to participate in the collection, residents must make an appointment. Appointments can be made online by going to GLOW’s website, www.glowsolidwaste.org and clicking on the link for the collection they want to attend. Those without internet access can call 585-344-2580 ext. 5463, 585-815-7906 or 800-836-1154. 

The collection is open to residents and businesses in the Genesee, Livingston and Wyoming county regions. Materials must be in original containers no more than larger than 5 gallons in size. All materials are accepted at NO CHARGE. Locally Sherwin Williams retailers and Crocker’s Ace Hardware in LeRoy also accept eligible products on an ongoing basis. Information on those and other locations can be found at www.paintcare.org.

Acceptable materials include but are not limited to:

• LATEX and Oil base paint, primers, sealers, under coaters
• Varnishes, lacquers and shellacs
• Deck sealers, floor coatings and textured coatings
• Metal coatings and rust preventatives
• Waterproofing, concrete/masonry/wood sealers and repellants

Unacceptable materials include those below and more:

• Tar or bitumen-based products
• Aerosol cans
• Auto and marine paints
• Aluminum paint

Press Release:

The Genesee County Economic Development Center (GCEDC) board of directors will consider an initial resolution for LNK Holdings Inc.’s acquisition and expansion of an agribusiness manufacturing facility in Bergen at its board meeting on Thursday.

The proposed $1.645 million project enables Craft Cannery to expand operations at Apple Tree Acres by adding 4,000 sq. ft. to its existing 5,000 sq. ft. facility. The USDA-certified contract manufacturer provides dozens of customers with the capacity to ramp production of sauces, dressings, marinades and other foods, produce small-batch foods, and pilot unique recipes for commercialization.

LNK Holdings Inc. plans to create four additional full-time equivalent (FTE) jobs and retain six FTE as part of the expansion. The project follows Craft Cannery’s victory in the 2022 Grow-NY Global Food and Agribusiness Competition, which awarded the company’s planned expansion a $500,000 prize.

The company has requested the GCEDC transfer the existing facility’s payment in lieu of taxes (PILOT) agreement, and PILOT, sales, and mortgage tax exemptions valued at $70,413 to support the acquisition and expansion. The proposed incentives for the additional 4,000 sq. ft. are estimated to return $3.06 million in projected wages and municipal revenues for a $64.1 economic impact for every $1 of requested incentives.

Press Release:

Congresswoman Claudia Tenney (NY-24), co-chair of the House Election Integrity Caucus today introduced the Promoting Free and Fair Elections Act to defund President Biden’s overreaching executive order that threatens the safety and security of American elections. This legislation ensures American elections are transparent by prohibiting federal agencies from engaging in partisan voter operations at taxpayer expense.

Reps. Bill Posey (R-FL), Randy Weber (R-TX), and Andrew Clyde (R-GA) co-sponsored the House version of this bill, while the Senate version was introduced by Senator Tedd Budd (R-NC). 

Specifically, this bill would prohibit actions ordered under President Biden’s Executive Order (EO) 14019 from being initiated by federal agencies. This would prevent federal agencies from entering into agreements with non-governmental organizations (NGOs) to use their power, influence, resources, and federal funding to conduct voter registration and other mobilization activities. America’s civil service should be non-partisan and federal agencies should not be using taxpayer funds to actively engage in partisan Get Out The Vote operations that have nothing to do with their core missions.

“President Biden’s EO 14019 allows the federal government to use its power and your taxpayer dollars to influence our elections,” said Congresswoman Tenney. “The Promoting Free and Fair Elections Act ensures that federal agencies remain non-partisan and are not engaging in partisan voter registration and mobilization efforts on the taxpayer dime. As the Election Integrity Caucus co-chair, it is my privilege to introduce this legislation to restore transparency and confidence in our democratic process, while keeping federal bureaucrats and the swamp from deliberately tipping the balance of our elections.”

The legislation prohibits the use of federal funding to carry out activities directed under EO 14019, including:

• Soliciting or entering into an agreement with a third-party group to conduct voter registration or voter mobilization activities on federal property anywhere in the country, or on any federal agency website;
• Implementing strategic plans to carry out activities directed under EO 14019 until at least 180 days after submitting to Congress a copy of the plan, unless those activities are required under federal law; and
• Engaging in any voter registration activities outlined in Section 7 of the National Voter Registration Act (NVRA), until at least 180 days after providing Congress a copy of the agencies’ strategic plan to do so under EO 14019, or in the case of those agencies that did not create a strategic plan under EO 14019, only after they have certified to Congress that no such plan exists.

Tenney is the founder and co-chair of the House Election Integrity Caucus in Congress. With more than 60 members, the Caucus is dedicated to preserving the sanctity of our elections and boosting confidence in the democratic process.

The full text of the bill is available here.

Press Release:

The Genesee County Retired Educators (GCREA/RENY) will hold its spring meeting and luncheon on Wednesday, May 17 at noon at the Byron Presbyterian church. 

The speaker will be Ricky Palermo, who will bring members information about the Ricky Palermo Foundation for Spinal Cord injury Research. A collection will be taken to benefit the foundation. 

For information or reservations call 343-7346. If a member did not receive a newsletter, he or she may call 278-8558 to get one.

File photo by Howard Owens. Ricky Palermo in 2019 at one of his annual soccer clinics.

Jason W. Whitehead, 25, of Bank Street, Batavia, is charged with criminal possession of a controlled substance 7th, possession of a narcotic with the intent to sell, harassment 2nd, resisting arrest and use of drug paraphernalia 2nd. Batavia patrol officers located Whitehead, who had an active warrant for his arrest, walking on Bank Street on April 16. Whitehead allegedly fled on foot when officers attempted to arrest him. A private citizen assisted Officer John Gombos and Sgt. Christopher Lindsay in stopping Whitehead. The officer took Whitehead into custody. Whitehead was allegedly found to be in possession of a quantity of drugs and drug paraphernalia. Whitehead was arraigned in  City Court and remanded to the Genesee County Jail on no bail.

