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Frankie, the faithful K-9 used for tracking and other law enforcement duties for the Genesee County Sheriff’s Office for the last four years, will now follow in his handler’s footsteps.

Deputy Sheriff Andrew Mullen resigned his position and has asked to take Frankie with him, Sheriff William Sheron said during Monday’s Public Service Committee meeting.

Mullen has been Frankie’s handler for about three years, and the dog apparently has some separation anxiety and has suffered other past medical issues, Sheron said.

“Our handler has resigned; he's going to be moving out of state. He's asked that he be able to retain Frankie as a pet,” Sheron said. “We looked at it very long and thoroughly, and Frankie is now over seven years old. The duration for a canine is roughly six to nine years. By the time we try to train him with another handler and the past experience we've had with Frankie, with some health issues he has, actually anxiety, we had to spend quite a bit of money because the handler went away for a couple of weeks and the dog actually had issues, we feel it's best that we retire Frankie and turn him over to him.”

He asked that Frankie be retired from police work and donated as a pet to Mullen, with the understanding that Frankie will not be involved in any future police work at any law enforcement agency.

Sheron was asked if he planned to replace Frankie. 

“Possibly in the future, not immediately,” he said. 

Committee members agreed with the request, and it will be passed on to the Ways and Means Committee and to the county Legislature for final approval. 

Frankie was named in honor of Deputy Frank G. Bordonaro, who died on July 8, 2014. In addition to proving skilled as a tracker, Frankie was also trained in narcotics detection, evidence recovery, building searches and apprehension and handler protection. 

A Belgian Malinois assigned to Mullen in September 2020, Frankie suffered a fractured tooth during his time with the sheriff’s office and was out of commission for a few weeks after it was removed, and he got an infection.  Frankie's first assignment was with Deputy Chris Erion starting in 2019. Erion retired in July 2020.

Over the years, Frankie and his fellow K-9s have drawn attention from fans through demonstrations of their intense training and donations to help offset costs for an obstacle course, protective vests, physical therapy and other veterinarian needs that have gone into a K-9 Donation Reserve Account. 

From now on, Frankie will be taking it easy with his best friend and not worrying so much about the bad guys. 

As part of the official protocol, the county attorney has been consulted with regard to this disposition of K-9 Frankie, and a memorandum of understanding and release was prepared to properly outline this disposition, the resolution states. There is no cost associated with the donation of K-9 Frankie.

Sometimes you might wonder if all the grunt work of digging, planting, watering and weeding is worth it for some seasonal vegetables. 

Well folks at Emmanuel Baptist Church know the answer at their community garden. It’s a resounding yes.

“We have zucchini coming up, and also tomatoes, peppers, radishes, herbs, beans, and much more!,” Rev. Tom Tharp said Tuesday, sending photos as proof of the bounty. “The planters are full and flourishing!”

The property in back of the Oak Street church had a much different, albeit promising, look, with rows of empty wooden boxes awaiting their soil and seedlings at the end of May.

Tharp was busily mixing coconut chips and water with soil to deposit into the boxes for what he was hoping would be a rich harvest just a few months later. 

The church membership initially built a community garden to help feed homeless people that were being housed in nearby hotels, before those places were shut down. 

But then, as Tharp explained in May, “we still thought that there was a need, that the community is nearby the neighborhood, especially down Gateway, Noonan, Oak Street, that people might want to partake of growing their own food, and we might meet some of the additional costs that are coming up, over and over, at the grocery stores.”

A grant and donations of goods and volunteer time made it possible to purchase or otherwise have 20 garden plots, soil for planting, a 1,000-gallon water tank, donated by Norton Dairy, assorted vegetable seeds, and tools for people to use. 

Tharp then put the word out that plots were available for purchase to those that weren’t able to fill a garden plot themselves. Anyone, even with the slightest bit of green thumb, was invited to participate. 

And now they’re reaping the fruits — or veggies — of their labor. 

Author's Note: For more than 100 years, Godfrey's Pond, located in northeast Genesee County, has been a recreation spot for some local residents. Swimming, boating, fishing, picnicking, camping, and gun sports have been enjoyed there and still bring lasting happy memories to those who were able to enjoy them. I will be writing a two-part article on “The Pond, “ with Part 1 detailing its history and Part 2  describing my childhood memories of the adventures I had there when I was a kid in the 1950s and 1960s.

Pond Origins
Between Route 5 and Route 33 to the east of Batavia is an area known as Seven Springs. Underground springs there bubble to the surface and form what is known as Bigelow Creek. The terrain is downhill to the northeast, and so that is the direction the creek flows. Over the last couple hundred years, entrepreneurs took advantage of the flowing water by constructing dams at several different locations on the creek to use the water power for the milling of various products.

