After a review of Batavia City Schools’ budget Monday evening, Business Administrator Andrew Lang asked for questions, and Board President John Marucci had a big one.

“With what’s happening with the Education Department federally, how is this going to harm us in the future?” Marucci said.

That was a question Lang couldn’t answer, he said. And he’s not alone. School district and Genesee Valley School Boards Association officials have been wondering the same thing.

Donald Trump signed an Executive Order on March 20 to close the U.S. Education Department, but that has not taken hold just yet since it requires Congressional approval and there have been legal challenges to the move. Court action and political opposition have risen against the effort to dismantle the department, and key functions remain in place for now.

“I unfortunately don’t have a crystal ball, so I wouldn’t be able to speak to that,” Lang said. “What we’ve done in this budget is attempt to protect as much as possible the programming that’s vital that’s federally funded for our district, including positions that are paid through federal grant funds and other initiatives through federal grants.

“So we’ve done as much as possible to protect that in the event that any of that funding is decreased to us," he said. “We don’t really know at this point.”

Superintendent Jason Smith added that it does not seem likely that federal funding for title and special education grants will be impacted.

“Maybe they may be managed by another department, perhaps,” Smith said. “But as far as the funding that we get to fund (positions and to meet special education goals), at this point, I’m fairly confident they’re staying intact. But we want to be extra cautious.”

As for the proposed 2025-26 budget, it remains at a tax levy increase of $451,000, or 2.22%, for about 35 cents more per $1,000 assessed property value. A home assessed at $200,000 would mean a tax rate of $16.05 per $1,000 and a property tax increase of $69.80 per year, if there is no assessment change.

The $63.3 million budget is a $3 million jump from the current year and includes the replacement of retiring personnel: six teachers, a secretary and administrator.

The public budget hearing is scheduled for 6 p.m. May 12 at the District Office of Batavia High School, 260 State St., Batavia, and the budget vote is May 20.

For the previous budget story, go HERE.

Pavilion Fire responded to a two car motor vehicle accident at 4:28 p.m. on Monday at Perry Road and Route 20.

Le Roy Fire assisted at the scene along with Mercy EMS.

Both drivers were injured and treated by Mercy EMS.

Photos via Pavilion Fire.

Kioti Tractor Coyotes beat the Pellegrino Auto Sales Penguins 3-1, on Sunday at the David M. McCarthy Memorial Ice Arena to win the Batavia Men's League Hockey Championship.

After a scoreless first period, fourteen seconds into the second period, the Coyotes scored a goal by Nick Busch with assists fom Dan Calkins and Pierce Corbelli.  Thirteen seconds later, the Penguins tied it up 1-1 on an unassisted goal by Dylan Versage.

The Penguins got back-to-back penalties late in the second, and with five minutes left, Busch scored his second goal on the power play to give the Coyotes the lead going in the locker room and ice re-surface.

In the third period, Busch scores his third goal for the hat trick on passes from Joe Mahler and Dan Calkins to secure the victory and give the championship to the Coyotes, managed by Tom Martell.

Busch said he's proud of his teammate's effort in the game.

"We have a great group of guys," he said. "Everybody skated hard. Everybody played hard all year."

He called Jerod Penke, Coyotes' goalie and the game's MVP, the best player in the league.

"This is my first ever championship, and the BMHL, it's a whole lot of fun," Penke said. "This group of guys has been really fun this year, and went out and played really good all year, came in first, I think, in the regular season, came and won it all. It was great to do it with these guys."

To view or purchase photos, click here.

After two years at First Presbyterian Church in Batavia, the Little Free Pantry is on the move, with fingers crossed that volunteers have found a new location for their full-sized refrigerator and a shelf-stable pantry will be opening downtown this week, Jenn Noon says.

Due to circumstances beyond their control, the pantry will likely close by Wednesday, she said.

“Over the years, we’ve had to relocate several times for situations that we’re out of our control, like Birchwood Village, they went to a new property owner, and situations like this. But thanks to the support from our community, these challenges and things overall turn into just small hurdles, and our overall story,” Noon said during an interview with The Batavian. “I do have exciting news: we have an appointment on Monday to go and visit a potential new location for the fridge, so we’re hoping that that’ll be a good fit, and we’ll have an update on that next week.”

