Happy 4th of July Muckdogs fans! The Dogs are back in action at Niagara Falls and are looking to launch off some fireworks tonight!

Ryan (BAT) v.s. Lowry (NF)

#GoDogs

Bella Nugent, a 12-year-old from Batavia, did her friend a favor at Wednesday's Batavia Muckdogs baseball game.

She drew a picture of an eagle in hopes of winning the Harley-Benton ST-style guitar The Batavian was offering as a prize in its eagle-drawing contest.

Bella's drawing was among the 20 staff picks of favorite drawings and was randomly selected from those 20 entries to win the grand prize.

She was so overcome by the surprise of winning that when she got to The Batavian's booth, she had to sit down.

Then she gave the guitar to her friend, Brooklynn Dewe, who has been learning to play guitar and was equally thrilled by the gift.

The Batavian staff also selected three honorable mentions by Miranda Tamburlin, 16, from Batavia; Annaliede Evans, 15, from Chili; and Laya Laite, 15, from Batavia.  They each received a gift certificate to Dave's Ice Cream.

As first explained a year ago when The Batavian launched this contest:

An eagle is the primary essence of The Batavian’s logo, borrowed from the Upton Monument, which sits at the intersection of routes 5 and 63 in downtown Batavia. Publisher Howard Owens wanted to capture that symbol along with the name of this city he now holds dear after setting down roots more than 15 years ago.

“The Upton Monument is our community's most important and significant landmark, and the eagle that sits atop of it represents independence and courage, two characteristics of good news organizations,” Owens said.  "When planning our new logo, the eagle seems a natural way to represent our commitment to the community and to fearless and honest journalism."

The guitar contests are something Owens said he wanted to do to give back to the community to promote an appreciation for the magic and beauty of music among its youth.

Photos by Philip Casper.

See our Featured Listings

Batavia erased a two-run deficit in the sixth inning of Wednesday's home game against Geneva in front of a capacity crowd on an Independence celebration fireworks night and beat Geneva 7-5.

The Muckdogs improved to a 18-4-1 on the season.

Garrett Brunstetter, who pitched an inning of hitless and scoreless ball, picked up the win. 

Starter Ty Woods went five innings, surrendering four hits and three runs (one earned).

James Bolton, a SUNY Cortland student from Webster, was the offensive star of the game, going 2-4 with two RBIs and a walk.

Trevor Dutra also picked up a pair of RBIs, going 1-4.

The Muckdogs are in first place in the PGCBL West Division, four games ahead of the Auburn Double Days.

Their July 4 game is away against the Niagara Falls Americans.

Photos by Philip Casper.

It’s championship season!

After building a great roster, staying on track after missed opportunities and close calls, and finishing with clutch performances, my Boston Celtics are hanging another banner.

Leading the NBA standings all season, the Celtics had to earn their place at the top. It took years to go from contender to champion, and it was worth it.

I’m pleased that we have another group here locally that’s ready to do the start down a championship path this summer at the Genesee Valley Pre-Apprenticeship Bootcamp.

We’re launching this year’s boot camp on July 8 with our largest ever group of participants.

This summer, over a dozen from Genesee County and surrounding communities will have six-weeks of PAID on-the-job training with companies like US Gypsum, McCabe Electric and Craft Cannery. They gain hands-on experience, a deep understanding of what’s ahead, and start to realize their career goals.

In just six weeks, participants get started on a multi-year apprenticeship opportunity that will grow with their careers.

In addition to paid work in the field, students get 96 hours of classroom instruction at the Batavia Career & Technical Education Center’s mechatronics lab. This is where we just celebrated 100 graduates in the first 4 years of GV BOCES electro-mechanical trades program.

Pre-apprenticeship instruction features state-of-the-art training equipment, an environment that will bring students along as they gain experience and show their progress. Electrical basics, motor controls, hydraulics, pneumatics, and programmable logic controls are among the topics they will gain.

This is a great opportunity to get noticed and get ahead of their peers. After completing the bootcamp, many of our previous graduates have gone on to registered apprenticeship programs with their partnering employers.

That’s the path we see putting more and more students into “Make a Million in Mechatronics & Metal Trades”. 

You start early, and quickly build up your professional standing and wages. 

These careers in electro-mechanical trades are in demand across all industries. With the skills gained in this program, graduates have their pick of opportunities in Genesee County and our region.

I’m excited to get this year’s program underway.

There’s always more work to be done. Do you have a graduate that’s not sure what to do after high school, or has a degree that they don’t have a path to use, or uncertain about their professional career?
That’s where I excel. We recently launched a “7-Steps to a Great Genesee Career” checklist and getting started with a Career Coach is Step 1 whether you’re 14 or 24.

Set up a Coaching Session with myself and Dr. Sheila Eigenbrod by emailing me at csuozzi@gcedc.com, calling or texting me at 585-409-1301, or signing up at gcedc.com/careerchecklist.

Chris "Coach Swazz" Suozzi is VP of Business Development for the Genesee County Economic Development Center.

