Press release:
The City of Batavia will celebrate Halloween on Tuesday, Oct. 31 only. Trick-or-treating activities will take place from 5 to 9 p.m.
Drivers and walkers are asked to be especially cautious during this time. Have fun and be safe.
Press release:
The No. 3 Genesee Community College men's soccer team is heading back again to the National Junior Athletic Association D-III National Tournament after blanking Cayuga Community College 3-0 Oct. 29 in the Region III District A Championship game.
The region's top-seeded Cougars have now outscored their opponents 53-1 during their current eight-game winning streak. The win also extended the team's unbeaten streak to 17 games.
Current NJCAA D-III Goalie of the Week David Ormiston recorded five saves in the win and was named the tournament's most valuable player in leading the team to its seventh-consecutive shutout and 12th of the season.
Ross White got the game winner almost 30 minutes into the contest and Ben Wattis extended the Cougars' lead to 2-0 about 10 minutes later to round out the first-half scoring.
Charlie Livesey had the lone goal of the second half about 25 minutes into the session to add some insurance to the Cougars' lead.
Cayuga outshot Genesee 11-8 in total shots and shots on net 5-3. Each team had a half dozen corner kicks and the physical game produced eight yellow cards collectively.
Also selected to the all-tournament team from Genesee were Livesey, Wattis, and Glenn Holmes, with the latter assisting on Wattis' goal. Cayuga's Mikel Abando and Santiago Ortega were also selected.
Genesee heads to the NJCAA National Tournament as one of eight teams Nov. 9-12 at Wehrum Stadium. The men's soccer D-III nationals are hosted by Herkimer College, who will join the Cougars from Region III after defeating Onondaga Community College 4-0 in the last regional title game of the night that followed the Cougars' win.
Photo: Curtis Kreutter / GCC Athletics
Press release:
The City of Batavia Fire Department will be flushing fire hydrants on Monday, Oct. 30, from approximately 9 a.m. to 3 p.m. in the general area north of Main Street and east of Bank Street. Homes and businesses nearby will be affected.
These tests may result in a temporary discoloration of water in that area. As in the past, please do not attempt to wash any clothing if your water appears discolored. If you do experience a discoloration of your water, run cold water for about five minutes or until clear.
The 21st annual John Gardner Society gathering at the Pok-A-Dot to remember Batavia's most famous novelist at his favorite local restaurant brought people in from some distance this year. There were two people who drove in from Pennsylvania, two from Indiana, and one of Gardner's best friends, who drove up from Binghamton (playwright Jan Quackenbush). Among the travelers, a former student and a former dorm mate of Gardner's. First-timers to the reading also included a couple from Buffalo.
Reading in the top photo, Beth Buechler, who was one of Gardner's students in Binghamton and traveled to Batavia from Indiana.
Tracy Ford
Bill Kauffman
Terry Abrams, of Basom, reading, as he does every year, from "On Becoming a Novelist."
Norm Morford, a dormmate's of Gardner's while in college.
Helen Maier
Other readers included Byron Hoot, from Pennsylvania, Lucine Kauffman, Steve Lewandowski, JoNelle Toriseva, and John Maier.
Dan Eberly and his wife, Sarah, hosted a carnival in their backyard yesterday for the children living on and around Thorpe Street in Batavia.
"This is a busy neighborhood and there are lots of kids and we just wanted to get to know them," Dan Eberly said.
The carnival had various games that allowed the children to earn tickets that could be redeemed for prizes. There were also hotdogs, snacks and drinks.
It was all free.
Most of the year Eberly, who is originally from Baltimore, works overseas but with an extended stay at his home in Batavia, he thought it was a good time to do something for the neighborhood kids.
"I had carnivals in my neighborhood when I was growing up and they were the highlight of my fall," he said.
The Eberlys also host Nerf gun games every Wednesday evening in their backyard. If kids show up and don't have their own Nerf guns, the Eberlys supply them.
Eberly is also mindful that Thorpe has a reputation for being a troubled neighborhood.
"We had the shooting — it was literally out my front window -- a couple of weeks ago, and we just figure this would be a good way to start changing the community by getting to know everybody," Eberly said.
Jenn Boyki will move into her new home on Bloomingdale Road in Basom with a new sense of opportunity and freedom thanks to Habitat for Humanity.
Volunteers started working on the house, built in 1900, before a potential Habitat owner had been identified, so by the time Boyki applied and was approved, there wasn't much time for her to complete the required 300 hours of "sweat equity" to qualify for the purchase of the property.
But she got it done, all while raising two young children and working as a supervisor at Tim Horton's in Batavia.
"This speaks to her dedication and determination to provide a safe and stable home for her family," said Lauren Casey, CEO of Habitat in Genesee County.
The work was worth it, Boyki said.
"I loved it," she said. "I absolutely loved it. It gives you more enjoyment of being a homeowner versus just moving into a house."
With a piece of property out of the city she thinks she and her kids will have more freedom for themselves.
'It's an opportunity," she said. "The kids love animals, so we will be able to own some animals. I don't have to worry about a landlord and if something breaks, them fixing it on their own time."
