Vanessa's Lasting Legacy and Independent Living of the Genesee Region hosted Lucky Paws Vendor Show at Batavia's City Centre Mall on Saturday as a fundraiser.
Vanessa's Lasting Legacy provides assistance to veteran, disabled, elderly, and homeless cat and dog owners so they can keep and care for their pets.
There were 40+ baskets up for a raffle, along with more than 70 vendors.
Assemblyman Steve Hawley (R,C-Batavia) slammed the Majority’s one house budget proposal today for its inability to address the needs of everyday New Yorkers and its financial irresponsibility.
This initiative outlines the Majority’s wishlist for what they would like to see in the final state budget. Their proposal is roughly $4.5 billion more than Gov. Hochul’s executive budget proposal, which stands at an astonishing $256.5 billion, ranking nearly the highest state budget in the nation.
“The trend of government waste and out-of-control spending was on full display in Albany today,” said Hawley. “Earlier this year, Gov. Hochul gave her own bloated budget proposal, but the Majority refused to be outdone. With a final price tag of over $256 billion, this isn’t a budget, it’s a recipe for disaster. Working families are already struggling to make ends meet and increasing spending at this level will do nothing but exacerbate the problem. The Majority needs to work with both sides of the aisle to create a budget that works for all New Yorkers.”
Edmund Acres, LLC, a participant for the past 12 years with Genesee County Soil and Water and the Natural Resources Conservation Service, was honored on Saturday night in Alexander as Conservation Farm of the Year.
Located in Le Roy, Edmund Acres is owned by Nate Edmund. It is a grain crop farm that grows corn, soybeans, and wheat on over 1,000 acres.
Edmund has worked with Soil and Water on best management practices for soil health, with a focus on reducing tillage through strip-till and no-till practices and improving soil organic matter with cover cropping. Edmund also follows an integrated pest management plan and a nutrient management plan.
The Celebrate Ag Dinner was served at the Alexander Fire Hall and featured local products from:
Sherman came into the Class D Far West Regional Champion Game in Girls Basketball with a record of 21-1, among the best records in the state.
But not better than the undefeated Elba Lancers, who remain perfect on the season after Saturday's win, 54-48, propelling them to New York's Final Four Tournament at Hudson Valley Community College in Troy starting on Thursday.
The overtime win gives the #1 ranked Lancers a 23-0 record.
Near the end of the third quarter, Elba trailed Sherman by 10 points but charged back, carried by Brea Smith, who scored 13 points in the final 12 minutes.
Elba took a 42-39 lead, but Sherman hit a buzzer-beater to tie the game and send it to overtime.
Scoring for Elba:
Brea Smith, 20 points
Sydney Reilly, 14 points
Mariah Ognibene, 11 points
Maddie Hall, 8 points
This will be the Lancer's second consecutive Final Four appearance. They face Northville at 4:15 p.m. on Thursday. With a win, they would play for the championship on Friday. This will be a chance for Elba to settle a score with Northville, who knocked Elba out of the Final Four last year, 42-34.
Genesee beat Orleans on Friday in the Boys Basketball Exceptional Seniors Game, 94-55
Photos by Jennifer DiQuattro.
Noah Clare and C.J. DiQuattro, both seniors at Byron-Bergen. Clare earned a spot on the Exceptional Seniors squad but surrendered his roster position to C.J. DiQuattro. DiQuattro broke his collarbone during pre-season practice and missed most of the season, so Clare stepped asign so DiQuattro would get one more chance to play.
In the face of unknown repercussions from possible cuts to, or the total elimination of, the U.S. Education Department, Batavia City School District leaders are pushing forward with a $63.3 million budget calling for a $3 million increase and a 2.22% tax levy increase, Superintendent Jason Smith says.
This proposed 2025-26 budget would replace six teachers, one secretarial and one administrative position, move two social workers over from a grant to the general fund, and pay for necessary expenses, Smith said.
“The majority of increases are coming from essential instructional programming that directly benefits classroom learning and the overall student experience — athletics, music, arts, extracurriculars, etc.,” he said to The Batavian this week after the board had its first budget workshop. “The majority of this increase is related to salary and benefits. Benefits alone, including health insurance, retirement contributions, and social security, are increasing by approximately $883,000 budget to budget. The instructional area of the budget is increasing over $1.7 million, with the majority of that increase attributed to increases in teaching salaries and budgeting federal salaries in the general fund.”
The estimated property tax rate would be $16.05 per $1,000 assessed value, subject to change once assessment rolls and equalization rates are finalized, he said. That would be approximately 34 cents more per $1,000 than the current rate, or a $34 annual increase on a home assessed at $100,000, with no assessment changes.
The total proposed school tax levy is $20,790,870, an increase of $451,534 from this year. The levy falls within the allowable levy cap of $452,506, Smith said.
The district has retirements coming up, and all positions are being replaced, including:
Two physical education teachers at the BHS
One Spanish teacher and one English teacher at BHS
One elementary teacher at Jackson
One elementary teacher to be shared at Jackson and John Kennedy schools
One executive director of operations and staff development
These positions are not new hires — “but rather, are replacements that are dictated by class size and student needs,” Smith said, and are not definite at this time.
“We are currently assessing the need to fill these positions prior to the adoption of the budget by the board in April,” he said. “The savings come in terms of ‘breakage’ between the salary and benefits of staff personnel retiring and the possible replacement at a lesser cost.”
An executive director position has been reconfigured to become a director of Human Resources, which is a Civil Service position and will mean a reduced salary, he said.
There is an added position of IT operations analyst. Why was that deemed necessary after adding an IT director? What are the duties and salary/benefits costs? “Three full-time technology employees resigned or retired between February and June 2023. A decision was made to hold on replacing these positions until a director was hired and had sufficient time to assess the needs of the department. During this transition, the district contracted with Wayne Finger Lakes BOCES to provide per diem, part-time support,” Smith said. “At this time, the district needs full-time technical support to ensure network systems are consistently monitored, evaluated, and upgraded to be in compliance with various NYS mandates. The salary/benefits cost is between $55,000-60,000.”
The Batavian asked Smith about potential funding and program cuts with more recent announcements of slashing half the federal Education Department staff and readying it for future elimination. He referred to a message he had sent out to district families Friday to address that issue.
Do you believe that you and the board are considering any and all cuts to make with this budget? The Board and I always consider every possible item for reduction. For example, we have proposed a Director of Human Resources position to replace the current Executive Director position,” he said. “This proposed budget is highly consistent with our mission and vision of providing high-quality programming and instruction for our students.”
Do you believe this will be the budget going forward, and if so, how do you sell it during a time of upheaval with the stock market and downturned economy? “The board, leadership team, and our staff believe strongly in the value of sound public education. This budget represents those values and beliefs and preserves programming that is both essential and expected from our community,” he said. “Due to the increase in state aid, we are able to preserve important programs for our students and, combined with retirements and using reserves in a wise and conservative manner, this proposed budget meets and exceeds the needs of our students while respecting the tax levy limit for our community.”
The public budget hearing is scheduled for 6 p.m. May 12, and budget vote is May 20.
2024 File Photo of BCSD Superintendent Jason Smith greeting students on the first day of school. Photo by Howard Owens
Laying off nearly half the staff en route to an eventual goal to dismantle the U.S. Education Department has not left school officials with much certainty about the future of their district funding or even rudimentary items such as school lunches, Pat Burk says.
The department, which oversees $1.6 trillion in college loans, enforces civil rights laws, and provides federal funding for needy districts, announced on Tuesday the plan for the second round of mass layoffs to meet President Trump’s apparent goal to eliminate the department altogether, according to Reuters.
