It was a big night in the Call Arena at Genesee Community College, with the school hosting its 42nd Annual Fashion Show, featuring the design work of fashion students at the college.
This year's theme was "Ageless." The show celebrated fashion in all its forms and highlights the diversity of style across generations. The show paid tribute to fashion trends throughout the decades from the 1920s to today and beyond, showcasing the talent and creativity and interpretation of GCC's fashion students.
Pitching dominated in Saturday's nightcap of the annual Batavia Rotary Club Baseball Tournament at Dwyer Stadium, with Notre Dame beating Batavia 3-2 to claim the championship.
Bryceton Berry, the tournament MVP, picked up the win, going seven innings, striking out nine Blue Devils, and surrendering eight hits and two runs.
Batavia's Shawn Kimball took the loss despite giving up only three runs and three hits over six innings. He struck out six hitters.
Kimball was also the only hitter in the game to pick up two hits.
Earlier in the day, Notre Dame beat Oakfield-Alabama 5-2, and Batavia beat Attica 12-1.
Photos by Kristin Smith except where noted.
Photo submitted by Tom Turnbull
Bryceton Berry of Notre Dame was selected tournament MVP. Pictures with Rotary President John McGowan and Tournament Director Tom Turnbull. Photo submitted by Tom Turnbull.
Alexander Girls Softball cleaned up over the weekend, getting three wins over two days, including a muddy mess of a win over Kendall on Sunday evening.
Coach John Goodenbury called it a slip-and-slide contest.
The Trojans won 8-5.
Emily Pietrzykowski picked up the win for Alexander, pitching 7 innings allowing five hits, six free passes and notching eight whiffs.
Senior Olivia Delelys led Alexanders' offensive, going 3-3 with a double and 2 RBIs. Melissa Sawyer went 2-2 with an RBI.
“We were not sure we would get this game in today because of the forecast," Goodenbury said. "At game time, the weather didn’t seem like the rain was too heavy or that it would last long, but we were wrong. Kendall’s head coach Jeff Parizek and I just wanted to play this game, so we rolled with mother nature’s punches and played on. Looking back at the game, I think both teams had a blast, the girls got the chance to be like little kids again as they were sliding around the bases and getting covered in mud. To see the girls with big smiles playing a game, I am sure they will always remember, is worth the extra laundry detergent to me.”
With the win, Alexander is now 9-5 on the season.
Two of those nine wins came on Saturday when Alexander beat Byron-Bergen and Barker.
In game one, the Trojans shut out the Bees 6-0.
Madison Boyce tossed a 4-hit shutout. Boyce pitched 7 innings, allowing four hits, eight walks and recording
Emily Pietrzykowski was 2-4 with 2 runs scored and an RBI, while Lilly Szymkowiak was 2-3 with a double and 1 run scored.
In game two, Alexander beat Barker 11-6.
Alexander racked up 13 hits during the contest.
Makenna Boyce, Olivia Delelys and Melissa Sawyer all collected multiple hits for Alexander. Senior Makenna Boyce led Alexander going 3-4 with a triple and 2 RBIs, and a stolen base. Emily Pietrzykowski, Madison Boyce and Melissa Sawyer combined pitching efforts for the win, surrendering four hits while striking out 9.
“The past week was a tough week for the entire GR with bad weather that forced many cancellations and that resulted in us stacking a doubleheader today," Goodenbury said. "A scheduling conflict had us play both games today back-to-back with no break in between games, so our girls had to dig deep today. They made it work and came out on top of both contests. Maddison Boyce has been pitching outstanding for us, and today she completed her third shutout of the season and reached 60 strikeouts after 33.2 innings on the bump so far. It was Senior Day for us, and both of our seniors, Makenna Boyce and Olivia Delelys, played great to make it a special day for Alexander.”
Story based on submitted information. Submitted photos.
When it comes to getting news out first, The Batavian doesn't always beat the competition, but we beat them more often than they beat us.
