On May 20 Genesee Community College celebrated its 55th annual Commencement Ceremony with a group of 13 students from area high schools and home schools deserving special mention.
They completed their GCC degree requirements concurrently with their high school diplomas or New York State High School Equivalency. Twelve of these graduates participated in the fifth annual cohort of the College's Science, Technology, Engineering, and Math (STEM) Enrichment Program through GCC's Accelerated College Enrollment (ACE) Office.
These high-achieving individuals include the following: Jadyn Brummert (Oakfield), Jacob Debadts (Warsaw), Lydia Evans (Batavia), Megan Fialkowski (Attica), Grace Gregoire (home school), Abigail Lamphier (home school), Aidan McClurg (Elba), Emma McLaughlin (Perry), Sofia Oltramari (Buffalo Seminary), Lauren Reimer (Batavia), Zoey Shepard (Byron-Bergen) and Andrea Straub (Notre Dame). Audrey Pask (Albion) did not take part in the STEM Enrichment Program but did earn a GCC degree alongside her high school diploma.
The STEM Enrichment program began in 2012 allowing the students to start their college studies as early as the seventh grade. In addition to their traditional schoolwork, they enrolled in college-level coursework each year taking advantage of many academic opportunities and successfully completing all of the rigorous challenges of an associate degree.
"We are extremely proud of these 12 exceptional students who have not only earned their high school diplomas but also completed their GCC degree requirements through our STEM Enrichment Program. Their dedication and hard work demonstrate the power of early college enrollment and the opportunities it provides. They are truly an inspiration to future generations of students," said Ann Valento, director of Accelerated College Enrollment programs at Genesee Community College.
Genesee Community College's 55th annual Commencement Ceremony was held at the Richard C. Call Arena and featured special guest Keynote Speaker Benjamin Bonarigo Sr., Esq., Genesee Community College Trustee Emeritus. To view the ceremony, please visit https://www.genesee.edu/commencement/.
The former principal of a local parochial school entered a guilty plea to one count of course of sexual conduct with a child in the second degree in Genesee County Court Monday.
According to District Attorney Kevin Finnell, Jason Clark admitted Monday that he touched the chest of a female child two or more times over a period of time not less than three months in duration.
As part of the plea deal, Clark agreed to surrender his teaching license and was placed on interim supervision by the Probation Department for one year.
Finnell said under the terms of the plea agreement, if he's successful on probation, he may withdraw his plea to the felony count and enter a new plea to a misdemeanor count of endangering the welfare of a child. He would continue to serve some time on probation.
If he's unsuccessful on probation, Finnell said, he could be sentenced to a term in prison.
Following a standard presentence investigation, Clark will be sentenced at 9:30 a.m., June 3.
Clark started working at St. Paul Lutheran in Batavia as a teacher in 2002. He became principal in 2019.
He was charged in January with two counts of sexual conduct against a child in the second degree.
Macy Paradise Jr. and Linda Pezzimenti get ready to launch their new shop, Paradise Home Vintage & Gift, Thursday at 332 Ellicott St., Batavia. Photo by Joanne Beck.
Walk into Paradise Home Vintage & Gift, and it might seem a bit of an eclectic mash-up of stuff, from furniture, knick-knacks and wall decorations to dolls, toys, baskets, jewelry and kitschy novelty goods.
And, actually, that’s exactly what it is. Only with a touch of vintage, Victorian, retro, mid-century modern, Americana, primitive, antique and, most definitely, intriguing eras and styles to make shoppers want to pause for a second and maybe third look around. They'll get that chance with a grand opening this Thursday at 332 Ellicott St., Batavia.
Owner Macy Paradise Jr. and his partner and shop manager Linda Pezzimenti call the various sections “vignettes” throughout the 1,000-square-foot space.
“So it's furniture, and it's just anything that you could put in your house. As well as fun things, I don't expect to sell a lot of old toys, but it’s, they walk in and go, ‘I remember that game.’ You know, to bring back a little piece of memory. I'm going to order some candy cigarettes, bubble gum cigars, candy sticks; we'll have a little area for that stuff,” Pezzimenti said during an interview with The Batavian. “And then the jewelry is all brand new as well. I've been selling jewelry for years. And it's an assortment, it's stuff you can wear to work, and it's also stuff that's a little wild and funky.”
