batavia

Join the Open House party this week at this revamped 3-bedroom beauty at 3295 W. Main Street Road in the Town of Batavia! New floors, kitchen, bathroom - you name it, it's got a fresh new vibe. Open house dates are Thursday, August 15th, 3 - 5pm and Saturday, August 17th, 9 - 11 am. Bidding is open at bontragerauction.com until August 28th. Don’t miss your opportunity to view and bid on this move-in-ready home. Nothing to do but unpack!

After seven months of converting a gym into a colorful multi-generational nightclub vibe—tanning rooms are now selfie rooms, lockers have been replaced with a fun space to splatter, plus laser tag and glow ball areas—House of Bounce owners Pasquale and Justina Rapone debuted their new location during a grand unveiling Wednesday in downtown Batavia.

Labeling it a "Family Fun Center," Justina shared her excitement with family, friends and community members during a ribbon-cutting in front of the new site at the corner of Main and Jackson streets.

“We wanted this location to be somewhere where you can come on a Friday or a Saturday with your kids, and if you have kids that are real little, and you have some older kids, you guys can all come and have fun,” she said. “Maybe you’ve got a family that you guys always hang out with, and you want to meet up, and the adults can hang out, and the kids can play. We wanted to make it a space where everyone can kind of join together in the community. And also, we wanted it to be a place for the kids to come and have fun, and stay out of trouble. 

“So we started at the Harvester, and … we’re in the downtown area, which is huge. We're super excited. We brought a lot of new things in at our new location,” she said. “You don't have to drive to Buffalo or Rochester, you can come here for an hour before you go grab lunch.  We added laser tag, a glow golf. We added Laser Maze. We still have our splatter room. We also have all of our open play stuff, like we always have bumper cars and the selfie room, so we really have everything for everybody."

House of Bounce opened at Harvester Center more than two years ago before the couple decided to rent the downtown space in December, toiling away in preparation for a soft opening about two weeks ago and a bigger grand opening celebration this week.

And by bigger, it’s 12,000 square feet, so the footprint has grown quite a bit, Rapone said. 

That’s an impressive piece of business news, Genesee County Chamber of Commerce President Brian Cousins said, especially when it fits so well into the downtown scene.

“To see a business expand and grow in their pursuit of prosperity is very exciting.  House of Bounce, I believe, fits one of those niche needs for families in creating a memorable outing that is highly creative in product offerings,” Cousins said. “In touring their facility, they have put together a slate of activities that is attractive for a wide array of ages in a location that can also positively impact other adjacent businesses.  It was inspiring to see the creativity and thought that they put into each of the areas.”

There are two levels of entertainment for all ages, Rapone said, with an upper level for the little ones and downstairs for older kids. 

“It’s needed so much. There's so many kids around here that, you know, for years, didn't really have anywhere in the Batavia area to go, especially Genesee County itself,” she said. “So we really are excited to bring something in for all these kids to do. Come in, have fun, have a family outing right here in town without having to go to Buffalo and Rochester.”

So why the move after being so successful on the city’s east end? Due to the success, “we ran out of space for growth,” she said, “and we felt like moving into the downtown area was kind of the place to be.”

Now that they are part of the Business Improvement District, the business owners plan to participate in BID events, such as Christmas in the City, the Halloween trick-or-treats at each business, and annual cider and wine walks, she said. Other perks are “all the things that downtown has to offer, plus the traffic through here, and it’s just a great place to be seen.”

Within the set hours of the facility, people can just walk in and use it, there’s no need to make a reservation, unless it’s to book the party room, which accommodates up to 70 guests. That’s a change from the Harvester location, Rapone said.

“We were doing full facility shutdowns at the last place, and now we've just kind of outgrown that. We have too many people we're turning away on the weekend. So now it's just, if we're open, come in, no need for a reservation,” she said. “You can book right on our website. We have a booking software on there, so you'll just hit the book now button and look at all of our packages and pricing right on there, and book right online, and put your deposit in.”

Rapone was thoughtful to include “a lot of safety mats” and safety equipment, such as 6,000 square feet of turf, in the play areas for each child’s protection, and is also excited about a new swipe card system and a state-of-the-art prize hub. Other work has included a lot of painting and exclusive murals by a military veteran who she credited for doing “an amazing job” with complementary murals on the purple hued walls.

She and her husband hope that people will stop in to see it for themselves, and check out every facet, including the prize hub, and enjoy the facility as a family.