We work hard to bring you the news of our community quickly, thoroughly and accurately.
We do a lot of original reporting and break a lot of important stories, but our format also allows us to publish all of the press releases we receive, which helps us lead all other news sources in bringing you the most local news.
This is why you should sign up for Early Access Pass. We bring you more news faster, and as a member of Early Access Pass, you get access first.
Here is a list of stories published over the past seven days, excluding press releases and scanner reports (just original reporting) where we beat the competition. These are also stories in the vast majority of cases, the competition hasn't even covered yet.
And speaking of exclusive coverage of important community news, The Batavian broke the story earlier this year of the change in maximum income requirement for the apartments at Ellicott Station (perhaps one of the most important stories of the year) and the competition has barely covered anything about the issue.
And as for the biggest story of the past week, the changes at Batavia Downs, The Batavian not only broke the story locally but provided the most thorough and in-depth coverage.
A reminder on how Early Access Pass works: When we do original reporting, meaning something, we go out and gather information to report, and write a story that has a byline on it, for the first four hours after publication, that story will be exclusively available to people who have joined Early Access Pass. However, posts that are press releases or scanner reports, and some other occasional items, will be available immediately upon publication. In one way or another, everything we publish remains free for those who either don't want to sign up for Early Access Pass or who can't afford to sign up. We appreciate the support of everybody who signs up, but joining is completely optional.
For the second straight year, the sun shined bright as the ladies of varsity Genesee Region Golf took to Batavia Country Club on Saturday. The event gave the young ladies an opportunity to face off against ladies only, as for the rest of their season, they have to play alongside the boys and from the men’s tees. This year’s individual champion was Lily Tobin, a senior from Kendall. Last year's champion, Elba/OA freshman Jada Fite finished in the runner-up position. Rounding out the top four were Elba/OA sophomore Aerianna Cintorino and Elba/OA Senior Taimi Pike.
Classical guitarist Peter Fletcher performed an afternoon concert at the Richmond Memorial Library on Saturday.
Fletcher has been recording and performing classical guitar music for more than 40 years. He holds a Master of Music degree from the Eastman School of Music in Rochester. He has studied with David Leisner, David Russell, Oscar Ghiglia and Pepe Romero. He has performed recitals throughout the U.S., including two recitals at Carnegie Hall in New York. He's also made numerous appearances on radio and television.
He currently resides in Detroit and New York City.
His CD releases include The Art of Classical Guitar, A Peter Fletcher Recital and Federico Mompou: Guitar Works. In 2005, Centaur Records released Peter Fletcher plays Erik Satie. Peter Fletcher Plays Baroque Music for Guitar was released in 2008 on the Tower Hill Recordings label. His current release is
Beth Paine, the new director of the Richmond Memorial Library, during a meet and greet at the library on Saturday. Photo by Howard Owens.
The Richmond Memorial Library is a community center, and so a place where everybody should find a fun and friendly place to visit, said Beth Paine, the library's new director.
Paine started her job in February but has been busy the past several months getting settled into the job. On Saturday, community members were invited to the library to meet her and socialize.
"No one should ever feel they are not welcome here," Paine said. "We're a happy place. So much is going on in a world that is depressing and upsetting, and here we're happy, and we love our patrons, and we're an open source for any kind of information."
The previous director, Bob Conrad, took a new job downstate, and after an extensive search, New York native Paine was selected by the library board.
Paine has held the director's position at three other libraries in New York -- Sydney, Watkins Glen, and Prattsburg.
She said she's impressed with the Richmond Memorial Library and its staff.
"The programming here is amazing," Paine said. "The staff is very good with the patrons."
There are a few things she would like to upgrade, she said.
"We're looking at getting more Wi-Fi access points and adding in a little bit of more security, and expanding the collections in certain areas that have been not used as much," Paine said. "Right now, there's really not a whole lot to improve. It's a great library, I'm really excited to be here."
She said she has an open-door policy for patrons and wants to hear from them when they have suggestions or issues to discuss.
