Skip to main content

Stories from

No holiday on V.E. Day for LeRoy students

By Billie Owens

Attention parents and kids in the LeRoy Central School District: there's no holiday on Friday, May 8. That's VE Day -- as in Victory in Europe -- in honor of the unconditional surrender of the Nazis in World War II.

As of 4:30 p.m. May 5, VE Day was still cited on the district's website calender as an official school hoilday.

Oops! It was some sort of administrative error and it's certainly no school holiday.

But it was practically a world holiday in 1945. Millions of people poured into the streets of London, Chicago, Paris, Los Angeles, New York City and elsewhere. Light had overtaken darkness and its synonym, the Third Reich.

On the balcony of Buckingham Palace, King George VI, Princess Elizabeth and Prime Minister Winston Churchill waved to jubilant Londoners. It was also President Harry S Truman's 61st birthday and he dedicated the victory to Franklin Delano Roosevelt, our president who died less than a month earlier, on April 12.

VJ Day -- Victory over Japan -- was still to come, on Aug. 14, 1945 (North American Time). When it was announced, another wave of gleeful hysteria broke out in American streets and the sailor bent over the nurse in Times Square and gave her a big smooch.

(The kissers in the famous Alfred "Eisie" Eisenstadt photo were later determined to be, although there's still debate about this, Carl Muscarello and Edith Cullen Shain. The photo was probably shot with a Leica 250 "Reporter," which used 10 mm film and offered 250 shots before having to reload. The photojournalist's work was featured in the first one-man exhibit offered by the International Museum of Photography at the George Eastman House Museum in Rochester.)

These days, VE Day is a holiday commemorated in the former East Germany, France, the United Kingdom, Slovakia and the Czech Republic. But, again, not in the LeRoy Central School District where Friday will simply be another opportunity to teach and to learn.

City hosting informational meeting on how the new roundabout on Oak will work

By Billie Owens

They tell us the under-construction roundabout at Oak and Pearl will make traffic move smoother and more safely, even for pedestrians and bicyclists.

Just how that will work is the subject of a public information meeting later this month.

City and state Department of Transportation officials will explain how roundabouts work from 6 to 8 p.m. Thursday, May 21 at Batavia City Hall.

Howard McCulloch, a DOT design specialist, will discuss the benefits of a roundabout. He has worked on similar projects throughout the state since 1999.

The local roundabout will be a circular intersection designed to slow traffic while decreasing delay time for motorists. The project is expected to be finished, or close to it, this summer.

McCulloch plans to: help educate the public on how to enter and navigate their way through the roundabout; describe the benefits of this new design; and give people a chance to ask questions.

According to the Institute for Highway Safety, which studied 23 roundabouts nationwide, total crashes dropped nearly 40 percent and serious injury/fatal accidents were cut by 90 percent after roundabouts were constructed.

Richmond library's budget put to a vote

By Billie Owens

Richmond Memorial Library's polls are open today until 9 p.m. so voters can decide on this year's budget.

Also, Trustee John McGee is running unopposed for reelection to a five-year term.

Registered voters who live in the Batavia City School District are eligible to cast a ballot. Voting takes place in the Gallery Room of the library, located at 19 Ross St.

The library's top four sources of revenue were the school district, gifts/endowments, library fees/printing charges and Genesee County funding. If more funding is approved this year, the library's plans include possibly increasing its hours of operation.

College admissions info for LeRoy parents

By Billie Owens

The LeRoy School District will hold an information session about college admissions Wednesday, May 6.

It's for parents of middle- and high-school students. It will take place at 7 p.m. in the library of the junior/senior high school, located at 9300 South St. in LeRoy. Phone is 765-8131.

Tonya Lane-Marten, admissions director at Genesee Community College, will lead the session.

Event Date and Time
-

New eatery opens

By Billie Owens

Owners of the new Darien Cafe & Ice Cream Shoppe opened the restaurant for business May 4. The ice cream place opens May 16.

