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Terry Hills Drive closed Monday for paving

By Press Release

Press Release:

To all motorists, residents, and property owners along Terry Hills Drive in the Town of Batavia:

Terry Hills Drive will be paved on August 5 between the hours of 7 a.m. and 5 p.m. 

The roadway will be closed to all traffic on Terry Hills Drive between Clinton St-Rd/ Route 33 and dead-end while paving operations occur. Residents and Property owners of Terry Hills Drive will have limited access and should expect delays.

Emergency services will be permitted through. All other traffic will not be permitted through the road closure. This work is weather dependent. If work is delayed it will be rescheduled for the next available date.

If there are any questions concerning this work, please contact The Town of Batavia – Highway Department at (585) 343-1729 Extension 218. Thank you for your cooperation in advance.

Batavia Swing Band performing at DeWitt on Saturday

By Press Release

Press Release:

Enjoy a free concert on a summer night at the DeWitt Recreation Area on Saturday, August 3 from 6:30 - 8:30 p.m. Meet us at Pavilion 2 for a concert featuring the Batavia Swing Band.

Bring a lawn chair and your favorite people! First come, first served seating at picnic tables. The Pink Cow Ice Cream truck will be on hand for all of your sweet treat needs. 

This concert is FREE. Made possible through generous funding by the Genesee County Association for the Conservation of Recreational and Natural Spaces (ACORNS).

Muckdogs open playoffs with 4-2 over Jamestown

By Howard B. Owens

The Batavia Muckdogs opened the postseason with a 4-2 win over Jamestown at Dwyer Stadium on Monday.

Batavia finished the regular season with a 34-8 record for a .802 win percentage, 10 games ahead of second-place Elmira and the second-best record in the Perfect Game Collegiate Baseball League. The Amsterdam Mohawks finished 35-7 for a .833 win percentage.

Jamestown, 19-25 in the regular season, opened the scoring with two runs in the second on an RBI single by Leo Doyle. Two batters later, Aidan Wallace scored on a wild pitch.

The Muckdogs answered in the bottom half of the inning on an RBI single by T.J. Morris and tied the game in the bottom of the third when Travis Hammond scored on a fielder's choice.

Hammond again scored in the sixth on a fielder's choice in the sixth to give the Muckdogs the lead.

Batavia picked up an insurance run in the eighth after Shaun Pope walked to open the inning (replaced on the basepaths by James Mason), a single by Travis Hammond, a walk to Jake Butler, and finally a walk, forcing a run in (Mason) to Cooper Romich.

The win was credited to Garrett Beaver, who took the mound in the sixth, relieving Gage Wheaton (Penfield/Niagara University), who went five innings, giving up four hits, two runs, and striking out five Tarp Skunks.

Hammond was 2-2 with a walk at the plate, scoring two runs. 

To keep their season going, the Muckdogs need another win on Tuesday night against Elmira at Dwyer Stadium. Game time is 6:35 p.m.

 

HLOM announces extended hours, tours, trivia for August

By Press Release

Press Release:

The Holland Land Office Museum is extending its hours every first Wednesday of the month until 8 p.m.! You will get personal tours from staff and volunteers, meaning you will get a more in-depth history of Batavia and Genesee County! You also may be able to go upstairs, if you are able and want to! Admission is $5 for non-members and $3 for members! Call the museum or email us if you wish to attend! (585) 343-4727 or hollandlandofficemuseum@gmail.com.

Join the Holland Land Office Museum for the next edition of our Trivia Night at the Museum on Thursday, August 8 at 7 p.m. This month trivia will be held at GO Art! located at 201 E. Main St. in Batavia. You can even get a drink at their Tavern 2.o.1. In honor of the Woodstock Music Festival, our topic is the Swinging Sixties. Admission is $5 or $3 for museum members. Please contact the museum at 585-343-4727 or hollandlandoffice@gmail.com if you would like to attend.