As executive director of the Genesee Valley School Board Association, Burk has been hearing from school superintendents that it’s the not knowing that’s creating the most angst.
“The big concerns that are happening, from an educational standpoint with the Department of Education and other areas that deal with it, including the Department of Agriculture and other areas that the federal government, that deal with our local schools, is that the uncertainty is causing just as much of a problem as the certainty,” Burk said, offering an example. “The Department of Agriculture processes payments for school lunch, and part of that money is because of the Department of Agriculture to make sure that American agricultural products are processed through the school lunch program and used through school lunch programs. Now, what happens if they determine that those products are still going to be ‘used’ for the Agricultural Department and through school lunches, but they get rid of the 600 people that process the payments for that to happen?”
“That's the biggest uncertainty right now is that they can do things, and things can happen that do not necessarily change the ‘laws of the land,’ but can deter the process from being economical for school districts. And you look at some of our districts that have such a huge amount of money involved in federal school lunch programs and other areas like special education, what if the processes, the dollar process, is slowed down?” he said. “I think that's the big thing about the uncertainty. And I think that our local superintendents in my 26 schools that I represent, and the superintendents that are involved in this, are really very much on top of that, and we did have a really good session with Senator Schumer's office at our legislative event that we held, and we're in constant contact with people, but again, there's just no way that the uncertainty, which is really all it is, there's no way that the uncertainty is not going to have some impact.”
If this latest cut happens, the U.S. Education Department will have 2,183 workers left from a total of 4,133 when Trump took office in January.
Batavia City Schools Superintendent Jason Smith addressed district concerns by sending a question-and-answer message home to families Friday about the impending actions to be taken with the federal Education Department.
What will happen if they eliminate the Department of Education by Executive Order? “At this time, we do not have a definitive answer. However, eliminating a department established by Congress requires congressional approval,” Smith said. “Even if such an action were approved, the executive branch would need to reassign the Department of Education’s responsibilities, as federal law mandates certain functions currently overseen by the department.
“For example, just in the past few weeks, the executive branch directed the Department of Education’s Office of Civil Rights to open several investigations,” he said. “If the Department of Education were eliminated, another federal agency would have to oversee these responsibilities.”
What about all of the grants we receive from the Federal Government? “BCSD receives several significant federal grants, including Title I, II, and IV grants under ESSA, as well as 611 and 619 grants under IDEA. The total annual allocation of these grants is currently around $1,736,838. While $1,736,838 is a significant amount, it represents only about 2.9% of our annual revenue,” he said. “Like other responsibilities of the Department of Education, these grants are mandated by congressional acts. If the department were eliminated, the executive branch would have to decide which agency would oversee and distribute these funds.”
What is the impact of the elimination of USDA(Dept. of Agriculture) programs for school meals? “The recent termination of two USDA programs — the Local Food for Schools Cooperative Agreement Program (LFS) and the Local Food Purchase Assistance Cooperative Agreement Program (LFPA) —could significantly impact districts nationwide,”Smith said. “The full impact remains unclear, as these programs are interconnected with other federal and state initiatives.
“Additionally, New York State plays a role in funding school meal programs, though some state programs rely on federal funding,” he said. “We are closely monitoring this situation, and I anticipate that the New York State budget may include provisions to maintain school meal funding if federal support is reduced or eliminated.”
Will all of this impact staffing or programming at BCSD? “At this time, we do not anticipate any immediate changes to staffing or programming as a result of these federal actions, but we will continue to monitor developments,” he said. “As with school meal funding, we expect the New York State budget and legislative actions to address some of these concerns and provide further clarity.”
Burk said he thinks the uncertainty isn’t necessarily that the impact will be felt “sooner rather than later.”
“I was in a meeting with what's called the Coalition of Local School Boards Association yesterday, and we had a long conversation about the fact that we don't have anything to ‘worry about from the law side,’ because they haven't gone against the laws,” Burk said. “But when you have a commissioner secretary of education who admits her job is to close the department down without having the answers of how are the services going to be handled, that uncertainty is going to drive us into another whole realm.
“I mean, it's just unbearable for many people to think about it. Think about schools who have a high level of Title I kids, actual poor kids that, for whatever reason, have major economic difficulties who are in Title I schools who have a tremendous amount of need for additional funding,” he said. “Even they all want kids to succeed, but they don't want to pay for the extra reading or whatever. Where's that Title I funding going to come from if the Department of Education is closed down? We're finding that it's more and more of a, I don't even want to say it's a delicate balance. It's just like a ridiculous balance of what is being considered.”
Lisa M. Fox, 53, of Batavia, is charged with assault 3rd, criminal possession of a controlled substance 3rd and criminal use of drug paraphernalia 2nd. Fox allegedly caused an injury during a fight with another person on Feb. 6. While being processed at the Genesee County Jail, Fox was allegedly found in possession of narcotics. She was arraigned and held at the Genesee County Jail.
Donnie Armstrong, 52, of Batavia, is charged with criminal possession of a controlled substance 3rd and criminal use of drug paraphernalia. Armstrong was stopped on Feb. 5 on Law Street by members of the Batavia Police NET Unit. A K-9 was deployed. Narcotics were allegedly located in the vehicle. Armstrong was arraigned in City Court and held.
Charles P. Stevens, 36, of Batavia, and Eric J. Flowers, 37, of Batavia, are charged with criminal mischief 3rd. Stevens and Flowers are accused of intentionally damaging another person's vehicle on an unspecified date. They were issued appearance tickets.
Eric J. Flowers, 37, of Batavia, is charged with criminal possession of a controlled substance 7th, possession of stolen property 3rd, and aggravated unlicensed operation 3rd. Flowers was arrested on Feb. 5 following an investigation into a stolen utility trailer. He was arraigned in City Court and jailed without bail.
Mark W. McWethy, 57, of Batavia, is charged with DWAI Drugs, criminal possession of a controlled substance 3rd, criminal possession of a controlled substance 4th, and aggravated unlicensed operation 1st. McWethy was charged following a welfare check on Jan. 29 at a location on Ellicott Street, Batavia. He was arraigned and jailed.
Martin J. Rodgers, 40, of Batavia, is charged with criminal contempt 1st. Rodgers allegedly violated an order of protection on Jan. 28. He was arraigned and released.
Tammy J. Lord, 48, of Batavia, is charged with burglary 3rd and grand larceny 3rd. Lord allegedly illegally entered a business on Liberty Street on Dec. 22 and stole properly. She was arrested on Jan. 21, arraigned in City Court, and released.
Carissa J. Visalli, 35, of Batavia, was arrested on Feb. 23 on a warrant. She allegedly failed to appear in court on a traffic ticket. She was arraigned and released.
Inge A. Stack, 55, of Batavia, is charged with harassment 2nd. Stack is accused of hitting another person in the face during a fight on Pringle Avenue. She was issued an appearance ticket.
Julie L. Dutton, 29, of Batavia, is charged with petit larceny. Dutton was arrested on Feb. 2, accused of stealing merchandise from Dollar General. She was issued an appearance ticket.
Brandie M. Sumeriski, 29, of Batavia, is charged with harassment 2nd. Sumeriski is accused of slapping another person during an argument on Feb. 17 on State Street, Batavia. She was issued an appearance ticket.
Jamesha N. Wilson, 30, of Rochester, was arrested on Feb. 18 on a warrant. Wilson allegedly failed to appear in court on a traffic ticket. She was arraigned in City Court and released.
Guillermo Dediego-Reyes, 55, of Batavia, was arrested on Feb. 14 as a fugitive from justice. Dediego-Reyes was wanted on warrants out of Ohio. He was arraigned and held for extradition.