As for a second site for nonperishable goods, tea and coffee, she is working with a business owner at Batavia City Centre and “they’re totally on board” with allowing a portion of the store's front entrance to be used for the pantry, Noon said. She didn’t want to disclose the name until details have been finalized but believes it’s a great fit for that location where people congregate while waiting for a bus or getting dropped off.

“So we’re hoping to get that set up this week as well, and be able to share that soon too,” she said.

The pantry at First Presbyterian Church, on the corner of East Main and Liberty streets, has been outside. There have been some issues with people not being courteous when taking items from the site, Noon said.

“So, unfortunately, we do face challenges, things like unkind visitors that make a mess out front. It's something that little free pantries all across the U.S., unfortunately, experience issues with. We've had an issue, for example, of kids opening a bag of black beans and tossing them at their friend, because we do operate on such a low barrier method. Unfortunately, there are folks that might be in a crisis situation, or, like I said, kids and things like that. So unfortunately, there’s challenges, but we're always working on addressing those challenges and addressing the needs of the community,” she said. “Basically, the model that us and all the other little free pantries and community fridges, one of the big things that they try to reduce is what they call policing of the pantries. And it just basically means that, again, trying to reduce those barriers, a lot of folks are, there's some shame in reaching out for help. Or, you know, we have a lot of kids that stop by after school and things like that.

“We do monitor at certain points, like when we have our popups, or we do our routine down there several times a day cleaning up,” she said. “Some locations we've been able to install a camera, so we're able to monitor things a little bit more easily, remotely. That really just depends on the host of that specific location and working together with them on what works best for that spot.”

Noon and the Rev. Roula Alkhouri of First Presbyterian each said they plan to continue a partnership to work on future projects.

“We are very supportive of their efforts and mission. Their mission aligns with our commitment to serve and love our neighbors. In the last month, we have helped them purchase a new refrigerator for storing extra produce. We will continue to support them and provide hands-on assistance going forward in any way that we can, including their popup and annual events,” Alkhouri said.  “While they will be missed at our church location, our care and love will continue for their work of providing food for those who need it. We believe that God works in mysterious ways, and that even in times of transition, new opportunities for service and partnership will emerge. 

“We will continue to seek ways to support the Little Free Pantry and other initiatives that address food insecurity in our community,” she said. “We extend our deepest gratitude to the dedicated volunteers and supporters of the Little Free Pantry.  May God bless them as they embark on this new chapter.”

The two organizations will be working together on initiatives including a maternal health and wellness effort, and “big, huge events around Christmas,” Noon said.

“It’s just the outdoor pantry wasn’t the best model for that location,” she said. “Every spot’s not a good match. We still have our location at 28 Seneca. It is open 24/7, it was our old farm stand location that we had up just during the summer. But last year at Thanksgiving we actually found a really nice structure that we were able to put up there and get that up and going.”

There are bakery items, shelf-stable goods, bicycle helmets, and warm clothing, and in the summertime, there will be produced from Ryan’s Rose Organic Farm, which has generously partnered with the pantry since the first year it opened, Noon said. The farm owner, Tom Ryan, is helping out with the pantry’s maternal health and wellness program — “he jumped right on board and is totally willing to support us, so we’re really grateful for him.”

Noon is also assisting some folks in Erie and Orleans counties wanting to open some little pantries there, she said. She has four core volunteers and partners of grocery stores, bakeries and restaurants for food donations. Some 90% of the food received would have been thrown out, she said.

“So that’s a big part of our mission, is trying to reduce food waste,” she said. “There’s a lot of perfectly good food that completely would get discarded. Otherwise, we do try to source that and bring it back to our community.”

Anyone interested in volunteering may go HERE and join the volunteer page to learn of ways to help. If you have a potential host site for a pantry, send a message through the website. 

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Press Release:

In an exploration of unconventional creativity, Genesee-Orleans Regional Arts Council (Go Art!) is thrilled to announce the second annual call for submissions for the upcoming exhibition titled “This Art is Garbage.” This unique showcase is dedicated to reimagining the role of garbage and waste, offering artists an unparalleled platform to transform discarded items into captivating works of art. 

Artists of all skill levels—from high school students to emerging artists and seasoned professionals take this opportunity to redirect the fate of what would normally be forsaken to landfills into inspiring and thought-provoking pieces.

The submission window for the exhibition will be open from April 9 to April 12, from 11 a.m. to 6 p.m. each day. The artist reception will take place on April 17, from 6 p.m. to 8 p.m.