The first dam is directly at Seven Springs and formed what is now known as Chapin Pond. At one time used for milling flour, the pond is now part of a Zen community area called  Chapin Mill Retreat Center. Coincidentally, when I was born in January 1947, my parents were renting the old mill building, which had been converted into living quarters. My mom frequently and nostalgically recalled her early married days after my dad came home from World War II  at the quiet and peaceful “Mill.”

Horseshoe Lake
From Seven Springs, Bigelow Creek flows in an easterly direction still north of Route 33. In the late 1800s, a man named Robert Fisher dammed the creek to build a mill. But in 1897, the property was sold to Charles Hodges, who constructed a much higher dam resulting in what he named Horseshoe Lake. Various entrepreneurs attempted in the early 1900s to make the lake into a summer resort. A baseball diamond was laid out, boats were purchased,  a merry-go-round and roller coaster were installed, and a bath house was built, but due to lack of transportation to such a rural area, it only prospered for a short time. By the 1950s, Horseshoe became a quiet residential lake, which pretty much it remains to this day.

Godfrey's Beginnings
Bigelow Creek outflows from Horseshoe Lake and heads northeast passing beneath Route 33.  It forms a boggy wetland area several miles north, and previous to 1832, Elijah Godfrey purchased the area and built a small dam for the purpose of sawing lumber and grinding feed, and the resulting pond got its name from him, which it still bears today. 

In 1851 Norris Haywood bought the land and pond, and during his ownership, the New York Central made a deal for a right of way and put through their tracks, which separated the property into two sections. The current mainline of the CSX Railroad still goes by the pond.  A cement culvert was built below the railroad tracks to allow the water to pass through from the south end of the property to the north, where the pond is located.

In 1874 Thomas Dobney took control of the property and began using the water mill for grinding plaster brought from Byron which was used for fertilizer.  In 1890, Joseph Bork, a real estate man from Buffalo, purchased the property to start a resort. He planned to construct a dance hall and have tennis courts and a baseball field. He also brought in row boats. However, like Horseshoe Lake, the plan failed due to lack of transportation to the site.

The property was sold to the New York Central Railroad in 1900, and they raised and rebuilt the dam, which added 14 million gallons of more water. However, in 1902 a flood destroyed the dam and completely emptied the pond. The railroad built a new dam of concrete, and the pond was refilled. However, the New York Central did not take water directly from the pond but rather ran a sluice to South Byron, where the trains took on the water. The mill continued to be leased to various businessmen to grind feed.

Recreation Area Finally Becomes A Reality
In 1909 a group called the Genesee County Fish and Game Protective Association leased the Godfrey's Pond property from the New York Central, which was no longer using it. Their intention was to have a club with dues-paying members who would use the area for recreational (fishing, hunting, etc.) purposes. The organization made some improvements to the rented area, including planting thousands of trees, and people began to join and enjoy the rural pond locale. 

Twenty-two years later, in 1931, the Fish and Game Association purchased the land and pond outright from the Railroad for $4,750. The total property equaled 100 acres, 50 of which were taken up by the pond. The purchase was negotiated by Assemblyman Charles Miller along with Arnold Keller, William Phillips, and Porter Davis, who were officers of the Fish and Game Association.

At the top of a hill overlooking the pond was a house that the Association designated as the residence of the property caretaker and his family. The very first caretaker was Joseph Morith, and another well-known one was Jerry Ruckle.

Through the years up until the 1950s and '60s, members and their guests had a lot of opportunities for recreational fun. For swimming, there was a shallow section with a sand beach at the southeast end near the railroad. Families with small children tended to congregate in that area, and the Association hired lifeguards for safety. At the north end was a deeper area, and through the years, a cement deck was installed and low, medium, and high diving boards were placed there. A floating raft was installed each summer about 25 yards out for swimmers to use. Swimming lessons were offered, and of course, lifeguards were on duty there too.

Not far from “the deep end “ was a building that tripled as a bathhouse for changing, a refreshment stand (popsicles, ice cream, chips, candy, etc.), and a recreation room (ping pong and so on). This is where members registered their guests after paying a small fee.

Just to the east of the “deep end “ were docks with rowboats available for boating or fishing. No motors were allowed. In the very early days, the Association tried to raise trout, but the water was too warm. So the pond became a fishery for sunfish, perch, largemouth bass, and northern pike.  From time to time, various fishing contests were held. To the west of the swimming area was the dam, and below that, the water flow became faster as it reformed into Bigelow Creek (note: through all these years, I never knew the name of the creek until  I did research for this article), which eventually empties into Black Creek which then flows into the Genesee River at Scottsville and then on to Lake Ontario.

Throughout the property, there were several shelters available to reserve for family outings and many fireplaces and picnic tables. Camping was also permitted in a couple of separate areas.

Near the railroad and to the southeast of the beach area (everyone called it “the shallow end”) was a shooting range where gun enthusiast members could practice their marksmanship.

