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Bethany issues State of Emergency for water shortage

By Joanne Beck

The Town of Bethany has declared a State of Emergency for water services during a year-end meeting on Thursday due to the town’s inability to provide water services to the affected parcels of approximately 100 residences and two dairy farms in the town.

The town’s Water District 5 had previously

Santa visits Bethany Friday morning, in the form of a water donation, as officials wait for word on district funding

By Joanne Beck
Water donation in Bethany
A donation of four pallets of drinking water by Eric Santos, second from left, of Casella Waste Systems, arrives at Bethany Town Hall Friday morning for residents who have been struggling without water.
Submitted Photo

As town officials and residents work through a water shortage brought on by drought, all of them have said it has been the worst they have ever seen since living in Bethany, many of them for decades. Fill dates are being scheduled week by week from a tanker that was provided by the state Office of Emergency Management.

Santa came early again for a visit Friday morning in the form of a donation of four pallets of bottled water all ready to be distributed to residents, Supervisor Carl Hyde Jr. said. Operations Manager Eric Santos of Casella Waste Systems had heard about Bethany's plight and showed up with his crew and the much-welcomed donation of water at town hall, Hyde said.

In the midst of drought, Bethany gets a splash of good news with $5M grant

By Joanne Beck
bethany water tanker nov. 2023
2023 File Photo of Bethany Town Supervisor Carl Hyde Jr. reviewing the town's water districts, including the latest Water District 5, which will be a go, thanks to the $5 million WIIA grant awarded to the town. 
Photo by Howard Owens

Tuesday afternoon was unexpectedly busy and gleeful for Bethany Town Supervisor Carl Hyde Jr.

And while still being embroiled in town residents’ plight of dry wells and being in need of daily water supplies, he found something to smile about, he says.

“We’re on the list,” he said about the town’s placement on the state’s Water Infrastructure Improvement Award approvals. “My phone’s been ringing off the hook. I heard from Steve Hawley and J.W. Cook from the governor’s office. He called to say congratulations, you got your grant. I’m very happy.”

Environmental professor weighs in on Genesee County's 'most intense' drought conditions

By Joanne Beck
Stephen Shaw
Associate Professor Stephen Shaw
Photo from SUNY Environmental Science and Forestry website

With so much talk about global warming and climate change, that would seem to be the likely culprit for drought so extreme it has dried up dozens of wells in pockets of Genesee County.

However, Stephen Shaw, associate professor for environmental resources engineering at the State University of New York College of Environmental Science and Forestry, says it might be much more random than that.

Shaw has just completed a 20-year analysis and a report about dry wells across the entire northeast. He found that a drought in 2016 was “pretty intense,” especially across Western New York and Buffalo in particular. That didn’t match what these towns — the volume of households — in Genesee County have experienced, he said.

Catherine "Kay" Hull

By Joshua Smith

Batavia - Mrs. Catherine "Kay" Hull, 89, of Batavia, died Thursday, (July 8, 2010)at the Eastside Nursing Home, in Warsaw. 

Mrs. Hull was born November 16, 1920 in Wethersfield, N.Y., a daughter of the late Ernest V. and Helen (Hackett) Squire.

She was a member of the American Legion Auxiliary, Resurrection Parish - St. Joseph's Church and its Sodality and also worked at the former E.N. Rowell Box Factory in Batavia. Mrs. Hull enjoyed knitting, crocheting and spending time with her grandchildren.

Survivors include a daughter, Linda (Lynn) Tedford of Attica; three grandchildren, Robert (Stephanie) Tedford of East Bethany, William Tedford of Batavia and Katherine Tedford of Attica; two brothers, Vincent (Irma) Squire of Batavia and Lt. Colonel William (Mitzi) Squire, Retired of Fayetteville, N.C.; two sisters, Norrine Keem of Cowlesville and Florence DiMatteo of Oakfield; two sisters-in-law, Theresa Squires of Warsaw and Doris (Alan) Hansen of Stafford; several nieces, nephews, great-nieces and great-nephews.

She is the wife of the late Elmer Hull and sister of the late Edwin Squires.

Calling hours are Sunday from 1 to 4 p.m. at the Bohm-Calarco-Smith Funeral Home, 308 East Main Street, Batavia. A Mass of Christian Burial will be at 9:30 a.m. Monday at Resurrection Parish - St. Joseph's Church, 303 East Main Street, Batavia. Burial will be in Grandview Cemetery. In lieu of flowers, memorials may be made to the Attica Fire Department, 11 Water Street, Attica, New York 14011 or Grandview Cemetery, P.O. Box 581, Batavia, New York 14021.Condolences may be made at www.bataviafuneralhomes.com.

