The HP Hood facility in the Genesee Valley Agri-Business Park in May 2023 Photo by Howard Owens.
Press release:
Empire State Development (ESD) today announced that dairy product manufacturer HP Hood will grow its operations in Genesee Valley Agri-Business Park. The project will include the addition of new processing systems, along with other upgrades, which will allow the company to increase capacity for the production of additional extended-shelf-life (ESL) beverages at the Batavia facility. As a result, the company has committed to creating up to 48 new jobs at the manufacturing facility. To date, the company has created more than 400 jobs at the site and currently employs close to 1200 statewide. Hood purchased the on-site, 363,000-square-foot plant in 2018 from the Dairy Farmers of America for $60 million and soon after expanded the facility by another 100,000 square feet. HP Hood is the agri-business park’s largest landowner.
“This continued commitment from one of the nation's most prominent dairy companies will create top-quality jobs and spur new investment in the Finger Lakes," said Empire State Development President, CEO and Commissioner Hope Knight. "Agriculture and food processing are key pillars of the region’s economic development efforts, and HP Hood’s latest investment shows that our multi-pronged growth strategy is working."
ESD is assisting the forward-thinking project with up to $1 million through the performance-based Excelsior Jobs Tax Credit Program in exchange for job creation commitments. The total project cost has been placed at $120 million. Genesee County is also considering providing incentives for the project. Greater Rochester Enterprise also assisted with the expansion effort. Construction on the planned updates is expected to be completed in the first quarter of 2025.
Headquartered in Lynnfield, Massachusetts, HP Hood has five New York State production facilities in Batavia, Vernon, Oneida, Arkport and Lafargeville. Founded in 1846, today, Hood is one of the largest branded dairy operators in the United States. The company’s portfolio of national and super-regional brands and franchise products includes Hood, Crowley Foods, Planet Oat, Heluva Good!, LACTAID®, and Blue Diamond Almond Breeze®. The company’s annual sales are more than $3 billion.
Gary Kaneb, President and CEO of HP Hood LLC, said, “Our investment in the Batavia facility is being driven by the continued growth of ESL dairy and non-dairy beverage categories. We are grateful for the support of Empire State Development as Batavia continues to be a strategic site for the expansion of our ESL manufacturing capabilities.”
The Genesee Valley Agri-Business Park is located at the heart of the Buffalo-Rochester Tech Corridor. For additional information about the park, visit: http://gcedc.com/agpark.
New York State has a robust, thriving agricultural industry and is home to almost 3,500 dairy farms and 620,000 cows. New York’s dairy industry is also the State’s largest agricultural sector. The majority of farms are family-run operations, supporting the framework of the State’s agricultural economy.
NYS Department of Agriculture and Markets Commissioner Richard A. Ball said, “HP Hood’s expansion in the Genesee Valley Agri-Business Park is good news for New York’s agricultural industry. Not only will this effort create new jobs and support hundreds of existing jobs in the Finger Lakes region, but it will also ensure that consumers, far and wide, can continue to enjoy the delicious, local, award-winning products that HP Hood is known for. I thank our partners at Empire State Development and Finger Lakes Forward for helping to ensure that this project can come to fruition.”
State Senator George Borrello said, “HP Hood’s investment in its Ag Park operations is a strategic recognition of the quality dairy and agricultural suppliers that surround them, the availability of a skilled workforce and the supportive partners in government committed to their success. This effort is another exciting addition to our region’s dairy industry projects pipeline, which just keeps growing. We are truly witnessing a transformation. Many thanks to Empire State Development, Genesee County officials and HP Hood’s leadership team for the vision and commitment that made this achievement possible.”
State Assemblyman Steve Hawley said, "I'm happy to see Empire State Development's announcement that HP Hood is expanding its operations in our region. Businesses like HP Hood play an important role in our state's agriculture and specifically the dairy industry. Their commitment to add nearly 50 new full-time employees and retention of over 450 employees will provide more support for our local economy. This announcement is great news for our district and will have a positive impact on our community and Western New York as a whole."
Genesee County Legislature Chairwoman Chair Rochelle M. Stein said,“We congratulate the family-owned dairy farms of this region for providing high quality and local milk for HP Hood's growing ESL dairy beverages. This investment by HP Hood adds to the agricultural business foundation of our county and strengthens our regional agribusiness economic synergies from farm to consumer.”
Batavia Town Supervisor Greg Post said,“The Town of Batavia is proud to be home of one of the most recognizable dairy brands in the United States. HP Hood’s growth will result in continued economic benefits to our town and even more career opportunities for our residents.”
Steve Hyde, Genesee County Economic Development Center President & CEO, said, “HP Hood's growth has already exceeded expectations at the Ag Park, and this project adds to the success of the agricultural and food and beverage manufacturing sectors, which continues to be leading employment sectors of our economy. This expansion is another endorsement of Batavia and the Ag Park's role as the leading dairy hub of the Northeastern United States and our local workforce’s talent and readiness for food and beverage manufacturing.”
Finger Lakes Regional Economic Development Co-Chair Bob Duffy, President and CEO, Greater Rochester Chamber of Commerce, said,"This expansion not only strengthens our region’s position as a hub for food and beverage manufacturing but also bolsters job creation and investment. We're proud to see this growth in Genesee County, demonstrating that our efforts to revitalize communities and drive economic prosperity are yielding tangible results. We extend our sincere gratitude to Empire State Development for their commitment to our region's economic growth and look forward to actively supporting HP Hood as they continue to expand and thrive."
