Press Release:

Both on and off the field, the Genesee County Spartans achieved what they set out to do this season in the Northeastern Football Alliance semipro league.

That’s the assessment of Head Coach Harry Rascoe and Board President Tammy Hathaway, who pointed to the team’s 7-3 record and an “all for one, one for all” attitude that bodes well for the 2025 campaign.

“We made great strides this year, without a doubt,” Rascoe said. “Our only losses were to (league champion) Lockport and there were no instances of misconduct. We’re only a couple players away from contending for the title.”

In its return to the football scene last season, the organization was hampered by a lack of discipline on the field.

Hathaway said that the codes of conduct put into place this season and the leadership of the team’s captains resulted in an organization that local fans could get behind.

“Speaking for the board of directors, I couldn’t be more pleased with the players’ performance in every aspect,” Hathaway said. “Hopefully, we’re building something special here.”

Recently, the team learned that nine players were named as league all-stars and have been invited to play in an East vs. West game on September 28 in Apalachin, home of the Broome County Stallions.

All-stars on offense: Wide receiver Deyonci Farley, tackle Jordan Chambers and guard Anthony Natrigo.

All-stars on defense: Linebackers Kaden Marucci and Marley English, linemen Gunner Rapone, Steve Kowalczyk and Jalen White, and defensive back/returner Jzhon Henderson.

Rascoe said the team’s awards banquet is scheduled for 6:30 p.m. October 5 at T.F. Brown’s Restaurant in Batavia. For more information, contact Rascoe at rascoeh@yahoo.com or go to the Spartans’ Facebook page - Genesee County Spartans.

Press Release:

The Books Sandwiched In committee is pleased to announce the Fall 2024 Series of Books Sandwiched In! Sessions will take place on Wednesdays in September from 12:10 p.m. - 1 p.m. in the Gallery Room.

Books Sandwiched In is a book review program, in which guest speakers are invited to present reviews of books, usually non-fiction titles. This fall’s theme encourages attendees to explore “America’s National Parks,” in keeping with the theme of the 2024 Richmond Reads title, The Last Ranger by Peter Heller.

“Attendees are not required or expected to read the books in advance,” shares program coordinator Samantha Stryker. “Rather, think of it as a way to learn a little something and figure out which books you may want to read.”

Each session will feature cookies, coffee, tea, and a chance to win a gift certificate to a local lunch spot. On your lunch break? Feel free to bring your lunch! 

Fall 2024 Books & Speakers:

Wednesday, September 4 at 12:10 p.m. - Explore the Everglades: Genesee County Park Conservation Education Program Coordinator, Claudia Nusstein, reviews "Gator Country: Deception, Danger and Alligators in the Everglades" by Rebecca Renner

Wednesday, September 11 at 12:10 p.m. - Explore Yellowstone: Retired Teacher & NIOGA Board Trustee, Jeff Laub, reviews "Saving Yellowstone: Exploration and Preservation in Reconstruction America" by Megan Kate Nelson

Wednesday, September 18 at 12:10 p.m. - Explore the Grand Canyon: Retired School Counselor and avid outdoorsperson, Janice Spiotta, reviews A Walk in the Park: The True Story of a Spectacular Misadventure in the Grand Canyon by Kevin Fedarko

Wednesday, September 25 at 12:10 p.m. - Explore Yosemite: BCSD Superintendent of Schools Jason Smith reviews Guardians of the Valley: John Muir and the Friendship that Saved Yosemite" by Dean King 

Books Sandwiched In is sponsored by the Friends of Richmond Memorial Library. All are welcome and this program is free to attend!

Richmond Memorial Library is located at 19 Ross St in the City of Batavia. For more information about the library and other programs, visit batavialibrary.org.

Press Release:

New York State Senate Republican Leader Rob Ortt and Members of the Senate Republican Conference today unveiled the “Creating Lasting Affordable Energy for New York,” a comprehensive legislative package to ensure a clean, affordable energy future for all New Yorkers.

This summer, critics have cited the failure of the Administration to meet benchmarks enacted under the Climate Leadership and Community Protection Act (CLCPA). Since the CLCPA has been on the books, Democrats have proved they have nothing to show for it except frustrated ratepayers and taxpayers, business organizations and even climate advocacy groups. Today, Senate Republicans are putting forward proposals to not only protect the environment, but also the pockets of our taxpayers.

These proposals come on the heels of the fifth anniversary of the Climate Leadership and Community Protection Act becoming law and the upcoming “Future Energy Economy Summit” in September.

Senate Republicans' common sense package offers solutions to delay the CLCPA mandate, while providing relief to taxpayers, ensuring the reliability of the grid, and ensuring a diverse energy portfolio that will keep energy options affordable and accessible throughout New York State. 

“It’s ironic how five years after the implementation of the CLCPA, the billions of dollars spent, and the absolutely crushing utility hikes year after year, Governor Hochul just realized that now might be a good time to put some actual thought behind the Democrats’ energy policies. We welcome the Governor’s late arrival to the party and hope that she takes a look at the policies we have laid out here, as they will not only keep the lights on, but do so in a clean, affordable way that benefits all New Yorkers,” said Senator Mario Mattera, 2nd District, ranking member of the Senate Energy Committee.

"Since the CLCPA's approval in 2019, we've watched Albany Democrats move at world record speed to pile one unaffordable mandate on top of another unworkable mandate on top of the next unrealistic mandate desperately trying to inflict a zero-emissions economy on this entire state that will have zero impact on the climate. These actions will come with a devastating price tag and consequences for ratepayers and taxpayers, businesses and industries, school districts, farmers, and entire local economies. It has become clear that the current strategy is not realistic or achievable. It is not responsible or rational. There was no cost-benefit analysis, other than a "the sky is falling" proclamation. It lacks critical foresight, and it unreasonably risks energy grid reliability and affordability. The forthcoming reassessment and reexamination at least opens a long-overdue and desperately needed public discussion on the realities of the current strategy. Senate Republicans are putting forth a clean energy strategy that is focused on affordability, feasibility, and reliability," said Senator Tom O'Mara, 58th District.

