Press Release:

Walk or run along rolling country hills and past corn and hayfields to help support individuals with intellectual and developmental disabilities (IDD).

Arc GLOW will be hosting its 20th annual Friends & Family 5K and Fun Walk on September 21. It is an event which gives people of all ages and skill levels an opportunity to participate. It also welcomes and embraces the participation of the people Arc GLOW serves, aligning with their mission to support people with disabilities in partnership with their families and community.

Taste of Country, the signature event within the Friends and Family 5K, features a wonderful display of fruits and vegetables donated by area farmers. Runners, walkers, sponsors and volunteers each have the opportunity to take some home with them. 

Arc GLOW expects over 300 runners and walkers this year. The event’s post party features live music by The Buffalo Road Show with Jim and Babe Catino, kid’s activities, food, beverages and award ceremony.

Sandy Konfederath has been the race director since the event began. It originally started in Batavia, but due to planned road reconstruction, the event was moved to the country in 2008. 

“It was our best decision ever,” Konfederath said. “Because along with the country route, we incorporated the country theme.”

The Friends and Family 5K began as a memorial to Mary Anne Graney, a parent, educator, advocate and friend to Arc GLOW who died in 2004. Her dedication to people with IDD and their families enriches countless lives. The Bluebonnet sponsorship is in honor of Graney’s Texas roots.

The Graney family is pleased funds raised in the 5K help support education through the Mary Anne Graney Memorial Scholarship program, which is presented to area high school seniors planning to further their studies in human services, special education or related fields. The event also helps fund various programs and services Arc GLOW offers for individuals with IDD. 

In 2017, the Friends and Family 5K combined forces with the former 5K held in memory of Arc staff member Terri Carr Krieger. Krieger was a longtime employee who lost her battle with cancer in 1997. The Blue Spruce sponsor level is in Krieger’s honor.

Finally, for many years the Livingston-Wyoming 5K was held in memory of Dr. Ramon M. Rocha. He passionately believed in the possibilities of life, and has been an endless source of inspiration for people of all ages and abilities.

A beloved family man and enthusiastic volunteer, the Blue Knight sponsorship connects Dr. Rocha to SUNY Geneseo where he was a respected professor.

“We’ve had sponsors and donors support us in this event since day one,” Konfederath said. “It’s an inclusive event for people of all abilities, and we’re so incredibly thankful for the continued support we receive to make sure this can happen every year.”

The Friends & Family 5K will take place Sept. 21 where check-in begins at 8:45 a.m. and the race beings at 10 a.m. Race t-shirts will be guaranteed for all participants who register by Sept. 10 and until quantities last for walk-ins. It will be held at the Arc Day Habilitation Center, located at 4603 Barrville Road in Elba.

For anyone who wishes to sponsor the 5K, contact Sandy Konfederath at (585) 343-1123 ext. 1715 or skonfederath@arcglow.org by Aug. 26. 

Walkers and runners wishing to pre-register and save can do so online at ArcGLOW.org/Event/Friends-Family-5K-and-Fun-Walk or by contacting Konfederath. Runners cost $25 and walkers are $20. 

Submitted photos.

Press Release:

Twenty-six boxes of school and athletic supplies arrived in Belize on August 7, destined for the Soccotz R.C. School in San Ignacio. The story of the boxes began five months earlier when the Byron-Bergen Adventure Club traveled to Belize over Spring Break. 

Their visit to the Soccotz R.C. School included meetings with students and staff as well as classroom tours and a game of soccer. The visit also revealed that the classrooms were under-resourced and relied on supply donations or, in some cases, the purchase of school supplies by teachers. 

This realization led a few Byron-Bergen students to brainstorm ways of supporting the Belizean school by helping provide supplies and materials. Tenth-grade students Ava Goff, Megan Jarkewicz, and Libby Starowitz were among these students.

“I wanted to participate in the Belize donation event because seeing so many people in need really opened my eyes,” said Jarkewicz. “That trip helped me to appreciate how many basic materials we can afford here in the United States. Walking through the classrooms at the Succotz R.C. School and seeing how little those kids truly had sparked something in me to want to help.”

Under the guidance of Science Teacher and trip coordinator Peter Spence and parent chaperone Sherry Starowitz, the three students developed a strategy to help their new friends in Belize. 

They prepared presentations to local businesses and secured support with shipping costs and supply purchases. Donations from Liberty Pumps, Triple-O Heating, Cooling, Electrical & Plumbing, and Turn Key Operations provided teaching materials, athletic equipment, and shipping costs.

“I was surprised by how happy the students in Belize were even though they didn’t have the facilities or supplies we have,” said Starowitz. “I’m most proud of how the Byron-Bergen community came together to support the school in Belize.”

“Something that excited me the most while doing this project is that not only was I helping the school but also the kids,” said Goff. “While in Belize we ended up playing soccer with a couple of kids and that encouraged me even more to want to help provide for them and their school.” 

With transportation and larger supply donations secured, the students turned their attention to small donation collections. In collaboration with district administration, the students placed boxes in the Byron-Bergen Elementary School and Jr./Sr. High School for basic school supplies and devised a sixth-grade kickball challenge to boost donations. Students, teachers, and community members donated generously.

“I’m very impressed with the girls’ hard work and the support from Mr. Spence and the B-B community,” said Adventure Club parent chaperone Sherry Starowitz. 

Goff, Jarkewicz, and Starowitz organized, inventoried, and packed the donations for delivery to Liberty Pumps, who handled shipping.