Jerome E. Ware, 59, of New Rochelle, is charged with two counts of identity theft 1st and grand larceny third. Joel A. Rojas Perallon, 20, and Raul DeLeon DeLeon, 30, both of New York City, were charged with identity theft 1st, grand larceny 3rd, and scheme to defraud 1st. Ware's arrest came after a report on April 8, 2022, in Wyoming County, of a person misrepresenting himself as a Verizon Wireless employee. The person obtained account and credit card info and subsequently made purchases of four iPhone 13 Pro Max smartphones and had them delivered to an address in Mount Vernon. The total value of the phones was $5,599.96.
Joel A. Rojas Perallon
Ware was arrested on Sept. 26, 2022. Ware's release status was not provided. Following Ware's arrest, the Genesee County Sheriff's Office contacted Wyoming County concerning a similar case. Ware was identified as a suspect in the Genesee County case, and Perallon and DeLeon were also identified as suspects, following months of an ongoing joint investigation. DeLeon was also identified as a suspect, arrested in June, in an armed robbery of a delivery driver in Illinois. Warrants were issued for the arrests of Perallon and DeLeon. Perallon was arrested at his home in New York City on Aug. 10. DeLeon turned himself in to Wyoming County deputies on Aug. 23.
Raul DeLeon DeLeon
Both were arraigned and released in accordance with New York bail laws. Assisting with the investigation were NYPD, Homeland Security, and FedEx security.
Noemi Morales, 23, of Briant Avenue, Syracuse, is charged with grand larceny 3rd and conspiracy 5th. Morales is accused of stealing $8,000 in high-end fragrances from Ulta on Veterans Memorial Drive at 6:20 on April 4. She was arrested on Aug. 22 by Investigator Ryan DeLong.
Jamie Aaron Dutton, 31, of East Main Street, Batavia, is charged with tampering with physical evidence, criminal possession of a controlled substance 7th, and obstructing governmental administration 2nd. Dutton was arrested at 8:05 p.m. on Aug. 25 on Dellinger Avenue, Batavia, in a joint enforcement action by Batavia PD's Net Enforcement Team and the Sheriff's Office on a warrant issued by NYS Parole. It is alleged that Dutton fled from police on a bicycle and hid under the back deck of a residence. He allegedly attempted to discard narcotics in an attempt to conceal his possession of the drugs. Dutton was issued an appearance ticket and released.
Heather N. Holbrook
Heather N. Holbrook, 38, of Batavia, is charged with criminal possession of a controlled substance 3rd and criminal possession of a controlled substance 7th. Holbrook was allegedly found in possession of a small amount of crack cocaine on July 18 at an undisclosed location in Batavia. When Officers located and arrested her on Aug. 16, she was allegedly found in possession of a large quantity of crack cocaine. She was arraigned in City Court and remanded to the Genesee County Jail on $10,000 cash bail, $20,000 bond, and $50,000 partially secured bond.
Austin RJ O’Connell, 19, of Batavia, is charged with petit larceny, criminal trespass 2nd, and criminal mischief 4th. O’Connell was arrested on Aug. 21 following an investigation into a burglary that occurred on Feb. 23. It’s alleged that O’Connell disabled a security camera, entered an apartment on Bank Street and stole property. He was issued an appearance ticket.
Adrienne S. Bechtold, 27, and Ronald J. Murray. 28, both of Batavia, are charged with criminal possession of a controlled substance 7th and criminal use of drug paraphernalia 2nd. Bechtold and Murray were arrested after Genesee County Probation located drugs and drug paraphernalia during a home visit. Batavia Police Officers were then called to assist probation and process the arrests. Bechtold and Murray were each issued appearance tickets.
Terrance H. Riley, 35, of Batavia, was arrested on a warrant issued by City Court. Riley was initially arrested on Oct. 19, 2014, on a charge of harassment 2nd and resisting arrest. Riley allegedly failed to appear in court, and a warrant was issued. He was arraigned in City Court and released on his own recognizance.
Sean M. Conway, 46, of Pembroke, is charged with criminal possession of a weapon 3rd and uninspected motor vehicle. Conway was arrested on Aug. 9 following a traffic stop by a Batavia patrol officer on Washington Avenue. He was allegedly found in possession of an expandable baton. He was arraigned and released.
Brian M. Raphael, 35, of Batavia, is charged with trespassing. Raphael was located inside Aldi on East Main Street on Aug. 16 after previously being barred from the store due to prior alleged shoplifting incidents. He was issued an appearance ticket.
Crystal M. Bouter, 34, of Batavia, was arrested on an arrest warrant issued by City Court. Bouter was initially arrested on July 6 and charged with criminal mischief 4th after allegedly damaging another person’s cellphone. She was issued an appearance ticket. A warrant was issued after she failed to appear in court. Bouter was located on Aug. 16 while officers were investigating a separate incident. Bouter was arraigned and released.
Kyle J. Stack, no age provided, no residence provided, is charged with criminal trespass 3rd and failure to keep right (bicycle). Stack was arrested on Aug. 16 after officers attempted to stop him for riding a bicycle southbound in the northbound lane on South Spruce Street in Batavia. Stack allegedly fled on foot but was located a short distance away in a backyard. He was issued appearance tickets.
Ashton L. Mohney, 33, of Batavia, is charged with assault 3rd and criminal obstruction of breathing. Officers were called to an address on Ross Street, Batavia, for the report of a physical disturbance. It's alleged that Mohney grabbed the victim by the neck and punched her in the head. He was arraigned in City Court and released.