Mary Case presented Boyki with a quilt she made to add comfort to the new home during the dedication ceremony.
Marie Scofield presented a symbolic loaf of bread.
Alexander used its crushing defense and elusive running backs Saturday to knock off Red Jacket in a Class D Section V semifinal game 42-14.
Both Indian touchdowns came in the fourth quarter after the Trojans already led 35-0.
Chris McClinic carried the ball 17 times for 255 yards and three TDs. He also had three receptions for 47 yards. Terrez Smith added another 42 yards and two touchdowns to the ground attack on 10 carries.
Dylan Busch was 10 for 18 passing for 158 yards and a TD.
Job Smith had two catches for 42 yards and Ty Woods, two catches for 29 yards and a TD.
Next up for the 9-0 Trojans in the Class D championship game is Clyde-Savannah. Alexander is seeking both its second sectional title in program history and second in a row. Clyde is the #1 ranked Class D team in the state. The game is at 6 p.m. at a location to be announced.
To purchase prints of photos, click here.
Le Roy dominated archrival Cal-Mum/Byron-Bergen in Saturday's Class C semifinal except in the one stat that mattered: Final score.
Despite holding onto the ball longer, for more plays and more yards total offense, the Oatkan Knights ended their season with a 16-7.
Cal-Mum/BB advances to the championship game against East Rochester/Gananda next Saturday at 3 p.m.
Kyler LaCarte wrapped up his season with 27 carries for 112 yards and a TD. Jake Hill was 8-18 passing for 111 yards. Reece Tresco had three catches for 63 yards. Cole Biggins, three catches for 42 yards. T.Y. Williams led the defense with five tackles.
Photos by George Henry. Top photo, Luke Stella.
More than 100 people stopped by the prescription drug drop off location at Batavia PD today, filling up five large boxes with prescription medications that will be safely destroyed by the Drug Enforcement Administration.
The annual program invites residents to drop by designation locations -- today at Batavia PD, Le Roy PD, and Pembroke Town Hall (where deputies collected medications).
There are also permanent, year-round drop-off boxes at Batavia PD, Le Roy PD, the Sheriff's Office on Park Road and the State Police Barracks on West Saile Drive.
Properly disposing of unneeded medications helps keep them out of the waste streams, waterways, or from being abused.
The children who were winners in the fire prevention poster contest sponsored by City of Batavia firefighters were invited to the station today for a pizza party and a tour of the fire hall.
For a list of winners, click here.
The Genesee Symphony Orchestra performs tonight at Perry High School and again tomorrow at Genesee Community College.
Mia Fasanello, a winner of the Young Artist Competition, on oboe, is one of the featured performers in a show titled "Festivals, Techno, and Fate!"
The program includes "Academic Festival Overture" by Brahms, "The B-Sides," "Five Pieces for Orchestra and Electronica" by Bates, and "Symphony no. 5 in C Minor" by Beethoven.
During Friday's rehearsal, young music students were invited to sit next to orchestra musicians and experience the music from within the orchestra.
This evening's Perry performance starts at 7 p.m. and Sunday's GCC performance is at 4 p.m.
Tickets are available at the door or through GSO's website.
Photo: Andrew Young Jr., center, tries out one of the challenges at an Inventor's Fair at Alexander High School on Friday night as part of a rally to support Andrew's entry into Frito-Lay Dreamvention contest.
Andrew, 14, is one of five finalists in the nationwide contest. His invention is a toaster that shoots out the toast onto a plate. The winner of the contest will receive $250,000.
The fair Friday night featured various activity stations for students to try out their skills at various challenges and included a rally to encourage everybody to vote in the contest and support Andrew's quest to have his invention recognized at the best of the bunch.
To learn more about Andrew's invention, visit AndrewsInvention.com. To vote, click here (you can vote every day).
(The Batavian has added a link to the voting page on the left side of our home page, just above the login box on the left side of the page. You can vote every day.)
UMMC and the Cancer Services Program of Genesee & Orleans hosted their annual Pink Hatters Night Out at Batavia Downs on Thursday.
The event supports those battling cancer, admires survivors and honors those who have passed.
The guest speaker was Dr. Jeffrey Goldstein, who is a gastroenterologist, followed by a presentation of the Pink Hat awards and guest speaker Michael Tenebruso, stage four colorectal cancer patient.
There was also a survivor recognition and fashion show.
Gail Fenton, co-owner of Fenton’s Produce, emceed the program.
Photos submitted by UMMC.
It was an emotional moment when Jodie Hebdon radioed dispatch to sign off, signaling his last shift as a deputy with the Genesee County Sheriff's Office after 35 years of service.
Hebdon spent the past 16 as resource officer at the BOCES campus on State Street in Batavia. And it's leaving that job that is particularly difficult he said.
"I'm going to miss these kids," Hebdon said. "You know, there are some kids here that have been through horrible lives, horrible living conditions. Trauma, PTSD, whatever you want to call it. The ability to at least interact with them and make something happen for them is good."
Hebdon started his law enforcement career in the Army and when he came home after a hitch in Germany, he enrolled at Genesee Community College. After a stint as a corrections officer, Hebdon was transferred to road patrol before being asked to apply for the resource officer position at BOCES.