“Libby, Ava, and Megan led the project from conception to close amidst finals, the end of the school year, and summer vacation,” said Byron-Bergen Jr./Sr. High School Principal Paul Hazard. “Their dedication to the cause is inspiring. Mr. Spence and Mrs. Starowitz were great facilitators and the generous donations from three local businesses left me in awe of the power of our school community.”

Submitted photos.

Most people have seen a drone flying above a field or taking photos at an event, but just imagine 500 of them all orchestrated in perfect aerial harmony to tease the audience about what formation they're making before magically turning into a dazzling design.

That's just one of the treats that await visitors to this year's Wings Over Batavia Air Show, Herb Gillen says. The drones are an addition to the second annual event happening during Labor Day weekend at Genesee County Airport. 

“There will be 500 individual drones flying along with our on the ground pyro, and fireworks and our performers. It’s really one of those things that you have to experience. Nathan Hammond does an amazing job, and it looks like he’s flying right through the middle of the fireworks. It’s a bit of an optical illusion, but he’s got fireworks shooting off of his aircraft while there’s fireworks going on just behind him. It’s pretty amazing,” Gillen said during an interview with The Batavian. “Some people may have seen drone shows before, but they’re one dimensional. These are, because of the amount and type of drones, three-dimensional objects that can replicate things. And you’re going to see aircraft recreations. You are going to see different things that relate to patriotism and country. I don’t want to give it all away, it will be very moving.

“If you’ve seen these things before, they sort of slowly come together, and you’re sort of guessing what’s this going to be, and then it forms, and then they kind of disappear, and then all of a sudden there’s something else before your eyes,” he said. “So, I think it’s going to be a big highlight and a really nice addition to the night show.”

Gillen is no ordinary air show organizer. He manages 12 to 15 air shows a year, so he is quite familiar with what makes these events a ticket-seller and big entertainment. Batavia’s show — which happens on Aug. 31 and Sept. 1 — is no exception.

“It's been very, very popular, and ticket sales have been very strong. They've really picked up since the beginning of August, especially, and in fact, Saturday we are pretty close to selling out of the Mustang Club, it's about 85% sold out, and the Pilots Club is more than half sold out. So we fully expect both those areas on Saturday to sell out before the show Sunday,” he said. “This is a very family friendly event, so all kids 12 and under are free when they’re accompanied by an adult ticket holder. That’s how we try to encourage families to make it affordable. Mustang Club and Pilots Lounge give you a little higher amenities and general admission you bring your chair or blanket to sit on and watch the show.”

So onto the show. Another new element is the Jack Aces P51 demo team, an iconic World War II fighter aircraft with two P51s, he said. They come together as a “very majestic, very aggressive” display, appealing especially to fans of vintage military aircraft.

“It’s the hottest demo out there right now,” he said. “And then there’s the Red Bull helicopter that Aaron Fitzgerald flies, people are going to freak out when they see a helicopter do stuff they’ve never seen a helicopter do. It’s specially built that allows it to fly upside down, do flips, loops and hover upside down, and do things that don’t look natural.”

While you’re there, wish the U.S. Air Force F16 Viper — the show’s headline performer — happy anniversary, because it’s celebrating 50 years of existence. The original YF16 that was created half a century ago was gray, and this Viper has been given a special gift of red, white and blue paint in a “very brilliant design,” Gillen said.

While people may have seen the more drab version, they’re going to be awed by this new anniversary coat that has “proven to be very popular across the country this summer from air show to air show,” he said.

Overall, Gillen believes that organizers have finessed this particular show, compared to others that take place mostly in the heat of the day.

“What this show has done is really redefined how guests experience an air show. The typical air show, you get out there at nine or 10 a.m. and, you know, sit out in the blazing sun and watch shows, and it's done by four o'clock. Well, at four o'clock, we're really just getting started. The gates open for the show at two o'clock. Flying starts at five. And so, we're into the cooler part of the day, which is nice, and it's just, the whole vibe of the show is, I think, a little more relaxed than what people experience at other events like this,” he said. ”And then the twilight and the night flying is something completely different that you don't see at a lot of shows.”

Airythmia Paramotors is one of those late day acts. They strap fans to their backs and parachute overhead.

"They’re part of our twilight show. They’ve become very popular,” Gillen said. “They fly in formation, and they’re silhouetted in the setting sun, it’s pretty brilliant.”

For more information or to buy tickets, go to wingsoverbatavia.com 

Eric J. Flowers, Randy G. Leach, Sara J. Anzalone, Christopher L. Rebmann, and Shanda L. Williams (no ages nor residences provided), are all charged with criminal possession of a controlled substance 7th. The five people were charged following a traffic stop on Aug. 5 on an undisclosed street by members of the Batavia PD NET Unit. During the stop, K-9 Batu responded to the scene and reportedly alerted to the presence of narcotics in side the car. Officers reported discovered crack cocaine, a digital scale, and drug paraphernalia. The occupants were issued appearance tickets.

Mark W. McWethy, 56, of Batavia, is charged with criminal possession of a controlled substance 4th and criminal possession of a controlled substance 7th. McWethy was arrested on Aug. 7 after police were called to the parking lot of 7-Eleven on East Main Street for a report of a person slumped over a while of a vehicle. During an investigation, police reportedly located crack cocaine and prescription pills inside the vehicle. McWethy was arraigned in City Court and jailed without bail.

Tanisha A Nealy, 36, of Batavia, is charged with criminal possession of a weapon 3rd, menacing 2nd, and endangering the welfare of a child. Nealy is accused of threatening another person with a knife on July 31 during a fight on Holland Avenue. She was arraigned in City Court and released.

Timothy W Szurgot, 39, no residence provided, is charged with grand larceny 4th. Szurgot  is accused of stealing a vehicle from the parking lot of Quicklees on Sept. 30. He was arrested on July 16. He was arraigned and released.

