Sgt. Thomas A. Sanfratello, who died in the line of duty early Sunday morning, was honored by about 50 first responders and family members with a mile run around the track at Van Detta Stadium in Batavia.

The run was part of a national program called "Running For Heroes," which is comprised of young people who run in honor of a first responder who dies in the line of duty.

Thursday's run was coordinated with Morgan Blann, a 13-year-old from New Jersey who connected with runners in Batavia through Facetime and then her actual run was live streamed on Facebook.

Members of law enforcement in her community joined her on her run.

Morgan told the participants that since she was six, she's dreamed of working in law enforcement as a K-9 handler. 

To view a video of Morgan's run, click here.

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Press Release:

The Genesee County Sheriff’s Office, the City of Batavia Police Department and the Village of LeRoy Police Department will be participating in a coordinated effort with the STOP-DWI program to bring awareness to the dangers of impaired driving. 

The statewide STOP-DWI efforts start Friday, March 15 and will continue thru Sunday, March 17.  

St. Patrick’s Day weekend is a notoriously deadly period for impaired driving due to the number of celebrations and drivers on the road. New York State Police, County Sheriffs and municipal law enforcement agencies will be out in force during this across the board effort to reduce the number of alcohol related injuries and deaths.

While STOP-DWI efforts across New York have made great strides in reducing the numbers of alcohol and drug related fatalities, still too many lives are being lost because of crashes caused by drunk or impaired drivers.

Have a plan to designate a driver. Don’t let alcohol take the wheel. Visit www.stopdwi.org for more information and may the luck of the Irish be with you.

Press Release:

With Easter around the corner, it's once again time for the Annual Kiwanis Easter Egg Hunt on Saturday, March 30 at 9 a.m. sharp. The event will take place at Centennial Park with three age categories birth-3, 4-7, and 8-10.  

Along with the thousands of eggs hiding in the park, there will be nine golden eggs, three in each age group. The nine lucky children who discover the golden eggs will be able to exchange them for a chocolate bunny from Oliver’s Candies.

There will also be one golden egg hidden each day in Centennial Park beginning on Friday, March 22 through Thursday, March 28. The golden eggs will be hidden at different times each day to allow families with different schedules to search and have an equal chance of finding them. 

The golden eggs are restricted to kids aged 12 and under, although older siblings and family members can help search! The winning golden eggs must be turned in at the Easter Egg Hunt on March 30 to receive an Oliver's Candies chocolate bunny.

The club is asking those who find golden eggs prior to the Easter Egg Hunt, to please send pictures to the Kiwanis Club of Batavia Facebook page at facebook.com/kiwanisclubofbatavia. 

Kiwanis Club of Batavia is proud to offer fun, healthy family activities that serve children in our community. For more information, visit the club’s Facebook page. The club meets on the 2nd and 4th Thursday at 12:10 p.m. at TF Brown’s and welcomes new members.

Press Release:

Assemblyman Steve Hawley (R,C-Batavia) is honoring the life and legacy of Sgt. Thomas A. Sanfratello who tragically died early Sunday morning after responding to an incident at Batavia Downs Gaming & Hotel. 

Sgt. Sanfratello suffered a heart attack at the scene and passed away after several efforts to revive him. Sanfratello proudly served the Genesee County Sheriff’s Office for 32 years beginning his career with the department in February of 1992. 

In 1996, he was appointed a deputy sheriff and then promoted to sergeant in 2007. 

Earlier this year, he had the honor of presenting his son, Ian, with several awards after he graduated top of his class at the Niagara County Law Enforcement Academy. Hawley is saddened to hear of Sgt. Sanfratello’s passing and his thoughts and prayers are with his family and loved ones during this time.

“The news of Sgt. Sanfratello’s passing is both heartbreaking and tragic,” said Hawley. “His service and dedication to his community over the last 32 years is nothing short of admirable and is a shining example of what it means to be a leader and a hero. Every day our law enforcement officers put their lives on the line to keep us safe, and Sgt. Sanfratello exemplified this throughout his career. I extend my deepest condolences to the Sanfratello family, and I will continue to keep them in my thoughts and prayers during this difficult time.”

Press Release:

By Julia Garver, LG Class of 2010

What is “leadership”? The Leadership Genesee class of 2024 was able to get insight into this question from many community leaders in its first-day session, “Our Business & Economics” on Feb. 28. Responses included communication skills, engaging and motivating your team, leading by example, listening to your team and building trust and connection. 

One design team member put it this way: “Leadership embodies the art of inspiring others to achieve collective goals through vision, empathy, and decisive action. It's about guiding and empowering individuals to realize their potential, fostering collaboration, and navigating through challenges with integrity and resilience.”

The day started at Liberty Pumps with Robyn Brookhart LG ’02, President & CEO and
Dennis Burke LG ‘01, CFO sharing what makes LP so successful. First and foremost is the workplace culture, one that is collaborative, respectful, engaging, trustful, and has an element of fun. 

The business model of an ESOP, which LP has embraced, makes all employees (members) owners of the company so they have a stake in the efforts of their labors. That motivates members and encourages them to contribute their ideas for improvement to company operations. Also, the key to success is customer service, as mentioned by both Robyn and Dennis, a theme that reappeared several times during the day.