Ricky L. Miller, 41, of Batavia, was arrested on a warrant issued by City Court. Miller was initially arrested on May 24 and charged with petit larceny for allegedly stealing merchandise from Tops. He was issued an appearance ticket. A warrant was issued after he failed to appear in court. Miller was arraigned on the warrant in City Court and released.
Frank R. Cratsenberg, 63, no residence provided, was arrested on Aug. 16 on a warrant issued by City Court. Cratsenberg was arrested on June 6 for an alleged theft from Kwik Fill on Jackson Street, Batavia. He was issued an appearance ticket. A warrant was issued on July 18 after he failed to appear in court. Cratsenberg was arraigned on the warrant in City Court and released.
Ryan M. Arner, 37, of Batavia, is charged with harassment 2nd. Arner was charged after an investigation into a fight that occurred at an address on State Street on Aug. 15. It's alleged that Arner pushed and headbutted another person. Arner was issued an appearance ticket.
Aaron R. Hatfield, 38, of Lockport, is charged with petit larceny and criminal possession of a controlled substance. Hatfield is accused of stealing merchandise from Tops on Aug. 14. During his arrest, Hatfield was allegedly found in possession of a controlled substance. He was issued an appearance ticket.
Myron D. Dupler, 76, of Batavia, is charged with public lewdness. It’s alleged that Dupler exposed himself on Aug. 14 while in the area of Austin Park. He was issued an appearance ticket.
Kelli E. Wallace, 60, of Batavia, is charged with petit larceny. It's alleged that on Aug. 13 Wallace stole merchandise from Tops. She was issued an appearance ticket.
James L. Brown, 40, of Albion, is charged with petit larceny. Brown was charged after allegedly stealing merchandise on Aug. 11 from 7-Eleven in Batavia. He was issued an appearance ticket.
Paul Lee, 51, of Rochester, is charged with criminal trespass 3rd. Lee was arrested after he was allegedly found sleeping on Aug. 8 in a vacant house on Ellicott Street, Batavia. He was issued an appearance ticket.
Joanna F. Larnder, 30, of Batavia, was arrested on a bench warrant issued by City Court. Larnder was initially charged with aggravated unlicensed operation of a motor vehicle 3rd on March 23 after a traffic stop on Margaret Place, Batavia. She allegedly failed to appear in court and a warrant was issued on May 18. Larnder was arraigned and ordered to reappear at a later date.
Joshua J. Brower, 39, of Medina, is charged with DWI. Brower was arrested after a traffic stop on West Main Street on Aug. 12. He was issued traffic tickets.
Fawn M. Mobley, 51, of Oakfield, is charged with DWI. Mobley was arrested on Aug. 12 after officers located a vehicle driving on West Main Street, Batavia, with a flat tire. She was issued traffic tickets.
Andrew T. Williams, 20, of Jamestown, was arrested on a warrant issued by City Court. Williams was initially charged on April 22 with aggravated unlicensed operation of a motor vehicle 3rd and operating with a suspended registration after a traffic stop on Cedar Street, Batavia. A warrant was issued after he allegedly failed to appear in court. Williams was arraigned in City Court and released.
Ashton L. Mohney, 33, of Batavia, is charged with burglary 2nd, criminal Contempt 1st, and criminal mischief 3rd. Mohney was arrested after an investigation into a disturbance on Ross Street on Aug. 19 where he allegedly damaged property and violated an order of protection. Mohney was arraigned and remanded to the Genesee County Jail on $1,000 cash bail, $2,000 bond, and $4,000 partially secured bond.
Brian E. Daggar, 37, of Elba, was arrested on a warrant on Aug. 22. Daggar was initially charged with aggravated unlicensed operation of a motor vehicle 3rd. He was reportedly involved in a traffic accident in January 2023 in Batavia. The warrant was issued after he allegedly failed to appear in court. Daggar was arraigned and released and is due back in court at a later date.
Hunter M. Passage, 23, of Batavia, is charged with criminal trespass 2nd. It’s alleged that Passage entered a home on Washington Avenue on Aug. 22 without permission after offering to clean the house for the homeowner. Passage was issued an appearance ticket.
Lakeisha A. Gibson, 37, of Batavia, was arrested on a warrant on Aug. 19. Gibson was initially arrested on May 15. She was accused of failing to appear to testify at Grand Jury after being served a subpoena. She was issued an appearance ticket. Gibson failed to appear in court, and a warrant was issued on July 19. She was arraigned and ordered to reappear at a later date.
Adam Troy Shipwash, 43, of West Main Street, Batavia, is charged with disobeying a mandate. The Sheriff's Office provided no explanation of the charge. Shipwarsh was arrested in connection with an incident reported noon on Aug. 10 in the Town of Byron. He was jailed pending arraignment.
Jeremy John Trzecienski, 46, of Hillside Drive, Pavilion, is charged with harassment 2nd and trespass. Trzecienski is accused of entering another person's property on South Lake Road, Pavilion, at about 7 p.m. on Aug. 23, and remaining there unlawfully while fighting with another person. He was arraigned and ordered to return to court at a later date.
Rachael Marie Brown, 45, of Bethany Center Road, Bethany, is charged with driving while impaired by drugs and following too close. Brown was reportedly involved in a traffic accident at 4:36 p.m. on June 21 on Telephone Road in Pavilion. Following an investigation by Deputy Zachary Hoy, Brown was arrested on Aug. 24 and issued traffic tickets.