Cassandra F. Smith, 37, of Manhattan Ave.,  Batavia, is charged with two counts of petit larceny. Smith is accused of stealing various items from a yard on Manhattan Avenue on April 8. Smith was released on an appearance ticket.  On April 12, she was charged with criminal trespass 2nd. She is accused of entering and remaining unlawfully in an apartment on Washington Avenue, where she left a note for a resident to find when the person came home. She was arraigned in Centralized Arraignment Court and released. She was charged with criminal mischief 4th on April 12. She is accused of spray-painting an apartment door, doorbell camera, and van in the driveway of a residence on Washington Avenue.  She was arraigned in Centralized Arraignment Court, and her release status is unknown.

Joseph C. Jeffords, 32, of Chestnut Street, Batavia, was arrested on two bench warrants issued by City Court. Jeffords is accused of failure to appear on two prior appearance tickets, one for alleged unauthorized use of a motor vehicle on Jan. 23, and the second for alleged criminal possession of a controlled substance 7th on Feb. 6. He was arraigned in Centralized Arraignment Court, and his release status is unknown. Jeffords was also arrested on April 9 and charged with two counts of criminal possession of a controlled substance 3rd. Jeffords was allegedly in possession of various narcotic drugs upon being arrested on multiple warrants.  Jeffords was arraigned in  City Court and custody remanded to the Genesee County Jail in lieu of bail.  

Salvatore Dellapenna, 54, of Vine Street, Batavia, is charged with criminal mischief. Dellapenna is accused of damaging a neighbor's front door by kicking it in on April 8. He was issued an appearance ticket.

Patricia M. Anderson, 38, of Buell Street, Batavia, is charged with petit larceny, operating a motor vehicle while the registration is suspended, and aggravated unlicensed operation of a motor vehicle third. Anderson is accused of filling a shopping cart with $139 in merchandise and leaving the business on East Main Street, Batavia, without paying. During the investigation, it was allegedly found that Anderson operated a motor vehicle with a suspended registration while her license was suspended. Anderson was released with an appearance ticket.

Modesto O. Cardenas, 29, of Pearl Street, Batavia, is charged with harassment in the second degree.  Cardenas was arrested by Officer John Gombos following an investigation into a disturbance on April 1. He was arraigned in Centralized Arraignment Court, and his release status is unknown.

Linda L. Snyder, 40, of Creek Road, Batavia, was arrested for bench warrants issued by City Court and charged with bail jumping in the third degree. On April 5, Officer Peter Post arrested Snyder on bench warrants issued by  City Court for harassment, criminal mischief, and animal cruelty charges.  Additionally, Snyder was charged with bail jumping 3rd because she failed to appear in court as directed after being released on her own recognizance from a criminal proceeding.  Snyder was arraigned in City Court and custody remanded to the Genesee County Jail in lieu of $1,000 cash bail. 

Josia G. Culver, 18, of Tracy Avenue, Batavia, is charged with two counts of burglary 3rd, two counts of criminal mischief 4th and petit larceny. Culver is accused of breaking into a local restaurant on Ellicott Street on April 14. He is accused of breaking into another restaurant in the mall on April 16 and stealing money from the register. His release status is unknown.

Lori A. Wittkopp, 61, of Spencer Court, Batavia, is charged with DWI and driving with a BAC of .18% or greater. On April 14, Officer John Gombos stopped Wittkopp following a complaint that Wittkopp was driving while intoxicated. Wittkopp was issued appearance tickets.

Kendra Q. Thomas, 35, of Dellinger Avenue, Batavia, is charged with harassment 2nd and endangering the welfare of a child. Thomas is accused of a physical altercation with a juvenile on April 15.  Thomas was issued an appearance ticket.

Luis J. Santiago Arroyo, 34, of Buell Street,  Batavia, is charged with harassment 2nd, endangering the welfare of a child, and criminal contempt 1st. Arroyo is accused of being involved in a physical incident during a custody exchange on April 23. Arroyo is accused of striking another person, unprovoked, who was covered by an order of protection while she was holding a child.  Police say a Ring camera captured video of the incident. Arroyo was held in the Genesee County Jail pending arraignment. Release status unknown.

Aaron T. Hendershot, 26, of Ellsworth Avenue, Batavia, is charged with criminal contempt 2nd and aggravated family offense. Hendershot allegedly violated an order of protection on April 20 by calling, messaging, and writing letters to the protected party.  He was additionally charged with aggravated family offense as he has been convicted of a specified offense within the immediately preceding 5 years, Feb. 6, 2023.  Hendershot was arraigned in City Court and custody remanded to the Genesee County Jail without bail. 

Alisha A. Soule, 26, of Route 237, Le Roy, is charged with harassment 2nd and criminal mischief 4th. Police responded to a reported disturbance on April 26. Soule is accused of kicking in a door to gain entry to a house and then striking one person while attempting to get to another person. Soule was arraigned in City Court and released.

Pamela L. Dickinson, 60, of Roosevelt Avenue, Batavia, is charged with DWI, failure to comply, speeding, and failure to yield to an emergency vehicle. At about 6:30 a.m. on April 24, Officer Joseph Weglarski reported observing a vehicle speeding on Pearl Street. The driver allegedly failed to stop until being blocked by patrols at the intersection of Washington Avenue and Bank Street in Batavia. Dickinson was released on traffic tickets.

Shelby L. Fryer, 27, of Prune Street, Batavia, is charged with criminal impersonation.  Officer John Gombos stopped a vehicle reportedly driven by Fryer on April 22. She allegedly gave a false name to the officer in an attempt to avoid an arrest on a warrant. She was arrest on a warrant for alleged failure to appear. She was arraigned. Her release status is unknown.