Now that she's settled in, she plans to be out in the community more. She is going to a Batavia Rotary Club meeting soon to make a presentation, and she also plans to start volunteering at the animal shelter.
"That's what I've done for many years," Paine said. "I volunteered at the Yates County shelter when I lived in Penn Yan, and then when I moved to Delaware County, I volunteered at the one there, and so now that I'm here, I plan on offering my dog walking services. That's usually what I do."
The Richmond Memorial Library would like to thank everyone who came out to vote in our library trustee election today. Richard Beatty received 160 votes, and there were three write-ins. Congratulations to Richard, and we are very excited to welcome him aboard on July 1.
The Tom Scott Volunteer of the Year Award recipient Coach Fred Hamilton presented by GAHA President Dale Hutchins
On Sunday, April 30 th the Genesee Amateur Hockey Association celebrated their end-of-the-year awards ceremony, held at the David McCarthy Memorial Ice Arena. The teams of Squirt, Pee Wee, Bantam, Midget MOHL and Midgets were celebrated. The Beginners had their year-end Beginner Jamboree on Saturday, March 18 th and the Mite Division held their year-end celebration on April 22 at St. James Episcopal Church. A great time was had by all of the players.
The theme of this year’s event was “Out with the Old, in with the New.” About 225 members of the GAHA family joined to celebrate GAHA’s new logo, new facility name – The David McCarthy Memorial Ice Arena, and new management – Operating Manager Matt Gray, General Manager Kati Murray and her Rink staff, and the efforts of the “Friends of the Rink”.
GAHA President Dale Hutchins welcomed all of the players and their families, and Erik Triftshauser served as Master of Ceremonies for the event. The group enjoyed a catered breakfast served by D and R Depot of Le Roy, who did a terrific presentation. Thank you, Sean and company.
The GAHA graduating seniors were recognized as they leave the Association and moved toward their selected futures. Those seniors were Gino Falleti, Bryce Feldmann, Ronin Hofmaster, Ryan Hamilton, Cooper Hamilton, Noah Hudson as well as Alex Johnson.
The highlight of the event was the presentation of the yearly awards handed out by GAHA. The first award was the Matthew Mondi Memorial Award which was presented to Mite Player Abram Lopez; the Danny D Tribute Player Award went to Mite Player Wesley Lasher and Bantam player Justin Gabehart; the Pam Borden Memorial Award was presented to Bantam player – Alex Wyder; and the David McCarthy Leadership Award was presented to Carter Fix. These awards are in the form of scholarships toward next year’s fees. The Sharon Valyear Dedication Award was presented to Sharon’s granddaughter – Lilly Gray. is
The last award of the evening was the Tom Scott Volunteer of the Year Award, which is presented to the GAHA volunteer who has dedicated countless hours to the betterment of the organization and exemplifies the ideals of GAHA as well as USA Hockey. This year’s award was presented to Coach Fred Hamilton, who is lovingly referred to as the Pied Piper of all hockey players. Fred has been instrumental in the success of the Beginner Program and many of the other divisions within GAHA and also a huge asset to the USA Hockey Try Hockey for Free event that GAHA hosts twice a year. He has the patience of a saint with all of the little ones with his even falling down on the ice when they take a spill. There aren’t very many players within the association that haven’t been touched in the heart by Coach Fred in the “Yellow Helmet.”
The afternoon ended with all those present showing their gratitude to all of the Team Coaches (who did a presentation for their respective teams), Assistant Coaches, Team Managers and also to all of the Association Goalies who play an essential role in each and every game.
Photos submitted by Sharon Gray.
Sharon Valyear Dedication Award recipient Lilly Gray presented by Sharon Valyear-Gray.
Pam Borden Memorial Award recipient Alex Wyder presented by Pam's son, Russ Borden, and his son Alex
David McCarthy Leadersip Award and Scholarship recipient is Carter Fix presented by David's Dad, Mike McCarthy, alongside Sharon Gray
Danny D Tribute Player Award recipient is Justin Gabehart presented by TJ Peca
Two people were seriously injured when a motorcycle they were on left the roadway on Lewiston Road in Oakfield and struck a retaining wall in a yard.
