Press release:

Congressman Chris Jacobs (NY-27) joined the New York Republican Congressional Delegation in a letter to Governor Kathy Hochul calling for an immediate end to her Administration's statewide mask mandate in schools.

 

"In light of the announcements by the Governors of New Jersey, Connecticut, and Delaware, we write today to urge you to immediately rescind the onerous and unconstitutional mask mandate in New York State’s schools," the Members wrote. "We have heard from countless families throughout our districts expressing their concerns with the mandate, and how it has negatively impacted their child’s experience in the classroom. The time is now to put an end to this unlawful mandate and to allow our children to get back to being just that, children."

 

"After years of abiding by public health safety guidelines, children are itching to be able to return to some semblance of normalcy," the letter continues. "Knowing that the risk of transmission among children is extremely low, it is counter-intuitive to keep this ill-conceived mandate that does little to improve the wellness and safety of our state’s children. For these reasons, we urge you to end these punitive measures for once and for all."

Press release:

“The end of the mask mandate for businesses is a welcome development, but given what the data is telling us about the rapid decline in COVID-19 infections and what is being done in neighboring states that have otherwise maintained egregious and heavy-handed policies throughout the pandemic, it isn’t close to the announcement we would hope to hear. At this point it should be no question that the time for state-level mandates of any kind has come to an end and control of pandemic management should return to local governments and school districts.

“For rural communities like mine, mask mandates for healthy children in schools have done far more harm than good. Should educators and local administrators deem that such mandates aren’t needed, they should have the ability to make the best decision possible for the well-being of their students.”

Press release:

Assemblyman Steve Hawley (R,C,I-Batavia) today used National Pizza Day as an opportunity to show his appreciation for the work local police departments within his district have done to protect their communities by sending pizzas from local shops to numerous departments.

“Our officers put their lives on the line daily to protect us and our neighbors, and it must be said their work has only grown more challenging in the last several years,” said Hawley. “When I learned that National Pizza Day was coming up, I knew that it was a chance to give back, so it was my honor to provide some nourishment to our hard-working officers. While it is unfortunate I was not able to deliver the pizzas to the departments myself, having a legislative session to attend to today, I hope our law enforcement professionals are able to find some time to enjoy a slice.”

Hawley sent pizzas to the following departments today:

• Albion Police Department
• Holley Police Department
• Medina Police Department
• Orleans County Sheriff’s Department
• NYS Police Troop A-Albion Barracks
• Brockport Police Department
• City of Batavia Police Department
• LeRoy Police Department
• Village of Corfu Police Department
• Genesee County Sheriff’s Office
• NYS Police Troop A- Batavia Barracks

Press release:

Governor Kathy Hochul today announced New York's new Winter Toolkit for the new phase of the pandemic, aiming to keep New York safe, open and moving forward. The Winter Toolkit focuses on five core areas: protecting the most vulnerable New Yorkers, increasing vaccinations and boosters, strengthening our health care system, empowering local leaders, and supporting individuals facing the long-term effects of COVID.

"As we begin a new phase in our response to this pandemic, my top priority is making sure we keep New York safe, open and moving forward," Governor Hochul said. "I want to thank the health care workers, business owners and everyday New Yorkers who acted responsibly during the Omicron surge by masking up and getting vaccinated. But make no mistake: while we're moving in the right direction, this pandemic isn't over and our new Winter Toolkit shows us the path forward."

Governor Hochul announced that the statewide indoor business mask-or-vaccine requirement will be lifted starting Thursday, February, 10, and will remain optional for businesses, local governments and counties to enforce. This protocol, a temporary measure implemented on December 10 as statewide cases spiked, was an effective tool to address the winter surge and the rise of the Omicron variant. With case counts plummeting and hospitalizations sharply declining, this temporary measure is no longer needed statewide. Counties, cities, and businesses will be able to opt into the mask-or-vaccine requirement if they so choose. 

Masks remain a critical tool to fight the spread of COVID-19, and mask requirements will remain in place in certain high-density settings. All health care settings regulated by the Department of Health and other related state agencies will continue to require masks. Masks will also be required in nursing homes, adult care facilities, correctional facilities, detention centers, homeless shelters, and domestic violence shelters, public transit and transportation hubs, as well as trains, planes and airports in accordance with federal regulations. 

