Press Release:

Genesee County Sheriff William A. Sheron Jr. is pleased to announce that the new Genesee County Jail is now open, occupied and operational. 

This morning, Wednesday, August 28, 2024, all 74 inmates currently committed to the Genesee County Jail at 14 West Main Street in the City of Batavia were transferred to the newly constructed, state of the art, Genesee County Jail located at 3839 West Main Street Road in the Town of Batavia. 

The transition to the new jail facility went seamlessly thanks to the dedication and detailed preparation by the Genesee County Corrections' personnel in cooperation with numerous Genesee County Officials.

Assisting with the move this morning were deputies from the Genesee County Sheriff's Office and officers from the
Batavia Police Department, the Livingston County Sheriff's Office, Genesee County Facilities Management, Genesee County Information Technology Department, Genesee County Department of Public Works, and the New York State Commission of Corrections.

Sheriff Sheron said, "This project has been a monumental endeavor, I wish to extend our sincere appreciation to everyone that contributed to bringing it to function."

Press Release:

The Genesee County Office for the Aging is pleased to announce an informative and free event designed to help residents of Genesee County navigate the upcoming changes to Medicare in 2025. 

The event will take place on Tuesday, October 8, from 11 a.m. - 2 p.m. at the Town of Bethany Community Center, located at 10510 Bethany Center Road, East Bethany. 

This event is open to Genesee County residents who are new to Medicare in 2025, currently on Medicare, or caregivers attending with a Medicare recipient. Reservations are required, and attendees will have the option to select a boxed lunch upon making their reservation. To reserve your spot, please call 585-343-1611.

The event is made possible through funds from the NY State Office for the Aging, NY Connects, the Administration for Community Living, the Genesee Senior Foundation, Inc., and the support of the Genesee County Legislature.

Program Highlights: 

• Genesee/Orleans Health Department will discuss effective communication with healthcare providers regarding medications and overall health.
• New York Statewide Senior Action Council, Inc. will provide insights into the latest Medicare scams to be aware of during the upcoming Open Enrollment season. 
• Genesee County Office for the Aging will have a Medicare Specialist present to go over the changes coming to Medicare in 2025, followed by a Q&A session.

This event aims to empower and educate attendees about the changes to Medicare Advantage Plans and Part D plans, giving them the confidence to make informed decisions moving forward.

For individuals with disabilities or language interpretation needs, requests for reasonable accommodations should be made at least five days in advance. 

For more information or to RSVP, please contact the Genesee County Office for the Aging at 585-343-1611.

For Joseph Oddo, a Batavia native and Army veteran, it didn’t take long to name what’s kept him going for a century.

“I always help people out. That’s why I think the Lord blessed me, because, you know, the things I did in my life to help people,” the newly turned 100-year-old said during an interview with The Batavian. “I worked with people. I kept going all the time.”

Oddo will be celebrating his 75th wedding anniversary with his wife Fran on Sept. 24 — a date he joked he had not better forget. She stayed home to care for their children while he was on the road a lot, he said, as his work ethic didn’t just get him through jobs but through life.

“So everything worked out,” he said. “I kept myself busy, kept going. I always did that. When you come from a family of 10 kids …”

As the oldest in his family, he learned early on, which originated from his dad arriving “off the boat” from Sicily with a sponsorship from a Le Roy resident, that he needed to forge ahead with whatever came his way.

That included doing his patriotic duty right out of high school graduation in 1942, he said.  A military draft had just been declared, and the government wasted no time pulling young boys into service. Oddo was drafted into the U.S. Army, where he served with the Signal Corps 234, a 3342 signal battalion, he said.

“I still remember, and in the battalion, various different companies. So I was a 231st company, which dealt with radio, telephone and teletype. My job was a W8, a double E day was a field telephone. That was my job, and I made sure that those are operating, and the people that had them made sure that they were getting the right information,” he said. “Because, you know, we were in Persia, they call it Iran today. See, when the Germans pushed, I mean they pushed, what’s it called, the Germans into Russia, came in with a lot of equipment, they talked about, they came along with tanks and guns and everything else.

We were just outside of Tehran into white Russia, so to speak, and that’s where we were stationed, and that’s how we kept the communications going from that point on because we could reach the troops and everybody from that point,” he said. “I served three years in World War II. I got my notice in December ’42, so in January ’43 I got inducted. I went to Fort Niagara.”