A presentation about how much of our expendable income is spent in Genesee County raised awareness about the impact of spending locally. Supporting local businesses ensures the vitality of the local economy and job creation with more than 55 cents of every dollar spent locally remaining in the community. The message was that “what is spent local, stays local.”

Visits were made by class members to more than 25 local businesses. The passion and forward-thinking of these entrepreneurs were impactful. Answering hard questions like ‘Should we expand? How much will it cost? Can my son/daughter take it over? and How can I compete with “big box” stores?’ is something that all small business owners face.

Rob Credi of Pub Coffee Pub revealed that what drives him includes the color scheme of his business which he chose to memorialize his sister, and his love of the show “Friends” which he uses to name some menu items. His vision led him to start the Crapshoot Kitchen & Commissary which provides opportunities for starter businesses to explore their space in the culinary field for take-out meals and food items. 

Other issues encountered by local business owners were competing products and keeping up with market trends. 

Guy Pellegrino, the owner of Pellegrino Auto Sales, an independent used car dealer, positioned his business to be a “new car store experience with no new cars”. To date, his business is the #1 rated used car business in Genesee County. He spends time and money on Internet access to apps and sites that let him stay ahead of price changes.

Tina Lambert, of Lambert’s Jeweler’s, mentioned that the current trends of lab-grown diamonds and fewer marriages have impacted their business. 

Lee Winters, owner of Genesee Feeds, said his biggest competition now is the internet. Loyal customers, a tribute to great customer service, have kept both their businesses successful.

The day ended at the David McCarthy Memorial Ice Arena where Matt Gray LG ’11 spoke about how his experience in LG sparked the idea of the Eli Fish Brewing Company in which he is a part owner. Matt is also the owner of Alex’s and in 2022 he stepped up to take over the management of the ice arena. 

The economic impact of this venture is apparent when there are 5 to 15 teams from outside of the area coming to Batavia to play each week. The players and their families and supporters stay in hotels, eat in restaurants, and shop here in Genesee County which helps everyone.

February’s session was hosted by Liberty Pumps and the David McCarthy Memorial Ice Arena. Meals were sponsored by Lawley and Gavin M. Townsend, Lic. RE Salesperson at HUNT ERA Batavia.

Press Release:

Every solid business venture starts with one thing - a pitch! Whether making a sale or convincing an investor, your business idea pitch has to be organized, well-thought-out, powerful, and convincing! GCC is here to help get you prepared!

"A solid business idea pitch is essential for every startup. This competition offers participants a valuable opportunity to acquire the skills needed to structure, refine, and present a compelling and persuasive pitch.," said Dr. Lina LaMattina, director of business programs at GCC.

If you have a passion you would like to turn into a business, but you aren't sure if anyone else will think it's a good idea, consider participating in GCC's Annual Business Idea Pitch Competition on Thursday, May 2 from 8:30 a.m. to 12:30 p.m. in room T102 of the Conable Technology Building at Genesee Community College's Batavia Campus.

To participate in this event, you MUST register for our Business Idea Pitch Competition by emailing Dr. Lina LaMattina at lmlamattina@genesee.edu no later than Friday, April 26.

The competition is free and open to the public and prizes of $100 for first place and $75 for second place will be awarded to the most outstanding competitors in the "most likely to succeed" and "most creative" categories. Pitches will be judged by local business leaders.

Among the leading causes for startup failure is a lack of basic business experience. In lieu of losing thousands of investment dollars, today's entrepreneurs have found another way to gain that experience before launching their startup - education. Genesee Community College offers a degree, certificate and micro-credential programs in Entrepreneurship to prepare emerging business owners for success.

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

Press Release:

Long-time Notre Dame football coach Jimmy Fanara has decided to retire ending a 22-year stint coaching football at his alma mater. 

Coach Fanara had planned that 2022 (his son Jimmy’s Senior year) would be his final season before he stepped up to take the head varsity coach position when Joe Zambito’s job took him out of the area.

Fanara held a variety of coaching positions, spending most of his years on the coaching staffs of Notre Dame HOF coaches Bill Sutherland and Rick Mancuso before taking over the Varsity reins in 2022. 

His final team team advanced to the Sectional semifinals before losing a hard-fought contest to York-Pavilion. 

AD Mike Rapone commented “When I coached Jimmy in basketball during his high school years, he demonstrated the leadership, determination, passion for athletics, and the love of Notre Dame that he displayed for his 22 years coaching football at ND. Any of the young men who were fortunate enough to have been coached by him have benefited greatly from the experience. He will be missed!”

Anyone interested in applying to be the next Varsity football coach at Notre Dame should email a letter of interest and a resume to michael.rapone@ndhsbatavia.com. Applicants must have or be willing to pursue NYS Coaching Certification.

Press Release:

Congresswoman Claudia Tenney (NY-24) today voted in favor of ​​H.R. 7521, the Protecting Americans from Foreign Adversary Controlled Applications Act, which would ensure the safety of Americans' data and the national security of the United States from threats posed by foreign adversary-controlled applications such as TikTok.

This bill, which Tenney cosponsored, passed the House by a vote of 352-65, with one present vote.

Over the last two weeks, the Chinese Communist Party has worked aggressively to spread misinformation about this bill. This bill does not apply to U.S.-owned companies, so the risk of weaponization of this legislation against U.S. social media companies, such as X, Truth Social, or Rumble, is not applicable.

