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Tonawanda Creek Watershed Committee Celebrates Anniversary

By Elizabeth Bentley-Huber

Tonawanda Creek Watershed Committee Celebrates Anniversary

It’s the committee’s Third Year Anniversary! Join us at our next meeting of the Tonawanda Creek Watershed Committee scheduled for Wednesday, December 19, 2012 at 6:00 p.m. at the new U.S. Fish & Wildlife Service Building, 1101 Casey Road, Basom, NY 14013. Phone (585) 948-5445 (All meetings are open to the public and you are welcomed to attend.)

Guest Speakers:

- Fran Wagner, President of the Scajaquada Creek Canoe Club will discuss the clubs dedication to improving the environmental health of Scajaquada Creek. The 30 to 40 member club are involved in conducting stream cleanup’s, water quality and wildlife monitoring, and creating access for canoes and kayaks, as well as paddling together on the waterways of Western New York. Several members just participated in the Adirondack Classic, a three-day canoe race.

- Sheila Hess, CEO of Conservation Connects and Executive Director of New York Green will discuss the importance and benefits of partnerships in watershed planning and natural resource conservation. Sheila will review techniques for building relationships and creating synergy with traditional and nontraditional conservation partners.

Great strides have been made in forming a multi-county alliance devoted to the Tonawanda Creek Watershed, which lies within parts of Wyoming, Genesee, Erie and Niagara Counties. On December 2, 2009 a meeting was held at the Corfu Community Center to discuss the feasibility of forming a multi-county Tonawanda Creek Watershed group. This initial meeting was well attended, including officials and interested citizens from: Genesee County: Soil & Water Conservation District, Planning Dept., Health Dept. and Legislature; Towns of Pembroke, Alexander, Bethany and Darien; Tonawanda Band of Seneca’s. Wyoming County: Soil and Water Conservation District, Planning & Development Dept., Emergency Management Dept., Towns of Sheldon and Bennington. Erie County: Soil and Water Conservation District, NRCS, Buffalo-Niagara Riverkeeper, Water Quality Committee, Dept. of Public Works, Environmental Planning/Storm water Coalition, UB Law Environmental Attorney, Towns of Clarence and Amherst. Niagara County: Town of Royalton. Regional: NYS Soil & Water Conservation Committee, Genesee/Finger Lakes Regional Planning Council, Lake Ontario Coastal Initiative, and US EPA Region 2.

“A lot of work is already going on separately. We need to connect and make a coordinated effort,” said Mark Gaston, District Manager of Erie County SWCD.

A large list of concerns and goals for the watershed were expressed, including water quality, erosion and sedimentation control, stream bank stabilization, flood control, habitat protection and recreational use.

By nearly unanimous consensus, it was decided to proceed with formation of a Tonawanda Creek Watershed Committee. “We must identify stakeholders and make sure they are involved. Communication is vital,” said Paul Fuhrmann of the Erie County Water Quality Committee, adding “The database of knowledge of this diverse group is invaluable”.

If you are unable to attend but are interested in joining this effort or have any questions, please send email to Tonawandacreek@yahoo.com or contact Elizabeth Bentley-Huber at Genesee County Soil & Water Conservation District at 585-343-2362 or at Elizabeth.Bentley-Huber@ny.nacdnet.net. View our website at http://tonawandacreek.shutterfly.com

Event Date and Time
2012-12-19T18:00:00 - 2012-12-19T20:00:00

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HOLM hosts book signing for local authors - just in time for Christmas

By Billie Owens

Press release:

The Holland Land Office Museum Gift Shop presents a local author book signing just in time for Christmas from 11 a.m. to 2 p.m. on Saturday, Dec. 22. HOLM is located at 131 W. Main St. Batavia.

The following authors will be present to sell and sign their

Proposed technology park gets final STAMP of approval from Town of Alabama

By Howard B. Owens

Five years of planning, public meetings, studies, environmental reviews and dozens of written reports came down to one vote Monday night in the Town of Alabama, and by unanimous decision, the town's planning board said yes to a proposed industrial technology park.

The 5-0 vote to change the zoning for

​Marilyn W. Dills

By Lisa Ace


Marilyn W. Dills, age 84 of East Bethany, NY passed away peacefully, surrounded by her loving family on Friday, March 20th 2020 at
Crossroads House in Batavia. Born November 6th 1935 in Olean, NY the daughter of the late Harold L. and Elsie Brinker Weaver. Marilyn was a 1954 graduate of Pavilion Central School and worked as the bookkeeper for the family farm, Dills Bros. Inc. She was a longtime member of the East Bethany Presbyterian Church and more recently Warsaw's Valley Chapel Free Methodist Church. Marilyn was a terrific homemaker always putting her family first in all she did. She enjoyed sewing, cooking, baking, and socializing with her friends.

Marilyn was preceded in death by her beloved husband Edwin H. Dills; a son Andrew W. Dills; two brothers Dean Weaver and Dana Weaver.
Survivors include three sons, Timothy (Tena) Dills of Clymer, NY; Thomas (Michelle) Dills of East Bethany; Daniel Dills of Wright, WY; sisters, Sonia (Bill) Whaley of Pavilion; Nancy Weaver of Farmington, NY; 8 grandchildren; 12 great grandchildren and several nieces and nephews. Marilyn's family would like to thank the volunteers and staff at Crossroads for the excellent care that she received. We also want to thank all of her friends that took the time to visit mom at Crossroads.

