Advanced Podiatry Associates is excited to announce the addition of Dr. Ben Heddy to the practice. Dr. Heddy is board qualified in foot surgery by the American Board of Podiatric Surgery.
He specializes in all aspects of foot and ankle problems including diabetic foot and wound care, heel pain/plantar fasciitis, reconstruction and correction of foot deformities including bunions/hammertoes/flat foot, excision of ganglions and neuromas, tarsal tunnel release, treatment of foot and ankle tendonitis, ankle sprains, foot and ankle arthritis, ingrown toenails, warts and a multitude of skin conditions of the foot an ankle.
“Dr Ben” was born in California and raised in New Jersey where he later earned his undergraduate degree at the University of Oklahoma, completed a two year mission in Buenos Aires Argentina, and earned his medical degree at Arizona College of Podiatric Medicine.
He completed his 3-year surgical residency at Rochester General Hospital where he served as “Chief Resident” and, like most residents, perform nearly 900 surgeries involving the foot and ankle including CO2 laser certification.
He has attended many courses on advanced foot and ankle reconstruction. During his graduation, his fellow residents and attending physicians resonated that Dr. Ben was one of the kindest and most passionate residents to graduate always willing to go the extra mile for his patients and his colleagues.
Dr. Ben will reside in Batavia with his wife and three children, helping provide immediate care to patients in emergent situations involving foot and ankle problems. Dr. Ben also is fluent in Spanish and enjoys volunteering at his church, road trips, hiking, swimming cooking, and reading.
We look forward to adding his expertise to Advanced Podiatry Associates and helping provide the community with much quicker access to appointments and emergent podiatric care. He will be on staff at United Memorial Medical Center and Orleans Community Hospital.
Jeremy Pietrazykowski, VP of Teamsters Local 180, takes a photo of UPS employees outside the company's facility on Apollo Drive in Batavia as they hold signs signaling their willingness to strike if necessary. Photo by Howard Owens.
UPS workers in Batavia gathered outside the company's Batavia location at 7 Apollo Drive on Thursday morning to demonstrate their willingness to go on strike if, in their view, working conditions don't improve.
Jeremy Pietrazykowski, VP of Teamsters Local 180, said the short picket this morning both served the purpose of sending a message to the leadership at the company and also preparing workers for picketing if a strike becomes necessary.
Wednesday, he said, talks between the union and UPS broke down.
"It's about the last 25 years in a nutshell," Pietrazykowski said. "It comes down to the excessive overtime, the forced working extra days. It's about how you're treated as an employee. It goes well above and beyond the monetary value at this point. It's your time away from work, the valuable time that we have.
"In today's world is not just about working 20 hours a day. It's about coming to work, doing a great job, and then going home and spending time with the ones you love. So that's the most precious time. You can't put a price on your free time. And that's what the company doesn't understand. And they fail to understand that we're not just machines, or industrial athletes, as they call them. We're human beings with families that we want to spend time with."
This is not yet a work stoppage. After the short picket, everybody returned to work to make sure customers get their packages on time.
"This is so that we get our act together," Pietrazykowski said, "so that when the time comes, if we are going to strike and make no mistake, everyone is prepared to strike. But we want to prepare our members what to expect on that first day. Right? So we just don't stand up here, and we don't know what we're doing."
Pietrazykowski once worked in the Batavia facility. He's from Batavia. He said he's known the workers in the local UPS crew for 30 years. This is his home, which is one reason he chose to do this first pre-strike picket in Batavia. He was also traveling to Geneseo today for a similar practice, message-sending picket.
"I love all my members, but you know, I'm from Batavia. I worked here for a long time. I know everybody," Pietrazykowski said. "I always keep them involved."
The Batavia Muckdogs continued their recent winning ways and padded their lead in the PGCBL Western Division by dominating their closest division rival, the Jamestown Tarp Skunks, for a 9-2 win at home on Wednesday.
Julian Pichardo, a University of Fort Lauderdale senior and in his third year with the Muckdogs, notched his 100 career strikeout in the game.
Pichardo got the win (3-0, 1.73) by going 6 2/3 innings, allowing only one run.
