Local News

Governor Kathy Hochul announced this morning that a new family-owned French company, La Fermiere, has plans to construct locally. They have committed to building a $25 million, 45,000 square-foot yogurt and dairy desserts company, at the Genesee Valley Agri-Business Park. It is anticipated this will create up to 135 new jobs in the region. Additionally, they plan to utilize millions of pounds of milk provided by area dairy farmers. La Fermiere had considered many other sites around the country but with the focused support from both the State and its regional economic development partners, they decided to build in Batavia.

According to a review released by the Department of Veteran’s Affairs, the need at the Batavia VA Medical Center for inpatient medical and surgical care, inpatient mental health care, and residential rehabilitation treatment services is shown to be decreasing, while needs for long-term care and outpatient care is increasing. Our local VA hospital currently offers long-term care, a residential rehabilitation treatment program and outpatient services. However, its primary and specialty care clinic lacks space and having been built in 1932, is not at this time designed to meet modern health care needs or standards. A new facility for outpatient services on the campus of the Batavia VA Medical Center is proposed to help meet the growing and changing needs of the veteran population. Also being proposed, is a planned expansion of residential rehabilitation services in Buffalo and the VA Medical Center here will be expanded to become the region’s post-traumatic stress treatment hub.

Mercy Flight transported a farm worker to ECMC Tuesday morning after he was trampled by cows that were being inseminated on a farm at 8569 Oatka Trail Road. His condition is guarded. Le Roy Fire with UTV 61 and Le Roy Ambulance responded to the scene shortly before 10 a.m. The man was unconscious when rescuers were dispatched to the scene. His name has not been released.

New York state is now accepting applications from local farmers for a license to grow recreational marijuana. Last week, Governor Hochul announced that New Yorkers with past marijuana related convictions will be the first to get marijuana retail licenses. The move is being made to allow people in communities most impacted by past drug laws to become early business owners in the recreational cannabis industry. Recreational marijuana sales could begin by the end of the year.

The NCAA Division One Men’s Basketball tournament will be tipping off in Buffalo tomorrow and hoops fans can still get tickets to see it in-person. In previous years when the tournament has been held at KeyBank Center, the event has sold out before teams take the court. Event organizers believe one reason for slow sales is the lingering effects of the COVID-19 pandemic. The NCAA is now working with officials to fill the remaining seats and taken steps such as lowering ticket prices and also offering Groupon deals.

A traffic alert…Starting Monday, construction work begins on Park Road. For the next 8 months, they will be installing new utilities, reconstructing, and then resurfacing Park, from the intersection of 63 to Route 98. Northbound traffic on Park Road will be detoured onto Veterans Memorial Drive and southbound traffic will remain on Park. Alex’s, Tops Plaza rear entrance, and Batavia Downs will remain accessible only while traveling southbound. The timeline for completion is November 2022.

The New York State Comptroller has released a report on the number of people who died from COVID 19 in nursing homes. The handling of COVID in nursing homes had created difficulties for former governor Cuomo, accused of causing deaths by sending COVID positive people to the nursing homes and then hiding the numbers of individuals who died. The Comptroller’s office found that the public had been misled about the number of people who died by those at the highest level of state government through distortion and suppression of the facts. The New York State Department of Health would not provide auditors with a breakdown by name of the nursing home residents who died from Covid-19 and the actual number of nursing home residents who died is still uncertain. The audit estimates nursing home deaths are undercounted by as much as 50 percent; the Department of Health has apparently hidden the deaths of at least 4100 people.

Organizers of the Erie County Fair have announced the first concert performance of this year’s event. A Beatles tribute band called “The Fab Four” will take the stage on Wednesday, August 10th at 10:00pm. The concert is free with paid admission and more shows are going to be revealed over the next several weeks. The fair runs from August 10th until August 21st at the county fairgrounds in Hamburg.

David Miller is the Alexander Supervisor and he informed the Town Board earlier this week, that it was time for the town to update its comprehensive plan; the plan is a document most recently approved in 2003. It’s created by the community, and designed to help guide future planning and zoning decisions, set goals for growth and define the kind of community its members desire in the future. Anyone interested in applying for a seat on the committee, should contact the Alexander Town Clerk, Shannon Tiede. (townclerk@townofalexander.com or (585) 591-2455 ext 101)

The New York State Comptroller has released a report on the number of people who died from COVID 19 in nursing homes.  The handling of COVID in nursing homes has been a fraught subject with former governor Cuomo accused of causing deaths by sending COVID positive people to the nursing homes and then hiding the numbers of dead.  The Comptroller’s office found that the public had been misled about the number of people who died “by those at the highest level of state government through distortion and suppression of the facts”.  The DOH would not provide auditors with a breakdown by name of the nursing home residents who died from Covid-19 and the actual number of nursing home residents who died is still uncertain. The audit estimates nursing home deaths are undercounted by as much as 50 percent.  The DOH hid the deaths of at least 4100 people.

Mercy Flight transported a farm worker to ECMC Tuesday morning after he was trampled by cows that were being inseminated on a farm at 8569 Oatka Trail Road.  His condition is guarded.  Le Roy Fire with UTV 61 and Le Roy Ambulance responded to the scene shortly before 10 a.m.  The man was unconscious when rescuers were dispatched to the scene.  His name has not been released.

Bird Flu is back and Cornell Cooperative Extension says take down your bird feeders.  Highly Pathogenic Avian Influenza has been identified in over 350 wild birds in the US including in NY.  There have been 3 cases of it in backyard poultry flocks leading to the deaths of 268 birds.  Bird feeders can cause birds to congregate and spread the disease so it is recommended you take yours down at least during the spring migration period.   The CCE said scientists believe caseloads should decrease over the summer months and at that point it may be safe to put feeders back out.

The online portal is now open for New York Hemp farmers who are looking for a license to apply to grow adult-use cannabis.  Conditionally licensed cannabis farmers must meet the following requirements:  Safe, sustainable and environmentally friendly cultivation practices, participation in a social equity mentorship program, enter into a labor peace agreement with a bona fide labor organization.  With a conditional adult-use cannabis cultivation license, farmers can grow outdoors or in a greenhouse for up to two years from the issuance of the license and it allows them to manufacture and distribute cannabis flower products without holding an adult-use processor or distributor license until June 1, 2023.  The cost is 2000 dollars.

The City of Batavia needs a new little red wagon.  Fire truck number 12 is 20 years old and is ready to be retired from service, according to City Manager Rachel Tabelski.  The cost of getting a new truck, 700,000 dollars. Fire Chief Dan Herberger said that the new truck would be similar to Engine 11 which is a Rescue Truck.  It will be paid for by a grant of 200K and 400K that is in reserve.  

We have some winners at the horse show!  Genesee County 4-H members participated in the Finger Lakes Region 4-H Horse Bowl Contest Saturday and many of them placed.  Brynlee Amend, Wyatt Witmer, Leah Amend, Taylor Fancher, Lexi Witmer, Eva Rhoads and Tori Kruppenbacher were all recognized for their knowledge of equine facts, including breeds, equipment, nutrition and more.  The Novice team placed 2nd, The senior team placed 2nd, and the Junior team placed 1st.  Everyone who placed will have an opportunity to compete at the state competition held at Cornell University on April 8th.

The search for a missing Batavia man has come to a tragic end after his body was discovered in the Tonawanda Creek. Police say 29-year-old Lewis Hyde was last seen alive on Friday on West Main Street. On Sunday, a jacket was spotted in the area of the creek between the South Lyon Street and River Street bridges. Police then asked the City Fire’s water rescue team to assist with the search. Hyde’s remains were found yesterday and removed from the water. Police are continuing their investigation while waiting for autopsy results but say they don’t believe his death is suspicious.

The number of New Yorkers who have tested positive for COVID-19 has seen its smallest increase since last July 18th. Governor Hochul’s office announced just 902 new cases yesterday and 10 deaths. The statewide COVID-19 positivity rate is sitting at one-point four-percent. In Western New York, the seven-day average infection rate is one-point-eight percent. Last week in the GLOW region, there were only 25 new cases of COVID-19 reported.

The band Foreigner will return to the 2022 Great New York State Fair to perform on August 28. And Foreigner and the Fair are conducting a search for a junior high, high school or college chorus to perform a 10-minute a cappella set about 30 minutes before Foreigner’s concert. Prior to the COVID-19 outbreak, the band would invite a chorus onstage during the show to help sing the hit “I Want To Know What Love Is.” They’ve kept the tradition going since then by having the chorus perform before the show. Choruses must bring no more than 25 members and can determine their own program of 10 minutes. The Fair will provide up to four admission passes per chorus member, staff member and chaperone along with enough parking passes for all vehicles in the Fair’s lots. Choruses interested in performing must apply by April 30. You may do so by uploading audio or video of a recent performance and a group photo. https://nysfair.ny.gov/

Investigators continued their work on Monday, in an to attempt to piece together the events that led up the double murder at the Blumer Dairy Farm on Alexander Road, late Friday night. 23-year-old Prince N.K. Wilson, of Albion and 18-year-old Raul Cruz, of Warsaw and formerly of Albion, are both charged with second-degree murder and committed to Genesee County Jail without bail. The men are accused of murdering two Hispanic men who lived at an employee bunkhouse on the farm. Both of the charged men are familiar to law enforcement, particularly in Albion. Because of Cruz’s age he does not have a public criminal record, but was the subject of a search when he was 14. He and a 12-year-old girl were reported missing and were found safe a day later. Wilson, however, has a criminal history that includes arrests for burglaries, resisting arrest and failure to appear in court in 2017 as well as burglary charges from 2019 that landed him in state prison. Genesee County Sheriff’s continued their investigation today. (Pictured left to right – Wilson, Cruz)

The City Budget has passed unanimously with a general fund of 17.78 Million dollars. City Manager Rachel Tabelski is pleased with achieving a balanced budget and hopes that residents will see a drop in taxes; although with property assessments on the increase, it’s possible some homeowners will not. Other highlights of the budget include more money being allocated for the police department’s Emergency Response Team and a fire truck to replace Engine 12, which is now about 20 years old. The Council also approved a 1.5 percent increase in water rates, meter fees and capital improvement fees for the 2022-23 fiscal year.

Starting later this week, Spectrum customers are going to be paying a bit more money each month for their television service. The company says beginning Friday, the broadcast TV fee will be going up by more than $3 to $21 per month. Spectrum’s monthly equipment fee is also rising by $1.00 to $9.99 per month. Spectrum says that it has no choice but to raise rates because of the higher fees that are being charged by network-affiliated stations to carry their content.

A small earthquake rattled parts of Wyoming County just after 11am this morning, about 3 miles south west of Warsaw. The quake occurred at a depth of about 3.1 miles, which according to the National Weather Service is relatively shallow; while shallow quakes tend to be more damaging than deeper earthquakes; this one only had a magnitude of 2.6 on the Richter scale. It’s considered a small quake, incapable of causing damage. Still, you could have felt it if you were close to the epicenter.

Buffalo has had over 92 inches of snow this season, so far, and although it was a low snow season for the rest of upstate NY, it’s an above average snowfall amount here. As a result, Buffalo is winning a contest that not everyone is interested in winning…The Golden Snowball is awarded to the city with the most snow over a winter season. It’s not surprising, especially this year. Buffalo is ahead of Anchorage Alaska by over 6 inches and Rochester is back in third by almost 10 inches. Still plenty of time for cities to rally for a comeback…the contest finishes up at the end of April.

The Genesee County STOP-DWI Coordinator announced today that the Genesee County Sheriff’s Office, the City of Batavia Police Department and the Village of LeRoy Police Department will once again be participating in a coordinated effort with the STOP-DWI program to bring awareness to the dangers of impaired driving. The increased statewide efforts start tomorrow and will continue thru Sunday, March 30. St. Patrick’s Day weekend is a notoriously dangerous period for impaired driving due to the number of celebrations and drivers on the road. New York State Police, County Sheriffs, and municipal law enforcement agencies will be out in force during this across-the-board effort to reduce the number of alcohol-related injuries and deaths.

It’s not much, but at least it’s in the right direction…according to Triple A, the average cost for a gallon of gas in Batavia as of this morning, is $4.37…that’s down 1 cent from yesterday…

The search for 29 year old Lewis Hyde has been called off after a body was discovered in the Tonawanda Creek between the S Lyon Street and River Street Bridges just after noon on Monday.  The Batavia police began the search after a jacket was found along the creek bank.  After Search and rescue teams brought the body up it was confirmed to be Hyde.  An investigation is ongoing pending the results of an autopsy, but there do not appear to be any signs of foul play.  Hyde was reported missing on the 11th.

The City Budget has passed unanimously with a general fund of 17.78 Million dollars.  City Manager Rachel Tabelski is pleased with achieving a balanced budget and hopes that Batavians will see a drop in taxes.  When asked if she could identify one highlight of the budget, she came up with the fact that more money was put into the police department’s Emergency Response Team.

Buffalo is edging out other cities in America for the Golden Snowball award for the city with the most snow over a winter season.  Not something that surprises most Western New Yorkers.  Buffalo is ahead of Anchorage Alaska by over 6 inches and Rochester which is coming in third by almost 10 inches.  Buffalo had over 92 inches of snow this season and although it was a low snow season for the rest of upstate NY the Queen City had an above average snowfall.  The contest finishes up at the end of April.  

The Buffalo Bills have signed some new players for their next season.  Tennessee Offensive Lineman Rodger Saffold has signed a 1 year contract, Tim Settle and DaQuan Jones both signed as Defensive Tackles.  Settle played for the Washington Commanders and Jones played for the Panthers. 

Batavia Police News Release:

Lewis Hyde

On Monday, March 14th, a search of Tonawanda Creek between the S. Lyon Street and River Street bridges in the city of Batavia was conducted under the direction of the Batavia Police Department. The search was pertaining to a missing person, Lewis Hyde, who was reported missing on March 11th.

While an extensive search has been going on since that time, the search of the creek was conducted due to a jacket being found near the creek bank on March 13th.

At approximately 12:35 PM on March 14th, a body was located and recovered from the Tonawanda Creek by the search and rescue teams. The body was confirmed to be that of Lewis Hyde. An investigation is ongoing pending the results of an autopsy, but there does not appear to be any signs of foul play.

The Batavia Police Department greatly appreciates the assistance of the City of Batavia Fire Department, Genesee County Emergency Management, New York State Police, ALERT – Advanced Local Emergency Response Team, Mercy EMS, Alden Fire, Niagara Frontier Search and Rescue, Massasauga Search and Rescue Team, Genesee County Emergency Dispatch Center and the Genesee County Coroner’s Office in this matter.

Two men remain in custody today accused of stabbing and killing 2 other men at a bunkhouse at Blumer Dairy Farm on Alexander Road in Alexander. 18 year old Raul Cruz of Warsaw and 23 year old Prince N.K. Wilson of Albion were arrested Saturday and are being held without bail. Cruz was caught following a 9-hour manhunt in Warsaw and Wilson was caught in Batavia. Law enforcement and the fire department were both dispatched to the scene of a burning dwelling on Friday night, where two Latino men were found stabbed to death  inside. Investigators believe this was an isolated incident and there was no threat to public safety. The Genesee County Sheriff’s Office isn’t releasing any more information right now, including the names of the victims. First they want to notify the families of the two men. The investigation in the case is ongoing. (Pictured from left to right, Wilson-Cruz)

New York State is preparing the budget for this year and hopes to have it ready by the end of the month. 1.25 billion dollars is being suggested for the Emergency Rental Assistance program to help tenants who are behind on their rent. In addition, 400 million dollars is being called for to help landlords whose tenants haven’t being paying rent. Help with the high utility bills is on the way to the tune of 500 million dollars. The governor has so far been resisting requests from both democrats and republicans to suspend the New York Gas tax until at least September to fight the record high prices at the pump and in home heating. Hochul says she hasn’t changed her spending or budget numbers to account for what suspending the tax would do to the revenue for the state.

Two homes were destroyed this morning in Basom. A propane tank was accidentally tipped over in a home on Meadville Road. It ignited a fire that destroyed that home and the residence located in front of it. A 31-year-old woman suffered burns and was treated at the scene. No other injuries were reported.

The price at the pump has leveled off, at least temporarily, in Western NY; however, it doesn’t appear there’s any immediate relief in sight. According to Triple A, the average cost for a gallon of regular fuel is at $4.40. That’s up 26 cents from this time last week and is 79 cents higher than last month. Right now, the state average is $4.45 and nationally it’s $4.32. In Batavia, the average price per gallon is $4.38, up one cent since yesterday and 78 cents from a month ago.

The Buffalo Sabres have won their second straight game after coming out on top in the NHL Heritage Classic. Hinostroza and Krebs each had a pair of goals for Buffalo; Thompson also scored as the Sabres beat the Toronto Maple Leafs in yesterday’s outdoor game in Hamilton, Ontario, Canada; final there was 5-2. The Sabres had solid goaltending from Craig Anderson who stopped 34 of the 36 shots he faced. Buffalo will continue their Canadian road trip Thursday against the Edmonton Oilers.

A weekend fundraiser organized by the Rochester Philharmonic Orchestra is being called a major success. The orchestra performed Saturday night at Eastman Theater and collected tens of thousands of dollars in donations, which will be used to help people living in Ukraine. If you still want to donate, information on how to help is available online at rocmaidan.org.

The Geneseean of the Year award at the Annual Chamber of Commerce Awards Ceremony for 2021 went to Jay Lazarony. He was selected for being an exemplary professional and volunteer, for founding GLOW With Your Hands in 2019, and his work with the Youth Bureau. Lazarony has been the Executive Director of the GLOW Workforce Development Board for 25 years.

Saint Patrick’s Day is a still a few days away, but in just a few hours, some lucky person will be surrounded in green, by winning over $100,000,000. The prize up for grabs in tonight’s Powerball jackpot will be at least 124,000,000 dollars after no one won Saturday’s drawing. The cost of a ticket to play the popular lottery game is just $2.00. The drawing is going to be streamed live online at powerball.com. Please play responsibly.

Isaiah McKenzie, wide receiver and kick punt returner has signed back on with the Bills for a 2 year contract. He was set to become an unrestricted free agent. McKenzie joined the Bills in 2018 and primarily took on a punt/kick returning role during the 2020 offseason following the departure of Andre Roberts. This season with the Bills, he returned 43 kicks and punts for 731 yards. In the receiving game, McKenzie had 20 catches for 178 yards and a touchdown this season. According to Ian Rapoport, the deal is worth a total of $8,000,000.

2 men are in custody accused of stabbing and killing 2 other men at the bunkhouse at Blumer Dairy Farm on Alexander Road in Alexander.  18 year old Raul Cruz of Warsaw and 23 year old Prince Wilson of Albion were arrested Saturday and are being held without bail.  Cruz was caught after a manhunt in Warsaw and Wilson was caught in Batavia.  At around 10pm on Friday dispatchers received a report of a disturbance at the bunkhouse.  Deputies responded and then Alexander fire was called for smoke at the bunkhouse from a set fire.  Genesee County Sheriffs then reported finding 2 bodies inside, dead by stabbing.  Investigators believe this was an isolated incident and there was no threat to public safety.

The Geneseean of the Year award at the Annual Chamber of Commerce Awards Ceremony for 2021 is Jay Lazarony.  He was selected for being an exemplary professional and volunteer, for founding GLOW With Your Hands in 2019, and his work with the Youth Bureau. Lazarony has been the Executive Director of the GLOW Workforce Development Board for 25 years.   

New York State is preparing the budget for this year and hopes to have it ready by the end of the month.  1.25 billion dollars is being pushed to bring help for tenants who are behind on their rent in the Emergency Rental Assistance program.  In addition, 400 million dollars is being called for to help landlords whose tenants haven’t being paying rent.  Help with the high utility bills is on the way to the tune of 500 million dollars.  The governor has so far been resisting calls from both sides of the aisle to suspend the New York Gas tax till at least September to fight the record high prices at the pump and in home heating.  Hochul says she hasn’t changed her spending or budget numbers to account for what suspending the tax would do to the revenue for the state.

Buffalo has won the 2022 Heritage Classic at an outdoor arena.  The Sabres came away with a 5 to 2 victory over the Toronto Maple Leafs Sunday afternoon.  Peyton Krebs scored twice and so did Vinnie Hinostroza.  Tage Thompson knocking in an empty netter sealed the game for Buffalo.  The wind and snow were their own team in the game, spoiling shots and getting in the way.  The Sabres haven’t played an outside game since 2008 when they lost 3 to 2 against the New York Rangers.  The Sabres are back indoors on Thursday when they visit the Edmonton Oilers.

Isaiah McKenzie, wide receiver and kick punt returner has signed back on with the Bills for a 2 year contract.  He was set to become an unrestricted free agent.  McKenzie joined the Bills in 2018 and primarily took on a punt/kick returning role during the 2020 offseason following the departure of Andre Roberts. This season with the Bills, he returned 43 kicks and punts for 731 yards.  In the receiving game, McKenzie had 20 catches for 178 yards and a touchdown this season.  According to Ian Rapoport, the deal is worth a total of $8M.

2 men are in custody accused of stabbing and killing 2 other men at the bunkhouse at Blumer Dairy Farm on Alexander Road in Alexander.  18 year old Raul Cruz of Warsaw and 23 year old Prince Wilson of Albion were arrested Saturday and are being held without bail.  Cruz was caught after a manhunt in Warsaw.  At around 10pm on Friday dispatchers received a report of a disturbance at the bunkhouse.  Deputies responded and then Alexander fire was called for smoke at the bunkhouse from a set fire.  Genesee County Sheriffs then reported finding 2 bodies inside, dead by stabbing.  Investigators believe this was an isolated incident and there was no threat to public safety.

The Batavia Police Department is seeking assistance from the public in locating Lewis Hyde. Hyde is described as being 5’10”, 180 pounds. He was last seen wearing a tan coat, jeans and black boots. Hyde was last seen on March 11th, at approximately 2:00 a.m. on West Main Street in Batavia. Anyone with any information is asked to please contact the Batavia Police Department at (585) 345-6350.

