David Wagenhauser, candidate for New York's 24th Congressional District, spent an engaging day in Genesee County, connecting with constituents and discussing the issues that matter most to the community.
The day began at the Pub Hub in Batavia, where Wagenhauser held a coffee meeting with residents from across the district, fostering open dialogue about local concerns and priorities, including the local cost of living, jobs and our threatened Medicare and Social Security.
Following the morning gathering, Wagenhauser hit the streets for a door-to-door campaign effort, personally meeting with individuals - where they live - to hear their thoughts on the challenges they face every day.
"It’s important to me to listen to the voices of the people. Their stories and experiences are what drive my commitment to serve this district. I've heard you and I want to make your life a little better. We deserve a break," Wagenhauser remarked.
In the afternoon, Wagenhauser visited the charming Autumn in the Village event in Corfu, beautifully organized by dedicated local volunteers. "It’s good to be back home," Wagenhauser said. "I lived in Batavia - where we also had an office for our family business - and my children attended Holy Family School in Leroy. This community holds a special place in my heart."
As he campaigns for the seat in New York's 24th District, which spans 14 counties from Watertown to Niagara, Wagenhauser remains focused on addressing the needs of his friends and neighbors here in Genesee County.
He is running against incumbent Claudia Tenney. For more information about David Wagenhauser’s campaign or to get involved, please visit DaveforUpstate.com.
HomeCare & Hospice proudly serves Allegany, Cattaraugus, Genesee, and Wyoming counties is offering presentations about the services they provide.
HomeCare & Hospice is a licensed home care program allowing patients with short-term needs or chronic conditions to remain safely in their own homes. Hospice and palliative care programs, also available through HCH, are a multi-disciplinary approach to end-of-life care providing physician oversight, nurses, social work, spiritual care, aides, and volunteers to ensure patients and their caregivers’ needs are met wherever they call home.
“Something we hear often is ‘we wish we would have called you sooner’”, said Nikki Wiseman, Chief Nursing Officer at HomeCare & Hospice in Allegany. “We want the communities we serve to understand and know that they have options when it comes to end-of-life care and we look forward to providing more information to local organizations.”
To schedule a presentation at your organization, please contact Nikki Wiseman, HomeCare & Hospice Chief Nursing Officer, at 716-372-2106 or visit www.homecare-hospice.org for more information.
The City of Batavia Fire Department is sponsoring the 11th annual Fire Prevention Week Coloring Contest. This is a coloring contest open to students from grades Kindergarten- Fifth Grade. “Our hope is to get the children to discuss safety with their teachers, other students and parents/guardians.”
Information has been distributed to City schools, but we wanted to include any home schooled children in the City of Batavia School district as well. Copies of the official coloring page and contest rules are available at City of Batavia Fire Department, 18 Evans Street or by contacting Lieutenant Bob Tedford at rtedford@batavianewyork.com. We encourage all eligible students to participate.
The 2024 Fire Prevention Week (October 6-12) theme is “Smoke alarms: Make them work for you!” Additional information can be found at the Fire Prevention Week website www.FPW.org.
Smoke alarms can make a life-saving difference in a home fire, but they have to be working in order to protect people, “This year’s Fire Prevention Week campaign drives home just how important it is to install, test, and maintain smoke alarms to ensure they’re working properly.”
Any posters wishing to be entered need to be at the Fire Station located at 18 Evans Street in Batavia no later than Tuesday, October 15 at 4 p.m.
Judging of the posters will take place October 13-17. The winner of each group will receive a ride to school on a City Fire Engine, and be invited to a special awards luncheon with their family held at the fire station. Second and third place finishers in each group will also be invited to the fire station awards luncheon.
The UR Medicine Mobile Mammography Van will be providing breast screenings at Batavia Downs.
The van will be available on October 23 from 9:30 a.m. - 2:30 p.m. in the parking lot at Batavia Downs.
This service offers advanced 3D mammography screenings targeting women aged 40 and older. It's an easy, quick process that provides the same quality of care as an in-office visit.