Major Additions and Changes
Since 1970 the Genesee County Fish and Game Protective Association has been busy adding more attractions for its members to enjoy. Thanks to the inspiration of James Southall, an aviary was constructed below the dam and north of Bigelow Creek.  It features a display of ornamental pheasants, waterfowl, quail, partridge, peacocks and swans. Participating members hatch and raise their own birds and sell some to offset operating expenses. Each fall, pheasants are released in an adjoining property for hunting by members.

In 2004 to the north of the aviary, a four-acre trout pond was dug and filled. There is a hatchery, display pool, and raceways for the young fish and breeders, which are then used to stock the pond. The trout are Rainbows and Palominos, which are a mixture of rainbows and goldens. Members are allowed to keep 20 trout per year, but most practice catch and release.

Off to the east, there is a trap shooting range where shotgun enthusiasts can shoot clay birds and past that is an area of archery targets where bow and arrow users can practice their skills. There is also a safe one-way archery trail for practicing which begins near the aviary and ends near what is referred to as the “Back Pond.”

For hikers and exercisers, there are seven trails of varying lengths that intersect and which total about five miles in all.

There are two separate camping areas for members to use with RVS and/or tents.

An unfortunate change happened in 2018. Members were complaining about a greenish color to the water, and through testing, it was discovered that the pond was too contaminated for swimming. Trying to chlorinate such a large body of water was not feasible for a number of reasons. A weed harvester was installed, and oxygen bubblers were added to ensure that the fish population was kept healthy and abundant. But, it was a no-go for humans.

Members and their leadership met and decided that some type of swimming availability was a must for the survival of the facility. The club decided to spend around $300,000 to build a pool near where the caretaker's house was. The funds to pay for the swimming area were projected to come from increased camping and group events that the pool would provide.

Students from  BOCES worked to remove trees and stumps, and many members who had trade skills volunteered to help out at no charge. The pool opened in 2019 and has been a big success, although many older members sadly reminisce about their days swimming and learning to swim in the actual pond.

Godfrey's Pond now has about 1,600 members and continues to thrive as an active outdoor recreation spot in Genesee County, New York.

Photos courtesy of Godfrey's Pond and Ed Kademon, submitted by David Reilly.

A reader submitted this photo and video of a large load leaving the Graham Corp. facility in Batavia today and heading down Clinton Street.

The Batavian attempted today to get more information about the shipment from a contact at Graham but did not get a response.

Press Release:

Join Batavian Tony Johnson on Saturday, August 12 at 10 a.m. in the Reading Room at Richmond Memorial Library for a book talk and signing. 

Tony will discuss his epic fantasy series, "The Story of Evil." The event will include a talk, Q&A, and book signing. There will be book giveaways, cookies made by Simply Scrumptious, customized bookmarks, and more!

Books in the series include "Heroes of the Siege," "Escape from Celestial," "Three Visions," "The Cursed King," and "Battle for the Kingdom." Tony published the first volume in the series in 2013.

Copies of the book will be available to purchase and will also be available to check out from Richmond Memorial Library.

Tony Johnson is the author of "The Story of Evil," a five-part epic fantasy saga. Tony is an avid reader who enjoys fantasy, classics, and Christian literature. He is a fan of movies, video games, and football, and loves being a husband and father. 

This event is free to attend and all are welcome. 

Richmond Memorial Library is located at 19 Ross St., Batavia. For more information about the library, visit batavialibrary.org.

Press Release:

Calling all 8th - 11th graders, the Genesee County Youth Court is recruiting new members!

Youth Court is a voluntary alternative for young people who face disciplinary action through school or law enforcement.

Youth who are referred admit to the charge and appear before a court of their peers. Three youth judges listen to both sides of the issue and determine an appropriate disposition. The goal of youth court is to improve youth citizenship skills and decrease problematic behavior.  

Youth Court members learn about the judicial process and law enforcement; develop group decision-making, leadership, and public speaking skills; participate in all roles of the courtroom: judge, prosecution, defense, and bailiff.  

Genesee County 8th - 11th graders who are interested can go online to download an application from the website https://www.co.genesee.ny.us/departments/youthbureau/youthcourt.php.

Applications are due by September 15.

Interviews of potential candidates will take place in September and October with the training to begin in November.  

For more information on the Genesee County Youth Court, please contact Chelsea Elliott at the Genesee County Youth Bureau, 585-344-3960 or chelsea.elliott@co.genesee.ny.us

Press Release:

No matter who we are or where we come from, we all know at least one person affected by opioid use disorder (OUD). An estimated 2.1 million Americans have OUD. 

Since 2019, there have been 53 fatal opioid overdoses in Genesee County, with additional deaths still pending official causes of death.