“It's like a vending machine for your prize. It's really cool,” she said. “We're excited to be able to have the whole family here having fun. Adults coming too. We’re trying to get food and drink, and when I say drink, I'm hoping for a beer and wine license so that we can kind of host some more adult night stuff, like do our adult paint night. That is our goal, to make it for everybody, for everyone.”

Hours are 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. Tuesdays and Thursdays, noon to 8 p.m. Fridays, 10 a.m. to 8 p.m. Saturdays and 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. Sundays. The facility is closed Mondays and Wednesdays. 

For more information, go to House of Bounce.  

Photos by Kara Richenberg

O’Darius A. Hamilton, Taheed M. Moffett and Carlos D. Hightower (no ages nor residential information provided by Batavia PD) are charged with multiple crimes following a traffic stop on July 15 on Ellicott Street by members of the Batavia PD NET Unit. They were all charged with criminal possession of a weapon 2nd and criminal possession of stolen property. Moffet and Hamilton were charged with criminal possession of a controlled substance 3rd. Hamilton was also charged with criminal possession of a controlled substance 4th and two counts of criminal use of drug paraphernalia 2nd.  During the traffic stop, officers allegedly found a large quantity of narcotics and a loaded handgun. The handgun had been previously reported stolen. All three were arraigned and released.

Richard C. Dumbleton and Robert J. Karker (no ages nor residential information provided by Batavia PD) are charged with two counts of criminal possession of a controlled substance. Dumbleton is also charged with criminal possession of a weapon, two counts of criminal use of drug paraphernalia and a traffic violation. On July 21, Batavia patrol officers conducted a traffic stop on Raymond Avenue. As a result of a search of the vehicle, officers reportedly found a large quantity of narcotics. Dumbleton was arraigned and released. Karker was held as a fugitive from justice on a warrant issued in Kentucky.

Lorendia S. Templeton, 29, of Farmington, was charged on July 8 with attempted assault 1st, menacing 2nd, and criminal possession of a weapon 4th. Templeton is accused of hitting another person with a baseball bat during a fight on Elm Street, Batavia, on July 7. He was arraigned and released.

Krystle D. Sanders, Dajuandrick C. Gardner, and Ashley M. Davis are charged with endangering the welfare of a child. The three suspects are accused of watching and encouraging two juveniles to fight on State Street, Batavia, on June 6.  They were arrested on July 4 and issued appearance tickets.

Samuel J. Hernandez, 22, of Batavia, is charged with petit larceny. Hernandez is accused of stealing the tip jar from Blondie's Sip-N-Dip on July 14. He was issued an appearance ticket and released.

Penny S. Hofert, 58, of Batavia, is charged with criminal sale of a controlled substance 3rd and criminal possession of a controlled substance 3rd. Hofert was arrested on July 15 following an investigation into drug sales in the city of Batavia. She was arraigned and released.

David J. Vega, 59, of Rochester, was arrested on July 15 on two warrants. The first warrant stems from a traffic stop, where Vega was issued a misdemeanor traffic ticket but allegedly failed to appear in court. The other warrant was issued after Vega allegedly failed to appear in court on a robbery charge from 2019. He was arraigned and remanded to the Genesee County Jail.

Michael J. Miller, 46, of Batavia, was arrested on July 18 on two warrants. Miller is accused of failure to register a change of address as a sex offender on two separate occasions. He was arraigned and jailed.

Cindy I. Bush, 62, of Batavia, is charged with criminal possession of a controlled substance 7th. Bush was allegedly found in possession of cocaine and fentanyl on Oct. 26 in the city of Batavia. She was arrested on July 16 and issued an appearance ticket. 

Laquita O. Jackson-Thomas, 41, of Rochester, was arrested on July 14 on a warrant for allegedly failing to appear in court on a traffic ticket. She was arraigned and released.

Jon H Bush, 64, is charged with criminal possession of a controlled substance 7th. Bush is accused of possessing cocaine on Oct. 26 in the city of Batavia. He was arrested on July 11 and issued an appearance ticket.

Michael C. Smith, 32, of Batavia, is charged with petit larceny. Smith is accused of stealing a wagon from T.F. Brown's on July 16. He was issued an appearance ticket.

Dontre R. Woods, 34, of Batavia, was arrested on a warrant on July 16. Woods is accused of failure to appear on a traffic ticket. He was arraigned and released.

