batavia

Press Release:

Join us at the Holland Land Office Museum for the next edition of our Trivia Night @ the Museum on Thursday, July 11 at 7 p.m. In honor of the Fourth of July, our topic will be the document that started it all the Declaration of Independence. Admission is $5 or $3 for museum members. Please contact the museum at 585-343-4727 or hollandlandoffice@gmail.com if you would like to attend.

Join us at the Holland Land Office Museum on Saturday, July 13 at 1 p.m. for a full screen presentation by New York City painter and sculptor Anthony Terrell on his two new murals. Anthony, a former resident of Batavia, will show off his latest large scale works, "Crossing the Atlantic in Chains and Shackles" and "She Has Beautiful Windows (Doesn't She)." There will also be an open discussion of the development of both murals along with sketches and drafts. Admission is $5 or $3 for museum members. Please contact the museum if you plan on attending at 585-343-4727 or hollandlandoffice@gmail.com.

Join us at the Holland Land Office Museum for the next edition of our Java with Joe series on Thursday, July 25 at 10 a.m. Listen to our curator, Tyler Angora, talk about some of the most famous women who came out of the American Civil War. Women played a larger role in the American Civil War than what is often portrayed in American history. Come and hear about how women aided the war and willingly made their presence known or unknown! Admission is free with coffee and cookies. Thank you to Pub Hub Coffee for sponsoring Java with Joe for 2024.

Join us at the Holland Land Office Museum for the next edition of our Guest Speaker Series, presented by David Reilly. Since 2018, Dave Reilly has been writing stories for The Batavian about growing up in Batavia in the 1950s and ‘60s. He combined 20 of these stories into a book called “Small Town Talk”. On Friday July 19 Dave will be doing a book talk at the HLOM at 2 p.m. He will have books available at that time for $20 and will be happy to sign a copy for you. The following day will be the 60th reunion of Dave’s Notre Dame Class of 1964 so he especially invites any of his classmates who are in town and still “above the grass” to attend. Admission is $5 or $3 for museum members. If you would like to attend please contact the museum at 585-343-4727 or hollandlandoffice@gmail.com.

"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!"

Every third Saturday at the museum come from 11 a.m. - 12 p.m. to participate in a workshop to help you preserve, create, or research your history! On July 20, come and learn how to preserve and store your family’s photos and photo albums at home! Our curator Tyler Angora will teach you tips and tricks on how to store your beloved family photos for years, and how we store out photos here at the museum! Admission is $5 or $4 for museum members. If you would like to attend, please contact the museum at 585-343-4727 or hollandlandoffice@gmail.com.

The Holland Land Office Museum is proud to announce the next edition of its Guest Speaker Series. On Wednesday, July 24 at 7 p.m., the museum welcomes back Kevin Pawlak, who is the Historic Site Manager for the Prince William County Historic Preservation Division and works as a Licensed Battlefield Guide at Antietam National Battlefield. He will be presenting on Western New Yorkers at the battles of Bull Run. Admission is $5 or $3 for museum members. Please contact the museum at 585-343-4727 or hollandlandoffice@gmail.com.

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

Join us at the Holland Land Office Museum for the next edition of our Java with Joe series on Thursday, July 25 at 10 a.m. Listen to our curator, Tyler Angora, talk about some of the most famous women who came out of the American Civil War. Women played a larger role in the American Civil War than what is often portrayed in American history. Come and hear about how women aided the war and willingly made their presence known or unknown! Admission is free with coffee and cookies. Thank you to Pub Hub Coffee for sponsoring Java with Joe for 2024.

Bring the kids by the Holland Land Office Museum for our new History Storytime for Summer 2024. On Saturday, July 27 at 11 a.m. Joyce Thompson-Hovey will be sharing life in the "Early Schools of the 1800s." It covers not only the role of the student and teachers during this period but also what school was like both in the North and the South. There is lots of class participation because we run it like a typical school day back then. Admission is $5 or $3 or museum members. If you would like to sign up please contact the museum at 585-343-4727 or hollandlandoffice@gmail.com. 

Van Detta Stadium was filled once again with cheering fans Friday evening, only this time they were parents, family members and friends of the 169 graduates of Batavia High School’s Class of 2024 during commencement ceremonies.

Dressed in school colors of blue and white, graduates were sent off with words of encouragement to persevere, celebrate one another, challenge the norms, uplift those around them, and use Batava’s educational lessons to press and move onward through life.

“We may not be ready; nevertheless, we face onwards and take the first step forward,” Class Co-Mayor Lilyana Burke said. “Graduating high school, we’re apparently adults now, and yet I have absolutely no idea what is going to happen next, but that’s the best part. So far, we have experienced everything from friendships and football games to breakups and bus rides. Now it is time for us to experience something new.”

Co-Mayors Parris Price and Burke offered words of reflection for what they and their class members just endured and the people who supported them through it — some 60 teachers, aides, lunch ladies, office staff, faculty, security guards and school resource officers — as they remain “wide-eyed and excited for what comes next,” Burke said.

When working on a college essay, she discovered a quote from Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau that she will use to guide her into this next chapter of life: “Is it really just the issue of physical safety that makes our loved ones so anxious at the idea of us getting out there? Or is it the threat that if we look past our frames, the frames of our own lives, of our own communities’ structured values and belief systems, to truly  engage with people who believe fundamentally different things, we could perhaps be transformed into someone new and unfamiliar to those who know and love us?”

During her high school career, she learned that people are afraid of change: old friends can become strangers, and old habits can become lost. Yet, people are also attracted to change, as old strangers can become family while bad habits are lost, she said. To boil that down, she said that “without change, growth cannot occur. Without growth, there is no life, only routine.”

Price added that navigating life is like playing a game where “we encounter challenges, make choices and strive for achievements.”

High school was rife with events such as homecoming that captured the school spirit perfectly, he said.