What many do not realize is that OUD is a medical disorder characterized by an inability to stop the use of an addictive substance, despite the negative consequences associated with its use. Addiction is a chronic brain disease, not a lack of willpower.

Recovery from OUD also requires more than willpower, and medications can be part of the solution. Three FDA approved medications – methadone, buprenorphine, and naltrexone – can lower the risk of relapse and overdose. The longer a person with OUD stays in medication treatment, the greater the chance of a successful recovery.

However, challenges associated with the availability and acceptance of medication treatment exist. To address these challenges, the HEALing Communities Study will launch a campaign from August 7 - October 6 focused on Staying in Medication Treatment.

This unique campaign aims to help people with OUD and needed supporters (e.g., loved ones, treatment providers):

• Understand how important medication treatment can be for recovery from OUD
• Learn how to overcome commonly experienced barriers to treatment retention
• Improve support for those in medication treatment

Throughout the campaign, real people share their compelling stories about how they have overcome challenges to staying in medication treatment. Treatment challenges addressed throughout the campaign include managing anxiety and depression, coping
with cravings and triggers, finding recovery support that accepts medication treatment, and asking for support from loved ones.

“We are so thankful to all of the spokespersons who have shared their powerful stories about their recovery journey and how they have overcome medication treatment challenges,” stated Sherri Bensley, Program Manager for the HEALing Communities Study. “Their stories continue to save lives by inspiring people with opioid use disorder to stay on medication as long as needed.”

You Can Help HEAL our Communities
Everyone can make a difference by staying on medications for opioid use disorder (MOUD) treatment for as long as you need and supporting loved ones in MOUD treatment.

About the HEALing Communities Study
The National Survey on Drug Use and Health estimates that 2.1 million Americans have OUD, yet fewer than 20% of those individuals receive specialty care in a given year. A menu of evidence-based practices (EBPs) exists, including opioid overdose education and naloxone dissemination programs, prescription drug monitoring programs, FDA-approved medications for opioid use disorder.

Unfortunately, these EBPs have largely failed to penetrate community settings. As a result, the National Institutes of Health (NIH) and the Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration (SAMHSA) launched the HEALing Communities Study (HCS) to investigate and identify the EBPs for preventing and treating OUD that are most effective at the local level. The goal of the study is to reduce opioid-related overdose deaths by 40 percent over the course of three years.

To learn more about the HEALing Communities Study and to help end overdoses in Genesee County, visit:

• HEALing Communities Study Website: www.HealTogetherNY.org/Genesee
• GOW Opioid Task Force Website: www.gowopioidtaskforce.org/
• GO Health Facebook: www.facebook.com/GOHealthNY

There were rainbows along with a pretty nice sunset in Genesee County for photographers to enjoy on Monday.

Mike Bromley and staff were recently updating their sectional banners when the numbers held a new significance:  of the 66 total sectional titles, it was a fairly even split of 34 for males and 32 for females. 

That was over the course of Bromley’s 24 years at Batavia City School District. 

Prior to 1999, they won 17 sectional titles, and only four of those were for girls' sports. 

“I’m proud of that,” he said during an interview Monday with The Batavian, just a few hours before the school board announced his retirement as director of physical education, health and athletics

Not only does he believe that “our job is to teach life skills,” but also to be an equal opportunity sports advocate. And achieving those across the board sectionals titles goes a long way in demonstrating his commitment toward that end

Bromley said his career began when he was just 22, teaching girls' varsity track while “sending out a billion” resumes during a time when there weren’t many physical education jobs to be had. 

He remembers after having an interview in Genesee County, the principal in Cattaraugus called  him into her office to tell him, “They want you at Elba.”

For the next 11 years, from 1988 to 1999, he was the physical ed teacher there. 

Why phys ed and coaching?
"So my role models in high school were my physical education teachers and coaches. They were people that I looked up to and spent a lot of time with, and that were great influences on me," Bromley said. "When I had the ability to do the same thing, that's what I wanted to do. I knew that I wanted to be a teacher, I wanted to be a coach. You know, I didn't know that I was going to be an administrator at that point. But, you know, they were just my role models in life. They were really good people that took me in and did a lot of extra things with me. And when you see that, and you get that much out of it, it's great to be able to go into a career that you can give back."

In 1999, he was hired by Batavia City Schools as the athletic director. Early on, he established not a Blue Devil but the Blue Devil. There had been different versions, varying looks and feels for the symbols — some not so appealing or at all friendly. 

“That was a big thing, we were trying to unify the Blue Devil,” he said. 

Another notch in his achievement belt has been building wellness centers, he said, that include strength and conditioning systems that run right on through the summer at Van Detta Stadium, of which he was part of every step of the way. A structure that became a Title IX issue for girls due to its unequal amenities, and old, rundown training facilities, bathrooms, locker rooms, concession stand and well-worn track, the stadium went through a major overhaul that has since become a facility that’s used nearly every day, he said.