Haley M. Larnder, 23, of North Street, Batavia, was arrested on a  City Court arrest warrant. Officer Andrew Mruczek located Larnder on April 21 and took her into custody on a warrant. Larnder was originally arrested on March 19 on a charge of criminal possession of a controlled substance 7th and issued an appearance ticket. Larnder was arraigned in City Court and released on her own recognizance.

Jacqulyn A. Dueppengieser, 39, on Page Road, Perry, is charged with petit larceny. Dueppengieser is accused of stealing from a business on East Main Street on April 20. She was issued an appearance ticket.

Natasha J. Durney, 29, of Hutchins Place, Batavia, is charged with nine counts of harboring an unlicensed dog. On April 21, Officer Stephen Quider responded to a report on Hutchins Street of dogs fighting on Hutchins Place. During the fight, a person was reportedly bitten. Durney is accused of owning nine unlicensed dogs.  Durney was issued an appearance ticket.

Jessica Hernandez, 35, of Summit Street, Batavia, was arrested as a fugitive from justice. Police officers executed an arrest warrant on April 22 after being contacted by the Volusia County Sheriff's Office in Florida. The police department was informed that Volusia County had a warrant for Hernandez on the charge of aggravated assault with a deadly weapon. Hernandez was processed, arraigned in Centralized Arraignment Part Court and held at the Genesee County Jail to await extradition to Volusia County, Florida. 

David A. Kendall, 50, of Bank Street, Batavia, is charged with criminal contempt 2nd. Kendall is accused of violating a stay-away order of protection on April 23. He was issued an appearance ticket.

Adam M. Zastrocky, 38, of Myrtle Street, Le Roy, is charged with DWI, driving with a BAC of .18 or greater, failure to stop at stop sign, driving left of pavement markings in no passing zone, and refusal to take breath test. Zastrocky was arrested by Sgt. Jason Saile following an investigation into a motor vehicle accident reported at 10 p.m. on April 20 on Cockram Road, Byron.

Joseph Earnest Marr, 44, of Nesbitt Road, Batavia, is charged with grand larceny 4th.  Marr is accused of stealing a phone while at Batavia Downs. He was processed at the Genesee County Jail and released.

Nathan Paul Crawford, 27, of Federal Drive, Batavia, is charged with two counts of petit larceny. Crawford is accused of shoplifting from 48 Deli Express at 5:04 p.m. on April 15. He was issued an appearance ticket. He is also accused of shoplifting from Kohls at 11:05 a.m. on April 19. He was issued an appearance ticket.

Heather Nicole Derooy, 33, of Keith Terrace, Chili, is charged with criminal possession of a controlled substance 7th, aggravated unlicensed operation 3rd, and improper plates. Derooy was stopped at 8:26 p.m. on April 8 on Clinton Street Road, Bergen, by Deputy Nicholas Chamoun and Deputy Kenneth Quackenbush. She was allegedly found in possession of methamphetamine. Derooy was released on an appearance ticket.

Robert E. Sacher, 53, of Kibbe Avenue, Batavia, is charged with DWI. Sacher was stopped at 3:11 p.m. on April 13 on Veterans Memorial Drive by Deputy Jonathan Dimming. Sacher was issued traffic tickets and released.

Jeenathan Rodeny Williams, 63, of Hazelwood Terrace, Rochester, is charged with criminal possession of a controlled substance 7th, aggravated unlicensed operation 3rd, unlicensed driver, side wings/side windows non-transparent, and plates covered by glass or plastic. Williams was stopped at 6:56 p.m. on April 25 on Byron Elba Road, Byron, by Deputy Zachary Hoy and issued an appearance ticket.

Scott Aaron Muntz, 25, of Maltby Road, Oakfield, is charged with DWI, driving with a BAC of .08 or greater, and speeding. Muntz was stopped at 12:15 a.m. on April 16 on Knowlesville Road, Alabama, by Deputy Jonathan Dimming.  He was issued traffic tickets.

Madison McKenzie, 18, of Creek Road, Batavia, is charged with endangering the welfare of a child. McKenzie is accused of giving a letter to a child under age 17 that contained sexual content. McKenzie was arraigned and released.

Michelle Dawn Grover, 38, of Olean Road, South Wales, is charged with petit larceny. Grover is accused of shoplifting from Dollar General in Pavilion at 10 a.m. on March 5. Grover was issued an appearance ticket.

Sometimes fundraisers help to augment a nonprofit’s goals and projects, but that’s not quite the case for Batavia Players, Patrick Burk says.

Main St. 56 Theater, an ambitious downtown symbol of the arts in all their dramatic glory — up on a stage featuring the community’s own — is dependent on the funds raised during a final push for donations.

Titled “Be Our Guest,” the campaign is designed to offer folks an opportunity to give what they can — a little or a lot, Burk said. There was a kick-off at the theater-in-progress in late April, and Broadway actor John Bolton was a featured “Be Our Guest.”

“John is wonderful and so dedicated to keeping and maintaining the Batavia Players and the Main St. 56 Theater as a top notch performance space,” Burk said. “He was very gracious and giving to the actors and volunteers and provided some wonderful insights on the profession.  We thoroughly enjoyed having him here to help shine a light on our needs and the project in total.”

The project has received grant funding, however, due to COVID — yes everyone is tired of hearing about it, but the lasting effects are nonetheless real — prices of everything have gone up, Burk said. Delays, increased labor and raw material costs, have added to the total expense.

This fundraiser is for the purchase of new seating, and lighting and sound upgrades to provide a state-of-the-art facility “that is comfortable and inviting for our audiences,” the campaign material states.