Christine A. Draper, 53, of Bethany, is charged with harassment 2nd. Draper is accused of punching another person in the face during a disturbance at Batavia Downs on July 13. She was issued an appearance ticket.

Ryan A. Decillis, 32, of Batavia, is charged with harassment 2nd. Ryan A Decillis is accused of shoving another person during an argument on July 8 at a location on Ross Street, Batavia. He was arraigned in City Court and released.

Samuel J. Hernandez, 22, of Batavia, is charged with petit larceny. Hernandez is accused of stealing the tip jar from Blondie's Sip-N-Dip on July 14. He was issued an appearance ticket and released.

Courtney B. Kacur, 21, of Le Roy, is charged with DWI. Kacur was charged after reportedly being found asleep at the wheel in a business parking lot on East Main Street, Batavia, on July 4. She was issued an appearance ticket.

Jonathan E. Garcia, 32, of Batavia, is charged with failure to register as a sex offender. Garcia was arrested on July 9. He is accused of failure to register e-mail and social media accounts. He was released on an appearance ticket.

Carl E. Canterbury, 53, and Brant G. Matthews, 29, both of Batavia, are charged with criminal possession of a controlled substance 4th. Officers with the Batavia Police NET unit conducted a traffic stop on Ellicott Avenue on July 4. During the investigation, officers searched the vehicle and allegedly located over four grams of crack cocaine. Canterbury was additionally charged with Aggravated Unlicensed Operation of a Motor Vehicle 3rd. Both were arraigned and released.

Kevin L. Henley, 32, of Cheektowaga, is charged with criminal trespass 2nd. Henley is accused of entering a residence in Batavia on July 10 without the owners' permission. He was issued an appearance ticket.

Thomas J. Mitchell, 34, of Batavia, is charged with petit larceny. Mitchell was arrested on July 10. He is accused of stealing a set of car tires and using them on his own vehicle. He was issued an appearance ticket.

Christopher M. Phillips, 27, of Batavia, is charged with menacing 2nd and criminal possession of a weapon 4th. Phillips is accused of threatening another person on July 8 with a knife during a fight on Bank Street. He was issued an appearance ticket.

Carlina T. Newton, 29, of Buffalo, is charged with criminal possession of a controlled substance 7th and harassment 2nd. On July 7, Batavia patrol officers responded to a report of a person wandering in traffic on West Main Street. Newton was taken into custody and taken to the hospital. While being detained, Newton was allegedly found in possession of crack cocaine. Newton is also accused of biting a police officer. She was issued an appearance ticket.

Jennifer L. Tucker, 48, of Batavia, was arrested on July 8 on a warrant. The warrant stems from a March traffic stop, during which Tucker was issued a misdemeanor traffic ticket. The warrant was issued when she allegedly failed to appear in court. Tucker was arraigned and released on her own recognizance. 

Lamar I. Randall, 38, of Batavia, was arrested on July 7 on a warrant. The warrant stems from a traffic stop in December 2023, during which Randall was issued misdemeanor traffic tickets. The warrant was issued when he allegedly failed to appear in court. Randall was arraigned and released. 

Daniel J Bakowski, 43, of West Valley, was on a warrant on July 23, charging him with criminal possession of a controlled substance 5th. On Dec. 2, Bakowski was allegedly found in possession of narcotics. He was arraigned and released.

Kamau S. Freeman, 30, of Buffalo, is charged with robbery 3rd, criminal contempt 1st, criminal mischief 3rd, and grand larceny 4th. Freeman was arrested on July 14 in connection with an incident where he allegedly forcibly stole property and damaged it and, in the process, violated a court order. He was arraigned and released.

Press Release:

United Way of Greater Rochester and the Finger Lakes will once again present Summer Serenade, featuring the Genesee Symphony Orchestra.  

The Serenade will take place on Saturday, September 7, at Terry Hills Golf Course and Banquet Facility, beginning at 5 p.m. The event will feature hearty hors d’oeuvres, desserts, and a concert by the Genesee Symphony Orchestra. A cash bar will be available.   

Proceeds from the event will benefit the Genesee Symphony Orchestra and the United Way Backpack Program in Genesee County. 

The United Way Backpack Program provides easy-to-make meals for school-aged children in need throughout Genesee County. Currently, the program is supplying over 1,300 monthly meals to children throughout four school districts.

