WBTA

Reel discussions
2023-05-25 18:00 - 21:00 (America/New_York)
Richmond Memorial Library, 19 Ross Street, Batavia, will show the film, “She Said”, as part of their Reel Discussions series, Thursday, May 25, 6pm.

Batavia Rotary Flags & Flowers
2023-05-25 10:00 - 2023-05-26 16:00
Batavia Rotary Club Flags and Flowers sale returns to downtown Batavia, Thursday and Friday, May 25th and 26th. Pick your own in person flowers from the sale in front of Lawley Insurance 10am to 4pm or obtain a voucher to pick up flowers at Delre’s Greenhouse by calling 300-9128.

Chicken BBQ & Live Music
2023-05-20 17:30 - 20:30
Ascension Parish, will host a chicken BBQ and Live music and dancing, Saturday, May 20, starting at 5:30pm, at the church, 17 Sumner Street, Batavia. Eat in or take out or music only.

Classic Old Car Show
2023-05-20 11:00 - 16:00
Batavia Veterans Home will host a classic old car show, Saturday, May 20, 11am to 4pm, in the parking lost area of buildings 4 and 5 at the Batavia Veterans Home. Rain date is Sunday, May 21.

HLOM Appraisals on Main
2023-05-20 10:00 - 15:00
The Holland Land Office Museum will host, ” Appraisals on Main”, Saturday, May 20th, 10am to 3pm at the Batavia First Presbyterian Church, 300 E. Main Street. Appraisals will be done by Bontrager Real Estate & Auction, Cottone Auctions, and Schultz Auctioneers. Registration is required in advance to receive a time slot for appraisal. Call 343-4727.

WBTA Really BIG Radio Auction
2023-05-20 08:00 - 11:00
The next WBTA Really BIG Radio Auction will be held Saturday, May 20, starting at 8am! Check out items going up for bid on our website – wbtai.com.

Crossroads House Spring Event
2023-05-12 12:00 - 16:00
Crossroads House annual spring auction will be held Saturday, May 13, noon to 4pm, at the First Presbyterian Church, 300 East Main Street, Batavia. Lunch will be available.

United Way Day of Caring
2023-05-11 09:00 - 17:00
Genesee County Day of Caring with the United Way will be held May 11th.

Morning News Brief
2023-05-10 08:00 - 17:00
Former Buffalo Bills kicker, Matt Araiza, who was accused of participating in a gang rape at a San Diego State party has been cleared of criminal charges. Investigators said that the accuser had been recorded during the party and during the alleged rape but that everything appeared consensual and most importantly, Araiza was not present. He had attended the party but had left a significant time before the sexual encounter between the girl and multiple men. Araiza was picked by the Buffalo Bills in 2022 and selected as punter after training camp. He was kicked off the team when the charges were made in August. Bills General Manager Brandon Beane said at the time that “this is bigger than Football.”
Sunday, May 14 marks one year since a white supremacist came to Buffalo and killed 10 people and injured three others in a racist attack at the Tops Friendly Markets on Jefferson Avenue. The City of Buffalo announced that “5/14 Remembrance Weekend: Reflection, Healing & Hope” events will begin Friday to honor the lives lost and impacted by the mass shooting. The events will include a panel discussion focused on combating white supremacy and social media radicalization; a luncheon for faith-based leaders; an educational program for school-aged children; a community gathering featuring food, music, and family-friendly activities; a moment of remembrance at the Tops on Jefferson and a memorial church service featuring Reverend Dr. Jamal Harrison Bryant of the New Birth Missionary Baptist Church in Atlanta, GA.
The Batavia School District sent out a message to families after a bomb threat on Tuesday. The Genesee County 911 Center received a call reporting there was a “bomb on a school bus” and placed the location of that bus in the City of Batavia. The Batavia Police Department and New York State Troopers immediately responded to locate the bus. The bus was found on State Street, and there were no longer any students on the bus after completing the afternoon route. Out of an abundance of caution, the New York State Police and their K9 unit performed a sweep of the bus in question and found no evidence of a credible threat. The Batavia Police patrol officers and detectives investigated the call and determined it came from the home of a John Kennedy Intermediate student. The student confessed the call was a prank, and the BPD determined there was no additional threat to the district. The case has been turned over to the Batavia Police Department’s Juvenile Detective. Wednesday pickup will proceed as normal.
Over 120 cubic yards of concrete was poured at the South Lyons Street bridge project. Union Concrete is wet curing the newly poured concrete with burlap sacks and sprinklers for the next 2 weeks. The next step is to set slabs between the roadway and the bridge to keep the project on schedule. The bridge is set to be completed in June.
Highland Park in Rochester is gearing up for the 125th Lilac Festival, set to kick off Friday. Thousands of people are expected to attend the festival, and safety measures are being taken behind the scenes to keep the crowds safe. Ed Schram, security manager for The Springut Group, the festival producer, said in a statement “The safety and security for the Rochester Lilac Festival is an effort overseen and managed in partnership with Monroe County, the City of Rochester, and first responders.” Schram said law enforcement officers will patrol the fenced perimeter with a minimum of two New York state-licensed security personnel monitoring each of the festival’s five entrances. Within the festival grounds, both uniformed and plain-clothed security personnel will patrol and conduct necessary inspections. There will be a visible police presence in the area during the 10-day event. And given the recent increase in car thefts and break-ins, he said officers will do everything they can to prevent cars from being stolen and broken into during the event.
Two Rochester colleges are getting into the swing of things as excitement builds for next week’s PGA Championship at Oak Hill Country Club. The mascots of St. John Fisher University and Nazareth College teamed up for the Birds of a Feather Drive Together event Tuesday at Oak Hill. Swoop and Cardinal took turns hitting drives, totaling 2,250 yards on three shots each. That total will be translated into a donation challenge for alumni from both schools to donate to PGA Reach, which aims to grow the game of golf in underrepresented and underserved communities.

