Press Release:

The Genesee County Economic Development Center (GCEDC) board of directors will consider an initial resolution for Oak Orchard Solar 3 LLC’s community solar farm project in the town of Batavia. The $9 million investment would include the installation of ground-mounted solar panels in order to generate up to 5 megawatts of power.

Under the proposed project agreement, Oak Orchard Solar 3 LLC’s project would generate $4,000/megawatts (AC) + a 2% annual escalator of revenues with Genesee County and Elba Central School District. Including a host agreement with the Town of Batavia, this project is estimated to generate a $319,088 increase in property-tax type revenues to host municipalities.

Since 2019, the GCEDC has reviewed over $1 billion of solar energy projects. These projects have proposed 860 megawatts of renewable energy and property tax-type revenues of $127.4 million to municipalities.

If Oak Orchard Solar 3 LLC’s project application is accepted, a public hearing will be scheduled on the proposed project agreement in the town of Batavia.

The August 3, GCEDC board meeting will be held at 3 p.m. at the MedTech Center’s Innovation Zone, 99 MedTech Drive, Batavia. Meeting materials and links to a live stream/on-demand recording of the meeting is available at www.gcedc.com.

Press Release:

Following several recent major fentanyl busts in Orleans County, U.S. Senate Majority Leader Charles E. Schumer today launch a major new push to upend the flow of fentanyl in Orleans, Western NY, and the Finger Lakes-Rochester area.

Schumer detailed the new bipartisan legislation, the FEND Off Fentanyl Act, he included in the Senate-passed National Defense Authorization Act (NDAA) that would not only allow President Biden to place sanctions on China for its role in contributing to our nation’s fentanyl epidemic and declare international fentanyl trafficking a national emergency. 

Schumer is now demanding that the House pass the measure to combat the flow of fentanyl from China and Mexico before it reaches places like Orleans County and Upstate NY.

“From Buffalo to Rochester to right here in Orleans County, fentanyl continues to take the lives of far too many New Yorkers each and every day. We must make getting this deadly drug off of our streets and out of the U.S. a top priority, and the just passed Senate defense bill provides a rare window of opportunity to do just that,” said Senator Schumer. 

“That’s why I’m now calling on the U.S. House of Representatives to quickly pass this measure and help upend the flow of fentanyl overseas, far before it reaches places like Orleans County and Western NY. By including the FEND Off Fentanyl Act in the NDAA and ensuring that we can place tough sanctions on China for turning a blind eye to this issue and giving these deadly exports the green light, I am working to keep our communities safe in Upstate NY and across the nation. Too many lives have been lost, and too many others are at stake, especially here in New York.”

“The opioid epidemic and fentanyl crisis is a significant public health and public safety issue,” stated Paul Pettit, Public Health Director of the Genesee and Orleans County Health Departments (GO Health). “Over the past five years, there have been 53 fatal overdoses in Genesee County and 23 fatal overdoses in Orleans County, with additional deaths still pending official causes of death. In 2022, 83% of all fatal opioid overdoses in both counties involved fentanyl, which demonstrates how serious this problem is in our communities. This trend is something that is also seen across New York State and throughout the nation. I applaud Senator Schumer for his support of this amendment that will include stopping the spread of illegal fentanyl at its source.”

Joseph V. Cardone, Orleans County District Attorney said, “In my 31 years as District Attorney this fentanyl crisis is by far the most devastating issue law enforcement has had to combat.  While not one gram of this poison is produced in this Country it is daily killing our youth in every community in America.  Clearly stopping fentanyl from entering our country needs to be a priority.”

Schumer said the Senate passage of the NDAA bill just days ago included a bipartisan plan to officially declare international fentanyl trafficking a national emergency and give the president special powers to impose tough sanctions on China, Mexico, or any other relevant fentanyl supply chain hub. The House passed its own version of the National Defense Authorization Act earlier in July, but now that Schumer has passed NDAA in the Senate, lawmakers will need to reconcile the Senate bill and the House bill by negotiating a compromise version that can pass both chambers.

Fentanyl is trafficked into the United States primarily from China and Mexico, and is responsible for the ongoing fentanyl epidemic in Upstate NY and across the country. China is the world’s largest producer of illicit fentanyl, fentanyl analogues, and their immediate precursors. 

From China, those substances are shipped primarily through express consignment carriers or international mail directly to the United States, or, alternatively, shipped directly to transnational criminal organizations in Mexico, Canada, and the Caribbean. Some officials estimate that China is responsible for over 90 percent of the illicit fentanyl found in the U.S.

Schumer explained to disrupt the flow of illicit opioids into the United States, he pushed to include the FEND Off Fentanyl Act into the just-passed Senate defense bill. The bill does the following:

1. Declares that the international trafficking of fentanyl is a national emergency.
2. Requires the President to sanction transnational criminal organizations and drug cartels’ key members engaged in international fentanyl trafficking.
3. Enables the President to use proceeds of forfeited, sanctioned property of fentanyl traffickers to further law enforcement efforts.
4. Enhances the ability to enforce sanctions violations thereby making it more likely that people who defy U.S. law will be caught and prosecuted.
5. Requires the administration to report to Congress on actions the U.S. government is taking to reduce the international trafficking of fentanyl and related opioids.
6. Allows the Treasury Department to utilize special measures to combat fentanyl-related money laundering.
7. Requires the Treasury Department to prioritize fentanyl-related suspicious transactions and include descriptions of drug cartels’ financing actions in Suspicious Activity Reports.

Fentanyl is a powerful synthetic opioid that is 30 to 50 times more potent than heroin. It is short-acting and cannot be seen, tasted, or smelled when mixed with other drugs. While pharmaceutical fentanyl is prescribed for severe pain and end-of-life care, non-pharmaceutical fentanyl is produced illicitly and is now common in the illicit drug supply. 

The presence of non-pharmaceutical fentanyl in Orleans County, Western NY, and the Finger Lakes has dramatically increased the number of overdose deaths, and fentanyl is now the “leading cause of death for Americans 18 to 45 years old.”

Since 2020, Orleans County has seen 14 deaths from opioid overdoses, 76 outpatient emergency department visits, and 558 admissions to OASAS-certified substance abuse disorder treatment programs. Several recent examples have underscored the prevalence and danger of fentanyl in Orleans County. 

Earlier this year, 48 members of a local drug ring were charged for selling fentanyl and other opioids across the Finger Lakes region and Orleans. Law enforcement seized more than 10 kilograms of fentanyl and 10 kilograms of cocaine, $9 million worth of illegal drugs. 