The Genesee Symphony Orchestra is a dynamic, regional orchestra that presents an ambitious portfolio of concerts for the enrichment of our community through high-quality performance, educational opportunities, guest artists, and partnerships.   

Tickets for the Serenade are $50 and can be purchased through any Genesee Symphony Orchestra Board Member, Lawley Insurance in Batavia, or online at unitedwayrocflx.org/summerserenade.

Football stars, movie stars, and men and women successful in the business world came together at Terry Hills on Monday for a good cause -- making life better for children in Western New York.

It was the annual Jim Kelly Celebrity Golf Classic.

The event raises money for Kelly For Kids, the charity founded by the former Bills' great to provide assistance to disadvantaged and disabled youth in the region.

Press Release:

To all traffic utilizing the following roadways:

• Brown Road – Wilkinson Road to Pembroke Townline
• Downey Road – Galloway Road to Batavia-Oakfield Townline Road
• Wortendyke Road – Route 33/Pearl Street Road to Alexander Townline

On August 14 from 7 a.m. - 5 p.m., resurfacing operations will occur on the listed roads.

Traffic should expect delays and short-term closures during these operations. All through traffic should seek alternative routes.

Residents on the listed roads will be permitted access to their properties but may experience delays.

If you have any questions concerning this work, please contact the Town of Batavia Highway Department at (585) 343-1729, Extension 218.

Thank you in advance for your cooperation.

Press Release:

The Batavia Muckdogs had an amazing season on the field, finishing first place overall in the West Division, and another amazing year off the field.

The Muckdogs kicked off the season walking in the annual Batavia Memorial Day Parade during training camp. Players & coaches visited local schools as well. 

Then the day before the season started the Muckdogs hosted a special meet & greet at Eli Fish Brewing, where season ticket holders met the Muckdogs.

As the season kicked off the Muckdogs hosted over 500 youth baseball & softball buddies during the year playing catch pre-game before games at Dwyer Stadium.

The Muckdogs hosted the Challenger Division Baseball for an incredible day as player & coach buddies, assisting players with physical and intellectual challenges throughout the day. Dwyer Stadium along with Muckdogs staff and players hosted baseball training camps as well, throughout the season. 

The Batavia Muckdogs teamed up with over 21 non-profits or charity organizations helping spread awareness and raise funds for their causes. On Friday, July 21, the Muckdogs hosted Strike-Out Cancer Night in partnership with Wilmot Cancer Institute. 

On July 6 the Muckdogs hosted Military Appreciation Night with all veterans receiving free entry. 

Thursday, July 18 the Muckdogs and Stop DWI teamed up to educate over 500 youth fans on driver safety. 

Then the Muckdogs closed out the regular season on July 28 collecting donations for the Genesee County Animal Shelter. 

Throughout the year the Muckdogs shared some great community programs with their Katie’s Star Memorial Fund Night (assisting in organ donor recovery), Live Like Levi (St. Joseph’s Schools), and First Responder Recognition (Honoring Genesee County Sheriff’s Office Sgt. Thomas Sanfratello).

Dwyer Stadium had some amazing visitors this season as well too. Buffalo Bills current rookie Guard Keaton Bills threw out a first pitch. Savannah Banana’s dancing first baseman Maceo Harris entertained fans at a game in June. In honor of the 2024 Olympics Jana Kolukanova 2x Olympian in swimming (sprint freestyle) representing Estonia came for a special appearance & first pitch as well. The Muckdogs also honored their baseball past hosting Batavia Clippers night with original 1939 Batavia Clipper Samuel “Sam” Dretto son throwing out the first pitch.

Dwyer Stadium will host several events before closing for the summer. Saturday August 10 Casella will have a company picnic & kickball game. Sunday August 25 the annual Battle of the Badges – Charity Softball Game (City of Batavia Police vs City of Batavia Fire). Then on Saturday October 19 Muckdogs Trick or Treat makes it’s return for the 4th straight year, a free event for the children of our community. 

The Batavia Muckdogs would like to thank their great community for all the support and are honored to keep the Batavia Muckdogs strong in our community. 2025 season tickets are on sale now starting as low as $99. If you are looking for tickets or to sponsor one of the upcoming events email General Manager (Marc Witt) mwitt.canusa@gmail.com.

The Pok-A-Dot is such an iconic location local filmmaker Andy Rich decided to shoot a scene on Saturday morning for a film he and a team of other local filmmakers are putting together for a film festival.