A senior corrections officer at the Genesee County Jail has been accused of embezzling over 50 thousand dollars from the Sheriff’s Employee Association.  51 year old Kevin Wolff of Stafford was arrested and terminated from his position at the jail.  He had been working for the sheriff’s office for more than 20 years.  Wolff was arraigned in City Court Friday and released on his own recognizance.  The investigation into the alleged theft is being conducted by the Sheriff’s criminal investigation division and is ongoing.  The association membership consists of corrections officers, emergency dispatchers, dog control officers, and jail cooks.

ECMC in Buffalo is saying goodbye to its military reinforcements as they are no longer needed to buttress the understaffed system after the COVID Vaccine Mandate required the firing of many staff and medical personnel.  24 men and women from the US NAVY were deployed there to help out.  The members of the Military Medical Team worked over 6,500 clinical hours during their two month stay in Buffalo. They also provided care for more than 3,800 patients – including 550 COVID-19 positive patients, according to ECMC.  The hospital hosted a goodbye ceremony to the team as it was cleared of its duties inside ECMC on March 11th, beginning with a procession of all 24 members of the military.  The hospital no longer is in need of the extra staffing. Only 14 patients remain in the COVID-19 ward at this time, with only one being admitted for the virus itself, according to ECMC.

Are you struggling with being behind on utility bills?  1.4 million New Yorkers are in the same boat.  Consumer advocates including the AARP, the Public Utility Law Project, and many politicians are calling on Governor Hochul to use 1.25 Billion dollars of federal funding to pay off the debts of people who fell behind.  New York restricts utilities from shutting off heat and electricity until April 15. But scores of residents in New York could face heat and electricity shut-offs in coming months.

The Bureau of Inspection in Batavia will be closed Monday the 14th through Wednesday the 16th. Documents may be dropped off at the Department of Public Works. The Bureau of Inspection will reopen on Thursday, March 17th at 8:30am.

Genesee and Orleans counties will be under a Winter Weather Advisory tonight from 7pm in effect until tomorrow at 6pm. The National Weather service is expecting 3 to 6 inches of snow accumulation and winds gusting as high as 45 miles per hour. Wyoming and Livingston Counties will be under a Winter Storm Warning from tonight at 7 to Saturday at 6pm and 5 to 10 inches of snow is expected with high winds. Temperatures will drop into the 20s; wind chills will reduce that to near or below zero. Snow-covered roads will make for slippery travel and also watch out for sudden drifts and white outs.

Two men from Batavia are now facing charges after an investigation on Sullivan Street in Rochester. Rochester Police searched a vehicle in which the two men were sitting and found a loaded 9mm “ghost gun” as well as cocaine and fentanyl. The weapon had no serial numbers and therefore can’t be registered. 35-year-old Daniel Mooney and 35-year-old Matthew Oppel have both been charged with felonies as well as criminal possession of a controlled substance. Police reported that neither man was allowed to possess a gun because of previous convictions. They were taken to the Monroe County Jail for arraignment in Rochester City Court.

The New York State Department of Motor Vehicles has begun issuing new driver’s licenses, permits and non-driver identification cards. The new cards will now incorporate upgraded security features that are used to verify authenticity and prevent tampering and counterfeiting. The new process involves engraving two images into the card so that the image changes when viewed at different angles. Additional information may be found on their website, dmv.ny.gov

Last night, county planners recommended the approval of the 2 new retail spaces in the former Kmart parking lot. At the County Planning Board meeting via Zoom it was determined that a retail space of 6752 square feet with a 2000 square foot coffee shop and drive through, and a 4000 square foot restaurant would be located on the Lewiston road lot. An engineering director for Benderson Development, which owns the property, said they are already working with tenants for the buildings.

The project will also include:
■ drainage upgrades to bring the site into compliance with the current storm water regulations;
■ an increase in overall green space and landscaping;
■ utility upgrades;
■ new curbing, pavement and site lighting around the proposed buildings.

Unless it’s postponed due to the storm, tomorrow from 10am to approximately 11:30am, Notre Dame High School is hosting a 5k Run/Walk. During this time, Richmond Avenue will be closed from Union Street to Park Road, and traffic entering from Main Street onto Union, Woodrow, Bogue and Redfield will be redirected around the area. Once again, that’s from 10am until 11:30am, tomorrow.

The Bureau of Inspection in Batavia will be closed Monday, March 14th through Wednesday, March 16th. Documents may be dropped off at the Department of Public Works. The Bureau of Inspection will reopen on Thursday, March 17th at 8:30am.

The Buffalo Bills have reportedly hired the architecture firm who will be responsible for designing and building the team’s new stadium. The Athletic says the Bills have brought on Populus, which is the company who helped the team renovate Highmark Stadium several years ago. Team ownership have submitted a proposal for the new facility to be built across the street from Highmark Stadium which is located in Orchard Park. While negotiations have been ongoing for months, a final deal hasn’t been reached yet. The current lease for the Bills expires in 2023.

The Buffalo Sabres snapped their two-game losing streak after picking up a victory in front of their home crowd. Victor Olofsson, Alex Tuch and Peyton Krebs had a goal each as the Sabres beat the Vegas Golden Knights 3-1 at KeyBank Center last night. Former Sabres captain Jack Eichel had only two shots in his first contest back in Buffalo since being traded to Vegas in November. Sabres goalie Craig Anderson was honored after last night’s victory, to celebrate his 300th NHL win. Up next for Buffalo is the NHL Heritage Classic against the Toronto Maple Leafs on Sunday.

New data from Governor Hochul’s office is showing that the spread of COVID-19 is still slowing down across New York. The statewide positivity rate is 1.3%, continuing a two week streak where that number has been below 2.0%. The 7 day average infection rate in Western NY is also falling and now sits at 1.8%. Governor Hochul says New Yorkers should be proud of the progress that’s been made in battling the virus but she’s urging people to keep protecting themselves against the illness.

Genesee and Orleans counties are going to be under a Winter Weather Advisory tonight from 7pm to tomorrow at 6pm.  The National Weather service is expecting 3 to 6 inches of snow accumulation and winds gusting as high as 45 miles per hour.  Wyoming County is under a Winter Storm Warning from tonight at 7 to Saturday at 6pm and 5 to 10 inches of snow is expected with high winds.  Temperatures are expected to drop into the 20s and wind chill will reduce that to near or below zero.  Be careful on snowy roads and watch out for white outs and sudden drifts.  

New York State plans to give people who have been convicted of having marijuana related criminal offenses the first chance to receive a cannabis license.  Governor Kathy Hochul made an announcement about the initiative, Thursday.  These licenses are awarded in an effort to correct what the state calls past “inequities” of the justice system, which involved a large number of people of color being charged for drug crimes.  According to the Cannabis Control Board, there is no residency requirement for the initiative.  However, there is a requirement that said convicted person must have been convicted in the state of New York. 

County planners recommended the approval of the 2 new restaurant and retail spaces in the corners of the former Kmart parking lot Thursday night.  At the County Planning Board meeting via teleconference it was determined that a retail space of 6752 square feet with a 2000 square foot coffee shop and drive through and a 4000 square foot restaurant would be located along Lewiston road.  An engineering director for Benderson Development which owns the vacant lot and Kmart building, said they already are working with tenants for the buildings although he couldn’t tell the board who. 

The New York State Department of Motor Vehicles announced that it is redesigning the drivers license, permit and non driver id card with upgraded security features.  Also you can choose between the old horizontal design and a new vertical design.  Some of the new safety features include Embossed text and images, clear windows and a state seal with multiple laser imaging.  And the birth month and year will be displayed a different way when observed from different angles.  The last redesign was in 2013.

The Buffalo Sabres snapped their losing streak with a win over former team captain Jack Eichel’s new team the Vegas Golden Knights 3 to 1 on Thursday night.  Peyton Krebs, Victor Olofsson, and Alex Tuch scored for Buffalo.  Krebs and Tuch were added to the Sabres in the trade that sent Eichel to the Knights.  Sabres goalie Craig Anderson was honored after Thursday’s victory which marked his 300th NHL win.  The Sabres next game is in Ontario against the Toronto Maple Leafs Sunday at 4pm for the 2022 Tim Hortons Heritage Classic.

The National Weather Service has issued a winter storm watch for Livingston County; keep in mind if you are driving east Friday night and Saturday, you are likely to encounter heavy snow, with accumulations up to 7 inches. Travel could range from being very difficult to impossible, as areas of blowing snow could significantly reduce visibility. While no watches have yet been issued for Genesee, Wyoming or Orleans counties snow is expected
to be widespread across upstate New York. Stay with WBTA for the latest weather information from 13 WHAM meteorologists.

A homeless person has been arrested on Liberty Street, in Batavia. Angelica Stanley is charged with criminal possession of a controlled substance. She was found to have crack cocaine and adderal, which had not been prescribed for her. She was issued a court appearance ticket for later this month and released.

The Western NY region has hit record-high fuel prices. This morning, Triple A reported the average price per gallon in WNY is now $4.46; up 9 cents from yesterday; up 81 cents from a month ago and up $1.60 from a year ago. In Batavia, the average price per gallon is $4.35, which represents an increase of 6 cents from yesterday. Previous record highs were recorded in July 2008; prices are expected to continue to rise.

A hearing is scheduled for later this month to determine whether or not statements made by an Oakfield man can be used during his trial for the murder of his father. 37-year-old Nicholas Maher is charged with second-degree murder; the public defender has requested that any statements Maher made to police be ruled out during a trial. Maher remains in Genesee County jail as the case continues.

The number of new confirmed Covid cases continues to go down in Genesee and Orleans counties, even as mask mandates are lifted in schools and most other indoor public places. There were 40 new cases reported in the past week, which was down from 74 last week. That was down from 112 from mid-February, and 216 from early last month. The recent caseloads represent a steep drop from the Covid peak in early January when there 2,703 cases across the two counties. The 40 new cases the past week include 15 in Orleans and 25 in Genesee. Statewide, Gov. Kathy Hochul reported there were 1,060 new Covid cases out of just over 67,700 tests (67,714), for a positivity rate of 1.57 percent. It’s the 12th straight day the state is under 2 percent for positive tests. The 7-day average of positive tests is currently at 1.51 percent.

After a 2-year hiatus because of the pandemic, the 13th GLOW Region Tech Wars are back on! The annual event brings middle and high school students from all 24 of the GLOW region’s school districts together to work collaboratively in teams to compete with Battlebots, boats, CAD machines and more. The event is scheduled for next Thursday, March 17 from 9 a.m. to 1 p.m. at Genesee Community College’s Batavia Campus.

The Buffalo Sabres will be back on their home ice tonight as they try and snap their two-game losing streak. The Sabres are hosting the Vegas Golden Knights at KeyBank Center. The contest will mark the Buffalo return of former Sabres captain Jack Eichel who was traded to Vegas back in November. Eichel has only played a few games this season due to his long recovery from neck surgery. Face-off for tonight’s game is set for 7:00.

Genesee County will be saving money – 70 million dollars, in fact – on the new jail project by using County Building 2 as a construction staging site. County Manager Matt Landers reported that the state Commission of Correction would permit the county’s jail transition team to be housed in County Building 2 on West Main Street Road while construction of the jail, which will be located just east of that building, is going on. The transition team will have 4 members in charge of writing policy and procedures for the new 184-bed facility. The team will be made up of current corrections officers and 4 new ones will be hired to replace them in their previous positions.

Two Batavia men have been charged in a series of robberies in Wyoming County. The Sheriff’s office there reports that 21-year-old Antwan Odom and 20-year-old Christopher McClinic have been charged with felony second-degree burglary following a multi-jurisdictional investigation. Deputies say the two committed four daytime burglaries earlier this month. The two are accused of stealing jewelry, nearly $5,000 in cash, a handgun, a crossbow, a muzzleloader, and three shotguns. Odom was arraigned and remanded to the Wyoming County Jail in lieu of $100,000 cash bail. McClinic was arraigned and released to the county’s pre-trial release program, pending future court appearances.

Organizers of the Lilac Festival in Rochester have announced the musical acts who are going to be headlining this year’s event. They include Blues Traveler, Driftwood, Black Joe Lewis and the Honey Bears, Anders Osborne and a Zac Brown tribute band. This year’s festival will run for three weekends, starting May 6th (through the 8th, May 12th through the 15th, and from May 19th through the 22nd) at Rochester’s Highland Park. More information can be found online by visiting rochesterevents.com.

Governor Hochul says members of the SNUG Street Outreach program will be expanding their presence in cities like Buffalo and Rochester that are dealing with a high number of gun crimes. The goal of the program is to mediate conflicts in communities, mentor young people and work alongside local partners to make the streets safer. The governor says all available resources are being used to stop the gun violence that’s been plaguing communities and putting the lives of residents in danger. She’s also included additional funding for the SNUG program in her state budget proposal.

Employees at three more Starbucks stores in the Buffalo-Niagara region have voted to unionize. Workers at locations in Amherst, Cheektowaga and Depew have decided to organize with Starbucks Workers United. Late last year, two other Starbucks stores in the area were the first in the country to vote in favor of unionization. So far, employees at over 100 Starbucks locations nationwide have asked the National Labor Relations Board for the ability to hold unionization votes of their own.

A GoFundMe has been set up to help out the families of two teenagers who were killed in a crash in Clarence. State Police say 17-year-old Luke Malinich was driving on Delaware Road Monday afternoon when he lost control of his vehicle, which caused it to go off the road, overturn and hit a tree. Malinich and his passenger, 17-year-old Lauren Taggart, died at the scene. Both teens were students at Williamsville South High School. Troopers say speed was a factor in the accident. So far, the GoFundMe has raised over $11,000.

Rochester police are warning residents about the recent rise in reported car break-ins across the city. They say in some cases, the windows of vehicles have been smashed so criminals can get items that are inside. Police say the best way to protect yourself is to keep any valuables like keys and wallets out of your vehicle entirely. And, if you’re the victim of a break-in, police want you to report it right away. That information will allow officers to target specific areas where the crimes are happening which could help them with making arrests.

Gas Prices keep going up in the GLOW region and across the country.  According to AAA the average in Batavia is now 4.35, a 6 cent increase from Tuesday.  1 year ago the price was 2.80.  These prices go higher than the highest they have ever been which was July of 2008.  Prices are expected to continue to rise.  

Two Batavia men have been charged in a series of robberies in Wyoming County.  The Wyoming County Sheriff’s Office says 21 year old Antwan Odom and 20 year old Christopher McClinic have been charged with felony second-degree burglary following a multi-jurisdictional investigation.  Deputies say the two committed four daytime burglaries in the town of Covington on Feb. 17. The two are accused of stealing jewelry, nearly $5,000 in cash, a handgun, a crossbow, a muzzleloader, and three shotguns.  Odom was arraigned and remanded to the Wyoming County Jail in lieu of $100,000 cash bail. McClinic was arraigned and released to the county’s pre-trial release program, pending future court appearances.

Tech Wars are back at GCC on Thursday the 17th.  Middle and High School students from all GLOW region school districts will be competing with their battlebots, boats, CAD machines, Rube Goldberg Machines and many more from 9 to 1.  The Tech Wars had to stop for the last 2 years because of the pandemic.  There is also a Mystery Competition where students will have to pit their skills against each other in a timed, on demand event.  Tech Wars is supported by many local businesses and promotes kids STEAM knowledge and skills.

Genesee County is saving a bit of money on the 70 million dollar new Jail project by using the County Building 2 as a construction staging site.  County Manager Matt Landers reported that the state Commission of Correction will permit the county’s jail transition team to be housed in County Building 2 on West Main Street Road while construction of the jail, which will be located just east of that building, is going on.  The transition team will have 4 members in charge of writing policy and procedures for the new 184 bed facility.  The team will be made up of current corrections officers and 4 new ones will be hired to replace them in their previous positions.  

UPDATE 9:05PM

Boys Basketball Class D Final

Avoca/Prattsburgh  71  Notre Dame 51

New York State is reminding home owners that beginning next Wednesday, March 16th, it will be illegal to burn brush on residential property.
This is an annual ban put in place by the State Department of Environmental Conservation and is designed to help prevent wildfires.
The statewide ban against residential brush burning continues until May 14th.

A Warsaw man just released from prison for making meth has been arrested for the same crime again.
38-year-old Dane Killian of Warsaw was just released on parole when State Police charged him with possession of hydrocodone and oxycodone without a prescription.
Troopers say Killian also had in his possession supplies need to make to make methamphetamine.
Because of his previous conviction, Killian faces 15 years in state prison.

The Batavia Muckdogs have been selected as the Genesee County Chamber of Commerce “Entrepreneurial Business of the Year.” Robbie Nichols and his wife took over the team last summer.
Nichols says he has increased game attendance and sales of season tickets. He says that the games for 2022 are nearly sold out already.

The Rochester Philharmonic Orchestra will be holding a benefit concert this weekend to show support for the people of Ukraine.
The performance is scheduled for Saturday at 7:30pm inside Kodak Hall at The Eastman Theater.
The suggested donation for a seat is $20 and tickets can be bought online at rpo.org,

A new survey has named Buffalo as the 10th best city in the country to celebrate Saint Patrick’s Day. The study, which was conducted by WalletHub, considered several factors such as Irish restaurants and pubs per capita, weather and the lowest price for a three-star hotel on the holiday itself.
In fact, Buffalo was ranked one spot above New York City which holds the largest Saint Patrick’s Day parade in the world.

New York state lawmakers are introducing legislation in an attempt to ease the pain at the gas pump. The New York Gas Tax Relief Act would suspend the state’s 48-cent a gallon gas tax until September 1st. It’s unclear how much that would impact prices. Gas right now is approaching four and a half dollars for a gallon of regular on average in the state. Experts put most of the blame on the Russia invasion of Ukraine.

Steve Hawley (R, Batavia)

Assemblyman Steve Hawley is calling on Governor Kathy Hochul and the Legislature to increase funding for road repairs. He and other advocates are supporting a funding increase because there is much work to be done to ensure the state’s roads are safe for those who travel on them, and help to keep supply chains moving as efficiently as possible.

The Batavia Muckdogs have been selected as the Genesee County Chamber of Commerce “Entrepreneurial Business of the Year” and team owner Robbie Nichols is thrilled that the county recognized all the work and effort that was put in to help rejuvenate baseball at Dwyer Stadium last summer. Nichols is enthusiastic about how well the team has been doing in Batavia with increased attendance, lots of fun events for the game days, sales of season tickets, and how the community has responded to the team. Nichols says that the games for 2022 are nearly sold out already.

A Wyoming County man recently released from prison and presently on parole for manufacturing methamphetamine has been charged with making meth again. State Police have charged 38-year-old Dane Killian of Warsaw with possession of hydrocodone and oxycodone without a prescription. He also had the supplies on hand to make meth. Killian now faces multiple charges and because of his previous conviction, could face up to 15 years in prison.

The Rochester Philharmonic Orchestra will be holding a benefit concert this weekend to show support for the people of Ukraine. The performance is scheduled for Saturday at 7:30pm inside Kodak Hall at Eastman Theater. The suggested donation for a seat is $20 and tickets can be bought online at rpo.org, by calling 585-454-2100 or in-person at the box office. Guests five and older need to provide proof of COVID-19 vaccination and masks are required to be worn through the entire performance.

The GLOW region, as is the case now in much of the state, experiences record high fuel prices. And now a timely warning from State Attorney General Letitia James to New Yorkers about potential price gouging at the gas pumps. James says now that President Biden has put a ban on Russian oil imports, stations may raise fuel prices even more. Under state law, fuel sellers aren’t allowed to charge excessive prices during a period of abnormal market disruption such as a global conflict. Right now, the average cost for a gallon of gas in Batavia is $4.35 a gallon, which is up 54 cents in just the past week. The State average is $4.37 per gallon.

The New York State Department of Environmental Conservation has announced the annual statewide ban prohibiting residential brush burning begins next Wednesday, March 16 and continues through May 14. Since 2009, DEC has enforced the annual brush-burning ban to prevent wildfires and protect communities because spring brings with it heightened conditions for wildfires.

The Buffalo Bisons are ready to sell single game tickets starting this Saturday at 10AM. The tickets go on sale during the team’s annual free Family Day Open House. There is also a special online pre-sale of all single-game tickets with no service fees; that started today and is available through Friday. Fans can save $3.00 on every ticket bought in advance of game days this season. Opening Day is set for April 5 at Sahlen Field and there will be no mask or vaccination requirements.

40 Percent of New Yorkers say they are planning to leave the state according to a poll from Unite NY and John Zogby Strategies.  According to the poll, “high taxes and a broken political system” are the primary reasons cited for 40% of New Yorkers considering leaving the state.  The poll checked with 1000 people including 451 Democrats and 291 Republicans and the rest being independent or third party.  Nearly half the people surveyed said that New York is heading in the wrong direction.  If you want to check out the raw survey data you can follow the link at WBTAi.com.

https://johnzogbystrategies.com/wp-content/uploads/2022/03/X_Issues_March.pdf

The Batavia Muckdogs have been selected as the Genesee County Chamber of Commerce “Entrepreneurial Business of the Year” and team owner Robbie Nichols says it is the icing on the cake.  Nichols is enthusiastic about how well the team has been doing in Batavia with increased attendance, lots of fun events for the game days, sales of season tickets, and how the community has responded to the team.  He and his family bought a home not far from the ballpark even though his main address remains in Elmira.  Nichols says that the games for 2022 are nearly sold out already.  

There are about 100 days left till summer vacation, do you know how you’re going to spent it?  How about as a lifeguard?  Western NY has been experiencing a lifeguard shortage for several years and Buffalo and Tonawanda are calling on prospects to get trained now.  There is a dire need for trained lifeguards.  In Buffalo they need 100, they have 22.  Mayor Brown says that “The ages are 16-21. It is a well-paying job. The job pays $16/hour and we are looking for young people.”  Buffalo is trying to get just Buffalo residents to apply, but Lifeguards are needed all across Western NY.

The Buffalo Bisons are ready to sell single game tickets starting this Saturday at 10AM.  The tickets go on sale during the team’s annual free Family Day Open House.  There will also be a special online pre-sale of all single-game tickets with no service fees from Wednesday at 10 a.m. through Friday.  Fans can save $3.00 on every ticket bought in advance of game days this season.  Opening Day is set for April 5 at Sahlen Field and there will be no mask or vaccination requirements.

The weekend wind storm that blew through Genesee County, knocking out power to 2,000 homes, has also taken a life.
The Sheriff’s officer reports that 61 year old Steven K. Reber of Bergen was killed by a falling tree.
Authorities said was out walking in the woods near his home Sunday evening when a tree was blown down and struck him in the head.
Family members and first responders attempted life saving measures, nut it was too late.

