batavia

It has taken nearly five attempts for a Take 5 oil change business to receive final blessings to move into a former T Mobile building on the west end of the city, due to special use and variance requests that agent Evan Gefell needed before proceeding with his plans.

Gefell, of Quattro Batavia LLC, agent for the proposed Take 5 oil change business at 425 West Main St., Batavia, spoke about the project during the city’s Planning and Development Committee meeting Tuesday after a preliminary meeting in May and a subsequent trip to the County Planning Board.

Fellow Quattro Development representative Peter Pavek attended in May and asked for approval to remove the existing building at the site — formerly used for the phone business — and to construct a new building with pits to do oil changes. That revision required a special use permit.

Code Enforcement Officer Doug Randall had said that per zoning, they wanted to change the number of bays, and asked if the company would be good with that, and Pavel had agreed.

Given the minimal use for a waiting area, there was also no use for so many parking spaces, and Pavek said they could reduce the parking spots and add to the green space.

“Any additional green space you can maintain, that’d be great,” committee member Ed Flynn had said.

According to company data, the sites typically get 50 vehicles per day, with variations of busiest times throughout the day — mid-morning and especially at 3 p.m. reaching peak times.

The committee gave a preliminary thumbs up, with instructions to return with a detailed site plan, which Gefell had done on Tuesday.

“So the model of this is, you stay in your car, it's a 10-minute oil change, and then you continue on. It's a little traffic generator, it doesn't require a lot of parking, it's just kind of for the staff since the user stays in their vehicle,” he said. “This allowed us to really expand the green space on site. It's increased the green space from 24 percent to 47 percent. You can see some of the trees and the buffering and landscape that we've added. You know, we're not concerned about queuing with the two bays. And I think some traffic or data was presented or provided, but peak hours, you know, it's not a significant amount of customers at one time for traffic generators.”

An average location serves 40 customers a day, he said. They don’t do ancillary services outside of oil changes, wiper blades and air filters. 

“So it’s really quick,” he said. “There’s no transmission, there’s no brakes, no anything like that. So the idea is to get in and out quickly and not have any queuing.”

The meeting included a public hearing. There was no communication submitted regarding the business, and no one signed up to speak.

The committee approved the site plan and special use permit and gave a negative declaration for the environmental review, meaning that there would be no negative impact on the environment with the business in place.

Chairman Duane Preston liked the plan, he said. 

“It’s a good plan, lots of green space,” he said. 

The committee also referred the plan to the Zoning Board of Appeals for the zoning variance as the next step in the process.

Two young men and a teenager from Batavia were taken into custody early Thursday morning following a report of shots fired in the area of Washington Avenue and Willow Street in the city, followed by the sound of gunshots on Dellinger Avenue.

The initial call of shots fired was received by emergency dispatchers at 11:22 p.m. on Wednesday.  

Police officers responded to Washington Avenue and Willow Street and found evidence at the intersection consistent, according to Batavia PD, with a weapon being discharged.

The nature of the evidence was not disclosed.

While officers were canvassing the area, multiple shots were heard coming from the area of Dellinger Avenue, and officers immediately responded.

At that location, officers again discovered evidence, police said, consistent with a weapon being discharged.

As the investigation continued, police reviewed footage from pole cameras, which helped them develop a vehicle description.

Information about the shooting and the suspect vehicle was shared with surrounding law enforcement agencies for their assistance in locating the vehicle and potential suspects. 

After the scene had been secured, the City Fire responded to the Willow Street scene to provide ground ladders for officers to assist officers in their search of the scene. 

At 1:11 a.m., four males were located walking in the area of Chase Park and North Spruce Streets. 

The males were transported to a business parking lot on East Main Street, where a vehicle apparently matching the vehicle viewed on the surveillance video was located. 

Officers at that scene located evidence consistent with a weapon or weapons being discharged, and all four males were taken into custody at that time. 

After interviews, one male was released, and the other three were arrested. 

Tmario H. Ayala, 20, Bryson R. Gentile, 18, and a 17-year-old male, all of Batavia, were taken into custody and charged with criminal possession of a weapon in the second degree, a Class C felony, and reckless endangerment in the first degree, a Class D felony. 

Police did not say whether a weapon was recovered, nor did they reveal who or what may have been targeted, or if there was a target, by the alleged shooter or shooters.

They did not say which individual, or if it's multiple individuals, may have discharged a weapon.

The investigation did conclude, police said, that a residence had been struck by gunfire on Dellinger Avenue. 

No injuries were reported.

Ayala and Gentile were arraigned in City Court and ordered held on $100,000 cash bail, $200,000 bond, or $300,000 partially secured bond. 

The 17-year-old male was arraigned in Youth Part Court and was held on $25,000 cash bail, $50,000 bond, or a $100,000 partially secured bond. 

Batavia PD was assisted by City Fire, the Sheriff's Office, and Emergency Dispatch. Citizens also assisted by providing information that aided the investigation.

The investigation is ongoing, and Batavia PD asks that any members of the public with information that may be relevant to the incident to contact the detective bureau at 585-345-6444.

At the conclusion of this morning’s Western Regional Off-Track Betting Corp. board meeting that featured glowing reports – financial and otherwise -- from management, Director Vincent Horrigan of Chautauqua County commended the staff for a job well done during a tough stretch.