He became a leader right away when he was put in charge of troops. Then, he said, they boarded a train to New Jersey for training. 

“And then all of a sudden, I had to go to Fort Monmouth for two months. And it teaches all the communications of telephone and teletype and radio and all that,” he said, referring to another time during service. “We all worked together and stuff like that. Occasionally, we had guard duty. They had a lot of German prisoners, we used to guard them at night time, that was our duty some times. We put switchboards out in the field and we had to operate switchboards because they were contacting what was on the other side of Germany.”

When he returned in January 1946, he resumed working at Doehler Jarvis even though he was “a little upset” that he couldn’t go on to school. 

“When I couldn’t go to school, I had to go to the Army. I did my duty and said, ‘Why did you pick on me? I was only 18 years old, you know. But you had to serve your country. I did it,” he said. “I was told Jarvis said they wanted me; I became a steward. They made me the president of the union. I ran for president, and that was president of four plants in Chicago, Toledo, Grand Rapids and Pottstown, Pennsylvania.”

He did such a great job, in fact, that he was offered a job in Detroit for the United Auto Workers. Sell your house and move, he was told. He worked with the union for many years, negotiating contracts and such, traveling to California and “all over the place,” he said. He was so good at negotiating and so fierce that he was even dubbed “Jimmy Hoffa,” he said. 

He couldn’t sell their local home and move, however, due to his wife’s mother, who had a disability and wanted her daughter close by.

Oddo never had a gap in employment, being offered various jobs throughout his life — a testament to that work ethic no doubt. He and Fran have two children, Sal Oddo and Marianne Anderson, and they still live in the Southside home they bought in 1960.

Through all these years, he has retained his memories and the drive to do what Joe Oddo does best.

“Keep going; it’s the key. Don’t stop,” he said. “I’m 100 years old, I’m still going. I do things, you know, work outside, clean. I do everything right now.”  

During a heatwave in early July, Premier Genesee Center for Nursing and Rehabilitation faced several related challenges:  the nursing home’s HVAC system faltered, the mechanical room overheated, and the elevators broke down, creating a potentially hazardous situation for the senior residents.

When City of Batavia Fire Captain Bob Fix was called to the scene, he didn’t merely give a standard response. He exceeded expectations, Supervising Administrator Samantha Vagg says.

"Captain Fix stuck out because of how he guided younger firefighters and frequently called back after his team left to make sure our facility was okay,” Vagg said to The Batavian.  

His proactive approach, including collaborating with nursing home staff and coordinating with National Grid, prevented further issues, Vagg said, which prompted her to nominate Fix for Erie County Fair’s Firefighter Honoree Award.

The award, which was presented to Fix on Aug. 18, is given to individuals who exemplify the highest standards of the fire service, showcasing a notable record of service, achievement, and selflessness.

City Fire Chief Josh Graham spoke highly of Captain Fix, emphasizing that the department’s standard is to go above and beyond. He added that the entire department takes pride in Fix’s recognition, which reflects the collective dedication that defines the firefighters’ work.

"Captain Fix is a dedicated professional and a true asset to our community,” Graham said. “We are honored to have him represent Local 896 as Sunday's Firefighter Honoree.”

Fix, a 21-year veteran of the fire department, said that no matter how bad his day might be going at work, “whoever’s calling for help is having a worse day than me.”

“If I can do a little extra, why not?” he said, remaining rather modest about the recognition. "I'm just the guy that got nominated for the award."

He deflected praise aimed at him instead to his entire team and the nursing home staff, who he said played a crucial role during the emergency. Vagg said that she would have nominated the whole department if she could have since it “is so professional every time we interact.”

Firefighting is not just a career but a calling in his family, Fix said. Being honored at the fair became a full-circle moment for him, combining his love for the community with his lifelong commitment to public service. He’s also quick to point out that the department does so many other things within the community.

"My father was a firefighter, and I've been going to the fair for as long as I can remember,” he said. "We’re there for car accidents, technical rescues, building safety inspections, and more. In October, we’ll focus on fire prevention, going into schools to teach fire safety. It’s all part of the job."

The seemingly anti-business posture of New York's government dominated a conversation on Tuesday at Chapin International in Batavia during Assemblyman Steve Hawley's visit with CEO Tim Onello and other Chapin executives.

Onello said it would help the state's business climate by lowering taxes and reducing mandates and regulations.

"There's just all the extra laws and things you have to maneuver when you're in New York," said Onello, a Buffalo native who became CEO four months ago.