Guidelines for Submissions:

1. Integration of Garbage: Submitted works must feature garbage either as a material component of the artwork or as its subject. We welcome innovations in texture and pattern creation using waste or thoughtfully engaging with garbage as a motif. (e.g. creative photography of discarded objects)
2. Restrictions: “Upcycled” items, such as painted furniture, are not accepted.
3. Size Limitation: Artworks must not exceed dimensions of 24 x 30 inches and should be wired and prepared for hanging. Works not ready for display will regretfully be declined.
4. Submission: Each artist is permitted to submit up to two pieces for consideration. There is no entry fee.
5. Entry registration: For more information and to submit your work, please visit https://forms.gle/QSzPYNLg2xe3h2fC6.

Let us come together to redefine the narrative around garbage and celebrate the transformative power of art. Join us in this inspiring journey of reclamation and artistic innovation. Submit your work today and be a part of a movement that finds beauty in the disposed, making the invisible, unmissable.

For More Information contact Jackie Swaby, 585-343-9313.

Press Release:

Since its founding in 1966, Genesee Community College has improved the lives of residents in Genesee, Livingston, Orleans and Wyoming (GLOW) counties. Beyond the wide variety of educational services and community resources provided, Genesee has become one of the most significant economic engines in the region.

Genesee Community College is proud to announce the results of a recent study by Lightcast, a global leader in labor market analytics. The study highlights its significant contributions to the local economy and the return on investment for public funders, taxpayers and community affiliates. The analysis, based on fiscal year 2022-23 data, underscores GCC's pivotal role in driving economic growth and fostering social benefits within the GLOW Service Area.

"GCC's mission extends beyond education; we are an economic and social driver for our community," said Dr. Craig Lamb, President of Genesee Community College. "This analysis confirms the profound and lasting benefits GCC delivers to our students, taxpayers and the GLOW region."

Economic Impact Highlights:

• $86.4 Million Added to the Local Economy: This represents 0.9% of the region's total gross regional product, supporting 1,163 jobs.
• For Taxpayers: For every $1.00 spent in public funds, our community gains $7.70 in added income and social savings.
• Student Spending Impact: Relocated and retained students added $2 million in income to the GLOW service area economy.
• Alumni Impact: The net impact of GCC alumni currently employed in the regional workforce amounted to $57.5 million in added income.
• Operations Spending Impact: GCC employed 412 faculty and staff, with a $24.7 million payroll largely spent locally. Additionally, GCC added $14.4 million in operational expenses.
• Construction Spending Impact: GCC's capital projects generated $855,000 in additional regional income.

For more information, contact Vice President, Development, Admissions and External Affairs Justin Johnston at 585-345-6809, or via email: jmjohnston@genesee.edu.

Press Release:

The Cornell Cooperative Extension of Genesee County Board of Directors meeting will be held at 5:30 p.m. on March 25. The meeting will be held at the Association at 420 E. Main St. in Batavia and is open to the public.

For more information, please contact Yvonne Peck at ydp3@cornell.edu or 585-343-3040 x123.

Press Release:

On March 18, Byron-Bergen senior Roman Smith committed to continuing his formal education after graduation at Roberts Wesleyan University where he will run track and cross-country. The official signing was witnessed by Byron-Bergen Athletic Director Rich Hannan, Varsity Cross Country and Track Coach David Bateman, Varsity Wrestling Coach Matthias Ellis, JV Wrestling Coach Josh Brabon, and Smith’s parents and siblings.

“Roman has been an amazing athlete to coach over the past several years,” said Bateman. “The hard work he puts in every year has paid off as he has improved every season and has won several individual and team sectional titles. I have no doubt Roman will have success at the next level and look forward to seeing what the future holds for him.”

While at Byron-Bergen, Smith starred as a lead in the musical his sophomore, junior, and senior years, served as Student Council President, Varsity Club Vice-President, National Honor Society President, National Junior Honor Society President, Tenor Section Leader in Singing Silhouettes, Captain of the Wrestling and Cross Country teams, and was honored multiple times as a Genesee Region All-Star for track and wrestling. He also plays percussion in the band, and is a member of the SADD club, 5-Minute-Mile club, 412 Club, and is a Super Bee.

“I would like to thank my family coaches and friends, and most importantly God for all the blessings and gifts he's given me over the course of my life,” said Smith. “I'm looking forward to meeting new people and the various experiences college life will have to offer.”

Smith plans to major in bio-med and minor in psychology.

