Press Release:

A Statement from Assemblyman Steve Hawley (R,C-Batavia) on the Beginning of Session “2024 is shaping up to be one of the most consequential years in our state’s long history. Throughout my time in the Assembly, I’ve fought every day to protect Western New York’s way of life from downstate special interests. During this year’s session, I’m committed to continuing to push for common sense policies that bring down costs, increase public safety, and lower taxes.”

As another year begins to fade away in the hopefulness of a new one, there’s still room for a look back at the best and brightest theatrical performances as the Batavia Players present the 2024 Gala: Starting Here, Starting Now!

The premise is simple enough. Pat Burk says: it’s a new year, the first time for the awards show in a brand new theater, and with all but three of a dozen new shows negotiated for the 2024 season.

“Starting Here, Starting Now is a song written for a musical, it’s not really well known, but it’s about, this is the beginning of our new year, it’s about things being new. It’s just a nice kind of event, and people can see the seating and the style in the theater and how things are presented there. And it’s just kind of a cool event,” Burk said during an interview with The Batavian. “We’re pretty close to being completed, and all of our shows will be presented in the same venue with all new equipment. It’s just going to be a great year for us.”

Set for 7 p.m. Saturday at the Main St. 56 Theater in downtown Batavia, the gala is a party celebration of the Players’ “very successful 2023 season” with hors d’oeuvres, refreshments, basket raffles, select performances and — drum roll, please — a presentation of the 2023 Harvie Awards to a slate of deserving performers in this past year’s lineup of shows.

There will be several recap performances and highlights of plays and musicals from the past season, along with a discussion about why people were nominated and ultimately chosen for each award. 

Directors from each of the shows submitted nominations, and four additional directors contributed reviews for the final selections, Burk said. Beyond a nod of recognition for the talent up on stage is a moment to pause and reflect and reminisce about the seven musicals and four play productions put forth in a span of 12 months, he said. 

This will be the first time since COVID — will it ever be forgotten? — for a full-blown awards show. The last one was for the 2019 awards, and it was right smack in the middle of a St. Patrick’s holiday that health department officials came in to shut down the event on those first bleak days of the pandemic, he said.

“And they came in nicely, and we said, ‘Can we at least finish, or can we get the food out of here?’ And they said we had to close up. I remember they allowed us to do takeout containers for the corned beef and cabbage,” he said. 

Does that feel like a million years ago now, or yesterday?

“A million years ago, because we were also in the process of just starting the demolition of the new theater. And that literally started that January 1, and we were just so looking forward to, within two years, we’d be out of Harvester and into our new theater. And obviously, none of that happened,” he said. “So, we’re in the new theater … it’s so deserved. It’s been a long time coming.”

And in that vein, the theater is starting here, starting now, with its 2024 season that kicks off with a concert, “Pushin’ Time,” with duo Eric Carlin and Deanna Spiotta Carlin on Jan. 19. Other confirmed shows include “The Little Mermaid Jr.," “Pygmalion,” and one that Burk is thrilled to have secured for May, Andrew Lloyd Webber’s “Evita.”

As for the remainder of the lineup, that will be revealed, except for those three shows still in negotiations, during this weekend's gala. Attendees may want to spiff up for the affair if they like and absorb a medley of productions while supporting the arts and artists who make it happen.

Admission is a $30 donation. Advance ticket purchases are encouraged at bataviaplayers.org

Award nominations went to the following:

Lead actor in a play

Stephen VanValkenburg - Almost Maine

Steven Coburn - Antony & Cleopatra

Steven Coburn - 12 Angry Jurors

Anthony Haitz - One Act Plays/The Bear

Seth Coburn - One Act Plays/Mr. Icky

Lead actress in a play

Jacqueline Morrison - Almost Maine

Emily Crawford - Antony & Cleopatra

Teressa Hirsch - 12 Angry Jurors

Teressa Hirsch - One act plays/Verbatim

Supporting actor in a play

Elijah Van Epps - Almost Maine

Shaun Coburn - Almost Maine

Elijah Van Epps - Antony & Cleopatra

James Barcomb - 12 Angry Jurors

James Barcomb - One act plays/The Bear

Supporting actress in a play

Kendra Morrison - Almost Maine

Cynthia Nelson - Almost Maine

Cynthia Nelson - Antony & Cleopatra

Dorothy Gerhart - 12 Angry Jurors

Dorothy Gerhart - One act plays/Verbatim

Featured actor in a play

Richard Ferris - Almost Maine

Lawrence Rowswell - Antony & Cleopatra

James Barcomb - Antony & Cleopatra

Anthony Haitz - 12 Angry Jurors

Shakeem Walcott - One act plays/Mr. Icky

Featured actress in a play

Sophie Houseman - Almost Maine

Maia Zerillo - Almost Maine

Erin Stamp - Antony & Cleopatra

Shellene Bailey - Antony & Cleopatra

Mary Eckstein - 12 Angry Jurors

Sophie Crandall - One act plays/Mr. Icky

Leading male performance in a musical

Marc Sapareto - Opposites Attract

Phil Berry - Drowsy Chaperone

Marc Sapareto - Do Not Sing List

Marc Sapareto - Cry Baby

Kevin Partridge - A Christmas Carol

Leading female performance in a musical

Sarah Hill - Opposites Attract

Kristin Gelia - Drowsy Chaperone

Maia Zerillo - Do Not Sing List

Maia Zerillo - Cry Baby

Jennifer Dunn - A Christmas Carol

Supporting male performance in a musical

Seth Coburn - Opposites Attract

Sam Bowman - Drowsy Chaperone

Qasim Huzair - Drowsy Chaperone

Deacon Smith - Do Not Sing List

Deacon Smith - Cry Baby

Andy Hamm - A Christmas Carol

Supporting female performance in a musical

Jocelyn Coburn - Opposites Attract

Sophie Houseman - Drowsy Chaperone

Kendra Morrison - Do Not Sing List

Paige Sikorski - Cry Baby

Rose Mosher - Cry Baby

Amanda Melissa Taylor - A Christmas Carol

Featured male performance in a musical

Cass Dzielski - Opposites Attract

Anthony Haitz - Drowsy Chaperone

Steven Coburn - Drowsy Chaperone

Elijah Van Epps - Do Not Sing List

Paul Daniszewski - Cry Baby

William Zerillo - A Christmas Carol

Featured female performance in a musical

Teressa Hirsch - Opposites Attract

Amy-Catherine - Cunningham Drowsy Chaperone

Beth Knopf - Drowsy Chaperone

Kristin Gelia - Do Not Sing List

Samantha Jane Balbi -Cry Baby

Kylea Wright - Cry Baby

Dorothy Gerhart - A Christmas Carol

Youth performance

Peyton Woeller -Do Not Sing List

Quinn Boardman - All Shook Up

Peyton Sikorski - All Shook Up

Peyton Woeller - Cry Baby

Sophie Crandall - A Christmas Carol

Lilah Mordell - A Christmas Carol

Child performance

Annalie Crandall - All Shook Up

Sylar Kuenzi - All Shook Up

Adam Jursted - Cry Baby

Xavier Deschamps - A Christmas Carol

Liam Taylor - A Christmas Carol

Charlotte Reddin - A Christmas Carol

Best musical performance ensemble

Move Towards the Darkness - Opposites Attract

I Do, I Do in the Sky - Drowsy Chaperone

Cell Block Tango -Do Not Sing List

You Bet Your Ass - Cry Baby

In December - A Christmas Carol

Best musical performance solo

Jacqueline Morrison - Three Days Without Breathing/Opposites Attract

Sophie Houseman - As We Stumble Along/Drowsy Chaperone

Cass Dzielski - Run Away With Me/Do Not Sing List

Paige Sikorski - Screwloose/Cry Baby

Deacon Smith - Hallelujah/A Christmas Carol

33 Manhattan Avenue Batavia-City. Super solid City investment property! Located on North side with no flood insurance needed this 2 family home is large clean and ready immediately for yourself as a great owner occupied home OR for a great money making opportunity for your investment portfolio!! Each unit is good size and feature 2 bedrooms eat in kitchens dining rooms and large living rooms! They also feature great woodwork and hardwood floors. Home has been kept up and modernized thru the years with exterior recently painted 6/23, new electrical panels and some electrical upgrades 3/21 and new hot water heaters with plumbing upgrades 6/23. This home is easy to see and worth the look if you have been waiting to get in the investment business!!

Back in the day, explained City Fire Chief Josh Graham, fire engines were horse-drawn, and since horses couldn't back up well, firefighters, when they returned the wagon to the hall, pushed it into its bay.

With the arrival of combustion engines, it became a tradition, Graham said, for firefighters to push in the new engine into the hall as part of a ceremony putting it into service.

"I was kind of shocked to find out a lot of the firefighters had never heard of a pushing ceremony, and I thought it was a pretty common knowledge thing, but it's just kind of paying tribute to the past firefighters," Graham said.

So that is what Batavia's firefighters did at the fire headquarters on Evans Street in Batavia on Wednesday. They pushed in the new Engine 12, which the city purchased for nearly $800,000.  Most of that was financed through a low-interest loan from the United States Department of Agriculture. The city paid about $100,000 up front from its capital reserve fund.

Graham characterized the new apparatus as one of the best pieces of firefighting equipment he's come across in his career, praising the committee of firefighters and officers who came up with the specifications and design for Engine 12.

"The committee did a lot to think through the entire process on what was best for us and our needs and the city's needs," Graham said. "The way they laid it out, decided to go with a side mount pump, giving more room, the way they put the equipment, how they put the ladders on there. I mean, everything from top to bottom, even the lights that signify how full the tank is. They thought through everything. And it turned out extremely well. I couldn't be more pleased with it."

Capt. Jamie Call headed up the committee and said they were impressed with the manufacturer, Spartan, and are glad they selected that company to put the engine together according to their specifications.  It means, among other things, faster delivery time.

"Their turnaround time is very short compared to some other brands right now," Call said. "I mean, it was a little less than a year. Now some of these other brands out there, they're out to 48 months to get delivery. This went really well."

He said the committee was comprised of members from all four of the department's four platoons and that a lot of thought did go into designing an engine that would meet the needs of the city for the next couple of decades.

"We are so very proud of what it is," Call said. "I'm very happy that we could all be part of this and have this great vehicle."

County officials wished outgoing County Attorney Jim Wujcik “the best” after his two years of service and with the appointment of a new county attorney during the annual organizational meeting Wednesday at the Old County Courthouse. 

The Batavian had previously asked County Manager Matt Landers for confirmation that Wujcik was not going to be reappointed prior to the meeting, and whether it was related to other litigation matters, and Landers could only respond in generalities, he said.

“I wish Jim Wujcik all the best and thank him for his service to Genesee County; however, I can’t speak to appointments made by the Legislature or comment on litigation that may or may not impact an individual personally,” Landers said.

Legislature Chairwoman Shelley Stein, District 5, who was voted in by her fellow legislators as chair once again, also wished Wujcik, “who is pursuing other opportunities,” well. 