To schedule an appointment, call 1-844-870-0002 or email mammovan@urmc.rochester.edu. You can also visit their website at mammovan.urmc.edu for more information.
Marlarie Joanne Smart, 37, of Pembroke, and Melani Lynn Maloney, 43, of Pembroke, are both charged with petit larceny and conspiracy 6th. Smart and Maloney, sisters, are accused of working together to steal $112.90 in merchandise from Walmart by "skip scanning" while checking out. Both were issued appearance tickets.
Joni Marie Johnson, 49, of Millicent Avenue, Buffalo, is charged with resisting arrest and petit larceny. Johnson is accused of stealing merchandise from Dick's Sporting Goods at 6:20 p.m. on Oct. 4. She was held pending arraignment.
Timothy Dennis Clark, 54, of Charwood Circle, Rochester, is charged with petit larceny and conspiracy 6th. Clark is accused of working with another person to steal merchandise from Dollar General on Townline Road, Byron at 9:26 p.m. on Sept. 30. Also charged, Ryan Michael Bobzin, 35, of West Bergen Road, Bergen.
Oliver Thomas, 33, of Elba, is charged with DWI, driving on a restricted license, following too close, and consumption of alcohol in motor vehicle. Thomas was stopped at 12:01 a.m. on Oct. 2 on Route 63 in Batavia by Deputy Jeremiah Gechell.
Edward Micahel Gorski, 42, of Genesee Street, Pembroke, is charged with criminal contempt 2nd. Gorski is accused of violating a stay-away order by going to the protected party's residence in Pembroke at 6:21 p.m. on Oct. 3.
John Robert Kormos, 55, of Parma, Ohio, is charged with DWI, drinking alcohol in a motor vehicle, and moving from lane unsafely. Kormos was stopped at 9:24 p.m. on Oct. 5 on Oak Orchard Road, Elba, by Deputy Zachary Hoy.
Morris Marquis Taylor, 34, West Barre Road, Albion, is charged with felony DWI, speeding, and drinking alcohol or using cannabis in a motor vehicle. Taylor was topped at 2:34 a.m. on Oct. 6 on West Main Street, Batavia, by Deputy Jacob Kipler. He was held pending arraignment.
Business Improvement District merchants in downtown Batavia invite families in the community to participate in the Annual Business to Business Trick or Treat this month.
This is a fun and safe way to trick or treat and get to know area businesses and the services they offer, merchants say. This event is from 1 to 3 p.m. Oct. 26. It is free to the community and is sponsored by the participating BID businesses, which will be identified by a purple sign in their establishments.
Look for a full list of participants at bataviabid.com. Grab your mask and come downtown for a fun-filled day.
The Batavia Boys Varsity Soccer team triumphed over Midlakes/Red Jacket with a decisive 7-1 victory on Saturday evening at Van Detta Stadium.
This match was part of Batavia's Super Soccer Saturday event, which featured boys and girls JV and Varsity games, an alumni match, and senior recognition.
The standout performance was particularly meaningful as all five senior players—Jeremiah Childs (#15), Will Fulton (#6), Trevor Tryon (#8), Gavynn Trippany (#3), and Matt Wittmeyer (#7)—each scored. Additionally, Troy Hawley (#5) contributed a goal and assists came from Devin Hughes (#20), Trey Tryon (#16), and Troy Hawley (#5).
24 Columbia Avenue, Batavia-City. Solid house for the money and ready to move in immediately! This home has been freshly painted, cleaned and all new carpeting thru out! There are two xtra large bedrooms upstairs and first floor bedroom if needed-currently has laundry hook ups should you prefer first floor laundry. Living room and kitchen are both very spacious! Many upgrades thru out the years including brand new water lines from road to house. INCLUDED with the home is 20 Columbia Ave -true building lot with garage that has new trusses, siding and metal roof-used as driveway to 24 Columbia and provides perfect opportunity for hobbyist or someone who needs to also park their RV or any other toys! There’s a lot of opportunity here for the money!! Easy to see
The Genesee County Economic Development Center (GCEDC) board of directors approved a final resolution for a project by 9 Lent Avenue, LLC in the village of Le Roy at their meeting on Thursday, October 3.