Michael Ford Pfenninger, 21, of Genesee Street, Alden, is charged with DWI, driving with a BAC of .08 or greater, and moving from lane unsafely. Pfenninger was arrested on Aug. 23 by Deputy Ryan Mullen in connection with an incident reported at 3:57 a.m. on July 17 on Route 20 in Darien. No details on the incident were released by the Sheriff's Office. Information was not released on whether he was arraigned or issued appearance tickets. He is scheduled to appear in court on Sept. 12.
Koree Rose Stephenson, no age provided, no street address provided, of Rochester, is charged with introducing prison contraband and criminal possession of a controlled substance 7th. Stephenson was allegedly found in possession of a controlled substance while being booked into the jail at 1:50 a.m. on Aug. 27. She was held pending arraignment.
William James Flack, 50, of Sandpit Road, Alexander, is charged with harassment 2nd and criminal contempt 1st. Flack allegedly violated a "refrain from" order of protection by striking another person at 2:05 a.m. on Aug.27 at a location on Sandpit Road, Alexander. He was scheduled to appear in court of arraignment later on the day of his arrest.
Markeith Deandre Lenoir, 33, of Ruleville, Miss., is charged with DWI, driving with a BAC of .18 or greater, and insufficient tailamps. Lenoir was stopped at 1:35 a.m. on Aug. 29, on West Main Street, Batavia, by Deputy Jeremiah Gechell. He was released on traffic tickets.
Matthew J. Zon, 42, of Warsaw, is charged with aggravated criminal contempt and aggravated family offense. Zon was arrested in the Town of Byron by State Police in connection an incident reported at 3:14 p.m. on Aug 29. He was ordered held in jail. No further information was released.
David C. Stephens, 58, of Batavia, is charged with criminal contempt 1st. Stephens was arrested by State Police in connection with an incident reported in Stafford at 5:42 p.m. on Aug. 23.
Amanda N. Holbrook, 36, of Bergen, is charged with DWI. Holbrook was stopped by State Police in the Town of Bergen at 8:30 p.m. on Aug. 23 and released on an appearance ticket.
Max Monroe scores 4.7 seconds left in second half to win the game for Bulldawgs. Photo by Steve Ognibene
The 11th annual scrimmage between the Batavia Blue Devils vs. the Batavia Bulldawgs was another win for the mini-squad on Wednesday evening at VanDetta stadium.
The Bulldawgs opened the first drive with a 60-yard TD run by Logan Brooks. They led at the half 20-16.
Bluedevils took a brief lead after halftime, 24-20, then on its next possession, the Bulldawgs scored Parker Davis on a 60-yard TD run, regaining the lead 26-24.
With 3:44 left in the game, the Blue Devils scored and led by four, 30-26.
Then with 4.7 seconds left, Max Monroe scored to secure the Bulldawg's win, 34-30,
The Blue Devils, who over the past 11 years have won sectional titles and vied for a state championship, has yet to manage a victory against the much younger team.
The Holland Land Office Museum is proud to announce the next edition of our Guest Speaker Series on Thursday, Sept. 7 at 7 p.m. GCC professor, author, and historian Derek Maxfield will be sharing his presentation "Victorian Deathways" on the many customs surrounding mourning and death in Victorian era culture. "In light of the 200th anniversary of the great and historic Batavia Cemetery, it seems fitting to examine American attitudes towards death. This may seem morbid to some, but how a society observes death - like other milestones – tells us much about their culture and values. The Victorians, in particular, created a number of fascinating ways of observing death – from redesigning cemeteries to the language we use to talk about it. This talk will focus mainly on antebellum Victorian culture, roughly 1835 to the outbreak of the Civil War." 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!”
Genesee County will soon be graced with two fantastic celestial events and Dan Schneiderman of the Rochester Museum of Science Center is heading our way to tell us everything we need to know! Join Dan for a FREE public talk being held at the Holland Land Office Museum on Sept. 12 at 6 p.m. as he discusses the science & history of solar eclipses and how to prepare for this extraordinary astronomical opportunity. Reserve your seat by September 7 by phone or email at 585-343-4727; hollandlandoffice@gmail.comThis is a free event (Donations are always accepted for Holland Land Office Programming.) To learn more about how Genesee County is planning to celebrate these events please visit GeneSEEtheEclipse.com. “Genny the Cow” Genesee County’s eclipse mascot will also be on site for photo ops!
The Holland Land Office Museum is proud to announce the next edition of our Trivia Night @ the Museum on Thursday, Sept.14 at 7 p.m. This month's topic is the ship of the pilgrims, The Mayflower. 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.
The Holland Land Office Museum is proud to announce the next edition of our Guest Speaker Series on Thursday, September 21 at 7 p.m. We welcome local presenter and researcher Joseph Van Remmen, as he shares his well-researched theory of how the city of Buffalo got its name. There are a number of theories thrown around, but Mr. Van Remmen's is one you might not have heard of until now. Admission is $5/$3 for museum members. “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!”
Come to the Holland Land Office Museum on Saturday, September 23 from 1 - 4 p.m. as local author Rob Thompson will be signing copies of all of his works. Rob lives in Attica and is most known for his books on the Linden Murders, but he has also just written a new book on the Sullivan Campaign of the Revolutionary War, "Behold & Blush: The Sullivan Expedition", which was waged against the Seneca in the Genesee Valley. He will also have copies of other works including Candles in the Rain and Swinging in the Rain. Copies of each of his books will be available. Prices range from $10-$15.
