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City Councilwoman Rose Mary Christian writes letter in support of consolidation

By Philip Anselmo

We received the following letter from Batavia City Councilwoman Rose Mary Christian:

(SMSI) shared municipal services

(CGR) center for govermental research

(AIM) Aid Incentives Municipalitys

Our obligation is to our city and our taxes payers. AIM revenues would be approximately $650,000 In the first year and that would reduce the combined property tax levy of the city and town by 15% per year.  Only if the city and town are consolidated. That’s a win-win situation.

The cities growth is down -7% and the towns growth is up + 26.2% giving these figures that the burden is on mostly city taxpayers for Ambulance, police and fire services. The city and town both have recognized boundaries to be shifted for growth. We are faced with fiscal challenges all the time and now is the time to step up and make the necessary changes to be a viable one municipality.

We have been successful with water, city dispatch consolidation and economic efforts. Now is the time to move forward for shared services and consolidation of the ambulance, fire and police departments.  I can foresee other shared services in the future to engage fiscal responsibilities like town and city highway departments  and the animal control officer.

My goal is to create joint shared services with economic growth for a fiscal responsibility for all. Giving the State of the economy we must protect our communities with shared services to create a fordable standard of living.

                            Councilwoman
                            Rose Mary Christian

Rotary Club Tournament on tap

By Brian Hillabush

(shown in the photo is Batavia's Jaycee Shirk (left), Pavilion's Maddy Griep, O-A's Dani Sage and Notre Dame's Brittany Morelli)

 

The Batavia girls basketball Rotary Club Tournament is set for Jan. 5 and 7 at Genesee Community College.

The annual action-packed tournament features Batavia, Notre Dame, Oakfield-Alabama and Pavilion. 

Batavia opens up with Oakfield-Alabama at 6 p.m. in the opening round with Pavilion and Notre Dame following at about 7:45 p.m. The consolation and finals are at the same time on the 7th.

Batavia captured the title last year after dropping two games the previous season. The Blue Devils toppled O-A in the finals last year, 44-31, as Annie Palermo and Alyssa Tretter were the dominant players on the floor.

But we did see an emergence of current Batavia stars Jaycee Shirk and Brittany Mazurkiewiecz in the tournament, with Mazurkiewiecz scoring nine and Shirk adding eight.

This is the 20th year the Rotary Club Girls Basketball Tournament has been held.

Fourth-grade teacher from Batavia wins McDonald's teaching award

By Philip Anselmo

Thirty-five-year-old Batavia resident Angela Rogers teaches at Neil Armstrong Elementary School in Gates. Earlier this week, Rogers was surprised with a teach award from McDonald's Family Restaurants. From the Democrat & Chronicle:

Rogers was awarded a plaque that the fast-food chain gives to honor one teacher locally in the six-county region each week.

At the school gathering, (Principal LeRoy) Greer said Rogers is a valuable teacher who he is happy to have in the district. She received the award in only her second year with the Gates Chili Central School District.

Rogers began her career teaching kindergarten in Buffalo, but eventually moved back to Genesee County "to be closer to family." Check out the complete article for more details, photos and to hear from Rogers about the honor of receiving the award.

New hope for live music in Batavia

By Philip Anselmo

Hot Shots Coffee on Harvester Avenue has some great news for live music fans in Genesee County. From the release:

There is new hope for entertainment in Batavia. Other than at bars, there are not many concerts to speak of in our small city. Especially in the winter. On Saturday,January 24th, 6:30pm HOT SHOTS COFFEE at 56 Harvester ave. will be host to an alcohol free concert open to all ages. The Headlining band responsible for setting up the show, is Batavia's own RADIO RELAPSE, a modern rock coverband made up of the cream of Batavia's young talent. By young I mean mid 20's. There will also be an opening act t.b.a. RADIO RELAPSE is in support of seeing the local music scene flourish.  Entertainment is the spice of any city.