Contrary to an earlier report, no vehicle was involved.
Sgt. Matt Wikowski, State Police, said at this stage of the investigation it's not clear why the driver lost control over the motorcycle.
The driver and a female passenger were both ejected from the bike. The driver was transported to ECMC by ground ambulance and the female was flown to ECMC by Mercy Flight.
Oakfield Fire and Mercy EMS assisted at the scene.
Before sending him to prison for 10 years, Judge Melissa Lightcap Cianfrini wondered at the criminal history of Arthur Brown, 45, of Le Roy, whom she observed is clearly intelligent, is well-spoken, and knows to advocate for himself.
Why, she wondered, why he keeps engaging in criminal activity when Brown could do so much more with his life.
Brown was sentenced on three separate criminal cases, the most notorious, an incident in September 2021 when he fled from a traffic stop after being seen driving erratically on Route 33 through Bergen and Stafford. Brown ran into a cornfield, and Deputy Kevin Quackenbush started a foot pursuit but stopped when he apparently saw Brown pull a handgun from his waistband. Quackenbush retreated, and then there was a loud bang.
Quackenbush reported to dispatch, "shots fired." This was the start of a several-hour, multi-department manhunt that eventually led to the arrest of Brown and the recovery of a handgun. The loud bangs turned out to be from a wildlife scare cannon.
Brown has consistently maintained that the gun officers found was not his, and on Friday, he accused of Quckenbush of not telling the whole truth about the incident, such as, he said, Brown's DNA wasn't on the gun nor were his fingerprints.
ADA Joseph Robinson noted after Brown's statement that the gun wasn't checked for fingerprints.
Deputy Kenneth Quckenbush taking position behind his patrol vehicle after bangs were heard in a farm field on Clinton Street Road, Stafford, on Sept. 19, 2021. A suspect had run into the field and apparently displayed a firearm before the bang was heard. The bangs turned out to a wildlife scare cannon. File photo by Howard Owens.
After initially indicating he intended to take the charges against him to a jury, in February, he entered guilty pleas to multiple charges, including second-degree attempted criminal possession of a weapon, a Class D violent offense, third-degree attempted criminal possession of a narcotic drug with intent to sell, a Class B felony, in connection with an arrest in January of this year in the City of Batavia, and to one count of violating the Sex Offender Registration Act, a Class E felony, for failing to register as a sex offender upon a change of address.
In arguing for the maximum possible sentence against Brown (the 10 years Cianfrini eventually imposed), Robinson said that Brown's long criminal history and habit of saying things that attempt to explain away or minimize his criminal activity made him a danger to society.
Robinson listed Brown's past criminal activity:
In 1994, Brown was adjudicated a youthful offender in a criminal case and violated probation within a year.
In 1995, he was sentenced to a year in jail.
In 1998, he was sentenced to seven years in prison on a robbery 2nd conviction.
In 2005, he was convicted of rape 3rd and sentenced to 18 months to three years in prison.
In 2010 he as conflicted of criminal sale of a controlled substance 4th and sentenced to two years in prison.
In 2015, he was convicted of two sexual offender registration violations.
In was released from prison on that conviction in 2021 one, just weeks before the incident on Clinton Street Road.
The plea Brown accepted, Robinson said, satisfied not only the pending charges already filed against Brown but also four ongoing drug dealing investigations being conducted by the Local Drug Task Force that had not yet led to charges.
Robinson said Brown seems to spend more time in prison and free.
"If he's not serving time on a conviction, he's out committing more crimes," Robison said.
Robinson noted that Brown hasn't accepted responsibility for possessing a gun in September, and he said that when Brown was accused of possessing a bag of cocaine, Brown told probation officers during his pre-sentence interview that officers found the bag in a bush and not on his person. That was an example, Robinson said, of the defendant minimizing his responsibility for his actions.
