Elba, making its first Rotary Tournament appearance in 30 years, is advancing to the championship game after beating Batavia on Tuesday 52-34.
The Lancers will play Notre Dame at 7:45 p.m. on Thursday.
For Elba, Sydney Reilly scored 15 points, Brea Smith scored 12, and Lydia Ross scored 10.
For the Blue Devils, Jaimin Macdonald scored 13 points and Violet Lopez scored 10.
Photos by Debra Reilly.
Press Release:
Batavia Downs Gaming & Hotel has announced its event lineup for the first 3 months of 2025.
ABBAMANIA returns to Batavia Downs on Friday, February 7. Doors are at 6:30 p.m., with the show starting at 7 p.m. ABBAMANIA will take you back in time to when ABBA was on stage, live in concert. ABBAMANIA performs 22 songs of ABBA in their two-set show with costume changes, choreography, comedy, and a great concert sound. Tickets start at $15, and guests get $10 back in Free Play. Tickets are available now on BataviaConcerts.com.
The first ever Batavia Downs Meat Raffle to benefit Roswell Park will take place at Batavia Downs on Saturday, February 8. Doors open at 6 p.m. with the first spin at 7 p.m. Tickets are $25 each and attendees receive complimentary draft beer, soda and water along with $15 in Free Play. Roswell Park Comprehensive Cancer Center will receive 100% of the proceeds from the tickets and raffles. Penny auctions for baskets and merchandise will also take place.
The 6th Annual Batavia Brew Fest, presented by Genesee Brewery and Rohrbach Brewing Company is back on Saturday, February 15 from 4:30 to 7 p.m. For $30, attendees receive 2 and half hours of beer sampling from many WNY breweries. Early bird tickets available until January 29 for just $25. Light snacks will be served and attendees will receive a commemorative plastic sampling mug along with $15 in Free Play. Hotel packages that include tickets are available as well.
Returning again after several years of sold out shows is Music of the Stars on Saturday, March 22. Doors are at 6:30 p.m. with the show starting at 7:30 p.m. The high-energy seven-piece band pays tribute to internationally famous artists, including Tom Jones, The Bee Gees, Neil Diamond, Frankie Valli and the Four Seasons, Gary Puckett, Elvis, The Beatles and many more. Tickets start at $15 and guests get $10 back in Free Play. Tickets are available now on BataviaConcerts.com. Hotel packages that include tickets are available as well.
On Sunday, March 23, the Record Riots Vendor Show, a vinyl record and music memorabilia event will run inside of the Park Place Events Center 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. With 40 dealer tables and more than 10,000 LPs in the room, attendees will be sure to have a great time browsing a wide variety of music while connecting with fellow music lovers. Details can be found online at: https://www.recordriots.com/. $15 Early Admission Tickets or regular $5 admission tickets can be purchased at the door. Each ticket comes with $5 in Free Play for the gaming floor.
“We are looking forward to supporting Roswell Park for this Meat Raffle fundraiser, “said Byron Brown, President & CEO for Batavia Downs Gaming & Hotel. “It’s something we’ve never done before, but we’re now looking to expand our offerings and try new things to go along with our guest’s favorite existing events.”
Tickets are available now on BataviaConcerts.com and the Lucky Treasures Gift Shop located in the lobby of the main entrance of Batavia Downs. Hotel Specials for select events are available on the Hotel Deals tab on BataviaDownsGaming.com.
Other events scheduled for the 1st Quarter of 2025 at Batavia Downs include the return of live racing Mondays and Thursdays through February, The Experience Psychic Fair January 17 through 19 and the Legends & Stars Sports Expo on the February 22 and 23. Batavia’s Thursday Concert Series tickets are already on sale. Information on all events can be found in the coming weeks on the Batavia Downs Facebook page.
Press Release:
The Holland Land Office Museum is proud to announce the winners of the People’s Choice and Director’s Choice awards for the 24th Annual Wonderland of Trees decorated trees.
The winner of the People’s Choice Award is the Friends of the Batavia Peace Garden, and the winner of the Staff Choice Award is the City of Batavia.