Bryant W. Herdtner, 36, of Batavai, is charged with criminal possession of a weapon 3rd and menacing 2nd. Herdtner is accused of threatening another person with a sledgehammer during a fight on Tracy Avenue on July 15. He was arraigned and released.

Brant G. Matthews, 29, of Batavia, is charged with resisting arrest of obstruction of governmental administration 2nd. It's alleged that Matthews fled from police on foot on July 22 when they attempted to arrest him on unrelated charges. He was issued an appearance ticket. He is also charged with petit larceny. He is accused of stealing a bicycle on East Avenue on July 20.

Mitchell D. Merrill, 38, of Batavia, is charged with criminal possession of a controlled substance 4th and conspiracy 6th. He is also charged with criminal possession of a controlled substance 7th. On July 16, Merrill was allegedly found in possession of stolen porperty in the parking lot of Speedway.  He was issued an appearance ticket. On July 18, he was allegedly found in possession of crack cocaine when police arrested him on unrelated chargeds. He was issued an appearance ticket.

Gregory D. Nevinger, 38, of Batavia, is charged with harassment 2nd. Nevinger was arrested on July 18 for allegedly threatening another person during a fight on Bank Street. He was arraigned in City Court and released.

Haley M Stempniak, 22, of Batavia, is charged with DWI. Stempniak was charged following a report of an accident on East Main Street on July 17. She was issued an appearance ticket.

Ryan T Ziegler, 33, of Attica, is charged with DWI. Ziegler was charged following a report of an accident on July 20 on Wast Main Street, Batavia. He was issued an appearance ticket.

Gary L Naylor, 30, of Batavia, is charged with DWI. Naylor was the subject of a traffic stop on July 21 on Washington Avenue. He was issued an appearance ticket.

Nicholas C. Kingdollar, 28, of Batavia, is charged with criminal contempt 1st and assault 3rd. Kingdollar is accused of fighting on July 27 with a person protected by restraining order and causing injury to that person. He was arraigned and released.

Haley M. Merrill, 32, of Batavia, is charged with criminal possession of stolen property 4th and conspiracy 6th. Merrill was allegedly found on July 31 in possession of a stolen purse and credit cards. She was issued an appearance ticket.

Terry N. Holloway, 41, of Batavia, is charged with grand larceny 4th, criminal possession of stolen property 4th, and criminal mischief 4th. Holloway is accused of stealing a motorcycle on July 23 from a residence on Wood Street. He was arraigned in City Court and jailed.

Louis S. Szabo, 24, of Batavia, and Hillary D. Russell, 31, of Batavia, are charged with trespass. Szabo and Russell are accused of trespassing on property on Evans Street on July 24. Szabo is also charged with criminal mischief 4th. He also allegedly damaged property. They were issued appearance tickets.

Justin T. Gladney, 35, of Batavia, is charged with criminal contempt 2nd. Gladney is accused of contacted a person over social media in violation of a court order. He was arrested on July 29. He was issued an appearance ticket.

 Daniel J Bakowski, 43, of West Valley, is charged with objectructing governmental administration 2nd and failure to stop at stop sign. Bakowski was arrested on July 23 after a police officer, with the City of Batavia NET Unit attempted to arrest Bakowski on several outstanding warrants. Bakowski allegedly fled from police on an e-bike, before being stopped and taken into custody. He was issued an appearance ticket and held at the Genesee County Jail, for arraignment on his warrants.

Edward D. Grant, III, 28, is charged with unlawful fleeing 3rd and multiple vehicle and traffic violations. Grand is accused of fleeing from Batavia patrol officers and Sheriff's deputies on July 25. The chase passed through the city of Batavia before ending on the Thruway. Grant was issued several tickets.

Navaeh C. Welch, 19, of Batavia, and a 16-year-old female are charged with disorderly conduct. The pair were charged following an investigation in to a fight on July 20 in Austin Park. During the fight there were reportedly multiple people in the park. Both were issued appearance tickets.

Ashley T. Bowman, 19, of Batavia, was arrested on July 25 on a warrant for charges of trespass and criminal mischief 4th. Bowman is accused of entering a property on May 27 on Dewey Avenue and threw a rock at a window. She was arraigned in City Court and released.

Eric A Spikes, 47, of Batavia, is charged with failure to register as a sex offender. Spikes is accused of failure to update his address as required by court order. He was arraigned in City Court and jailed.

Dominic D Czerniak, 25, of Batavia, is charged with criminal trespass 2nd. Czerniak  was arrested on July 31 and accused of enterintg another person's residence the previous day. He was issued an appearance ticket.

Todd S. Esposito, 53, of Rochester, is charged with DWI. Esposito was stopped on Aug. 2 on Clinton Street by Batavia PD. He was issued traffic tickets and released.

Todd L. Kraft, 37, of Niagara Falls, is charged with DWI. Kraft was stopped on July 28 on West Main Street, by a Batavia patrol officer. He was issued several traffic tickets and released.

Batavia proudly once had four independent Catholic Churches. Over the years, St. Mary's merged with St. Joseph's Church and became Resurrection Parish, and Sacred Heart and St. Anthony's became Ascension Parish. It was a very sad day when St. Anthony's closed on Jan. 12, 2013.

Every church has its history, the year it opened and, in many cases, the year it closed. 

St. Mary's early history began with a temporary chapel set up by Father Walsh in a private home on Ellicott Street located to the west of the site of the present St. Mary's Church. On Feb. 19, 1906, the parishioners voted to build a new church on Ellicott Street.