We should know more about the planned development for the former K-mart site following the County Planning Board meeting on Thursday.
Bernderson Development, which owns the property at Lewiston and Parks Roads has said they plan two new out-buildings in the parking lot for an un-named restaurant and retail establishment.

There has been a change of location for tomorrow night’s Class D Boys Basketball State Qualifier. Notre Dame will take on Avoca/Prattsburg at Dansville High School. Tip off is at 7pm. Live play-by-play coverage with Pete Zehler begins at 6:50 on WBTA FM and AM and online at WBTAi-dot-com.
The game was originally scheduled to be played at Letchworth.

On today’s bad boys report:

29 year old Cameron Sokolowski of Batavia has reportedly learned the hard way – you don’t stiff a taxi driver out of a fare.
Police say once the cab reached Sokolowski’s destination, he went inside and refused to come back. He now has a date in court.

And here’s a Batavia guy busted for allegedly boosting beer.
Police say 33 year old Benito Gay took three brews from the cooler at the Kwik Fill and quickly ran out the door. Cops got him, Gay has a date in court.

Benderson Development is the owner of the land on Lewiston Road, on which the empty K-mart building sits, and is seeking a special use permit and site plan review when the county Planning Board meets via Zoom this Thursday evening. If their plan is approved, Benderson Development would like to add two businesses to the parking lot area. One of them could be a restaurant or a retail space, but will have a coffee shop as an end cap to the building. The other building will have a drive-through restaurant.

The project will also include:
■ drainage upgrades to bring the site into compliance with the current storm water regulations;
■ an increase in overall green space and landscaping;
■ utility upgrades;
■ new curbing, pavement and site lighting around the proposed buildings.

Presently, the land is used for ‘spillover’ parking for businesses in the area.

A 62-year-old Bergen man, Steven Reber, was killed while out walking. Late on Sunday during the windstorm, a tree fell striking him on the head. Family members and emergency personnel attempted life-saving measures; however, Reber died at the scene. It was a dangerously strong storm, causing many power lines, branches and trees to come down, including one tree in Centennial Park in Batavia.

The Erie County Sheriff’s Office has issued a warning about an ongoing phone scam that’s been targeting people in the region. One resident contacted the agency and said they received a call claiming to be from Amazon Tech Support. The scam resulted in over 100-dollars being withdrawn from the victim’s bank account. The sheriff’s office says that you should never give out any personal information over the phone such as your date of birth or social security number or ever give anyone money using prepaid cards or gift cards. Anyone who gets a suspicious call like this should hang up immediately.

New York Attorney General Letitia James today launched a rulemaking process to look into whether major corporations are using the pandemic and inflation as an excuse to unfairly raise the price of basic goods. This first-ever price gouging rulemaking process by the Office of the Attorney General will examine and address new evidence that some of the recent price hikes by big corporations were driven by profit not increased costs. Through this process, James aims to implement new price gouging rules that will crack down on pandemic profiteering and corporate greed. New York’s current price gouging law bans companies from taking advantage of a crisis to charge excessive prices for vital and necessary goods and services. The rulemaking process will explore growing evidence that big corporations appear to have used the pandemic as an excuse to charge more for necessary goods, such as gas and oil, food, and cars. As evidenced by the recent spike in corporate profits, many companies are not sharing in the burden of the pandemic, nor are they neutral. Evidence indicates that some companies are profiting by increasing costs for the people hit hardest by the pandemic.

The Transportation Security Administration says another step has been taken to increase the safety of travelers at one Western New York airport. The TSA has installed a new scanner at Niagara Falls International Airport that’ll provide increased detection of explosive devices and weapons at security checkpoints. The same kind of scanner will also be in place soon at Buffalo Niagara International Airport. The scanner is expected to make the screening process faster because it provides enhanced images of items that have been placed inside bags which will make it easier for TSA agents to determine if they need to be removed for closer inspection or not.

With gas prices nearing an all-time high, state lawmakers are proposing dropping or suspending the NY state Gas tax but Governor Hochul is not sure that is a good idea. She says that while there are options, she stated that there are no guarantees that suspending the gas tax would result in lower prices at the pump. Hochul wants to make sure it would actually help before she cuts into state revenues. The gas tax accounts for at least 45 cents a gallon at the pump.

Governor Hochul is promising that millions of dollars will be coming to the Finger Lakes region if her proposed state budget is approved by lawmakers. During a visit to Rochester yesterday, the governor said that 100-million bucks would go towards filling another section of Rochester’s Inner Loop. If the money is approved, construction on that project is expected to begin in 2024 and will likely wrap up in 2027. The governor says funds would also be distributed to Frontier Field and Seneca Park Zoo.

The Buffalo Sabres are now on a two-game losing streak following a poor offensive performance on home ice. John Hayden had the lone goal for Buffalo as they were beaten by the Florida Panthers six-to-one at KeyBank Center last night. Sabres goalie Craig Anderson was hoping to win his 300th career game but instead gave up six goals on the 31 shots he faced in the contest. The Sabres will continue their home stand on Thursday night when they host the Vegas Golden Knights.

A new historical marker will highlight one of the great engineering feats along the Erie Canal: the aqueduct in Medina where the Oak Orchard Creek goes under the Erie Canal with the creek then plunging in a waterfall north of the canal. The Orleans Renaissance Group will be putting up the marker, with assistance from the Medina Sandstone Society, which provided a $500 grant for the project. The Village Board has agreed to allow the marker in the Canal Basin. The image of the sign posted above was computer-generated.

The wind storm on Sunday claimed at least one life in the area.  61 year old Steven Reber was walking in the woods off Sackett Road in Bergen when a tree blown by the wind fell on him, striking him in the head and killing him.  EMTs were dispatched for a call of a man pinned and unresponsive at 5:58pm and life saving measures were attempted.  He was pronounced dead at the scene.

Governor Hochul is leary of dropping the Gas Tax.  Gas prices are on everyone’s mind as this week saw a jump of over 43 cents in just a couple of days after months of 2 or 3 cent rises a week.  Prices on average are up 1.43 since 2021 with New York and California seeing record high prices.  Democrat and Republican lawmakers are proposing dropping or suspending the NY state Gas tax but the governor isn’t so sure.  She says that while there are options, she stated that there are no guarantees that suspending the gas tax would result in lower prices at the pump.  She says she wants to make sure it would actually help before she cuts into state revenues.  The gas tax accounts for at least 45 cents a gallon at the pump.

The empty K-Mart building at the corner of Lewiston and Park road has only been used for overflow parking and a halloween store and not much else.  Its owner now has a proposal for what to do with some of the property.  Build two restaurants with drive throughs.  Benderson Development Company has sent a proposal letter to the Town Planning Board to replace some of the KMart parking lot with a 4000 square foot restaurant and a 6752 square foot restaurant and retail building.  They also plan drainage upgrades to bring the area up to code.  Parking would be significantly reduced and no details were given about what to do with the KMart building itself.  

Batavia has been named 5th most active Micropolitan in the US by Site Selection Magazine.  The ranking has to do with how the town and county invest in new businesses and shovel ready sites.  Cited in the article were significant financial investments at shovel ready sites across the county in 2021, including the Gateway II Corporate Park, Apple Tree Acres Business Park, Genesee Valley Agri-Business Park, Buffalo East Tech Park, and Western New York STAMP.  The article also talked about the Plug Power green hydrogen project going into the STAMP facility.  This is the seventeenth consecutive year that Batavia and Genesee County have been recognized as the top micropolitan for business growth in the northeast U.S., and as a top 5 micropolitan in the U.S for the 11th time since 2005.

The Sabres lost 6 to1 to the Florida Panthers for their second loss in just 2 days.  Their lone goal came from John Hayden and it was his second goal of the season.  Sam Reinhart was back playing and received an assist.  He now has 53 points in 53 games.  The Sabres play the Vegas Golden Knights on Thursday at the Keybank Center at 7pm.

Western New York drivers are going to have to dig a lot deeper into their wallets when it comes time to fill up their vehicles. According to Triple A, the average cost for a gallon of regular gas is $4.18. That’s up 39 cents in the past week. The state average is $4.21 a gallon while nationally it’s an even $4.00. In Batavia, the average cost per gallon is $4.23; up 10 cents from yesterday. Last Monday, the average price here was $3.75; a month ago, $3.52; and this time last year, $2.75.

Paying those high gas prices would get much easier for whoever wins one of the two big lottery jackpots up for grabs in the next couple of days. The prize available for this evening’s Powerball game is $90,000,000 and $126,000,000 is available in tomorrow night’s Mega Millions. The cost of a ticket for each game is $2.00. Both the Mega Millions and Powerball drawings will be streamed live online. Please play responsibly.

Sunnking, the household hazardous waste recycling company based in Brockport, is returning to Batavia for another large recycling event at Genesee County Department of Social Services, 5130 E. Main Street on June 25. More details will be released closer to the event but registration opens later this month.

The high wind warning lived up to its name yesterday, with downed branches, trees and power lines throughout the GLOW region. National Grid reports at the peak of the storm, nearly 2000 households were without power in Genesee County and as of this morning, a few hundred households were still without. National Grid has been removing downed trees and wires and also replacing broken poles as they work toward restoring power.

Former Governor Andrew Cuomo blames “cancel culture” for ruining his career. In his first public speech since resigning amid sexual harassment claims, Cuomo told a church congregation in Brooklyn yesterday the Democratic Party chooses to cancel people with whom they disagree. Cuomo also continued to defend himself against sexual harassment allegations. He said, he never did anything illegal and that he didn’t realize his behavior was inappropriate by today’s standards of social norms in the workplace.

For the first time in weeks, all students at McKinley High School in Buffalo will be returning to their classrooms today. They’ve been learning remotely since early February after a violent incident at the school left a 14-year-old student and security guard hurt. Students were originally scheduled to return this Friday, but the district said over the weekend it was safe for them to return today. Until metal detectors are installed, there will be extra security measures in place such as students being checked for weapons and having their bags searched.

The Buffalo Bills have announced where they’ll be doing their preparations for the upcoming season. The team has reached a one-year deal to return to Saint John Fisher College after spending the last two years getting ready at Highmark Stadium due to the COVID-19 pandemic. This’ll be the 21st time the school hosts the Bills for training camp. Fans will be allowed to watch the players in-person and the dates and times for each practice are going to be announced in the coming weeks.

The struggles of the Buffalo Sabres are continuing following a shutout loss on home ice. The Sabres failed to score a goal in yesterday’s three-to-nothing defeat at the hands of the Los Angeles Kings at KeyBank Center. The Sabres have now been beaten in seven of their last nine games and are in sixth place in the Atlantic Division with 44 points. During the third period, winger Alex Tuch suffered a shoulder injury after crashing into the goalpost. He had surgery last night and will require six months for recovery. Up next for Buffalo is another home game tonight against the Florida Panthers.

The Holland Land Office Museum will host its next trivia night on March 10. This month’s topic is Albert Einstein. Admission is $3 per person or $2 for museum members. All in attendance are required to wear face coverings. Contact the museum if you would like to attend (585) 343-4727. Those interested may also join via Zoom with links are available on the museum’s website and Facebook page.

Six Flags Darien Lake, Six Flags Darien Lake, Thrill Capital of New York, is planning to change their name from Splashtown Water Park to Six Flags Hurricane Harbor, and launching a new, 60-foot tall slide for the 2022 season. Wahoo Wave will rank as one of the tallest water rides in the water park.
The new, Six Flags Hurricane Harbor additions will include the following features:
· Expanded seating and additional lounge chairs;
· Improved shaded areas;
· A ‘selfie’ photo spot featuring a 20-foot shark prop; and
· New, tropically themed wave pool mural.
The Wahoo Wave slide complex features:
· Near vertical motions on a four-person tube;
· Thirty-foot vertical plunge;
· Whirlpool bowl;
· Huge water wave wall, where guests will feel zero-gravity bliss; and
· Refreshing catch pool.
Construction on Wahoo Wave has begun and is expected to be complete when the water park opens this May.

The high winds Sunday knocked down power lines, trees and branches all over Genesee county.  First responders scurried to respond to several calls as the day went on.  There were power outages in Byron, Elba, Alexander, Darien, Oakfield and Basom.  Nearly 2000 people were without power and National Grid put extra crews to work getting things back online.  Several hundred people were still without power this morning at 5am.  National Grid says their field force is actively removing downed trees and wires and replacing some broken poles and working to restore power to those affected.

Republicans in the state assembly have been saying it for a while now and Democrats are starting to join in on suspending the state gas tax.  Gas is now over 4 dollars a gallon across the state.  An average of 4.20 over the weekend has now risen sharply with gas stations in Batavia hitting up to 4.50 with 4.39 being the average.  Prices around the county vary wildly as stations try to keep updates with the spiking prices.  State lawmakers are saying that the increase in the cost of household goods, inflation and now gas prices require some relief.  Democratic Assemblyman Angelo Santabarbara for Rotterdam has introduced a bill to suspend the gas tax for a year.  The bill to increase the gas tax by 55 cents and increase home heating by 26 percent that was introduced by Democrats February of last year to fight climate change is still in committee. 

The New York State police are looking for recruits.  You must be between 20 and 29 but Military veterans can be older.  Troopers can make up to 80,000 dollars a year by their second year.  Since training opportunities have been cut back over the past Two years due to the pandemic, recruiters are really looking to bring in more candidates.  You can apply at joinstatepolice.ny.gov

Sheridan Benefits, LLC will host a series of ‘Medicare 101 Table  Chats’ at three GLOW YMCA branches the week of March 7. Biggs Johnson with Sheridan  Benefits will be available to present information to those approaching Medicare age to learn about the program and to answer questions from current Medicare beneficiaries.  They will be at the Genesee County YMCA on Wednesday March 9th from 9am to 11am.  This is an opportunity to get information about the Medicare program.  These chats are open to the public.

After a 2 game winning streak beating the Toronto Maple Leafs on Wednesday and the Minnesota Wild on Friday the Sabres were blown out 3 to zip by the Los Angeles Kings on Sunday.  Tokarski made 29 saves and only let 1 goal get past him.  The other 2 were empty netters.  The Keybank Arena was packed Sunday for Kids Takeover day where kids sang the national anthem, did the PA announcements and even gave the locker room speech.  The Sabres will be hosting the Florida Panthers tonight at 7pm.

Governor Hochul says the deal for the new Bills stadium may be announced later this month.  Negotiations are still ongoing.  On Friday, Governor Hochul was in Buffalo and she says an agreement for a new stadium will be done in time for this year’s budget. The budget is due in just a few weeks on April 1.  According to the governor, the new stadium is coming and will be built in Orchard Park.  She didn’t specify whether there will be a dome or not.  A new stadium will be around $1.4 billion but the amount taxpayers will be on the hook for has not been released.

Ray Tourt, Superintendent of Maintenance for the City of Batavia, retired Friday after being with the city for 23 years.  Tourt served as the resident engineer and project administrator for the $28M reconstruction of NY Route 5 Main Street Project, multiple road and sidewalk construction projects, snow plowing and operations, as well as the City’s automotive repair facility.  He is being replaced by Scott Allen who has been with the City for 23 years as well.  Allen worked in the sewer department, street cleaning, and moved up to Mechanic supervisor.   

With this and next weekend being free snowmobile weekends in New York, State and local police warn snowmobilers to drive safely especially with a rash of snowmobiling incidents and several deaths in recent weeks.  Law enforcement patrols are being increased these weekends looking for people driving while impaired by drugs or alcohol.  If a rider is convicted they can be suspended from snowmobiling for over a year and face possible fines and jail time.

The City of Rochester is trying to lure video game production companies to setup in the city.  On Friday, New York State Sen. Jeremy Cooney and community partners announced support for Empire State Digital Gaming Media Production Credit.  He says the goal is to keep students and professionals like those at Rochester Institute of Technology in the region.  If the bill passes, it will cover 25 percent of the production costs of a digital gaming media production and 10 extra percent if it’s located upstate. The available funding could be as much as $50 million a year.

For the first time in 3 years Rochester is gearing up for a St Patrick’s day Parade.  The parade was suspended for two years because of the COVID-19 pandemic. It was the first big event affected by COVID, canceled just days before it was to be held in 2020.  The parade kicks off Rochester’s festival season, Mayor Malik Evans said. Whether it’s sunny or snowing, it typically draws tens of thousands of spectators.  The parade begins at 12:30 p.m. Saturday the 12th at East Avenue and Alexander Street, makes its way to the Liberty Pole, and proceeds west down Main Street all the way to Fitzhugh.

Batavia City School District’s Board of Education met this morning to take a vote on making face masks optional per Governor Kathy Hochul’s decision earlier this week, to rescind the mask mandate. It took less than 3 minutes to obtain the unanimous ‘yes’ vote by board members, the result – face coverings are now optional in Batavia schools.

The latest data from Governor Hochul’s office shows the spread of COVID-19 has slowed down dramatically across New York in the last few days. The statewide positivity rate has been below two-percent for seven straight days and is now at 1.4%. The seven-day average infection rate in Western New York is also falling and is now around 2.7%. Governor Hochul is still urging anyone who hasn’t been vaccinated against coronavirus yet to get their shot to prevent another surge in cases.

In addition, in reference to the decline in COVID-19 cases, Erie County Executive Mark Poloncarz announced this afternoon that the state of emergency that has been in place since March 2020, officially ends tomorrow.

An investigation into a traffic stop has led to a multi-count indictment against two Buffalo residents for having drugs and stolen property. 29-year-old Damone Hennings and 21-year-old Analyse Spencer were arraigned in Wyoming County Court late last week. A Trooper pulled them over last August; neither of the two had a valid driver’s license, which prompted police to a search their car. Deputies found a plastic contractor bag in the trunk which allegedly contained 11 one-pound sealed packages of cannabis, a stolen wallet with multiple credit cards and another wallet with eight state unemployment benefit cards, all with different names on them. Both face multiple charges and both have entered not guilty pleas. They return to court next month.

Gas prices continue to increase and NY State, along with Pennsylvania, Illinois and many states on the west coast, are experiencing some of the highest prices per gallon in the country. The state average is $4.05/gallon, up 13 cents from yesterday; 28 cents from a week ago; and nearly 50 cents from this same time last month. In Batavia, the average price per gallon is now $3.97, up 22 cents since Monday. To help counter the impact of rising oil prices, the International Energy Agency has coordinated a release of 60 million barrels of crude oil from its 31 member countries’ strategic reserves, including the U.S., Germany, Canada, South Korea, and Mexico. Meanwhile, Triple A offers the following tips to help you save on fuel costs: start the engine and then drive the car normally to warm the engine to operating temperature more rapidly; and avoid “jack rabbit” starts, rapid acceleration and hard braking, which can lower fuel economy by 15 to 30 percent at highway speeds and 10 to 40 percent in stop-and-go traffic. A link with a comprehensive list of suggestions to save fuel is available here:  https://gasprices.aaa.com/news/fuel-saving-tips/

Some of the student members of Attica Central School’s chapter of the National Junior Honor Society, recently returned from a trip to Washington D.C. where they had the opportunity to lay wreaths on the graves of the fallen, as part of National Wreaths Across America Day. One student, Addyson Zawilski, had the opportunity to visit and lay wreaths on the graves of her maternal great-grandparents. One of the group’s advisors, Heather Smith, hoped the trip impressed on students the significance of the sacrifice service members buried in Arlington had made for the country.

If you’re looking for a job, consider The New York State Police. They are looking to bolster their ranks during a recruitment event at the Walden Galleria in Cheektowaga. It’s scheduled to take place tomorrow from 11am – 2pm across from the Dave and Busters. Career information will be available as well as details on how to sign up for the upcoming Trooper exam. The annual starting salary for a State Police officer is just over $58,000 but increases to more than $82,000 after the first year.

It appears that one of the largest companies in the world may be setting up shop in the Western New York region. According to several reports, Amazon wants to build a brand-new distribution facility in the Town of Niagara. Previously, Amazon was looking into building the facility in Grand Island, but the plan was scrapped due to community opposition. The distribution center could create over 1,000 jobs for the local economy. It’d be located on Lockport Road near Niagara Falls International Airport.

A police report has revealed more details about that JetBlue pilot who was pulled from the cockpit of an aircraft due to suspicion that he may have been under the influence of alcohol. 52-year-old James Clifton, an Orlando native, told investigators he drank 10 22-ounce beers the night before the plane was scheduled to travel from Buffalo to Fort Lauderdale on Wednesday. He was taken into custody and his blood alcohol content was .17, a little more than twice the legal limit and over four times what’s allowed for pilots. JetBlue has fired Clinton. Affected passengers each received a $200 voucher.

State Attorney General Letitia James has issued a warning to NY residents and businesses about scams related to the ongoing crisis in Ukraine. The Attorney General says people should be on the lookout for price gouging of fuel, goods and services and also take the necessary steps to protect themselves against a potential cyber-attack. People looking to donate money to help Ukrainians should also look into the background of a charity to make sure it’s credible. Anyone who sees a potential scam should notify the attorney general’s office immediately. Attorney General Letitia James:
“At a time of great chaos, confusion, and destruction, it is imperative that New Yorkers be on alert for potential risks to when donating to charitable causes,” said Attorney General James. “Many New Yorkers are eager to do their part to help the Ukrainian people, but scammers often take advantage of crises to exploit our generosity and compassion. We will continue to do all that we can to support Ukraine, and I encourage anyone who has experienced any issues to contact my office.”

