The Notre Dame/Alexander Indoor Track Team wrapped up its season at this state meet on Saturday in Staten Island with a seventh place state finish in the 4x400 relay, posting a time of 4:09.89.
Jadyn Mullen placed 17th in 55 hurdles with a time of 8:92 and 18th in the 600 with a time of 1:39.08.
Submitted photo and information.
The Fighting Irish found themselves in a tough match for the Class D1 title against Avoca/Prattsburgh on Saturday at Blue Cross Arena in Rochester.
At 16-5, Notre Dame was the #3 seed in the class; at 19-2, the athletes were ranked #1.
Haden Abbott's 28 points helped lead Avoca to a 93-67 win.
For Notre Dame, Jay Antinore scored 17 points, Ryan Fitzpatrick, 15, Jaden Sherwood, 15, and Jordan Welker, 11.
To view or purchase photos, click here.
Photos by Steve Ognibene
Submitted story.
In a game that saw 15 lead changes, Elba needed one more they couldn't get, falling 58-55 to Andover-Whitesville in the Class D2 sectional finals Saturday night.
Andover-Whitesville's Vanessa Hall tallied a game-high 28 points, including six points in the last 39 seconds to seal the win for the Panthers.
Hall struggled in the first half shooting 4-for-15 from the floor for 10 points but turned it around in the second half on 8-of-16 field goals for 18 points. The senior made several tough inside shots, and a few nice interior passes to set up Panther teammates as well. Hall was named the Class D2 tournament MVP.
Sixth-seeded Elba (13-11) played tough throughout, grabbing an 11-10 lead after one quarter. Maddie Hall nailed a 3-pointer to get the scoring started for the Lancers, while freshman Lydia Ross and sophomore Sydney Reilly both scored four points in the opening stanza.
Reilly, who leads Elba with over 16 points per game, picked up her third foul just one minute into the second quarter. Elba would not relinquish the lead in her absence. Mariah Ognibene and Ross netted two-point baskets before Kennedy Augello got hot. The junior guard sandwiched an inside basket between two 3-pointers to give Elba the 23-21 edge at the half.
Elba's Hailie Scouten led the charge to start the third quarter. The junior forward swished a 3-pointer from the right wing to start the quarter and then 30 seconds later knocked a trey in off the board to give Elba its biggest lead of the game at 29-21. Scouten added one more basket later in the quarter and finished with nine points, 13 rebounds, three assists and five blocks.
Ross, who finished with a team-high 13 points and spear-headed the Lancers all night, added four points in the third quarter. Reilly, who came back in with 30 seconds left in the frame, and Hall added three and two points, respectively, in the quarter.
Andover-Whitesville's Hall paced her team with 10 points in the third quarter, and Graci Lewis-Ellison added five. Both teams scored 17 points resulting in a 40-38 Elba advantage after three.
The Panthers started the fourth quarter with six straight points to take a 44-40 lead. Then both Ross and Ognibene scored on putbacks for Elba to tie the game once again at 44-44 halfway through the final quarter. A free throw by Scouten gave the Lancers their final lead of the game with three minutes left.
Hall gave Andover-Whitesville the lead right back on the very next possession slicing into the lane for a tough inside bucket.
Ognibene would tie the game once more with her own free throw with 2:30 left, but Panthers senior Gabby Terhune netted a layup on a nice assist from Hall seconds later to put Andover-Whitesville up for good. Two Panther free throws and two more baskets from Hall put Elba down 54-49 with just 30 seconds remaining.
Reilly made an off-balance basket and was fouled on the Lancers' next possession. The following free throw made it 54-52 in favor of the Panthers. Foul shots from Hall, Terhune and Lewis-Ellison increased the lead to 58-52 with 11 seconds left in the game.
Augello swished one more three-pointer, her third of the night, as the buzzer sounded. She finished with 11 points on 4-of-8 shooting.
Ognibene ended with five points and a game-high 16 rebounds for Elba, while Reilly ended with 10 points, nine rebounds and three assists. Ross, who was named to the all-tournament team, also had four rebounds, four assists and three steals to go with her 13 points for the Lancers.