“With all the turbulence in Albany, the results speak for themselves,” said Horrigan, a “holdover” from the previous board that was terminated in early May through legislation approved by Gov. Kathy Hochul and leaders in the state Assembly and Senate. “I wish to congratulate the incredible team, from the lowest worker to Henry and the rest of the management team.”

Horrigan is one of 11 directors who were reappointed by their governing bodies to four-year terms as stipulated by the new guidelines.

New members of the board, all of whom were in attendance today, are Charles Zambito (Genesee County), Crystal Rodriguez-Dabney (City of Buffalo), Terrance Baxter (Cayuga County), James A. Wilmot (Monroe County) and Jennifer Hibit (Erie County). 

Wilmot, the newest director, is in charge of casino development for the Wilmorite Management Group in Rochester.

Schuyler County officials have yet to announce their representative to the 17-member board.

While each municipality that benefits from WROTB proceeds (operational earnings and surcharge) has one director, the May legislation instituted a weighted voting system, eliminating the one-director, one-vote format that had been in force.

As a result, the majority of the voting power rests with Democratic Party-led counties of Erie and Monroe and the cities of Buffalo and Rochester. The remainder of the municipalities are Republican-leaning, and some of those are joining together in litigation challenging the recent changes, citing Home Rule entitlement.

Today’s meeting was the second straight conference that was informational only since four of the new directors have yet to be licensed by the New York Gaming Commission. WROTB President/Chief Executive Officer Henry Wojtaszek said he expects that to happen soon, likely in time for committee meetings and the full board meeting on Aug. 23-24.

Chief Financial Officer Jacquelyne Leach had the floor for most of the 90-minute session, providing monetary figures that shine a favorable light on the Batavia Downs Gaming operation.

Calling it “a very strong month,” Leach said the “net win” for June of $7.06 million is the highest ever for June – beating the corporation’s projected amount by 8 percent. Net win is what is left in the Video Lottery Terminal machines after paying out the customers.

She reported that credits played in June were $97 million – up $9.3 million from June 2022 – and attendance for the month hit the 80,000 mark – up 12,000 from June 2022.

Year-to-date earnings are at $4.6 million, she said, which represents a $1.5 million increase from the same period last year.

Earnings and surcharge (5 percent) go back to the member municipalities. Genesee County has received $106,544 in earnings and surcharge thus far in 2023, including $4,484 in the month of June.

Leach attributed food and beverage sales, special events, the Batavia Downs Concert Series and the success of the Hotel at Batavia Downs as contributing factors to the uptick in activity. She said the hotel has generated $262,000 in profit so far in 2023.

“The hotel (which was purchased by WROTB in April 2021) has proven to be such a great addition to the corporation – a tremendous benefit,” she said.

Looking ahead, Leach said that July “is shaping up to be another record month for the Batavia Downs Gaming side of the business.”

In other developments:

-- Wojtaszek said management’s plan is to reduce the number of Off-Track Betting branches from the current eight to five by 2025. He said more emphasis is being placed on EZ Bet, which are self-betting terminals in existing bars and restaurants. WROTB has 27 EZ Bet locations across Western New York.

-- Director of Live Racing Don Hoover reported that Wednesday’s opening night of harness racing generated a handle of $242,306, which puts it in the top 10 of all handles since WROTB purchased the track 20 years ago. The 53-date season concludes on Dec. 9 but Hoover is in discussions with the Western New York Harness Horsemen’s Association to schedule racing dates next January and February.

-- VP/Administration William White advised that Batavia Downs Gaming’s pay scale for security guards is lagging behind the area’s average and is looking at forging an agreement with the employee union to increase the pay as soon as possible. White said that the company is having trouble recruiting and retaining security personnel. 

Press Release:

The Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA), which was signed into law on July 26, 1990, is the single most comprehensive and far-reaching piece of legislation protecting the rights of people with disabilities from discrimination ever enacted, eclipsing the handful of laws that had existed. 

Independent Living of the Genesee Region (ILGR) will be celebrating the ADA at its Annual Picnic. It will place from 4 to 7 p.m. on Wednesday, July 26, at Kiwanis Park at 3808 West Main Street Road in Batavia. There will be free food and games including a Scavenger Hunt. 

When the ADA was signed 33 years ago people envisioned curb cuts and accessible building entrances. Today, the ADA is helping people live independently, get an education, find housing, and build a career.

If you need additional information please call Catherine DeMare at 585-815-8501, extension 400, or email her at cdemare@wnyil.org.

Press Release:

Batavia Downs Gaming & Hotel has announced that one of the famous and iconic Budweiser Clydesdales will be making an appearance at Batavia Downs on Saturday, Aug. 26 from 2 to 4 p.m. 

A night of live harness racing, including the Kane Memorial will begin at 6 p.m.

Admission and Parking are free for anyone who would like to come see one of these majestic horses as it is braided, brushed, and paraded right on the track.

A queue line will be available for those wishing to get a free picture with the Clydesdale. Anyone wishing to “skip” the line may purchase a fast pass ticket for $25 which will be donated to Folds of Honor, an organization dedicated to providing life-changing scholarships to the spouses and children of America’s fallen or disabled military. Additional donations to Folds of Honor by any attendees are appreciated. 