Regarding Charitable Giving:

New Yorkers seeking to donate to charities should take the steps below before donating over the phone, through mail, or online to ensure that their contributions reach the causes they intend to support. Important tips to keep in mind include:
• Solicited by email? Find out who is soliciting. If you receive a solicitation by email, find out who is behind that email address. Contact the charity whose name is in the email or visit its website to find out if the email is really from the charity. Do not give personal information or your credit card number in response to an email solicitation unless you have checked out the charity.
• Be careful when giving through social media or other fundraising sites; research the identity of the organizer of the fundraising efforts and ask the same questions you would of a charity. Online platforms that host groups and individuals soliciting for causes may not thoroughly vet those who use their service. Donors should only give to campaigns conducted by people whom they know. Donors also should take a close look at the site’s FAQs and Terms and Conditions to see what fees will be charged. Also, don’t assume that charities recommended on social media sites, blogs, or other websites have already been vetted. Research the charity yourself to confirm that the charity is aware of the campaign and has given its approved permission for the use of its name or logo. If available, sign up for updates from the campaign organizer to keep abreast on how contributions to the campaign are being spent.
• Check before giving. Donate to charities you are familiar with and carefully review information about the charity before you give. Most charities are required to register and file financial reports with OAG’s Charities Bureau if they solicit contributions from New Yorkers. Check OAG’s website for financial reports of charities or ask the charity directly for its reports.
• Ask how your donation will be used. Find out how the charity plans to use your donation, including the services and individuals your donation will support. Find out more than just the cause. Find out what organization or entity will receive the money and what programs it conducts or what services it provides.
• Look into newly formed organizations carefully. Often, in the aftermath of tragedies, new organizations emerge to meet community needs. While most of these organizations are well-intentioned, and some may provide innovative forms of assistance, some may not have the experience or infrastructure to follow through on their promises, and some may turn out to be scams.
• Exercise caution before you text a contribution. Check the charity’s website or call the charity to confirm it has authorized contributions to be made via text message.
• Don’t give cash. Give directly to the charity either by check made payable to the organization or through the charity’s website.
• Be careful about personal information. Be cautious before giving credit card or personal information over the phone, by text message or via the Internet. In all cases, make sure you are familiar with the organization to which you give such information and check to see that the fundraising campaign is legitimate.
• Report suspicious organizations. If you believe an organization is misrepresenting its work, or that a fundraising or charitable scam is taking place, please contact the Charities Bureau at complaints@ag.ny.gov.

All counties in Western NY are now counted as low community levels of COVId 19.  According to the data, all counties in New York are either “low” or “medium,” there is not a county listed as “high.”  CDC guidelines recommend that indoor masks are no longer needed in low counties.  Before it was updated Thursday, it was last updated on February 24 and there were only two counties (Cattaraugus and Allegany) that were low at the time. The remainder were “medium.”

Car thief nabbed in Pembroke.  34 year old Richard Ervin of Newark New Jersey was arrested Wednesday February 15th in Pembroke for stealing a car.  He was arrested for grand larceny in the 4th degree, Criminal Possession of stolen property in the 4th degree, and Unlicensed operation of a motor vehicle in the 3rd degree.  He was given an appearance ticket for March 9th in Pembroke Town Court.

The Jetblue Pilot who was removed from the cockpit of a jet at Buffalo airport has been fired from his job.  52 year old Orlando native James Clifton, after he was seen noticeably drunk entering the aircraft authorities were contacted and he was removed and blew a .17 which is twice the legal limit, 4 times for pilots.  Investigators say he drank 10 22 ounce beers before boarding the flight.  

The City of Batavia has a new Director of Public Works; Brett Frank has been awarded the position. He was selected following an extensive search for candidates and starts Monday, March 28. Frank is a life-long resident of Genesee County and has served in local government for the last seven years, including as the Deputy Director of Real Property for Genesee County and is presently the Director of Economic Development for the Batavia Development Corporation. Frank said he is looking forward to getting started and is excited to serve his community.

The total number of Covid cases in Genesee and Orleans counties fell to 74 in the past week, from Feb. 23 to March 1, with 29 new cases in Orleans and 45 in Genesee. That continues the sharp downward trajectory from about two months ago when there were over 2700 (2,703) cases of Covid between the two counties. The 74 in the past week is down from the 112 new cases in the previous week and 216 during Feb. 9-15.

Officials at the University at Buffalo have announced a change to the school’s COVID-19 health and safety guidelines. Starting on Saturday, masks are going to be optional in most settings, however they’ll still be mandatory on buses and shuttles as well as clinical health care settings on campus. Anyone who wishes to wear a mask while in class or at an office is still allowed to do so and the campus community is asked to respect the choices of others. The school is continuing its weekly COVID-19 testing program for faculty, students, and staff who aren’t fully vaccinated against the virus.

A “Stitch-In” for the children of Ukraine will take place next Saturday, March 12th, at St. Mark’s Episcopal Church in Le Roy. The event runs from 10 until noon at the church at 1 E. Main St. The goal is to raise money for UNICEF’s Protect Children in Ukraine fund. For a minimum donation of $10, with the entire proceeds going to UNICEF, participants receive a cross-stitch kit to start working on during the event.

Governor Hochul is once again renewing her push to make alcohol-to-go sales permanent across the Empire State. The governor says the takeout program has provided a much-needed financial boost to bars and restaurants during the coronavirus pandemic. The governor also says she doesn’t believe it’ll be necessary to require people to buy food when purchasing to-go drinks. The governor’s proposal has been criticized by liquor store owners who believe the program will cut into their profits if it remains in place.

The Tulley Building in Bergen was built in 1886. Since then, it has been home to many different businesses as well as apartments. Presently, the buildings brick is in need of repair, and the mayor, Anna Marie Barclay, is working with the Western New York Landmark Society, to complete the application for a Genesee Valley Rural Revitalization Grant in the amount of $50,000. That would pay for 90 percent of the project. Barclay has been active with the Tulley Building Restoration Committee since it formed in 2007. One of the goals of the committee was to develop a renovation plan that would ensure that the historic integrity of the building would be maintained. Since that time, structural restoration has been completed, including installation of a new roof. The detailed story is available from our news partner:  https://www.thebatavian.com/

There’s been a big change in leadership at Buffalo Public Schools after superintendent Doctor Kriner Cash stepped down from his position. The school board accepted Cash’s resignation last night and named Doctor Tonja Williams as acting superintendent. In a statement, Cash said it was his privilege to serve the district and urged people to take advantage of the programs the school system has to offer. The school board also announced last night that an independent investigation will be conducted into the recent violence that happened at McKinley High School.

New York’s two senators want more federal funding for a cybersecurity program that helps protect governments from attacks. Senators Chuck Schumer and Kirsten Gillibrand say sanctions against Russia following the invasion of Ukraine have increased the risk of retaliatory cyberattacks. They sent a letter to the Senate Appropriations Committee leadership pushing for an increase in funding for the Multi-State Information Sharing and Analysis Center. The program is used by all states and thousands of local governments to get up-to-date cyber threat warnings and protections.

The Niagara Frontier Transportation Authority says a JetBlue pilot who was removed from the cockpit of a plane was under the influence of alcohol. According to the agency, a TSA officer noticed that 52-year-old James Clifton may have been impaired before boarding the aircraft, which was going from Buffalo to Fort Lauderdale, Florida yesterday. Clifton’s blood alcohol content was found to be four-times the limit of what’s allowed for pilots, .17, and he now may face federal charges. JetBlue says Clifton has been removed from his duties and that an investigation into the incident is underway. Passengers on the affected flight each rec’d a $200 voucher.

The six-game losing streak of the Buffalo Sabres is over following one of the team’s best offensive outputs of the entire season. The Sabres beat the Toronto Maple Leafs 5-1 at Scotiabank Arena last night. Buffalo goalie Craig Anderson was excellent in net, stopping all but one of the 30 shots he faced in the contest. Up next for Buffalo five games at home, the first of which is against the Minnesota Wild tomorrow night.

New York Attorney General Letitia James today provided guidance to consumers who may have been impacted by the August 2021 T-Mobile massive data breach, following reports that the stolen information was put for sale on the dark web: “I have an urgent message for T-Mobile customers and other consumers: Be aware of any misuse of your personal information and follow the guidance provided below to protect yourself from identity theft,” said Attorney General James. “Information stolen in a massive data breach has fallen into the wrong hands and is circulating on the dark web. The guidance offered by my office can help prevent identity theft. I advise all New Yorkers to maintain their financial safety by following the guidance my office has laid out. No consumer should have to deal with the devastating realities of identity theft.” The breach impacted over 53 million individuals, including more than 4 million New Yorkers. Among other categories of impacted information, millions had their names, dates of birth, Social Security numbers, and driver’s license information compromised. Recently, a large subset of the information compromised in the breach was discovered for sale on the dark web — a hidden portion of the Internet where cyber criminals buy, sell, and track personal information. Many individuals received alerts through various identity theft protection services informing them that their information was found online in connection with the breach, confirming that impacted individuals are at heightened risk for identity theft.

Attorney General James urges anyone who believes they were impacted by the T-Mobile breach, or even if not but wish to take preventative to protect themselves, to do the following:

• Monitor your credit. Credit monitoring services track your credit report and alert you whenever a change is made, such as a new account or a large purchase. Most services will notify you within 24 hours of any change to your credit report.
• Consider placing a free credit freeze on your credit report. Identity thieves will not be able to open a new credit account in your name while the freeze is in place. You can place a credit freeze by contacting each of the three major credit bureaus:
Equifax | https://www.equifax.com/personal/credit-report-services/credit-freeze 1 (888) 766-0008
Experian | https://www.experian.com/freeze/center.html 1 (888) 397-3742
TransUnion | https://www.transunion.com/credit-freeze 1 (800) 680-7289
• Place a fraud alert on your credit report. A fraud alert tells lenders and creditors to take extra steps to verify your identity before issuing credit. You can place a fraud alert by contacting any one of the three major credit bureaus.
• Additional Resources. If you believe you are a victim of identity theft, go to identitytheft.gov for assistance on how to report it and recover from it — or contact our office for help by completing and submitting a complaint with the Bureau of Internet and Technology or by calling (800) 771-7755.

A Pilot for a JetBlue Flight was removed from the jet after a TSA agent thought he was impaired and called the NFTA Police.  52 year old James Clifton of Orlando Florida blew a .17 on a breathalyzer test.  He was taken into custody and federal authorities were notified.  He was released to JetBlue security and may face federal charges.  The flight, JetBlue 2465, was delayed four hours and 10 minutes according to data from FlightAware.  JetBlue released a statement affirming their zero tolerance policies for alcohol use and say they are investigating and cooperating with law enforcement.

A judge has rejected an effort by New York’s attorney general to put the National Rifle Association out of business, but will allow her lawsuit accusing top executives of illegally diverting tens of millions of dollars from the powerful gun advocacy organization to proceed.  Manhattan Judge Joel M. Cohen said allegations of NRA officials misspending on personal trips, no-show contracts and other questionable expenditures can be addressed by other remedies, such as fines and remuneration, and do not warrant the “corporate death penalty” that Attorney General Letitia James had sought.

This week, the New York Republicans gave U.S. Rep. Lee Zeldin their stamp of approval heading into a potential primary in the race for governor.  Gerard Kassar, chair of the New York Conservative Party, says the conditions are right for Zeldin to make it all the way to the Governor’s Mansion.  Despite not being one of the major political parties, the Conservative Party remains an influential force in New York politics due to the state’s electoral fusion rules. These rules allow a candidate to run on multiple party lines in an election. The Conservative Party has traditionally supported the Republican statewide ticket and brought in over 200,000 votes for the GOP gubernatorial nominee in the last three elections.  If Zeldin is successful in November, he will be the first Republican and Conservative backed candidate to win statewide office since George Pataki won a third term in 2002.

GLOW Arc and Notre Dame’s Athletics department will be having a fundraising 5k Run slash Walk, Running with the Irish on March 12th.  The Fun Run starts at 9 a.m. and is for kids ages 3-12 and will be held at Vandetta Stadium.  The Fun Run is 1/2 mile run (two laps around the track) and registration is $10 with an option to purchase a T-shirt for an additional $10.  The 5K/Walk will start at 10 am across the street at Notre Dame, 73 Union St, in the driveway.  Registration is $25 and comes with a free T-shirt if you register before March 5th.  After that registration costs $30 and supplies of T-shirts maybe be limited.  A corned beef and cabbage meal is also available for preorder from T.F. Brown’s and can be picked up at the race.  There will only be 100 meals available.

The Buffalo Sabres won against the Toronto Maple Leafs Wednesday night 5 to 1 breaking their 6 game streak of losses.  Jacob Bryson, Victor Olofsson, Kyle Okposo, Jeff Skinner, and Tage Thompson scored for the Buffalo team.  The Sabres go up against the Minnesota Wild at the Keybank Center on Friday at 7pm.

The Alexander Central School District Board of Education will meet tonight to consider a resolution to make masks optional. This move is in response to Governor Kathy Hochul’s announcement that masks are no longer mandatory. Superintendent Jared Taft provided a letter to families in district, noting that parents’ decision regarding whether or not their child will wear a mask in school, will be supported, either way. As well, teasing, disrespectful remarks or innuendo, or any other act of disrespect toward children for masking or not masking, will not be tolerated. Alexander will still offer Rapid and PCR testing to anyone who would like to be tested, including parents and family members. Arrangements can be made by contacting school nurses ahead of time. The meeting is scheduled to start at 7 this evening.

A Batavia woman has pleaded guilty in connection with welfare fraud charges; she is one of three individuals recently involved with defrauding Social Services. 55-year-old Dawn Puleo pled guilty to one count of petit larceny, a misdemeanor as well as other felony charges. She will be sentenced next month for falsifying an instrument, which resulted in her receiving over $4500 in SNAP benefits because she failed to report the child support payments she was receiving. As part of a plea deal, she will be disqualified from SNAP for one year and has made full restitution. Earlier this month, another Batavia woman, 34-year-old Christina Jones, pleaded guilty to 4th degree grand larceny and will be sentenced in May. And 41-year-old Brooke Tubbins of Batavia stole over $6000 in SNAP benefits by failing to report income.

Governor Kathy Hochul today proposed changes that support the recovery of restaurants and bars across the state, including a plan to permanently legalize to-go drinks, and to ensure a more efficient State Liquor Authority. She also announced proposals to update the state’s liquor laws all in an effort to revitalize the state’s hospitality industry, one of the industries hit hardest by the pandemic. Hochul emphasized that these changes are vital for the state, and that small businesses need the resources and regulatory framework to help them grow and thrive.

The Genesee, Orleans and Wyoming County Health Departments and hospitals are currently working with community partners to gather information from residents and those who work in these counties to help with public health planning for the next three years. And they are seeking community input to help inform the next Community Health Improvement Plan and to fully assess the health status of our communities. The survey is anonymous, only takes about 15 minutes to complete and focuses on the health of the person taking it. If you are under the age of 18 years old, be sure to receive permission to take the survey from your parents or guardians. To participate in the survey, or if you have any questions, please contact the Genesee County Health Department at 585-344-2580.

At some point in the recent past, somebody cut down and stole the Village of Elba’s welcome sign, which proclaimed the town to be the “Onion Capital of the World.” Until about 2013, the sign was known for its phrase, “Population: Just right.” That was changed because it didn’t seem welcoming to some people. Anyone with information should contact the Genesee County Sheriff’s office at (585) 345-3000 or the VIllage of Elba @ (585) 757-6889.

Starting today, a statewide mask mandate that’s been in effect at schools for months will no longer be in place. Governor Hochul said over the weekend that she was comfortable lifting the mandate because fewer children are testing positive for the coronavirus. Under the guidelines issued yesterday by the state Department of Health, masks also aren’t required anymore on school buses. Schools are encouraged to take steps such as increasing ventilation in buildings and providing access to free COVID-19 testing to prevent another surge in infections among students and staff.

The Buffalo Sabres will be taking to the ice north of the border tonight as they try and snap their current six game losing streak. The Sabres are taking on the Toronto Maple Leafs at Scotiabank Arena. The Sabres are coming off of a 4-2 loss to the Dallas Stars on Sunday and are in seventh place in the Atlantic Division with just 40 points. Face-off for tonight’s contest is scheduled for 7:30.

After dark, you may have noticed the LED lights that illuminate the Old Courthouse at Main and Ellicott in Batavia are now rotating in the hues of Ukraine, yellow and blue. Those are the colors of the country’s flag in honor of its blue skies and flaxen fields of wheat. The color scheme illumination was unanimously approved by the Genesee County Legislature.

Members of the Buffalo Board of Education will be meeting tonight to discuss the possibility of an independent investigation into the recent violence at McKinley High School. Back on February 9th, a 14-year-old student was stabbed several times and a security guard was shot in the leg outside of the school. Police later arrested two 17-year-olds in connection with the stabbing and shooting. This evening’s meeting is scheduled to begin at 5:00pm and is being held at Waterfront Elementary School on Fourth Street.

There was some discussion during Monday’s board meeting in Medina about the wooden gazebo that attracts tourist attention, located in the Canal Basin. Primary concerns at this time include that it has become very worn and possibly dangerous. The Department of Public Works superintendent, Jason Watts, believes it needs a lot of attention and has reached the end of its useful life. He noted it would likely cost more to fix it than to replace it. Because it draws many people who like to sit there and enjoy the canal, the board will continue to discuss the issue and possible options, including costs to replace it or possibly replace it with something else.

Buffalo City Schools originally announced that they would not be changing their masking requirement for kids and teachers in schools.  Then, late Tuesday night they issued an announcement saying that masks would no longer be required starting today.  No explanation was provided for the change. Rochester City Schools announced they would be dropping the mask requirements Wednesday as well.

Apparently someone either really liked or really disliked the sign welcoming people to the Village of Elba.  The sign was cut down and stolen.  The sign is brown and reads Welcome to Village of Elba, Onion capital of the world, established 1884.  Mayor Norm Itjen asks that anyone with information contact the Genesee County Sheriff’s office at (585) 345-3000 or the Village of Elba @ (585) 757-6889.

A Student at Fredrick Douglas Middle School in Rochester is under arrest today after allegedly setting fire to the Vice Principal’s hair on Monday.  The Rochester Fire Department was already on scene to investigate a fire alarm that had gone off. While there, they were notified a staff member had been burned.  Administrative union officers say a 14-year-old boy was walking back into the school and set fire to a vice principal’s hair using a lighter.  He’s been charged with first- and second-degree attempted assault and first-degree reckless endangerment.  He was released to an adult guardian.

Other businesses and event spaces are dropping their vaccination and masking requirements in the wake of Governor Hochul lifting the school mask mandate and new CDC guidance.  Sahlen Field is no longer requiring a mask or proof of COVID vaccination.  Sheas has announced they are dropping their requirements as well. 

The LED lights that illuminate the Old Courthouse at Main and Ellicott in Batavia are now rotating in the hues of Ukraine, yellow and blue.  Those are the colors of the country’s flag in honor of its blue skies and flaxen fields of wheat.  The color scheme was unanimously approved by the Genesee County Legislature.

The Batavia City Council has sworn in Rich Richmond, Jeremy Karas’ replacement, as Councilmember at Large. In other business from this week’s meeting, items on the agenda were moved to the next board meeting, which is scheduled for March 14. Expected to be adopted at that time are resolutions that include the 2022-23 budget as well as 1.5% increases to water rates and meter fees. In addition, the Council is now ready to pass the $29.7 million All-Funds budget, 17.8 million of which is in the General Fund, which carries a property tax rate of $8.94/$1000 of assessed value. This rate represents a decrease of 78 cents from the current tax rate.

Letters have been sent out to families from many school districts in the GLOW region, addressing the masking changes that take effect tomorrow. Batavia School superintendent, Jason Smith, noted in his letter that parents may choose to continue to send their children to school wearing masks and that no bullying of anyone choosing to wear a mask will be tolerated. Smith elaborated that masking on school busses is also no longer required. Other area school districts have sent out similar messages, including Pembroke, Elba, Le Roy and Byron-Bergen. Oakfield-Alabama’s board had already approved a mask-optional policy early in February, in anticipation of Governor Hochul eliminating the mask mandate. (At this time, Buffalo City Schools are still requiring them for their children and staff.)

Construction on the Route 19 bridge over Oatka Creek, north of the village of Warsaw, has begun. There is a posted detour that directs traffic along Saltvale Road. The highway will be closed off to traffic for about 6 months, with reopening planned for Labor Day.

This morning, Governor Kathy Hochul designated this weekend, March 5-6 and the following weekend, March 12-13 for free snowmobiling by all out-of-state and Canadian snowmobilers. During these promotional weekends, the requirement to register in New York is waived for properly registered and insured out-of-state snowmobiling. Outside of this promotion, the requirement is to register snowmobiles with New York State before hitting the state’s trails, which stretch from the Hudson Valley to the North Country to Western New York. The Governor also announced today up to $4.2 million will be available for snowmobile trail maintenance and grooming.

Organizers of the 124th Lilac Festival in Rochester have announced their plans for this year’s event. The festival will take place on three consecutive weekends, starting Friday, May 6th (through 8th, May 12th through 15th, and May 19th through the 22nd) from 10:30am until 8:30pm each day. Visitors can expect to see food, exhibits, a kid’s zone and even a new health and wellness experience. Tickets for the festival are available for purchase and more information can be found online at rochesterevents.com

A 17-year-old boy has been arraigned on an attempted murder charge in connection with the violent incident at McKinley High School in Buffalo. Prosecutors say the teen stabbed a 14-year-old student on February 9th, causing him to suffer severe internal injuries. The suspect is still in custody at the Erie County Youth Services Center and is due in court again March 23rd. Senior students will be returning to high school today for the first time since the incident with other students coming back throughout the rest of the week.

Highmark Stadium and Keybank Center are lifting their vaccine requirements for games, concerts and events held at the facilities effective immediately. While it is still recommended that individuals follow current CDC guidelines as it pertains to mask wearing and that of their own comfort level, it was also noted that individual concerts and live events may implement their own policies above and beyond that of KeyBank Center. Please refer to www.keybankcenter.com for the most up-to-date information for all event requirements.

The New York State Division of Consumer Protection is warning us about a scam that is becoming popular all over the country in which consumers receive a package in the mail that they did not order. This is referred to as a brushing scam; there is often no return address and once the package is accepted, the recipient becomes a “verified buyer,” for the purpose of writing fake positive online reviews of merchandise in the recipient’s name. These fake reviews fraudulently boost or inflate the products’ ratings and sales numbers, which scammers hope results in an increase of actual sales. However, even more troubling, the practice also compromises your personal information.

