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Press release:

In accordance with a directive given by Governor Cuomo, Batavia Downs Gaming and all off-track betting branches will be closed for business as of 8 o'clock tonight, Monday, March 16th.

The health and wellness of our guests and staff is our top priority and has been throughout this entire process as we have continued to work alongside our State and local governments as well as the New York Gaming Commission.

We will provide an update when the gaming floor and branches will reopen, taking into account guidance from the State’s public health authorities as soon as it is received.

Guests can continue to monitor our website and Facebook for any questions they may have.

We ask that you please follow the directives given by the government to help prevent the spread of the virus. We wish you and your family our best at this time.

Interview with Anibal Soler Jr., superintendent, Batavia City Schools.

If you can't view the video stream directly on our home page, click here.

Press release:

The Salvation Army has significantly increased its preparation for operations during this outbreak of the novel coronavirus as well as ramping up efforts to mitigate the spread of the virus.

The Salvation Army is taking unprecedented measures to make sure it keeps its doors open and continues to serve those in need.

Locally in order to do this we have made some temporary changes. We have suspended all programing including Monday evening Bible study, Tuesday luncheons, and Wednesday evening Youth activities.

Our Mobile Pantry food distribution scheduled for Wednesday, April 1^st has been cancelled.

Our Emergency Food Pantry will be available by calling our office at (585)343-6284. Our Emergency Disaster Services team has made itself available to the Genesee County Office of Emergency Management if they are needed.

Major Ivan Rock, the commander of the Empire State Division, says The Salvation Army will continue to do everything possible to provide for those in need.

“People have turned to The Salvation Army in times of crisis for 155 years,” Rock said.

We emphasize that these changes are temporary and look forward to returning to a regular schedule.

Devon A. Wright, 18, (inset photo, right) of Highland Park, Batavia, is charged with third-degree burglary; fourth-degree criminal mischief, and third-degree assault. Wright was arrested on March 12 as a result of an investigation into an incident which occurred at 12:50 p.m. on March 2 at the Sunoco Gas Station and convenience store at 100 W. Main St. in Batavia. It is alleged that he refused to leave the property, attempted to cause physical injury to an employee, then damaged property inside the business. He was arraigned in Batavia City Court and released on his own recognizance and was due to return to court March 13. The case was handled by Batavia Police Officer Christopher Lindsay, assisted by Officer Sean Wilson.

Kyle A. Scheuerlein, 27, of Overlook Drive, Batavia, is charged with: criminal obstruction of breathing or blood circulation, criminal possession of a weapon in the fourth degree; and second-degree attempted assault. At 8:48 p.m. on March 8, Scheuerlein was arrested after a domestic incident at an apartment in the 300 block of Washington Avenue in Batavia. He was arraigned in Batavia City Court and is due back there on March 26. The case was handled by Batavia Police Officer Sean Wilson, assisted by Officer Miah Stevens.

Taylor L. Finnin, 27, of East Main Street, Batavia, is charged with second-degree criminal contempt and trespass. Finnin was arrested March 12 on a warrant out of Batavia City Court following an investigation into an alleged violation of an order of protection on Nov. 27 on South Main Street in Batavia. He was put in jail with (unspecified) bail. He was due to return to city court March 13. The case was handled by Batavia Police Officer Christopher Lindsay, assisted by Officer Connor Borchert.

Taylor L. Finnin, 27, of East Main Street, Batavia, was arrested on a bench warrant out of Batavia City Court while outside on Swan Street in Batavia on March 12. The warrant was issued after the defendant allegedly failed to comply with a court-ordered program on Nov. 20. Finnin was put in jail with (unspecified) bail. The case was handled by Batavia Police Officer Connor Borchert, assisted by Officer Wesley Rissinger.

Karisa L. McKeown, 25, of Pavilion, is charged with driving while intoxicated, aggravated DWI -- with a BAC of .08 percent or more, and moving from lane unsafely. At 4:56 p.m. on Feb. 29, Wyoming County Sheriff's deputies responded to a one-car accident with injuries on Silver Lake Road in the Town of Covington. When deputies arrived, they observed Pavilion Fire Department treating a patient with minor injuries. Upon further investigation, McKeown was identified as the driver. The vehicle was traveling southbound when it left the roadway, striking a mailbox and a tree, before coming to rest in the bushes in front of a residence. She was transported to the Wyoming County Sheriff's Officer where a Datamaster breath test was administered. She was released with appearance tickets and is due in Town of Covington Court at a later date (unspecified). The case was handled by Wyoming County Sheriff's Deputy Austin Harding, assisted by Deputy Chance Sampson.