The full Legislature appointed longtime Le Roy attorney Mark Boylan as the new county attorney for the 2024-25 term. Boylan has been practicing for 30 years as a third-generation legal member of the family, beginning with his grandfather, the late Paul A. Boylan.

He was admitted to the Genesee County and New York State Bar Association in 1994.

“I think it’s a tremendous responsibility and a great honor, and I feel like I’ve been practicing for the last 30 years for this opportunity,” Boylan said to The Batavian after being officially sworn into the position. “I know they’ve got a lot on their plate, and I’m eager to help. I know there are multiple contracts up for review, broadband is an issue, the jail is absolutely a high priority, and everything the chairman mentioned will require my immediate attention.”

During the meeting, Stein read a self-crafted prayer customized for the group. She asked that they be filled with hope for peace and unity in the world, and “joy in our daily lives and activities,” while also asking for further blessings for the staff of Genesee County and its “purposeful public service and care of all our residents.” 

“Please watch over our families as we serve others,” she said.

Stein also expressed thanks for the steady leadership of Public Defender Jerry Ader, Legislature Clerk Lisa Casey and the new county attorney. As Boylan indicated, she also spoke of “unfinished goals to bring to fullness in 2024.”

Those goals include a broadband contract award, and the final completion of the new jail facility on Route 5 — “on time and under budget,” she said. There is also continued work to support emergency responders, funding Phase 3 of the ongoing water project, and “judicious use of opioid settlement funds that bring about measurable life improvements in our communities.”

“This is a great group of legislators who see the value of getting our goals accomplished, providing the highest value to our taxpayers and making sure the quality of life here in Genesee County meets and exceeds what our community desires, within our resources of course,” Stein said.

The Legislature also nominated another term for each, Marianne Clattenburg, District 8, as first Vice Chair and Gregg Torrey, District 6, as second Vice Chair, for 2024-25. The remaining legislators are Chad Klotzbach, District 1, Christian Yunker, District 2, Gordon Dibble, District 3, Brooks Hawley, District 4, John Deleo, District 7, Gary Maha, District 9.

Press Release:

The United States Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) has designated January as National Radon Action Month.

According to the EPA, an estimated 1 in 15 homes in the United States have high radon levels. “Radon is a colorless, odorless gas that seeps into your home through cracks in the foundation, walls and joints,” stated Paul Pettit, Public Health Director for the Genesee and Orleans County Health Departments (GO Health). 

“It can also be found in well water and dirt floors. Whether your home has a basement, sits on a slab, is old or brand-new, radon can build up and go undetected.”

Living in a home with high radon levels can be dangerous for your health. Radon is the second leading cause of lung cancer and is estimated to cause 21,000 lung cancer deaths each year in the United States. According to the EPA, because radon and tobacco smoke damage the lungs, high radon levels are especially dangerous for
people who smoke. The risk of lung cancer is 10 times higher than for non-smokers.

Here are a few things you can do to protect your home and family from radon during National Radon Action Month:

• Test your home for radon. A limited number of test kits are available for Genesee County residents at no charge to them. Call the Health Department at 585-344-2580 ext. 5555. For residents outside of Genesee County, you can purchase a short-term test kit at your local hardware store.
• Contact your local schools to encourage radon education in school.
• Consider quitting smoking. Call the New York State Smoker’s Quitline at 1-866-697-8487 and talk to a Specialized Quit Coach today.

For more information about National Radon Action Month, visit: https://www.epa.gov/radon/national-radon-action-month-consumer-information 

For more information about how to test your home or where to find a test kit, call the National Radon Hotline at 1-800-SOS-RADON (1-800-767-7236).

To learn more about radon, visit: http://www.cdc.gov/radon. For more information on GO Health programs and services, visit GOHealthNY.org or call your respective health department at:

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

Follow GO Health on Facebook, Twitter, and Instagram at GOHealthNY.

Press Release:

The Board of Directors for Cornell Cooperative Extension of Genesee County will hold its Annual Organizational Meeting on Jan. 23, at 5:30 p.m. The meeting will be held at 420 E. Main St., Batavia. 

Election of officers, annual authorizations, and appointment of committees/chairs will be decided on at this meeting. For more information, please contact Yvonne Peck at ydp3@cornell.edu or 585-343-3040 x123.

Press Release:

On Wednesday, Jan. 3, the Genesee County Medical Society presented the Batavia City School District Foundation with a $25,000 donation to provide scholarships to Batavia High School seniors who plan to enter health sciences careers after graduation.

Founded in 1807, the Genesee County Medical Society “provides resources for physicians, including continuing medical education, practice and professional guidelines, legal support, and a patient referral service.” Due to changes in the healthcare landscape, going forward, the group will be administrated by the Erie County Medical Society and will no longer be exclusively serving the Genesee County community.

“After 217 years, I feel the weight of history. Thousands of physicians have worked in this area over these 200 years, and their mission and vision have always been the same: education, health awareness, and quality care,” said Dr. Mohammad Rumi, Genesee County Medical Society President. “We are happy to present this check as a donation to the Batavia City School District Foundation to administer this Genesee County Medical Society scholarship fund. The fund will award graduating seniors of Batavia High School, the most preeminent high school in this area, who plan to enter the health sciences field.”

“We thank the Genesee County Medical Society for this generous donation,” said Zachary Korzelius, President of the Batavia City School District Foundation. “While the Genesee County Medical Society may be closing its doors, this donation will continue to support the organization’s educational mission for years to come.”

More information for prospective applicants for the Genesee County Medical Society scholarship will be available via Tracy Grover at Batavia High School as part of the Batavia City School District Foundation’s regular scholarship process.

Pembroke will play for the Rotary Tournament championship on Thursday after knocking off Notre Dame in a first-round game on Tuesday, 50-43.

