Local News

There is a wind advisory in effect for Genesee, Orleans and Wyoming Counties today from 10am to 7pm.  Winds are coming out of the west at 20 to 30 miles per hour and could gust up to 50 at times.  Remember to bring anything that could blow away inside and be careful if you are driving a tall vehicle.  Watch out for downed tree limbs while driving.

Police are looking for Devon Wright, again.  Wright is accused of shoving two females on Nov. 27 while at a location on Central Avenue and of tampering with the property of one of the women by throwing it all over the residence.  He is also wanted for violating his terms of release following his guilty plea on counts of attempted criminal possession of a weapon 2nd, assault 3rd, attempted assault 1st, and criminal sexual act 4th.  Anyone with information on Wright’s whereabouts is asked to contact the Batavia Police Department at 585-345-6350 or the confidential tip line at 585-345-6370.

53 year old Matthew Barber of Batavia has been sentenced to 12 years in prison for  possession of Child pornography.  He was initially arrested in 2007 and sentenced to over 6 years for the same crime.  Then he was unsuccessfully discharged from a sex offender program after being released and going through supervision till 2017.  In may of 2020 he was caught with over 1000 images and 200 videos on a usb stick and a cell phone by the FBI.  

Wyoming County has declared a state of emergency due to COVID 19 cases rising in the county.  Wyoming County Chairwoman Rebecca Ryan says she declared the state of emergency in order to make sure the county receives resources aimed at ensuring safety of its residents.  Local emergency orders may also be enacted in addition to the county declaration.  From Tuesday, the COVID-19 positivity rate in Wyoming County was listed at 12.1 percent and 14.5 percent over the last seven days.  There are no current plans to put a mask mandate in place.

The group Constitutional Coalition of New York is planning a protest in Buffalo all next week over the mask mandates both in Erie county and in the schools.  They have published a series of events throughout the “civil disobedience” week including an outside protest in front of Buffalo City Hall, a school walkout day, and a day for all people to simply not wear masks wherever they are.  They liken their movement to Rosa Parks and Irena Sandler standing against powerful oppressors.  

Batavia Downs Gaming & Hotel has announced the lineup for their fifth Rockin’ the Downs concert series which will take place outside on the racetrack, with ten Friday dates, starting in June and running into August.
Among the acts: Performing on Friday, July 15th a double bill of great music, this time with Herman’s Hermits starring Peter Noone. Peter Noone is a multi-talented entertainer, who achieved international fame as Herman, lead singer of the legendary Sixties pop band Herman’s Hermits.
Earlier that evening The Grass Roots will take the stage having originated in the Mid-60’s and charted with such hits as; Midnight Confessions, Let’s Live for Today. See the entire line-up HERE.

The Elba Town Hall has moved.
Town offices are now located in the old M and T Bank building on Oak Orchard Road.
Town Hall was located on Maple Street in the village.
The Elba Town Clerk, Town Supervisor and Town Assessor are in the new location.
Hours of operation remain the same: Monday through Thursday, 8 a.m. until 4 p.m., with extra hours on Friday during tax season.

Governor Hochul has signed off on a new piece of legislation aimed at protecting New Yorkers from potentially dangerous holiday decorations. Under the measure, a warning label must be placed on certain products that use lead-based electrical cord casings. Studies have shown some decorative and seasonal holiday lighting products contain an unsafe level of lead, which could put people at risk for serious health issues such as heart and kidney disease and central nervous system problems. Any manufacturer who breaks the law will face a fine.

Frontier Airlines is planning to add nonstop flights from Buffalo to a pair of popular vacation destinations.
Soon, people will be able head directly to Fort Lauderdale, Florida and also Cancun.
The airline is offering fares starting at just 19-dollars, but those tickets must be bought by 11-59 p.m. on December 6th.
Advanced seating assignments will also be available for an additional charge. More information is available on the airline’s website.

Rochester Mayor Lovely Warren is going to be spending her final day today in a position she’s had since 2014. Warren will be stepping down as mayor as part of her guilty plea to campaign finance fraud. Warren, who is the city’s first female mayor, says she’s focused on spending time with her family but isn’t ruling out a return to politics in the future.

Batavia Downs Gaming & Hotel has announced the lineup for their fifth Rockin’ the Downs concert series, presented by Pepsi, which will take place outside on the racetrack, with ten Friday dates, starting in June and running into August.

Kicking off the series on Friday, June 17^th will be a double bill of rock with Tommy DeCarlo and Rudy Cardenas.   Tommy has been the lead singer of Boston since 2007 and performs all of Boston’s hits from the 70’s and 80’s including More Than a Feeling, Peace of Mind, Hitch A Ride, and more!  Opening the show will be Rudy Cardenas, a season 6 American Idol finalist and who will perform a full set of Journey’s classic hits.

Next up, on Friday, June 24^th, Batavia Downs welcomes Canadian Rock Band Finger 11.  Originating in Burlington, Ontario in 1990, the band has gone on to release 7 studio albums.   The Juno Award winning rockers will be performing hits such as One Thing, Paralyzer and others.

Friday, July 1^st will see Get the Led Out perform at Batavia Downs. This group of professional musicians are passionate about their love of the music of Led Zeppelin, making it their mission to bring the studio recordings of the Mighty Zep to life on stage.  These musicians were fans first and strive to do justice to one of the greatest bands in rock history by touring all across the US and Canada.  Songs performed by the band will include Led Zeppelin hits like Black Dog, Immigrant Song, Stairway to Heaven and more!

Returning to Batavia Downs on Friday, July 8^th is Theory.  Hailing from Delta, British Columbia, the band also known as Theory of a Deadman has turned their hard rock/alternative sound into nine top 10 hits on the US Billboard Hot Mainstream Rock Tracks, including four number one tracks in Bad Girlfriend, Lowlife, Rx (Medicate) and History of Violence.

Performing on Friday, July 15^th is another double bill of great music, this time with Herman’s Hermits starring Peter Noone. Peter Noone is a multi-talented entertainer, who achieved international fame as Herman, lead singer of the legendary Sixties pop band Herman’s Hermits.  His classic hits include: I’m Into Something Good, Mrs. Brown, you’ve Got A Lovely Daughter, I’m Henry VIII, I Am. 

 Earlier that evening The Grass Roots will take the stage having originated in the Mid-60’s and charted with such hits as; Midnight Confessions, Let’s Live for Today, Sooner or Later and Temptation Eyes.  Current Band Line up of Mark Dawson, Dusty Hanvey, Larry Nelson and Joe Dougherty rocked Batavia Downs last summer with an inspired performance.

On Friday, July 22^nd, Batavia Downs welcomes back Southern Rock legends Molly Hatchet.  Originating in Jacksonville in 1978, the band has gone on to release 14 studio albums.   They’ll be performing hits such as Flirtin’ with Disaster, Dreams I’ll Never See and Whiskey Man.  Opening for them will be American Southern Rock Band Blackfoot, who will be playing such hits as Train, Train and Highway Song.

Rocking the stage on Friday, July 29^th is the legendary band, 38 Special.  After forming in Jacksonville in 1974, they have currently achieved over $20 Million in sales.  Their signature blast of Southern Rock is unmistakable with such arena-rock pop smashes as Hold On Loosely, Rockin’ Into the Night, and Caught Up in You.

America’s top Pink Floyd Show, The Machine returns to the Batavia Downs stage on Friday, August 5^th.   For over 30 years they have extended the legacy of Pink Floyd, while creating another legacy all their own. Over the years, The Machine has touched the hearts and souls of many with their stellar musicianship, dramatic lighting and video performances.  Last year’s performance at Batavia Downs was well received by one of the largest crowds of the summer.

Making his Batavia Downs debut on Friday, August 12th is Mike DelGuidice – Recording Artist/Singer/Songwriter who is currently on tour with Billy Joel.

Mike DelGuidice now lives a dream come true. In October of 2013, Billy Joel was so impressed with Mike’s singing, Joel personally hired Mike to join his band.