Photo by Joanne Beck.
Maybe folks won’t want the decorative sack of potatoes or old-fashioned country store-themed items under the General Merchandise sign, including a Charles Chips can, stacks of retro cups and saucers, novelty ceramic vegetable containers, an oversized plastic ketchup bottle, painted pottery beverage pitchers, an ice cream cone sign that reads Have a Sweet Day, a collection of mugs with assorted sayings, and a wooden sign with a Batavia-based sentiment about how far away we roam, “our hearts make the journey but will always be at home.”
But they may smile as they pause to look at everything on the way to the next nook, she said.
Macy Paradise Jr. of Batavia is the business owner. Photo by Joanne Beck.
That vignette is alongside a man cave in progress, with beer signs, bottle openers, racing car items, and other traditionally male-oriented objects, while other sections of the shop offer niches for pet lovers — assorted ceramic dog planters, wall signs, hand towels, placards, mugs; and home decorators will find dozens of items including tin hearts, colored vases, paintings, stemmed glasses, steamer trunks, lamps, and anything that’s not cookie cutter, Pezzimenti said.
“Walmart and Target have the basics. But if you buy something like that and put it in your house, everybody knows where you bought it. But you know, it's not going to be something that's at Walmart. And then there's only one of those for the whole city,” she said, adding that inventory will be refreshed on a regular basis. “I think it's important that things change, you know, if a certain shelf just isn't doing anything, then it's gotta go. And I don't care if I pack it in a box and bring out a whole new something else. I'll just take it out of here. Because this isn't doing anybody any good to see the same thing, and we’ve got the inventory to do it.
"We have plenty, and I shop every day. I'm not kidding. So I mean, like right now, there is a space over there on the very top. Yeah, and it's making my skin crawl, like, okay, well, how is there an empty space? I don't like that. So my one of my biggest concerns is what happens if a whole bunch of shoppers comes in on a Wednesday, Thursday, and there's empty spaces, like I have to get those filled before my Friday, Saturday, because, it's just wrong, just an empty spot.”
Linda Pezzimenti of Batavia shows one of the hot items she has at the shop, tin hearts. Photo by Joanne Beck.
When she says she shops every day, that’s not hyperbole. Pezzimenti has fine-tuned the art of shopping flea markets, garage sales, and auctions, and networking with people to know when large-scale clearance sales are coming up. For example, she and Paradise were going to the biggest flea market in New York State this past week, armed with his trailer to bring back their cache. They had another event on the books for Monday in Ohio.
Is there ever a concern that enough is enough, or maybe even too much? Not yet, they both agreed. All of the purchases go into a designated storage, and then will go into the shop. And Pezzimenti has worked hard to clean, itemize, tag and log everything to keep track of it for the business, she said.
“I’ve been doing retail stores since my 40s, and I’m 65,” she said. “I think the first time I did it, it was all new stuff, it was all things you buy wholesale, and you just buy to resell. But it’s more interesting when you have props as risers and tables underneath that have a little character and charm; they’re also cheaper than going out and buying a brand-new table.
"So you start doing that kind of thing, and then everybody wants to buy your props. That always happens. So now the props are for sale. So you have to price it such that people are dying to do that, which makes them want to come back.”
Eventually, she kept buying not only merchandise, but those props, and items kept stockpiling, which meant renting storage — two storage units, a four-car garage, two-car garage and a 16-foot trailer. They finally cleared out the storage to fill up the store and have no plans to stop replenishing supply.
Photo by Joanne Beck.
Everything in the shop is priced to sell, Pezzimenti said, and she and Paradise are excited to see the public’s response. The shop isn’t their sole livelihood, but yet it’s something they want to be a success, especially with fewer retailers around, Paradise said. There aren’t as many places to shop these days, he said.
They will take requests to watch out for certain items and plan to post photos online to pique customers’ interest in new arrivals at the shop. Pezzimenti has drafted a list of definitions to help people clarify the differences between:
Retro — objects with a nod to the past but are more recently made.