The majority of the students at BOCES don't have issues, Hebdon said, but it's dealing with the at-risk kids and helping them is what made the job worthwhile.
"I was the one person they interviewed (for the job)," Hebdon said. "Why I gravitated to the job is I like helping at-risk kids. Today I had six girls at different times who came up to me who were victims of severe abuse, sex abuse, rape. They see me as a safe adult, a safe male. They have the ability to speak in a good way to a man without being extorted or taken advantage of. They gave me some long embraces. They don't want me to go."
When it was time for Hebdon to leave, his coworkers both within the ranks of the Sheriff's Office, other local law enforcement officers and staff at BOCES formed two lines outside the BOCES entrances and saluted and applauded Hebdon.
Then it was time to sign out.
"This is hard," Hebdon said, brushing back a tear before informing dispatchers he was saying goodbye.
A Chevy SUV has struck a deer on the Thruway in the eastbound lane near mile marker 377.1 in Le Roy.
Injuries are reported.
Le Roy fire dispatched. Mutual aid requested from Caledonia's ambulance.
UPDATE 6:05 a.m.: The patient conscious and alert with a shoulder injury.
Both the total number of Genesee County residents with jobs and the total number looking for jobs declined in September compared to the year before, according to data released by the State Department of Labor.
There were 28,800 residents with jobs, according to the release, and 1,200 people designated as unemployed.
The total size of the labor force is 30,000 compared to 30,200 a year ago.
That makes the unemployment rate 4.1 percent, compared to 4.2 a year ago.
According to Scott Gage, director of the county's job bureau, there are more than 580 job openings being advertised in the county.
The 4.1 rate is the lowest for any month since May 2016 when it was 3.8 percent.
The GLOW area rate is 4.5 percent compared to 4.5 percent a year ago.
Rochester has dropped from 4.8 to 4.7 and Buffalo 4.9 from 5.1.
The state's rate is 4.7.
Nationally, the rate has fallen from 4.8 percent to 4.1 percent.
Agritourism is itself a growing industry in New York and with Genesee County being a major contributor to the state's agriculture industry, Genesee Community College hosted a free agritourism symposium yesterday.
The event was organized by Amy Slusser, professor of GCC’s Tourism and Hospitality Management Program.
“Our region of New York State offers some of the best agritourism opportunities in the nation,” Slusser said. “From our dairies for cheese and yogurt, while not forgetting milk, butter and of course, ice cream, to the many acres of fruits and vegetables. And, New York wineries are now competing with great success against both European and Californian varietals. Now is the time for agritourism in the Upstate New York.”
Sophie Winter, Ph.D., was the keynote speaker with a theme of “Evolution, Innovation and Entrepreneurship in Agritourism.” A native of Southern France, Winter earned her master’s degree in Agricultural Business from Illinois State University and her Ph.D. in Business Administration from Arizona State University. Currently, she teaches agricultural marketing, sales, retail management and entrepreneurship at SUNY Cobleskill.
There was also a panel discussion with:
Photos courtesy GCC.
Press release:
NJCAA Swimming & Diving Results
Men's Score: Genesee CC 118 Erie CC 72
Women's Score: Genesee CC 77 Erie CC 66
The Genesee Community College men's and women's swimming and diving teams hosted their first event this season Oct. 25 with impressive results. Despite the loss of points with no divers entered in the competition for either the men's or women's teams, the Cougar men won 118-72, while the Cougar women won 77-66.
Of the 11 events the Cougar men competed in, they took first place in nine of 11 events, while the Cougar women took first in seven of 10 events they competed in.
The men won four freestyle races, two relays, one breaststroke, one backstroke and one IM.
The women won three freestyle races, one relay, one backstroke, one butterfly and one IM.
For the men in individual events, two Cougars took a pair of events each to lead GCC. Matthew Langerman won two freestyles (500 and 200 yards), while Ferran Martinez won the 200-yard IM and the 100-yard breaststroke.
Men's team members that won just one event included: Alex Bookmiller (1000-yard freestyle), Joan Ferrer (100-yard freestyle), and Nathan Richardson (100-yard backstroke).
For the women in individual events, three Cougars won two events each to lead GCC. Natalie Amico won the 100-yard butterfly and the 500-yard freestyle. Angel Priest took the 200 IM and the 100-yard backstroke, while Nanako Shiozawa won two freestyle races at 100- and 200-yards.
The two relay events the men's team won were at 400-yards in freestyle and medley, while the women's team took the 400-yard medley.
Hélène Biandudi Hofer, journalist, documentary filmmaker and the host and producer of WXXI-TV’s newsmagazine show "Need to Know," spoke at Genesee Community College on Wednesday spoke to fashion students about her new project "The Empty Hanger."
Hofer kick-started her own career at just 8 years old using a makeshift production studio in her childhood home to produce news stories and fashion shows. From there, Hofer grew her passion into an award-winning career.
"The Empty Hanger" is an original human-interest series revealing the untold and often overlooked stories of the people who design, manufacture, tailor, study, wear, talk about and claim to be forever changed by clothing.
Photos courtesy GCC.
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