The Batavia High School Production Club opens the romantic musical comedy Mamma Mia at 7 p.m. on Friday the school's auditorium.
Tickets purchased online in advance at www.showtix4u.com are $10. At the door, they are $10 for students and $12 for adults.
Additional performances are Saturday at 7 p.m. and Sunday at 2 p.m.
Press release:
On Thursday, March 17, 2022, at approximately 6:38 p.m., State Police responded to a report of a serious injury crash on I-90 westbound in the town of Batavia, Genesee County.
The crash occurred in the area of mile marker 389.7, between the Le Roy and Batavia exits.
A preliminary investigation determined the crash involved a tractor-trailer and an SUV. As a result of the collision, the SUV became fully engulfed in flames. One individual was flown to the hospital by Medicac with life-threatening injuries and two others were transported by ambulance for serious injuries.
All westbound lanes are currently closed. Traffic is being diverted at exit 47 (Le Roy) until accident reconstruction has been completed.
More information will be released when it becomes available.
Photos by Alecia Kaus/Video News Service
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A truck hauling an as-yet-unidentified fluid has rolled over on the Thruway in the area of mile marker 381.1 in the westbound lane.
There is a leak.
The driver is out and walking around but may have sustained a shoulder injury.
Town of Batavia Fire and Mercy EMS responding.
UPDATE 2:27 p.m.: Stafford to stand in at Town of Batavia Station #2 and Oakfield to stand in at Town of Batavia Station #1
UPDATE 2:36 p.m.: Stafford cannot get a crew. Standing down.
Genesee County sales tax revenue is trending in the right direction, County Treasurer Scott German said on Wednesday afternoon.
“Sales tax revenue is doing well,” said German, speaking at the Genesee County Legislature’s Ways & Means Committee meeting at the Old County Courthouse.
Supported by Excel spreadsheets showing fund balances and tax revenues over the past 15 years or more, German reported that sales tax revenues in 2021 totaled $48.95 million, an increase of approximately 19 percent from the previous year.
As for the first quarter of 2022, sales tax revenues are up by 31 percent from the same time period in 2021.
“Much of that can be attributed to the increased gas prices,” German said, noting that sales tax on gasoline accounts for about 18 percent of the county’s sales tax revenue. It also must be noted that sales tax revenue was down in 2020 and 2021 due to the effects of the COVID-19 pandemic.
The county shared $6,852,960.75 (14 percent) of its sales tax received with the City of Batavia and $5 million – as a voluntary revenue distribution – with the towns and villages last year, as well as an additional $5 million in sales tax to the towns and villages.
Bed tax revenues (from hotel stays) rebounded from the COVID-19 ravaged 2020, German said, increasing from $180,000 to almost $400,000. Three-fourths of that amount was allocated to the Genesee County Chamber of Commerce.
Mortgage tax revenue also increased by 38 percent from 2020 to 2021, he reported.
German said key points of his financial outlook are as follows:
However, he noted, the rating could have been higher if not for the county’s low per capita income level.
Looking at the county’s fund balances, German said the general fund balance of $16.9 million represents 14 percent – “a good number,” he said – of 2021’s budgeted expense.
Other fund balances, such as self-insurance ($1.8 million), county road ($385,000), road machinery ($574,000) and water fund ($4.2 million), are adequate, he said.
On the real property tax side, Director Kevin Andrews said sales of property has increased by 11 percent in 2021 – up from 6 percent the previous year.
Andrews said the county supported reassessment projects in the City of Batavia and the Towns of Alexander, Batavia, Bergen, Bethany, Byron, Darien, Elba, Oakfield, Pembroke, and Stafford for the 2021 assessment rolls.
The Batavia Town Board on Wednesday night set a public hearing for 7 p.m. April 20 on Local Law No. 2 of 2022 – a provision entitled, “A Local Law to Amend the Town of Batavia Zoning Ordinance for Solar Energy Systems.”
