Press Release:

The Elba Onion Queen Crowning ceremony will begin at 6 p.m. Thursday, July 18 at the Elba Veteran’s Park. This will take place during the Elba Betterment Committee’s Concert in the Park. The band, It’s My Party will begin at 6:30 p.m. 

The six Onion Queen contestants this year include: 

Jillian Brewer

Hello, my name is Jillian, and I am the daughter of Richard and Joy Brewer. I am 17 years old and will be a senior this year at Elba Central School. My family has been in Elba for many generations. I live on the family's dairy farm, Post Dairy Farm, LLC here in Elba. I participate in many activities in and out of school, including 4-H, FFA, New York Jr. Holstein Association, Cornell Junior Dairy leaders, National Honor Society, volleyball, indoor and outdoor track, and Yearbook Club. After high school my future plans are attending an agriculture school and focusing on agriculture science with a concentration in horticulture. I am very excited to run for Onion Queen because it is a long-standing tradition in Elba. It is a great opportunity that allows me to get deeper into the community and really listen and advocate for them. I really hope to gain more knowledge and experience with people in our community. 

Aerianna Cintorino 

Aerianna lives with parents Michael and Suzanne Cintorino and her two brothers, Jaxon and Evan. She is involved in Volleyball and Gold. She has also participated in Drama Club, Envirothon, Page Turners, Masterminds, Scholastic Bowl and is in the Senior National Honor Society.

 

Sadee Dillon

Sadee will be a Senior at Elba Central School. Her parents are Heather and Michael Dillon. She is active in the school’s music and arts programs, mainly Drama Club and high-school band. She also plays varsity volleyball and is a thrower on the OAE track and field team in the spring. Sadee is President of her class, Drama Club, and Pride and Allies. She also holds the title of Section Leader in her high school band. Sadee wants to be Onion Queen because Elba is her home and where she has all of her best memories and best people. She wants to go the extra step to show the town how much she cares and how much she is willing to do for their community. 

Alexa Ocampo 

Hi! My name is Alexa, I am 16 years old and the daughter of Alejandro and Esmeralda Ocampo. I participate in two sports, volleyball and tennis. I am a member of the Multicultural Club as well as the National Honor Society. I enjoy traveling with my family, playing volleyball with my friends and shopping. 

Sydney Reilly 

My name is Sydney, and I am the oldest of two and the daughter of Todd and Deb Reilly. I am involved in volley and basketball. I am in the National Honor Society, Student Athletic Association and Principal Cabinet. I have been a class office since freshman year and will be their Vice President for Senior year. I have been involved with 4-H Beef Club for nine years. I enjoy going on walks and hanging with my friends and family. 

Abigail Jay Russell 

Abigail is the daughter of Jennifer Cardinali (Stepdad, Tim Hoffarth) and Brian Russell. Brother; Michael Pfendler (Aprile) and nephew Jason. In the past at school Abby has participated in Page Turners, Drama Club, High School Chorus and Band, and Basketball (7). She currently participates in Student Council, SAA, Volleyball (5), Softball (8), and Basketball Cheerleading (1). Abby’s hobbies include camping with family, attending tractor pulls, taking vacations, spending time with family and friends and volunteering with the Elba Joint Fire District. She is still trying to decide her plans after graduation but is leaning towards something with EMS and/or dog grooming.

Press Release:

The Genesee County Chamber of Commerce is pleased to announce that Genesee County’s GeneSEEtheEclipse program has been selected to receive a Tourism Excellence award from the New York State Tourism Industry Association (NYSTIA). The awards ceremony will take place on September 12 in Saratoga Springs.

The New York State Tourism Excellence Awards recognize the very best in destination marketing, management, and stewardship and is open to all New York State tourism marketers and are juried by an impartial panel of industry experts under the auspices of the New York State Tourism Industry Association.

“For more than a year, the Chamber staff worked collectively to ensure our community was prepared to experience a once-in-a-lifetime event. Only through incredible collaboration with numerous organizations and stakeholders, were we able to produce a campaign that demonstrated our unique position in the path of totality of the solar eclipse. Genny toured throughout our County for a year, was featured in her own Children’s book, and posed for numerous family photos. We are proud of the legacy that she leaves behind. We are thrilled to be honored by NYSTIA, as the dedicated and committed staff here truly put their passion into promoting the event. We are hopeful that she may just be around for the next one, in 2144!” said Chamber President, Brian Cousins. 