Similarly, a raid earlier in the year seized 114 fentanyl pills disguised as other drugs, and just last month, U.S. Attorney Trini Ross announced the guilty plea of a dealer who intended to distribute over 400 grams of fentanyl into both Medina and Rochester. Back in 2018, the rate of overdose deaths jumped to 27.1 per 100,000 – much higher than state and national averages. That number prompted health department officials and others to allocate more resources to the problem.

Looking at the broader region, in 2022 alone, the Finger Lakes saw 295 deaths from opioid overdoses, 843 outpatient emergency department visits, and 5,744 admissions to OASAS-certified substance abuse disorder treatment programs.

Similarly, the Buffalo/Western New York saw 410 deaths from opioid overdoses, 856 outpatient emergency department visits, and 5,036 admissions to OASAS-certified substance abuse disorder treatment programs. In 2021, nearly 107,000 Americans died from an overdose, and 65% of overdose deaths were caused by fentanyl. 

Last year alone, the Drug Enforcement Administration seized over 379 million deadly doses of fentanyl - enough to supply a lethal dose to every American.  

Additionally, Xylazine has been a contributing factor in fatal overdoses across Monroe County for years, with over 180 deaths tied to the lethal drug since 2019. Xylazine opioids caused 59 fatal overdoses in Monroe County and 3 in Wayne County in 2022 and were suspected in 10 fatal OD cases earlier this year in Wayne County. Erie County had 17 confirmed Xylazine deaths since 2022. Xylazine has also been found in drugs seized in cases in Orleans and Genesee County beginning in 2019. Xylazine was involved in four opioid-related deaths In Orleans County and Xylazine was involved in 6 opioid-related deaths in Genesee County. 

Schumer has also been sounding the alarm on the spread of Xylazine, a dangerous, skin-rotting drug that has been making its way to Upstate NY streets, already taking the lives of hundreds of New Yorkers. After a horrific wave of overdoses and deaths in Upstate NY tied to Xylazine earlier this year, Schumer stood with local law enforcement and health officials in communities across the Finger Lakes and Upstate NY to call for further federal action. 

In April, the Biden Administration heeded Schumer’s calls and declared xylazine an emerging threat to the United States, a major step in eradicating the illicit supply of the deadly drug once and for all. 

This past June, the Senate took another major step in the fight against xylazine by passing the ‘TRANQ Act,’ which directs the National Institute of Standards and Technology (NIST) to support research and other activities related to identifying xylazine, develop new tests for detection, and establish partnerships with organizations on the front lines of this battle.

Most recently, the Biden Administration took even further action implementing many of the actions Schumer highlighted releasing a new Xylazine Response Plan, to coordinate an inter-agency governmental response to help build the treatment, data, and research capabilities that are needed to help those impacted by xylazine.

“I’m glad the Biden administration has laid out a plan to fight the insidious spread of this Narcan-resistant, skin-rotting, zombie drug. This is a major step in the fight to eradicate this awful scourge in Orleans and across Western NY once and for all,” Schumer added.

“This plan will save lives. I know it won’t be easy to get xylazine off our NY streets for good, and ultimately, we will need more funding for prevention, recovery, and treatment programs for those struggling with addiction. That’s why I am committed, now more than ever, to continuing to push for Congress to provide the necessary funding to increase resources that fight this epidemic on the front lines and rid communities in Upstate NY and across the nation of this terrifying drug.”

The new action taken outlined in the Xylazine Response plan includes increased resources for:

• Testing - Improve the xylazine testing being conducted in community and law enforcement settings, which is currently uneven across the United States, impeding the development of a full national threat picture. Improved clinical testing to detect xylazine in drug products and postmortem toxicology settings will provide important information about this emerging threat.
• Epidemiology and Comprehensive Data Systems - Gather additional information to inform, implement, and evaluate a comprehensive and coordinated public health and public safety response, including xylazine sourcing and determining to what degree persons are encountering xylazine alone or xylazine-adulterated products.
• Evidence-Based Prevention, Harm Reduction, and Treatment Implementation and Capacity Building - Address the concerning health challenges associated with xylazine by developing and disseminating best practices based on emerging clinical efforts with patients exposed to xylazine, evaluating potential xylazine overdose reversal strategies, and prioritizing efforts to educate and equip healthcare providers and first responders on best practices to treat flesh wounds associated with xylazine.
• Source and Supply Information and Intelligence; and Supply Reduction Actions - Help inform public health and public safety officials about the sources of xylazine in the illicit drug supply chain and markets in the United States by determining whether it is diverted from legitimate supplies and/or synthesized for illicit use, enhancing ability and jurisdiction to regulate the supply chain, and identifying and develop additional targeted and coordinated law enforcement actions and efforts to reduce the illicit supply of xylazine.
• Regulatory Control and Monitoring Options - Assess regulatory options to disrupt the production, distribution, illegal sale and trafficking, and exposure to illicit xylazine, as the particular chemical nature of this non-opioid tranquilizer may pose challenges for traditional methods of testing drugs in scheduling decisions.
• Basic and Applied Research - Conduct research to evaluate as quickly as possible potential xylazine antidotes in humans, drug-drug interactions, population-level health, social, equity, and economic drivers and consequences of exposure to fentanyl adulterated with xylazine, and identify the most promising clinical stabilization, detoxification, and treatment protocols. 

Schumer has a long history of fighting for additional resources to support law enforcement and boost addiction recovery services. Most recently, he secured $445 million for Comprehensive Addiction and Recovery Act (CARA) grants, an increase of $30 million from FY22. 

He secured $16 million for the COPS anti-methamphetamine program and $35 million for the COPS anti-heroin task force that helps ensure the safety of local communities. He also secured $302 million for the High-Intensity Drug Trafficking Area (HIDTA) program in this year’s budget. 

In addition, Schumer led the fight to secure $44.9 billion to address opioid abuse in the most recent Omnibus, an increase of over $345 million over the previous year. That includes nearly $1.6 billion in State Opioid Response grants, $100 million more for the Substance Abuse Prevention and Treatment program, $111 million for medication-assisted treatment programs, $145 million for programs targeted towards rural communities, and more.

On a search for a fun fundraising activity that might draw in members of the community who don't typically support the arts, GO ART! Executive Directory Gregory Hallock hit upon a fanciful idea -- a dodgeball tournament.

After looking around a bit, Hallock realized there doesn't seem to be any other dodgeball tournaments in the area, so the idea also had the advantage of being unique.

So, GO ART! is hosting its inaugural dodgeball tournament on Saturday, Aug. 12 at the David M. McCarthy Ice Arena at 5 p.m.

Teams of six to eight people cost $200, which includes a beverage. There will be prizes for best team uniforms and best team name.