Video: Businesses weather the storms that battered Genesee County

By Philip Anselmo

We stopped by a few businesses in Batavia earlier today to see how they've been holding up amidst the brutal storms over the weekend and today. Whiteouts and incessant snow may have deterred a few shoppers, but for the most part, business has found its way here. That's especially the case at Stan's Harley Davidson, where the three employees who were able to make it in to work today—several were called and told they didn't have to come in—could barely keep up with the swell of shoppers cycling through. We would love to hear from other businesses around town. How did you fare?

Weather causing scheduling problems, especially for ND

By Brian Hillabush

The Notre Dame girls basketball team is scheduled to play at Wheatland-Chili today. But like every other team in the area, they are getting the day off due to the weather.

Scheduling conflicts are always a pain in the butt this time of year and right now coach Dave Pero's squad is not overly thrilled with missing out on this game.

Pero tried to reschedule the game for Tuesday with Wheatland-Chili coach Todd Grimes, but that wasn't possible.

The two are trying to set something up for Friday at this point and the Fighting Irish really need the game.

"This is awful," said Pero, whose team is just 2-1. "We haven't played two games in a week yet and we have no rhythm. We played Elba and we just weren't ready. We haven't played enough."

The Lancers beat Notre Dame 54-51 last Tuesday, Some area teams have played as many as eight games, but the Fighting Irish have played just three games, and with the Christmas break going on this week the team isn't even getting much practice time.

If the Wheatland-Chili game can't be rescheduled for Friday, that means Notre Dame will not take the court again until Monday, Dec 29 in the opening round of the Byron-Bergen Christmas Tournament. The consolation and finals are on Dec. 30.

The next games are at the Rotary Tournament on Jan. 5 and 7.

"We have the Christmas Tournament and then the Rotary Tournament coming up. I hope we are ready for it," Pero said.

Pero does think that there is some advantage to his team playing so few games so far in the fact that they Fighting Irish will be playing a lot of games late in the season, which will hopefully have them ready for sectionals.

But he is ready for his squad to get into some kind of rhythm right now.

"Somewhere down the road the teams that have played eight games will be having the same lull we are having right now," Pero said. "Our philosophy is that we want to be better at the end of the year. Hopefully that will pay off by us not playing games right now, but we want to get into a flow."

Notre Dame is not the only school that will probably not get to play its athletic contests. The Elba boys are supposed to be playing at Albion, but Elba is closed.

There are plenty of girls games on tap for tonight, including Alexander at Kendall and Medina at Lyndonville. But odds are, they won't be played either and will be made up at a later date.

Please share your sports info

By Brian Hillabush

I am so thrilled with the email I received today about the St. Joseph's basketball team and the fact that our good friends at Mancuso Bowling Center have been posting bowling scores right to the site.

Now is a good time for me to just let everybody out there know that we are interested in all sports in the area. My expertise is high schools, and that is where I spend most of my time. But if you are the coach of a youth basketball team, run a bowling league or have a team that plays indoor soccer; we would love information on your teams.

I can work with you to directly post your results right on The Batavian, or if you are more comfortable, you can just e-mail them to me at brian (at) thebatavian (dot) com and I'd be more than happy to put them up for you.

While most traditional news organizations are going to give you the AP story on how the Buffalo Bills did or the high school scores, that isn't what we do with our sports at The Batavian.

We want to share as much information and as much in-depth type of stuff as possible because you can't get it anywhere else, and it is a lot of fun to see the type of stuff that isn't already on 5 different Web sites and/or newspapers.

So if you are a coach, in a bowling league or have a kid playing on a youth sports team, have somebody get ahold of me so that we can get these kids some recognition for their hard work on The Batavian.

Mike Rapone and Jim Burke story

By Brian Hillabush

 Channel 13 has an excellent video talking about coaches Jim Burke of Prattsburgh and Mike Rapone of Notre Dame.

The two matched up against each other on Saturday, and we had some pretty solid coverage on The Batavian.

