Three decades after the program's last appearance in the Batavia Rotary Club Girls Basketball Tournament, the Elba Lancers are the tournament's new champions.
The Lancers beat the Notre Dame Fighting Irish 55-44 at GCC on Thursday.
Elba outscored Notre Dame 21 to six in the first quarter and never looked back.
Sydney Reilly scored 27 points for Elba. She was the only player on the team to score in double digits. Brea Smith scored seven, and Lydia Ross scored six.
For the Irish, Sofia Falleti scored 28 points and was also the only player on her team to score in double digits. Gianna Falleti and Shirley Thompson each scored five.
Elba Central School is proud to announce its recognition as a recipient of the prestigious USDA Healthy Meals Initiative "Innovation in Food Nutrition" Award for the 2024-2025 school year.
This national honor highlights Elba's commitment to providing students with nutritious, innovative, and delicious meals that support their overall well-being and academic success.
The "Innovation in Food Nutrition" Award celebrates schools that demonstrate outstanding efforts to improve school meal programs, integrate locally sourced ingredients, and engage students in nutrition education. Elba Central School earned this recognition by implementing creative strategies, including:
Locally Sourced Ingredients: Partnering with local farmers to bring fresh, seasonal produce and dairy products directly to the cafeteria.
Student-Centered Menu Design: Collaborating with students to design menus that reflect their preferences while ensuring meals meet USDA nutrition standards.
Nutrition Education Programs: Offering hands-on learning opportunities, such as cooking classes and school garden initiatives, to empower students with lifelong healthy eating habits.
“This award reflects the hard work and dedication of our food services team, educators, and community partners,” said Gretchen Rosales, Superintendent of Elba Central School. “At Elba, we believe that healthy meals are a cornerstone of student success, and we are thrilled to be recognized for our efforts to prioritize their well-being.”
Elba Central School has also taken a groundbreaking step by constructing a new greenhouse on campus to grow fresh vegetables for the school’s salad bar. This hands-on initiative allows students to learn about sustainable agriculture while contributing to their own nutritious meals.
Additionally, the school runs a summer-long farmers market, managed by students, where produce from local farms is sold to the community. The market provides practical business experience for students and also strengthens the bond between the school and local families, promoting a culture of health and sustainability. Not only do students sell fruit and vegetables, but also honey, maple syrup, and flowers.
This past summer, Elba families also had the opportunity to participate in a community garden experience; this allowed residents to maintain a produce garden on the school grounds to grow vegetables and herbs. Recipes were shared at Open House in the fall of items such as pesto, pasta with zucchini, and salsa - made with ingredients straight from the gardens.
Kim Walczak, Food Service Director at Elba Central School, added, “Our team has worked tirelessly to create meals that students love while ensuring they meet the highest nutritional standards. This award inspires us to continue pushing boundaries and serving as a model for schools nationwide.”
The USDA Healthy Meals Initiative is part of the federal government’s broader effort to promote health and reduce hunger among school-age children. Elba Central School has received a grant to further expand its innovative programs and share its best practices with schools across the nation.
Elba Central School is dedicated to fostering a supportive and engaging learning environment where every student can thrive, especially when provided with delicious and nutritious meals. With a focus on academic excellence, community involvement, and student wellness, Elba Central School is committed to preparing students for a bright and healthy future.
Alexander beat Elba 68-32 in the first round of the Peter Arras Memorial Basketball Tournament in the small school division at Genesee Community College on Friday.
The final score: 68-32.
Kingston Woods scored 16 points for the Trojans, and Dylan Pohl scored 14.
Nicholas Scott and Ryan Marsceill each scored 10 for the Lancers.
A 59-year-old landlord in Elba was admitted to County Court on Thursday to menacing a tenant at a location on Ridge Road in August. The landlord will serve a year on interim probation.
Michael Joseph Schad, of Ridge Road, Elba, entered a guilty plea to a felony count of menacing.
When he was arrested at 9:05 a.m. on Aug. 24, he was charged with five counts of menacing in the second degree as a hate crime and one count of menacing in the second degree.
District Attorney Kevin Finnell said Schad was accused of using a derogatory racial term directed at his tenant. He said Schad was intoxicated and possessed what appeared to be a weapon during the confrontation with the tenant, which Finnell described as a "tenant dispute."
Schad has no prior criminal history, and Schad had no history of prior disputes between Schad and his tenant.
ADA Earl Voss prosecuted the case.
Schad agreed to the year of interim probation and to address his anger/substance issues. He will be sentenced in one year and will if successful on interim probation, will be sentenced to less than 364 days in jail. If unsuccessful, he faces up to four years in prison.
The tenant has apparently moved out of the property.