The GeneSEEtheEclipse project was developed to commemorate Genesee County’s unique position along the “path of totality” of the April 8 Great North American Total Solar Eclipse. The goals of the project were to attract visitors to view the eclipse from our destination, to create eclipse celebrations throughout the county and to inform and engage our community members of the upcoming spectacle. 

“Although we are still awaiting figures for overall visitor impact, our Q2 lodging data reflects that short term rentals in April saw a +210% in revenue over 2023 and April hotel lodging was 25% above the previous year. The Chamber plans to provide a full report later this fall once 2nd quarter tourism data becomes available, said Kelly Rapone, Tourism Marketing Director.

Press Release:

U.S. Senate Majority Leader Charles E. Schumer, U.S. Senator Kirsten Gillibrand and U.S. Congressman Joseph Morelle today announced Rochester Genesee Regional Transportation Authority (RGRTA) was awarded a highly competitive $18,113,192 grant from the U.S Department of Transportation’s (USDOT) Buses & Bus Facilities Grant Program to upgrade its hydrogen fuel cell electric bus facility and purchase three hydrogen fuel cell electric buses, which will reduce air pollution from dirty diesel busses.

“Thanks to the Bipartisan Infrastructure & Jobs Law, the Rochester-Finger Lakes region is on the road to a cleaner air and more efficient and modern transit future. Rochester resident can breathe a little easier because this massive federal boost will not only help add three new clean hydrogen electric buses to the RGRTA fleet and upgrade its state-of-the-art operational hub, but also accelerate RGRTA to achieve a fully zero-emission bus fleet by 2040,” said Senator Schumer. “The Rochester-Finger Lakes is already a global leader when it comes to clean Hydrogen thanks to Plug Power, and thanks to federal investments like this Rochester is leading the way to show how this technology can build a better and cleaner future for our communities. This funding will keep the wheels of our local economy rolling and put Rochester residents on the road to a smoother and cleaner commute.”

“This $18.1 million in federal funding is a major boost for RGRTA and its goal to have a fully zero-emissions bus fleet by 2040. This federal investment will help bring critical upgrades to RGRTA’s electric bus facility and will add three new hydrogen fuel cell electric buses to its fleet, ensuring riders can have a cleaner commute,” said Senator Gillibrand. “This grant will boost the Rochester-Finger Lakes region’s public transportation and help Rochester remain a global leader in clean hydrogen technology.”

“Affordable, accessible, and climate-conscious transportation options are critical to supporting individuals and families and moving us closer to our green energy future,” said Congressman Joe Morelle. “This new $18.1 million in federal funding for RGRTA will ensure Rochester continues to lead our country in clean energy technologies. Congratulations to RGRTA on this exciting award, and I look forward to continuing my work alongside my colleagues in the Senate and in the New York delegation to strengthen the future of our region.”

“On behalf of the RGRTA team and our customers, I thank Majority Leader Schumer, Senator Gillibrand, and Congressman Morelle for securing this critical grant funding to help us continue our transition to a zero-emission bus fleet,” said RGRTA CEO Miguel Velázquez. “The best way to achieve a successful transition is to ensure we have adequate funding to upgrade existing facilities, address new infrastructure needs, and purchase zero-emission vehicles. Thanks to the leadership of our Congressional delegation, this grant funding will help us take an important step forward.”

RGRTA will use the funding to upgrade their existing facilities to allow for the storage and maintenance of hydrogen fuel cell battery electric buses as well as the replacement of three diesel buses with zero-emission hydrogen fuel cell electric buses.  The new hydrogen fuel cell buses will provide zero-emissions and with refueling time and driving distance range performance on par with diesel buses. The fueling time for hydrogen fuel cell buses is 6-12 minutes and even in the cold winter months, a fully fueled hydrogen fuel cell bus can travel 250-300 miles.

