A Genesee County jury on Friday rejected rape charges against a former Batavia High School football star, acquitting him in a unanimous decision on all counts following a trial.
The defense attorney for Ray Leach, Public Defender Jerry Ader, said the acquittal was appropriate.
"While the outcome was welcome and justified, the mental pain and suffering that these accusations and trial put Ray and his family and friends through were significant and long-lasting," Ader said.
The jury found Leach not guilty on counts of:
Rape in the first degree (Penal Law section 130.35(2)
Criminal Sexual Act in the first degree (Penal Law section 130.50(2) and
Sexual Abuse in the first degree (Penal Law section 130.65(2).
If not for the jury's decision, Leach's life could have taken a tragic turn, Ader said.
The counts against Leach included two Class B violent felonies and a Class D violent felony. Mandatory sentencing requirements, if Leach had been convicted, could have meant from five years to 25 years in prison, plus 20 years on parole and becoming a registered sex offender for life.
"Prosecutors are required to do justice, not necessarily get convictions," Ader said. "A prosecutor’s client is the public, not the police, witnesses or complainants. This case had many issues from the start, almost two years ago. Hopefully, cases like Ray’s will make people who investigate complaints and possibly prosecute them take a hard look at their practices and intentions to ensure that justice is done in the future.”
In 2018, Leach set the Section V single-season scoring record with 310 points. That was fifth all-time in the state. He set the Section V single-season rushing record at 3,012 yards, which was sixth all-time in the state. He scored 50 points against Cheektowaga on Nov. 10, 2018, a Section V record. He ended his high school career at the top of the list in Section V in all-time rushing yards at 6,203. He also set a new Section V record with 111 career touchdowns.
A Sheriff's Office pursuit that started somewhere on the north side of the city of Batavia ended at Swan and School streets at around 1:45 a.m. on Sunday when the suspect vehicle struck a utility pole and flipped over.
One person is reportedly in custody.
A deputy was overheard telling a distraught family member who ran up to the scene and crossed the police crime scene tape that the suspect was uninjured and was in custody at the Genesee County Jail.
Another woman was taken into custody kicking and screaming, "That's my brother," with a deputy telling her he was OK.
This is an ongoing investigation, and while The Batavian was on the scene, no members of the Sheriff's Office, which is the agency handling the case, were available to provide more information.
The pursuit was reported on both State Street and Ross Street prior to the crash.
There were flames coming from the vehicle when City Fire arrived on scene. The fire was quickly extinguished.
UPDATE 3 a.m.: Sgt. Mathew Clor confirmed charges are pending and should be part of a press release in the morning. One suspect in custody. The woman who struggled with police was released with a warning once she calmed down. Besides taking out the utility pole on Swan, the vehicle also struck a mailbox on Ross Street.
“The shooting at a rally for President Trump in Pennsylvania this evening was reprehensible and should concern people of every political affiliation. Differences in political views are never a justification for violence. Reports indicate an attendee has been killed, which is tragic. My prayers are with the family of this victim who died because of the senseless, hateful actions of the shooter. I pray that President Trump is okay and that no other individuals were hurt."
Personal trainer and entrepreneur Macy Paradise in his new gym, Flex Space, in Batavia City Centre. Photo by Howard Owens
If you’ve ever wanted a little workout space to call your own where you can exercise in peace without worrying about anyone else watching, interrupting, or—please, no—offering unsolicited advice, then personal trainer and entrepreneur Macy Paradise has the Flex Space for you.
Paradise, who formerly operated The Brick, a community-based fitness center on Harvester Avenue, for the past four years, has moved into a 2,000-square-foot revamped site at 8 Batavia City Centre.
True to its name, Flex Space offers the flexibility for anyone to work out at any time — 24 hours a day — without the hassle of a membership or fellow members competing for equipment or privacy, he says.
“So the training space is a 24/7 exclusive gym. You would sign up for a time slot by the half-hour on my website and pay. It’s cashless, and it’s yours for however long you book it. The customer will receive a code to access the gym during that time for exclusive use,” Paradise said to The Batavian while preparing for his grand opening. “The goal was to give people a private space, to help the person who wants to come in and train on their own (or book with a friend at a discount).”
An adjacent but separate event room can accommodate up to 100 people for birthday parties and special events or exercise classes and seminars. He has 12 tables, more than 100 chairs, a prep table, a projector, a full-size refrigerator and security of an easy entrance/exit and nearby parking lot, he said.
He created a gym and event space out of what used to be there, he said, which required redoing all of the floors and part of the ceilings, stringing Edison lights, installing central air, and “recreating the space that was left” by the former tenant by opening the space up to get all of the exercise equipment in there.