Eric Francis Borowski, 30, of Fontaine Drive, Buffalo, is charged with two counts of second-degree harassment. He was arrested on March 15 following a complaint at 4 p.m. March 11 on Alleghany Road in Darien. He was issued an appearance ticket and is due in Darien Town Court on April 7. The case was handled by Genesee County Sheriff's Deputy Joshua Brabon.

Carrie L. Hensley, 42, of West Main Street, Batavia, is charged with petit larceny. On March 11, Hensley was arrested after a shoplifting complaint at the Dollar General store on East Main Street in Batavia. She was released with an appearance ticket for March 24 in Batavia City Court. The case was handled by Batavia Police Officer Sean Wilson, assisted by Officer Wesley Rissinger.

From Blue Pearl Yoga Studio:

Blue Pearl Yoga has decided to follow the lead of the Batavia City School District and temporarily close the studio due to the coronavirus outbreak. We will most likely reopen the studio when public school resumes.

For Class Card Holders, all Consistency Reward dates and expiration dates will be extended for the length of our closure.

Yin Yoga will resume when the studio reopens to complete the rest of the classes left in this session.

Restorative Yoga Registrants will be reimbursed in full.

Take very good care of yourself as you care for those you love. We will stay in touch through future emails and posts on our Facebook page.

COVID-19 / Richmond Memorial Library Update March 16:

Announcement from Batavia City Schools:

Due to Genesee County declaring a countywide state of emergency, Batavia City School District will remain closed until further notice, including all school-based activities.

However, the District is taking steps to do whatever it can to support our students and our families during this unprecedented time of uncertainty.

Our nutritional services department will be providing free “grab and go” breakfast and lunch bags for all students (and all household family members under the age of 18). These will be distributed each school day from 9 a.m. – 12 p.m. by the entrance of all District building properties, including the Robert Morris building, as pictured and as described here:

• Jackson: Pick up will be from the loop in front of the building (via Jackson Street);
• JK: Pick up will be in the parent loop (Vine Street);
• MS: Pick up will be on the side of the building; Please enter via Walker Place;
• HS: Pick up will be from the loop in front of the school (State Street);
• RM: Bus loop on side of the building (Union Street).

If this arrangement for food distribution poses a challenge for your family, please call your child’s school’s main office. The number for all District offices is 343-2480, then add the appropriate extension for your school building as follows: Jax is ext. 4000, JK is ext. 5000, BMS is ext. 3000, BHS is ext. 2000).

In addition, the District is collaborating with community partners about additional resources regarding food distribution and will provide updates as they become available.

Instructional information for students is also being made available so that students can continue to engage in their studies as much as possible.

All students, K-12 will have access to materials through the COVID-19 tab on our website, or through this direct link. In addition, Jackson Primary and John Kennedy will be providing paper packets for K-4 students that will be distributed with the “grab and go” breakfast/lunch bags.

Please continue to check our Facebook page and website. We will be providing updates as they become available. In addition, if you have specific questions or concerns, please do not hesitate to contact us by email, the “Let’s Talk” app accessed through our website, or a phone call to the appropriate office or building.

For further guidance and recommendations for staying healthy and protecting yourself, your family, and others during this outbreak, please consult the attached document about "social distancing" as well as these helpful guidelines and information sources:

~ https://www.cdc.gov/coron…/2019-ncov/prepare/prevention.html

~ https://www.health.ny.gov/diseases/communicable/coronavirus/

~ https://www.cdc.gov/coronavirus/2019-ncov/

Press release:

Tops Friendly Markets, with Genesee County locations in Batavia and Le Roy, are temporarily limiting hours of operation.

As we continue to do all we can to serve the needs of our customers, we will be changing our hours of operation from 6 a.m. to 11 p.m. to restock and continue to maintain the increased sanitation levels in our stores.

Stores that typically close earlier will maintain their existing hours of operation. These revised hours will be in effect until further notice.