Elle Peterson scored 15 points, and had five assists and four rebounds to help lead the Dragons to the win in the Girls Basketball game.

Seneca Calderon scored 11 points and had four assists and five rebounds. Jaden Hootman scored seven points. Morgan Conibert scored six and blocked three shots. Regan Schneider grabbed seven rebounds while scoring four points.

For the Irish, Nina Bartz scored 15 points, Emma Sisson, 10, and Sofia Falleti, eight.

Jasmin Macdonald's 19 points weren't enough to lift Batavia over Cal-Mum in Tuesday's opening game of the 2023 Rotary Tournament at GCC.

Batavia lost 52-54.

Isabella Walsh scored eight points, Anna Varland, six, and Violet Lopez, five.

Photos by Debra Reilly.

Press Release:

The Batavia Police Department has closed out the Movember campaign for 2023. The department raised $1,700 for Genesee Cancer Assistance with 19 members participating. Pictured are a few members who participated in the campaign with leadership from Genesee Cancer Assistance. 

Genesee Cancer Assistance, Inc. is a registered 501(c)(3) not-for-profit, co-founded in 1995 by Mrs. Dorothy Schlaggel & Mr. Russ Romano. Their shared desire was to create an organization through which cancer patients living in Genesee County could have access to financial aid and a variety of support services. Since its founding, Genesee Cancer Assistance has been able to assist thousands of individuals; helping hundreds of patients each year.  

The Movember Worldwide Campaign started in 2003 in Australia and has since grown. Movember was created to bring awareness to Men’s Health; specifically, prostate cancer, testicular cancer, mental health, and suicide prevention.

After a thorough and time-consuming process that involves a peer review panel of dozens of applications, the first round of 2024 statewide community regrant program recipients for 2024 have been chosen, Educator and SCR Director Mary Jo Whitman says.

GO Art! will be regranting $336,000 to artists and nonprofit organizations for projects and programs throughout Genesee and Orleans counties, with the first round wrapping up in November, and the second round opening up just after Christmas and closing Feb. 17.

While the SCR program is not new, the grant funding sometimes gets mistaken for GO Art! money, which is not the case, Whitman said. The Genesee-Orleans Council on the Arts (GO Art!) acts solely as administrator of the funds to disperse them to the grant recipients chosen by the panel. 

"I think there's a lot of misunderstanding about the programming. A lot of people kind of mistake the idea that we get the funding, which we do not, we're not allowed to use any of the funding toward our programming. So much of the programming that we do is completely separate from this,” Whitman said during an interview with The Batavian. “We may administer it, and we have to make sure that it goes into the hands of the nonprofits and artists. So things like Picnic in the Park, for example, is one thing we got a lot of flack on as, you know, when we weren't getting as much funding for Picnic in the Park, and it just wasn't feasible for us to host it anymore. We've definitely heard a lot of comments about that — a backlash of how we're funding all these other projects.

“But we can't fund Picnic in the Park, we can't use the money for Picnic in the Park; it’s a completely different strain of money. We're not allowed to use that."

The Statewide Community Regrant Program (SCR) is a regrant program of the New York State Council on the Arts that was developed in 1977 to ensure that the state’s cultural funding would reach every part of New York State. The cornerstone of SCR is its focus on local decision decision-making through a transparent and competitive peer review panel process, she said. Local artists and nonprofits submit their projects for consideration and are reviewed, chosen and submitted to the GO Art! Board. 

So, instead of giving GO ART! money for its own programs, creative as they may be, this money goes to many individual artists and nonprofits for various projects, including outdoor murals, musical concerts, dramatic presentations, festivals and light displays. 

The panel selected 46 applications for up to $5,000 each in categories of Community Arts (Reach) and Arts Education (Spark), and $2,500 for Individual Artist Commissions (Ripple). The categories and recipients are as follows:

REACH -- The GO ART! Community Arts Grants (Reach Grants) provide seed grants to individual artists, collectives and arts organizations for projects and activities that enable Genesee and Orleans County communities to experience and engage with the performing, literary, media, and visual arts.

Each year the program supports arts projects, including concerts, performances, public art, exhibitions, screenings, festivals, workshops, readings, and more. 

REACH Recipients:

• Batavia Concert Band - $5,000 for 2024 Music in the Park Summer Concert Series
• Haxton Memorial Library - $5,000 for Talented Thursdays
• Alexander Volunteer Fire Department Band - $4,837 for Community Performances
• The Elba Betterment Committee - $4550 for EBC Presents ...
• Oakfield Betterment Committee Inc. - $5,000 for Oakfield Labor Daze
• Genesee Chorale Inc. - $5,000 for 2024 Genesee Chorale Season
• Village of Bergen - $2,300 for the Hickory Park Concert Series
• Rebecca A. O’Donnell with Community Partner, Warrior House of WNY Inc. - $4,000 for Creative
• Community Connections at the Goose
• Batavia Business Improvement District - $5,000 for Jackson Square Concert Series
• David F. Burke with Community Partner, Warrior House of WNY Inc. - $2,500 for Wings Mural for The Goose
• Heather Kathleen Davis with Community Partner, St. Mark’s Episcopal Church - $3,100 for Opera on the Oatka
• Genesee Symphony Orchestra - $5,000 for The Genesee Symphony Orchestra’s 78th Season
• Byron-Bergen Public Library - $5,000 for Arts in our Community
• Amanda M. Taylor with Community Partner, City of Batavia Fire Department - $5,000 for Main Street
• Fire Hydrant Murals
• Bergen Business and Civic Association - $5,000 for Bergen Park Festival
• Woodward Memorial Library - $4,979 for Art All Year, Take Two
• St. Mark’s Episcopal Church - $2,415 for Music at St. Mark’s
• Kathlyn Baker with Community Partner, Warrior House of WNY Inc. - $5,000 for Art Exploration Project
• Genesee, Livingston, Orleans, Wyoming OUT!, Inc.- $5,000 for GLOW OUT! Pride Festival 2024
• Village of Corfu - $5,000 for Corfu Farmers Market 2024 Music Series
• GLOW YMCA, Inc. - $1,000 for GLOW Corporate Street Beat
• Gillam-Grant Community Center - $4,640 for A Spectrum of Art
• The Batavia Players, Inc. - $5,000 for the 2024 Season
• Marianne Skye with Community Partner, Warrior House of WNY - $5,000 for Groovy Moves-Family
• Music and Movement
• Lee-Whedon Memorial Library - $5,000 for Finally Fridays! 2024
• Yates Community Library - $5,000 for Yates Community Library - More Than Just Books
• Friends of Boxwood Cemetery - $5,000 for Boxwood at Night 2024
• The Cobblestone Society - $5,000 for The Cobblestone Museum Arts Series for 2024
• Lyndonville Lions Club - $5,000 for I Hear the Music
• Village of Holley - $3,000 for Village of Holley Canal Concert Series
• Community Free Library - $5,000 for Continuation of Myron Holley Erie Canal Mural
• Care Net Center of Greater Orleans - $5,000 for Artists and Their Styles
• C. W. Bill Lattin with Fiscal Sponsor, The Cobblestone Society - $5,000 for Architecture Destroyed In
• Orleans County, N.Y.
• Village of Holley - $2,000 for Festival Series 2024
• Canalside Radio Inc. - $5,000 for Harmonizing Communities: The Canalside Radio Initiative
• William Schutt with Community Partner, Village of Albion - $5,000 for Lighting the Erie Canal
• Hoag Library of the Swan Library Association - $5,000 for 2024 Hoag Music Series

• Michelle Cryer with Community Partner, Town of Carlton - $5,000 for Carlton Mural at the Cove

  RIPPLE -- The GO ART! Individual Artist Commission (Ripple Grant) supports local, artist-initiated activity, and highlights the role of artists as important members of the community. The Commission is for artistic projects with outstanding artistic merit that work within a community setting. 

RIPPLE Recipients:

• David F. Burke - $2,500 for the Extension to Harvester Center Hallway Mural
• Thomas Jennings - $2,500 for the Missing Man - The Vince Welnick Story
• Joshua Lang - $2,500 for the Suite de Ballet Mvt 3
• Eric Weatherbee - $2,500 for The Humble Bard Presents

SPARK -- The Arts Education Program (Spark Grant) supports arts education projects for youth and/or senior learners. Emphasis is placed on the depth and quality of the creative process through which participants learn through or about the arts. Projects must focus on the exploration of art and the artistic process.

SPARK Recipients:

• Linda Fix with Fiscal Sponsor, BCSD Foundation Community Schools - $5,000 for #It Takes A Village
• Bart Dentino with Community Partner, Oakfield-Alabama Central School District - $4,815 for The Spaces Between the Leaves
• Judd Sunshine with Community Partner, Ronald L. Sodoma Elementary School - $4,200 for Erie Canal Songwriting Project

These projects go way beyond one piece of artwork, Whitman said, as it draws community members to a locale and that can spur an economic and social ripple effect.

“We just really want to see as much art programming as possible in our community. We go to audit events. For example, there'll be a concert series, we're going to the concert series, we'll be talking to some of the audience members, and they talk about how they come to see this concert series every week, and when they're there, they go, ‘everybody eats at this restaurant all the time.’ So it really forms a sense of community, that helps get people out, penetrating these different local establishments," she said. "And it's much bigger than just funding a little project, it really helps with economic development, it helps bring people to the area, being situated right between Rochester and Buffalo. There's no reason why we can't have people coming into the area from both sides of  the city to enjoy the programming that is being offered.”

Another example of how a project can impact more than just the artist and a small segment of spectators are the workshops offered to the public that provide opportunities for folks who otherwise would not be able to partake in that form of art medium, she said.

“And it really gives the community a chance to really learn about different mediums or just even have the opportunity to take the workshop.  I know for myself, I grew up in Orleans County, and as a child, I was always interested in arts, but we never really had the opportunities to take these workshops," she said. "These classes will now, you know, they're able to provide them, and most of them are free. If there's any cost to them, they're very minimal, so it makes the arts accessible, I guess, is the easiest way to put that.”

She is happy that not only is GO Art! one of the partnering organizations with the state agency, but it is “actually one of the top-funded organizations in the state.”

Artists, nonprofits, and municipalities seeking funding for arts-related projects, programming, and events in Genesee and Orleans Counties are encouraged to apply to the second round of SCR funding through GO ART!.

For more information on applying for the program, go to: www.goart.org/grants or contact Mary Jo Whitman at mjwhitman@goart.org. These grants are made possible by the New York State Council on the Arts with the support of the Office of the Governor and the New York State Legislature.  

Victor A Rivera-Cotto, 55, of Batavia, was charged on Dec. 25 with criminal contempt first, assault third, and two counts of criminal mischief fourth. It’s alleged that Rivera-Cotto violated an order of protection by striking the victim in the face and damaging their phone, in order to prevent her from calling for help. Rivera-Cotto was arraigned in CAP Court and remanded to the Genesee County Jail on $5,000 cash bail, $10,000 bond, and $20,000 partially secured bond. He is due in Batavia City Court on Tuesday. 