We would like to congratulate our winners and thank everyone who participated this year. This year’s Wonderland of Trees was one of the most successful in its history.
We had more trees this year than in recent years and they were all so beautifully done that the choices were very difficult. Also, thank you to everyone who donated towards the event, and all who came to see the wonderfully decorated trees.
A winter chill on Tuesday didn't stop the Batavia Society of Artists in its third attempt to hold the opening reception for its annual winter show at Richmond Memorial Library.
Snow storms forced the society to cancel its previously scheduled reception, the first one scheduled a month ago.
Andrea Kuehn, who entered three paintings, won the People's Choice Award, the only award handed out at this show, for her painting, "Stop and Smell the Flowers."
Photos by Howard Owens
Fresh off a solid 1:52.3 win at Harrah’s Philadelphia the week before Christmas, Ambushed shipped-in to Batavia Downs on Monday (Jan. 6) for her 2025 debut and scored a second consecutive win in the featured $13,000 Open Handicap pace for fillies and mares, the race that headlined the opening card of the winter meet at the Genesee County oval.
Driver Joe Chindano Jr. got away last with Ambushed while Waitforever N (Brett Beckwith) took the lead from Oaxacan Dream N (Dave McNeight III) passing the :28.1 quarter, and then marched to the half in a middling :59 flat. Chindano then pulled Ambushed past that station and methodically made their way to the lead at the five-eighths pole. Moving up the backside, she crossed over to the pegs at three-quarters and then separated from the field in the final turn. Ambushed entered the stretch with a 1-½ length lead and rebuffed a late bid from Waitforever N to win by one in 1:57 flat.
Ambushed ($6.70) is owned by D Racing Stable and Donald Mac Rae and trained by Hunter Oakes.
Ambushed capped off a natural hat trick for Chindano in the sixth, seventh and eighth races, and was one of four victories he registered during the night. Those other three victors were Headline Maker (2:03, $50.00), Lydias Liberty (2:00.1, $12.20) and Shoreview (1:59.3, $10.40).
A similarly impressive mile on Monday, given the biting cold temperatures and snowglobe atmosphere the races were held in, was turned in by Maggie Bell (Brett Beckwith) in the mid-level $9,500 pace for distaff participants.
Maggie Bell sat second behind Hurrikane Msrodine (Kevin Cummings) until the quarter, where she pulled and took command at the top of the second turn. From there, Maggie Bell paced unfettered fractions of :58.3 and 1:27.4, and entered the stretch with a 1-½ length lead. From that point she scooted home on top by two in 1:57, matching the time of the feature race.
Owned by Del Pozzo Schwartz Paoleti and trained by Jaymes Mcassey, Maggie Bell returned $14.00 for the win.
Maggie Bell was one of three wins for Beckwith during the proceedings.
Other horsemen who had notable nights included driver Kevn Cummings and trainer Sam Smith, who teamed up to cross the line first with three of their starters and Shawn McDonough, who was responsible for two driving wins and with three training victories.
Live racing resumes at Batavia Downs on Thursday (Jan. 9) at 3:00 p.m. and there will be a $430 carryover in the Jackpot Super Hi-5 pentafecta in the 15th race.
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.
One of the real values of the Rotary Basketball Tournament, said Notre Dame Coach Vinny Falleti, is that it focuses attention of female athletes.
"In my opinion, girls' sports in this area don't get as much of a run as boys', and I think that they should," Falleti said on Tuesday during Rotary's luncheon at the ARC Center on Woodrow Road. "There's a lot of great women athletes out there and girls who are really good representatives of what you want to be as you get older. And I think that's a big part of this tournament. It's really shining a light on a lot of young ladies who really do it the right way. And that goes for every school that's involved."
Tip-off for the first game is tonight (Tuesday) at 6:30 p.m. with Notre Dame against defending champs Cal-Mum.
The second first-round game is at 7:45, Batavia vs. Elba.
Elba is making its first tournament appearance in 30 years.
The championship game is at 7:45 p.m. on Thursday. The consolation game on Thursday starts at 6:30 p.m.