Garden Talk Series
2023-05-04 12:00 - 13:00
Genesee County Master Gardeners Garden Talk Series Thursday, May 4, will feature everything you want to know about Houseplants. Call Mandy at 343-3040 to register to attend in person or receive a zoom link.

Morning News Brief
2023-04-30 08:00 - 17:00
A conceptual agreement may be in place but it’s still a month past the deadline and the legislatures haven’t looked at budget bills yet. The New York State Budget was supposed to be done by April 1st but there hasn’t been a full decision made on it yet. The housing debate will happen outside the budget, as Governor Hochul confirmed they could not come to an agreement on the New York Housing Compact, which had the goal of building 800,000 homes over the next decade. The Governor included the ability to override zoning restrictions along with some funding in her proposal, while the legislature proposed more funding to incentivize growth. The Governor says they have an agreement to ban natural gas in new construction in small buildings by 2025 and in large buildings in 2028. Opponents have questioned the affordability of the transition, and some lawmakers want the State to set the standard. The next extender needs to be passed by Tuesday for state workers’ checks to go out. Lawmakers expect an extender vote this afternoon.
In a little more than two weeks, the 2023 PGA Championship will start at Oak Hill Country Club. Thousands of people will be coming to Rochester, and though the tournament will only run a week, leaders say they have been planning for much longer. During the week the PGA Championship is in town, May 15-21, an estimated 200,000 people will join in on the fun. All those people in one spot might have some worried about security. Monroe County Sheriff Todd Baxter says you can expect to see a lot of police. Apart from local and county law enforcement, the state Division of Homeland Security has also been part of the planning process since the beginning. Paul Di Lella, the state’s assistant commissioner of emergency management, said his department is there to assist. Law enforcement says that safety is their top priority for the tournament.
Terry Smith is the proud owner of the newest Habitat for Humanity home. He put in 500 hours and 3 years helping to build the home on Oak Street. Smith walked into a Restore location a few years ago and filled out an application to be a homeowner. Smith works for a concrete company and has plans to build a patio and have friends over. City Manager Rachael Tableski, and many other volunteers were in attendance to welcome Terry Smith and his family into his new home. Genesee County Habitat for Humanity is currently working on another home on S. Main Street and potentially a second home soon.
New York Attorney General Letitia James has announced that 505 guns were turned in the Niagara Falls Gun buyback last week. 9 buybacks were held on the same day with over 3000 guns turned in across the state. The guns turned in included 185 assault rifles, 1,656 handguns, and 823 long guns. These figures include the 505 guns collected from the Niagara Falls event, which included 19 assault rifles, 280 handguns, and 106 long guns. Since 2019 gun buybacks have bought over 7000 guns from New Yorkers.
The Buffalo Bills have selected their draft picks for the year. They finished with 6 new players. In the first round they got Tight End Dalton Kincaid. In the second Offensive Guard O’Cyrus Torrence. Third round gave them Dorian Williams, a Linebacker. In the 5th the Bills picked up Wide Receiver Justin Shorter. In the 7th Offensive Lineman Nick Broeker and CornerBack Alex Austin.
Emmanuel Baptist Church still has lots available at their brand new community garden. The fence is almost completed. The raised planters are built and ready to be laid down. The fertilizer and fill is on the way along with water barrels, tools and everything else for a successful growing season. Plots are 4 foot by 3 foot and can be used for planting vegetables, flowers, herbs and more. They are 20 dollars a plot but if you come out and help set up once the pieces are all in place on a day to be announced later the plots are free. If you are interested in a plot call the church at 585 343 4905.

Gen. Valley Wind Ensemble
2023-04-29 16:00 - 17:00
Genesee Valley Wind Ensemble will perform Saturday, April 29, 4pm, in the Alexander Middle-High School. Children age 5 and under are free. Tickets available at the door.

Healthy Kids Day
2023-04-29 11:00 - 13:00
Saturday, April 29th, 11am to 1pm, Healthy Kids Day at the GLOW YMCA. Register by calling 344-1664.