The festival, the 48-Hour Film Project, gives filmmakers just 48 hours to write a script, film it, edit it, and submit it to the contest.

The project can't begin before the Friday night of contest weekend because the team leader must receive two genres the filmmakers must choose from, the two characters that must be included, their professions, a prop and one line of dialogue that must be in the script.

This is the sixth year Rich's team has entered the contest.  They've previously made the Top 10 and been nominated for awards.

The Buffalo-area winners will be screened at an international film festival, Filmapolooza, at a location to be announced in 2025. Selected films from that festival will be screened in a special exhibit at the Cannes Film Festival in France.

"Every year, the film gets a little better," Rich said.

Rich likes filming in Genesee County.

"The thing about Genesee County is Genesee County has that feeling of comfort," Rich said.

He was grateful to Tim and Phyllis Beers for allowing the team to film a scene at the Pok-A-Dot.

"It feels like a place that everyone has been to wherever they are in America," Rich said. "It feels like places in small towns all over America."

You can view the 2019 entry here.

Previously: Le Roy actor offers opportunity, tools of the trade in free workshop

Photos by Howard Owens

Press Release:

The Batavia Country Club (BCC) concluded its 2024 Junior Golf Camp with impressive performances from young golfers in two age groups. The camp for ages 7-10 was held from July 29 to Aug. 2, and the camp for ages 11-15 was held from August 5 to 9. 

The camps featured instruction from experts, including Tom Tucker, a W.G.T.F. “Top 100 Golf Teacher,” Roxanne Noeth, a 14-time BCC Women’s Club Champion and Byron-Bergen H.S. Men's Basketball Coach, Dominic NiCastro, a single-digit handicap player, and Jada Fite, BCC Girls Junior Golf Camp Champion for 5 out of 6 years.

Ages 7-10: July 29 - Aug. 2

The camp for ages 7-10 saw enthusiastic participation and great weather. The week was highlighted by a shortened Friday tournament due to heavy rain, but the competition remained fierce.

Tournament Champions:

• Girls Champion: Macey D’Amico
• Boys Champion: Brady Ayres

D’Amico clinched the girls' title by two strokes in the one-hole tournament. The boys' tournament concluded in dramatic fashion, with Ayres winning a four-hole sudden-death playoff against Max Flannery. Flannery’s final putt just missed, allowing Ayres to secure the win.

Girls Medalists:

• Macey D’Amico (Champion)
• Payton Ford (Accuracy Putting, Lag Putting)
• Dakota Ford (Putting Contest, Chipping)
• Evie Lankford (Pitch Shot)

Boys Medalists: 

• Brady Ayres (Champion)
• Max Flannery (Putting Accuracy, Lag Putting, Putting Contest)
• Ryan Morasco (Chipping)
• Micheal Sexton (Pitch Shot)

Additional contests, including team scrambles and “putts for bucks,” kept the campers engaged and lightened Coach Tucker's wallet. Pictures courtesy of Coach Noeth can be found at 2024 Golf Camp Photos Ages 7-10

Ages 11-15: Aug. 5 - Aug. 9

The camp for ages 11-15 featured competitive play and camaraderie. Due to inclement weather on Friday, a four-hole tournament was held on Thursday. This adjustment ensured that the tournament continued smoothly despite the forecast.

Tournament Champions:

• Girls Champion: Melina Moscicki
• Boys Champion: Trent Darling

Moscicki excelled in a limited field, while Darling won the boys' competition decisively, showcasing impressive power with a nearly 275-yard drive on the long drive hole.

Girls Medalists:

• Melina Moscicki (Champion, Putting Contest, Chipping Contest, Pitch Shot Contest, Long Drive)
• Elizabeth Lankford (Lag Putting Contest, Aimline Accuracy, Closest to the Pin on Hole 17)

Boys Medalists: 

• Trent Darling (Champion, Long Drive Hole 15, Pitch Shot Contest)
• Eli Fancher (Chipping Contest)
• Xavier Vargas (Lag Putting Contest)
• Arlo Hoisington (Aimline Accuracy Contest)
• Lucas Hoisington (Putting Contest)
• Cal Fancher (Closest to the Pin Hole 17)

The campers enjoyed daily team scrambles and various skill contests, continuing the tradition of friendly competition, and "putts for bucks". Pictures courtesy of Coach Noeth can be found at 2024 Golf Camp Photos Ages 11-15.