Dave and Tammy Riker's enterprise is located in the former Beachy's Restaurant site, located at 1415 Broadway on Route 20 just east of Route 77.

The Riker's full-menu cafe will operate seven days a week, year round.

The ice cream place will operate during the summer season (mid-May through Labor Day) and offer both indoor and walk-up-window service featuring frozen treats and fast food.

Hours are 6 a.m. to 9 p.m. Sunday through Thursday. On Friday and Saturday, 6 a.m. to 10 p.m. On concert nights, the business will stay open until 1 a.m.

Free wi-fi is available in the cafe section between the main dining room and the ice cream shop.

The Rikers formerly ran a '50s-style eatery near Utica called Betty's Diner. They had it for four years before deciding to open Darien Cafe & Ice Cream Shoppe. They've hired 22 employees for their new business.

Many honored for helping reduce smoking

By Billie Owens

Many earned recognition in Genesee County on April 28 for supporting anti-tobacco efforts. They are credited with helping reduce smoking and were honored by Smoke Free NOW, Reality Check, the School Policy Program and the Cessation Centers.

The following were recognized for having a written policy requiring that their apartments be smoke free:

  • Charlotte Crawford, Batavia
  • John and Gina Pestillo, Batavia
  • Mark and Tammy Schmidt, Batavia
  • Pete andSue Sherman, Pavilion
  • Worth Harder, Batavia

The following were recognized for passing resolutions encouraging tobacco-ad-free magazines and smoke-free movies:

  • Alexander PTA
  • Batavia Student Improvement Team
  • Batavia District Wide PTA
  • Elba BEST (Building Elba School Together)
  • Liberty Partnership LIFE (Liberty Increase Future Experiences) Program
  • Pavilion PTO

The following were recognized for having a policy to not accept tobacco company advertising, sponsorship, promotion or funding:

  • Batavia ATOP (All Types of People Living Chemically Free)
  • Batavia Catholic Youth Organization
  • Batavia High School Ice Devils
  • Bohm-Calarco-Smith Funeral Home
  • Byron Bergen SADD
  • Christmas in the City
  • Drug Free Marshals of WNY
  • Everyday Heroes of Genesee County
  • GCASA Awards Dinner
  • Genesee Co. Nursing Home Child Care Center
  • Genesee Countywide SADD
  • HE Turner & Co. Funeral Home
  • LeRoy Physical Therapy
  • LeRoy Village Fitness
  • Liberty Partnerships LIFE
  • National Night Out of Batavia
  • Pavilion SADD
  • St. Joseph's Penny Carnival
  • SUPA (Students United for Positive Action)
  • Terry Hills Golf Course & Country Club

The following were recognized for passing a resolution encouraging tobacco retailers to reduce, rearrange, or eliminate tobacco advertising-organizations:

  • Batavia ATOP
  • Byron-Bergen SADD
  • Drug Free Marshals of WNY
  • Genesee County Youth Bureau
  • Genesee Co. Interagency Council
  • Genesee Countywide SADD
  • Lake Plains Community Care Network
  • Liberty Partnerships LIFE
  • Pavilion SADD

The following municipalities were recognized for passing a resolution encouraging tobacco retailers to reduce, rearrange or eliminate tobacco advertising:

  • Town of Bethany
  • Town of LeRoy
  • Village of Alexander

These school districts were recognized for having a memorandum of understanding to work toward best practices in regard to tobacco policies:

  • Batavia City Schools
  • Pavilion Central School

The following were recognized for being 100% smoke free:

  • United Memorial Medical Center

Each year in New York State, about 25,500 people die from smoking-related illnesses.  And for every eight smokers who die, they take a nonsmoker with them from exposure to
second-hand smoke. In addition, taxpayers in New York spend $5.4 billion on
Medicaid just for smokers¹ smoking-related illness.

Nationwide, 1,200 people die from smoking every day and 53,000 dying every year from
second-hand smoke.