“We need to raise these funds in order to complete the theater,” he said. “It’s that simple."

When might we expect to see a show at there? 

That depends on who you talk to, he said. The theater is about 80 percent complete.

“Our ability to move forward is directly attached to the 'Be Our Guest' campaign. I have no idea. I have been telling myself that it will be sometime after Sept. 1 of this year.  Maybe the Christmas show in December,” Burk said. “Again, all of this depends on when we can raise the funds as well as get the work done. We are looking for volunteers for a multi-day work session that will be announced soon.”

During a recent interview with Bolton, he spoke fondly of community theater and how it belongs in every city, including Batavia. 

What’s a community without live theater?

“A community without theater (or any of the arts for that matter) loses so much.  The arts of a community are a distinct part of that community.  It would be like losing your favorite or most known landmark.  Community theaters are an outlet for those that want to perform and do not have the resources or the ability to go far from home to achieve that,” Burk said.  “They are spaces that help talent develop and as we have seen from the past, we do develop great talent here that goes on to bigger and better things. We have past participants of the Batavia Players performing on Broadway, being on national tours and starring on the stage and screen. John Bolton is a great example of those that got exposed to the profession locally and then went on to perform professionally all over the United States. 

“The Batavia Players have been in existence for close to 93 years. When you look back at all that they have accomplished and all the people that we have touched and worked with it is amazing,” Burk said. “I feel that we are a great reflection of our community and the area in general and that we provide an excellence in the performing arts area with talented veterans and new people on a regular basis.”

Donations of certain levels will be placed on an engraved plaque in the theater lobby area. The goal is to raise $150,000. Make checks payable to Batavia Players Inc., P.O. Box 256, Batavia, NY, 14021-0256. For more information, email burk.patrick1956@gmail.com.

Photo of Main St. 56 Theater by Howard Owens.

Erik Fix was president of the Genesee County Chamber for 15 months before he filled the role of assistant city manager in July 2022. He joked that his kids ask him all the time, “When will you get your next job?” even though he's enjoying his current gig and has no plans to leave any time soon, he said.

He says that he likes a challenge, and now, at just two months shy of his one-year anniversary with the City of Batavia, Fix sat down with The Batavian to review his latest responsibilities and perspectives as a city official.

Do you feel settled in at this point, or are you still learning the ropes?
“I don't know that I'll ever feel settled in. And I'm sure I will always learn, there's just so much to do and learn in this position. But I do feel like I can start to add value in places. Whereas the first, four or five months, it was just, running around, trying to learn everything and get a grasp on things,” Fix said. “And now I feel like I have a good base now … where I can use my skill set to actually add value. There's obviously still areas that I have no idea about, or a small amount of knowledge of, but I do feel like when somebody mentions something, I know what they're talking about now. So that's good.”

Was it easier or more difficult to go from the county scope of a chamber to your particular tasks for the city?
"That hasn't really been the biggest challenge. It's actually, from that standpoint, it's a little bit easier to be able to focus on tasks and get them accomplished. I was only at the Chamber for a short period of time, but when you're there, you're looking at the overall viewpoint of the entire county and all the expenses. So if you're talking about doing something, you’ve got to think about how is this going to affect each individual village and town, as well as the city,” he said. “And here you can narrow the focus a little bit more, focus on, you know, our little neck of the woods. Obviously, we have to continue to collaborate with the county and with different entities, but you're able to kind of streamline that, the difference is the workload.

"And the capacity that we deal with here at the city is much greater than what we're dealing with as a chamber … supporting all the businesses in the community to having a full-time fire department and full-time police department, DPW, the whole nine yards," he said. "Just the grand scale of what it is to run a city is much larger than what we're dealing with the mission of the chamber.”

Why did you want this job?
“The challenge. I saw it as an opportunity to just really get my hands dirty and become a part of something and see my work pay off in a lot of different ways. If you were to ask me two years ago, if I found myself in a municipality working, I'm like, no, what are you talking about? It's crazy. But I really feel like it's been a blessing, and it's actually turned out better than I thought, even after I thought it was gonna be a really good opportunity,” he said. “It meshes well with my skill set, it meshes well with the fact that it's constantly active and keeps me busy and keeps my mind working … it’s just been really good. I'm really pleased with the move.”

During City Council budget talks, it seemed to be a running joke to “blame Erik” for increased communications costs due to a new phone system. That’s because it was one of the items on his to-do list as assistant manager.

The current phone service had become outdated, and the city had no one able to service the phone system anymore, he said. If something had happened to a phone or to the system in general, “we were kind of out of luck,” he said.

“So it's very important that we went through that process and got a new phone system, which also came with new phones, and we got that project moving. So when I got here, we were just in the process of going out to RFP, and getting proposals in for that,” he said.

He talked in detail about what that actually meant to get it up and running. There was the actual installation and building the system from scratch — if you call and get a voicemail, where will that go? Who will answer? Who needs this type of extension versus another type of extension?

All totaled, it was “150 some odd numbers we had to deal with,” he said. And there’s the reason for “blame Erik.”

“So it was a very expensive process that we went through. And then the other one is just going to be starting up next week, which, again, was maybe 25 to 30 percent started when I got here, but that's our online billing system for water bills. So that is how to work with our existing systems that we have, as well as the bank system," he said. "And this month’s bill in May will be the first time that folks will have the ability to go online to pay their water bills, which will be a huge benefit to not only our residents, but it's a huge benefit to our clerk's department, because hopefully, it helps alleviate a lot of what they're doing on a day-to-day basis, and making it easier for folks to take care of that.”

He brought in “a little bit of analysis” experience in regards to an online bill pay system from having worked at M&T Bank, Fix said.