The barriers to business expansion drove Chapin, said Bill Kegler, VP of operations, to open a plant in Kentucky a few years ago.

"We had to go out of state ... unfortunately, because the environment in New York is restrictive and tough, just tough to grow a business," Kegler said. "It's just not conducive to success, to the continued company success."

Hawley noted the echo of history.  Chapin occupies the former Sylvania factory, which relocated to Tennessee in 1976.

"It has been a recurring theme economically speaking and business speaking for many, many decades," Hawley said. "Apparently, we didn't learn from our past mistakes."

Onello said Chapin has no specific legislative requests at the moment and with the Legislature in between sessions, Hawley didn't have much to offer in the way of possible business-related bills the Legislature might consider.

After the talk, Hawley was provided a tour of the factory.

Previously: Genesee County's oldest manufacturing company celebrates 140 years in business

Press Release:

YWCA of Genesee County is excited to announce a $50,000 grant from the Garman Family Foundation, administered by the Community Foundation for Greater Buffalo, to add Crisis Counseling Services for Genesee County.

YWCA welcomes Jacquelyn Wheeler as their new Crisis Counselor.

Case Managers at the YWCA already offer intensive support, safe temporary shelter, 24 crisis hotline services, court advocacy, information and referral, support groups and safety and transitional planning for victims of domestic violence, dating violence, human trafficking, sexual assault, and stalking. This new, full-time crisis counselor position will provide more therapeutic services, complementing the services, complimenting the work we are already doing and adding a much needed piece of continued healing and support for the people we assist, says Jamie Rada, Executive Director.

For more information on the YWCA of Genesee County Crisis Counselor Position please visit www.ywcagenesee.org or contact the YWCA at 585-343-5808 or info@ywcagenesee.org.

Press Release:

A casualty of the pandemic, Rudely Stamp’d’s production of “Now We Stand by Each Other Always” had a great three-year run touring the eastern United States from New York to Florida between 2017 and 2020.

After a long hiatus, Rudely Stamp’d has revived “Now We Stand…” with a performance at the Main Street 56 Theater in Batavia on September 20 at 7 p.m. with other tour dates to follow.

Written and directed by Derek Maxfield, a history professor at a local community college, the three-act play “Now We Stand by Each Other Always” features a series of conversations between Union generals Ulysses S. Grant – played by Derek Maxfield - and William Tecumseh Sherman during the Civil War. 

Much of the dialog is drawn from historic sources and seeks to capture the evolving relationship between the generals over the course of the conflict with scenes featuring conversations at Vicksburg, Mississippi, in 1863, Cincinnati, Ohio, in 1864 and City Point, Virginia in 1865 – just weeks before Lee’s surrender to Grant at Appomattox Court House.

The reboot also features a new face. During the pre-pandemic run, Tracy Ford brilliantly played the part of Gen. William Tecumseh Sherman. The role will now be filled by Daniel Snyder, a professor at a local community college. 

Folks might remember Dan from his role in “Brothers at Odds” about the Brisbane family of Batavia. Dan played the eccentric Albert Brisbane, whom he also portrays for the Batavia Cemetery’s annual ghost walk.

In addition to Maxfield as Grant and Snyder as Sherman, the play also features a supporting cast featuring Jess Maxfield as Julia Grant and a special appearance by Thomas Schobert as Gen. John A. Rawlins.

Tickets are available through the Main Street 56 Theater box office at https://our.show/nowwestand-2024.

For more information, contact Derek Maxfield at ddmaxfieldhistorian@gmail.com.

Submitted photos.

Press Release:

The next "We’ve Only Just Begun" Sr. Luncheon: Theme: Back to School is on Tuesday, September 17 from 11:30-1:30 p.m. at the South Alabama Firehall, Route 63 (2230 Judge Road, Oakfield). Open to the public and welcome all!

Our speaker this month will be Dorothy Schlaggel, and she will be speaking about the Genesee County Cancer Assistance Program that she and two others were the founders of. Dorothy is a cancer survivor and she will be sharing how this program was developed to help the people in our County. You won’t want to miss this informative program this month! 

Bring your favorite dish-to-pass OR make a donation at the door! Come and enjoy lunch and an afternoon of fun with old and new friends. Co-chairpersons: Michael Hamm and LaNora Thompson. Contact person LaNora Thompson (630) 888-8966.