The lobby has an old-school vibe, with vintage furniture, plus some plants and ivy growing off the walls to give it “an earthy vibe,” he said.
What does Paradise know about fitness? Well, there’s his own journey — once weighing in at 300 pounds, he finally decided to get right with his own well-being, and lost more than 100 pounds, and got into the physical, mental and nutritional aspects of fitness.
The 39-year-old is certified by the National Academy of Sports Medicine and offers nutritional counseling and meal planning. He said he still has some openings for personal training, given his busy schedule that starts in the morning at his longtime haunt, Elba's Backyard Barbell and ends in Batavia.
His new gym has a range of equipment, from cable machines, free weights, a Smith machine, squat rack, dumbbells, and leg press to a Stairmaster, recumbent bike, treadmill, elliptical, box jumps, medicine balls and resistance training items such as a sled.
Everyone has their own niche in terms of personal training, and his leans toward working with women ages 30 and up to his oldest client of 78, currently. He’s looking for trainers and instructors that may be interested in renting space for their clients or classes on a weekly or weekend basis.
After all, that’s what the name is all about — it’s a Flex Space open to accommodate one’s needs for fitness and recreational pursuits.
Paradise invites everyone to come check it out during his opening, which includes a ribbon-cutting at 4 p.m. July 19, and then from 5 to 7 p.m. there’s “a big party” with a small group fitness class, a tour of the gym and event space, and food and refreshments from Everybody Eats.
If you park in the lot near the former Sunny’s restaurant, use the purple door next to Batavia Family Dental. For more information, go to macyparadisefit.com, and once he has his opening, bookings can be made at www.flxspce.com.
2023 File Photo of a happy Avantae Owens with his mom during the talent show at Genesee County Fair. Photo by Joanne Beck
With less than a week to go before Genesee County's largest event comes to roost for eight days, volunteers are mowing grass, whacking weeds, assembling animal pens, cleaning out buildings, preparing the barns, setting up tables and chairs and putting in the time from sunup to sundown until showtime.
It's hardly glamorous, but that's what keeps the annual county fair, driven by Genesee County’s 4-H participants and Agricultural Society volunteers, alive and well—with record numbers the last two years.
“For us volunteers that are putting it on, it never ends. So this is almost like our Super Bowl, right? We get to this very week, and we work a ton of hours. You know, it's a little bit different planning it because you do a lot of planning, like, during the day or at night, or when I'm in my car, I make a lot of phone calls, so you're always doing something every day to plan it," Ag Society Treasurer Norm Pimm said to The Batavian. "But within the week of the fair … we don't leave the fairgrounds. We’re there all week; we're there 24 hours a day for fair days. And it's tiring, because it's so long.
"But we do it, obviously, for the community, to keep growing and keep going so the kids in the community have something to enjoy. Because, I mean, a lot of the county fairs are either cutting back or are no longer in existence, and a lot of carnivals have sort of either died out or gone away," he said. "So we're trying to make sure that we stay there for the long term. Our focus is to keep this thing moving.”
The fair has continued to grow with the number of participants, variety of entertainment, and size of animal entries, Pimm said, and as a result, there’s been a constant increase of attendees that ramble through the entryway at $10 per carload.
It's all set to begin July 19 at 5056 East Main Road, Batavia with a stockyard classic hog show, the North American Six-Horse Hitch Classic Series, and the fair queen pageant, and the schedule doesn't stop until the final fireworks show is over on July 27.
Fair highlights Back by popular demand, the North American Six-Horse Hitch Class Series is set for 5:30 p.m. July 19 in the horse arena, with a draft horse farm team show at 6:30 p.m. Tucked into that is the first half of the traditional fair queen pageant at 6 p.m. under the yellow entertainment tent.
A fair favorite — the talent show — will hit the stage at noon on July 20 under the big yellow tent. Show organizer Laura Kauppi is looking for entrants of any age and type of talent (with the stipulation that acts must be family-friendly), so if you’ve got a song to sing, an instrument to play or a routine to perform, she wants to hear from you.
Participation is free, and there will be small cash prizes for first, second and third-place winners. Register before Sunday to receive a goody bag. Registration forms are available here
Later that evening at 7 p.m., The Eaglez tribute band will return for another year of “Life in the Fast Lane” and more country and soft rock tunes.
Knight Patrol, a Rochester 80s cover band, has been added to the lineup for 7 p.m. July 21, capping off the fair queen pageant and crowning earlier that afternoon at 4 p.m.
Meanwhile a Power Wheels demo and garden tractor pulls are scheduled at the track over at the grandstands at 2 and 3 p.m., respectively.
July 22 is Senior Citizen Day, which means half-price entry at $5 per carload from 11 a.m. to 4 p.m. for seniors and special entertainment by Kelly’s Old Timers Band at noon.