The public hearing, which will take place at the Town Hall at 3833 West Main St. Rd., comes on the heels of several months of work by a committee charged with revising the ordinance on the installation of solar systems.
CLICK HERE to access a final draft of the updated solar law.
Supervisor Gregory Post thanked Town Council member Chad Zambito, committee chair, for the group’s efforts, with Zambito acknowledging the input of Building Inspector Dan Lang in the process.
In other action, the board passed resolutions to:
CATCO is the general contract for the project on 1.2 miles of Park Road between Route 63 and Route 98.
Additionally, the board approved a contract for $55,000 for Ravi Engineering and Land Surveying to provide inspection services for the installation of watermain on Park Road, which also is part of the major project.
Tourt, who has announced his retirement at the City of Batavia’s maintenance superintendent, moved into the elected position following the resignation of Thomas Lichtenthal, whose term expires on Dec. 31, 2025.
Universal Pre-Kindergarten to accommodate more than 100 children for the 2022-23 school year is on the table for consideration at Batavia City Schools.
A recommendation by Molly Corey is on the school board’s agenda for this week’s meeting. It’s set for 6 p.m. Thursday at Batavia High School, Superintendent's Conference Room, 260 State St.
Corey, the district’s executive director of curriculum and instruction, has proposed UPK sites at Imagination Station and GLOW YMCA, in addition to Jackson Primary School, in order to accommodate 112 students. The expected price tag is $672,719, to be paid with federal UPK grant funding, Corey said in a memo to the superintendent.
In other meeting items, the board is expected to vote on a proposal from Johnson Controls of Rochester for an energy performance contract. Promising a “positive cash flow” from state rebates and energy savings, the contract is for $2,357,531, to be paid off over the course of nearly 18 years at 2.75 percent interest.
If approved, construction would begin in September of this year with a completion date of August 2023.
Other votes and discussions include:
The meeting includes time for public comments and an executive session to discuss a resolution to “assert paid leave for an employee until further notice,” followed by the vote in open session.
To view the meeting, go to: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UC8JI99xyBJt1sGdRzmCW2Kg
Officials of the Genesee County Economic Development Center are asking Genesee County legislators to consider expanding the “jurisdictional reach” of a locally controlled funding unit to facilitate $218 million in bond funds for Rochester Regional Health’s expansion projects.
Speaking at the legislature’s Ways & Means Committee meeting this afternoon at the Old County Courthouse, GCEDC President Steve Hyde encouraged passage of a resolution that would permit the Genesee County Funding Corp. to act as a conduit bond issuer for a business enterprise – either for-profit or not-for-profit – located in Genesee County that has operations directly or through affiliated entities in other counties in New York State.
The resolution, which was passed by the committee and forwarded to the full legislature, calls for an expansion of the “mission and public objective” of the GCFC to promote economic development and expand the jurisdictional reach by making the GCFC eligible to issue bonds for projects outside of Genesee County.
If passed, Rochester Regional Health, which operates United Memorial Medical Center in Batavia along with health care facilities in other counties, would be the beneficiary of the amendment to the GCFC’s current certificate of incorporation.
Hyde said that RRH is planning to invest $42 million in Batavia, primarily on the construction of a 105,000-square-foot medical center off Route 98, north of the city, and another $50 million or so on an expansion in Potsdam (St. Lawrence County).
“That’s almost $100 million in new money plus they are refinancing existing debt,” he said, pointing out that the issuance of the bond through GCFC would enable RRH to get a tax-exempt corporation interest rate instead of a taxable rate. “If not, they would have to seek multiple bonds in a number of communities and the fees would be much higher.”
He said RRH leadership approached the GCEDC “to use our GCFC, which is a county affiliate that we manage on your (the legislature’s) behalf.” The GCFC board consists of five members, all appointed by the legislature.
Mark Masse, GCEDC senior vice president of operations, said Genesee County has seen tremendous growth of companies with locations in other counties.
“This won’t affect the county’s bond rating,” he said. “It is similar to a PILOT (payment in lieu of taxes) with no risk to the county.”