To avoid being a victim of brushing scams, the Division of Consumer Protection offers the following tips:
1. You don’t have to pay for it. Federal law may allow recipients to keep items they received but did not order. Recipients are under no obligation to pay for unsolicited merchandise and can consider it a gift. If you don’t want the item, you can donate it or simply dispose of it and do not have to return it.
2. Report it. If the item received is organic (seeds, plants or food), report it to the USDA. Unsolicited seeds or plants should not be planted as they may be invasive plants, noxious weeds or carry diseases that could cause damage to economically important crops. Seeds may be sent to this address for destruction. Please ensure the seed package is sealed tightly and mail the seeds, the original packaging, your contact information, and any additional details, to: Office of the State Plant Health Director of New York, c/o Christopher Zaloga, 500 New Karner Road, Albany, New York 12205 If the item is an unknown liquid or substance, contact the local authorities.
3. Notify the retailer. If the package received is from a third-party retailer like Amazon, Walmart, or eBay, report it to them and ask them to remove any reviews under your name.
4. Monitor your accounts. Your personal information may have been compromised. Often scammers obtain personal information through nefarious means and with ill-intentions and use it for several scams and other illicit activities in the future. Examine your online shopping accounts and credit card bills for signs of unusual activity and check your credit report.
5. Change your password. If you have an account with the retailer identified on the package, change your account password with the retailer.

The Superintendent of Batavia City Schools, Jason Smith, has sent out a letter to families addressing the masking changes coming tomorrow.  He states that every county will now have control of their own mask requirements in schools and may continue to require them or not.  The letter states that “On Wednesday, March 2, families may still choose to send their children to school in masks, and we fully stand behind the Governor’s sentiments that masking is a personal choice, and no bullying of any sort will be tolerated.” Also that masking on the busses is no longer required.  Other school districts have issued similar guidance making masks optional.  Buffalo City Schools are still requiring them for their children and staff.  

Highmark Stadium and Keybank Center are lifting their vaccine requirements for games, concerts and events held at the facilities effective immediately.  In addition to lifting the vaccine requirement the press release says “It is recommended that individuals follow current CDC guidelines as it pertains to mask wearing and that of their own comfort level.  Please note that individual concerts and live events may implement their own policies above and beyond that of KeyBank Center. Please refer to www.keybankcenter.com for up-to-date information for all event requirements.”  When the mandate was put in place in September 2021, all guests 12 and over were required to provide proof of COVID-19 vaccination. In December 2021 the mandate was expanded to include anyone age 5-11 years old.

Former Governor Andrew Cuomo has put out an ad declaring his innocence and attacking State Attorney General Letitia James.  The ad features news clips and shots of newspapers describing the accusations against Cuomo as “bogus” and saying that James ignored witness tampering and perjury and was just trying to do a takedown of Cuomo for political reasons.  It holds up the lack of prosecution on any of the sexual harassment charges as proof.  It ends with text saying “political attacks won and New Yorkers lost a proven leader.”  The ad has fueled speculation that Cuomo may be planning another run for public office.

The Chamber of Commerce for Genesee County is releasing the 2022 tourism guide.  80,000 guides have been printed and will be distributed to parts of NY State, Ontario Canada, and neighboring states.  The chamber says that this year highlights the live music scene.  Additional features include a new water ride at Darien Lake Amusement Park, A feature on Ely S. Parker’s commemoration by the United States Mint to be featured on the 2022 Native American Dollar Coin, and six pages highlighting our top outdoor nature assets, from the Iroquois National Wildlife Refuge, The Bergen Swamp and more.

Six Flags Darien Lake is rebranding its water park and adding a new ride.  The Splashtown waterpark will be rebranded to “Six Flags Hurricane Harbor” and a 60-foot tall water slide named “Wahoo Wave” will be added.  Park President Chris Thorpe says that the new slide will be a 4 person tube ride and will feature 3 story drops, hang time and zero g forces.  Construction on Wahoo Wave is underway and is expected to be complete when the waterpark opens this May.

Western NY drivers aren’t seeing any relief from high gas prices as the pain at the pump continues to worsen. According to Triple A, the average cost for a gallon of regular fuel is now $3.75, that’s up 6 cents in the past week and is 30 cents more than this time last month. The state average is $3.80 a gallon while nationally it’s $3.60. In Batavia, our current average is 3.75, up 8 cents from a week ago. One year ago this week, the average price was $2.72.

And this morning, oil prices remain elevated. Crude prices surged after Russia launched its military invasion of Ukraine. As the conflict escalates with more sanctions and retaliatory actions, the oil markets will likely respond by continuing to increase the price of crude oil to reflect more risk of disruption to tight global oil supplies.

Governor Kathy Hochul has made a major announcement involving a mandate requiring kids to wear masks while in school. Governor Hochul said that the rule, which was put in place to slow down the spread of COVID-19, is being lifted as of this Wednesday. Hochul says the latest data revealed the number of kids who are testing positive for COVID-19 has fallen to levels not seen since before children came back from summer break. While facial coverings are no longer required by the state, local governments still have the authority to set up their own mandates.

Le Roy Central School Superintendent Merrit Holly, in an email and automated phone call to parents said beginning on Wednesday, masks will be optional for all Le Roy Central School District students, teachers and staff in all areas of the school, including on buses, in hallways, classrooms and for athletics. Masks are still required today and tomorrow.

Students at McKinley High School in Buffalo will finally be returning to their classrooms this week. Classes were shifted online earlier this month after a violent incident that left a 14-year-old student with several stab wounds and a security guard with a gunshot injury to the leg. Seniors are going to be the first to head back to school tomorrow followed by juniors, sophomores and freshmen for one day each the rest of this week. Officials are hoping to have everyone back in the building at once by March 11th.

Genesee County Republican Party Chairman Dick Siebert, announced that Congressman Chris L. Jacobs has the endorsement of the Genesee County Republican Party for the new 24th Congressional District. In a press release, Jacobs is described as a supporter of local families, farmers and small businesses in Genesee County. Jacobs said he is deeply honored by the endorsement.

The losing streak of the Buffalo Sabres has now reached six games following a defeat in the Lone Star State. They lost 4-2 to the Dallas Stars at American Airlines Arena yesterday. Buffalo goalie Craig Anderson gave up all four Stars goals and faced a total of 31 shots. Up next for Buffalo is a road game against the Toronto Maple Leafs Wednesday night.

Governor Hochul announced Sunday afternoon that the mask mandate for schools will end on Wednesday this week.  Hochul says this decision comes from studying the data and consulting with medical experts, parents and teachers.  She says the credit for the ability of schools to not need masks on kids and teachers comes from the hard work of New Yorkers in getting vaccinated and causing the number of cases to drop by 98 percent since the peak in December and January.  Republicans such as Chris Jacobs and Steve Hawley had asserted that the decision to end mask mandates would have more to do with internal democrat polling and not science.  And New York’s COVID rates mirror those in places where there were no mask mandates and vaccination rates are lower.

Erie County is lifting it’s own mask mandate for county buildings today.  County Executive Mark Poloncarz says the county is following CDC guidelines which were released on Friday and advise that local governments can determine regulations based on hospitalizations instead of or in addition to raw case count.  Last week, the county executive said the county’s rate of COVID-19 community transmission is the lowest it has been since August.  According to the data about 30 percent of New York still counts as high transmission areas.

Governor Hochul has ordered all NYS agencies and authorities to divest from Russia.  She said the unprovoked invasion of the Ukraine was unjustified and New York State could not continue to support Russia in any way.  New York State is home to the largest Ukrainian population in the US.

Friday it was announced that Former Rochester Police Chief La’Ron Singletary has reached a settlement with the City of Rochester.  Singletary was suing over his firing related to the death of Daniel Prude, of which he was criticized by then Mayor Lovely Warren. The statement said that the parties signed a binding agreement on January 28, and the case was resolved.  Singletary is currently running for Congress in the 25th district as a Republican, a seat currently held by Democrat Joe Morelle.

For the past month, residents of Perry have seen a sleek Tesla Model Y patrolling the streets. The new addition to the fleet is an electric vehicle that Chief Michael Grover would like to see more of.  Chief Grover says “We’re trying to do our part to reduce the carbon footprint.  Eventually, I’d like to have an all-electric fleet.”  On Saturday morning, Sgt. Blake Russell, who has been driving the Tesla for the last several weeks, displayed the new patrol car at the ‘Finger Lakes Meetup’ in Avon.

The Buffalo Sabres lost their 6th straight game Sunday afternoon against the Dallas Stars.  Tage Thompson scored the first goal for Buffalo and Cody Eakin got the only other goal.  The Stars were able to find the back of the net 4 times to the Sabres 2.  The Sabres will be back on the road Wednesday when they play Toronto at 7:30 p.m.

A real life case of Storage Wars in Livingston County.
But there was no legal auction.
Deputies slapped metal bracelets on 24 year-old Brandon W. Lee of Rochester.
Lee is charged with breaking into storage lockers in then Towns of Leicester and Avon by cutting the locks and helping himself to the contents.
The thefts occurred last August.
Lee is behind bars with bail set at $10,000.

The latest numbers show that online sports wagering is continuing to be a big success in New York.
From the period between the launch of mobile sports betting on January 8th and Super Bowl Sunday, New Yorkers wagered nearly $2.5-billion on games.
That means the state has collected more than $78-million in taxes.
The most popular operator used to place bets was Caesars Sportsbook followed by FanDuel.

The Buffalo Sabres are not exactly a sure bet. The Sabres continue their road trip tonight as they look to put an end to their current three-game losing streak. The Sabres are taking on the Montreal Canadiens in Montreal. Buffalo is coming off of a seven-to-three loss at the hands of the Columbus Blue Jackets on Sunday and currently sit in seventh place in the Atlantic Division.

Another Republican candidate has announced his bid to become New York’s next governor. Businessman Harry Wilson says he’ll be at the State Republican Party convention which starts on Monday.
Other candidates are also seeking the GOP nomination in the governor’s race. They include Long Island Congressman Lee Zeldin, Andrew Giuliani, son of the former New York Mayor Rudy and Rob Astorino, who ran for governor in 2014 and lost.

Also from the Political Desk, Congressman Chris Jacobs has the endorsement of the Orleans County Conservative Party in his bid to win the recently gerrymandered 24th congressional district.
Jacobs, a supporter of Donald Trump, already has the endorsement of the Orleans, Monroe and Wyoming County GOP committees.

A new poll shows how New Yorkers feel about a mandate for students to wear masks while in school. According to the Siena College Research Institute survey, 58% want to see the COVID-19 data in March before Gov. Kathy Hochul decides on the mandate, 30% believe the rule should have been dropped already, while 10% think it should be eliminated after the current February break. Hochul recently ended the indoor mask mandate for businesses that was put in place to slow the spread of the coronavirus.

Hochul put her signature on legislation creating a new conditional adult-use cannabis cultivator license. This gives a fast-track for existing New York hemp farmers to grow cannabis in the 2022 growing season for the forthcoming adult-use cannabis market. Under the law, cannabis farmers must meet certain requirements, including certain cultivation practices, participating in a social equity mentorship program, and engage in a labor peace agreement with a bona fide labor organization. With this conditional license, cannabis farmers can grow outdoors or in a greenhouse for up to two years from when the license was issued. It also allows them to manufacture and distribute cannabis products without holding an adult-use processor or distributor license, until June 1, 2023.

Hochul says her administration has reached a contract agreement with the Police Benevolent Association of New York State. The contract covers police officers who serve the Office of Parks, Recreation and Historic Preservation; the Department of Environmental Conservation; and the State University of New York. It includes a 2% salary increase per year for each year of the agreement, consistent with other settled State employees. The agreement runs through March 31, 2023.

The governor also announced the creation of a Joint Security Operations Center in Brooklyn that will serve as the nerve center for joint local, state, and federal cyber efforts, including data collection, response efforts, and information sharing. The Governor’s Office says no other state has brought together cybersecurity teams in a shared command space at this scale including federal, state, city, and county governments, critical businesses and utilities, and state entities.

This builds on Hochul’s proposal in this year’s budget to investment in New York State’s cyber protections, to the tune of $61.9 million.

It looks like New York State is winning their bet on increasing revenue with online sports wagering. Between the launch of sports betting in the state, Jan. 8, through Super Bowl Sunday, the state made more than $78 million in tax revenue from mobile sports bets. The most popular operator used to place bets was Caesars Sportsbook followed by FanDuel.

The Batavia Board of Education are unanimously supporting two state Senate bills. The bills are sponsored by State Senator Ed Rath and would address the rise in harassment by use of electronic communications including text, private message, direct message, email, or any other electronic communication. The bills would change state law to include a provision that a person who engages in a repeated cyberbullying of a minor will be guilty of an unclassified misdemeanor. The Batavia City School District’s Code of Conduct already expressly prohibits all forms of bullying and harassment, including cyberbullying.

Another Republican candidate has stepped forward in a bid to become New York’s next governor. Businessman Harry Wilson says he’ll be at the State Republican Party convention which starts on Feb.28. The Westchester resident and former hedge fund manager says if elected, he’ll cut taxes, try to reduce the state’s high cost of living, and fire district attorneys that he believes don’t properly enforce the law. Other candidates are also seeking the GOP nomination in the governor’s race including Long Island Congressman Lee Zeldin, Andrew Giuliani, and Rob Astorino, who ran for governor in 2014 and lost.

The combination of wind, rain, snow and floods made this past weekend especially challenging for Western New Yorkers. And some more wet weather is here. The National Weather Service has issued a flood watch for the GLOW region that will be in effect this afternoon through tomorrow evening. With flows on area creeks and rivers already running high due to last week’s rainfall, more rain and snowmelt is expected tonight. On a positive note, we are not expecting as much rain this time around as we got last week, we still could see between a half-inch and an inch of rain through tomorrow morning. As always, stay with WBTA for the latest weather information from 13 WHAM meteorologists.

The Batavia City School District Board of Education voted unanimously last week to support two state Senate bills. The bills are sponsored by Senator Edward Rath, III and designed to change state law to address increases in harassment made through the use of electronic communications. The bills would change state law to include a provision that a person who engages in a repeated course of cyberbullying of a minor will be guilty of an unclassified misdemeanor. The amendment to the state’s law will include contacts via text, private message, direct message, or email or other electronic communication. The Batavia City School District’s Code of Conduct already expressly prohibits all forms of bullying and harassment, including cyberbullying.

This week, the Oakfield volunteer fire department honored Robert “Buck” Hilchey in celebration of his 50 years of service. He joined the department in 1971, serving alongside many family members. Hilchey was the Chief from 1979-80 and again, from ’87-’92. His dedicated service was highlighted during an award ceremony last night.

This morning, Governor Kathy Hochul signed legislation creating a new Conditional Adult-use Cannabis Cultivator license, thus providing a fast-track for existing New York hemp farmers to apply for a conditional license to grow cannabis in the 2022 growing season for the forthcoming adult-use cannabis market. Under the law, conditionally licensed cannabis farmers must meet certain requirements, including safe, sustainable and environmentally friendly cultivation practices, participation in a social equity mentorship program, and engagement in a labor peace agreement with a bona fide labor organization. With a conditional adult-use cannabis cultivation license, farmers can grow outdoors or in a greenhouse for up to two years from the issuance of the license. It also allows them to manufacture and distribute cannabis flower products without holding an adult-use processor or distributor license, until June 1, 2023.

The number of Empire State residents who are hospitalized due to the coronavirus has fallen to its lowest level in weeks. According to Governor Hochul’s office, there are just over 2500 people receiving treatment for the illness which is the smallest total since right before Thanksgiving. The statewide COVID-19 positivity rate has dropped below 2% and the 7 day average infection rate in Western New York is slightly under 4.3% percent. Governor Hochul is urging people not to let their guard down against the illness and to get vaccinated or a booster shot if they haven’t already.

City firemen responded to a call early in the evening last night at 167 Vine Street and found that the one-family home had a large volume of smoke throughout with fire in the basement. Neighbors and City Police assisted an older woman who uses a walker, to vacate the building; she was treated at the scene for minor smoke inhalation. Firefighters report that the blaze was somewhat difficult to fight because it was difficult to identify the specific location of the fire in the basement. Extensive fire and smoke damage to both structure and contents was reported. The cause of the fire remains under investigation.

A record number of people participated in last fall’s Shop Wyoming and Win contest. The local shopping promotion is conducted annually in November and December by the Wyoming County Chamber of Commerce and Tourism. Participants submit shopping receipts from businesses within the county. They receive one drawing entry for every $50 of purchases. A total of over 1100 (1,164) people participated in this year’s contest. The receipts totaled more than $1.3 million; 18% of the shoppers were from Genesee County. Four people from the region won prizes; the drawing of winners was conducted Feb. 8 at the Wyoming County Board of Supervisors
Meeting, in Warsaw.

Senate Majority Leader Chuck Schumer says he’s planning to call a vote in the Senate next month on a bill that would put a cap on insulin prices. During a stop in Buffalo yesterday, Schumer said right now, insulin costs hundreds of dollars per vial, but this proposed legislation would limit that expense to 35-dollars per vial. Schumer also says that because insulin prices have risen in the past several years, some people have had to ration their medication. Over 1.7 million New Yorkers currently are diabetic.

A new task force is being created in Monroe County to crack down on the growing number of catalytic converter thefts in the area. The sheriff’s office says several of the devices were recently taken from a car dealership and from vehicles in Brighton and Irondequoit. Once they’re stolen, thieves bring the converters to area scrap yards where they sell the parts for a large amount of money. Anyone who sees any suspicious activity in their neighborhood should contact their local police department immediately.

A flood watch is in effect starting at 1 p.m. today and runs through Wednesday night. Melting snow due to the warm temperatures combined with a half-inch to an inch of expected rainfall this afternoon means potentially high water levels in local creeks and rivers.

If you own a small business in Genesee County that was hurt by COVID-19, you may be eligible for some help.

Genesee County is holding two informational meetings on Zoom about the Genesee CARES Business Recovery Fund. You’ll learn about eligibility requirements and how to apply, and ask any questions you may have about the program. The Genesee CARES Business Recovery Fund is providing grants of up to $75,000 for eligible businesses.

The first informational session is Thursday at 10 a.m., followed by next Wed., Mar. 2 at 11 a.m.

Here are the Zoom links to join:

• Thur., Feb. 24 at 10 a.m.

o          Video Conferencing: https://us06web.zoom.us/j/86560090929\

o          Audio Conferencing: Dial 1-929-205-6099, Webinar ID: 865 6009 0929

• Wed., Mar. 2 at 11 a.m.

o          Video Conferencing: https://us06web.zoom.us/j/83846902808

o          Audio Conferencing: Dial 1-929-205-6099, Webinar ID: 838 4690 2808

You can get more info on Genesee CARES Business Recovery Fund online at GenseeCares.com.

Neighbors are being credited with helping an older woman escape a fire in her home on Vine Street last night.

According to our news partner The Batavian, the fire started in the basement around 6:30 p.m. Monday night at 167 Vine St.

Interim Fire Chief Dan Herberger said the fire appeared to start in the basement where it is set up for a home hair salon. Herberger said that set up was an issue because of barriers and chemicals in te basement. The fire was fully involved by the time fire crews arrived on the scene.

“There is significant fire damage in the basement pop and the fire popped up through the first floor,” Herberger said. “There is significant smoke damage throughout the house. There is a lot of damage.”

The woman in the home, whose name has not been released, was treated at the scene for minor smoke inhalation. You can see the whole story at The Batavian.

With Tax Day just under two months away, the New York State Department of Taxation and Finance is reminding folks that they can file their documents for free. Anyone whose 2021 income was $73,000 or less can submit their state and federal returns by using software available on the tax department website. And to get your refund faster, the agency suggests e-filing your documents and setting up direct deposit instead of sending them in through the mail and waiting for a check. Anyone who has questions can contact a tax department representative from 8:30 a.m. until 4:30 p.m. Monday through Friday or visit tax.ny.gov.

Popular musician, educator and radio personality Bob Knipe has been honored by Genesee Orleans Arts Council.

GoArt has named its new podcast studio for Bob.

Knipe was involved in numerous community organizations, most of them around the arts.

He was on the board for GO Art! And played French Horn for both the Genesee Symphony Orchestra and Batavia Concert Band and was a member and past President of the Batavia Rotary Club.

Bob co-hosted his own show on WBTA until his death last year.

There’s still a few weeks left in winter, but officials at Six Flags Darien Lake say they’re already looking ahead to summer. The theme park is holding an in-person hiring event for summer jobs on Sat., Mar. 5 from 11 a.m. until 4 p.m. at the Six Flags Darien Lake Hotel. There are roughly 15-hundred positions available including ride operators, lifeguards, food service and security. Starting pay is now $13.20 an hour but some people may be able to earn up to $15 an hour. Anyone who can’t make the job fair can apply online.

Todd Haight PHOTO: The Batavian

The man in charge of live harness racing at Batavia Downs will retire next month.

20 year Downs veteran Todd Haight will step down from hisd post on March 15th.
During his career Haight has seen the popularity of harness racing diminish as other forms of legal gambling were improved.
When Haight started at the Downs he hosted live TV cable-coverage of the races.
Haight also started the wildly popular Wiener Dogs races, copied by race tracks across the state.
Todd was well liked and respected by his peers and horsemen around the state.

Today’s gasoline price report:
The average price of a gallon of regular in Batavia up 7-cents over the past week.
The average price of a gallon is now $3.67.
Remember just one year ago, a gallon of regular in Batavia was $2.62. ?

The State requirement that all healthcare workers must get their COVID-19 Booster is no more.
Healthcare workers had been threatened to comply or risk losing their jobs.
The state health department says the mandate will no longer be enforced due to concerns that it could cause major staffing shortages.

Popular musician, educator and radio personality Bob Knipe has been honored by Genesee Orleans Arts Council.
GoArt has named its new podcast studio for Bob.
Knipe was involved in numerous community organizations, most of them around the arts.
He was on the board for GO Art! And played French Horn for both the Genesee Symphony Orchestra and Batavia Concert Band and was a member and past President of the Batavia Rotary Club.
Bob co-hosted his own show on WBTA until his death last year.

The latest statewide COVID numbers shows a drop in the number of hospitalizations and the number of patients in intensive care.
There was also an increase in the number of patients with COVID-19 that were discharged from the hospital.
The latest numbers from Saturday showed just two people tested posditive for COVID in Genesee County.

A mandate requiring healthcare workers across the state to receive their COVID-19 booster shot will not go into effect today as planned.
The state health department says the mandate will no longer be enforced due to concerns that it could cause major staffing shortages.
The state will reassess in three months whether additional steps need to be made to increase the booster rate among health care employees.
The latest data shows at least 75% of healthcare workers have received or are willing to receive the booster.