It’s been more than a year since Savarino Companies announced it was closing, altering the Ellicott Station plans for dozens of prospective tenants, city and county officials, downtown businesses, and the community at large. And although officials sounded hopeful out of the gate, there's still a lack of answers for who will take care of this mess one year later.

Recent work at the site was a tease, at least for some, that the company would continue with the project at 50-56 Ellicott St., Batavia. But in the latest response to The Batavian’s ongoing coverage and questions, Savarino indicated that the work was to satisfy a city request.

“Owner Ellicott Station LLC, its lender and Contractor Savarino Companies LLC continued work to complete the exterior and secure the residential building as requested by the City and HCR, among others,” company owner Sam Savarino said by email Tuesday.

It was apparently not nearly enough, according to City Manager Rachael Tabelski, who noted the overgrown shrubs and foliage surrounding the property.

“Property is an eyesore,” she said. “As owner of the site, they need to cut the grass. They will be cited.”

When asked if he would possibly continue work or do so with another developer, he went back to July 13, 2023, when the Genesee County Economic Development Center served him notice that “the project was in default of its agreement for sales tax exemption and PILOT” and the agency “refused to extend the extant sales tax exemption.”

“The GCEDC reaffirmed its declaration on July 31, 2023, and is attempting to claw back funds. Without the sales tax exemption and PILOT, the project is imperiled and endangered. This includes the commercial project as well as the residential project,” he said. “Ellicott Station LLC has formally and vigorously opposed the basis of the GCEDC action and reserves rights for resulting damages.”

To date, Savarino has not paid the 2023 school taxes or 2024 city or county taxes, and owes $20,000 on the three Ellicott Street parcels, Tabelski said. She did not reply to the question about whether the city has any leads from interested developers for the project. 

But then again, as the property owner, Savarino really remains the one who has the question, and he, too, has declined to answer it.

The Batavian asked newly promoted GCEDC CEO Mark Masse if there was any possibility that, given the time and money already invested by Savarino, if his agency would consider working with him to complete the Ellicott Station project.

 “So the board made its decision based on the factors presented before them to terminate those benefits,” Masse said. “If there was a change in the project or there was going to be something different, he's more than welcome to submit another application for the board's consideration. We have not received any applications from him or any other companies.”

And as far as that or any other project on the Ellicott Street property, do you have any leads? Are you working with any developers at this point?

“We have not received any applications from any companies looking to participate in that project,” he said.

Are you actively leading the charge or involved in it, or who would you say is at this point?

“That I don’t know. You’d have to talk with Sam,” Masse said.

As far as the clawback, at what point are you in that process?

“So we took the necessary steps to terminate the agreements, and then we submitted the information to the necessary agencies, who would be the ones to consider potential clawback on the funds,” he said.

He said that EDC is out of the situation now. The Batavian asked him, as CEO of the agency that touted this project as a boon to the city and county, for an overall comment about what it means to see the complex sitting there and the property’s surroundings not in great upkeep.

“At this point, it’s a private project, and we generally don’t comment on private projects,” he said, adding that to his knowledge, the agency has not been in contact with the Office of Homes and Community Renewal, which also provided tax credits to Savarino.

As for the city’s focus, housing certainly has been on the list by providing grants for rehabilitating current eligible homes and seeking ways to fulfill its designation as a pro-housing community. One way is to apply for a grant, along with Batavia Development Corp., to prepare for the redevelopment of Brisbane Mansion into a future boutique hotel or small-scale apartment complex. The city wouldn’t actually be doing the renovations, but rather, some developer with the right project proposal would hopefully take on that work and expense.

The grant application also covers a portion of Batavia City Centre — the concourse in particular, with a goal to increase the usability of public space by making it “more inviting and functional for the community.” The stage that has been in the concourse for years has been removed as one measure toward updating the site’s interior. Four of the centre’s entrances, known as silos, are being replaced. 

Now, if only the multi-level, 55-unit apartment complex smack in the middle of downtown could get some attention from somebody.

Photos by Howard Owens.

Press Release:

The Ramble Team is once again partnering with the Genesee-Orleans Regional Arts Council (GO ART!) to bring the Batavia Ramble and Explore Art Festival to Jackson Square and Jackson Street, on Saturday, July 6, from 10 a.m. - 9 p.m. 

This fun-filled festival has something for everyone, including 25+ bands performing on two stages, an Explore Art tent for kids, street performances, food, and much more!

The Festival Team thanks local sponsors, Casella, Cedar Street Sales & Rentals, Edward Jones, ESL Federal Credit Union, Genesee Production Group, R.A. Haitz, L & L Transmission, Logan Music, and OATKA Milk Products for their generous support. 

GO ART! also receives grant funding from the New York State Council on the Arts, Rochester Area Community Foundation, and the National Endowment for the Arts to support our Explore Art activities. 