Photo of check presentation at Elba High School. Pictured are adults: On Left – Ryan Hasenauer, VP of Business Development, Batavia Downs; In Center - Byron Brown, President and CEO, Batavia Downs; Kneeling in Yellow – Heather Dillon, Environmental Services Supervisor, Batavia Downs; In Red Buffalo Sweatshirt – Sara Tenney, Customer Engagement Specialist Supervisor, Batavia Downs; In Greyish/Green Hoodie – Ryan Tenney - McNickel's Bottle And Can Redemption; In Elba Maroon Shirt – Morgan Marcello – Secondary School Principal, Elba; Kneeling in Under Armour ½ Zip – Danielle Cervone, Teacher and Class of 2025 Advisor, Elba; Also pictured are Members of the Elba High School Class of 2025 and members of the Boys Baseball Team.
Press Release:
This past summer, Elba Central School’s Class of 2025 and Boys Baseball team helped clean up cans and bottles after each Rockin’ The Downs show. They earned $1,031.80 by returning the recyclables they gathered to McNickel’s Bottle and Can Redemption.
Batavia Downs Gaming & Hotel matched that and added $500 for also helping picking up trash and chairs throughout the concert season for a grand total of $2,563.60!
Daquan J. Butler, 28, of Brooklyn, is charged with assault 1st, burglary 1st, criminal possession of a weapon 3rd, and endangering the welfare of a child. Butler is accused of illegally entering a residence on Liberty Street, Batavia, on Aug. 25, 2023, and stabbing an adult male inside the residence. A child was in the house at the time. Butler was located in New York City by U.S. Marshals and returned to Batavia. He was arranged in County Court and jailed.
Asa A. Wooton, 20, of Batavia, is charged with reckless endangerment 2nd, menacing 2nd, criminal possession of. weapon 4th, and criminal mischief 4th. Wooten is accused of threatening another person with a knife and damaging property on Oct. 28 during a fight on Mill Street, Batavia. He was issued an appearance ticket.
Devonte T. Griner, 30, of Rochester, is charged with reckless endangerment 2nd, criminal mischief 4th, harassment 1st, and vehicle and traffic charges. Griner is accused of following another vehicle in the city of Batavia on Oct. 28 and using his vehicle to intentionally attempting to run the other vehicle off the road. Griner was located a short time later and taken into custody. He was arraigned and released.
Shquanebin Lone, 38, of Akron, is charged with burglary 2nd, criminal mischief 4th, endangering the welfare of a child, and harassment 2nd. Lone is accused of unlawfully entering a dwelling on Bloomingdale Road, Basom, at 7:42 p.m. on Nov. 3. Lone allegedly committed crimes in the dwelling in the presence of a child. She was held pending arraignment.
Megan Marie Gray, 22, of Alabama, is charged with trespass. Gray was reportedly barred from Walmart and allegedly entered the store at 2:15 p.m. on Nov. 6. She was released pending arraignment.
Reinaldo Aponte, 60, of North Spruce Street, Batavia, is charged with criminal possession of a weapon 4th, DWI, unlicensed operation, stopped on a highway, and failure to signal turn. Aponte was stopped by Deputy Jeremy McClellan at 1:59 a.m. on Nov. 3 on West Main Street Road, Batavia. Apointe was arraigned and released.
Thomas Duane Booth, 48, of Conlon Road, Le Roy, is charged with criminal contempt 2nd. Both allegedly violated an order of protection on Nov. 12 at a location in Le Roy. He was arraigned and was released.
Paul Donald Rich, 63, of Crane Road, Medina, is charged with DWI, driving with a BAC of .08 or greater, and moving from lane unsafely. Rich was arrested by Deputy Alexander Hadsall after a vehicle was found on its side at 8:57 p.m. on Nov. 12 on Knowlesville Road, Alabama. Rich allegedly had a BAC of .17. He received treatment for possible injuries in the accident at ECMC. He was processed at the Genesee County Jail and released.
John Alano Dirosa, 44, of South Main Street, Elba, is charged with assault 3rd. Dirosa was charged following an investigation into a fight reported at 9 p.m. on Nov. 12 on Main Street in Elba.
Keith A. Lowery, 55, of Little Canda Road, Bethany, is charged with aggravated unlicensed operation, five or more suspensions, equipment violation, and dirty/covered plate. Lowery was stopped at 1:01 a.m. on Nov. 14 on Richmond Avenue, Batavia, by Deputy Stephen Smith. Lowery reportedly had four active warrants at the time of the stop.e was held pending arraignment.
Rhiannon Joy Graff, 44, of Park Road, Batavia, is charged with DWI, driving with a BAC of .18 or higher, driving without insurance, aggravated unlicensed operation, and registration suspended. Graff was stopped at 12:54 a.m. on Nov. 15 on West Main Street, Batavia, by Deputy Mason Schultz. Graff was prossed at the jail and released.
Lakara Denise Johnson, 34, of Dellinger Avenue, Batavia, is charged with DWI, driving with a BAC of .08 or greater, driving while intoxicated with a child less than 16 in the vehicle, endangering the welfare of a child, and open container. Johnson and a male passenger were reportedly involved in a physical domestic fight in a car while driving back from Rochester at 9:52 p.m. on Nov. 10, with three children in the car. The vehicle was stopped on Seven Springs Road by Deputy Jeremy McClellan. Johnson was ticketed and released.