“From creating vibrant murals that painted our school with creativity to the exhilarating relay races between classes, we embraced teamwork, creativity, and friendly competition — all essential skills in the game of life,” Parris said. “Just as in any game, each moment taught us valuable lessons about collaboration, perseverance, and the joy of shared experiences, preparing us for the challenges and victories beyond the halls of high school.”

Commencement Speaker Joseph Hussar, a 19-year city school district veteran and high school counselor, began his talk by offering the group an opportunity to breathe. 

This ceremony is a culmination of 13 years in the making, he said, and it was now okay to really absorb this once-in-a-lifetime moment after enduring the trials of academics, COVID and random school threats.

“I want to say that there's never been a group of students that I've been more excited to see than the class of 2024, having walked into the school as freshmen. I remember so many of the high points and low points of your high school journey, both collectively and individually. And I feel honored to be a part of it. I remember the one-way stairs, the cones in the halls, classes every other day, and tables in the cafeteria. And even though it wasn't ideal, we were all excited just to have another opportunity to be back in school, and opportunity to make memories and to try to have our normal life back. Because that was all we wanted, was a chance to be normal again,” he said, recalling those early days of the pandemic. “But then I remember in November and December of 2021, without question in my career, that's the lowest point I've ever seen in a collective group of students. We canceled school because of violent threats. We mourned the loss of one of your classmates. And student and staff engagement was at an all-time low. 

“The counselors ran circles in your classes to address concerns about the school climate, to see what we could do to improve the school climate. We wanted to give you a chance to speak up and make positive changes in the school. And you did. You were honest and open and respectful. And you made the school better, not perfect, but better than it was before. You showed them when given the opportunity, you can use your voice to encourage each other and to inspire change,” he said.  Today, you'll be given a diploma. And with that, an opportunity to open more doors. However, opportunity without action is useless. The only thing opportunity promises you is a chance; what you do with that chance is up to you. Up to this point in your life, you've been in the passenger seat; you've always had someone else to blame, whether it was parents or teachers or any other rules. No matter what, you follow those rules, whether you like them or not. After today, you are now the driver.”

Being the driver means access and ability to choices: don’t like your job, find a new one or work to make it better; if you don’t like where you live, then move; if you’re unhappy in your relationship, work it out or leave, he said.

“No matter what, you have opportunities to make your life what you want it to be. The harsh reality is that the older you get, the less patient people become with your excuses,” he said. “If you don’t like something in your life, make a change; you will finally be given that opportunity. As you go out into the next chapter of your life, I really hope that you never forget that you matter and that you have a purpose. You are everything to someone, and you have an impact on people that you may never know. You are the hero in someone’s story, and you are the role model to others in need.”

He ramped up the crowd by suggesting that while the diploma was for the student who walked up front to accept, it was for those onlookers in the stands politely holding their applause during each speech. “Let them take pictures and scream your name and embarrass you a little bit today,” he said.

His final piece of advice to these impending graduates — 46 going on to four-year colleges and 61 to two-year schools, four entering military service, and 29 already have found jobs — is to be grateful and humble.  Be responsible. Be a voice for the voiceless and hope for the hopeless, he said. 

“Stop comparing yourself to everyone else,” he said. “There will never be a better version of you than you no matter what. Don’t ever let anybody ever tell you that you are a yellow Starburst because you, my friends, are pink Starbursts., and don’t ever forget that.”

It wouldn’t be a traditional BHS graduation without Superintendent Jason Smith’s story about someone’s perseverance and a related token to be given to each graduate. 

He shared about Ferdinand Cheval, a 19th-century Frenchman who built a palace from pebbles. Regarded as an amazing example of architecture, Smith noted its even more astonishing trait of having been built over the course of 33 years by Cheval. It took him eight more years to build his own future mausoleum.

“Each of you will receive a small bag of blue pebbles inspired by this story and to remind you of the power of perseverance and persistence when setting goals as you begin life post-high school,” Smith said. “Use your Batavia roots and the lesson of perseverance and persistence to make a positive and lasting impact in our world. When you persist, you keep going. You keep moving. Failures will always happen, but always keep moving forward and build your own castle and dreams, whatever it may be, but persist and move on.”

And finally the moment arrived for High School Principal Jennifer Wesp to hand out the diplomas. She cautioned the group about a human tendency to go to the “dark side” sometimes and predict doom and gloom rather than opt for positive outcomes. Choose the latter, she said.

“I have no doubt that the future holds incredible opportunities. Go out and seize them with courage, grace, and the boundless talent that defines you all. And, when you are feeling nervous about a new beginning, perhaps your dark side thoughts come thundering in, just pause. Get centered. Reflect back on your time at Batavia and all the news that you triumphed through,” West said. “Choose excitement instead. Trust that you, my dear Seniors, have all you need inside to do anything you so choose.”

Special awards were given to the following: The E.G. Richmond Award, for a student with outstanding academic achievement in all courses of study, went to Emma Bigsby. The Board of Education Award Ex-Officio Member Award went to Peyton Woeller, and the Batavia City School District Foundation Award went to Kaelee Kelso and Peyton Woeller for having been successful in their education programs and for exemplifying a school culture of being respectful, responsible, safe, connected and ambitious. 

To view or purchase photos, click here.

A second person has been charged in the death and apparent dumping of the body at a location in the town of Alabama in March.

Norman S. "Bud" DeBois, 45, of Lockport, is charged with hindering prosecution in the first degree, a Class D felony, tampering with physical evidence, a Class E felony, concealment of a human corpse, a Class E felony, and conspiracy in the fifth degree, a Class A misdemeanor.

Previously, on April 19, Kathryn A. "Kit" Henry, 33, of Lockport, was charged with murder in the second degree, a Class A-1 felony, assault in the first degree, a Class B felony, concealment of a human corpse, a Class E felony,  hindering prosecution in the first degree, a Class D felony, tampering with physical evidence, a Class E felony, conspiracy in the second degree, a Class B felony, and conspiracy in the fourth degree, a Class E felony.