In lieu of the midway’s arrival not happening until Tuesday, there will be several free inflatable bounce houses and obstacle courses set up for kids from 1 to 5 p.m. July 20-22, Pimm said.
July 23 is Veteran’s Day, with $5 per carload from 11 a.m. to 4 p.m. for veteran visitors. The midway is set to open from 4 to 9 p.m., with a kids’ day special from noon to 4 p.m. on July 24 and July27 for $20.
The fair parade is set for 6:30 p.m. July 23, and 7 p.m. karaoke nights will provide opportunities for folks to perform July 22 for a competition and July 23 for an open mic.
Faith at the Fair, a popular collection of denominational musical performers, is set to begin at 4 p.m. July 24.
Unrelenting rain forced the cancellation of last year’s first-time 100-lap Enduro, so organizers have brought it back for a second try as a new element for the fair at 6:30 p.m. July 24 at the Grandstand.
First Responder’s Day on July 25 means $5 per carload for anyone with a first responder/EMS badge from 11 a.m. to 4 p.m. This is the day when much of the 4-H participants’ hard work culminates in the market animal auction, which begins at 6 p.m. at the main show ring.
"We're working on getting another band for that Thursday," Pimm said.
The demolition derby is set for 7 p.m. July 26 at the Grandstands while BB Dang turns up a little high-energy pop, rock and country from 7 to 11 p.m. at the yellow entertainment tent. Fireworks wrap up the demo derby.
A new event -- the screaming diesel shootout semi pulls, modified pick-up, street and mini mod tractor pulls, are lined up for 7 p.m. July 27 at the track Grandstand while Nerds Gone Wild get their 80s on — figuratively and literally —with some fun apparel and melodies from the decade. Fair-goers are asked to join the fun by dressing the part.
Fireworks are scheduled to close out the evening and the fair.
In between these highlights there are, of course, the many 4-H animal exhibits and shows, tempting sweet and savory midway and Chuck Wagon foods, carnival games, pig races, kangaroos, trailer of birds, color wars, vendor exhibit halls, a balloon display and demonstration, small fry tractor pulls, a Future Farmers of America competition, radio-controlled car racing, a fair trivia hunt with prizes, and other activities.
Volunteers are always welcome throughout the event to help out with things such as parking and at the food stand, Pimm said. If you’re interested in helping out, call the fair office at 585-344-2424.
A kaleidoscopic, psychedelic video of drummer Chad Smith plays above him and Flea during the Red Hot Chili Peppers concert at Darien Lake on Friday. Photo by Howard Owens.
The Red Hot Chili Peppers hit the stage hot at Darien Lake Performing Arts Center on a steamy Saturday night with an instrumental jam that featured Flea's funky slap baselines, Chad Smith's pounding beat, and John Frusciante's sizzling fretwork.
Then Anthony Kiedis took the stage and kicked things up a notch.
The LA-based punk/funk band ran through 18 songs on the night, both hits and deep tracks, pulling material from most of their 13 studio albums released since 1984, including Blood Sugar Sex Magik, Californication, Stadium Arcadium, and their two most recent releases, Unlimited Love and Return of the Dream Canteen.
"Eddie" is Frusciante's tribute to one of his guitar heroes, Eddie Van Halen, and it is a standout track on Dream Canteen. From the same album, they also played "Carry Me Home." From Unlimited Love, they featured the opening track "Black Summer" and Kliedis's name-dropping ode to the LA music scene of his youth, "Aquatic Mouth Dance," which opens with one of Flea's greatest bass riffs.
Reliable fan favorites in the set included "Suck My Kiss" and "Californication."
The Peppers also included two covers of the Ramones: "I Remember You" and "Havana Affair."
The biggest hits, "Under the Bridge" and "Give It Away," were saved for the encore.
The opener on Friday was LA-based psychedelic rock band Wand, which is currently on tour supporting its fifth studio album, Vertigo.
Singer and lead guitarist Cory Hanson, with a David Byrne-like wiryness, is an impressive musician and strong presence on stage. Unfortunately, the set was marred by a poor mix. The bass guitar and kick drum dominated and overwhelmed everything else coming from the stage, making the mix muddled and suppressing most sense of melody from the songs. That's a shame because a check of a couple of the band's releases indicates they strike the right tone to potentially win over Chili Pepper fans.
Chad Smith, John Frusciante, and Anthony Kiedis Photo by Howard Owens.
Chad Smith, Flea, and John Frusciante. Photo by Howard Owens.
Frontman Anthony Kiedis Photo by Howard Owens.
Flea Photo by Howard Owens.
Chad Smith Photo by Howard Owens.
John Frusciante Photo by Howard Owens.