“But it was mostly just project managing and ensuring that deadlines are being met and things were happening along the way that needed to get done. We were just wrapping up our software system launch, which there's still some bits and pieces of that that we'll be doing probably for the next year, year and a half until that's totally 100 percent on board," he said. "So learning that whole system, things like that took a lot of my time. I will tell you, I am not an IT person. I'm not an IT expert. But again, just utilizing the ability to project manage and things like that. It's been nice. 

"And obviously we have folks here, Rachael included ... she was assistant manager, she was a great resource to help me get through that stuff. So that's a large portion of what we're doing," he said.

The list goes on, from a housing initiative to shore up an old housing stock in the city to reinvigorate neighborhoods. Fix, 51, wanted to get his hands dirty, and he'll have plenty to dig into.

"We've got new projects coming up, we've got new projects we want to see happen in the future. We want to start developing programs for people that want to renovate. And that's what the home fund is going to help us do is provide funding for those types of things," he said. "So it's a very large, encompassing project that we're trying to figure out right now. We have a housing group that meets on a monthly basis, and we're starting to prioritize where we start first, and what's the first step to really get this off the ground. And so that's going to be a significant part of the next probably three to five years to really get to where we want it."

Another of his responsibilities is to lead the City Centre entryway project, which was sent back to the drawing board for new estimates after previous ones came in above budget. There are four entryways, and a primary goal is to remove the silos, which leak, and then replace them with something that is “aesthetically pleasing and effective,” Fix said.

He believes that the project is back on track and is hoping for estimates to come back closer to what city officials had wanted.

Erik, what do you think about this job? How are you feeling as far as your longevity here?
"I'm not going to say it’s my last up because I said that at the Chamber. But I enjoy this position a lot. We've got a great staff. I've got a great group of people around me that are supportive and helping me to learn,” he said. “I feel like there's something to learn every day. And it's just a constant challenge."

Fix lives in Le Roy with his wife, Susan, and they have three sons, Brady, Jackson and Carter. Le Roy is a great community, and the school district is fantastic, Erik said, but Batavia has been and is his hometown. 

As for the city, he wants to see it continue to grow into "a walkable, approachable, thriving downtown area."

"We've got a lot of momentum," he said.

According to a recently filed lawsuit, four Pembroke residents lived in the same home on Scribner Road, but it fell into a sinkhole, allegedly due to activities at the nearby Akron Quarry.

Those people — Gene and Tracy Nati, as well as Daniel and Brittany Hill — had no choice but to abandon their house. They recently filed a lawsuit against the Town of Pembroke and Erie and Genesee counties. The four said those town and county leaders committed negligence. The Hills and the Natis want more than $1 million in damages.

The lawsuit said those local leaders oversaw the quarry and expanded the scope and frequency of its operations, “including the drawdown of groundwater and blasting,” even knowing they could damage private properties.

“On August 7, 2022, claimants heard cracking and popping sounds at approximately 6:30 a.m. Claimants then noticed the windows and doors in their home would not open or shut properly. They discovered cracking in their land, driveway, and foundation, and they observed that the home appeared to be sinking into the earth,” according to their lawsuit.

“Accordingly, claimants notified the authorities, and the Town of Pembroke condemned the home as unfit for occupancy. It is no longer safe for residential purposes. As a result of the towns' and/or counties' negligence and reckless conduct in permitting the expansion and continuation of the quarry's activities, the whole or in part, a direct and proximate result of the negligent and reckless acts of the towns, counties, their agents, and/or employees.”

The four Pembroke residents said their property suffered severely reduced property values and other damages that they believe exceed $1 million.

Buffalo attorneys Thomas D. Lyons and Charles C. Ritter, Jr. represent the four Pembroke residents.

Pembroke Town Board members discussed the lawsuit at last Thursday’s regularly scheduled board meeting — but only behind closed doors.

“Due to pending litigation, no further discussion will be held in open forum,” the meeting’s minutes read.

The Batavian’s attempts on Monday to contact Pembroke officials about the lawsuit were unsuccessful.

Photos: File photos by Alecia Kaus/Video News Service.

Toxicology reports for overdoses can take a long time — a year or more — to complete, and Public Health Director Paul Pettit would like to expedite the process, he says.

Pettit proposed the purchase of a $44,500 multistage analyzer, which would provide much faster toxicology results from autopsies for any of 21 different drug types, including fentanyl and other types of fentanyl derivatives, he said. 

Other newer drugs are continuously being added to the list, such as the latest one to hit the streets, the xylazine profile, he said.

“Essentially, this is a piece of equipment that allows us to have somewhat real-time toxicology reports from overdose deaths. So when we send folks to the (medical examiner’s) office, as you guys are all well aware, we get them back a year later, 18 months, we still have one outstanding from 2021 that we're waiting on the toxicology reports and the final autopsy from,” Pettit said Monday during the Human Services meeting. “So what this analyzer does is allows us to essentially get that real-time toxicology, and it can be done either through your analysis of blood or saliva sample, where we'll be able to run that sample as soon as we get it from the M.E.’s when they go in for an autopsy. 

"And that allows us to see exactly what was in the profile, kind of similar to a toxicology report," he said. "It will give us a better snapshot of what, unfortunately, led to their death, potentially the overdose.”

The analysis is for internal use only, he said, and is not for public knowledge.  As opioid use and its related effects draw more of the Public Health Department’s attention, the picture has become more clear that Pettit and his staff are homing in on the who, what and why more than ever. 

And instead of having to wait a year or more to learn about what types of drugs are out there, “we can get a better idea what’s going on potentially on our streets, if we’re seeing a cluster of overdose deaths and what is actually in the water in the system,” he said.

Pettit and the purchasing director reviewed the only bid that was submitted. They recommended accepting a bid of $44,500 for the analyzer from Random Laboratories-US. This expense is within the budget, according to the resolution, and is funded by The Healing Communities grant.