The Holland Land Office Museum is proud to announce the next edition of our Java with Joe E. morning presentation series on Thursday, September 28 at 9 a.m. The museum welcomes the Town of Batavia Historian, Bernida Scoins, as she shares the life and works of Batavia native author John Gardner. Bernida will also have artifacts and items related to Gardner for display. Admission is free with coffee and donuts. Please contact the museum at 585-343-4727 or hollandlandoffice@gmail.com if you would like to attend.
In a significant milestone, Tompkins Insurance Agencies has been designated a “Best Practices”Agency, recognizing it as part of an elite group of independent insurance agencies across the United States for the fifth consecutive year. The Independent Insurance Agents & Brokers of America (IIABA or the Big “I”) has included the Batavia-based agency in its “Best Practices” group for five years running. After a full review of its financial stability and operational excellence, Tompkins Insurance was one of the 282 agencies to qualify, chosen from more than 2,600 independent agencies nationwide that were nominated.
The Big “I” and Reagan Consulting of Atlanta, GA have collaborated since 1993 to conduct this annual study of industry-leading independent insurance agencies. The study focuses on business practices including revenue growth and profitability, financial stability, expense management, and sales and operations productivity.
“We are incredibly honored to be named a ‘Best Practices’ agency for five years in a row,” said David S. Boyce, president and CEO of Tompkins Insurance. “The five-year milestone is significant and tells us that our goal of serving communities within Western New York, Central New York and Southeastern Pennsylvania with personalized, premium and local services is working. And we will continue working to serve those clients well in the many years to come.”
This recognition joins another: Tompkins Insurance has again been ranked #79 of the Top 100 commercial insurance agencies in the U.S., by Insurance Journal.
Photo of Sister Mary Maude courtesy of Jessica Hallett.
The New York Sire Stakes will make its final 2023 visit to Batavia Downs on Friday (September 1) when two $51,500 divisions of 2-year-old trotting fillies will line up to vie for the $103,000 in purse money and the statistical leader in this category will be on hand to compete.
Sister Mary Maude (Crazy Wow-Perfect Mass) is the current points leader of this NYSS demographic and comes into this race on a five-race win streak, four of which were consecutive NYSS wins. She recently became a member of the Burke Brigade after they acquired her on July 3 and Sister Mary Maude has provided those connections with three wins already. She was scratched sick in her last engagement at Vernon Downs meaning she’s been off over two weeks. But with post one in a short field, Sister Mary Maude will look to extend her win total to six for trainer Ron Burke, who has Jordan Stratton in the bike for this week’s competition.
Looking to prevent that from happening is Sadbirdstillsing (Chapter Seven-Fade Into You) who did compete in the NYSS at Vernon and won in 1:56.3 to take a new lifetime mark. That was her first win of the year but it came on the heels of three very close second-place finishes, the last two being only by a head. With that maiden tag finally behind her, Sadbirdstillsing will try to start a streak of her own with Tyler Buter at the lines for trainer Tony Alagna.
The other group of girls finds Erin (E L Titan-Blurred) the track handicapper’s early choice although she’s winless to this point. She has five-lifetime starts, all in NYSS action, and has hit the board three times. Erin has good gate speed and with post one, should be able to control this race from the start. Jim Morrill Jr. will drive for trainer Dan Daley.
Crowbar Girl (Chapter Seven-Miss Trixton) has seven-lifetime starts and has tasted victory in her first and most recent outings. However in between she’s been unpredictable, to say the least. That said, she has the fastest lifetime mark of the group (1:57.1) as well as the highest earnings this year ($34,281) so she is definitely a player. Jordan Stratton will drive Crowbar Girl from post four for Ron Burke.
There are also two $20,000 NYSS Excelsior divisions on the program and those splits will be contested in races eight and nine. The NYSS main events are carded as races six and seven.
Free full card past performance programs for every live card of racing at Batavia can always be downloaded at the Downs’ website (bataviadownsgaming.com) under the “Live Racing” tab and all the racing action can be viewed as it happens for free at the Batavia Downs Live Facebook page.
Photo of Miss Rockadali courtesy of Wendy J. Lowery.
Jim Morrill Jr. had the hot hand in the bike on Wednesday as he won six times during the 13 race card. His biggest tally came with Miss Rockadali, who led at every station en route to victory in the $15,000 fillies and mares Open I Handicap at Batavia Downs on Wednesday evening (August 30).
Morrill left with Miss Rockadali and out-dueled Imprincessgemma A (Kevin Cummings) for the lead in the scratch-shortened field of six, establishing that position at the :27.3 quarter. After settling on the cones, Miss Rockadali slowed the second quarter down to:30.1 forcing Diamondtequilashot (Joe Chindano Jr.) and Summer Slash (Ray Fisher Jr.) into the outer flow, eventually going two and three wide moving towards three-quarters. Summer Slash eventually drew alongside Miss Rockadali in the turn and looked like she meant business. But her bid fell apart in the stretch where Miss Rockadali kept her lead to the wire while holding off Imprincessgemma A and a fast closing Bet I’m Lucky (Jim McNeight Jr.) to win in 1:55.1.
It was the seventh win of the year and 37th lifetime for Miss Rockadali ($3.20) whose lifetime earnings now total $305,655 for owners Team Italia Racing and Lisette Mota. It was one of three wins for trainer Russell Bratt on Wednesday.
Besides the already mentioned Miss Rockadali, Morrill also won with Charmbo Orbit (1:57.4, $10.00), A Black Diamond (1:56.2, $3.10), Triumphant’s Chip (2:00.2, $3.80), BJ Anthony (2:00.3, $15.40) and Skyway Venus (1:56.3, $5.60) to complete his six pack.