Governor Hochul also announced plans to assess the mask requirement in schools in early March, to ensure students can continue learning in-person and in the classroom. The assessment will be based on public health data, including key metrics like cases per 100,000 residents, hospital admission rates, vaccination rates, global trends and pediatric hospitalizations. Plans are already underway to distribute two tests for every K-12 student ahead of midwinter break, and continue distribution the following week when students return to school. In the meantime, Governor Hochul has directed the Department of Health to work on preliminary guidance, with input from educators and parents, to keep students and teachers safe.

With a new phase of the pandemic beginning, Governor Hochul unveiled a new Winter Toolkit to help keep New Yorkers safe. The toolkit includes efforts to:

1. Protect the most vulnerable
2. Increase access to vaccines, boosters and testing
3. Strengthen the health system
4. Empower local leaders
5. Support New Yorkers facing long-term COVID effects

Protecting the Most Vulnerable
New York State will continue to acquire and distribute masks and tests to New Yorkers to ensure those who need them can access them. The state's test stockpile contains 92 million tests. Over 14.2 million tests have been distributed to schools and tests will continue to be distributed as needed. 4.2 tests have been distributed to nursing homes, 2.4 million tests to adult care/congregate facilities, and 4 million tests to counties.

1.28 million masks have been distributed to nursing homes and 5.5 million masks have been distributed to counties.

Visitation rules in nursing homes will remain in place. Visitors must show proof of a negative test within 24 hours of their visit and masks will remain required.

Tests will be made widely available for students so that K-12 students can go home for their Midwinter Break with two tests.

Increase Access to Vaccines, Boosters and Testing

• New York State's mass vaccination and testing sites will remain open to ensure all eligible New Yorkers can access first, second, and third doses for themselves and their children.
• The State's #VaxForKids pop-up programming continues to expand with 63 new sites established today and 193 sites established to date. This effort brings the vaccine directly to parents, guardians, and their children at local schools, community centers, and destinations like farmer's markets to make getting vaccinated convenient and accessible for families.
• New York State is actively preparing for the Pfizer-BioNTech vaccine to come online for children under 5 years old.
• The State's robust education efforts to reach New Yorkers with good, science-based information about the vaccine is on-going including through traditional advertising, digital and multimedia campaigns, and direct messaging efforts through SMS text messaging, robo-calling, and Excelsior Pass push notifications.
• All 61 state-operated and state-partnered testing sites will remain open to provide New Yorkers with access to COVID-19 testing.
• Testing also remains widely available at over 1,800 sites statewide in every region of the State.

Strengthen the Healthcare System
To troubleshoot shortage issues, Executive Order 4 to increase staffing flexibility will remain in place. National Guard will continue to be trained to be able to staff in places needed as well.

As part of the Governor's Winter Surge Plan 2.0, the State has already deployed 20-member Medical Specialty Teams from the U.S. military hospital support team to Erie County Medical Center, a 35-member team to SUNY Upstate in Syracuse, 92 new ambulance teams to different regions in the state, including 50 to NYC, and two Medical Specialty Teams (MSTs) of 20 personnel from the Department of Defense to Strong Memorial Hospital.

Governor Hochul also outlined investments to strengthen the health care system in her 2022 State of the State Address and FY 2023 Budget. $10 billion will be invested to grow the health care workforce by twenty percent in five years. $4 billion will be invested in wages and bonuses to stop the hemorrhaging of health care staff. $1.6 billion will be invested via the Capital Plan.

Empower Local Leaders
Governor Hochul's announcement today comes after consultation with local leaders on steps the state is taking to fight COVID-19.

Support New Yorkers Facing Long-Term COVID Effects
Last Thursday, the State's Department of Health hosted an expert forum on Long COVID and over 2,000 individuals registered to view the panels. Panelists included specialists, clinicians, social scientists, patients and advocates who shared their experience, expertise, and insights.

This discussion, as well as continued focus and study by the Department, will inform the State's response which will span policy, regulatory, and program considerations to support New Yorkers suffering from long COVID as well as the healthcare providers who care for them.

Press release:

On Feb. 9 at 3:43 p.m, the Batavia Police Department responded to an address on Wallace Street for the report of a male who had been shot.

After arriving on location officers were not able to locate a victim. Officers conducted interviews with residents in the area and were able to determine that the call was placed by a juvenile.

That juvenile has since been identified and located.