Flea, Chad Smith, and John Frusciante. Photo by Howard Owens.
Flea, Anthony Kiedis, and Chad Smith Photo by Howard Owens.
Cory Hanson, frontman for the band Wand. Photo by Howard Owens.
Mark Masse, CEO of the Genesee County Economic Development Center
The Genesee County Economic Development Center plans to build a 500,000-gallon water storage tank at WNY STAMP to help with the fire suppression needs of current and potential park tenants.
The immediate need to provide sufficient water pressure for the Edwards Vaccum plant is now under construction.
Mark Masse, CEO of GCEDC, said a 12-inch water main supplies STAMP now, but the water pressure isn't sufficient to meet Edwards's fire suppression needs.
Edwards will need 120,000 gallons of water at the ready from the tank to support its fire impression system. The excess capacity will provide service to any future tenants.
The water will be non-potable and rarely changed. A heating element will keep it from freezing in the winter.
A 30-acre parcel is available to the north of the new Edwards facility. If a potential buyer were interested, Edwards would have first right of refusal.
"There is a potential for a project there that could utilize that tank as well," Masse told the Genesee County Planning Board on Thursday.
STAMP Waterworks Corporation, which will own the tang, currently has an operations and maintenance agreement with the town of Batavia for the tank and the rest of the water system at the STAMP site.
The tank's design and engineering have yet to be completed, so Massee couldn't provide an estimated cost when asked by The Batavian. He said bids should go out by the end of the year. Funding is from a grant, Fast New York, already received by GCEDC to fund the overall infrastructure for STAMP.
July 26, 1990 was the signing of the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA), the first piece of legislation to provide people with disabilities the right to equal access to employment, governmental programs and services, areas of public accommodations, communications, and transportation. Many consider it to be the most comprehensive legislation giving individuals with impairments access to everyday life.
In celebration of this milestone, every year Independent Living of the Genesee Region (ILGR) holds a Consumer ADA Picnic. This year it takes place from 12 - 2 p.m. on Friday July 26 at the Town of Batavia Kiwanis Park, 3808 W. Main St., Batavia. It offers Free food and games including a Scavenger Hunt.
If you plan to attend, please R.S.V.P. to Catherine DeMare at 585-815-8501, extension 400 or email cdemare@wnyil.org. Transportation to this event may be available; please inquire with Catherine DeMare.
We look forward to having you celebrate with us!
Independent Living of the Genesee Region (ILGR) is a member of the Western New York Independent Living, Inc. family of agencies that offers an expanding array of services to aid individuals with disabilities to take control of their own lives.
The Genesee County Youth Bureau is excited to announce that our annual Safe Summer Children’s Carnival will take place on Thursday, July 25 from 10 a.m. - 2 p.m. at David M. McCarthy Ice Arena, 22 Evans Street, Batavia.
All games will be free, and children can win tickets to redeem for prizes. The Seneca Park ZooMobile is scheduled from 10 - 11 a.m. and educational booths/games will run the entire event.
Each child will receive one ticket for a free Sno Cone provided by the Youth Bureau and the ice arena will have their “Snack Shack” open to purchase food and beverages.
There will be several community agency booths that children can visit to fill up a Passport page for a chance to win one of our grand prizes. For more information on the carnival please contact George at the Genesee County Youth Bureau at 344-3960.
One of Genesee County's most successful industrial manufacturers, Oxbo International, founded in Byron 50 years ago, is planning a new 195,000-square-foot facility in Bergen.
According to planning documents, the new factory will replace the existing plant at 7275 Byron Road, Byron.
The new location is part of the GCEDC-created industrial park, Apple Tree Acres, which already includes Liberty Pumps, Craft Cannery ), All Season Party Tent Rentals, GE Renewable Energy, Insurance Auto Auctions, and Leonard Bus Sales.
The 49.7-acre parcel is off South Lake Road, just south of Clinton Street Road.
The Genesee County Planning Board recommends project approval after a brief presentation on Thursday evening.
Oxb manufactures custom-built specialized farming equipment. Planning documents state that the new facility will allow the business to continue growing.
The new site will provide ample room for expansion, said project manager David Ciurzyski.
In response to a question about parking, Ciurzynski said there would be parking in the back for existing employees, with room to add more parking.
"Right now, they have 140 employees," Ciurzynski said. "They're expecting over the next five or six years to have another 140 employees. They'll have room there to expand that parking for those new employees as they come on board."
The company is applying for tax abatements on the project from the Genesee Economic Development Center.
Oxbo began in Byron as a pallet repair business and then became Byron Equipment after filing for a patent on a corn head -- a mechanism to attach to the front of a combine that picks ears of corn off of stalks, leaving the stock behind.
The company then grew through mergers and acquisitions.