“If you remember, you know, even during COVID, we would turn the lights on, and kids were able to go outside, you know, be part of something. There's probably something at the stadium four or five times out of six days a week,” he said. “There's something there every night and on Saturdays. So it should be the jewel of the community. And I truly believe it is. We host a lot of good events.

“And I think with the stadium, the success that our teams have gotten, they bought in. You know, you think about our football team and think about our track and field teams, you have to think about our soccer teams, they have gotten better and better," he said. "So you know, I think it just was, you build it, they will come, and the kids and coaches have bought in. So I think that was a great addition to our community.”

What was a major challenge -- in dealing with kids, discipline, and their behaviors -- during your time at Batavia?
“I’m obviously a kid advocate, but you have to hold people accountable. And sometimes, when you hold people accountable, it's not the most popular thing. That's always a challenge. I thought about this, if you asked me what my biggest challenge is right now, or anybody’s, I’d say social media. I want to say this very politely. It's not used to potentially lift people up a lot of times. And unfortunately, it tears people down," he said. "And people could do that in multiple ways on social media. So that's a challenge for some of our athletes. It's a challenge for our coaches. It was a challenge for myself as an athletic director with some of the stuff that goes on in that. So I think that's going to be something that hopefully society figures out.”

 He hasn’t fully considered what he will do once his retirement kicks in, but traveling with his wife Tanni and hitting some “bigtime football games” are on the list, plus perhaps a return to coaching, working as a consultant for the district, and substitute teaching, he said.

“I love working with kids. When you see their success, that’s a high you can’t get anywhere else,” he said. 

He'll be walking away from his full-time gig with a lot of pride for the coaching staff of about 80 positions -- all "dedicated, motivated" people teaching those life skills that are important on and off the field, he said.

"You're gonna learn how to be on time,  you're gonna learn how to work with others ... so all the life skills that you learn, I believe that we teach in athletic. And I think our coaches do a really good job of that," he said. And, you know, I'm very proud of my kids and their successes, and I think a lot of has to deal with coaches from Batavia, holding them accountable and teaching them how to work hard. How to be a good person. So I'm most proud of that." 

Looking back, “You hope you left it better than when you found it, and I hope I did that,” he said. 

The school board officially accepted his letter of retirement, which included the following comments:

“I would like to thank the Batavia Board of Education and all of the superintendents that have helped support our Health, Physical Education, and Interscholastic Athletics programs over the past 24 years,” Bromley. “I feel very fortunate to have worked with many talented and dedicated individuals who have supported our programs. We’ve hired many remarkable and devoted teachers, nurses, buildings and grounds staff, and coaches who always go above and beyond for our students and student-athletes. I would like to thank the Batavia community, parents, and students that I have been able to work within our mission to develop outstanding and very competitive programs. Lastly, I would like to recognize my wife and children, who are my biggest supporters, as it was not always easy to be the AD's family. My plan in retirement is to attend many athletic contests in support of our student-athletes. Once a Blue Devil, always a Blue Devil."

Board member John Reigle congratulated Bromley during the board meeting, acknowledging that he’s “done a lot for this district” and has put in long hours, especially when traveling for away games. Superintendent Jason Smith called the retirement of Bromley and colleague Scott Rozanski “bittersweet” in a press release sent out Monday evening.

“They have both been tremendous colleagues who have grown into good friends. They were supportive of me from day one, and I’m confident I can say the same for the other superintendents they’ve worked with during their many years in our district,” Smith said. “I wish them both the best for the future, and I truly hope they enjoy retirement—they’ve certainly earned it. On behalf of the faculty, staff, students, and Batavia community, I thank them both for their service and commitment to BCSD.” 

The board approved acting director Timm Slade to take over for Bromley when he leaves on Aug. 14 for knee surgery. Slade will be paid $500 per day. Bromley will then help with “transition assistance” for the yet-to-be-hired new athletic director from Oct. 2 to Dec. 31, 2023, at a rate of $62.50 per hour, up to 150 hours. 

The BCSD administration team is currently in the process of hiring a new athletic director. 

There likely won’t be much fanfare with the departure of Business Administrator Scott Rozanski from the city school district, despite his routine presence for two decades.

No surprise, Rozanski was the one to present the yearly budget and the potential financial trappings of bus purchases, school equipment and additional personnel.

More recently, with the dawning of social media, he was also the one to bear the brunt of retorts when stating possible tax rate increases. 

Rozanski has laid it all out with seemingly thoughtful patience, from the multi-page spending plan to myriad school repairs requiring board approval. Whether it was a clock and public address system or a high school roof that was blown apart by a windstorm, it was on Rozanski to explain the expense.