It has been determined that the call was a false report and that there was not a threat to public safety in the area at the time of the call.

The Batavia Police Department would like to thank the residents in the area for their cooperation and assistance, as it helped bring quick closure to the incident.

Press Release:

Museum Quilt Guild is hosting a members quilt exhibit at Richmond Library in the gallery room for the month of February 2022. Twenty-one small quilts with various interpretations of this year's annual challenge theme feature a variety of techniques and subjects for "Rock, Paper, Scissors". 
 
Rock signifies traditional quilt block or quilting technique. Paper indicates paper piecing, foundation or English paper-pieced. Scissors represents traditional needle turn, or modern fusible or raw edged applique. Members were asked to choose a category for their quilt when submitted. So far, Scissors is winning with 9 entries, but members will be able to vote for their favorites in several categories on blue ballots. The public can vote for their favorite "Viewer's Choice" on white ballots. The categories of the quilts which get the most overall votes, will help determine the answer to the ultimate game of Rock, Paper, Scissors!
 
Some of the quilters who have entries in our challenge show will be available at the library after our monthly meeting on Saturday February 19, 2022 from noon until 2pm for an informal "meet and greet". Stop by and see the quilts, ask questions of the quilters and vote for your favorites!
 
Museum Quilt Guild has survived the challenges of covid with Zoom meetings and meetings at a local park this summer, and is happy to be once again at the VA every third Saturday of the month at 9:30am. Masking and social distancing are required for the meetings. Guests are welcomed to visit for a short business meeting, information on local quilt-related activities and community service. Presentations about quilting and fiber arts and "show and tell" are favorites with our members. Dues are $20.00 a year for guild members. Additional information is available as a hand out at our show.
 
Escape the winter doldrums and see our show at the Richmond Library in Batavia, and vote for your favorites! Will Rock, Paper, or Scissors be the ultimate winner? You help us decide!

Press Release: 

The Holland Land Office Museum will be hosting its next edition of Trivia Night @ the Museum on Thursday, February 10 at 7 pm. This month's topic is Thomas Edison as we celebrate the famous inventor's birthday. Admission is $3 per person or $2 for museum members. All in attendance are required to wear face coverings. Please contact the museum if you would like to attend at 585-343-4727 or hollandlandoffice@gmail.com. You can also join us via Zoom, links are available at the museum’s website, www.hollandlandoffice.com, or Facebook page.

The Holland Land Office Museum will be hosting the next edition of its Java with Joe E. morning presentation event on Thursday, February 24th at 9 am. Genesee County Historian Michael Eula will be sharing his presentation, "Too Often Forgotten: Female Slaves and Poor Women in Genesee County" It details the lives and hardships of freed slaves and poor women during the history of Genesee County. The event is free to the public. Masks are required. You can also join via Zoom, links are available at the museum’s website, www.hollandlandoffice.com, or Facebook page.

Cooper Hamilton scored three goals in the third period Tuesday night, including the game-winner with 27 seconds to play, to lift Batavia Notre Dame United to a 7-6 victory over visiting Geneseo/Avon/Livonia.

The win puts BND at 11-5-3 in Section V hockey going into a Friday matchup against Victor.

United rallied from a 5-1 deficit after two periods.

Addison Warriner had two goals and Jameson Motyka had the other while Brady Johnson contributed five assists for BND. Gavin Schrader and Hamilton each chipped in with two assists.

United outshot G/A/L 56-22. Frank Falleti got the win in goal in relief of Courtney Schum.

Before the game, the team's 12th-graders were honored on Senior Night at the Batavia Ice Arena.

The old Genesee County Courthouse will be lit up for the next of couple nights in honor of the annual "Shooting for a Cure" pink basketball game this Friday night at Pembroke High School. 

Proceeds will go to cancer research for Roswell Park in Buffalo.

Press release:

Assemblyman Steve Hawley (R,C,I-Batavia) has joined fellow members of the Assembly Minority in drafting a letter to Gov. Hochul, Department of Health Commissioner Mary T. Bassett, and Department of Education Commissioner Betty A. Rosa opposing a proposed change to New York state’s regulations that would empower the Department of Health and Department of Education to unilaterally implement mask mandates and other COVID-related edicts. Hawley argues this policy would essentially return emergency powers to Gov. Hochul in perpetuity, depriving the Legislature of its authority to design and implement such orders and the ability of local health departments to cater their pandemic response toward the unique circumstances faced by their communities. 