On March 19, deputies found the body of Michael G. Poole, 59, of Olcott, during an investigation into a missing person report.

A third person is also expected to be charged. The Sheriff's Office said there is no threat to public safety. That person is in custody on unrelated charges.

DeBois was arraigned on Friday and released under supervision. He is scheduled to appear in Alabama Town Court on July 16. 

 Press release:

The Notre Dame Board of Trustees is pleased to announce the appointment of two school administrators. Effective July 1^st 2024, both Lindsay Warner and Julia Rogers will take on key leadership roles for the school. 

Lindsay has been appointed Principal of Notre Dame Junior/ Senior High School, and Julia Rogers has been appointed Director of Instruction, Curriculum and Assessment.

Jim Sutherland, Board President, commented, “As an alumnus and trustee, I am thrilled that we have such passionate and experienced educators leading our fine school.  The board has every confidence that their deep experience, coupled with their commitment to the highest standards, will help our institution reach another level entirely. With these hires, the Trustees strongly feel that we are investing in the bright future of our school.”

About Mrs. Warner
As an ND alumnus, coach, teacher, parent, and administrator, Mrs. Warner is dedicated, compassionate and committed to ensuring the success of all students and staff. She holds a BS in Business Administration and an MS in Business and Marketing Education and is NYS-certified as a School Building Leader and District Leader.

After undergraduate school, Lindsay returned to her Alma Mater were she rejuvenated the Business program and curriculum, winning awards for her innovation and instruction. Her tenure at Western NY Tech Academy also demonstrates her initiative as an educator. It supports her dedication to teamwork, as well as her support of leadership in marketing, recruitment and culture building.  This past school year, Mrs. Warner served as our assistant principal. As Principal, she will continue to ensure an environment where students and staff feel valued, heard and safe. 

About Mrs. Rogers
A native Batavian, Julia’s family has been part of the Notre Dame community since the beginning. Her mother, Sheila Tehan Rogers, was part of our very first graduating class. Her father, Brad, coached basketball at ND. Julia has siblings, a niece, nephews and many cousins who have walked the halls and are proud students and alumni of ND.

Julia’s dedication to the vibrancy of our community is clear. She is a member of Our Lady of Mercy Parish. Julia enjoys volunteering with her church community, golfing, and genealogy. A former volunteer at the NICU at Sisters Hospital, Julia is a member of the Batavia Rotary Club, Holland Land Office Museum Board of Directors, and the Salvation Army Advisory Board and is involved in many other community outreach programs.

Julia holds a BA, an MS in Bilingual Education and a Certificate of Advanced Studies. After teaching at the start of her career 30 years ago, she quickly moved on to school administration. She served as an administrator for Batavia Middle School, coordinator of assessment and instruction, and coordinator for the community schools program, both at BCS.

Miss Rogers is excited about the opportunity to enhance Notre Dame’s strong academic program.    “I am thrilled to be able to be part of the Notre Dame family.  The foundation of ND’s instructional program shows the values of education and achievement.   I look forward to observing and offering diverse and innovative ways to improve student learning outcomes.”

A weekend of art and music kicks off a week from today, Friday, July 5, with an open mic and open art session in Jackson Square.

Then, on Saturday, July 6, the 2024 Ramble Music and Arts Fest will celebrate the music and art of Genesee County and the region.

The events on Friday are hosted by Iburi Photography, Jo David Arts, and GO ART!

Musicians are encouraged to arrive starting at 5:30 for the open mic, which starts at 6 p.m. and runs until 9 p.m. Following the open mic, Scotty DiMartino  of Esdee Entertainment will close the night with music and a light show.

GO ART! is bringing its "First Friday Open Art Session" to Jackson Square that evening. Artists of all media are invited to bring their latest pieces or start new ones. While tables will be set up for convenience, artists are welcome to bring their easels and create in the open air.

The free event is open to the public.

The Ramble features 26 performers on two stages -- the main (and newly constructed) stage in Jackson Square and on a stage on Jackson Street.

Jackson Street will be closed for the day.  It is were attendees can find artists' booths, vendors, and food.

Here is the lineup for the two stages:

Jackson Square Stage

• Tom Ryan & Friends, 11:00 a.m. - 11:30 a.m.
• Lonesome Road. 11:40 a.m. - 12:10 p.m.
• Gumshoe, 12:20 p.m. - 12:50 p.m.
• Driven, 1:00 p.m. - 1:30 p.m.
• Indigo Flow, 1:40 p.m. - 2:00 p.m.
• The Real News, 2:20 p.m. - 2:50 p.m.
• Soulshine Band, 3:00 p.m. - 3:30 p.m.
• Prospect, 3:40 p.m. - 4:10 p.m.
• Bad Sign, 4:20 p.m. - 4:50 p.m.
• The Rock-A-Bully's, 5:30 p.m. - 6:00 p.m.
• Shotgun Pauly, 6:10 p.m. - 6:40 p.m.
• Groove, 6:50 p.m. - 7:20 p.m.
• Sons Of Luther, 7:30 p.m. - 8:20 p.m.
• The Royal Halls, 8:30 p.m. - Close

Jackson Street Stage (On the corner of Jackon St. and School St.)

• Jack Waite, 11:00 a.m. - 11:30 a.m.
• Dave Knaudt, 11:40 a.m. - 12:10 p.m.
• Paul K Almeter, 12:20 p.m. - 12:50 p.m.
• Don Thomas, 1:00 p.m. - 1:30 p.m.
• Howard Owens, 1:40 p.m. - 2:00 p.m.
• David Holnbeck, 2:20 p.m. - 2:50 p.m.
• Steve Fisher, 3:00 p.m. - 3:30 p.m.
• The Remediators, 3:40 p.m. - 4:10 p.m.
• Surging Motion, 4:20 p.m. - 4:50 p.m.
• The Cowboy Vampires, 5:30 p.m. - 6:00 p.m.
• Distant View, 6:10 p.m. - 6:40 p.m.