In 1998, Byon Equipment acquired a competitor in Wisconsin, and the new management team settled on the name Oxbo, after an oxbow that yolks and ox team together, to symbolize the concept of the new two integrated teams pulling together.
Both plants stayed in production.
In 2003, Oxbo acquired a pea-picking combine company in Illinois and moved that manufacturing operation to Byron. Oxbo is the only manufacturer of a pea-picking combine in the U.S.
In 2004, Oxbo acquired a fruit company in Washington state, and this past June, the company acquired another company in Wisconsin.
However, one of the biggest mergers occurred in 2009, when Oxbo merged with its largest customer in Europe and moved its headquarters to the Netherlands.
The company also operates plants in Brazil, the United Kingdom, and France.
Oxbo employs about 1,200 people in total, 700 in the U.S. The company's gross annual revenue exceeds $400 million.
Architectural rendering from planning documents.
Location map from planning documents. The proposed location is the large brown field in the lower left of the map.
Le Roy native Andy Rich in action during filming. Submitted Photo
When Andy Rich was a teenager, he daydreamed of becoming an actor and showing up in television or movie productions, except for one small detail.
A small-town boy from Le Roy getting anywhere in Los Angeles seemed like a foolhardy pursuit.
“I told myself that was like a silly dream and that I should get a real job,” Rich said during an interview with The Batavian. “So I just gave up on it until I turned 25 or 26. And then I started finding commercial work. I’m 37 now and have probably been in 100 commercial films and television productions. The biggest thing I’ve done recently is I produced a film with Alicia Silverstone.”
His portfolio includes “Pretty Thing” as a producer; movies “Halloween Inferno Part 3” and “The Ultimate Playlist of Noise” as an actor; and commercials for Rozwell Park and Independent Health.
A 2005 Le Roy High School graduate who was involved with Batavia Players and was on the group’s board of directors in 2022, Rich now wants other aspiring actors who may be reticent about working in the field of acting or are making an attempt but with no clear road map to get some tools to help them out.
Supported by a grant through the state Council on the Arts, and locally administered by GO Art!, Rich is offering two workshops of Acting for Large Markets from noon to 2:30 p.m. on Aug. 3 and 4 at Main St. 56 Theater, Batavia. Residents of Genesee, Livingston, Orleans and Wyoming counties may pick one of the sessions to attend for free.
“The reason I’m doing this is because when I got started, there just weren’t any resources for this type of thing. No classes, no one to explain to you how to get started, you were here to figure it out on your own. It took me the better part of 10 years to figure it out. How can I make this dream something real? So that’s the point of this class, is to essentially give people the tools that they need to get started. It is like a jumping-off point.”
There will be two others from the field providing their expertise:
Educator, coach and casting director Amy Gossels will talk about Mastering your Camera Auditions and offer lessons about “innovative on-camera audition techniques that will elevate your auditions and gain coveted industry insight to boost your career.
Gossels has cast more than 1,500 commercials and has been the casting director and, in many cases, a producer for more than 100 film and television productions during her 25-year career in the industry.
Andria Schultz is a brand strategist and consultant for entertainment professionals and organizations. She has worked on the production team for a variety of popular television programs, including “America’s Funniest Home Videos” and Disney Channel’s “Bizaardvark.”
Participants will learn more about honing their actor’s brand — for example, do you have that villain look?
“A lot of casting directors nowadays look for the look first, and then they’ll look at your audition if they’re interested,” he said.
Gossels will also offer tips on how to properly do a casting audition, Rich said, “and she’s not easy to get ahold of,” so making the connection with her is also a plus.
“This is going to give you all the work you need to do to get ready,” he said. “They’re going to get the opportunity to learn a lot of things that they maybe didn’t know as well and they’re gonna be able to make connections with people who have more industry connections than I do.”
He considered not promoting the class and just hoping for the best that people would learn of it and sign up. But then, he thought, “What a waste for it not to be full.”
He has learned the hard way about what not to do or say on set and in auditions, he said, and this is someone’s opportunity to start off on the right foot.
People can make innocent mistakes — say by talking too much on set — that gets them banned from future projects, and they may never know why. It’s a tough business, and the more you learn upfront about what’s expected of you, the likelier it is that you’re called back for other gigs because casting directors will remember you as the cooperative actor, not the difficult one.
And the really good news is that you don’t have to live in Los Angeles to get acting jobs, he said. Western New York is a burgeoning region for the field; there are commercials made for insurance and other familiar companies that are always looking for people of various ages.
New York State makes some eight I Love New York commercials each year, he said, and directors are always looking for people to serve as families in those projects.
Getting more interested? Registration will close by the end of July. To sign up, email iamandyrich@gmail.com with your preferred date of either Aug. 3 or 4. He hopes to see you there.
