Author: Pete Zehler

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 […]