Stories from

Press release:

Assemblyman Steve Hawley (R,C,I-Batavia) today released the findings of his 2017 Legislative Survey that offered constituents an opportunity to answer questions and provide feedback on a host of state issues from ways to increase business activity to taxes and the DREAM Act.

“I am so pleased to have once again conducted a legislative survey to gain insight into the needs and concerns of our community and look forward to using that input to shape the legislation I introduce and my policy platform moving forward,” Hawley said. “Things like cutting taxes, improving our business climate, repealing the NY SAFE Act Upstate and fighting against the DREAM Act are top priorities of my constituents and certainly mirror what I am fighting for in Albany.”

The results offer clear evidence that many Western New York residents believe New York is headed in the wrong direction and that lowering taxes and ethics reform were the most important issues to constituents at 43.4 percent and 30.2 percent, respectively.

“As I have said for many years, New York’s leadership continues to funnel money and resources into Downstate-centric initiatives, which leaves Upstate to fight for scraps, and that is unacceptable. I look forward to conducting a similar survey next year and am accessible year-round to meet with constituents or groups here in the district or in Albany to hear their concerns,” Hawley said.

Other highlights of the survey include 64.1 percent of respondents in favor of abolishing the wasteful START-UP NY program, 58.9 percent in favor of cutting red tape and unnecessary regulations for small businesses and 66.1 percent in support of the division of New York into two separate states. 

To see survey results, click here.

The Batavia Jr. Blue Devil Summer Basketball Camp will be held from 9 a.m. to noon Aug. 14-18 at the John Kennedy School gymnasium.

The camp is open to boys and girls entering grades 3 through 8 in the fall. Cost is $65 and includes a camp T-shirt.

Campers are asked to bring their own basketball and put their name on it.

The camp will feature Coach Jim Fazio, the Batavia Jr. Blue Devil youth director, and youth coaches and current and former Blue Devil players.

The focus will be on the offensive fundamentals of the game, including shooting, passing, dribbling, and ball handling, with a major emphasis on shooting. There will be daily contests with full court and half court games.

Please note that Batavia City School District is not responsbile for any injury that may happen during camp.

Checks should be made payable to:  Batavia Boys Basketball Boosters; mail to Jim Fazio, 5190 Ellicott Street Road, Batavia, NY 14020.

To contact Coach Fazio, call 356-0901 or email  jfazio@gvboces.org

With payment, please provide the following information and include a parent's or guardian's signature:

• Camper's name
• Address
• City
• Age
• Grade child will enter in the fall
• School
• Phone number
• Medical concerns
• T-shirt size (specify youth -- small through extra large, or adult -- small through extra large)

John Kennedy School is located at 166 Vine St. in the City of Batavia.

Press release:

Assemblyman Steve Hawley (R,C,I-Batavia) announced Wednesday that he has introduced legislation to revamp the Assistance and Incentives to Municipalities (AIM) formula, a large pool of state funding to help local governments undergo projects and conduct local operations of the government.

Currently, about 90 percent of this funding goes to cities and Gov. Cuomo is requiring local governments to devise consolidations plans to receive the funding as part of this year’s budget.

“Unfunded mandates like Medicaid handed down by downstate politicians continue to strangle the budgets of our local governments and are the driving force behind high property taxes,” Hawley said.

“This legislation would level the playing field for many small municipalities and help them receive their fair share of state funding. The AIM formula hasn’t been revised in a number of years and a more equitable formula would help our town, village and county governments reduce taxes and undergo projects like road and bridge repair. I am calling on Assembly leadership to bring this bill to the floor for a vote before be adjourn for the summer next month.”

Ian Jarreau Blake, 30, of Liberty Street, Batavia, is charged with criminal possession of marijuana in the fifth degree. Blake was stopped on Route 33 in Corfu at 10:31 p.m. on June 1 by the Corfu Police Department and allegedly found to possess a quantity of marijuana exceeding 25 grams. He was also found to a have an active bench warrant out of Family Court. He was released on appearance tickets for the marijuana charge and the matter of the Family Court bench warrant was transferred over to the GC Sheriff's Office for handling. The Corfu PD case was handled by Officer Lonnie Nati and Officer Richard Retzlaff.

Andrew Scott Bradstreet, of Telegraph Road, Holley, is charged with unlawful possession of marijuana and a vehicle registration plate violation. Bradstreet was stopped at 8:29 p.m. May 31 on Searls Road in Byron following the alleged observation of a vehicle and traffic violation. The defendant allegedly possessed a small quantity of marijuana. He was issued an appearance ticket for Town of Byron Court for June 7. The case was handled by Genesee County Sheriff's Deputy Ryan DeLong.