Here’s hoping that the extended weather forecast is off base for this weekend, because organizers are bringing back the car cruise to this year’s Labor Daze, Jamie Lindsley says.

The cruise is set for 10 a.m. to 3 p.m. Saturday in the village of Oakfield.

“We are looking forward to a great turnout of classic cars thanks to help from some experienced car cruise and show aficionados,” said Lindsley, Oakfield Betterment Committee chair. 

So pay no nevermind to a chance of rain on Saturday, and dress accordingly for a day of fun, food, music and mingling. Labor Daze is arguably the area's -- and certainly Genesee County's -- biggest three-day Labor Day weekend festival going. 

Another new activity is Carrie’s Kids Parade, promoted as one of the highlights of the Labor Daze regular parade to hit the street on Monday morning.

“We wanted to give kids their own special parade for them to participate in and show creativity and enthusiasm,” Lindsley said. “It is named after OBC’s dear friend Carrie Gilbert Desjardins, who was a longstanding member and always displayed love and commitment to her community, especially the children.”

There will be a Vietnam memorial dedication in Triangle Park immediately following the parade. 

“The Oakfield Historical Society had a fundraising campaign to raise money to put this memorial in place amongst the other memorials in the park, and honor the men and women who served in Vietnam,” she said.  

Other new elements this year are:

Exciting new raffles, including a Sportsman’s Raffle, a Mega (high-value items) Raffle, a 50/50 and basket raffles.

New musical performers, including Mayday Buffalo, a four-piece rock band from Buffalo playing music from the 1960s through today; Eaglez Tribute Band to the ever-popular Eagles country rock band; the local rock band from Orleans County, Salvatore, playing all your favorites; and Terry Buchwald’s return after seven years with a tribute to Elvis (see related story).

What prompted the committee to bring back Elvis after all these years? And why did you seek out Salvatore as a new performer?
“This is the celebration of the 40th anniversary of Labor Daze, and we wanted to have a retro feel. Everyone loves Elvis, from children and families to young adults and their grandparents. Terry Buchwald is an energetic performer and gets the crowd involved,” Lindsley said. “Salvatore is new to Labor Daze, but were our featured performers at our Total Eclipse at the Park viewing party. Their music was so good, we just had to invite them to Labor Daze.”

Since this is the 40th celebration, are you aiming for a fresh event or settling on old favorites for attendees?
“It’s a mix of both. Some returning favorites as well as new talent. The tradition of Labor Daze is so important to Oakfield. In fact, the Labor Day parade has its roots going all the way back to 1947,” she said. “Community worship service Sunday morning is open to all, regardless of denomination.”

Committee members are always learning year to year about what they may need for the following event, and this year is no exception, Lindsley said. The last Kids Fun Day was so successful, they now know to have more people on hand to help out for this year’s kids’ day, set from noon to 4 p.m. Saturday at Elroy Parkins Park, 37 Drake St.

"We were thrilled at the huge turnout and plan to have eight to 12 people there at all times to help run the games, contests, bounce houses and more,” she said. “We also learned that people of all ages love the pony rides and that we should have concessions at Kids Fun Day too.”

Registration for the 5K Hornet Hustle (9 a.m. Saturday) is outpacing last year's, which is exciting for committee members, she said. Spectators are encouraged to line the street and cheer for participants. Wear your blue and gold, a costume or anything OA Hornets-related.

The parade is also taking shape (10 a.m. Monday), with participants including fire departments, marching bands, classic cars, tractors, sports teams, county fair queen and princess pageant winners.

Not to leave out the other entertainment, Hazzard County was named a 2023 Western New York Top Country Band and features modern country hits with a few surprises; Batavia Players will be performing musical selections; Dance Images of Oakfield will take to the stage for a performance; Genesee Ted plans to crank up the honky tonk country rock, psychedelic era rock, blues, harmonies and Grateful Dead; Dave Viterna Group will do some blues and rock; Russ Peters Group has the contemporary Christian music covered, and Songbirds is a tribute to Fleetwood Mac.

Think all of this might make you hungry? Fear not, because there will be food vendors galore, with Italian sausage, peppers and onions, blooming onions, specialty grilled cheese sandwiches, pulled pork, fried chicken, hot dog stuffed pretzels, roast beef, authentic African cuisine and custom cookies, cupcakes and desserts.

