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Protecting birds and bees shouldn't have to cost farmers, consumers: local farmer speaks up

Shelley Stein 2023
By Joanne Beck
seed maggot
Textbook photo of a seed corn maggot.

 

 

The Birds and Bees Protection Act is a seemingly simple enough and all-natural sounding title that most anyone would be for it, wouldn’t they?

Well, not everyone. Shelley Stein, CEO of Stein Farms in Le Roy, said she had to speak up as a farmer and "a person who understands the ramifications of policy on our farmers, and our consumers, and what this is going to mean to the economy of Genesee County."

Documents say Savarino defaulted on financial agreements, GCEDC and city work on 'next steps'

ellicott station savarino business closed
By Joanne Beck
ellicott station savarino business closed
File photo by Howard Owens.

The next steps are yet to be determined.

That seems to be the ongoing response from city and county officials in the aftermath of an announcement by CEO Samuel Savarino that his company will be ceasing operations and laying off its employees.

Savarino is the developer of Ellicott Station, the four-story apartment complex touted as an economic lifesaver for downtown Batavia and for working individuals and families in need of an affordable, quality and safe place to live.

That economic vision was blurred earlier this year when the online rental application indicated income requirements of very low to low ranges, seemingly squelching the notion that the units would indeed be for workforce individuals. The Batavian had reached out to Savarino requesting details about a lottery that awarded rentals to 55 tenants. He wasn’t privy to such information, he had said at the time.

The Batavian was the first and only news source to report on the apparent requirements and changes in income at Ellicott Station. You can help community-minded local reporting continue by joining Early Access Pass.

Pembroke Central Schools honored for music program

By Press Release

Press release:

Pembroke Central School District has been honored with the Best Communities for Music Education designation from The NAMM Foundation for its outstanding commitment to music education.  Now in its 23rd year, the Best Communities for Music Education designation is awarded to districts that demonstrate outstanding achievement in efforts

Fire company instructors complete training

By Press Release

Press release:

The NYS Principles of Instructions course is an introductory course for individuals who will be conducting training at the fire company level.  This 15-hour course was recently offered at the Genesee County Fire Training Center and is designed for fire service training officers and company officers. 

Participants reviewed

Mark Laverne Wetmore

By Ronald Konieczny

Mark Laverne Wetmore, age 56, of Sharon, PA, formerly of Pike, New York, passed away on Friday, April 1, 2022 in Sharon Regional Hospital.

Born July 14, 1965, in Pike, New York, he was the son of the late Eugene and Connie (Grisewood) Wetmore.

Mark graduated from Letchworth High School in 1983 and served his country honorably in the US Army during Desert Storm. He was a construction worker for several different companies through out his career. He was a Volunteer Fire Fighter for many years and in his spare time he enjoyed, fishing, hunting, spending time with his family and his high quality, naps.

Mark is survived by two daughters, Nadine (Danny) Hose and Michelle (Sean) Kelly, two brothers, Lance Wetmore and Brian (Amy) Welsh, six sisters, Theresa Damonti, Gina (Dan) Worden, Becky (Scott) Kelley, Patty Bellucci and Yvonne Walcott, four grandchildren, Malayna, Gavin, Cash and Aubriella, his long time partner, Pam Schaller and many nieces and nephews.

In addition to his parents, he was preceded in death by a sister Annette and a brother-in-law Rudy.

An open memorial will take place on Sunday, July 17, 2022, at Pike Firehall, starting mid day.

Arrangements are being handled by the Harold W. Stevenson Funeral Home LLC, 264 E. State St., Sharon, PA 16146. On-line condolences may be offered by visiting stevensonfuneralhome.net.

Mitchell Hale inducted into The Honor Society of Phi Kappa Phi

By Press Release

Press release:

Mitchell Hale of Oakfield, New York, was recently initiated into The Honor Society of Phi Kappa Phi, the nation's oldest and most selective all-discipline collegiate honor society. Hale was initiated at State University of New York at Plattsburgh.

Hale is among approximately 25,000 students, faculty, professional staff and

Town planners approve additions at O-At-Ka Milk, Gateway GS LL site on Call Parkway

By Mike Pettinella

The Town of Batavia Planning Board on Tuesday night approved site plans for additions at O-At-Ka Milk Products on Ellicott Street Road and to buildings under construction by Gallina Development of Rochester at the Gateway GS LLC site on Call Parkway, north of the Thruway interchange.

Kelly Finch, senior director

WNY Cannabis Growers Showcase coming to Batavia

By Press Release

Press Release:

Greenside Cannabis, in partnership with Dank, Buffalo’s first
licensed adult-use dispensary, and Empire Hemp Co., is thrilled to announce the WNY Cannabis Growers Showcase. 

This unique event will be hosted at Empire Hemp Co.'s retail CBD store, 204 E. Main St., in Batavia, NY, beginning on August 29

Oak Orchard Health rolls out new Mobile Medical Unit

By Press Release

Press release:

Yesterday we introduced the new Mobile Medical Unit (MMU) at the ribbon-cutting event at our Brockport location. The MMU will operate like a primary care site bringing healthcare to Monroe, Orleans, Wyoming, Steuben, and Genesee counties.

“The Mobile Medical Unit would not have been possible without the support

City Schools moving universal Pre-K to Robert Morris

By Press Release

Press release:

The Batavia City School District (BCSD) has announced a plan to relocate the district’s Universal Pre-Kindergarten Program (UPK) from Jackson Primary to the Robert Morris building for the 2022-23 school year. 

The decision was made in an effort to address space concerns caused by increasing enrollment numbers at

Stephany Samis of Le Roy joins The Honor Society of Phi Kappa Phi

By Press Release

Press release:

Stephany Samis of Le Roy, New York, was recently initiated into The Honor Society of Phi Kappa Phi, the nation's oldest and most selective all-discipline collegiate honor society. Samis was initiated at Alfred University.

Samis is among approximately 25,000 students, faculty, professional staff and alumni to be initiated

Susie Ott named branch manager of the Lawley Insurance office in Batavia

By Press Release

Press release:

Lawley, an independent family-owned insurance broker, and employee benefits firm, is proud to announce the promotion of Susie Ott to Branch Manager of the Lawley Batavia office.

Ott has been with Lawley for 10+ years. Prior to that, she worked in the banking industry.

“There is nobody better

Six rural counties join litigation aimed at overturning changes to WROTB governance

By Mike Pettinella

Lawmakers in six of the 15 counties that benefit from revenues generated by Western Regional Off-Track Betting Corp. have passed resolutions to participate in a pending lawsuit to overturn changes to the structure and voting format of the public benefit company’s board of directors.

Legislative bodies in Niagara, Orleans, Wyoming, Livingston and Seneca counties have joined Genesee County in an effort to nullify bills passed by New York State

GO Art! provides local arts organizations and artists with annual state grants

By Howard B. Owens

The Genesee Orleans Regional Arts Council, GO Art!, handed out $107,000 in grants to about three dozen arts organizations and artists on Thursday.

These "re-grants" are state-sponsored and in a program designed by the Legislature to promote the arts in every region in the state.  All 62 counties in the

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