Those wishing information about how to quit smoking may contact the New York
State Smokers' Quitline at 1-866- NY QUITS (1-866-697-8487) or at
www.nysmokefree.com

Most New York smokers are eligible to have four weeks' of nicotine
replacement therapy (patch, gum, or lozenge) mailed directly to their homes
at no cost.

Batavia's library awarded book collection

By Billie Owens

The Richmond Memorial Library in Batavia has been awarded a "We the People Bookshelf
Collection" from the National Endowment for the Humanities (NEH) and the
American Library Association. The 22 books in the collection span grades K-12 and include three Spanish translations.

The award is part of the NEH's initiative supporting projects that strengthen the teaching, study and understanding of American history and culture. Four thousand libraries nationwide received this grant of classic books with the theme "Picturing America." As a participant, Richmond staff will present book discussions, speakers and activities focused on this theme.

Programs will be free and open to the public. Check the library website www.batavialibrary.org <http://www.batavialibrary.org/> for more information as these programs are developed.

Darien Lake Theme Park to open

By Billie Owens

Darien Lake Theme Park Resort opens for the season Saturday, May 9. Guests this weekend pay $14.99 for both days with a Welcome Back coupon. The coupons are available at the main gate and at various businesses.

Raven-Symone will perform Saturday, which will be the first of three family friendly midway concerts in May. Varsity FanClub will perform May 16 with a special appearance by Jordan Pruitt. Mitchel Musso of Hannah Montana will close out this Season Pass Bash on May 30.

Event Date and Time
-

Darien Lake Theme Park to open

By Billie Owens

Darien Lake Theme Park Resort opens for the season Saturday, May 9. Guests this weekend pay $14.99 for both days with a Welcome Back coupon. The coupons are available at the main gate and at various businesses.

Raven-Symone will perform Saturday, which will be the first of three family friendly midway concerts in May. Varsity FanClub will perform May 16 with a special appearance by Jordan Pruitt. Mitchel Musso of Hannah Montana will close out this Season Pass Bash on May 30.

Park hours are 10:30 a.m. to 8 p.m. on opening weekend. The park is located on Route 77, six miles south of I-90 exit 48A.

Chamber of Commerce offers trip to China

By Billie Owens

Press release:

Genesee County Chamber of commerce announces China trip

The Genesee County Chamber of Commerce will be hosting a nine-day tour of China in November. Cost is $1,899 per person and includes airfare (from JFK), bus to/from JFK, hotel stays, three meals a day, bus tours (with guides), admission to tourist spots, and airport taxes throughout the trip.

This trip will present opportunities to learn about how the Chinese business system operates. The tour will also include many memorable sites, both ancient and modern, and the cities of Beijing, Shanghai, Suzhou and Hangzhou. In addition, there is the option to visit Xian (Terra Cotta Warriors) or to Guilin (Elephant Trunk Hill) for an additional fee.

For more details call the Chamber at (585) 343-7440, ext. 27 and sign up to attend an informational meeting on May 7.

Kiwanis Club announces 2009 law enforcement awards

By Billie Owens

Press release:

The Kiwanis Club of Batavia announces recipients of its 2009 Annual Law Enforcement Recognition Awards, plus the Unsung Hero Award and winners of the Charles  L. Mancuso Award

Nominations for the Law Enforcement Recognition Awards were evaluated based on the candidates’ actions and achievements in their personal and professional lives consistent with the values of Kiwanis. All sworn and civilian employees of local law enforcement agencies within Genesee County were eligible for nomination. Those honored have demonstrated principles and ideals consistent with the Kiwanis Club:

A commitment to human and spiritual qualities, rather than material values. Adoption and application of high social, business and professional standards. Citizenship and service to the community and their agency. A desire to create and maintain sound public opinion and high idealism, which promotes compassion, justice, patriotism and goodwill.