You can walk it all off by shopping at the 50 or so arts and crafts vendors selling handmade wood products, sterling silver jewelry, custom shirts, terrariums, Buffalo Bills gear, crochet goods, flasks and tumblers, honey products, hard cider, handpainted purses, and more. 

While Labor Daze is a community-building event, committee members want to remind folks to please don’t bring pets or alcoholic beverages and don’t smoke in the park during the three-day event.  

“It’s family-friendly; there is no admission fee, so everyone can attend and enjoy without worrying about costs. We have more food choices than ever before, including the Oakfield Betterment booth and many of our local nonprofits.  Anyone who loves music, food, community, making new friends, seeing old friends, arts and crafts vendors, classic cars, buying raffle tickets, will have a great time,” Lindsley said. “People who have never experienced Labor Daze will enjoy the small-town charm with first-rate live music. We’ve had people from all over the country that happened to be driving through Oakfield stop in because they were drawn to the festive atmosphere.”

For more information or to register for the Hornet Hustle or the parade, go to oakfieldbetterment.com.

The committee has been very pleased with this year’s supporters, which have helped to make the event possible, Lindsley said.

"We could not do this without our amazing sponsors, our volunteers, donors, the wonderful Oakfield Fire Department, the Village Board and Town Board, and all the other local organizations that come together to support this tradition,” she said. “Thank you for helping us continue to put on free events for Oakfield and beyond.”

For the entire Labor Daze schedule, go HERE.   

If you’d like to volunteer at the committee’s food stand and/or to clean up, contact jamie@oakfieldbetterment.com

More than three decades of performing have passed by, but for Terry Buchwald it all still feels like yesterday as he hunkers down to be your teddy bear. 

“It’s crazy how you feel so young. I just celebrated, I just turned 54 which I am not shy to tell people because I take care of myself and I keep performing,” he said during an interview with The Batavian. “I’m still doing the motorcycle. We do a little country, we do a little rock and roll. We will have three sets, and I'll do the young Elvis, and we'll do the 70s, and then we'll do some country, rock and roll, and, you know, some songs that Elvis inspired the arts. 

"So we kind of try to keep with that, and I try to make it fun, I just don't want people to show up and ‘oh, there's an Elvis impersonator now.’ I want people to come and say, ‘oh my God, I haven't danced in 10 years, I haven't laughed so much. I haven't gotten up on stage.’ I want to make them part of it.”

They may not have danced in 10 years, not until they watch and hear this Elvis, that is. With his dazzling outfits, infectious personality and gyrations, he’s ready to give the audience a hunk a hunk of burning love.  

And it all takes place from 1 to 4 p.m. Monday during Oakfield’s Labor Daze. It’s been a long hiatus since he has rolled into the village on two wheels — seven years — and Buchwald is looking forward to his return.

“We are very excited to be back. I love the Oakfield audience. I used to walk around and check out all the different vendors. There was a guy there that used to have a chainsaw and would carve bears and stuff. Actually, I bought a couple things, I have a turtle in my yard from Oakfield. We used to have a great time. I mean, it was wonderful. The basketball courts is where we started,” he said. “It's sad to see some of these things go and, you know, during my show, I definitely let people know how important it is that they're there, and how important it is to have live music, to keep community things going, it's so important. It just seems like we all are more, looking at our cell phones than we are getting together with neighbors and enjoying the day.”

Even though many activities were shut down during the COVID pandemic, Buchwald had one of the busiest summers ever, he said. In fact, he was performing “as much as they would let me.”

“So I never stopped. I just kept going,” he said. “All the way from Pennsylvania up into Canada and all the way across to Binghamton. I do go all over the nation, I I had a show last year in Las Vegas. I used to travel before covid. I used to travel every month, and I've covered all 50 states.”

Now he has settled into the eastern part of the country and performs at a lot of festivals in central and western New York.  

“Every set has something for everybody out there. I ride in as young Elvis, take a short break, switch outfits and then do a 70s Elvis with a Las Vegas suit. We shoot teddy bears out to people. If it’s hot out I’ll bring the squirt gun,” he said. “Not everybody is going to be an Elvis fan, maybe the wife comes and the husband’s not, or the husband is and the wife’s not. So those are the people that I target a little more because I want them to enjoy the whole thing. I want them to enjoy the Elvis, and I want to cover everything. Those are the people I’m going to try and give a little more. I may do a Beatles song.”

While growing up in Depew, Buchwald was steeped in music — his mother was a big Elvis Presley fan and dad liked country western, while brother Eddie was in a band. 