Tickets to skip the line will be available on Saturday, August 26 at the Lucky Treasures gift shop. Up to 10 people can get a picture with the Clydesdale at a time. The purchase of a skip-the-line pass will allow the purchaser to receive one $25 free play at the Player’s Club booth.

Beginning at 6 p.m., a night of New York Sire Stakes races will begin including the Kane Memorial Race, with a purse of $75,000. Free T-shirts will be given out that night. Details will be posted on Batavia Downs’ website and Facebook as the event draws closer.

“We are honored to have one of the Clydesdales on site,” said Henry Wojtaszek, President and CEO for Batavia Downs Gaming & Hotel. “These horses are a sight to behold and we encourage everyone to come down to see them. We look forward to help raise money for Folds of Honor during this great event. We hope everyone stays for the Sire Stakes and Kane Memorial Races to help support live racing in the Western New York Community as well.”

Press Release:

The St. Jerome Guild, Inc., selects the recipients of the annual St. Jerome Guild Health Career Professional Scholarship 2023.

Two UMMC/Rochester Regional Healthcare providers are this year’s recipients. This award is offered annually to outstanding employees who are continuing their education to support healthcare in our local community through UMMC/Rochester Regional Health.

Nicole Hopkins, RN, specializing in patient pain management is striving for a degree in Family Care Nurse Practitioner and currently attending Roberts Wesleyan. Jennifer Kula, is a patient care technician and is currently enrolled in the second year RN program at Genesee Community College.

Additional awards of $100 each were given to Mary Caprio and Vanessa Eason who are both pursuing degrees to enhance their careers at UMMC.

If you have any questions, please call me at the cell below or contact me at maredickinson@gmail.com.

 Submitted Photos

If all goes to plan, there could be a brand new Burger King restaurant with drive-through service, ample landscaping, and a corner lot set-up with an adjacent traffic light in place by the spring of 2024.

That is, of course, if real estate manager John FitzGerald and his site engineers meet the qualifications of the city’s Planning & Development Committee, which so far have included a request to reduce a 17-foot bypass lane, bump up the landscaping, and consider a traffic study.

It’s worth the short move from 230 West Main St., Batavia and special use permit to the corner of South Lyon and West Main Street, FitzGerald said. 

“I’d always love an approval the first time, but, you know, the board brought up some legitimate items to discuss. And we'll review those with (site engineer Patrick Mahoney) Pat, and go through those. But I think that everything I heard pretty much made sense,” FitzGerald said after Tuesday’s planning committee meeting. “As far as I know, narrowing this 17-foot lane, we can take that down a little bit, you know, the right in right out (entrance/exit), I think makes sense. Some of the other ones were kind of spitballing. And they're very, very difficult to enact.

“As far as the traffic study … we’re basically moving across the street to a safer, easier, more accessible property. So I don't know, if the state requires it, we will do it.”

FitzGerald, who manages about 350 Burger Kings for Carrols Corp., has been leasing the current site, which will be up soon. His reasons for moving are more about the new location than the one he has been in for at least a few decades.

“There’s nothing wrong with the old one, this is just a better location,” he said. “Again, it's at the traffic light. So it's safer for getting people in and out. It gives you two access points: one on South Lyons and one on Main Street, versus the one we currently have, like a double lead in and out on one side of the store, and then it's got the drive-through exit on the other side. So there's potentially conflicting movements.”

Those conflicting movements happen when motorists attempt to make either a left or right turn out of the current location each simultaneously, he said. He likes having a traffic light at the corner of the new location and stressed the safety factor of the new design. He’s not aware of his current property playing host to accidents, he said, but wants to move on. 

The biggest reason is having a traffic light to help with the flow of traffic versus being in mid-block, he said. 

“So it’s an easier movement versus the existing store. Not that this was bad, but it’s both 90-degree stalls. So there’s people kind of coming and going in different directions,” FitzGerald said. “This forces everybody to go the same direction in and around the property. And, again, two access points versus one.”

His design team, Mahoney and Peter Sorgi, did all the talking during the meeting, at some points rather pointedly questioning committee member Ed Flynn’s critiques. Flynn latched onto the 17-foot lane as a major sticking point throughout the site plan review.

“Why do you have a 17-foot escape lane?” Flynn said. Sorgi focused on the landscaping, stating that it was “more than was required” by code and the bypass lane was part of a safety measure. 

“Right now, I may be the only one talking about the 17-foot excessive lane over here, but I want more landscaping along Lyon Street. Seems like they start out with a lot to offer there. And then, of course, you make a descending (landscaping design) for some reason. The pavement lane is 17 feet, that seems like it can be reduced dramatically.”

Mahoney said that safety to the community is better served by a wider lane, and Sorgi homed in on the safety factor versus aesthetics. Flynn emphasized that his comments weren’t necessarily a consensus of the group. 

“That’s why we have more than one board member,” City Code Enforcement Officer Doug Randall said, to which Sorgi quickly replied, “thank you.”

“The design is where your talent comes in, we’re just here to express concerns of the public,” Randall said.  

