Author: Pete Zehler

Baskin Livestock Review Continues Joanne Beck with the Batavian reports, the City of Batavia Planning and Development Committee spent Tuesday night reviewing the environmental impacts of Bill Baskin’s proposal to […]

Batavia Town Board to Hold Public Hearing on Battery Storage Moratorium The Batavia Town Board will hold a public hearing this evening on a proposed six-month moratorium on battery energy […]

Arrests in Genesee County: Sex Offender Back in Jail, Concert Chaos, and Local Harassment Cases From a sex offender back in custody to a concert confrontation at Darien Lake, deputies […]

Stranger Things sneaks through late for Batavia Open upset After sitting patiently for most of the mile, Stranger Things slipped through a gap late to win the $12,800 Open Handicap […]

Five Graduate from First Genesee Valley Welding Boot Camp The first-ever Genesee Valley Welding Pre-Apprenticeship Boot Camp has wrapped up, with five participants graduating Thursday in Batavia. The six-week program […]

Batavia City School District Seeks Volunteers for Robert Morris Playground Build The Batavia City School District is calling on the community to help build the new Robert Morris playground during […]

Batavia Couple Recovering After Fatal Bergen Crash, Community Rallies With GoFundMe Mari and Paul Hamilton, Batavia natives now living in North Chili, are recovering at Strong Hospital after a head-on […]

Batavia Man Pleads Guilty to Conspiracy in Sex Trafficking Case Joseph Barsuk, 67, of Batavia, has pleaded guilty in federal court to conspiracy to commit sex trafficking. The charge carries […]

Fatal Crash in Bergen Under Investigation A fatal head-on crash on Route 33 in Bergen Friday afternoon claimed the life of a Batavia man and sent four others to the […]

City of Batavia Names New Assistant City Manager The City of Batavia has announced the appointment of Police Chief Shawn Heubusch as its new Assistant City Manager. Heubusch will step […]

Batavia Cannabis Business Shut Down by State Regulators The New York State Cannabis Control Board has ordered Hemp Lodge, located at 10 City Center in Batavia, to close after allegedly […]

$11 Million Distribution Center Proposed for Batavia’s Gateway II Park A new $11 million distribution center could be coming to the Town of Batavia. The Genesee County Economic Development Center […]

Batavia Woman Charged with Six Felony Counts in Genesee County Crack Cocaine Investigation A Batavia woman is facing felony charges following a drug investigation led by the Genesee County Drug […]

Batavia Man Arrested Following Brutal Attack A Batavia man has been arrested following a disturbing incident reported earlier this week. According to the Genesee County Sheriff’s Office, 55-year-old Jimmie J. […]

Crack Cocaine Arrest in Genesee County A 43-year-old Batavia man is facing multiple felony charges after a six-month investigation by the Genesee County Drug Task Force into the sale and […]

Big Opening Night at Batavia Downs Batavia Downs kicked off its 2025 summer/fall live racing season Saturday with a strong showing—reporting a 29% increase in total betting handle compared to […]

GCEDC Changes Plans for STAMP Wastewater Project In Batavia, the Genesee County Economic Development Center has announced it’s giving up permits from the New York State DEC for wetland impacts […]

Hochul Addresses School Phone Ban at Genesee County Fair In Batavia Thursday, Governor Kathy Hochul addressed growing concerns about New York’s new school smart device ban, set to take full […]

Genesee County Health Department Reminds Residents of Bat Season It’s peak bat season in Western New York, and the Genesee and Orleans County Health Departments are urging residents to be […]

Demolition Again Delayed on Decaying Harvester Center Building Mike Pettinella with Video News Service reports, there’s tension between the City of Batavia and the Harvester Center over the delayed demolition […]

Stafford Residents Demand Action Over Fertilizer Dust as Zoning Board Weighs 100-Foot Setback Rule Camryn Brookhart with the Batavian reports, that in Stafford, tensions flared Monday night as the Zoning […]

Police Round Up A Batavia man is facing multiple felony and misdemeanor charges after a high-speed chase Friday evening. Marcos A. Torres, 43, of Bank Street, allegedly fled a traffic […]

Batavia Bicycle Accident A woman in her early 40s was seriously injured late Friday night in a bicycle accident on West Main Street in Batavia. It happened just before 11 […]

Byron Brown has Fufilled Promises Thus Far Joanne Beck with the Batavian reports, Batavia Downs is reporting record-breaking growth in 2025, with President and CEO Byron Brown delivering strong results […]

City Manager Tabelski Publicly Denounces Drive Through Cannabis Shop In Batavia, City Manager Rachael Tabelski is voicing strong opposition to a proposed cannabis drive-through dispensary at 230 West Main Street. […]

Life at Ellicott Station Project There’s new activity at the long-stalled Ellicott Station project on Batavia’s Southside. After nearly two years of inactivity, property owner Samuel Savarino confirmed this week […]

DeWitt Recreation Area to Temporarily Close Wednesday The Genesee County Department of Public Works will temporarily close the blacktop walking trail at DeWitt Recreation Area on Wednesday, July 16, to […]

Batavia Police Investigating Sunday Shots Fired Incident The Batavia Police Department is investigating a shots fired incident that occurred early Sunday morning, July 13, around 3:15 a.m. in the area […]

Red Osier Featured by America’s Best Restaurants Howard Owens with the Batavian reports,the Red Osier Landmark Restaurant in Stafford got national recognition this week, as a film crew from America’s […]

Agreement Made for Village of Oakfield to Treat STAMP’s Wastewater The Village of Oakfield and the STAMP Sewer Works Corporation have reached a major infrastructure agreement to support the STAMP […]