“The evidence keeps mounting that CLCPA mandates are not only unworkable and unaffordable, but a very real threat to the reliability of our energy supply.  If Democrats keep blindly pushing forward with this disastrous plan, even as experts raise numerous red flags, it will be a catastrophe for our economy, businesses, municipalities and already over-burdened New Yorkers. With a more balanced approach that ensures broader energy options and ratepayer relief, our plan is the desperately needed course correction that will prevent New York from going over the CLCPA cliff,” said Senator George Borrello, 57th District.

“Our legislative package is about securing clean and affordable energy for every New Yorker, and we're committed to doing it the right way. Our proposals lower costs of the transition for New Yorkers seeking cleaner energy while putting local decision-making back in the hands of local municipalities. Our package finds the right balance—hitting our environmental goals to keep our communities strong and ensuring a clean and prosperous environment for future generations to come, ” stated Senator Patricia Canzoneri-Fitzpatrick, 9th District.

“The extreme policies mandated by Albany's CLCPA will make energy more expensive and less reliable when Hudson Valley residents need it most. My colleagues and I favor a balanced, common-sense approach that maximizes consumer choice and eliminates harmful mandates that drive up costs. For example, my Ratepayer Protection Tax Credit will directly assist households forced to pay up to an additional $1,600 each year to subsidize Albany's unrealistic goals and roll back job-killing taxes on local businesses. Keeping everyday New Yorkers' energy options affordable, reliable, and plentiful remains a top priority,” said Senator Rob Rolison, 39th District.

“Senate Democrats have lost sight of reliability, affordability and feasibility in their energy policy. I'm proud to be a member of a conference that's pushing real, balanced solutions, and I'm thrilled to introduce legislation to keep hydroelectric plants producing the affordable, clean energy we need to power our economy and protect our environment,” said Senator Jake Ashby, 43rd District.

“High taxes, onerous energy costs, burdensome regulations and problematic policies such as the Climate Leadership and Community Protection Act have forced hardworking New Yorkers to flee the state at an alarming rate. We need a plan that helps struggling taxpayers, families, business owners and communities – not one that imposes unrealistic and unreasonable mandates that only make things more difficult for those who stay in the state. This commonsense package of legislation that the Senate Republican Conference has unveiled today, which includes a bill I have sponsored, will provide much-needed relief to taxpayers and ratepayers, improve the reliability of the grid and ensure that the state has a diversified energy portfolio. Approaches such as this can help us to stop the exodus and build a stronger future for New York,” said Senator Joe Griffo, 53rd District.

“A recent comptroller report made clear what my Senate Republican colleagues and I have been saying all along: the cost of implementing the CLCPA is already far beyond that which Democrat leaders have suggested it would be. There must be accountability and transparency, and I’m proud to sponsor legislation requiring a true cost-benefit analysis of these mandates. New Yorkers deserve reliable, affordable energy. With this legislation and the other pieces sponsored by my colleagues, we can make that a reality,” said Senator Dan Stec, 45th District.

Since Democrats passed the CLCPA in 2019, Republicans in the State Senate have demanded answers about its cost, expressed concerns about its mandates and questioned if its goals were realistic or achievable.

The Senate Republicans’ “Creating Lasting Affordable Energy for New York” legislative package includes proposals that would:

Delay the implementation of the CLCPA mandates by ten years, giving the state time to develop a sustainable plan to build affordable, clean energy infrastructure and give state agencies more flexibility to adjust those time frames if the cost to New Yorkers is determined to be unaffordable while also considering the impact of the CLCPA’s compliance on reliable and affordable alternatives for heating and other services currently supplied by natural gas, including renewable natural gas and hydrogen

Create the “Ratepayer Relief Act” to determine the true cost of CLCPA mandates and provide relief in that amount to ratepayers, as well as cut existing taxes that will save ratepayers more than $100 million

Prevent the state from closing any power generation facility before new facilities come online and provide tax credits to homeowners for the purchase of backup power systems in the event of outages

Study the feasibility of bringing Indian Point back online and expand investment into alternative energy options

Encourage the use of solar by expanding the residential solar energy credit to give homeowners up to an additional five thousand dollars to install solar, provides a new solar STAR credit for communities that build small to midsize solar projects, and re-establishes local control over the siting of major renewable energy projects

Establish a commission to evaluate the impact of grid electrification on the safety and reliability of heating systems in extreme winter weather incidents that cause power outages, and to develop strategies and best practices to maximize grid reliability during these events

Provide relief via a tax credit to hydroelectric plants to offset relicensing costs, which can potentially put them out of business, to allow them to continue to be a source of clean, reliable power to New Yorkers

Create the “Rural Energy Infrastructure Act of 2025” to provide a tax credit for individuals in underserved or unserved areas of the gas system to assist the buildout of natural gas infrastructure to help bring service to those areas

Prohibit the state from mandating the electrification of personal vehicles

Establish the New York state hydrogen vehicle task force to examine another source of clean and affordable fuel

“The Governor and the Legislature continue to make it more and more difficult for a family to remain in New York.  Every time the Legislature comes into session, New Yorkers pay more for basic necessities. This is exactly why New York is losing its population at the rate it is.  The only thing participants of Governor Hochul’s ‘Future Energy Economy Summit’ should be considering is how to reduce energy costs for New Yorkers, and they could do that by taking up these proposals,” concluded Senate Republican Leader Rob Ortt, 62nd District. 

As a coach, there’s nothing more inspiring than seeing a player emerge and outperform their expectations.

Training camps are underway, and teams like the Bills are seeing it in action. The next Matt Milano, Stevie Johnson, or Christian Benford is out there. The next unexpected leader just needs to prove they’re ready.

That’s the reality of sports and work. You need to show you’re ready before you get these opportunities. And I’m pleased that Genesee County, and our emerging workforce, can do the same as we prepare to launch a local Work Ready Communities initiative. 

How?

By proving what we know is true about Genesee County. 

That our students are engaged in work-ready technical training and have skills worth rewarding. 

Our manufacturers, businesses, and employers understand talent and how to grow a new hire into a leader.