“New Yorkers have been overwhelmingly calling for a return to normalcy and the implementation of this dystopian policy would be the farthest thing from that, forever granting Gov. Hochul the power to plunge our lives back into a state of chaos at her whim,” said Hawley “This proposal is an attempt by Hochul’s administration to feign concern for public health in order to claw power away from the people, their local governments and their elected representatives, and cannot be allowed to stand.”

Press release:

A change of Party enrollment must be received at the Board of Elections, County Building #1, 15 Main St., Batavia, NY 14020 no later than February 14, 2022 to be effective immediately.

Any change of enrollment made between February 15 - July 5th shall be effective on July 5th.

Registration forms can be found at the Genesee County BOE website; https://www.co.genesee.ny.us/departments/elections/index.php , in most public offices or at the Board of Elections office.

To be eligible to vote in a Party Primary, a voter must be registered with the Party holding the Primary election.

Press release:

On Feb 3, the Batavia Police Department K-9 Batu and handler Officer Stephen Quider received a donation from St. Joe's 6th-grade class in the amount of $181.

The funds were raised by the class to assist the City's K-9 Program with items such as food and veterinary bills for K-9 Batu.

K-9 Batu and Officer Quider are trained to assist the patrol officers with the tracking of individuals, locating items such as stolen property or items hidden by suspects, as well as handler defense when needed.

"K-9 Batu has quickly become an asset to the community and the support is greatly appreciated." stated Chief Shawn Heubusch, "Our program would not be possible without the support of the amazing members of our community that has stepped up to help out. I want to personally thank all the staff and students at St. Joe's for their kind donation."

If you are interested in donating to the City of Batavia Police K-9 fund please contact the Department at 585-345-6356 or email rpatterson@batavianewyork.com to learn how.

Press release:

The Genesee County Economic Development Center (GCEDC) announced that project agreements closed in 2021 resulted in $343.5 million in financial investments, including Plug Power’s $232 million clean energy facility to be constructed at the Western New York Science & Technology Advanced Manufacturing Park (STAMP).  The projects resulted in 171 new jobs being pledged and the retention of 75 jobs.

“The financial investments, job retention, and creation from these projects in clean energy, manufacturing and housing demonstrate the diversity of our local economy,” said Steve Hyde, president and CEO of the GCEDC.  “We anticipate further growth in these sectors moving forward in 2022.”

Plug Power’s $232 million investment into green hydrogen manufacturing facilities in the town of Alabama combines with over $55 million of infrastructure investments to support Plug Power and future projects at STAMP. The 68 pledged jobs in Phase I follow the ongoing construction at the site that commenced in October 2021.

Liberty Pumps announced a $13.7 million financial investment to expand its operations in the Apple Tree Acres business park in the town of Bergen with a pledge to create 30 new jobs.

Other manufacturing projects in 2021 include Land Pro Equipment starting construction on a 50,000-square-foot facility in the town of Batavia that will serve customers’ sales, parts, service and precision farming needs. LandPro, a John Deere dealer, will retain 62 jobs and make a financial investment of $9.2 million to build the facility.

At Gateway II Corporate Park in the town of Batavia, Gateway GS LLC is investing $2.3 million for a building tenant that will create 21 new jobs.  Valiant Real Estate USA LLC is investing $4.5 million to build a 20,000-square-foot facility on Saile Drive in the town of Batavia. The project would create 24 new jobs with an average salary ranging from $30,000 to $75,000 annually plus benefits.

Ellicott Station is moving forward with its clean-up and remediation of a brownfield site in the city of Batavia.  Savarino Companies is investing approximately $22 million to redevelop the site, which will include the construction of 55 residential units. Another housing project by Batavia Special Needs Apartments will provide a financial investment of $3.75 million to add 20 new units, retain 13 jobs and add 2 additional pledged jobs.

Other projects that contributed to financial investments in the county included land sales in the Genesee Valley Agri-Business Park in the town of Batavia and at Gateway II Corporate Park to support future projects.

Incentives provided by the GCEDC for the projects were approximately $129 million in sales, property, and mortgage tax exemptions.  The return on investment of these incentives is estimated to be 5:1 for a financial return of approximately $645 million through projected permanent employment, construction employment, supply chain activity, and revenues to Genesee County’s municipalities and schools.