John Coxhead of Buffalo prepared plans for the new church. The contract to build the new church was awarded to John Pickert of Batavia. The building of the new church began on July 31, 1906. The church is made of Medina Sandstone, Italianate style, with a square tower in front. The cornerstone of the church ceremony was held on Oct. 21, 1906. St. Mary's Church opened to its parishioners on December 1, 1907.

 In 1939, Rev. Edward J. Ferger proposed that the parish start a Catholic High School. During his pastorate, he helped raise money for a new wing at St. Jerome's Hospital and helped establish Our Lady of Fatima Church in Elba, NY. His most significant accomplishments were establishing St. Mary's Elementary School and Notre Dame High School.

Over the years, many priests have held the pastor position at St. Mary's Church. In 1968, Father Dailey introduced folk music to some of the masses. 

On Aug. 17, St. Mary's doors closed. There will be no more masses, baptisms, or weddings at that site.

There are many reasons why a parishioner is attached to a specific church.   My children were baptized in a particular church, where they made their Holy Communion and Confirmation.

When "your" church closes, that parishioner loses a piece of their heart. You have your favorite pew and your memories of ownership of that church. It was your church, and those memories will have a different meaning now that the doors are closed.   My latest memories are the funeral masses for my parents. You remember where you sat every time you went into that church. A song from the organ brings you back to when you said goodbye to your mom and dad. In our case, it was two funerals six months apart. 

We just renewed our wedding vows at Sacred Heart Church, not realizing that July 27 would be one of the last 4:00 masses said at that time. The church's closing is more than a building closing its doors. People lose a part of their Catholic history and special memories created inside their church.

Police are investigating a fatal motor vehicle accident that was reported at 9:37 p.m. on Saturday on Creek Road just inside city limits.

The cause of the accident has not yet been determined but it appears, according to police, that Tanysha Thomas, 24, of Caledonia, lost control of her vehicle while heading north on Creek Road on a turn in the road. The car struck a telaphone pole, a tree, and then roled down an embankment, landing on its roof. 

A vehicle fire was reported.

Emergency personnel pulled Thomas from the vehicle and she was transported to UMMC, where she was pronounced dead.

There were no other occupants in the vehicle. 

Batavia PD and City Fire along with Mercy EMS responded to the accident.

The Sheriff's Office Crash Management Team is assisting with the investigation.

Anyone with information is asked to contact the Batavia Police Department at 585-345-6350.

Press Release:

Notre Dame Boys Basketball Coach Mike Rapone will again conduct a youth basketball league at Notre Dame that was a huge success last fall. 

This league is for boys & girls broken into two divisions: Grades 2,3 & 4 who play on a 8ft basket and Grades 5 & 6.

The season runs from September 29 through December 1. Each team will play 10 games with stats and standings posted weekly. Games are held on Sunday mornings at 9 & 10 a.m. 

The cost is $125 during the early registration period that runs thru September 1. After that, the cost is $150. For more information or to register, go to www.notredamebataviaboysbasketball.com.

Press Release:

Correction: October 2 will be the Westside and October 17 will be for the Downtown stories.

On October 4 and 18, the Holland Land Office Museum will be conducting Downtown Ghost Walks. The walks begin at GO Art! to then venture through various streets! Listening to ghoulish and spooky stories from Batavia's Downtown past! The walk will be about two miles starting and ending at GO Art!, parking is in the parking lot across the street! Tickets will be $15 for non-members and $10 for members! You can find the link to purchase tickets on the museum website at www.hollandlandoffice.com. Better to be safe than sorry! Spots will fill fast like plots in a cemetery, so ensure you get a good one!

On October 11 and 25, join us at the Holland Land Office Museum to begin our West Side Batavia Ghost tour through various streets! Listening to ghoulish and spooky stories from Batavia's Westside past! The walk will be about two miles starting and ending at the museum! Tickets will be $15 for non-members and $10 for members! You can find the link to purchase tickets on the museum website at www.hollandlandoffice.com. Better to be safe than sorry! Spots will fill fast like plots in a cemetery, so ensure you get a good one!

Join us at the Holland Land Office Museum on Wednesday, October 2 or Thursday, October 17 at 7 p.m., as Connie Boyd shares the spooky, sinister, and weird documented stories from the Westside. Come and listen to tales of murder, ghosts, body-snatching hangings, and abandoned cemeteries. This presentation is the same as our Westside Ghost Walk, perfect for those who don't want to or cannot go on our guided Ghost Walks. Tickets are $5/$3 for museum members. If you would like to attend please contact the museum at 585-343-4727.

“This project is made possible with funds from the Statewide Community Regrant Program, a regrant program of the New York State Council on the Arts with the support of the office of the Governor and the New York State Legislature and administered by GO ART!”

And they were off -- 24 boxcars zipping down Ellicott Avenue in a race to the finish, and for the Suozzi Memorial Cup, in the third annual BID Boxcar Derby Saturday in Batavia.

A crowd of spectators lined the avenue to cheer on the drivers, tucked into their colorful and creatively designed low-riders. 

A yearly tradition at 400 Towers in Batavia meant the celebration of seven nonagenarians aged 90 or older Saturday at the east side apartment complex.

Midge Cotter, 90, Frank Aquino, 92, Eleanor Day, 91, Joan Krause, 90, Hazel Preedom, 91, Julia Scalia, 91, and Betty Vanelli, 91, enjoyed a lunch of turkey, mashed potatoes, stuffing, rolls, applesauce and a decorated cake. 

The lunch was provided by Midge Cotter as her 21st and final celebration served. The meal was served by Deb Smith, Linda Cotter and Shirley Boyd.