Elba's Hall tallied five points, while junior Ava Chatt rounded out the Lancers scoring with two points.
Andover-Whitesville's Lewis-Ellison ended with eight points, six rebounds, five assists and three steals. Bledsoe finished with 10 points and six rebounds.
Reilly, Lewis-Ellison and Bledsoe were also named to the all-tournament team.
Photos by Kristin Smith. For more, click here.
It takes a lot of hard work and perseverance to make it in business for 30 years, Guy Clark said Friday, following a ribbon-cutting to celebrate the 30th anniversary of Cedar Street Sales and Rentals in Batavia.
"A lot of it is also being a big part of the community," Clark said.
The celebration also makes another significant transition for Clark, who is taking on the role of being semi-retired, reducing his work hours to Monday, Wednesday and Friday, with his sons Adam and Connor taking on more responsibility for the business.
"They have been over the last few years (taking on a bigger role)," Clark said. "They both went to college and came aboard afterward. They got business degrees. We didn't plan on it. It just happened to work out like that. They're so smart and innovative, and you really have to be these days. You can't wing it like I did forever. You have to be very methodical."
He said he has a lot of confidence in his sons, and all three men work together well.
"It's awesome to have someone to throw things around with, to bounce things off," Clark said. "Now we have a quick little powwow -- what do you think about this -- and we just did that with the Home Show. Will we be in the Home Show this year? We talked about not being in it because it's in the middle of April, kind of late for us. Just as we stood there, said, What do you think? Well, I'll work, and I'll work. Let's go. Let's do it. So it's fun to have those kinds of decisions instantly."
Photo by Howard Owens.
This weekend's productions of "Les Miserables" School Edition at Batavia High School will be honoring former and beloved Band Director Ken Hay with a memorial photo display. The performances are being dedicated to Mr. Hay, who died Tuesday, for the powerful impact he made on the city school district's music program while band director there from 1982 to 2003.
The shows are at 7 p.m. Saturday and 2 p.m. Sunday at BHS, 260 State St., Batavia. Tickets are $12 for adults and $10 students/seniors at the door.
Photos submitted from Jason Smith.
Le Roy lost its Class B2 championship game to Wellsville at the Blue Cross Arena in Rochester on Saturday, 52-43.
There are no game statistics available.
Maveric McKenzie received the sportsmanship award, while Merritt Holley and Andrew Pocock were named to the all-tournament team.
Photos by Jason Coniber.
A balanced offensive attack and strong defense all season wasn't quite enough on Saturday for the Batavia Blue Devils to overcome Newark for the Class B1 title at Blue Cross Arena in Rochester.
The Blue Devils lost 60-55.
Carter McFollins scored 16 points for Batavia. Carter Mullen scored 11, while Mikey McKenzie scored nine and Rashawd Christie scored eight.
To view or purchase photos, click here.
Photos by Steve Ognibene
With all the flash and bang of the real thing, tribute band KISS This entertained a packed room at Batavia Downs on Friday night.
Photos by Angelina Miconi for Batavia Downs.
Press Release:
The City of Batavia phone lines to all department have been restored.
Please be advised that there is a scheduled planned outage of the City phone system on Monday.
The City is replacing old, end of life office phones with new ones through a contract with Ring Central.
The anticipated outage time for Monday is 10 a.m. until 2 p.m.
City offices will still be open and operating during this time, and email is not expected to be affected.
Press Release:
Currently the City of Batavia phone system is down for all City locations.
In case of an emergency please remember to call 911. City police and fire will be notified about any emergency situations directly from dispatch and will operate as normal.
Thank you in advance for your patience, and we will keep you up to date with information as we work to get our phones back online.
The ideals of courage and love, the life lessons of heartbreak and passion, the resilience of the human spirit, these are the themes that play out in the musical "Les Miserables," said Jacqueline McLean, the artistic director of the Le Roy High School production of the classic Broadway show.
Le Roy will perform a version adopted for high schools next weekend.
"The most important theme, in my opinion, is the importance of standing up for the dignity of the human person," McLean said. "Victor Hugo wrote the novel Les Misérables to exploit and criticize the injustice of 19th century France. This novel transcends time and still speaks of ideals that are important today, such as the rights of women, intergenerational conflict, and conflict with the government. This show is meant to renew the human spirit.
