Press release from AAA:

Today’s national average price for a gallon of gasoline is $2.03, which is 5 cents higher than a week ago. One year ago, the price was $2.76. The New York State average is $2.20 – 2 cents higher than last week. A year ago, the NYS average was $2.90.

AAA Western and Central New York (AAA WCNY) reports the following averages:

• Batavia -- $2.25 (up 3 cents since last week)
• Buffalo -- $2.19 (down 1 cent since last week)
• Ithaca -- $2.11 (up 1 cent since last week)
• Rochester -- $2.20 (no change since last week)
• Rome -- $2.21 (up 3 cents since last week)
• Syracuse -- $2.10 (up 1 cent since last week)
• Watertown -- $2.19 (up 1 cent since last week)

The national average price for a gallon of gasoline has topped $2, after spending months below that $2 mark due to inactivity among motorists, low demand and slowed production.

Prices have been slowly rising as states reopen and demand for gasoline increases for both work and recreation purposes. While demand is on the rise, levels are still lower than one year ago.

Expect prices to continue to increase as the summer travel season gets underway. This year, AAA expects road trips to be very popular.

From GasBuddy:

"It's no surprise that gasoline prices have increased for the sixth straight week as gasoline demand has hit its highest level since early March as Americans are returning to the roads," said Patrick De Haan, head of petroleum analysis for GasBuddy.

"With OPEC extending its large oil production cuts until at least July, oil prices continue to rally. In Sunday evening trade, a barrel of WTI crude oil briefly touched $40 per barrel, the highest level in months thanks to rebounding demand for oil and gasoline as well as the previous production cuts.

While I don't see oil's strength holding too long given that oil demand remains 20-25 percent below a year ago, I believe the anxiety pushing oil prices up is coming from the fact that the economy may be recovering quicker than most anticipated. For now, motorists will likely continue to see gas prices rising for the weeks ahead."

A one-vehicle rollover accident is reported in Pavilion at Transit and Keller roads. A female sustained a back injury and is unable to exit the vehicle. A male complains of head pain.

Bethany Fire Department is responding along with two Mercy ambulances.

UPDATE 8:45 p.m.: Extrication equipment is requested and more manpower from Bethany.

UPDATE 8:56 p.m.: The patient with the back injury has been extricated.

A caller in the 6800 block of Transit Road in Elba reports to dispatchers that four-wheelers are traveling up and down the roadway at a high rate of speed and the operators are not wearing helmets. Sheriff's deputies are responding.

Photos submitted by Brandon Lewis.

A referral for a special use permit and area variance for an addition of 20 housing units at DePaul Apartments, 555 E. Main St., Batavia, is on the agenda for Thursday’s Genesee County Planning Board meeting via Zoom videoconferencing.

Paul Schreiner of Parrone Engineering of East Rochester, acting on behalf of DePaul Properties, filed building permit, special use permit and Zoning Board of Appeals area variance applications for the construction of a 20,100-square-foot, two-story, 20-dwelling unit addition to the existing 42-unit development.

The current 49,786-square-foot multifamily complex on the north side of Route 5, west of Eastown Plaza, was built in 2009. Applicants for the one- and two-bedroom apartments must meet eligibility requirements of the Low-Income Housing Tax Credit Program.

The project also will include the expansion of the existing parking area, adjustment of the existing storm drainage system and site grading. Whitney East of Rochester has been selected as the general contractor.

Following a review and recommendation by county planners, the proposal is scheduled to go before the Batavia City Planning & Development Committee on June 16 for a site plan review and then to the City ZBA on June 25 to review and act on required variances.

Variances required are as follows:

-- The maximum permitted number of dwelling units per building is 16 for large-scale multifamily developments. Currently, there are 42 units and 20 more are proposed for a total of 62.

-- Buildings in large-scale multifamily developments are required to be set back from interior roads, driveways and parking lots by at least 20 feet; eight feet is proposed.

-- Off-street parking is required at a rate of 1.5 spaces for each dwelling unit. The proposal calls for a total of 56 parking spaces at a rate of .90 spaces per dwelling unit. Currently, there are 32 spaces for the 42 units.

Other items on the agenda include:

-- A referral of the “final plat” of the Clinton Gardens Subdivision filed by Batavia Homes & Development on property behind 387 Garden Drive.

The proposal outlines the division of a portion of the property’s 11 acres into six separate parcels, with five of them dimensioned for development and the remaining portion to be set aside for future development.

The application was approved by the City Planning & Development Committee last June 18, contingent upon the owner submitting a “final plat” with one year.

Documents filed in 2019 by Robert Padanick, senior project manager for Nussbaumer & Clarke Inc., of Buffalo, indicate the owner is seeking to extend existing Carolwood Drive and Harrold Square – connecting two public dead-end streets – and allowing development of five new lots.

Additionally, about 460 feet of new pavement will be constructed, along with sanitary sewer, water and drainage utilities that previously were approved by city and county officials.