And now you can see Mike on tour with Billy Joel all over the US & world in major arenas and stadiums including every month at the iconic Madison Square Garden.  Mike and his band play all of Billy Joel’s big hits.  They will also perform a few astonishing renditions of other classic rock hits,  plus some of Mike’s own original work.

Closing out the series on Friday, August 19^th  is the Dire Straits Experience.  With former Dire Straits member Chris White, this stellar collection of professional musicians has been paying homage to one of the greatest songbooks of all time with tours across the world.  They will be playing all Dire Straits’ major hits, in all their ambition, grandeur and aching beauty.  These songs are once again presented live for the fans that that have kept them alive.

“We are looking forward to hosting what we feel is the best Concert Series Line-up we’ve ever had,” said Henry Wojtaszek, President and CEO for Batavia Downs Gaming & Hotel. “We’re appreciative to the folks at Pepsi for being our headline sponsor this year and excited to welcome back charities like Make-A-Wish Western New York & Volunteers for Animals who raise funds for their organizations through the chair rental and guitar raffle.”

Tickets for all ten concerts will be available at www.BataviaConcerts.com only beginning on Thursday, December 2^nd at 10am.

A spike in COVID cases and hospitalizations has incentivized Monroe County to announce a state of emergency starting December 1.  Like Erie County masking will be mandated for all county buildings.  But unlike Erie when it comes to private businesses, for now, the masking rules are up to them.  As of now businesses such as Tops and Wegmans are having all their employees mask and have for some time, they are encouraging customers to mask but not making it mandatory.

Former New York Governor Andrew Cuomo is now collecting his $4,219 monthly pension, according to a spokesperson for the Office of the New York State Comptroller.  In total, he will receive around $50,000 a year and he received his first payment in October 2021.  Cuomo announced his resignation in August following an investigation into sexual harassment allegations against him. New York Attorney General Letitia James said the independent investigation found he sexually harassed multiple women and violated state and federal laws.  Currently in NYS, the pension of a public official can only be reduced or revoked if they are convicted of a felony related to his/her official duties.

Governor Kathy Hochul says there are between 32 and 36 hospitals in New York State right now that will be ordered to stop elective surgeries come Friday. This is because they’re struggling with staffing and bed capacity.  She’s also using her emergency power to work on getting National Guard members into nursing homes that need staffing help. Hochul has the power to enforce these measures through the disaster emergency declaration she issued the day after Thanksgiving.

Buffalo Bills Quarterback Jake Fromm is signing with the New York Giants according to the NFL Network.  Fromm was drafted by the Bills in the fifth round, 167th overall, in the 2020 NFL Draft. He has not played in a regular season NFL game since being drafted and he has been on the team’s practice squad this season.  Giants starting quarterback Daniel Jones strained his neck early in last week’s game against the Philadelphia Eagles and his status is TBD for the Giants’ game Sunday against the Miami Dolphins.

The Genesee County Economic Development Center board is scheduled to take final action on a new bus maintenance facility along Saile Drive.
The $4.5-million project will provide training space, repair areas and storage to support local school district bus fleets. The project is slated to create 19 full, and 12 part-time jobs. The board will take up the measure at its regular meeting on Thursday.

A spokesman for Andrew Cuomo is criticizing the release of more videos and transcripts involving allegations of sexual harassment made against the former governor. The Cuomo team accused State Attorney General Letitia James of using her authority to boost her own political career and editing video of Cuomo’s testimony. Cuomo left office after a report from the Attorney General’s office was released earlier this year but he has denied doing anything wrong.

The Rockefeller Center Christmas Tree lighting ceremony will be held tomorrow night in Midtown Manhattan. Last year, the ceremony itself was closed to the public due to COVID-19. You also had to reserve a spot in line and visitors only had five minutes to check out the tree, as the coronavirus vaccine was not yet widely available. Those same restrictions aren’t in place this year, although masks and social-distancing are advised.

The Buffalo Sabres have dropped their second straight game after losing to the NHL’s newest team on home ice. The Sabres fell to the Seattle Kraken seven-to-four at KeyBank Center last night. Sabres goaltender Dustin Tokarski had a tough game, giving up six goals on the 31 shots he faced. The Sabres will look to end their losing streak on Thursday when they visit the Florida Panthers.

Governor Hochul says the state continues to watch for the variant, but adds New Yorkers are not defenseless against COVID-19.
She believes getting vaccinated is the best way for people to protect themselves and others from getting sick and said so far, no cases of the new variant have been found in the New York State.
In addition to getting immunized, the governor is also encouraging people to wear masks and follow social distancing protocols. But, Hochul says she is not planning to issue a statewide mask mandate.

A spokesman for Andrew Cuomo is criticizing the release of more videos and transcripts involving allegations of sexual harassment made against the former governor. The Cuomo team accused State Attorney General Letitia James of using her authority to boost her own political career and editing video of Cuomo’s testimony. Cuomo left office after a report from the Attorney General’s office was released earlier this year but he has denied doing anything wrong.

The Rockefeller Center Christmas Tree lighting ceremony will be held tomorrow night in Midtown Manhattan. Last year, the ceremony itself was closed to the public due to COVID-19. You also had to reserve a spot in line and visitors only had five minutes to check out the tree, as the coronavirus vaccine was not yet widely available. Those same restrictions aren’t in place this year, although masks and social-distancing are advised. The forecast does look dry until after the show will be over.

The Buffalo Sabres have dropped their second straight game after losing to the NHL’s newest team on home ice. The Sabres fell to the Seattle Kraken 7-4 at KeyBank Center last night. Sabres goaltender Dustin Tokarski had a tough game, giving up six goals on the 31 shots he faced. The Sabres will look to end their losing streak on Thursday when they visit the Florida Panthers

Governor Hochul says that she has been told the Omicron Variant of COVID 19 has been detected in Ontario Canada.  On Friday she declared a state of emergency for NY and demanded that all hospitals suspend non-essential surgeries in order to free up more bed space for COVID patients starting december 3rd.  She is also announcing the opening of 13 new Vaccination sites.  The Omicron variant of COVID was first detected in South Africa and has spurred a reaction across the globe including a travel ban in the US.  researchers so far say that the variant has not shown to be any more transmissible than other variants and doctors in South Africa report that symptoms are generally much more mild than other variants with muscle soreness and 1 to 2 days of fatigue being the most common symptoms.  Loss of taste and smell so far has not been associated with Omicron according to Dr Angelique Coetzee, chair of the South African Medical Association. 

Lovely Warren’s tenure as Rochester mayor is set to end Wednesday.  Her resignation is effective at the end of the day.  She resigned as part of a plea deal for a misdemeanor charge, after accepting campaign contributions that exceeded legal limits.  That charge was originally a felony.  Warren was also facing charges related to a raid at her home. Those charges were wiped out a part of the plea deal.  Deputy Mayor James Smith will take over as mayor until Malik Evans is sworn into the office in January 2021.

A collision in Elba involved the surprise flight of a small child.  At around 4:15 yesterday afternoon a sedan crossed 98 traveling westward on Lockport Road was struck by another car going south on 98.  The collision caused the sedan to strike a guard rail and eject a 6 year old girl from the back seat and down a steep hill.  No injuries were reported although the girl was taken to the hospital for evaluation.  The crash is under investigation.

Batavia First United Methodist Church will hold its annual Cookie Walk & Vendor / Craft Sale on Saturday, December 11, from 10:00 am – 2:00pm.  The event will feature a large variety of homemade Christmas cookies for sale by the pound along with 35+ vendors and crafters with many interesting items for you or that special someone on your Christmas gift list.  There will be free pictures of the kids with Santa and the Kozy Korners Thrift Shop will be open.  Lunch will be available for takeout.

The Buffalo Sabres once again failed to defeat the Kraken, this time at home with a 7 to 4 loss.  With the loss, the Sabres finished the month of November with a 3-9-2 record. Nine of those 14 games featured the Sabres giving up five or more goals.  In this game 2 of the goals scored by Seattle in the first period were scored while short handed.  Buffalo plays the Florida Panthers Thursday at FLA Live Arena at 7pm.