For those who are of an artistic bent -- and Hallock stresses, this is not required -- there will be a rap battle/poetry slam.

That helps keep the arts connected to the event, he said.

The event is sponsored by the David M. McCarthy Ice Arena and Eli Fish Brewing Co.

You can sign up your team online by clicking here.

"When we thought of the idea, it also immediately made us think of the dodgeball movie, and we realized that was all about being funny and having fun, so this is about being funny and having fun. It's the comedy side of arts," Hallock said.

American Rock band Matchbox Twenty headlined at Darien Lake Performing Arts Center on a cooler Tuesday night in front of 9,000 fans, playing songs on their Slow Dream Tour.  

Some popular hits include 3 A.M., Unline and Push.

The band originally was first scheduled to play on Aug. 29. 2020. That show was canceled because of restrictions on large gatherings during the COVID-19 pandemic. 

The supporting act was Matt Nathanson.

Photos by Steve Ognibene

Batavia's Fire headquarters has a new apron, or driveway, as part of a construction project at the facility.

Previously, Chief Joshua Graham told The Batavian: "The construction that took place back then was not designed for the weight of today’s fire apparatus. Due to that fact, the concrete is cracking up and falling apart," he said to The Batavian Thursday. "The apron itself consists of tearing the only concrete out and pouring new slabs. We then have to wait until it has hardened enough to support the weight of our trucks."

Press Release:

Neighborhoods throughout your city are invited to join over 38 million neighbors across 17 thousand communities from all 50 states, U.S. territories, and military bases worldwide.

National Night Out is nationally sponsored by NATW, ADT, Starbucks, Associa, L.E.A.D. and co-sponsored locally by the Corfu Farmers Market.

National Night Out is an annual community-building campaign that promotes strong police-community partnerships and neighborhood camaraderie to make our neighborhoods safer, more caring places to live and work. Together, we are making that happen.

From time to time, neighbors throughout your city and across the nation are asked to lock their doors, turn on their front porch lights and spend the evening outside with neighbors and law enforcement.

Along with the traditional outside lights and front porch vigils, most communities celebrate National Night Out by hosting block parties, festivals, parades, cookouts, and other various community events with safety demonstrations, seminars, youth events, visits from emergency personnel, exhibits, and more.

National Project Coordinator, Matt Peskin said, “This is a night for our nation to stand together and promote awareness, safety, and neighborhood unity. National Night Out showcases the vital importance of police-community partnerships and citizen involvement. When law enforcement and the community work closely together, some amazing things can happen.”

Join the Corfu Farmer Markets, Monday, August 7 from 4 p.m. - 7 p.m. for our Community Night Out. For more information please contact Market Manager, Katy Hobbs at corfufarmersmarket@gmail.com or visit www.facebook.com/corfufarmersmarket for more information. For more information, please visit natw.org.

A company that has set up camp on Cedar Street in Batavia has been awarded a $100,000 Empire State Development grant and $180,000 in excelsior jobs tax credits to manufacture its waste disposal systems as part of Gov. Kathy Hochul’s $27 million financial package announced this week.

Enercon Systems, Inc., doing business as Eco Waste Solutions, lists addresses in Ontario, Canada and at 109 Cedar St., Batavia. The company has been setting up at the Cedar Street site for a while now, with plans to manufacture its high-tech and climate-friendly waste disposal systems at the site. 

According to its website, Enercon Systems (dba Eco Waste Solutions USA) was a pioneer in waste conversion and built some of the first small to medium-scale (200 to 600 ton per day) energy-from-waste facilities in North America. Enercon focused on producing simple, practical, and robust systems. Some of these plants operated for more than 40 years, making them some of the longest-lived waste-to-energy plants ever built in the US.

Enercon technologies have been proven to efficiently process almost any type of waste, including medical and pharmaceutical waste, industrial sludges, soils, and contaminated wood, and have diverted millions of tons of waste from landfills and produced thousands of megawatts of power, the site states.

Eco Waste Solutions (EWS) acquired Enercon in 2016. The Enercon tried, and true waste-to-energy system designs have now been modeled in 3D, modernized to include the latest technological advances, and have received new patents for improved energy recovery and emissions control, the site states. The modernized Enercon WTE designs can be produced under a license with EWS. The EWS Team can support a project developer to plan, manufacture, and implement a waste-to-energy project.

Enercon also has become Eco Waste’s US manufacturing division – the site of the production of our equipment packages, and is actively involved in waste-to-energy research and development, it states.

According to Hochul's press release, Enercon's mobile waste disposal systems are typically used in remote locations where traditional systems and infrastructure are not available.

Enercon, currently headquartered in Ohio, will establish New York operations in a vacant building on Cedar Street in Batavia, outfit the building with new machinery and equipment and create nine new jobs. The press release did not mention the Cedar Street address; however, it is listed on Enercon’s website, and The Batavian has spoken with an employee at the local site in the past week.

Enercon Systems is making a planned investment of $1.9 million, according to the press release. 

The remaining $27 million Hochul package was dispersed throughout other parts of New York State for various projects, from an industrial lighting project and dairy cooperative to a steel fabricator and multimedia production studio. 

The Regional Economic Development Council process continues to support and empower regional stakeholders in developing strategic plans and funding priorities that meet local economic needs, the press release states. To date, through the REDC Initiative, more than $7.8 billion has been awarded to more than 9,600 job creation and economic and community development projects consistent with each region's strategic plan.

The application for ESD grant funds remains open, and applications are being reviewed on an on-going basis as funds remain available.  Applicants with strong, shovel-ready projects that align with the state and region’s economic development priorities can apply through the Consolidated Funding Application.

About the Consolidated Funding Application              
The Consolidated Funding Application was created to streamline and expedite the grant application process. The CFA process marks a fundamental shift in the way state resources are allocated, ensuring less bureaucracy and greater efficiency to fulfill local economic development needs. The CFA serves as the single-entry point for access to economic development funding, ensuring applicants no longer have to slowly navigate multiple agencies and sources without any mechanism for coordination. Now, economic development projects use the CFA as a support mechanism to access multiple state funding sources through one application, making the process quicker, easier, and more productive. Learn more about the CFA here. 

About the Regional Economic Development Councils  
The Regional Economic Development Council initiative is a key component of the State’s approach to State investment and economic development. In 2011, 10 Regional Councils were established to develop long-term strategic plans for economic growth for their regions. The Councils are public-private partnerships made up of local experts and stakeholders from business, academia, local government, and non-governmental organizations. The Regional Councils have redefined the way New York invests in jobs and economic growth by putting in place a community-based, bottom-up approach and establishing a competitive process for State resources. Learn more at regionalcouncils.ny.gov.