Due to popular demand for varying times in our presentation/program times! HLOM staff with be giving presentations every second Saturday of the month from 11 a.m. - 12 p.m. on Saturday, August 10! Our curator, Tyler Angora, will be presenting on "19th-Century Weddings," which he did a few months ago to kick off the wedding exhibit! However, due to many requests, he will be doing it again! You will learn about 19th-century wedding customs, clothing, and so much more! Admission $5 for non-members and $3 for members! You may let us know if you are planning on attending by either calling the museum at (585)343-4727 or emailing us at hollandlandofficemuseum@gmail.com.

Bring the kids by the Holland Land Office Museum for our new History Story time for Summer 2024. On Saturday, August 17 at 11 a.m. Joyce Thompson-Hovey will be sharing the fun topic of Civil War Mascots & Pets. For this presentation the speaker comes in Civil War Union uniform and explains what the average soldier wore and carried with them. This program shows how many regiments had strange and unusual pets. These pets went to war and lived in camps with their soldier owners. These are their unusual stories. Admission is $5 or $3 or museum members. If you would like to sign up please contact the museum at 585-343-4727 or hollandlandoffice@gmail.com. 

Come and learn the first steps to create a Family Tree from 2 - 3 p.m. on Saturday, August 17. In partnership with the Genesee Area Genealogists, this is the first part of a two-part program to learn how to begin creating a family tree, which can be daunting if you do not know where to start! This workshop is worth bringing your kids to, it would be a fun activity for a family to do together! Admission is $5 for non-members and $3 for members!

Join us at the Holland Land Office Museum for the next edition of our Java with Joe E. morning presentation series on Thursday, August 22 at 9 a.m. Erica Wanecski will be sharing how the world and Western New York changed throughout the decade of the 1980s. Admission is free with coffee and cookies. Please contact the museum at 585-343-4727 or hollandlandoffice@gmail.com if you plan to attend. Thank you to Pub Hub Coffee for sponsoring Java with Joe E. for 2024. 

On August 24 at 11 a.m. Brandon Brooks, Curator of the John L. Wehle Gallery at Genesee Country Village & Museum, will be presenting “Redeeming the Irredeemable: The Diabolical Striped Garment,” The presentation will explore how the stripe and striped garments have been used by society to draw a line between those who are welcome and those who are not. From nefarious criminals, rebels, insurgents, and prisoners, to the middle-class masses, and those wishing to embrace seaside luxury; the history of stripes is full of colorful and conflicting implications. Extent pieces from the Bruce & Susan Greene Costume Collection will complement this discussion. Brooks has been the Curator of the John L. Wehle Gallery at Genesee Country Village & Museum since March 2020. Brooks works with over 400 years of European and American sporting and wildlife art, and over 300 years of fashion and textile material culture. Admission is $5 for non-members and $3 for members. Please contact the museum at 585-343-4727 or hollandlandoffice@gmail.com.

"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!"

Possible serious injuries in accident on Route 77 in Alabama

By Howard B. Owens
jeep-accident-alabama
Sgt. Andrew Hale with a Jeep involved in a rollover accident on Route 77 in Alabama.
Photo by Howard Owens.

Dispatchers are checking on the availability of Mercy Flight after receiving a report of a possible serious injury accident in the area of 6218 Alleghany Road, Alabama.

Alabama Fire and Mercy EMS dispatched.

UPDATE 5:10 p.m. Joanne Beck: Mercy Flight responding, ETA 9 minutes.

UPDATE 5:37 p.m. Joanne Beck: Mercy Flight en route to Erie County Medical Center. Howard Owens is at the scene.

UPDATE 6:32 p.m. Joanne Beck:

In a one-vehicle accident, considered to be one of those “freak” occurrences when not wearing a seat belt actually may have saved the driver’s life. The driver was ejected from his Jeep early Monday evening and is expected to survive, said Genesee County Sheriff’s Sergeant Andrew Hale.

The 39-year-old driver was flown by Mercy Flight to Erie County Medical Center with serious injuries.

Hale said the vehicle was heading northbound on Route 63 towards Medina at approximately 4:50 p.m., where there was some road construction, when, for “some unknown reason,” the driver drove through road-closed construction signs.