He now has K'd 103 batters in his PGCBL career.
It was also a big night for Josh Leadem. The U of R senior scored his 50th career run in the PGCBL, and with three runs scored in the game, now has 53. He was 2-4 with two doubles and two stolen bases.
Leadem is hitting .238 on the season but has drawn 11 walks. He has 21 stolen bases, 18 runs scored, 15 hits, seven RBIs, and one of the team's two home runs.
Adam Agresti went 2-3 with a run scored, a double, and two RBIs, along with a walk. Henry Daniels went 2-2 with an RBI.
The Muckdogs are now 17-8 on the season, and the Tarp Skunks fall to 13-8.
The attendance on Wednesday was 1,844.
Tonight (Thursday), the Muckdogs travel to Geneva to face the Red Wings. They're back home on Friday for a non-league game against Syracuse. Game time is 6:35 p.m. On Saturday, they face Elmira at home. Game time is 6:35 p.m.
Tom Staebell, interim Executive Director of Crossroads House, takes a seat to relax outside of the Liberty Street site. He can get comfy, Board President Steven Johnson says, as the search for a permanent director will likely take awhile. Photo by Joanne Beck.
Sometimes the title of being a best-kept secret isn’t all it’s cracked up to be. While it may sound like a clever marketing ploy, it still leaves something to be desired: more knowledge about your establishment.
That’s exactly why interim Executive Director Tom Staebell wants to ditch the soft tagline for Crossroads House. Enough of the comfort care home being Genesee County’s prized little-known service. He wants it known far and wide.
“And so my goal is to make sure that it's not the best-kept secret in the county. So we're really reaching out now to the community, we hired a new volunteer coordinator that's going to be able to get out into the community more,” he said during an interview with The Batavian at the house. “And just getting the word out there is one of our biggest things.”
For an interim, this is perhaps an unusually vocal role of articulately expressed goals and a vision for the Liberty Street site to not only embrace its two residents and their families during their stay but to also, at some point, carry the philosophy of Crossroads into other facilities with an end of life doula program.
After years of placing folks on a waiting list, staff has decided to train prospective doulas that can go to residential and nursing homes to work with people in their final moments of life.
Staebell is a trained doula and Crossroads volunteer, as well as a former board member, which is where he began his journey with the nonprofit. He was amply experienced on the topic of loss, as his wife died in 1994, and then both of his parents, mom Irene in 2017 and then his father Andy in 2020, died at home, requiring additional care.
“It was that caring process that drew me into doing work here,” he said. “You know, this is the philosophy here; everyone should have a good death. And that sounds kind of strange when you say that. But our mission here is that you're living until you take your last breath. And we'll do everything to help support the family and the resident here in making that a good death.
“And that involves all the different areas, like emotional, the social component, physical, you know, pain management is a really important part of our work here. And spiritual, kind of meeting the families and the resident where they're at,” he said. “Some people come in, and they're still in denial, but meeting them at that place, and letting the process develop, and unweave all the intricacies of the death process for them. Education is one of the biggest pieces that we do here.”
As much as staff — which is small due to financial constraints, and volunteers, which are dozens of caring, trained and dedicated community members — do with residents at the house, there’s an overall effort to get the word out about what the organization does and what the philosophy is all about.
People don’t go to Crossroads House to die; they go there to live out the remaining time they have left with dignity, laughter, tears, oftentimes some type of familial or spiritual closure, and maybe a treat or two from the kitchen.
Within all of Genesee County, there are only three beds available to someone at the end of life, and two of them are at Crossroads House.
“And so, we really want to make sure the word is out there … One of the biggest goals, as you probably know, is that we're self-funding here. We don't get any insurance or health insurance coverage. We don't get any support from the state or federal government. And so all of our funding is through donations, memorials, business appeals or getting community appeals, our fundraising events, and, you know, memorials that people will give to us after the person has died,” he said. “So that's one of our biggest things, and looking at it from my point of view as being the new interim director here is to really make sure that the annual campaign, that we do it really, really well, and, and get out there in the community and let them know we're here and what we need from them.”