Members of the Human Services Committee asked various questions about how this equipment would be used and for what purpose. The bottom line is that it would offer a more immediate answer as to what drugs were involved in the overdose that led to the person’s death.

The committee approved the resolution, which will go onto the Ways & Means Committee and finally to the full Legislature for a vote.

Photo: File photo by Joanne Beck of Paul Pettit and Legislator Gregg Torrey.

Press Release:

Did you know that May is Asthma Awareness Month? Asthma is a medical condition that affects the airways in our lungs and makes it difficult to breathe. According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), about 1 in 8 people will be diagnosed with asthma during their lifetime. Symptoms of asthma include shortness of breath, tightness in the chest, coughing, and wheezing.

Additionally, symptoms may get worse at night and wake the person up.

From 2018 to 2020, residents of the City and Town of Batavia went to an emergency department for asthma symptoms 169 times, according to the New York State Department of Health (NYSDOH) Asthma Dashboard. This was almost half of the emergency visits for asthma in all of Genesee County. The medical cost of these trips can be expensive, but family members also lose money from missed time at work and school and the cost of transportation. The medical and indirect costs can be thousands of dollars each year for a person with asthma, according to the CDC AsthmaStats. However, there are ways to control asthma symptoms and reduce these costs. People with well-controlled asthma are less likely to have attacks that need emergency treatment. Asthma may be controlled by:

• Taking a daily controller medication
• Avoiding triggers such as mold, dust, cigarette smoke, or scented products
• Using an inhaler before exercising

It is important to pay attention to the warning signs of an asthma attack. These include a runny or stuffy nose, increased mucus, an itchy neck or chin, and feeling tired. Children may say their tummy hurts, have dark circles under their eyes, seem more tired or irritable than normal, and have pale skin or red cheeks. Many people with asthma will be prescribed both a daily medicine and a quick-relief medicine to use during an asthma attack. It is important to talk to your primary care provider (PCP) about when to take medications and to create an asthma action plan. An asthma action plan is a written plan that lists steps to take during an asthma attack. The plan notes what symptoms trigger using a quick-relief medicine and how long to wait before taking an extra dose or trying another medication to stop the attack. It lists when to call your PCP and when to seek emergency care.

The Genesee County Healthy Neighborhoods Program (HNP) offers free home assessments to residents of the City and Town of Batavia. These assessments look for conditions that could worsen asthma, along with other safety risks in the home. Participants who have been diagnosed with asthma receive education on asthma symptoms and triggers. For more information on the Healthy Neighborhoods Program, call 585-344-2580 ext. 5555 or visit www.GOHealthNY.org.

Press Release:

With a roster of 55 players and about a dozen sponsors in hand, the Genesee County Spartans organization is moving full speed ahead toward competing in the Northeastern Football Alliance this summer.

“We’re into the third week of training camp, preparing for an intrasquad scrimmage at 1 p.m. on May 7 at Kibbe Park (which is open to the public at no charge),” said Head Coach Harry Rascoe. “It’s a very competitive environment for starting positions on the team.”

The Spartans are practicing on Tuesdays and Thursdays from 6-8 p.m. at Farrall Park in preparation for a May 20 scrimmage at the Watertown Red and Black, which plays in the Gridiron Developmental Football League.

Rascoe’s squad is on the road for its first three NFA games – at Auburn on June 3 and at Lockport on June 10 – before hosting Ithaca on June 17.

The remainder of the schedule: June 24 vs. Broome County; July 15 at Broome County; July 22 vs. Lockport; Aug. 5 at Ithaca; Aug. 12 vs. Auburn.

Rascoe said the team is finalizing arrangements to play its home games at Genesee Community College.

Team sponsors include Iron Reps gym, R.A. Haitz, Dan’s Tire & Auto, The Brick Gym, Eli Fish, Batavia Downs Gaming, Liberty Pumps, Los Compadres Mexican Restaurant, Get Sealed and Village Restaurant.

For more information about the team, including how to become a sponsor, go to the team’s Genesee County Spartans Facebook page or contact Rascoe at rascoeh@yahoo.com.

Submitted photos.  Top photo: Head Coach Harry Rascoe, football in hand, calls out a play for the offensive line as the Genesee Spartans prepare for their season this summer.  Bottom photo: Assistant coach Craig Tiberio conducts a drill for defensive backs at a recent Genesee Spartans football practice.

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Press release:

The Batavia Police Department is investigating a robbery that occurred in the 7-Eleven convenience store on April 25 at 3:34 am. 

The suspect was armed with a hammer when the robbery occurred. 

The suspect was described as being a black male, approximately 5’7”, and having a slim to average build. He was also described as wearing dark-colored clothing with a maroon-colored flat-brim hat. The male is believed to have left the area on foot. 

There are also photographs of two other possible witnesses (1 male and 1 female) who were in the store prior to the robbery occurring, that police are attempting to identify. The female was walking a dog, possibly a tan/brown and white colored pit-bull. 

Anyone with information is asked to contact Detective Sergeant Matt Lutey at (585)345-6311, the Batavia Police Department at (585)345-6350, the Batavia Police Department's confidential tip line at (585)345-6370.

Press Release:

April proved to be a busy month at the Genesee County Fire Training Center, with over 100 students completing classes.