Stephen Kowalcyk, Ramble Coordinator, says, “We are looking forward to another great year! We have a lot of returning bands from last year as well as some new acts performing at The Ramble for the very first time.” 

Ramble performer David Knaudt says, “The Ramble never disappoints! Such a fun time and how lucky are we in Batavia to have a music festival.” 

In the time-honored Ramble tradition, local and regional classic and newer bands will entertain from morning to night. 

This year’s lineup includes The Royal Halls, Sons Of Luther, Bad Sign, Prospect, Dave Knaudt, Indigo Flow, David Holnbeck, Don Thomas, Steve Fisher, Tom Ryan and Friends, Distant View, Groove, The Real News, Lonesome Road, Driven, The Cowboy Vampires, GumShoe, Surging Motion, Soulshine Band, Paul K Almeter, PD3, The Remediators, Jack Waite, Shotgun Pauly, and The Rock-A-Bully’s. 

For decades, the Ramble has been an annual reunion to welcome musicians back who once called Batavia home, while celebrating our continued local and regional musical talents.

From the festival start to 5 p.m., the Explore Art tent will offer hands-on workshops in diverse arts, crafts, and dance, with several mini-concerts and demos. Come make your own bracelet with Ukrainian beadworker and pysanky artist, Irene Grassman (10:15 a.m. and 2:45 p.m.), or craft a clay medallion of Arabic calligraphy and designs with Nada Odeh (11:15 a.m. and 1:30 p.m.).

You’ll see a colorful and exciting demo of Afro Panamanian dance at 11:00 a.m., followed by a workshop at 12:30 p.m. to create a Carnival mask or headdress with the artists from Grupo Cultural Latinos en Rochester. 

Local favorites, Troupe Nisaa, will present Middle Eastern dancing at noon. Try easy and fun old-time dancing at 1 p.m. with the Orleans County String Band, who will continue afterwards with a mini concert. 

To cap off the day, the Allegany River Seneca Dancers will show and teach you how to do a traditional hoop dance at 2:30 p.m., with a cornhusk doll making workshop at 3:45 p.m.

Everyone is invited to help create our new Explore Art banner throughout the day. Created by local artist, Jill Pettigrew, the banner features dozens of famous artworks in coloring-book design, ready for you to color in to your imagination’s delight. All of our Explore Art activities are family friendly and can accommodate all ages.

Arts vendors on Jackson Street will offer a variety of handcrafted wares including woodcrafts, jewelry, painting, health and beauty products, home decor, ceramics, paper arts, and needlecrafts. Attendees can enjoy caricatures and face painting as well. 

Street food includes hot dogs, hamburgers, sausage, chicken fingers and ice cream, with neighborhood restaurants and customary beverages available.

Put Saturday, July 6 on your calendar and come down for a few hours–or the whole day–to enjoy music, arts, food, and fun.

Back at home for July 4-eve, the Muckdogs take on the Geneva Red Wings again, following their 24-11 victory at Geneva last night.

Pound (GEN) v.s. Woods (BAT)

#GoDogs

By Dave Gil de Rubio

At a time when wellness has become a more talked-about topic in the public sphere, Marcus King has made his own musical statement via the release of “Mood Swings,” his third solo outing.

The Rick Rubin-produced effort is full of songs drawing from a particularly dark time in King’s life where he faced certain mental health challenges stoked by anxiety and suicidal thoughts. Originally started back in 2019, this 11-song outing was interrupted by the pandemic and a particularly toxic relationship King was emerging from before meeting his current wife Briley Hussey. When the world started to open up again, King came out of the other end of it with 2022’s “Young Blood.” 

Despite the success he enjoyed with that particular effort, the South Carolina native was in no shape to continue the deep emotional dive the still-unrealized “Mood Swings” would require of him.

“This album really started before “Young Blood,” and when everything opened back up, it felt like there was some pressure to get back out and get to work,” King recalled in a late-April interview. “‘Mood Swings’ was definitely not anywhere close to being done. The album is a journey and an experience for me and I hadn’t completed it. During that whole process of doing ‘Young Blood,’ I was really coming through a lot of substance abuse [issues]. I wasn’t entirely present when I was doing that record. When I look at that record retrospectively, I feel really detached from it. ‘Mood Swings’ is very much the truest representation of me being as honest as possible [as an artist].”

Songs like the title cut, “Bipolar Love” and “Save Me,” find King delving deep into his psyche and past mental health wounds and Rubin played a key role in helping King navigate and complete the album. The storied producer, who has been meditating since he was 14 and is heavily in metaphysics, provided the environment to achieve this in summer 2023 while working with King at his Malibu-based Shangri-La studio and his spread in Tuscany, Italy. The 28-year-old guitarist/singer-songwriter was grateful to go through the experience.