Growing up in Batavia in the 1950s, you could say my family was middle class. We had a house (or an apartment for two years from '55 to' 57), a car (usually a Pontiac), food to eat, and clothes to wear. 

We weren't rich by any means, but we were comfortable. I'm sure my parents worried about money, but my younger brother Dan (later joined by even younger brother Jim in 1958) and I probably didn't give it much thought.

My dad, James senior, was a salesman for Robfogel Paper Supply, based in Rochester. His main clients were restaurants or any business that used napkins, cups, etc. His job involved a lot of driving around Western New York to call on his customers. When he got home at night, he would spend time writing up his “orders” and then calling them in by phone. Summer was more lucrative than winter, as is usually the case with some food services.

My mom, Anna Newhouse Reilly, was a stay-at-home mom when we kids were younger. As we got a little older, she took on a couple of part-time jobs, such as working in the cafeteria at our school, St. Mary's and being a part-time bookkeeper in the evening at The Steak House Restaurant on West Main Street Road. She stayed at home again when Jim was born, but as we all got older, she developed a nice career as an office manager for the North American Automobile Association (a Canadian-based competitor of AAA), then McAlpine Barton Clothiers, and finally for the Dipson Theatre Corporation.

Like most other families, when summer came, we went on vacations. However, due to not having a lot of excess money to spend, ours were limited to going on what my dad might call “on the cheap.” There were no planes or ships involved (unless you count the Staten Island Ferry), and our accommodations were modest at best.

Santa, Salt Water, and Saints
The first trip I recall (barely) was when I was about five years old. We took a driving tour through New England and up into Quebec in Canada. I don't think my brother Dan went, as he would have been about two. Possibly my Aunts Kate and Peg babysat him. It was probably 1952. I remember very little about the car ride, but there were no Thruways back then, so it must have been slow going. I think I recall my mom telling the story that I was carsick for a lot of the trip, which must have been great fun for her and Dad. Dramamine for motion sickness was invented in 1949 (too late for World War II seagoers, unfortunately), so we probably stopped at the drugstore.

Being so young, the only three real memories I have of that whole trip were visiting Santa's Workshop in the Adirondacks near Lake Placid, driving through the fishing port of Gloucester, Mass., and smelling the sea air and fish and visiting the Basilica of Sainte-Anne de Beaupre in Quebec.

My Santa's workshop memories have been enhanced by some old 8mm film of the visit that my parents had and that I had converted to DVD. I'm not sure whether that was the only event my parents filmed or the rest just got lost. I got to sit on “Santa's” lap, stood by the “North Pole” with my mom, sat in a sleigh, and petted some sheep. I don't know why Santa had sheep. Maybe to get wool for his suit?

My mom was a newly converted Catholic, so St. Anne's was a must-stop for her. The site is world renowned for the miracles people claim happen to them as they visit. I do remember a large quantity of crutches, canes and braces on display, left by people who attested that they had been cured of their ailments. I wonder if there was an empty Dramamine box left on the pile.

The Great Cascade
A short excursion was when we took the obligatory day trip to Niagara Falls, probably in 1953. This included a ride on the Maid of The Mist boat, which at that time was still powered by steam engines. You got a rain slicker to wear, and it took you within a couple of hundred yards of the Falls. In 1949, Jawaharlal Nehru, the Prime Minister of India, preceded us on the trip, and Marilyn Monroe went on the boat the year before us in 1952 while filming the movie “Niagara.” In 1995, I took my kids on it, and several years ago, my favorite music group, The Tedeschi Trucks Band, played Artpark nearby and had a day off, so some of them went on it too.

Gasping and Gherkins
A nearby vacation that we took pre-Jim Jr. was renting a cottage for two weeks on Keuka Lake, one of the beautiful Finger Lakes. Our cottage was right down by the water and pretty private as far as not having other close neighbors on either side. For one of the weeks, my dad continued to work during the day as businesses near there were on his sales route. We did a lot of swimming, catching frogs, and generally being outdoors. Since we are very fair-skinned of Scandinavian and Irish heritage, my mom had to be very careful about us getting sunburned, though.

As usual, I tend to remember the odd or bad things that happened back then rather than the better things. There was a culvert by our cottage at the bottom of a hill. Its purpose was to carry run-off rainwater into the lake in the event of heavy rain. Across this conduit, someone had placed a large log. Naturally, my brother Dan dared me to walk across it. You can't refuse a dare from your little brother, so on the log, I went. About halfway across I slipped and somehow fell sideways so that when I landed the log went right into my abdomen. I had seen many football players on TV get “the wind knocked out of them,” but never had any idea what it felt like. I literally couldn't breathe. Dan hollered at the top of his voice for Mom, and she came running like she was trying out for the Olympics. She extricated me from the log and, through her calming voice and some massaging, got my breath back again. She got me into the cottage, and that was the end of my adventures that day. My stomach and rib area were pretty sore for a couple of days, and for the rest of our time there, I stuck to using a little bridge while staying far away from that log.

A humorous thing I recall is sneaking some little gherkin pickles out of the jar just before bed. I must have fallen asleep with one in my mouth because I woke up in the morning with one all shriveled up inside my cheek. I guess you could say I found myself in a pickle. Or, more accurately, I found a pickle in myself. I don't know if I ever told mom about that one.

Capers On The Cape
The following year, we went to Cape Cod, Massachusetts, with two other families, the mothers of whom were long-time friends of my mother. My Uncle Walt, my mom's younger brother, had married a woman who grew up in a family of fishermen in Provincetown, on the northern tip of “The Cape.” This only increased my mother's love for that area, which she had developed on trips there when she was younger.

Our Cape Cod vacation was not elegant, though. The three families rented a large apartment above a garage in the rear of someone's house. This space was shared by six adults and probably an equal amount of children. I suppose the Kennedys could have found some space for us at their compound, but they were busy running or getting ready to run the country. We did go to Sunday Mass at St. Francis Xavier Church in Hyannis, which the Kennedys often attended, but I don't think we spotted one of them.