 

Unsolved, Part 2: Separate drowning cases continue to bedevil investigator

By Howard B. Owens

Annie Lee and Eddie Freson probably never met. One lived in Batavia, the other in Brockport. One died in 1997, the other in 2000.

But when media coverage turns to unsolved deaths in Genesee County, Lee and Freson are inseparably linked.

Both deaths are officially listed as accidental drownings, but

Veronica Kornowski Wojtas

By Ronald Konieczny

Veronica (nee, Marciniak) Kornowski Wojtas, formerly of Batavia, died Wednesday (July 21, 2010)  in Covington, LA.  She was born in Buffalo on June 20, 1912 a daughter of the late Francis and Mary Anna Majerowicz Marciniak.

She is the wife of the late Walter Kornowski and is survived by their children: Walter Kownowski Jr. (Nilly Levine) of Bethany, WV, Gail Kornowski (Ron) Case) of Covington, LA and Claudia Kornowski (William) Bearman of Eden Praire, MN.

She was also married to the late Wlater Wojtas who is survived by Dolores Wojtas (Al) Parkhurst of Batavia.   Nine grandchildren:  Lincoln (Heather Barranger) Case, Tyler (Joanna Brandt) Case, Adam Case, Nicole Bearman Parks, Jennifer Bearman Heiken, Bob (Wilamina) Parkhursst, Cheryl Parkhurst (Charles) Andre, Debra Kornowski (late Michael) Giblin and Dorine Kornowski (Peter) Laack.  Ten great grandchildren: Maggy, Lilly, Helen and Julia Case, Chuck, Christina and Matthew Andre, Skylar Giblin and Aidyn Laack. 

While living in Batavia, Veronica was an active member of Sacred Heart Church, the Altar and Rosary Society,  Polish Falconettes and the Polish National Alliance.  I

Visitation will be Thursday(July 29th) at Ascension Parish (Sacred Heart) from 9-10am where a Mass of Christian Burial will follow at 10am.  Burial will be in St. Joseph Cemetery.

In lieu of flowers, memorials may be made in the form of Mass Offerings or to a charity of the donors preference.

Expressions of condolence may be made at: www.mcandrewfuneralhomes.net or www.ejfieldingfh.com

Arrangements were entrusted to the J. Leonard McAndrew Funeral Home, 2 Bogue Ave., Batavia.  Ronald P. Konieczny, director & veteran

Clara R. Galliford

By Howard B. Owens
galliford obit

Clara R. Galliford, 98, of East Bethany, passed away peacefully on December 11, 2023, at Crossroads House in Batavia after a brief illness. Beloved daughter, sister, wife, mother, grandmother and great-grandmother, her long life was devoted to supporting her family and her community. She was blessed by 75 years of marriage and celebrated the births of 36 direct descendants, all of whom survive her.

Clara was born May 1, 1925, in East Bethany. She was a 1942 graduate of Batavia High School. From 1951, she was a member of the East Bethany Presbyterian Church, where she served as a Sunday School teacher, trustee, and church elder. From 1956 to 1992, she served as Clerk and Postmaster for the United States Postal Service in East Bethany.  

Surviving are her four children: James D. Galliford Jr. of Batavia and Linda (Gerry) Fry, Jean George and Douglas (Judy) Galliford of East Bethany; ten grandchildren: J. Daniel (Kirsten) Galliford III, Laurie Fox, Julie Fry, Melissa (Allen) Iovannisci, Sarah (Tim) Lemley, Stacey (David Macdonald) George, Michael (Kristen) George, Debbie (Frank) Drazen, Brian (Becca) Galliford and Mary (Steve) Skoczylas; 22 great-grandchildren; and several nieces, nephews, great-nieces and great-nephews.

Preceded in death by her husband, J. Daniel Galliford Sr.; her brothers, Howard Raymond and Albert Raymond, and sister, Edith Nichols; and her parents, Arthur and Mabel (Cone) Raymond.

Clara’s family would like to extend their heartfelt appreciation to Cindy Saeva at South Street Senior Care in LeRoy for the loving care she provided to Clara during her residence there.

Burial will be private with no prior calling hours. A memorial service for both Clara and her late husband Daniel will be held at a later date.

Flowers are gratefully declined. Memorials may be made to Crossroads House, P.O. Box 403, Batavia, NY 14021, www.crossroadshouse.com/donate, or to the East Bethany Rural Cemetary Association, P.O. Box 117, LeRoy, NY 14482.

Arrangements for Clara were entrusted to the H.E. Turner & Co. Funeral Home of Batavia. Please leave a condolence, share a story, or light a candle at www.bataviafuneralhomes.com.

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