On Dec. 21, Michael J. Difalco, 36, of Batavia was charged with menacing, second and criminal possession of a weapon, third. Difalco allegedly threatened another person with blunt object during an altercation on South Main Street. He was arraigned in Batavia City Court and remanded to the Genesee County Jail, without bail. He is due back in court on Jan. 18.

On Dec. 21, James N. Difalco, 27, of Batavia was charged with criminal obstruction of breathing after an investigation into an altercation on South Main Street where Difalco allegedly obstructed the breathing of another person by applying pressure to their neck. He was issued an appearance ticket and is due in Batavia City Court on Tuesday. 

Benjamin G. Evans, 35, of Batavia was charged Dec. 22 on three bench warrants. The first warrant stems from an incident on July 7, where he allegedly stole a package from the porch of a residence on State Street. The second is the result of an incident on Sept. 19, 2023, where Evans was allegedly found in possession of narcotics. The third warrant stems from an incident on Oct. 13, 2023, where he allegedly stole a package from a porch on Union Street. Evans was arraigned in Batavia City Court and remanded to Genesee County Jail. He is due back in court on Jan. 16. 

On Dec. 22, Taiya J Rolle, 19, of Batavia was arrested for DWI. Rolle was arrested after a traffic stop on Walnut Street, where she was allegedly found to be operating a vehicle while intoxicated by alcohol. She was issued appearance tickets and is due in Batavia City Court on Jan. 17.

Matthew J. Mika, 53, of Batavia, was charged Dec. 16 with criminal possession of a controlled substance, seventh, criminal use of drug paraphernalia, second, and tampering with physical evidence. Mika was charged after an investigation into a traffic stop in October 2023, when he was allegedly found to be in possession of narcotics and drug paraphernalia. It’s also alleged that he attempted to conceal evidence. He was issued an appearance ticket for Batavia City Court.

On Dec. 15, Sarah E. Saile, 40, of Batavia, was charged with grand larceny, fourth, and criminal possession of a controlled substance, seventh. It’s alleged that Saile stole in excess of $1,000 worth of prescription pills from the pharmacy at Tops, where she was employed. She was issued an appearance ticket for Batavia City Court.

Angelo P. Mana, 49, of Batavia, was charged on Dec. 15 on a warrant for burglary, third, petit larceny, criminal mischief, fourth, and conspiracy, fifth. Mana was charged in relation to an incident that occurred on Oct. 23, where he and another person allegedly broke into a building on Mill Street and stole property. He was arraigned in CAP Court and is due to appear in Batavia City Court at a later date. 

On Dec. 18, Brant G. Matthews, 29, of LeRoy, was charged with criminal possession of a controlled Substance, seventh, and criminal use of drug paraphernalia, second. It’s alleged that Matthews was found to be in possession of narcotics and a digital scale while being arrested on an unrelated warrant. He was issued an appearance ticket and is due in Batavia City Court on Jan. 9. 

Jeanna M. Hattaway, 36, of Warsaw, was charged on Dec. 13 with criminal possession of a controlled substance, seventh. The arrest stems from a traffic stop on April 21, 2023, when Hattaway was allegedly found in possession of methamphetamine. She was issued an appearance ticket and is due in court on Jan. 9. 

On Dec. 14, Thomas A. Griffin, 36, of Batavia, was charged with criminal possession of a controlled substance. seventh, and driving while ability impaired by drugs. Griffin was arrested after an investigation into an incident on July 31, 2023, when police responded to the parking lot of 7-Eleven to check the welfare of a person slumped over the wheel of a vehicle. Griffin was allegedly found to be operating the vehicle while impaired by drugs. He was issued an appearance ticket and is due in Batavia City Court on Jan. 2.

On Dec. 6, Jon H. Bush, 40, and Jennifer K Freeman, 39, both of Batavia, were charged with criminal possession of a controlled substance, seventh. Bush and Freeman were charged in relation to a traffic stop on Washington Ave on 6/30/2023, where they were both allegedly found to be in possession of narcotics. Bush was also arrested on an outstanding warrant and additionally charged with resisting arrest. Both were issued appearance tickets for the drug charges. Bush was arraigned in Batavia City Court on the warrant and released on his own recognizance. 

On Dec. 17, Danielle T. Lumpkin, 42, of Batavia, was charged for criminal mischief, fourth. It’s alleged that Lumpkin damaged a door at the victim’s residence. Lumpkin was issued an appearance ticket and is due in court on Tuesday.

On Dec. 15, Michael J. Difalco, 36, of Batavia, was charged with harassment, second. It’s alleged that Difalco pulled another person’s hair and punched them during an altercation on South Main Street. He was issued an appearance ticket.

John A. Cabrera, 56, of Batavia, was charged Dec. 12 for menacing, second. Cabrera allegedly threatened another person with an imitation gun during an argument on Washington Avenue. He was arraigned in Batavia City Court and released. He is due back in court on Jan. 17. 

On Dec. 11, Chad M. Johnston, 37, of Batavia was charged with burglary, second, and criminal mischief, third. It’s alleged that on Dec. 6, Johnston unlawfully entered a residence on Liberty Street and damaged property inside. Johnston was arraigned in Batavia City Court and remanded to the Genesee County Jail. He is due back in court on Jan. 17.

 On Dec. 4, Tyler M. McCambridge, 30, of Syracuse was charged with attempted grand larceny, fourth, possession of a forged instrument, first, obstructing governmental administration, second, and harassment, second. McCambridge allegedly attempted to cash a forged check, at a local bank. He then ran from police when they attempted to take him into custody. McCambridge was arraigned in Batavia City Court and released under the supervision of Genesee Justice. 