Four Projects will be Discussed at GCEDC Meeting Four development projects are on the agenda this week for the Genesee County Economic Development Center Board. Topping the list is a […]

Farmers Market Coupons for Seniors are Available Today After several delays, the Genesee County Office for the Aging has received its shipment of Senior Farmers Market Nutrition Program coupons, and […]

No Kings Protest Talk of Town on July 4th Weekend Dozens gathered in downtown Batavia on Independence Day for a protest titled “We the People: No Kings Since 1776”—calling attention […]

City of Batavia to Inspect Local Water This Summer The City of Batavia is conducting potholing inspections of residential water service lines throughout the summer. Public Works crews will use […]

Fatal Accident at Batavia Karting Track A tragic accident at a Batavia racetrack has claimed the life of a longtime go-kart racer. 66-year-old Daniel Trendell of Fergus, Ontario, was killed […]

GCC is Freezing Tuition and Fees for Upcoming School Year In Batavia, Genesee Community College is keeping college affordable by freezing tuition and fees for the 2025-2026 academic year. The […]

Stein Drops Out of Le Roy Legislature Race Rochelle “Shelley” Stein, longtime Chair of the Genesee County Legislature and representative of District 5 in Le Roy, announced today she will […]

Project in Batavia Could Affect Acsess to Office for the Aging Heads up for drivers and visitors in Batavia—Genesee County is alerting the public that ongoing roadwork on Bank Street […]

The Results are in for Genesee County Local Elections In Genesee County, Laurie Mancuso claimed victory in the District 5 Legislature Republican Primary, defeating longtime incumbent Shelley Stein by more […]

Batavia City Council Supports Group Attempting to Revive Continental Building The Batavia City Council has endorsed a $500,000 grant application to support redevelopment of the vacant Continental School of Beauty […]

First Annual Ride in Honor of Sgt. Sanfratello is Set to Go The inaugural Sgt. Sanfratello Memorial Ride is set for Friday, July 26, honoring the life and service of […]

Firing Pin Celebrates Grand Opening of New Facility Howard Owens with the Batavian reports, The Firing Pin in Bergen had more than just liberty to celebrate during this year’s Freedom […]

Alexander Senior Recieves First Annual Martha Spinnegan Scholarship The Jerome Foundation has announced the creation of a new scholarship honoring the late Martha M. Spinnegan — a longtime trustee and […]

Voters in Oakfield Vote Down School Budget a 2nd Time For the second time, voters in the Oakfield-Alabama Central School District have rejected a $25.5 million budget proposal. Tuesday’s revote […]

Sheriff’s Investigating Fatal Crash in Bethany The Genesee County Sheriff’s Office is continuing its investigation into a fatal motor vehicle crash that occurred just after 10 p.m. on Monday, June […]

Road Work in Batavia Could Interupt Traffic Attention residents, business owners, and commuters — a heads-up about new traffic changes in Batavia. As part of the ongoing Bank Street Streetscape […]

Batavia Fire Department to Flush Hydrants June 16–18; Water Discoloration Possible The City of Batavia Fire Department will be flushing fire hydrants this week—Monday through Wednesday, June 16th to 18th—from […]

Hawley Backs Bipartisan Bill to Bring Fentanyl Education to All New York Schools In Albany, Assemblyman Steve Hawley is throwing his support behind a new bipartisan effort to fight the […]

Fatal Crash in Elba Claims Le Roy Residents Life The Genesee County Sheriff’s Office is investigating a fatal crash involving a tractor-trailer that occurred late Wednesday morning in the Town […]

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 […]

Regional Transit Service Brings New Medical Service to Batavia Regional Transit Service Genesee is launching a new express bus service in Batavia starting June 16th, making it easier for residents […]

Oakfield Man Leads Police Chase A Oakfield man is facing a long list of charges following a late-night police pursuit over the weekend. Walter B. Hale Jr., 47, of Oakfield, […]

Local Students Graduate from Genesee County Youth Bureau Eight local high school students have graduated from the Genesee County Youth Bureau’s Youth Lead Program, an eight-month leadership initiative that wrapped […]

Western Regional Off-Track Betting Secures Lower Tax Rate Big news out of Batavia—the Western Regional Off-Track Betting Corporation is celebrating a major win for local communities, employees, and taxpayers. Thanks […]

GCC Students Honored with SUNY Chancellor’s Award Two Genesee Community College students have received the 2025 SUNY Chancellor’s Award for Student Excellence—the highest honor for SUNY students statewide. Ayaka Hibino, […]

Genesee County Officials Searching for Cat The Genesee County Health Department is asking for the public’s help in locating a cat and its owner after a bite incident last Thursday, […]

Batavia’s Production Club Recognized in Rochester Batavia High School’s Production Club is celebrating major recognition following this year’s Stars of Tomorrow competition in Rochester. On Friday, May 9, the Rochester […]

Genesee County School Districts Announce Budget Proposals Heads up, Genesee County property owners — Tuesday, May 20th is budget vote day for all eight school districts. Here’s a quick rundown: […]

Town of Alexander Seeking Grants for Continued Flooding Problems Howard Owens with the Batavian reports, for the fourth time in 2025, Tonawanda Creek overflowed on Tuesday, flooding roads and farmland […]

Assemblyman Hawley Opposes Child-Sensitive Arrest Bill Assemblyman Steve Hawley of Batavia is speaking out against a new bill that would require police to follow child-sensitive arrest procedures when a parent […]

Genesee County DMV Asks Residents to Prepare for REAL ID Starting May 7, 2025, the federal government will enforce the REAL ID Act—and the Genesee County DMV wants you to […]

GCEDC To Consider Residential Project in Le Roy Two economic development projects under review in Genesee County could bring in nearly $5.8 million in community benefits. The Genesee County Economic […]