Both groups had great weather, made new friends, and left with improved skills and cherished memories.

For more details on upcoming events and golf instruction, visit TomTuckerGolf.com.

Press release:

“Together we can” is the theme for this year’s International Overdose Awareness Day campaign – the annual observance that includes a local event from 3 - 7 p.m. August 28 at Austin Park in Batavia.

The world’s largest annual movement to end overdose, IOAD is dedicated to remembering without stigma those who have died and acknowledging the grief of family and friends left behind.

More than 200 community events have been scheduled across the United States and around the world during the month of August to raise awareness of one of society’s worst public health crises.

Initiated in 2001 by Sally J. Finn at The Salvation Army in St. Kilda, Melbourne, Australia, IOAD spreads the message about the tragedy of drug overdose death and that drug overdose is preventable.

Goals of the campaign include:

Providing an opportunity for people to publicly mourn loved ones in a safe environment, some for the first time without feeling guilt or shame.

Including the greatest number of people in IOAD events and encourage non-denominational involvement.

Providing information about the issue of fatal and non-fatal overdose.

Sending a strong message to current and former people who use drugs that they are valued.

The GOW Opioid Task Force ceremony will feature several guest speakers, including Rob Kent, president of Kent Strategic Advisors, LLC, and former general counsel for the White House Office of National Drug Control Policy.

Other speakers scheduled include Lynda Battaglia, director of Genesee County Mental Health & Community Services; Paul Pettit, public health director for Genesee & Orleans Health Departments; and Chris Budzinack, Supportive Living counselor at UConnectCare.

The event will feature live music, a petting zoo, ice cream truck, bounce house and free pizza and refreshments. Representatives of nonprofit agencies have been invited to set up booths at the park.

For more information about the Austin Park observance, contact Jay Baran at jbaran@uconnectcare.org.

Press Release:

The Holland Land Office Museum is proud to announce its latest exhibit, “Don Carmichael: Ink in History.” The exhibit will open on Tuesday, August 13 and will be on display through December. “Don Carmichael: Inked in History” features over 50 pieces of artwork from Don Carmichael in various mediums from throughout his life. The works come from the museum’s collections alongside others loaned from Carmichael’s friends and family. 

The exhibit can be seen during the museum’s normal operating hours of Tuesday-Saturday 10 a.m. - 4 p.m.

Don Carmichael (1926-2005) was one of the most iconic artists from Genesee County in the 20th century and continues to grace the walls of homes and businesses across the County. Locally known for his famous pen-and-ink sketches, called “Memories of Historic Batavia.” 

Don Carmichael captured the historic essence Batavia and Genesee County offered, and many have loved them ever since and have proudly displayed them in their homes and offices. Luckily, Carmichael sketched dozens of the landmark structures before Urban Renewal tore them down in the 1970s, or he captured the structures through old photographs. Carmichael stated, “I’m fond of Batavia and Batavia history, it’s rapidly disappearing, so I decided to record it for posterity.” Before his iconic pen-and-ink drawings, Carmichael played a major role in the community by being the Director of advertising at The Daily News, Where he worked for over 30 years.

Press Release:

At the final concert of the Batavia Concert Band's Centennial Season, which concluded on August 7, the Band awarded two scholarships to band members and future music educators. 

Congratulations to John Antsey and Abigail Hoerbelt.

The Batavia Concert Band look forward to our next season, scheduled to begin on Wednesday, July 2, 2025.  We will see you in Centennial Park!

Press Release:

The Batavia Blue Devil Athletic Hall of Fame Committee is proud to announce the recently selected 20th Hall of Fame class. The 2024 Hall of Fame Inductees will be introduced at halftime of the Batavia vs Vertus Charter homecoming football game on Friday, October 18. Game time is at 7 p.m.

On Saturday, October 19, the committee will host the Hall of Fame Dinner at the Batavia Downs Banquet Facility. A social hour will begin at 5 p.m. with dinner served at 6 p.m. and the ceremony immediately following dinner.