“It’s out of the Alabama area here right on the county line, at which point it blew through some construction signs here, and overcorrected and went off the shoulder of the roadway. The construction crews are doing work in the area,” he said. “So from our preliminary investigation, we determined this vehicle rolled at least two times, possibly a third. And the individual was not wearing his seatbelt. And that's ultimately what probably led to him surviving the motor vehicle crash. Had he been wearing a seatbelt, he would have been probably trapped and crushed by the rolling of the Jeep. So, in this instance, it appears that being ejected from the vehicle is what ultimately saved him.”

Hale confirmed that the driver was conscious and alert when responders found him and was able to “talk briefly.” 

“But he did have severe injuries,” Hale said. 

He did not suspect that alcohol was involved in the accident, he said, but added there's no way of telling if drugs were involved at this point.

There will be an investigation as to why the driver went through the construction signs because “at this time, we don’t have an answer as to why he did that,” Hale said. 

“We’ll definitely follow up,” Hale said. He’s got some things he’s got to tend to for right now, but when the time comes, we’ll probably ask him those most important questions.”

There was an off-duty volunteer fireman who lives just up the road who heard the accident and and, along with his father, also responded to the scene. 

It is still being determined at what point the driver was ejected from the vehicle, Hale said. He was just lucky in this case that he wasn’t wearing a seatbelt, though Hale encourages everyone to wear one.

“Absolutely wear a seatbelt. You know, 99 percent of the time, it will only benefit you and help save your life and help save others’ lives,” he said. This was just one of those rare freak accidents, and in this case, it played to his benefit.”

The driver’s fiancee had been notified of the accident, Hale said.  The driver's name has not yet been released.

jeep-accident-alabama
Photo by Howard Owens.
jeep-accident-alabama
Photo by Howard Owens.
jeep-accident-alabama
Photo by Howard Owens.

MUCKDOGS PLAYOFF PREGAME SHOW

By Batavia Muckdogs

July 29, 2024 - PGCBL West Division Semi-Final: #4 Jamestown Tarp skunks @ #1 Batavia Muckdogs

Join Austin Mendes and Landon Washburn as they breakdown the 2024 PGCBL playoffs and today's West Semi-Final match between the Jamestown Tarp Skunks and the Batavia Muckdogs

#GoDogs #BuiltDifferent

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Police looking for help locating possible stolen dog

By Press Release
beau stolen dog

Press release:

The City of Batavia Police Department is looking for assistance in locating a dog that may have been stolen from a residence on Masse Pl. "Beau" is a 15 month old Corgi who is white with black and gray spotting on his back end. Beau is also deaf. Beau is believed to have been taken during the morning of July 27th. If you have any information to the whereabouts of Beau, please contact Officer Quider at 585-345-6350.

Division crown secured, Muckdogs keep pressure in 11-4 win over Jamestown

By Howard B. Owens
batavia muckdogs

Even with the West Division title in the Perfect Game Collegiate Baseball League clinched, the Batavia Muckdogs showed no letup on Saturday. They scored 11 runs over the Jamestown Tarp Skunks at Dwyer Stadium in front of a home crowd of 2,143.

Eric Woodley, from Depew, made only his second appearance of the season. He came on in the fifth and pitched 2 2/3 innings, giving up only one hit and striking out three to pick up the 11-4 win.

TJ Morris, in the leadoff spot, went 3-4, driving in two runs and scoring twice. He's hitting .327 on the season.

Jacob Veczko went 1-4 and drove in three runs. Anthony Greco, from Buffalo, was 2-3 with an RBI and run scored. Bryceton Berry, from Batavia, was 1-2 with a pair of walks and three runs scored. Caleb Walker was 2-3 with two runs scored.

The Muckdogs close out the regular season on Sunday at 4:05 p.m. against Newark.

Batavia is 33-8 on the season, nine games ahead of second-place Auburn. In the PGCBL, only Amsterdam, at 35-7, has a better record.

The playoff schedule has not yet been released.

Photos by Nick Serrata.

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Pair of six-horse fields highlight opening night at Batavia Downs

By Tim Bojarski
batavia downs
Photo by Nick Serrata

Batavia Downs opened its 2024 summer/fall meet on Saturday night. The 3-year-old pacing filly division of the New York Sire Stakes was in town, featuring two six-horse fields that vied for $58,100 each.