Local law enforcement officers were the first on scene on Monday afternoon for a house fire at 24 Lincoln Ave., Le Roy, and jumped into action with three fire extinguishers and a garden hose to help keep the fire under control until Le Roy Fire arrived on scene.

The responding officers were Officer Terrez Smith, Detective James Prusak, and Deputy Jenna Fernando.

The fire was reported at about 1:40 p.m. with smoke and flames showing. 

Bergen Fire, Pavilion Fire, and Stafford Fire also responded.

It took about 20 minutes to extinguish the fire.

Photos via Le Roy Police Department.

Don't miss this exceptional opportunity to bid in a public internet auction for a beautiful 4-bedroom, 2-story home, showcasing exquisite Victorian-era rooms and a breathtaking staircase. Nestled in the charming Town of Alabama, NY, this property exudes historical elegance. Updates will be needed to restore the home to its original splendor, but it holds tremendous potential. 

Enhancing its appeal, the estate includes a delightful carriage house and an intriguing "ice house," all set on a generous lot of nearly one acre. This is more than just a home; it's a chance to own a piece of history.

Two branches of Erie County-based OLV Human Services have chosen to widen their scope and settle into Genesee County under one roof to offer counseling, evaluation and treatment for children and adults.

One is the OLV Outpatient Counseling Clinic with each a part-time and a full-time clinical therapist and a psychiatric nurse practitioner, Chief Program Officer Sheila Hunt said.

“We wanted to expand into five different counties; we’re already in Erie and Niagara County. Genesee just made the most sense. So when we saw that this facility was for rent, we came out and took a look at it, and it just made the most sense for us to start here first, because it was perfect. It had this perfect setup for our operation clinic, and then it had the perfect setup for our evaluation and treatment clinic,” she said of the site at 5762 Route 5 in Stafford. “This is the first time we ventured out to a county outside of Erie County. So this is the first one, but we're not stopping here. Once we get this up and running, our strategic plan is to be known as a behavioral health provider, so we're going to keep forging ahead. There's a need, and we just want to help be a resource.”

Therapists will provide services for individuals and families for a variety of issues, including addiction, ADHD, depression, anxiety, sleep problems, domestic violence, grief, and psychosis, and are open to group sessions if there are appropriate numbers of individuals to form a group, Hunt said.

The nurse practitioner is licensed to do medication management, and most insurances are accepted, she said. All it takes is for the person, or a parent or teacher for a child, to refer for services, Hunt said. If someone doesn’t have transportation, OLV has a contract with a social care network and may be able to arrange for an Uber, she said.

“We support, prepare and empower the individuals that we work with,” she said. “We're not trying to come and take over, we just want to be an added resource to the providers that are currently out here.”

OLV has four brick-and-mortar offices and six satellite locations in Buffalo public schools, with plans to expand — possibly into Wyoming County next — as part of its strategic plan, she said.

Counseling services will begin on April 15. Hours for appointments will be 8:30 a.m. to 5:30 p.m. Tuesdays and Thursdays, 8:30 a.m. to 6 p.m. Wednesdays and 8:30 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. Fridays, with 9 a.m. to 1 p.m. Saturdays up for consideration if there’s a need for a weekend day. Eventually, the site will have Open Access, which will be available for walk-in appointments.

For more information or to make an appointment, call 716-828-7456 or go to Outpatient Counseling Clinic.

A second practice is the Evaluation and Treatment Center for kids aged 2 to 21 with any type of intellectual, developmental or learning disability. A staff of eight includes a medical director/pediatrician, psychologist, nurse practitioner, licensed behavioral analyst, behavioral technician, and occupational and speech therapists, Clinical Services Supervisor Chris Nalbach said.

“This is our first site branch. We just opened in Lackawanna in April 2024, so we’re already looking to kind of expand since then. We got a great opportunity to utilize this space in a different region that we haven’t been able to reach before,” Nalbach said. “We talked to some people at University of Rochester and (other practices), that stated that services were needed in this area as well.”

Hospitals and medical facilities across Western New York can have waiting lists up to two years long, he said, which is time that a child could be receiving treatment. Anyone suspecting his/her child of having any type of learning/developmental disability can fill out the center’s intake form and have the child evaluated and/or tested, he said.

“We look for autism, ADHD, or other types of disorders that we can evaluate and treat, and once we have a good diagnosis completed, we can move on to the therapy from there and whatever it takes to get the kids the services they need to provide it, and if not, we can refer to other places that would be able to.”