In the secondary featured $11,000 mid-level condition for distaff pacers, Center Attraction (Jim McNeight Jr.) pulled first-over at the half and started cutting into the lead of the front running Carbon Cider (Joe Chindano Jr.) up the backstretch. Center Attraction drew even with Carbon Cider at three-quarters, matched strides with her around the last turn, and then paced clear in deep stretch by 1-¼ lengths to win in 1:56.
Center Attraction ($3.20) is owned by her trainer Robert Anderson, in partnership with Pamela Schieber.
When live racing resumes at Batavia Downs on Friday (September 1) at 6 p.m. there will be a $9,506 carryover in the Jackpot Hi-5 pentafecta in the 12th race.
Free full past performance programs for every live card of racing at Batavia can always be downloaded at the Downs’ website (bataviadownsgaming.com) under the “Live Racing” tab and all the racing action can be viewed as it happens for free at the Batavia Downs Live Facebook page.
Photo of Center Attraction courtesy of Wendy J. Lowery.
194 Washington Avenue Batavia-City Looking for a professional business setting? Look no further-this is a great space and offers so much exposure in an area that is revamping and expanding! This space offers a large reception/office, waiting area, 4 private offices and 2 baths. There is also an enclosed foyer and one office has its own entrance door for possibility of sublet. Great opportunity and landlord open to discussion
Genesee County officials are committed to ensuring a safe environment for the Wings Over Batavia Air Show at the Genesee County Airport, scheduled from 5 to 9 p.m. on Saturday, Sept. 2, and Sunday, Sept. 3. Wings Over Batavia, the independently owned and operated agency responsible for this event, is working closely with the Genesee County Sheriff’s Office and Genesee County Emergency Management to ensure public safety remains at the forefront of preparations.
Comprehensive Safety Measures Genesee County is committed to overseeing comprehensive safety measures. The Genesee County Sheriff's Office, New York State Troopers, and City of Batavia Police are coordinating efforts to help ensure public safety. Various emergency services providers will be present at the event to uphold public safety standards.
Emergency Services and Special Effects Planned explosions, pyrotechnic displays, and fireworks will be handled exclusively by the event organizers. Attendees and residents are informed not to dial 911 for these planned activities, as emergency services will be on site.
Traffic Control Leading up to and during the event on Sept. 2 and Sept. 3, State Street Road will be closed from West Saile Drive north to Batavia Elba Townline Road, and West Saile Drive will be closed from the Milton Cat building to the storage barns on the east side of the airport. Motorists are asked to pay attention to signs and flaggers, exercise extreme caution and be alert to changing conditions. Pedestrians must follow marked paths and signage.
Information and Guidelines For further details about the show and other pertinent information, please visit:
Historic moment: Matthew Starowitz, an Elba farmer, makes the first legal marijuana purchase in Batavia at a new dispensary inside Empire Hemp. Photo by Howard Owens.
Matthew Starowitz arrived at Empire Hemp early this afternoon, well before the 1 p.m. opening time for legal cannabis sales, with the goal of being the first customer to make a legal weed purchase in Batavia.
Goal accomplished.
"That's the way I was raised," Starowitz said. "You support local people, and so you're there; you're the first one."
It's been a struggle to bring legal cannabis sales to Batavia as state regulators figure out the ins and outs of licensing and legal distribution. Empire Hemp has had products ready to sell for some time. With the "pop-up" store, called the Cannabis Growers Showcase, opening on Tuesday, they've been allowed to open to cannabis buyers on a limited basis.
The adult-use dispensary for licensed cultivators of high-quality cannabis products will run from 1 to 7 p.m. every Tuesday through Saturday through Dec. 30.
It provides local shoppers with the opportunity to purchase certified cannabis products, but the showcase opens the door for Empire Hemp to sell its THC products as well. Typically, the state doesn’t allow one company to be a grower, a processor and a retailer, VanDusen said, and this will allow his company to sell Empire Hemp products through Dank as the retailer set up within Empire Hemp shop.
Starowitz said he was happy the long process of marijuana legalization has gotten to the point that there is now a locally owned and operated retail location in Batavia.
"I've smoked it since I was like 12 years old," Starowitz said. "I'm 35 years old now. I have always loved it. It's just always been that way. So now that it's legal 100 percent, I'm going to support it locally."
He purchased several different products as a kind of sampler.
"I feel like I just want to sample everything that they have here, at least as far as sativa and sativa hybrids, because then I'll figure out what I like, you know," Starowitz said. "I think that this is better than the stuff I'll ever get from the Res because a lot of their stuff is unregulated. It's not lab-tested. At least this here is legit and lab-tested."
Why sativa? "Because with indica, I feel like I get too lazy, and I really don't want to do too much," Starowitz said. "Whereas with sativa, I'm always active and going around and doing things. "I'm a vegetable farmer, so sativa is for me as the way to go. This way, I don't get lazy."
A former parochial school principal in Batavia who admitted to a course of sexual conduct with a child less than 11 years old is facing the possibility of having his interim probation revoked.
A hearing will be held in October to help Judge Melissa Lightcap Cianfrini determine if he's violated the terms of his probation by telling probation officers that, contrary to his guilty plea, he has never been sexually attracted to children.
When Jason Clark, who was principal at St. Paul Lutheran School, entered his plea, District Attorney Kevin Finnell said Clark made a factual admission, by definition of his guilty plea, that he had sexual contact with a child to satisfy his sexual desires.