I would recommend checking out the two videos at the end of my post because I have the complete pregame presentation and interviews with both coaches about the great rivalry.

But if you are interested in this topic, make sure you check this story out. 

Another cool angle to this piece is that the anchor is Chuck Wade, who is the son of Batavia girls basketball coach Bill Wade and a Notre Dame grad.

 

Batavia fifth graders off to good start

By Brian Hillabush

Chris Suozzi sent me an e-mail with some exciting news for the young basketball players in the area.

The St. Joseph's fifth grade team is 5-1 while playing in the Rochester CYO league, a very impressive start to the season when you consider the level of competition those kids are playing.

Suozzi is the head coach and is assisted by Larry Hale and Tony Gallo.

Here are some results from some recent games.


St. Joseph's 44 Nazareth 20

Every scored for St. Joseph's 5th grade team.  CJ Suozzi and Case Midwick had 12 points each,, Tyler Hale and Trevor Sherwood had 6 points each., Anthony Gallo, Connor Logsdon, Jacob Hale, Anthony Sweet and Steven Ognibene each had a basket to help the team on to victory.


St. Joseph's 37  Peace of Christ Gates 36 OT

Tyler Hale made his first basket of the day count as the 5th grader scored the key bucket in overtime.  Also, scoring for St. Josephs;s was Casey Midwick game high 14, CJ Suozzi 13, Anthony Gallo 6, Trevor Sherwood and Alex Canty 2 pts each.


St. Joseph's 35 Holy Cross 23

Trevor Sherwood lead the way with 8 points, followed by CJ Suozzi with 7 points, Tyler Hale with 6 points, Alex Canty, Jacob Hale and Anthony Gallo with 4 points each, and Casey Midwick 2 points.

St. Josephs 30 vs St. Margeret Mary 29.


This was a Hoosiers story.  St. Margeret Mary had the height and the lead every quarter up until the last 3.2 seconds.
St. Joe's called the "picket fence" play. Alex Canty placed a perfect pick, Casey Midwick placed a perfect pass to CJ Suozzi who came off the pick,  he took a couple of dribbles to free himself, let the shot go from the top of the key, the buzzard sounded and the ball swished through the basket for a bench clearing win!  CJ Suozzi lead St. Joes with 12 points, Tyler Hale 6 points, Cassey Midwick and Trevor Sherwood - 4 points each,  Jacob Hale and Anthony Gallo 2 points each.
 

Local teams getting some love in the state rankings

By Brian Hillabush

 The first edition of the New York State Sportswriters rankings are out today and some of our teams are getting some pretty impressive rankings. 

The two Genesee Region League squads with state rankings are really up there. Oakfield-Alabama and its 5-0 record has earned the fourth-seed in Class C. The latest win for the Hornets was an impressive 76-43 win over a very good Pembroke team.

Notre Dame handled Prattsburgh 60-53 on Saturday night and are also ranked fourth, in Class D. The Fighting Irish are 4-0.

Batavia is coming off a loss to Pittsford Sutherland on Wednesday, 69-57, and are ranked 19th in Class A. Sutherland is 13th. Batavia has a 4-1 record.

 

My snow story and pictures from around Batavia

By Steve Ognibene

I was snowblowing my driveway this morning and my wife took a picture of me.  I was very chilled by the cold air and wind that was whipping through the area.

Then when I finished.  I went around town taking some pictures of different places:

Main Street

I drove down Bank St. here shown above, the street was really narrowed by the snow.

Pictured here is a guy snowblowing his driveway on North Street.

Along side a neighbors house was a tree that was weighed down by the heavy snow.  Total I believe we got approx 2 feet but difficult to tell with the blowing and drifting.  More to come.

Christmas lights 12-22-08

By Brian Hillabush

 

I personally love this house on Highland Pk. The lights all around are cool, but check out the hockey player. I has a Sabres logo on his chest, but the blue lights make it look like a Batavia High player.