Curt A. Buchinger, 32, of Batavia, is charged with theft of services. Buchinger was arrested on Feb. 15, accused of running an extension cord from another property into his home. He was issued an appearance ticket.
Colleen M. Hutchinson, 50, of Batavia, is charged with criminal possession of controlled substance 7th. Hutchinson was stopped on Dec. 9 by a Batavia patrol officer and allegedly found in possession of narcotics. She was issued an appearance ticket.
Alicia M. Lyons, 45, of Batavia, is charged with criminal contempt 1st and menacing 3rd. Lyons is accused of violating an order of protection on Feb. 3 by physically menacing another person. She was issued an appearance ticket. She was arrested again on Feb. 7 and charged with criminal contempt 1st and harassment 2nd.
Kim M Mobley, 62, of Batavia, is charged with petit larceny. Mobley is accused of shoplifting on Feb. 11 from Aldi. She was issued an appearance ticket.
Richard J Burdick, 46, and Charles P. Stevens, 36, (no communities provided) are charged with assault 3rd. Burdick and Stevens are accused of injuring another person during a fight on South Main Street, Batavia. They were both issued appearance tickets.
Jena A. Defazio, 27, of Batavia, was arrested on Feb. 4 on a warrant. Defazio was issued a traffic ticket on Jan. 8 and allegedly failed to appear in court. Defazio was arraigned and released.
Courtney H. Kelley, 37, of Batavia, is charged with petit larceny. Kelley is accused of shoplifting on Feb. 2 from Aldi. She was issued an appearance ticket.
Shawn M. Twardowski, 42, of Batavia, is charged with harassment 2nd. Twardowski allegedly punched another person in the head on Feb. 2 during a fight on Highland Park. He was issued an appearance ticket.
Erin M. Klein, 38, of Cheektowaga, is charged with DWI. Klein was allegedly involved in a motor vehicle accident on Jan. 31 and an undisclosed location. She was issued an appearance ticket.
Roseann Cooper, 55, of Stafford, was arrested on Jan. 31 on a warrant. Cooper allegedly failed to appear on a traffic ticket issued on Jan. 4. She was arraigned and released.
Julie A. Earle, 50, of Batavia, is charged with petit larceny. Earle is accused of shoplifting from Tops on Jan. 29. She was issued an appearance ticket.
Takari C. Blue, 23, of Batavia, is charged with DWI. Blue was stopped by a Batavia patrol officer on Jan. 31 at an undisclosed location. She was issued traffic tickets and released.
Tammy J. Dean, 54, of Alexander, is charged with DWAI drugs. Dean was reportedly involved in a single-vehicle accident on Sept. 20. He was arrested on Jan. 27, arraigned in City Court, and released.
Jaequele M. Tomlin, 30, of Batavia, turned himself in on a warrant issued following an investigation into an incident on March 26. Tomlin was allegedly found in possession of cocaine. He was arraigned and released.
Douglas G. Goodwin, Jr., 33, of Batavia, is charged with criminal contempt 2nd. Goodwin is accused of violating an order of protection. He was arrested on Jan. 7, issued an appearance ticket and released.
Brittany L. Froman, 34, of Rochester, was arrested on a warrant on Jan. 23. Froman allegedly failed to appear on narcotics charge stemming from a traffic stop on June 12. She was arraigned in City Court and released.
Kimberly S. Snyder, 48, of Geneseo, was arrested on a warrant and charged with criminal possession of a controlled substance 7th. Snyder was allegedly found in possession of narcotics on Oct. 29. She was arraigned in City Court and released.
John W. Clack, 66, of Batavia, is charged with criminal tampering 3rd. Clack is accused of overturning another person's motorized scooter. He was arrested on Jan. 22. He was issued an appearance ticket.
Troy W. Horton, 60, of Le Roy, is charged with DWI. Horton was stopped after employees at Taco Bell called police and reported a possible intoxicated driver. Horton was issued an appearance ticket.
Catherine R. Bater, 44, of Batavia, is charged with attempted petit larceny. Bater was arrested on Jan. 25, accused of attempting to transfer money from another person's account into her Cash App. She was issued an appearance ticket.
Ronnie J. Sumeriski, 42, of Batavia, is charged with criminal tampering 3rd. Sumeriski is accused of taking the license plate off of another person's vehicle and throwing it under another car. He was also arrested on two open warrants. He was arraigned in City Court and released under supervision.
David R. Bowen, 83, of Batavia, is charged with harassment 2nd. Bowen is accused of hitting another person during a fight on Mill Street, Batavia. He was issued an appearance ticket.
Bill A. Thomas, 65, of Batavia, is charged with criminal trespass 3rd. Thomas was found inside the City Centre Mall on Feb. 27 after previously being barred from the property. He was issued an appearance ticket. He was arrested again the next day and charged with trespass after allegedly being found in the mall again.
Shannon H. Dick, 43, and John W. Biaselli, 56, both of Batavia, are charged with petit larceny. Dick and Biaselli are accused of stealing merchandise from Dollar General. They were issued appearance tickets.
Kimberly S. Snyder, 48, of Warsaw, was arrested on Feb. 27 on a warrant. Snyder allegedly failed to appear on a charge of criminal possession of a controlled substance 7th. She was arraigned in City Court and released.
Tonisia R. Longhini, 32, of Alexander, is charged with DWI. Longhini was charged following a traffic stop on Feb. 22 on Walnut Street, Batavia, by a Batavia patrol officer. She was arraigned and released.
Rebecca Lee Harrington, 31, of Sweetland Road, Stafford, is charged with falsely reporting an incident. Harrington was arrested on March 11. She was released on an appearance ticket. No further details released.
Genesee County law enforcement agencies will be participating in a coordinated effort with the STOP-DWI program to bring awareness to the dangers of impaired driving.
The statewide STOP-DWI efforts began Thursday, March 13 and will continue thru Tuesday, March 18. The weekend of St. Patrick’s Day is a notoriously deadly period for impaired driving due to the number of celebrations and drivers on the road.
New York State Police, County Sheriffs and municipal law enforcement agencies, including the Genesee County Sheriff’s Office, Batavia Police Department and Le Roy Police Department, will be out in force during this time to reduce the number of alcohol related injuries and deaths.
While efforts across New York have made great strides in reducing the numbers of alcohol and drug related fatalities, still too many lives are being lost because of crashes caused by drunk or impaired drivers. Have a plan to get home safe.
0 West Main Street Road, Batavia.SHOVEL READY!! This property is ready for you to hit the ground running when you are READY TO BUILD as current owner has DONE ALL THE DETAIL WORK already!!Site work completed with survey, perc test/wastewater treatment plan, building plan, building permit AND housing blueprints should you want!! This 1+ acre lot is conveniently located to all major routes and two thruway exits not to mention shopping restaurants and more-ALSO located in Pembroke School System as an added bonus!! Call Reliant Real Estate today!
New York State Senator George Borrello announced that the New York Conference of Italian American State Legislators is accepting applications for four $3,000 scholarships, two academic and two athletic.
Scholarships are available to residents of the 57th Senate District who are current college students or high school seniors entering college. Students can access the application by visiting: https://www.nyiacsl.org/apply-for-scholarship-form. The application deadline is Sunday, March 30.
“This scholarship is a great opportunity for high school seniors and college students in the 57th Senate District who have shown a strong commitment to their education, a drive for excellence, and a dedication to their future success,” said Senator Borrello. “As college costs continue to rise, this support can make a real difference for students and their families. I encourage all eligible students who have worked hard and stood out through their achievements to apply and take advantage of this valuable opportunity.”