"We hope that this show and these amazing students will help you to reflect on how precious life is and how beautiful it can be even in the darkest of days and nights," she added.
Jean Valjean is played by Evan Williams. Williams starred in last year's production of "Newsies" and was a finalist in "Stars of Tomorrow" in Rochester in 2022.
Additional roles:
For more information on the production and full cast, click here.
The play is being performed in the Le Roy Jr.-Sr. High Auditorium, 9300 South Street Road, Le Roy.
In-person show times:
Tickets: Pre-sale Student/Senior Citizen: $10 Pre-sale Adult: $12. For pre-sale tickets, click here.
At the Door Student/Senior Citizen: $12; At the Door Adult: $15.
There are also two virtual performances:
Ticket prices are $10 for one viewer and $30 for family viewing.
To purchase virtual performance tickets, click here.
Welcome home to 9003 Wilkinson Road in the desirable PEMBROKE school district nestled on your own private 27.83 acres! High ceilings, natural light and modern spaces are abundant in this 1740sqft 3 bed, 2 bath contemporary ranch. A vaulted ceiling in the living room opens to a modern, newly carpeted loft space with high-quality cable railings. Check out the massive 3-pane window, captivating the striking views of your new property. The primary bedroom has his & hers closets and an impressive NEW master bath with a double vanity and a must-see shower. Find 2 more spacious bedrooms with another NEW full bath that has a gorgeous vessel sink & tiled shower wall. Admire stunning views of your land by relaxing on the forever deck, accessible from 3 different sliding glass doors. Find even more space in the walk-out, finishable basement. Never run out of hot water with this brand new on-demand hot water tank. Have peace of mind knowing this home had a complete tear-off roof done in 2022! A 2.5 car detached garage with a brand new metal roof and a barn are perfect for all your storage needs. Don’t miss the opportunity to check out this one-of-a-kind property! Offers due Wed., 3/8 at 1pm.
Two Monroe County men are again out of custody, released within the same 24-hour period that their alleged crime spree started, apparently because a local judge had no authority to set bail.
Evan Jacob Vanskiver and Adam John Montes were arrested early Monday morning and, in accordance with New York's current bail law, released on appearance tickets. A short time later, they were allegedly spotted in a stolen car, leading to a Batavia PD pursuit through multiple jurisdictions.
That led to more charges, but at arraignment on Feb. 27, the date of all of these events, they were released on their own recognizance.
It's impossible to say that they would still be in custody without bail reform, but local officials say the ease with which they regained their freedom is a product of bail reform.
For charges under a certain level, police officers can't bring a suspect before a judge for arraignment. The officers must write an appearance ticket. And a judge, at arraignment, must set release conditions that are the least restrictive option available. That's the law.
District Attorney Kevin Finnell said if there had been an arraignment in pre-bail reform days, his office would have requested cash bail or bond be set. It would have been up to a judge, who may also have heard a counter-argument from a defense attorney, to weigh the flight-risk factors in order to decide if bail was necessary to ensure the defendants would reappear in court as ordered at a later date.
"Prior to bail reform, the decision of whether to set bail would have, of course, rested with the judge, so I cannot advise you with any degree of certainty if these defendants would have been held on bail," Finnell said. "I can tell you that prior to bail reform, knowing the circumstances of this case, my office would have requested that bail be set, and we would have been optimistic that our request would have been granted."
Even though holding the defendants in jail after their initial arrest on Feb. 27 isn't a given, Batavia PD Chief Shawn Heubusch does see the case as a failure of bail reform, primarily because no judge was given a chance to make a decision. An appearance ticket was mandatory.
The incidents involving Vanskiver and Montes began at 4:14 a.m. on Monday when dispatchers received a complaint of a theft from a vehicle on Church Street in Elba.
When Deputy Jeremiah Gechell arrived on scene, two men were spotted. They fled the area. Deputy James Stack and K-9 Rayzor responded and commenced a search. A short time later, Vanskiver and Montes were located. They were allegedly in possession of a cache of stolen items.
Both men were also accused of damaging a vehicle on Church Street while trying to gain access to it.