Mahoney described the ideal “speckled shade” landscaping of crab apple and locust trees, greenery that could survive Western New York’s climate and Main Street’s winter road saltings. 

They discussed the parking lot size — committee member Derek Geib asked if four spaces similar to McDonald’s would suffice — the drive-through configuration, trash removal from the dumpster, and how things have changed in the way customers operate.

Mahoney said that no, four spaces would not work. As for the drive-through, there are two order points. There’s a double wide for ordering, and it filters into a single lane for the pickup at the store. 

“And then, if you look at the building, to the left of that will be the mobile order stalls. And as we were talking about that, that’s the wave of the future, people don’t want to even really park their car,” FitzGerald said after the meeting. “They just want to pull up and have somebody run out. 

"This is the way the industry is going, that's everywhere, surburban, rural, urban. People today, it's either drive-through or over their phone," he said. "We're trying to make it safer for people on the property. It's just the wave of the future." 

FitzGerald is to return with an updated site plan in September or October. His first meeting was in June, which introduced the project and plan to demolish two major current business buildings.

The New York Sire Stakes will be on hand at Batavia Downs for opening night of the 2023 summer/fall season on Wednesday (July 26) when seven 2-year-old trotting colts and geldings line up for a big payday of $106,300. With only a handful of starts among this relatively even group, it could be anyone’s race to win as these fast-developing freshmen can throw a big mile at any time from week to week.

The oddsmaker’s choice is the two-for-one entry of Bargain (Chapter Seven-Batoutahill) and Keep Asking (Chapter Seven-Sensibility).

Bargain has two wins and a second in three starts this year while showing versatility over three different-size tracks. One of those wins was a victory in the $77,300 NYSS at Yonkers in his first career outing in 1:59.1. The following week, he lowered his lifetime mark of 1:56.4 at the Meadowlands, closing in: 27.3 in the $20,000 event. His current earnings of $62,525 have him listed as the sixth richest 2-year-old male trotter in North America, and he is poised to add to that total in this race. Bargain likes the front end and, leaving from post four, should definitely be in charge of this group from the start.

James McDonald will steer Bargain for trainer Nancy Takter.

Keep Asking has yet to win in two starts but recovered nicely after an early break in his first start to finish second in the NYSS at Yonkers and then bounced back with a fourth place, 1:56 clocking at Tioga Downs where he was parked for the better part of the mile. Post-seven may be a tough task.

Jim Morrill Jr. will be in the bike behind Keep Asking for trainer George Ducharme.

A big threat will be looming from Situationship (Chapter Seven-Meegan Hall), who made a big three-wide move at three-quarters last week in the NYSS at Tioga, where he finished second in 1:55.1 off a: 28.4 final quarter. Situationship has displayed extreme closing speed in two 2-year-old non-betting events this year at Meadowlands and will be stalking the leader in the last stages of this race.

Trainer Ake Svanstedt will also be driving Situationship.

There are also three $20,000 Excelsior divisions in races two, four, and six.

Post time for the first race is 6 p.m. The races can be viewed free and live at the Batavia Downs Facebook page and free full past performance programs can always be downloaded for every live race card from the Batavia Downs website (bataviadownsgaming.com) under the live racing tab.

Things did not go the Muckdogs way against Niagara Power on Tuesday, but Batavia managed to retain a slender lead in the Western Division of the PGCBL.

Batavia lost 9-2, giving up 16 hits and committing two errors.

Ty Woods was down 3-0 when he was lifted after three innings, having given up two earned runs on nine hits and two walks. 

Ben Weber was tagged for six runs and seven hits.

Thomas Blaydes stopped the bleeding with three hitless innings to close out the game.

The Muckdogs, with four games left in the season, are 25-14 with a half-game lead over Elmira (25-15).

Batavia has clinched a playoff spot for the post-season.

The Muckdogs travel to Niagara tonight. The team hosts Newark on Thursday at Dwyer Stadium at 5 p.m.

A motor vehicle accident is reported in the area of 5068 Ellicott Street Road, Batavia.

Town of Batavia Fire and Mercy EMS responding.

UPDATE 5:11 p.m.: Not blocking and minor injuries.

By Tim Bojarski for Batavia Downs

For the first time in two decades, Batavia Downs will hold their second opening day card of the year when the Genesee County oval welcomes back the horsemen, horsewomen, their horses and the fans for the 53-day summer/fall meet that starts on Wednesday (July 26) at 6 p.m. and runs through Saturday (Dec. 9). The earlier winter session set several betting records driven by competitive racing and the next 20 weeks promises to produce the same kind of results.

The opening night card Wednesday includes the first visit of the year by the New York Sire Stakes as the 2-year-old trotting colts and geldings will be on hand to compete in one division for a purse of $106,300. There will also be three Excelsior A races that will go for $20,000 each, bringing the total amount of loot up for grabs to $233,300 for that card. 

Henry Wojtaszek, president and CEO of Western Regional Off-Track Betting and Batavia Downs Gaming and Hotel, is excited to welcome racing back to the facility and is appreciative of the many fans that attend the track all season to watch the action in person.