Applicants should have a grade point average of 85 or higher; be active in community service as well as extracurricular activities and demonstrate financial need. In addition to these qualifications, students applying for an athletic scholarship must also be involved in an organized sport(s).
Applicants need not be of Italian American heritage to apply.
Scholarship recipients will be announced in April, and the winners will be honored at a ceremony in Albany on May 19, when the Conference’s Italian-American Day Celebration will take place.
The New York Conference of Italian American State Legislators is a bipartisan organization of state Assembly and Senate members who actively promote and celebrate the state’s Italian American community.
Congresswoman Claudia Tenney (NY-24) has introduced the No Tax on LOSAP Act, to raise the threshold of nontaxable LOSAP awards at the federal level from $600 a year to $12,000 a year.
Additional cosponsors of the legislation include Representatives Andrew Garbarino (NY-2), Tom Suozzi (NY-3), Mike Lawler (NY-17), and Laura Gillen (NY-4).
LOSAP, or Length of Service Award Payments, are provided to New York State volunteer firefighters and ambulance workers. LOSAP awards are tax-exempt at the state level in New York, with each volunteer awarded $20 per month times the number of years of service. The No Tax on LOSAP award would raise the federal tax-exempt threshold to $12,000/year, up from the current $600/year threshold, which would boost retention and compensation for volunteer firefighters.
Rep. Tenney has been a strong supporter of volunteer firefighters across NY-24. In 2024, she held five roundtable events in five counties to hear directly from volunteer firefighters. In addition, she cosponsored the Volunteer First Responder Housing Act to expand access for volunteer emergency responders to participate in certain federal housing assistance programs.
“Volunteer firefighters and ambulance workers are essential for the safety and well-being of our rural communities. Across NY-24, we have over 250 fire departments, many of which rely on volunteer firefighters. Yet, in recent years, the number of volunteer firefighters has declined, making it more important than ever to fairly compensate and reward their dedication. The No Tax on LOSAP Act will raise the tax-exemption threshold to recognize their service and encourage more volunteers to join,” said Congresswoman Tenney.
“More than eighty-five percent of the fire and emergency response in New York State is done by volunteers. Unfortunately, over the last decade, the number of volunteer firefighters and EMS personnel had dropped dramatically across New York. Exempting LOSAP payments from Federal income tax would be a strong incentive in recruiting and retaining volunteer first responders. Once again, Congresswoman Tenney and members of the New York Congressional delegation have shown their understanding and support of the dedicated volunteers who protect their communities,” said John D’Alessandro, Association Secretary, Firefighters Association of the State of New York.
After the Trump administration announced sudden, unplanned mass layoffs at the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA), U.S. Senator Chuck Schumer sounded the alarm about the impact of NOAA layoffs on Upstate New York, including layoffs suspending weather balloon launches in Albany and cutting work at the Great Lakes Environmental Research Laboratory. Schumer demanded answers about how many NOAA staff were fired in New York – and why, and assurances that the agency would restore and maintain critical services for the entire state.
“Upstate NY knows the power of Mother Nature, from lake effect snowstorms to flooding to tornadoes that ravaged the region last summer. From homeowners to businesses to shippers, we know National Weather Service and NOAA satellites are lifesaving tools we need to keep our economy humming and Upstate NY safe from extreme weather. But right now ‘DOGE’ is recklessly taking a chainsaw to the National Weather Service and that could lead to major gaps and Swiss cheese holes in Upstate NY’s weather map when we need more frequent and advanced technology tracking storms,” said Senator Schumer. “These tools are how Upstate NY families get weather reports on a daily basis, how communities get emergency alerts, it is how we know if a snowstorm is going to drop two inches or two feet overnight. These massive cuts to the National Weather Service are already starting to manifest in our backyard with weather balloons not being sent up in Albany, staff being fired, and services for Upstate NY shuttering. I’m demanding any and all cut services be immediately restored and answers about just how deep these cuts have already gone in Upstate New York. The safety of our communities during the next storm depends on it.”
Schumer said we are already seeing the local impact of these cuts. In Albany, the National Weather Service (NWS) announced it is suspending weather balloon launches due to ‘DOGE’ layoffs. Weather balloons give forecasters a three-dimensional picture of the atmosphere in real time, helping meteorologists provide New York residents fast and accurate predictions of what conditions they can expect when they step outside. The senator said these new cuts mean that weather balloons will not be going up in Albany as frequently, and meteorologists will have less data to predict how storms are evolving. Schumer said the hyper local forecasting by the local NWS offices is especially important in instances of extreme weather like these tornados and lake effect snowstorms, it is important for New Yorkers to have fast, reliable, accurate weather forecasts so they can make the best decisions to keep themselves and their families safe.
“How is it in the public’s interest to have less accurate weather information? It is cutting for the sake of cutting with no plan or forethought about the impacts it is having. I am all for rooting out fraud, but decimating weather forecasting people rely on every day is not waste, it is lifesaving information,” said Senator Schumer.
Mass layoffs at NOAA are part of the Trump administration and Elon Musk’s ‘DOGE’s indiscriminate slashes to the federal workforce and federal spending that are creating chaos and confusion in New York and across the country. Schumer said major cuts to our National Weather Service will make weather forecasting less reliable across Upstate New York. The Trump administration has planned mass layoffs at NOAA that would result in a reduction of its workforce by approximately 20%. The Trump administration fired 586 probationary NOAA employees – including 108 NWS employees – last month. The National Weather Service was already short-staffed. Meteorologists warn that these additional cuts will hurt the agency’s ability to make accurate weather predictions. Amid increasing extreme weather in Upstate New York, including a record-high number of tornadoes last summer, Schumer said ‘DOGE’ layoffs at the NWS and less accurate predictions will hurt Upstate New York’s families’ preparedness for extreme weather.
Schumer’s letter to Acting Administrator of National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration Vice Admiral Nancy Hann can be found below:
Dear Vice Admiral Nancy Hann:
I write to express my deep concern over layoffs and spending cuts at the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA), the National Weather Service (NWS), and the potential severe impact they will have on New York’s storm tracking ability. Reports indicate that NOAA has already terminated over 1,300 of its approximately 13,000-person workforce, and that more of these cuts are being considered, which has alarmed meteorologists, local governments, and residents in New York. Upstate New York communities uniquely rely on these lifesaving federal services for storm tracking and emergency preparedness whether it be for lake effect snowstorms, flooding, or even extreme wind storms and tornadoes as we saw devastated communities across the state last summer.
Already I am receiving reports the NWS in Albany will suspend weather balloon launches due to staffing shortages, the Great Lakes Environmental Research Laboratory which conducts critical environmental research on Great Lakes ecosystems and contributes to more accurate modeling and prediction for the lakes and coastlines has now said it must take an “indefinite hiatus” from public communications. We need clear answers on the extent of these cuts in New York — as well as a concrete plan for ensuring the reestablishment of already terminated public services as soon as possible.
New York is home to 473 miles of Great Lakes coastline, and it provides drinking water for nearly three million New York residents. Over six million visitors flock to New York’s Great Lakes corridor annually for fishing, boating, and other outdoor activities with fishing contributing about $134 million per year to the state’s economy and boating adding over $600 million per year. GLRI and NOAA’s other programs supporting the Great Lakes help keep this natural treasure healthy and beautiful to support the state’s economy and these communities.