Press release:

The Genesee County Economic Development Center (GCEDC) Board of Directors approved the selection of LeChase Construction Services of Rochester at the agency’s June 1 board meeting. The GCEDC Board approved the selection based on the recommendation of the members of the GCEDC STAMP Committee.

The $3.18 million project includes the trenching and installation of approximately 50,000 square feet of pipe that will extend from the Town of Oakfield to the site of the Science, Technology and Advanced Manufacturing Park (STAMP). The work also will include connecting some households on Church Street and Maple Road in the Town of Alabama.

The project is being funded through $33 million allocated to STAMP by New York State to make the 1,250 mega-site shovel ready for advanced manufacturing operations, including 1366 Technologies.

“It’s exciting to see the first substantive infrastructure work that starts the process of making STAMP a shovel ready site,” said Steve Hyde, president and CEO of the GCEDC. “It really enhances our opportunities to market the site to those who are in the planning process of identifying shovel ready sites to build the next generation of advanced manufacturing facilities.”

Press release:

The Genesee County Economic Development Center (GCEDC) accepted an application for assistance from the Savarino Companies for the redevelopment of Ellicott Station in Downtown Batavia at the agency’s June 1 board meeting.

The approximate 64,000-square-foot development will be a mix use of residential, office and retail spaces; a brewery; small beverage warehouse and hops processing facility; entertainment and event area; outside seating; and integration of the new Ellicott Trail pedestrian pathway.

The $17.6 million project is estimated to create up to 60 good-paying full-time jobs. For every dollar of public sector investment there is an anticipated private sector investment of approximately $25.

The project is being done through the “Batavia Pathway to Prosperity” (BP2) program which was created through an inter-municipal agreement between the City of Batavia, Genesee County, the Batavia City School District, the Batavia Development Corporation and the GCEDC. 

BP2 was conceived to pool resources in order to invest in distressed areas in the City of Batavia. The BP2 program will be implemented though PILOT increment financing (PIF), referred to as the “BP2 fund,” which is the first of its kind in New York State where all local taxing jurisdictions are participating.

Supported by the redirection of 50% of new project PILOT payments, the BP2 fund will play a critical role in generating development within the Batavia Brownfield Opportunity Area (BOA), a 366-acre area within the City of Batavia containing five strategic redevelopment sites.  

”The collaboration among various government jurisdictions is simply smart economic development,” said Paul Battaglia, GCEDC Board chairman. “The BP2 program is an opportunity to attract development and jobs to the urban core of Genesee County and just as important, create vibrant neighborhoods in economically disadvantaged areas of the city.”

UPDATE 4:09 p.m.: The shuttle times have been changed slightly, see information in bold below. Also everyone will be allowed to bring lawn chairs, both VIP ticket holders and General Admission.

Press release:

Batavia Downs Gaming & Hotel has announced facility details for all those attending this Sunday’s Lonestar concert being held onsite.

Some area intersections could be under the direction of local law enforcement. If that is the case, please use caution and pay attention to directions given by police. Please allow for extra travel time due to increased traffic volume.

Please note that anyone visiting Batavia Downs after 3 p.m. on Sunday will see parking lot attendants in our main lot directing you on where to park your car. Please follow their directions as the facility attempts to streamline the parking process with the anticipation of increased car volume. The valet will be open as per usual so those who do wish to valet their cars do have that option.

Two shuttles run by Regional Transit Service will be operating from 3 to 8 p.m. 3:30 to 7:30 p.m. and then again from 9 p.m. until midnight 9:30 to 11:30 p.m. to and from all local chain hotels to Batavia Downs. If you are staying or parking at any of these local chain hotels, we ask that you do take the shuttles to help reduce traffic congestion.

Once onsite, there is no tailgating or drinking of alcoholic beverages in the parking lot. This will be enforced by our staff.

Inside the venue, lawn chairs ARE permitted for everyone -- General Admission area only and VIP ticket holders.

Concert will take place rain or shine so ponchos and umbrellas are permitted as well. Please note that no coolers, outside food and beverages, weapons or firearms are permitted onsite or at the venue. All bags and purses will be subject to search.

Doors open at 3 p.m. with the first musical act starting at 4 p.m. If possible, arrive early to avoid traffic. Tickets can be purchased online at BataviaConcerts.com or in person at our Made in America store in the Batavia Downs Lobby.

Press release from Dave Olsen, GCLP chairman:

The Genesee County Libertarian Party will hold its 2017 convention on Monday June 5, beginning 6:30 p.m. at T.F. Brown's Restaurant in Batavia.

