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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.

Hazel May Miller

By T.J. Woodward

Hazel May Miller, 92 of Batavia, formerly of Alexander and Attica, beloved wife, mother, grandmother, great-grandmother and great-great-grandmother died December 31, 2013 at Buffalo General Hospital. She was born February 4, 1921 in Alexander to the late Earle (Fannie Williams) Kelsey.

After graduating from Alexander High School, Hazel became a Rosie the Riveter at Curtis Wright in Buffalo during the war effort and later went on to earn her license as a cosmetologist, a profession which allowed her to work from home while raising her 8 young children. Later she went to work at Batavia Linen Systems and P. W. Minor and Sons in Batavia.  Hazel was a member of Bethany Center Baptist Church and volunteered for several years at the Genesee County Nursing Home. She was best known to family and friends as a woman who always offered an encouraging word and didn't have a mean bone in her body. She is preceded in death by her son Russ, granddaughters Rachel Miller and Meredith Schaefer; brothers Donald (infant) and Daniel Kelsey.   

Survivors  include her husband of 67 years, Edward A. Miller;  seven children, Maggie (Marsha) Miller of Batavia, Roger (Judy) Miller of Spring Grove, VA., Greg (Ann) Miller of  East Bethany, Jeff Miller of Port Charlotte, FL., Paul (Sheri) Miller of Alexander, Paula Miller-Schaefer (George) of Norfolk, VA. and Vicki (Jeff) Wolak of East Bethany; Daughter-in-law Belinda Miller (Rick) Cox,  19 grandchildren,  28 great grandchildren and 9 great, great grandchildren; three brothers William (Janet) Kelsey, Robert (Peggy) Kelsey, and Gordon “Gub” (Gaylene) Kelsey, nieces and nephews.  Also, family member  Julie Pearce of Sebring, FL.

Friends are invited to call on Friday January 3, 2014 from 3 to 7 PM at Gilmartin Funeral Home & Cremation Company, Inc., 329-333 West Main Street, Batavia. A celebration of Hazel’s life will be held at 11AM Saturday January 4, 2013 at Bethany Center Baptist Church, 10420 Bethany Center Road, E. Bethany, NY 14054. A private interment will take place at a later date.

Memorials in her name may be made to Bethany Center Baptist Church, 10420 Bethany Center Road, E. Bethany, NY 14054 or to Maple Lawn Cemetery Association, 10720 Bethany Center Road, E. Bethany, NY 14054. To sign the online guest registry please visit www.gilmartinfuneralhome.com or for more information call (585) 343-8260. Arrangements completed by Gilmartin Funeral Home & Cremation Company, Inc. 329-333 West Main Street Batavia, New York 14020.

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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