Michael Charles Riggi, 54, of Pearl Street, Batavia, is charged with petit larceny. Riggi is accused of stealing $40 cash from another person while at Walmart on 3:55 p.m. on Nov. 15. He was issued an appearance ticket.
Trevon L. Armstrong, 39, of Batavia, was arrested on a warrant on Oct. 16. Armstrong was initially arrested on a charge of criminal mischief 4th, for allegedly damaging a window on Nov. 16, 2023. The warrant was issued after he allegedly failed to reappear in court. Armstrong was arraigned in and held on bail.
Justin R. Nadrowski, 32, of Oakfield, is charged with criminal trespass 3rd. Nadrowski is accused of entering the Spirit Halloween store on Oct. 26 at 1:05 a.m. through an unlocked door. He was issued an appearance ticket.
Donald D. Ryan, 41, is charged with petit larceny. Ryan is accused of taking down payment to complete work at a residence on Clifton Avenue but never showing up start the job. He was issued an appearance ticket.
Cori L Cleland, 39, of Perry, is charged with driving while ability impaired by drugs. Cleland was allegedly found unresponsive in her vehicle on Oct. 21. She was issued an appearance ticket.\
Cody A. Bush, 38, of Batavia, is charged with assault 3rd. Bush allegedly injured another person during a fight on East Avenue on Oct. 18. He was arrested on Oct. 26 and issued an appearance ticket.
Brant G. Matthews, 30, of Le Roy, was arrested on Oct. 26 on three warrants. Matthews allegedly failed to appear in court on three separate criminal cases. He was arraigned and released.
Thomas J. Mitchell, 35, of Batavia, is charged with resisting arrest and obstructing governmental administration. Mitchell is accused of running from police when they attempted to detain him on Oct. 20 in connection with a separate incident. He was issued an appearance ticket.
Six members of the Elba Future Farmers of America (FFA), along with their advisor and agriculture teacher at Elba Central, proudly represented New York State at the 97th National FFA Convention & Expo in Indianapolis, Indiana, last week.
The team showcased their skills, earning prestigious awards and achieving several milestones for the Elba FFA Chapter. Attending the convention for Elba’s team included the following members: Jillian Brewer, Hunter Fincher, Addison Keberle, and Bing Zuber, along with recent Elba graduates, Amelia Brewer and Maggie Winspear.
“Our FFA program is very young. Our chapter began right before COVID hit and then, as we all know, stopped to function along with everything else in our world. It really has not been very long for our students to have set foot in the FFA world and they are doing incredibly well. This is a testament not only to their will as members, but their advisor’s dedication to teaching the pillars of the organization. Mrs. Dahlhaus has worked tirelessly to teach our Lancers that leadership in the farming community is a privilege and an honor. These students embody the high standards of the FFA organization and the Elba community. I am incredibly proud of the work they have done and excited to see what comes next,” said Gretchen Rosales, Superintendent of Elba Schools.
As the state champion in the Prepared Public Speaking Leadership Development Event (LDE) competition, Elba FFA member Maggie Winspear advanced to compete at the national level. The prepared public speaking LDE recognizes exceptional FFA members who can develop and deliver an informative and organized speech on a key agricultural issue.
Participants prepare an 8 to 10 minute speech and answer five minutes worth of questions, demonstrating their communication skills in a competitive environment.
Maggie earned a bronze ranking, marking a historic moment as the first-ever Elba FFA member to compete nationally in this event. Winspear was immediately employed upon graduation at Oakfield Corners Dairy, where she cares and trains their show cattle.
Additionally, Elba graduate and former chapter president Amelia Brewer was awarded the prestigious American FFA degree at this year's national convention, a significant honor in the FFA community. Brewer is the first recipient of the American FFA degree from the Elba FFA chapter, further showcasing the growing prominence of Elba’s agriculture education program. Brewer is currently studying agriculture science at Cornell University.
The American FFA Degree is the highest honor bestowed by the National FFA Organization and is awarded to less than 1% of its 1 million members. This degree recognizes FFA members who have shown exceptional dedication to their chapters, developed impressive leadership skills, and actively contributed to their communities through their FFA careers.
Morgan Marcello, secondary principal stated, “Not only are we proud of Maggie and Amelia, but also the rest of the FFA members for setting a high standard of dedication to their community. These students embody what a true Lancer leader really is.”
“We are incredibly proud of Maggie and Amelia for their achievements. Their hard work and dedication have set a high standard for our chapter and future members,” said Tracey Dahlhaus, FFA Advisor. “These accomplishments are not just individual successes but also reflect the strength of the entire Elba FFA community.”
The Elba FFA Chapter extends its gratitude to the Elba Central School District Board of Education, administration, Oakfield/Alabama & Elba FFA Alumni, and the entire Elba school community. Their ongoing support is vital to the chapter’s local, state, and national successes.