Deputy Travis DeMuth assisted in the investigation.
Vanskiver is 31 with a listed residence of Viking Way, Sweden, and Montes is reported by the Sheriff's Office not to have a residence. Batavia PD place Vanskiver's residence in Brockport and Montes in Hamlin.
In the Elba incident, the two men were both charged with criminal possession of a controlled substance in the fourth degree, a Class C felony, 14 counts of criminal possession of stolen property in the fourth degree, a Class E felony, criminal possession of stolen property in the fifth degree, a Class A misdemeanor, and criminal mischief in the fourth degree, a Class A misdemeanor.
In pre-bail reform days, not everybody charged with felonies was held. In this case, however, the extenuating circumstances that a judge could have considered under the prior bail guidelines is that one of the defendants doesn't have a permanent residence and neither is from the local area.
In an attempt to get a defense attorney's perspective on bail reform and its impact on this case, The Batavian emailed Public Defender Jerry Ader two days ago, and he did not respond.
According to Batavia PD, the two men were released from custody at the Genesee County Jail at 2:15 p.m. on Monday.
They were spotted in the allegedly stolen vehicle at 2:41 p.m. that same day on Ellicott Street near Liberty Street.
A patrol officer chased the vehicle down Route 5 to Wortendyke Road, where Vanskiver managed to avoid spike strips.
The vehicle then started traveling in a southerly direction through the towns of Batavia, Alexander, Pembroke, and Darien.
Further attempts to use spike strips to impede the vehicle were unsuccessful.
According to a Batavia PD statement, the vehicle entered the Village of Attica on Route 238, then turned into an apartment complex on Sokol Drive, where it struck a garbage Dumpster.
Vanskiver allegedly fled on foot. He was taken into custody following a brief foot pursuit. The passenger was apprehended in the vehicle.
They were arrested by Batavia PD and charged with:
Evan J. Vanskiver
Adam J. Montes
Following this second arrest, Vanskiver and Montes were held pending arraignment in the new Centralized Arraignment Court. They were arraigned later that same day, according to jail records, and ordered released on their own recognizance.
The incident prompted Assemblyman Steve Hawley to call on New York to revisit its current bail law.
“The revolving door of crime that has been established by bail reform continues to hinder and harm law-abiding citizens while giving career criminals a free pass,” Hawley said. “It’s high time for the Majority in the Assembly to help bring an end to this era of crime New York is continually besieged by. To continue to ignore it makes them part of the problem.”
Ken Hay, one of the most relentless, unforgettable and endearing forces behind the music program at Batavia City Schools, passed away Tuesday, Feb. 28. He is being remembered by former students, staff and friends for his inspiration, talent, confident swagger, and compassionate spirit.
Joshua Pacino, a 2001 Batavia High School grad, has lots of fond and funny memories of Hay, who was band director at the high school from 1982 to 2003.
"Ken Hay was full of bombast and bluster, but he was an incredibly kind teacher. In my freshman year of high school, I was hanging out with my girlfriend at the football game and missed the bus back to school,” Pacino said. “After walking into the band room 30 minutes late, I was expecting to be thoroughly reprimanded. Instead, he just gave me a look and told me my uniform and trombone were by the door and needed to be put away.
"He could be tough on his students. During a rehearsal, he would yell and holler about wanting more from us or explaining that his grandmother could do it better and she was dead,” Pacino said. “But, he was also a champion for them. You would often hear him yell out ‘Nice!’ or ‘Great job!’ in the middle of a piece, sometimes even during the concert, because he wanted you to know you had done well.”
Not only has Pacino walked away with musical lessons and memories from a beloved teacher, but he too is a music teacher, at Batavia Notre Dame High School.
“Most of the music teachers I know chose their profession because one of their own music teachers had a profound impact on their lives. I have been fortunate to have had several such teachers over the years. Each shaped who I am as a teacher, a musician, and as a person,” Pacino said. “When I left music school, I was afraid he was going to think I was a failure. He was, as I should have known, incredibly understanding, kind, and supportive of my decision. That kindness would continue over the years as I finally decided to return to music school, earned my degrees, and began my teaching career.