They will recommend a course for treatment, including an intense Parent-Child Interaction Therapy. There seems to be more autism, but it’s not so much that there are more cases of autism, he said, as there are more diagnoses of it — and more quickly and correctly than in the past.

There used to be about one in 150 diagnosed 20 years ago, he said, and now it’s one out of 36, according to ETC’s website. Staff is committed to “providing another option for families to help reduce these wait times and allow children to get the help they need as soon as possible.”

When working with children, no one is usually looking for those huge leaps and bounds, he said, but instead for incremental steps.

“There’s no cure for autism; it’s an improvement in functioning, things of that nature,” he said. “We’re really not looking at the massive success rate. We’re looking at the tiny little successes. If you look at the parents, when they look at their child and see that their child can talk back and say ‘Hi mom,’ that’s a huge success.”

The Stafford location will be opening later this summer on Mondays, and possibly also on the first and third Saturdays. For more information, call 716-828-7586 or go to Evaluation and Treatment Center.

Press Release:

Did you know that the only way to know if a child has been poisoned is to get them tested? There are often no clear signs or symptoms of lead poisoning. This is why testing children for lead is so important. Lead is a metal that is harmful to our bodies and can cause serious health issues. 

“Children under 6 are most at risk for lead poisoning because their bodies are rapidly developing,” stated Gabrielle Lanich, Lead Program Coordinator of Genesee and Orleans County. “The health effects of lead poisoning are permanent and can affect a child into adulthood.” Childhood lead poisoning can harm the brain and nervous system leading to learning difficulties, lower IQ, organ damage, and at very high levels can be fatal.

The Genesee and Orleans County Health Departments (GO Health) will be offering free fingerprick lead testing at the following immunization clinics this year. 

Genesee County Health Department, 3837 West Main Street Road, Batavia

• Wednesday, June 11
• Wednesday, July 9

Orleans County, 14016 Route 31 West, Suite 101, Albion

• Tuesday, April 15
• Tuesday, June 17

All clinics are between the hours of 1 to 3:30 p.m. Testing is available for children ages 1-6. Children must be accompanied by parent or legal guardian. Please make an appointment by calling your local health department:

• Genesee County: 585-344-2580 ext. 5555
• Orleans County: 585-589-3278

For more information about GO Health Programs and services, visit GOHealthNY.org or contact your local health department. Follow GO Health on Facebook, Instagram and X at GOHealthNY.

Press Release:

Independent Living of the Genesee Region is now offering Drop-In hours for young adults (ages 18 to 24) every Thursday from 3 p.m. to 6 p.m. No registration is needed.

If you are looking for a calm place to play a game or make some art, an Independent Living Specialist will be available and ready to assist. Independent Living of the Genesee Region is located at 319 West Main St., Batavia. 

Thanks to funding from the Greater Rochester Health Foundation and in partnership with the Children and Youth with Special Health Care Needs program, a conference room has been converted into a living room. This comfortable space can accommodate a group so no need to call ahead, just drop by any Thursday afternoon. 

The covid pandemic forced many young people to study at home and shy away from regular activities that would have provided opportunities to form friendships. The isolation is real for this age group with many struggling to find safe ways to connect and meet people.

Independent Living Centers are designed and funded to assist people with disabilities. One definition of a disability is any condition that limits life activities. Feelings of panic, anxiety and stress can contribute to mental health challenges and become a disability impacting daily living. It’s important to know you are not alone. 

Our Center offers a number of services that can lead to a better quality of life. We are a safe place where you can get to know people, maybe make some friends, and learn about options for your future. 

Thanks to generous support from the Greater Rochester Health Foundation, Independent Living has two full-time Youth Specialists. Contact Kahlil Simon at ksimon@wnyil.org or Emma Pratt at epratt@wnyil.org or call 585-815-8501 to learn more.

Independent Living of the Genesee Region is a member of the Western New York Independent Living, Inc. family of agencies which offers an expanding array of services to aid people with disabilities to take control of their own lives.

Press Release:

Congresswoman Claudia Tenney (NY-24) reintroduced the People and Animals Well-being (PAW) Act to amend the Internal Revenue Code Section 213(d) to include veterinary care expenses under tax-advantaged health care spending accounts, specifically Health Savings Accounts (HSAs) and Flexible Spending Accounts (FSAs).