20 students completed 79 hours of instruction in the Basic Exterior Fire Operation (BEFO) course. This entry-level program prepares students to respond to emergencies as exterior firefighters as they received instruction in fire extinguishers, building construction, forcible entry, ladder deployment, incident command, drafting operations and hazardous materials operations levels. Students were trained in ropes and knots as well as first aid/CPR. Participants who completed the BEFO course on April 20 were:

ALABAMA

• Mark Smith

ALBION

• Madison M. Meyers

TOWN OF BATAVIA

• Jonathan P. Parker

BERGEN

• Ashton W. Gavenda
• Olivia M. N. Best
• Tyler G. Holland

BETHANY

• Jakob J. Howland
• Jason A. Howland

BYRON

• Michael A. Alexander

EAST PEMBROKE

• Molly A. Chatley
• Ajay R. King
• Jonah A. Martin
• Joseph Gibson
• Lily E. Martin

ELBA

• Colton B. Walczak
• Holden L. Brinkman

INDIAN FALLS

• Maxwell D. Olsen

LEROY

• Riann M. Ledford

SCOTTSVILLE

• Chase J. Kress
• Harold M. Schlicker

Fire Sprinkler Systems for the Fire Service, a six-hour course held on two consecutive Mondays in April at the Genesee County Fire Training Center, provided students with an overview of fire sprinkler systems and the roles and responsibilities of the fire department when responding to buildings having systems in service. Fifty emergency response personnel completed this course on April 10:

ALEXANDER

• Thomas M. Green

CITY OF BATAVIA 

• Mark S. Holley

TOWN OF BATAVIA

• Scott T. Maloy
• Paul G. Barrett
• Brian D. Bentley
• James W. Bouton
• Thomas G. Cunningham
• Paul R. Dibble
• Gary D. Diegelman
• Dwayne J. Fonda Jr.
• Clayton A. Gorski
• Robert J. Hunt
• Daniel P. Jacques
• Christopher L. Jager
• Stephen A. Kowalcyk
• Thomas E. Marlowe
• Jonathan P. Parker
• Taylor J. Rivenburgh
• Michael J. Rottenbeck
• Ian A. SanFratello
• Tyler J. Stewart
• James J. Ward

BERGEN

• Scott R. Mayne
• Colin W. Willis

BYRON

• Michael A. Alexander
• Chase A. Cone
• Zachary C. Johnson
• Cory J. Russell
• Jacob M. Schultz

COUNTY OF ORLEANS

• Peter D. Hendrickson Jr.

EAST PEMBROKE 

• James R. Gayton
• Donald E. Newton Jr.

ELBA

• Jayden T. Allport
• Nathan J. Tabor
• Bradley R. Chaddock
• Michael R. Davis
• Nicholas J. Esten
• Garrett Heale
• Michael G. Heale
• Mike J. Schad Jr.

COUNTY OF GENESEE

• Robert H. Tripp

LEROY

• Scott A. Newman

MURRAY JOINT FIRE DISTRICT

• Jeffrey R. Elsenheimer Jr.
• Nathaniel C. Smith
• Colton J. Tuttle

RIDGE ROAD FIRE DISTRICT

• Kevin P. Dann

SOUTH BYRON

• Nicole M. Boldt
• Vitorrio J. Muoio
• Jeremie J. Rassel
• Katrina Rassel

38 emergency response personnel now have a better understanding of fire alarm systems after completing the 6-hour Fire Alarm Systems for the Fire Service course held at the Genesee County Fire Training Center on April 17 and 24. The course reviewed the technology of alarm systems, from smoke alarms to fully addressable systems which control features of buildings. Students were instructed in the responsibilities of fire department personnel responding to buildings with alarm systems. Participants in this course included:

ALEXANDER

• Thomas M. Green

CITY OF BATAVIA

• Mark S. Holley

TOWN OF BATAVIA

• Scott T. Maloy
• Brian D. Bentley
• James W. Bouton
• Paul R. Dibble
• Gary D. Diegelman
• Dwayne J. Fonda Jr.
• Clayton A. Gorski
• Robert J. Hunt
• Daniel P. Jacques
• Stephen A. Kowalcyk
• Jonathan P. Parker
• Taylor J. Rivenburgh
• Michael J. Rottenbeck
• Ian A. SanFratello
• Tyler J. Stewart
• James J. Ward

BERGEN

• Joe E. MacConnell
• Scott R. Mayne

BYRON

• Michael A. Alexander
• Zachary C. Johnson
• Cory J. Russell
• Jacob M. Schultz

EAST PEMBROKE

• James R. Gayton
• Donald E. Newton Jr.

ELBA

• Nathan J. Tabor
• Jennifer A. Cardinali
• Bradley R. Chaddock
• Nicholas J. Esten
• Garrett Heale
• Michael G. Heale
• Timothy J. Hoffarth
• Mike J. Schad Jr.

COUNTY OF GENESEE

• Robert H. Tripp

MURRAY JOINT FIRE DISTRICT

• Nathaniel C. Smith

TOWN OF MURRAY

• Colton J. Tuttle

RIDGE ROAD FIRE DISTRICT

• Kevin P. Dann

Emergency Response personnel regularly participate in training programs to maintain, learn or build the skills and knowledge to perform their job proficiently – protecting the lives and property of the citizens of the community they serve. 

Joining the fire/EMS service not only provides you the opportunity to make an invaluable contribution to your community but allows you to develop (free) professional skills, and form lifelong friendships and positive relationships. Visit your local fire department to find out more about volunteer opportunities in your community.

A local newspaper reported that GT&E's total assets at the year-end in 1961 were nearly $2.4 billion, which placed it at number 13 among the top corporations in the country. In addition, revenues and sales for 1961 exceeded $1.2 billion.

Sylvania Electronics merged with General Telephone to form General Telephone and Electronics (GTE) in 1959. 

In 1956 and 1962, the plant was enlarged, but in 1969, a dark cloud was forming over the Sylvania plant in Batavia. There was news that a large plant was being built in Smithfield, North Carolina, and fear arose that the company might move!

In 1970, the company suffered losses from trade competition, and in October of the same year, the color television production moved to Smithfield, NC.

It was announced in 1976 that Sylvania, one of the world's largest television receiver manufacturing plants, was closing its doors. It was a sad day for Batavia's economy, especially for all the employees fortunate enough to work there.