NOAA plays an integral role in supporting New York’s Great Lakes fishing communities, farmers, and the general public. NOAA is a leading partner in the Great Lakes Restoration Initiative (GLRI) which helps to clean up Great Lakes waters, prevent and control the spread of invasive species, address harmful algal blooms which are toxic to animals and humans, and conduct scientific research to inform models that help make Great Lakes communities more resilient to extreme weather. NOAA also helps Upstate farmers implement conservation practices that both reduce the environmental impact of their practices and save the farms money. NOAA Fisheries provides critical habitat restoration support to strengthen the coastal ecosystems and communities that make the Great Lakes such a popular destination for recreational opportunities. Additionally, New York Sea Grant Extension conducts research to inform better business decisions and public education on the Great Lakes at offices in Buffalo, Rochester, Newark, Oswego, and Watertown. These programs serve a critical role in bolstering Upstate New York’s businesses, recreation and tourism industries, and ecological health, and any reductions in staffing would harm New York’s Great Lakes communities.
Beyond the Great Lakes, NOAA’s NWS supports 24 stations in New York, including 21 stations Upstate, to provide New Yorkers advanced warnings of severe weather like lake effect snow that Western New York sees every winter, severe storms that flood communities, and even the 32 tornados that struck dozens of sites Upstate last summer. In 2024, New York experienced six storms that were so damaging they qualified for a federal disaster declaration. In December, 2022, Winter Storm Elliott affected the entire state of New York, bringing with it a range of hazards including strong winds with speeds of more than 60 mph, causing whiteout conditions, snow drifts over 12 feet, and extremely low wind chill temperatures. Areas around Lake Erie and Lake Ontario faced both coastal flooding and a lake effect snowstorm. This multi-faceted storm caused devastating consequences that resulted in the loss of over 50 lives. NWS warnings help people stay safe when storms like these strike and can even help save lives. Additionally, farmers rely on NWS data and forecasts to make informed decisions on when to plant, irrigate, and harvest their crops, and when to utilize various pest control measures. Access to NWS data helps farmer mitigate risk and maximize their yields. If New York NWS stations are not adequately staffed, New Yorkers will not have the reliable forecasts they need to stay safe during extreme weather events, farmers would lose access to a key resource they rely on to grow the food that feeds New York, and Great Lakes communities would have little warning to prepare their homes and businesses to weather the storm.
I am deeply concerned these continuing drastic cuts at NOAA will harm the emergency preparedness and safety of New York’s communities that face extreme weather. The public will suffer if these public services are not re-established. Therefore, I request the following information by March 28, 2025:
The number of people fired at NOAA during your tenure as Acting Administrator who are based in New York and what jobs they performed.
Any staff or service reductions that have happened or will be taking place at any of New York’s 24 National Weather Service Offices as a result of these cuts and where those will be.
The number of people fired at NOAA programs that serve the Great Lakes programs, and how this will impact services for the broader Great Lakes community in New York.
The number of people fired at NOAA programs that support grant programs serving New York fishermen and farmers.
The number of people fired at New York Sea Grant, if any, and the location of the offices they worked in.
Your plan to maintain and restore already suspended services.
Thank you for your attention to this important matter.
Please be advised that the City of Batavia Water Department will repair a water main on Prospect Avenue, between Richmond Avenue and Mix Place, on Friday from 8 a.m. to 4 p.m.
Traffic will be closed in the area while the repairs are being made. Please use an alternate route.
As always, when the water is restored, it may be discolored. Please refrain from doing any laundry until the water runs clear.
We apologize for any inconvenience, and the public’s patience is greatly appreciated.
On Thursday morning, officials with the Oakfield-Alabama Central School District celebrated the start of construction on the district's new $23 million capital improvement project.
The lead project is a new football/soccer/track stadium.
We would like to express our sincere gratitude to the residents of Alabama and Oakfield, as well as the Board of Education, for their steadfast support in making the groundbreaking of our new football, soccer, and track stadium a reality. This exciting new capital project will create enhanced opportunities for our students and community for years to come, and we couldn’t have reached this milestone without your dedication and collaboration. Thank you for your ongoing commitment to our future!
Additionally, we extend a special thank you to our architects, SEI Design Group, for partnering with us on our second Capital Project over the past six years and to LeChase, our Project Construction Managers, for their hard work and dedication to OA in bringing this vision to life!
Alabama-Basom Methodist Church, 1392 Lewiston Road, Alabama. Join us for worship at 10:30 a.m. on March 16. This week our sermon title is "Jesus' Mission", led by Celinda McQuistion (CLM). Scripture readings will be from Philippians 3 ;17-4 ;1 and Luke 13:31-35 Come join us for Worship and fellowship after the service!
Ascension Parish - Roman Catholic Church, 135 Swan St., Batavia. We are open for Mass in the Church on Sundays at noon. We hope to see you there!
Assemblies of God-New Covenant Chapel, 6690 Oak Orchard Rd., Elba.14058. We welcome all seeking a personal relationship with the Lord Jesus Christ through His finished work on The Cross with The Power of The Holy Spirit. John 3:16. “For God so loved the world, that he gave his only begotten Son, that whosoever believeth in him should not perish, but have everlasting life.” If you want a small, close-knit church family and a place to make a difference, please join us. Worship Service is Sunday at 10:30 a.m. Bible Study Sunday at 9:30 a.m. and Thursday at 7 p.m. Contact us at (585)-757-6651 (585)-969-1528 or visit us on Youtube.
Batavia Assembly of God, 24 North Spruce St, Batavia. Join us for coffee in our café before our Sunday morning service that begins at 10:30 a.m. We offer "Movement Kids" (age 4 - grade 5) at 10:30 a.m. and "MVMT YTH" (grades 6-12) meet on Sunday nights at 7 p.m.
Batavia First Baptist Church, 306 E. Main St., Pastor David Weidman, where "Christ the Center, Love for All" is very evident to all who enter. We invite you to our Full Gospel Sunday services at 10 a.m.; The Thrift Shoppe is open Monday-Friday from 11 a.m. - 1 p.m., come and browse in our beautifully renovated space. Donations are accepted during business hours. You can also enjoy a light lunch at Lydia's Kitchen while you shop. Questions? Email: firstbaptist2002@yahoo.com. Call us at (585)343-9002.
Batavia First Presbyterian Church, 300 E. Main St., Batavia, invites you to join us for in-person worship on Sundays at 9 a.m. (Arise-relaxed with band music) or 10:45 a.m. (Sanctuary -liturgical and organ) or on Livestream via Facebook Live for both times at: https://fpcbatavia.org/ or https://www.facebook.com/fpcbatavia/videos/.
Batavia First United Methodist Church, 8221 Lewiston Road, Batavia. Our mission & vision statement: “To be disciples, we must listen, learn, lead, and love our way to God.” Reverend Wayne Mort leads our worship service every Sunday morning at 10 a.m. in the church sanctuary. Childcare is offered for children birth-3 years old and Sunday school is offered for children ages 4-14 years old. You can also find the service on Facebook. We invite you to learn more about Batavia First UMC by visiting our website at www.BataviaFirstumc.com.
Byron Presbyterian Church, 6293 W. Main St., Byron. Pastor: Rev. Michael Fry. Musical Director: Laurence Tallman. Worship and Sunday School are at 9:45 a.m. Scripture Readings: Psalm 27 and Philippians 3:17-4:1. Message: “Perseverance”. All are welcome!
Calvary Baptist Church of Le Roy, 8703 Lake Street Road, Le Roy. If you do not already have a church that you attend regularly, we would like to invite you to give Calvary Baptist Church a try. It would be a pleasure to have you join us for worship and fellowship on a Sunday morning or at one of our other mid-week events. As a multi-generational congregation that enjoys our time together, our Sunday worship service typically includes singing a mix of both traditional and contemporary songs and hymns, a children’s message, and a sermon from the Word of God. Our Sunday worship service begins at 10:15 a.m.
