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HLOM announces October events, including trivia night, speaker Thomas Reigstad, and more

By Press Release

Press Release:

The Holland Land Office Museum is proud to announce the next edition of its Guest Speaker Series on Wednesday, October 9 at 7 p.m. Thomas Reigstad will be presenting his new book, "The Illustrated Mark Twain and the Buffalo Express," which was just published in February. 

The book collects ten entertaining feature stories published by Mark Twain in the Buffalo Express of 1869 and 1870, accompanied by illustrations drawn by six artists over nearly 115 years alongside my commentary. There are drawings by Twain himself, by his contemporaries John Harrison Mills and True Williams, by Calvin and Hobbes cartoonist Bill Watterson, and by Pulitzer Prize-winning editorial cartoonists Tom Toles and Adam Zyglis. Admission is $5 or $3 for museum members. Please contact the museum at 585-343-4727 or hollandlandoffice@gmail.com if you would like to attend. 

"This project is made possible with funds from the statewide Community Regrant Program, a regrant program of the New York State Council on the Arts with the support of the office of the Governor and the New York State Legislature and administered by GO ART!"

Join the Holland Land Office Museum for the next edition of our Trivia Night @ the Museum on Thursday, October 10 at 7 p.m. This month's trivia will be at GO Art! located at 201 E. Main St. Batavia. You can enjoy a drink there at Tavern 2.o.1. Looking back at Black Tuesday in 1929, our topic will be the Roaring Twenties. Admission is $5 or $3 for museum members. Please contact the museum at 585-343-4727 or hollandlandoffice@gmail.com if you would like to attend.

The Holland Land Office Museum is proud to announce the next edition of its Guest Speaker Series on Tuesday, October 29 at 7 p.m. Museum Director Ryan Duffy will be sharing the details of the most momentous day in the history of the Holland Land Office Museum, "Land Office Day: October 13, 1894." 

On that day, thousands flocked to Batavia, including members of the Presidential Cabinet, to witness the dedication of the Holland Land Office as a museum under the ownership of the Holland Purchase Historical Society. Our history has now stretched 130 years this year and still going strong. Admission is $5 or $3 for museum members. Please contact the museum at 585-343-4727 or hollandlandoffice@gmail.com if you would like to attend.

"This project is made possible with funds from the statewide Community Regrant Program, a regrant program of the New York State Council on the Arts with the support of the office of the Governor and the New York State Legislature and administered by GO ART!"

On October 19, at the Holland Land Office Museum at 11 a.m. our Curator Tyler Angora will present on Victorian Mourning practices. Learn how, during the 19th century, death and mourning practices became huge traditions and practiced by many! Admission is $5 for non-members and $3 for members, contact the museum if you are interested in attending!

The Holland Land Office is proud to announce the next edition of our Java with Joe E. series on Thursday, October 24 at 9 a.m. This month we welcome James Morasco and Bart Dentino as they perform, "Vincenzo's Dream: The True Story of One Family’s Journey From Italy to America Through the Generations." Admission is free with coffee and cookies. Please contact the museum at 585-343-4727 or hollandlandoffice@gmail.com if you plan to attend.

“By the time of Vincenzo’s death in 1983 he had seen and experienced, among other things, the use of the automobile as it replaced the horse and buggy. Modern medicine. WWI, The Great Depression, WWII, and the Vietnam conflict. And although he did not believe it to be real, he watched TV as Neil Armstrong set foot on the moon." 

Using poetry, song, and storytelling Jim and Bart share an intimate and profound tale that to this day, continues to unfold. Listen as Vincenzo’s story is weaved, connecting the threads of time to produce the fabric for each generation that follows. Thank you to Pub Hub Coffee for their sponsorship of Java with Joe E. for 2024.

Street resurfacing this week in the city, expect delays

By Press Release

Press Release:

All motorists please be aware the following streets (listed in the following predicted order) will experience traffic delays on Wednesday, October 2 and Thursday, October 3, between the hours of 6 a.m. - 4 p.m. for resurfacing operations:

Wednesday, October 2

  • Williams Street
  • Osterhout Avenue
  • Evans Street
  • Jefferson Avenue

Thursday, October 3

  • Porter Avenue
  • Dellinger Avenue
  • Thomas Avenue
  • Douglas Avenue

While work is being performed in these areas, local traffic will be permitted to and from their residence/property but should plan accordingly for delays.