A memorial service will be announced at a later date at the Valley Chapel Free Methodist Church in Warsaw. Burial will follow in the East Bethany Rural Cemetery. Please visit www.weeksfuneral.com to offer condolences, send cards. In lieu of flowers, contributions may be made to Crossroads House at PO Box 403 Batavia, New York 14021. Crossroads House has been operating for 22 years, providing no cost service to the residents and their families. They rely entirely on donations and volunteers.

Janet L. Murray

By Joshua Smith

BATAVIA - Janet L. Murray, 64, of Batavia, passed away Friday, (March 27, 2020), at Mercy Hospital in Buffalo.

Ms. Murray was born July 8, 1955, in Adrian, Michigan, a daughter of Joanne (Peavey) Dart of Batavia and the late Donald Dart.

Janet was a member of Cornerstone Church in East Pembroke and enjoyed reading, crocheting, and playing card and board games.  She cherished time spent with her grandchildren.

She is survived by her son, Thomas (Amanda) Murray of Bethany; grandchildren, Nora and Jack Murray; brothers,  James Dart of Batavia, Dale (Katherine) Dart of Homer, Darrell (late Jennifer) Dart of Holley; a sister Kayleen (Vinny Pastore) Dart of LeRoy.  Serveral nieces and nephews also survive.

Private services will be held for immediate family.  A video of the service will be posted to the funeral home's website. A public service will be held at a later date and will be announced.  Burial will be in West Bethany Cemetery. In lieu of flowers, contributions in Janet's memory may be made to Volunteers for Animals, P.O. Box 1621, Batavia, New York 14020.

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

A walk through the Genesee County Park

By JIM NIGRO

Being it was the second week of December and no snow on the ground, I suggested to Claudia we should load up the dogs and head to the county park. And because we had Tate and Ernie along, we decided to stay off the side trails and stick to the

Mrs. Jean G. Hume

By Joshua Smith

Batavia - Jean G. Hume, 93, of Batavia, passed away Friday, March 20, 2020, at Premier Genesee Center for Nursing and Rehabilitation.

Jean was born April 9, 1926, in Albion, daughter of the late Roy Derr Gillette and the late Beulah Achilles Gillette. A native of Albion, she was a graduate from Albion High School, class of 1942. She was active in the high school productions of Gilbert and Sullivan Operettas. In addition, she was a member of the Albion United Methodist Church, where she participated in church choirs and Sunday School activities. Jean always kept in touch with her family and friends from Albion.

Jean married James H. Hume in 1951 and moved to the Hume Farm on Creek Road. They celebrated 62 wonderful years of marriage before his passing on April 1, 2013. Jean is also predeceased by her son, Joel Hume on June 30, 2019 and her sister, Carol Seagar Hunt.

An active member of the Batavia community, she was an active member of the Batavia First United Methodist Church since 1952. Jean was a member of the McNabb Class, Ingraham Class, Women's Morning Worship Circles, served as the treasurer of the church and was responsible for the memorial fund of the church.

Jean was also an integral part of United Memorial Medical Center; the former Genesee Memorial Hospital. Jean was a member and past president of the Hospital League, volunteered in the snack shop and was later employed part-time as the hospital historian and public relations director where she worked until she was 80 years old.

Jean was known for her organizational skills which she acquired from the Rochester Business Institute. She also loved to take photographs which had to have names and dates on the back side. Her most important job was raising her five children with her husband, Jim.

Survivors include her children; Jeff (Theresa) Hume of West Palm Beach, Florida; Judd Hume of Portland, Maine, Jack (Sarah) Hume of Silver Spring, Maryland and Jill (Kevin) Bailey of Canandaigua; five grandchildren; Meghann Hume of West Palm Beach, Florida; Nicholas (Jessica) Hume of West Palm Beach, Florida; Emily Hume of Meherrin, Virginia; Shaunna (John) Bailey Stith of Ventura, California and Merritt J. Bailey of Calgary, Alberta, Canada; two great-grandchildren; Nathan Reeves and MacKenzie Jean Hume of West Palm Beach, Florida; two nephews, John (Linda) Hume of Batavia and Roger (Mary) Hume of Batavia as well as five great-great-nieces.

There are no prior visiting hours. Her memorial service will be held at the Batavia First United Methodist Church at a later date. She will be laid to rest in West Bethany Cemetery. In lieu of flowers, contributions in Jean's memory may be made to First United Methodist Church of Batavia, 8221 Lewiston Road, Batavia, New York 14020 or UMMC Hospital League Foundation, 127 North Street, Batavia, New York 14020. To leave a condolence, share a story or light a candle in Jean's memory, please visit www.bataviafuneralhomes.com.

Arrangements were entrusted to the H.E. Turner & Co. Funeral Home, Batavia.

Closures, cancellations and postponements intended to reduce novel coronavirus exposure risk

By Billie Owens

March13: Closures, cancellations and postponements announced March 13 as precautionary measures to prevent the risk of exposure to the novel coronavirus (COVID-19):

  • East Bethany Presbyterian Church has been closely monitoring the potential impact of COVID-19 and is following current recommendations from the Centers for Disease Control and New York State Health Department. After

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