He was hired as Business Administrator in 2003, and as a key advisor to the superintendent, Rozanski oversaw the preparation and administration of the district’s annual operating and capital budgets, administration of internal business operations, audits, management of state aid, insurance, transportation, contract negotiations, and planning of capital construction projects.  

In a prepared statement, he said that it has been an honor and privilege to work for the Batavia City School District and that “I am grateful to have been able to assist our various superintendents and Boards of Education in meeting the educational and community needs in a fiscally responsible manner.”

“The Board has continually provided balance in offering increased opportunities and improvements to both the students and to the community in a cost-effective manner and often at times without increasing the local burden,” he said. “Personally, it has truly been both a deeply satisfying and rewarding aspect of my career, and I am pleased to have been a part of contributing to the many accomplishments. I will always cherish my time here, my Batavia CSD colleagues, and the fine people of Batavia.”

The board approved Andrew Lang as the new business administrator during its meeting Monday evening. Lang and his family sat in the audience during the meeting — mostly quiet except for one of his four young children apparently cheering Daddy on.

Most recently, Lang served as school business administrator for the Royalton-Hartland Central School District in Middleport. He is a graduate of Erie Community College and the State University of New York at Brockport, where he received his Bachelor of Science degree, his Master's in Educational Administration, and a Certificate of Advanced Study as a School Business Leader.

He thanked the board for the vote of confidence. He's a Batavia resident whose wife is a Batavia High School grad.

“I appreciate the board and the opportunity to serve with the BCSD team,” he said. “My kids will either attend or be attending.”

In a press release issued Monday evening, Superintendent Jason Smith said that Lang will be a “wonderful addition” to the school district’s leadership team, though he has big shoes to fill with the departure of Rozanski. 

Lang was hired on a three-year probationary term for a pro-rated salary of $102,750. 

A four-unit residential complex at 6163 North Lake Road, Bergen, is reportedly filled with smoke.

There is smoke in the basement.

The units have been evacuated except for one unit, which may not be occupied.

Bergen Fire dispatched.

UPDATE 2:42 p.m.: Possible hot water tank fire that is now out.

Press Release:

The Fargo Road Bridge Replacement Project is set to commence on August 14, bringing essential improvements to the bridge located over Black Creek near Route 63 and Little Canada Extension.

The current 11-foot-wide jack arch bridge will be replaced with a modern 28-foot precast concrete arch bridge to meet hydraulic capacity requirements. This upgrade is crucial for maintaining smooth truck routes, as Fargo Road serves as a superload route within the County.

The project is locally funded, with Ravi Engineering in Rochester leading as the Engineer and LC Whitford as the Contractor. Construction is planned to continue diligently until the end of November.

Fargo Road will be closed during the construction period for the safety of motorists and construction workers. However, a well-marked detour will be in place to guide motorists and trucks efficiently.

On Thursday, members of the Genesee County Planning Board will discuss whether to grant a special use permit for a new travel plaza near the Pembroke exit of the Thruway.

If approved by the Town of Pembroke, construction crews will build the travel plaza along Alleghany Road. 

Currently, the TA Travel Center, the Flying J Travel Center, and a new Speedway operate in the area.

Planning Board members are scheduled to meet at 7 p.m. on Aug. 10 in the large conference room at County Building No. 2 at 3837 W. Main Street Road in Batavia.  The board's authority is whether to recommend approval or not and whether any modifications should be considered. The Town of Pembroke's planning board has the final say on the application for a special use permit.

According to a Planning Board referral, this travel plaza will sell food and fuel and have a convenience store, a car wash and offer charging stations for electric vehicles (EVs).

The new development will sit on a 49.60-acre parcel, which is currently undeveloped. The site contains several wetlands. The entrance roads must cross over Murder Creek to access the site.

In a separate project, the board is also being asked to consider a special use permit for multi-family development in the same area as the travel plaza.

The area is seeing rapid growth this year.  A new distribution center is currently under construction next to the Thruway.  A mixed-use building opened at Brickhouse Corners (Route 5 and Route 77) earlier this year.

As The Batavian reported in January, the distribution center will take up 100 acres and was pitched as a great location for a distribution center — halfway between Rochester and Buffalo.  

The Coots family hosted its annual party for auto enthusiasts, the Hardcore Happening, in Pavilion on Saturday.

Photos by Philip Casper.

There are continuous fundraisers for MaryLand, a Haven for Horses to help offset the expense of sheltering, feeding, and caring for 10 horses, the future purchase of a tractor, and the goal to house 10 more horses with a new barn.

There will be a big craft fair on site from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. on Sept. 30 at 8132 West Bergen Road, Le Roy. Craft vendors, a food truck, and a track photographer will be available to take photos of your kids with the horses for a fee, with all proceeds going to the nonprofit. 

This event will also serve as an open house for folks to see for themselves what MaryLand is all about, the nonprofit President and CEO Maryanne Arena said. 