Hyde said RRH is focusing on the adaptive reuse of its North Street and Bank Street campuses, including expanding senior health care at the Jerome Center and possible razing a couple buildings on North Street because parking is an issue.
“And there will be more specialties at the new medical center, such as cardiac care and surgical (improvements),” he said.
Should the legislature vote in favor of the resolution, it would not change the fact that every project connected to the GCFC would have to be approved by the governing body and a public hearing would have to be held for tax exempt circumstances, Masse said.
County Attorney James Wujcik said the resolution’s wording was appropriate, adding that the expansion of the GCFC territory “makes Genesee County more attractive for investment.”
With too few members present to form a quorum, the Le Roy Planning Board on Tuesday night could not vote on a proposal by developer Eric Biscaro to build a 60-unit housing development on Lake Road.
Even so, Biscaro, planners, and residents were given a chance to discuss the project and it will move forward with the next step in the approval process -- a public hearing with the Village of Le Roy trustees.
Since the property is already zoned for a multi-unit development (R-3) -- Biscaro is planning to build duplexes -- and no variances are required, it's unlikely there are any legal hurdles for Biscaro to clear.
Previously, Biscaro tried to undertake a similar housing development off of East Avenue but because the zoning there is R-1, he needed village approval to modify the zoning.
On Tuesday, Biscaro laid out his plans and answered questions from those in attendance.
The project calls for 30 duplex homes on 16 acres off Route 19. The complex will be open only to people age 50 and older. Megan Hensel, project manager, said in Clinton Crossing in Batavia, which Biscaro developed, the average age of residents is 75.
Le Roy Fire Chief Craig Johnson expressed concern about the 20-foot-wide streets in the development and whether they would be wide enough to get apparatus to an emergency call if any cars were parked on the street.
Biscaro said given the average age of his tenants, they're not hosting many large gatherings and that while the garages for the units are single-car, the drives are all two-cars wide and most can accommodate up to four cars.
There will be very little on-street parking, he said. But he stopped short of saying on-street parking is prohibited.
Johnson said he would still like to see wider streets.
"It's just not a matter of not wanting to pave it," Biscaro said. "You wouldn't want to see it (wider streets). It wouldn't be a nice neighborly place."
There was also concern from Johnson and others in attendance that the driveway on Route 19 is close to a bit of a hill and the additional traffic will create an accident hazard.
Biscaro said the complex will generate little automobile traffic in and out of the entrance, reducing the risk of accidents.
Neighboring residents expressed concern about losing the open space near their homes, night lighting, and a possible stormwater pond on the property.
The project will use only five of the available 16 acres, Biscaro noted.
"We could take four times the buildings in there and still meet code," Biscaro said.
As for the lighting, in accordance with current standards, the lights will all focus their beams down toward the ground. There won't be lights shining into neighboring homes, Biscaro said.
One neighbor said he had two young sons and expressed concern about the stormwater pond and asked if it would be fenced.
Biscaro said the pond is still a concept and hasn't been engineered yet but if it does go in, it wouldn't be fenced but would be no more than two feet deep.
At Clinton Crossing, Biscaro said, most of the residents come from Batavia but they also come from Attica and Elba and other neighboring towns. He expects the occupancy of the Le Roy development to be the same.
"Le Roy could use some extra people and our clientele are good people and they will be your neighbors," he said.
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Article submitted by Chelsea Green, Genesee County Youth Bureau.
The Genesee County Youth Conference Coalition sponsored the 32nd Annual Youth Conference at Genesee Community College on March 15, 2022.
This conference is offered on an annual basis to local seventh- and eighth-grade students in Genesee and Orleans County in an effort to address pertinent social issues of interest to youngsters of middle-school age. There were approximately 175 seventh- and eighth-grade students in attendance.
This year’s theme of the conference was “We Are Stronger Together.”