All residents/businesses within the work area are asked not to park on the roadway during the operation. All motorists that regularly use these streets are asked to seek alternate routes while the delays are in place.

This work is weather-dependent and will continue on the next business day if necessary.

Contact the Bureau of Maintenance at 585-345-6400 opt. 1 if you have any questions or concerns. Thank you for your cooperation.

Byron Brown announces retirement as Buffalo's mayor, to accept CEO position at Batavia Downs

By Howard B. Owens
mayor byron brown resign
Screenshot from Mayor Byron Brown's livestream.

In a press conference in Buffalo at 5 p.m., Mayor Byron Brown confirmed that he is stepping down as mayor in order to become the president and CEO of Western Regional Off-Track Betting.

The announcement comes less than a week after the OTB board unanimously approved a contract offer for Brown that will pay him an annual salary of $295,000.

Brown will replace Henry Wojtaszek, who has overseen record revenue growth and profits for the 17 municipalities that own the OTB in recent years. His final day with the OTB is Dec. 31. 

Brown said he will retire in the coming weeks without a specific date. His start date at Batavia Downs has not been announced.  Board President Dennis Bassett said on Thursday that he expects Brown to start before the end of the year so he can learn about his new role from Wojtaszek.

Bassett praised Brown as the most qualified candidate from a pool of applicants from throughout the United States and from overseas.

"We think that we have done a thorough job to get where we are today," Bassett said on Thursday. "The success we had and what we need for tomorrow to continue our success. And I cannot say it enough that we are extremely fortunate to get an individual like Mayor Byron Brown to lead this organization after the job Henry Wojtaszek has done. I think we've just been extremely fortunate. And we look to continue to grow. We look to continue to venture into things that we have not ventured into before."

The 65-year-old Brown became Buffalo's mayor in 2006. He served in the state Senate from 2001 to 2005. He was a member of the Buffalo Common Council from 1996 to 2001. He has a dual bachelor of arts degree in political science and journalism from Buffalo State College.  He worked in sales for a year at Bristol-Myers before starting a legislative staff career. 

Wojtaszek's most recent annual salary is $299,000.

One of the primary expectations for Brown as he steps into the new leadership role is to open doors in Albany so that Batavia Downs can grow its business. Bassett has expressed interest in sports betting, online betting, and table games, all potential revenue sources that the state has denied Batavia Downs so far.

"Brown expressed to us that he's taken over a position now that he's managing a corporate entity, and he's looking to make sure that we run this organization in a corporate way and not in a political way," Bassett said.

At Monday's press conference, Brown did not discuss any aspects of his new job or what he hopes to accomplish.  He expressed his pride in Buffalo, the job that leadership has done together, especially during recent tough events, and expressed optimism about the city's future.

Boys Soccer: Batavia defeats Greece Odyssey 6-1

By Press Release
batavia boys soccer

Press release:

The Batavia Boys Varsity Soccer team beat Greece Odyssey 6-1 on Friday evening at Van Detta Stadium. The decisive victory was highlighted with two goals by Troy Hawley (#5), both assisted by Devin Hughes (#20), one goal by Jaziah Ayala (#20), assisted by Hezekiah Doane (#22), one goal by Rylan Bohn (#24), assisted by Trevor Tryon (#8), one goal by Hezekiah Doane (#22), assisted by Aiden Reimer (#14), and finally, one goal by Trevor Tryon (#8), assisted by his brother, Trey Tryon (#16). Odyssey were limited to one goal thanks to the outstanding effort of Batavia's defensive line of Brandon Currier (#10), Will Fulton (#6), Jeremiah Childs (#15), Teddy Cswaykus (#18), and Brody Ditzel (#9), as well as goalkeepers Harry Mellander and Ben Morton. 