Another dealt with Brown's SORA violation. Brown said, according to Robinson, that he didn't think he needed to register a change of address because he merely moved from one room to another in a hotel complex.
Defense attorney Joseph Lobosco said his client did accept responsibility for his actions and suggested that Robinson was mischaracterizing Brown's interview with probation officers. He said the interview took hours, and the report didn't include direct quotes from Brown but paraphrases from officers written after the interview.
Brown said it was unfair of the ADA to he didn't accept responsibility for his crimes.
He said there was the DNA of three other people on the gun but not his. He also complained that a confidential informant used in the drug sales investigation was facing six criminal charges, which wasn't disclosed, he said.
"I take responsibility for what I've done, and I don't make excuses," Brown said. "But I don't take responsibility for what I didn't do."
Cianfrini said she hopes Brown will use his time in prison to better his life, to learn new skills, and reflect on the direction his life has taken.
"You could do something worthwhile with your life," she said.
On the SORA violation, Cianfrini sentenced him to 2 to 4 years in prison. On the attempted criminal possession of a weapon conviction, seven years in prison. On the criminal possession of a controlled substance conviction, 10 years in prison. All sentences are to be served concurrently.
A second trial for a Batavia man accused of firing a shotgun at two people on Elm Street on Aug. 12 will start on Monday.
The first trial of Jeremy Ives began in March and ended in a mistrial. The reason for the mistrial was not discussed in open court on Friday during a hearing held for trial preparation.
Ives was indicted in September on two counts of attempted assault in the first degree, a Class C violent felony, kidnapping in the second degree, a Class B violent felony, criminal use of a firearm in the first degree, a Class B violent felony, two counts of criminal use of a firearm in the second degree, a Class C violent felony, and menacing in the second degree, a Class A misdemeanor.
Ives is accused of attempting to cause serious physical injury to a person using a shotgun in the City of Batavia on Aug. 12. He is accused of abducting another person on that same day.
In January, Ives turned down a plea offer, electing to take his case to trial. ADA Will Zickl said at the time that under the terms of the offer, the counts against Ives would be reduced to a single count of attempted assault in the first degree, a Class C violent felony. Ives, who has a prior DWI conviction, would admit to the charge as a second-felony offender.
He would have been facing a possible sentence of five to 15 years.
If convicted at trial, Ives faces a sentence of nine to 25 years in prison.
The main issues discussed on Friday were the testimony of two possible witnesses.
One witness is the person Ives may have purchased the shotgun from. There is a question about whether the witness can positively identify Ives as the person who bought the gun. A third party apparently arranged the transaction and handed the seller the money.
"She doesn't have to know his name to know she handed him the gun," Zickl said.
There is also a witness who claims to have heard Ives yelling things in the street outside her residence some three hours after the reported shooting. Whatever statements she heard are apparently not relevant to the case, but Zickl argued that her testimony will enlighten the jury as to Ives' emotional after the shooting.
Defense attorney Joseph Lobosco argued that the witness was miles away, hours after the event, didn't see Ives while he was yelling, and had no context for what she heard.
Zickl countered that the witness, who apparently knows Ives, can ID Ives by his voice.
Judge Melissa Lightcap Cianfrini ruled that both witnesses can be called during the trial.
A portion of the parcels off of Assemblyman R. Stephen Hawley Drive and MedTech Drive, across from GCC in Batvia, where developers are planning an 80-unit apartment complex. Photo by Howard Owens.
A Grand Island-based developer has submitted an application to the Town of Batavia to build an 80-unit apartment complex on 9.47 acres of land next to the MedTech Center, part of the MedTech Park, along Assemblyman R. Stephen Hawley Drive.
The location is across the roadway from Genesee Community College.
The land is currently owned by an entity of GCEDC, the Genesee Gateway Local Development Corp.
The name of the complex on the application is Countryside Apartments, and the application was submitted by David Mazur.