Smoke Free NOW Genesee Meeting at Bohn's Restaurant

By Kevin Keenan

 

Smoke Free NOW is funded by the NYS Department of Health Tobacco Control Program and is dedicated to reducing tobacco use and exposure to secondhand smoke in Genesee, Orleans, and Wyoming Counties. The coalition meetings are open to the public; anyone who supports our goals and objectives is welcome.
Smoke Free NOW works to promote policy changes about tobacco issues within local municipalities, businesses, organizations, events and venues.
Current initiatives include:
Policy: Asking Organizations, Businesses, Events, and Venues to not accept tobacco advertising, sponsorship, promotion or funding .
Organization Resolution: Asking Organizations, Businesses, Events and Venues to urge tobacco retailers to reduce, rearrange, or eliminate tobacco signs (research shows that kids exposed to advertising are more likely to start smoking).
Municipal Resolution: Asking municipalities to pass a resolution urging tobacco retailers to reduce, rearrange, or eliminate tobacco signs.
Smoke Free Apartments : Asking Landlord/Managers to establish a written policy that their apartments are smoke-free.
 Smoke free now also urges smokers to go to www.nysmokefree.com to get information about quitting smoking and to see if you are eligible for free NRT (nicotine replacement therapy; gum, patches, or lozenges)
For more information please go to our website www.smokefreenow.org   or www.exposebigtobacco.org
  NOTE: You must register to attend: 585-815-1871 or clewis@gcasa.org

City and town will draft consolidation plan — Could go to vote by November

By Philip Anselmo

We received the following press release from the city of Batavia:

The City of Batavia and the Town of Batavia today reported the results of a joint public meeting between the City Council and the Town Board held on December 17.  The joint meeting was held to receive a report and recommendations prepared by the Center for Governmental Research (CGR).  CGR has been engaged to conduct a City and Town Consolidation Study under a Shared Municipal Services Incentive (SMSI) grant funded jointly by the City, the Town, and New York State.

The joint City/Town Consolidation Study Committee supports CGR’s report and recommendation to proceed to develop and present a draft consolidation plan to the City Council and Town Board by July, 2009.  If the plan is approved by the two elected bodies, the plan could be presented to the voters of the City and Town in the November, 2009 general election.

CGR and the Committee made a presentation to the joint meeting of elected officials to discuss the initial recommendation.  The Study Committee will begin to develop the plan starting in January, and agreed to update the joint boards every few months, to ensure that the process is open and transparent.  At the end of the presentation, the joint boards applauded the Study Committee for its work to date, and endorsed moving forward as discussed.

Charles Zettek Jr., CGR’s project Director, noted that there are several key factors that are aligning in favor of consolidating the City and the Town at this time.  These factors include:  1. the severe fiscal crisis that is going to drive changes to keep costs as low as possible, 2. new financial incentives from the State to consolidate local governments, 3. strong support by the City Council President and the Town Supervisor, and 4. recent events that have shown that consolidation works and benefits the greater community.

“There is no question that if the City and Town of Batavia become a single new government, this will put Batavia in the national spotlight” Zettek said.  “Everyone recognizes that fragmented local governments in New York and across the northeast and Midwest are inefficient. Communities across the country will look to Batavia as being the best example of how to consolidate a city and town to create an efficient government designed for the 21’st century” Zettek said.

City Council President Charlie Mallow summarized the consensus of the two boards by saying “Both boards want to develop a detailed consolidation plan that can be presented to the voters next fall.”   “We both realize that consolidating the City and Town will provide significant cost savings that will reduce taxes” Mallow said. “The plan will spell out specifically how services will be provided, how much will be saved and other efficiencies.”

Town Supervisor Greg Post stated, “If you look at the master plan that was done 40 years ago, it viewed the Town and City as one community.  Now we have the opportunity to make that vision a reality.”

City Manager Jason Molino told the joint boards that the Committee is going to have an incredibly busy six months, reviewing all the operations and coming up with a plan to present to City Council and the Town Board.”  “However, the end result will be a definite plan so that the voters will have the facts and options they need to decide if they want to create a new consolidated government”.