Lawyers for both the Village and Town of Oakfield have agreed to extend the November 30th deadline in their dispute over fire services.
There is one fire department in Oakfield and it is owned by the village. For years, the town has paid a fee to the village for fire protection.
The village says it is owed $78,000 for the 2020-21 fiscal year.
There appears to be a compromise over a new agreement but the two sides are not saying what it is or when the new deadline is.

Gasoline prices continues their downward trend in Batavia, although they are still high.
The average prices of a gallon of regular in Batavia fell 2-cents last week to $3.45. The Triple-A says a year ago the average prices of a gallon in Batavia was $2.19

Some new data shows the COVID-19 infection rate in the Finger Lakes is still the second-highest of any region in the Empire State. The seven-day average positivity rate is now nine-point-six percent which is up from just under eight-point-six percent last week. Genesee County – which is part of the Finger Lakes Region – has a positivity rate of 13.1 percent

New York Governor Kathy Hochul announced Saturday the state is requiring nursing homes and adult care facilities to make COVID-19 booster doses available to all residents. The state sent a letter to nursing home and adult care facility operators and administrators Wednesday with information on the requirement.

Cyber Monday is underway and the Better Business Bureau is sharing tips with shoppers to help them avoid getting scammed online. The agency says to beware of false advertising and phony websites and make sure each site has legitimate contact information and a customer service number.

New York Governor Kathy Hochul announced Saturday the state is requiring nursing homes and adult care facilities to make COVID-19 booster doses available to all residents.  The state sent a letter to nursing home and adult care facility operators and administrators Wednesday with information on the requirement.

From the bad boys report: 25 year old Scott Simmons was arrested for burglary at Walmart on Memorial Drive at 4pm on Saturday.  He was charged with 3rd degree Burglary,   3rd degree Criminal Trespassing, Petty Larceny and False Impersonation.  He was given an appearance ticket and is set to go back before the Town court on December 21st.  

A shady debt collection agency in Buffalo has been shut down by the state Attorney General’s office.  The companies owned by Andrew Fanelli, Northwood Asset Management Group, Pinnacle Asset Recovery Group, and Koalaty Pay, all LLC’s are permanently banned from any debt collection.  According to the AG, call recordings revealed collectors working for those companies used illegal tactics to collect debt which included false threats of criminal action, wage garnishment, driver’s license suspension and lawsuits.  They have been ordered to shut down and dissolve all holdings within 6 months and pay the AG office 1.2 million dollars. 

Gas prices are dropping slightly this week.  In Batavia they are down 2 cents for a gallon of regular to 3.45.  The New York State Average is 3.56 which is one cent lower than last week.  The national average is 3.39 another 2 cent drop.  Lower prices per barrel and the tapping of 50 million gallons of the federal reserve are helping lower the price.  

The Buffalo Sabres, coming fresh off a win at home against the Canadiens Friday, couldn’t keep up with the Red Wings in Detroit on Saturday.  Buffalo lost 3 to 2 with Dylan Cozens and Jeff Skinner scoring for the Sabres.  This fresh loss leaves Buffalo at 8 and 10 and 3.  They play the Seattle Kraken home tonight at 7pm.  The Kraken beat Buffalo in Seattle early in November but they have a worse record than the Sabres with 7 and 13 and 1.

Gov. Kathy Hochul has announced an executive order aimed at boosting hospital capacity ahead of a potential winter spike in COVID-19 cases.  She announced the new protocol Friday amid warnings about a new and highly transmissible coronavirus variant known as “omicron,” which has not yet been detected in New York.  Hochul’s order allows the state health department to limit non-essential surgeries, if needed, to ensure capacity.

Wreaths across America is coming to the Western New York National Cemetery in Corfu.  They would like to lay 700 wreaths for fallen soldiers at the cemetery and so far they are at 530.  The deadline for buying a wreath to lain is close of business on Monday.  If you get one you may lay it personally at the ceremony which will be Saturday December 18th or have it done by a volunteer.  Wreaths cost 15 dollars a piece and 5 dollars of the price goes to the cemetery.  You can purchase by following the link on wbtai.com.

http://www.wreathsacrossamerica.org/NY0368P

HE Turner Funeral homes is having their 25th Annual Service of Prayer & Remembrance at 7 pm on Wednesday, December 8 at the First Presbyterian Church of Batavia.  As always, one candle will be provided per deceased loved one and will be given to attendees at the service. Those that choose not to attend but would still like a candle to participate from home, please call the funeral home to arrange pick-up.  Call (585) 344-4295 to reserve your candle by Friday, December 3. There is no cost for a candle and all who experienced the pain of loss are welcome to participate regardless of who took care of your loved one and arranged their funeral service.

After being a powerhouse all season the Oakfield Alabama Elba Aggies hit the wall that is the Tioga Tigers Friday afternoon.  The Aggies were able to score just 1 touchdown with 9 minutes left in the game and lost 49 to 6.  Oakfield-Alabama/Elba’s record this season was 12-1.

The Buffalo Bills announced Friday cornerback Tre’Davious White tore his ACL in Thursday’s game against the New Orleans Saints.  The team said White underwent an MRI Friday morning and will miss the remainder of the 2021 season.  The two-time Pro Bowler had 27 tackles, a forced fumble, and an interception before his injury against New Orleans. He was named First Team All-Pro in 2019 and Second Team All-Pro in 2020.

The town of Marilla has declared they will not be complying with Erie County Executive Mark Poloncarz’s mask mandate.  Town of Marilla Supervisor Earl Gingerich, Jr. said Thanksgiving night that “The Town of Marilla is going on record, opposed to the County Mask mandate. The Town is not going to comply or participate. The Town will defend our businesses and residents right to make their own decisions.” The Genesee Orleans County health department has stated they are not planning any mandates.  Monroe county officials have said the same.  Poloncarz responded when asked about the other counties not doing the same as Erie county and he called them reckless saying “If they want to talk about freedom, they can have the freedom to die or have their constituents die because it’s reckless.”

The Batavia Police Department is investigating a disturbance that occurred at Tops Markets Thanksgiving morning at approximately 10:55 a.m.  Batavia Police are attempting to locate and identify any witnesses to the disturbance that occurred inside of the store involving two or three adult males.  If you were inside and witnessed the altercation, please contact Officer Girvin at (585) 345-6350.

There are several open positions on Batavia boards and committees and they are looking for volunteers.  The committees and Boards that need people are: The Board Assessment Review, which handles grievance day.  The Community Garden, Historic Preservation Commission, Plumbing Board (Applicants must be Master Plumbers for this one) The Youth Board and the Zoning Board of Appeals.  Applications are available at the City Clerk’s Office or online at https://www.batavianewyork.com. 

The Buffalo Bills won against the New Orleans Saints yesterday 31 to 6.  The Bills are now tied for 1st in the division with the New England Patriots who play the Titans on Sunday.  Allen finished 23-of-28 for 260 yards, four touchdowns, and two interceptions. He also added 48 yards on the ground.  The Bills next game is against the Patriots on Monday December 6th.  

The Sabres were unable to prevail against the Bruins Wednesday in a 5 to 1 loss.  With the loss the Sabres fall to 7-10-2 on the season.  Kyle Okposo started off the scoring for the game but that was all the Sabres got.  With the 5-1 loss, the Sabres have now given up five or more goals eight different times this month alone.  They’re back on home ice Friday when they host Montreal.

Derek Hagen

29-year-old Derek Hagen used to teach in the Batavia City and Pembroke Central Schools. Now he has been charged with producing and distributing child porn.
Federal authorities say Hagen now resides in Mount Morris and teaches at Dansville Central.
The U.S. Attorney’s office says two computers and a cellphone were confiscated from Hagen’s apartment last summer and some 50,000 images of and videos of child pornography were found on the devices. Hagen is accused of quote: “actively producing and distributing child porn in online chats.
Members of the public who have further information on the case are asked to contact federal investigators in Buffalo at: 716- 464-6070 or hsibuffalotips@ice.dhs.gov.
Hagan faces a prison term of 5 to 30 years if convicted.