The enforcement powers are limited to applications owned by China, Iran, Russia, or North Korea. This bill also does not mention "election interference," which some pro-TikTok advocates have claimed will be weaponized against conservatives. H.R. 7521 would merely require applications controlled by China, Iran, Russia, or North Korea to either divest ownership of the foreign adversary or face a prohibition from operating in the United States.

"Congress has heard consistently from the intelligence community about the serious threats posed by TikTok to our national security," said Congresswoman Tenney. "With over 170 million users, TikTok is the Chinese Communist Party's propaganda megaphone, using the App to manipulate and exploit users' data for its own surveillance and monetary gains. Congress took a decisive and critical measure prohibiting the Chinese Communist Party from controlling the TikTok application. I remain dedicated to cracking down on the CCP's malign influence and working to ensure that our adversaries do not have access to sensitive data held by individuals and businesses who use the App." 

Press release:

The Genesee County Sheriff’s Civil/Records oOffice will be temporarily closing at noon on Friday, March 15.

For all non-Civil/Records matters, please call:

• 585-343-5000 (non-emergency 911 Emergency Services Dispatch Center phone line)
• 585-345-3000 (administrative phone line)
• 9-1-1 for emergency matters

We apologize for any inconvenience this may cause but truly appreciate the community’s understanding and patience while we take the afternoon to honor our fallen comrade, Civil Bureau Sergeant Thomas A. Sanfratello. 

The Civil/Records Office will resume normal weekday business hours (8:30 a.m. to 5:00 p.m.) on Monday, March 18.

NOTE: The Batavian reached out to current and former members of the Genesee County Sheriff's Office to write up remembrances of Sgt. Thomas A. Sanfratello, who died in the line of duty while serving and protecting his community on Sunday morning.  Below are the remembrances we received. While we limited the request this round to people associated with the Sheriff's Office, we will publish more remembrances from the community if we receive a sufficient number.  We invite other first responders, whether in law enforcement, fire services, EMS, or any community group, especially those of his friends and neighbors in Alexander, where he served as a town board member, to submit remembrances.  Email your statements to howard@thebatavian.com, and please be sure to include at least "Sanfratello" in the subject line.  If we receive a sufficient number by Friday evening, we will try to have them published by Saturday morning.  Please also include your full name and any appropriate title in the body of the email.

Former Sheriff Gary Maha:

When I received the phone call early Sunday morning from a deputy, who was assigned to make notifications of Sgt. Tom Sanfratello’s death, I was shocked.  I thought to myself that if this were going to happen to someone, it wouldn’t be Sergeant Sanfratello. He was outgoing, very friendly to everyone and easy to get along with. However, he knew how to do his job and would do it well. It has been very emotional as it has been with his family, friends and especially current and past members of the Genesee County Sheriff’s Office who knew and worked with Tom. 

I remember when I hired him as a deputy sheriff in 1996. He was a young, thin guy working in dispatch. I am sure some thought why did they hire him as a deputy! I watched him mature, gain knowledge, and experience, and become an excellent officer. He was promoted to sergeant in 2007 and became an excellent road patrol supervisor and supervisor of the Civil Bureau. 

He loved working for the Genesee County Sheriff’s Office and loved being a law enforcement officer. As someone said, “he would give you the shirt off his back if you needed it.” Tom was always dependable. If you asked him to do something, he would do it and do it right. He was instrumental in the implementation of our Public Safety Computer System and was a great source for younger officers with his 32 years of experience. He will be missed. RIP, Sergeant Sanfratello, and God Bless You.

Retired Chief Deputy Gordon Dibble:

I remember when Tommy started with the Sheriff's Office as a dispatcher.  He was a skinny, twenty-two-year-old kid.  When they hired him as a deputy sheriff, I remember thinking this is a mistake, he'll never cut it as a deputy.  I was wrong.  Tommy was like a sponge -- a quick learner, a problem solver, always wanting to know more.  

Tommy filled out physically and got involved in as many things as he could.  He was even on the SCUBA team.  He was an overtime hog, working every extra detail that he could.  I wonder how many hours he put in at Darien Lake Theme Park.  He supervised almost every concert, working closely with the theme park managers to make concert nights go as smoothly as possible, and he was fearless.  He was often first into a messy situation, leading from the front.  

Tommy had a great sense of humor, a great smile, and the laugh of someone who enjoyed life. We shared many laughs together. We also shared an addiction. We were both addicted to Mountain Dew. My wife even shared an addiction with Tom: an addiction to the video game Candy Crush. 

I am just one of many, many people who will greatly miss Tom.    

Chief Deputy Joseph Graff:

The loss of Sgt. Sanfratello has been a tragedy for his family, our law enforcement family and our community.  Tom was a valued resource. His most recent role was as the sergeant in charge of our civil division and warrants. Tom always made himself available, whether on duty or not, to answer a question or phone call and was often sought out for his expertise in civil matters.  

Tom had a remarkable ability to recall sections of the law that are not often used and had a system of organization that kept things running.  Even after 32 years in Law Enforcement, Tom was still willing to go out into our community and do the job.  Tom’s heart was evident in the annual Easter egg hunt he would hold at his home, hiding thousands of eggs and inviting the families of our office.  

It was an honor to have had the opportunity to know Tom professionally and personally. His presence will truly be missed in our lives. My thoughts and prayers are with the family of Sgt. Sanfratello. Godspeed GS 9.