Clark's statement to a probation officer during his pre-sentence investigation interview, according to Finnell, is that Clark isn't and never was sexually attracted to children, and that statement, Finnell asserts, is inconsistent with his sworn admission in court.
That constitutes a violation of the warnings Clark was given by Cianfrini at the time of his guilty plea.
In June, Clark entered a guilty plea to sexual conduct against a child in the second degree, Class D felony. Under the terms of the plea, Clark agreed to surrender his teaching license and was placed on interim supervision by the Probation Department for one year.
If he successfully completes interim probation, Clark can change his plea to endangering the welfare of a child, which is a misdemeanor.
As part of his plea, Clark made a factual admission that he touched the chest of a female child two or more times over a period of time not less than three months in duration.
Cianfrini ordered a hearing, which will likely include testimony from the probation officer, for 10:30 a.m. on Oct. 17.
Clark was named principal at St. Paul in June 2019 and served in that position until sometime in 2022. He was arrested in January.
Chris VanDusen, CEO of Empire Hemp, behind the cannabis sales counter at his company's retail shop on East Main Street. On Tuesday at 1 p.m., the empty shelves in the cannabis room will be filled with legal weed products from various vendors selling marijuana legally in Batavia for the first time. Photo by Howard Owens.
A line down the sidewalk.
That’s all anybody could hope for, and Empire Hemp founder Chris VanDusen and his eight suppliers — cannabis cultivators and processors bringing in product for the 204 E. Main St., Batavia Empire Hemp store beginning at 1 p.m. Tuesday — will happily and hopefully be watching the street side form with customers.
“For us, it's a huge thing for us. People always ask -- they want our THC products, and we haven't been able to sell to them because we're not allowed to. So to be able to have this opportunity is really great,” VanDusen said during a busy Monday of preparing for opening day of the Cannabis Growers Showcase. “So we have a range of products, flower products, prerolls, you know, a lot of whole flower from … all the other vendors are cultivators. So it's all their stuff. We're hoping that we have a line down the sidewalk is what we're really hoping for. We're just just hoping for a really big turnout. We just found out last week we got approved to do it, so you know we've been scrambling to get everything out there.”
Greenside Cannabis, in partnership with Dank, Buffalo’s first licensed adult-use dispensary, and Empire Hemp Co., is hosting the WNY Cannabis Growers Showcase, a pop-up adult-use dispensary for licensed cultivators of high-quality cannabis products, which will run from 1 to 7 p.m. every Tuesday through Saturday through Dec. 30.
Not only will it provide local shoppers with opportunity to purchase certified cannabis products, but the showcase opens the door for Empire Hemp to sell its THC products as well. Typically, the industry doesn’t allow for one company to be grower, processor and retailer, VanDusen said, and this will allow his company to sell his products through Dank as the retailer set up within Empire Hemp.
He’s got three flavors of THC gummies and three flavors of vape cartridges, plus more being developed in the lab to be launched soon, he said. Other participating cultivators and processors include Greenside Cannabis, Tarot Tokes, Flwr City, and House of Sacci, vendors “all the way from Jamestown to Niagara Falls to Rochester and everywhere in between,” he said, with a range of flower, edibles and vape products.
All participants are licensed by the state Office of Cannabis Management and are therefore authorized to sell directly to consumers. Would he have liked a larger window of more hours and days? Yes, of course, VanDusen said, but the OCM worked this out and adjusted the schedule to make it six hours a day for five days a week, “and we said, ‘no problem, that works,’” he said.
“But to be able to sell, so what it's gonna be is, we're partnered with Dank as the dispensary (from Buffalo), and they have set up their cash registers within our store. So they’re like a dispensary within our CBD store,” he said. “I think what it's going to be is, right now, they're looking at is like after January 1, there won't be any more, but if they don't get enough dispensaries opened by that time, I think they will extend it because it's the only way small brands can survive.”
Dank has been operating at 501 Main St., Buffalo, for six weeks and has been doing “excellent, way better than we thought we’d do,” owner Aaron Vancamp said. Not that he didn’t see the big influx at the start, but then expected traffic to ease up a bit after that, Vancamp said, and that’s not what’s happened.
“But it's actually increased and been increasing a little after that. So it's been really good,” he said. “We've become more efficient, though. So like, we're getting the customers, we still have the line. But then it's just like the rest, learning the payment processing and things like that to just get the customers out quicker.”
So they’ll be bringing those lessons to Batavia for some brisk sales in what VanDusen said will be a two-part process of checking IDs at one station and then cashing people out at the second one. Overall, Vancamp believes this showcase might just be a lifesaver for those in the cannabis business.
“It could be something that possibly saves the industry. It’s in dire straits, with the amount of stores that are open and the fresh crop coming in, people really need outlets to take care of that fresh crop if we could get a lot of these open and places like Batavia, where there’s like a good solid population, and Batavia’s been very welcoming of us, it wasn’t really tough, they were very glad to have us, and double the amount of revenue that we’re going to generate for them,” he said. “So basically, we think this could be something that saves you on the street for the time being until they can get more stores open and get things organized on the retail side.”
What are the benefits of these pop-ups? Convenience, established hours and locations for point-of-sale, and a coded product that a consumer can check to get the breakdown of how many milligrams it contains of THC or CBD, he said.
“That’s especially helpful in dealing with the vapes or the edibles because you can actually break down your dosage and figure out what exactly you need,” Vancamp said. “In the other market, you don’t know what you’re getting. Sometimes it could be better. Sometimes it could be worse. Sometimes it could be something horrible. They’re dealing with old products or something like that. And you’re just better off with a more safe route here.”