Another goal is to make sure that families and residents know that “we’re part of their family,” he said. He cited the example of a woman’s daughter who came from Florida to stay at the house, and Staebell made sure she didn’t feel alone, even though she left her family down south while staying with her mom.
“I told her now you have a family,” he said. “She’s going to be loved, cared for and taken care of.”
Staebell filled the gap left by former director Charlotte Crawford in March, and he has the full backing of the board, President Steven Johnson said. Staebell’s goals are mutually the board’s goals to increase public awareness and education, ramp up the annual campaign and initiate the end-of-life doula program with a newly received grant specifically for that purpose, Johnson said.
“One of the visions we have is that we’ll provide doulas working with Hospice with their training program for families that have no place to go,” Staebell said. “It lets you be the wife, the daughter, (the family member) instead of the caregiver.”
He’s excited to be over the hurdle of the house’s 25th anniversary and looking forward to “another 25 years with a strong strategic plan that will take us into the future by building relationships.” Staebell’s professional relationships have been in education for 33 years before he retired as an elementary principal at the Pembroke, West Seneca and New York City school districts.
He has been a Crossroads House volunteer for seven years, providing resident care and serving as an end-of-life doula and grief peer support facilitator.
He and husband Mark, live in Pembroke and have five children and nine grandchildren between them. They enjoy the theater, Philharmonic, and sometimes “doing nothing at all.”
For those interested in learning more, there will be a Chamber of Commerce after-hours garden party later this month. It runs from 5 to 7 p.m. July 13 and will include some informal talks from volunteers and staff and a tour of the site at 11 Liberty St., Batavia.
A neat part about this event is that products from local businesses will be served.
“We want to support the businesses that support us,” Staebell said. “It’s a gift to the community made possible by the community.”
For more information about the garden party, end-of-life doula program or Crossroads House, call (585) 343-3892.
Rochester Regional Health (RRH) is pleased to announce a significant update to its COVID-19 vaccine policy. Effective July 7, RRH will no longer require the COVID-19 vaccine for employment, following the repeal of the New York State Department of Health (NYSDOH) mandate and the recent announcement by the Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) and the Center for Medicare and Medicaid (CMS) regarding the end of the COVID-19 vaccine requirement for healthcare workers at CMS-certified healthcare facilities.
As RRH aligns with the NYSDOH's decision to fully repeal the COVID-19 vaccination mandate for healthcare facilities, the organization acknowledges the evolving landscape and the need for flexibility while upholding the safety and well-being of its employees, patients, and community.
"We are excited to share this update regarding our COVID-19 vaccine policy," said Charlene Wilson, Chief Human Resource Officer at Rochester Regional Health. "Our priority has always been the health and safety of our employees, patients, and community. With the NYSDOH's repeal of the vaccine mandate, we believe this change will provide increased choice and autonomy for our dedicated staff."
While the vaccine requirement is being lifted, RRH strongly encourages all employees and community members to consider the benefits of vaccination. Vaccination continues to be an essential tool in preventing the spread of COVID-19 and safeguarding public health. RRH will maintain vaccine availability at its facilities for those who wish to receive it.
Former employees who left RRH due to the NYS Vaccine Mandate are also welcomed back to the organization. They are invited to learn more and apply for open positions by visiting careers.rochesterregional.org. If they choose to re-apply and accept an offer, RRH will work rapidly to bring them on board.
Steve, a pit bull mix, being removed on June 22 from a residence on South Main Street after the dog attacked two people. Photo by Howard Owens.
The owners of a dog that bit two people on June 22 at a residence on South Main Street in Batavia was surrendered by the owners to the Genesee County Animal Shelter, and it has been euthanized.
The attack on a home health care aide and one of its owners was unprovoked, said City Police Chief Shawn Heubusch of the Batavia Police Department.
A mail carrier walking her route that afternoon heard screams from inside the house and intervened.
"The incident could have been much worse if not for the actions of an uninvolved postal worker that came running to help," said Heubusch in response to an inquiry about the case from The Batavian on Wednesday. "The postal worker heard screaming coming from the residence and ran over to see what was happening and witnessed the dog attacking. The postal worker was able to spray a chemical deterrent on the dog, forcing it to release its bite."