On Dec. 8, Michael C. Mirabel, 51, of Batavia was arrested for Driving While Ability Impaired by Drugs. Mirabal was initially stopped on Central Avenue for a traffic violation. After an investigation, it’s alleged that Mirabal was found to be operating the vehicle while impaired by drugs. He was arraigned in CAP Court and released. He is due back in court at a later date.

On Dec. 13, Aaron R. Hatfield, 39, of Kenmore, was arrested on a bench warrant. Hatfield was initially arrested in August 2023, and charged with petit larceny and criminal possession of a controlled substance, seventh, after allegedly stealing from Tops. The warrant was issued after Hatfield allegedly failed to appear in court. He was arraigned in Batavia City Court and remanded to the Genesee County Jail on $5,000 cash bail, $10,000 bond, and $25,000 partially secured bond. 

Patrick J. Gonzales, 30, of Batavia was charged Dec. 9 for obstructing governmental administration second and harassment, second. Gonzales was arrested after police responded to a residence on Highland Pk for the report of a disturbance. During the investigation, it’s alleged that Gonzales pushed an officer and attempted to prevent police from taking him into custody. He was issued an appearance ticket and released. Later that night patrols responded back to the residence for a medical call. Gonzales then allegedly attempted to prevent police and EMS from assisting another person. He was charged with another count of obstructing governmental administration, second, and issued another appearance ticket. 

On Dec. 3, Byron K. Bell, 54, of Rochester was charged on a bench warrant. Bell was initially charged on Dec. 11, with Criminal Possession of stolen property, third, aggravated unlicensed operation of a motor vehicle third, and speeding after a traffic stop where he was allegedly found to be in possession of a stolen vehicle. The warrant was issued when Bell failed to appear for a court appearance. He was arraigned in CAP Court and remanded to the Genesee County Jail.

On Dec. 2, Daniel J. Bakowski, 43, of Batavia was arrested on an arrest warrant. Bakowski was initially charged on Oct. 3, 2023 with aggravated unlicensed operation of a motor vehicle, third, and failure to stop at a stop sign after a traffic stop on East Main Street. The warrant was issued after he failed to appear in court. Bakowski was arraigned in CAP Court and released. He is due back in court at a later date. 

Michael Robert Hawkins, 27, was charged with driving while impaired for a previous conviction designated offense within 10 years and driving while ability impaired by drugs with prior conviction designated offense in 10 years, for an incident at 12:49 a.m. Dec. 27, Genesee County Sheriff’s deputies said.

Hawkins, of Route 98, Attica, was charged after he was allegedly found asleep at the wheel of his vehicle while the vehicle was running on the shoulder of Route 98 in the town of Alexander. After an investigation, it is alleged that he was impaired by drugs and it was unsafe for him to operate a motor vehicle. During a search of his vehicle prior to the charge, deputies located a quantity of cocaine. Hawkins was charged and transported to Genesee County Jail for processing. He was also charged with CRIM possession of a controlled substance, failed to use/improper use of four-way flashers, and stop/stand/park violation on a highway. He was held pending a CAP Court arraignment.

James Gerard Smith, of Richley Road, Corfu, was charged with operating motor vehicle with.08 percent of 1 percent or more alcohol in blood first offense, deriving while intoxicated first offense and speed not reasonable and prudent for an incident that happened on Christmas, Genesee County Sheriff’s deputies said. Deputies were dispatched at approximately 7:32 p.m. Dec. 25 to 94497 Snipery Road in the Town of Darien for a vehicle off the road into a tree. Upon arrival, Deputy Alexander Hadsall spoke with the operator of the vehicle, Smith, 62, who reportedly stated that he swerved for a deer in the roadway. Smith was given standardized field sobriety tests and it was allegedly determined he was intoxicated by alcohol, Deputy Hadsall said.  Smith was charged and taken to Genesee County Jail for processing. He is to return at 4 p.m. Jan. 16 to Darien Town Court.

A Batavia man was charged with criminal possession of a controlled substance, seventh degree, and obstructing governmental administration, second degree, after being arrested for multiple active warranted on Dec. 26, Genesee County Sheriff’s deputies said. Ronald James Murray, of Wood Street, allegedly attempted to prevent deputies from apprehending him while attempting to execute the warrants. Murray was also allegedly found to be possession of fentanyl at the time of arrest. 

Gregory Patrick Hamm-Johnson, 33, of Batavia, was charged with obstruction of breathing, harassment, second, and endangering the welfare of a child on Dec. 24 after he allegedly struck and hit another individual during the course of a dispute in the presence of a juvenile, Genesee County Sheriff’s deputies said. Hamm-Johnson was taken into custody and held at Genesee County Jail pending CAP Court.

A 40-year-old man was charged with criminal possession of a controlled substance, seventh degree, operating a motor vehicle unlicensed and aggravated unlicensed operation of a motor vehicle, second degree, Genesee County Sheriff’s deputies said. Mark Joseph Konwicki, no address listed, was stopped on Dec. 17 near the Relax Inn in Batavia for a loud exhaust violation, deputies said. Konwicki was also charged for use of a motor vehicle without an interlock device and no muffler. He is to appear at 3 p.m. Jan. 9 in Batavia Town Court.

Lyndsay Taylor Young, of Route 98, Batavia, was charged on Dec. 26 with criminal contempt in the first degree for allegedly violating an order of protection issued out of Batavia Town Court after previously being convicted of criminal contempt in the second degree within the preceding five years, Genesee County Sheriff’s deputies said. Young was to appear in CAP Court.  