The Genesee/Orleans Council on Alcoholism and Substance Abuse – known simply as GCASA – plans to open its new 20-bed detox center in January. An open house is scheduled for January 6th.
Construction began on the 8,600 sq. ft. foot facility began last January.

More than 20 months into the COVID-19 pandemic, Erie County has set a brand-new record for the number of coronavirus cases. A local business group is taking legal action in an attempt to overturn an indoor mask mandate issued by Erie County Executive Mark Poloncarz.
The sudden action by Poloncarz has promoted Genesee and Orleans County officials to issue a formal statement that the mask mandate is NOT a requirement here.

The New York State Police and local law enforcement agencies will participate in a special traffic safety initiative to prevent unsafe driving behaviors as the winter holiday season kicks off. The Thanksgiving weekend initiative runs from Wednesday, November 24, through Sunday November 28.

Just days after a blowout loss at home to the Indianapolis Colts, the Buffalo Bills will have the chance to get back on the winning track tonight. The Bills are set to battle the New Orleans Saints in The Big Easy.
After spending most of the season on top of the AFC East, the Bills have slipped to second place behind their longtime rival the New England Patriots.

Yesterday Assemblyman Stephen Hawley and State Senator Ed Rath unveiled a marker commemorating a portion of Route 77 through Pembroke as SP4 C. Jay Hall Memorial Highway.  Specialist Four Clarence Hall, a graduate of Pembroke High School, was mortally wounded in Vietnam on Oct. 7, 1969, while allowing his fellow soldiers to get to cover while under heavy fire.  As a result, he was posthumously awarded the Silver Star.  Also present at the dedication were Matthew Moscato, advisor to the Pembroke Veterans Outreach Club, and Pembroke school student Megan Stiles who both were instrumental in pushing for the highway to be named for Hall.

Governor Hochul announced a vaccine initiative aimed at getting hunters and anglers to take the COVID shot.  There will be a random drawing for the first 2000 outdoor enthusiasts between December 1st and the end of the year who get a COVID vaccination and enter into the sweepstakes.  Five Grand Prize winners will be randomly selected choice of deluxe fishing, hunting, and birding packages. Each Grand Prize package will include a lifetime license and the highest quality hunting and fishing gear. The deluxe birding package will include a spotting scope, binoculars, and more.  In addition, 25 entrants will be randomly selected to receive their choice of Second Tier fishing and hunting packages.  The first 2,000 people to enter the sweepstakes will all receive a tree seedling from DEC’s Colonel William F. Fox Memorial Tree Nursery in Saratoga, NY, and their choice of either a gift card to a major sporting goods retailer, or a free night of camping at a DEC campground. In addition, all sweepstakes entrants will receive a one-year subscription to DEC’s Conservationist Magazine.

Samsung was a hopeful investor for the STAMP site in Alabama but they have instead decided to go out of NY.  The 17 billion dollar semiconductor factory instead will go to Taylor, Texas.  A story from Bloomberg Wire stated the chip-making plant will instead be constructed in the Central Texas city, which is about 30 miles from Samsung’s giant manufacturing hub in Austin.  As late as September, Sen. Charles Schumer – during an appearance at STAMP to promote Plug Power’s decision to build a green hydrogen facility there – said that Samsung officials toured the 1,250-acre site owned by the Genesee County Economic Development Center and that he was communicating “on a regular basis” with the company’s president.  Taylor Texas is offering over 300 million dollars in tax credits plus a tax waiver and more to the South Korean company.

Erie county legislators are calling on State legislators to revoke County Executive Mark Poloncarz’s emergency powers.  Poloncarz has extended the state of emergency for Erie county every 30 days which extends his emergency powers as well.  Republican legislator Lorigo says the Erie County Legislature was not consulted about any of Poloncarz’s new phased approach to fighting COVID-19, which includes mask mandates, a potential vaccine mandate in a later phase, and capacity restrictions.  The only way to strip the powers is an act of the State legislature to change the statute which grants them.  

Democrat assemblyman Pat Burke who represents Buffalo has proposed a bill that would allow insurance companies to refuse coverage to people who don’t get the covid vaccine.  Specifically this bill would make it so companies would be able to deny coverage for COVID related treatments if the customer is unvaccinated.  In a tweet Burke said “Do your part or pay your own way.  Freedom isn’t free.”

The State Police, City police, and Sheriffs office will be participating in the STOP DWI program this week during Thanksgiving and the weekend to try to curb impaired driving.  Thanksgiving is one of the busiest travel times of the year, and unfortunately, more people on the roadways means the potential for more vehicle crashes.  In a combined effort to bring awareness to the dangers of impaired driving, prevent injuries and save lives law enforcement officers across New York State and STOP-DWI programs will be participating in special engagement efforts.  The increased enforcement starts today and goes through Sunday.

Genesee and Orleans county health officials have released a statement about whether they will issue and mandates to slow COVID spread.  The statement says “While we remain committed to the health and safety of our communities, Genesee and Orleans County will not be creating or implementing any new mask or vaccine mandates at this time.  We believe new mandates will only push residents into private settings where spread will still continue but local businesses will suffer.  For almost two years, businesses across the region have taken various measures to protect their workplaces and we trust them to do the same at this time.”

A new headquarters for the Batavia Police Department has been talked about for almost 20 years. Finally, last night, council approved spending over $370,000 to hire a private firm to manage the project.
The police station is now estimated to cost over $10.5-million and take over three years to build.
The site is Bank Street and Alva Place.
The existing police headquarters on West Main is 160 years old.

Council also approved a six-year labor contract with the CSEA. The contract covers 18 city employees. It provides a 2.5-percent pay raise in each year of the contract.

The Genesee County Jail is welcoming visitors again. Visitation resumes today for those inmates who are not in quarantine. Visitation had been halted to prevent the spread of COVID-19.

When it comes to battling the coronavirus, New Yorkers 18 and older are doing their part to try and end the pandemic. Governor Hochul’s office says that 90-percent of people in that age group have received at least one dose of COVID-19 vaccine. Meanwhile, just over 80-percent of people 18 and older have been fully vaccinated.

The final report from outside lawyers in ex-Governor Andrew Cuomo’s misconduct investigation has been released. Those attorneys found Cuomo engaged in several instances of sexual harassment, fostered a hostile work environment and also wasn’t transparent in reporting the number of nursing home residents who died due to COVID-19.
It was also discovered that Cuomo utilized state resources for the memoir he wrote on how he handled the COVID-19 crisis.

Want to give a brand-new Corvette to someone for Christmas?
If you can’t exactly afford the car, you could give a chance for one.
The Batavia Rotary Club is now selling its annual Corvette Raffle tickets.
They are $50 each, or three for $100. The drawing will be held on February 26th. Tickets are available at WBTA Studios or any Batavia Rotarian.

With covid cases on the rise again county Executive Mark Polancarz ahs reinstated the mandatory mask mandate for Erie County.  This means masks are now required in all indoor public settings across Erie county.  And this is just step 1.  Poloncarz says that if the numbers don’t decrease then the next step is mandating the COVID Vaccine for entry into all indoor dining, bars, and entertainment venues.  He says NYC already has this.  Next up would be instituting capacity restrictions and then shutting down businesses again.  Essentially lockdowns till the COVID numbers drop.  No threshold or exact numbers were given except the mask mandate is expected to go to the end of the year. As of now there are 249 COVId patients in hospitals across Erie county and the positivity rate is 9 percent.  

Visitation is back at the jail in Batavia. Genesee County Sheriff William Sheron, is reinstating visitation at the Genesee County Jail beginning noon today, for those incarcerated individuals who are NOT in quarantine.  The sheriff says in a press release, “We appreciate your understanding while this precautionary measure was in place in order to prevent the risk of exposure to the novel coronavirus to incarcerated individuals’ families and employees.”