Heubusch said that both victims were treated for their injuries and released. He said both injuries were severe, but he didn't have exact details.
"The healthcare worker had been to the residence once before and, during the previous visit, had not encountered the dog," Heubusch said. "It is the policy of the healthcare worker’s company that any dog be placed into a secure area while the visit is taking place, and this was relayed to the homeowner before the healthcare worker entered the residence. The homeowner acknowledged this regulation but failed to secure the dog."
The chief said there were no prior reports of the dog, named Steve, displaying aggressive behavior. The owners said Steve, a pitbull mix, was six years old, and they told police of no prior issues.
"The attack was completely unprovoked as the dog immediately attacked the healthcare worker upon her entering the residence," Heubusch said. "The family did surrender the dog to the Genesee County Animal Shelter with the expectation that it would be euthanized."
Undersheriff Brad Mazur confirmed on Wednesday that the dog was euthanized.
The Batavia Muckdogs picked up their 16th win of the 2023 season on Tuesday in an Independence Day match-up in Niagara against the Power.
Tyrone Woods went 6 2/3 innings to pick up the win in the Muckdogs' 3-2 victory. He struck out four. The Alexander resident and GCC student is 2-1 on the season with a 2.91 ERA.
Rijnaldo Euson, who also has two wins on the season, picked up the save, his second.
The Muckdogs' offense:
Lucas Lopez went 2-4.
Adam Agresti went 2-3 with a double, a walk, a run, and a stolen base
Giuseppe Arcuri went 2-4 with two RBIs, a run scored, and a double.
With the win, the Muckdogs put another game between them and third-place Niagara (11-8) and remain a game ahead of second-place Jamestown (13-7), which is tonight's (Wednesday) opponent at Dwyer Stadium. Game time is 6:35 p.m.
The Muckdogs are 8-1 over their last nine official league games and 10-1 overall during that span.
There was some 'Mayhem' Saturday during a Batavia Muckdogs game at Dwyer Stadium, with a visit from “Invincible” Vince Valor, left, “Buck Wild” Thomas Kennedy, Zachary Arquette and John “Koslov” Avery on hand to stir up excitement for the upcoming Mayhem at the McCarthy wrestling event on July 16. Photo by Steve Ognibene.
As operators of the David M. McCarthy ice arena continue to stretch the limits and imagination of what the arena can offer to the community, the latest will be a wrestling event on July 16 at 22 Evans St., Batavia.
Mayhem at the McCarthy will feature autographs and a meet and greet with "Jake the Snake" Roberts, "Million Dollar Man" Ted Dibiase, and "Buff the Stuff" Bagwell, for what is certain to be an unusual form of entertainment for the arena and this area.
"We just thought this is something that hasn't been around here in awhile, and they have a big following at Riverworks in Buffalo, so we thought we'd give them a try," ice rink manager Kati Murray said.
Wrestling adds to the list of roller skating, ice motorcycle racing and a youth game night at the rink.
Doors open at 4 p.m. and the event is to begin at 5 p.m. Tickets are $25 for second and third rows, $20 fourth and fifth rows, and $15 general admission.
With flags flying and fans anticipating a post-game fireworks show, the Batavia Muckdogs took to the field Monday night for a non-league game against Erie-Buffalo and won 8-7.
Giuseppe Archuri was named Player of the Game, going 3-3 and scoring two runs.
No box score is available for the game.
Arcuri, from Allentown, N.J., has become one of the team's most productive hitters, with 21 hits, an Avg. of .309, and 13 RBI.
Adam Agresti leads the team with an average of .375. He also has 21 hits to go along with 11 RBIs. He's eighth in the league in average.
Matt DeStefano, of Westbury, is hitting .333 (12 hits) with seven walks.
James Aselta is hitting .365 but doesn't have enough at-bats (22) to qualify among league leaders. Anthony Calabro has drawn 14 walks to go along with 11 RBIs with an average of .238. Infielder Lucas Lopez is hitting .300.
The next home game is Wednesday at 6:35 p.m. against the Jamestown Tarp Skunks.