City Church, 210 E. Main St., Batavia, invites you for our Sunday morning services at 8:30 and 10 a.m. with Kids ministry at 10 a.m. and Thursday evenings at 7 p.m. Everyone is welcome to join us for worship and a message. We believe in doing life together and would love to do life with YOU! You can also connect with us online at www.thecitychurch.com, through our Facebook page, The City Church, or our YouTube channel. We do life together.
Corfu United Presbyterian Church 63 Alleghany Road, Corfu. Corfu United Presbyterian Church (CUPC) welcomes all visitors to come worship with us on Sunday mornings at 10:30 a.m. in person or via our Facebook live stream led by our pastor, the Rev. Evan Wildhack. Our mission at CUPC is to connect with Christ, connect with others, and connect others with Christ. We offer children's Sunday School at 9:15am on Sunday mornings and youth group for 7-12th graders on the 2nd and 4th Sundays of the month from 6-8 p.m. The church also hosts the Corfu Food Pantry which is open on the third Saturday of the month from 9 - 10 a.m. For Lent this year, we are hosting a Lenten lunch on Wednesday, March 26 at 12 p.m. During Holy Week, we will be holding a special Holy Week service at 7 p.m. on Thursday, April 17. Easter worship will be at our regular worship time of 10:30am with a breakfast preceding at 9:30am. For more information about the church, feel free to contact the church office by phone at (585) 599-6414 or via email at office@corfuchurch.org. You can also visit us on Facebook at facebook.com/corfuchurch. CUPC is a congregation of the Presbyterian Church (U.S.A.)
Cornerstone Church of East Pembroke, part of American Baptist Churches USA, 2583 Main Road, East Pembroke. Our Sunday service is at 10:30 a.m. with Pastor Glenn Bloom preaching. Bible Study is every Wednesday at 10 a.m. We are a small church and welcome new members. (585) 762-8721
Darien Disciples Church, 1951 Broadway (Route 20), Our worship service begins at 9 a.m. Prayer requests to Jerry at: jeromedmorrison@yahoo.com. This week, March 16, our sermon title is “What Has God Done?” led by Rodney Stringham. (CLM). The Gospel Reading will be from Luke 13:1-9. Come join us!!
Discovery Chapel, 315 West Main Street, Batavia. Pastor Ingrim Green's services are on Sundays at 10 a.m. "Let's Talk Real Talk the Gospel For Real Life." Visit our website letstalkrealtalk.org for more information.
East Bethany Presbyterian Church, 5735 Ellicott Street Road, East Bethany. Our Sunday morning worship service is held at 10:30 a.m. and is led by Rev. Dr. Shiela McCullough. Visitors are always welcome. You can find out more information on our Facebook page or by emailing us at ebpresbyterian@gmail.com.
Elba First Baptist Church, 31 S. Main St., Elba, is open for the main service in person at 10:45 a.m. on Sundays. For more information about our church go to www.fbcelba.net. The pastor is Michael Davis. Email: office@fbcelba.net / Phone (585) 757-2722
Emmanuel Baptist Church, 190 Oak St., Batavia. Join us for our Sunday service at 11am or come earlier for bible study at 9:45am. Free coffee and fellowship! Pastor Tom is continuing his preaching through the book of Acts. Debbie Prosser is leading the choir in lifting up a joyful noise to the Lord every Sunday with practice on Thursdays. We would love to hear your voice as well! Particularly we need ladies who love to sing to join the choir! Can't wait to meet you!
EverPresent Church, 4 Batavia City Centre, Batavia(off of Bank Street). Pastor Jason and Pastor Michelle Norton Welcome you! Our hours are Wednesdays 6 p.m. midweek service. Sundays 10:30 a.m. doors open 9:45 a.m. Children's church starts directly following worship. Children's church ages are 5 to 11. Counseling and other appointments are scheduled through the church via Office Scheduling. You can view some of our messages through Facebook or YouTube -EverPresent Church. Our phone number is 585-297-3155. Visit our Website for more information for up and upcoming events. Our beliefs, our vision and mission. www.everpresentchurch.com
Grace Baptist Church, 238 Vine St., Batavia. We offer two Sunday Morning Worship Services. Both services are live-streamed on our Facebook page, Grace Baptist or view it on the web at: www.gracebatavia.org. The first service is at 8:45 a.m. (children's classes available for Nursery - 1st grade). The second service is at 10:30 a.m. (children's classes available Nursery - 5th grade). KidZone for ages 4-5th grade and Grace Student Ministries (Grades 6-12) meet on Sunday Evenings at 6 - 7:30 p.m.
Indian Falls Methodist Church, 7908 Alleghany Road, Corfu. We have our worship service at 10 a.m. on Sunday mornings, led by Rev. Karen L. McCaffery. This week's message is "Run to the Shelter". To view our services online please go to our website https://indianfallsgmc.com/ for a link for Live Streaming. NO Youth Group (grades 6-12) meeting this week; mini-mission trip. We will have Lenten Luncheons at 12 pm on March 19. We offer FREE Respite Care on Wednesday, March 19 from 10 a.m. - 2 p.m.: register by emailing redlady5343@earthlink.net. Join us for Maple Weekends March 22, 23, 29, & 30 from 9am-3pm at Hofheins Maple Moon Farms at 1058 Gulf Road, Attica.
Morganville United Church of Christ, 8466 Morganville Rd, Stafford. Enjoy a visit to our warm and friendly church where God is still speaking. Reverend James Morasco will share his sermon “Entering Your Silence” at 10 am this Sunday. Coffee hour and fellowship will follow the service. Friend us on Facebook! or better yet, visit us Sunday.
North Darien Bible Church, 9768 Simonds Road, Corfu. We are open! Sunday worship service begins at 10 a.m. Children's Church classes are available for children ages birth through sixth grade, including a classroom for children with special needs. For more information, visit our website. You can also watch LIVE on our Facebook or YouTube channel. Join us from 9 a.m. to noon on the first Saturday of every month for our free community closet, full of clothing, coats, and shoes for all. (585) 547-9646.
Northgate Free Methodist Church, 8160 Bank Street Road (North Campus), Batavia. The Gospel of Mark is fast-paced, action-packed, and full of life-changing encounters with Jesus. In this series, reMARKable, we’ll dive deep into the power, purpose, and urgency of the ministry of Jesus — discovering how His message still transforms lives today. If you’ve ever wondered what it truly means to follow Jesus, Mark’s gospel will challenge and inspire you.
Oakfield-Alabama Baptist Church, 2210 Judge Road., Oakfield. Join us for Sunday School for all ages at 9:45 a.m., followed by our worship service at 11 a.m. every Sunday! Visit our website (www.oabchurch.com) for additional information about our church, our beliefs, upcoming activities, and past messages. Men’s and Ladies’ Bible studies also meet on Thursdays at 6:30 p.m. on the church grounds. We look forward to worshiping and fellowshipping with you! Questions? Email Pastor Matt Ervin at mervin@tyndale.edu.
Oakfield Community Bible Church, 82 North Main St. Oakfield. This Weeks “Oakfield Community Bible Church”, Weekend Worship Service is at 10:30 a.m. With Praise & Worship Music by Keith Burroughs. The morning message by Pastor, Timothy Young; entitled: “The Transfiguration”. Scripture: “Matthew 17:1-9” (NKJV). Our Adult Sunday School is at 9:30 a.m., along with “Sunday School through Age-16”. There will be a Time of “Fellowship” following our Worship Service! Come out and Join Us. ALL ARE WELCOME!