My major goal is to show that our families, schools, and communities are united in a better future for our kids. Having a venue to hold it - for both our youth and companies looking for the ideal place to locate - is now at hand.

ACT Work Ready Communities provides the tools that will connect our graduates to the in-demand career opportunities available in their backyards, aligning the region’s economic development needs with the skills required to create an economic blueprint that benefits our local businesses and in turn our communities.

In order for our community to be designated a Work Ready Community, we will need participation from our local workforce and businesses. Once registered, you will have access to search and vet job requirements and skills sought by local businesses, allowing them to efficiently recruit from a pool of qualified candidates.

Think of this process as the free agent pool or transfer portal – students trying to find their next best opportunity, including higher pay as well as detailing the skill levels that have been attained.

To initiate the process, students, incumbent workers, and job seekers will have the option to complete assessments for criteria in applied math, graphic literacy, and workplace communications. The scores earned range from bronze to platinum and can be highlighted on transcripts, resumes, and other applications.

We want good-paying careers for everyone in our community and this certification program enables us to introduce students and residents to see how it can help them take charge of their career decisions.

As we grow our community there will be more opportunities to not only attract new businesses but hopefully to help existing businesses expand. Site selectors for major projects recognize this certification and provide them with the information and data, bringing more jobs to Genesee County.

I am working with school representatives, workforce institutions, and other stakeholders to boost our talent pool, linking our students to high-quality job opportunities that enable them to thrive in our local community.

To learn more or sign up for a National Career Readiness Certificate contact me at 585-343-4866 or csuozzi@gcedc.com.

Businesses often experience setbacks, and the ones that survive are those that find ways to adjust. Lori Steinbrenner took that approach when, after a couple of years of trying, she couldn't find a qualified nail technician.

Steinbrenner, who has owned Personal Preference Salon and Spa in Le Roy for 34 years, partnered with three other experienced businesswomen to open the front of her shop as a specialty boutique.

"I relocated the waiting area to the back of the shop (previously set up for pedicures and manicures) and put the boutique in the front of the salon," Steinbrenner said. "It's a unique little gift store."

The store is called New 2 Main the Boutique at Personal Preference.

Steinbrenner's partners are Becky Kelly, owner of Flowers by Becky, Heather Hunt, owner of Pastique, and Liz Broussard, owner of Indigo Lux.

She said the products are decorative pieces mixed with modern, BoHo-style handbags and accessories, along with fresh-cut flowers.

Personal Preference is located at 34 Main St., Le Roy.

Kids at Jackson Primary School will return to a surprise landscape inside the hallway this fall.

Based on the “KEY” principles of kindness, empathy and you, artist Linda Fix painted a large swath of artistic scenery this past month.

Principal Maureen Notaro had already instilled the concept of community helpers at the school, such as police officers, firefighters and doctors, which reminded Fix of the familiar phrase “it takes a village.”

She wanted to add the American flag to her design and talked to Notaro about what she wanted to incorporate.

“She really wanted children in it. She loved the flags, one of the American flags in it, so I went and designed it. And my designs are an interesting process because they never end up quite the way they begin, and that's what I love about art and creativity,” Fix said to The Batavian. “It never ends really the way you had it in your mind. But you get a piece of it, you know, you can recognize it. But along the way, so many things change. 

"As I'm painting, children walk by, and they say things they love, and I catch their favorite colors, and I ask them, what would you like to see in the picture and the painting? And they tell me flowers over here. And they'll point to an area, so I'll paint their favorite color, rather, in a flower," she said. "So it became a journey for me.”

Fix applied for and was awarded a $5,000 grant from GO Art! for the project. It’s the second of its kind for a mural in a city school. The first one was at John Kennedy Intermediate last year. 

Fix credits former school employee Julia Rogers and GO Art! staffer Mary Jo Whitman for helping to coordinate the efforts, and wanted to give a shout-out to Sherwin-Williams of Batavia for a generous sampling of paint in just the right blue shades she needed.

After getting a sense of what Notaro wanted to see on the Jackson school walls, Fix then got to work. She chalked an outline of her design, which she began in late June of this year. There was a lapse for some vacation between then and when she really began the serious work in mid-July.

“I worked on it every day until (Thursday), for three or four hours a day, on the entire wall,” she said. “Maureen is a very ambitious principal; she's a very forward principal, and I love that about her. She said, hey, can we add a rainbow at the end of it with the sun and do it in metallic, she loved my metallic paint, so I put that there, and then in the front foyer, I also did another rainbow, because then they can hang the children's different artwork and things like that around it. 

“So it kind of added a little bit to the timeframe for me,” she said. “But, you know, it was okay. I was fine with it. I have enjoyed painting it so much, and so has the community.”

Last year she then made contact with folks that arranged for a traveling mural of the artwork. That involved a professional photographer and transferring the art onto a huge 8-foot-by-8-foot piece of canvas that is displayed on an easel and transported around the district. 

A traveling mural will be part of this year’s grant, and it will be forthcoming by the end of the year," she said.

Although kindness is widely taught in schools now, she said, it seems as though empathy is not as well known, which is why she favors that second word in the acronym of KEY. 

“Because empathy isn’t something we teach,” she said. “How do we teach children to really understand that?”

The traveling mural is to help educate kids on that empathy component, she said. Last year there were also children’s workshops along with the traveling mural, and those details have to be worked out for this year, Fix said. She thinks the traveling part of the project will probably be out and about in October or November. 

Asked about her favorite part of this year’s mural, Fix thought to the day her grandson Waylon accompanied her to school. He thoughtfully watched and observed her splash on colors and a continuing story before offering his own suggestion. There were children, a wise owl, school buses, white clouds, a blue sky, rolling hills, and math equations, but something was missing, he told her. 

“He said you need a park in here. And he picked where it should go, and it was his idea,” she said of her 9-year-old artist-in-training. “And I would never have thought of a park. It has evergreen trees, and children are sitting on a rock.”

When Fix was taking art lessons, she told her teacher she wanted to paint billboards someday, and the male teacher scoffed, “Miranda, you can’t do that,” referring to her artist pseudonym, Miranda Fix. 