Press Release:
HomeCare & Hospice is thrilled to announce the addition of three new team members across our Allegany, Batavia, and Wellsville locations.
Mikaila Mault, the social worker at our Batavia location, shares her eagerness to make a meaningful impact on the lives of patients and families.
"My father recently passed away and required services similar to hospice care," Mikaila reflected. "I truly understand the challenges families face during such difficult times, and I’m committed to offering the support they need. This role is a perfect fit for me."
Mikaila resides in Alden, with her daughter and fiancé.
Desirae Miller, our new Employee Relations Coordinator in Human Resources, is thrilled to be returning to HomeCare & Hospice.
"I'm excited to be back and look forward to coming in every day," she said.
Desirae lives in Hinsdale with her dog.
Tina Albright-Miller, a social worker at our Wellsville location, is excited about the opportunity to offer compassionate support to patients and families in their final moments together.
Reflecting on what drew her to hospice care, Tina shared, "I volunteered at a comfort home in the Rochester area several years ago, and that experience sparked my deep interest in hospice care."
Tina resides in Portageville with her two grown children. She holds an Associate's degree and a Master of Science in Mental Health Counseling, along with an undergraduate degree in Music and Vocal Performance from the Eastman School of Music.
"We are delighted to welcome these three compassionate and dedicated professionals to our team," said Melissa Sullivan, CEO of HomeCare & Hospice. "We look forward to seeing our new social workers provide outstanding care to patients and their families, as well as welcoming another valuable member to our Human Resources Department."
HomeCare & Hospice encompasses a licensed home care program allowing patients with short-term needs or chronic conditions to remain in their own homes and a hospice program providing medical care and emotional support for patients and their families coping with a terminal illness.
For more information, please call 716-372-2106, visit homecare-hospice.org or email snegron@homecare-hospice.org.
Considering that Eleanor Davis was celebrating her 38,690th day of life on Monday, she was taking it rather casually.
When asked how it felt to turn 106, she dryly responded, "The same as 105, just a different day,” during her birthday party at Premier Genesee in Batavia. “I had nothing to do with it.”
Actually, according to a family member and therapist, that may not be quite true. The Long Island native who grew up and lived in the same house for 75 years, eventually moving to Manor House in Batavia when she was 100, had a daily regimen that seemed to work for her.
“A couple of cocktails, dry martinis,” daughter Patricia Davis of Albion said. “Her sister is 15 years younger and is in worse shape than she’s in.”
Teressa Monroe, who has asked Eleanor her secret for longevity while working with her as speech therapist, said there has been a definite answer.
“Chocolate, vodka, and thinking young,” Monroe said, giving the sweet stuff its due. “My grandma ate a pound a week, so I buy into the chocolate.”
Fellow Premier residents gathered together for a round of “Happy Birthday” and a piece of cake to help Eleanor celebrate her big day. There are “quite a few in the upper 90s,” and staff just threw a party for another resident who turned 104 a couple of weeks ago, Hawley said.
As for her steadfastness, Eleanor has not subscribed to the traditional physical recommendations of regular walking, her daughter said, and she does miss the salt water of her homeland so she wasn’t as much a landlubber.
Eleanor does have hearing and vision issues, but, as Activity Director Julie Hawley put it, “she’s still full of it.” Eleanor was honored as Resident of the Month at Premier when she was all of 105, which meant being recognized in the monthly newsletter.
She provided tidbits of information, including her favorite foods of tiramisu and chocolate ice cream; her favorite animal of a cat; the best day of her life was getting married; giving advice to the next generation to “go with the flow;” and three words to describe her: easygoing, smart and compassionate.
When asked at the party about her secret for long life, she spiced up her usual answer.
“A Bloody Mary every night,” she said.