 
 


 

Friday Night Football: Aggies defeat Notre Dame/BB 33-7

By Howard B. Owens
oae vs notre dame

Oakfield-Alabama/Elba bounced back from last week's tough loss to defeat Notre Dame/Byron Bergen on Friday, 33-7.

The Aggies amassed 589 yards in total offense.

For OAE:

  • RB/LB Avery Watterson - 22 Carries, 181 Yards, 3 TDs, 10 Total Tackles,  2 TFLs
  • RB Jack Cianfrini -  318 All-Purpose Yards - 15 Carries, 236 Rushing Yards, 2 TDs, 3 Receptions 82 Yards, 1 2-pt Conversion Reception
  • TE/DE Aedyn Groth - 36-yard reception, 3 Tackles, 2 TFLs
  • QB Brayden Jachimowicz - 9/13 Passing, 110 Passing Yards

Notre Dame/BB:

  • WR Tristan Cephus - 36-Yard TD Reception from Senior QB Jeremiah Romero

"After last Friday's game, the message to our team this week has been about getting back to basics and re-setting our program standard," Coach Tyler Winters said. "We felt the boys had a phenomenal week of practice answering that challenge, so it was nice to see them come out tonight and finish a week of execution like we know they are capable of.  We will enjoy the win and look to grow from it as we prepare for the next challenge that our Class D schedule presents us with."

Also on Friday:

Batavia beat Arcadia 34-0. Bronx Bucholz was 11-14 passing for 159 yards and one TD. He rushed for 119 yards on 14 attempts and scored twice on the ground. Zailen Griffen gained 88 yards rushing on 10 carries. He scored two TDs. Nolan Ball scored at TD, gaining 20 yards on three attempts. Lakoda Mruczek had five tackles and two interceptions. Brock Bigsby had 7.5 tackles. 

Letchworth/Warsaw/Perry beat Le Roy/Cal-Mum 25-21. Jack Egeling gained 65 yards on 14 carries and had a kickoff return of 80 yards for a TD. Brady McClurg was 5-11 passing for 56 yards. Xavier Bown had seven tackles and an interception.

Story: Alexander sustains first loss of season to high-scoring Avon

Photos by Debra Reilly.

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oae vs notre dame
oae vs notre dame

Alexander sustains first loss of season to high-scoring Avon

By Howard B. Owens
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The Alexander Trojans faced a team that has proven a juggernaut so far in 2024 and Friday night's game at GCC proved to be another large-margin win for the Avon Braves.

The Braves beat the Trojans 41-14.

Alexander scored in the second quarter when Brody Hackman carried the ball in from one yard out. The PAT kick was blocked.

In the fourth quarter, Kingston Woods scored on a 14-yard run. The Trojans converted on a two-point run.

Ryder Reichert carried the ball 10 times for 82 yards. Woods finished with 54 yards rushing.

On defense, Dylan Pohl led the Trojans with 2.5 QB sacks, two tackles for loss and three tackles overall.  ree Safety Duke Snyder had eight tackles for the Trojans.  

The Trojans fall to 3-1, and Avon moves to 4-0 on the season

Photos by Philip Casper.

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alexander football
Peter Paul and Mary
alexander football
alexander football

Consultants suggest a county advisory board and additional housing for all types of needs as part of study

By Joanne Beck
STAMP slide
A slide that is part of the final housing needs assessment presentation, shows the number of jobs estimated to be needed due to STAMP by 2040.
Image from Urban Partners presentation

A county advisory board with plenty of collaboration and housing of all types for all income levels should be on the horizon for Genesee County if municipal leaders want to get ahead of what’s coming in the next 20 years, consultants from Urban Partners say. 

That seemed to be the thrust of the summary recommendations from a housing study by Christopher Lankenau and Isaac Kwon presented this week as part of a five-phase needs assessment that included public surveys, current and future business developments, housing stock, occupancy rates, demographics and trends. 

Speaking of trends, renter-occupied homes in Genesee County have increased over the past decade. However, while the demand for rentals has increased, availability has become “very, very low,” Lankenau said, with a total of 6,497 rentals in Genesee County and 3,456 in the city of Batavia. 