“The excitement of live harness racing begins on Wednesday at the Downs for fans of photo finishes, daily doubles, and exotic wagers and it should  be an electrifying night of fun and entertainment. Our fans will be treated to competitive harness racing and great promotions that tie into our new remodeled Clubhouse, expansive gaming floor and the number one ranked hotel in Batavia. Our staff and those from New York State, will ensure a safe racing meet for drivers and equine athletes and we look forward to everyone joining us for live racing and all the fun that goes with it at the area’s premier entertainment destination,” said Wojtaszek.

The live schedule changes several times throughout the year. Opening week has racing only on Wednesday and Saturday. In August, the action switches to Tuesday, Wednesday and Saturday from August 1 to August 12 and changes to Wednesday, Friday, Saturday from August 16 through October 28. The lone exception is Friday (Sept. 8) which will be dark in lieu of a Labor Day matinee on Monday (Sept. 4). Then in November and December, racing cuts back to two days a week on Wednesday and Saturday through the close of the meet. Post time for all race days is 6 p.m., except the Labor Day matinee that will start at 1:15 p.m.

Once again there is a hearty slate of stake action courtesy of the New York Sire Stakes. The state-bred series will be in action on Wednesday (July 26), Tuesday (Aug. 1), Wednesday (Aug. 2), Tuesday (Aug. 8), Wednesday (Aug. 16), Saturday (Aug. 26) and Friday (Sept. 1).

There are two notable nights of racing this year. The first is Saturday (Aug. 26) when both 3-year-old colt and filly divisions will be on the same card along with the $75,000 Robert J. Kane Memorial Invitational pace, Batavia Down’s signature event. Then on Wednesday (Sept. 13), Batavia Downs was selected to host the NYSS Excelsior finals that will be contested for a total purse of $400,000.

The clubhouse will be open for all race dates and offer a varied menu. Every Saturday will feature a prime rib buffet while the other race nights will be catered by the Center Street Smokehouse. The Railbar will always  be open for live racing.

All the top drivers will be back including Jim Morrill Jr. and Kevin Cummings, who both had the distinction of becoming the first drivers to ever surpass the $1 million mark in earnings in a single meet at Batavia last year. Leading trainers Shawn McDonough, Jennifer Giuliani, Sam Smith, James Clouser Jr. and Dave Russo will also be back along with a host of others.

Don Hoover, Director of Live Racing and Race Secretary at Batavia Downs, is heading into his second year in those positions at the Downs and looks to build upon the successes of last year.

“Overall, I was pleased with the 2022 Summer/Fall live race meet and was pleasantly surprised by the success of the recently concluded January/February winter meet. I look forward to continuing that momentum into the upcoming 2023 Summer/Fall 53-day live race meet, highlighted by the $75,000 Robert J. Kane Memorial Pace and the $400,000 New York Sire Stakes Excelsior Finals,” said Hoover.

Bettors will have plenty of opportunities with a wagering menu that includes three Doubles, 10 Exactas, 10 Trifectas, nine Superfectas, two Pick-3's, two Pick-4's, one Pick-5 and one Jackpot Super High Five available on every 10-race card.

Patrons will also have plenty of promotions to look forward to.

On opening night there will be free programs in the grandstand and the Lotta Cash Giveaway where customers can deposit non-winning tickets wagered on Batavia Downs races for a chance to win two $250 betting vouchers and a Batavia Downs Gaming Play and Stay package that includes one night’s stay at the Batavia Downs Gaming Hotel, $25 in gaming Free Play and a $50 dinner certificate to Fortune’s.

Every Wednesday is the Play and Stay promotion where customers can deposit non-winning tickets wagered on Batavia Downs races for a chance to win a Batavia Downs Gaming Play and Stay package that includes one night’s stay at the Batavia Downs Gaming Hotel, $25 in gaming Free Play and a $50 dinner certificate to Fortune’s.

Then there’s the Wednesday and Saturday Finale promotion where you get $25 gaming Free Play when you wager $25 on the last race at Batavia Downs.

Every live race day offers Match Play Free Play Frenzy where you receive $25 gaming Free Play when you wager $25 at the same time on the same live Batavia Downs race. And there is also the Early Bird Daily Double, where you receive $10 in gaming Free Play when you wager at least $10 at the same time on the Early Daily Double. Plus every live racing program includes a $5 gaming Free Play coupon.

All promotions require participants be Players Club members and gaming Free Play is subject to required base points being earned before redemption. Full rules are available in the program.

You can watch all the live racing action for free on the Batavia Downs YouTube channel and free, full past performance programs for every live race night will be available on the Batavia Downs website under the live racing tab.

Monday evening’s fair queen festivities wrapped up with several surprises for contestants, as only Pageant Director Verginia Zocco (and The Batavian, per a prior conversation) knew that she had planned on dispersing special awards for particular attributes.

After a two-day competition amongst a dozen girls aged 6 through 17 in various categories from Little Miss and Duchess to Princess up to Queen, the winners were finally announced at the entertainment tent at Genesee County Fair.

The first runner-up for queen was Panorea Florence Tsoukalos, daughter of Ted and Kris of Batavia. Pon, as she’s nicknamed, received a crown, sash, flowers and a $150 check. 