-- A referral for a special use permit submitted by Martin Rivers for a motor vehicle repair shop within a commercial district at 5278 Clinton Street Road (on the property of R&D Electronics).

The permit is required per Article III of the Town of Stafford zoning code.

Documents for the business, Rivers Performance, indicate that the shop will be open from 8 a.m. to 5 p.m. Monday through Friday, with one to five cars on site and no outside storage.

Rivers is no longer operating a shop at his former location on Liberty Street.

-- A referral from Brickhouse Commons LLC, for a special use permit to operate a drive-thru business on Route 77, across from Pembroke Central High School.

According to submitted documents, the plan is to build a three-story, 32,000-square-foot multiuse building featuring 8,200 square feet of space for retail businesses as well as indoor parking and fitness area for tenants on the first floor and 17 apartments on the second and third floors.

J&R Fancher Property Holdings LLC, previously proposed the $3 million project at the Buffalo East Technology Park, located in the Town of Pembroke’s Interchange District.

-- A referral for a special use permit from Nixon Peabody law firm of Rochester on behalf of Blue Sky Towers III LLC, and Bell Atlantic Mobile Systems LLC (Verizon Wireless) to construct and operate a 155-foot cell phone communications tower (plus 4-foot lightning rod) on the property of Jeff and Patricia Jarosinski near 6811 Batavia Byron Road in the Town of Byron.

According to a letter to the Town of Byron Planning Board, Blue Sky will construct and own the tower and associated components for the benefit of Verizon Wireless (and potential subsequent users of the tower), with Verizon leasing a 100- by 100-foot area from the property owners.

Since the site is located in an Agricultural-Residential zone, a special use permit and site plan approval from the Town of Byron Planning Board are required.

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For more information about Thursday’s meeting, contact the Genesee County Planning Department at (585) 815-7901. County planners generally make recommendations of referrals, which then are moved on to municipal planning boards and zoning boards of appeals.

More photos from today's March for Justice in Batavia by Philip Casper.

A physical fight among about a dozen people in the 100 to 200 block of Ross Street in the city is reported. Police are responding.

UPDATE 2:33 p.m.: Police are on scene.

UPDATE 3:02 p.m.: Police report the situation is under control.

Photos by Jim Burns, taken this morning at the protest "March for Justice" in Downtown Batavia.

A blue Honda Odyssey and a red Chevrolet SUV collided at East Main and Bank streets in Downtown Batavia, partially blocking traffic. No words on injuries.

Batavia police, fire and Mercy medics responded.

Police are asking for assistance with traffic control at West Main and Ellicott streets Downtown.

UPDATE 10:52 a.m.: Police ask for two patrol cars to shut down eastbound traffic at Main and Ellicott streets.

UPDATE 11:19 a.m.: Organizers can be heard on our livestream saying it's time to go and the crowd is dispersing.

UPDATE 11:22 a.m.: Pizza! Pizza! Now all are invited to "eat as much pizza as you want" -- courtesy of Main Street Pizza Company, from boxes stacked in the back of an organizer's vehicle.

Here's the plan: I'm going to attempt to periodically livestream today's events. It won't be a constant stream. This player, if it works right, will show streaming content when I'm streaming, and show as unavailable when I'm not. I believe if you just keep the stream open, in play mode, it will start playing for you whenever I'm streaming.

Vic Marchese, owner of Main St. Pizza Company on East Main Street, Batavia, works on a "Black Lives Matter" sign on boards he had placed over a large window on the outside of his restaurant.

Marchese said he doesn't believe anybody locally would harm his business and he doubts agitators from outside our community will come to Batavia for tomorrow's protest, but the window he covered was custom made for his shop and was very expensive. He thought it best to be prepared if there is trouble following the protest.

Main St. Pizza is one of about a dozen businesses in Batavia that decided to board up their windows and doors for Sunday.

The protest gathering begins at City Hall at 8 a.m. The march from City Hall to the Batavia PD headquarters is scheduled for 11 a.m.

Press release:

The Genesee and Orleans County Health Departments have received four more COVID-19 cases. Orleans has three new positive cases (bringing the total to 242), and Genesee has one (bringing the total to 195). 

Contact tracing has been initiated and all who have had direct contact with the individuals will be notified by Health Department staff. All of the new positive cases are community members and none of them were under quarantine prior to testing positive.

There is currently no further information to release on ages and locations. Mapping to include the positive cases from the weekend will be updated on Monday afternoon.

In this morning’s address, Governor Cuomo announced churches can have services starting immediately with up to 25 percent of their building capacity. Social distancing, face coverings and proper hygiene must be followed.

All churches also have to have a completed business safety plan in place.  

Now that we are halfway through Phase Two, we ask residents to continue social distancing, mask wearing, and proper hygiene. Even when you are outside, the virus can be spread.

We also ask residents to be respectful of the business owners and wear masks while you are in their establishment. If you are unable to wear a mask due to a medical condition, call the business and ask for curbside delivery.