The plan calls for six 12-unit buildings and one eight-unit building with 24 three-bedroom apartments, 42 two-bedroom, and 14 one-bedroom, with 36 single-car detached garages.
The total project cost is expected to exceed $12 million.
The application does not include -- which is normal for building applications -- any information about possible construction incentives GCEDC might offer.
The project will require water, sanitary sewer, storm drainage, natural gas, cable, and electric utilities.
The developers are proposing a connection to the existing 12-inch water main with a 2-inch domestic water service and a 2-inch fire service for each apartment building.
The town board approved the land for Planned Unit Development (PUD) in November 2022.
When all the units are rented, the complex is expected to have minimal traffic impact. On weekday mornings, 9.6 vehicles entering, and 36.1 vehicles exiting. In the afternoons, 19.4 vehicles entering, and 36.1 vehicles exiting.
The Genesee County Planning Board will review the project at its meeting on Thursday. The meeting is scheduled for 7 p.m. in County Building #2 on West Main Street Road in Batavia.
A portion of the parcels off of Assemblyman R. Stephen Hawley Drive and MedTech Drive, across from GCC in Batvia, where developers are planning an 80-unit apartment complex. Photo by Howard Owens.
From the development application show the parcels of the proposed development.
One of the floor plans included in the development application.
Elevation renderings from the development application
County Manager Matt Landers, Paul Osborn deputy highway superintendent of facilities, parks, recreation & forestry, Scott Schrader, AQS Redemption in Elba, Chris Suozzi, VP business development, GCEDC, Alvi Castro, AQS Redemption, and Jay Lazaroni, work force development director. Photo by Howard Owens
Press release:
Genesee County is announcing its Cans for Careers drive to support hands-on career exploration for youth at annual GLOW With Your Hands events and other related youth-related workforce development programs. Residents can drop off bottles and cans at three Batavia locations between 8 a.m. and 7 p.m. on Wednesday, May 17. Bottles and cans can be dropped off at the following locations:
Department of Social Services: 5130 E. Main St Rd, Batavia, NY
Job Development Bureau: 587 East Main St, Batavia, NY
County Building 1 (St. Mary’s Parking Lot): 18 Ellicott St, Batavia, NY
“The annual GLOW With Your Hands and other career exploration events attract thousands of students throughout the GLOW region and within Genesee County and fundraising is an important component in conducting these events which are very volunteer intensive,” said Genesee County Manager Matt Landers.
Genesee County will host the one-day drive in conjunction with AQS Redemption Inc., a local New York State bottle and can redemption company. Residents can schedule free pick-ups or drop off their redeemable bottles and cans at the company’s location at 1 North Main Street in Elba, NY. Area businesses can also host a bottle and can drive at their workplace. Residents and businesses can call at 585-250-0870 or email aqsredemption@gmail.com to find out more information.
“We are once again fortunate that AQS is willing to commit its collection facility for a full day in order to support our efforts as we look to enhance our workforce events and programs for our youth,” said GLOW With Your Hands Co-Chair and GLOW Workforce Development Board Executive Director Jay Lazarony. “Our partners in Genesee County government also recognize the importance of workforce development and we appreciate their partnership in this endeavor.”
A proposed rule change from the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services (CMS) could provide Batavia’s United Memorial Medical Center (UMMC) with an additional $8.5 million every year.
Other hospitals across the state would benefit with their own additional funding. The overall proposal, currently under review, could bring an additional $967 million every year to hospitals in upstate New York.
The proposal, if implemented, would deliver a big win for UMMC, whose administrators have long complained Medicare has underfunded them. The state has a shortage of doctors and nurses. With additional funding, UMMC and other hospitals could pay for more specialists from both professions.
U.S. Senate Majority Leader Chuck Schumer (D-NY) announced the proposal Friday. He said hospital systems across upstate New York have for many years received less than the national average for the services they provide.
Rochester Regional Health (RRH) oversees UMMC. In a statement, company officials predicted good things will come from this extra funding.