That left the remaining candidate, Katherine Ewert, as the title recipient of the 2023 Fair Queen. During a previous interview with The Batavian on Sunday, a humble Katherine wished her fellow contestant well and, in fact, said she would understand if Pon, 16, won the competition. 

After the crowning on Monday, Katherine, a student at Attica Central, was surprised to be the winner and wasn’t sure how she felt about it.

“I don't even know, I guess I didn't expect to win or anything like that. It's just a little shocking, honestly, because Panorea is such a great contestant as well,” the 17-year-old said while wearing the official queen sash. “But I'm super glad that I can set the example to girls.”

Katherine is the daughter of Doug and Nancy and the youngest of four girls. She has been involved in 4-H Horse Club since age 9 and served as president of the Mystics riders club in 2022.

As part of her new title, Katherine also received flowers, a $200 check and a gift certificate for a complimentary Gown and Crown photo session.

A major theme for the contestants was farming and agriculture, which also appealed to Katherine, she said.

“Agriculture is super important in our community, and people in agriculture are some of the hardest working people I've ever met,” she said. “And it's important to represent agriculture, and without agriculture, we wouldn't really have anything. No food, no materials, or anything like that. So it's really important to focus on agriculture and keep it going.”

Overall, how does she think she’ll remember this win years from now?

“I think I’d be like, wow — it’s really cool that I did something like that,” she said. “I felt like I really wanted to get the message out about agriculture and the importance of it to a lot of people, and I feel like I did that.”

Grand Princess went to Gabriella Zocco, who received a crown, sash, flowers, a $100 check and a gift certificate for a complimentary Gown and Crown photo session.

Princess went to Cassandra Judge, daughter of Chris Judge and Heidi Mendes-Judge. She received a crown, sash, flowers, a $100 check and gift certificate for a complimentary Gown and Crown photo session.

First runner-up for Duchess went to Isabella Rose-Therese Redden, daughter of Andrew and Theresa Tesch and Andrew Potter. She received a crown, sash and flowers. 

Duchess went to Layla Baker of Basom, daughter of Breanne and Nathan. She received a crown, sash, flowers, a $50 check and gift certificate for a complimentary Gown and Crown photo session.

Miss had two-second runner-ups, and they were Carly Hanel, daughter of Jody, and Zoe Castro, each will receive a crown, sash and flowers; and a first runner-up, who was Eleanor Hudson, daughter of Jeremiah and Holly of Alabama, who received a crown, sash and flowers.

The Miss title went to Morgenn Surabian of Batavia, who received a crown, sash, flowers, a $50 check and a gift certificate for a complimentary Gown and Crown photo session.

Little Miss runner-up Lyza Baker of Basom received a crown, sash and flowers, and Little Miss went to Kali Martino, daughter of Stephen and Karen of Batavia, who received a crown, sash, flowers, $50 check and a gift certificate for a complimentary Gown and Crown photo session.

A 2022 Stephanie Lynn Tooley Memorial “From the Heart” Award was presented to Katherine Ewert, the newly crowned 2023 fair queen. 

The Susan Meier “Most Photogenic” Award was given to the contestant who possessed “photogenic appeal and ability to project an image consistent with beauty and elegance.” The judge is looking for personality, beauty, grooming, fashion sense and confidence in selecting someone for this award, organizers said.

This award went to Lyza Baker, who, along with her parents, sister and brothers, raises rabbits, chickens, ducks and goats, is in 4-H and “loves showing her animals” at the fair. 

To view or purchase prints, click here.

Photos by Steve Ognibene

A 53-year-old Rochester resident on parole for a prior robbery conviction has been charged in Monday's Key Bank branch robbery in Batavia.

Stacy R. Moss is charged with robbery in the third degree and grand larceny in the fourth degree. 

Moss is accused of entering the Key Bank branch at 69 Main St. shortly before 9:36 a.m. and handed a teller a note demanding money.

Police said the suspect did not display a weapon or threaten use of a weapon.

The suspect then left on a bicycle with an unspecified amount of money. 

Officers from Batavia PD, along with the Genesee County Sheriff's Office, checked the area and were initially unable to locate the suspect. 

Batavia PD detectives worked quickly to obtain an identification of the individual involved using the Monroe County Crime Analysis Center's facial recognition software. 

Batavia shared the suspect's photos from the robbery scene with local media, and officers checked the last known addresses of the person they believed was identified in the photos.

While gathering further information, investigators received information that the suspect was hiding inside a residence on South Spruce Street.

Moss was taken into custody without incident.

Investigators determined that the suspect acted alone

Moss was released on parole in January after serving seven years on a 2016 convict for three counts of robbery in the third degree, grand larceny.

He also has prior convictions for robbery in the first degree in 2004, robbery in the second degree in 1989, and burglary in the third degree in 1987.

Following his arrest, Moss was arraigned and ordered held pending his next court appearance.

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Ever wanted to check out birds up close and personal? Tammy Sweet came up with an idea for you to do just that, and boy, does she have birds. There are 200 colorful parakeets available in her 30-foot trailer, Wings on Wheels, parked at Genesee County Fair this week.

Employee Sydney Hurlbut explained that it was a new concept that Sweet wanted to try out after operating a petting zoo for about 10 years. The trailer travels the Western New York area from Rochester to Buffalo.