The Lancaster resident couldn’t help but be inspired by all of that, and recreated a musical artist he admires for how he could always draw people into his performances, and still does. 

As for the musical lineup during Labor Daze, it begins on Saturday:

• 1 to 4 p.m. Genesee Ted
• 4 to 7 p.m. Mayday Buffalo
• 7 to 10 p.m. Dave Viterna Group

Sunday’s menu begins at 11 a.m. with Russ Peters Group and continues:

• 12:30 to 3:30 p.m. Eaglez Tribute Band
• 3:30 to 6:30 p.m. Hazzard County
• 6:30 to 9:30 p.m. Nerds Gone Wild

Monday kicks off with Salvatore at 11 a.m., and after Terry Buchwald it wraps up with Songbirds: a tribute to Fleetwood Mac from 4 to 7 p.m.

Photos from Buchwald's social media with his permission.

Batavia PD's softball team could have used somebody to put out the fire at Dwyer Stadium on Sunday, but City Fire was a little busy fanning the flames on the way to a 23-3 victory in the annual Battle of the Badges.

In four matches, the boys in blue have managed only one victory.

Photos by Nick Serrata.

Jon H. Bush, Jr., 41, of Batavia, was arrested on two warrants and also charged with assault 2nd and obstructing governmental administration 2nd.  On Aug. 5, Batavia patrol officers conducted a traffic stop on Park Road and observed Bush attempting to hide in the back seat. Officers were aware of warrants for Bush's arrest. He was ordered to exit the vehicle. After getting out, Bush allegedly attempted to flee on foot. He allegedly fought with officers and injured one of them before he was taken into custody. He was arraigned in City Court and jailed without bail.

Vinayek A. Graves, 20, of Kansas City, Kansas, is charged with possession of a forged instrument 2nd, identity theft 1st, and forgery 2nd. Graves was arrested on Aug. 8 following an investigation into a fraud complaint. He was arraigned and released.

Nicholas M. Ricigliano, 40, of Batavia, is charged with petit larceny. Ricigliano is accused of stealing an umbrella stand from a business on Bank Street on Aug. 21. He was issued an appearance ticket.

Branco J. Blanco, 60, of Batavia, is charged with dog running at large and owning an unlicensed dog. It is alleged that Blanco allowed two dogs to run at large on State Street on Aug. 18. The dogs allegedly bit a person who was walking in the area.  Blanco was issued an appearance ticket.

Jeffrey G. Ellinwood, 65, of Batavia, was charged with criminal trespass 2nd and criminal mischief 4th. It's alleged that Ellinwood broke into a residence on Porter Avenue on Aug. 15. He was arraigned and released.

Jerry T. Saddler, Jr., 48, is charged with criminal mischief 4th, criminal obstruction of breathing, and harassment 2nd. Saddler is accused of striking another person, grabbing that person by the neck, and taking the person's phone to keep the person from calling for help. He also faces charges from an Aug. 14 of criminal obstruction of breathing involving the same victim. He was arraigned in City Court and held in the Genesee County Jail.

Michael C. Smith, 32, of Batavia, was arrested on four warrants. The warrants were issued after Smith allegedly failed to appear in court on four separate criminal cases. He was arraigned in City Court and remanded to the Genesee County Jail. 

Geoffrey M. Anderson, Jr., of Brockport, was arrested on Aug. 16 on two warrants, including a warrant alleging bail jumping 3rd. The warrants were issued after Anderson allegedly failed to appear in court on a trespassing charge from 2017. He was arraigned in City Court and released. 

Aaron Joshua Anwar, 18, of Batavia, is charged with petit larceny. Anwar is accused of stealing merchandise from Dick's Sporting Goods on July 31 at 3:03 p.m. He was processed at the Genesee County Jail and released on an appearance ticket.

Leeanne Krull, 55, of West Main Street Road, Batavia, is charged with criminal contempt 2nd. Krull is accused of violating an order of protection at 12:43 p.m. on July 31 at a location on West Main Street Road, Batavia.  The order of protection had been issued in Centralized Arraignment Part Court just hours earlier. Krull was processed at the Genesee County Jail and released.

Justin Timothy Gladney Sr., 35, of West Main Street Road, Batavia, is charged with promoting prison contraband 1st and criminal possession of a controlled substance 7th.  Gladney is accused of bringing crack cocaine into the Genesee County Jail at 9 a.m. on Aug. 1. He was held for arraignment.