“Our mission is to provide a safe and dignified retirement to Standardbred race horses. We also want to educate the public on harness racing which is a wonderful sport,” she said. “We want to promote responsible horse ownership. These horses run their hearts out for you and deserve a great retirement.”

MaryLand has a board of directors and dedicated workers, plus trainers who work with and advise Arena, she said. 

"Alana Caprio is my mentor, and she has taught me and continues teaching me about Standardbred race horses. She cares about her horses deeply and has a wealth of experience and knowledge," Arena said. "Denny Bucceri is also a trainer who I've worked with who would never put a horse in danger. I always respected Denny's love and respect for horses, and Jim McNeight is humane and ethical.

"I need to thank the board members because they work continuously for the horses. Board member Amber and her dad volunteer to help at the farm. It's all done out of love, and no one gets a salary or compensated," she said. "It's for the love of the horses and providing them a forever home."

Arena wants to share the message that people who dislike horseracing and think that it’s cruel "need to know there are some good and responsible trainers out there." She has learned from some great ones, she said.

Early in the morning, after enough stillness has set in, they can hear the hoofbeats. It's as if a train is ramming down the 15-acre field. Maryanne Arena and daughter Jaime take bets on who will finish first.

Neither Arena is surprised at the impromptu race that has become like daily clockwork at MaryLand, a Haven for Horses, on West Bergen Road in Le Roy. After all, these magnificent creatures were once fine-tuned for racing -- Standardbreds, whose job was to get on the track and win.

 Now, they just do it innately amongst themselves, with nobody else calling the shots.

"It's a wonderful thing to watch the race horses race on their own," Maryanne said at her home of 15 years that now also serves as the retirement sanctuary for 10 horses.

"We bring retired Standardbred racehorses here for the rest of their lives. Once a horse is accepted at MaryLand, it has a lifetime home," she said. "This is the difference between a 'rescue' and a 'sanctuary.' A rescue retrains and then finds adoptive homes for the horse. We accept and give a lifetime home where they are safe and have a dignified retirement."

Admittedly a poor kid from Brooklyn, she always loved horses, but her parents couldn't afford to buy and keep a horse at a stable, Arena said. Some of her earliest memories, with photos to preserve them, are of Arena with ponies.

"My father introduced me to horse racing, and I've been a fan ever since," she said. "Always dreamed of having my own horse farm and racing horses. I have done both. Started with a horse farm in Saratoga County, worked as a horse ranger for Saratoga National Battlefield.

"When I got my first racehorse, I asked the trainer what happens when a horse is finished racing. She gave me several options, and I thought then that I had to get a farm to retire that horse to," Arena said. "I did, and later that farm would evolve into MaryLand, not only for my horse but for others who needed a home to retire to."

There are 10 horses that fill 10 stalls in the barn on site, with future plans and fundraising for a second barn to take on more horses. But Arena knows enough to know that "I will not take on more than we can afford at one time." And she won't allow any horses to live out in the elements 24 hours a day, she said.

So besides the crucial need for shelter, there are the other challenges of being a caretaker: "Horses are expensive, and you cannot cut corners," she said.

"They need food, clean stalls, hay, vet care, a farrier, blankets, halters, and many other things," Arena said. "Right now, I pay for most of the care myself, along with the fundraising the organization does. The goal is to become sustainable so we can continue saving horses without worrying month to month about expenses."

So let's back up; when did Arena get her very first horse?

As a police officer in Brooklyn. His name was Romeo, and he led her on a love affair that's ever strong today. She's out at the barn by 7 a.m. each morning and there to say good night, feeding the house guests "plenty of cookies" before bedtime. In between that, there are chores that Jaime helps out with, such as cleaning stalls, scrubbing buckets and giving them fresh water. She's allergic to the dust in the barn and so wears her U.S. Navy mask to better tolerate the air.

Both Jaime and Maryanne would like to have some type of program for children and veterans to be able to visit with the horses for some type of trauma therapy. There have been such programs developed using horses and other animals to assist people in therapeutic healing, and Jaime has struggled with PTSD, she said, and believes in the power of equine therapy.

"It's the dream to start a program for vets someday," she said.

Obviously, as someone who still has a horse in the race, literally -- Maryanne's Sissy just won at Batavia Downs -- she knows horses, and she knows these horses -- beginning with Slim, the first one that she took in and then never looked back. 

And there's Grandmother, the 31-year-old who went running on the ice and fell, ripping her knee apart to the bone. "We almost lost her," Arena said of that winter incident, but the tough granny pulled through and is now fine.

Slim is "the man," first in charge of the group, with Rocky second in command. Each horse has its own distinctive personality, she said.