The Batavia City Council voted on 1 resolution and put forward 2 others pertaining to the new Police station planned for the area of Alva Place and Bank Street.  The possible 10.8 million dollar construction project would relocate the police from the 10 west Main Brisbane Mansion which is over 160 years old and requires expensive restoration to a 1 story modern station.  The resolution that passed authorised 3250 to A Lancaster company, WM Schutt and Associates to conduct a land survey of the proposed area.  The 2 resolutions pushed to next month would engage a project manager and authorize a Bond for the cost of designing, engineering and architecture plans for the station.

A child predator caught and put away.  37 year old Michael Mullen of Oakfield, is charged with 10 counts of sex abuse in the first (contact with a person less than 11 years old), 10 counts of sexual conduct in the second with a child less than 11 years old, and 10 counts of endangering the welfare of a child. Mullen was arrested by State Police on Saturday. He was ordered held in jail.

The Sabres fell to the Blue Jackets Monday night 7 to 4.  This loss puts the Buffalo team at 7 and 9 and 2 in the season.  They will be back in Keybank Arena Wednesday to host the Bruins at 7pm.

The price of a barrel of crude oil has dropped below $80.
Experts say we could soon see some relief at the pump…but not quite yet.
In Batavia, the average price of a gallon of regular is now $3.47, up 2-cents from last week. A year ago, gasoline in Batavia was selling for $2.21 a gallon.

Governor Kathy Hochul is urging New Yorkers to get vaccinated as COVID hospitalizations begin to rise again in the state. The governor said this is “no time to let our guard down” with colder months and the holiday travel quickly approaching. Hochul said to get the shot if you haven’t already, and to get the booster to add another layer of defense.

Classes will be online in the Dansville Central School District for the rest of the month. The district announced last Thursday that all campuses will move to remote learning because of an increase in COVID cases among students and employees.

High School Football Far West Regionals this past weekend, one local team moves on to the state tournament and for another, a great season comes to an end.
On Friday night in Class D the Oakfield-Alabama-Elba “Aggies” beat the Randolph Cardinals 28 to 22.
The Aggies will advance to the state semi-finals at Cicero North near Syracuse this Friday.
The Aggies will meet a tough opponent in Section 4’s Tioga. Game time Friday is 3pm, live coverage on WBTA begins at 2:45.

On Saturday afternoon the Section 5 Class B champions Batavia Blue Devils were defeated by Western New York Maritime 22-14. Batavia’s season ended with an impressive 10 and 2 record.

The Bills are now in second place in the AFC East after a loss to the Indianapolis Colts. Buffalo fell 41-to-15 yesterday in a game dominated by Colts running back Jonathan Taylor.
The Bills play the Saints Thanksgiving night.

Mobile sports betting will soon be legal in New York State.  The New York State Gaming Commission has voted to license 8 betting providers and 9 operators.  Currently, mobile sports betting is legal in a dozen states, including nearby states like Pennsylvania, New Jersey, and Massachusetts.  Here in New York, the final tax rate for online betting will be set at 51%.  That means casinos and gamblers will be paying a higher percentage for added tax revenue.  Meanwhile, licenses for approved providers like FanDuel and Draft Kings will last for at least ten years.  Just within the last few years, sportsbooks became legal at casinos statewide.

Governor Hochul announced yesterday that New York was permanently adding into law the Nourish NewYork program.  The Nourish New York initiative reroutes New York’s surplus agricultural products to the populations who need them most through the state’s food banks. The program also provides support for the food producers and farmers who have lost markets as a result of the COVID-19 pandemic because the state’s food banks are buying agricultural products from New York farmers and food processors.   Through three rounds of the program, New York’s food banks have purchased over 35 million pounds of food products, which equates to 29,800,000 meals. In this fourth round, New York’s food banks have purchased 6,900,000 pounds of food, creating an additional 5,750,000 meals for households in need. A total of $85 million has been committed to Nourish NY since its launch in May 2020.

The City of Batavia Democrats are upset about the process of selecting a City Councilperson to replace Rose Mary Christian as she leaves the City council.  Although Christian was a democrat when she was elected to the council she switched to Republican.  The charter says the seat that she left must be filled by someone of the same party as the person leaving.  But the question is, is it the party she was when she started or when she left.  The Democrats say it was when she started.  The Republicans disagree.  The Democrats say the city attorney has not been returning their calls and they demand a legal interpretation of the charter.  They say in a press release that this is to ensure fairness rather than one party choosing what happens.

High School Football Far West Regionals this past weekend, one local team moves on to the state tournament and for another, a great season comes to an end.  On Friday night in Class D the Oakfield-Alabama-Elba “Aggies” beat the Randolph Cardinals 28 to 22.  The Aggies will advance to the state semi-finals at Cicero North near Syracuse this Friday.  The Aggies will meet a tough opponent in Section 4’s Tioga. Game time Friday is 3pm, live coverage on WBTA begins at 2:45.  On Saturday afternoon the Section 5 Class B champions Batavia Blue Devils were defeated by Western  New York Maritime 22-14. Batavia’s season ended with an impressive 10 and 2 record.

The Buffalo Bills dropped the ball in orchard park Sunday afternoon in a 41 to 15 loss to the Colts.  The Bills threw 3 interceptions, had a fumbled kick, and had penalties take away field goal opportunities.  Overall the Bills had less than 300 yards on offense.  They are scheduled to play Thanksgiving against the New Orleans Saints at Caesars Dome.  

The Sabres lost their game against the Rangers 5 to 4 in Manhattan Sunday.  Aaron Dell made 31 saves for Buffalo to start a back-to-back for the Sabres. They’re home at KeyBank Center tonight to host the Columbus Blue Jackets at 7:00 p.m.

The Batavia School Board approved spending to repair the Batavia Middle School.  57 thousand 5 hundred dollars is needed to repair systems such as the boiler that has been in place since 1964.  Business Administrator Scott Rozanski says that the tank for the boiler is leaking, and if the tank and pumps fail they would have to close the school.  The vote to repair the school equipment passed unanimously.  They voted to use money already in the Repair Reserve Fund and that the fund would be replenished at the end of the year if funds are available.

A small group of Batavia School District parents dropped off shoes wrapped in bags on the lawn of Batavia High School to protest COVID-19 vaccine mandates.  Organizers of what was called Operation Shoe Drop said they were protesting a State Assembly bill that would require school aged children to be vaccinated in order to attend classes. Each discarded pair of shoes was to represent a child who could not attend class for not being vaccinated.  Operation Shoe Drop was supposed to be a statewide silent protest of the mandate.

The Oakfield Alabama Elba Aggies are moving to the Class D State Semifinal in North Syracuse after the beating Randolph Cardinals 28 to 22 on Friday night in Jamestown.  Oakfield-Alabama/Elba will take on the Tioga Tigers in the state semifinal.  The match is set for Friday the day after Thanksgiving at 3pm.  The Tigers are coming off a win against Dolgeville who they beat 50 to 12.

Buffalo Mayor Byron Brown has now officially been named the winner in the election earlier this month.  During the final vote tally on Friday evening, Mayor Brown has 38,338 write-in votes, while Democratic nominee India Walton has 25,773 votes.  Walton conceded in a press release. 

The Sharrick Road Bridge which was closed for a bridge replacement project September 7th has been reopened.  The bridge is located between Colby rd and Harper Rd. 

Are you interested in math and science and want to go to a school that will prepare you for a course of study in one of these fields in college? The Western New York P-Tech Academy provides students with a Regents diploma, a college degree and a career path – all in one program. Trade the traditional classroom for a new way to prepare for your future.  You can earn your high school credits while earning up to 27 college credits before even graduating from high school and an AAS degree from GCC for free.  An Open House is set for Thursday, December 2 from 6-7:30 p.m. The WNY P-Tech Academy is located behind the tennis courts at Byron-Bergen High School.

A small group of Batavia School District parents dumped discarded schools on the lawn of Batavia High School to protest COVID-19 vaccine mandates.
Organizers of what was called Operation Shoe Drop said they were protesting a State Assembly bill that would require school aged children to be vaccinated in order to attend classes. Each discarded shoe was to represent a child who could not attend class for not being vaccinated.
Operation Show Drop was supposed to be a statewide silent protest of the mandate.

