The Batavia Business and Professional Women’s Club, Inc. is announcing their Annual Scholarship and Community Service Awards and calling for applications.
Scholarships are open to all Graduating Seniors (male or female) in Genesee County High Schools and the Genesee Valley Educational Partnership (GVEP). The students need to have maintained an 85% average and must complete the application process available through the Batavia Business and Professional Women’s Website https://bataviabpw.wordpress.com/scholarship or via Facebook. The deadline is Monday, February 10.
All schools in Genesee County and GVEP have been emailed information on this program which includes eligibility requirements, guidelines, and the scholarship application. Parents and students are advised to seek out their school’s guidance counselor/department to receive the needed information.
The Batavia Business and Professional Women’s Club has provided scholarships since 1961. The number and dollar amount of scholarships awarded are dependent on the club’s annual fundraisers. Local community support is greatly appreciated; watch for upcoming event announcements.
The Batavia Business and Professional Women’s Club will also offer monetary Awards for Service Groups in May 2025. Any Service Group in Genesee County may apply for this by sending a letter of request on your organization’s letterhead. Details of what should be included in the letter can be found here https://bataviabpw.wordpress.com/service-awards/
Deadlines for both the Scholarship Applications and the Community Service Awards letters are to be postmarked by Monday, February 10. They can be mailed to Batavia Business and Professional Women’s Club, Inc. PO Box 1778, Batavia, NY 14021.
For questions or more information send an email inquiry to bataviabpw@gmail.com.
The Republican Party of Le Roy is now holding regular monthly meetings. We are actively seeking candidates for the 2025 Fall Election Season. The following positions will be up for election in 2025:
County Legislator
Town Justice
Town Board (2)
Republicans are also needed on the committee level, to help grow the party and assist local candidates in the election process. Please come join us.
The Genesee County Youth Bureau is proud to announce its new program, Caught Being Good, which was recently launched this November.
This new program is designed to further enhance the ability of our School Resource Officers (SROs) to build positive relationships with our youth. Positive reinforcement helps to increase the likelihood of positive behavior reoccurring.
This year, participating schools include Alexander Middle-High School, Batavia Middle and Batavia High Schools, Byron-Bergen Jr/Sr High School, Elba Jr/Sr High School, Pavilion Jr/Sr High School, Pembroke Intermediate and Pembroke Jr/Sr High School, Oakfield-Alabama Middle-High School, St. Paul Lutheran, and GV BOCES.
Vouchers have been distributed to all participating schools. Any additional schools that wish to join the program can contact Genesee County Youth Bureau to enroll.
Local businesses have paired with the Genesee County Youth Bureau to donate the vouchers to schools. Students who are “Caught Being Good” will be awarded with a voucher from their SRO to redeem at local business.
The Holland Purchase Historical Society was awarded $40,000 by the New York State Council on the Arts.
New York State announced today a grant award for the Holland Purchase Historical Society totaling $40,000 from the New York State Council on the Arts (NYSCA) to support the nonprofit arts and culture sector. Through New York State’s continued investment in arts and culture, NYSCA has awarded $82 million this year to 509 artists and 1,497 organizations across the state.
“As the unparalleled leader of arts and culture, New York’s creativity and innovation inspires the world,” Governor Hochul said. “Our continued investment in our dynamic creative sector will further boost tourism, strengthen our local economies and continue New York’s success as a rich and vibrant place to live, work and visit.”
Executive Director of NYSCA Erika Mallin said, “On behalf of the Council and staff, I am so proud that we are supporting the critical work of so many nonprofit organizations all across the state, including work of the Holland Land Office Museum. New York State’s art and culture nonprofits make us a global leader, strengthening our connections to each other and the larger world. I thank you for your dedication and service and look forward to all your work in the coming year.”
A 39-year-old Lockport man is facing a prison term of 50 years to life related to the murder of an Olcott man after passing a plea offer in County Court on Friday that would have capped his sentence at 20 years to life.
Edward Dunn told County Court judge Donald O'Geen that he understood the offer and that he was decling to accept it at this time, instead choosing to face a potential jury trial.
The plea cutoff date in the case is Jan. 8, but District Attorney Kevin Finnell said he can't say if Dunn will get the same offer again after turning down today's officer, which was a minimum of 15 years to life and a maximum of 20 years to life.
Defense attorney Casey F. Spencer said in court that there had been a meeting in the judge's chambers where the DA agreed to a possible sentence, if the plea was accepted, of 18 years to life.
Spencer said she did discuss the offer with Dunn thoroughly before he decided to turn it down.