“A big part of the record was trying to sample ourselves in a way,” King said. “Once we had all the basic tracks done, me and Rick could sit down with them. We went through everything and tried to strip it down to its truest, most vulnerable and most honest depictions of the songs. With this subject matter, [Rick is] the only guy I could imagine handling it. He really pushed me to go deeper and deeper and to access places, traumas and memories that I didn’t even know were troublesome to me. Sometimes you have to heal before you can really talk about something, and I feel like we did that with this record. The journey within was a really fascinating one because he’s all about putting yourself first and the audience second and I didn’t really understand that concept until now.”

With all the recording under his belt, King is on tour with his eight-piece band. Among the early gigs he’s played was a guest spot on “The Kelly Clarkson Show” and a recent slot performing at the Grand Ole Opry. The latter was a particularly special show given that Rubin reached out to King back in 2019 after seeing a clip of the latter
performing on that hallowed stage.

“The Grand Ole Opry is like going to see your grandparents pretty much,” King said with a laugh. “I try to go by there as much as possible and they’re always really sweet and really welcoming as possible. You don’t go there and smoke reefer in the dressing room. You’re on your best behavior and go out and play your best songs. It’s always cool to go back there. That stage just carries a lot of weight for me. You go there and you’re surrounded by people like Vince Gill and the Marty Stuarts of the world. Vince Gill, to me, is the closest thing I can get to George Jones, who is my hero and his hero. He sang at George’s funeral that was held at the Grand Ole Opry. They’ve got the circle there and in it they have an original piece of the stage from when it was still over at the Ryman Auditorium. You get up there, stand in the circle and perform. It was a blessing. We had my dad come and play with us. There is always something new and special to take away when you go and play the Opry.”

King intends to carry that vibe with him as he embarks on a jam-packed tour slate that will carry him throughout the rest of the year and will include a pair of dates in his home state of South Carolina on August 24 and August 25 that’s been dubbed the Marcus King Family Band reunion. That bill will also include The Avett Brothers, Band of Horses, Sierra Ferrell, Richy Mitch & the Coal Miners, and Nikki Lane with $1 from every ticket sold going towards Curfew Foundation – Marcus King’s charity that provides and assists those struggling with sobriety, addiction and also helps fund music education.

“The tour is going to be a reinterpretation of all these songs from the ‘Mood Swings’ album. It’s going to be reinterpreted in the sense that we like to give the listeners and the audience something fresh and a new experience to go home with,” King explained. “We want everybody to come and reach that same level and opportunity to leave everything at the door, check it all, and be part of something together. It’s going to be one great night of music and hopefully a big night of letting it all go and giving yourselves to the music. This year is dedicated to family, fellowship, love, looking within and just growing more mindfully every day.”

Marcus King will be performing at Darien Lake Amphitheater on Thursday, July 11.

Press Release:

The Corfu Farmers Market is excited to announce the opening date for the 2024 season - Monday, July 8! The market will be open every Monday from 4 p.m. - 7 p.m. until September 23. The market is held at the Corfu United Presbyterian Church located at 63 Alleghany Rd., Corfu.

The Corfu Farmers Market is a community staple, providing fresh, locally grown produce and handmade goods to the area. Over 10+ vendors this year with amazing offerings. 

New this year is the 2024 Corfu Farmers Market Music Series - 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!  The lineup includes:

• July 8 - Davey O.
• July 15 - Tim Wright
• August 12- Southpaw Sal
• August 19 - Sara Elizabeth 
• and more!

On the last monday of every month local team trivia, and weekly food trucks.

Weekly our children who visit the market can Find the Sunflower - sponsored by Reeb Family Moving, hidden amongst a weekly vendor. Join us on the second Monday of every month for a Scavanager Hunt, Rock Painting, and Carnival games, sponsored by the Corfu United Presbyterian Church.

Joining us on Monday, July 15 the Genesee County Office for the Aging will be at the Corfu Farmers’ Market from 4-6pm to distribute Senior Farmers’ Market coupons to income-eligible individuals 60 years of age and older.

We look forward to welcoming back our loyal customers and meeting new ones in the 2024 season.

For more information about the Corfu Farmers Market and the upcoming season, please visit our website at www.corfuny.gov or follow us on Facebook and Instagram.

Press Release:

Genesee County law enforcement agencies, including the Genesee County Sheriff’s Office, the City of Batavia Police Department, and the Village of LeRoy Police Department will be participating in a coordinated effort with the STOP-DWI program to bring awareness to the dangers of impaired driving.

The statewide STOP-DWI High Visibility Engagement Campaign will start Wednesday, July 3 continuing thru Sunday, July 7. The Fourth of July is a wonderful time to celebrate with family and friends but all too often festivities turn tragic. 

The fact is this iconic American holiday is also one of the deadliest holidays of the year due to impaired-driving crashes. Highly visible, highly publicized efforts like STOP-DWI High Visibility Engagement Campaigns aim to further reduce the incidence of impaired driving.

Impaired driving is completely preventable – all it takes is a little planning.

Press Release:

More free money still flows from the Corfu Dollars for Scholars organization! Hopefully with the Coronavirus in the past, we PROUDLY announce that 18 Pembroke scholars overcame the obstacles encountered during their freshman thru junior years to win 32 scholarship awards for continued studies worth $48,050. In the last 15 years of service our DFS chapter has awarded 204 Pembroke graduates over
$193,150.

