Wednesday News Brief

Batavia Downs Announces Improvement to Track

Batavia Downs is getting a major facelift ahead of its upcoming harness racing season. Last afternoon, President and CEO Byron Brown announced nearly $300,000 in improvements to the historic track, with opening day set for July 26th and the marquee New York Sire Stakes scheduled for September 6th.
Top of the list is a full resurfacing and regrading of the racetrack — the first since 2015. Construction crews began work this week, and if weather cooperates, the job should wrap up within 10 days.
Helping lead the charge is Gary Wolff, a Buffalo native and veteran track consultant with over 30 years of experience. Wolff, who also manages racetrack properties at the Meadowlands in New Jersey, will guide the project and advise through the 2025 season.
Additional upgrades include fresh siding, new roofing, and paint work on the barn areas — part of a broader effort to elevate the fan and racing experience. Brown says the goal is to preserve Batavia Downs’ legacy while attracting a new generation of harness racing fans.

HLOM Guest Speaker Series

Tonight at 7 p.m., the Holland Land Office Museum in Batavia hosts its latest Guest Speaker Series event. Hofstra Law Professor Stefan Krieger will share a gripping true story — the 1915 murder of his great-grandfather, Yomtov Schoenberg, who was killed in his home on Liberty Street. Krieger has researched the case and written about the brutal crime.
Admission is $5, or $3 for museum members. For more info, call 585-343-4727 or email hollandlandoffice@gmail.com.

Rochester Man Found Dead in Genesee River

13WHAM News reports, Rochester Police have confirmed that a body pulled from the Genesee River over the weekend is that of missing 50-year-old Jared Oswald.
Oswald was last seen on May 19 walking away from a home on Harding Road. After weeks of searching, the department’s scuba team located a body Sunday near Turning Point Park.
On Monday, the Monroe County Medical Examiner identified the remains as Oswald, and police made the announcement public Tuesday.
Captain Greg Bello says the circumstances surrounding Oswald’s death are still under investigation. Anyone with information is urged to contact 911.

Fix Steps Down as City Manager

Joanne Beck with the Batavian reports, Batavia Assistant City Manager Erik Fix is moving on. Fix, who’s been with the city since 2022, will become the new CEO of the GLOW YMCA, replacing Rob Walker.
City Manager Rachael Tabelski announced the news at Monday’s Council meeting, praising Fix for his integrity and leadership. A Le Roy resident, Fix is no stranger to the YMCA, having previously held several roles with the Genesee branch.
He’ll attend one more Council meeting before officially stepping into his new position.

Le Roy Historical Society Announces New Curator

The LeRoy Historical Society has announced the appointment of Tyler Angora as its new Curator, effective July 21st.
Angora will lead the care and interpretation of the museum’s collection, while also developing public exhibits and outreach programs that showcase LeRoy’s rich history. He brings hands-on experience from internships at the Morgan-Manning House and the Genesee Country Village and Museum, and most recently served as curator at the Holland Land Office Museum.
A SUNY Brockport graduate in History and Anthropology, Angora is currently completing his master’s degree with a focus on textiles and American women’s history.
In a statement, he said, “I’m beyond excited to start as Curator in July and become part of LeRoy’s community. Also, lime Jell-O is the best flavor!”
The Society invites the public to join them in giving Tyler a warm welcome as he begins this new chapter.

Free Online Safety Class

Happening today in Oakfield — the Haxton Memorial Public Library is hosting a free computer class from 10 a.m. to noon focused on spotting online scams, filters, and misinformation.
The class aims to help participants navigate the digital world more safely and confidently.
It’s free to attend, but registration is required. For more information, contact the Haxton Library at 3 North Pearl Street.

Canisteo Couple Charged with Child Endangerment

Two people are facing charges after a 5-year-old boy fell into the Canisteo River Saturday afternoon. State Police say the child was tubing with 32-year-old Tessa Hamilton and 35-year-old Matthew Martin when they were swept into a submerged tree near County Route 119.
The child, who wasn’t wearing a proper flotation device, went underwater and was later rescued by a nearby group of kayakers. EMS and fire crews used ropes and a rescue boat to reach the group stranded on a river island.
The boy was treated at St. James Hospital and released. Hamilton and Martin are charged with endangering the welfare of a child and reckless endangerment. Martin also faces contempt charges for violating an order of protection.

Northgate Announces New Program

Northgate Free Methodist Church is launching a brand-new Thursday Night Service starting June 26 at 7 p.m.—perfect for those who travel or work weekends.
To kick things off, the church is hosting a Northgate Tailgate at 5:30 p.m. that evening, with a bring-your-own-picnic, lawn games, and free ice cream.
And each month through fall, the last Thursday service will feature fun themed tailgates like Disc Golf Night and Bonfires.