For more information on these and other details re: COVID-19 updates, please visit our website.

This is our first live stream news interview. We're talking with Batavia Blue Devils Head Coach Brennan Briggs about the team's effort to to help the community by delivering groceries to those who need assistance while maintaining social distancing. 

If the stream isn't working, click here.

Press release:

In response to the State of Emergency called by Genesee County officials and the closure of Genesee County schools, The Liberty Center for Youth will be closed until further notice.

The City of Batavia will continue to take all reasonable precautions to keep City employees, residents, and students safe from contracting and spreading the coronavirus. 

• Please continue to follow social distancing techniques;
• Stay home if you are ill;
• Wash your hands with soap and water frequently;
• Above all, remain calm.

All official updates on coronavirus will continue to come from the Genesee County Health Department and you can stay up to date by visiting the County’s website.

Press release:

In an effort to help slow the spread of the COVID-19 virus (coronavirus) the following precautions will be implemented at the City of Batavia Police Department, effective immediately:

• Police Headquarters located at 10 W. Main St. will remain locked at all times. Anyone responding to the police station can utilize the phone in the vestibule, which will contact our dispatch center at all times.
• If you are in need of a copy of a report please contact our Records Clerk at 585-345-6303 before responding to the Station, you will be given directions on how to proceed with your request at that time.
• If you need to report a crime that has already occurred or simply want to speak with an officer, we ask that you contact our dispatch center at 585-345-6350. The dispatchers will obtain your information and an officer will be in contact with you as soon as possible.
• If you have an emergency call 9-1-1 immediately and officers will be dispatched to you.
• We ask that if you can do so to please meet the officers outside and speak with them rather than the officers coming into your home.
• Officers will be practicing “social distancing” techniques as advised by the County’s Health Department.

These measures are to ensure that we can adequately respond to emergencies and to help safeguard both the public and the police officers from accidental exposure to the virus. Please see the Genesee County Public Health Department website for additional information about the COVID-19 virus.

We appreciate your patience and understanding as we work through these difficult days together. Rest assured the City of Batavia; the Police Department and its employees are ready to aid in any way possible to ensure that our community remains safe at all times.

Press release:

Dear Batavia Blue Devils' Community,

When I started my tenure as your Superintendent of Schools I never thought that within my first two months we would be dealing with a pandemic and being forced to close schools until further notice. These are definitely new and constantly evolving times for our students, families, staff, community, and nation. Please know that the decision to close schools is never an easy one as our schools are the support and gateway to resources for our kids and families.

Please know that we're working closely with public health experts and while we don't have a confirmed case in Genesee County as of yet – a State of Emergency was declared for our region last night. We believe with proper healthy habits and social distancing that many of us remain at low risk for contracting COVID-19.

What is social distancing you might ask? It is the practice of reducing close contact between people to slow the spread of infections or diseases. Social distancing measures include limiting large groups of people coming together, closing buildings and canceling events.

Therefore, the guidance is that if we close schools, we will be able to slow down a community spread and assist our public health system in being able to test, treat and slow down the spread of COVID-19.

The BCSD Leadership Team and I met today, and we have developed the following Closure Plan that will be in place effective Monday, March 16, 2020. Phase One of the plan focuses primarily on food distribution, instructional resources, staff reporting, and facility access.

Closure Plan: Phase One

·         Food Distribution: “Grab and Go” breakfast and lunch will be available for students and family members under the age of 18, from 9 a.m. - 12 p.m., Monday through Friday at the front entrances of Batavia High School, Batavia Middle School, John Kennedy Intermediate School, Jackson Primary School, and Robert Morris. We are also currently working with community partners and agencies on providing late afternoon/ evening meal options.

·         Instructional Resources: Teachers have prepared instructional lessons and activities for students to stay engaged with schoolwork while school is not in session. Please visit the following link to access your school’s Closure Resources: https://www.bataviacsd.org/Page/7546

·         Staff Reporting: All essential staff will report to allow us to answer school phones, clean buildings, distribute meals and support any questions or concerns.

·         Facility and Building Access: Teachers and High School students will be afforded an opportunity on Monday, March 16^th to come in and pick up any personal items or classroom materials they will need during this closure period. Specific communication regarding this opportunity will come directly from school Principals.