Dunn is accused of killing Michael Poole and then hiding his body in the trunk of a car that was abandoned in the town of Alabama in March.
He is charged with murder in the second degree, a Class A-1 felony; assault in the second degree, a Class B felony; concealment of a human corpse, a Class E felony; and tampering with physical evidence, a Class E felony.
If he had accepted the plea, he would have admitted to murder and to concealment of a human corpse.
The maximum sentence by state law on the murder count is 25 years to life.
On the concealment count, Finnell was offering a sentence of 2 to 4 years, to be served concurrently with the murder sentence.
If convicted at trial, Dunn could be sentenced to the maximum on the murder charge. Because the concealment act could be considered a separate crime, and because Dunn has a prior felony conviction, he could get another 25 to life sentence on that conviction and have the two sentences run consecutively, giving an effective sentence of 50 years to life.
Finnell said the offer was put on the record today because Dunn was given a chance to accept it before motion hearings, which are scheduled for 11:30 a.m. on Dec. 13.
Also charged in the murder is Kathryn A. Henry, 33, from Lockport, who was arrested on April 19 and charged with murder in the second degree. She was accused at the time of conspiring with Dunn to kill Poole and hide his body.
Her next scheduled court date isn't until Aug. 19.
Also charged in the case is Norman S. DuBois, 45, of Lockport. He is charged with hindering prosecution in the first degree, tampering with physical evidence, concealment of a human corpse and conspiracy.
Dunn appeared in court on Friday dressed in the green jumpsuit of the state corrections system. He is being held at Elmira on a conviction in Orleans County on a count of burglary in the third degree. He was sentenced to a maximum of five years in prison in October. His first parole eligibility charge on that sentence is September 2026.
City Manager Rachael Tabelski points to an empty wall that will be used for a rotating art gallery inside of Batavia City Centre. Photo by Howard Owens.
Batavia City Centre is taking on a new shape and look, albeit gradually, but it’s an improvement from where it was a few years ago, City Manager Rachael Tabelski says.
With three new entrances and one entrance-turned-exit only that replaced those old, leaking, moldy silos; removal of the concourse stage and stained ceiling tiles; a grant in progress to extend the City Hall floor style into the concourse; and vacant properties being sold for future businesses, Tabelski and her colleagues are excited about every incremental change.
As if they belonged there The bulk of funding for the entrances was $1 million, which came from a Downtown Revitalization Initiative grant, matched with city money of $800,000 for the roof project. Any additional expenses will come from a National Grid grant and city facility reserves, Tabelski said.
Most of the construction has been completed, and the mechanics of handicap buttons to open the doors have to be installed, plus a few other final details, Assistant Manager Erik Fix said.
"So they're 90% of the way through. They'll finish it today and tomorrow, and the goal is for tomorrow to have these clean and open and ready to go for Saturday, for Christmas in the City," Fix said. "There's still punch list stuff and some things like that that's got to be done."
Each entrance is equipped with a heating/cooling system and spruced up with a cleaner appearance, with smooth bluish stone floors for a definitely more contemporary look. Any type of mold that had formed due to the longtime leaking was removed along with the demolition of the silos themselves, Fix said.
As for buckets? Not a one, Public Works Director Tom Phelps and Fix said. There haven’t been any within the Centre for quite a while, and the only ones lingering were at the former entrances.
"Of the only buckets that were here were at the entrances, by the silos. And obviously, you can see there's no need for that. It's nice and dry and clean, and in a day or two it'll be warm and, fingers crossed, right? So each unit, each entrance, has its own heating and air unit, a split unit, that'll do both for us," Fix said. "What we feel like is it looks like it was supposed to be here. It's nothing fancy. It's nothing crazy. It's just simple; the light is, you can see it, especially as we walk to some of the other entrances, how much brighter it is than having the silo."
City Centre gets artsy At the entrance near Le Beau Salon, there’s a plan to paint both exterior walls, including an art display bolted to one side with a GO ART! grant. Batavia artist Brian Kemp said he would be happy to be involved in the project. Other murals are planned for inside the concourse, such as one particularly empty white wall next to the vacated Classic Optical shop.
Walking down the hall toward Everybody Eats, Tabelski noted that a new wellness business is preparing to open up — Renee Marie Aesthetics and Wellness has a place at Suite 47b that is to be opening this month.
An expansive empty wall with small spotlights — still set up from the city’s centennial anniversary — is to serve as a rotating art gallery in the near future, she said. Another creative endeavor is to better define the city with a mascot all its own, just as other cities such as Buffalo have, she and Batavia Development Corp. Director Tammy Hathaway said.