Schumer, Gillibrand, and Morelle have a long history of delivering the fed support needed to increase federal support to boost public transit in the Rochester-Finger Lakes. In 2022, the lawmakers delivered a whopping over $23 million for RGRTA to establish a new facility for their paratransit service RTS Access and launch a first of its kind Clean Hydrogen Fuel Cell pilot program which will be boosted further by the funding announced today. The reps also secured over $36.3 million for RGRTA through the CARES Act, over $23 million for transit in the Rochester region through the FY21 COVID Omnibus (Coronavirus Response and Relief Supplemental Appropriations Act, 2021), and an additional $45 million through the American Rescue Plan. Finally, in the bipartisan Infrastructure Investment & Jobs Act the senator was able to deliver an estimated $94.7 million for RGRTA over the next 5 years.

A copy of Schumer’s original letter to Secretary Buttigieg in support of the grant can be found below:

I am pleased to write in support of the grant application submitted by the Rochester Genesee Regional Transportation Authority (RGRTA) to the Department of Transportation’s Federal Transit Administration’s Buses and Bus Facilities Grant program and the Low or No Emission Grant program.

With funding, RGRTA will make critical hydrogen related code compliance upgrades to RGRTA’s facilities and purchase three hydrogen fuel cell buses. RGRTA is working towards the goal of having a fully zero-emission bus fleet by 2040. That goal will only be achieved if RGRTA receives the funding to purchase the vehicles and ensure the necessary infrastructure is in place to facilitate the proper fueling, maintenance, and storage of the zero-emission vehicles. This work includes making the required upgrades to existing RGRTA facilities.

I applaud the Rochester Genesee Regional Transportation Authority for its foresight in submitting this grant application and sincerely hope it is met with your approval. Thank you for your consideration.

Press Release:

The Genesee County Economic Development Center (GCEDC) board of directors will consider an initial resolution for Graham Corporation’s proposed new commercial production facility at its board meeting on Thursday, July 11.

Graham Corporation is a global leader in the design and manufacture of mission critical fluid, power, heat transfer and vacuum technologies for the defense, space, energy, and process industries. The project would add to the company’s existing location in the city of Batavia where the company has been headquartered since 1942.

The $17.6 million proposed investment includes the construction of a 28,867 sq. ft. expansion intended to reduce design and manufacturing costs and improve shipping capabilities. The project would create 24 new full-time equivalent (FTE) positions while retaining 367 current FTEs.

The initial resolution requests sales tax exemptions estimated at $383,546 and a property tax abatement estimated at $298,427 based on an incremental increase in assessed value totaling the proposed financial agreements to approximately $681,973. 

For every $1 of public benefit, Graham is investing $42 into the local economy resulting in a local economic impact of $19.5 million in wages and tax revenue. 

If the project application is accepted, a public hearing will be scheduled on the proposed project agreement in the city of Batavia. 

The July 11 GCEDC board meeting will be held at 4 p.m. at the MedTech Center’s Innovation Zone, 99 MedTech Drive, Batavia. Meeting materials and links to a live stream/on-demand recording of the meeting is available at www.gcedc.com.

Press Release:

Do you wish to support not-for-profit events? Do you like vendor craft shows and activities? Then why not take a short drive out to the country where you will find a gem of a gift shop nestled a short distance back off the road named Norton's Chizzelwood. 

On July 20 from 10 - 3 p.m., we will be hosting our inaugural outdoor Vendor/Craft Show with activities and fun for all!

Norton’s Chizzelwood, a popular craft store and gift shop, offers custom woodworking, woodcrafts, small cabinetry, outdoor poly furniture, Amish products, and hand-made items by us and local handcrafters.

Our Inaugural Coneflower Festival will have many vendors and crafters set up offering products such as jewelry, honey, woodcrafts, glassware, hand-sewn items, blacksmith wares with a full demonstration taking place during the event, Tupperware, and many other products. The Kidzone will include activities and games with a make-and-take craft for the little ones. Live alpacas will be on the premises, too!

This is a non-profit event with all vendor proceeds being donated to Crossroads House of Batavia. The Bethany Fire Department will be selling lunch that day with hotdogs, hamburgers, chips and soda and the Alexander Fire Department will be selling tickets for the Basket Raffle. 

All proceeds from these sales will be going directly to each fire department. Table registration fees are being donated to Crossroads House of Batavia. The Alzheimer’s Association will be on hand offering information.

So why not stop by on Saturday, July 20 from 10-3 pm at Norton’s Chizzelwood, 4309 Gilhooly Road, Alexander to support these agencies and thank them for their volunteerism, shop the gift store and visit the vendors on the grounds to purchase their goods.