"We lost Ken Hay today, but I know that his talent and compassion will live on through the decades worth of students that he taught and the uncountable number of lives upon which he had a profound impact,” Pacino said.
A positive influence
Tom Jones played trumpet and met Hay in the summer of 1984 as a freshman in marching band. The 1988 BHS grad played in field marching, concert, jazz, and parade marching bands, and “anything else Mr. Hay requested of me,” he said. That included playing “Taps” at the end of Memorial Day parades in his junior and senior years, and “Amazing Grace” at a service for Terry Anderson, who was being held hostage in Iran.
“Mr. Hay was always providing ways, for me at least, to help me grow as a young man and encourage me. For example, every Batavia Pageant of Bands, a senior band member was chosen to be his second in charge, attend meetings, coordination of adult volunteers, all band students,” Jones said. “I was with the program all four years at BHS. Band was my favorite subject, and Mr. Hay was my most influential teacher. I saw him every day, some evenings for jazz or marching band practices, home football games, occasional weekends for pageant competitions, parades, etc.
“He was a very big part of my life growing up, and one the reasons why I have continued to play in multiple musical organizations since graduating BHS,” Jones said.
Michael Muller posted his online condolences, crediting Hay for making Alexander into "a fabulous band program, in the 70s, before he came to Batavia."
"He inspired me to be the Band Director I am today. He got me started with HS NYSSMA Solos, my college auditions, all of it. The last time I saw him was when we honored him at the 2003 Batavia Pageant of Bands, which was the year he retired," Muller said. "He was a fabulous educator, conductor, leader, mentor and friend. He was the real deal, no excuses, and always got us to do great things, be it in concert band, marching band, pit orchestra, or jazz ensemble. RIP Hayster!!"
The year 1987 was a hard one for Jason Mapes, just a teenager at the time, and it was Hay who lifted him from constant pain by being attentive and caring.
“My father passed away unexpectedly in February of 1987, and that was a dark time for me, I was only 13. I had just learned how to play the trumpet a few years back under his wife, Melinda. That summer, just a few months before starting high school, Mr. Hay kept me busy and distracted. I helped him put in his swimming pool on Ellicott Street,” Mapes said. “This one time, at band camp, I learned patience and discipline and hard work. I began to gain confidence and friends and shared such wonderful memories. I participated in everything I could: band, marching band, jazz band (my favorite), chorus, orchestra. I was in the pit for two school musicals and almost became a music educator. I would have put my horn down for good before high school had it not been for Mr. Hay.”
He said he’ll never forget the manner in which Hay taught him how to shake hands. He never let you do it without putting all you had into it.
“To this day, I still play in a few local music groups, and whenever I shake someone's hand, I almost rip it off!” Mapes said.
Lifelong lessons
Batavia City Schools Superintendent Jason Smith obtained music education from not only Hay but also other deep-rooted instruction, he said.
“As a proud BHS music alumnus, Class of 1990, I am saddened by the passing of our beloved Mr. Hay. He was not only an excellent music teacher of mine for four years, I learned valuable life and leadership lessons from him that serves me well to this day,” Smith said. “He was one of the first to contact me when I was named superintendent here, and his message of congratulations meant so much to me. Music has been and is an important part of my life, and Mr. Hay has been an integral part of the strong BCSD music tradition.”
You can tune a tuba, but you can’t tune a fish. That was one of Hay’s final true/false exam questions that Bob Pastecki remembers from his student days in 1986-87. Pastecki played trumpet for concert and jazz band, and mellophone for marching band.
What did it mean to be part of the music program?
“My younger brother was the athlete. This gave me something to do as an extracurricular activity,” Pastecki said.
“I now run The Mark Time Marchers, a fire department marching band that does 25-30 parades a year," he said. "I also serve as the Finance Manager for The Batavia Concert Band. So music is still a big part of my life.”
Playing mellophone was interesting, he said, because it is in a different key than trumpet, and his music teacher never told him that.
“He only told me that the notes on the staff were the same fingerings for both instruments. That meant I played the wrong scale to warm up,” Pastecki said. “He looked right behind me and said, ‘One of you trumpets is AWFULLY flat.’ It took me 15 years to tell him it was me. We had a good laugh at that.”