While the study found a need for housing to accommodate people in all categories—from low-income to market-rate levels—Lankenau said he would recommend an apartment complex in the city of Batavia for very low—to low-income renters, but with a caveat. The Batavian asked him about it, considering Ellicott Station just happens to be sitting half-baked and idle on the city’s south side.

“I know there's often criticism concentrating low-income housing in certain areas, but it often happens for a reason, too, because of just the availability of amenities. Yes, so I think yes would be an answer. Still, it would be about a fair distribution of low-income housing to ensure that people in Le Roy or other more concentrated parts of the county also have that opportunity, and they don't have to move to Batavia, for example,” he said. “I don't know if that directly answers your question, but I think yes, Batavia could afford some more … and would be a good location for additional low-income housing on a smaller scale, not some of the more recent stuff that has been built, over 20 to 40 units, the days of the really large tax credit projects, so I think those kinds of smaller projects that could integrate pretty nicely into existing communities.”

Despite declining population here, the future planned development and expansion of STAMP is anticipated to be “a huge game-changer,” he said. STAMP is to generate a significant housing need for workers while a growing senior population will require its own supply of new housing stock, he said.

“What is the county going to need to provide?” he said. “STAMP is anticipated to generate a significant need for workers while a growing senior population is going to be a significant need.” 

How much do you need? Estimates put the number to 5,028 workers by 2035 and upwards of more than 7,200 workers created by STAMP — the 1,250-acre Science, Technology & Advanced Manufacturing Park —d as of 2040. The projected related household change is an additional 5,710 due to the STAMP employment surge alone, the consultants said.

The study found that the anticipated growth of new residents in the county translates to a need for 308 new units per year for the next 16 years. That totals 6,164 new supply — owner-occupied and rental housing — to accommodate a senior base of folks 65 years and older, as well as the effects of the STAMP development in the western part of the county.

Recommendations include increasing the housing variety in the county to offer more attainable options for those populations that will be seeking a place to call home, facilitating the expansion of new housing development in the county’s priority development areas to both stimulate and prepare for growth associate with STAMP and other economic development; expand housing options for the growing senior population; and stabilize and rehabilitate the county’s aging housing stock.

A suggested way to implement this is to secure community support for a diversified housing stock by:

  • Creating a countywide housing working group.
  • Sharing the housing study broadly throughout the county.
  • Proving evidence-based information to elected officials, municipal leaders and planning/zoning boards.
  • Support municipalities in partnership with the pro-housing community program.
  • Continuing to encourage redevelopment and infill projects in the city and villages.
  • Continuing to encourage new residential development in priority development areas.

“So diversifying the housing choices. The first strategy, we think, is basically getting support for a more diversifying housing stock. You know, most people are used to single-family detached homes. That's what they see them most on larger lots. People think density is not necessarily a great thing, but I think that's we think that’s what the county really needs,” Kwon said. “More people are looking for that type of thing, market over less maintenance. For less maintenance, less size, closer to amenity. That's what we mean by diversified housing stock. 

“We're suggesting several action steps for that, including a housing working group consisting of developers and a landlord basically, kind of around a basis, like putting our heads together and discussing what's missing. What are some challenges? How do we overcome those challenges?” he said. “I think it's a good place to start. Just start talking about this using the study.” 

Another way to diversify housing choices is to accommodate all life stages, the consultatnts said, by reducing barriers for first-time home buyers. This could be done by developing or expanding programs/incentives to assist potential homebuyers and examine the feasibility of establishing employer-assisted housing programs.

The consultants also suggested to retain and create new income-restricted rental housing. 

Key action steps toward this goal include to:

  • Evaluate the feasibility of establishing a county housing trust fund and collaborate with private/nonprofit housing development organizations to preserve new income-restricted rental housing;
  •  Collaborate with the same agencies to build new income-restricted rental housing targets to low- and very low-income residents. Coordinate with social service providers and housing development organizations to build and/or retain homes for low-to-moderate-income residents with special needs; and
  • Work with regional partners to identify a fair and sensible distribution of income-restricted housing throughout the county.