Vendor applications are still being accepted; reserve your space now! To register, please contact Sue Bowman at 585-615-2726 or stop in at Norton’s Chizzelwood to fill out an application. Store hours are Tuesdays and Sundays by appointment, Wednesdays, Thursdays, and Fridays from 10 - 5 and Saturdays 10 - 2 p.m.

Press release from the National Weather Service for Wednesday:

Heavy rain from the tropical remnants of Beryl will soak the region today and tonight with rainfall amounts ranging from a half inch across the western Southern Tier and up to two inches across the lake plains from Buffalo to Rochester...to potentially more than three inches over the Eastern Lake Ontario region. This could lead to local flooding problems...particularly in urban areas and areas with elevated terrain.

Possibly a greater risk will come from strong thunderstorms that will develop this afternoon. While there will be tropical downpours and localized wind gusts to 40 mph...there will be an unusually elevated risk for tornadoes. The greatest risk for tornadic activity will be across the Finger Lakes region and parts of the western Southern Tier.

17 Hart Street, Batavia-City.  GREAT HOME. FANTASTIC LOCATION. BETTER PRICE!! SELDOM FOUND-FRONTAGE ON TWO STREETS! AWESOME LARGE YARD!! MINUTES WALK TO HOSPITAL, SCHOOL & BASEBALL STADIUM! This home is ready for someone new to move in and make their own. It offers super spacious downstairs with huge bright living room with gas fireplace, formal dining area, large kitchen and first floor den/bedroom, if you would need; currently used as rec/play room- with full bath attached and new sliding glass doors leading to back deck and awesome back yard! Upstairs has three more bedrooms and half bath. Upstairs bedrooms do have hardwoods, as well as primary bedroom has door leading to balcony porch for hot summer nites and firework watching!! Many updates to including year old furnace and central air, literally many new (days old) windows and sliding glass door! Back yard is best kept secret as it is extra deep(240') - going clear back to Douglas Street, with full frontage to !! Basement is extra large with some partially finished areas, for extra play/work areas! No delays here, come check it out and be home by Labor Day!! Call Reliant Real Estate today, call 585-344-HOME (4663).

Press Release:

The Elba Betterment Committee is pleased to announce the first of our 5 summer concerts in The Elba Village Park. 

On July 11, come on down and listen to Trolls 2.0. Calvin Nichols, of the original Trolls is back with 2 of his sons and a family friend to bring a variety of classic rock, alternative and pop with a little metal sprinkled in. There will be something for everyone!

Islands Hawaiian Grill, The Original Red Osier Restaurant, Ice Cream and Chill, and Circle B Winery will be providing food and beverages starting at 5:30. The music starts at 6:30, so come and pick out a good spot on the lawn to enjoy it all. 

The 50/50 raffle will benefit the Open Hearts Club Food Pantry at ECS. Please bring a non-perishable food or hygiene item to
support this cause.

All concerts are made possible with funds from the Statewide Community Regrant Program, a regrant program of the NYS Council on the Arts with the support of the Office of the Governor and the NYS Legislature and administered by GO Art.

You know you wanna be there!

Rick Mancuso is offering a reward for the arrest of a suspect and the recovery of a stolen utility cart from outside T.F. Brown's in Batavia.

The person in the surveillance pictures is a suspect. 

Mancuso will pay the person who provides information leading to arrest and recovery either $75 cash or a $100 T.F. Brown's gift card.

To provide information in the case, call Batavia PD at (585) 345-6350.

It was hard enough for established businesses to remain open through the pandemic after COVID hit in 2020, so Market Manager Katy Hobbs is especially happy to be celebrating the continued success of Corfu Farmers Market, which dared to get going during that tumultuous time.

"It’s our fifth year this year, we started it in the pandemic in 2020,” Hobbs said during Monday’s opening night at the Corfu United Presbyterian Church, 63 Alleghany Road, Corfu. “It was a big feat because we had all the restrictions and everything, and it’s grown ever since.”

New this year, with the financial support of a regrant program of the New York State Council on the Arts, is the 2024 Corfu Farmers Market Music Series, which features musicians Tim Wright on July 15, Southpaw Sal Aug. 12 and Sara Elizabeth on Aug. 19. 

