Wednesday News Brief
Written by Pete Zehler on September 17, 2025
Batavia Downs has once again turned summer concerts into life-changing wishes.
This week, Batavia Downs President and CEO Byron Brown presented the Make-A-Wish Foundation of Western New York with a check for $11,763 — proceeds raised from chair rentals, glow-in-the-dark jewelry, and can cooler sales during the 2025 Rockin’ the Downs Summer Concert Series.
Brown says the eight-concert series was a huge success, with Make-A-Wish playing a key role in every show. Volunteers staffed the chair-rental booth all summer, reminding concert-goers that “the person sitting in this chair is helping to transform lives.”
Make-A-Wish Regional Director Ben Marchione thanked Batavia Downs and the community for supporting children with critical illnesses across a 17-county region, calling partnerships like this “vitally important” to fulfilling wishes.
The 2026 Rockin’ the Downs lineup will be announced before year’s end — and once again, Make-A-Wish will be part of the show.
Rotary Corvette Raffle
The Batavia Rotary Club has launched ticket sales for its 2026 annual Corvette Raffle – the club’s biggest fundraiser of the year.
The grand prize winner, to be drawn January 16th, 2026 on Facebook Live, will have their choice of a new 2026 base model Corvette or $60,000 in cash. Only 4,500 tickets will be sold, with chances at ten $500 prizes, including three early bird drawings starting this fall.
Tickets are $50 each, three for $125, or four for $150, available from any Rotarian or online at BataviaRotaryRaffle.com.
Genesee County High School Soccer Scores
In girls action Tuesday, Le Roy pulled out a tight 2–1 victory over Avon, while Geneseo dominated York/Pavilion with a 7–0 shutout. On the boys’ side, Lyndonville stayed hot with a 4–1 win over Attica/Alexander.
Stafford building permit renewed after stop-work order
James Pontillo renewed his building permit Tuesday morning after being hit with a stop-work order at the former Odd Fellows Hall and Stafford Trading Post. Officials, including a sheriff’s deputy, state trooper, and the town’s code officer, arrived one day after a court deadline had expired for Pontillo to fix 18 code violations.
Pontillo paid $40 to extend his permit, giving him until March 16, 2026, to finish repairs. But he’s now facing daily fines of about $143 until the work is complete. He argues vandalism and parked vehicles have blocked access to parts of the building and says some town officials have mocked his situation.
Town attorney David Roach says the penalties will continue to accrue, emphasizing that Pontillo entered into a court order and must follow it. Extending the permit allows work to continue, but the fines won’t stop until everything is finished.
Arc GLOW to honor award recipients at annual dinner
Arc GLOW is proud to announce the recipients of this year’s awards, recognizing outstanding staff, inspiring self-advocates, and dedicated community partners. Honorees include Direct Support Professional of the Year Dawn Ratigan, Employee of the Year Meredith Lindeman, and Volunteer of the Year Eric Parker, among many others.
All will be celebrated at the Annual Awards Dinner and Meeting on Wednesday, October 15th at Batavia Downs. The evening will highlight excellence, commitment, and community, as Arc GLOW honors the people who help make its mission possible every day.
Betterment Committee of Stafford launches
The Betterment Committee of Staffordhas officially been formed with a mission to foster community pride, strengthen connections, and enhance the quality of life in town. Through volunteer projects, events, and local initiatives, the group aims to preserve Stafford’s heritage while building a vibrant and inclusive future.
All residents are welcome to join—no long-term commitment required, just volunteer when you can. For more information, email bcofstaffordny@gmail.com