260 Ross Street Batavia-City. Super solid and well taken care of 3 bedroom ranch home ready for your immediate occupancy!! This home is clean, freshly painted thru out and has been well maintained and upgraded thru out the years!! This adorable home has a lot to offer and will surprise you with all that you can’t see by driving by! The home is well laid out starting with large living room with pretty hardwood floors, oversized eat in kitchen and awesome huge pantry! There are three large bedrooms with hardwoods as well as plenty of closet space. One currently has laundry hookups should ups should you need/want first floor laundry capabilities! Downstairs is HUGE and provides a lot of additional living space! Partially finished with full bath it makes a fabulous recreation area. There is also tons of storage space and a place to have small workshop area as well. Not only is this home located in great quiet neighborhood but is located on half acre plus lot-the backyard will surprise you as it is fully fenced and private with large deck that overlooks a beautiful wooded lot not visible from the road! Check this one out for yourself! Call Reliant Real Estate today 585-344-HOME (4663)
Batavia beat Newark in Boys Basketball on Saturday 67-53.
Gavin White scored 25 points for the Blue Devils and Carter Mullen scored 23.
Matt Hlushak is not afraid of career diversity, and has always tried to use what he learned in both his personal and professional experience, he says.
A native of Pennsylvania, he worked for many years as a cook, some in retail, and eventually made his way to Batavia, where he has lived for about six and a half years, working for most of that as a document specialist. Then came the time to leave.
“I quit my job to do this because of my family’s needs. My daughter is involved in dance; she has four dance classes a week, and my son has special needs. So this was a business I thought I could set up to probably sustain a family, using the skills that I have already and based on the needs that I do have. It absolutely gives me more flexibility,” he said of his new business at The Harvester Center. “This business was more about my experience as a customer, by buying the smoking accessories and buying toys and playing with the toys after I've used the accessories. And I was just thinking, since the cannabis industry is a relatively new thing here in New York, how can I get involved in it without having money for licensures, and I’m not predisposed to a criminal record to get ahead of the list or anything? So this is how I figured I could be part of it.”
CleanHit Services will open from 10 a.m. to 3 p.m. Tuesday at 56 Harvester Ave., Batavia. It’s Unit 103 on the first floor and can be accessed from the outside. Hlushak plans to give away samples of Stacey’s Pies for opening day.
As it may sound, CleanHit cleans cannabis accessories of tar residues left behind from using glass and metal paraphernalia and also cleans jewelry. Hlushak was surprised to learn that many people would just toss out their stuff and buy new ones instead of cleaning or having them cleaned, he said. He brings his personal experience to the table, as well as his prior work in a hospital using ultrasonic equipment for a central sterilization unit, he said.
He took that resume bullet item and put it to good use with his own equipment and mission statement to help others save some money, reuse their goods instead of throwing them out and buying new, and preserve what might be sentimental from having been a gift. He doesn’t sell any actual cannabis, CBD or THC products.
“It’s just a cleaning service with a relaxing place to wait while we clean your stuff, a place to shop if you’d like to look around,” he said. “A lot of smoking accessories are made out of glass. They're not all glass, they actually make them out of silicone and stuff. And I can clean those as well. But there's a lot of other small parts that are glass or metal. And with the ultrasonic cleaning and then doing it by hand as well, I can really get into some spaces and clean it up so that you can get a clean hit the next time around.”
He opted for the east side’s Harvester complex for various reasons.
“As far as setting up for somebody who’s brand new to setting up a business, I think it’s fantastic. The business incubator thing, I think, is a great idea for repurposing this old factory instead of tearing it down or doing some other unthinkable thing with it. I think it’s a fantastic use of the property, and I think it’s great that it allowed an opportunity for me personally that I appreciate,” he said. “And it was really simple to get in; it’s low rent and a smooth, easygoing process. All of these furnishings I got locally. I’m trying to find local craftspeople and artisans … I’m still looking for people. If they have crafts, I’d give them a shelf, they can consign, or I can buy at a discount and sell them.”
He has a table and two chairs set up for a game of checkers or chess, and a ring and hook game available to customers, along with a small couch and upholstered chairs, what he calls “a little light display,” which was showing a space backdrop and will switch scenes so as not to get stale, he said.
Toys include “fidgety, sensory type of things,” such as bendable spacemen, aliens, astronauts, a wooden puzzle or a block to unravel into a snake, and then one can turn it into different shapes. There are also squishy items and slimes and more traditional paraphernalia, though he’s not in this to compete with anyone, he said.