Batavia Board of Education member Alice Ann Benedict knew Ken Hay not only through the board but also because her daughter Emily had him in the band throughout her years in the district.
“Mr. Hay was a wonderful person and a very capable director of the music department. He was enthusiastic about introducing music into the lives of many of the students, starting at a very young age,” Benedict said. “Emily said to me that Mr. Hay was one of her favorite and most influential teachers. I will remember that he always had a smile on his face. He was always positive about improving the music department, and he was a dedicated teacher to the students of the district.”
Kenneth “Ken” Hay was a 1966 graduate of Byron-Bergen Central School and participated in Concert Band, Concert Choir, Yearbook Club, and Wrestling. After graduating high school, he received his bachelor’s degree in Music Education from Fredonia State College, after which he continued with graduate work at Fredonia, Brockport and Geneseo state colleges, and the University of New Hampshire at Durham.
He taught music at East Irondequoit, Alexander and Batavia school districts. He started working as Batavia City High School band director from 1982 until his retirement in 2003, being named Music Department chairman in 1991. Hay played a significant role in the success of Batavia’s concert and marching bands, jazz ensemble, and the musical pit orchestra.
For many years, he organized the Pageant of Bands in Batavia to show the musical talents of high school bands. He directed the pit orchestra for Batavia Rotary Club productions for many years.
Hay served as president of the Genesee-Wyoming Music Educators’ Association and was a member of the New York State School Music Association. Accolades include Paul Harris Fellowship (awarded by the Rotary Club), the University of Rochester’s Teaching in Secondary Schools Award (1995), recognition by Warner School of Education as being a Teacher of Excellence (2003) and earned a GO ART! Genesee-Orleans Community Arts Award (2003).
Hay shared his musical passion, inspiring students to "make music, not just play music,” and was a 2020 Musician of Note, a wall of fame to honor past BHS graduates in music.
As Jason Mapes said, “RIP Mr. Hay — you will be missed!”
Press release:
“This is careers. It's all about working with people. Bring your chairs up closer!” Christopher Kemp, Director of Mathematics and Engineering Science at Genesee Community College, addressed a group of Byron- Bergen High School students clustered at the back of the Technology classroom. In getting the students to move to the front of the room, Kemp summed up Career Day perfectly: It’s all about working with people.
In February, Byron-Bergen alumni and local professionals visited the Jr./Sr. High School to participate in Career Day. The event featured a full morning of workshops and panel discussions developed to help students think about their future goals. The event was organized by Byron-Bergen College and Career Counselor Rob Kaercher in collaboration with administration, faculty, and community members.
“It’s great for the students to start thinking about options and setting goals for after graduation,” said Kaercher. “Setting career goals now may influence their course of study in high school or the extracurriculars in which they participate – even if that path is designed to help keep options open for students who aren’t sure, yet.”
The day included 16 presentations from over 25 participants. Topics ranged from financial literacy to trade unions to entrepreneurship to the military to comparing two- and four-year colleges. The young alumni panelists were able to offer insight about continued education and acknowledge when you might need to set new goals.
“I participated in legal academy in high school because I thought I wanted to be a police officer, but it turned out that I didn’t like it. So, I changed my course of study to Exercise Physiology,” said Class of 2017 graduate Grace Campbell. “When I thought about what I could do with that degree, I decided to get my teaching certification, and now I teach physical education and health at the Elementary School. The kids are fun, and I really enjoy it. Changing paths was a good decision.”
The professional alumni panel all agreed on the value of extracurricular activities. “As fun as your extracurricular activities are, they add value,” said Liberty Pumps Chief Financial Officer Dennis Burke. “Those activities teach you to get along and interact with other people.”
Amy Mercovich, owner of Bergen Family Chiropractic, agreed. “In school, I participated in a lot of extracurriculars: student council, clubs, and sports. They taught me how to lead, delegate, and manage people. That’s a big skill set to develop.”
Other presentation topics included engineering, communications, law enforcement, study abroad, agriculture, education, civil service, goal setting, computers and technology, and the non-profit sector.