We went to the beach almost every day, and my mom must have spent so much time protecting Dan and me from sunburn that she forgot about my dad. He got a really bad roasting, which kept him in pain for several days. I think he and the other two dads went out on an ocean fishing charter one day, but we kids didn't brave the seas. Of course, one day was devoted to the obligatory trip to Provincetown, but my only recollection of that visit was picking up a huge lobster out of a tank of salt water.

It wouldn't be me without one bad memory, and mine is of going to a park and getting spun around on one of those mini merry-go-rounds, which resulted in projectile vomiting. Are you picking up a pattern here? My whole life, I have been averse to anything that spins. When I was little, I couldn't even go on a regular merry-go-round without getting sick. How embarrassing is that? 

Amusement parks were and still are not fun for me. Crystal Beach in Canada, Boulder Amusement Park, Roseland in Canandaigua – we went to all of them, but I was pretty limited as to what I could do. Bummer, as we said in the '60s. How bad is this? I would get queasy on the swings!

The Boardwalk and the Big Apple
My mom loved the ocean, so the next summer, we went to New Jersey. Not Cape May, which is a big beach vacation spot, but a small borough called Manasquan, which is just south of Asbury Park. I guess we were a little poorer than I thought because, once again, we stayed in an apartment over a garage, this time just our family of four. We were right across the street from the boardwalk and the ocean, though, so that was nice. We had to swim carefully because the New Jersey coast is notorious for its undertow. Right around the corner was a miniature golf course, and brother Dan and I went there at least once a day.

Most likely, one of the reasons my parents chose that vacation location was my maternal grandmother was living nearby in Spring Lake, New Jersey. After my grandfather died in 1952 at age 61, she got remarried to a widower she had known along with his late wife when living in Brooklyn as a young woman. He was a tugboat captain in New York Harbor and was not home much, so she took a job in Spring Lake as a live-in maid. One of the days, my dad went on another ocean fishing charter, and mom and we kids went to Gramma's house and then took a train to New York City.

The part of the train ride I remember is going by the Brooklyn Navy Yard and seeing all the big ships. I also recall going on the Staten Island Ferry, so we must have gotten off and back on the train for that. Once we got to downtown New York City, we were hungry, so we went to an automat for lunch. A popular one was called Horn and Hardart. They were like a vending machine restaurant. If you have ever read the children's book “The Mixed Up Files of Mrs. Basil E. Frankweiler,“ which I used to read with my class as a teacher, one of them is featured. The food was behind a small door. You inserted your money and took out your serving. The rise of fast food places like McDonald's killed automats off, but apparently, they are making a small comeback.

We also went to the top of the Empire State Building, which at that time was the world”s tallest building. I had probably only ever been in an elevator a couple of times in my young life (maybe St. Jerome's Hospital or C. L. Carr's Department Store ), but certainly not one that went up 102 floors. I have always been afraid of heights, so I'm pretty sure when we went out on the observation deck, I looked outward while keeping my back firmly against the rear wall. I know I did the same thing in the '70s when we went to the top of the Sears Tower in Chicago (it was cloudy, and you couldn't see anything anyway) and the '90s when I ascended to the zenith of the CN Tower in Toronto. They have a see-through panel as the floor that you can stand on and look down, but there was no way I was doing that.

In the late 1950s, my dad left his job at the paper goods company and became a salesman for an oil refinery corporation based in Texas. His clients were now big equipment and construction businesses, and to put it bluntly, he didn't do very well. As a result, we didn't even have the finances to go on small vacations for a while, and I think that was what led my mom to go back to work. I guess Godfrey's Pond was our “vacation” spot for a while.

Later, in the 1970s, my parents and my youngest brother Jim took some vacations, such as visiting Nova Scotia. In the '80s, Mom and Dad enjoyed going to Colonial Williamsburg in Virginia and even spent Thanksgiving there once.

In the late 80s, Mom joined an elder traveling group and went to the Grand Canyon and even China. Just her luck, the trip was during the Beijing uprising, and she was there during the Tiananmen incident between students and soldiers. Unfortunately, her trip was cut short due to the danger.

So, were our 1950s vacations on a minor scale? Yes, but when you look back on it, we had fun and were certainly better off than some others who didn't get to go anywhere. Like everything else, it's all a matter of perspective. By the way, I have never been to Disney World, and my kids didn't get taken there either. Nothing against “The Magic Kingdom.” People love it. We were more the "rent a cottage in the Adirondacks" people. Whatever floats your boat – literally.

Anna Varland and  Casper Stewart were honored on Wednesday evening at the Athletes of the Year by the Batavia Coaches Association at Batavia High School's annual Athletic Awards program.

Varland was a standout in soccer, flag football, basketball and softball.

Stewart won the school's first-ever state championship in wrestling and has been accepted into West Point.

Athletic Director Ryan Winchip provided the following list of awards and winners:

Batavia Coaches Assoc. Outstanding Achievement Award: 
This award is presented to student-athletes who won an individual sectional championship, competed at states as an individual or were an all-greater Rochester selection.

