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Bethany drought creates support for Water District 5, dairy farm closure, future uncertainty

By Joanne Beck
bethany water district 5 meeting

All but a few of about 200 residents were on board with creating Water District #5 in the Town of Bethany, and after the Town Board approved a resolution for a revised water district Wednesday evening, those property owners have 30 days to challenge the move or let it ride into the next phase of development, Supervisor Carl Hyde Jr. says.

UMMC, Genesee County, team up again to provide park visitors with sunscreen

By Press Release
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Press release:

More than 4,000 New Yorkers are diagnosed with skin cancer a year.  United Memorial Medical Center and the Genesee County Parks Department are collaborating once again to

Preparing for eclipse visitors with ramped up staffing, new parking fee at county park

By Joanne Beck
Paul Osborn and Laura Wadhams
Genesee County Deputy Highway Superintendent Paul Osborn and Assistant Engineer Laura Wadhams discuss plans to deal with an expected surge in traffic and visitors for the April 8 eclipse. 
Photo by Joanne Beck

If you’re planning to visit Genesee County Park  to see the total solar eclipse on April 8, you might want to take some refreshments, a blanket, and for certain — Alexander Hamilton.

County Highway officials have suggested charging $10 per vehicle for parking that day due to the expected surge in visitors and the need for additional staffing, overtime, traffic control, and related additional expenses. 

Bethany Volunteer Fire Department holds 2024 Installation of Officers Banquet

By Steve Ognibene
Members of Bethany Fire Department were installed for the 2024 year.  Photo by Steve Ognibene
Members of Bethany Fire Department were installed for the 2024 year.  
Photo by Steve Ognibene

This past Saturday evening, Fire Chief Jeff Fluker of Bethany Fire Department led as the master of ceremonies at Bethany’s annual awards and installation of officer’s banquet. 

More than 80 people attended including VIP guests from other area fire departments, including Alexander, Attica, Elba, Pavilion, Stafford, and Wyoming.

SUNY GCC announces fall 2023 dean's list

By Press Release

Press Release:

230 students from Genesee Community College named to Dean's List. Students honored on the Dean's List have maintained full or part-time enrollment and earned a quality point index of 3.50 to 3.74.

  • Paige Sikorski of Alexander
  • Myah Fisher of Basom
  • Arabella Rogers of Batavia
  • Makayla Andolora of Batavia

Linda Jannain Hume

By Lisa Ace
Linda Jannain Hume

Linda Jannain Hume of Benson, Arizona went home to the Lord on December 31st, 2023, after a brief illness.
Linda was born on September 18th, 1951, in Batavia New York. She was the daughter of the late Lester Jannain and Florence Jannain. Linda was the oldest of 7 children.

She attended Pavilion Central School. After graduation she moved to Florida and managed an Albertson Department, as well as worked at the Boca West Resort. Linda returned home to Batavia New York to care for her widowed mother. She then managed a New York State Thruway Gift Shop and rapidly raised their sales, making them one of the top earning rest stop stores in the state.
Surviving is her loving husband William Hume of Benson, Arizona, Stepson William (Joy) Hume of East Bethany, and step-granddaughter Erica (Dallas) Logsdon of Batavia.

She was affectionately called “Wifey” and was married for over 25 years to William Hume.
Linda was a free thinker that enjoyed boating, riding motorcycles, and traveling. She loved to cook and tend to her flower gardens. She especially loved to watch the hummingbirds. She was an animal lover and is now reunited with her beloved pets Harley, Precious, and Rebel.
Linda will be remembered by her loved ones as being a glamorous and beautiful woman. She took pleasure in the finer things in life and took pride in her appearance. She had a love for life. Those that knew her well understood what kind of special person she was. Her loud and wonderful laugh will forever be heard in our hearts.  

“I only drink Champagne on two occasions, when I am in love and when I am not.”  -Coco Chanel

There will be no prior calling hours, there will be a celebration of life held for friends and family in Arizona, as well as in New York at a later date.
In lieu of flowers, memorials can be made to a Veterans Service of your choice

Ethyl I. Sojda

By T.J. Woodward

Ethyl I. Sojda, age 84, of Creek Rd, Batavia, NY, passed away peacefully at home surrounded by family on April 8th, 2022. Ethyl was born in Batavia as the only daughter of the late Vincent N. and Ruth M. Kirch. She was a life-long resident of Alexander, NY.

After graduating from Alexander Central School, she held various jobs until she married her late husband, John F. Sojda, Jr. in 1961 and raised three children. As a dedicated mother she could be seen braving any weather to watch her children’s sporting events. She returned to work in 1977 and held a number of positions with local companies over the following thirty years. In her last role she was a Loose Ends hostess managing the GCC cafeteria where many folks came to enjoy her kind and pleasant personality and her dedicated work ethic.

Though a long-time crocheter, later in life she became a serious quilter and active in the Batavia Museum Quilt Guild. She produced a number of quilts for family and friends that are still enjoyed daily.

For a number of years, she was also a volunteer with All Babies Cherished. It was not uncommon to see her with her knitting material creating baby hats for the regional hospital system. For many years she was an assistant to John Sojda, Jr. in his role as Alexander Town Justice. Part of her charm and grace was how resiliently and quietly she met life’s challenges—both her own and those of others who knew her.

Ethyl is survived by her sons John and Steve (Barb), her daughter Ann, five grandchildren; Lily Whisman, Jacob (Paige), Stephanie (Patrick) Guarino, Michelle (Andrew) James , and Angela (Martin) Pohl, great-grandchildren; Ezekiel Guarino, Emily and Eli James, Alex, and Maria Pohl. She was preceded by her brother Merlin Kirch and has 4 surviving brothers (Ralph, Arnold, Harold, and Myron), and many nieces and nephews.

Mass at St. Mary's in Batavia at 9:30am Saturday June 25th followed by a graveside service at West Bethany Cemetery. Lunch to follow at her home at

9926 Creek Rd.

In lieu of flowers, donations can be made to the Alexander Rescue Squad PO Box 336 Alexander, NY 14005 or Homecare & Hospice 29 Liberty St. Suite 6 Batavia, NY 14020. For more information please call (585) 591-1212 or to leave a message of condolence visit www.marleyfuneralhome.com. Arrangements completed by Marley Funeral Home, LLC, 135 Main Street, Attica, NY 14011

Three Pavilion alumni inducted into school's Hall of Fame

By Press Release

The Pavilion Hall of Fame inducted three new members on Friday: Jack McGee, a veteran of WWII, Diane Davis Torcello, a banker and community activist, and TJ Majors, a NASCAR spotter.

The family of McGee received a U.S. flag, which had been flown over the Pentagon. Torcello shared stories of her work and volunteer contributions. 

No appeal planned after DWI charge dismissed when DA's office didn't comply with discovery rules

By Howard B. Owens

The District Attorney's Office will not appeal the dismissal of a DWI charge against a Bethany resident over a procedural error by prosecutors, Assistant District Attorney William Zickl says.

The case was dismissed on appeal by County Court Judge Melissa Lightcap Cianfrini, upholding an earlier ruling by City Court Judge Durin R. Rogers that a defendant's right to a speedy trial was violated because of the procedural error.

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