Investigator Chad Minuto:

When I was approached by Howard to provide a memory or story about Tommy, it took me some time to comb through our past twenty years together.  There are so many memories together that it would be impossible to choose just one.  I think I would rather like to say a few words about my friend.  

I myself became a lot closer to Tommy over the past seven years after being promoted to Investigator. I would visit Tommy daily to bend his ear.  Tommy was the pulse of the department.  He was highly adept at how our office operated and played a crucial role in keeping the “engine running.”   Tommy was organized “In his own way” and took a systematic approach to everything he did.   Tommy was an extremely hard worker, a devoted deputy, and someone who cared deeply about the Sheriff’s Office.  His work ethic, experience, and wealth of knowledge will be irreplaceable.   

Tommy not only loved the Sheriff’s Department, but above that, he loved his family and children.  Tommy, himself, was a giant kid at heart.  He was an avid collector of Hot Wheels and Legos, often traveling across the country to attend and work at toy shows.  I remember the smile on Tommy’s face when I told him my son had become interested in Legos.  Tommy would routinely show me sneak peeks of unreleased Legos and share his duplicates of Lego mini figures with my son.  Personally, I think Tommy shared these Legos because he felt bad knowing that I would not find these in stores.  Why, you ask? Well, Tommy had likely cleaned out the inventory locally. 

These past few days have been so surreal, and it is still hard to wrap my head around the fact that Tommy is gone. I know there will be times in the weeks and months ahead when something will remind me of Tommy and stop me in my tracks. I welcome these moments, as they will ensure that I will never forget what Tommy meant to this department or me. We will miss you, GS-9!

Dispatcher Jason Holman:

Sgt. Sanfratello, the Sheriff's sergeant, provided a calm and consistent veteran command presence to our office.  He was a leader and mentor to those around him.  He had a large part in the training and development of most of the deputies and investigators we have now.  His long career and vast experience were an asset to new patrols as they came into their own.  His knowledge of the operations of our agency, both out on patrol and within the Civil and Records Departments, will be sorely missed and not easy to replace quickly.  He oversaw special detail assignments/scheduling at locations such as Darien Lake and Batavia Downs.  His command of the staff at those assignments will be difficult to replace.

He was also an advocate for the work we do in the dispatch center because of his history there.  Many times, as the first point of contact with someone in need, that dispatcher can set the tone for a call for service or demonstrate the effectiveness and professionalism of the Genesee County Sheriff's Office.  Sgt. Sanfratello understood the importance of recruiting, hiring, training and retaining quality Emergency Services Dispatchers.

As a former union president, he advocated for his members. He was always searching for and often finding ways to improve the quality of life, salary, and benefits provided to our staff.

On the other side, Tom Sanfratello, the man, was a son, brother, father, uncle and, significant other, friend to many who loved him.  Outside of work, he had an affinity for collecting diecast cars, specifically Hot Wheels.  That hobby took him all over the country to shows and swap meets and garnered him a whole different community of friends and colleagues that I'm sure are also feeling the pain of his loss.  More recently, he had taken up collecting and building Lego sets.  What started as fun for him and his youngest daughter, Lexi, turned into another hobby and a large collection.  He was a family man who loved his children.  Ian recently graduated from the Corrections Officer Academy at the top of his class, and I don't think you could wipe the smile off of Tom's face that week.  He was very proud of Ian's accomplishments and the fact that he was able to work alongside him.

I'd also like to remind you that March 21 will be the one-year anniversary of Emergency Services Dispatcher Andrew Merkel's untimely passing.  Our staff is also dealing with the weight of that anniversary.  He shared many qualities with Tom and he is still sorely missed by many at our office.

Lastly, I'll leave you with something that has always struck home with me during a loss.  For those who are hurting during this:

"Keep fighting.  Persevere.  Those who left us too soon are proud of you. Even though they may not have had the chance to say it."

Forgive me, as I don't recall where I once heard/saw that and could not tell you who may have said it.  But some version of those words has stuck with me for a long time as I have dealt with loss in my own life.

Genesee County Legislature Chairwoman Shelley Stein added to the many condolences expressed for the loss of Sgt. Thomas A. Sanfratello, who died this past Sunday during an encounter with an individual at Batavia Downs. 

Stein said the 54-year-old was a graduate of Alexander High School, a huge Buffalo Sabres fan, and an avid fan of the New York Yankees. He was also a devoted dad who loved spending time with family, especially his children. 

He began his career on Feb. 29, 1992 at the Genesee County Sheriff’s Office as a dispatcher and was appointed deputy sheriff in 1996 and 11 years later road patrol sergeant. During his years of service, he twice earned Deputy of the Year and was awarded several commendations, for which colleagues have spoken nothing but praise about his professionalism and contributions. 

“This Legislature body mourns his loss,” Stein said Wednesday during the group’s meeting at the Old Court House. “Our thoughts and prayers go out to his family. His impact on our community stands as his legacy. May we all find comfort in knowing he was protecting us in his service. May you rest in peace, Tom.”

Sanfratello was born in Batavia to Anthony and Dorothy Sanfratello and died on March 10 in the line of duty “while serving and protecting the citizens of Genesee County,” Stein said. 

She asked for a moment of silence before beginning the Legislature meeting to honor a man who has been held in high regard by countless municipal, law enforcement and community members. The county's Old Court House cupola can be seen lit up in blue each evening, and flags have been lowered in Sanfratello's memory.