Ava Anderson   Indoor Track & Field Sectional Champion; Outdoor Track & Field  Sectional Champion and State Competitor

Jadyn Boyce   Indoor Track and Field Sectional Champion; Outdoor Track and Field State Competitor

Mallory Boyce  Outdoor Track and Field State Competitor

Kylee Brennan    Indoor Track and Field Sectional Champion

Mekhi Fortes     All-Greater Rochester - Football

Grant Gahagan     Outdoor Track and Field Sectional Champion

Cameron Garofalo     Outdoor Track and Field Sectional Champion

Cole Grazioplene     All-Greater Rochester - Football; Indoor Track and Field Sectional Champion

Jenna Higgins      Indoor Track and Field Sectional Champion

Cooper Konieczny     Indoor Track and Field Sectional Champ; Outdoor Track and Field State Competitor

Jameson Motyka      All-Greater Rochester - Ice Hockey

Adyson O'Donnell     Outdoor Track and Field Sectional Champion and State Competitor

Parris Price     Outdoor Track and Field Sectional Champion

Ella Radley     Outdoor Track and Field Sectional Champion and State Competitor

Campbell Riley     All-Greater Rochester - Indoor and Outdoor Track and Field; Indoor and Outdoor Track and Field Sectional Champion and State Competitor

Izzy Scott     Indoor Track and Field Sectional Champion  

Ella Shamp    Indoor Track and Field Sectional Champion; Outdoor Track and Field Sectional Champion and State Competitor  

Sheldon Siverling   All-Greater Rochester - Indoor and Outdoor Track and Field; Indoor and Outdoor Track and Field Sectional Champion and State Competitor; Outdoor Track and Field State Champion - Shot put

Madeline Smith     Indoor Track and Field Sectional Champion; All Greater Rochester - Outdoor Track and Field; Outdoor Track and Field Sectional Champion and State Competitor

Harrison Southall   Swimming and Diving Sectional Champion and State Competitor

Helaina Staley    Indoor Track and Field Sectional Champion

Casper Stewart Sectional Champion and Wrestling State Champion 145 pound weight class

Jessa Stewart   States - Outdoor Track and Field

Nevaeh Thomas   States - Outdoor Track and field

Anna Varland   Outdoor Track and Field Sectional Champion and State Competitor

Isaac Varland   Outdoor Track and Field State Competitor

Karizma Wescott    Indoor Track and Field Sectional Champion; Outdoor Track and Field Sectional Champion and State Competitor

Ava Wierda   Indoor and Outdoor Track and Field Sectional Champion and State Competitor

The James Pacino Memorial Scholarship
Recognizing a graduating senior from Batavia High School carrying a minimal final average of 85 and who has had successful involvement with the Wrestling program at BHS.  ($500 & certificate)

Casper Stewart

Burk Family Scholarship for Excellence in Track and Community Service:
This award recognizes a graduating senior from Batavia High School who has a minimal final average of 85 and has had successful involvement with the track program at BHS. Furthermore, the applicant should be involved in serving their community through projects in school or outside of school. ($300 & certificate)

Donavin Solis

Burk Family Scholarship for Excellence in Football and Community Service
This award recognizes a graduating senior from Batavia High School who has a minimal final average of 85 and has had successful involvement with the football program at BHS. Furthermore, the applicant should be involved in serving their community through projects in school or outside of school. ($300 & certificate)

Brock Warren

Thomas Ricci Memorial Scholarship
This award is presented to a BHS graduate who, in the estimation of the nominating committee, best exemplifies the attributes of Coach Thomas J. Ricci, Sr., insofar as sportsmanship, teamwork, leadership, and dedication to excellence in the sports of cross country and track and field.  The recipient may not necessarily be the best athlete, but will have worked hard to improve and succeed.  The recipient must have a clear goal for the future.  ($500 & certificate)

Jadyn Boyce

Daniel VanDetta Memorial Scholarship
This award is presented to a BHS graduate participating in football and baseball and exemplifies qualities of dedication, leadership and team spirit  ($200 & certificate)

Mekhi Fortes

Outstanding Physical Education Student Award
This award is presented to one male and one female student from the senior class who demonstrates 100% effort all of the time, who demonstrates sportsmanship, understands the value of being active, is a leader in their environment and maintains an A average in Physical Education. These students are also active in the community through community service and/or club participation.   (Certificate)

Male – Hunter Mileham

Female – Prudence Favaloro

United States Air Force Scholar Athlete
This award is presented to one male and one female student who have excelled in both academics and athletics. (Certificate)

Male – Quintin Cummings

Female – Grace Parker

United States Army Reserve National Scholar-Athlete:
This award is presented to a senior girl and boy who have excelled in both academics and athletics.  (Certificate) 

Male – Owen Halpin

Female – Julia Preston

United States Navy Outstanding Athlete Award
This award is presented to male and female varsity-level athletes who demonstrate honor, courage, and commitment and are positive role models within their peer groups. Award recipients are the most inspirational and demonstrate these values both on and off the athletic field. (Certificate)

Male – Harrison Southall

Female – Giana Mruczek

United States Marine Corps Distinguished Athlete Award:
This award is given to a male and female 9th-12th grade student-athlete who participates in a varsity sport, are exemplary young citizens and role models for younger students, and best exhibit the personal traits of courage, poise, self-confidence and leadership.  They need not be your most outstanding athlete, but one who has exhibited this unique combination of qualities while performing in high school sports.  

Male – Noah Whitcombe

Female –Lily Jo Wagner

Varsity Club Award:  
This award is in recognition of Batavia High School senior athletes who have demonstrated a high level of athletic proficiency, sportsmanship and dedication.  Please hold your applause until all recipients have been called. (Certificate) 

Ethan Bradley, Josh Budzinack, Brian Calderon, Ryan Cox, Julia Clark, Dane Dombrowski, Caleb Henning, Aleeza Idrees, Orion Lama, Tymothey Murrell, Ryan Plath, Parris Price, Emmanuel Richardson, Anna Stevens, Quinn Woeller

The Maddy Bartz Memorial Cheer Scholarship  
This award is given to a graduating Varsity Cheerleader who best represents a passion for cheerleading and an exemplary care and dedication to fellow teammates. ($500 & plaque)

Sophia Antonucci

Jason “Joy-a” Gioia Memorial Scholarship
This award is given in memory of Jason Gioia. The recipient has been active and shown dedication to school activities and the community. ($500 & certificate)

Cole Grazioplene

Dr. Pierce Sportsmanship Award 
This award is presented to a deserving male and female senior student athlete who in the opinion of coaches best exemplifies the true spirit of good sportsmanship in competition.  (plaque)