Now, having just completed another project doing something that she loves in the hallway for hundreds of children to see, she may have accomplished that billboard after all. What is a billboard if not an artful display of thoughts?

Come Sept. 5, many youngsters will be treated to that once they enter Jackson.

“That'll be a surprise when the children come back in. We have a lot of hidden things, a lot of hidden gems,” she said. “We represented everyone. We tried to represent the janitors in the school, we tried to represent numbers, and the big clock you see has all the community helpers, symbols of community helpers in the clock. So, yeah, there's a lot of just little thoughts.”

Press Release:

Notre Dame is pleased to announce their 2024 Athletic Hall of Fame Class. This year’s inductees include:

• Dan Burns (1982)
• Jeff Weaver (2001)
• Katie Francis (2004)
• Maurin Lawrence (2004)
• Ashley Napoleone (2004)
• Jeff Antolos (2013) 
• Eric Geitner, long-time Notre Dame Cross Country, Swim, and Track Coach

Also being inducted is the 1982 Football team that posted a record of 8-0-1, winning sectionals and snapping Cal-Mum’s state record 47-game winning streak.

The celebration event will be held on Saturday, November 11. More info to be released shortly.

The ongoing pre-trial process for two defendants connected to an incident at Batavia Downs on March 9 that led to the death of Sgt. Thomas A. Sanfratello continued in Genesee County Court on Friday morning.

Michael J. Elmore is charged with first-degree manslaughter, and Lyndsey J. Wilcox, charged with assault in the second degree, appeared separately in court for hearings on the admissibility at trial of statements they made on March 9 and 10 to police officers. 

The hearings, called a Huntley Hearing, are standard pre-trial appearances in criminal cases.

Sanfratello died shortly after midnight at Batavia Downs during a disturbance that allegedly involved Elmore and Wilcox.  The incident began when Sanfratello, working a special detail at the casino, was dispatched to 34 Rush, a bar in the casino, for a disturbance. He asked those involved, which reportedly included Elmore and Wilcox, to leave the facility.  Wilcox was reportedly complying when she started to resist. Elmore then allegedly attacked Sanfrantello. During the struggle, Sanfrello reportedly suffered a medical event, possibly involving his heart, and died.

Today's hearing focused on statements made by Elmore and Wilcox that were captured by body-worn cameras of police officers, a corrections officer, and a criminal investigator.

At the end of the hearings, Judge Donald O'Geen said to issue a written ruling before the defendant's next court appearance in on Sept. 20.

The first witness called was Deputy Kevin McCarthy, who testified that while preparing to transport Elmore back to the Monroe County Jail following a hearing in Batavia Town Court on March 12, Elmore made the spontaneous (meaning nobody in law enforcement asked him a question or otherwise spoke to him) statement "my life is over." (The Batavian also video recorded Elmore leaving the courthouse -- see video at the top of this story)

No other witnesses were called during Elmore's hearing.

Detective Jason Ivison, Batavia PD, testified that his first contact with Wilcox was just before noon on March 10, when he interviewed Wilcox at the Genesee County Jail. Ivison was apparently the first person to inform Wilcox that Sanfratello had died.

She was already distressed, he said, and that news upset her more.

He read her his Miranda warnings ("You have the right to remain silent," etc.) and then questioned her. His body-worn camera was turned on a DVD of the recording was entered into evidence. 

She agreed to talk with Ivison.

Ivison said Wilcox told him that she had been drinking heavily before going to Batavia Downs and that she had blacked out. She said she didn't remember anything from her time at the casino and didn't understand why she was in jail.

Batavia Patrol Officer Joseph Weglarski testified that he responded to the incident on March 9 while it was in progress. He was later assigned to drive Wilcox to the Genesee County Jail.

He said he didn't ask Wilcox any questions and made no statements to her.  He said she called him several expletives, including "bitch" and "dumb-dumb." 

He said his body-worn camera was on the entire time during the transport. A DVD of that recording was entered into evidence.

Senior Corrections Officer Jason R. Queal took the stand next.

Queal testified he was on duty when Wilcox was brought into the jail for processing, and he handled her intake. He said didn't know why Wilcox was brought to the jail. He later learned there had been a disturbance at Batavia Downs and, then, later learned that Sanfratello had died. Still, during that entire morning, he did not know Wilcox and Elmore were involved in that incident. 

He said Wilcox indicated she did not know why she was at the jail. 

Then Elmore was brought in for intake processing. 

During intake for both defendants, Queal had his body-worn camera attached to his uniform and turned on.

The two defendants were in separate but neighboring cells.  When Elmore started yelling and accusing Queal of breaking his arm, Queal activated his body-worn camera again (it had been off for 45 minutes to an hour). He placed it on a table so that if faced Elmore's cell (the view of Wilcox's cell was blocked by equipment).

He said Wilcox could be heard on the recording. 

He said Elmore was making threatening statements toward him and about law enforcement in general.

He said Wilcox was asking anybody she could why she was in jail. He said he told her he didn't know and didn't hear anybody else give her a reason for her confinement. 

After the hearings, O'Geen said jury selection in the trials will begin on June 16 and take at least three days. The two trials are expected to up to a month, going into the middle of June.

After court, District Attorney Kevin Finnell confirmed both trials would be held simultaneously with both defendants in the courtroom. He said it will be up to the defense attorneys to elect whether to have a single jury for both defendants, separate juries, or have one or both defendants receive a bench trial (no jury, with the judge deciding guilty or not guilty).  He said there is no indication yet how the defense will decide to proceed.

For previous coverage of the case and related events, click here.

Press Release:

The Batavia Social Security Office will be temporarily closed to walk-in visitors on Thursday, August 22 and Friday, August 23, due to renovations. The office will return to normal services on Monday, August 26.  You may continue to reach staff of the Batavia SSA office by calling 1-866-931-7103.

People needing to conduct their Social Security business in person while the Batavia office is temporarily closed may visit one of the following SSA offices:

• Greece – 2nd Floor, 4050 W Ridge Rd, Rochester
• Rochester – 2nd Floor, 200 E. Main Street, Rochester

SSA office hours are from 9:00 a.m. until 4:00 p.m., Monday through Friday.  