Hathaway has applied for assistance with a program called Catch a Fire that donates professional services for illustration and design type tasks, and she and Tabelski want to tap into that artistic pool for a Knickerbocker man using the city’s iconic knicker pants.
“And why can't we have him eating at a restaurant or having coffee or, you know, just having him around everywhere in the city,” Tabelski said. “So that's kind of an emerging project we're working on, mainly Tammy and the artist.”
Hathaway added that Kemp took the Knickerbocker man out of the city seal and “zhuzhed him up a bit for the GLOW Corporate Cup T-shirt. So we want to use that more modernized version and give him a frame to life. So we're gonna try. We'll see what catches a fire.”
Artists David Burke and Bill Schutt contributed to a steel beam tree and a painted coy pond toward the Main Street end of the Centre, which has added another creative flair to the concourse, and a former entryway has been removed in lieu of adaptable space that may be sold for business use.
Centre vacancies filling up Tabelski then pointed straight ahead to the block of formerly bustling mall sites of The Hiding Place, The Short Stop, Palace of Sweets and Gentleman Jim’s. Known on a map as properties 17 through 20, those are being purchased by Tyler Crawford, who also recently bought 11 and 11A. He already has interest from vendors, Tabelski said.
Tabelski and Hathaway took The Batavian on a back alley tour of those properties, exposing an immense depth of space, a built-in loft, bathrooms, storage rooms — temporarily on loan to Batavia Players — and hallways with mini levels that connected all four properties.
“There’s a pipe that says, duck. I didn't put it there,” Hathaway and Tabelski said in tandem of the loft at the top of a narrow row of steps. “So we found it super interesting with the mall that they built below the sub floor for this and then put, like a loft up here. It was just interesting,” Tabelski said.
A couple of left turns brings visitors to the former Short Stop, with a set of coolers and a sign still on the wall with treats of candy bars and chips for $1 and dips, 50 cents extra, at the candy store within the snack shop.
So for those that decry the Centre as being an empty shell, it appears to be filling up with property owners and prospective businesses. The former dance studio site has also been purchased, but Tabelski said she couldn’t talk details yet due to confidentiality.
As for the continuing line of proprietors looking to move into Batavia City Centre, the former Islands Hawaiian Grill has been purchased by a restaurateur for the bar lounge Euphoria.
Goodbye to stage concerts, shopping at Penney's The concourse stage and concrete furniture have been removed outside of the former Penney’s store, and the stage footprint will be filled in and smoothed out, Phelps said. The space will be easier to navigate and use for regular and special event use, Tabelski said. Work was done by city DPW staff, she said, and $800 was spent on a muffler adapter for the excavator to remove the structures.
“We're going to refill it with cement and bring it just below the tile level, so we can either replace it with tile or, in the future, skim coat it and then go over everything with a different surface, but this will make it more usable space,” Phelps said. “So we can rent it to trade shows. We can rent it to vendor shows. So instead of having to have people at weddings, instead of people dancing around the outside of the stage and all the seats, you'll be able to actually have, like a regular trade show, where you could walk up and down aisles. So just one level, there won't be any steps. And then if somebody wanted to bring in the stage, they can bring in a portable stage from somewhere.”
As for the Penney’s property, the lending bank is planning a mortgage foreclosure auction, she said. Not that there hasn’t been interest in the Penney’s site — there have been some 20 to 25 developers locally and from Rochester and Buffalo express interest — but no solid takers as they’re all waiting to see how the Centre turns out, and see the improvements, Tabelski said.
“And just trying to think through how, because if you made it into apartments, you'd need to cut into it so you had exterior windows on both sides, so you'd almost cut a courtyard into it, and then you'd have to be able to have apartments, because right now the interior apartments wouldn't have windows, and you can't do that,” she said. “We had a couple of people who actually would have purchased it probably a year and a half, two years ago, but the listing price was very high, and the owner would not entertain it, so there's market, timing, things and stuff like that. So we'll see who gets it, and the lender may take it back, we don't know. We have some local people interested in looking at the auction, but the lender could take it back.”
Meanwhile, city officials have scheduled an open house to gather public input about what to do with the east-end parking lot adjacent to that property and the creekside property along the Tonawanda Creek behind the ice arena. That will be from 5 to 6:30 p.m. Monday at City Hall.
Working from the ground up The surrounding tile floor is, she admits, ugly, and hopefully, a grant will allow for the more modern City Hall floor to be extended into the concourse. Ceiling tiles have been removed, the ceiling will be painted and other updates will be ticked off a step at a time, Tabelski said.