A 50-year-old Batavia resident is charged with assault in the second degree after allegedly assaulting a emergency medic while riding in an ambulance early Saturday morning.

James Ronald Tillery, of Farwell Drive, was being transported to a hospital for medical treatment from Route 63 in Bethany when he allegedly attacked the medic.

It's alleged that he caused physical injury to the medic.

Tillery was taken into custody by Deputy Nicholas Chamoun and Sgt. Andrew Hale and transported to the Genesee County Jail and held pending arraignment.

Tillery has three prior arrests reported locally.  In April 2022, he was charged with criminal mischief for allegedly damaging property at a restaurant on East Main Street. In 2020, he was charged with criminal tampering for allegedly mowing a profane word into the grass of city property.  And in 2018, he was charged with harassment for allegedly striking another person.  The status of those cases is not known at this time.

City Manager  Manager Rachael Tabelski and Chief Shawn Heubusch issued a letter to the community this week regarding three shootings that occurred in the city, and The Batavian asked them a few related questions about crime in Batavia.

The first one was about a family with a Ring camera that apparently caught disturbing video of strangers attempting to break into their home by opening the door where the camera was placed. That family has packed up and moved and put their home up for sale.

Police have access to such camera databases, and The Batavian asked have there been any such incidents reported, and if this type of criminal activity is on the rise?

“That is indeed sad news that someone in Batavia feels they need to move away to be safe.  That is exactly the issues that we have been working on.  Anyone who sees suspicious activity on their property should call 911.  Also anyone that wants to register their cameras with the police we encourage that as well,” Tabelski said.  “We want residents to feel safe and will be allocating more resources to address this type of criminal activity. I did check with the chief. We have been made aware of instances of people forcing themselves in the homes, but have not seen the video of it.”

“Investigators can review video from Ring systems provided to them by homeowners where a crime has occurred in order to gather evidence. The police department does get reports from time to time of people stealing packages from porches,” she said. 

The Batavian asked if Batavia’s population and climate is changing with increased crime, and if so, how do citizens win back their streets?

“Residents should be cautious and aware of their surroundings when out in the City, or anywhere.  Always take basic safety measures with your property to protect it,” Tabelski said.  “From what we currently understand, the gun incidents were targeted.  If you see an altercation, get yourself to safety and call 911.  If you see something, say something.”

“Batavia is not unique in this regard as communities like ours face significant challenges.  There are enormous socio-economic pressures that are impacting communities, including a rise in crime. As a micropolitan in-between Buffalo and Rochester we see some criminal activity here similar to larger cities, however, we have much less crime and a much more tightknit community,” she said. “Many criminals move on after they are arrested or they realize it is too difficult to operate here. Citizens can win back their streets by cooperating with police and reporting crime or suspect activity when they see it. Neighborhoods are stronger when they are united, residents need to get to know their neighbors and take care of them. Simply put, it means we all have a responsibility to police our community.”

While there were many kudos and thank-yous issued online for the city's letter and the police department's efforts, there are some steps that citizens can also take to ensure a safer community, per Tableski's comments:

• If you have a Ring camera system and experience any suspicious activity, allow police to view the footage.
• If you see anything suspicious, report it to police. If you witness an altercation, get yourself to safety and call 911.
• Get to know your neighbors and watch out for them. 

Press Release:

In collaboration with community partners, Genesee County and the City of Batavia are thrilled to announce the upcoming “Bank Street Pop-Up Demonstration”, an event that aims to collect valuable public feedback to improve the look of the street and make the community more walkable. It will take place on Friday, August 18, 2023, from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m., with a rain date set for Monday, August 21. 

The demonstration will be located between Main Street and Washington Avenue in Batavia. The demonstration is an outcome of the Active People, Healthy Nation Walkability Virtual Academy, in which Genesee County was selected as one of the teams from across the nation to participate. The primary focus was on creating safer and more accessible pedestrian, bicycle, and transit transportation networks for people of all ages, races, ethnicities, incomes, backgrounds, abilities, and disabilities.

The Pop-Up Demonstration aims to engage the public and receive their valuable input on various aspects of street and landscape design, crosswalk placements, and overall mobility in the area. During the event, teams will gather insights from the community, allowing more informed decisions that align with the needs and preferences of the residents.

"We are hoping that the public will come out on Friday the 18th and check out the design and provide us their thoughts about what they see," said Diana Fox, Director of the Genesee County Office For The Aging. “Community feedback is crucial to creating a neighborhood that fosters active and healthy living.”

The City will temporarily close parts of the street to traffic from 7 a.m.-9 a.m. on August 18 in preparation for the event. Artists from GO ART! will paint vibrant and attractive crosswalks, and Batavia Turf has contributed turf that will enhance the visual appeal of the space.

This initiative represents another significant step towards building a community that prioritizes the well- being of its residents and visitors, promoting physical activity and ensuring that streets are safe and accessible for all.

Charges have been filed against a 33-year-old man who allegedly failed to stop for a trooper in Byron and continued on at high speeds into the City of Batavia before barricading himself in an apartment on Bank Street.

Akeem Rashaad Gibson, of Washburn Road, Lockport, is charged with criminal trespass in the second degree, obstruction of governmental administration in the second degree, and resisting arrest.

At about 3:31 on Sunday, a state trooper attempted to stop a red Toyota sedan for alleged traffic violations but rather than yield to emergency lights, the Toyota reportedly sped up and led the trooper on a high-speed chase with speeds reportedly in the range of 90 mph.

As the vehicle passed GCC and approached the City of Batavia, Officer Sam Freeman, Batavia PD, deployed spike strips. 

The Toyota turned into a driveway at Northside Meadows, 335 Bank St., Batavia, and the vehicle struck a small boulder near an apartment building.

The driver fled, and officers initially believed he ran into the woods but a witness informed officers that he entered an upstairs apartment. 

Officers soon determined that the apartment was supposed to be vacant.  It's tenant is reportedly incarcerated, according to a trooper at the scene on Sunday, and witnesses. 

According to Batavia PD, officers could hear the subject barricading himself in the apartment. 

A standoff ensued and officers entered into negotiations with the subject for a peaceful resolution but the subject refused to cooperate, police said.

A person known to the rightful tenant of the apartment responded to the scene and provided the officers with a key to the front door but because of the barricade, officers needed to make a forceable entry. 

Offices forced them into the apartment at 5:48 p.m.

According to Sgt. Arick Perkins at the scene on Sunday and the subject was taken into custody without further incident.