Vintage — which is an item created by hand or machine, approximately 40 or more years ago.
Victorian — created during the reign of Queen Victoria between 1837 and 1901.
Antiques — generally considered to be 100 or more years old.
As for Paradise Home Vintage & Gift? There’s a “nice mix of different eras,” Paradise said, from 100+ years old to make 20 years ago or even more recently. There are items that would be perfect for someone just moving into an apartment or for an established home.
“I have a very good eye,” she said. “I’ve done all the hunting for you.”
The shop is highlighted by the big yellow awning on Ellicott Street, which used to be Joe’s Trophy shop. A grand opening special of 20 percent will run from Thursday to Saturday, with both a ribbon-cutting at 1 p.m. and a prize drawing of a $50 gift certificate on Thursday.
Hours will be 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. Wednesday through Saturday. For more information, call 585-536-7793 or email paradisehomevintagegift@gmail.com.
A brush fire at DeWitt Recreation Area in Batavia burned through an estimated one to one and a half acres late Sunday afternoon. Photo by Howard Owens.
A brush fire is reported in DeWitt Recreation Area, off West Main Street, behind WNY Concrete and Upson Maybach.
City Fire is on scene.
UPDATE by Joanne Beck 4:19 p.m.: The third platoon has been recalled to city headquarters and the Town of Batavia Fire brush truck has been requested to the scene.
UPDATE by Joanne Beck 4:45 p.m.: The fire is mostly knocked down after burning one to one and a half acres. The cause of origin is unknown at this time.
The Genesee County Spartans greeted about 600 fans for their home opener Saturday at GCC. Photos by Jim Burns.
The fledgling Genesee County Spartans defeated the New York Falcons, 13-0, in non-league semipro football action Saturday afternoon at Genesee Community College.
Head Coach Harry Rascoe’s squad shook off a sluggish first half as quarterback Alex Rood and halfback Jed Reese ran for touchdowns after intermission to turn back the Buffalo-based Falcons, who compete in the Gridiron Developmental Football League.
It was the first official game of the season for the Spartans, a member of the Northeastern Football Alliance.
“We had a couple of opportunities in the first half but kept on pounding the ball on the ground to finally take control,” Rascoe said, noting that the quartet of Rood, Reese, Rob Williams Jr. and Brandon Bethel combined for 200 yards rushing.
Rood scored on a 10-yard run in the third quarter and Reese capped a long drive with a five-yard scamper in the fourth quarter. Marc Montana kicked the point after touchdown after Rood’s score but missed the second attempt under windy conditions.
In the first half, the Spartans threatened early in the second quarter, using runs by Reese, Rood, Williams and Bethel to get to the Falcons’ 20 before an interception thwarted that drive. With about five minutes left, the home team advanced to the Falcons’ 2 but failed to capitalize.
“We were in the red zone four or five times and came up short; that’s something we definitely need to work on,” Rascoe said. “But our defense, behind (defensive ends) Gunner Rapone and T.J. Henderson dominated.”
Rapone was a force throughout, recording numerous tackles and combining with Henderson for four sacks. Defensive backs Brooks Boyle and Tre Woods each had an interception.
An enthusiastic crowd of about 600 turned out for the “Iron Reps Gym Game” at GCC’s new field, which is located behind the Richard C. Call Arena.
“On behalf of the players, a special thanks to all the fans who attended,” Rascoe said. “It really means a lot to see all the community support.”
The Spartans return to action at 7 p.m. next Saturday at Lockport. The next home game (all home games are at GCC) is at 7 p.m. June 17 against Ithaca.
Defensive ends T.J. Henderson, left, and Gunner Rapone set the tone for the Spartans in the 13-0 victory.
QB Alex Rood looks to escape the Falcons' rush.
RB/WR Jed Reese breaks into the clear. Reese scored tallied a second-half TD.
Perhaps the largest crowd in Dwyer Stadium history -- 3,711 fans -- watched a winning home opener of the 2023 season Saturday for the Batavia Muckdogs.
The Muckdogs defined the Elmira Pioneers 5-4.