“We have a grant into Empire State Development for $500,000 to do flooring, to paint the ceiling black and encase all the pipes to make it a nice industrial look ceiling, and to start renovations on the bathroom. We also are looking at a zoning code update, which requires the interior parcels to use specific design standards and colors,” she said. “So we need to work with them on that, because right now you can see people paint whatever they'd like, and it's not cohesive. So it's something we want to work on.”
Taking it to the street Outside, to the north of City Centre, is a $15.5 million police station in progress. It will be in the parking lot of Alva Place and Bank Street and is both on schedule for summer or early fall of 2025 completion and on budget, Tabelski said. The project manager was not available to give permission for a full tour of the building’s interior, but a walk around showed trusses and the roof being put in place for the next phase of moving inside to continue work with some heat to keep warm.
The west end’s large garages will be closed off and heated to house the emergency AMRAP, a transport vehicle for the emergency response team, and evidence storage, except for one bay called the bike barn for property that doesn’t need to be heated, Police Chief Shawn Heubusch said.
The parking lot will have about 35 spaces, with a need for at least 25 for the department fleet, plus 10 to 15 more for employees coming and going, he said. The building is a “21,000 square-foot facility with all the modern amenities that you need, as well as secure parking,” Heubusch said. It has a front public entrance and a side entrance for juveniles; two handicap accessible ramps; and a front end, climate-controlled, 24-hour accessible vestibule for the public.
“It’s very exciting to watch this process take place after so many years of kind of being anxious and waiting and seeing different drawings and all these things that were pie-in-the-sky ideas,” Heubusch said. “So this is great. I mean, this is a huge boost for the community, a huge boost for the department and the men and women that work there who deserve a place to work that’s healthy and accommodating for the police.”
A group of about a dozen business owners that complained about a lack of handicap accessible parking have not lodged complaints since the city offered a compromise earlier this year, Tabelski said, and reconfigured its plan to better accommodate the patients of those businesses.
"Complaints subsided when we opened the row of parking," she said. "With more parking to come at the completion of the project."
City Manager Rachael Tabelski shares plans for Batavia City Centre. Photo by Howard Owens.
Police Chief Shawn Heubusch outside of the new police station in downtown Batavia. Photo by Howard Owens.
Batavia Development Corp. Director Tammy Hathaway, Brian Kemp and City Manager Rachael Tabelski. Photo by Howard Owens.
Workers repairing floor tile at the Centre concourse. Photo by Howard Owens.
City Manager Rachael Tabelski and DPW Director Tom Phelps talk near the area where a wooden stage once sat. It's been removed and the floor is being finished so that it creates a continuous open space through the mall. Photo by Howard Owens.
Assistant City Manager Erik Fix at one of the new City Centre entrances. Photo by Howard Owens.
Tammy Hathaway and Rachael Tabelski look at the steel beam tree and coy pond in Batavia City Centre. Photo by Howard Owens.
DPW Director Tom Phelps, City Manager Rachael Tabelski and Batavia Development Corp. Director Tammy Hathaway. Photo by Howard Owens.
The new city police station in progress. Photo by Howard Owens.
Aiden and Ava Wilson, of Batavia, visiting with Santa and Mrs. Claus at the Recovery Station on Clinton Street in Batavia on Wednesday. Photo by Howard Owens.
There was plenty of holiday cheer at the Recovery Station on Wednesday evening with hot cocoa, cookies, free books, and a visit by Santa and Mrs. Claus.
Visitors could pose with the jolly couple, and were provided a color print in a unique frame.
Librarian Laura Keyes, who also does presentations and portrayals of historical women as part of Historic Voices, can recall as early as third grade repeatedly settling down in front of the television with family to watch the holiday classic, “White Christmas,” which was her grandmother's favorite movie.
As Keyes and her two sisters got older and everyone was going their separate ways, there was even a fight over who would get the prized VHS copy of the movie. They ended up buying multiples so that each family member could watch the movie for times when they couldn’t all gather together, she said. It was that special.
“From a very young age, I was always watched as the family gathered at my grandmother’s house. And again, from a young age, my family started to watch it at our house … Looking back on my childhood, I didn’t remember much about the plot. And then, of course, as I grew up and I really paid attention to the movie, I was reminded there’s not much of a plot in the movie.
"It’s a wonderful movie, and it has beautiful songs, but just to be honest, there’s not much of a plot in it,” Keyes said during a phone interview from Illinois. “At this point, the movie has the added layer of family togetherness and nostalgia that my family has created around the movie, including my parents and my siblings, so there’s that layer of enjoyment to the movie as well.”