“And so it's free for anybody to come and listen to and it's our way to bring the arts to our village,” Hobbs said. 

This year's market features new treats, including freeze-dried candies, Sugar Greens Farm maple products, and micro greens. It also features child-friendly activities such as a scavenger hunt, rock painting and carnival games. 

“We are still finalizing our community nights,” she said. “We have a lot of events that we normally kind of wrap up throughout the season.”

Corfu’s market is unlike any other since it’s on a Monday, which is what organizers were shooting for. They didn’t want to compete with others in the area, Hobbs said.

Monday's launch featured everything from honey, fresh yellow squash, zucchini and cucumbers to iced cut-out cookies, crunchy taco salad, microgreens and live musical entertainment from Buffalo artist Davey O.

“And it's really come to be a way for our community to come and gather, and everybody helps donate or support things in order to put it on,” Hobbs said. “And so we have our food trucks here. If it's a fair week, then our church does a hotdog and hamburger sale. So we always have a place for people to scoop up dinner as they do their daily shopping. 

"We do trivia on the last Monday of every month, and so we welcome all different families," she said. "We do two rounds of it. And we give away local prizes to our local businesses.”

The first trivia night is July 29. The market will be open every Monday from 4 to 7 p.m. until Sept. 23.

For more information about the market, go to www.corfuny.gov. 

Press Release:

Photos from Genesee County Spartans' 3-on-3 basketball tournament fundraiser on Saturday (July 6) at Ri-Dan’s Sports Park on West Main Street Road, Batavia. Twelve teams competed - six in the Youth Division and six in the Adult Division.

Press Release:

Robin Laney Ettinger, member of the Anna Ingalsbe Lovell Chapter, NSDAR, received First Place in the DAR New York State Fiber Arts competition: crochet category for the second time.

The 2024 theme was "Stars and Stripes Forever in Our Hearts through the Arts''. She crocheted a red, white, and blue shawl using a "sparkle" yarn in the style of "Crochet Filet," which throughout the rows of the shawl, heart motifs are crocheted using the stitch. The shawl represents Ettinger’s respect for the U.S. flag.

Robin’s crochet shawl was selected to represent the 121 chapters in New York State for the National Society (NSDAR) Heritage Committee Contest. Although she did not place in the national contest, she is pleased with the ultimate winning creations.

Robin learned how to crochet from her mother, a skill handed down to her from her grandmother. She is a member of the Prayer Shawl mission group at Northgate FMC which crochets shawls, face clothes, and scarves for local and world communities.

For more information on the NSDAR or if you are interested in joining, please visit DAR. org

Click here to see the listing of events!

Press Release:

The City of Batavia is a recipient of $1,153,534 to install sidewalk connecting the Jackson Street Elementary School with Batavia Middle School.  The award comes from Governor Kathy Hochul as part of a $97.7M Federal Highway Administration’s Transportation Alternatives Program (TAP), being administered by the New York State Department of Transportation.

TAP grants promote alternative, environmentally friendly modes of travel, such as walking, biking or riding mass transit. The funding supports initiatives that improve access to the transportation system for all users and advance New York State’s nation-leading agenda to fight climate change by constructing new sidewalks, shared use paths and other enhancements that facilitate the use of non-motorized modes of travel and reduce greenhouse gas emissions.

"The City of Batavia continues to plan and pursue funding for sidewalk projects that promote walkability and healthy living across the City. The $1.1M will help to make needed improvements to the sidewalks on Swan, Ross and South Jackson Street.  Keeping sidewalks maintained, especially those on school routes, is beneficial to all our residents" said Eugene Jankowski Jr, City Council President.

The City of Batavia will install over 10,000 linear feet of sidewalks on South Swan, Swan, South Jackson and Ross Streets to connect Jackson Elementary School with Batavia Middle School.

The TAP grant program provides up to $5 million in grant funding for communities to implement alternative transportation projects, funding 80% of the total project cost.  The 20% local match is typically covered by CHIPS funding received from New York State to support continual street maintenance.

Currently the project estimates are being refined but the total project cost is estimated to be $1.4 million, making the City’s local match approximately $240,000.  The City can use CHIP’s funding in addition to other City funding as part of the City’s local match.  