Press Release:

The Genesee County Sheriff's Office is seeking applicants for the Deputy Sheriff exam, with applications due by August 28. The examination is scheduled for September 28.

Interested candidates can find the exam application, job description, and minimum qualifications on the Genesee County Human Resources page at www.geneseeny.gov.

The Sheriff's Office is an equal opportunity employer and encourages all qualified individuals to apply, regardless of race, creed, color, national origin, sex, age, disability, or marital status.

For additional information and to apply, visit www.geneseeny.gov/departments/humanresources/exams.php.

Press Release:

United Way of Greater Rochester and the Finger Lakes is allocating more than $8 million in multi-year program grants and bridge funding support to nonprofits across its six-county service area—the investment will create transformative change in communities in the Greater Rochester and Finger Lakes region.  

Thanks to the considerable generosity of the 30,000 donors who invest with the United Way of Greater Rochester and the Finger Lakes, and its workplace partners, the multi-year program grants— the first available funding opportunity in United Way’s 2025 funding and resource allocation strategy--were awarded to 97 programs representing 89 nonprofit organizations. Additional bridge support funding is available to the nearly 200 current multi-year grant recipients. Funding distribution beings in January 2025.

“United Way is a community-driven organization. We listen and respond to the community needs,” said United Way President & CEO Jaime Saunders. “The multi-year grants are one component of a robust support strategy for our nonprofit sector. We recognize that the needs of our neighbors are significant and immediate—they can’t wait for our full strategy evolution, thus we are not only committed to supporting the 2025 multi-year recipients but also supporting any transition of important services provided by our current multi-year partners today.”

2025 Multi-Year Program Grant Recipients 

The following multi-year program grant recipients represent nonprofit organizations and/or their funded program. This is an initial award list. Approximately forty-one programs awarded 2025 multi-year grants are in process and not listed. We will share a full list at the end of the year once the campaign and contracts are finalized. 

Recipients were selected through a double-blind, comprehensive review process based on many factors including their alignment with the following United Way Worldwide informed impact areas. The reviews were conducted by staff and a volunteer review committee.  Two-, three-, and five-year program grants were awarded. The total funding received by all is dependent on the success of United Way’s 2024 campaign with an estimated $6 million to be distributed for this initial grant offering.  

Financial Security

United Way’s partnership supports programs that ensure our neighbors have access to the necessary tools to increase income, build wealth and improve financial stability. 

• Consumer Credit Counseling Service of Rochester, Inc.’s Financial Counseling Program
• Family Promise of Greater Rochester, Inc.’s Eviction Prevention & Homelessness Diversion Program
• Keeping Our Promise, Inc.’s Safe Passage Housing Initiative Program
• Literacy Volunteers of Wayne County, Inc.’s Adult Tutoring Program
• MHA Rochester/Monroe County’s Peer Training Academy Program
• Monroe Community College Foundation’s Money Smart Financial Coaching Program
• PathStone Corporation’s PathStone Genesee County Housing Stability Program
• Person Centered Housing Option’s Housing First and Care Management Program
• Rochester Museum and Science Center’s Career Ladder Program
• Wayne County Action Program, Inc.’s STEADY Work Program
• Worker Justice Center of New York, Inc.’s Rise Up! Women in Motion Program
• Healthy Community  
• United Way’s partnership supports programs that improve the health of our community throughout the lifespan with a focus on the social determinants of health—the conditions in which people are born, grow, live, work and age.
• Cancer Action, Inc.’s Mapping My Journey in Communities of Color Program
• Catholic Charities Steuben/Livingston’s Emergency Services, Livingston County Program
• Challenger Miracle Field of WNY’s Miracle Field: Health Equity for People with Development Disabilities Program
• The Child Advocacy Center of Greater Rochester’s Supporting Children and Families Impacted by Abuse Program  
• Dansville Food Pantry’s Dansville Food Pantry Program
• Deaf Refugee Advocacy, Inc.’s Healthy Deaf Community Supports Program
• Family Promise of Ontario County, Inc.’s Homeless Shelter and Eviction Prevention Program
• JustCause’s Volunteer Attorney Family Law Legal Services Program
• The Legal Aid Society of Rochester, NY, Inc.’s Access to Justice for Survivors of Domestic Violence Program
• The Legal Aid Society of Rochester, NY, Inc.’s Immigrant Basic Needs Advocacy Program
• The Legal Aid Society of Rochester, NY, Inc.’s Youth Advocacy for Academic Success Program
• Legal Assistance of Western New York, Inc.’s Finger Lakes Community Legal Assistance Program
• Reach Advocacy, Inc.’s Project Haven Program
• Salvation Army of Geneva, Geneva’s Emergency Assistance Programs
• Spot-Canandaigua, Inc.’s School Based Resource Rooms Program
• St. Vincent DePaul Society’s Food Voucher Program
• Survivor Advocacy Center of the Finger Lakes’ Bridgeway: Connecting Survivors to an Empowered Life Program
• The Housing Council at PathStone’s The Housing Council Housing Stability Program
• URMC Noyes Health’s Home Safe Home Program
• Venture Compassionate Ministries, Inc.’s Food Pantry Program  
• UR Medicine Home Care’s Meals on Wheels Program
• Volunteers of America Upstate New York’s Emergency Shelter for Homeless Families Program
• WAVE Women, Inc.’s My Way Project: Transcending Humanity Program
• Warrior House of WNY’s Aging Strong Program
• Wayne County Action Program, Inc.’s Optimal Health Program
• Willow Domestic Violence Center’s Emergency Shelter Program
• One Stop Re-entry Continuum of Care Expansion 2025 Program

Youth Opportunity

United Way’s partnership supports programs that help put children on the path to success by supporting their development from early childhood to young adulthood.