The Deputy Sheriff’s Association has established a fundraiser to help Sanfratello’s family with expenses, and calling hours from 2 to 8 p.m. Friday and an 11 a.m. funeral service have been set for Call Arena at Genesee Community College, 1 College Road, Batavia, with a burial at St. Joseph’s Cemetery. 

Sanfratello, who was referred to on Wednesday by fellow law enforcement as a friendly, go-to guy for answers and an incredible human being, is survived by his mother and children, Ian, Kyla, and Alexis Sanfratello; his wife; sisters, nieces, and nephews; his partner; two great-nieces; two great-nephews; along with many cousins and countless friends.

“He also leaves his brothers and sisters in law enforcement,” Stein said. 

Weighing out the options of a permissible 2.26 percent tax increase versus going whole hog for a super-majority vote and a 4 percent increase, or having no increase at all and actually tightening the belt and eliminating expenses for a tentative $60.5 million budget, Batavia City School board members covered the gamut of responses to a nearly $1.4 million budget gap during its second review Tuesday evening.

Toward the end of a 90-minute session, Vice President John Reigle posed a question that was perhaps three years too late. 

“Call me crazy, but should we start planning now? Those three years knowing, I mean, I kind of feel like we knew these COVID grants were running out. We should have been proactive and tried to replace that money instead of being in this position now. I think it's very difficult,” Reigle said.

Business Administrator Andy Lang reviewed adjustments made so far since the initial meeting two weeks ago. Those include possibly cutting seven full-time COVID-19 grant-funded positions (three-year grant due to expire in September), four full-time positions that will be reduced based on enrollment, elimination of three full-time teacher positions by not replacing retirements; moving seven full-time positions from the general fund into ongoing grants, and reductions of three bus runs, equipment purchases and school supplies that had previously been provided free for all students.  

That still leaves a gap and the options of increasing the tax levy, pulling more from the appropriated reserve, similar to a district savings account, or further cutting expenses, Lang and Superintendent Jason Smith said.  

Lang had suggested drawing $2.5 million from reserves toward the 2025 budget and said that more could be taken if the board wanted to. 

“How much danger does it put us in the future for next year?” board member Alice Benedict said. “How much would be left?”

Lang said he will calculate the remaining amount later this year, and the reserve is considered a “safety net” for the district. 

“So a lot of it depends on where we end up at the end of this year, how much total fund balance that we have on the site. And then the other factor is how much revenue actually comes in for next year. If status is reinstated to what it should have been, the district will realize additional revenue, we may not have to utilize or actually use that appropriated fund balance, but the safety net, it's a safety net so that we don't put ourselves into a deficit situation,” Lang said. “Just because we appropriate that fund balance does not necessarily mean that we use it; our expenditures could be less than anticipated, and our revenues can be greater than anticipated and the amount that we are appropriating, so it'd be a wash.”

Benedict also proposed finding a way to keep the free school supplies for all students in the budget. That was a perk provided due to the pandemic, and the supplies were purchased with COVID grant money at an expense of about $90,000. Benedict argued that there should be a way to retain those goods in the budget now that the grant funds are drying up. 

Board Vice President John Reigle countered that the money could be better spent, such as on a teacher position—or about 1.5 positions, Lang said—and Reigle preferred putting the funds toward instruction versus supplies. 

Smith pushed for keeping the seven positions in place, and even though they include extracurriculars, he recommends keeping them because they are “robust” programs.

He wouldn’t want to see the board take away drama club, marching band, football, “all the things that make school a school,” he said. 

He suggested that the board wait until the state budget is more firmly in place to get a better idea of how much state aid the district will receive. The board could still work on a general budget, and a “best case scenario” in Foundation aid would add $300,000 to the revenue side, Lang said. 

After a nearly 90-minute session of reviewing numbers and options, Smith asked members who were for a tax increase. Board President John Marucci, who was quiet throughout the meeting, raised his hand. Otherwise, “we’re going to have to make some serious cuts,” he said. 

Lang warned the group that the grants do have an endpoint, just as current COVID grants are coming to an end this September.

“The only other thing I’d just like to mention regarding general fund grants is that some of those grants are finite. They are not perpetual grants. So, there might be, those grant funds would eventually cease after several years, and the mental health grant was three additional years from now,” he said. “So just as kind of a precautionary measure to the board.”

He also added that “there’s only so much you can cut out with those one-time” expenses, such as supplies and equipment. Those expenses will return again next year, he said.

Reigle made a final request to Smith at the close of the meeting.

“We’re basically cutting seven positions, correct? I gotta imagine that's gonna put such a burden on these guys. And we’ve seen such an improvement in our numbers the past few years, and we’ve really harped on it. And I think the coaching positions have helped. If there's things we can try to find, or if there's alternatives, I think we should try some of your alternatives to try and save some of these positions,” he said.  “(In a news article, City Council President) Mr. Eugene Jankowski pointed out in his presentation, ‘we don't want to lose law enforcement or first responders.’ These are our first responders, so I’d like to see some possible options.”

Danielle Cummins hopes that when folks drive down the rural roads of Genesee County, they can take in all that goes into those rows of crops growing in the nearby dirt and how they are so integral to the makeup of the county’s number one industry, especially amidst the labor challenges of limited work hours and competitive pay of nearby states.