“I still have a really soft spot for small-town living, and Le Roy means a lot to me, and I just think that people in the region, the Western New York region, deserve more opportunities," he said. "I think a lot of people grow up thinking that there’s only a certain amount of options that are available to them. And I just want people to think differently, that the world is their oyster if they try hard enough.”
Andy Rich in a commercial with Yancey's Fancy cheeses. Submitted Photo
Country music superstar Chris Stapelton's All-American Road Show passed through Darien Lake Performing Arts Center on Thursday. Also on the bill, Marcus King and Nikki Lane.
United Way of Greater Rochester and the Finger Lakes is partnering with the Batavia Muckdogs baseball team to promote United Way’s 2024 Community Impact Service Day: Community Baby Shower.
The baby shower drive will take place at Dwyer Stadium throughout the Muckdogs season from June until August. Attendees can drop off needed baby items in the United Way bin at Dwyer Stadium.
Items needed include, but are not limited to:
Diapers (preemie to size 7)
Baby sleep sacks
Baby wipes
Baby Board Books
Digital Thermometers
In addition to the items listed above, all donations of new baby items are gratefully accepted.
To learn about additional ways you can help support the baby shower, visit www.unitedwayrocflx.org/community-baby-shower. Contact events@unitedwayrocflx.org with any questions.
The Genesee and Orleans County Health Departments (GO Health) will be holding their Local Early Intervention Coordinating Council (LEICC) Quarterly Meeting. The meeting is scheduled for Wednesday, July 17, from 3:30 - 5 p.m. at the Orleans County Health Department (14016 State Route 31, Suite 101, Albion). Refreshments will be provided.
The LEICC is a supportive group made up of county officials, Early Intervention providers, childcare providers, parents of children with disabilities, and other community members. The goal of the LEICC is to afford the opportunity for parents and other members to voice their thoughts and concerns on the strengths and weaknesses of the Genesee and Orleans County Early Intervention Program and to work together to improve the program.
The Genesee and Orleans County Health Departments are encouraging parents to attend and to offer input as to how we can best meet the needs of all infants and toddlers in our local communities.
For zoom connection information or for more information on the meeting, please contact Deborah Krenzer-Lewter, Director of Children with Special Needs, at 585-344-2580 ext. 5572 or 585-589-2777.
Photo of (from left to right) Kyla, Ian & Alexis Sanfratello. Submitted photo.
Press Release:
Genesee County STOP-DWI and the Genesee County Youth Bureau are partnering with the Batavia Muckdogs to host the annual STOP-DWI Night at the Ballpark on Thursday, July 18 at Dwyer Stadium.
The Genesee County Youth Bureau has a limited supply of complimentary tickets available for youth and their families. Get your tickets before they run out by calling 585-344-3960.
This year’s STOP-DWI event is dedicated to the families of Genesee County law enforcement officers. Our officers put their lives on the line every day to serve & protect, while often missing holidays, celebrations, and other milestones with their children, spouses, parents, partners, siblings, and other family members.
Genesee County STOP-DWI will be recognizing this sacrifice with a special tribute to the Sanfratello family. Sgt. Thomas Sanfratello made the ultimate sacrifice when his life was lost in the line of duty on March 10. Throughout his 32 years of service, Sgt. Sanfratello spent countless hours away from his family dedicated to STOP-DWI work details.
Help us cheer on Sgt. Sanfratello’s family as they throw out this year’s first pitch. Join us for this family-focused evening with the Batavia Muckdogs. Gates open at 5:35 p.m. and the game starts at 6:35 p.m.
A special thank you to all event sponsors and contributors helping make this event possible including Batavia Downs Gaming & Hotel, Chapin Manufacturing, UConnect Care, Gerace Realty, Graham Corporation, Kiwanis of Batavia, LeRoy Moose Family Center, Lions Club of Batavia, Marchese Computers, Polish Falcons Nest #493, and the WNY Association of Chiefs of Police.
Join the Genesee County Master Gardeners for their monthly Garden Talk programs. After a break in July, we start back up on August 8 with “What are Weeds Good For?” Gardeners try to remove or eliminate weeds, to allow their own choices in the garden to thrive. Surprisingly, weeds serve many useful functions, including being used for food, herbal remedies, removing toxins, preventing erosion, and even indicating soil types. Join Master Gardener Kate to learn some of the fascinating aspects of the weeds we find in our landscapes.
September 5 brings “Flower Arranging 101: The Basics of Bouquet Making.” Floral design is a rewarding and fun way to be creative with flowers from your garden. Join Master Gardener Brandie as she goes over the basics of creating a fresh garden bouquet. She will cover some design basics as well as several tips and tricks that will have you making flower arrangements like a pro! (Demonstration only.)