March 2, 2022 Contact: Gretchen Spittler Byron-Bergen Communications Specialist (585) 794-6340
“Working in a non-profit is supporting something bigger than myself,” said George Eastman House Publications Manager and Creative Director Amy Schelemanow. “There are lots of different jobs at museums: scientists, object handlers, lawyers, accountants, facilities. It’s not just people in the arts.”
Career Day was a chance for students to ask themselves who they want to be, and who they want to work with and start setting goals for their paths to the future. “Whether they envision themselves working with children, in an office, on a farm, in a factory, in healthcare, or from home, the goal of Career Day was to start the conversation,” said Kaercher. “I’m grateful for our supportive community of alumni and local professionals for taking the time to help guide the next generation of Byron-Bergen graduates.”
The following companies, organizations, and educational institutions were represented at the Byron-Bergen Career Day: Kircher Construction, Bergen Chiropractic, Gillam Grant Community Center, Corporate Flooring Innovations, Army National Guard, Tompkins Bank of Castile, Rochester Institute of Technology, SUNY Genesee Community College, SUNY Geneseo, SUNY Monroe Community College, Genesee County Human Resources, SUNY Brockport ROTC, GCASA, Charred Flags, George Eastman Museum, North Atlantic States Regional Council of Carpenters, Liberty Pumps, the FBI, Porter Farms, and Byron-Bergen CSD.
Press release:
The Genesee County Chamber of Commerce is calling for vendors to participate in our 2023 Home Show on April 14,15,16, 2023. Seeking a variety of vendors: Home Improvement, Realty, Lawn Equipment, Farm Equipment, Windows and Doors Gutters and Siding, Entertainment, Home Goods, etc.
The Home Show will be held at the David McCarthy Memorial Ice Arena, 22 Evans Street, Batavia. This 8th Annual event brings together 2,500 people over the course of three days.
Interested vendors will need to return the application and booth fees by March 10th to be included in advertisements. Applications can be downloaded from the Chamber's website at https://geneseeny.com/home-show/ and are available at the Chamber's office, 8276 Park Road. Space is limited and on a first-come basis.
Photo: File photo from 2022 show by Howard Owens
Press release:
Higher-income eligibility (revised) for the Medicare Savings Program (MSP) (due to higher federal poverty guidelines) in New York. Single individuals with Medicare have a gross income of up to $2,280 per month, and couples with monthly gross incomes of up to $3,077. New York State does NOT look at your assets for this program.
The MSP helps older adults and people with disabilities living on low incomes by paying their Medicare Part B premiums ($164.90 each month) and enrolling them in Extra Help, the federal prescription drug subsidy program that the Social Security Administration estimates is worth about $5,100 per year. This program lowers prescription costs and gets rid of the deductible and the “donut hole,” or gap coverage. The financial assistance can be a lifeline, allowing enrollees to maintain their Medicare coverage, access needed care, and afford other necessities, like food and rent.
The Genesee County Office for the Aging will be holding a walk-in assistance day for anyone will be new to this program, on Wednesday, March 29th, from 2 to4 p.m. We are located at 2 Bank Street in Batavia. Bring with you: a birth certificate, social security card, Medicare card, License, Current (2023) Social Security award letter, and any other reoccurring income proof (weekly, monthly, or yearly).
Press release:
Assemblyman Steve Hawley (R, C - Batavia) spent the day traveling the district and reading to students in recognition of ‘Read Across America’ Day, which celebrates the importance of reading and literacy across New York and the nation. Hawley visited Pembroke Primary School and read to the entire first grade class, Oakfield-Alabama Elementary School’s first-grade class and Oak Orchard Primary School’s kindergarten class.
“Reading is such a joy, especially when you’re younger, and I’m grateful I had a day to share in that joy with students across the district,” Hawley said. “Taking a moment to help foster a healthy relationship with reading and literacy early on is incredibly important. I’m thankful for the schools that partnered with me today and allowed me to come read with their students, and I’m thankful to the students for their enthusiasm.”
Submitted photo: Assemblyman Steve Hawley (R, C - Batavia) reads I Can Read with My Eyes Shut! By Dr. Seuss to the Oakfield-Alabama Elementary School’s first-grade class.
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