"We travel around, we've seen other things, and we've done the petting zoo for a while, and (Sweet) always saw enclosures that you could visit. But this idea kind of came from, there's nothing like it. So you could go to other enclosures on site, but we bring the birds to you. So we do birthday parties, fairs, different events like that. And it's just, it's exciting. Kids love it. It's just a different experience,” Hurlbut said Monday afternoon. “And we're all about different, we love to bring new things to new places."

Step inside, but be mindful to shuffle as you go. The delicate little birds might be on the floor, as well as on shelves and window sills -- or fluttering in the air -- for your viewing pleasure. There are prices for sticks of millet, $2 for one or $5 for three, and visitors hold them out for the birds to land and munch on the tasty seeds. 

"And so you can come in, and you get a stick. And that is your entrance fee into Wings on Wheels. So you go in one side, and the birds will flock to your stick, and they eat the millet off of the stick. And so they'll actually land on you; we get a lot of birds landing on heads and arms and things. And so you can just kind of admire them and their beauty," Hurlbut said.

Once the stick is empty of millet, the tour is over, and visitors exit on the opposite end of the trailer. 

"It's kind of a different experience, that there's nothing really quite like it. So we usually have an employee on both sides, so if you have questions, you can always ask us. We always give a spiel about how you have to shuffle your feet through so you don't step on the birds,” she said. “They're all parakeets. They're just kind of a house bird anybody can have them. It's just, you know, people that can't afford to have a bird or things like that, it’s very interesting for them to see, and we get a lot of bird lovers, and we also get a lot of people that are scared of birds, so we have an option to feed them from outside of the bird trailer, so you can put your stick in from the outside so that the birds can come to the window and you can see them like that too.” 

The fair runs through Saturday.

Editor's Note: The Batavian has a booth at the fair in partnership with WBTA as part of the official Genesee County Fair Media Center. Stop by to say hello and enter our eagle-drawing contest in the Exhibition Building. We are an exhibitor and are providing coverage of the fair all week long as a proud supporter of the county fair, 4-H and the dedicated volunteers of the Ag Society. 

With a doubleheader sweep of Geneva on Sunday, the Batavia Muckdogs are 25-13 on the season and a game up in the Western Division standings of the PGCBL.

In the first game, Batavia won 12-1.

Preston Prince, from Hilton, tossed all five innings of the first game, giving up only one hit while walking three and striking out nine.

Lucas Lopez went 3-4 and drove in seven runs. Josh Leadem was 1-2 with two walks and two RBIs.

In the second game, Batavia won 9-2. 

Ryan Kinney went the distance in the seven-inning game, improving to 4-0 on the season with a 0.84 ERA. He scattered three hits and gave up two unearned runs while striking out eight.

Giuseppe Arcuri went 1-4 and drove in two runs.

The next home game for the Muckdogs is Tuesday at 6:35 p.m. against Niagara Power.

The Key Bank branch in Batavia was robbed at 9:35 a.m. on Monday and Batavia is seeking the public's assistance in identifying the suspect.

The suspect is descirbed as a balding black male wearing a black T-Shirt, gray shorts, black socks, and no shoes.  

According to police, the suspect passed a note to the teller demanding cash.  

He arrived and left on a black colored bicycle last seen heading West on Main Street.  

Police did not say how much or if any cash was stolen.

If anyone recognizes the suspect in the photos please contact Batavia Police Department Det. Jason Ivison at (585)345-6312.

UPDATE: The suspect has been apprehended.

Police-submittted photos.

Day One of the fair at Genesee County Fairgrounds was in its last hour Saturday evening as volunteer Rose Topolski made her rounds scooting around on a golf cart and checking on various people and things as BB Dang played on into a gradually dimming sky. 

Although the multi-pronged event can get tense at times, Topolski joked around with balloon lady Janice Spagnola, who had been blowing up pastel blue balloons for Sunday's class. She will be teaching balloon sculpture twice a day at noon and 4:45 p.m. in the Exhibition Building all week. 

“I taught her. Janice was my student in Alexander Central School, in seventh grade,” Topolski said. 

As Topolski spoke, Spagnola made up years that were earlier than when her teacher was actually at Alexander. That seems to be a trend amongst Topolski’s friends and peers — her fellow Ag Society members recently said that she’s been around for each of the fair’s 183 years.

It’s a camaraderie that seems to work, and Topolski gives as good as she gets. However, The Batavian isn’t at liberty to repeat her favorite responses. There was her one-liner about “before the first supper, we had a picnic,” she said. 

No matter her years, it has meant oodles of experience, and Topolski shared that Saturday was a darned good one for the history books.

“It’s the best opening day we’ve had, probably since I’ve been here,” she said. “I know that we had over $8,000 at the gate, and that doesn’t include anybody who has a pass, which there’s a number of people that have passes, and everybody who has animals back there has a pass, all of my vendors have passes. It’s just when you add that to it, it just is an insurmountable number of people that are in here today.”

“And I actually snuck out to go to a graduation party … (and someone told her) there are very few people at Blondies because they're here at the fair; they are pretty excited because, you know, the free events at the fair is a pretty good draw, and the fact that you can load your car up 16 deep, and for $10. Actually, they have to be belted in order to come in that vehicle. But to come in and just enjoy all the free opportunities, and they are very inexpensive.”