Each award winner was also presented with a lawn sign to recognize their successes and award-winning academic achievements.

The Corfu-Pembroke Community and your DFS chapter recognize not only the efforts of these students but also applaud the efforts of Pembroke teachers, administrators and support personnel involved in the years of preparation to achieve these results. 

Indeed, all the support, encouragement and occasional necessary cajoling of caring parents must also be recognized. It is evident that many in our community value education. These student achievements represent the best of what our schools provide for our community.

2024 Corfu-Pembroke DFS Scholarship winners:

Hannah Beach 

• ButterCrumbs Award $ 200.00
• Vernon J. Rupert Scholarship Award $ 5,000.00

Isabella Blake 

• Vernon J. Rupert Scholarship Award $ 5,000.00

Samuel Burton 

• Cathie-Wild VFW Award $ 1,000.00

Miriam Cruz Vargas

• Lamb Medical Scholarship $ 250.00
• Mark Miano Scholarship $. 500.00

Isla Czechowicz 

• Kern Trade Scholarship $ 1,000.00
• Lamb Agriculture Scholarship $ 250.00
• Nichols Family Scholarship $ 500.00

Mykenzie Dylag 

• Vernon J. Rupert Scholarship Award $ 5,000.00

Sarah Forness 

• Corfu-Pembroke Alumni Award $ 1,000.00
• PHS Class of 1972 $ 100.00

Michael Geck 

• Sofie J. Chmielewski DFS Award $ 1,000.00

Emily Guilian 

• Vernon J. Rupert Scholarship Award $ 5,000.00

Everett Hartz 

• John Buyers Memorial Scholarship $ 4,000.00
• PHS Class of 1965 $ 500.00

Ashley Johnson 

• Alyson Diane Krzanak Scholarship $ 500.00
• Dollars for Scholars Scholarship #1 $ 250.00
• Dollars for Scholars Scholarship #2 $ 250.00
• Wood Legal Scholarship $ 250.00

William Levinstein 

• Pembroke Hall of Fame Scholarship $ 1,000.00

Lily Martin 

• Kelsey Milks Memorial Scholarship $ 500.00
• Sofie J. Chmielewski Scholarship $ 1,000.00

Samantha Millen 

• Corfu-Pembroke Alumni Scholarship $ 1,000.00
• Mruczek Family Medical Scholarship $ 2,000.00

Elle Peterson 

• Arnie Barnette Kids/Club Scholarship $ 1,000.00
• Kevin Steffan Memorial Scholarship $ 1,000.00

Anneka Pray 

• Vernon J. Rupert Scholarship $ 5,000.00

Anna Speidel 

• Harry Dibble Memorial Scholarship $ 500.00
• Eric Tiede Memorial Scholarship $ 1,500.00

Tyson Totten 

• Jeremy R. Gabbey Memorial Scholarship $ 1,000.00
• Sofie J. Chmielewski Scholarship $ 1,000.00

Dollars for Scholars is proud of these student accomplishments.

Press Release:

Registration is now available for Acting for Large Markets, a 2.5-hour acting class focused on on-camera techniques featuring brand specialist Andria Schultz and NYC casting director Amy Gossels.

The class is free for members of the GLOW region and costs $25 for non-members. In-person slots will be prioritized for GLOW members, with any remaining in-person slots available on a first-come, first-served basis. The rest of the class will be conducted via Zoom.

The in-person session will be held at Main Street 56 Theatre located at 56 Main St, Batavia.

Class size is limited, so early registration is encouraged.

To register, email the following information to iamandyrich@gmail.com: 

• Are you a GLOW member?
• Would you like to attend in person?
• Which date would you prefer: Aug 3 or 4?

A confirmation email will be sent upon acceptance into the class. Payment methods accepted include Venmo, Cashapp, PayPal, check, or cash (@iamandyrich on all platforms).

Interested individuals are encouraged to forward this information to others who may be interested.

Peter J. Cino, 56, of Batavia, is charged with menacing 2nd, criminal possession of a weapon 4th and harassment 2nd. Cino is accused of hitting another person on June 13 at a location on Bank Street during an argument and of threatening that person with a hammer. He was arraigned in City Court, and an order of protection was issued. On June 15, police learned that Cino was possibly in possession of a firearm he had not surrendered as required by the order of protection. Officers obtained a search warrant and located a rifle in the bedroom closet.  He was then charged with criminal contempt 2nd and two counts of criminal possession of a weapon 3rd. He was arraigned and ordered held in jail.