New York State has reached another milestone in the ongoing battle against the coronavirus. Governor Hochul announced yesterday that 80-percent of New Yorkers over the age of 18 are fully vaccinated against COVID-19. The governor says with the holidays and cold weather coming, anyone who hasn’t been immunized yet should get their shots so they can protect themselves, their families and their friends from the illness.

The Winter Weather Advisory that had been posted for this weekend has been cancelled. The weather service says temperatures have risen above freezing in most areas. The weather service said that snow showers will continue in some areas but impacts and accumulation will be minimal.

The New York State Department of Motor Vehicles (DMV) today reminds New Yorkers to register their snowmobiles. Snowmobile registrations must be renewed annually. DMV allows snowmobilers to renew registrations online on the DMV website, by mail or in person at a DMV office.

After a decision earlier this week in Louisiana to halt the Biden administrations vaccine mandate for companies with 100 employees or more the Occupational Safety and Health Administration has announced it is suspending any work towards enforcing the mandate.  President Biden said that his administration is doing everything it can to get the courts to allow the mandate to proceed.  The 3 judge court that ordered the halt said the mandate “Grossly exceeded OSHA’s statutory authority.”

There is a winter weather advisory for Western NY including Wyoming County tonight from 7pm to 1pm on Friday.  The advisory says lake effect snow of up to 7 inches is possible overnight and into the morning and early afternoon.  Low visibility at times and rapidly changing road conditions are expected.  Remember to drive carefully, take turns slower and give yourself extra time to stop.

Monday is the last day for healthcare workers who received a religious exemption from Governor Hochul’s COVID vaccine mandate.  The state department of health sent a letter to health care providers across the state that said beginning Monday those who were previously granted religious exemptions must have documentation of a first dose COVID-19 vaccination or a valid medical exemption.  In early October a federal judge ruled the state had to allow health care workers to seek exemptions as a lawsuit challenging the requirement proceeded in court.  In late October a federal appeals panel upheld the state’s vaccine mandate for health care workers and reversed the federal judge’s decision.

The Canadian Government is planning to lift the restriction requiring that fully vaccinated Canadians and permanent residents returning to Canada after trips into the US under 72 hours get a COVID test according to the CBC.  This change is expected to take place at the end of the month.  Congressman Higgins says that getting rid of the test for short visits is step one of three in changing how COVID is handled at the border.  Also Announced yesterday was that NY would start accepting vaccine passports from Canadian provinces and that Canada’s SMART Health Card would be integrated with NY States Excelsior Pass.  The Bills and Sabres have stated that they are ready to accept visitors from Canada with Canadian Vaccine Passports.

New York Farm Bureau’s 2021 Market Basket Survey shows the price of a traditional Thanksgiving dinner saw a modest uptick from last year’s meal. The average total price, which includes a 16-pound turkey and other common items found on a holiday dinner table, is $52.59, a 1.7% increase over last year. New York Farm Bureau’s volunteer shoppers sampled prices at 21 different supermarkets throughout the state between October 31 and November 8 trying to get the best prices available, but they did not use promotional coupons or special deals such as “buy one-get one free.”

Batavia businessman Eric Biscaro’s attempt to construct a 30-duplex unit senior housing complex off East Avenue and develop 18 single-family home building lots on that street came to a screeching halt at Le Roy Village Board meeting. Biscaro introduced the project in April to the Genesee County Planning Board following discussions with Village Mayor Greg Rogers about a development that could provide upscale housing for residents age 50 and over and generate much needed tax revenue for the municipality. At the Wednesday session, Rogers clearly was disappointed as he communicated the fate of the project. Three of the five board members said they were going to vote against it. As he was leaving, The Batavian asked Biscaro if he would consider a revised plan or another location in the village. He response was clear…“No, it’s done.”

After deliberating for less than two hours, a Genesee County jury Wednesday convicted Jacob Sponaugle of attempted murder. He was convicted of trying to kill Jason Whitehead of Batavia. He will be sentenced on Dec. 15.

The NY State Dept of Health issued new visitation guidance for nursing homes so that it more closely aligns with the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services’ recommendations. The guidance is intended to ensure that nursing homes are not unnecessarily restricting visitations, meaning there will be no limitations on the frequency and length of visits or the number of visitors. Anyone who has tested positive for COVID-19 will still be barred from coming into nursing home facilities until they’re finished with their quarantine period.

NY State of Health, the state’s official health plan marketplace, has announced its enrollment for 2022 Qualified Health Plans is now open. The coverage for these plans begins on Jan. 1st. The marketplace provides low-cost health insurance options, with a choice of Qualified Health Plans in every county. The marketplace also offers expanded tax credits through the American Rescue Plan Act.

The Dept of Motor Vehicles is reminding NYers to register their snowmobiles which must be renewed annually. The DMV allows snowmobilers to renew registrations online on the DMV website, by mail or in person at a DMV office. Members of the NY State Snowmobile Association also receive a $55 discount on snowmobile registrations.

The Town of Batavia is holding a public Hearing this evening into whether or not the town should opt out of allowing legal marijuana. The Town Board is on record as wanted to opt out. Tonight’s hearing is set for 7:10 at the Batavia Town Hall. If a community opts out before December 31st, they would be able to opt in at some point in the future.

Batavia’s City Republican Committee seeking persons interested in serving on City Council from Ward 6.
That post was held for almost 30 years by Rose Mary Christian. She recently resigned the seat when she moved out of the ward.
To be qualified for the post you must be a resident of the 6th Ward and be a member of the Republican party.
The GOP Committee says interested persons should submit a letter of interest at P.O. Box 260, Batavia.

The 20th Wonderland of Trees begins this Friday with an opening Gala at the Holland Land Office Museum.
The gala will feature basket raffles, music by the Genesee Symphony and hors d’oeuvres by D & R Depot. Tickets for this event are on sale at the museum. Tickets are $15 per person/ $10 for museum members and $5 for children under 12.
The Wonderland of Trees continues at the museum through December 17th.

Governor Kathy Hochul says health and safety protocols to prevent the spread of COVID-19 may return if infection numbers keep rising statewide. The governor did not reveal exactly what guidelines would be put in place or when they could go into effect. She’s still urging people who haven’t been vaccinated against the virus to get their shot and says those who have been immunized need to get a booster shot.

The Buffalo Sabres have picked up their second road win of the season thanks in large part to a great performance from their goaltender. Dustin Tokarski had a career high 45 saves as the Sabres defeated the Pittsburgh Penguins two-to-one. Up next for Buffalo is a home game tomorrow night against the Calgary Flames.

Batavia’s City Republican Committee is seeking candidates for the Ward Six council seat vacated by Rose Mary Christian.
Christian resigned the seat when she moved out of the ward. She had been on council for nearly 30 years.
To be qualified for the post you must be a resident of the 6th Ward and be a member of the Republican party.
The GOP Committee says interested persons should submit a letter of interest to the committee at P.O. Box 260, Batavia.
The candidate named to the seat will serve through 2022. There will be a special election in November of 2022 to fill the remaining year of the regular four year term.

There has been a water main break on Thomas Avenue just north of Main Street. Water Department crews are on scene making repairs.
Water should be back to normal by 3 this afternoon.

The 20th Wonderland of Trees begins this Friday with an opening Gala at the Holland Land Office Museum.
The gala will feature basket raffles, music by the Genesee Symphony and hors d’oeuvres by D & R Depot. Tickets for this event are on sale at the museum. Tickets are $15 per person/ $10 for museum members and $5 for children under 12.
The Wonderland of Trees continues at the museum through December 17th. It is sponsored by Tompkins Bank of Castile and WBTA Radio.

Governor Hochul says health and safety protocols to prevent the spread of COVID-19 may return if infection numbers keep rising statewide. The governor did not reveal exactly what guidelines would be put in place or when they could go into effect. She’s still urging people who haven’t been vaccinated against the virus to get their shot and says those who have been immunized need to get a booster shot.