Other steps they suggested are to create a countywide housing advisory board consisting of elected officials and/or representatives from each municipality to identify and address specific housing challenges, identify key housing initiatives and pursue housing opportunities, and coordinate with municipalities to identify grants for infrastructure improvements that will assist developers with financing new housing projects. 

They coined it a “housing czar” of sorts who would deal with approvals, landlords, and developers. Each municipality would also ensure that developments comply with the comprehensive plan, and these plans “fall in line with the zoning, emissions and goals of the town” to incorporate growth, Kwon said. 

“And they’re aware of it and complies with the plan, the zoning … where you offer them some concessions, whether it’s tax or density, that kind of thing, just exploring that stage before things get too crazy to decide,” he said. “And then, of course making sure the infrastructure can absorb this growth.”

Not that they want to discourage growth: “We need to build more houses,” he said. “It’s making sure that developers build more homes for the workforce that’s coming in, and that can be a variety of homes. The employees moving in who may want a large, higher-end home, but you’re probably going to have, for the most part, a pretty middle-class workforce that is going to afford to have it be built.”

They also want to incentivize developers and home builders to construct more market-rate for-sale housing, including smaller homes targeted to the workforce sector, and promote the development of mixed-use and multi-family apartments, townhomes, and condominiums in Priority Development Areas with existing infrastructure near transportation and services.

Because many seniors seem to want to stay in their own homes versus going to a nursing or assisted living home situation, action steps toward that end include initiating a senior home modification program that offers grants, low-interest loans, and/or volunteer labor to help mobility-challenged seniors live safely in their current homes, plus continued promotion of the county’s Handyman Program to assist low-income seniors with small household repairs, they said.

These action steps for seniors would help them to remain independent for longer time periods by making their current living situations safer with modifications such as ramps.

At the other end of the spectrum, they also recommended supporting general home renovations for older houses — including incentives for the demolition and replacement of distressed homes — and establishing a county land bank to address any problems of vacant, abandoned, derelict, contaminated or tax delinquent property and encourage the repair and rehab of vacant rental units and other vacant spaces to increase the supply of critically needed apartments for low-and moderate-income renters.

For the full slide presentation, go HERE.

low income renters slide
Image from Urban Partners presentation.

Join the fun at the 21st annual family game night October 4

By Press Release

Press Release:

The Genesee County Youth Bureau will be hosting its 21st annual Family Game Night! The event will take place on Friday, October 4 from 6 - 8 p.m. at Batavia City Centre, Batavia (Please use the entrance of City Hall). 

The night will consist of interactive booths with activities, games and prizes for families and youth serving organizations. This event is free and includes pizza and a beverage. Each family will take home one brand new board game after they visit the booths so they can start their own family game night!  

Just for attending you will be entered into a raffle to win one of several prizes from businesses all around Genesee County. Adults must be accompanied by a child to receive the board game. 

Please call the Youth Bureau for more information at 344-3960. The Genesee County Youth Bureau would also like to thank Alabama Hotel, Batavia Kiwanis, and Batavia’s Original Pizzeria for sponsoring the event & the Batavia City Centre for hosting the event.

Tobacco-Free GOW staff attends Batavia Downs employee health fair to help educate people

By Press Release
brittany-and-julie-bd-health-fair.jpg
Julie Calvert and Brittany Bozzer, team members of Tobacco-Free GOW, share information and resources on the impacts of tobacco use and how to get support with quitting. 
Submitted photo.

Press Release:

Batavia Downs held its annual Employee Health Fair yesterday. Staff from Tobacco-Free Genesee, Orleans and Wyoming counties (TF-GOW) answered questions and provided educational materials about the dangers of vaping and tobacco use.

“Attending employee health fairs like this is the best way for us to reach community members and help improve their heath,” said Julie Calvert, community engagement coordinator for Tobacco-Free GOW. “We can address concerns people have about smoking, about their kids vaping and help them get the information, resources and support they need.” 