Michael Norman, no age or address provided, is charged with criminal sale of a controlled substance 2nd, a Class A2 felony, two counts of criminal possession of a controlled substance 3rd, and conspiracy 2nd. Danielle Michael, no age or address provided, is charged with two counts of criminal possession of a controlled substance 3rd, conspiracy 2nd, and criminal use of drug paraphernalia 2nd. Marcus Mobley,  no age or address provided, is charged with criminal possession of a controlled substance 7th. The three suspects were arrested on May 28. It's alleged that Norman Michael contacted his wife and arranged for her to sell a large quantity of narcotics to Marcus Mobley. After the sale, Batavia NET officers conducted a vehicle stop on Mobley's vehicle, which led to a narcotics seizure. Release status not provided.

Kenneth B. Jordan, 31, of Batavia, is with strangulation 2nd, attempted assault 3rd, unlawful imprisonment 2nd, and two counts of endangering the welfare of a child. Police responded to a report of a disturbance on June 22 at a location on Liberty Street. Jordan is accused of strangling a victim and refusing to let her leave a residence. Two children were present at the time of the incident. Jordan was arraigned and ordered jailed.

Angelina J. Baumgart, 33, of Batavia, is charged with criminal possession of stolen property 5th, criminal possession of stolen property 4th, criminal possession of stolen property 3rd, criminal impersonation 2nd, and aggravated unlicensed operation of a motor vehicle 2nd. A Batavia police officer initially stopped Baumgart's vehicle on June 8 for an alleged stolen license plate. After an investigation, police determined the vehicle itself was stolen. Baumgart allegedly lied about her name and was found in possession of crack cocaine. She was arraigned and ordered held in jail.

Jeanna M Hattaway, no age or residence provided, is charged with criminal possession of a weapon 3rd and criminal possession of a controlled substance 7th. Hattaway's vehicle was stopped on Jan. 30. allegedly found in possession of a small club wrapped in razor wire as well as methamphetamine and cocaine. She also had two warrants pending from two separate cases. She was arraigned and released.

Jamie A. Dutton, 31, of Batavia, and Sandra L. Marsceill, 53, of Batavia, are charged with petit larceny. The pair are accused of stealing a hammock chair from Aldi. They were issued appearance tickets. Dutton was also charged with petit larceny on June 26 by State Police in connection with an alleged theft reported at 1:15 a.m. on that date in the town of Batavia.

Jessica D. Delcour, 41, of Wyoming, was arrested on a warrant on June 18. Delcour was initially arrested on Feb. 16 on a charge of criminal trespass 2nd. The warrant was issued after she allegedly failed to appear in court. She was arraigned in City Court and released. 

Isaiah J. A. Munroe, 34, of Batavia, is charged with criminal tampering 3rd. Munroe is accused of causing a disturbance at Advance Auto Parts on June 14 and shoving a cashier's computer, keyboard, and receipt printer off the county. He was issued an appearance ticket.

Adrienne S. Bechtold, 28, of Batavia, was arrested on June 13 on three warrants. The warrants were issued after Bechtold allegedly failed to appear in court, on three separate criminal cases. She was arraigned in City Court and remanded to the Genesee County Jail on $2,500 bail, $5,000 bond or $10,000 partially secured bond. 

Michael J. Miller, 46, of Batavia, was arrested on June 21 on a warrant alleging failure to register a change of address as a sex offender. He was arraigned in City Court and jailed without bail.

Katty L Jackson, 28, of Batavia, is charged with criminal mischief 4th. Jackson is accused of damaging an iPad on June 26 during an argument at a residence on Pearl Street. She was issued an appearance ticket.

Benjamin G. Evans, 35, of Batavia, was arrested on two bench warrants on June 24. Both warrants stem from incidents where Evans was charged with obstructing governmental administration 2nd. Evans was arraigned and released. 

Michael C. Smith, 32, of Batavia, is charged with petit larceny. Smith is accused of shoplifting at Aldi. He was issued an appearance ticket.

Steven Kevin Underhill, 27, of Webber Avenue, Oakfield, is charged with reckless endangerment 2nd. Underhill is accused of firing a shotgun on July 1 while in a residential neighborhood and under the influence of a narcotic. Underhill was processed at the jail and released on an appearance ticket.

Robzeem Estevez, 29, of Hillside Avenue, Syracuse, is charged with trespass. Estevez is accused of being on private property on Park Road on July 2 at 9:28 a.m. after previously being barred from being on the property. He was issued an appearance ticket.

An 18-year-old is charged with obstruction of governmental administration 2nd in connection with an incident reported at 1:47 p.m. on June 30 in the town of Batavia. The juvenile is from Le Roy. The State Police state an investigation is pending.

The parking lot was packed at St. Anthony's on Tuesday evening for a community picnic hosted by City Church to coincide with July 4th week.

"We typically have a summer picnic, but we thought it would be nice on the week of the fourth," said Ryan Macdonald. "We’re just loving being part of the community, so we love getting everybody together. It's a nice opportunity for neighbors to meet."

It's probably the largest turnout yet for a community event at St. Anthony's since City Church purchased the property. Macdonald estimated more than 1,000 people would attend over the course of the evening.