Keyes will be presenting one of her latest research projects, "Virtual Illustrated Lecture: A Look Behind White Christmas," to be presented at 7 p.m. Dec. 18 at Richmond Memorial Library, 19 Ross St., Batavia.
The program is about an hour long, and Keyes will talk about the 1954 movie, which was a hit even before it debuted and has remained a holiday classic even today.
Her illustrated lecture will show you how the film was created and who were the creative geniuses behind it, all with behind-the-scenes images and historical information. She goes beyond the famous faces of Bing Crosby and Rosemary Clooney to also discuss people such as supporting actress Mary Wickes and costume designer Edith Head, both of whom “definitely added to this.”
A common vein that flows through all of her work is the back story of a subject, and "White Christmas" is no exception. That has allowed her to reignite a love of history she wasn’t so familiar with during her high school years when “it wasn’t taught in a way I enjoyed.”
Diving into that back story — the underbelly of a person, place, situation — opens up the interesting details and emotions that Keyes not only enjoys learning about but also sharing with others, she said.
"I have been portraying women from history and lecturing on historic topics since 2008 and I have a variety of different historic topics that I've taken on, especially when it comes to illustrated lectures … and I've touched on a number of different topics, including, a couple years ago, I created a talk on the history and folklore of Santa Claus. And so I enjoy looking at a topic, including a topic of popular culture, and just kind of getting the back story on it. And I did that a couple of years ago when I took the 1938 'War of the Worlds' broadcast that Orson Welles directed, and I looked at the whole back story of that, and then I explained that in a historical lecture, an illustrated lecture," she said. "And so I decided to do the same thing with this favorite movie of mine, 'White Christmas.' I wanted to share not only this film with so many other people, which I know some people also enjoy as a favorite of the holiday season, but I also wanted to give some of the back story and talk about the actors and other artists who created the film.
"So that's what I talk about in my lecture; not just say their names and when they were born or some such, but really give the back story on them: how did they come to be cast in the movie?" she said. "I've actually just plain enjoyed learning more about these actors and artists.”
For anyone not familiar with the Welles' radio play, it was based on the 40-year-old novel of the same name about an alien invasion.
Keyes joined community theater years ago when she was cast in a lot of plays, including one featuring Mrs. Lincoln, she said. The glitch was “it was very historically inaccurate.”
“And in 2008, I had just graduated as a librarian with my master’s degree in library studies, so I did my research as a good little librarian. I put my research cap on and I said, ‘wow, this play is inaccurate,’ and, of course, one cannot change a script,” she said. “But I was allowed to write a short essay for the playbill, and I talked about Mary Lincoln and I talked about what she really went through. And so word got around the town that I was portraying Mary Lincoln very accurately, and so before the play closed, I had three phone calls from three different libraries saying ‘would you come to the library and give a talk like Mary Lincoln and wear your dress?’ And it’s just grown from there.”
Some of her portrayals also include Mary Todd Lincoln's daughter-in-law, Mary Harlan Lincoln, Laura Ingalls Wilder, Charlotte Bronte, and Elizabeth Cady Stanton.
Keyes actually developed several programs about the first First Lady Mary Lincoln to accommodate her “complex and unique character” in various presentations throughout history. However, when asked for her favorite character, she couldn't pinpoint one. It was like asking to choose your favorite child, she said.
Richmond Library staff was also drawn to her Lincoln personna, and booked her for a virtual performance in September 2022.
For this upcoming program, Keyes, whose full-time job is library director for Dunlap Public Library in Illinois, began her research in January, when she traveled to a museum in Omaha that displayed many of the movie's costumes and artifacts. But two other requests for portrayals stalled her completion until later this fall, and she plans to debut her White Christmas lecture at her own library this Thursday before folks here can watch it.
The movie is a spectacle of big-name actors wearing ornate outfits, including the Santa-themed red velvet and white fur trim with rhinestone accents, glistening under stage lights, lots of Christmas decorations and brightly lit trees, ballerinas, gushy romance, and music throughout. Songs include "Let Me Sing," "And I’m Happy," "Blue Skies," "Sisters," "Snow," "Santa Claus," and of course, the big finale of "White Christmas," in which the audience joins in on the singing.
I'm dreaming of a white Christmas,
Just like the ones I used to know.
Where the tree tops glisten,
And children listen,
To hear sleigh bells in the snow.
How would Grandma Joy, who was born around Christmastime, feel to know that her love for this movie has now transcended into a lecture for the public? "I think that she would be very happy that I would be sharing this movie and this sweet story,” Keyes said.