The inspiring speaker, Earl Ameen made the trip up from Texas to speak with our students. Earl’s message inspired youth to believe in themselves, embrace love, and to become more kind and compassionate while respecting everyone.
A variety of human service organizations in Genesee County contributed to the event by organizing a workshop for students to attend that day. Workshops were tailored to be interesting, engaging, and hands-on while being taught valuable lessons. Some of these workshop topics were: healthy eating habits, building functional relationships, Geocaching, learning about disabilities, teambuilding, and internet safety. Dance, Yoga, and WERQ were popular workshops attended as well!
Members of the Youth Conference Committee are extremely grateful to the workshop presenters who volunteered their time to educate our area's seventh and eighth-graders. We are also grateful to the following businesses/organizations that provided discounts or donations for the conference…Genesee Community College, Genesee and Orleans County Stop DWI Programs, Community Action of Orleans & Genesee County, and Subway.
The Genesee County Youth Conference Committee is comprised of representatives from the following agencies: Genesee-Orleans County Youth Bureau, Genesee Community College, Genesee County Job Development, YMCA, Community Action, and Reality Check/Roswell.
For more information on this year’s Genesee County Youth Conference or to find out how you can participate in the next event, call the Genesee County Youth Bureau at 585-344-3960.
Photos by Howard Owens
There are two power outages reported by National Grid in Alexander, one affecting 372 customers and the other 907.
About half of the Village of Alexander is without power and that outage area stretches down Route 98 to Attica Central School, also north to Hunn Road and east almost to West Bethany/Molasses Hill Road.
The outage affecting 907 customers is along much of Route 238 and also covers a substantial portion of Wyoming County.
Nearly all of the National Grid service area in Wyoming County (a panhandle down the middle of the county) is without power.
The power outages in Alexander started at 2:54 p.m. and are expected to be resolved by 5 p.m.
Press release:
“While colleges and universities are indeed places where uncomfortable conversations about controversial subjects should take place, I am deeply disappointed that members of the SUNY Brockport Office of Equity, Diversity, and Inclusion have decided to invite Anthony Bottom, a convicted cop-killer, onto campus while framing his experiences as those of a ‘political prisoner,’ all while using taxpayer grant funding to do so. It is nothing less than a slap in the face for the family of the two officers he murdered, as well as those serving currently in law enforcement who face very real threats from individuals like him daily in their work.
“In speaking with administrators of SUNY Brockport, I have been reassured this decision was one that was spearheaded by a subcommittee consisting of several faculty members in conjunction with the Office of Equity, Diversity, and Inclusion. Unless Mr. Bottom plans on speaking about how remorseful he is for his actions, he has no place on a SUNY campus, especially not as a paid speaker. I very much so hope a closer review of grant applications will be forthcoming.”
UPDATE:
Press release from Chris Jacobs:
Congressman Chris Jacobs (NY-27) was joined by Representatives Stefanik (NY-21), Malliotakis (NY-11), Garbarino (NY-02), Tenney (NY-22), Zeldin (NY-01), Reed (NY-23), and Katko (NY-24) in calling for SUNY Brockport to rescind its invitation to Jalil Muntaqim (a.k.a. Anthony Bottom) to deliver a speech entitled, "History of Black Resistance, U.S. Political Prisoners & Genocide: A Conversation with Jalil Muntaqim."
“As members of Congress representing thousands of brave police officers throughout New York State – we find it unsettling that a taxpayer funded College would believe it is acceptable to give a platform to an individual who was convicted of murdering two law enforcement officers, Joseph Piagentini and Waverly Jones, in cold blood, especially at a time when violent murders and ambushes of police have skyrocketed in this nation,” the Representatives wrote.
Jalil Muntaqim was convicted of the 1971 murders of NYPD Officers Joseph Piagentini and Waverly Jones. Muntaqim, along with others, ambushed the patrolmen after they were lured into public housing using a phony 911 call.
“We urge SUNY Brockport to withdraw its invitation to Jalil Muntaqim immediately and to apologize to the families of Joseph Piagentini and Waverly Jones as well as every law enforcement officer in our state,” the Representatives said.