We can all show people that we care and respect them by continuing these practices to keep everyone safe.

A two-vehicle accident, unknown injuries, is reported at Oak Orchard Road and Lockport Road, which is east of Route 98 (Quaker Hill Road). Elba Fire Department and Mercy medics are responding.

UPDATE 5:42 p.m.: A caller to dispatch reports no injuries.

UPDATE 5:45 p.m.: A first responder corrects the location -- the accident scene is at Oak Orchard and North Byron roads.

UPDATE 6:28 p.m.: The Elba assignment is back in service.

Press release:

Assemblyman Steve Hawley is calling on his fellow Assembly members to allow high school students to graduate in person alongside their peers, as opposed to the governor’s plan for a drive-thru graduation, which Hawley calls “just one of the many gross misuses of executive power during the coronavirus crisis.”

Hawley argues that while solutions could have been discussed in the public setting and agreed upon by individuals, the governor has once again moved for a one-size-fits-all solution, which has been the greatest detractor of moving forward since this outbreak began.

“There exist plenty of solutions to holding a healthy and safe ceremony for our graduating high school classes, and I’m just as frustrated as the students are that the governor has once again decided to make a unilateral decision for an issue that can easily be brought into the public forum,” Hawley said.

“With graduations oftentimes taking place outside, the social distancing parameters could have easily been met, which would not only satisfy the health-conscious concerns of the executive, but given the graduating students the send-off they deserve. It’s no small feat to complete 12 years of education, and these students deserve to have their time, energy, and success recognized and celebrated along with their peers and families."

A turtle is reported to be in the roadway at Oak Street and Park Road in the city. Police are responding.

A little pride goes a long way!

Jamie Quinn, senior class advisor at Pavilion Central School District, sure has a lot of pride in the students graduating in a year roiled by the coronavirus pandemic.

She talks glowingly about the class she's worked hard to elevate.

“There are so many things that our seniors have missed out on this year, but I hope they know how hard we’re working to spread some love and give them whatever senior experience we can," Quinn said. "We love them, we miss them, and we want all the best for them as they end their final year at Pavilion."

Quinn and the other class advisor, Kimberly Orban, have visited the homes of all 38 graduating seniors twice since schools were shut down mid-March.  

The first visit was on April 20 and the two delivered senior yard signs with the help of School Resource Office Deputy Jeremey McClellan, the PCS Gopher mascot and a dedicated bus driver. All of the grads received a sign.

“It was a great day!” Orban said.  

The second visit to the grads was on June 1. 

Led by the Gopher mascot, principals, student advisors and staff boarded a bus again and set about to spread a huge dose of good cheer.  

The group distributed the seniors' final gifts -- their Senior Yearbook, graduation cap, and a bag of goodies.

"We miss our students and it is hard for us to say goodbye to them," said Charles Martelle, assistant principal. "These activities are a nice way for us to make sure these young men and women know we still care about them and that we will always be here for them.” 

The ceremonious events have been important, but so have the day-to-day happenings. 

School officials have maintained ongoing contact with senior class officers via social media and have involved them in the planning of all year-end functions for their class.

A “Google Meet” ceremony was arranged, and the senior class Top 10 were honored virtually with their parents present.

The school website has been used by staff and students alike to post special messages, updates, and photos on their “Gopher Pride” page.

And Student Council has hosted virtual Spirit Weeks for the duration of the shutdown. One particular week was dedicated to sending special messages of support to the seniors.

"The class of 2020 will certainly have a lot to reminisce about at future class reunions,” said PCS Superintendent Kenneth Ellison, and they are proud of that.

“I've seen the class grow into such kindhearted and resilient young men and women capable of weathering any storm," Quinn said. “They have supported each other as a class and continue to prove that they can handle anything that comes their way. I know they will be successful in all that they do.”

The Pavilion High School Class of 2020 Commencement will be held at the Silver LakeTwin Drive-in Theatre in Wyoming County (7037 Chapman Ave., Perry) at 2 p.m. on Sunday, June 28.

“It is sure to include an infinite amount of PCS Gopher pride!” Quinn said.

Photo of Pavilion High School Senior Class of 2020* by Clix Photography, courtesy of Jamie Quinn.

*Not pictured, seniors Autumn Sanderson and Tom Rada.

Notre Dame High School will honor its Class of 2020 graduates today in a socially distanced ceremony on its football field.

The school asked me to livestream it for them and, although I've never livestreamed an event remotely before, I'm giving it a try.

Teachers at Batavia Middle School volunteered to hand deliver end-of-the-year academic awards to their fifth-, sixth-, and seventh-grade students.

Alex's Place is participating in Stock the Freezer and WNY Feeds the Frontlines, delivering prepared frozen meals to front line workers and people in need.

This week, Alex's delivered 120 meals to the VA Hospital in Batavia.

Donors can purchase meals to purchase meals for frontline workers or people in need. Customers can also purchase meals for themselves.

To order, visit wnyfeedsthefrontline.org or alexsribs.com