October 3 “Pick your Poison (Part 2).” Poisonous plants have been utilized throughout history with murderous intent. They are also a favorite tool of murder mystery writers. Join Master Gardener Connie as she explores three plant derived poisons - Strychnine, Ricin and Digitalis, and their impact in history and literature. (This is a follow up from the October 2023 Garden Talk.)
We end the year with Master Gardener Brenda on November 7 as she takes a look back at some fantastic gardens spotted on the annual Buffalo Garden Walk. Take an armchair tour of some of the spectacular, colorful gardens that make the Buffalo Garden Walk so popular. If you’ve never been, here’s a chance to get a glimpse of the show. Garden tours are a great way to get ideas for your own garden. It’s never too early to start planning for spring!
Garden Talk programs start at Noon and can be 30 to 60 minutes long, depending on the topic. This free series is open to all, but registration is required. You can attend in person at the CCE office (420 East Main Street, Batavia) or via Zoom.
To register for a Zoom link, visit our Cornell Cooperative Extension of Genesee County website at http://genesee.cce.cornell.edu/events. A Zoom link will be sent to your email with your personal link to the event. To attend in person please contact Laura at 585-343-3040 x101 or leg224@cornell.edu. Garden Talk programs are usually recorded and posted to our CCE Genesee YouTube page.
Rachel Blecha, owner of Resurgence Dance in Le Roy. Photo by Howard Owens
There’s no question that Rachel Blecha knows dance since she practically grew up on her toes, dancing at her mom Jody’s studio in Attica before joining the locally esteemed David DeMarie Dance Studio at age 6, later renting space for her own place in Alden before meeting up with Fusion Dance in Le Roy.
Fusion’s owner, Kristin Alquist, and Blecha joined forces and taught together at yet another well-known studio, Images in Dance, in Batavia, before Blecha, 41, decided it was time for a resurgence of her own.
“It has been the only life I’ve known since I was 2. It’s my heart, It’s always been my outlet,” Blecha said to The Batavian. “I had a stroke at 30; it’s what got me through. It’s always been an outlet; I’ve had eight years trying to figure it out …With monthly chemo and infusions. I’m now stabilized, and I am now the best I’ve ever felt, dancing and teaching, and my kids are teaching.”
Enter Resurgence Dance, located at the former Fusion Dance Studio at 110 W. Main St. in Le Roy. Blecha wanted to focus more on training lessons and less on the choreography, she said. So if a student was taking a jazz class, “we do strength training, we do all the stretching techniques,” Blecha said. “They really need to learn more about their bodies, so it prevents injuries and things like that.”
“So we focus more on the training side, and we do fewer routines,” she said. “So in the long run, it saves parents a lot of money because they’re not buying 15 costumes for 15 different dances. We just focus and do what they’re best at and then maybe two and three routines.”
She also offers a pre-professional program, which includes auditions for competitive programs.
“Pre-professional is geared for the dancer who wants to continue on in the professional world. My older daughter teaches and does choreography and plans to continue in college,” she said of her daughter Macey.
“It’s a difficult world to get into. Dance has spun completely, professionally you may go into dance team … there are thousands and thousands and thousands going for 20 spots. When we go to nationals, there are 200 of the best dancers throughout the country, competing to get in the top 20 overall.”
Auditions are a must for any dancer to be considered for the competition program and nationals. It’s a huge deal to go to nationals, which her troupe of seven students recently did — traveling to Orlando, Fla., for two weeks. The whole purpose was not just about winning as it was to learn choreography and how to compete properly, take a class and teach proper technique, she said.
“A lot of that is what I’ve learned over the years, “ she said.
Her younger daughter Preslee also dances and teaches little ones, ages 2 to 4, and Macey’s goal is to work professionally in the field and then eventually return to join her mom at Resurgence, Blecha said.
Alquist has remained to teach one night a week, and staff also includes Miranda Spyropoulos and Rachel Bieron.
Blecha created the Resurgence Dance program two years ago with what she considers to be a unique approach into the dance industry — focusing on intense dance training. She now attends various conventions and competitions nationally with her daughters and students.
It’s not the same studio that it once was — Blecha completely flipped it in 10 days, giving it a New York City vibe, she said. Her landlord, Guy Pellegrino, “has been amazing” in helping out the renovation process with a new floor and all-new electricity, which is “really nice,” she said.
She’s thankful not only for her good health but also for the support of husband Michael and her father Tim Lutey, the ones that assisted with the physical labor in the studio and day-to-day needs.
“My dad was in this with mom for years, and my husband is learning the ropes, the things that have to get moved, mats, props, things that have to get cleaned,” she said. “It definitely would not have happened if not for their support. I didn’t think my husband thought his world would be surrounded by two girls and dance.