“The corridor slated for improvement encompasses South Swan Street, Swan Street, South Jackson Street, and Ross Street. These upgrades aim to improve safety and mobility for school children, neighborhood residents, including many seniors, and businesses along the route. The proposed project will not only enhance handicapped accessibility but also increase walkability throughout the entire corridor. Additionally, it will establish a connection to previously TAP-funded sidewalk improvement projects along Washington Avenue, near Batavia Middle School,” said Batavia City Manager Rachael Tabelski. “We would like to thank Governor Hochul and our local state representatives for making this award possible.”

Press release:

Richmond Memorial Library will close at 1 pm on Monday, July 7 due to problems with the air conditioning system. 

Please check our website at batavialibrary.org for up to date information. 

Press release:

The City of Batavia Fire Department will be flushing fire hydrants on Monday & Tuesday, July 8 & 9, 2024 from approximately 9:00 a.m. to 3:00 p.m. in the general area of North of E. Main St. and East of Bank St. Homes and businesses nearby will be affected.  These tests may result in a temporary discoloration of water in that area.  As in the past, please do not attempt to wash any clothing if your water appears discolored.  If you do experience a discoloration of your water, run cold water for about 5 minutes or until clear.

This annual testing is essential to maintain the community class III Insurance Services Office (ISO) public protection classification and to assure that fire hydrants are operating efficiently for fire protection purposes. Along with maintaining the fire rating, the test monitors the health of the city's water system, identifies weak areas in the system, and removes material that settles in the water lines. Checking each hydrant improves fire department personnel's knowledge of the hydrant locations. 

If you have any questions or should notice a hydrant needing repair, please contact the fire department at 585-345-6375.

As organizers head into the 34th annual Oatka Festival, this year will bring a heartening measure meant to honor a former longtime parade chairman and add another layer of tradition for festivals to come.

There will be a new banner in memory of Robert “Sully” Sullivan, carried by his family members, as part of the walk from the American Legion to the front of the old high school and Trigon Park. The parade is set to begin at 11 a.m. Saturday in Le Roy.

“Sully made the parade a big deal because it starts off the festival, he really worked hard for people to come together and enjoy it,” Parade Chairman Scott Ripley said to The Batavian about the late Robert Sullivan. “He didn’t take any feedback, it was do it the Sully way … not telling anybody what to do until the day of the parade. When Sully said something, it was done and that’s the way it went.”

While that might sound like a stubborn leader, his system actually worked well, Ripley said, because telling groups where they were stationed ahead of time allowed them time to argue or debate, vying for different spots in the lineup.

Sullivan commanded a type of respect that participants honored throughout his two decades or so of being at the helm of the festival parade.

Sully was also a straight shooter; maybe that came from his days of coaching football. The banner was colored with black and red, “very basic,” event Chair Kate Flint said, as “he wasn’t very frilly, but he was very unique and genuine.”

“He was chairman from the very beginning until 2021,” Flint said. “He always wanted to throw the best and biggest parade ever.”

He was also a tad old-fashioned, eschewing texts for talking to people by phone to communicate. It was all for the greater good, Ripley said.

See Also: Old favorites, new twists and lots of food and fun at 34th annual Oatka Festival

“He started with the parade around 1990; he wanted to help the festival be the best it could be,” Ripley said. “He was with the Mighty St. Joe’s marching band, and he could get more bands.”

Sullivan was a longtime director of both St. Joe’s Drum & Bugle Corps and Mighty St. Joe’s Alumni Corps and Drum Corps Associates Hall of Fame. His musical roots also traveled to Batavia, where he was a 1950 Batavia High School graduate and later a 2019 BHS Music Hall of Fame inductee.

Ripley caught Sully’s eye while serving as announcer for Le Roy’s Little League, and he was tapped to help out with the parade in 2018. He continued forward, taking on the chairman position a few years ago.

Sullivan died in May 2022, and Ripley has taken a page or two out of his success manual, adding on to this year’s parade with the Buffalo Bills official drumline DownBeat Percussion, lining up eight Genesee County bands and eight floats from Le Roy class reunions, from 1964 to 2004. 

Even unlikely participants have joined, such as car and gutter cleaning businesses, a roof siding establishment, Five Star Bank, and Geneseo Air Museum will have a replica airplane float.

Old favorites are returning, including the Shriners and their tiny cars, he said.

“I’m trying to make it so Sully would be proud,” Ripley said.