While being led by officers to a patrol car, the subject made statements indicating he didn't understand why he was being arrested, why he was being taken to a State Police car when he was in the City of Batavia, and why police had reporters there taking his picture.

According to police, State Police cited Gibson for several traffic violations. A spokesman for the State Police said the case was turned over to Batavia PD.

Gibson was held following his arrest pending arraignment in Centralized Arraignment Court.

Previously: 

• State police pursuing subject in Batavia apartment complex
• Charges reportedly pending against man who fled troopers, barricaded himself in apartment

Darned that Mother Nature and her pesky nimbus clouds. 

She defeated an otherwise seven-day streak to beat or at least match last year’s fair numbers with a dreary daylong onslaught of rain during the very last day.

“It was down only because that last Saturday, we were actually trending ahead. Up until Friday evening, it killed us. So we still figured about 63,000 people, down about 7,000 from the year before,” Ag Society treasurer Norm Pimm said Monday. “Our attendance, for, I think it's 13 straight years, it's been increasing. It has gone up basically double digits every year for the last 13 years. Until this year. So the crazy part is that we were still trying to do that, and Mother Nature didn't let us. All in all, a very, very good year, we look back to where we were, you know, 10 years ago from now. It's still unbelievable.

"The support we got from the community, attendance every day was up, which is really cool," he said. "Vendors all did very well. Food stands were all up over previous years. Midway was awesome.”

Saturday’s downpour meant an 80 percent drop in attendance on Saturday, he said, and the popular Enduro race was canceled. With soaring temperatures for the rest of the week, attendance also dipped a bit during the day but caught up with more people visiting later on, he said.

For the first time in fair history, there was a cooling trailer set up by Turnbull Heating and Cooling, which was a nice added bonus for those seeking some relief from the heat,  Pimm said.

Records were still broken with the largest draught horse show of 11 six-horse hitch teams from across the country and Canada, for a total of about 125 horses in the show; 2,000 animals on the fairgrounds for an assortment of livestock, draught, and auction events;  and 74 cars attending the demolition derby — “the most we’ve had in 20 years,” Pimm said.

There were 72 vendors, including those with food throughout the grounds — only two each of the same type of foods are allowed — and vendors inside the Exhibition building. That was a 25 percent increase from last year, he said. 

It has gotten a little easier to attract those vendors than in times past, he said.

“If you look back, you know, 15 years ago, when our attendance wasn't very strong, it was hard to actually attract vendors to come to our fair, and now the vendors that we have, they're signing up before that previous year's done for them,” he said. “And then we're getting a lot more phone calls from vendors wanting to come into our fair every year because, again, word of mouth. Those vendors travel together and go from fair to fair, carnival to carnival, show to show, and I think the word spreads, you know, we did a really nice job at Genesee County, so then the next year, people want to be in on it.

“Because of our community and community support we've been receiving and the growth that we've seen, it's turning into a really nice fair that people want to go to.”

The livestock auction yielded more than 200 lots and brought in nearly $340,000, an increase of $20,000 from 2022’s record year. Local sponsorships were up, meaning businesses and organizations stepped up to help support the fair, including Bruce Scofield of Stafford, who provided trash pickup at 6 a.m. each morning to ensure a well-maintained and clean fairground, Pimm said.

“We got a lot of comments about how clean our fairgrounds stayed throughout the week,” he said. 

Volunteers also do more than their part — from picking up litter and working the admission booth to cooking and helping at the animal stalls. There were about 100 throughout the week, he said, including kids and adults who would just show up some days and offer their assistance. 

“I think a lot of the times I don't think the community realizes that everybody there is a volunteer, there's not one person paid to help put on that fair,” he said.

There are 20 folks on the Ag Society board, and “we could not put on that fair with 20 people.” They’ll all be gathering for a volunteer appreciation dinner. “It’s just a giant thank you for people who came to volunteer their time throughout the week, so we invite them to the dinner,” he said. 

The board is “always open to suggestions.”

“We take notes, and when we meet, we will go over suggestions. We’re definitely going to be adding back the Enduro race. I had a ton of emails and Facebook messages and phone calls asking, are you running?” he said. “We will run that and the demolition derby again. Maybe have a couple of new bands, and some during the day, and have some daytime entertainment.”

There will be a rain date set for the Enduro, probably in September, he said. That will be publicized once it is finalized with the speedway.  But then again, there’s always something to think about when it comes to the fair and the grounds out on East Main Street, he said.

“So as far as the people, the workers and all that you know, it's a lot of time all year round that we invest in keeping that for the community so the community has something to enjoy. We run the fairgrounds all year round, whether it's during the wintertime putting storage in, or fall putting storage in, and spring getting storage back out, we'd run a bunch of horse shows there, we rent the grounds out … and we generally will operate our food stands to try and generate some revenue. And mowing the lawn, doing weed eating, we’ll be able to recruit people who come in and help with that, so it doesn't weigh on us,” he said. “But in the grand scheme of things, you want to make sure that place is viable for future generations to enjoy and, specifically, the kids coming in having a really good time, they're running around having fun, going on the rides, seeing the animals, being able to pet the animals and get up close to the animals, or even going into the showroom themselves. And when we do stuff like that, you just see the kids light up, you know, and how much fun and how much excitement they have.”

Plans have already been percolating for next year, he said. Actually, “We already started a few weeks ago,” he said. We try to make it a little bit better each year.” 

“Next year, we're gonna ask Mother Nature to cooperate a little bit better. 75 and sunny,” he said.

41 Kingsbury Ave., Batavia - Super solid and lovingly maintained 4 bedroom 1 1/2 bath home on one of Batavia's great neighborhood Streets! This homeowner did all the right things with maintenance such as updated roof, electrical furnace and central air and windows throughout the years- now all the next person has to do is come in and update their decor to their taste! The woodwork is all beautifully untouched, lending to a charm that you don't always get without paying a lot of money! The layout and room sizes are all very spacious and there is tons of great storage from top to bottom-not to mention a garage with side office or more storage space! So much for the asking price-come see for yourself! Delayed negotiations until Wednesday Aug 2 at 10:00 a.m.

22 Bennett Ave, Oakfield - Solid 3 bedroom 2and 1/2 bath home located on prime Village St. This yard is the fun yard! Fully enclosed and private backyard with large sunny open deck, awesome etra large playset and plenty more yard space for entertaining and games!! Stepping inside you will be greeted by large and bright kitchen with so much space and cupboards plus an oversized pantry closet for all the supplies! There is also conveniently a large 1/2 bath and laundry room for your guests and you right as you walk in to catch all the mess! There is a great spacious layout between the formal dining room and oversized living room and front foyer and all three rooms boast hardwood floors and beautiful unpainted woodwork and even a set of beautiful wooden and glass pocket doors! Upstairs there are 3 large bedrooms -the master is roomy and bright with a sunny connected bath that everyone will want to use! There is also a large attic for all your storage needs and a full basement that once upon a time was partially finished off and could be again! There's a lot here for the next owner to enjoy so make it yours today! 