Starter Julian Pichardo fanned eight and gave away no free passes over six innings
Michael Pedraza was credited with the win after giving up two runs in the eighth inning, putting the Muckdogs behind 4-3, only to have Batavia battle back in the bottom half of the frame, scoring two runs, to regain the lead at 5-4.
Trey Bacon came on to record the save in the top of the ninth, retiring all three batters he faced, notching two Ks.
Offensively, Josh Leadem smashed a solo home run in the fourth inning to put the Muckdogs on the board, though they still trailed 2-1 at that point. Leadem was 1-3 on the night with a walk and two runs scored.
Anthony Calabro was 1-2 with two walks and two RBIs, driving in the final two runs of the game to secure put Muckdogs in the lead.
The Muckdogs are 1-1 on the new season. Today, Sunday, at 4 p.m., the Muckdogs return to Dwyer Stadium to take on Niagara Power. They're home again on Tuesday, 6:35 p.m., again against Niagara.
Note Dame, Far West Regional Champions in baseball. Photo by Pete Welker.
Submitted game story:
The Notre Dame Fighting Irish stole the lead late and defeated Gowanda Panthers 6-5 on Saturday at Frontier High School.
The game was tied at five with Notre Dame batting in the top of the seventh when Hayden Groff's sac fly scored one run for the Fighting Irish.
Notre Dame built a four-run lead in the fifth inning and then held off Gowanda's charge. The Panthers managed four runs in the failed comeback. Tyler Smith, Blake Herman, and John Ondus powered the rally with RBIs.
The Irish got on the board in the second inning when a Gowanda error scored two runs
In the bottom of the sixth inning, Gowanda tied things up at five when Ondus singled on a 1-1 count, scoring one run.
After Notre Dame scored two runs in the top of the fifth, Gowanda answered with two of their own. Notre Dame scored when Hayden Groff singled on a 2-0 count, scoring two runs. Gowanda then answered when Smith singled on a 1-1 count, scoring two runs.
Ryan Fitzpatrick was the winning pitcher for Notre Dame. The righthander lasted two innings, allowing five hits and two runs while striking out two and walking zero.
Ondus took the loss for Gowanda Panthers Varsity.
Bryceton Berry started the game for Notre Dame. The ace went five innings, allowing three runs on three hits and striking out six.
Cole Herman started the game for Gowanda. Herman surrendered three runs on three hits over two and two-thirds innings, striking out two
Groff led the Irish with two hits in three at-bats.
Ondus went 2-for-3 at the plate to lead Gowanda Panthers Varsity in hits.
The Fighting Irish will next play Chatham of Section 2 on Friday at Maine-Endwell High School in the state semi-final. Chatham is the defending Class C state champion and is currently ranked #1 in Class C by MaxPreps.
The creators of Enter Through the Coffee Shop @ The Harve, a unique, June-only art gallery at the Harvester Center, 56 Harvester Avenue, Batavia, held an invite-only pre-opening on Friday evening.
The public opening is tonight, Saturday, at 7 p.m., with the band FlashBamPow providing musical entertainment.
The Batavia Muckdogs will be looking for a win tonight in their home opener at Dwyer Stadium at 6:35 p.m. after dropping their season opener in Elmira, 11-9.
In that game:
Josh Leadem went 2-4, scoring two runs, with three RBIs, and collecting three stolen bases.
Rashad Robinson went 2-3, scoring two runs, with a walk, and three stolen bases.
Henry Daniels went 2-4 with a double, two RBIs, and a Walk.
Starting pitcher Preston Prince took the loss, going 2.2 innings, allowing six hits and seven runs, while striking out four.
CORRECTION: A Reader informs me I've gotten Jadyn's accomplishment all wrong. She was competing in the Pentathlon, which is five events, with competitors scoring points in each event and the winner being the athlete with the most points. Mullen was far and away the winner of the event.
In addition to the three first-place finishes noted earlier in our post (below), she finished second in the Girls High Jump and second in Shot Put, for a total of 3,334 points. Anna Varland of Batavia came in second with 2,389 points.
We apologize to Mullen for the error.
It was a big day for Alexander's Jadyn Mullen at the state qualifiers in track and field held at Van Detta Stadium on Friday.