The health fair gave the TF-GOW team the opportunity to connect with their Roswell Park Comprehensive Cancer Center colleagues from the Department of Indigenous Cancer Health. 

Indigenous communities face some of the greatest cancer health disparities, higher mortality rates and persistent challenges in health equity. Together, their goal is to reduce the impact of cancer.

The New York State Smokers' Quitline is a confidential service for all New York State residents who wish to overcome dependence on commercial tobacco products, including e-cigarettes.

Free offerings include individualized coaching and assistance with quit-planning from highly trained tobacco treatment specialists, text and online chat support and free shipping of stop-smoking medications such as nicotine patches, nicotine lozenges or nicotine gum for those 18 and older.

Residents of all ages may contact the Quitline for support and educational materials. In addition, the Quitline encourages teens and young adults (ages 13-24) to text “DROPTHEVAPE” to 88709 to join “This Is Quitting,” a free texting support program for help with quitting vaping.

For more information, text QUITNOW to 333888 or call 1-866-NY-QUITS (1-866-697-8487) seven days a week, beginning at 9 a.m.

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Members of Tobacco-Free GOW and the Department of Indigenous Cancer Health, both programs of Roswell Park Comprehensive Cancer Center, share information on cancer screening, as well as how to live a tobacco-free life.
Submitted photo.

Girls Soccer: Batavia picks up fifth win of season

By Staff Writer
batavia girls soccer

The Batavia Lady Devils beat Honeyeo Falls/Lima on Thursday, 3-0.

Ella Shamp and Ady O'Donnell each scored in the first half of play and Kylee Brennan scored in the second half. 

The win improves the Batavia record to 5-4 on the season. 

Photos by Kristin Smith.

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batavia girls soccer
batavia girls soccer
batavia girls soccer

Photos: Live music at GO ART with Parris and Holly and Alex Feig

By Howard B. Owens
Parris and Holley GO ART

Parris and Holly, a Batavia-based folk/pop duo, headlined the second of a four-night residency at GO ART! on Thursday, with featured artist Alex Feig opening.

The residency continues on Oct. 17 at 7 p.m. with Billy Lambert as the featured guest artist and on Oct. 24 with Chris Humel.

Photos by Howard Owens.

Parris and Holley GO ART
Parris and Holley GO ART
Parris and Holley GO ART
Parris and Holley GO ART

Office for the Aging Celebrates 50 years of service to older residents at Batavia Downs

By Howard B. Owens
office-for-aging-50th-party
Legislator John Deleo, Diana Fox (current director), Ruth Spink (former director), Jill Yasses, and Legislator Gregg Torrey.
Photo by Howard Owens.

Dining and dancing highlighted Thursday evening's celebration of the Genesee County Office for the Aging at Batavia Downs.

The agency was celebrating its 50th anniversary.

Founded on June 1, 1974, the agency's mission is to promote the independence of seniors and improve their quality of life by offering services and providing information, support, and advocacy for those 60 and older.

Currently, the office employs 33 people and receives support from numerous volunteers.

The primary funding for the agency is a federal program authorized by the Older Americans Act.

Photos by Howard Owens

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Le Roy officers save driver's life during medical emergency, giving family chance to be with him at end

By Press Release
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Submitted photo.

Press Release:

The LeRoy Police Department would like to commend Officer Smith and Matthew Nielson for their actions during a recent emergency call, which ultimately provided a critical window of time for a driver experiencing a medical emergency to spend precious final moments with his family.

On August 23 at approximately 10:40 a.m., Officer Terrez Smith and Matthew Nielson responded to a report of a car accident on State Route 19 near North Road in the Town of LeRoy. 

The scene revealed a vehicle that had gone off the road, and the driver, a 79-year-old male, was found unresponsive inside.

Quickly realizing that the situation was more than just an accident, Officer Smith and Nielson conducted a swift assessment and determined the driver was experiencing a severe medical event. 

Demonstrating exceptional training and composure, Officer Smith and Nielson administered first aid, performed CPR, and utilized their department-issued Automated External Defibrillator (AED) to stabilize the individual. These immediate actions successfully revived the driver, who regained a pulse and began to show signs of life.