The Buffalo Sabres have picked up their second road win of the season thanks in large part to a great performance from their goaltender. Dustin Tokarski had a career high 45 saves as the Sabres defeated the Pittsburgh Penguins two-to-one. Up next for Buffalo is a home game tomorrow night against the Calgary Flames.

One of two men on trial over a gun-sale deal gone bad outside the Days Inn in Batavia last year, has agreed to plead guilty on multiple charges stemming from this case and several others in exchange for a sentence cap of 10 years in prison. As part of the deal, Devon Wright will admit to attempted criminal possession of a weapon 2nd. He is also pleading guilty to assault in the third degree, a misdemeanor, attempted assault 1st, a Class C Violent Felony, and criminal sexual act, also a felony. In exchange, all other pending charges against Wright will be dropped. Wright was released under the supervision of Genesee Justice while Wright awaits sentencing.

New York City Public Advocate Jumaane Williams formally announced his run for governor of New York on Tuesday. The 45-year-old launched his gubernatorial bid with the release of a campaign video titled “Always Moving.” Williams is the most progressive candidate in next year’s increasingly crowded Democratic primary race that already features current Gov. Kathy Hochul and Attorney General Letitia James. New York City Mayor Bill de Blasio has also said he’s considering jumping into the race.

The number of active COVID-19 cases in Genesee County now stands at 326 and is nearing the heights total during the pandemic in December 2020…that’s all according to Health Department reports. Over the past few days, there have been 166 new positive COVID-19 cases reported to the county health department. There have been six recent deaths attributed to COVID-19 raising the countywide total over the course of the pandemic to 292. Of the current positive cases, 22 are hospitalized.

New York City Mayor Bill de Blasio says New York City’s celebration in Times Square for New Year’s Eve will be coming back this year with COVID-19 vaccination requirements. All spectators five years and older will be asked to show proof of full vaccination. People who can’t be vaccinated because of a disability will have to provide proof of a negative COVID-19 test.

Just days after President Biden signed the bipartisan Infrastructure Investment and Jobs Act into law, U.S. Senator Kirsten Gillibrand of NY will hold a press conference this afternoon announcing at least $27 billion in direct funding to help revitalize New York State’s aging infrastructure. Several of Gillibrand’s provisions were included in the package, including measures to encourage the use of local workers in infrastructure projects, increase limo safety standards, and invest in marginalized workers and communities upended by the disruptive construction of highways. Gillibrand also fought for additional funding for infrastructure projects that will help repair bridges, airports, and roads, connect local workers to good-paying jobs, and improve New York’s water and sewage systems.

State ethics officials have moved to rescind the approval of former Gov. Andrew Cuomo‘s book about the pandemic. The Joint Commission on Public Ethics voted 12-1 Tuesday in favor of revoking its prior approval. Cuomo now has to reapply for approval of the $5.1 million book deal. A spokesman for Cuomo called the move part of a “political game,” and said the group acted outside the scope of its authority.

Devon Wright

Jacon Sponaugle

Devon Wright, one of the two men charged in the July 2020 shooting at Batavia’s Days Inn, has entered a plea deal at the outset of this trial.
Wright pled guilty to attempted criminal possession of a weapon in return for a sentence cap of 10 years. Wright’s deal also included other charges in unrelated cases.
The trial in Genesee County Court continues for Jacob Sponaugle who is charged in the shooting of Jason Whitehead.
Police said that Sponaugle and Whitehead arranged for the sale to Wright of a 22-caliber pistol. The transaction was meant to take place at the Days Inn. When Wright wouldn’t pay the asking price, Sponaugle blamed Whitehead for the deal going south and shot him.
The trial of Sponaugle will continue in county court.

The number of active COVID-19 cases in Genesee County has risen to 326.
The number is coming extremely close to the 343 cases reported at the height of the pandemic in December of 2020.
There have been six recent deaths attributed to COVID-19 bringing the county’s death toll during the entire pandemic at 292.

Jason Smith

Batavia’s new superintendent of schools is a former BHS graduate.
Jason Smith has been named the new superintendent. He will take over the post on January 3rd.
Smith is currently the superintendent of Lyndonville Central Schools.
His new job in Batavia will pay $165,000 a year.

The Transportation Security Administration says with more people traveling these days, they need additional officers at Buffalo-Niagara International Airport.
Previous experience working in security or law enforcement is not required. Anyone who joins the TSA will receive a $500 sign-on bonus and an additional $500 after one year of service.

The Batavia City Schools new superintendent has been announced.  Jason Smith, currently the superintendent of Lyndonville Central School district, is a Batavia High school class of 1990 graduate.  He held various principal positions in the Elba Central School district from 2004-2011. He began his career in 1994 in the Albion Central School District as a high school social studies teacher.  Smith received his Certificate of Advanced Study in Educational Administration and his Masters of Science in Education from the State University of New York College at Brockport. He is also a graduate of The State University of New York at Geneseo, where he received his Bachelor of Arts in History with a Minor in Sociology.  Smith is scheduled to start his new role on Jan. 3, 2022.

The City of Batavia will hold a gathering for the Honorable Rose Mary Christian on Monday November 22 in the Council Chamber beginning at 5:30 P.M.  All citizens and well-wishers are invited to attend.  The gathering will be followed by a City Council meeting where proclamations will be presented to Councilwoman Christian honoring her for her years of service. Councilwoman Christian announced her resignation from City Council on November 15, 2021.  She is resigning the seat because she is moving out of the sixth ward.

New York State Police are warning residents to keep an eye out for people stealing packages out of mailboxes and off porches. So far, incidents have been reported in three towns. Some helpful tips: be home when your package is delivered, if you don’t plan to be home schedule the package to be dropped off at a trusted neighbor’s home or at a FedEx, UPS or Amazon locker service. On Monday, two people were arrested and charged with the misdemeanors of Petit Larceny, Criminal Possession of Stolen Property in the fifth degree and Conspiracy in the sixth degree. 

New Yorkers will soon have new ways of carrying food out of restaurants.  Effective January 1 no covered food service provider or store will be allowed to sell, offer for sale, or distribute disposable food service containers that contain expanded polystyrene foam in the state. The Act will stop the sale and distribution of expanded polystyrene foam containers and loose fill “packing peanuts.” 

Is there a little relief coming for high gas prices? Today’s national average price for a gallon of gasoline is $3.42, no change from last week when the numbers are rounded. The New York State average is $3.56 –no change from last week. In Batavia, pump prices are $3.45 which is one cent lower than last week.

The Genesee County Health department is looking for 2 dogs involved in a dog bite incident on Tuesday November 9th around 5:30pm.  A group of people were playing outside in the area of 16 Maple Street in Batavia when two dogs came running towards the group from the direction of Evans and Thorpe Street. One of the dogs charged the group and bit one individual.   The dog that bit was a shorthaired, pitbull shepherd mix and approximately 50 to 60 pounds. It is described as being tan with a white chest.  The other dog was described as a light tan, shorter-sized dog who was approximately 40 to 50 pounds.  It is important to determine if either dog has rabies.  If you have information about the location of the dogs and its owner, please contact the Genesee County Health Department at 585-344-2580 ext. 5555.

New York Gov. Kathy Hochul announced that the state is opening a mass COVID-19 vaccination site for 5 to 11-year-olds at UB South. UB South Campus is one of ten locations across the state offering COVID-19 vaccinations to kids between 5 and 11.

State Police have arrested an Allegany County man in connection with a one car fatal crash in Pavilion.
20-year-old Brennan Dean of Bolivar has been charged with manslaughter, vehicular manslaughter, DWI-Drugs and leaving the scene of a fatal accident.
Troopers say Dean was traveling at a high rate of speed Friday afternoon when he crashed into a utility pole on Starr Road near Crossman Road in Pavilion. Dean, who suffered non-life-threatening injuries, then fled the scene leaving his passenger unattended.
His passenger, who has yet to be identified, was pronounced dead at the scene.
After being treated for his injuries, Dean was ordered held in the Genesee County Jail on $100,000 bail.