"They are flight animals and have emotions. They, if treated gently, they will be gentle. They are very smart and respond to the human they are with. I have a great respect for horses," she said. "Most of all, I agree with the great trainer Monty Roberts, who says that if a horse does something wrong, it is the human that did something wrong."

Despite the work involved, there are also rewards for the effort.

"Every day when I get up and go to the barn to feed them and turn them out I see happy and healthy horses," she said. "Horses I love to show people. Horses I want to spend time with. They are great therapy. Good for the soul and mental health. That is the reward."

For more information, go to MaryLand.

Photos by Howard Owens.

The Batavia Society of Artists is hosting artist Karen Crittenden at 7 p.m. this Tuesday at GO ART!/Seymour Place, 201 E. Main St., Batavia. 

Karen will be doing a hands-On Gelli Plates and Alcohol Inks demonstration.  All materials will be provided at no cost.  Refreshments are provided.  Non-members are welcome for a $5 fee.  The 2.o.1. Tavern will be open for cash purchases. 

Please join us for a fun and interesting evening of making art!  Any questions, please call Teresa Tamfer at 585-506-2465.

Press Release:

Senator George Borrello has introduced legislation mandating that New York City, the largest consumer of energy in the state and the most fossil fuel dependent, accept turbine installations at a rate equal to that of upstate New York. 

“New York State’s leadership has expressed a commitment to making the state the most progressive in the country in its energy policy and conversion to renewables. To clear the path for their agenda, they have trampled on the state’s constitutional home rule doctrine, forcing upstate localities to accept industrial wind turbine installations even when local officials and residents are fiercely opposed,” said Sen. Borrello.

“The special interests and legislators pushing this conversion to all-renewables are largely from New York City. As upstate New York’s beautiful landscapes and Long Island’s shoreline are destroyed to make way for industrial turbine installations, the city has not had to make any comparable sacrifices, despite the fact that most of the energy produced will be diverted to the five boroughs,” said Sen. Borrello.

Specifically, the legislation would prohibit the New York State Board on Electric Generation Siting and the Environment from granting a certificate for the construction of an industrial wind turbine within New York State unless a certificate for a wind turbine within New York City was also issued.

“As it stands now, the loss of green space as well as the wildlife and ecosystem damage that turbines cause will be solely borne by upstate and Long Island communities, which is not only unfair, but contradicts the ‘urgency of the climate crisis’ narrative that we hear often from New York leaders,” Sen. Borrello said. “If climate change is truly an ‘existential threat to humanity’ then the cost and logistical challenges of placing wind turbines in New York City should be tackled with the same urgency of those efforts that are ongoing in other parts of the state.”

Senator Borrello also noted that upstate New York’s energy generation is already more than 90 percent emission-free, thanks to hydropower and nuclear resources.  In contrast, New York City’s energy production is largely dependent on fossil fuels.

“New York’s transition to renewable energy is going to require great sacrifices and higher costs. Those burdens shouldn’t fall disproportionately on the shoulders of upstate and Long Island residents. This measure is aimed at ensuring all regions of the state bear their fair share of the difficulties that will accompany this transition.”  

Press Release:

The Genesee and Orleans County Health Departments (GO Health) are offering free drive-thru rabies vaccination clinic in August.

The Genesee County Rabies Vaccination Clinic will be held on August 10 from 4-6:30 p.m. at the Genesee County Fairgrounds (5056 East Main Street, Batavia)

Vaccinations are free for dogs, cats, and ferrets. Animals must be at least 3 months old. Each animal must be leashed or crated and accompanied by an adult who can control the animal. Limit 4 pets per car maximum.

“Rabies continues to be a public health issue in Genesee and Orleans Counties,” stated Paul Pettit, Public Health Director for GO Health. “We urge pet owners to take this opportunity to ensure their pets are protected against rabies.”

For more information on GO Health’s programs and services, visit GOHealthNY.org. You can also contact the Genesee County health department at 585-344-2580 x5555 or Health@co.genesee.ny.us.

Press Release:

The Genesee County Economic Development Center (GCEDC) board of directors accepted an initial resolution for Oak Orchard Solar 3 LLC’s community solar farm project in the town of Batavia at the board’s Thursday, August 3 meeting.

The $9 million investment will include the installation of ground-mounted solar panels in order to generate up to 5 megawatts of power.

Since 2019, the GCEDC has reviewed over $1 billion of solar energy projects. These projects have proposed 860 megawatts of renewable energy and property tax-type revenues of $127.4 million to municipalities.

Under the proposed project agreement, Oak Orchard Solar 3 LLC’s project would generate $4,000/megawatts (AC) annually + a 2% annual escalator of revenues to Genesee County and the Elba Central School District. Including a host agreement with the Town of Batavia, this project is estimated to generate a $319,088 increase in property-tax type revenues to host municipalities over the life of the agreements.

A public hearing on the proposed project agreement will be scheduled in the town of Batavia.