The PAW Act would allow pet owners to use their HSA or FSA accounts to pay for up to $1,000 for veterinary care or a pet health insurance plan while enabling an unlimited amount of these funds for service animals. In addition, this legislation will support individuals, including veterans, with disabilities by ensuring the IRS relies on an up-to-date definition of “service animal,” which includes animals trained to assist with both physical and mental disabilities. This bill maintains current HSA and FSA contribution limits, ensuring that there will be little to no impact on federal expenditures.

“Pets and service animals are valued members of our families and lives, with many benefits, including increasing our lifespan, reducing stress, and promoting physical activity. It is important we ensure pet owners can afford quality care. The PAWS Act allows pet owners to use HSAs and FSAs for veterinary care, ensuring all pet owners can keep their beloved pets and service animals healthy,” said Congresswoman Tenney.

“Pets are more than just animals – in many households, they’re family members,” said Congresswoman Ross. “While household costs continue to rise, paying for pet insurance can become a financial burden that people can’t afford. As a dog owner, I’m proud to introduce our bipartisan PAW Act, which will ensure animal lovers can afford care for their pets by including veterinary care and pet insurance as eligible expenses under HSAs and FSAs. I’m grateful for Congresswoman Tenney’s continued partnership to make sure all families can afford insurance for their furry friends.”

“The AVMA-endorsed People and Animals Well-being (PAW) Act supports both animal and human health by highlighting the benefits of pet ownership and expanding access to pet care,” said Dr. Sandra Faeh, President of the American Veterinary Medical Association. “By making veterinary care and pet health insurance eligible expenses under Health Savings and Flexible Spending Accounts, this legislation helps make pet care more affordable, improves access for service animals, and strengthens efforts to detect and prevent zoonotic diseases. We appreciate the leadership of Reps. Tenney and Ross on this important issue and urge Congress to pass the PAW Act without delay.”

Press Release:

Genesee Community College (GCC) proudly welcomed over 700 middle and high school technology students and their teachers from across the GLOW region to the 16th Annual Tech Wars. This competition provided a platform for students to showcase their skills and ingenuity through a variety of technology-based challenges.

Tech Wars is the culmination of a year's worth of preparation by students and educators, with each event carefully crafted and coordinated by the dedicated technology teachers of the GLOW region. The event receives significant support from GCC's Accelerated College Enrollment (ACE) Department, GCC faculty and staff, as well as many generous local businesses that sponsor the competition and actively participate in the day's activities.

This year, thanks to the generosity of our sponsors, the Tech Wars organizing committee was able to award three $300 scholarships to deserving seniors from participating GLOW region schools. Scholarship recipients demonstrated outstanding dedication to technology and plan to pursue careers, apprenticeships or post-secondary education in technology-related fields. The 2024 scholarship winners were:

• Catherine Staley - Geneseo High School
• Kasey Pagels - Byron Bergen High School
• Laylanna Oliveria - Pioneer High School

Sponsors for 2025 Tech Wars:

Gold Sponsors: Amada Tool America, Barilla America NY, Graham Corporation, I.B.E.W. Local 86, Liberty Pumps, Northeast Industrial Tech, Power & Construction Group

Silver Sponsors: Chapin International, Maple Moon Farms, Morton Salt, RTMA/FLYAP, Six Flags Darien Lake, Takeform & Traco Manufacturing

Overall Winners:

Middle School Division:

1st Place: Batavia Middle School (28 points)

2nd Place: Warsaw Middle School (16 points)

3rd Place: York Middle School (15 points)

High School Division:

1st Place: Geneseo High School (27 points)

2nd Place: Dansville High School (24 points)

3rd Place: Batavia High School (23 points)

Additionally, the winning logo design for the 2026 Tech Wars was created by Giana Strollo from Batavia High School.

Participating Schools: Albion, Alexander, Attica, Batavia, Byron-Bergen, Dansville, Elba, Geneseo, Holley, Kendall, Letchworth, Medina, Mt. Morris, Oakfield-Alabama, Pavilion, Pembroke, Perry, Pioneer, St. Joe's, Warsaw, Wayland-Cohocton & York

Competitions:

Middle School Events: Bridge, Catapult, CO2 Cars (Concept & Race), Logo Design, Lumber Labyrinth, Makers Showcase, Mystery, Paper Airplanes, Rube Goldberg, Sculpture, Skimmer Cars & Technical Drawing

High School Events: Bridge, CO2 Cars (Concept & Race), Drone Racing, Logo Design, Lumber Labyrinth, Makers Showcase, Mini Sumo Bots, Mystery, Regatta Race & Theme, Reverse Engineer CAD, Robotic Tractor Pull, Sculpture, Skimmer Cars, SUMO Bots & Trebuchet

GCC extends its gratitude to all the students, teachers, sponsors, and volunteers who made this year's Tech Wars a success. We look forward to continuing this tradition of innovation and excellence in 2026!