Cummins represented Genesee County Farm Bureau as of member of the board Wednesday during a special presentation for Agriculture Month. 

“I hope, when you drive down our back roads that you see more than just a green field, you sort of respect and appreciate what's out there and what it takes for the men and women to do that job, to do it well,” she said. “You know, we're blessed with great resources in this county. And I think we've got great stewards of the land that do those things that we can continue to have the thriving agricultural economy that we have.”

According to the 2022 Agriculture Census, there were some 435 farms in the county and a market value of nearly $360 million of agriculture items produced in Genesee County, with more than $193 million of that being milk-related products sold and $11 million from farm-related sources. 

Cummins emphasized that point, as “our industry touches so many things,” she said. 

“You can say you drive by cornfields, and we're blessed in this area where we've got a bunch of dairy farms, and we grow more than just your row crops. We grow a bunch of vegetables and fruits in this area. So we're blessed to sort of be a grocery store in our own backyard,” she said. “And this recognition, I think, really helps bring attention to the things that the men and women in the ag community do. And then the support roles that are able to exist because of that: the one-off businesses, the farm credits, the input suppliers, the machinery dealer is here. You know, there's so many other jobs that the agriculture industry, the farms support that we're really lucky to have in this county.”

New York State has mandated cumulative labor law changes for farm workers, reducing the number of overtime hours each year until it reaches a maximum of 40. 

How are farms dealing with this?
“I think people will make adjustments as they see fit for their own labor force, whether that means they're cutting back overtime hours or trying to change how they're managing their labor force. But when you have a somewhat tumultuous economy that's very volatile in terms of crop pricing, and what we're getting for grain, certainly what you're seeing in the milk market right now when we have these labor issues, it’s just another variable to try to solve for when things may already be difficult,” she said. “So even in good times, this is a hard problem to solve, for labor is a big issue in this area, specifically because of the crops that we grow. Seasonal help doesn't help a dairy farm. And seasonal help may be useful if you're harvesting onions or a more labor-intensive crop like cabbage, just to name a few. 

“And there are certainly programs in place that help get labor here, but they're not perfect by any stretch. So there there are some challenges. And I can only speak for the operations that I have seen. There's some questions that need to be answered. But it's a tough thing to implement,” she said. 

You have said that you're not serving as the official spokesperson for all issues, but what can you say on the record about the current immigration issue and its effect on farm labor and related challenges?
“Labor challenges, like the overtime law, do impact us at a state level in terms of competing to attract labor to come work in our state when you've got Pennsylvania that doesn't have the same restrictions," she said. "So somebody who was willing to do the same work here or in Pennsylvania can make a heck of a lot more money there. They're gonna go where the money is. So we are at a competitive disadvantage.”

And because farmers are likely going to have to pay more and do less with what they’ve got for labor hours, she said, “maybe that means our cost of production goes up.”

“And that's another financial obligation and challenge that we have to solve,” she said.

Are farmers tempted to begin the planting process with temperatures climbing already in mid-March?
“This early spring sure makes it tempting. I think we heard that (at) our county meeting last night. I think it's pretty tempting to try to get your green peas in, whether they like that cold, cool weather and wet weather, we've certainly got it right now. But what an opportunity for a dairy farm to be able to go out and spread manure early and not have to worry about dealing with holding it until the weather really breaks,” she said. “So, a great opportunity for people to get out in the field and start and advance, getting ahead of that spring chore of fitting the fields and getting the ground ready and getting your equipment pulled out of the shop. But the fact that it's mid-March feels a little early, but it's it feels a lot later.”

The county Legislature presented Cummins with a proclamation to celebrate Agriculture Month — with good timing, given that the 20th annual Celebrate Agriculture Dinner is this weekend. Cummins also considers that event, meant to highlight the local bounty that goes into the dinner menu, in and of itself “truly an accomplishment.” 

Legislator Christian Yunker, a member of the farming community himself, read the proclamation:

WHEREAS, Agriculture Month is celebrated each year in the month of March. This serves as a time to recognize and appreciate the vital role that agriculture plays in our local communities, and

WHEREAS, Genesee County’s designation of an agricultural district consisting of vast, rich lands necessary for the 176,887 acres of farmland and 141,047 acres of cropland, and

WHEREAS, Genesee County farmers, ranchers, and community members involved in agriculture work tirelessly to ensure that the production of food, dairy products and other essential foods contribute to the well-being and prosperity of our residents, and

WHEREAS, according to the Agriculture Census in 2022, there were approximately 435 farms within Genesee County which produced $359,698,000 market value of agriculture products sold, which $193,820,000 being milk related products sold, and the total income from farm related sources were $11,105,000, and

WHEREAS, quoted by President George Washington, “Agriculture is the most healthful, most useful and most noble employments of man”, and

WHEREAS, Agriculture Month provides an opportunity to raise awareness about the importance of sustainable and responsible farming practices, as well as the need to support and promote the agricultural industry in Genesee County and encourage young people to consider agriculture as a career. Now, therefore, be it

RESOLVED, that the Genesee County Legislature recognize and fully supports the agriculture industry and urges the community to thank a local farmer for providing an abundance of healthy food and dairy products in Genesee County. As it has been said, “Farmers are our first environmentalist as they steward the land”. Be it further

RESOLVED, the Genesee County Legislature does hereby proclaim the month of March as Agricultural Month, a time to promote and celebrate the contributions of Agriculture.