Was there anything surprising in your research for "White Christmas"? “Yes, something that absolutely shocked me," she said. "There’s a connection with Orson Welles and the 'War of the Worlds' program. I will explain that (on Dec. 18)."
Assistant Director and Community and Adult Services Librarian Samantha Stryker said the library is looking forward to hosting Keyes for her virtual illustrated lecture.
"We've enjoyed virtual programs from Historic Voices in the past, ranging on topics from the history of Santa Claus to a portrayal of Mary Todd Lincoln. Like many places, Richmond Memorial Library expanded into virtual programming during the pandemic, and now we're pleased to offer hybrid options -- patrons can watch from the comfort of their own homes or join us at the library to watch the live stream of the program on the big screen," Stryker said. "The ability to watch from home works great for those who may not like to drive at night or in wintery weather. Those who attend in person can enjoy cocoa, tea and cookies. Laura Keyes always presents well-researched and interesting deep dives into various topics and we're looking forward to hosting another intriguing presentation from her."
To watch at the library, register by calling 585-343-9550, Ext. 3. Go HERE for more information or to register.
Keyes said there will be time at the end for audience questions. Stryker will have copies of the film available for people to check out if they want to watch it.
Your ugly Christmas sweater could be your ticket to ride at Sunday's annual Genesee Symphony Orchestra holiday concert at GCC.
At intermission, GSO elves seek out the ugliest sweater worn by an audience member who will be the winner of the grand prize -- a chance to conduct the orchestra during its annual performance of Leroy Anderson's "Sleigh Ride."
While "Sleigh Ride" is a perennial fan favorite, among the highlights of the concert, said Conductor and Musical Director Shade Zajac, is the vocal performances of Soprano Jessica Moss.
She's singing an aria from the opera “La Wally,” two from Handel's “Messiah,” and an aria from “La Bohème.”
"She's an extraordinary singer," Zajac said. "I met her about two years ago. I've only been able to work with her one other time before, and she's a real, a real fine artist. I mean, absolutely, see her now before she gets to the Met, where the tickets are going to be more expensive."
Besides "Sleigh Ride," other fun numbers on the program include "How the Grinch Stole Christmas," as well as selections from the “It's a Wonderful Life” Suite -- yes, the soundtrack of the Jimmy Stewart classic arranged for orchestra.
"We've had a very busy start of the season and really intense start of the season, so it's really nice to just kind of let loose a little bit and play some fun music," Zajac said. "We love doing 'It's a Wonderful Life.' It's some great, great music and they don't make scores like that any more. It’s really cute and full of old Hollywood schlock."
GSO performs at GCC at 4 p.m. on Sunday. Tickets are $17 for adults; seniors $12, and students with ID are free.
An Open House will be held on Monday, Dec. 9, 2024, from 5 to 6:30 p.m. at City Centre, One Batavia, City Centre, Batavia, NY to gather public input on the City of Batavia Brownfield Opportunity Area project.
The City of Batavia and Batavia Development Corporation want to know your thoughts on future development of the Tonawanda Creek waterfront near the Ice Rink and the eastern side of the City Centre. The conceptual development alternatives will help the City and Batavia Development Corporation guide the type and character of future development in the two areas.
This workshop is an open house format, so feel free to stop by at any time during those hours that work for you.
For more information contact Tammy Hathaway, Batavia Development Corporation, 585-345-6380, or director@bataviadevelopmentcorp.org.
About Batavia Brownfield Opportunity Area
The Batavia Opportunity Area project is focused on providing redevelopment strategies for areas impacted multiple brownfield, vacant, and underutilized sites. The project is primarily funded by a grant from the NYS Department of State.
The crew of After Further Review, the new sports and music talk show on WBTA, with Jim Ernst, Erik Triftshauser, Steve Pies, and Marc Tillery. Photo by Howard Owens.
If it's your habit to greet people with a "Go Buffalo" 365 days a year, a new radio show on Wednesday mornings on WBTA might be for you.
After Further Review is a local take—featuring Jim Ernst, Erik Triftshauser, Steve Pies, and Marc Tillery—on the Bills and the Sabres, local high school sports, some national sports, and an enthusiastic discussion of the hosts' other shared passion: music.
"It's your front-row seat for sports, hits and headlines," said Ernst, station owner and co-host. "That's our slogan."
The show airs at 8:30 a.m. on Wednesdays.
They talk about the Blue Devils, the Aggies, the Trojans, the Bees, the Lancers, and ever other high school sports program as much as they talk about the Bills and the Sabres. With hockey coming up, BND United will be a frequent topic of conversation.