Rapone wins battle of the 500 club

By Brian Hillabush

 

It was the first time in the history of New York State basketball that two coaches with over 500 career victories guided teams against each other.

Notre Dame's Mike Rapone earned career victory 513 while Prattsburgh's Jim Burke was held at 502 as the Fighting Irish picked up a 60-53 win.

The evening started off with Notre Dame's court being dedicated to Rapone and girls volleyball coach Rhonda DiCasolo. Rapone followed it by presenting Burke with a plaque in honor of his 500th victory, which happened in Prattsburgh's first game of the season.

Then, the teams that play a pair of non league games with each other every year, took the court. The Fighting Irish took an early lead.

Kevin Francis had a steal and basket, Tommy Rapone had a basket with an and-1 and Kevin Schildwaster scored to give ND a quick 7-0 lead.

But Francis picked up a second foul midway through the first quarter and had to go to the bench, which allowed the Vikings to creep back in the game.

Ryan Caron scored nine points in a three minute stretch, with the only Fighting Irish basket coming on a 3-pointer by Matt Thompson.

Brandon Bulley scored the final basket of the opening period and Notre Dame had a very slim 18-16 lead.

Prattsburgh took the lead right away when Patrick Wightman drained a 3-pointer to open the second period.

It was back-and-forth for the second quarter until the end when Francis, Nick Wetherwax and Schildwaster had baskets to give the Fighting Irish a 32-28 halftime lead.

Notre Dame opened up a 12-point lead when Vinny Zambito and Thompson hit consecutive 3-pointers, but the third quarter ended with ND leading 51-41.

The fourth quarter was a series of free throw attempts that dragged on, but Notre Dame held on for the win and improves to 4-0.

Francis had 18 points with 10 assists and Thompson hit four 3-pointers to score 14 points.

Rapone and Zambito had eight points each.

Caron had 18 points and Garrett Parker added 17 for Prattsburgh (4-3).

 

 

 

VIDEO + INTERVIEWS FROM THE GAME

 

GREAT VIDEO OF THE COURT PRESENTATION AND RAPONE HONORING BURKE

 

Christmas lights 12-20-08

By Brian Hillabush

 

Today's example is on Walnut St. and a great example of color and variety. 

Batavia's Jarvela earns AGR honors

By Brian Hillabush

Batavia junior Angela Jarvela earned All-Greater Rochester honors for cross country. She is a first-team selection for the awards handed out by the Democrat & Chronicle.

Jarvela, a junior, took sixth at the Monroe County championships and went to states for the fourth consecutive season. She finished 23rd in Class B and was second at the Alden Invitational.

Oakfield-Alabama's Kim Mills and Holley's Kristina Martin made the second team.  

No local boys made the All-Greater Rochester team, but we did have several honorable mentions.

 

Weather update: Be careful where you park

By Brian Hillabush

 I am surprised that in my 4-5 hours of driving I didn't find any cars off the road. But I did manage to find somebody that parked on Main St. Batavia that is probably going to have a difficult time getting out.

UPDATE (by Howard): Interesting, the Daily picked up on the same shot.

Weather update: Rain, shine or snow - the mail is on its way

By Brian Hillabush

Nothing stops the United States postal service.

Even with massive amounts of snow, the mail is still on its way. I would guess that some carriers might be a little behind schedule because of the conditions, but they are out there.

Weather update: Outpatient closures

By Philip Anselmo

We received the following notice of closures at the United Memorial Medical Center:

"Due to today’s severe winter weather the following outpatient services of United Memorial will be closed today:

  • Batavia Family Care

  • Tountas Family Care

  • Tonawanda Seneca Family Care

  • Byron Family Care

  • The Corporate Health Center

  • All services at the Jerome Center including laboratory and medical imaging

  • Pembroke Diagnostic Center

  • LeRoy Diagnostic Center

  • Cardiac Rehab Services, EKG, Echo and Stress Testing"

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