The 2024 Inductees:

• Peter Arras - 1957 - Football, Basketball, Baseball (Contributor) 
• Tony Kasmarek - 1960 - Football, Wrestling, Baseball 
• George Galliford - 1961 
  • Athlete: Cross Country, Wrestling, Track & Field
  • Coach: Cross Country, Indoor Track & Field, Alpine Ski, Track & Field
• Trisha Lewandowski - 1996 - Alpine Ski
• Robert Darch - 2003 - Football, Wrestling, Baseball 
• Melissa Thurston - 2006 - Soccer, Basketball, Track & Field
• Jennifer Adams - 2008 - Soccer, Indoor Track & Field, Track & Field
• Ryan Darch - 2010 - Wrestling
• Batavia Ice Devils 2002-2003

If community members would like to attend the event, they can purchase Hall of Fame tickets in the Athletic Office at Batavia High School or send a check payable to The Batavia Coaches Association at the address above.

The cost of the Hall of Fame tickets is $40 per adult and $20 for children under 10.

Tickets must be purchased by Friday, October 11. If you have any questions, please feel free to contact the Athletic Director’s office, at 585-343-2480 ext. 2003.

With a parent and siblings who attended Batavia Notre Dame High School, Julia Rogers’ story may sound strangely familiar to that of fellow colleague and newly promoted principal Lindsay Warner.

But then again, there are likely many stories of local residents with family members past and present connected to the only Genesee County-based Catholic institution for students through grade 12. 

Nonetheless, it’s a tradition that Rogers cherishes, especially since her mother, Sheila Tehan Rogers, was a graduate of the very first Class of 1955, and her dad, the late Bradley Rogers, coached for the Fighting Irish in Batavia.

“It’s very powerful,” Rogers said of her new role as director of instruction, curriculum and assessment. “I’m definitely following in their footsteps. It’s like coming home.”

A native of Batavia, Rogers opted to attend public schools while some of her six siblings went to Notre Dame. She wanted to teach languages — Spanish and French especially — and Batavia City Schools offered both of those classes. 

As it turns out, the city school district drew Rogers in, for a 31-year career that included teaching and administrative roles and also included coordinating initiatives with community organizations, families and students. Then Notre Dame’s board opted to create a brand new position at the school, and it seemed ripe for her career path, Rogers said.

“It came along at the perfect time for what I wanted,” she said. “I worked in curriculum office as the coordinator of instruction and assessment prior to COVID. I will be assisting staff and teachers in building their instruction. I will be more of a teammate assisting the teachers with instruction and brainstorming ideas and opportunities for learning and crafting their art of teaching.”

She will be in charge of assessments, from Regents and SATs and PSATs, and working on local assessment that teachers will be giving to students and working with various grants.

Even as a child, Rogers wanted into the academic scene. As the oldest of seven siblings, she and her family members would play school, and later she discovered the thrill of real life learning in progress.

“It's seeing the light bulb turn on for children when they get something, it is the most amazing sight that you could see as a teacher and as an educator. There's no words for it,” she said. “It's like a Christmas morning. It's that look that a student gets, a child gets, when they've learned something new and they have that sense of accomplishment, it’s like no other, and that's truly why I do what I do.

“This just takes it to another level, where it’s a cabinet role,” she said. “It’s a different impact that you can have.”

Will there be a learning curve between public and private schools?

“I definitely think there will be,” she said. Private schools have different requirements and reporting needs than public schools, though, students are striving for and achieving the same types of diplomas in the end, she said.

What has changed the most about curriculum, what needs to be considered?

“The biggest thing with curriculum is you want to stay ahead of the game.  You want to, in this day and age, with curriculum, you have to think about what's going on in society, but also keeping in mind, we're a techno savvy community. When you look at the young people in our community, and I used to describe it as the remote control era, where you don't just stick with one TV show when a commercial comes on, you pop to another one, or you're fast forwarding, or you're moving,” she said. “And as educators, you've got to keep that same energy of keeping things interesting for the students in your classroom, because they just can't get up and leave your class to go somewhere else. You've got to keep that intriguing to them.

 “So I think that's even different from when we were in school. You know, it's just everything's faster pace. I guess you would say maybe that's age too, but you can keep that out of it, but … I think also, to make our students be successful in the future, they have to have those opportunities of adding innovation to their learning.”

For example, students that may be into video games may be more adaptable to an opportunity to learn about becoming a game designer, she said.

“One of my first steps is really to look at the curriculum that is being taught here at Notre Dame and also talking to the students to see what they want to do in their future and see how we can assist supporting their dreams and aspirations in their curriculum that they’re learning about,” she said. “And I also feel that we have a very unique opportunity here at Notre Dame to really utilize the Christian faith and the Catholic faith to enhance the students’ learning and making sure that we are also graduating good Christian students here at Notre Dame who have a firm grasp on their beliefs and a great foundation to rely on in the future.”