The driver was then transported to Strong Memorial Hospital by LeRoy EMS for continued medical treatment. Sadly, despite the best efforts of the medical team and the immediate care provided by Officer Smith and Nielson, the driver passed away nearly a week later. Crucially, the life-saving measures taken at the scene afforded the driver the valuable opportunity to be with his family, who remained by his side during his final days.

The quick response exhibited by Officer Smith and Nielson exemplifies the highest standard of service and dedication. While the outcome is deeply saddening, we take comfort in knowing that his actions allowed the family to have a meaningful time together during these difficult days.

Our condolences go out to the driver's family and loved ones. Officer Smith and Nielson’s swift intervention underline the importance of the continuous training and preparedness of our first responders.

Georgia-Pacific is conducting annual water pump testing today

By Press Release

Press Release:

Georgia-Pacific, located at 4E-Treadeasy Avenue in Batavia, will be performing its annual water pump testing on Friday, September 27, at 11:30 a.m., as required by applicable fire protection codes. 

This test 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 it is clear."

Annual BID Wine Walk is set for October 5 with a 'masquerade'

By Press Release

Press Release:

The theme for this year’s annual downtown Wine Walk is "masquerade," and the Batavia Business Improvement Distric invites you to join us for an evening of fun and entertainment during the event from 4 to 8 p.m. Oct. 5 in Batavia.

Tonawanda Valley Federal Credit Union (TVFCU) will host registration from 3:45 to 5:45 p.m., and ticket holders can stroll, sip, and shop 23 participating downtown businesses during the four-hour walk.

Only 600 tickets are being sold and they are going fast, BID Director Shannon Maute says.

“Come downtown, taste great wine, meet new people, see old friends, and create memories while you shop small and support your local businesses,” she said. “You must be 21 years of age or older to attend, and please no children.”

Tickets are $35 and are available at Yngodess Shop, TVFCU, Adam Miller Toys & Bicycles and at Eventbrite. For more information, go to BID’s Facebook page for the link and details.

Genesee Society of Model Engineers to host the 105th 'Great Batavia Train Sale' October 13

By Press Release
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Submitted photo.

Press Release:

The Genesee Society of Model Engineers will host the 105th “Great Batavia Train Sale” on Sunday, October 13, 9:30 a.m. 3:30 p.m., at the Richard C. Call Arena, Genesee Community College, 1 College Road, Batavia. Admission is $6 for Adults, $3 for under 18 years, and Free for under 13 years.

The popular train show typically attracts 1,200 to 1,500 model railroad enthusiasts and railfans from across Western and Central NY, Northwestern Pennsylvania, and Southern Ontario. There are over 100 vendors occupying 250 tables offering merchandise ranging from antique railroad artifacts to the most modern digitally controlled model trains. This bi-annual show has steadily grown to become one of the premiere events of its kind in Western New York.

The train club hosts two shows each year, a Spring show, and a Fall show. A free Open House is held, typically, on the first Saturday of December at the Club’s facilities in Oakfield where club members maintain operating layouts in O Gauge (Lionel), HO & N scale.

The Genesee Society of Model Engineers is located at 50 Main Street (Rte. 63), Oakfield (above the M&T Bank), and is open Tuesdays from 7 - 9 p.m. Business meetings are held the last Tuesday of each month. Visit www.gsme.org. Like us on Facebook. Visitors welcomed. (Stair access only.)

'Stitches In Time' biennial quilt show to display over 150 quilts

By Press Release
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Tickets for the 2024 Raffle Quilt are available from guild members and will be available for purchase at the show. The quilt measures 77” x 73”. The winner is to be announced Saturday evening at the end of the show.
Submitted photo.

Press Release:

The Museum Quilt Guild of Batavia will present their biennial “Stitches In Time” quilt show on Friday, October 18, and Saturday, October 19, from 10 a.m. - 5 p.m. each day.

There will be more than 150 quilts displayed at the Alexander Fireman’s Recreation Hall at 10708 Alexander Rd (Rt 98) in Alexander. All of the quilts have been made by guild members.