Press release:
Recent redistricting created New York State Congressional District 24, the Lake District, which is 258 miles long and includes 14 counties, bordered by Lake Ontario to the north and the Finger Lakes to the south. It is one of the largest districts in the state and has no incumbent representative for Congress. The Democratic leadership in the district sees an opportunity to find a strong, qualified candidate that will create consensus and represents all western New Yorkers.
“We want to bring people together and appeal to the common goals of people in the district, like a clean environment, better access to affordable healthcare, voting and civil rights for all, and better education outcomes. We want our representative to reflect our culture of hard-working middle-class Americana, and speak for all of us,” said Elizabeth Passer, spokesperson and Oswego County Democratic Chair.
The new district encompasses constituents of rich and varied lifestyles and socio-economic backgrounds including farmers, business owners, and vacation homeowners, who make their livings in industries like agriculture, viniculture, technology, manufacturing, tourism, and more. This traditionally conservative part of New York State also includes many liberal voices who want their representative to work for them, too.
The Chairs of the 14 member counties of The Lake District are asking for interested individuals to send their resumes with a cover letter to oswegodemocraticcomitteechair@gmail.com. The candidate needs an understanding of rural, town, and tourist community life as well as the current obstacles found on a national level.
Press release:
Congressman Chris Jacobs (NY-27) released the following statement after Ukrainian President Zelenskyy delivered a speech to a joint session of Congress.
“The continued Russian assault on the sovereign nation of Ukraine is reprehensible. I commend President Zelenskyy for his strength and poise in the face of this assault on his country. Last week Congress approved additional aid - we must expedite its delivery and not delay any new economic action. We must continue to provide humanitarian assistance and military equipment, including MiGs and other air defense systems, to restore peace, end the Russian invasion, and hold Vladimir Putin accountable for the war crimes being committed in Ukraine."
Press release:
The YWCA of Genesee County announced that it hold its Women of Inspiration Brunch on April 30, 2022, at the Batavia Country Club, 7909 Byron Road, Batavia, NY 14020, from 11:00 am-1:00 pm. Tickets are $35 each and may be purchased in the following ways: Scan the QR Code, visit ywcagenesee.org or make a check out to The YWCA of Genesee County and send to 301 North Street, Batavia, NY 14020. Tickets are limited to the first 125 people and may be purchased up to and including April 10th, 2022.
Executive Director, Millie Tomidy-Pepper said that four local women will be honored with the “Women of Inspiration Award” for the awe-inspiring ways in which they each live out the mission of the YWCA every day.
Recipients include:
- Rev. Dr. Roula Alkhouri, Pastor of the First Presbyterian Church
- Maureen Notaro, Principal, Jackson Primary School
- Marci Redband, Accounting Specialist, Tonawanda Valley Federal Credit Union
- Jaquelyn Swinarski, Retired Teacher, Robert Morris School, Community Volunteer
In addition to the Women of Inspiration Awards, The YWCA of Genesee County will be presenting Synia Morrison, Senior at Batavia High School, with the Frances G. Francis Scholarship Award.
Officer Miah Stephens, School Resource Officer from the Batavia Police Department, will be this year’s guest speaker.
The YWCA is grateful to everyone who took the time to nominate these amazing women and look forward to celebrating their inspirational lives on April 30, 2022.
For the last 112 years the YWCA has been Eliminating Racism. Empowering Women and Promoting Peace, Justice, Freedom, and Dignity for all.
After spending six months as an employee of Batavia Downs Gaming, running the business of the same name, Rada (photo at left) will be focused – on a full-time basis – on building his dine-in, take-out and catering enterprise out of a cozy location at 10 Main St. in the village.
“The shop will be open from noon to 8 p.m. Wednesdays through Friday at the beginning, and some weekends, depending upon my off-site catering schedule,” said Rada, a well-traveled chef who has carved out a niche with his Texas-style beef and Kansas City-style pork barbecue recipes.