Save a trip!  Most Social Security services do not require the public to take time to visit an office.  Many Social Security services are conveniently available online at www.ssa.gov or by dialing toll-free, 1-800-772-1213.  People who are deaf or hard of hearing may call SSA’s TTY number, 1-800-325-0778.

People may create their my Social Security account, a personalized online service, at www.ssa.gov/myaccount.  If they already receive Social Security benefits, they can start or change direct deposit online, request a replacement SSA-1099, and if they need proof of their benefits, they can print or download a current Benefit Verification Letter from their account.  People not yet receiving benefits can use their online account to get a personalized Social Security Statement, which provides their earnings information as well as estimates of their future benefits.  The portal also includes a retirement calculator and links to information about other online services.

Need a Social Security Number card?

Please note for many situations people only need their number and not the card.  If they need a card, they should start the process online.

People can visit www.ssa.gov/ssnumber to submit a request for a replacement card, start an application for an updated card, or to request a Social Security number for the first time.  Some people may not need to visit an office and, if they do need to visit an office to complete the application, they will save a lot of time by starting online.

Want to apply for benefits?

People can apply online for most benefits.  In many cases, there are no forms to sign.  The agency will review the application and reach out with questions or for more information.  Visit www.ssa.gov/onlineservices to apply for retirement, disability, or Medicare.

Need proof of benefits, want to check the status of an application or appeal, or curious what else people can do online?

Visit www.ssa.gov/myaccount or www.ssa.gov/onlineservices today.

Rising health insurance, program and workers' compensation costs for Byron-Bergen Public Library have triggered a request for nearly $4,000 more in the Town of Byron’s 2025 budget, Board President Sally Capurso says.

Capurso requested $10,000 from the board, an increase of $3,800 from the $6,200 it allotted in the 2024 budget. 

She reminded everyone about last year’s vote for Municipal 414 to establish a tax for each of the towns of Bergen and Byron for the library. Bergen passed, but Byron did not, with a 42% vote.

“The trustees are committed to, once again, pursuing this municipal 414 proposition in 2025, however, now in 2024 we both recognize and appreciate that both the town of Byron and our Byron-Bergen Public Library are transitioning with some new board members and experiencing an increase in expenditures," Capurso said during this month's town board meeting. "We are adjusting to new costs that we did not have before. We have to pay for workers' compensation, and we don't even know the cost of that because it will not be out until October. Our library strives to continue to offer relevant programming. Digital materials such as ebooks and audiobooks have also gone up. Additionally, we want to increase compensation and benefits for our loyal employees."

She cited numbers, including performer costs of $250 to $500, and health insurance estimated to range from $5,724 to $13,000. 

"We are still dipping into our reserve funds, which have decreased about 15% from 2023 to 2024," she said. "Would the town board consider putting an amount of $10,000 in your budget to support the final version of the library for the 2024 budget year?”

Town Supervisor Candace Hensel said that budget talks will be coming up.

“And we’ll see where we stand,” Hensel said.

The town of Bergen residents supported Municipal 414, which now provides a tax of 55 cents per $1,000 assessed property value in Bergen that will go toward library expenses. 

As for the worker’s compensation insurance, the library board had approached Genesee County officials previously to find out if Byron-Bergen could be added to the plan, since at the time only Richmond Memorial Library was officially listed.

Byron-Bergen’s board then presented a resolution, per requirements of a local law, to be added by the deadline of July 15. That request prompted discussion during a recent Ways and Means meeting to revise the local law and set a public hearing.

The proposal is to amend a law dating back to 1962 that has since been amended several times related to the county’s mutual self insurance plan. 

The resolution states that any municipal entity eligible to become a member of the plan may become a member by filing a certified copy of the resolution of its governing body that indicates its intention to become a participant of the plan for the next calendar year of operation with the executive secretary of the plan on or before July 15 of any year.  

Genesee County Legislature approved the hearing for 5:30 p.m. Sept. 11 at the county Legislature Chambers in the Old Courthouse, 7 Main St., Batavia. Anyone interested in the topic that wants to speak may do so during this time.

Press Release:

The North Bergen Food Pantry, located at the North Bergen Presbyterian Church, closed its doors at the end of 2023 as its 200-year-old church was closing permanently. 

Since the pantry has a new location there was a need to change the name. The committee met and the name: Mustard Seed Food Pantry seemed to fit perfectly. The mustard seed is referenced in several excerpts from the Bible.

The Mustard Seed Food Pantry is operated by volunteers in coordination with Foodlink (Rochester) and overseen by a board of directors. It operates in cooperation with the Bergen United Methodist Church at their location in the town of Bergen. The pantry is open monthly on the 2nd Thursday from 5 – 8 p.m. and the last Saturday from 9 a.m. – noon. There are handicap entrances and volunteers available to help get the food to your car. Everyone is welcome!

If you would like to donate food or volunteer, please contact Pastor Dave at 585-290-5487. If you would like to donate to this great cause, please send checks made out to: Bergen United Methodist Church, please add “Pantry” in the memo line. Mail to BUMC, PO Box 216, Bergen. Donors will receive an end of the year statement from the Church for tax purposes.

Press Release:

The Rochester Technology and Manufacturing Association and workforce development partners from the GLOW Region (Genesee, Livingston, Orleans & Wyoming counties) Thursday celebrated graduates from the 4^th Annual Genesee Valley Pre-Apprenticeship Program.

Ten participants received six weeks of free classroom instruction at the Genesee Valley BOCES in Batavia, paired with paid on-the-job experience at a local advanced manufacturing company. The ‘Boot Camp’ style program is an earn-while-you-learn model that has placed nearly three dozen participants into full-time employment and several in registered apprenticeship programs.

“The GLOW Region is leading the way in workforce development programs that link academic to industry through innovative programs like the Genesee Valley Pre-Apprenticeship Boot Camp,” said Bob Coyne, RTMA Executive Director. “The RTMA is proud to partner with Genesee Valley Educational Partnership, Genesee Community College, Genesee County Economic Development Center and others to create programs that workers of all ages, skill levels and abilities for a variety of high-demand careers in advanced manufacturing.”