Organizers expect to introduce three candidates for the Batavia City Council At Large positions.

Each will have a few remarks to make, along with Dr. Mark Glogowski, LPNY State chairman, Larry Sharpe, LP candidate for NY Governor next year, and possibly Austin Petersen, 2016 Presidential contender via video chat.

The public is cordially invited to attend and ask questions.

T.F. Brown's is located at 214 E. Main St. in Downtown Batavia.

A westbound tractor-trailer is disabled on Main Street in front of the Holland Land Office Museum in the city and traffic is reduced to one lane, causing congestion. 

Fire from a stove (possibly in a wall behind it) reportedly started a working structure fire at an apartment complex at 4112 W. Main Street Road, Batavia. It's originating from unit B9. Town of Batavia Fire Department is responding. A first responder on scene reports smoke showing. The fire has gone to a second alarm. Alexander's Fast Team is called for mutual aid along with Darien, Elba and East Pembroke. Stafford is called to stand by at Batavia's station #2.

UPDATE 9:29 a.m.: This is the Batavia Meadows apartment complex.

UPDATE 9:32 a.m.: National Grid was called in and has a one-minute ETA. Command requests law enforcement to the scene to help evacuate the complex. He says they are having difficulty evacuating it and several apartments are "charged with smoke."

UPDATE 9:37 a.m.: Elba is asked to stand by at Batavia's station #1.

UPDATE 9:39 a.m.: An engine from the city is requested to the scene. Elba is now requested to the scene.

UPDATE 9:42 a.m.: The city's third platoon is called to headquarters on Evans Street.

UPDATE 9:47 a.m. A Town of Batavia code enforcement officer is called to the scene. Firefighters are asked to go in apartments and open doors and checks walls for heat/fire. The fire was first called in as a fire in a wall, then a stove fire, now they are reporting it stems from an electrical problem in a wall.

UPDATE 9:54 a.m.: A woman's small dog is hiding under a bed and refuses to come out, and there are a couple of stubborn cats in other apartments, but command says there's not enough smoke wafting in the air to put them in jeopardy so they are letting them stay put for now. A rep from the American Red Cross is called to the scene.

UPDATE 10:11 a.m.: Byron firefighters were called to stand by in their own quarters.

UPDATE 10:23 a.m.: Firefighters are ventilating the structure. Stafford is returning to service.

Press release from the city's Department of Public Works:

Lehigh Avenue at Creek Road will be closed to all traffic beginning Wednesday June 7th for replacement of a culvert pipe. A detour route using Shepherd Road and East Road will be posted to assist motorists.

It is expected that this work will take seven to 10 days for completion, before the road will be reopened to all traffic.

• Camper's name
• Grade camper is entering
• Emergency contact name and phone number
• T-shirt size (register by June 30th to guarantee correct size) 

Kerri Richardson, Agri-Business Academy Instructor, left, congratulates Melissa Keller, right, Agri-Business Academy student, at a recent Board of Education ceremony.

Submitted photo and press release:

Thirteen Batavia Career and Technical Education (CTE) Center students represented the Western Region at the New York State FFA Convention in Leadership Development Events in May at the State University of New York at Morrisville.

Melissa Keller (Pembroke) placed second in the Employment Skills event and will represent New York State at the Big E Fair next fall in Massachusetts. This event is the Eastern States Exposition Fair where students from throughout the Northeastern United States come to compete.

Kerri Richardson is the Agri-Business Academy instructor and FFA co-advisor. She explained how well Melissa fared in this event.

“This is one of the most competitive competitions at the convention. Melissa had to prepare a resume, cover letter and job application along with a phone and in-person interview,” Richardson said.

Melissa earned a $1,500 national FFA scholarship called the America’s Farms Grow Ag Leaders/Monsanto Fund.

The team of Melissa Keller, Cole Hudson (Notre Dame) and Cherie Glosser (Warsaw), placed third in the Marketing Plan event. Four students, Rebecca Semmel (Warsaw), Stella Glosser (Warsaw), Sarah Lippert (Attica), and Elizabeth Jurs (Elba), competed as the Food Science team and placed ninth out of 27 teams.

Allison Pajda (Attica) placed sixth in the People in Agriculture event.

The Batavia CTE Center FFA program focuses on leadership, personal growth and career success. The co-advisors are Richardson and Holly Partridge, Animal Science instructor.

If you know of a current junior or underclassman who is interested in business or agriculture, or is unsure of a career path, applications are now being accepted for the Agri-Business Academy at the Genesee Valley Educational Partnership. The Agri-Business Academy is a one-year partnership program between the Partnership and Genesee Community College. This college prep program is geared toward highly motivated high school seniors interested in investigating careers in the agribusiness field.