A 1999 Pembroke Central School graduate, Rada said he will be “a one-man show” for the most part, with his wife, Fanchonya, and parents helping out during the busy times.
He said the Corfu restaurant has room for 12 people to sit and, once the weather cooperates, outdoor seating will be available.
The menu will change on a daily basis, he advised.
“Our menu for opening weekend is going to be pulled pork, our smoked St. Louis-style ribs, beef brisket and barbecue chicken,” he said, adding that sides will include potato salad, coleslaw, carrot pineapple salad, collard greens, beans and “cowboy caviar.”
Changes in Store at Batavia Downs Gaming
As far as the future of the restaurant off the gaming floor at Batavia Downs, Scott Kiedrowski, vice president of operations, today said management will reopen the space soon – shifting away from barbecue exclusively.
“With Nick looking to concentrate on his own business, we will be remodeling the kitchen and will be providing deli sandwiches, wood-fired pizza and, on occasion, pulled pork and brisket,” he said. “Our customers have been asking for subs and personal pizzas.”
Reaction to New Businesses Across the Street
When asked about Benderson Development Co.’s move to place a couple of restaurants and a coffee shop (speculation is that it is a Starbucks) across Park Road on the former Kmart parking lot, Kiedrowski said he sees it as a “positive” thing for that section of the city and town.
“We knew this was coming and we look at it not as competition but an enhancement,” he said. “The venues will bring more customers this way and hopefully some of them will come here.”
He said Batavia Downs Gaming customers will continue to be able to park at the lot.
Previously: Master chef Nick Rada back home serving authentic barbecue at Batavia Downs and (soon) Village of Corfu
Press release:
Genesee County Sheriff’s Office Deputies Ryan J. Mullen, Carlos O. Ortiz Speed, and Alexander R. Hadsall graduated from the 77th Niagara County Law Enforcement Academy at Niagara County Community College on March 8, 2022.
Deputy Ryan J. Mullen is a 2015 graduate of Batavia Central School. He was previously a Correction Officer at the Genesee County Jail, hired on March 13, 2021, before being appointed a Deputy Sheriff. Deputy Mullen attended Finger Lakes Community College and earned an Associate in Applied Science Degree in Natural Resource Conservation: Law Enforcement.
Deputy Alexander R. Hadsall received the Sgt. Jeff Juron Defensive Tactics Award in his basic academy class. He is a 2015 graduate of Alexander Central School. Deputy Hadsall was previously employed as a Correction Officer with the New York State Department of Corrections and Community Supervision (DOCCS) at Attica Correctional Facility.
Deputy Carlos O. Ortiz Speed is a 2016 graduate of Batavia Central School. He was previously employed as a Loss Prevention Investigator for Six Flags Darien Lake.
Sheriff Sheron stated, “I am pleased to welcome these three outstanding individuals to the Genesee County Sheriff’s Office to serve the residents of our county.”
Submitted photo: Deputy Alexander R. Hadsall, Deputy Carlos O. Ortiz Speed, Deputy Ryan J. Mullen
Press release from the Town of Batavia:
Starting March 21st through the fall of 2022, a contractor for the Town of Batavia, CATCO, will be installing new utilities, reconstructing, and resurfacing Park Road from the intersection of NYS Route 63 to NYS Route 98.
To complete this project, the following changes will be implemented during construction:
For this project Park Road, northbound traffic will be detoured onto Veterans Memorial Drive, and Park Road southbound traffic will remain on Park Road. This means only a single lane of traffic will be established for southbound travel. The timeline for completion is November 2022.
We ask that you bear with us during construction and consider making changes to your daily commute or plans to visit any establishments along Park Road since traffic will be restricted during construction. Alex’s, Tops Plaza rear entrance, and Batavia Downs will remain accessible only while traveling southbound. See attached Traffic Flow Map. Construction updates on this project, in addition to other Town of Batavia projects, can be found here: www.townofbatavia.com
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