Male –Patrick Suozzi

Female – Sophia Moore

Batavia Coaches Assoc. Scholar-Athlete Award: 
This award is presented to a senior boy and girl who has a 90 or above cumulative average, participates in one or more sports and who values outstanding achievement in academics and athletics. (plaque) 

Male - Nick Martinucci

Female – Aleeza Idrees

Batavia Lions Club Athletic Award
This award is presented to a deserving senior who has demonstrated outstanding athletic ability, citizenship and scholastic ability – (certificate)

Isabella Walsh

Project Play WNY Multisport Athletic Award
This award is given to a male and female senior who has demonstrated a commitment to their teams through a willingness to help, teach and assist their teammates and coaches and served as a positive and relatable role model through positive sportsmanship and great attitude on and off the court or field. Succeeded in the classroom by maintaining academic eligibility throughout their high school career. Made a positive difference to the lives of youth at their school or in the wider community. Showed resilience and determination during challenging situations.  (Certificate)

Male – Ben Stone

Female – Kaelee Kelso

1947 Club Athletics Award
This award is presented to a deserving male and female senior demonstrating outstanding participation, effort and ability in interscholastic athletics.  (plaques)

Male – Cole Grazioplene

Female - Ella Radley

Awards of Excellence:
Presented to seniors who have participated in a sport for the Fall, Winter and Spring sports seasons during the course of their senior school year.  Plaque  

Jadyn Boyce, Brian Calderon, Ryan Cox, Mekhi Fortes, Cole Grazioplene, Caleb Henning, Aleeza Idrees, Kaelee Kelso, Nicholas Martinucci, Sophia Moore, Tymothey Murrell, Ryan Plath, Julia Preston, Parris Price, Ella Radley, Emmanuel Richardson, Donavin Solis, Benjamin Stone, Patrick Suozzi, Anna Varland, Isabella Walsh, Brock Warren, Noah Whitcombe

Batavia Coaches Association Athlete of the Year
To a senior girl and boy for outstanding leadership, sportsmanship and athletic performance.  (Plaque and $50 from Coaches Association) 

Male –     Casper Stewart

Female – Anna Varland

Press Release:

Tom and Marci Redband invite young athletes to hone their basketball skills this summer at the annual Redband Basketball Camps. The camps, known for their focus on offensive skills development, will offer separate sessions for girls and youth at two Batavia locations.

The Redband Girls Basketball Camp welcomes incoming 7th to 12th grade girls to Batavia Middle School on July 9-11 and 16-18, from 9:30 a.m. to 11:45 a.m. Participants will receive specialized training in guard and forward positions, shooting techniques, ball handling, and competitive gameplay.

For Redband Youth Basketball Camp, open to boys and girls entering 3rd to 8th grade (7th and 8th grade girls as an alternative to the older camp), sessions will be held at Batavia High School on July 9-11 and 16-18, from and will run from 1 p.m. to 2:45 p.m. The program emphasizes fundamental offensive skills, including dribbling, shooting, and passing drills, as well as structured gameplay scenarios.

Participants are encouraged to register early as space is limited.

To sign up for either camp, email player information to Tom Redband at tredband@gmail.com. For additional details, including a preview, visit Redband Basketball on YouTube and Facebook.

A financial game of tag (you're it) between city union and nonunion employees now means another raise for the nonunion sector as a way to catch up, according to City Manager Rachael Tabelski.

This past year’s budget included 2.5 percent nonunion raises, up to $8,000 from initial salary figures in 2022-23 for positions including assistant manager, police and fire chief, public works and Human Resources directors.

Negotiations this year reaped a 3.5 percent raise for union employees, which prompted Tabelski to request another 1 percent raise for nonunion employees.

“As part of an ongoing dialogue with council we've talked about the wage compression we see at the top levels of the union, sergeants, detective sergeants, captains, and the non-union counterparts, which are your department heads, you're seeing here today,” Tabelski said during Monday’s conference meeting at City Hall. “We're trying to work on that issue. And as part of doing that council said they would entertain looking at ensuring that nonunion has the same monetary percentage raise every year as the highest non-union contract to keep that wage compression instead of going like this at a stable level. 

"The goal is that we do hope internally that we can attract candidates from inside our departments moving forward. So this year, the nonunion this year, fiscal year 24-25, was awarded a 2.5% rate,” she said. “However, after the contract settled on April 1, the highest raise was 3.5%. So I'm asking for the additional 1% for the nonunion staff, as well as a floating holiday which would bring their holidays to 13 and a half in the near future.”

City Council agreed to bring the request of an additional 1% raise and a floating holiday for nonunion employees to vote at a future business meeting. 
 

Press Release:

On Thursday, June 27 from 10 a.m. to 1 p.m. the Veterans Benefits Advisor will be at the Genesee Country Farmers Market. Distribution of the 2024 Farmers Market coupons will be available for Veterans.  

Genesee Office for the Aging will be at the Genesee Country Farmers Market each Friday in July (5, 12, 19 and 26) from 10 a.m. to 12 p.m. distributing 2024 Farmers Market Coupons. Qualified seniors must be at least 60 years old and earn no more than $2322 a month for 1 person or $3152 a month for 2 people.

The market is now located in the parking lot across from O'Lacys on School Street between Center and Jackson Streets.

Press release:

The phones at Richmond Memorial Library are currently down. The issue is being worked on, and we apologize for any inconvenience. We are open our normal hours of 9 a.m. to 9 p.m. Monday-Thursday and 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. Friday and Saturday. Access your account and more at batavialibrary.org!  

As city management and the Batavia Development Corp. pursue ways to attract developers to take over Brisbane Mansion, which now houses the police department, at least one City Councilman sees another option.

And Councilman Al McGinnis made that known during Monday’s conference session. He referred to a prior time after taking a serious walk-through of the property.