“I’m not trying to compete with any of the head shops in town or Adam Miller with their toys. The toys I’m selling are things they don’t generally have for sale,” he said. “I’m not trying to undercut anybody or say, shop with me instead. But I have a couple of things that were harder for me to find that I really liked and I think other people would like to use. So once I got my tax ID and I was able to buy in bulk, then I had access to the things that I can’t always find myself.”
Explain your process for cleaning these items.
“There’s some hand cleaning involved and there’s ultrasonic cleaning machines that I have. So you would put it in water, and you can treat it with an ultrasonic cleanser, and it could get sort of like the tiny bits of dirt and debris that you get in your rings and takes away the luster from your gems and your bracelets,” he said. “That ultrasonic machine with a bit of cleanser can loosen that up, free it up, and make it look practically like new. And I also have polishing cloths, so I can dry and polish them just like you would if you went back to your jewelry store where you got your original pieces.
“The paraphernalia is more of a hand cleaning, but sometimes they get neglected, and the tar just gets built up, and the ultrasonic portion of that will help free it up and really renew your glass pieces and your metal pieces,” he said. “I would always clean mine because I didn’t always want to spend anywhere from $5 to $40 every time I needed a new one, so I would clean it out myself, and I realized that I really did a pretty decent job. And then I thought that this is a really dirty job that a lot of people probably don’t want to do, so I can offer, I will gladly do it.”
He offers walk-in service, and wait time is about 15 to 20 minutes, he said, depending on how much a customer brings in to clean. Hours are 9 a.m. to 3 p.m. Mondays and Tuesdays; 9 a.m. to 4 p.m. Wednesdays and Thursdays; and 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. Fridays and Saturdays.
For more information, call 585-813-6202.
Press Release:
The Elmira Impact are set to kick off the new year with a special two-game series against the Hershey Cubs at Dave McCarthy Memorial Arena on January 4 and 5.
The matchups are as follows:
Elite Division
- Jan. 4 at 8:25 p.m.
- Jan. 5 at 5:55 p.m.
Premier Division
- Jan. 4 at 5:40 p.m.
- Jan. 5 at 1:35 p.m.
Children 12 and under receive free admission. Tickets can be purchased at elmiraimpact.com/tickets.
Get ready for an action-packed weekend of hockey as the Impact take on their rivals to start the new year.
Press Release:
A full slate of both girls and boys basketball is scheduled for February 8 and we hope to see you there. Batavia High School will take on the Notre Dame Irish for a full day of both JV and Varsity girls and boys basketball. All proceeds from this event will benefit the Michael Napoleone Memorial Foundation.
Game times are to be determined and will be played at both Batavia High School and Genesee Community College.
Admission will be Adults $5 & Students $2, Children 5 & under -free!
There will be a 50/50 raffle at each game.
The Foundation will be running concessions and are looking for donations of soda, water, pizza, candy and chips! Monetary donations are also gratefully accepted. All donations assist our fundraising efforts!
The Foundation will also be looking for volunteers during the games to assist with raffles and concessions. Students will be awarded community service hours if volunteering.
Please call Laurie for any donations, volunteering, or questions at 585-409-3275.
The Michael Napoleone Memorial Foundation was established in 2007 in memory of Michael Napoleone who died at the age of 8 of Burkitts Lymphoma, a form of pediatric cancer. Since its start, the Foundation has given over $750,000 to families facing the challenges of a pediatric cancer diagnosis. They have donated over $75,000 to Youth programs from their grant funding, and supported research in the amount of $95,000. They also donated $50,000 to Golisano Children's Hospital and recently just completed their $25,000 gift to United Memorial Medical Center in Batavia.
The Foundation depends solely on volunteers and less than 3% of monies raised are applied to administrative costs.
Come out and watch your hometown teams and support a great cause!
Press Release:
The Genesee-Orleans Regional Arts Council (GOART!) is thrilled to announce the launch of its highly anticipated 2025 Winter Art Series. Offering a diverse array of classes and workshops designed for multi-aged individuals.