The nonprofit ARC, established to assist individuals with intellectual, emotional, and developmental disabilities, merged the two smaller entities of Genesee and Orleans with Livingston and Wyoming in the fall of 2021 to create Arc GLOW.

Board President Cheryl Englert expressed her thanks for the Genesee County Legislature’s support of the agency during a presentation this week in honor of Developmental Disabilities Awareness Month.

"As a parent of a young man who is served by Arc GLOW and a long-term member of the Board of Directors, I want to thank you for our partnership. My grandparents came from Batavia, so coming back to Batavia is coming home. And so when we merged as one organization, it felt good to have my ancestry honored, and my son honored too, so I'm very glad to be part of the organization that works with you,” Englert said Wednesday in the legislative chambers. “And I'm pleased that our partnership, that we work together, and our community is accepting of our folks in all the programs we do, and I appreciate every one of you for supporting us now and in the future.” 

Legislator Brooks Hawley read the proclamation given to Arc GLOW:

WHEREAS, people with a developmental disability are of all racial, ethnic, educational, social, and economic backgrounds, and all are valued members of society who find fulfillment living everyday lives, and

WHEREAS, we value what is important to people with disabilities and their families who are striving for daily lives no different than that of all other citizens, and

WHEREAS, early intervention, education, meaningful work, and home and community- based services continue to be vital to allowing citizens with a developmental disability to enjoy the rights of citizenship, achieve personal success and allows them contribute to their local communities alongside their neighbors without disabilities, and

WHEREAS, Genesee County Legislature recognizes the many accomplishments and contributions of people with developmental disabilities, we encourage all citizens to support Genesee County residents with developmental disabilities and their families in all aspects of life. Now therefore, be it

RESOLVED, that the Genesee County Legislature does hereby proclaim March 2024 to be Developmental Disabilities Awareness Month and urges all citizens to give full support to efforts towards enabling people with developmental disabilities to live full and productive lives of inclusion in our communities.

Each situation is weighed individually when a school employee is arrested, City Schools Superintendent Jason Smith told The Batavian in response to a query about the apprehension of a teacher and her husband on March 2.

Both are charged with resisting arrest, and the husband, Aaron Fix, 50, is accused of assaulting a police officer.

Fix has been a volunteer assistant varsity football coach and was the head coach of the flag football team. He resigned from that position following his arrest, Smith said.

Kristen Fix, 49, is a teacher at Robert Morris, which Jackson Primary School administers.

"Many factors are considered in determining how school districts respond to an employee’s arrest, including the nature of the charges, whether and to what extent the charges/conduct are related to the school/students, whether the employee has any prior discipline or related conduct, whether the employee is cooperative in sharing information related to the arrest, among others," Smith said.

He added, "Each matter is reviewed on an individual basis, consistent with applicable provisions of New York State Law and the collective bargaining agreement."

He did not directly address Kristen Fix's status, the status of any investigation, or how the district is proceeding in this individual case.  

While Kristen Fix has been charged, she has not been convicted of any crime. Her case is pending in City Court, and her next scheduled appearance before Judge Andrea Clattenburg is April 4.

While a matter is under review, under state law, it is a personnel issue. When there is disciplinary action against a government employee, it is generally public record.

The incident involving the Fixes began at 10:22 p.m. on March 2 with a traffic stop by Deputy Zachary Hoy in the area of 561 East Main St., Batavia. 

According to a report by Hoy obtained by The Batavian from City Court, Kristen Fix was driving a vehicle that was observed moving out of its lane of travel, almost striking a curb, and stopping in the middle of the roadway.

Kristen was charged with DWI (first offense), resisting arrest, obstructing governmental administration in the second degree, moving from lane unsafely, and unlicensed driver.

The resisting arrest is based on an allegation that she walked away from officers while being advised she was under arrest.

On the report for refusal to submit to a chemical test, the section listing evidence of alleged impairment includes being "abusive."  

Aaron Fix is charged with assault in the second degree, resisting arrest, criminal mischief in the fourth degree, and obstructing governmental administration in the second degree.

Based on court documents, Aaron is accused of interfering with the arrest of Kristen. He allegedly got in and out of the vehicle multiple times.

He is accused of resisting arrest by stiffening his arms when officers attempted to place handcuffs on him.

He is charged with assault in the second degree with intent to injure an officer based on alleged injuries sustained by Officer Andrew Mruczek.  Mruczek reportedly sustained injuries on his neck and the right side of his forehead.

The charge of criminal mischief is based on an accusation that Aaron intentionally damaged Mruczek's uniform collar brass.

Aaron's next court appearance is scheduled for April 17 before Judge Durin Rogers.

The Department of Energy has awarded grants totaling $75.7 million to Plug Power, the Latham-based green hydrogen power company currently constructing a production facility in WNY STAMP in the town of Alabama.

The funds are part of a $1 trillion infrastructure bill approved by Congress and President Joe Biden in 2021 and are intended to help with research and development of hydrogen fuel production.

The company has also applied for a $1.6 billion low-interest loan from the DOE. That loan is apparently still under consideration.

Plug Power is betting that hydrogen power will become a big winner in the race to develop clean, renewable energy to sustain the economy and protect the environment in the coming decades. The Latham-based company specializes in "green hydrogen," which is the generation of hydrogen fuel using renewable energy sources such as solar and hydropower. An apparent attraction of WNY STAMP is the ability at that location to tap into hydropower generated by Niagara Falls.