“The GCEDC Board is pleased to see that our organization has exceeded our economic development goals in 2021,” said GCEC Board Chair Pete Zeliff.  “Genesee County remains a favorable place for capital investment by the private sector due to our proactive activities to develop sites, infrastructure, and workforce talent.”

Newton’s third law states that for every action, there’s an equal and opposite reaction, and a downtown business owner has reacted to the ugliness of a pandemic with the beauty of local art displayed for all to see.

Enter Brian Kemp, owner of T-Shirts, Etc., and his employee Melissa Flint. By way of a brainstorming session last year, the pair created the TableTop Art Show in response to so many art galleries being closed due to COVID-19 protocols. It’s an event meant to highlight area artists and connect them to the community via in-person and online shows, business sponsorships and restaurants-turned-galleries.  

The tabletop idea is perhaps a bit of genius: invite artists to submit their works for a show, award prizes for the top three works, and about 15 of them get chosen for a wall display and placemat to be used at area restaurants. Patrons can view those top contenders in person while eating a meal, and then visit the online site to see all of the submitted pieces. 

“It’s really putting this artwork in front of people who wouldn’t get to see it,” Kemp said during an interview with The Batavian. “I want to make it a show of the year, and I  hope the interest increases. Some of the pieces will be available to buy. I just really want to feature artists.”

Kemp and Flint developed and implemented the idea a year ago. Batavia Society of Artists hosted the show in 2021 and provided the contributing artists. This year the show is open to all regional artists, and at no charge. Money raised from sponsorships goes toward prizes of $200, $100, and $50 for first, second, and third place, respectively. 

The Tabletop Art Show, now in its second year, came about as a solution to the lack of venues available for art displays due to the COVID-19 pandemic. Creators Kemp and Flint kicked around some ideas and landed on the tabletop concept. It has grown since last year, Kemp said, and has pulled along an increasing list of participants.
There are 23 restaurants signed up this year to display the placemats at their establishments. Eli Fish Brewing Company will serve as host to selected artwork during March, and other businesses will support the event as sponsors. 

For anyone who has visited Kemp’s business, T-Shirts Etc. on Center Street, Batavia, it seems rather clear that he values local art. There are original pieces on his walls, and displays of last year’s TableTop artwork. 

This year’s show debuts and runs through March, chosen as the tabletop signature month for the yearly event. This is a way to display artist works — “bring art to the people” — and grace several restaurant tables with some local talent, Kemp said. 

Artists may submit up to three pieces each by Feb. 13, and all of those will be featured in a virtual portion of the show. Spectators will have more than a passive role of viewing; they will get to vote for a People’s Choice Award from March 1 to 31. Just 15 of all submitted works will be selected by the TableTop Art Show crew and shown off on placemats and the walls of Eli Fish Brewing Company at 109 Main St., Batavia.  

Anyone interested in sponsoring this show or participating as a tabletop restaurant may still have an opportunity to do so. For more information or for an artwork submission form, go to: https://tabletopartshow.secure-decoration.com/

Top photo: Business owner Brian Kemp shows off last year's placemat artworks that debuted at local restaurants for the inaugural TableTop Art Show. He's hoping that this year reaps even more artist pieces, community support and interest. Deadline for submissions is Feb 13. Photo by Howard Owens.

All-time scoring leaders, school records, championships, a legacy of excellence, determination, and hard work -- the Johnson family has made a lasting impression of Pembroke girls basketball.

That's the impression you get when you look at the legend of Top 10 scorers in girls basketball on the Pembroke gym, which contains three Johnson names: Breanna, with 814 points, Mackenna, 678 points, and Aralyse, 618 points.

Then there are the two championship basketballs in the trophy case, both with the name "Johnson" on them.

Finally, there is the current roster with senior Sydney on the team that is coached by father Jamie, along with Breanna and Aralyse.

Breanna is no longer the school's all-time scoring leader (Serene Calderon surpassed her last season when she finished her career with 831 points), and Aralyse is still the school's all-time rebound leader with 639, and Mackenna leads all-time in assists with 308 points.

At one time, Breanna, the oldest of the sisters, held all but one of the key girls basketball records and she also helped lead the team to its first Section V title challenge. Her mom Shannon said that was one of her proudest moments in the family's sports history. 