Sylvania wasn't just a company. It was a place where friends worked together, new friends were made, and for some, they met their future wives or husbands.

Richard Oddo was one of the many employees who worked for 28 years at the plant on Ellicott St. Rd.   He began working there right out of high school. 

I interviewed Dick to learn about his feelings about being employed at Sylvania. He worked in the Service Department as an electronic technician. Sylvania also trained him to be on board with the ever-changing technology in the '50s right up to the plant's closing. The Employees Sales Store was a gift to this area. If a set was damaged in transit, it would be fixed in his department and then put up for sale. Some of the company's upper echelons took a new set home on trial to observe firsthand the quality of the picture of the television set. After the trial observation, the set was put into the Employee Store for sale. Dick was one of the people to see a "new" TV set.

He described his years at Sylvania as a wonderful experience. He said it was a joy to go to work every day. It was a well-organized company, clean, and everyone worked together. It had good health benefits and was very family oriented. For example, there would be a Christmas party for the employees' children and summer family picnics. Sylvania Employees Association also hosted annual dinners. In addition, Sylvania sponsored three sports teams, bowling, softball, and golf.  

Sylvania always wanted to be on the cutting edge with its products. To learn about competitors, it would purchase a television set from another country or company, have its engineers tear it down, and examine the contents.   One of the first TV sets to be explored was a set from Japan. After the set was examined, it was put back together and sold in the Employee Store. Dick was the fortunate one to buy that particular set. He was one of the first people in Batavia to own a color TV set. I was also the lucky one to live next door to the Oddos.  When Dick was at his second job, I would go to his house and watch the marvelous small-screen invention of a color TV set with his wife and children.         

In the '60s and 70s, just about every family in the area owned a Sylvania TV. They also could have owned a Sylvania transistor radio and, later on, a turntable, receiver, speakers, and a VCR. You could listen to possibly five albums simultaneously on the turntable.   You could rattle the windows if you had a good set of speakers. 

Another memory was the long piece of furniture that sat in your living room that contained a color television and a high-fidelity stereo system. There were many choices of designs, from Mediterranean or French Provincial to Colonial. Another early advertisement read, "23-inch console model, multi-function wireless remote control. The remote tuner turns the set on and off, changes channels, and adjusts volume using a transistorized hand control."

Over the years, the technology kept improving. After one year, a new model would appear better than the previous year. Today the iPod shuffle has taken the place of our Walkman; a DVR has taken the place of the VCR and the CDs and CD players, our albums and stereo receiver. You can't forget our cell phones that can do everything in one small device. Trying to explain to the younger set what it was like in the early years of technology is challenging.  

I, for one, would not change a thing about living in the '60s. There was just something exceptional about listening to the Beatles sing "I Want to Hold Your Hand" on your high-fidelity stereo system. The one theme remains the same: people like to listen to music and watch movies and TV shows. The only thing that has changed is the size of the electric device and the cost. How lucky the people in Genesee County and surrounding areas were to have had the Sylvania plant in their backyard.  

It was a sad day when Sylvanias closed its doors in Batavia for the last time and moved to another state.

Today, the word Sylvania is just a memory to those who worked there and to the many customers who knew someone who worked there. 

Press Release:

GO ART! Invites Community Members to Submit Nominations for the Annual Genean Awards  

Do you know an artist or organization from Genesee or Orleans County that deserves recognition for their accomplishments in 2022?  GO ART! is inviting community members to submit nominations for the Annual Genean Awards. 

“Why “Genean” you ask?” says Executive Director, Gregory Hallock, “Well, simply put, we decided that we needed to have our own unique awards (like the Oscars or Tony awards) for GENesee and OrlEANs counties, to recognize a few of the amazing people and organizations we have within our counties.”

The categories for nomination are as follows:

Organization of the Year - This award honors a not-for-profit or for-profit arts organization for its outstanding achievements in 2022

Individual Artist of the Year - This award honors an individual artist in any discipline for their achievements in 2022 or career-long body of work

Arts and Culture Supporter of the Year - This award honors an individual or an organization outside of the arts and cultural sector for their work directly aiding in the arts and/or cultural sector during 2022.

To submit a nomination visit www.goart.org/genean.  All nominations are due by May 9.

Pronipoti, meaning great-grandchildren or descendants in Italian, according to organizer Carmen DelPlato, has an important meaning for many local families with Italian heritage wanting to gather and make new connections during a special type of reunion.

Descendants from Valva, Italy -- an Italian town and municipality in the Province of Salerno in the southwestern region of Campania -- will be meeting for a second time to share stories and to make those connections from 3 to 5 p.m. May 27 at Roman’s restaurant in the downstairs lounge.

"Just to give you a little insight, many families immigrated to Batavia from Valva," DelPlato said. "In some social circles, Batavia was referred to as Little Valva!"

This group first met just before COVID in 2019, DelPlato said.  Participants are asked to bring a copy of their family trees to share with others.  

The cost is $10 at the door.  Light appetizers will be served, and there will be a cash bar.

Roman's is located at 59 Main St., Batavia. Space will be limited, so RSVP by May 17 to BataviaValva2023@gmail.com

Submitted photos of the inaugural get-together of Valva, Italy descendants.

Press Release:

The 23rd Annual Batavia Rotary Club High School Tournament will take place Saturday, May 5th, at Dwyer Stadium.

Attica will play Batavia in the first game at 11 a.m., followed by Oakfield-Alabama vs. Notre Dame at 2 p.m. 

The winners of those two contests will play in the championship game under the lights starting at 7 p.m.

Admission is $5 for an adult all-day pass and $3 for a student or senior all-day pass. All proceeds from the tournament will help benefit Batavia Rotary Club charities.

Photo: File photo by Howard Owens