“We are optimistic that this proposed rule change would be an important first step on the federal level to address the years of Medicare underfunding we’ve experienced,” according to the statement. “Currently, RRH receives around $0.84 for every $1 we spend on Medicare patients. Moving forward, we will keep on working with our federal, state and local partners in the fight for fair funding levels so we can continue to provide the high-quality health care this community needs and deserves.”
The Medicare Wage Index rate is used to determine how much money the U.S. government pays hospitals for labor costs when they treat Medicare patients. Each metro area is assigned a rate that dictates whether they receive more or less than the national average for health care labor costs.
Since the 1980s, Schumer said hospitals in the Albany area, for instance, have received only 86 percent of what the average hospital receives to account for wages, which does not reflect that city’s true wages and labor market.
“This means that hospitals from Buffalo to Albany and Watertown to Binghamton, big and small, in rural and urban areas, can get the support they have long deserved,” Schumer said.
“I will use all my clout as majority leader to push CMS to finalize this proposed wage increase, and I won’t stop until Upstate NY hospitals get the full reimbursements they have been denied for too long.”
Photo of United Memorial Medical Center in Batavia, by Howard Owens.
Still photo taken from a video by The Bataivan about the crosswalk on Bank Street between Main Street and Washington Avenue in Batavia
After years of talking about and studying that Bank Street crosswalk — the one that's arguably a danger zone between Main and Washington — the city has plans to address it during what’s going to be a mighty busy infrastructure time beginning in mid-fall of this year, City Manager Rachael Tabelski says.
The City of Batavia has committed more than $1 million for a project to help reduce the street’s girth and slow down traffic, Tabelski said. A good portion of that amount — $944,943 — will come from a state TAP grant. (See council's discussion about the grant HERE.)
City Manager RachaelTabelski. FIle photo by Howard Owens.
“The Bank Street Corridor Streetscape project was approved as a Capital Project by City Council. The City received an NYSDOT TAP grant for a $1,113,900 project to re-align curb cuts, narrow the street for traffic calming and examine pedestrian elements such as the crosswalk," Tabelski said to The Batavian Thursday. "TYLynn has been selected by the city as the project engineer."
Police Chief Shawn Heubusch, per The Batavian’s questions, checked on crash data for the last three years, and “found zero accidents at that crosswalk and only two nearby,” he said.
“There is no way to tell if they are attributed to the crosswalk itself, though. I am thinking they are not due to their locations (one is near the intersection of Main Street, and another one is farther north),” he said Wednesday. “I do not have the ability to pull data for tickets issued specifically for that area, so I cannot get you that data specifically.
Chief Shawn Heubusch
“I do not see this crosswalk in particular to be any more or less dangerous than other crosswalks in the City,” Heubusch said. “The issue with this crosswalk is that it is a mid-block crosswalk rather than at an intersection, but it is highly visible, and most everyone that travels that street knows it is there.”
His department does not have any data that supports the crosswalk being “anymore or less dangerous than others,” the chief said. “And I don’t see any others to be a large concern either.”
“I will say that we find, when responding to car/pedestrian accidents in general, that it is a mixed bag of who is at fault. Sometimes it is the pedestrian and sometimes the operator of the motor vehicle,” he said. “I do strongly support removing this particular crosswalk as it is a mid-block crosswalk, but in reality, there is no uptick in accidents caused by it, and if removed, people will cross the street there anyways.”
It's a popular location for crossing the street from the city parking lot, given the locations of the YMCA, the Jerome apartment complex, GO ART! and the Senior Center.
The city is not the only entity interested in taking action to tighten up the safety along that section of Bank Street. A county Walkability Task Force has been discussing various areas to focus on, and it seems as though the crosswalk — which is directly in front of the Senior Center — is cause for that group’s concern as well.
The task force is planning to have one or more pop-up demonstrations for being safe at this or other crosswalks later this summer. The county’s Public Health Department received a $10,000 grant as part of a Walkability Virtual Academy program to improve, as the name implies, an area’s walkability via safety for pedestrians to do so.