For more information contact Vice President Development, Admissions and External Affairs Justin M. Johnston at 585-345-6809, or via email: jmjohnston@genesee.edu

Byron-Bergen Sports Boosters hosted a basketball contest between deputies in the Sheriff's Office and Byron-Bergen faculty and staff as a fundraiser for the Justice For Children GLOW foundation in the high school gymnasium on Thursday night.

Byron-Bergen won 45-38.

The event raised $1,529 from ticket sales, 50/50 and basket raffles. The Erion family won the 50/50 and donated the proceeds back to the booster club.

The Rose Garden and Greg’ry’s Bakery made donations in support of the event.

During the breaks between quarters and at half-time, Gillam-Grant boys and girls youth basketball teams played a game.

Photos by Jennifer DiQuattro.

Paul Marchese’s turn to computers came about in college when a professor suggested a new degree program might be right for him.

Before he even graduated from the University of Rochester with a degree in computer science and mathematics, he had started -- in 1981 -- his own business in Batavia.

"I've always had a drive to try and help people to solve a problem and make technology work for them," Marchese said.

That passion has led Marchese to participate in the publication of a couple of books. The latest was released earlier this month, and Marchese contributed one of the essays in The Cyber Playbook (published by BigRedMedia), "The major cyber dangers that could topple your business."

Drawing on his own experience, Marchese writes about how employees -- and even owners -- can be duped through social engineering (using deception to get a person to divulge information they shouldn't) and phishing (a type of social engineering) to gain access to sensitive data.

We're busy, inattentive, not aware, and with a click, poof, critical data is gone, or maybe encrypted, in what's called a ransomware attack.  

Marchese discusses some of the measures businesses can take to protect themselves from these attacks. 

"The biggest point that I can stress to anyone I'm talking to, is cybersecurity is not a set and forget; doesn't work," Marchese said. "The old stalwarts today, the Macafees, the Nortons, all those anti-virus programs, none of them work. It's all essentially placebo based."

Marchese promotes managed services, layers of security and an AI-driven security program called Sentinel One.

"We've been using it for almost five years," Marchese said. "The tech is continually changing, and the way hackers come in is continually changing. It's a moving target. That's why I said it's not set and forget it."

Marchese's first book was self-published and written for the non-IT person to help him or her understand the computer technology and wired world.

"I think it was chapter 10 in that book that was terminology," Marchese said. "I armed them with all the nomenclature an IT person would normally make themselves look better because they'd use these terms that nobody understands."

Marchese’s first collaborative book project came out a year ago, "From Exposed to Secure" (published by Morgan James). The book also covers a range of cybersecurity issues. Marchese's chapter is "Your Workforce Is Your Biggest Cybersecurity Risk."  It provides eight best practices to reduce the risk.

Over the past 44 years, Marchese Computers, 220 Ellicott St., Batavia, has grown from one employee to 10 employees. The mission has remained the same, Marchese said.

"My goal is to remove the stress, the worry from whoever I touch, as far as a client, so they can grow their business because it's symbiotic," Marchese said. "They grow, we grow, and it has worked very well for me."

By lasting more than four decades, Marchese has had plenty of opportunity to kid his uncle, Vic Marchese, owner of Main St. Pizza Company, about his decision not to invest in Paul's company early on.

"I said, 'How'd you like to buy half of my company for $1,500, and he goes, 'I don't know; no, I don’t think so. Computers are just a fad.' Computers are just a fad. I will never let him live that down. And I keep telling him, 'Oh, just a fad, huh?'"

It was no wonder why Tricia Davis had some tears while talking about her Twilight Meadows restaurant — a hotdog stand-turned-diner operated as a family business for the last 36 years in Alexander.

First owned and operated by her mom, Brenda Jarvis, in August 1988, Davis worked there from the beginning and took it over seven years ago. She is now, sadly and excitedly, handing over the keys to new owners at the end of March.