Mullen's wins:
Girls 800 Meter Run, 2:19.57
Girls 100 Meter Hurdles, 15.25
Girls Long Jump, 5.52m
Girls Outdoor Pentathlon, 3334
Other individual winners on the day:
Nathan Canale, Batavia, Boys 1600 Meter Run 4:26.73
Campbell Riley, Batavia, Girls 2000 Meter Steeplechase, 7:30.33
Batavia, Girls 4x100 Meter Relay, 49.77
Batavia, Girls 4x800 Meter Relay, 9:50.96
Laurel Kania, Alexander, Girls High Jump, 5-03.00
Connor Domoy, Oakfield-Alabama, Boys 3000 Meter Steeplechase, 9:47.45
Genesee County is committed to ensuring a sustainable and reliable water supply for its residents. As part of our ongoing efforts to improve our water infrastructure and maintain water security, we are announcing the implementation of voluntary water restrictions.
The Genesee County Water Project is a vital initiative aimed at enhancing the efficiency and resilience of our water system. This project involves the upgrade and maintenance of critical infrastructure components, such as water treatment plants, distribution networks, and storage facilities. These improvements will help us meet the increasing demand for water, address aging infrastructure challenges, and ensure the long-term availability of clean and safe water for our community.
We kindly request the cooperation of all residents, businesses, and institutions within Genesee County to participate in voluntary water restrictions to reduce water consumption without causing undue inconvenience. By conserving water collectively, we can make a significant difference while minimizing the impact on daily life.
Key details regarding the voluntary water restrictions are as follows:
Outdoor Watering Restrictions: Residents are requested to limit outdoor watering of lawns, gardens, and landscapes. It is essential to refrain from watering during the hottest parts of the day to maximize water absorption.
Vehicle Washing: Minimize vehicle washing for essential purposes only. Consider using commercial car wash facilities that recycle water, reducing overall consumption.
Non-Essential Water Use: Limit non-essential water usage, such as filling swimming pools, decorative fountains, and other recreational water features.
Water Conservation Practices: We encourage all residents to adopt water-saving habits, including fixing leaks promptly, installing efficient fixtures, and utilizing water-efficient appliances.
Community Awareness: Regular updates and reminders will be shared through local media, community platforms, and our official website to keep everyone informed.
It is important to note that these water restrictions are voluntary at this stage. Mandatory water restrictions may be implemented if public health and safety are put at risk. By following these suggestions, each individual contribution will add up significantly.
Four-year-old Levi Maerten enjoys an apple at Friday's opening of the Genesee Country Farmers Market in Batavia. The Famers Market is located next to the former J.C. Penney building on Alva Place. The market runs each week on Tuesday, Thursday and Friday from 9 a.m. to 4 p.m. Photos by Howard Owens.
A car that is part of the Joe Gibbs Race Team visited Cedar Street Sales and Rental today. Race team sponsors include DeWalt and Cub Cadet, brands carried by Cedar Street.
The team has won five Cup Series titles since 2000 and is based in Huntersville, N.C.
Pictured are Cedar Street's Guy Clark, center, Ethan Carter, from Club Cadet, and Morris Abernathy, representing Joe Gibbs Racing.
The car will be at Cedar Street on Saturday from 10 a.m to 3 p.m.
City of Batavia, NY Position: Full-time Building Maintenance Worker. Salary: $20.60 - $24.45/hour. The City of Batavia is accepting applications for one full-time Building Maintenance Worker. The work involves a variety of mechanical and other building maintenance tasks. Applicant must have a minimum of two years of full-time paid experience in general building construction or maintenance work, or an equivalent combination of training and experience indicating ability to perform the duties of the job. Civil Service applications may be obtained at City Hall in the Human Resource Department. Please send completed applications to Teri Dean, Employee Payroll/Insurance Clerk, One Batavia City Centre, Batavia, NY, or via email to tdean@batavianewyork.com by September 20, 2024. Background check, psychological assessment, and physical/drug testing required. Candidate must become a resident of the County of Genesee or any adjacent town to the County of Genesee within 6 months of the date of conclusion of the probationary period for the City of Batavia. EEO