“We talked about back then the boutique hotel, a law firm, and apartments, and it simply wasn’t available. The Brisbane Mansion is old, that’s its only function. There was never any famous authors out of there, there was never any books written about it. No treaty was signed there. No famous or infamous people, no historical point at all,” McGinnis said at City Hall. “The one thing that we have to do in City Council is we’re stewards of the taxpayers’ money. At some point, we need to listen to the taxpayer, ask them: do you want to spend any money on the Brisbane? We could make a fortune on the land; the building itself is a wreck. We need to think about what are we going to do as City Council for the value of our citizens. Because guaranteed, they’re gonna say well, now we want a PILOT program, we want a tax break, we don’t want that.”

As a point of correction, there have been pieces of history written by the late City Historian Larry Barnes about the Brisbanes and the piece of property at 10 W. Main St. that was built in 1853, including a play scripted by Derek Maxfield and Barnes. 

The city landmark is listed by the Historic Preservation Commission and formerly served as City Hall from 1918 to 2004 after being the home of George and Sarah Brisbane. Their son Albert was a nationally known author in the 1800s, and his son, Arthur, who worked primarily for William Randolph Hearst, was one of the nation's leading newspaper editors in the later part of the 19th Century. He is buried in the Historic Batavia Cemetery.

City Council President Eugene Jankowski Jr. wanted to clarify that, no matter what the city opts to do with the building, “I would never vote to knock it down.”

“I’m sorry, I just can't. It's too historical. It was on some of our police letterhead at one point," he said. "So I think that a private entity could do whatever they want. I don't think at this point we were gonna fix it up. I think we're gonna do an RFP, is that right?”

City Manager Rachael Tabelski confirmed that, yes, she thought the council had given direction for the site to be put out for a request for a proposal once the police department had vacated the building. Jankowski agreed while McGinnis emphasized that “we need to find out from the public if they want to proceed with this or not.”

“The only feedback I had when we were talking about this was to let it go out to the private sector. Let it be refurbished into something. The engine house was in worse condition, and it’s still here. St. James rectory was basically falling in, and that’s still here. So with the right person and tender loving care, the building has a purpose,” Jankowski said. “And I think we should RFP it out and let someone else tell us what vision they have to preserve the building and go from there. 

"I mean, we're not even at that point that there might be somebody waiting in the wings for us to make that opening and jump on it (Tabelski added that multiple developers have expressed interest). So there you go," he said. "So I don't think we're going to spend any taxpayer money; we're just going to be opening up the opportunity for the person who gets that to maybe get an opportunity to get some historical grants and things.”

Director of Economic Development Tammy Hathaway said that she and city management are in progress with pursuing consolidated grant funding to prepare for when the police department vacates the premises to its new headquarters downtown. A new police facility is being built at the corner of Alva Place and Bank Street.

“The role of the BDC is really to support the city in its efforts to get it out to RFP and be prepared so that when the police department does vacate that building … we can shrink up the amount of time that the city retains ownership of that building afterward. That's absolutely what we want to do. So in our efforts to make sure that we're prepared to help and support the city and get it out of their ownership, that's definitely what our plans are,” Hathaway said Tuesday morning. “It’s not our intention to spend any money towards it. Rachael said 85 percent of the RFP is already complete, so it's ready. We've had conversations, cursory conversations with developers, as we always do, about what underutilized buildings and sites we have throughout the city so that we're always prepared. And after having exhausted a technical grant from HCR last year to have a reuse analysis completed — we did that with the idea of what is the best use for this —  how do we promote this to developers?”

In-site Architecture analyzed and recommended market rate housing and/or a boutique hotel as the best use for the property. The city’s prospective grants would be to prepare for the redevelopment and renovations to the mansion, with a required match to come from the project developer after submitting a successful request for proposal. 

“Ever since I got hired, it was the intent to support the city in making sure that they’re putting that building back on the tax rolls as quickly as possible,” Hathaway said. “After the police department exits, but then it comes down to a developer too, and when they go through it, there really should be no reason, honestly, that it wouldn’t qualify for historic tax credits.” 

The Regional Economic Development Council Initiative is offering capital improvement grants for pro-housing communities for 2024, and the city of Batavia is an eligible applicant. 

City Council supported the application, including investing grant funds into Main St. 56 Theater property roof repairs and mall fund reserves. 

Press Release:

YWCA of Genesee County is excited to announce a $50,000 grant from the Garman Family Foundation, administered by the Community Foundation for Greater Buffalo, to add Crisis Counseling Services for Genesee County.

For more than a century, the Community Foundation for Greater Buffalo has enhanced and encouraged long-term philanthropy in the Western New York community. A 501 (c)(3) organization, the Community Foundation’s mission is: Connecting people, ideas and resources to improve lives in Western New York. 

Established in 1919, the Community Foundation has made the most of the generosity of individuals, families, foundations and organizations who entrust charitable assets to the Community Foundation’s care. Learn more at cfgb.org.

"Case Managers at the YWCA already offer intensive support, safe temporary shelter, 24 crisis hotline services, court advocacy, information and referral, support groups and safety and transitional planning for victims of domestic violence, dating violence, human trafficking, sexual assault, and stalking. This new, full-time crisis counselor position will provide more therapeutic services, complementing the services, complimenting the work we are already doing and adding a much needed piece of continued healing and support for the people we assist," says Jamie Rada, Executive Director. 

For more information on the YWCA of Genesee County Crisis Counselor Position please visit www.ywcagenesee.org or contact the YWCA at 585-343-5808 or info@ywcagenesee.org.

Press Release:

Premier Genesee Center for Nursing and Rehabilitation will be flushing fire hydrants on Wednesday, June 26 from approximately 9 a.m. - 12 p.m.

Please be advised that flushing may cause some discoloration of water. This does not represent a health hazard. However, citizens are cautioned to determine if the water is clear before washing clothes (or any other processing) as staining may occur. If you experience discolored water run the cold water in all your faucets for approximately 5-10 minutes.

Premier Genesee regrets any temporary inconvenience you may experience however, the flushing program is necessary to maintain a good water supply for our community.  We thank you in advance for your cooperation.