• Big Brothers Big Sisters of Greater Rochester, NY’s Mentoring Youth for Educational Success Program
• Big Brothers Big Sisters of Greater Rochester, NY’s Site-Based Mentoring Program
• Boy Scouts of America, Seneca Waterways Council’s Career Exploration Program
• Hillside Children’s Center’s Hillside Work Scholarship Connection Program
• Hillside Children’s Center’s Parents as Teachers Program
• Hope Center of Leroy’s Fresh Start Tutoring Program
• Hub585, Inc.’s Mentoring Program
• Mission Fulfilled 2030’s Certified BIPOC Boys Initiative Program
• Mt. Hope Family Center’s Building Health Children Program
• Roc Royal, Inc.’s 585 Dream Afterschool Program
• Society for the Protection and Care of Children’s Teenage Parent Support Services Program
• The Center for Teen Empowerment, Inc.’s Neighborhood-based Youth Organizing Program
• United Youth Music and Arts, Inc.’s Socioemotional Learning with Drumline Program
• Wayne County Action Program, Inc.’s Community Schools Integrated Supports Program
• Western New York Rural Area Health Education Center, Inc.’s Health Career Exploration Program
• Women's Empowerment Program  

Community Resiliency  

United Way’s partnership with programs that help individuals and communities have access to disaster relief and recovery, emergency preparedness, crisis hotline and support, and environmental stewardship and sustainability.

• Goodwill of the Finger Lakes’ 211/LIFE LINE Program

Bridge Support Funding Recipients

• Action for a Better Community, Inc.
• Alex Eligh Community Center
• All Babies Cherished Pregnancy Assistance Center
• American Red Cross, Greater Rochester Chapter
• Baden Street Settlement
• Big Brothers Big Sisters of Greater Rochester NY
• Bishop Sheen Ecumenical Housing Foundation
• Bivona Child Advocacy Center
• Boy Scouts of America, Seneca Waterways Council
• Boy Scouts of America, Western New York Scout Council
• Boys & Girls Clubs of Rochester
• Boys and Girls Club of Geneva
• Catholic Charities Family & Community Services
• Catholic Charities of the Finger Lakes
• Catholic Charities Steuben/Livingston
• Center for Employment Opportunities
• Chances and Changes, Inc.
• Charles Settlement House, Inc.
• Children’s Institute, Inc.
• Clifton Springs Area YMCA
• Community Action of Orleans and Genesee, Inc.
• Community Place of Greater Rochester
• Compeer Rochester
• Consumer Credit Counseling Service of Rochester, Inc.
• Coordinated Child Development Program
• Dansville Food Pantry
• Empire Justice Center
• EnCompass Resources for Learning
• Family Counseling of the Finger Lakes
• Family Promise of Ontario County, Inc.
• Family Promise of Wayne County
• Finger Lakes Area Counseling and Recovery Agency
• Focus on the Children
• Foodlink, Inc
• Friendship House of Middlesex, Inc.
• Gateway Home Comfort Care, Inc.
• Genesee Orleans Ministry of Concern, Inc.
• Genesee Valley Health Partnership
• Genesee-Orleans Regional Arts Council
• Geneseo Groveland Emergency Food Pantry
• Geneseo Parish Outreach Center, Inc.
• Geneva Family YMCA
• Geneva Lakefront Child Care Center
• Gillam Grant Community Center
• Girl Scouts of Western New York
• GLOW YMCA
• Goodwill of the Finger Lakes
• Hillside Children's Center
• Homecare and Hospice
• Hope Center of LeRoy
• Ibero-American Action League, Inc.
• Jewish Family Service of Rochester, Inc.
• Junior Achievement of WNY
• JustCause
• Legal Assistance of Western New York, Inc.
• Lifespan of Greater Rochester, Inc.
• Literacy Volunteers of Wayne County, Inc.
• Literacy Volunteers Ontario Yates
• Literacy West NY, Inc.
• Mary Cariola Center, Inc.
• Medical Motor Service of Rochester and Monroe County, Inc.
• MHA Rochester/Monroe County
• Monroe Community College Foundation
• Mt. Hope Family Center
• Partnership for Ontario County
• PathStone Corp
• Phelps Community Center
• Rochester Rehabilitation Center
• Safe Harbors of the Finger Lakes
• Salvation Army, Canandaigua
• Salvation Army, Geneva
• Santa Hat Society, Inc.
• Serenity House of Victor, Inc.
• Society for the Protection and Care of Children  
• SouthWest Area Neighborhood Association, Inc
• St. Joseph’s Neighborhood Center, Inc.
• St. Vincent DePaul Society
• Survivor Advocacy Center of the Finger Lakes
• The Center for Youth Services, Inc.
• The Housing Council at PathStone
• The Legal Aid Society of Rochester NY, Inc.
• The Rochester School of the Holy Childhood, Inc.
• The Salvation Army, Batavia Corps
• The Salvation Army, Rochester Area Services
• Trillium Health, Inc.
• UConnectCare  
• UR Medicine Home Care
• Urban League of Rochester New York, Inc.
• URMC Noyes Health
• Villa of Hope
• Visiting Nurse Service of Rochester and Monroe County, Inc.  
• Volunteers of America Upstate New York
• Warrior House of WNY
• Warsaw Food Pantry
• Wayne Pre-Trial Services, Inc.
• Willow Domestic Violence Center
• Wyoming County Community Action
• YMCA of Greater Rochester
• YWCA of Genesee County, Inc.
• YWCA of Rochester and Monroe County

“We are honored to support new and longstanding partners through our multi-year grants,” said United Way Chief Impact Officer Dr. Ashley N. Campbell. “Over the next few months, we will focus our efforts on expediting the remaining grant opportunities for our
region. These one-year grants include support for community resiliency, capacity building, innovative concepts, summer programming, and more.”