They like to go deep into music, too, Ernst said.
"Every episode, we each pick one song, break it down a little bit, and talk a little bit about the group," Ernst said. "Like yesterday, I picked 'More Than a Feeling' because we were right there at High Mark Stadium, and it's Jim Kelly's favorite song."
"We like to say It's mind over matter. If it's not on our mind, it really doesn't matter," Triftshauser quipped.
Northgate Church is excited to invite the community to its annual Vintage Christmas celebration, which will take place on Thursday and Friday from 6 to 8 p.m. in the church’s backyard (8160 Bank Street Road, Batavia).
This free outdoor event is a wonderful way for families and friends to embrace the joy of the Christmas season together.
Visitors can enjoy a variety of festive activities, including:
In observance of National Rural Health Day, Nov. 21, Fidelis Care, a statewide health plan with more than 2.4 million members in New York State and a Centene Corporation company, has awarded $128,000 in rural health grants to nine community-based organizations. The grants aim to assist organizations that support health and wellness in rural communities across New York, with an emphasis on serving high-need, low-income individuals and their families.
The 2024 Fidelis Care rural health grant recipients are:
AIM Independent Living Center, Steuben County
Cornell Cooperative Extension, Broome County
Cornell Cooperative Extension, Steuben County
Dutchess Outreach, Dutchess County
Fort Drum Regional Health Planning Organization, Jefferson County
Genesee Orleans Ministry of Concern, Orleans County
Literacy West NY, Inc., Allegany County
Norfolk Raymondville Food Pantry, St. Lawrence County
Restoration Society, Inc., Genesee County
“Fidelis Care is pleased to offer these grants ahead of National Rural Health Day to support organizations that work to improve health outcomes in rural communities across New York State,” said Fidelis Care Chief Medical Officer Dr. Vincent Marchello. “The grants are centered on enhancing programs and building partnerships that address barriers to care such as health literacy, transportation, food insecurity, dental care, hygiene, and other factors faced by rural communities.”
Nearly 60 million Americans live in rural areas, including 1.5 million in New York State. The U.S. Government Accountability Office shows that these communities often face significant barriers to healthcare access, including a shortage of providers, longer travel distances to medical facilities, and limited access to specialized services. Rural residents also often experience a lack of broadband internet, which hinders the use of telehealth services that have become crucial in expanding access to care.
Literacy West NY, Inc. (LWNY) is committed to serving diverse and rural populations by offering workshops, classroom-based instruction, and community outreach that focus on practical health information. The Fidelis Care grant will help LWNY launch a health literacy program to empower adults with knowledge and skills for healthier living. Participants will gain tools to navigate healthcare systems, understand preventive care options, and make informed health-related decisions for themselves and their families.
“We are immensely grateful to receive funding from Fidelis Care for our rural health initiative,” said Literacy West NY, Inc. Executive Community Relations Coordinator Adrianna Seewaldt. “Empowering individuals with the knowledge to make informed health decisions is essential to our mission of supporting lifelong learning and self-sufficiency. With this initiative, we aim to address health disparities in our region by equipping people with the resources and confidence they need to lead healthier lives.”
Restoration Society, Inc. (RSI) is a peer-led organization that has served Western New York for over 50 years, focusing on mental health recovery. RSI’s mission is to enhance quality of life by addressing the key areas of health, home, purpose, and community. Through its Genesee ACE Employment program, RSI extends personalized support to residents in rural counties like Genesee and Orleans, where barriers to healthcare, employment, and community participation are especially pronounced.
Restoration Society, Inc. CEO Eric Weigel said, “This funding will significantly advance our ‘Empowering Rural Participants through Integrated Support Systems’ initiative, which aims to improve healthcare access, employment opportunities, and digital literacy for rural residents in Western New York. With Fidelis Care’s support, we are excited to offer digital skills training to help participants connect with telehealth services and navigate essential healthcare resources, along with guidance on community transportation options to improve access to jobs, medical appointments, and other critical services.”
The Fidelis Care rural health grant applications were open to not-for-profit organizations with 501(c)(3) status and healthcare providers in New York State. The grant program is part of a three-tiered Fidelis Care health equity giving campaign that also supports behavioral health and maternal health providers and organizations.
Congresswoman Claudia Tenney (NY-24) released the following statement following the passage of the Senator Elizabeth Dole 21st Century Veterans Healthcare and Benefits Improvement Act, which modernizes, enhances efficiency, and improves the Department of Veterans Affairs healthcare, benefits, and services.