Tricia M. Blatt, 37, of East Main Street, Byron, is charged with endangering the welfare of a child.  Deputies were dispatched at 1:40 a.m. Aug. 3, to Byron to investigate a complaint of a broken window, possible criminal mischief.  Deputies located Blatt and determined she was allegedly too impaired to care for her child. There was no evidence of criminal mischief. Blatt was arraigned and released.

The following people were charged on Aug. 1 while attending the Kenny Chesney concert at Darien Lake Performing Arts Center:

• Jonathon M. Morris, 19, of Rochester, was charged with trespass after allegedly reentering the concert venue following an ejection.
• Avery J. Dieterle, 19, of Akron, is charged with trespass after allegedly reentering the concert venue following an ejection.
• William A. McCray, 57, no permanent address, is charged with harassment 2nd after allegedly striking another person while inside the concert venue.

Press Release:

The Genesee-Orleans Regional Arts Council (GO ART!) is excited to announce an exceptional opportunity for artists of all disciplines living and/or working in Genesee and Orleans Counties. In partnership with the New York Foundation for the Arts (NYFA) and the New York State Council on the Arts (NYSCA), GO ART! is accepting applications for the NYSCA/NYFA Artist as Entrepreneur Program. The program is free to participants.

This intensive 3.5-day professional development program is designed to empower artists across all disciplines—including visual, literary, performing arts, and more—with the essential tools needed to achieve sustainability and success in their creative endeavors. Whether you’re an emerging artist looking to build a strong foundation or an established professional seeking new strategies and networks, this program offers a dynamic platform to enhance your creative practice.

Program Highlights:

• Comprehensive Content: Participants will explore key topics such as strategic planning, marketing, fundraising, financial literacy, and art law. The curriculum includes materials from NYFA’s renowned textbook, The Profitable Artist.
• Work Sample Reviews: Receive personalized feedback from professionals in your field, offering valuable insights into the jury selection process and your artistic presentation.
• Peer Network: Join a community of like-minded peers across various disciplines, fostering connections that extend beyond the program.
• Access to Experts: Engage with NYFA’s expert staff and local arts industry leaders, including funders, curators, publishers, and artistic directors.
• Artist Action Plan: Develop a personalized blueprint for your practice or specific arts project, with opportunities to discuss and refine your plan within the peer group.
• Engagement with the Creative Community: The program structure includes presentations, panels, interactive workshops, and breakout sessions tailored to the needs of participants.

Eligibility and Application:

• Who Can Apply: Artists of all disciplines and career stages, including students, who are living and/or working in Genesee or Orleans Counties
• Application Deadline: Monday, September 23, 11:59 p.m. Applications must be submitted via Submittable.

Program Dates:

• Meet and Greet and Introductions: Thursday, November 7 from 5 - 8 p.m. 
• Intensive Sessions: Friday - Saturday, November 8 - 10 from 10a.m. - 4 p.m. daily

Don’t miss this unique chance to grow your artistic career with guidance from leading professionals in the field. Currently accepting applications. For more information and to apply visit https://www.nyfa.org/professional-development/entrepreneurial-intensives/ Please email questions to learning@nyfa.org with the subject line “Artist as Entrepreneur, GO ART!.” 

This program is made possible through New York State Council on the Arts, State & Local Partnerships with the support of the Governor's Office and the New York State Legislature.

When Tim and Linda Richter began their venture for the Imagination Library, they could only hope it would be successful in Oakfield. Even there, Linda says, it was a challenge.

“We were shaking in our boots,” she said with a laugh. “We had to do a 501(c)(3), and we were very nervous and thought, can we do this?”

Well, they soon found out that, of course, they could do it. And they're celebrating the 20th anniversary of establishing their nonprofit Richter Family Foundation in July 2004. 

They also founded the first affiliate of Dolly Parton’s Imagination Library in New York State. Now what strikes them the most is how these entities are nowhere to be found in bigger cities of Buffalo or Rochester, Mrs. Richter said, while theirs has only continued to grow in rural Genesee County.

Lucky for those Genesee County kids, the Imagination Library—a program that sends out one free book a month to children from birth to age 5—began with 82 kids and, at last count, has signed up 3,264 children for a total of 93,700 books sent out.