In addition to the TAP grant and related work done for the streetscape, the city also received a water grant of $334,000 from the Northern Border Regional Commission. This funding is for a $418,000 project to replace the 6-inch waterline between Washington Avenue and Main Street with an 8-inch line.
The water project is expected to start at the same time as construction for the police station, Tabelski said. These projects have been discussed and approved during prior council meetings.
“Currently, the police station has achieved 100 percent design, and we are reviewing the final bid packages,” Tabelski said. "We have a goal to be out to bid in June, with construction starting mid-fall 2023 or early spring 2024. There will be a tremendous amount of construction activity on Bank Street with the infrastructure improvements and new (police) facility in 2024 and 2025.
“All of the projects will be coordinated, and the engineering teams will be communicating,” she said. “We hope to keep both lanes of traffic on Bank flowing as much as possible throughout the duration of construction.”
Jeffrey Fisher, one of the music teachers at Le Roy Central Schools, talks about music education while five graduating seniors who are entering college music programs look on. The students are Jackson Cain, Alexiana Clarke, Connor McGee, Evan Williams, and Nathan Yauchzee. Photo by Howard Owens.
A lot of students pour through a school district's music program, but only a few of them put in the effort, show dedication and develop the skills necessary to carry on with their music education after graduation.
It's incredibly rewarding when a student follows that path, said Matthew Nordhausen, who teaches 5th and 6th-grade band in the Le Roy Central School District as well as serves as the district's primary percussion instructor.
"We obviously feel some pride in being able to help them build those skills to pass the auditions," Nordhausen said. "It's also incredibly rewarding, in about four years from now, when they graduate, and they go out into the workforce -- especially those that go into music education, because chances are, they'll come back to this area, and they might end up being our colleagues."
That's happened, he said. Nordhausen said he's been teaching long enough -- 20 years -- now that he has former students teaching in Batavia and Monroe County.
On Thursday, Le Roy recognized five graduating seniors who are continuing their music education.
They are:
Jackson Cain, SUNY Fredonia for Music Education
Alexiana Clarke, SUNY Fredonia for Music Education
Connor McGee, SUNY Fredonia for Music Education
Evan Williams, Point Park for Music Theater
Nathan Yauchzee, SUNY Potsdam Crane School of Music for Music Business
Le Roy has a reputation in the region for quality music education, and Nordhausen said that comes down to the support the district gives to the Music Department and their ability to hire dedicated and talented teachers.
"The five of us -- Miss (Tasha) Dotts, Miss (Jessa) Dechant, myself, Mr. (Jeffrey) Fisher, and Miss (Jackie) McLean -- we do work tirelessly for these kids, it's a 24/7 life, not a job. We're helping the kids before school, after school, anything they need, we're always accessible."
The district has helped ensure teachers hired are also qualified on instruments to provide individual instructions, and that is something, Nordhausen said, that many districts can't offer.
"It allows somebody like myself, who is primarily at the elementary school, to still be able to come up here (the high school) and teach my primary instrument, percussion, which allows our kids to get private instruction all the way through their senior year. That level of instruction is just unheard of. In another school district, you're going to have to seek out outside-of-school private lessons, but these kids are getting specific instruction on percussion for me and brass from Miss Dechant and woodwinds from Miss Dotts."
Nordhausen is obviously enthusiastic about music education, and he encourages parents to get their children involved in music -- or any of the arts -- even if the parents have no background in music or art on their own.
Music is forever, he noted.
"Whether you have a musical family quote unquote or not, if you find a love of anything, whether that be music or art, then you should follow that passion through," Nordhausen said. "If you get involved in a great school district and a great program and a supportive one then you're going to be able to build those skills. I've often said, of myself, I am not the most talented musician, but I will be one of the hardest working ones. My colleagues are both talented and hardworking. And you can certainly overcome a quote-unquote a lack of talent if you're willing to put in the time and the effort."
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