“When my mom took over, this was a hotdog stand. So this place has been here since the 50s. My grandmother went to Alexander school. My mother did. I did, and all my kids did. So I have a lot of deep connections around here,” she said during an interview at the Route 98 site. “So my mom was only 36 when she took over here. And I was 17, so it's been a great place, but the people before us, this was called the hotdog stand, but it was always Twilight Meadows. It's got a lot of neat little history. And people always come back here when they come into town or from the cemetery, you know, people go to the cemetery plots, and they always seem to come here to have their lunch or whatever it might be.”

While packing up to prepare for the new owners, she was reviewing some photos of her teenage self and thought, “No wonder the counter was full of guys,” she said with a smile. She said that her mother was “a pretty good-looking chick,” which didn’t hurt to attract male customers.

The restaurant was an idea of her grandfather, Harold Walton, a milk trucker who happened upon the nicknamed hotdog stand and thought it might be a viable pursuit for his daughter Brenda. Art and Elaine Kendall owned it from 1955 to 1988, served drinks in frozen cold root beer mugs and gave pretzel sticks to kids. 

Grandpa Walton put a down payment on the place, buying it for $115, and his daughter paid it off. She poured her hard-earned experience of having waitressed throughout the area, often in Batavia's The Hideaway, into successful entrepreneurship. Davis soaked up mom's early career as a young girl who worked on a coloring book at a table until mom's shift was over.

When Davis took over, the interior had been converted to enlarge the kitchen and dining space, and the menu gradually expanded to include more entrees — homemade soups, meatloaf, spaghetti, salads, home fries — and breakfast favorites, with omelets being the most popular, she said. Her daughter Sarah, 19, works there part-time and said she spends a good six hours a week peeling and cutting up potatoes for the home fries that customers seem to love.

There was a lot of crying at the start while trying to figure it all out, said Davis, a 1989 Alexander High School grad. She remembered her wise grandpa’s advice to “plan on doing it yourself,” which she has taken to heart — throughout the pandemic and while learning how to be a boss and an employee.

“Since Covid, that’s how I do it. I do all the shopping … I run the restaurant like it’s the 50s, I am not computer literate,” she said. “When my mom left I had to learn how to do everything; the stress of it all, I had to learn sales tax — you’ve got to save for sales tax. I just learned it and was careful. I just figured it out. I’m proud of that.”

She also learned not to order too much inventory ahead of time and not to schedule more staff than she could keep busy. Davis established a routine for where to shop and for what to save the most money and get the right food deliveries. She mowed the lawn. Tended to an outdoor garden. Cooked and washed dishes. Waitressed and did bookkeeping. Cleaned and supervised employees.

During the pandemic shutdown, she had days when orders soared upwards of more than 100.

“It was hellish,” she admitted. “I had 120 take-outs at any given time on any given Friday. I was overwhelmed. People just came; they wanted to be out.”

People were also gracious with their tips and generosity, she said. During any downtime, she kept busy painting the walls and ceiling. There were no lazy Covid days, she said.

“I worked hard. Every day, I had a task,” she said. “I got this place right cleaned up. My son would deliver food. I survived it, and I’m exceptionally proud of it.”

In addition to food, she has also served up plenty of smiles and conversation. Davis described herself as “goofy and an entertainer.” She is someone who loves people and good customer service and has observed that most people like a side of chit-chat with their burgers. The walls are decorated with large framed collages of photos she has taken of customers over the years — many of whom have passed away from a client base of the 20s through 40s, and others that she knows will miss her just as much as she will miss them.

Something must have worked through her intentions to provide a homey atmosphere. A gentleman said to her one day that if she ever wanted to sell, he was interested. They eventually had a more serious talk and struck a deal. At 53, Davis believes it’s time for her to take a break from the constant busyness of business.

Part of the deal with the new owners includes Sarah's current restaurant staff, Davis’s sister Michelle, and three others. Davis agreed to work for the first two days as Twilight Meadows changed hands.

She gave credit to her husband Mike for supporting her all these years, to Aunt Clara for helping out her mom as a cook and waitress the first 20 years, and for “being part of the reason it succeeded,” and to Dawn Meyers, a “very good cook” who worked full- and part-time throughout the years and has always been around to help out.

You might not want to ask Tricia what she will do next. She may not know or want to do anything in particular. For any of the good, there have also been exhaustion and sacrifice, she said.

For now, “I just want to be,” she said.