Polka Night
2023-04-27 18:00 - 21:00
Batavia Downs, Park Road, will host Jimmy Sturr and His Orchestra, for Polka BuzzNight, Thursday, April 27. Doors open at 6pm. Tickets available on line at BataviaConcerts.com.

GCA Spaghetti Dinner
2023-04-27 16:00 - 19:00
Genesee Cancer Assistance Joe Gerace annual spaghetti dinner will be held at the Stafford Fire Hall, Thursday, April 27th, 4pm to 7pm. Get your presale tickets by calling 345-0417.

Catch the Gardening Bug
2023-04-25 18:00 - 20:00
The last program in the Genesee County Master Gardener’s series Catch the Gardening Bug series will be held Tuesday, April 25, 6pm to 8pm at Cornell Cooperative Extension office, East Main Street, Batavia. Wonder sunflowers will be the topic. Pre-registration is required. On-line registration or call Jan at 343-3040 ext. 132.

Chicken BBQ
2023-04-22 16:00 - 18:00
Covington Methodist Church, Simmons Road, Perry, will host a chicken bbq with homemade pie, Saturday, April 22, starting at 4pm.

Chamber Home Show
2023-04-14 17:00 - 2023-04-16 17:00
The annual Genesee County Chamber Home Show will be held April 14, 15, and 16th at the David McCarthy Memorial Ice Arena. Contact Kelly B for more information.

Youth Recognition Banquet
2023-04-13 17:00 - 21:00
Genesee County Youth Board will host the annual awards banquet for youth and adults, Thursday, April 13. Call 344-3960 for reservations and more information.

Catch the Gardening Bug
2023-04-10 18:00 - 20:00
The second program in the Genesee Master Gardener’s Catch the Gardening bug series will be held Monday, April 10 from 6pm to 8pm at Cornell Cooperative Extension, East Main Street, Batavia. Succulents will be the program. Pre-registration is required. Call Jan at 343-3040 or online.

Indigo Flow
2023-04-08 13:00 - 14:00
The Richmond Memorial Library, Ross Street, Batavia, welcomes, Indigo Flow, for a free concert Saturday, April 8, 1pm. For more information call the Library at 343-9550.

Kiwanis Egg Hunt
2023-04-08 09:00 - 10:00
Batavia Kiwanis Club will host the annual Easter Egg Hunt in Centennial Park, Saturday, April 8, at 9am. Children ages birth to 3, 4 to 7, and 8 to 10 are invited to participate. Golden eggs will be hidden in the park from April 1 to April 6. Golden eggs found must be turned in at the Egg Hunt on the 8th to receive an Oliver’s Chocolate bunny.

Garden Talk Series
2023-04-06 12:00 - 13:00
Starting a compost pile will be the topic for Genesee County Master Gardeners Garden Talk Thursday, April 6, at noon. Call Mandy at 343-3040 to register to attend in person or receive a zoom link.

chicken BBQ
2023-04-02 11:00 - 14:00
St. Paul Lutheran Church and School, 31 Washington Avenue, Batavia, will host a chicken bbq, Sunday, April 2, 11am to 2pm. Drive Thru ONLY!. Tickets available pre-sale at the church office or call Diane at 356-8789.

GSO Concert
2023-04-01 19:00 - 21:00
The Genesee Symphony Orchestra will perform a Brahms Journey, Part 2, in concert Saturday, April 1, in the Elba Central School Auditorium, 7pm. Tickets available locally or at the door.

The Royal Pitches
2023-04-01 13:00 - 14:00
Richmond Memorial Library, Ross Street, Batavia, will host a free concert featuring, “The Royal Pitches”, an all female University at Buffalo acapella group, on Saturday, April 1, 1pm.

Easter Egg Hunt
2023-04-01 11:00 - 13:00
Batavia First United Methodist Church, Lewiston Road, will host an Easter Egg Hunt, on Saturday April 1. Due to weather forecast this event has been moved to 11am to 1pm.

Catch the Gardening Bug
2023-03-30 18:00 - 20:00
Genesee County Master Gardeners will host three programs themed, “Catch the Gardening Bug”, March 30, April 10, and April 25th. Create a Habitat in Your Yard will be the first on Thursday, March 30, from 6pm to 8pm at Cornell Cooperative Extension office, Batavia. pre-registration is required. Call Jan at 343-3040 ext. 132 or online.

Reel Discussions
2023-03-29 10:00 - 12:00
Come view the free movie, ” Riverdance: The Animated Adventure”, Wednesday, March 29, 10am, at the Richmond Memorial Library, Ross Street, Batavia.

Pancake Breakfast
2023-03-26 08:00 - 13:00
Pancake breakfast at the Alden Fire Dept. Substation # 2, 11856 Broadway, to benefit Gateway Home, Sunday, March 26, 8am to 1pm. Free will offering at the door. ( more information contact Carolyn Gadd at 716-863-0513)