The latest COVID-19 statistics for New York State shows a drop in the number of hospitalizations and the number of patients in intensive care.
There was also an increase in the number of patients with COVID-19 that were discharged from the hospital.
The latest numbers from Saturday showed two positive tests from Genesee County.

Our Monday gasoline price report:
The avarage price of a gallon of regular in Batavia up 7-cents from last week.
The average price of a gallon is $3.67.
Just one year ago, a gallon of regular in Batavia would have cost you $2.62.

Todd Haight, the long-time general manager and director of live racing at Batavia Downs, will retire March 15th after 20 years with the Downs.
Haight first co-hosted a nightly live broadcast of races on cable TV.
Then in 2005, he joined the marketing department of Western Region OTB.

The latest losing streak of the Buffalo Sabres is now at three games following yet another loss on the road.
Buffalo fell to the Columbus Blue Jackets seven-to-three yesterday.
Up next for Buffalo is a road game Wednesday night against the Montreal Canadiens.

A mandate requiring healthcare workers across the state to receive their COVID-19 booster shot won’t go into effect today as planned. The state health department says the mandate will no longer be enforced due to concerns that it could cause major staffing shortages. The state will reassess in three months whether additional steps need to be made to increase the booster rate among health care employees. The latest data shows at least 75% of healthcare workers have received or are willing to receive the booster.

New York Lt. Gov. Brian Benjamin is recovering after testing positive for COVID-19. Benjamin announced his diagnosis on social media last night saying that while he’s infected, no other members of his family are sick. Benjamin says he’s experiencing minor symptoms and that he’s received both the COVID-19 vaccine and a booster shot. He is going to isolate at home and get tested again in a few days.

U.S. Senator Chuck Schumer wants the Senate to vote next month to cap the cost of insulin.  The Majority Leader said Sunday he wants the price limited to $35 per vial, not the hundreds of dollars it currently costs. The drug is absolutely necessary for many Americans but the price has been rising more than 15% a year since 2012.

The latest COVID-19 statistics for New York State shows a drop in the number of hospitalizations and the number of patients in ICU. There was also an increase in the number of patients with COVID-19 that were discharged. The latest numbers from Saturday showed 2,640 New Yorkers tested positive for COVID-19, there were two positive tests from Genesee County.

There was a watermain break Sunday on Stringham Drive in the Town of Batavia.  Water was shut off around 2:30 p.m for a portion of residents around Stringham Drive and Clinton Crossings. Service was restored nearly three hours later.

Prices at the pump continue to spike. The latest report from AAA shows the average cost for a gallon of regular gas is now $3.67 a gallon. That’s up 7 cents in the past week and is 24 cents higher than this time one month ago. It’s still lower than the state average of $3.74 a gallon.

Flooding is receding.
The flooding caused by Thursday’s rapid snow melt is diminishing this weekend.
Tonawanda Creek at Batavia crested at the moderate flood stage of 10-ft, 2-inches on Friday night. By early Saturday morning, the level had dropped to a minor flood stage of 9 ft.
The Tonawanda is forecast to continue to recede over the rest of the weekend.
At the height of the flooding, Law Street in Batavia had been closed, Kibbe Park was flooded out and Stegman Road in Pembroke was also closed.

But that’s not the end of the weather story.
The National Weather Service has also issued a special weather statement for Genesee, Orleans and Wyoming counties.
A line of heavy snow has been detected on radar. The snow will be accompanied by winds gusting over 40 mph. This will cause significant blowing snow. Be prepared for hazardous driving conditions. Consider delaying travel if you will be going through this area of heavy snow.
These conditions are expected to subside by late Saturday afternoon.

The City of Batavia’s interim Fire Chief Dan Herberger says he is not interested in the job on a permanent basis.
Herberger has sent a letter off to the second floor of city hall letting City Manager Rachel Tabelski know of his decision.
He said he would rather be a firemen working on a truck.
Tabelski says Herberger will stay on as interim chief until a new chief is hired. She said she hopes the job can be filled from within the department.

New Yorkers who like to fish can take part in their sport free of charge this weekend.
The first free fishing weekend of 2022 gets underway this weekend and no license is required to participate.
The commissioner of the State Department of Environmental Conservation says the weekend is an opportunity for people to spend time outdoors while also enjoying things like angling and ice fishing. The next free fishing days are June 25 and 26th.

A Silver Springs man is facing charges after police say injured a deputy who tried to take him into custody after he was caught trying to break into a home. Wyoming County Sheriff’s deputies were called to Letchworth State Park just after 10:30 p.m. Last Sunday for a report of a man stripping off his clothes and attempting to break into a residence. 29 year old Tanner Salamone was approached by deputies and a struggled ensued. A deputy was injured, evaluated at Wyoming County Community Hospital, and released.
Salamone was charged with resisting arrest and degree assault.

City of Batavia Fire Department

As of late this morning, ‘Shelter-in-place’ is still necessary at Grand Rehabilitation and Nursing in Batavia. According to City Firefighters, the facility experienced a significant amount of flooding and a couple of their sump pumps had stopped working. However, even if they were working, firefighters believe the pumps would not have been able to keep up with the amount of water that was entering their basement. As of late this morning, the firefighters were still at the scene pumping water out. Aside from Grand Rehabilitation, City Firefighters responded to a few other cellar-pumping calls last night, but none so far today.

A flood warning is in effect until tomorrow morning for the Tonawanda Creek in Batavia. Flood stage is 9 feet, which would bring some flooding to the city, possibly affecting Kibbe Park, Walnut Street, and Law Street. Flooding in rural areas of Alexander and the lowlands of the Alabama Swamps with some road closures is also likely; this, according to the Weather Service. The Tonawanda creek was expected to rise above flood stage this morning, cresting early this afternoon at 9.7 feet before falling below flood stage early tomorrow morning.

Village of Attica residents were asked last night to be on the alert for potential evacuations as an ice jam threatened to flood portions of downtown. The Attica Fire Department issued the advisory about 6 p.m. last night. They were concerned that an ice jam on Tonawanda Creek could break and cause significant flooding; however, with the cold temperatures the ice jam did not release and has froze in place, the creeks levels are down and the threat of flooding is greatly reduced. When the temperature increases so does the threat from this ice jam. The Attica Fire Department asks residents to remain on a heightened awareness once temperatures rise.

The Batavia school board met last night and reviewed results from a consultant’s study that analyzed the nearly 5% drop in enrollment observed since 2016. There was some good news: kindergarten and grade one enrollment has increased over the last four years. However, grade 7-12 enrollment has shown a minor decrease by comparison. In summary, it was found housing shortages, homeschooling and COVID-19 all contributed to overall student enrollment in Batavia City Schools. Also noteworthy and identified as a possible area in need of additional study, the number of students whose parents pursued private schooling for their youngsters increased in 2021 compared to 2020.

The Crossroads House Comfort Care Home, on Liberty Street, has once again begun accepting residents. The facility had been on a pause from accepting residents since December, due to the prevalence of COVID-related illness in our community. Crossroads serves the residents of Genesee and Wyoming counties who have been medically determined to be in their last stages of life (three months or less).

Governor Hochul has officially earned the support of her fellow Democrats as she looks to win a full four-year term in office this November. Hochul was named the party’s nominee during the state Democratic convention in New York City yesterday. Long Island Congressman Tom Suozzi and New York City Public Advocate Jumaane Williams, who are also Democrats, say they are hoping to find a way to get their names on the June primary ballot. Hochul has been governor since August following the resignation of Andrew Cuomo.

The two-game winning streak of the Buffalo Sabres has come to an end following a loss on home ice; they fell to the Ottawa Senators 3-1 at KeyBank Center last night. Buffalo goalie Craig Anderson gave up two goals on the 27 shots he faced in the contest. Up next for the Sabres is a home game against the Colorado Avalanche tomorrow afternoon.

New Yorkers who like to fish can take part in the very popular activity free of charge this weekend. The first free fishing weekend of 2022 gets underway tomorrow and runs through Sunday and no license is required to participate. The commissioner of the State Department of Environmental Conservation says the weekend is an opportunity for folks to spend time outdoors while also enjoying things like angling and ice fishing. The other free fishing days this year will be June 25th and 26th, September 24th and November 11th.

Three teens are in custody for their alleged role in a carjacking in Rochester that later led to a police pursuit. Officials say the suspects stole a vehicle at gunpoint yesterday on Ethel Street. Moments later, officers tried to pull the vehicle over, but the driver refused to stop which led to a brief chase. The teens were captured a few moments later after the vehicle hit a snowbank near Emerson Street and Avery Street. There’s no word yet on what charges they’re facing.

Athletes will be once again taking to the streets of Buffalo next month as the Shamrock Run returns to being an in-person event. The race was canceled last year due to concerns over the COVID-19 health crisis. The five-mile run is March 5th and will begin at the Old First Ward Community Center on Republic Street. Following the race, an Irish-themed celebration will take place at the Community Center. Anyone who wants to compete can fill out the registration form that’s posted online.

New data is showing that the spread of COVID-19 is continuing to slow across the Empire State. According to the governor’s office, the statewide positivity rate is just under two-point-two percent, which is the lowest that number has been since October 30th. In Western New York the seven-day average positivity rate is currently sitting at five-point-one percent. Officials are urging anyone who hasn’t been vaccinated against the coronavirus yet to get their shot soon to prevent another spike in cases.

Genesee Orleans and Wyoming Counties are facing several weather advisories.  All three are still under the flood watch till today at 7pm.  Excessive runoff from rain and snow melt may result in flooding of rivers, creeks, streams, and other low-lying and flood-prone locations.  Genesee and Wyoming Counties are under River Flood warnings for local streams and rivers that have risen to flood levels.  In Genesee County, Tonawanda Creek at Batavia and Attica, Black Creek at Churchville and Ellicott Creek near Williamsville are under flood warnings.  In Wyoming County Genesee River at Portageville and Wellsville, Buffalo Creek at Gardenville, Cattaraugus Creek at Gowanda, and Cayuga Creek near Lancaster are at flood level.

The Grand Nursing and Rehabilitation Center on State Street was without power and heat for several hours last night as a possible water main break pushed water into the electrical and heating systems.  Interim Fire Chief Dan Herberger said it is most likely city water because chlorine was detected.  The Department of Public Works shut off water to the building at 11pm.  At about 1:30am National Fuel was called to restore gas and heat to the nursing home.  

Orleans County is giving away COVID 19 at home tests today from all town halls, village halls, libraries and the Orleans County Office Building during normal business hours while supplies last.  There is a maximum of 2 tests per person.  The state will continue sending out tests to be distributed so this won’t be the last distribution.

The New York Legislature has just passed a bill that would fast track marijuana licenses and hemp growers licenses for Black, Indigenous, and Peoples of Color.  If it becomes law, the legislation would make it easier to obtain temporary conditional licenses for these people groups to produce and sell adult use cannabis.  Also included are women owned businesses, and service disabled veteran owned businesses. It goes to the Governor’s desk to sign.  

The Genesee Amateur Hockey Association is holding a “try Hockey for free” event at the David McCarthy Memorial Ice Arena Saturday the 5th of March.  This is part of the USA Hockey Week Across America.  The hockey day starts at 11:50AM and goes to 12:50pm.  Kids aged 4-9 are encouraged to come and try ice hockey for the first time and learn the basic skills.  All they need to bring are a helmet and gloves.  All players will get a free hockey jersey to take home.  Event space is limited so pre-registration is required.  Follow the link at wbtai.com.  http://www.tryhockeyforfree.com/

A Western New York lawmaker wants the Bills to offer cheaper concessions to fans.  Assemblyman Bill Conrad says Fans First Concessions Pricing drops the price of food and drinks by as much as 50 percent in order to encourage the fans to buy concessions and then go on to buy merchandise since they are saving money on the eats.  In 2017 the Atlanta Falcons tried this method and found that 6000 more fans attended games and bought 53 percent more concessions.  Assemblyman Conrad anticipates inflation may put a damper on the idea, but still thinks reasonably priced concessions are feasible and will enhance the game day experience.

The Buffalo Sabres lost to the Ottawa Senators Thursday night 3 to 1 ending their short lived winning streak.  The Sabres jumped out to a 1-0 lead in the first period when Kyle Okposo scored his 11th goal of the season but in the second and third periods Ottowa put the puck in without any answer from the Sabres.  Buffalo’s next game is against the Colorado Avalanche at 1 p.m. on Saturday.

There is a Flood Warning out for the Tonawanda Creek in Batavia.
The Warning is in effect from tomorrow morning through Saturday morning.
The Weather Service predicts what they term minor flooding along the Tonawanda. Pay close attention to Batavia’s most flood prone areas: Kibbe
Park, Walnut Street and Law Street. Flooding is also possible in areas of Alexander.

There is also a Winter Weather Advisory for Genesee County in effect from 7p.m. this evening through tomorrow morning. Mixed precipitation and snow is expected.
Snow accumulations of two to four inches, ice accumulation of a tenth to 2-tenths of an inch. Winds gusting as high as 35 miles per hour.

Quamane Santiago

In Genesee County Court, a Batavia man who had been accused of assaulting a city police officer has entered a guilty plea.
23 year old Quamane Santiago entered what’s called an “alford” plea. It means that he does not admit any wrong doing but recognizes that if the case goes to trial he would likely b e convicted.
Santiago allegedly caused injury to BPD Officer Peter Post as the officer tried to take him into custody at a Walnut Street residence last October.

The Genesee County legislature is poised to approve $8,000 to purchase uniforms for volunteers to provide military honors at the veteran’s cemetery in Pembroke.
The Western New York National Cemetery Honor Guard consists of 78 members, 32 of them from Genesee County. They are all volunteers.
The money appropriated by the legislature would cover the uniform costs for the Genesee County volunteers.

A project being paid for by HP Hood may create minor traffic delays over the next few weeks.
Crews will be installing a 16-inch water line off of Route 5 between 7 Springs Road and Ag Park Drive. Construction is expected to continue through April with only intermittent need for occasional traffic delays.

HBO is shooting down the possibility of a spinoff of “The Sopranos.” Hopes of a spinoff were out of control on social media after a TV ad for Chevrolet featured Jamie Lynn Siegler and Robert Iler, who starred as Tony Soprano’s children in the original series.
An HBO executive told the New York Post he didn’t think David Chase, the creator of the series, had any interest in doing anything more with “The Sopranos.”

A Flood Watch remains in effect today through tomorrow across all of western NY. Flooding may occur on roadways that have poor drainage. Ice flows may jam at bridges and pipes causing water to back up. When you encounter a roadway covered with water, stay safe; don’t enter it; and always remain mindful of areas prone to flooding. In addition to the Flood Watch there is also a Winter Weather Advisory for Orleans and Niagara Counties from 5pm today through 9am tomorrow morning. Travel in those two counties may become difficult due to the combination of icy and snow covered roads. Snow will reduce visibility tonight and taper off early tomorrow morning but still could impact the morning commute.

Genesee County Legislature Chair Rochelle Stein announced today that Genesee County is launching a $1 million Community Development Block Grant to help businesses impacted by the pandemic. Through the Genesee CARES Business Recovery Fund, businesses that were negatively impacted by COVID-19 will be eligible to receive a grant of up to $75,000 to aid the recovery of their businesses. Eligible applicants are for-profit businesses within Genesee County with 25 or fewer employees. For additional information regarding eligibility and applications, go to their website: www.GeneseeCARES.com

The Batavia City Council will continue to think about how best to tackle snow plowing and snow removal concerns that have come up during this particularly snowy winter. Last Monday evening, they spent about 20 minutes discussing the issues that have come up, including plowed snow ending up in the streets or piled 4 feet or higher on sidewalks, making it especially challenging for some homeowners to keep sidewalks clear. One possible solution discussed was to distribute information to some residents about property owners’ responsibilities specific to clearing snow after a storm.

A project being funded by HP Hood may create minor traffic delays over the next few weeks. Crews will be installing a 16-inch water line off of Route 5 between 7 Springs Road and Ag Park Drive North. Construction is expected to continue through April with only intermittent need for occasional traffic delays.

The Genesee County Legislature wants to honor the sacrifice of veterans who take up the mantle of Honor Guard at the Western NY National Cemetery in Corfu by providing them uniforms to wear while they go about their duties. The legislature agreed to a resolution to spend up to 8000 dollars to make sure that the Honor Guard had proper uniforms. The uniforms would belong to the members of the Guard but would be required to be surrendered if they left the Honor Guard. The WNY National Cemetery Honor Guard consists of 32 members, all volunteers, who serve their fallen military member’s families at the burial grounds. The final vote on the uniforms is next Wednesday.

The Buffalo Sabres will be back on home ice this evening as they look to extend their current winning streak to three games. The Sabres are hosting the Ottawa Senators at KeyBank Center. Buffalo is coming off of a six-to-three win over the New York Islanders on Tuesday night in a contest that saw Victor Olofsson score two goals. Face-off for tonight’s game is scheduled for 7:00pm.

State Attorney General Letitia James has issued a very important safety warning involving Apple Air Tags. She says criminals are using the devices to track an individual’s location by attaching the AirTags to vehicles or placing them in purses, coat pockets or on other personal items. People can take several steps to protect themselves including watching for “Item Detected Near You” notifications on their iPhones or by downloading the Tracker Detect app from the Google Play Store if they have an Android device. James says tracking someone without their consent is a felony and that everyone should keep a close eye on their belongings.

In-person classes will resume on February 28th at McKinley High School in Buffalo after the violent incident last week that left a 14-year-old student and security guard hurt. Seniors will return to the building first followed by juniors on March 1st and freshmen and sophomores on March 2nd. Police say last Wednesday a 17-year-old stabbed the 14-year-old while another 17-year-old shot the security guard. The student suffered serious injuries and the security guard is also recovering. Classes have been held remotely the last several days.

The Flood Watch remains in effect today through Friday across all of western NY.  Temperatures in the 50s combined with rain this morning through early afternoon may cause creeks and rivers to rise and overflow their banks.  Flooding may occur on roadways that have poor drainage.  Ice flows may jam at bridges and pipes causing water to back up.  Don’t enter water on a roadway, be aware of areas that are prone to flooding.  In addition to the Flood Watch there is also a Winter Weather Advisory for Orleans County from 5pm today through 9am Friday.  Snow accumulation of between 4 and 7 inches and falling temperatures could result in reduced visibility and icy and snow-covered roads.  

The Genesee County Legislature wants to honor the sacrifice of veterans who take up the mantle of Honor Guard at the Western NY National Cemetery in Corfu by providing them uniforms to wear while they go about their duties.  The legislature agreed to a resolution to spend up to 8000 dollars to make sure that the honor guard had proper uniforms.  The uniforms would belong to the members of the honor guard but would be required to be surrendered if they left the honor guard.  The WNY National Cemetery Honor Guard, Inc. consists of 32 members, all volunteers, who serve their fallen military member’s families at the burial grounds.  The final vote is this coming Wednesday. 

The organization Western New York Students First has filed a lawsuit against the state to end the indoor mask requirement for students 2 and up in daycares, preschools and k-12 schools.  They say their suit is supported by experts in the fields of epidemiology, virology and pediatric psychology.  The lawsuit was filed by WNY Students First on February 11 in State Supreme Court in Westchester County against New York Governor Kathy Hochul, the New York State Department of Health, New York State Office of Children and Family Services, Public Health and Health Planning Council and New York State Education Department.  From their press release: “Through our experts, we show that the State has failed to cite to any evidence that establishes a causal link between masking children and reducing transmission of COVID-19 in daycares or schools, and therefore such policies are arbitrary, capricious, and lacks a rational basis.”  Governor Hochul said that she would consider dropping the mask mandate for schools at the beginning of March but that she is still following “the science” to determine if it needs to remain in place.  

Police Departments are warning vehicle owners across Western New York about an increase in vehicles being stolen across the area.  The Lackawanna Police Department and Town of Hamburg Police Department have issued public warnings on Facebook.  Lackawanna police said Friday: “We are investigating a rash of vehicles that have been stolen over the past three days. In all instances owners have started their vehicles to warm them up or left them running while they run into an establishment for “a minute”, and left them unattended. Please take the precaution of locking your vehicle if and or when it is left unattended.”

The graduation rate in New York rose this year from 84.8 to 86.1 percent according to the New York State Education Department.  This is an almost 10 percentage point increase from 2012.  Although this is good news some point to lowered graduation requirements from the COVID pandemic such as dropping regents exams and other standardized testing requirements as artificially increasing the number of graduates.  Colleges in 2020 and 2021 reported that high school graduates entering college were less prepared than previous years.  Department of Education Commissioner Rosa said that “a diploma is the key to unlocking opportunities,” and that we can “recognize education equity by enabling all students to earn this key.”

The relationship between the City of Batavia and Oatka Milk Products turned sour late last year when wastewater from the plant contaminated the city’s sewer system.
At one point the city obtained a cease and desist order requiring Oatka to stop the contamination.
But now, Oatka has completed a $5.5-million dollar pre-treatment plant that appears to have resolved the issue. The city has rescinded its cease and desist order. Both city hall and Oatka representatives says the relationship has entered into a spirit of cooperation.

There’s a push to make “alcohol to-go” permanent in New York state.
The proposal was made by Governor Hochul in her State of the State Address last month.
The take-out drinks became very popular during the height of the pandemic, helping many bars and restaurants to stay financially afloat.
But now, restaurant owners want to-go alcoholic beverages to become a permanent fixture on their menus and hope the state legislature passes the
bill.

State Police have released the results of their Super Bowl Weekend STOP-DWI campaign.
Troopers say between Friday and Monday, they handed out 9,978 tickets which is an increase of just over one-thousand from last year.
Many of the violations were for speeding, but 180 people were also arrested for DWI. Police also investigated 64 personal injury accidents but no fatalities.

Steve Hawley (R, Batavia)

Batavia Assemblyman Steve Hawley jumping on his party’s band-wagon to stop state agencies from mandating masks.
Hawley has called for the state mask mandate to be terminated in all public settings, including schools. He believes that the authority to implement mask mandates and similar public health policies should rest with local governments and health departments

The Buffalo Sabres have won their second straight game following a third-period rally in front of their home crowd. The Sabres scored three times in the final frame on their way to a six-to-three victory over the New York Islanders at KeyBank Center last night.
Up next for the Sabres is a home game against the Ottawa Senators on Thursday night.