"She did anything that (then-coach) Mike Wilson asked her to do," Shannon said. "Just watching her do that -- and I think easily she could have broken 1,000 (points) --  but every game she wanted to make sure every person scored. She could have been somebody who could have walked around with her head high and just bragging but the day that Serene broke her record, (she was) here and taking pictures with (Serene), I think for me, just watching her walk around as somebody who could have just been a snot and she was just so humble, I think for me, that was a proud moment."

All the girls, mom said, have that kind of character, and that means more to her than the athletic accomplishments.

Breanna may have led the way for the girls to make their marks in basketball -- a legacy that eventually helped Pembroke win back-to-back Section V titles in 2019 and 2020 when Mackenna was a junior and a senior -- but the athletic pace of the family was set by father Jamie, a 1991 graduate who excelled as a Dragon in football, baseball, and basketball.

He started coaching youth baseball in high school and as his girls came of age for sports, he naturally fell into coaching them in Amateur Athletic Union (AAU) basketball and other travel leagues.

For the past few seasons, he's been the Dragons football coach, and last year he took over the girls varsity program in basketball.

Both Breanna and Aralyse said they love coaching and that dad set the example.

"When I finished college, I came home and I started coaching with an offseason AAU team and  I just loved helping the girls learn to play," Breanna said. "I started out with a sixth-grade team. They were younger and still learning so I've stayed with them. I love teaching and helping the girls learn to play the game."

Aralyse said her father definitely inspired her as a player and coach.

"So many people hate being coached by their parents," Aralyse said. "I had my dad for one year when I played travel basketball and I couldn't imagine a better coach at that point. I think his consistency, and just seeing his determination and his hard work and everything he does is really inspiring.

"He's always been constant in support whether we have a bad game or a good game, he's always there to either congratulate us or tell us what we could have done better or different."

Breanna is 25 and majored in biology at Clarkson University. Aralyse is 24 and is an event coordinator after attending Johnson & Wales University.

It's watching young athletes grow that drew Jamie to coaching, he said. 

"I like the connections you make with the kids and the improvement that you get to see," Jamie said. "They come in sometimes with raw skills and you get to watch them develop, and watch them gain confidence in the skills and the new skills that they're learning."

Basketball has always been part of the Johnson household, the girls said, especially after Breanna took up the sport as a young girl.  She led the way, her younger sisters said, and Jamie was an immediate inspiration with his deep knowledge of the game.

"It definitely gave me something to look up to with both my older sisters playing before me and my dad (coaching)," said Mackenna, who has continued her basketball career at GCC, where she's in a natural sciences program in environmental biology with hopes of becoming a park ranger or DEC officer. "They all really helped me set goals and helped me work towards those goals, and it brings us a lot closer together. It's our whole life."

Sydney, of course, had three older sisters to guide her toward the game.

"Since the time I was three years old, I'd be going to basketball games and going to my sister's tournaments or even just the high school games. I was always here," Sydney said. "I started just going to my sisters' open gyms or practices and just shooting on the side while they were actually practicing. Ever since then I fell in love (with the game)."

In the Johnson household, Shannon said, post-game film review among the girls and their father has been a regular undertaking.

"I guess (it means a lot to me) just watching them take after their father, seeing the things that he loved, and we've all let them try," Shannon said. "They have tried everything from gymnastics to competitive dance to softball, everything. They take after their dad, like coming home after a game and wanting to watch the game again and go through it with Dad what we did wrong, what we did well. Watching them strive to be like him and be dedicated like him; I think that's one thing that means a lot to me."

As a dad and coach, Jamie gives his girls most of the credit for what they've accomplished on and off the court.

"They have, I don't know what to call it, an inner drive that, you know, they want to be the best of everything," Jamie said. "So they put in the work, they put in the time, and they really just have that inner drive, I don't know how else to explain it."

Jamie said he is the proud coach and father.  His girls have set records, won titles, set a good example for their friends and classmates, and set themselves on solid career paths.  But he's most proud, he said, that his girls have good character.

"I'm proud of how the girls carry themselves in all the things that they do, whether it be at work or at school or in sports," he said.

Top photo: The Johnson basketball family of Pembroke: Sydney, Shannon, Aralyse, Breanna, Jamie, and Mackenna.

Mackenna with her mother Shannon while Shannon tracks team statistics during a game at Pembroke.