An important factor for her is that she’s still in the community even though not at the city school district any more: “I’m still working with children of Batavia and now expanding it to children of neighborhood communities,” she said. “My first love is educating children.”

Rogers’ first 30 to 60 days will be filled with meeting the school community as she does a lot of “learning and learning and learning” about this new position and how to proceed toward year one. She can envision a graduation day for students and herself.

“There will be a sense of, wow, this was a powerful year for all of us, and successful for the students,” she said. “The students are going to be graduating, and I will be graduating from year one.”

She’s a believer of community service and is a member of Batavia Rotary, Salvation Army’s Advisory Board, Holland Land Office Museum Board of Directors and a second year chair person for the Alzheimer’s walk.

Vincent Chiropractic is hosting a Summer Pop Up this weekend for folks to meet its staff and several other local businesses, including Jagged Edges Salon, Eleanor Delilah, Raw Beauty Wellness, Styled Artistry by Abbey Rose, Thrifted, YK Designs, Sempre by Macey Jon, Green Compass, and Copper Custom Spray Tans.

The event is from 11 a.m. to 3 p.m. Saturday at 4105 W. Main Street Road, Batavia.

Press Release:

In March 2005, Bill Sofia first came to the Arc as a resident training instructor (RTI), now known today as a direct support professional. As of July 19, he holds a new title; director of business services.

“I am so excited to continue working and meeting with new business partners we have here in the GLOW community,” Sofia said. 

Sofia will be overseeing all of Arc GLOW’s business services which include: Hilltop Printshop, Hilltop Bottle and Can Return, assembly and packaging, janitorial services, lawn care, staffing solutions, Finders Keepers Thrift Shop, and Orleans Enterprises. He also oversees Meals on Wheels in Genesee County, which Arc GLOW staff members and individuals in the culinary arts training program have provided about 36,000 hot, nutritious meals annually to eligible Genesee County seniors.

“Bill has a lot of experience working with individuals and helping them find gainful employment through Arc GLOW’s business services and in the community,” said Kellie Kennedy, vice president of Day and Employment Services. “I have every bit of confidence he will be able to bring that experience to connect our business partners with not only our own services but individuals which would be a good fit for their company.”

Over the years, Sofia has held many titles: RTI at the Meadowcrest Individualized Residential Alternatives (IRA) in Batavia, job coach, assistant residential manger, residential manager, foreman, senior production manager, and employment services manager. His time with the Arc started when his step-father told him that the Arc was hiring. 

“I didn’t know what the Arc was, and my step-dad told me it was an organization which worked with people with intellectual and developmental disabilities (IDD),” he said. “He told me my good sense of humor would be good.”

Sofia said he loves what he does; he wakes up and enjoys coming to work and being around the people Arc GLOW serves. 

Sofia grew up in Rochester, but finished high school at Pembroke High School when his mother accepted a job at the VA Medical Center in Batavia. He now lives in Batavia, and in 2010 completed a disability studies program in collaboration with The Arc of New York State and Empire State College.

Created in 2021, Arc GLOW, a chapter of The Arc New York, is the result of the merger of two successful and long-standing organizations, The Arc of Livingston-Wyoming and Arc of Genesee Orleans. 

Arc GLOW is a non-profit organization founded by parents and friends of people with intellectual and developmental disabilities. We serve individuals with a variety of disabilities including autism, cerebral palsy, developmental delay, Down syndrome, epilepsy, Fragile X syndrome and neurological conditions. 

In our name Arc GLOW, GLOW is an acronym for the counties we serve — Genesee, Livingston, Orleans and Wyoming.

Press Release:

Join us at the Holland Land Office Museum for a special edition of our Java with Joe E. morning presentation series on Friday, August 30 at 9 a.m.

Bob Bialkowski will present on the history and restoration process of Batavia’s Rocket Car, those who were responsible for saving the car, and how it ended up at the Pierce Arrow Museum in Buffalo.

Admission is free with coffee and cookies. Please contact the museum at 585-343-4727 or hollandlandoffice@gmail.com if you plan to attend. Thank you to Pub Hub Coffee for sponsoring Java with Joe E. for 2024.