 

 

 

The 2009 Law Enforcement Award Recipients are:

  • Police Officer John J. Zola, City of Batavia Police Department

Zola has been a member of the department for 29 years and is currently assigned to uniformed patrol duties. In addition to his regular patrol duties, he is involved in community crime prevention programs and serves as a Public Information Officer. He is also a Child Safety Seat Technician and has worked in the Detective Bureau. Zola is committed to citizenship and is very involved with youth sports activities in the City of Batavia. He continually gives of himself to the City of Batavia Police Department and community, and has a sincere compassion for crime victims. Zola resides in the Town of Batavia with his wife, Pam. They have two children, Kevin and Tonya. Zola was nominated by his commanding officer, Chief Randy Baker. 

  • Youth Officer Christopher M. Erion, Genesee County Sheriff’s Office

Erion has been a member of the Sheriff’s Office for nine years. His current duties include handling juvenile cases, teaching D.A.R.E. and assisting young people. He's a member of the County’s Juvenile Justice Planning Committee and the Emergency Response Team. He also worked with the Genesee County Drug Task Force and is a member of the Sheriff’s Honor Guard. Erion also works closely with schools in regard to youth activities. He was Officer of the Year in 2003 and is the recipient of one Commendation Award. He is a dedicated husband and father and resides in the Town of Byron with his wife, Hanna, and their two children, Grayson, age 3 and Annabelle, age 2. They are expecting their third child in July. Erion was nominated for this award by his commanding officer, Sheriff Gary T. Maha.

  • Chief Christopher K. Hayward, Village of LeRoy Police Department

Hayward is a 25-year veteran of the Village of LeRoy Police Department. He currently manages and oversees the department on a daily basis and is the liaison for numerous agencies, such as schools, within Genesee County. He has shown an unending commitment to the community and he sets high social and professional standards for himself and his officers. He was instrumental in establishing the Youth Court in LeRoy, which was used as a model for the Genesee County Youth Court. He initiated a community bicycle safety program and a public awareness program related to alcohol use by underage youth. He serves his community as a coach for the girl’s soccer league and has been a coach for the LeRoy High School girls soccer program for the past four years. He is currently an assistant coach for the girl’s varsity track team. Hayward resides in the Village of LeRoy with his wife, Kelly, and their two daughters, Kara, age 20 and Rachel, age 17. Members of the Village of LeRoy Police Department nominated Hayward for this award.

  • Trooper Ryan A. Dulkiewicz, New York State Police

Dulkiewicz has been a member of the New York State Police for 6-and-a-half years. He is currently assigned to Troop A Batavia road-patrol duties. He represents law enforcement in a positive, professional and compassionate manner.  His desire to “leave no stone unturned” in criminal investigations proves outstanding and yields tremendous results for the public and community. Dulkiewicz resides in the Town of Lancaster with his wife, Jen, and their six-month old daughter, Camarin. He was nominated for this award by his commanding officer, Major Christopher Cummings.

Other awards given were the Charles L. Mancuso Award and the Unsung Hero Award.

The Genesee County Bar Association presented the third annual Charles L. Mancuso Award to Batavia High School. It was this year's winner of the GLOW (Genesee, Livingston, Orleans and Wyoming) District Competition in the New York State Mock Trial Tournament. Mancuso was a lawyer in Batavia and coordinator of the local competition until his death three years ago.

The team, coached by social studies teacher Tim Stevens, has competed in, and won, the local tournament for each of the past seven years. They accomplished this by winning 44 out of 45 of the trials they have participated in. BHS will go on to compete in the Regional Tournament at the Genesee County Courts Facility in Batavia on Saturday, May 9.