The property manager of Batavia Towne Center on Veterans Memorial Drive has called the police after asking two people to vacate the shopping center.

They were apparently asked to leave but have returned. One is playing an accordion by Michael's, and the other is holding a sign up near PetCo.

A deputy is responding. 

Rulee A. Allyn, 60, of Batavia, is charged with six counts of owning an unlicensed dog and six counts of failure to provide sustenance to animals. On the morning of July 12, Officers were called to Brooklyn Avenue, Batavia, for a report of numerous dogs running loose in the area. Officers located five dogs and were able to contain them. They were determined to belong to Allyn. A sixth dog was located in Allyn’s residence. All the dogs were allegedly covered in feces and were not being properly cared for. Allyn was issued an appearance ticket and is scheduled to appear.

Jason Eric Howard, 38, of Millison Crescent Street, Angus, Ontario, Canada, is charged with trespass and disorderly conduct.  Howard is accused of remaining on Six Flags Darien Lake Theme Park property after being told to leave by security staff. He is also accused of yelling obscenities and "causing a public inconvenience by making unreasonable noise." He was issued an appearance ticket.

Michael J. Torres, 39, of Batavia, is charged with criminal possession of a controlled substance 3rd and obstructing governmental administration. Police officers spotted Torres riding a bicycle at 5:30 p.m. on July 12 on Ellicott Street near Ellicott Place.  Officers were aware the Sheriff's Office was looking for Torres, who had a warrant out for his arrest. When officers attempted to stop him, Torres allegedly fled on his bike. Officers followed him onto Colorado Avenue, where he crashed his bicycle into a patrol vehicle. He then attempted to flee on foot, according to police, but was taken into custody a short distance away. Torres was allegedly found in possession of multiple bags of a narcotic and a large sum of cash. Torres was arraigned and released. He is due back in court at a later date. 

Juan Nieves, 31, of Parkside Avenue, Buffalo, is charged with felony DWI, felony driving with a BAC of .18 or greater, driving a vehicle with a revoked registration, driving without insurance, and leaving the scene of a property damage accident. Nieves was apparently (it's not mentioned in the Sheriff's Office press release) in an accident at an undisclosed location on Main Street in Pembroke at 5:53 p.m. on July 9. Nieves was arrested by Deputy Alexander Hadsall. His release status was not disclosed. 

Cassandra L. Elmore, 31, of Batavia, was arrested on a pair of warrants issued by City Court. The first case is the result of a traffic stop on Aug. 30, 2022. Elmore was charged with two counts of criminal possession of a weapon 4th, obstructing governmental administration 2nd, aggravated unlicensed operation of a motor vehicle 3rd, operating without an inspection certificate, insufficient tail lamps, two counts of criminal use of drug paraphernalia 2nd, failure to change address and depositing refuse on the highway. Elmore was issued appearance tickets and released. She allegedly failed to appear in court, and a warrant was issued on Sept. 8. She was arrested on that warrant on Sept. 10. During that arrest, Elmore allegedly fought with a police officer and was additionally charged with obstructing governmental administration. Warrants were issued in both cases on Jan. 23, after Elmore allegedly failed to appear in court. She was arrested on Feb. 2. Warrants were again issued on Feb. 21, after she failed to appear in court. On July 14, Elmore was located at a residence on River Street and arrested. She was additionally charged with two counts of bail jumping 3rd. She was arraigned and remanded to the custody of the Genesee County Jail. 

Phillip Ashley Ruffin, 50, of Main Street, Niagara Falls, is charged with felony DWI and parking on a highway. Ruffin was allegedly found in his vehicle at 1:57 a.m. on July 15, parked in the middle of the roadway on Redfield Parkway with his emergency flashers activated Sgt. Mathew Clor. Ruffin was held pending arraignment.

Jamonte O. Murrell, 19, of Batavia, is charged with assault 2nd. Murrell is accused of cutting another person during a disturbance on July 19 at a residence on Watson Street, Batavia. He was arraigned in City Court and released on his own recognizance.

Ahdeosun R. Aiken, 25, of Attica, and Amanda J. Jackson, 22, of Batavia, are charged with endangering the welfare of a child. Aiken and Jackson are accused of engaging in sexual conduct in a vehicle on July 8 at a location not released by police while a one-year-old child was in the vehicle. They were both issued appearance tickets.

Richard A. Demmer, 30, of Batavia, was arrested on a City Court warrant on July 13. Demmer was originally arrested on May 29 and charged with Attempted Robbery 3rd. It’s alleged that he entered a local business and demanded money from the clerk. The warrant was issued on July 12 after Demmer allegedly failed to appear in court. He was located by Police on July 13 at the location of an unrelated incident. He was arraigned and ordered to reappear at a later date.

Richard Allen Demmer, Jr., 30, of South Spruce Street, Batavia, is charged with petit larceny and criminal possession of a controlled substance 7th. Demmer is accused of stealing merchandise from the East Pembroke Crosby's on Main Road, Pembroke at 8:20  a.m. on July 18. During his arrest by Chief Deputy Joseph Graff, he was allegedly found in possession of a controlled substance. Demmer was released on an appearance ticket. 

Benjamin G. Evans, 34, of Batavia, is charged with petit larceny. Evans is accused of stealing a package from the porch of a residence on State Street On July 8. He was issued an appearance ticket.

Jordan A. Baxter, no age nor address provided, is charged with criminal contempt 2nd and criminal trespass 2nd. Baxter is accused of entering the residence of another person in violation of an order of protection on July 8. He was arraigned and ordered held on $1,000 bail, $2,000 bond, or a $5,000 partially secured bond.

Ronald W. Lewis, 35, of Rochester, is charged with petit larceny. Lewis is accused of stealing from a local business on July 7. He was issued an appearance ticket. 

Crystal M. Boute. 34, of Batavia, is charged with criminal mischief 4th. Boute is accused of damaging another person's mobile phone during an argument in the parking lot of a local business. She was issued an appearance ticket.

Brian M. Raphael, 35, of Batavia, is charged with petit larceny. Raphael is accused of stealing from a business on West Main Street, Batavia. He was issued an appearance ticket.