The Genesee Valley Pre-Apprenticeship Program was created in 2021 to assist companies in the region with recruitment and training for high-demand mechatronics trades. Participants receive 96 hours of state-of-the-art classroom training and more than 100 hours of paid on-the-job experience at companies in Genesee, Livingston and Monroe counties. The program has been replicated in Monroe County this year as five participants completed the program earlier this month.

Classroom instruction was provided at no cost due to a SUNY Pre-Apprenticeship Grant secured by Genesee Community College and its BEST Center. The Genesee County Economic Development Center, Workforce Development Institute and GLOW Works also support the annual training program.

Press release:

Batavia Downs Gaming President and CEO Henry Wojtaszek presented representatives from the Monroe County Veterans Treatment Court with a check for $8,800 to support their efforts to assist Veterans within the court system.

On Aug.17, a Vets night dinner was held at Batavia Downs in conjunction with a night of live racing.  Proceeds from live and penny auctions were collected to support the Monroe County Veterans Treatment Court.

“We appreciate Sean Schiano and Batavia Downs for hosting this event again, “said Ray Melens, Lead Mentor for the Monroe County Veterans Court.  “These funds are so important for us to continue our work.   Now more than ever, we are assisting veterans who need help in the court system.  We continue to help identify and treat any underlying issues that these brave men and women face to help them get back on the right track.”

“Veterans have a special meaning for Batavia Downs, “said Wojtaszek.  “So many of our own employees helped find items and baskets for the Penny Auction.  Special thanks to Michael Horton, our director from Steuben County, who was the auctioneer for the exciting live action that was the highlight of the event.”

The search for a new president and CEO of Western Regional OTB is well underway, with the field of global candidates getting narrowed, and the expectation Henry Wojtaszek's replacement is announced before the end of the year, Dennis Bassett told reporters on Thursday.

The discussion with reporters came at the conclusion of the OTB's monthly board meeting at Batavia Downs.

"The search is moving; it is moving along actively, and we're doing our due diligence," said Bassett, chairman of the OTB board.

"We have narrowed the field down," he added. "I'm not going to say how many we have now but we've gone through a step process with the first wave of applicants, narrowed that down, did another perusing by the committee, narrowed that down, and now we're not far away from being able to make some decisions."

Bassett said that when the field is narrowed sufficiently, the entire OTB board will be involved in the candidate interviews, and the board will make the final decision on which candidate to hire.

At its June meeting, the OTB board authorized the buyout of employment contracts for Wojtasek, CFO Jackie Leach, and VP of Operations William White. In the same resolution, the board authorized Bassett to form a CEO search committee.

On Thursday, Bassett said the committee received resumes from applicants that is global in scope, but among the criteria the committee is using to screen candidates is knowledge of the regulatory, legislative, and political landscape of New York.

"One of the key ingredients is knowledge of the New York politics, knowledge of the New York Legislature, how you can work your way through the maze, and how you can help us shed a better light on OTB," Bassett said. "Because one of the key things that I have seen is that we need to do a better job of making sure that the people in Albany know what we're doing and that they look upon WTB as a positive because no one ever asked me, 'are you guys making any money?' In the last two years, we have had record earnings. We are on track to have our third consecutive year of record earnings. No one asks me those questions. No one wants to know. No one wants to see that we're a very successful corporation."

Erie County media has repeatedly speculated on whether Buffalo Mayor Byron Brown would be a candidate for the job. Bassett suggested Brown hadn't applied but then took it back, saying he wouldn't discuss specific candidates.

"I've heard that speculation, too," Bassett said. "If Byron Brown is interested, he'll put his name in," but added that the resume process is closed now.

Asked, "Are you suggesting he has not applied for the job?"

"I'm not suggesting anything like that," Bassett said.

Asked later in the conversation if Brown had applied, Bassett said, "I'm not going to give any answer about our applicants. I'm not going to answer about who has applied for the job, whether it's Byron Brown or anyone else. It's unfair to any candidate to give a name because the candidates who have applied for the job have a job. If I give their name and they don't get the job, how do they go back to their employer and say, 'Well, I was out fishing, and I didn't catch any fish, so I'm back. I'm back, coming to work today.'"

Bassett, a Democrat who represents Monroe County, said he recognizes the need to move quickly if OTB is to have a new CEO in place before Dec. 31, Wojtasek's last day of employment. 

Part of what drives the need to move quickly is at the executive level. For some employers, a mere two-week notice isn't sufficient. An executive may need to give a 30-day notice.

"That's why I have been very keenly aware that we have to move swiftly to try and get through this search process," Bassett said. "The longer you wait, the tougher it is. You don't have good candidates hanging on the fence. We've tried to be very crisp, we've tried to be very thorough, and we've got a very metrics-driven process that we're using, and I think it's working well. The board is going to have some good candidates in front of them for the interview."

Whoever is eventually hired, Bassett suggested, will have big shoes to fill.  Wojtasek is popular with staff, with customers, and has delivered record-breaking results in recent years.

"I have a great working relationship with Henry," Bassett said. "I applaud him and will continue to sing his praises because he's been great to work with. He's been great with the employees. He's been really great with this board. So Henry's electing to leave. Henry is looking for a different challenge. And quite honestly, what better way to leave than leave on top? And I've got to give him his props."

Press Release:

The Holland Land Office Museum is extending its hours every first Wednesday of the month until 8 p.m.! Come on in on Wednesday, September 4 from 5 - 8 p.m. and 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! General museum admission applies.

Join the Holland Land Office Museum for the next edition of our Trivia Night at the Museum on Thursday, September 12 at 7 p.m. In honor of Constitution Week, we are collaborating with the Anna Ingaslbe Lovell Chapter of the Daughters of the American Revolution to put together trivia on the US Constitution to win prizes and enjoy refreshments. 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.