The BHS team members honored with the Charles L. Mancuso Award include:

Jenna Bauer
Damainique Bruce
Maura Chmielowiec

Will Ely
Patrick Flynn
Sahil Jain
Kristen Klein
Chad Luce
Adi Marino
Tim Redband
CJ Shultz
Evan Sutherland


Unsung Hero Award

The Genesee County Bar Association presented its Unsung Hero Award to John Cebula, a local attorney who lives in Castile. Cebula is a graduate of Union College in Schenectady and Albany Law School. He began his career representing the indigent with Orleans Legal Aid Bureau in 1973 and became its executive director from 1975 through 1981. After a 4 year diversion to private and corporate practice, John returned to the position of executive director of Oak Orchard Legal Services. It replaced the Orleans County Legal Aid Bureau and his responsibilities expanded to serve the indigent in Genesee, Wyoming and Orleans counties. In 2004 Oak Orchard Legal Services merged with Erie County Neighborhood Legal Services and John continued as managing attorney for the Oak Orchard branch. Cebula retired from this position in 2008, but continues to represent indigent clients on a part-time basis. Throughout his career Cebula has been a vigorous advocate for the poor and has significantly “raised the bar”  in providing legal services for those in need.

Dwyer box office to open, plus job fair and national anthem contest on tap

By Billie Owens

Press release:


The Dwyer Stadium Box Office opens at 9 o'clock Saturday, May 9 for the 2009 season. Tickets for Opening Day and all regular season games will be on sale. The box office closes at 2 p.m..

Event Date and Time
-

Dwyer box office to open, plus job fair and national anthem contest on tap

By Billie Owens

Press release:


The Dwyer Stadium Box Office opens at 9 o'clock Saturday, May 9 for the 2009 season. Tickets for Opening Day and all regular season games will be on sale. The box office closes at 2 p.m..

Regular box-office hours will be 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. Monday through Friday and 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. Saturdays.

The Muckdogs will also host their summer Job Fair on May 9. It will be held at the stadium from 9 to 11:30 a.m. Positions available include concessions-stand supervisor, picnic supervisor, cashiers, cooks, bartenders and college internships. Applicants must be at least 16 years of age.

Also on May 9, the Muckdogs will conduct the 2nd annual National Anthem contest. This event will begin promptly at noon. Auditions will take place at home plate. The winner will sing the National Anthem and God Bless America at the July 4th game between the Muckdogs and Auburn Doubledays. Runners up will be eligible to sing at remaining home games during the 2009 season.

The Muckdogs Booster Club will be hosting their annual yard sale during the festivities at Dwyer. Various items will be for sale, as well as a limited amount of ballpark food and fan merchandise.

The Batavia Muckdogs are the short-season, Class A affiliate of the St. Louis Cardinals and are the last remaining founding member of the New York-Penn League, dating back to 1939. The Batavia Muckdogs are operated by the neighboring Rochester Red Wings and were last season's NY-Penn League Champions.

Dwyer Stadium is located at 299 Bank St. in Batavia , NY 14020. Phone is 585-343-5454; Fax: 585-343-5620; Website: www.muckdogs.com.

Democrats host training seminar

By Billie Owens

GLOW, the Democratic Coalition of Genesee, Livingston, Orleans and Wyoming counties, hosts a training seminar Saturday, May 2. The goal is to help people run for office, make campaigns more effective and aid those interested in becoming community advocates.

The seminar will run from 10 a.m. to 1 p.m. at the Stage in Warsaw (formerly the Warsaw Cinema Theater), 23 S. Main St.. Assemblyman Joe Morelle, the Democratic Chair of Monroe County, will conduct the program.

Cost is $1. To find out more go to: <http://www.GLOWDemocrats.com>.

Event Date and Time
-

Call-and-response spritual chanting event

By Billie Owens

Kirtan, a kind of call-and-response spiritual chanting which originated in India centuries ago, will take place from 7 to 9 p.m. Saturday, May 2 at Blue Pearl Yoga.

World music artist Sonam Targee will lead the session. Participants should bring a pillow, blanket or mat to sit on. A donation of $15 is suggested.

The yogo studio is located on the third floor of the Masonic Temple building at 200 E. Main St.

Targee's aim is to "share the joy and beauty of world music in order to draw people together and purify hearts and minds."