Muckdogs player scoring a much needed run. Photo by Steve Ognibene
Muckdogs players pose in dugout. Photo by Steve Ognibene
Katie Muntz was nominated teacher of the game. Photo by Steve Ognibene
Some members of the Brantford bobcats 15U softball team was in the states for a tournament in Genesee County this weekend. They were also celebrating Canada day. Photo by Steve Ognibene
Muckdogs pitcher throwing another strike. Photo by Steve Ognibene
Muckdogs catcher making the out at home plate and turning to first base for a double play. Photo by Steve Ognibene
Turning two with a double play at first base. Photo by Steve Ognibene
Kids running the bases. Photo by Steve Ognibene
Extra hat for dad by his son during the game. Photo by Steve Ognibene
KMS Diamond Dance Team and Johnny Dog entertaining the crowd between innings. Photo by Steve Ognibene
Members of High Pines continue on the Center Street stage. Photo Steve Ognibene
Bass guitar and kick drums replaced the thud of thunder the rest of the day on Saturday, allowing the rock to keep on rolling the rest of the day and into the evening for the 2023 Ramble Music and Arts Fest.
Paul Draper, with his band Shotgun Pauly, gets the Ramble going again after a rain delay on Saturday. Photo by Howard Owens.
An unexpected thunderstorm at about 1 p.m. on Saturday couldn't keep the Batavia Ramble and Arts Fest from rolling on, though it did put the music on pause for about an hour.
Paul Draper, one of the festival's organizers, said the music will continue throughout the day, pausing only for more thunder if it comes back.
Bands will continue to take the stage as scheduled, Draper said, just before his band, Shotgun Pauly, started its 2:20 p.m. scheduled set about 10 minutes late, giving him and his guys only 10 minutes to perform.
"We just keep an eye on it," Draper said. "We'll pause and pick up as the weather dictates. We can only plan so much, but at the end of the day, it all comes down to the weather."
He said plenty of people were sticking around, and the sun had come back out, so, he said, "I still think it's going to be a good day."
City and county officials, along with contractors, cut the ribbon on the new South Lyon Street Bridge in Batavia, in the same location as a ribbon-cutting in 1957 (photo below). Photo by Howard Owens.
The new bridge over Tonawanda Creek on South Lyon Street in Batavia looks beautiful, and it feels sturdy, but the thing motorists will like the most, perhaps, is that it accommodates two-way traffic.
"I want to remind people that it is, in fact, two lanes," said County Highway Superintendent Tim Hens. "You don't have to wait for a left turn left at the bridge. You don't have to wait for an oncoming car, nose and nose like used to happen on the old bridge. It's two lanes. It's just normal. Just go normal."
The new $2.9 million bridge, 95 percent funded by state and federal aid, replaces a bridge that had gotten so old it was no longer serviceable. That bridge was dedicated in 1957. There were substantial repairs in 1971, a deck replacement in 1980, a superstructure/truss replacement in 1986, and a decision to seek a replacement in 2007.
Now, in 2023, that old bridge is gone and completely replaced by a bridge that, as Hens noted, maintains the historical character of bridges that have been at the same location going back to 1910.
"I think the cool thing about this bridge is that we kind of recreated what was here with the truss," Hens said. "There was always a truss bridge here. I think everyone's pretty familiar with, obviously, making it two lanes is cool, but having the same character with the same-looking bridges, I also think is kind of neat."
The South Lyon Street Bridge opened this morning following a ribbon-cutting attended by both county and city officials.
The only real challenge in bridge construction, Hens said, was concern that crews might find historical artifacts, either Native American or related to the War of 1812.
"When Buffalo was burned to the ground by the British, a lot of the refugees and people that got displaced by (the fires) came to Batavia," Hens said. "There was like, I think, a typhoid outbreak, and they buried people in the creek bank, which is kind of an odd place to bury people. You're gonna contaminate the water, but that was years ago, and maybe they didn't know any better, but (the burial site is) somewhere here in the area of this bridge. We didn't find anything, so must not be that close."
Such a discovery could have greatly slowed the construction process.
This project was originally submitted for federal aid in 2007. The project was removed from the funding list in 2011, put back on in 2014 and delayed due to lack of funding until 2020.