Pembroke Head Coach Jamie Johnson along with his assistants, daughters Aralyse and Breanna, during a recent game.

Mackenna Johnson taking a shot during the Shooting for a Cure game in 2017. This year's Shooting for a Cure game is Friday. Photos by Howard Owens.

As a state mask mandate for schools creeps toward its Feb. 21 expiration date, at least one Genesee County school plans to be officially armed.

Oakfield-Alabama Central School has set an emergency Board of Education meeting this week to vote on a resolution regarding masks in schools. The meeting is at 6:45 a.m. Wednesday at the Junior-Senior High School, 7001 Lewiston Road. 

“We’re waiting on a final determination about whether it will be extended or lifted,” Superintendent John Fisgus said to The Batavian Monday. “There’s a lot of advocacy out there …we want some type of end goal in preparation for the possibility for the mandate to be lifted. Our board wants to be proactive. When and if it’s lifted, we will be prepared when it's lifted. Masking will be optional.”

At the beginning of this year, the choice for masking was “split down the middle,” Fisgus said. That has shifted.

“An overwhelming majority want it to be a personal choice,” he said. “I’m not advocating for masks; I’m advocating for personal choice. In the last month or so there’s been a huge movement to lift the mandate and let people decide on their own.” 

The board's resolution reads, in part: “The Board of Education seeks to allow parents and students the freedom to choose whether to wear a mask indoors on school property or on a school bus.” It will give the superintendent the executive power necessary to implement protocols and procedures which allow parents and students the freedom to choose whether or not to wear a mask within and on school property. 

This move also includes the authority to modify school protocols “if the need arises due to future health concerns, emergency situations and/or necessary means for the health and safety of students and school staff alike.”

Oakfield-Alabama was one of eight Genesee County public school districts to sign a letter for New York State Governor Kathy Hochul requesting that each district be granted authority to create and enforce its own COVID-19 rules, rather than being told what to do by the state. 

Batavia City Schools Superintendent Jason Smith sent the letter on behalf of Alexander, Byron-Bergen, Elba, Le Roy, Oakfield-Alabama, Pavilion, and Pembroke school districts. Although there’s been a strong focus on whether or not to wear masks, the letter did not have that emphasis, Smith said. 

“It’s not just about masks, it’s how schools are run,” he said. “I’d say for every 10 emails, at least eight are for local control about the masks, and are strongly opposed to the mask mandate. We’re engaged in conversations, and listening to the parents and to the medical folks. We’ll be ready when the time comes to have a plan.”

The state mandate is set to expire on Feb. 21. Batavia’s Board of Education meeting may be a venue for further discussions, Smith said. It’s set for 6 p.m. Feb. 17 at Batavia High School’s library, 260 State St., Batavia. 

In other school news, Le Roy Central and Pembroke Central school districts have board meetings this week. Le Roy’s meeting is at 6 p.m. Tuesday in the Wolcott Street Elementary School memorial auditorium and includes a budget presentation for the 2022-23 school year.

Likewise, Pembroke’s agenda includes a budget presentation for its meeting at 6:30 p.m. Tuesday in the Jr/Sr High School Library Media Center, routes 5 and 77 in Corfu.

A two-car accident, with possible entrapment in both vehicles, is reported at South Lake Route and Vallance Road, or possibly for I-490 on-ramp, in Le Roy.

Le Roy Fire and Le Roy Ambulance along with Mercy EMS dispatched.

UPDATE 4:45 p.m.: A first responder on scene reports that one person self-extricated with minor injuries.  Fire requested to continue for traffic control.

A car has reportedly hit a tree in the area of 1192 Bloomingdale Road, Basom.

There may be an injury. 

Alabama Fire and Mercy EMS dispatched.

UPDATE 3:15 p.m.: Vehicle off the road, side-impact, a first responder is checking for injuries.

UPDATE 3:16 p.m.: One patient with a head laceration. 

UPDATE 3:17 p.m.: Extrication will be required.

UPDATE 3:20 p.m.: Mercy Flight requested to the scene.  It will be Mercy Flight #7 out of Buffalo.

UPDATE 3:37 p.m.: Indian Falls Fire dispatched mutual aid. Mercy Flight is on the ground.

UPDATE 3:44 p.m.: Pembroke and Indian Falls are back in service.