The proposed $3.8 million project will renovate an existing 32,500 square-foot structure at 9 Lent Avenue and create 4 new jobs.
9 Lent Avenue, LLC has requested assistance valued at $267,725 in property tax abatements and $77,600 in sales tax exemptions, with the project estimated to generate $3,382,738 in fiscal returns based on new employment and new municipal revenue.
Every year the City of Batavia Fire Department spreads the word in town, and throughout our schools and community about fire prevention.
Fire Prevention week is observed each year during the week of October 9 in commemoration of the Great Chicago Fire, which began on October 8, 1871. This horrific fire killed more than 250 people and destroyed more than 17,400 structures leaving more than 100,000 people homeless.
This year the City of Batavia Fire Department is teaming up with the National Fire Protection Association® (NFPA®) — The official sponsor of Fire Prevention Week for more than 100 years — to promote this year’s Fire Prevention Week campaign, “Smoke alarms: make them work for you”.
This year’s focus on working smoke alarms comes in response to NFPA data, which shows that the majority of U.S. home fire deaths continue to occur in homes with no smoke alarms or no working smoke alarms.
Smoke alarms can make a life-saving difference in a home fire, but they have to be working in order to deliver the needed protection. This year’s Fire Prevention Week campaign reinforces the critical importance of smoke alarms and what’s needed to install, test, and maintain them properly.
Having working smoke alarms in the home reduces the risk of dying in a home fire by more than half (54 percent).
However, roughly three out of five fire deaths occur in homes with either no smoke alarms or no working smoke alarms. More than one-third (38 percent) of home fire deaths result from fires in which no smoke alarms are present.
People tend to remove smoke alarm batteries or dismantle them altogether when they don’t know how to fix the issue. These actions put them at serious risk in the event of a home fire.
The City of Batavia Fire Department encourages all residents to embrace the 2023 Fire Prevention Week theme. “Smoke alarms: make them work for you”.
The City of Batavia Fire Department wants to share the following safety messages that support this year’s theme:
Install smoke alarms in every bedroom, outside each separate sleeping area (like a hallway), and on each level (including the basement) of the home.
Make sure smoke alarms meet the needs of all family members, including those with sensory or physical disabilities.
Test smoke alarms at least once a month by pushing the test button.
Replace all smoke alarms when they are 10 years old or don’t respond when tested.
For City residents: to setup an appointment to install a free smoke detector or battery please contact Fire Headquarters at 585-345-6375.
To learn more about Fire Prevention Week and this year’s theme, “Smoke alarms: Make them work for you!” visit fpw.org. Additional Fire Prevention Week resources for children, caregivers, and educators can be found at sparky.org and sparkyschoolhouse.org.
The City of Batavia Fire Department is hosting a series of events in support of this year’s Fire Prevention Week; including stops at Batavia schools, housing units, and the library.
The Holland Land Office Museum is proud to announce its next History Story Time. Since our last History Storytime last month, Anne Marie Starowitz will be back on October 26!
Starowitz will be doing the theme Halloween and Fall Treats from 11 a.m. - 12:30 p.m. Contact the museum at 585-343-4727 or hollandlandoffice@gmail.com if you would like to sign your kids or grandchildren up! It is sure to be spooktacular! Admission is $5 for non-members and $3 for members!
It was a victorious homecoming on Saturday for the Alexander Trojans with a convincing 38-0 win over Geneseo.
The Trojans are now 4-1.
The scoring onslaught started with the opening kickoff. Jacob Brooks returned the kick for a 78-yard touchdown.
Defensively, the Trojans held Geneseo on their first possession. Then, the Trojan offense took the field. Working the run game, the Trojans moved down the field methodically, splitting carries between King Woods, Ryder Reichert, and Kaden Torres. This drive ended with a 12-yard TD Run by sophomore Ryder Reichert.