The county awarded a contract for design during COVID and then had struggles with utility relocations, property acquisitions, DEC easements along the creek bank and other minor hurdles, according to a fact sheet released by the county.
The old bridge closed in 2021 after a DOT inspection. Construction started last fall and went through the winter, with the truss being set in late February.
Union Concrete out of West Seneca was the contractor, and Fisher Associates out of Rochester provided engineering and construction inspection.
A ribbon-cutting at the South Lyon Street Bridge in Batavia in 1957. Photo courtesy of the Genesee County History Department.
The Batavia Police Department is seeking public assistance in locating a runaway 16-year-old boy.
Jesus Reyes was last seen on June 28 at approximately 3:00 a.m. in Batavia. He was last wearing a white Batavia Track t-shirt and matching shorts.
Jesus is about 5'4" and 175 lbs with black hair and black eyes.
It's possible that he is in the Miami, Fla. area.
Anyone with information on his whereabouts is asked to call the Batavia Police Department at 585-345-6350 or the NYS Missing Persons Clearinghouse at 1-800-346-3543.
New WBTA station owner Jim Ernst celebrates signing the official paperwork Friday after talks began a year ago between him and former station owner Dan Fischer. Photo by Howard Owens.
For a 1986 Batavia High School grad who has lived in Batavia all of his life, it seemed only natural that Jim Ernst would celebrate his ownership of the city’s staple radio station Friday with a visit to a downtown bartender challenge and then to a concert at Batavia Downs.
After all, that was a large part of why the 54-year-old Batavia native and versed salesman wanted to take on WBTA’s airwaves: to serve and support the community at large.
“I love the community of Batavia, and I see this as an opportunity to make a difference and give back,” he said late Friday afternoon after signing official paperwork to transfer ownership of WBTA from Dan and Debbie Fischer to Ernst. “I grew up listening to WBTA, of course. And when I was a kid, I didn't like it much. But I used to listen to school closings, and I got hooked on it. The first time, in the old days when school would be canceled, the first place that would have it would be the radio. And then, as you get older, you start caring about the community and then listening. And by the time I was in my 30s, I started listening to it a lot.”
After high school graduation, Ernst went to Genesee Community College for business administration. He always had that dream of running his own business, he said, the first vision is a sports park with batting cages and such.
While those thoughts percolated, he began to work on a Schwann truck selling food products and doing well, moving up to manager in Syracuse. That position was cut in 2009, and he returned to Batavia, where he was working in sales and met General Sales Manager Lorne Way. They struck up a conversation, and while Way was complaining about the lack of sales at the station, Ernst suggested that “you should just hire me.”
And that’s exactly what the manager did. Ernst joined WBTA in 2014 and never left.
“We’ve been ripping it up in sales,” he said. “Dan, Debbie, Lorne and me were the core. Around a year ago, Dan hinted around that he wanted someone from the station to buy it.”
While it may have seemed a more obvious fit for Way, who had 30 years with the company, he had plans to retire, so Ernst picked up that ball and made a pitch.
“I approached Dan a year ago now. Today was the signing. It went from a dream to reality; it almost seemed like, is it ever going to happen?” he said. “It was a euphoric moment.”
He’s been gradually preparing for this, taking business classes throughout the years and learning the ropes “as I go.” A big plus will be having Dan Fischer as an ongoing consultant.
Most of the programs will remain in place for now, with one major and significant exception, he said. Station staff member Nicole Johnson has been hired for the morning show, making her the first female to obtain that coveted role.
A trusted member of the WBTA team, Johnson has produced, worked the 10 to 2 shift, done live remotes at Batavia Downs and “always been there for things we need,” Ernst said. She will replace former morning announcer Chris Kalen, who has taken a promotion with SiriusXM.
The Fischers filed for the sale in February, and it became public on Feb. 21 when then-advertising executive Jim Ernst, aka Majic Tones LLC, purchased the station, officially titled HPL Communications, for $425,000.
Dan Fischer had said the couple was happy that the station was remaining in local hands and that Ernst was a familiar face around town and someone with no intentions to radically alter what listeners have grown accustomed to after so many years.
As for the music, “we might spice it up a bit,” Ernst said, but nothing major.