How can customers trust the product? It’s all been lab tested, and each product has a certificate of analysis (COA) to prove that every one of them has been tested and is safe to consume, VanDusen said.
Investigators marked possible evidence locations on Oak Street, Batavia, following a report of gunshots in the area on Monday night. Photo by Howard Owens
Police are investigating what appears to be a case of gunshots fired on Oak Street at around 10:50 p.m. on Monday night.
Witnesses said they heard five or six shots but that whoever was involved fled the scene quickly.
At about 10:50 p.m., dispatchers asked a patrol officer to switch to LE Secure (the encrypted channel for police communications), and another officer responded that he had heard gunshots while he was still inside the police station.
The dispatcher said the 9-1-1 Center had received multiple calls.
A short time later, an officer reported that he had a person in custody, but a police source said that information was incorrect.
There is currently no official source of information available, and a police source said it is too early in the investigation to release much information.
A source said there are no reported injuries at this time.
There are City PD and Sheriff's patrols on scene on Oak Street, between La Cross Avenue/Charles Street and Allen Street. There are also patrols strategically placed elsewhere in the city, but we've been unable to confirm that a suspect or suspects are still at large.
There were no injuries, not to the residents, firefighters, nor to the family pets in a fire at 10 Prune St., Batavia, this evening, but there was significant damage to the residence, said City Fire Chief Josh Graham.
The garage, where the fire started, is a total loss.
"There is significant damage to the second story," Graham said. "It's pretty well a total loss, and there is a lot of water and smoke damage on the first floor."
Graham said City Fire received a call at about 6:22 p.m. of smoke coming from the garage.
"Crews saw smoke as soon as they pulled out of the fire station (on Evans Street)," Graham said. "When they got on scene, the garage was fully involved with an extension into the house. They declared a second alarm, and the Town of Batavia responded, Elba responded."
The residents were out of the house, and a dog and cat also escaped safely, Graham said.
The streets are narrow, and houses are close together in the Prune Street neighborhood. The Tully's parking lot was right behind the house. That made it tight quarters to maneuver trucks and fight the fire.
Unloading hoses quickly and getting them into place quickly was difficult.
"One thing I will say is there's a house down here with a 16-year-old that came out and saw us struggling to pull a hose down, and he grabbed ahold of that hose and helped pull the hose down," Graham said. "Moving all that hose, getting everything in place with everything else around in the house was the hardest part."
The cause of the fire remains under investigation.
A neighboring house sustained some heat damage.
Property tax records indicate the house is owned by James and Peggy Benedict. It was built in 1900 and remodeled in 1970.
Photo of (from left to right) Charley Boyd as Dean Richmond, Lucine Kauffman as Mary Richmond, and Ryan Duffy as Eli Fish standing with a portrait of Dean Richmond. Photo courtesy of Don Burkel.
Press Release:
"Tea and Spirits" at the Holland Land Office Museum(HLOM) was visited by Dean Richmond, Mary Richmond, and Eli Fish, famous residents of the Historic Batavia Cemetery. They entertained the crowd at a 200th-anniversary tea party on Sunday, August 20. Tales of their lives, accomplishments, and local, state, and national influence were told and enjoyed by all in attendance.
One more "Tea and Spirits" with sweet treats and savory bites is scheduled for September 17 at 2 p.m. Famous Civil War General John Martindale, Fouierist and social reformer Albert Brisbane, and poet Reverend John Yates will be in attendance. Reservations are required, tickets may be obtained by calling the museum at 343-4727. Tickets are $20 for HLOM members and $25 for non-members. Hurry, space is limited!
Photo of Lucine Kauffman as Mary Richmond(left) and Charley Boyd as Dean Richmond(right). Photo courtesy of Don Burkel.
Photo of the crowd enjoying the presentation at “Tea and Spirits”. Photo courtesy of Don Burkel.
Photo of (from left to right) Lucine Kauffman as Mary Richmond, Charley Boyd as Dean Richmond, and Ryan Duffy as Eli Fish. Photo courtesy of Don Burkel.
More than 300 people turned out Sunday afternoon at Batavia Country Club for a free concert by the Ghost Riders, celebrating the group's 30 years of providing Genesee County with a hardcore country soundtrack.
Charlie Hetrick sitting in on bass (in place of Bill Pitcher). Hetrick was one of several local musicians and former members who sat in for some songs during the concert. Keith Worthington, foreground, on lead guitar. Photo by Howard Owens.
The City of Batavia Fire Department will be flushing fire hydrants on Tuesday, August 29, and Wednesday, August 30 from approximately 9 a.m. - 3 p.m. in the general area of South of E. Main St. and West of Jackson St.
Homes and businesses nearby will be affected. These tests may result in a temporary discoloration of water in that area. As in the past, please do not attempt to wash any clothing if your water appears discolored. If you do experience a discoloration of your water, run cold water for about 5 minutes or until clear.
This annual testing is essential to maintain the communities' class III Insurance Services Office (ISO) public protection classification and to assure that fire hydrants are operating efficiently for fire protection purposes.
Along with maintaining the fire rating, the test monitors the health of the city's water system, identifies weak areas in the system, and removes material that settles in the water lines. Checking each hydrant improves fire department personnel's knowledge of the hydrant locations.
If you have any questions or should notice a hydrant in need of repair, please contact the fire department at 585-345-6375.