In addition to our professionally judged quilt display, we will have vendors, demonstrations, a raffle quilt, silent auction, boutique, basket raffle, and a fabric pool. 

Admission is $6, children 10 and under are free. For more information, contact Elaine 585-880-0456, or visit our website @ www.Themuseumquiltguild.com.

Sponsored Post: Just Listed: 7 Chase Park, Batavia! Call Sunny Rathod today

By Sponsored Post
Sunny Rathod

7 Chase Park, Batavia. This well-maintained 3-bedroom, 1.5-bath home has been owned for over 44 years. It features a remodeled kitchen with HomeCrest cabinetry and a convenient first-floor laundry. Hardwood floors and natural woodwork flow throughout, creating a warm, inviting atmosphere. Recent updates include energy-efficient windows that enhance comfort. A designated office space offers flexibility for work or study. The property is ideally located near shopping, dining, and entertainment options. Call Sunny today!

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Town Court Clerk Below are two lists: one details the myriad responsibilities that fall within the purview of the court clerk; the other summarizes the knowledge and abilities that court clerks possess or acquire through training. These lists are provided so that a judge and municipality can intelligently discuss the benefits that a court clerk can provide. The items below can also form the basis for a list of job duties should a municipality need to fill a vacancy in a court clerk position. Primary Responsibilities A. Maintain confidentiality of records and information when required to do so B. Prepare court calendar C. Collect monies, reconcile daily receipts, deposit receipts, prepare reports for monthly disbursements, reconcile bank accounts, and prepare administrative reports D. Enter convictions on drivers' licenses and prepare conviction reports electronically transmitted to the Department of Motor Vehicles E. Enter criminal conviction on NCIC reports and electronically send same to Division of Criminal Justice Services F. Respond to inquiries-in person, by phone, by e-mail and by mail-and provide assistance to lawyers, litigants, media, and members of the public G. Prepare monthly reports that are electronically sent to the Office of the State Comptroller H. Prepare orders, summonses, warrants and other court forms i. Communicate with outside agencies in order to coordinate the Court's activities and provide services to litigants. Such agencies include: ii. Law enforcement agencies, such as local police departments, New York State Police, Sheriffs office, FBI and CIA, US Armed Forces, and the Office of the District Attorney; I. Other courts, including superior courts and other local town and village courts; and i. Miscellaneous county agencies, such as Community Service, Community Dispute Resolution Center, Pre-trial Release, Probation, Stop DWI program, Victim Impact Panel, and Youth Court. ii. State agencies that require periodic reporting, including the New York State Unified Court System, the Department of Motor Vehicles, the Office of the State Comptroller, the Division of Criminal Justice Services, and the Office of Court Record Retention. J. Examine court documents to ensure their accuracy and completeness K. Receive and file summonses, traffic tickets and other documents for court proceedings i. Assist the Justice at the bench during all Court proceedings Knowledge of: 1. The functions and organization of the Unified Court System ii. Basic legal terminology, codes and abbreviations iii. Court forms, practices and procedures, including those set forth in the Uniform Justice Court Act and the Uniform Civil Rules for the Justice Courts (22 NYCRR Part 214) 2. Ability to: i. Prepare judicial orders and decisions ii. Effectively communicate information orally and in writing iii. File and retrieve materials, extract data from various sources for entry onto court form iv. Research and interpret laws outlined in court documents and litigants' motions and other papers v. Perform mathematical tasks in order to compile court activity reports, total receipts, accept payments, and verify bills vi. Refer to appropriate documents, statutes, citations or other sources in order to respond to specific questions from attorneys, litigants and members of the general public vii. Interpret policies, statutes, rules and regulations and apply them in specific contexts viii. Establish work priorities ix. Constructively manage conflict with court users Qualifications: Highschool diploma recognized by the NYS Dept of Education or appropriate equivalent. Along with 4 years of college, specialization in criminal justice, law, business administration or related field. -OR- 2 years college with specialization in Business Administration or related field. Please email your resume to abrownell@townofbatavia.com no later than 12/16/2024. Pay is based on experience.
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