“We don’t want to lose the faith of the listeners we do have. We will enhance our sports coverage … for football, hockey, baseball, with a WBTA game of the week every week,” he said. “I’m learning as I go. I’ll use the next six months to learn and grow in the position.”
Ernst has a fiancee, Rachel, three children, five grandchildren and one Great Pyrenees who even got involved at the station during a naming contest. The winning name was slightly tweaked for Konzie.
Pictured: From left to right, outgoing president John McGowan, incoming president Susie Ott, perfect attendance awardee Ed Leising, Paul Harris Fellows Jane Scott, Todd Jantzi, Dan Fischer, Donna Saskowski, Paul Saskowski, Jerry Reinhart, and Dave Metzler. Absent from photo – Paul Haris Fellow Marlin Salmon. Photo submitted by Tom Turnbull
Press Release:
The Batavia Rotary Club awarded eight Paul Harris Fellows during its annual awards night at Terry Hills Restaurant. Community supporters Todd Jantzi and Jerry Reinhart received the award along with current Rotarians Dave Metzler, Dan Fischer, Marlin Salmon, Donna and Paul Saskowski, and Jane Scott.
Paul Harris Fellows, named after the founder of Rotary, is given to a Rotarian or a member of the community that has made an outstanding contribution to the community and is the highest award given in Rotary.
Sixteen Rotarians were also recognized for perfect attendance of one year or more, led by Ed Leising with 38 years of perfect attendance.
Outgoing president John McGowan handed over the gavel to incoming president Susie Ott, who takes over on July 1 for the 2023-24 year.
Pictured: (left to right) Captain Rachel Moore, Michael Morasco, Kathryn Moore, and Captain Bradley Moore Photo submitted by Todd Rapp.
Press Release:
Michael Morasco was presented with a plaque honoring him for 13 years of service to The Salvation Army in Batavia as a Social Services Caseworker. Mike came to The Salvation Army after retiring from a career at DSS. “Mike was a valuable asset and will be missed” stated Operations Manager Todd Rapp.
Join us at the Holland Land Office Museum for the next edition of our Trivia Night @ the Museum on Thursday, July 13, at 7 p.m. This month's topic is the Battle of Gettysburg, as it is the 160th anniversary of the battle this year. Admission is $5 or $3 for museum members. Please contact the museum at 585-343-4727 if you would like to attend.
The Holland Land Office Museum is proud to announce the next edition of its Guest Speaker Series on Wednesday, July 19 at 7 p.m. Local reenactors Ed Brodbeck and David Kreutz will be portraying General Ulysses S. Grant and President Abraham Lincoln, in a dramatic retelling of the relationship the two leaders had during the Civil War. 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!
Join us at the Holland Land Office Museum for the next edition of our Java with Joe E. morning presentation series on Thursday, July 27 at 9 a.m. The museum welcomes Genesee County Historian, Michael Eula, as he shares his new book "The National is Local: Genesee County, NY, 1802-Present" on the history of our county and the connection to national events. 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.
Steve Hawley stands alongside local veterans at the Vietnam War Memorial in Washington, D.C. Submitted photo.
Press Release:
Assemblyman Steve Hawley (R,C-Batavia) is announcing this year’s Patriot Trip to Washington, D.C., which will take place from September 21 to 24. During this time, veterans and their families will get a tour of the nation’s capital and its numerous monuments and landmarks that honor those who served. This year’s trip will feature stops at several notable locations in the D.C. area, including the WWII, Korean, and Vietnam War memorials and Arlington National Cemetery.
“This trip is an excellent opportunity to honor not only our local veterans but also those who served before them,” said Hawley. “I am incredibly excited to host this event for another year. We owe our veterans a deep level of gratitude for all they have sacrificed for the freedoms we enjoy in this country, so being able to take them to our nation’s capital to see these historic landmarks is truly an honor.”
This trip is open to all military veterans and their families. The cost will be between $450-$500 per person and includes travel, accommodations, admissions, meals, and even some souvenirs. Those who are interested in participating in this event should contact Hawley’s office at 585-589-5780 or email carneyj@nyassembly.gov for more details.
