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.
Furthering its commitment to community development, Tompkins Community Bank (Tompkins) has appointed Christian Yunker to its Community Bank Board for Tompkins Western New York. Yunker brings an extensive background in agriculture and economics to his new role. Before returning to his family’s business in 2008, Yunker served as a credit officer and relationship manager at Farm Credit East; currently, he is the managing partner of CY Farms, Batavia Turf, CY Heifer Farm and CY Properties, all operated out of Elba.
“Christian’s agricultural and economic expertise, in addition to his background in public service, will be an asset to our Board,” said Diane Torcello, president, Tompkins Western New York Market. “His knowledge of the area and extensive network will also benefit our board as we continue to expand how we support the communities we serve.”
A dedicated member of the community, Yunker is heavily involved in the Genesee County Legislature. He is a member of several committees, sharing his expertise on agricultural and rural affairs, public service, ag and farmland protection, soil and water conservation and more; Yunker is also a member of the Genesee Association of Municipalities Committee. Most recently, Yunker volunteered as president of the Genesee County Farm Bureau. A graduate of Cornell University, Yunker resides in Elba with his wife and three daughters.
On Thursday at Genesee Community College against Oakfield-Alabama Elba, the Alexander Trojans started hot and keep the heat through all four quarters of football for a 47-14 win.
The Trojans drove down the field with their opening possession, capping the drive with a TD run from Junior Kingston Woods from three yards out.
A stout defense gave the Trojans their second possession soon after and Brody Heckman tossed a 12-yard TD pass to Duke Snyder. With a two-point conversion, Alexander led 14-0.
On its next possession, OAE put together a drive of its own to make the score 14-7, but Alexander answered with a 92-yard kickoff return by Kingston Woods.
Four minutes later, Damien Hale sprung loose and scored on a run up the middle from 17 yards out. Melissa Sawyer's kick was good, notching the score at 28-7 into the half.
In the third, Ryder Reichert scored from three yards out, extending the lead to 34-7.
OAE put together another drive of its own, making it 34-14.
Early in the fourth Heckman, ran a keeper from nine yards out for a TD and Sawyer's kick was good 41-14.
Later in the fourth, Hale scored on a 35-yard run that included braking four tackles, wrapping up the scoring at 47-14.
For Alexander, Sean Pietrzkowski led the Trojan Defense with seven tackles and two tackles for a loss. Mason Snyder had six tackles and two tackles for a loss. Damien Hale and Ryder Reichert each recorded QB sacks.
For OAE Brayden Jachimowicz was 10-22 passing for 83 yards and two TDs, five yards to Hunter Tabolski, and 15 yards to Brendan Porey. Avery Watterson had 10 tackles. Jack Cianfrini had nine tackles. Dominic West had eight tackles.
"Hats off to Alexander for a physical game," said OAE coach Tyler Winters. "We will look to use the remaining weeks of the season to learn how to play tough football against tough opponents. If we can take care of business the rest of the way, we hope to set ourselves up for a chance to still get to where we want to go."
Alexander is now 6-1 on the season, and OAE is 4-3.
Junior WR/LB Mark Caparco - 25-Yard TD Reception, 1 INT on Defense
Junior TE/DL Nick Scott - 30 Receiving Yards, 5 Tackles, 1 TFL
"A complete team effort in today's win," said Coach Tyler Winter. "From a competitive standpoint, it's nice to pick up a big win like this while knowing we still have not played our best ball yet this season. We have a quick turnaround to the next challenge, but we are excited to get back to the grind."
The Genesee Valley Wind Ensemble (GVWE) will host its Fall Concert on Saturday, November 23, at Elba Junior/Senior High School, located at 57 South Main St., Elba. The concert is set to begin at 4 p.m.
The GVWE aims to provide the Greater Genesee Valley audience with both new and familiar live music while offering its members the opportunity to perform challenging wind ensemble literature. This concert also creates a opportunity for the conductor and musicians to enhance their collective musical talents.
Admission is $10 for adults, $8 for seniors (55+) & Veterans, $5 for students (with ID), and children 5 years old & under are Free.
The featured works of art for the evening include:
The Pride of Camillus by William Palange
Scenes from the Louvre by Norman Dello Joio
Some Treasures Are Heavy with Human Tears by John Mackey
Norwegian Rhapsody by Clare Grundman
Dans Bacchanale by Saint-Saëns, arranged by Jay Bocook
Roman Holiday by Alfredo Antonini, arranged by John Cacavas
Marvin Hamlisch Showcase, arranged by Warren Barker
Alan Silvestri: A Night at the Movies, arranged by Michael Brown
Veni, Veni, arranged by Chip Davis, adapted by Robert Longfield
Solid Men to the Front by John Philip Sousa
The concert will conclude with a special holiday encore
The conductor for the evening will be Philip J. Briatico, conductor and founder of the GVWE.
For more information, please contact the Genesee Valley Wind Ensemble at geneseevalleywindensemble@gmail.com or visit their website at www.geneseevalleywindensemble.org. Follow them on social media on Facebook, Instagram, and X (formerly known as Twitter).
Senior RB Jack Cianfrini - 91 Rushing Yards, 1 Rushing TD, 15-Yard TD Reception from Sophomore QB Brayden Jachimowicz
Senior DL Ryan Stymus - 10 Total Tackles, 1 Fumble Recovery
Junior DB Brendan Porey - 1 INT, 2 PBUs
"We have begun to preach that October is 'tough guy' football season," Coach Tyler Winter said. "In order for our team to get to where we want to go, we need to find a way to persevere and get gritty wins. Our boys did exactly that tonight. There is plenty that we need to improve upon, but it's always good to go on the road and get the win on our quest for improvement."
Pembroke beat Elba in volleyball in three sets on Thursday.
Socres:
25-21,
25-22,
25-24
Setter Juliana Cleveland had 20 assists and 12 digs. Outside hitter Reagan Schneider had 9 kills, 5 digs and a block. Right side Brianna Reynalds had 12 digs, 4 aces, 3 kills and a block. Middle hitter Onolee Easterbrook added 5 kills, 4 solo blocks and 3 blocking assists.
For Elba, Alexa Ocampo had 6 kills, 10 digs and 4 aces. Sydney Reilly had 9 digs and Jada Fite added 13 assists and 1 ace.