The district has also created a COVID-19 webpage that will list a variety of resources and information on our district website. I would encourage you to check the website and our Batavia City Schools Facebook page regularly for ongoing updates.

Please be assured that the Batavia City School District will continue to act out of an abundance of caution to protect everyone’s health and well-being. We will monitor our Closure Plan on a weekly basis and look to make necessary adjustments as needed to support our students, families and staff.

I know we will get through this together!

WE are BATAVIA!!! #BetterTogetherBatavia

Sincerely,

Anibal Soler Jr.
Superintendent
Batavia City Schools

Batavia First Presbyterian Church is one of the churches in Genesee County that canceled in-person Sunday services today. This morning, Pastor Roula Alkhouri used Facebook Live to conduct an online service for the church community. Last night, she recorded the video message above and invited us to share it.

Batavia's Original - ORDER ONLINE! Curbside pickups and $1 deliveries (within a 10 miles radius) or dine in with us today. 500 East Main Street, Batavia. Call (585) 343-3303.

Press release:

With the continued spread of the coronavirus (COVID-19), Batavia First Presbyterian Church is suspending in-person worship and gatherings in the church building till March 26. Our desire is to follow the way of Christ by caring for the most vulnerable in our society and doing our part to stop the spread of the virus.

We will limit access to the church building to essential personnel. If you need access to the church building, please contact us at 585-343-0505 for an appointment.

We will continue to offer pastoral care and other support. We want to journey with you during this difficult time. Please contact Pastor Roula Alkhouri at roulaalkhouri@outlook.com or 585-343-0505 with your prayer or pastoral needs.

We will continue to monitor the situation to pay attention to how God will use us to be the healing and caring hands and feet of Christ in our community during this crisis.

To access our devotional and recorded worship, go to our website www.fpcbatavia.org or our Facebook page at: https://www.facebook.com/fpcbatavia/

A three-vehicle collision with unknown injuries is blocking traffic on East Main Street and Masse Place in the city. City of Batavia Fire Department and Mercy medics are responding.

UPDATE 4:43 p.m.: Only two vehicles were involved, each with one occupant, the driver. A white car eastbound on East Main Street reportedly ran a red light, smashing into a black car that was westbound on East Main Street and making a left turn onto Masse Place. Medics are evaluating the drivers at the scene.

Press release:

The City of Batavia is taking all reasonable precautions to keep City employees and residents safe from contracting and spreading the flu and coronavirus. The City will continue to clean all facilities and wipe down all “high-touch” surfaces during the day to keep residents and staff healthy and safe.                                                  

• The City has issued a ban on all nonessential training travel for personnel, however personnel are encouraged to participate in online training when available. 
• All City meeting facilities and conference rooms will be closed for external bookings and meetings at this time until further notice. 
• City staff is directed to attend meetings via conference call when able and reduce contact with colleagues and professional service vendors.
• The City Management will be attending daily internal briefings to assess readiness and stay up to date on the latest developments.
• The City and the County Manager and emergency personnel and other public organizations continue to coordinate with each other to keep information flowing.    

For residents and customers of the City, we encourage you to continue to use common sense, and when possible conduct your business via phone and email especially if you have flu-like symptoms.

The City has multiple options for you to pay your bills and is happy to speak to you via phone (585) 345-6300 and press 5.  Also, you may email by going to the City website under the contact us link if you have any questions.  

Residents who need to pay utility bills, taxes, parking tickets, and other miscellaneous bills are encouraged to use the dropbox outside of City Hall, pay through personal online banking, call with a credit card number (fee will apply), or mail your payment. 

If you need a dog license, hunting/fishing license, birth, death or marriage certificate/license we encourage you to plan ahead.  We may be able to process your application via email or fax.

You can also obtain information from the Frequently Asked Questions section on the City Clerk’s Page. You can prepare your documents in advance of your trip to the Clerk’s Office so you only need to come in once.

Visit the City Clerk’s webpage for application instructions for the following documents:

• Birth certificate
• Marriage certificate
• Death certificate

A visit to the City Clerk’s is still required for the following:

• Marriage license
• Dog license
• Hunting/Fishing license

All official updates on Coronavirus will continue to come from the Genesee County Health Department and you can stay up to date by visiting the County’s website.