Our Lady of Mercy (44 Lake St. LeRoy) & St. Brigid (18 Gibson St. Bergen) parishes; Parish Office - 44 Lake Street, Le Roy. Our Lady of MercyMass times: Daily Mass, Monday -Friday at 7:30am, Saturday 9:00am. Weekend Masses: Saturday Vigil Mass 4:30pm, Sunday, 7:30am, 9:30am and 5:30pm. St. Brigid Mass times- Daily Mass Thursday at 8:30am & Saturday Vigil, 5:00pm. View on YouTube and Facebook. Please visit the parish website (https://www.ourladyofmercyleroy.org/).
Resurrection Parish (St. Joseph church in Batavia). St. Joseph's Church masses are on Saturdays at 4 p.m. and Sundays at 7:30 a.m. and 10 a.m. Daily Mass, Monday - Friday at 8 a.m. Confessions are held at St. Joe's on Saturdays from 3 - 3:30 p.m. Vigil & Holy Days to be announced. Holy Name of Mary Site (East Pembroke) 8656 Church St., East Pembroke. Mass on Sundays 11 a.m. and Tuesdays at 8:30 a.m. St. Cecilia Site (Oakfield) 56 Maple Ave., Oakfield Mass is celebrated on Sundays at 9 a.m. and Wednesdays at 7 p.m.
St. James Episcopal Church, 405 E. Main St., Batavia. Join us on Sundays at 9 a.m. on zoom, 10 a.m. in the church building, and on Facebook Live. Links and the bulletin can be found on our website: https://www.sjecbataviany.org/
St. Mark’s Episcopal Church, 1 E. Main St., Le Roy, is open for in-person services at 10:30 a.m. on Sundays. Communion will be offered to people in their seats and will only include bread. We welcome you to join us -- either in person or online. For more information, visit our website.
St Paul’s Episcopal Church, 6188 Main Road, Stafford. In-person service, including Holy Communion, is at 9 a.m. Sunday mornings. All Are Welcome.
St. Paul Lutheran Church, Batavia, 31 Washington Ave, Batavia. This coming Sunday (March 16) we will celebrate The Second Sunday in Lent. The Sermon Theme: “The sacrifice of Jesus upon the cross became the cornerstone of the new Jerusalem, His Church. He visits us today in mercy with His preaching of forgiveness, to gather us to Himself within that holy city, ‘as a hen gathers her brood under her wings’ (Luke 13:34), for ‘our citizenship is in heaven’” (Phil. 3:20). Our Sunday service begins at 10:15 am or can be viewed 'live' on Facebook. Join us for our Lenten Services on Wednesday's at 6:30 p.m. through April 9. Our Adult Bible Study and Children's Sunday School is every Sunday, 9 a.m. - 9:45 a.m. Communion is part of every Sunday service. Our Youth Group meets every Sunday, 5-7 p.m. Our Men's Bible Study is on pause for the Lenten season and will resume April 30. Our Quilters group meets Tuesday's, 9 - 11am.
The Church In Alexander, 10540 Main St., Alexander. Join us for Sunday Worship at 10 a.m. weekly. For more information please visit our website at www.thechurchinalexander.com. We offer a Free Food Pantry for people in our community, please call ahead if you need items from our pantry. For more information on Programs and services please contact us at (585)591-1765 or by email at thechurchinalexander@gmail.com. Church office hours are Monday, Wednesday, and Friday from 8:15 - 11:15 a.m.
Trinity United Methodist Church, 75 Main St. in Attica, worships together at 10:45 a.m. on Sundays. All are welcome! Contact Frank White at uncleferter@msn.com for a ZOOM link or for prayer requests.
West Middlebury Baptist Church, 4950 West Middlebury Rd. East Bethany, Sunday service is at 9 a.m. Kids Club meets on Sundays at 10:30 a.m. Youth Group (grades 7-12) meets on Sundays at 10:30 a.m. and Wednesdays at 6:30 p.m. For more information visit us online at westmiddlebury.org.
"Spiritual Connections" --The Batavian will post updates to connect people with their places of worship, religious services, fellowship opportunities, and/or spiritual advisors, etc. There is no charge for this service.
By Genesee County Chamber of Commerce & Visitor Center
Did you know that New York State is home to the largest resource of tappable maple trees in the United States? New York State Maple Weekends provide a chance for the public to visit farms to learn about the maple sugar-making processes and traditions, and to provide a chance to taste pure maple syrup in its many forms – right from the source. Visit one of the over 2,000 maple sugar makers in New York State this Maple Weekend.
This event, organized and sponsored by the New York State Maple Producers’ Association, will be held on March 22, 23 & 29, 30, 2025.
We hope you'll enjoy the taste of the season by visiting our local maple producers this month!
Maple Farms & Sugarhouses
Junior’s Maple | 9280 Alexander Road (Rt. 98), Batavia Anytime! Started in 2014, Junior's Maple Products welcomes visitors and locals to stop by the sugar house anytime to purchase maple syrup from their "breezeway" by leaving cash or check in the box. To explore this maple farm and to see the maple syrup process, be sure to call ahead to make sure they're in: 585-813-6446.
Mudrzynski Homestead | 6982 Norton Rd, Elba March 22, 23, 29 & 30 from 10-4 Join for an open house to learn how the Mudrzynski's syrup is made. Watch demonstrations how the evaporator works, enjoy maple syrup tastings, and shop for both maple syrup and honey.
Randall’s Maple Products| 10307 Smithley Road, Alexander March 22, 23, 29 & 30 from 10-4 Set in a picturesque farm setting adorned with a pond, the Randalls make delicious maple syrup for all to enjoy! During Maple Weekend, visitors will be taken through the process of making maple syrup. Antique maple syrup equipment and a B&O Caboose will be outside near a pond. A few things to note: The number of visitors in the sugarhouse at one time will be limited. While they love pets, please do not bring them along. Some pathways may be muddy and/or icy - be sure to dress accordingly. For inquiries, please call 585-547-3596.
Sweet Dream Maple Farm | 1116 Reynolds Road, Corfu March 22, 23, 29 & 30 from 10-4 Sweet Dream Maple Farm produces pure NYS Maple Syrup from hundreds of trees owned by friends and neighbors and tapped the old-fashioned way - with buckets. Feel at home in their 200-year-old barn while you learn more about how they collect, and boil maple sap every spring to bring you the freshest maple syrup. You will see their modern evaporator boiling sap with a wood fire just like folks did centuries ago. Tour the maple kitchen to see where all the goodies (like maple cream and maple sugar shapes) are made. If you have trouble getting around, they have easy access to an observation floor above maple operation so you can still experience the process. A food truck will be on-site for lunch and will feature maple hot dogs and maple cannoli's! For inquiries, please call 585-356-2669.
Three Leaf Maple Farm | 11000 Chaddock Road, Alexander March 22, 23, 29 & 30 from 10-4 The Three Leaf Maple group is dedicated to producing high-quality maple syrup and maple treats. They use sustainable harvesting practices to ensure the health and longevity of the maple trees, and they take great care in the processing and bottling of their products to ensure maximum flavor and quality. Their maple syrup is perfect for pancakes, waffles, and ice cream, while their maple treats make for a delicious and unique snack.
Discover the history of maple sugaring at this immersive festival! Visit the Sugarhouse, see 19th-century techniques in action, and sample maple treats. Enjoy pancakes and sausages with museum-made syrup, maple-themed bites at Depot Restaurant, and craft beverages at the Freight House Pub. Don’t miss the Whistlestop Bread Sale from 1 – 3 p.m. daily! Buy tickets online to save $1.