Additional funding opportunities will be available in early 2025. In the coming weeks, United Way will meet with nonprofit partners to discuss the next steps for engagement.  

To make remaining grant opportunities possible and ensure multi-year grant recipients can collectively receive a minimum $6 million in support, United Way needs to finish its 2024 campaign year strong, and that depends on community support.  

“United Way’s work is fueled by the generosity of our community. What we raise goes out into the community,” said Saunders. “When you give to United Way and our Community Impact Fund, your dollar goes farther by joining with your coworkers and neighbors, which
bolsters funding and provides critical support to those who need it most. We are seeing increased needs and call on our community to donate. Please join in and make a gift today.”

To learn more about United Way and donate, visit unitedwayrocflx.org. 

As part of the weekly summer concert series in Jackson Square, the OHMS band took to the stage Friday evening and drew a couple hundred people to downtown Batavia for an evening of entertainment.

The six-piece band, consisting of music artists from around Genesee County, was enjoyed by many followers dancing in their seat and around the venue.

Next up in the concert series from 7 to 9 p.m. is Old Hippies on Aug. 23, and it concludes with the Bluesway Band on Aug. 30.

Jana Kolukanova may be synonymous with Olympic swimming and breaking records now, but when she first began in her homeland of Estonia, her athletic prowess leaned towards venues other than the pool, she says.

“I excelled at cross-country skiing and tennis, but the sports machine there told me I was a swimmer instead,” she said during an interview with The Batavian. “It took some time, but eventually I fell in love with swimming too.”

Her husband, Chris Haitz, a Genesee County native, introduced her to this area for a month during COVID in 2020, and that ended up being a whole summer visit, which in turn prompted the couple to buy a house, she said.

“It all happened organically. We had been living in Los Angeles since 2009 and never had any plans to leave, but life apparently did,” she said. “I had, of course been to this area many times over the years, and I was very open to the move. I love it here, as the people are nice and it reminds me of my home country.”

Her journey from watching the Olympics as a young girl proves that anyone's potential is within reach with the right mindset and support system.

Kolukanova’s  Olympic dream was sparked at a young age during a moment of inspiration that would alter the course of her life. 

"I remember watching the 1996 Atlanta Olympics and thinking, 'I think I can do this,'" she said. This realization, born from the excitement and love for the games, set Kolukanova on a path that took her from the swimming pools of her hometown to the global stage.

In the 2000 Summer Olympics in Sydney, she reached the semifinals in the 50 meter freestyle, breaking two Estonian records. 

After this, college recruiters bombarded her. Auburn University won the prize, and their program won three national team championships with Kolukanova’s help. Plus, she finished a 19-time All-American, All-SEC selection, SEC Academic Honor Roll member, as well as an Academic All-American. 

She kept going.

At the 2004 Summer Olympics in Athens, Jana finished 37th in Athens in the 100M freestyle. 

One year later, she broke her old Estonian records in the 50 meter and 100 meter freestyle at the FINA World Championships, where she finished eighth in the world in the 50-meter event. 

She advises aspiring Olympians to set low goals and chip away at them step by step. 

"Then, set higher goals, and you must have a big picture," she said.

This philosophy of incremental progress and an overarching vision became the cornerstone of her success. 

"Believe in yourselves," she said. "Thoughts have real power. If you think you can, you can do it." 

However, she is quick to caution that physical prowess alone is not enough: "If you're there physically but not mentally, you're not going to do it." 

She credits regular massages with helping her endure the physical demands of training and competition, allowing her to recover quickly. Additionally, she strictly followed her coaches' advice to eat within 20 minutes after training along with altitude training, practices she believes were crucial to her recovery and performance. 

She eventually caught the injury bug at the worst possible time.

"If an injury comes at the very wrong time, four years of work could be down the drain—that's what happened to me, right before the Beijing 2008 Olympics," she said.

"Injuries are always the most difficult as they affect you both physically, mentally, and emotionally," she said. "You can't control how serious an injury is or how long it will take to recover fully."

While she didn't compete, Kolukanova’s experience at the Paris Olympics reminded her of the bonds she formed throughout her career. 

"Reconnecting with friends, some of whom I hadn't seen in 20 years, was really great," she said. 

Many of these friends are now prominent figures in their respective countries, holding important positions in international sports. The camaraderie among former Olympians and the warm welcome from the International Olympic Committee (IOC) and individual countries made the event unique.

She speaks highly of the opportunity to support Eneli Jefimova, a 17-year-old Estonian female swimmer who made the final 100M breaststroke in Paris. For Kolukanova, this meant more than cheering on a fellow athlete; passing the torch to the next generation.

"It was special to be there to encourage her and lend my support," she said. 

She also witnessed French swimmer and family friend, Léon Marchand, win four gold medals. Seeing Léon achieve such incredible success was a deeply emotional experience for her. "I was very happy for the entire family," she said, her voice filled with pride and joy. "I remember holding him as a baby."

After 14 years of living in Los Angeles, she looks forward to exploring Western New York with her husband, especially in the fall because "when I visited in October, it was warm and welcoming, and the colors are gorgeous."

Her commitment to the sport remains strong, and she hopes the construction of the new pool at the Batavia-based YMCA boosts swimming's popularity in the region. 