Her classes are for dancers aged 2 to adults, and schedules run through August.
“Dance is truly an art form that we like to share with others,“ she said. “It’s a release, an outlet for a lot of kids and adults, probably the best training you can get yourself in. Overall, this program is a vision I had several years ago. With Kristin approaching me, I thought, this is the right time. My focus is different: to show kids, get them prepared for the dance world, or for them to just have fun.”
She plans to have a couple of open houses in August. Details will be on her website at resurgencedance.com
There will be an audition for any dancer interested in competitive dancing on Monday. Times will be from 6 to 7 p.m. for ages 5 to 10 and from 7 to 8:30 p.m. for ages 11 and older.
Addison Alquist Photo by Howard Owens.
Photo by Howard Owens.
Kristin Alquist, left, former owner of Fusion Dance Studio, has now joined the teaching staff of Rachel Blecha's Resurgence Dance at the Fusion location of 110 W. Main St., Le Roy. Photo by Howard Owens
Eden Cafe & Bakeshop will be turning the corner, so to speak, to host Summer Fest in the rear parking lot from 11 a.m. to 7 p.m. Aug. 18 on the southside in Batavia. File Photo by Howard Owens
Judy Hysek hopes that a first-time Summer Fest on the southside will offer folks of all ages a variety of taste, shopping and entertainment treats at and behind her Eden Cafe & Bakeshop at 242 Ellicott St., Batavia.
“We just want it to be a free activity for people to come and window shop, add some cool things to their collection, and support a local artist. Try some food they might not normally try, and just have some fun free activities,” the shop owner said Wednesday. “I can accommodate 30 to 40 vendors, and we are still looking for kids' entertainment and sponsorships for bounce houses, face painting, a clown … something to spread some smiles.”
She had a mini psychic fair to celebrate the cafe's birthday last April and now wants to expand that event to include any type of health and wellness, arts and crafts vendor, and motivational speakers who can offer tips and tricks and advice about one’s well–being and pursuing a fit lifestyle. Musicians are also welcome to perform during the event—it’s set for 11 a.m. to 7 p.m. Aug. 18.
“It’s more expanded for mostly anybody who’s a crafter or has a skill they want to share,” she said.
Hysek received permission from the city to close off a portion of Central Avenue so that the venue has room to breathe in the parking lot behind Eden Cafe alongside Liberty Street. There is no deadline to register, per se, but it’s on a first-come, first-served basis, she said.
True to her own restaurant’s foundational spirit, all food must be vegan, but any restaurant or food service establishment may participate, she said, and it doesn’t have to be strictly a vegan place.
Eden will serve a condensed menu that includes specials such as its pizza logs: vegan cheese and pepperoni with marinara sauce rolled tightly in wonton wrappers and fried crisp. Beer and wine will also be available in the cafe and parking lot.
Hysek doesn’t want to sound corny or anything, but she thinks it would be kind of fun to have some type of costumed parade, a la the likes of Christmas in the City, which charmed kids up and down Main Street. Do you think you can help out with this mission or have some time to volunteer? She wants to hear from you.
The lineup so far includes Kelly Fox, Tarot & Astrology; Mystic Dragon Lair with crystals and merchandise; Marcia Bohn and handcrafted books; Spirit and Abundance; Vagabum Crafts; Pixel Perfect; Midnight Fox; vegan ice cream; Punkinhead Stuffies; and Panda Mae Crystals & Creations. There will also be a basket raffle and 50/50 drawing.
For more information or for vendors, musicians and anyone interested in providing a sponsorship for something such as a bounce house, a clown or similar performer, or a dunk tank, go to carrotdogcafe.com.
Join us at the Holland Land Office Museum for the next edition of our Guest Speaker Series, presented by David Reilly. Since 2018 Dave Reilly has been writing stories for The Batavian about growing up in Batavia in the 1950s and ‘60s.
He combined 20 of these stories into a book called “Small Town Talk: Growing up in Batavia in the 1950s & 1960s”. On Friday, July 19 Dave will be doing a book talk at the HLOM from 2 - 3 p.m.
He will have books available at that time for $20 and will be happy to sign a copy for you. The following day will be the 60th reunion of Dave’s Notre Dame Class of 1964 so he especially invites any of his classmates who are in town and still “above the grass” to attend. Admission is $5 or $3 for museum members. If you would like to attend please contact the museum at 585-343-4727 or hollandlandoffice@gmail.com.
“This project is made possible with funds from the statewide Community Regrant Program, a regrant program of the New York State Council on the Arts with the support of the office of the Governor and the New York State Legislature and administered by GO ART!”