Event Date and Time
-

Swine Flu cases rise but none known in Genesee County

By Billie Owens

UPDATE: After this was posted, we did receive an e-mail from the County indicating a possible and a suspected case of 'Swine Flu' had been found in Genesee County. More here.

People need to be on high alert for Swine Flu, but not panicky, according to the Centers for Disease Control in Atlanta.

No cases are known to exist in Genesee County. There's one suspected case in Monroe County and another Chautauqua.

We called the Genesee County Health Department for an update on any local information and were told that the department has been inundated with media inquires. A staff member said an e-mail would be sent to media outlets this afternoon with an update, but as of 5 p.m. none was received.

The status of the illness is Phase 5, meaning it spreads easily from person to person but a health crisis is not imminent. Phase 6 is the highest alert.

According to a spokesman for the New York State Department of Health today there are 89 cases of suspected H1N1 virus statewide not including New York City.

Suspected cases have flu-like symptoms but have not been tested. Probable cases are lab tested with results pending and actual cases have been confirmed by the lab.

Of these 89 suspected cases, eight specimens tested probable for the virus, but none thus far have been confirmed. Yesterday, there were only three probable cases in New York outside New York City -- those in Suffolk and Cortland counties. Today there are five new probable cases, consisting of one case in five different counties -- Monroe, Chautauqua, Orange, Suffolk and Nausau. Again, none confirmed as yet.

Commonsense precautions are being advised. Avoid confined spaces with lots of people. Wash your hands often. Avoid touching your face. Dispose of used tissues in a covered container. If you're sick, stay home. Follow doctors' orders.

Genesee students earn honors

By Billie Owens

Press Release:

Genesee students recognized for outstanding achievement

Three GCC students won prestigious honors.

Jennifer Bryant of Batavia was named a Gold Scholar on the 2009 Coca-Cola All-State Academic Team and given a $1,500 scholarship. She was one of 50 Gold Scholars selected nationwide and she was featured in the April 6 edition of USA Today.

And Jennifer, South Alabama native Kathryn Scarborough and Pavilion High School graduate Danielle Collins were recognized by the New York State chapter of Phi Theta Kappa honor society. They also recently received a SUNY Chancellor's Award for Student Excellence.

The three scholars were honored at the 15th annual Phi Theta Kappa All-New York Academic Awards luncheon on April 7. Awardees were recognized for scholarly achievement and outstanding community service in community, technical and junior colleges. Each received a certificate and medal, which is traditionally worn at commencement.

Sculpture show and molten metal pour at Arcade Campus

By Billie Owens

Press Release:

GCC's Arcade Campus Center hosts sculpture art show

A student art show featuring the works of the 3D design class will be displayed Friday May 1 at the Arcade Campus of Genesee Community College. In addition, there will be a live molten metal pour.

Throughout the semester, students have been working with the molding process, creating 3D work in plaster and wax from molds they have designed using various techniques.

The student art show begins at 6 p.m. and the metal pour will begin at about 7:30 p.m.

Event Date and Time
-

Sculpture show and molten metal pour at Arcade Campus

By Billie Owens

Press Release:

GCC's Arcade Campus Center hosts sculpture art show

A student art show featuring the works of the 3D design class will be displayed Friday May 1 at the Arcade Campus of Genesee Community College. In addition, there will be a live molten metal pour.

Throughout the semester, students have been working with the molding process, creating 3D work in plaster and wax from molds they have designed using various techniques.

The student art show begins at 6 p.m. and the metal pour will begin at about 7:30 p.m.

The metal pour will be conducted after sunset and is open to the public. With the pour being at night, spectators will be able to see the sparks, watch the molds go from glowing red to cooling, and share the anticipation of the artists as they see their hard work and the extended creative process come to life in a metal sculpture.

This event is free and open to the public. For further information, please contact David Sink, Arcade Campus Center associate at 585-492-5265.

Authentically Local