Through the Agri-Business Academy, students explore the many career opportunities available to them — locally, internationally or often it is a dynamic blend of both. Students can also earn 15 college credits through the ACE program at Genesee Community College.

Applications are available at http://www.genesee.edu/home/ace/career-pathways/agri-business-academy/. Any questions can be directed to Richardson at (585) 344-7783 or kirchardson3@gvboces.org.

The Batavia Career and Technical Education Center is a program of the Genesee Valley Educational Partnership. The Partnership operates as a Board of Cooperative Educational Services offering shared programs and services to 22 component school districts located in Genesee, Wyoming, Livingston and Steuben counties in New York State.

Submitted photo and press release:

Longtime Batavia High School Baseball Coach, Pep Johnson is being inducted into the Section V Baseball Hall of Fame on Sunday, June 25.

The ceremony will take place prior to the Rochester Red Wings game that begins at 1:35 p.m.. The on-field ceremony will take place at 1:10.

Pep is a 1959 graduate of BHS and was inducted into the Batavia Blue Devil Hall of Fame in 2004.

Pep Johnson  ---Coaching statistics -----Batavia High School

• Coached baseball from 1966 to 1998 (32 years, 26 years at the Varsity level)
• Complied 364 wins in those 26 seasons
• Received the Tri County Umpires Bob Flick Sportsmanship Award in 1986
• 1973 – League Champs
• 1975 -- League Champs and County Champs (Only year there was an East – West Playoff)
• 1979 -- League Champs
• 1980 -- League and Sectional Champs
• 1983 – Sectional Finals
• 1987 -- League Champs
• 1988 -- Sectional Finals
• 1991 -- Sectional Champs
• 1994 -- Sectional Champs
• 1998 -- Sectional Champs

City police are responding to the parking lot of Oliver's Candies after dispatch received a report of two males on top of "the horse," the big, colorfully painted statue of a horse that is on permanent display there.

Press release:

In his ongoing fight to update the state’s charitable gaming laws which have prohibited events such as the Stafford Fire Department’s annual car raffle, Assemblyman Steve Hawley (R,C,I-Batavia) has introduced legislation to allow charitable organizations to accept credits cards as a form of payment for Internet sales of games of chance.

Hawley was successful in working with Gov. Cuomo to update several facets of the state’s gaming laws in this year’s budget, including expanding the definition of an “authorized organization” to include volunteer ambulance workers and organizations that have been in existence for one year, allowing television and Internet advertising of raffles and allowing personal checks to be acceptable payments for games of chance.

“While many of the state’s archaic gaming laws were updated in this year’s budget, there is still much more work to be done to protect the livelihood of our thousands of charitable organizations, churches, fire departments and non-profits across the state,” Hawley said.

“This bill would allow these groups to accept credit cards as a form of payment for raffles, resulting in higher revenues raised for these great organizations and the ability for them to sell tickets outside of the region in which the raffle is taking place. I am hopeful that we can get this passed by the end of session and I look forward to working with my colleagues in the Assembly to make that a reality moving forward.”

Press release from the city's Department of Public Works:

Construction is scheduled to begin this week for replacement of water lines and sewer mains in the Vine Street, Chase Park, Elm Street and East Avenue area of the City.

Be advised that the construction will result in travel restrictions and disruptions in this area, and it is recommended that unnecessary travel down these streets be avoided. 

Cassy L. Drury is indicted for the crime of third-degree rape, a Class E felony. It is alleged that on Jan. 23 in the Town of Le Roy that Drury, who is a female over the age of 21, engaged in sexual intercourse with another person less than 17 years old. In counts two and three, she is accused of committing the same crime on Jan. 30 and  31, respectively, also in the Town of Le Roy. In count four, Drury is accused of third-degree stalking, a Class A misdemeanor. It is alleged in count four, that Drury -- with intent to harass, annoy or alarm a specific person -- intentionally engaged in a course of conduct directed at that person. This alleged course of conduct was likely to cause such person to reasonably fear physical injury, serious physical injury, the commission of a sex offense against, or the kidnapping, unlawful imprisonment or death of this person or a member the person's immediate family.

"There's a loose dog killing his neighbor's chickens -- occuring now," says a dispatcher about a call just received. The incident is at 2414 Walker Road, Alexander. Sheriff's deputies are responding.

UPDATE 12:05 p.m.: An officer at the scene reports the dog has tags, but he can't get close to the dog (to read them). An animal control officer is responding.

UPDATE 12:08 p.m.: The officer is able to read the phone number of the dog's owner on a tag and provides it to the dispatcher.