After another stop, the Trojans' Junior Running Back Kingston Woods scored from two yards out! Melissa Sawyer's PAT made it 19-0. It stayed 19-0 into the half.
In the second half, the Trojans took advantage of the run game, and QB Brody Heckman threw a play-action pass to Duke Snyder for a 55-yard TD.
Later in the third quarter, Kaden Torres scored from two yards out.
Alexander's final score came in the fourth quarter on an 18-yard run by Reichert.
Defensively, the Trojans completed their third shutout of the season. The defense was led by Victor Kirsch, Dylan Pohl and Jake Smith with four sacks. Sophomore Sean Pietrzkowski led all tacklers with eight, two for loss. JR Brody Heckman had an interception, and SR DE Jacob Smith had a strip sack and fumble recovery. LB's Damien Hale and Kaden Torres each chipped in six tackles.
The Trojans will travel to Canisteo Greenwood on Friday.
Also on Saturday,
Batavia improved to 5-0 with a 32-16 win over Honeoye Falls-Lima at HFL. Bronx Bucholz was 10-18 passing for 147 yards and three touchdowns. He ran for 178 yards on 23 attempts. Zailen Griffin gained 111 yards on 20 carries. Carter Mullin had four receptions for 90 yards and a TD.
The Pembroke Dragons won the Albion Volleyball Tournament on Friday, beating Albion.
No score is available.
The all-tournament team: Onolee Easterbrook. She had 23 kills, 9 blocks, 9 aces, 6 digs and 3 assists. Also leading the stat pack: Reagan Schneider, 20 kills, 15 digs and 12 aces; Juliana Cleveland, 42 assists, 22 digs, and 5 aces; Brianna Reynalds, 11 kills, 18 digs and 9 aces. The Team got the job done!!
Le Roy-based American Warrior, a non-profit that serves veterans and helps guide high school students into military careers, produced a video to promote the veteran's umpire training program run by Wounded Warriors in Carlisle, Pa.
Dan Clor, president of American Warrior, said the program prepares veterans to to become umbires in youth baseball programs as well as in high school and college baseball games. A board member of Wounded Warrior is part of the American Warrior team, Clor said.
The program, Clor said, provides veterans with a renewed sense of purpose.
"All Wounded Veterans who could use something to believe in can apply (to the program)," Clor said. " It's all expenses paid, including travel and equipment. We're also seeking individuals who would like to donate to the cause.
"Wounded Warrior Umpire Academy is much more than an Umpiring Camp. It's a way for Veterans to heal, grow and inspire. With a renewed sense of purpose, WWUA Veterans thrive in their communities through the love of baseball and an overall sense of belonging."
Senior RB Jack Cianfrini - 91 Rushing Yards, 1 Rushing TD, 15-Yard TD Reception from Sophomore QB Brayden Jachimowicz
Senior DL Ryan Stymus - 10 Total Tackles, 1 Fumble Recovery
Junior DB Brendan Porey - 1 INT, 2 PBUs
"We have begun to preach that October is 'tough guy' football season," Coach Tyler Winter said. "In order for our team to get to where we want to go, we need to find a way to persevere and get gritty wins. Our boys did exactly that tonight. There is plenty that we need to improve upon, but it's always good to go on the road and get the win on our quest for improvement."
A 44-year-old man from Batavia was ejected from his pickup truck while still belted in his seat as the result of a collision on Friday in the Town of Le Roy.
Gregory Baker was transported by Mercy Flight to Strong Memorial Hospital with non-life-threatening injuries.
The accident was reported at 7:32 a.m. on Friday at Griswold Road and West Bergen Road.
According to a preliminary investigation by the Sheriff's Office, Baker was driving a 2004 Chevrolet Silverado 2500 eastbound on Griswold when he apparently failed to stop for a stop sight. The truck collided with a 2005 Kenworth tractor-trailer driven by Richard McCullough, 29, of Le Roy.
Neither McCullough nor the child in the semi-trailer was injured in the accident.
The accident is still under investigation.