Tenney cosponsored this legislation, which passed the House of Representatives by a vote of 389-9.
"The Senator Elizabeth Dole 21st Century Veterans Healthcare and Benefits Improvement Act aims to ensure that the men and women who have served our nation receive the high-quality care and services they have earned without unnecessary bureaucracy," said Congresswoman Tenney. "Supported by over 40 veterans’ organizations, this legislation provides essential reforms to the Department of Veterans Affairs, streamlining and strengthening the services and benefits our veterans and their families rely on. Additionally, this bill expands home and community-based services at every VA center, allowing our veterans the dignity of receiving care in their own homes. This bill is a crucial step toward honoring our promise to those who have served, ensuring they receive the timely, efficient, and comprehensive support they have earned."
The Genesee Society of Model Engineers announces that their Winter 2025 edition of the GREAT BATAVIA TRAIN SALE will be held at the Richard C. Call Arena in Batavia. The large venue on the campus of Genesee Community College offers unmatched convenience for attendees and vendors. The show is scheduled for Sunday, January 12.
Admission is $6 for adults, $3 for those under 18, and free for children under 13. The event will run from 9:30 a.m. to 3:30 p.m. and features model train vendors, free parking, and a snack bar.
For 50 years the Great Batavia Train Sale has been one of the premier hobby events in Western New York. The Richard C. Call arena at Genesee Community College is a perfect train show venue providing excellent lighting in a comfortable, state-of-the-art facility. All forms of model railroad and train-related merchandise will be available. Over 100 vendors will be offering all scales of model trains and historic railroad items.
Modeling demonstrations, and a limited number of portable layouts, will be part of the fun. Free parking, on-site concession stand, and plenty of seating add to the experience.
For more information contact the Train Show Chairman Mike Pyszczek at 585-768-4579 (residence) or email: bataviatrainshow@gmail.com.
An eclectic evening of music is planned for the main gallery to GO ART!, 201 E. Main St., Batavia, at 7 p.m. on Friday when local musicians Howard Owens and Henry Grace perform solo sets that touch on pop, folk, country and Americana.
On stage first, Henry Grace, a Batavia-based singer-songwriter whose style evokes a variety of influences cultivated from years of living a life simple as a moment, partly an urban legend, a dreamer of dreams, and a storyteller to the working class whose live performances connect vividly with audiences.
Grace has an extensive musical background has taken him through New York to Atlanta to Nashville and back again, playing coffeehouses, church basements, bars, colleges, libraries, backyards, and regional festival stages.
Recently, Henry Grace has become a part of the burgeoning Batavia music scene as co-founder of the folk duo Parris and Holly and clamor pop band Rose Mary Christian’s Babies gigging locally at Jackson Square, GO ART!, Iburi Photography, Pub Coffee House, and VFW Post 1602.
Grace plays a mixture of original songs and covers by Vic Chesnutt, Jules Shear, and Neil Young, among others.
Howard Owens
Owens is a product of the backcountry of San Diego County and the nascent punk scene in Southern California (birthplace of cowpunk). He never lost his Western roots, and his musical interests reflect that broad range of influences. On Friday, expect to hear some Dave Alvin, Odetta, Iris Dement, Johnny Cash, Graham Parsons, Jack White, Amos Milburn, Tanya Tucker, and Bob Dylan.
Over the past two years, he's played at Juneteenth, GO ART!, Iburi Photography, and VFW Post 1602.
File photo, 15 East Ave. fire scene. Photo by Howard Owens.
The cause of a fire at 15 East Ave., Batavia, remains under investigation, according to City Fire Chief Josh Graham.
In a statement, Graham said:
On Thursday, Nov. 28, the City of Batavia Fire Department responded to a report of a residential structure fire at 15 East Ave in the city. Law enforcement arrived on scene and confirmed fire showing from the first floor with one occupant out of the building and unknown if any others were inside.
Initial fire units led by Lieutenant Craig Huntoon arrived 4 minutes after dispatch to find a large volume of fire on the first floor of a two-story, single-family residence. Lieutenant Huntoon immediately requested a second alarm while crews made an aggressive offensive fire attack.
Crews quickly brought the fire under control and searched for occupants. No additional occupants were found. Crews spent over three hours on the scene.
The structure sustained major damage to the entire first floor, while the second floor only received minor damage due to a closed stairwell door.
There were two minor injuries to firefighters on scene.
Graham said the department was assisted by the Batavia Police Department, Genesee County Emergency Dispatch Center, the Town of Batavia Fire Department, the Leroy Fire Department, Mercy EMS, and the Genesee County Office of Emergency Management.