The first division was won by A Few Choice Words (Courtly Choice-Top Choice Hanover), who made every station a winning one. 

Jim Marohn Jr. put A Few Choice Words on the point off the gate and skated through fractions of :28.2, :57.2 and 1:25.3 before Stepabovetherest (Braxton Boyd) pulled from third and tried to advance. But the closest she would get to the leader would be second, next to the pocket-sitting Leanne’s Choice (Marcus Miller) because A Few Choice Words turned for home and paced with authority to the line where she won in 1:54.

It was the third win in a row and sixth out of the last seven for A Few Choice Words, who is owned by Clancy Farms and trained by Blake Macintosh. 

Then there was an upset in the second division when She’s Epic (American Ideal-Booya Beach) shook loose and flew home late at 15-1.

Camerican (Jim Morrill Jr.) grabbed the lead from Peace Talks (Jim Marohn Jr.) just before the quarter and then tempered the pace to the half in :57.4. Camerican continued her easy lead around the third turn and up the backstretch until She’s Epic (Tyler Buter) pulled from fourth and made her way to second by three-quarters in 1:26.4. She’s Epic pulled alongside Camerican and the pace got decidedly more intense as the fillies matched strides around the final bend and into the stretch. Despite their best efforts, neither girl could get ahead until three pylons from the wire where She’s Epic lived up to her name and rode a :26.4 final panel to a one-half length victory in 1:54.

It was the third win of the year for She’s Epic ($33.40) who is owned by John Cummins and trained by Travis Alexander. 

Buter got the hat trick on Saturday after winning two $20,000 Excelsior legs with Hurricaneaphrodite (1:54, $3.90) for trainer John McDermott and Tempville (1:56.1, $4.90) for trainer George Ducharme. Ducharme also trained the winner of the third Excelsior leg, Villannah (1:55.2, $13.80) driven by Jim Morrill Jr. who also had a hat trick on Saturday night. 

Live racing resumes at Batavia Downs on Tuesday (July 30) at 6 p.m.  

Photos by Nick Serrata.

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batavia downs

The Batavian's eagle drawing contest, the People's Choice winner

By Howard B. Owens
eagle drawing contest
Drawing by Brooke Follett.

The Batavian closed out its Genesee County Fair eagle drawing contest on Saturday, and Brooke Follett is the People's Choice winner.

Here drawings received the most votes from people who stopped by the Media Center on Friday and Saturday and cast ballots. She wins a ukulele.

Below are the other four drawings that received the most votes.

eagle
Drawing by Tylin Torcello, 2nd place
eagle drawing contest
Drawing by Miranda Tamburlin, 3rd place
eagle drawing contest
Drawing by Teri Tamburlin, 4th place
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Drawing by Brooke Jurek, 5th place

July 27, 2024 - Jamestown Tarp Skunks v.s. Batavia Muckdogs

By Batavia Muckdogs

The Tarp Skunks look to bounce back following the loss in Jamestown yesterday to the Muckdogs. Batavia is looking to continue to add to their franchise record in wins this season which sits at 32 coming into tonight.

Saxenmayer (JAM) v.s. Chandler (BAT)

#GoDogs #BuiltDifferent

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Top Items on Batavia's List

City of Batavia, NY Position: Full-time Building Maintenance Worker. Salary: $20.60 - $24.45/hour. The City of Batavia is accepting applications for one full-time Building Maintenance Worker. The work involves a variety of mechanical and other building maintenance tasks. Applicant must have a minimum of two years of full-time paid experience in general building construction or maintenance work, or an equivalent combination of training and experience indicating ability to perform the duties of the job. Civil Service applications may be obtained at City Hall in the Human Resource Department. Please send completed applications to Teri Dean, Employee Payroll/Insurance Clerk, One Batavia City Centre, Batavia, NY, or via email to tdean@batavianewyork.com by September 20, 2024. Background check, psychological assessment, and physical/drug testing required. Candidate must become a resident of the County of Genesee or any adjacent town to the County of Genesee within 6 months of the date of conclusion of the probationary period for the City of Batavia. EEO
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