Gather for a cozy, maple-filled breakfast at Baldwin’s Country Store! Savor buckwheat pancakes, homemade maple breakfast sausage, and locally sourced maple products from Sage Family Maple. A delicious way to celebrate Maple Weekend!
Come and join us for our Pancake Breakfast in our Clubhouse. We will have all of your favorites, pancakes, sausage, scrambled eggs, French toast, sausage gravy & biscuits, home fries, cooked onions, coffee, and juice. AND fresh local Maple Syrup.
Information provided by the Genesee County Chamber of Commerce & Visitor Center. For more information head to VisitGeneseeNY.com.
Batavia's new city Water and Wastewater Superintendent Bailey Groth catches some cold breeze Wednesday at the edge of a lagoon. Photo by Joanne Beck
You could say that Bailey Groth has had a fluid career so far.
At the age of 27, she has already worked for Genesee County, New York State and now the city of Batavia, and all in ways having to do with that substance none of us can live without: water. Groth began her city career as superintendent of Batavia Water and Wastewater in December.
“I was really excited about the opportunity to work in my community again. I had known and worked well with and befriended multiple people at the city before this, so it just felt like a natural thing to go work with people that I already know and like and work well with, the 2015 Pembroke High School grad said. “I think it's in the field that I'm super interested in, that's always changing. I feel very supported here. I guess I'm just grateful for the opportunity and happy to work and do good work for a place that I'm so comfortable in, like growing up here.”
Her path began after high school when she attended Nazareth College (now University) with her original intention of studying something in the medical field as a biochemistry major. She fairly quickly scrapped that in lieu of a toxicology course as a sophomore, “and it kind of changed my whole perspective,” she said.
“This is what I want to do,” she said. “I just found it really interesting. And I think it was kind of the time period, I was realizing I didn’t want to go into the medical field, and this was a lot of environmental science space, and so that kind of shifted things for me — oh, this is an option where I can do things I’m interested in, stuff like biochemistry and those courses, but I don’t have to do the medical aspects of how I could do more of an environmental science side.”
A high achiever—driven was one of the five words she came up with to describe herself. Groth graduated with not one but two bachelor’s degrees in toxicology and biology. That seemed to complement her personal interests of walking and hiking in nature, having grown up in more rural country of Pembroke, “it was easy to spend time outside.”
“And I ski in the winter, so I’ve always been kind of an outdoor activity kind of person, and so I think it felt a little like kind of natural to go into the sciences in that way,” she said.
Her first job was as an environmental health specialist at Genesee County Health Department, performing health inspections and running the drinking water enhancement program — her favorite part of the job because, one might guess, “the water aspect of it.”
Groth worked with and got to know people at the water plant because they would run the county’s bacteriological samples, “and we had a really good working relationship, and we became friends,” she said.
“So when I became the drinking water program coordinator, it was even easier. We were already friends. So, I worked with the city in a couple of different capacities before I worked here. So then from there, I went to the State Department of Health … my title was environmental analyst, and I wrote drinking water source protection plans,” she said. “So then I got assigned to the city of Batavia to write their drinking water source protection plan. And so then I got to work with even more people at the city … I just found once I had left the county and went to state, I realized that I like working in my own community and doing stuff like that was also a passion of mine.”
She oversees three groups of staff, including chief water operator and chief wastewater operator, supervisor for building maintenance crew, seven water operators, three wastewater operators and a dozen maintenance workers, so 25 total. There is one other woman on staff in building maintenance, and Groth has no problem leading her team or being outnumbered by men, she said.
“I think sometimes women have to work harder than men for recognition than their male colleagues. I haven’t had any issues here,” she said. “I just want to reiterate how awesome everyone is here because they really, really are, and I learn so much every single day from them, and I'm very grateful to work with them.”
For anyone wanting to jump into a field that may be more heavily occupied by men, she encourages you to “go for it” and advocate for yourself.
While she may have to be on-site at the water and wastewater plants many times per week — her office holds a charm all its own. A small pink fridge, just big enough to hold six cans of seltzer, and a string of white lights around the window and over her desk are the beginnings of her decor. Plus, her prized photo of Tuna B. Salad, a handsome, light green-eyed, black cat.
A quick tour of the wastewater facility serves as a reminder of what her staff deals with each day. Chief Operator John Senko, who’s been there since 2009, talked about the 3.5 to 4 million gallons that are processed during the wet season versus 2.5 million gallons in the dryer summer months. The very back room, with blowers running, is where it’s especially aromatic. Similar to a large manure field.
Workers have to manually dump carts, and a ridged track that catches the material hauls it on a conveyor belt, allowing sand and rocks to fall in the water beneath. Small toys will sneak in from household incidents, Senko said.
The facility serves the 15,600 city residents, about 5,000 people outside the city and some 14 industries. The waste is carefully processed through a 24 million gallon per day central pump station, three aerated treatment lagoons, two secondary lagoons that are fed alum to assist in phosphorus removal, four tertiary treatment lagoons and three polishing wetlands.
Once all of the processing and breakdown has happened, with the final phase of screening, settling, and nutrient uptake in the wetlands, the remaining material is ready to discharge into Tonawanda Creek after several months.
There are lab readings and monitoring at every step, similar to at the water plant, to ensure that the water is of consumable quality, Groth said.
“I think as children, I was always taught water is a renewable resource, you know, like the natural cycle of things, but it's not renewable if it's polluted beyond repair kind of thing. So it's definitely a precious resource. And I do think we take it for granted. I think we're very lucky to be in Western New York, where we have the Great Lakes, and we're not in the desert,” she said. “But I do think, as time progresses and we face things like droughts and whatnot, I hope people see more of it as a precious resource, because I do.
“The people that work to produce clean water for drinking water, clean potable water, there's so much work that goes into it. And I don't think people know that or realize how expensive it is and how hard-working these people are that do it. They're not just pushing a button; they're doing hard, manual labor,” Groth said. “And I know from working with people here they really genuinely care and are passionate about it and do everything they can to produce good, clean water. So I also want people to know that and recognize that, too. And the people that do the wastewater too, it's like they want to put out good, effluent … the pond system is kind of a more environmentally friendly treatment system, and so I think that's very cool to have here in a small city like Batavia. I want people to be appreciative of their public works because I think the people do so much work, and that's why they don't think about it is because it's just you turn your tap on and you have water there and it's clean, or you flush your toilet and it goes somewhere, and you don't ever have to think about it again, thank God.”
There will be plenty to keep her busy, with a long-awaited Cohocton water main replacement coming up this year, working on a wastewater discharge permit, and the lead service line inventory throughout the city to identify and replace lead pipes.
When she’s not working on water issues, Groth, who lives in Alden, enjoys spending time with her boyfriend Adam, walking, hiking, traveling — she’s gone to Peru and captured Machu Picchu and to Utah’s national parks — and spending time with lots of local family. They include mom Peg, sister Camryn, brother Ben, his daughters Elena and Leona, and grandparents. Roger and Carol Richardson, nephew Callan, and not-so-local older sister Meghan in Vermont.
Bailey Groth at the second aerated lagoon at the city's wastewater treatment facility. The water attracts many birds and cattails to the site. Photo by Joanne Beck
NOW HIRING seasonal agribusiness positions. CDL A & B Drivers to deliver bulk crop nutrients. Potential long-term opportunities. Great for retirees! GENERAL LABOR positions. Daily variety of indoor/outdoor responsibilities. Loader experience a plus. SIGN-ON BONUS and plenty of OT during spring/summer months. Apply in person at: 8610 Route 237, Stafford, NY www.cecrocker.com