Lance D Beals, 53, of Batavia, is charged with petit larceny and criminal mischief 4th. Beals is accused of stealing a mobile phone from another person and intentionally damaging it. He was issued an appearance ticket.

Karina M. Treleaven, 39, of Batavia, is charged with felony DWI, moving from lane unsafely, and leaving the scene of a property damage accident. Treleaven was reportedly involved in a one-vehicle accident at 11:30 p.m. on July 11 in the 300 block of Washington Avenue, Batavia. A vehicle allegedly driven by Treleaven struck a parked car.  The driver fled on foot, and officers located Treleaven nearby the accident a short time later and determined she was the driver of the vehicle and was allegedly drunk at the time of the accident. Treleaven was previously convicted of DWI on June 1. She was arraigned in City Court and released under supervision.

Michelle L. Misiak, 58, of Le Roy, was arrested on a warrant issued by City Court. Misiak was initially charged with petit larceny on Sept. 27 for allegedly stealing from Aldi on East Main Street, Batavia. The warrant was issued on March 10 after she allegedly failed to appear in court. On July 12, Misiak was located by the Village of Leroy Police and turned over to Batavia Police. She was additionally charged with Bail Jumping 3rd and arraigned in  City Court. She was held on bail and remanded to the custody of the Genesee County Jail.

Mason Andrew Hogle, 19, of Lockport Road, Oakfield, is charged with petit larceny. Hogle is accused of shoplifting from Walmart at 1 p.m. on July 6. He was released on an appearance ticket.

Maurice Richard McCoy, 70, of North Street, Batavia, is charged with DWI and driving with a BAC of .08 or greater. McCoy was stopped at 6:13 p.m. on July 2 on Veterans Memorial Drive by Deputy Alexander Hadsall. He was released on an appearance ticket.

Sara Marie Conrow, 34, of Rochester, is charged with DWI, driving with a BAC of .08 or greater, and an unregistered vehicle. Conrow was charged following an investigation by Deputy Austin Heberlein at the Speedway Truck Stop on Route 77 in the Town of Pembroke on July 13 at 2:35 a.m. Conrow was issued an appearance ticket.

Nathaniel Ashton Finta, 18, of North Main Street, Oakfield, is charged with criminal mischief 3rd. Finta was arrested in connection with an incident reported at 3:30 a.m. on July 11 at a location on North Main Street, Oakfield. The Sheriff's Office did not release information on the alleged incident. Finta was held pending arraignment.

Derek John Machala, 28, of West Main Street, Batavia, is charged with trespass. Machala is accused of remaining unlawfully on a property at 8:39 p.m. on July 16. He was held pending arraignment.

Benjamin Gove Evans, 34, of State Street, Batavia, is charged with petit larceny and criminal possession of a controlled substance 7th. Evans was arrested in connection with an incident reported at 9:45 p.m. on July 17. The Sheriff's Office did not release information about the alleged incident. The address of the location, somewhere on Veterans Memorial Drive, was redacted from the release. Evans was released on an appearance ticket.

Jada Lee Coursey, 32, of West Fifth Avenue, Warren, Pa., is charged with harassment 2nd and endangering the welfare of a child. Coursey is accused of striking another person in front of a child while at Darin Lake at 11:35 p.m. on July 17. Coursey was issued an appearance ticket.

Joshua Lee Jones, 41, of Auburn, is charged with disorderly conduct. Jones is accused of being involved in a disturbance at Six Flags Darien Lake Theme Park on July 19 at 9:46 p.m. He was released on an appearance ticket.

O'Neil Dejusus Cruz, 34, of Poplar Avenue, Mineral, Va., is charged with DWI drugs.  Following a driving complaint called into dispatchers at 8:21 p.m. on July 21, Cruz was allegedly found by Deputy David Moore on Alleghany Road, Pembroke, operating a semi-truck while his ability was impaired by drugs. Cruz was issued an appearance ticket.

Joseph Lowell Hampton, 26, of Myrtle Street, Le Roy, is charged with harassment 2nd. Hampton allegedly pushed a former friend at 1 a.m. on July 19 at a location on Myrtle Street, Le Roy. Hampton was arraigned, and an order of protection was issued.

Joseph Thaddeus Martino, 31, of West Main Street, Batavia, is charged with attempted assault 3rd.  Martino was arrested at the Genesee County Jail. It's unclear from the Sheriff's Office press release if he was an inmate. The incident was reported at 5:05 p.m. on July 22. There were no other details about the alleged incident released. Martino was issued an appearance ticket.

Daniel Jay Torok, Jr., 36, of Liberty Avenue, Rochester, is charged with criminal possession of a controlled substance 7th. Torok was arrested by Deputy Ryan Mullen in connection with an incident reported at 11:40 p.m. on July 22 at the Genesee County Jail. The Sheriff's Office did not release information on what led to the arrest of Torok. He was issued an appearance ticket.

Kasondra Lynn Hubbard, 38, of Gilbert Street, Le Roy, is charged with DWI, driving with a BAC of .08 or greater, driving drunk with a child in the vehicle, and endangering the welfare of a child. Hubbard was stopped at 10:16 p.m. on July 22 on Gilbert Street, Le Roy, by Deputy Mason Shultz. Hubbard was processed at the Genesee County Jail and released on an appearance ticket.

Laurin Angeline Moro, 21, of Kalar Road, Niagara Falls, is charged with trespass. Moro was arrested at Darien Lake on July 15 at 8:30 p.m. The Sheriff's Office did not release information on events that led to her arrest. Moro was issued an appearance ticket.

Brian Michael Raphael, 35, of Fisher Park, Batavia, is charged with petit larceny. Raphael is accused of concealing merchandise while at Tractor Supply Co. on East Main Street Road, Batavia, and attempting to leave the store without paying for the merchandise. Raphael was arrested by Deputy Zachary Hoy and released on an appearance ticket. 

Thomas Anthony Salerno, 56, of Hall Road, Lancaster, is charged with DWI and insufficient tail lamps. Salerno was stopped at 9:39 pm. on July 29 on Route 20 in Darien by Deputy Jacob Kipler. He was released on an appearance ticket.

Adam Troy Shipwash, 42, of West Main Street Road, Batavia, is charged with criminal contempt 2nd. Shipwash was arrested in connection with an incident reported at 1:50 p.m. on July 30 at a location on Terry Street, Byron. The Sheriff's Office did not release information on events that led to the charge. Shipwash was released on an appearance ticket.

A motorcycle accident is reported in the area of 7898 Lake Street Road, Le Roy.

No word on injuries.

Le Roy Fire and Le Roy Ambulance dispatched.