Duane Hamill

New details specific to the burglary and gunpoint robbery of a business in Pembroke… We reported yesterday that 65-year-old Duane Hamill of Warsaw faces numerous charges and the case remains under investigation by the Genesee County Sheriff’s Department. WBTA news has learned that Hamill was a former employee of the business he is accused of burglarizing. A un-named current employee of the business arrived to work about 6:30am and found Hamill had broken in and was stealing items. Hamill fled and the employee pursued him into Darien where both vehicles stopped and a fight ensued. Hamill was able to steal the employee’s rifle and his car keys before getting back into his vehicle and taking off. Deputies in Wyoming County were able to stop him and Hamill was turned over to Genesee County Deputies. The most serious charge against Hamill is second-degree robbery, a class C felony, punishable by up to 15 years in state prison.

With our warmer temperatures and rain expected tomorrow, a flood watch is issued for the GLOW region. The snowmelt will combine with possible rainfall exceeding an inch to bring the potential for flooding from high flows, ice jams, or combination of both Thursday into Friday. As always, stay with WBTA. 13 WHAM meteorologists will keep us up to date.

Wegmans is now offering N95 masks to customers in an effort to protect them against COVID-19. They received the masks as part of a federal program through the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services. Shoppers are eligible to receive up to three adult-sized masks, however the locations of the masks in stores and the times they’ll be distributed vary by location. Anyone who is interested in getting a mask should contact their nearest Wegmans for more information.

State Police have released the results of their Super Bowl Weekend STOP-DWI campaign. Troopers say between Friday and Monday, they handed out nearly 9978 tickets which is an increase of just over 1000 from last year. Many of the violations were for speeding, but 180 people were also arrested for DWI. Police also investigated 529 accidents that resulted in 64 injuries but no deaths.

The demolition of the Great Northern grain elevator in Buffalo is still on hold thanks to a court ruling. Preservationists have been trying to prevent the building from being taken down after it was severely damaged during a windstorm in December. The city issued a demolition order less than a week after the storm, but it has been challenged in court. Preservationists say the grain elevator can be saved and they’re asking the owner of the building to repair it. The grain elevator was built back in 1897 and is the last of its kind in North America.

The Buffalo Sabres have won their second straight game following a third-period rally in front of their home crowd. The Sabres scored three times in the final frame on their way to a six-to-three victory over the New York Islanders at KeyBank Center last night. Victor Olofsson had a pair of goals Buffalo while Tage Thompson, Kyle Okposo, Alex Tuch and Henri Jokiharju also scored. Up next for the Sabres is a home game against the Ottawa Senators on Thursday night.

Municipal and baseball club executives around the state, including Batavia, are asking Governor Hochul and the state to set aside some money in the state budget for improvements to municipally owned stadiums. The letter included signatures from Muckdogs owner Robbie Nichols and Perfect Game Collegiate Baseball League President and General Counsel, Robert Julian. In the letter, officials requested that about $250 million in capital funds for improvements should be earmarked as the money will be needed for many facilities across the state, including Dwyer Stadium.

There is a flood watch affecting all of Western NY through Friday.  The high temperatures over the next few days are expected to cause major runoff which may result in floods near waterways.  Ice jams may result in backups and rising water in creeks and rivers.  There also may be rain that can contribute an inch to an inch and a half of precipitation.  Be prepared to go around flooded areas, do not drive into standing water if you don’t know how deep it is. 

Starting February 28th Canada will be changing how border crossings work.  Those who are fully vaccinated will not have to quarantine if they are selected to be randomly tested for COVID.  Children under 12 will not have any restrictions if they are traveling with fully vaccinated adults.  Travelers can now take either a rapid antigen test or molecular test before entering Canada, these must be official tests administered by a lab and not at home tests.  Also the Travel Health Notice is going from level 3 to level 2 meaning the Canadian government will no longer recommend that Canadians avoid travel for non-essential purposes.

The price of natural gas has more than doubled in the US and risen more than 500 percent in Europe.  Suppliers are raising their prices and consumers are feeling the pinch.  National Fuel says they are raising their prices to highs not seen since 2013.  They say there is nothing they can do as supplies are tighter than they have been but they offer tips to reduce your energy costs.  One suggestion is lower the thermostat when no one is home.  Another is to drain a quart of water from the water heater once a month to get rid of sediment that impairs water heater function. For a complete list of tips follow this link.

Two-dozen volunteers helped out the owner of an apartment in Albion that was wrecked by angry tenants. The landlord went on WKBW-TV’s “Problem Solvers” to complain about not receiving rent for almost a year. When the tenants were evicted the landlord found  find they had destroyed the apartment on the way out.  Local masons from Renovation Lodge #97 showed up, local property owners, husbands and wives, families, and some made the decision to drive out alone on Saturday morning.  Over two hours they cleaned out the trash, dirt, soiled carpeting and broken furniture.  Some of the volunteers have a background in home repairs and told the landlord Vickie Golisano they look to come back to make the apartment livable again soon.

The Batavia Veterans Home and Hospital got some love on Valentines day as the Genesee County 4-H and Churchville’s Legion Post #954 made and collected over 2000 Valentines Day cards and sent them to the Batavia VA.  The 4-H Fur & Feather Club, 4-H Sheep Club and individual 4-H members created over 250 handmade Valentine’s cards for the Batavia VA.  The Valentines were delivered to Cindy Baker of the Center for Development and Civic Engagement at the Batavia VA for hospitalized veterans and veterans in the in-residence PTSD programs.

The Buffalo Sabres beat the New York Islanders 6 to 3 on Tuesday nights.  Victor Oloffsson scored twice, the first goals he’s had since Halloween.  Alex Tuch, Tage Thomspon, Henri Jokiharju and Kyle Okposo all put in one as well.  The Sabres next game is against the Ottawa Senators on Thursday at 7pm in Buffalo.

Temperatures expected to reach 50-degrees coupled with rain have triggered a Flash Flood Watch for tomorrow through Friday.
The Watch extends to all of Genesee, Wyoming and Orleans counties.
Excessive runoff may result in flooding of rivers, creeks, streams, and other low-lying and flood-prone locations. The National Weather Service say significant warming ahead of a slow moving cold front will result in a major melt down of a large portion of the extensive snow pack over the region.

Some new data shows that online sports betting has been a massive success in the Empire State so far. Since January 8th, New Yorkers have placed nearly $2-billion in wagers using companies such as DraftKings and FanDuel among others. .As a result, more than $70-million in tax revenue has been generated for New York. Officials say those funds will go towards several programs including ones that support education, youth sports and treatment and recovery services.

A Batavia woman pleads guilty to a charge of Grand Larceny from a welfare fraud case. 34 year old Christina Jones is accused of receiving more than 17-thousands dollars in SNAP benefits she was not entitled to. Investigators said the father of one of Jones children was living in the home and was gainfully employed. Jones admitted she failed to report that information.

On the political front: Governor Hochul has picked up the endorsement of one of the state’s most powerful lawmakers as she looks to win a full four-year term in office. Senator Kirsten Gillibrand is throwing her support behind the governor, saying that Hochul is a proven leader and has strongly defended abortion rights.

One of the biggest names in country music has announced plans to perform in in Genesee County later this year.
Jason Aldean will be taking the stage at the Darien Lake Amphitheater on Saturday, August 27th. Tickets for the show go on sale this Friday at ten a-m through Live Nation

Temperatures warming into the 50s on Wednesday and Thursday will bring snow melt and a flood watch to the GLOW region. The snow melt will combine with possible rainfall exceeding an inch to bring the potential for flooding from high flows, ice jams, or a combination of both Thursday into Friday. That’s according to the National Weather Service; the flood watch is in effect from Wednesday evening through Friday evening. As always, stay with WBTA for the latest weather updates from 13 WHAM meteorologists.

It has become official; the ice arena in Batavia will be named the David McCarthy Memorial Ice Arena; this, following a 6-0 vote last night by city lawmakers. Under the terms of the naming rights agreement approved during the City Council Business Meeting, Pellegrino Auto Sales and the David M. McCarthy Memorial Foundation will pay the city $3,100 each year for 10 years for the naming rights for the arena

WBTA news has learned from Genesee County sheriff’s investigators A Warsaw man faces felony charges after a series of incidents that began when he
was found burglarizing a business Saturday. Deputies were called to the business and were told that an employee was following the suspect, 65 year old Duane Hamill, who
had fled the scene. Investigators said Hamill and the employee got into a fight on the side of a road in Darien; Hamill stole a rifle and the employee’s car keys and continued driving south into Wyoming County. Wyoming deputies began pursuing Hamill, who refused to pull over. He was later stopped and taken into custody and turned over to Genesee County. Hamill now faces multiple charges and was arraigned in both Pembroke and Darien town courts.

(Hamill is charged with: third-degree burglary and third-degree grand larceny in Pembroke, second degree robbery, third-degree robbery, third-degree criminal possession of a weapon and second degree menacing)

Folks who live on the more narrow streets in Batavia are probably seeing city trucks today, as they work to clear some more of the snow. Although no complaints from local residents have come in, the city hopes by clearing some of the snow, it will make driving the streets safer. Mother Nature will be helping these efforts along with temperatures in the low 50’s over the next couple of days.

One of the biggest names in country music has announced plans to perform in Western New York later this year. Jason Aldean will be taking the stage at the Darien Lake Amphitheater on Saturday, August 27th. Aldean will be joined on his “Rock N’ Roll Cowboy Tour” by special guests Gabby Barrett and John Morgan. Tickets for the show go on sale this Friday at 10:00am through Live Nation.

Some new data shows that online sports betting has been a massive success in the Empire State so far. Since January 8th, New Yorkers have placed nearly two-billion-dollars in wagers using companies such as DraftKings, FanDuel and BetMGM among others. As a result, more than 70-million-dollars in tax revenue has been generated for New York. Officials say those funds will go towards several programs including ones that support education, youth sports and treatment and recovery services.

According to a state report issued last week, Genesee County experienced the GLOW region’s biggest increase in sales tax revenues last year: The total revenue collected was $49.7 million dollars; an increase of over 8 million dollars from 2020. The report by the state Comptroller’s Office analyzed sales tax revenues from the two years. The data showed the highest increase ever recorded — more than $3.1 billion that’s a 19.1 percent increase —occurred in 2021; alternatively, record low revenues were seen in 2020. The report noted that the pace of growth last year reflected strong sales statewide, even when compared with prepandemic levels. While some of the increase in total taxable sales appears partly due to inflation (which rose by 4.7% in 2021), higher fuel costs and consumption also drove the increased sales tax revenues — with higher gasoline costs being the more significant of the two.

Governor Hochul has picked up the endorsement of one of the state’s most powerful lawmakers as she looks to win a full four-year term in office. Senator Kirsten Gillibrand is throwing her support behind the governor, saying that Hochul is a proven leader. In a statement, Hochul said she’s grateful to have Senator Gillibrand’s endorsement. In order to win the Democratic nomination, the governor will have to defeat Long Island Congressman Tom Suozzi and New York City Public Advocate Jumaane Williams in the June primary.

A second suspect is now in custody following the incident at McKinley High School that left a 14-year-old student and a security guard hurt. Police say a 17-year-old boy is the person who shot the security guard last Wednesday and he’s facing several charges including attempted murder. His arrest was announced on the same day another 17-year-old boy was in court for stabbing the student multiple times and causing the victim to suffer serious injuries. Police are asking anyone with information on this case to contact them at 716-847-2255.

No working smoke detectors were found inside of a Buffalo home where a mother and her young daughter died in a fire. Crews were called to the scene on Weiss Street yesterday and arrived to find heavy smoke and flames coming from the residence. According to officials, 31-year-old Stephanie Schultz and two-year-old Stella Schultz passed away due to smoke inhalation. Four firefighters were injured while battling the blaze, but they’ve already been treated and released from the hospital. The cause of the fire is under investigation.

New information has been released on a deadly officer-involved shooting that happened in Buffalo over the weekend. State Police say the man who was shot and killed has been identified as 38-year-old James Huber of Pennsylvania. On Saturday, Huber was spotted driving erratically on the Thruway, which led to a chase that was later called off. Huber was then seen in Downtown Buffalo and tried to get away from police by putting his vehicle into reverse, which caused Trooper Anthony Nigro to open fire. Huber died at the scene while Nigro was treated for minor injuries. The state Attorney General’s Office is investigating the shooting.

Staff members at Strong Memorial Hospital in Rochester are getting some help with caring for a high number of patients. Two Department of Defense military medical teams have arrived at the facility to relieve some of the strain doctors and nurses are dealing with and to also help manage patient capacity. The teams are made up of 40 people and consist of respiratory therapists, medical technicians and other support staff. The teams will be at the hospital for at least the next few weeks.

After snapping their three-game winless streak on Sunday, the Buffalo Sabres will be back on home ice this evening in hopes of picking up a second straight victory. The Sabres are hosting the New York Islanders at KeyBank Center. Buffalo defeated the Montreal Canadiens 5-3 in their last game thanks to Jeff Skinner scoring four goals. Face-off for tonight’s contest is set for 7:00.

A push from the minority party in the NYS Senate Monday to end the mask mandate in schools will most likely fail.  Republican Senators say the state is following political science instead of regular science. They introduced an amendment Monday, February 14th to try to get the school mask mandate lifted. Their effort was not expected to be successful.  Governor Huchul has stated that she will look at lifting the school mask mandate at the beginning of March.

New York State has a new office and officer in Kimberly Hill.  The reason this new office is important?  Hill is the first State Chief Disability Officer.  The primary task of the office is to advocate on behalf of people with disabilities and implement laws that prevent discrimination against the community.  This new office will also represent the disabilities communities on issues like homecare and nursing facility transition and emergency preparedness and disaster response.  This is a prerequisite for what is to come for the state’s disabilities community as Governor Huchul said she plans to invest, with the support of the legislature, a $25 Billion affordable housing plan with thousands of units for supportive housing.

65 year old Warsaw resident Duane Hamill is charged with Grand Larceny, Burglary, Robbery in the 2nd and 3rd, criminal possession of a weapon, and menacing in the 2nd degree after an incident that lead to a chase from town to town.  Hamill allegedly stole from a business in Pembroke and was followed by an employee.  He confronted the employee and took their keys and a rifle from them and fled through Darien.  Wyoming county deputies caught up with him and pursued eventually taking him into custody and handing Hamill over to Genesee County Sheriffs.  

The Batavia City Council is joining in with an effort started in Oneida County to petition the State to provide money for updating baseball stadiums across the state.  City council President Eugene Jankowski added his name to the letter being sent to Governor Hochul asking for 250 million dollars to be spent on stadiums including Dwyer stadium after an authorizing vote from the council.  Jankowsi’s name would be included along names from at least 18 other municipalities.  The rationale for the request is that the state is ready to spend over a billion dollars on the new Bill Stadium and over 100 million on the Lake Placid Olympic facility in preparation for the 2023 World University Games.

The New York State Teachers Union is predicting a massive shortage of teachers in the next few years.  They say over 87 thousand teachers are preparing to retire in the next 5 years.  About 33 percent of all teachers in New York.  And there aren’t nearly enough new teachers to replace them.  Over the next 10 years 180 thousand new teachers would need to be hired to keep up with student to teacher ratios.  Teachers in New York earn higher wages than any other state but because of the education and certification process they earn less than people with similar level of education and training in other professions.  

20 Family Dollar stores in western NY have applied for liquor licenses in a bid to expand their sales of alcohol in the area.  The first stores started applying in 2020 and 17 have licenses now.  The licenses allow to go beer and wine cooler sales. 

Pepper Spray is a non-lethal substance used by many people for self defense, but there must be cause to use it.
29 year old Tara Lynn Robinson is charged with unlawful possession of a noxious substance. Deputies say Tara used pepper spray on another person without proper justification, The incident was reported around 10:30 last Thursday morning on Genesee Street in Pembroke. Tara was arraigned in Pembroke Town Court and then released on her own recognizance.

A violent domestic incident lands a Batavia man behind bars accused of striking his girlfriend in the face multiple times. Police say 25 year old Mathew Sanchez-Sanquiche violated an order of protection when he attacked the woman. Lawmen say the fracas happened on January 30th in front of several children. Sanchez-Sanquiche is being held in the Genesee County Jail on 15-thousand dollar cash bail.

If you need to go into a Genesee County government building today you can do so without wearing a mask. The local policy ended on Friday when Governor Hochul lifted the state mask mandate inside county facilities.

Tensions between Russia and Ukraine are being felt at the gas pump.
Locally, gasoline prices are up 8-cents in Batavia over last week. The average price for a gallon of regular in Batavia is now $3.60 a gallon.
Experts say uncertainly over the Ukraine situation are driving up crude oil prices.

Notre Dame High School in Batavia plans to honor it’s winning-est coach this Wednesday.
Mike Rapone’s 42 seasons and Section 5 record 708 wins will be recognized before Wednesday night’s varsity basketball game.
Coach Rapone is a 1971 graduate of Notre Dame.
The Fighting Irish will host the Elba Lancers on Wednesday night, 7pm, the game can be heard here on WBTA.

Buffalo Bills tickets will cost more next season. Some seats will cost 3-dollars more, other’s could run you 20-dollars more.
The Bills say the opponents have a lot top do with the ticket price, noting higher prices for teams like the Steele’s, Packers and Patriots.

It’s Valentine’s Day, and New York State has issued a warning involving online dating apps. The Consumer Protection office says as part of so-called “Sweetheart Scams,” scammers pretend to be interested in potential victims so they can steal money and personal information from them. Anyone looking to make an online connection is urged to remain cautious so they can avoid losing their money to an anonymous person making false promises.

Drivers in WNY are still feeling the pain at the pump when it comes time to fill up their vehicles. According to Triple A, the average cost for a gallon of regular gas is now $3.61. That’s up eight cents in the past week and is 17 cents higher than this time one month ago. The state average is currently $3.68 a gallon while nationally it’s $3.49. In Batavia, the average price per gallon is $3.60, which is also up 8 cents from a week ago. A year ago at this time, the average price in NYS for a gallon of gas was $2.60. The tension between Russia and Ukraine continues to contribute to rising oil prices. Russia is a member of OPEC+, and any sanctions based on their actions toward Ukraine may cause it to withhold crude oil from the global market.

More on the gas prices: According to the Energy Information Administration (EIA), total domestic gasoline stocks decreased while gasoline demand increased. A decrease in total stocks and an increase in demand have contributed to upward pressure on pump prices, but rising crude prices continue to play a dominant role in pushing pump prices higher. Pump prices will likely continue to follow suit as demand grows and stocks decrease if crude prices continue to climb.

And it is not just gas for the car pinching our wallets: This winter the cost of natural gas, which is used to heat many area homes and generate electricity, has risen sharply resulting in a significant increase — sometimes more than doubling – the supply component of customer electric and/or natural gas bills as compared to prior months. These bill increases are being driven by a global increase in natural gas commodity prices due to higher domestic usage because of colder-than-normal weather, increased economic activity, and increased international demand for natural gas. Governor Hochul has responded by encouraging residents struggling to pay their heating bills to apply for the millions of dollars in aid that is available to state residents (for example, through the Home Energy Assistance Program (HEAP).

At tonight’s 7pm meeting, the Batavia City Council is set to discuss problems the city has been having this winter season with snow removal and plowing. The heavy snowfall that hit Batavia earlier this month resulted in snow being plowed into the streets and sidewalks, sometimes with piles as high as 5 feet. Several downtown businesses complained about customers not being able to get to their stores or find parking. Mail service has also been delayed. Councilman At Large Bob Bialkowski observed there are many different independent plowing operations this year, which may be contributing to the problem. Bialkowski noted that snow piled up on sidewalks gets compacted and people can’t shovel through it. This leads to mail service being delayed and postal workers having to walk in the street. Bialkowski said considering the money the city spent on sidewalks, it’s a shame to have these issues; and private plowing companies need to be aware that putting snow in the street is against state law.

A Batavia man remains in Genesee County Jail on charges that he attacked a woman who had an order of protection against him. Batavia city police report that 25-year-old Matthew Sanchez-Sanquiche allegedly entered a residence and punched the woman multiple times in the face and forcibly stole her cell phone so she could not call the police. The attack occurred in front of several children; both the woman and children had orders of protection against Sanchez-Sanquiche. He was arraigned late last week in City Court and committed to jail, with bail set at $15,000 and is scheduled to return to court Wednesday.

Employees and members of the public may now enter Genesee County facilities without wearing masks, with the exception of the Genesee County Mental Health and Public Health Clinical settings. Employees and visitors to those facilities must continue to wear a mask while on the premises. County officials urge both employees and the public to assess their own risk and strongly encourage those with increased risk of contracting COVID-19 or anyone with a compromised immunized system to continue to wear a mask. The County will, however, continue to practice social distancing and enhanced cleaning measures to help ensure the safety of employees and residents.

It’s Valentine’s Day, and the New York State Department of Consumer Protection has issued a warning involving online dating apps. The agency says as part of so-called “Sweetheart Scams,” scammers pretend to be interested in potential victims so they can steal money and personal information from them. Anyone looking to make an online connection is urged to remain cautious so they can avoid losing their money to an anonymous person making false promises. Overall, the Federal Trade Commission says these scams cost people roughly $200,000,000 a year.

The state Attorney General’s Office is continuing its investigation into a deadly officer-involved shooting in Buffalo. State Police say Troopers were notified Saturday of an erratic driver who was on the Thruway and traveling at speeds of roughly 100-miles-per hour in Brant. During a pursuit, the driver’s vehicle struck a State Police cruiser before the chase was called off. The driver was found a short time later and the person tried to get away from police by putting their vehicle into reverse which led to a Trooper opening fire. The suspect, whose name hasn’t been released, died at the scene and the Trooper was treated for minor injuries.

Buffalo Bills fans can expect to dig deeper into their wallets if they want to see their team in-person this coming season. The team’s Vice President of Ticket Sales and Service says the cost of some seats may go up by $3 a game while others might cost about $20 more. There are several factors that led to higher prices including some of the teams the Bills are playing at Highmark Stadium such as the Pittsburgh Steelers, Green Bay Packers and New England Patriots. The Bills do say more than 13,000 of their seats will cost $60.00 or less.