The upcoming series is designed to engage art enthusiasts across the region. Participants can expect a diverse lineup that caters to a wide range of interests. From young children to adults, everyone is invited to explore their creative potential or enhance their artistic skills through our engaging programs.
Be on the lookout for the GOART! Winter Event Calendar highlighting the schedule of classes and other events, which will be widely distributed or can also be picked up at GOART!
Individuals and families who are eager to learn what classes will be offered are encouraged to visit our website for information on registration and other details. The 2025 winter art series offerings allow participants to choose from a plethora of classes that align with their interests and schedules. Included in this series are Dotting Mandela and wearable-art classes.
In addition to adult classes, we are pleased to offer specialized sessions within our Explore Art program for youth up through twelfth grade. Our diverse curriculum ensures that there is something for everyone, including cooking classes for kids.
The upcoming series will also feature a six-week Hand Building Pottery class for youth in seventh through ninth grade, providing a comprehensive journey through various pottery techniques.
Additionally, our wearable fiber-art series will teach youths of all sexes how to crochet items such as hats, leg warmers, and fingerless gloves, emphasizing both creativity and practical skills. For those interested in jewelry making, we will offer classes tailored for young adults and adults, further expanding the scope of our wearable art series.
Furthermore, our annual youth art camp, scheduled for February 17-21, promises an enriching and immersive experience for young artists. Families are encouraged to secure their spots promptly, as space is limited. Scholarships are also available for those in need of financial assistance.
GOART! is also delighted to offer ongoing opportunities for artistic exploration, such as our drumming sessions with the Drum Circle, held monthly on the fourth Wednesday.
The public is invited to explore our website for detailed information on all our classes and events, with more exciting offerings to come throughout the year.
As spaces are limited, we recommend early registration to ensure participation in your preferred classes. GOART! extends deep gratitude to our teachers who will be sharing their expertise and passion with our community and we eagerly anticipate welcoming you to our creative space, where you can nurture your artistic talents and engage with other individuals who share similar interests.
For further details and to register for classes, please visit our website - www.https://goart.org. We look forward to welcoming you to one of our workshops and for you to experience with others the creativity that unfolds in our classes.
Le Roy scored 53 points and held Batavia to 46 points to win the large school division championship of the Peter Arras Memorial Basketball Tournament at GCC on Monday night.
The Oatkan Knights surged with five minutes left in the game, when they were trailing 44-37, going on a 16-2 scoring run.
The tournament is sponsored by the Batavia Lions Club.
Jean Agosto and Jake Higgins each scored 17 points for the Oatkan Knights. For each, 10 of those points came in the last five minutes. Adam Woodworth scored 11 points.
For Batavia, Carter Mullins scored 16 points and Casey Mazur scored eight.
Jake Higgins was selected tournament MVP, and Jean Agosto and Adam Woodworth made the all-tourney team.
To view or purchase photos, click here.
The Blue Devils dominated on Friday in the big school division of the Peter Arras Memorial Basketball Tournament at GCC, beating Attica 89-55.
Gavin White led the way with 16 points. Casey Mazur and Adrian Martinez each scored 14. Carter Mullin, Aiden Kopper, Aaden Calletto each scored eight, and Grady Hemer and Justin Smith each scored seven.
For Attica, Blake Kines scored 15, and Justin Stockweather scored 14.
Photos by Jennifer DiQuattro.
In the big school division of the Peter Arras Memorial Basketball Tournament on Friday at GCC, Le Roy beat Roy-Hart 67-40.
Jean Agosto scored 16 points for the Knights. Matthew Hockey scored 12 and Adam Woodworth scored 10.
Photos by Kristin Smith.
Notre Dame beat Eugenio Maria de Hostas 66-61 in the small school division of the Peter Arras Memorial Basketball Tournament at Genesee Community College on Friday.
Makyell Walker scored 29 points for the Fighting Irish. Aiden Bellevia scored 12, and TJ Cephus and Evan Fitzpatrick scored eight each.
Seth Peterson scored 22 points for EMH.
Photos by Jennifer DiQuattro.
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