How does that happen? The way you’d build any library: one book at a time. Mrs. Richter shared one of her favorite memories so far from the program. It was when a mom pulled up to her mailbox with her 3-year-old son.

“He’s sitting in the back seat behind her, and they pull up to the mailbox, and he gets his book,” Mrs. Richter said. “He’s just about jumping out of his chair, smiling and hugging this book. It was just a great picture. And I think, boy, if I could be at the houses when these kids get these books, that would be amazing, wouldn’t it?” 

After beginning with the Oakfield-Alabama school district, the Richters gradually made connections with other individuals, groups and committees and set up a program with Elba in 2010, Pavilion in 2012, Pembroke in 2013, Byron-Bergen in 2016, Batavia in 2016-17, Alexander in 2020, Le Roy in 2021, and, after Pembroke temporarily stopped in 2016, the Pembroke Corfu Darien Kiwanis Club picked up that area again in 2023. All school districts in the county now participate in the program, and the Richters — teachers at heart and by profession — couldn’t be happier. 

“We send out 800 books a month; we’re just thrilled with the progress,” she said. 

Mr. Richter referred to the bigger picture of the program since Dolly Parton’s vision was to inspire kids to read in her home county of Tennessee. She has surpassed that and been successful across the United States, Canada, Great Britain, Ireland and Australia. More than 3 million books are mailed out each month to excited children, he said.

The Richters don’t feel as though their job is done just because Genesee County has been taken care of, the couple agreed, since there are adjacent counties with children who would benefit from the program. 

“When we started in 2004, there was just us. Now there are 79 affiliates in New York State, and we are seven of them," Mr. Richter said. "This is what I would hope: maybe people who see The Batavian don't necessarily live in Genesee County, but maybe Wyoming County, Orleans County, for example, don't have anybody. And I would like to be able to expand going that way."

They believe that Dolly Parton's company is one of integrity and that staff takes issues seriously. For example, there was a packaging issue at one point, and the books were getting wet. A different material was used to better protect the books, which impressed the Richters.

“I have nothing but spectacular thoughts about the Dollywood program,” Mr. Richter said. “She does a fantastic amount of work."

Given the number of affiliates they work with, Dollywood is able to get really low prices for books to make them more affordable for each participant, he said. They pay for the books and postage, which people sometimes question: "Why isn't Dolly paying for this?" 

“And I laugh. I laugh because they don't understand. But when you explain to them that there's a lot of overhead, I mean, they have a big storage facility, a huge warehouse where they store all these books, because they have to have the books months before they're able to send them out. They’ve got to pay for heating and so on and so on," he said. "They have to have the workers that they're paying. They have a committee that selects the books. They have to do the publishing negotiations. Then they have to keep sending out 3 million books. Just think of the amount of people there just responsible for this."

The Richter Family Foundation decided to pay for a third of the costs, and the remainder is from donations. To contribute, send a check to the Richter Family Foundation, 1600 Ham Road, Basom, NY, 14013, and put the respective school district in the memo line.

For more information or to check a child participant's eligibility, email richterfamilyfoundation@hotmail.com, call 585-948-9675 or go to imaginationlibrary.com.

Press Release:

United Way of Greater Rochester and the Finger Lakes has increased funding and approved an extension to the Bridge Support to give organizations and our community more time for planning and collaborative efforts to address funding needs.

United Way will leverage its endowment and draw from the Mackenzie Scott gift and campaign funds to provide more than $7 million in transition support over two years. United Way will also expedite the remaining one-year grant opportunities.  

What this means for nonprofit organizations:  

• 2020-2024 Community Impact Fund partners that applied for 2025 multi-year grants and received less funding will now receive 75% of their current funding in 2025 and 50% of their current funding in 2026.
• Pending the success of the Fall community campaign, the expanded one-year grant opportunities to support nonprofits will be launched providing a range of new funding opportunities and services as part of the full strategy.

“The impact of this moment and change for our partners and community cannot be diminished. As a nonprofit for nonprofits, we are continuing to seek creative solutions for these immediate and longstanding community challenges,” said Jaime Saunders, President & CEO of United Way of Greater Rochester and the Finger Lakes. “United Way’s focus is ensuring our partners have the tools and resources to provide critical services in our community, and we will continue to work every day to help meet those needs.”  

United Way is committed to keeping its partners and the community informed and engaged as it continues to roll out its full strategy evolution. United Way is convening Community Impact Fund nonprofit partners next week to discuss these changes and next steps.

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