All of the 4-H and related animal activities are free, including:

• The open class poultry show at 9 a.m., the open class rabbit show at 10 a.m., the stockyard classic beef show at noon and the empire classic sheep show at 2 p.m. Sunday;
• The 4-H alumni master showman contest at 7 p.m. Wednesday;
• The market animal auction sale at 6:30 p.m. Thursday;
• A 4-H Family and Consumer Science Club activity at 11 a.m. Friday; and
• NIOGA Dairy showmanship show at 8:30, 10 and 10:30 a.m. Saturday.

Dan Embt of Pavilion and his family “just came to see the fair” in general. They stopped at an exhibitor booth, Hirsch’s Dairy Farm of Alexander, and posed for some selfies at the painted scene of 4-H kids with cut-out heads for visitors to insert their own faces for a candid shot. 

“We used to be in 4-H,” Embt said, recalling what it was like during fair week. “We used to live here practically.”

There may have been a steady flow of vehicles into the fairgrounds Friday, and while that didn’t mark the beginning of Genesee County’s annual event just yet, it was a sign of the traditional prep and move-in by vendors, exhibitors, volunteers and lead organizers from the Genesee County Ag Society.

Norm Pimm and Amanda Gallo, the Society’s treasurer and president, respectively, were busy driving around in one of the golf carts, assigned to the task of answering questions, helping to set things up, directing fair participants, and checking folks in, while Rose Topolski manned the fair office as the head go-to, per the note on the office door. 

When asked how late of a night he and others will have in setting up Friday, Pimm sort of shook his head and shared how he answered that question from someone else.

“A lot of us, actually, probably a dozen of us, have a camper here. So I just took a phone call from another vendor wanting to know when I'm going to be here,” Pimm said. “I said, I'll be here until next week Sunday, so a week. I'll be here for the next nine days. And he's like, okay. Yes, we don't really leave. We'll be up very late tonight/early in the morning, still preparing.”

While he and Gallo were parked inside the Exhibition Building, others busily unloaded their tables and goods at their designated areas to get set up for the next morning. Genesee County’s 183rd Fair officially opens at 9 a.m. Saturday on East Main Street Road, Batavia. 

“Tomorrow is Kids Day,” Gallo said, reminding folks that a third day has been added this year so that for a $15 wristband, kids can enjoy the Midway from 1 to 5 p.m. this Saturday, July 26 and again on July 29. “And then the small fry tractor pull will be tomorrow.  I think a lot of people don't realize that Genesee County does have a fair,” she said.

Friday was more than just a prep day, as the grounds hosted 11 six-horse hitch teams in the evening for a spectacular show of strength and muster from draft horses in the North American six-horse hitch classic series competition. Classified as workhorses, these equines are typically up to about 17 hands high and weigh 1,400 pounds or more. In case you missed them, the teams will return for a show at 12:30 p.m. Saturday in the horse arena. 

Pimm believes it’s the second largest six-horse hitch show in New York State, largely due to the fair’s growing reputation — it drew a record 75,000 people last year. 

Speaking of reputation, the fair queen contest is making a comeback after numbers dipped during the pandemic, Gallo said. There are a dozen worthy contestants this year, and the first round of competition is from 3 to 5 p.m. Sunday, followed by the pageant and crowning from  6 to 9 p.m. Monday, both in the entertainment tent. 

If you’re a bit dazed by the entertainment and activity choices, check out the schedule and update online at fair-schedule

And then check it out in person, Pimm said.

“Come on out and support it and see it. I mean, for $10 for a carload, you can get as many people you can pack into the car you bring, and you're not going to beat it for the price. And there's a lot of, some new vendors, some new entertainment, here every single day. Plus a lot of entertainment that has been here in the past,” Pimm said. “We just have a lot for kids to do, whether it's the midway, whether it’s, you know, the livestock exhibits, those little kids sections. And then it's family-friendly.”

Along with food, midway and animal vendors — the kangaroos were already set up in their section — were the exhibitors of businesses and nonprofits inside the Exhibition Building. Mona Doyon, program coordinator for All Babies Cherished, was decorating her table tucked into a corner for the agency’s second year at the fair.

“It’s a great outreach. You get to meet the community, and it brings in people, and one of the ladies that we got to meet last year, she worked with Fidelis Insurance. Now she comes into our center, and she helps our clients. She comes in once a week. So it was just a great outreach. And so we wanted to come back,” Doyon said. “And we are promoting, we're going to be opening a temporary housing for women and children. And we're doing a beef raffle. So we want to promote that and just get more awareness of what we do in the community to help women and children.”

“We have the house, and we're working on it. So it's planned by the end of the year or the first of the year 2024. Please do stop on by, come see us. It's a great program.”

She will have information to share with people about the agency’s services, which is why so many organizations set up booths at the fair. So far this year she saw sheep and signs for maple syrup products that she may buy later this week, and last year did some shopping.

“So I know last year I got soap and candles,” she said. “So it's a great thing, and it's great to see, you know, Batavia and Genesee County is thriving. We’ve got to bring more into this area.”