"We're grateful and thankful just to bring everybody together," Macdonald said. "Everybody's so happy. Everybody's just had a wonderful time. You see the ice cream line. The band's been fantastic. And so we're just really glad to be a part of the community."

Photos by Howard Owens.

Coming off a victory at Niagara Falls, the first place Muckdogs continue on to their first of two games against Geneva. 

Chandler (BAT) v.s. DiPiero (GEN)

#GoDogs

Register today for the Kiwanis Club Independence Day 5K Run! 

Press release from GCEDC: 

A Federal Tech Hub supporting the semiconductor industry at the STAMP Mega-Site and a region running from Buffalo to Rochester to Syracuse is growing with new investments announced Monday.

Governor Kathy Hochul today announced that the U.S. Department of Commerce has awarded a phase two Regional Technology and Innovation Hubs (Tech Hub) grant of $40 million to the New York Semiconductor Manufacturing and Research Technology Innovation Corridor (NY SMART-I Corridor) consortium.

The announcement comes as Edwards builds the semiconductor industry's dry pump manufacturing factory of the future at STAMP.

Over the next five years, the consortium will serve a critical role in supporting Upstate New York’s continued growth into a globally competitive center of semiconductor workforce development, innovation, and manufacturing – part of the continued transformation of the state’s rust belt cities into a brand new innovation belt.

Empire State Development has committed up to $8 million in match funding along with significant additional aligned resources to support the NY SMART-I Corridor and will serve as a member of the Tech Hub’s implementation steering committee. 

“With this transformative federal grant, New York is taking another major leap toward building Chips Country in our state,” Governor Hochul said. “This award will help to bring the next generation of semiconductor research, manufacturing, and workforce training upstate and unlock even more funding – on top of our other state investments – to attract chipmaking businesses and jobs. From Micron’s historic investment to our first-in-the-nation chips research center in Albany, New York is all in on semiconductors and I thank the Biden administration, Majority Leader Schumer, Senator Gillibrand, and Congressman Morelle for ensuring we remain competitive in the global race for chips business.”

The NY SMART-I Corridor was awarded one of 31 Tech Hub designations by the federal Department of Commerce’s Economic Development Administration (EDA) in October 2023 from a pool of nearly 400 regional applications, and is one of only four semiconductor tech hub designations in the nation.

The consortium comprises the Western NY, Finger Lakes, and Central NY regions and is convened by the Buffalo-Niagara Partnership, ROC2025, and CenterState CEO respectively. It includes more than 80 members that include economic development organizations, government, workforce development, labor, industry, academia and nonprofits.

The Tech Hub will work to build a world-class semiconductor ecosystem across a range of focus areas including equitable workforce development and talent placement, research and commercialization pathways in partnership with leading academic institutions, chip manufacturing supply chain growth and development, and technology innovation.

Managed by a multi-sector implementation governance committee, the consortium will serve as a key coordinating body for semiconductor industry growth alongside the Governor’s Office of Semiconductor Expansion, Management, and Integration housed within ESD. 

Empire State Development President CEO and Commissioner Hope Knight said, “New York State’s efforts to re-shore the semiconductor industry in a way that emphasizes smart and strategic growth, equitable and diverse workforce development, and cutting-edge R&D and innovation are a model for the nation and the world. Funding for the Tech Hub provided by the Biden administration will help us realize this shared vision to build a thriving innovation sector, increase our domestic semiconductor supply chain, and protect our economic and national security – all while creating good jobs for all New Yorkers.”

Press release from Rep. Claudia Tenney:

Congresswoman Claudia Tenney (NY-24) joined Representatives Joe Morelle (NY-25), Nick Langworthy (NY-23), Tim Kennedy (NY-26), Marc Molinaro (NY-19), and Brandon Williams (NY-22) to announce that the New York Semiconductor Manufacturing and Research Technology Innovation Corridor (NY SMART I-Corridor), comprised of the Buffalo, Rochester, and Syracuse areas, has been selected to receive $40 million in Phase II funding in the Regional Technology and Innovation Hubs (Tech Hubs) Program. 

The creation of the NY SMART I-Corridor will allow for the Buffalo-Rochester-Syracuse region to combine its expertise in advanced manufacturing with both ongoing and new investments in semiconductor and sensing technology. The NY SMART I-Corridor coalition emphasized collaboration over competition, utilizing their unique universities, field experts, and local and federal advocates to build a brighter future for the Buffalo-Rochester-Syracuse region.

In October 2023, the NY SMART I-Corridor was designated a Regional Tech Hub during Phase I of the program. Selection for Phase II funding further underscores the strength and promise of our region.

"With this additional investment into the Buffalo-Rochester-Syracuse corridor and its designation as a Regional Technology and Innovation Hub, our region will be at the forefront of innovative advancements benefiting our nation, and the world," said Congresswoman Tenney. "This funding will onshore critical parts of our nation's supply chain, bringing jobs to our communities and promoting technological advancement. I am eager to see the positive impact this funding will have on our community."