Assisting the Sheriff's Office at the scene were State Police, Le Roy PD, Le Roy Fire, Mercy EMS, and Le Roy Ambulance Service.
2024 File Photo of Genesee County Office for the Aging's 50th anniversary celebration, with county Legislator John Deleo, OFA DIrector Diana Fox, former Director Ruth Spink, Jill Yasses and county Legislator Gregg Torrey. Photo by Howard Owens.
If it seems as though Diana Fox is a broken record each year, it’s because she’s sounding the same alarm of what’s to come for Genesee County as the year 2035 approaches: sky-high population numbers for people aged 60 and older as those demographics have continued to increase from 2010 -- with no answer yet to the homecare aide shortage.
And as director of the county’s Office for the Aging, Fox has kept a wary eye on her department’s rising costs in direct relation to staffing needs for the assorted care needed by that age group, she says.
“The 2025 budget increase is influenced by rising salary/fringe benefits and contractual services, which are necessary to meet growing service demands. This is something the OFA, like other County departments, is factoring into future planning,” Fox said to The Batavian. “My biggest concern is to make sure we are in a position to provide what our community needs and is going to need in the coming years with the changing demographics.”
Fox has requested a 2025 budget of $2,742,738, an increase of $330,325 from the 2024 adopted budget. This includes $1,675,997 for salaries/fringe benefits, $20,280 for equipment, and $1,046,461 for contractual costs, plus a proposed net county support of $430,695, for an increase of $102,412.
While it may seem like a bit of the boy crying wolf after a few go-rounds, it’s a building phenomenon of an older population that wants to remain at home, but could use some assistance from a home health care worker for that to happen. The problem is that there’s a shortage of home health care aides to fill the demand, Fox said — a problem that has been front and center now for at least the last few years.
This isn’t just a local issue, as one of the most significant national trends among older adults is the desire to receive services at home, said Lauren Casalveri, vice president and chief Medicare officer for New York and New Jersey at CVS Health.
While these types of jobs would provide crucial services to seniors, they often don’t pay well or hand out decent, if any, benefits, and can be physically and emotionally draining career choices given the low monetary payoffs. (See also Conundrum of aging and Seniors on wait list for an aide get potential lift.)
And if you’re not a senior, or don’t have a parent or grandparent in that position currently, this won’t seem like a big deal. But give it five years, or 10. By 2035, there are to be 20,000 people aged 60 and older, with about 16,000 of them 65-plus, 7,000 75-plus and about 2,000 85 and older. One way or the other, the county will be caring for a whole lot of seniors, whether it’s at a nursing home, assisted living, or at one’s own home, and this will include Medicaid and Medicare assistance.
Office for the Aging prevents and delays the spend down to Medicaid, as well as in appropriate utilization of skilled nursing facilities and emergency departments, Fox said in her annual report, by engaging the community, from healthy older adults to those most at risk, by addressing the social determinate of health.
These determinate are “individual behaviors, social and environmental factors that, together, make up more than 60% of all health care expenditures,” she said. “Interventions to address them comprise only 3% of national health expenditures, with 97% going to medical services.
“Genesee County OFA’s role is essential for the continued health and well-being of individuals and families in our community, especially as our older adult population continues to grow larger,” she said. “We provide services in a person-centered way, while coordinating and working with other systems at a fraction of the cost of institutional care options.”
Area Agencies on Aging (AAA) have served as local leaders on aging, she said, by planning, developing, funding and implementing local systems of coordinated home and community-based services.
These agencies lead local networks of providers to deliver services to older adults and include information and referral assistance, in-home care, congregate and home-delivered meals, adult day care, case management, transportation, legal services, and caregiver support/respite and more, she said. That is, of course, when there are caregivers available.
In Genesee County, this network serves 324 people aged 60 and older with core services, including personal care, home delivered meals and case management. These services are targeted to older adults who are the most vulnerable in need and promote health and independence, and prevention health care spending and placement in long-term care facilities, according to her report.