On Saturday, September 14 at 11 a.m., come hear from our Executive Director, Ryan Duffy as he presents, & The Holland Land Company & the Development of WNY! The history of the land of Western New York is cobbled together through many purchases and development groups, the Holland Land Company being the most profound. Its desire to sell the land west of the Genesee River created the foundations of the area to this day. Admission is $5 for non-members and $3 for members. Please contact the museum at 585-343-4727 or hollandlandoffice@gmail.com if you would like to attend.

On Wednesday, September 18, at 7 p.m., come for a presentation by Patrick F Ryan, the Cultural Curator at The Richardson Olmsted Campus and the Lipsey Architecture Center Buffalo! “The Richardson Olmsted Campus: Past, Present, & Future,” This lecture covers the complicated history of the former Buffalo State Asylum for the Insane, now the Richardson Olmsted Campus. Learn how three of the 19th century's finest minds, Thomas Story Kirkbride, Frederick Law Olmsted, and Henry Hobson Richardson came together to create one of the nation's most famous architectural treasures. The program will examine mental health treatment, architecture, landscape design, and current-day rehabilitation efforts. 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.

"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!"

On Friday, September 20 at 7 p.m. at the Holland Land Office Museum, come listen to the Batavia famous Strummerz band, playing all the hits from the 1950s, 60s, and & 70s! Please get in contact with the museum if you are planning on attending! Either email us at hollandlandofficemuseum@gmail.com or call us at (585) 343 – 4727. Admission is $5 for non-members and $4 for members.

"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!"

Join us at the Holland Land Office Museum for our Java with Joe E. morning presentation series on Thursday, September 26 at 9 a.m. Bergen Town Historian, Tom Tiefel, will be presenting, “Lt. Thomas J. Dean, Letters Home: The ‘Soldier Boy’ of North Bergen.” “From farmer to fighter of the 8th NY Heavy Artillery. The Civil War in his own words and his life beyond the Crater. Accounts, artifacts and the life of Thomas J. Dean.” 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. 

Bring the kids by the Holland Land Office Museum for our new History Story time for Fall 2024. On Saturday, September 28 at 11 a.m. Anne Marie Starowitz will return to her favorite place to oversee a children’s Story Hour. On a Saturday morning every month, she will engage kids in learning about local history and creating a seasonal art project. 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.

Press Release:

All motorists please be aware the following streets (listed in no particular order) will experience traffic delays beginning Tuesday, August 27 through Thursday, August 29 between the hours of 6 a.m. – 4 p.m. for milling operations:

• Dellinger Avenue
• Douglas Street
• Evans Street
• Jackson Avenue
• Jefferson Avenue
• Kibbe Avenue
• Oakland Avenue
• Osterhout Avenue
• Porter Avenue
• Thomas Avenue
• Williams Street

While work is being performed in these areas, local traffic will be permitted to and from their residence/property but should plan accordingly for delays.

All residents/businesses within the work area are asked not to park on the roadway during the operation. All motorists that regularly use these streets are asked to seek alternate routes while the delays are in place.

Resurfacing of these streets is scheduled to begin the week of September 9 and will be confirmed with a future press release.

Contact the Bureau of Maintenance at 585-345-6400 opt. 1 if you have any questions or concerns. Thank you for your cooperation.

Nicole M. Will, 43, of Teachers Lane, Orchard Park, is charged with grand larceny 3rd.  Will is accused of stealing $15,585.07 from the Pembroke PTA bank account while serving at the PTA president and treasurer from January 2019 to April 2024. She was arrested on July 30. She was held pending arraignment.

Nathanial S. Thompson, 23, of Albion, is charged with burglary 2nd, criminal mischief 34d, conspiracy 4th, criminal possession of a weapon 2nd, and grand larceny 3rd. Thompson is accused of breaking into Barrett's Batavia Marine on May 27 and stealing several guns. He was arrested on Aug. 13, arraigned in City Court, and jailed without bail.

Paul R. Hoffman, 50, of Buffalo, is charged with failure to report a change of address as a sex offender. He was arrested on Aug. 5 for allegedly moving and then allegedly failing to update his address as a Leve 2 sex offender. He was arraigned and released.

Nicole L Cramer, 34, of Batavia, was arrested on Aug. 9 on a warrant on a charge of criminal mischief 4th. Cramer is accused of damaging a door during a fight on Columbia Avenue on Feb. 22, 2022. Batavia patrol officers located cramer in a vehicle during a traffic stop on East Main Street, Batavia. She was arrigned in City Court and released.

Mark W. McWethy, 56, of Batavia, is charged with petit larceny. McWethy is accused of stealing merchandise from Tops on Aug. 10. He was issued an appearance ticket.

Lynn C. Fryling, 75, of Batavia, is charged with harassment 2nd. Fryling is accused of threatening to shoot another person during an argument on Redfield Parkway on Aug. 8. She was issued and appearance ticket.

Edward David Grant III, 28, of Walbar Street, Rochester, is charged with reckless endangerment, unlawful fleeing a police officer in a motor vehicle 3rd, aggravated unlicensed operation 2nd, reckless driving, and spending. Grant is accused of fleeing from a deputy attempting to make a traffic stop at 4:24 pm. on July 25 in the Town of Stafford. He allegedly led police on a high-speed car through the town of Batavia and the city of Batavia and onto the Thruway. Grant was taken into custody on the Thruway after a spike strip was deployed. He was held pending arraignment.

Charles Wayne Mobus, 38, of Terrace Lane, Elma, is charged with harassment 2nd. Mobus was charged following a complaint of a disturbance on Park Road in the town of Batavia at 11:41 p.m. on July 26. No further details released. He was issued an appearance ticket.

Lisa J. Boyer, 48, of Oak Street, Batavia, is charged with DWI, driving with a BAC of .08 or greater, and failure to obey traffic device. Boyer was arrested by Deputy Ryan Mullen following a report on Route 98 in the town of Batavia of a traffic accident 10:11 p.m. on July 26. She was issued an appearance ticket.