Press release from Sen. Charles Schumer:

After years of relentless advocacy and landing the prestigious federal Tech Hub designation for the Buffalo-Rochester-Syracuse that he created in his CHIPS & Science Law, U.S. Senate Majority Leader Chuck Schumer today announced the “NY SMART I-Corridor Tech Hub” was just selected as one of only 12 Tech Hub award winners in the nation, bringing a major $40 million in federal funding to further position Upstate NY as a semiconductor center for the world. 

Schumer said this prestigious and highly competitive federal investment will supercharge Upstate NY to build out its workforce training initiatives, strengthen existing manufacturing and innovation, and help attract new supply chains from the billions in private and federal semiconductor investment the senator has helped bring to the region, helping ensure this industry that is critical to our nation’s future, and that once was being lost to overseas, now is not just made in America, but made in Upstate NY. 

“This is a monumental victory for the Buffalo-Rochester-Syracuse region as the first major Tech Hub award in the nation, bringing a whopping $40 million from my CHIPS & Science Law. With this major investment, the feds are shining a national spotlight, and confirming what I have long known, that America’s semiconductor future runs through the heart of Upstate NY along the I-90 corridor.,” said Senator Schumer. “From the fields near Syracuse that will become Micron’s massive mega-fab to the cutting-edge research labs in Rochester and workers learning these manufacturing skills in Buffalo, this award helps connect the region to seize this once-in-a-generation opportunity and establish Upstate NY as the heart of America’s semiconductor industry. I created the Tech Hubs competition with Upstate NY in mind, and pulled out all the stops to win this award –first proposing this program in my Endless Frontier Act, then passing it into law as part of my CHIPS & Science Act, making the case to bring the region together, advocating at the highest levels and delivering the transformational investment to make today possible. It’s never been more clear: the heart of America’s semiconductor industry runs along the I-90 corridor in Upstate NY!”

Today’s award is the culmination of years of work by Schumer both creating the program through his CHIPS & Science Law with Upstate NY in mind, and working meticulously to lay the foundation for the region to succeed in securing this award. Going back to before the creation of the program, Schumer cited Upstate NY as ready to compete, and began working to build the coalitions to come together to be ready to tap the federal funding award, including landing major grants like  $25 million from the American Rescue Plan for Buffalo to boost its growing tech industry, while simultaneously working to land major companies in the semiconductor and related industries in the region from Micron’s massive over $100 billion federal investment in Central NY to Edwards Vacuum in Western NY. 

Thanks to Schumer’s efforts, the multi-region consortium beat out nearly 400 initial applications in the first phase of the Tech Hubs competition and was one of only 31 proposals selected for the prestigious federal Tech Hub designation that allowed them to compete for the funding awarded today. This fits together with billions in private and federal investment Schumer has helped deliver for Upstate NY, and companies we are seeing already expand in the region. Just after receiving the Tech Hub designation, Schumer announced TTM Technologies intends to build an up to $130 million, 400 job high-tech manufacturing facility in Central NY, citing the Tech Hub designation as a reason for wanting to locate in Upstate NY.

This is on top of other major investments in the semiconductor industry, including GlobalFoundries plans to invest over $12 billion to expand and construct a second, new state-of-the-art computer chip factory in the Capital Region, Wolfspeed recently opening the first, largest, and only 200mm silicon carbide fabrication facility in the world in the Mohawk Valley, and Menlo Micro investing $50+ million to build their microchip switch manufacturing facility near Ithaca, creating over 100 new good-paying jobs. In addition, major supply chain companies like Edwards Vacuum is making a $300+ million investment to build a dry pump manufacturing facility in Western NY, creating 600 good-paying jobs to support the growing chip industry in Upstate New York. Niacet Specialty Chemicals also announced an investment of $50 million in its Niagara Falls facility to strengthen the semiconductor manufacturing supply chain, and Corning Inc., which manufactures glass critical to the microchip industry, is investing $139 million in Monroe County – creating over 270 new, good-paying jobs, and many more.

 

The $40 million in Tech Hubs funding will go towards specific component projects that aim to solve the growth challenges the region would otherwise face over the coming decade and ensure that growth is translated to all members of our communities.  Specifically, the component project efforts will be led by Monroe Community College, the University at Buffalo (UB), and Syracuse University, all of which will be coordinating across the region to bolster workforce training initiatives, help elevate local supply chain companies, create a collaborative ecosystem for semiconductor R&D commercialization. According to the proposal, by the end of the decade, 25% of all chips produced in the United States will be manufactured within 350 miles of this Tech Hub, – with no other region in the nation accounting for a greater share of microchip production.

The NY SMART I-Corridor Consortium Tech Hub spans across the Buffalo, Rochester, and Syracuse region and has engaged 100+ institutions, including assembling commitments from industry, academia, labor, non-profit, government, and other private sector members. The implementation phase of the program will allow the region to expand the semiconductor ecosystem already in existence to develop and make the future of semiconductor technology in Upstate NY.