"Swimming is really popular in California," she said, expressing her desire to see similar enthusiasm in Western New York. She continues to find ways to contribute to the sport she loves, whether through mentoring young swimmers or promoting swimming in her community. 

With competition behind her, Kolukanova hopes to become an inspiration to others.

"I want my legacy to be that I was a lover of the sport, a positive light, and always an encourager of young swimmers," she said. 

It was a big night at Batavia Downs on Friday for fans of masterful lead singers.

Teo hitmaker from the 70s and 80s took the stage in separate sets. 

Jason Scheff, former lead singer of Chicago performed first, followed by Tommy DeCarlo, former lead singer of Boston.

It made for a summer night for some of classic rocks biggest hits. 

Press Release:

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

The statewide STOP-DWI Campaign starts on August 14 and run through September 2. Law enforcement officers across New York State are taking to the roads in an effort to stop impaired driving, prevent injuries and save lives.

STOP-DWI efforts across New York have led to significant reductions in the numbers of alcohol and drug related fatalities, however, still too many lives are being lost because of crashes caused by drunk or impaired drivers. 

Highly visible, highly publicized efforts like the STOP-DWI High Visibility Engagement Campaigns aim to further reduce the incidence of drunk and impaired driving.

Don’t let alcohol take the wheel. Designate a driver.

Press Release:

Congresswoman Claudia Tenney (NY-24) released her Second Amendment plan, highlighting her legislative accomplishments and how she plans to build upon these existing wins to safeguard our Second Amendment rights.

Tenney has recently supported multiple initiatives working to build upon NYSRPA v. Bruen, the most significant Second Amendment win in over a decade, which was a major step in restoring the Founding Father's vision for our Constitutional rights. The Protecting Gun Owners in Bankruptcy Act, legislation she led to modify federal bankruptcy law to allow an individual debtor to exempt from their bankruptcy estate one or more firearms up to a total maximum value of $3,000. Tenney is also working to stop the Biden administration gun grab by cosponsoring H.J.Res. 44, the Pistol Brace CRA, to repeal the ATF's unconstitutional pistol brace rule. In 2012, pistol stabilizing braces were created to help disabled individuals, including many veterans, better stabilize their pistols while shooting. Now, the Biden administration is trying to ban these stabilizers.

"The Second Amendment is a constitutional right for all Americans, and as a Constitutional Conservative, one of my top priorities is to preserve and uphold this sacred right for all law-abiding citizens," said Congresswoman Tenney. "The Biden and Hochul administrations continue imposing unnecessary regulations that seek only to criminalize legal gun-owning citizens instead of keeping our communities safe. This plan highlights my efforts to safeguard our Second Amendment rights for members of our community and for generations to come. I will always fight against any efforts to infringe on the rights of all law-abiding gun owners."

To view Tenney's full Second Amendment Plan, click here.

Press Release:

With more than 3.8 million seniors in New York on Medicare, U.S. Senate Majority Leader Charles E. Schumer announced today that Medicare has reached new, lower, and fairer negotiated prices with 10 of the highest-spend drugs in Medicare thanks to a major provision Schumer secured in the Inflation Reduction Act that for the first time allows the federal government to directly negotiate drug prices with pharmaceutical companies. 

Schumer said the 10 highly common drugs treat a variety of conditions including heart disease, diabetes, and cancer, and once the new prices go into effect in 2026 are expected to save seniors over $1.5 billion every year in out of pocket costs. This will also help save taxpayers nearly $6 billion every year.

“This is historic and will lower drug costs for over 660,000 New Yorkers. For too long, New York seniors have struggled to afford their prescription drugs and were powerless to do anything about it. The drug cost what the pharmaceutical company said it did and that was that. New Yorkers wanted fair negotiations with Big Pharma, and because of the Inflation Reduction Act, they got it. For the first time in history, Medicare has negotiated better and fairer prices for 10 high cost commonly taken prescription drugs that cover heart disease, diabetes, cancer and more,” said Senator Schumer. “This means money back in the pockets of the more than 660,000 New Yorkers who take them - putting patients and NY seniors ahead of Big Pharma profits.”

Seniors in America are paying higher prices than anywhere else in the world for commonly-taken drugs. Nationally, one-in-five seniors recently reported forgoing medication, skipping doses or cutting pills in half because they could not afford their drugs.

For many of the most commonly taken drugs, pharmaceutical companies have maintained monopolistic prices by successfully preventing generic versions of their drugs, keeping competition off the market and prices high for patients. The new Medicare negotiation program targets exactly these types of drugs and is designed to get at this very problem. 

This year, Medicare selected for negotiation the 10 highest spending drugs in Medicare Part D that do not have generic versions of their drugs but are eligible for such competition. 

Next year, Medicare will select another 15 Part D drugs for negotiation. In 2027, it will negotiate another 15 drugs while also expanding negotiation to Medicare Part B, which covers drugs administered in a physician’s office. In 2028 and every year after, Medicare will negotiate a new set of 20 drugs. 50 million Americans are enrolled in the Medicare Part D prescription drug program, over 3 million of which are in New York.

“Lowering healthcare costs for seniors is just what the doctor ordered. I wrote my Inflation Reduction Act with the sky-high costs of health care in mind, because I know how important it is to ensure that everyone can access the medication they need,” added Schumer.

Schumer said these new Medicare drug negotiated prices will work in tandem with other major drug affordability provisions he secured in his Inflation Reduction Act, including a cap on total out-of-pocket drug costs that drops to $2,000 per year starting in January, making vaccines free for seniors and a $35 insulin cap for those on Medicare, to help make healthcare more affordable for more than 3.8 million New York seniors on Medicare.