Randal Rager Spangenberg, 49, of E. Elgin Green, Port Hueneme, Calif., and Amanda Autumn Maben, 46, of West Fifth Street, Oxnard, Calif., are each charged with criminal possession of a controlled substance 4th, criminal possession of a controlled substance 7th, and criminal use of drug paraphernalia. Spangenberg was reportedly the driver, and Maben, a passenger of a vehicle that was stopped by deputies Alexander Hadsall and Matthew Wesolowski at 6:14 p.m. on July 23 on Route 77 in Pembroke. Deputies reportedly found narcotics in the vehicle. Both were held pending arraignment.

Abigail Shawn Ransom-Taylor, 32, of Plantation Boulevard, Liverpool, is charged with felony DWI and felony driving with a BAC of .08 or greater. Ransom-Taylor was stopped at 6:41 p.m. on July 10 on Depot Street, Corfu, by Deputy Trevor Sherwood. Ransom-Taylor was arraigned on July 11 and released.

Christina M. Flagg, 43, of E. Wautoma Beach, Hilton, is charged with resisting arrest and disorderly conduct.  Flagg is accused of causing a disturbance at Darien Lake at 6:13 p.m. on July 27. She allegedly refused to leave the property when told to do so by Darien Lake security personnel. Flagg is also accused of resisting arrest when deputies attempted to place her into custody. Flagg was released on a appearance ticket.

A dilapidated wreck of a building that’s riddled with dangerous features, including broken windows, rodents and insects, and is in your neighborhood, would ordinarily be cause for nightmares except for one thing, Anthony Nicolucci says. 

He barely gets any sleep.

“This is not something that has just come up. This has been a safety issue for a long time. I sleep with one eye open, worried about this building being burned. It’s infested, there are massive beehives, there are broken windows, and there’s the abandonment of four years plus. It’s a real concern,” Nicolucci told Byron Town Board during its recent meeting. “I’m hoping that we get to a level of paying taxes again; it’s three years in arrears. It’s an eyesore; it’s a safety measure. I’m glad that they’re going to take it up (Thursday). Just take a drive by … we take pride in our property.”

He’s also concerned with how the nearby property, formerly known as the Grange at 6538 Byron Holley Road (Route 237), will affect his and others’ property values. 

Town Supervisor Candace Hensel said she understood his concerns, especially how the rickety structure, tucked into overflowing weeds and foliage, affects neighboring homes.

“My first listing as a real estate agent was the house across the street, and when we’d have open houses, I’d go and shut the curtain whenever they’d walk into the house,” she said.

Code Inspector Melissa Lerlan reviewed an inspection report on the property, which will be further discussed during a public hearing at 5 p.m. Thursday at Byron Town Hall, 7028 Byron Holley Road. The hearing concerns the repair or demolition and removal of the site, which is considered to be an “unsafe building.”

The property is owned by Christine Roberts and is assessed at $20,000, according to Genesee County online assessment records. At 2,080 square feet, it is listed as a two-floor family residence in “poor” condition.

This property has been discussed during previous town board meetings. Nicolucci also spoke on behalf of a couple of neighbors that he referred to during his comments.

Press Release:

The Genesee Community College History Club will once again be hosting the Historical Horizons Lecture Series with a full line up for Fall 2024. For those who may be unfamiliar with the lecture series, these are talks on a variety of topics of historical interest, open to both the campus community and the public every first Wednesday during the semester. 

Lectures will be held at 7 p.m. in T102 on GCC's Batavia Campus and will also be available to join via Zoom. All talks will be followed by a Q&A session with the speakers.

Here is the Fall 2024 Historical Horizons line up:

September 4 - "Hush the Cannon's Roar: The Life and Times of Bennet Riley: Defender of Buffalo"
A Book Talk by local author Tom Schobert.

General Bennet Riley was a Mexican War hero who made his home in Buffalo, NY and is buried there in Forest Lawn Cemetery. Crafting a narrative based heavily on archival research, Schobert's novel traces Bennet Riley's legacy through his forty-year military career, his relationships with his wife and family, and his impact on Buffalo history. 

For Schobert, himself a long-time historical impressionist in the Buffalo area who has portrayed numerous presidents, Mexican and Civil War generals, and other significant figures, the process of putting together this novel is as fascinating a story as the novel itself!

October 2 - "The Promise of Democracy: The Struggle for Voting Rights in America" by GCC Political Science Professor Charles Scruggs.

This talk will provide an overview of the "battle for the ballot" --a profoundly animating force in the course of American history. Particular attention will be paid to the Civil Rights Act of 1965 and the voter suppression strategies which followed suit. Students are highly encouraged to attend! 

November 6 - "Historic Chronicles of Genesee County" A Book Talk by Genesee County Historian Michael Eula.

Genesee County has seen trials, tribulations and triumphs throughout its storied history as national events have been brought to its doorstep. Cold War anxiety was on full display in the preparedness drills of the 1950s and the effect those had on Batavia's students. 

Too often overlooked, the scourge of racism has reared its ugly head in the region, as the Ku Klux Klan once had a presence in the county. Locals were rocked by the assassinations of MLK and John F. Kennedy in the 1960s. Genesee County women, from activists to farmers, have left an indelible mark on the county's past. Join author and historian Michael Eula as he reveals the historic chronicles of Genesee County.

December 4 - "Historical Portrayals as Community Engagement" A Panel Discussion with historical impressionists Tom Schobert, Melinda Grube and GCC Instructor Dan Snyder, as well as representatives from our local chapter of the LARP group Combat Historia.

History is rich with the stories of those who inspire us in the present. From conjuring the impression of a particular historical figure to using historical research to inform a character, many communities use history to engage the community and bring attention to how the public can get involved in learning about, preserving, and enjoying history at the local level. Moderated by historians Derek and Jess Maxfield, this panel discussion will explore how those who engage the community using history as inspiration develop their characters and use historical research as inspiration for their portrayals.

Genesee Community College invites the public to join them for these enlightening lectures, providing a unique opportunity to engage with historical topics and esteemed scholars. Mark your calendars for an enriching experience at the Historical Horizons Lecture Series this Fall.

For more information, please contact the Office of Student Engagement and Inclusion at sei@genesee.edu.

Submitted photos courtesy of Genesee Community College.