“The report emphasized the growing demand for resources due to the aging population in Genesee County, especially in relation to in-home care services,” Fox said. “The Office for the Aging's (OFA) role in preventing the need for more costly institutional care was also highlighted, along with the need for solutions to meet these demands. Key points included the 2025 budget, program expansions, and challenges in addressing shortages of homecare aides and support services.”
The Batavian asked Fox if she agreed that it would be beneficial for educational institutions to offer more courses and/or programs aimed at home care to ramp up the field and offer more information to job seekers.
“I am supportive of more educational focus to encourage individuals to enter this workforce,” she said. “Given the growing demand, this field offers job security and stability, making it an attractive option for students and career changers alike.”
A recent housing needs assessment showed that housing of all types and income levels are needed, including for seniors looking for low maintenance rentals or wanting to rehab their current houses to remain where they are. By the end of 2024, OFA will have installed three ramps, one stair lift and six walk-in showers as part of those required modifications.
The agency’s clients receiving monthly services are five for laundry; 10 for cleaning; 34 for personal emergency response systems and 17 to obtain incontinent supplies, Fox said. Wait lists continue for homecare aides, and availability remains at critically low levels nationwide, she said.
“We continue to have state unmet needs funds to come up with creative solutions to address the aide shortage, but it’s not going to solve the overall problem of those who truly need in-home aides to help with personal care, toileting, etc.,” she said. “Our state and federal associations continue to advocate for better direct care worker funding and career packaging in order to hopefully entice individuals into this workforce.”
OFA averaged 42 clients for that Unmet Needs Fund during the year, she said, and 57 people are waiting for homecare aide service.
Congresswoman Claudia Tenney (NY-24) released the following statement underscoring the importance of maintaining the tax cuts introduced under the Tax Cuts and Jobs Act (TCJA), commonly known as the Trump Tax Cuts.
In 2017, with Tenney’s strong support, Republicans enacted the TCJA which reduced taxes on middle-income families and small businesses and created nearly five million domestic jobs in just the two years after its passage. In 2022, Tenney supported the TCJA Permanency Act to make permanent the tax cuts for individuals and small businesses originally enacted as part of the Tax Cuts and Jobs Act (TCJA) of 2017.
However, these tax cuts are set to expire on December 31, 2025, which could mean significant tax increases for the 440,200 taxpayers in New York's 24th District. The average taxpayer in NY-24 could face a 25% tax hike if the cuts are not extended. A family of four with a median income of $69,878 in NY-24 would experience a $1,373 tax increase, equivalent to about seven weeks' worth of groceries for a typical family.
Impact on NY-24 by the Numbers:
78,990 families would see their Child Tax Credit cut in half.
92% of taxpayers would see their Standard Deduction reduced by nearly 50%.
40,720 small businesses would pay an effective 43.4% tax rate if the 199A Qualified Business Income Deduction expires.
14,827 taxpayers would be affected by the return of the individual Alternative Minimum Tax.
The current death tax exemption will be cut in half, affecting 6,804 family-owned farms in NY-24.
"Since its passage in 2017, the Tax Cuts and Jobs Act has delivered financially for families, small businesses, and hardworking Americans across the country," said Congresswoman Tenney. "Millions of Americans have seen their tax burdens reduced, but if these cuts expire, hardworking families in our community could face a 25% tax hike. We must preserve the TCJA provisions that have provided much-needed relief to taxpayers in New York. As a strong advocate for pro-growth policies, I will continue working to ensure the benefits of the Trump Tax Cuts remain in place for future generations."
AVAILABLE NOVEMBER 1ST CITY OF BATAVIA 4-5 bedroom Duplex apartment with 1 Bedroom, Living room, laundry room, dining room, bathroom, and small kitchen on first floor. 4 bedrooms 2nd floor. Newly painted. Some new carpet. Basement storage. 1/2 garage use for storage/ not parking. Large yard. $1,100/month includes trash pickup, Refrigerator, Gas Stove. You pay gas, electric, water. No dogs. Good references required with background check. Pathstone approved. Near ARC. Mike 585-993-4002