UPDATE 9:14 p.m.: Minor injuries reported.

UPDATE 9:15 p.m.: First responder reports, one person down with an injury. Traffic is not blocked. One motorcycle involved.

Press release:

Three incidents of shots fired in the City of Batavia over the last few months is certainly not the norm here.  

We want residents to know that the City of Batavia Police Department is taking a number of steps to protect our community. 

We will be enhancing the current Neighborhood Enforcement Teams (NET) to respond to neighborhood issues in our efforts to get guns and drugs off the street and put criminals in jail.  

The City will commit dedicated resources to this initiative, including personnel and equipment. 

We will partner with outside agencies, such as the Genesee County Sheriff’s Office, the State Police, along with other local, state and federal partners.  

We also will be calling on the Governor’s Office to allocate resources to the City in response to the recent incidents of gun violence.  

Individuals who illegally use guns will be apprehended and brought to justice.  

If you commit a crime, especially with a gun, you will be caught, you will be arrested, and you will be convicted. 

Batavia is a small and tight-knit community where neighbors look out for each other and support our police officers.   

We would be remiss if we did not recognize the hard work and dedication of the men and women of the Batavia Police Department and who, in these incidents, not only put their lives on the line to protect and serve our community, but quickly apprehended the individuals responsible for these crimes.  

We ask you to be vigilant and, if you see anything suspicious, to immediately call 911.   

Our police department is here to protect and serve our community.  You are a vital partner in these efforts. 

Sincerely, Shawn Heubusch, Police Chief & Rachael Tabelski, City Manager

Press Release:

Three famous residents of the Historic Batavia Cemetery attended a 200th-anniversary tea party at The Holland Land Office Museum on Sunday, July 23. Joseph Ellicott, his sister Rachel Ellicott Evans, and the infamous William Morgan regaled the crowd with stories of their fortunes and misfortunes in the early nineteenth century.

The Ellicotts were thrilled to be visited by their descendant cousins, David Ellicott and his daughter, Rachel Ellicott, who came from Poughkeepsie and Brooklyn to attend the tea.

Two more teas with sweet treats and savory bites are scheduled. Dean and Mary Richmond and Eli Fish will visit on August 20, and General John Martindale, Albert Brisbane, and Reverend John Yates will appear on September 17th at 2 p.m. Reservations are required and tickets, which are $25, $20 for HLOM members, may be obtained by calling the museum at 343-4727. Space is limited! 

Submitted photos

After 20-plus years as the drummer in Godsmack, one would think drummer Shannon Larkin had seen it all – and undoubtedly he has seen a lot. But he said when the group wrapped up rehearsals in April for the first leg of 2023 touring, he heard Sully Erna, the singer, songwriter, rhythm guitarist, and founding member of Godsmack, say something he’s rarely expressed ahead of the launch of a tour.

“By the end (of rehearsals), Sully isn’t usually like ever ‘We sound great.’ It’s always ‘Ah, you know, we’ve got work to do.’ Even (after) a year on tour, he’s still messing with the set list,” Larkin said. “We ended this with him (Erna), who never really gives it up and says we sound great, he says ‘We sound great. We’re going to be OK.’”

The guys in Godsmack – Erna, Larkin, guitarist Tony Rombola and bassist Robbie Merrill – have good reason to be on point. This will be the last time the band does what’s known as a cycle tour, where music acts typically spend a year-plus on the road promoting their latest album or EP.

Erna and his bandmates have recently announced that their new album, “Lighting Up the Sky,” will be their last as Godsmack. With that, the band will no longer need to do the cycle tours that have followed each of their eight studio albums. It’s not the end of the road for Godsmack, just time to ease up on what has been a rather all-consuming career.

“I hope everybody knows we’re not going away,” Larkin said, reassuring fans that Godsmack is not breaking up. “We will go out and play after this (cycle tour promoting) ‘Lighting Up the Sky’ is all done. We’re going to call each other up and say ‘Hey man, let’s go rock two or three weeks of shows this year’... And (we’ll) be able to control our lives for once instead of music controlling us.”

That last sentence gets to a key reason Godsmack are done with making full albums. Since seeing their 1999 self-titled debut album go quadruple platinum and spawn four top 10 singles, Erna, Larkin, Rombola and Merrill have felt pressure to live up to the successes of their previous output every time they’ve made a new album.

They’ve thrived despite that, building a catalog that includes 26 top 10 singles, 12 of which have gone No. 1 on “Billboard” magazine’s mainstream rock chart. But it’s time to say goodbye to the weight of expectations.

“You have lots of pressure to be successful and to continue to be successful. And the pressure sometimes is in your own mind and you’re putting it on yourself,” Larkin said. And the fact is, Godsmack have achieved everything the four band members set out to accomplish.

“We finally came to the decision that gosh, we’ve climbed the mountain that we envisioned reaching the top of when we are 10-, 12-, 13-year-old kids picking up our instruments,” Larkin said. “We don’t want to quit. But we do want to just, I like to say, jump off of the machine and not have to sell product after so many years of touring and selling product.”

There are other reasons why Godsmack will gear things down after the “Lighting Up the Sky” cycle. Some of the band members want to spend time with their families or have other hobbies and interests they want to pursue. And with the band members in their 50s, it’s not getting any easier to meet the physical demands of extensive tours.

The band members also feel with “Lighting Up the Sky,” they’re ending their run of Godsmack albums on a high note. Larkin said “Lighting Up the Sky” was the easiest album Godsmack has made, and to a man, the band members consider it their best release yet.

“For this one, we wrote over 20 songs. We had three years, with the pandemic and stuff. In fact, at one point we had written pretty much a whole record of music, and it was a totally different thing where it was like Pink Floyd, long-ass songs,” he said. “We wrote like 11 songs (initially) and we ended up keeping ‘Surrender,’ ‘Growing Old’ and ‘Red, White & Blue.’ Those three stayed. We had taken a break from writing and he (Erna) comes back with ‘Soul On Fire’ and God, it was just relentless, ‘What About Me’ and ‘Let’s Go.’ Just all of these songs started just pouring out and it was so easy for us and we were like ‘Wow!’”

Now it’s time to hit the road, and Larkin said several of the new songs will be in Godsmack’s visually spectacular shows. (“We blow a lot of stuff up live,” Larkin noted with a chuckle.) The band members, after all, are promoting “Lighting Up the Sky.” But fans will hear plenty of the hits, too.

“We know that look, even if our new record is our favorite one and it’s great, we can’t oversaturate a set list when we have all of these radio hits that people expect to hear,” Larkin said.

Godsmack will be playing at Darien Lake Performing Arts Center on Sunday.