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The Genesee Region USBC is hosting two tournaments this month -- the 70th Scratch Memorial on Jan. 6-7 at Mount Morris Lanes and the 10th annual Adult-Junior Doubles on Jan. 13 at Perry Bowling Center.

The local association consists of bowling centers in three counties -- Mancuso Bowling Center in Batavia, Rose Garden Bowl in Bergen, StrikeForce Lanes in Oakfield and Le Roy Legion Lanes (Genesee), Oak Orchard Bowl in Albion and Medina Lanes (Orleans), Perry Bowling Center and Letchworth Pines (Wyoming) and Mount Morris Lanes (Livingston).

A $1,000 first prize, based on 80 entries, will be awarded to the winner of the Scratch Memorial singles tournament. Qualifying squads (four games) are set for 10 a.m. and 2 p.m. Jan. 6 and 10 a.m. Jan. 7. Semifinals (four games) will start after the Jan. 7 qualifying squads, with stepladder finals to follow.

Entry fee is $60 per person. One in five from each qualifying squad will advance to the semifinals. A "challenge" oil pattern will be used. To enter, send an email to mikep@bowlgr.com

The Adult-Junior Doubles handicap event is open to GRUSBC youth bowlers and USBC-certified adult bowlers.

Competition will take place in two divisions -- 12 & under and 13 & over. Entry fee is $48 per team. All prize winnings will go into the youth bowler's SMART (scholarship) account. To enter, send an email to mikep@bowlgr.com

ADAM PHILP ROLLS 766 SERIES

In GRUSBC league play last week, Adam Philp of Batavia rolled a 766 series in the County Line Stone Trios League at Mancuso's. His games were 279-241-246.

Spectators enjoyed the annual fireworks display Sunday evening for a New Year's Eve "First Night" celebration in Le Roy. People lined the street and gathered near Farmer's Creekside Tavern and Inn to view the show along the banks of Oatka Creek. 

Photos by Nick Serrata

It was another busy news year in Genesee County, with lots of big stories, such as the ongoing saga of Ellicott Station, which even cast a shadow over a planned development for Pembroke.

That wasn't the only sign of economic growth in Pembroke, which is the site of a distribution center under construction and a planned new travel center, growth that seems largely driven by anticipated new jobs at WNY STAMP in Alabama, a GCEDC project that was mired in controversy in 2023, beset by lawsuits and environmental concerns.

In 2023, the environment didn't always play nice with Genesee County.  In June, wildfires in Canada raised concerns locally over air quality, and Bethany, along with Pavilion and Pembroke, have been suffering through water shortages.

Counties throughout upstate New York hit the panic button in the spring when rumors circulated that New York City was planning to bus asylum seekers and other immigrants to rural parts of another state, causing Genesee County to join in declaring a state of emergency and banning local facilities from housing migrants.

The return of Wings Over Batavia capped Genesee County's 2023 summer.

There were no major crimes, but a spate of random gunfire incidents caused concerns among Batavia residents. 

In the arts, Batavia Players opened 56 Main Theater and The Harve made for a more entertaining June.  

In sports, both Notre Dame (baseball) and Byron-Bergen (Boys Soccer) made runs at state championships. Pembroke won its second consecutive state championship in 8-Man Football.

Readers visited the site 1.4 million times in 2023 and viewed 9.2 million pages.

The big stories aren't always the most read stories.  Here are the 15 most viewed stories according to stats for The Batavian in 2023.

• Air quality alert issued for Sunday, by Howard Owens
• Pavilion school board hears public outcry over SRO issue and chooses to remain silent, by Howard Owens
• Puerto Rican restaurant to serve up 'a nice little change' in Batavia, by Joanne Beck
• Zeliff residence up for sale, businessman to remain locally involved, by Joanne Beck
• O'Lacy's closes, owner thanks patrons and staff with 'heavy heart,' by Joanne Beck
• A friendly merger: H.E. Turner and Gilmartin sign deal, by Joanne Beck
• Soft opening launches WNY Plate at downtown takeout, by Joanne Beck
• Lawsuit by ex-wife against David Bellavia, Orleans County, alleges false arrest as part of ugly divorce, by Howard Owens
• Hawley criticizes NYS plan to require background checks for ammo purchases, by Press Release
• Sweet Betty's reopens with new owners and ready to please,  by Joanne Beck
• Nightmare on Bank Street gives the green light to a Halloween scare, by Howard Owens
• Batavians purchase Oakfield Hotel and Bowling Lanes, plan significant upgrades throughout, by Mike Pettinella
• Person ejected from vehicle that strikes tree in Stafford, by Howard Owens
• Troopers investigating serious injury accident on Route 98 in Batavia, by Howard Owens
• Sheriff's Office looking for person of interest in hit-and-run in Batavia Downs parking lot, by Howard Owens

Many of our stories were reported first on The Batavian, and we broke some important stories, most notably the travails of Ellicott Station.  If you value great local reporting, you can help ensure it continues.  Join Early Access Pass today.  As a member of Early Access Pass, not only are you supporting your local community by supporting local news coverage, you are getting early exclusive access to our most important stories.  You also get early access to Deal of the Day.  Currently, you get a four-hour advance (look for this window of time to increase in 2024) on important stories and Deal of the Day.

We wish you a Happy New Year and thank all of our loyal readers and sponsors for your ongoing support.

Press Release:

The Haxton Memorial Library Board of Trustees will hold their monthly Board
Meeting for January 2024 on Wednesday, Jan. 10 at 6:30 p.m. at the
library. The public is invited to attend.

The Haxton Memorial Library located at 3 North Pearl St. in Oakfield
provides residents a variety of programs, events and materials that are listed
on the library’s website at www.HaxtonLibrary.org.