Plug Power aims to provide customers with fuel cells, electrolyzers (splitting water into hydrogen and oxygen), to liquid hydrogen fuel. Plug Power wants to provide distribution, delivery, and services and foresees a future for hydrogen that includes uses such as long-haul trucking.

Plug Power's executives have set ambitious goals -- producing 2,000 tons of hydrogen daily by 2030. At that rate, the company hopes to generate $20 billion in annual revenue at that point with a profit margin of at least 30 percent.  

“The Bipartisan Infrastructure & Jobs Law is helping supercharge Upstate NY’s clean hydrogen sector. With this federal funding, Plug Power and other cutting-edge companies will be able to increase production capacity and spark new innovation to reach the next frontier of clean hydrogen manufacturing and research, all while supporting good-paying clean energy jobs and boosting the fight against climate change,” said, Sen. Charles Schumer. “Clean green hydrogen is one of the most exciting forms of new energy production, and with the major federal investments being made thanks to the Bipartisan Infrastructure Law and Inflation Reduction Act I championed, Upstate NY is poised to lead the way in powering America’s clean energy future.”

The grants are divided into two components.

The company will receive $45.7 million for the following project description:

The goal of this project is to establish and implement automation capabilities within our high-performance PEM stack manufacturing facility in Rochester, New York capable of producing 5,000 1 MW stacks per year.

This project will scale up manufacturing of proton exchange membrane electrolyzer stacks to the multi-GW scale, driving down costs to meet DOE targets. This project will automate membrane electrode assembly fabrication and stack assembly and enable automated inspection with machine learning to accelerate factory acceptance testing.

The project description for the second grant, $30 million:

This project will demonstrate a production pathway to meet a projected 2030 system cost of $80/kW for 100,000 heavy-duty fuel cell systems per year and automate the manufacturing of high-performance, low-defect membrane electrode assemblies in collaboration with the National Renewable Energy Lab.

The project will demonstrate an innovative expansion of their current manufacturing line.

“We are very appreciative and excited about the DOE's clean energy manufacturing initiatives and their profound impact on propelling Plug's industry-leading manufacturing capabilities in fuel cell and electrolyzer MEAs (Membrane Electrode Assemblies) and stacks," said Andy Marsh, CEO of Plug. “Congress enacted these policies to advance hydrogen and fuel cells as vital components of the United States’ climate strategy.  This funding will advance Plug’s fuel cell and electrolyzer manufacturing capabilities, create good paying jobs in New York, and fortify the region’s leadership in the national clean energy transition.”

The company selected WNY STAMP for the construction of a liquid hydrogen plant in February 2021.  The plant will cost more than $290 million to complete. 

Plug Power expects to generate 74 tons per day of liquid hydrogen at its WNY STAMP plant. The company recently opened two new production facilities in Georgia and Tennessee, and the WNY STAMP plant is expected to open in early 2025.

Empire State Development is scheduled to pay up to $2 million in Excelsior Tax Credits in exchange for the creation of 68 jobs at the plant, or about $2,941 per job per year over 10 years. Plug Power is not eligible to receive the tax credits until the jobs are filled. The average starting salary is expected to be approximately $70,000 plus benefits.

As part of the project, Plug Power agreed to invest $55 million in a 450-megawatt electrical substation that will make electricity available to other WNY STAMP tenants.

The company received $118.2 million in sales and property tax exemptions from the Genesee County Economic Development Center. Over the 20-year life of the property tax extensions, Plug Power will make payments in lieu of taxes totaling $2.3 million annually, which will be shared by Genesee County, the Town of Alabama, and the Oakfield-Alabama School District.  Each jurisdiction will also receive an increasing amount of property tax payments each year over the life of the agreement.

In accordance with Security and Exchange Commission Rules, Plug Power disclosed in November that a shortage of cash threatened its ability to remain a "going concern" within the following 12 months.  It suggested it could raise more cash by selling stock and that the company expected to receive a sizable loan from the Department of Energy.

Since then, Plug Power authorized B. Riley Securities to offer additional public shares of the company for sale at market rate with the goal of raising an additional $1 billion in capital.  That agreement was announced in January.  Since then, it has reportedly sold 77,417,069 new shares of stock, raising more than $300 million in cash. The company is continuing to sell new shares with a goal of selling another $700 million in 2024.

On Monday morning, the company announced its fourth quarter 2023 results and that it has removed its "going concern" guidance, stating, "The Company has determined it has sufficient cash on hand coupled with available liquidity to fund its ongoing operations for the foreseeable future."

It also announced record revenue of $891 million for the year, a 27% increase over the prior year.

However, the company continues to lose money and has never turned a profit, which, 25 years into its existence, continues to spook investors. After the Q4 report was released on Monday, the price per share of the company's stock dropped 17 cents and closed at $3.37. It hasn't traded above $5 since November. In early 2021, it was trading for more than $60 a share.

For previous Plug Power coverage, click here.

A GoFundMe campaign has been set up to assist the family of Sgt. Thomas Sanfratello, who died in the line of duty on Sunday.

The Deputy Sheriff's Association organized the campaign and will ensure the money is distributed to the family. The Batavian confirmed that this is a DSA-backed fundraiser.

The association set a goal of $50,000. More than $8,000 has been raised so far.

To donate, click here.