The three-game losing streak of the Buffalo Sabres is over, and the team has one of their star players to thank for it. Skinner scored four goals while Thompson had one of his own as the Sabres beat the Montreal Canadiens on the road yesterday by a final score of 5-3. The victory was Buffalo’s first since January 29th and the team is now in seventh place in the Atlantic Division with 38 points. Up next for Buffalo is a home game against the New York Islanders tomorrow night.

The Batavia City Council is set to discuss problems the city has been having with snow removal and plowing at tonight’s 7pm meeting. The heavy snowfall that hit Batavia around February 3rd and 4th resulted in snow being plowed into the streets and sidewalks, sometimes with piles as high as 5 feet. Several downtown businesses complained about customers not being able to get to their stores or find parking. Mail service was also delayed. Coucilperson At Large Bob Bialkowski said that it is a shame to have issues like snow on the sidewalks given how much the city spends on them. Putting snow in the street or on the sidewalks is against the law.

A Western NY Native came in tenth in the Olympics Ice Dancing competition. After finishing 11th in the rhythm dance, East Aurora’s Kaitlin Hawayek qualified for the final on Saturday and competed in the final this morning in Beijing. Hawayek and partner Jean-Luc Baker were one of 20 groups to qualify for the final. Hawayek and Baker were one of three groups representing Team USA. While a French team took the Gold medal American teammates Madison Hubbell and Zachary Donohue took the bronze.

Gas prices keep rising and fast. This week the average price in Batavia rose a whopping 17 cents to 3.69. The New York State average is 3.65 which is 6 cents up from last week. Nationally the price is up 5 cents from last week to 3.48 a gallon. NY, Nevada, Oregon, Washington and California have the most expensive gas with California’s average price beating everyone else’s by almost a dollar at 4.67 a gallon. Oklahoma has the cheapest gas with 3.11 a gallon.

The Sabres picked up a win against the Montreal Canadiens Sunday afternoon scoring 5 to the Canadiens 3. Jeff Skinner scored a hat trick plus 1 with 4 goals and Tage Thompson scored 1. Former Buffalo Sabre Jack Eichel was the last Sabres player to score four goals in a game, when he scored four against the Ottawa Senators in a 4-2 win in November 2019. The Sabres next game is Tuesday at home against the New York Islanders.

Most eyes will be glued to the TV set this weekend, especially Sunday for Super Bowl 56… but lawmen are concerned about you getting home from your watch party.
The Genesee County Sheriff’s Office, Batavia City Police and LeRoy Police are all participating in a DWI crackdown.
They say it is to bring awareness to the dangers of impaired driving.

The 2022 season of the Batavia Muckdogs will begin June 3rd in Elmira.
The homer opener will be Saturday June 4th at Dwyer Stadium.
Head coach Joe Martinez is returning this year along with six players from last season’s roster.
Two local players have been signed. Gavin Schrader is an outfield/pitching prospect from Notre Dame High School who has committed to play at Niagara University after his senior season.
And Batavia High School catcher Vincent Grazioplene will also join the Muckdogs as he prepares to play at Erie Community College.

Tonight is a big night in girl’s basketball. It is the 11th annual “Shooting for Cure” at Pembroke High School. Doors open at 5, there is no admission but plenty of opportunity for you to contribute to raising money for cancer research at Roswell Park. The event has raised over 200-thousand dollars since it inception. The varsity game starts at 7pm

Former Governor Andrew Cuomo is planning to file a misconduct claim against State Attorney General Letitia James. Cuomo’s complaint will center around a report issued by James last year claiming that he sexually harassed multiple women, allegations he has repeatedly denied. Cuomo resigned in August and said in a recent interview with Bloomberg News that if he had to do it again, he would’ve remained in office.

The State Attorney General’s Office has issued a consumer alert involving online sports betting companies. Officials are urging people to be aware of misleading ads that offer things like risk-free bets and one-thousand dollar offers which often come with strings attached. Sunday’s Super Bowl is the first time Empire State residents will be able to place a wager on the big game using mobile sports betting.

Batavia Muckdogs General Manager, Marc Witt, has provided us with a sneak preview of the upcoming season…he announced the team plans to bring back some players from last year and will also be introducing some new personnel. There will be 30 home games this season at Dwyer Stadium. The Muckdogs play in The Perfect Game Collegiate Baseball League and there will be some new teams/new competition in the league, including the Capitol City Reds from Ottawa, Canada; and the Cortland Crush.

Steve Hawley (R, Batavia)

Local State Assembly members – Steve Hawley of Batavia and Mike Norris of Lockport – are among 42 Republicans in the Assembly who signed a letter to Assembly Speaker Carl Heastie, requesting that the capital funding budget for libraries not be cut. The proposed executive budget increases funding for library operating grants, the Republican members say they are alarmed to see that the governor’s plan slashed capital funding for library construction projects by $20 million, a 59% cut from last year’s state budget.

Students at McKinley High School in Buffalo took their classes remotely today. The switch to online learning came following the violent incident on Wednesday that resulted in a 14-year-old student being stabbed and a security guard being shot in the leg. The student remains hospitalized in stable condition and being monitored carefully; while the security guard is already out of the hospital. Police said last night a 17-year-old boy is in custody but haven’t revealed what charges he may be facing. They’re asking anyone with information on the incident to call them at 716-847-2255.

Former Governor Andrew Cuomo is planning to file a misconduct claim against State Attorney General Letitia James. Cuomo’s complaint will center around a report issued by James last year claiming that he sexually harassed multiple women, allegations he has repeatedly denied. Cuomo resigned in August and said in a recent interview with Bloomberg News that if he had to do it again, he would’ve remained in office. He also called James’ report politically motivated. Cuomo’s attorney says if James is found to have been involved in any wrongdoing, she could be censured or have her legal license suspended.

The Pembroke Junior/Senior High School Girls’ Basketball Team is hosting their 11th annual Shooting for A Cure! event against Oaksfield-Alabama this evening, at the High School located at the corner of Routes 5 and 77 in Pembroke. The doors open at 5:00; admission is free. The JV game starts at 5:30 and the varsity game, at 7:00. There are many ways people can contribute during the event and the team is also accepting donations online. This year, they look forward to adding to the more than $200,000 they have raised for the cause since their first game in 2011.

Convoys of Semi Trucks are planning to come to Buffalo from New York City and Tennessee this weekend to support the Canadian Freedom Convoy which has gathered in Ottawa to protest Vaccine mandates in the great white north. Meanwhile, this morning there was a big tractor-trailer backup on the 190 North to the Peace Bridge. This backup happened while the Ambassador Bridge, connecting Detroit, Michigan to Windsor, Ontario, is also blocked which caused delays of several hours. One to two hour delays were also reported early this morning at the Lewiston-Queenston Bridge. Supply lines are already stressed in Buffalo as the blockades in areas of Canada are causing backups that reach across the border. US officials have urged Canada’s government to use its federal powers to end the blockades.

The State Attorney General’s Office has issued a consumer alert involving online sports betting companies. Officials are urging people to be aware of misleading ads that offer things like risk-free bets and one-thousand dollar offers which often come with strings attached. Sunday’s Super Bowl is the first time Empire State residents will be able to place a wager on the big game using mobile sports betting. Anyone who is struggling with a gambling addiction can get help 24 hours a day, seven days a week by calling 1-877-846-7369.

The Buffalo Sabres were ahead early but ended up losing 4 to 3 in overtime to the Columbus Blue Jackets. The Sabres had a 3 to 1 lead in the 3rd period but the Jackets were able to tie the game up with 5 minutes left in regulation. Overtime lasted 16 seconds. The Sabres fall to 14-24-8 for the season. Their next game is against the Montreal Canadiens on Sunday afternoon at 12:30.

This morning, The New York State Department of Taxation and Finance announced the availability of a new search tool on its website to ease access to information about open tax warrants. By making this already public information more easily accessible, news media, researchers, and others who may be interested now have more efficient access to the latest balances owed by tax debtors. Additional information is available on their website at: www.tax.ny.gov

Starting today, a new visitation policy is going into effect at medical facilities that are operated by Catholic Health System. Patients who aren’t being treated for COVID-19 are allowed to have one visitor at a time during certain hours. Visitation hours at Kenmore Mercy Hospital, Mount Saint Mary’s Hospital, Mercy Hospital of Buffalo and Sisters of Charity Hospital’s Main Street and Saint Joseph campuses will be daily from noon until 6:00pm. Exceptions to this policy will be made in some circumstances including end-of-life care and for birth partners of maternity patients.

With it being both Valentine’s Day and Super Bowl weekend, police across the state will be doing their part to make sure people get to their destinations safely. They’ll be taking part in increased DWI patrols from today through Monday in an effort to get dangerous drivers off the road. During last year’s crackdown, police issued 26,127 tickets for various vehicle and traffic law violations. That number included 846 people who were arrested for DWI. Police say anyone who is going out this weekend should arrange a safe ride home in advance. Locally, Tammi Ferringer from the office of The Genesee County STOP-DWI Coordinator announced today that the Genesee County Sheriff’s Office, the City of Batavia Police Department and the Village of LeRoy Police Department are participating in a coordinated effort with the STOP-DWI program to bring awareness to the dangers of impaired driving.

Lottery players are going to have two opportunities over the next couple of days to take home quite a large amount of cash. The jackpot for tonight’s Mega Millions drawing is now at $42,000,000. Tomorrow night, at least 172,000,000 bucks will go to whoever wins Powerball. The cost of a ticket for each game is two dollars. Both the Mega Millions and Powerball drawings will be streamed live online.

They aren’t here yet but they are on the way.  Convoys of Semi Trucks are planning on coming to Buffalo from New York City and Tennessee this weekend to support the Canadian Freedom Convoy which is gathered in Ottawa to protest Vaccine mandates in the great white north.  Supply lines are already stressed in Buffalo as the blockades in areas of Canada are causing backups that reach all the way across the border.  Some truckers are having to wait several hours to cross into Canada because of a blockade in Detroit which affects travel in Buffalo.  Police say they know about the convoys and are ready for them.  

Buffalo police say a 17-year-old boy is in custody in connection with the stabbing of a 14-year-old boy outside McKinley High School, Wednesday.  A student was stabbed and a security guard was shot Wednesday outside McKinley High School in Buffalo.  The security guard and the student are both out of the hospital.

Erie County Executive Mark Poloncarz says he didn’t threaten to shoot the process server who came to give him papers pertaining to the lawsuit against him.  He says that, although he didn’t threaten her, he was surprised by her coming to his house and that he has always been served by the Attorneys Office.  He also said he has had to defend his home against robbers before and that he has received death threats.  

The CATS won’t come back.  Community Action of Orleans and Genesee is getting rid of the Community Action Transportation System after an audit found a loss of over 250000 dollars.  Community action is in talks with Rochester Genesee Regional Transportation Authority to help make sure people have transport.  Community Action says that there just aren’t enough people riding the expensive busses.

The GLOW region is now part of the Greater Niagara segment of the New York Birding Trail.  The State DEC announced Thursday that Genesee, Wyoming and Orleans Counties are getting locations that can be accessed by car, public transportation and walking so visitors can enjoy birds in their natural settings.  36 locations are being opened in western NY.  

The Buffalo Sabres were ahead early but ended up losing 4 to 3 in overtime to the Columbus Blue Jackets.  The Sabres had a 3 to 1 lead in the 3rd period but the Jackets were able to tie the game up with 5 minutes left in regulation.  Overtime lasted 16 seconds.  The Sabres fall to 14 and 24 and 8 for the season.  Their next game is against the Montreal Canadiens on Sunday at 12:30.

Yesterday afternoon just a little before 4:00, the Batavia Police Department responded to an address on Wallace Street for the report of a male who had been shot. After arriving on location officers were not able to locate a victim. Officers conducted interviews with residents in the area and were able to determine that a juvenile placed the call. That juvenile has since been identified and located. It has been determined that the call was a false report and there was no threat to public safety at the time of the call.

The investigation continues into a violent incident at McKinley High School in Buffalo that sent two people to the hospital. Police say a 14-year-old student was stabbed multiple times yesterday and an unarmed security officer was shot. Mayor Byron Brown said last night the student was in stable condition following surgery while the security officer with a gunshot wound to the leg had already been treated and released. The police report indicates there was a dispute that happened near the parking lot and one person pulled out a weapon and opened fire. At this time, no arrests have been made in connection with the case.

Starting today, New Yorkers will no longer be required to have a mask on inside of most places. Governor Hochul said yesterday that a statewide mask mandate issued in December to slow the spread of COVID-19 is being allowed to expire. However, facial coverings are still required in locations such as state-regulated health care settings, state-regulated adult care facilities and nursing homes, homeless shelters and mass transit stations. Masks must also continue to be worn by students and teachers in schools. Governor Hochul says a decision on lifting the school masking policy likely won’t be made until after the upcoming February break.

Rochester and Buffalo are reacting similarly to the lifting of the mask mandate. Both cities are removing their regulations that say masks must be worn in town and county buildings. Stores such as Wegmans say they are dropping their masking rules as well.

As you might expect, there has been a great deal of reaction to Hochul’s press conference from yesterday. Assemblyman Steve Hawley noted that the end of the statewide mask mandate is a welcome development. However, he believes that the time for state-level mandates of any kind has come to an end and control of pandemic management should return to local governments and school districts. He further noted that for rural communities, mask mandates for healthy children in schools have done more harm than good and educators and school district administrators should have the ability to make the best decision possible for the well-being of their students. Congressman Chris Jacobs similarly believes the time is now for to end the statewide mask mandate in schools.

New York State has provided Genesee County with free COVID-19 test kits and KN95 masks to distribute to residents. As of yesterday, a limited number of test kits and masks were still available at town and village municipal buildings, while supplies last. Residents will be required to show proof of residency and should contact their local municipality for hours of operation and availability.
· Town of Alabama
· Town of Alexander
· Town of Batavia
· Town of Bergen
· Town of Bethany
· Town of Byron
· Town & Village of Elba
· Town & Village of LeRoy
· Town & Village of Oakfield
· Town of Pavilion
· Town of Pembroke
· Town of Stafford
· Village of Alexander
· Village of Bergen
· Village of Corfu
· Genesee County Clerk’s Office (15 Main St, Batavia)
· Genesee County Fire Training Center (7690 State Street Road, Batavia)

This Saturday, February 12 from 10:00 am to Noon, the City of Batavia Fire Department (on Evans Street, Batavia) will host a drive-thru COVID-19 test kit distribution. Residents are asked to follow the directions posted at the front of the fire station upon arrival. And the town of Batavia will distribute free COVID test kits on Monday, the 14th. The distribution will be from 5-7 p.m. at the Batavia Town Hall drive-up window. Those attending must be Genesee County residents and must provide proof of residency.

NFL Commissioner Roger Goodell says he’s encouraged by the status of negotiations involving a new stadium for the Buffalo Bills. Goodell said during a press conference at the site of Super Bowl 56 yesterday that the bottom line is a new facility must be built for the Bills in Western New York. Team ownership has proposed building a new stadium in Orchard Park across from Highmark Stadium. Goodell praised everyone involved in the talks for their work in getting a deal done. The Bills’ current lease expires in 2023.

Yesterday was National Pizza Day and assemblyman Steve Hawley took the opportunity to take a ‘slice’ out of crime. He showed his appreciation for the work local police departments within his district have done to protect their communities by sending pizzas from local shops to numerous departments, including City of Batavia Police, LeRoy Police, Genesee County Sheriff’s and NYS Police, Troop A – Batavia Barracks. Hawley also sent pizzas to the following departments yesterday:
· Albion Police Department
· Holley Police Department
· Medina Police Department
· Orleans County Sheriff’s Department
· NYS Police Troop A-Albion Barracks
· Brockport Police Department
· Village of Corfu Police Department

The indoor mask mandate is over today, Governor Hochul announced Wednesday afternoon.  She did this as part of the Winter Toolkit which has 5 core areas of focus: protecting the most vulnerable New Yorkers, increasing vaccinations and boosters, strengthening our health care system, empowering local leaders, and supporting individuals facing the long-term effects of COVID.  Masking will remain compulsory in schools, health care settings, prisons and detention centers, public transit, nursing homes and airports.  Hawley and Jacobs are both calling on Governor Hochul to end the mandate for schools and allow school districts to make their own decisions about masking and health policy.

Rochester and Buffalo are reacting to the lifting of the mask mandate.  Both cities are removing their regulations that say masks must be worn in town and county buildings.  Stores such as Wegmans say they are dropping their masking rules as well.  

A minor is in a bit of trouble for calling the police and giving a false report Wednesday.  At about 3:45 Wednesday afternoon police responded to a call about a man who had been shot near Wallace Street in Batavia.  When they arrived they couldn’t find any gunshot victims.  The police were able to determine a juvenile had placed the call.  The juvenile was identified and located.  

The Reported school shooting in Buffalo was not a shooting according to police.  It was a stabbing.  A student at McKinley High School was stabbed multiple times in the parking lot at around 3:45.  A security guard was shot in the leg.  Initial reports said there was an active shooter and the school was placed on lockdown.  The school will remain closed through the weekend.  Both the student and guard have been treated and are recovering.  No arrests have been made. 

Tonight is trivia night at the Holland Land Office Museum at 7pm.  The trivia will be about famed lightbulb inventor Thomas Edison to celebrate his birthday.  Admission is 3 dollars per person or 2 for museum members.  The next Java with Joe E. will be on Thursday the 24th at 9am.  The topic will be “Too Often Forgotten: Female Slaves and Poor Women In Genesee County.”

The Jacksonville Jaguars have reportedly hired Bills Special teams Coordinator Heath Farwell away from Buffalo and down into the Sunshine State.  Farwell has been the Bills special teams coordinator since 2019.  Prior to coaching, Farwell played in the NFL with the Minnesota Vikings and Seattle Seahawks.  Farwell was an assistant special teams coach with the Seahawks and the Carolina Panthers.

Governor Hochul announced this morning that, in light of the declining Covid numbers, the state-wide mask mandate for indoor businesses is lifted as of tomorrow. However, she emphasized that the pandemic is far from over. With that in mind, the statewide mask requirement remains in effect at: state-regulated health care settings, state-regulated adult care facilities and nursing homes, correctional facilities, schools and childcare centers, homeless shelters, domestic violence shelters, and buses, bus stations, trains and train stations, subways and subway stations and planes and airports.

Here’s a timely reminder: The deadline for partisan voter registration is now less than a week away. A change of Party enrollment must be received at the Board of Elections, in County Building 1, 15 Main St., Batavia no later than February 14 to be effective immediately. Registration forms may be found in most public buildings and at the Board of Elections Office. To be eligible to vote in a party primary, the voter must be registered with the party holding the primary election.

A local law establishing salaries and providing extra compensation for some Wyoming County officials has been proposed by the Board of Supervisors there. A public hearing will be conducted at 2:30 on March 8 in the supervisor’s chambers at the county Government Center, at 143 North Main St., Warsaw. The local law will be subject to permissive referendum. That means it could be put to a public vote if a certain percentage of the public were to submit enough signatures requesting it.

The number of Intensive Care Unit beds available in the GLOW region has improved slightly but remain low even as COVID-19 numbers decrease. Out of 23 ICU beds across Genesee, Wyoming and Livingston Counties (there are no ICU beds in Orleans), 8 were available as of last Monday. That’s an improvement from Jan. 15, when only three ICU beds were available in our region; however, United Memorial Medical Center and Wyoming County Community Hospital had no ICU beds available at the time. To put it into perspective, overall, the GLOW region has 144 hospital beds. During this survey period, a total of 22 were available to patients. 489 people were hospitalized for COVID-19 across the six-county Finger Lakes Region. United Memorial Medical Center has 41 total beds, of which 11 were available and four of its nine ICU beds were available to patients.

The organizers of this year’s Saint Patrick’s Day parade in Rochester have made another big announcement involving the celebration. They say the theme of the March 12th event will be “The Trinity and the Shamrock.” Thousands of marchers, 12 bands and seven dance schools have already signed up to take part in the event, which has attracted large crowds in the past. Anyone who is interested in learning more, or working as a volunteer for the parade, can sign up online at rochesterparade.com.

According to the New York Council of School Superintendents, Governor Hochul is planning to extend the Mask Mandate in schools for another 2 weeks and then reevaluate after the February break.  The mandate for businesses and venues is set to expire Thursday and the one for schools will expire on the 21st.  School superintendents from Monroe, Livingston, Genesee, Niagara, and Orleans counties have written to the governor asking for a return to being able to control their own health regulations and roadmap for when the mandates will end.  As for the business and venue mandate, Hochul plans for New York to join other states like California in dropping the statewide mandate for indoor spaces.

Businesses that try to get a head start on opening head shops and selling recreational marijauna before regulations are put out by the NYS Office of Cannabis Management could lose their opportunity to have a license and face steep fines and even jail time.  Marijuana has been legalized but it is still illegal to sell it or “gift” it by including marijuana with other sales, until the state office sends out the regulations.  These are expected in early to mid spring.  Companies that have started early are being sent cease and desist letters.  

If you have a Hyundai Santa Fe or Tucson or a Kia Sportage or k900 you may want to check if you have a recall notice.  Nearly 485,000 vehicles in the United States are being recalled by the two Korean automakers over concerns of fire and engine problems.  A contamination in the antilock brake control module can cause an electrical short.  Dealers will replace a fuse and replace the control module in the Hyundais if needed.

A change of regulations is being proposed in the NYS Assembly that would give Hochul emergency powers indefinitely and Steve Hawley is voicing his concerns.  In a press release Hawley says this policy would essentially return emergency powers to Gov. Hochul in perpetuity, depriving the Legislature of its authority to design and implement such orders and the ability of local health departments to cater their pandemic response toward the unique circumstances faced by their communities.  Hawley is joining with the Assembly minority to draft a letter to Governor Hochul and other officials opposing the new regulation.

The film shot in Buffalo during February of 2020, ‘Nightmare Alley’, is up for a Best Picture at the Oscars.  The film, which stars Cate Blanchett and Bradley Cooper, features Buffalo’s Pierce Arrow Museum cars and shots of Niagara square.  Guillermo Del Toro said that “This city has a pristine reputation as a place to shoot.”   ‘Nightmare Alley’ is also nominated for production design, cinematography, and costume design.