The Buffalo Bills have rebounded from their disappointing loss to the Jacksonville Jaguars with a blowout victory on the road.
Buffalo crushed the New York Jets 45 to 17.
The Bills improved their record this season to six-and-three which keeps them atop the AFC East. Up next for Buffalo is a home game against the Indianapolis Colts this Sunday.

Two local high school football teams will enter the Far West Regional championship this weekend.
On Friday night it is the Class D Far West Regional. Oakfield-Alabama/Elba meets 10 and 0 Randolph. Kickoff is 5pm from Jamestown High School.
On Saturday, The Class B Far West Regional, the blue Devils of Batavia take on Western New York Maritime Health Sciences at 3:15. That game at Williamsville South High School.

Senate Majority Leader Chuck Schumer is calling on the Biden Administration to tap the country’s Strategic Petroleum Reserve in order to lower prices ahead of the busy holiday travel season.
Meanwhile, gasoline prices in Batavia over the past week have remained steady at an average of $3.45 a gallon.

20-year-old Brennan Dean of Bolivar has been charged following the deadly crash in Pavilion Friday.  He is charged with Manslaughter, Vehicular Manslaughter, possessing a stolen vehicle, leaving the scene of a fatal crash and more. Troopers said Dean was southbound at a high rate of speed on Starr Road when he lost control and struck a utility pole. A passenger was ejected and died at the scene. Dean fled the scene but was nabbed by police. The vehicle involved in this incident was reported stolen from North Tonawanda. The passenger has not been identified at this time. The investigation is ongoing

New York State Comptroller Thomas DiNapoli has released an audit that found the Division of Homeland Security and Emergency Services cannot assure the cybersecurity support they are providing to state agencies, local governments, and public authorities.  In New York, cyberattacks have impacted public and private entities large and small, including reported attacks at state agencies and 911 systems.  OatKa in Batavia was a victim of a cyber attack just a month ago.

According to the Associated Press…President Joe Biden’s $1.85 trillion social spending bill includes a provision that, if it becomes law, would mark the first time the federal government has offered money to local news organizations. The help would come in the form of a payroll tax credit for companies that employ local journalists. The measure would allow newspapers, digital news outlets and radio and television stations to claim a tax credit of $25,000 the first year and $15,000 the next four years for up to 1,500 journalists. 

After a year’s delay of celebrating the 25-year existence of Genesee Cancer Assistance the nonprofit will finally have its day.  The Non-Profit provides assistance by helping with expenses related to prescriptions, medical co-pays, transportation to and from medical facilities, home health care and related equipment and child care. The organization also provides biblical counseling, support groups, informative materials and the Simply Beautiful program, created to help cancer patients with personalized advice for how to deal with the side effects of treatment on their hair and skin. The organization’s dinner celebration is at 5 p.m. Saturday the 20th at Batavia Downs.

The Buffalo Bills trashed the New York Jets in Sunday’s 45-17 win. The Bills now hold the season at 6-2.  Their next game is against the Indianapolis Colts at Highmark Stadium Sunday at 1pm.

The Sabres lost their first game against the Maple Leafs in the last minute of regulation.  In the last 15 seconds of the game Toronto scored, taking the game to 5 to 4 in the Leafs favor.  Forward Jeff Skinner scored two goals for the Sabres, including a tally in the third that sparked a rally towards a late tie for Buffalo. Tage Thompson and Rasmus Dahlin also found the back of the net for Buffalo.  The Sabres are back on the road to start the upcoming week. Buffalo will visit the Pittsburgh Penguins on Tuesday.

A man from Allegany County remains jailed after a deadly vehicle crash in Pavilion. 20-year-old Brennan Dean of Bolivar has been charged with Manslaughter, Vehicular Manslaughter, possessing a stolen vehicle, leaving the scene of a fatal crash and more. Troopers said Dean was southbound at a high rate of speed on Starr Road when he lost control and struck a utility pole. A passenger was ejected and died at the scene. Dean took off but was captured a short time later. Dean was arraigned at the town of Pavilion court and remanded to the Genesee County Jail in lieu of $100,000 cash or $200,000 bond. The vehicle involved in this incident was reported stolen from North Tonawanda. The passenger has not been identified at this time. This is still an ongoing criminal investigation.

New York State Comptroller Thomas DiNapoli has released an audit that found the Division of Homeland Security and Emergency Services (DHSES) cannot assure the critical cybersecurity support they are providing to state agencies, local governments, and public authorities. The recent passage of the federal Infrastructure Investment and Jobs Act underscores how critical strengthening cybersecurity is across New York. The legislation will provide much needed funding for local governments to modernize and protect their networks against future cyberattacks. In New York, cyberattacks have impacted public entities large and small, including reported attacks at state agencies and 911 systems.

Genesee County Deputies report the arrest of 33-year-old Jeffrey Johnson of Lake Street in LeRoy. She was pulled over and charged with driving while impaired and driving to the left of pavement markings. He was released on appearance tickets and will appear in Stafford Town Court December 7th.

According to the Associated Press…President Joe Biden’s $1.85 trillion social spending bill includes a provision that, if it becomes law, would mark the first time the federal government has offered targeted support in response to the decline of local news. The help would come in the form of a payroll tax credit for companies that employ eligible local journalists. The measure would allow newspapers, digital news outlets and radio and television stations to claim a tax credit of $25,000 the first year and $15,000 the next four years for up to 1,500 journalists. It’s a response to growing alarm that the elimination of newsroom jobs is leaving communities without access to critical information.

The Buffalo Bills trashed the New York Jets in Sunday’s 45-17 win. The Bills now hold the season at 6-2.
After a year’s delay of celebrating the 25-year existence of Genesee Cancer Assistance — which means founders, board members, patients and volunteers — the nonprofit will finally have its day. The organization’s dinner celebration is at 5 p.m. Saturday at Batavia Downs Gaming on Park Road, Batavia.

Governor Kathy Hochul has announced that the New York State Environmental Facilities Corporation Board of Directors has approved more than $83 million for drinking water and wastewater projects across New York State. The Village of Bergen has received $256,000 and $393,875 short-term, interest-free financing, and $393,875 short-term market-rate financing for the planning, design, and construction of a collection system and wastewater treatment plant improvements.

A decision in Louisiana that affects companies in Batavia. A fifth circuit of appeals court has blocked the federal mandate for all companies with over 100 employees to have to either make sure all employees are COVID vaccinated or tested weekly at their own expense.  The 3 judge panel in New Orleans ruled that President Biden’s Mandate “Grossly exceeds OSHA’s Statutory authority.”  The judges also decided that the order imposed financial burdens on businesses that could violate the constitution.  The White House responded to the decisions by saying that businesses should start enforcing the mandate anyway.  24 states and dozens of companies are suing the Biden Administration over the mandate.

A single vehicle accident in Pavilion leaves one person dead and another injured.  Investigators say the car was being driven south on Star Road and struck a utility pole.  One occupant was pronounced dead at the scene and the other was taken to Rochester Memorial Hospital with non-life threatening injuries.  The name of the person who died in the crash has not been released.  State police say they are investigating the crash.

The new superintendent of Batavia City Schools will be announced Monday night after a special meeting of the Board of Education.  A brief meeting agenda lists the board vote about a contract agreement between the new superintendent and the city school district. Board President Alice Benedict says that two interviews whittled down four potential candidates to two.  The new Superintendent’s contract is set to start January 3rd.

Do you have a 401K?  You can if you work at a job with ten workers or more that has been in operation for more than 2 years.  The state 401K , the Secure Choice Savings Program is now available to New Yorkers who otherwise wouldn’t have a way to save for retirement through their workplace due to a law signed last month.  Employers do not have to contribute to the plan.  Employees can contribute up to 3 percent of their wages to the plan.

The baby rhino that was welcomed to the Buffalo Zoo in October made its public debut Thursday.  This zoo’s fifth rhino calf in 17 years is a female that was born October 16 to Tashi the greater one-horned rhino. The calf’s father, George, is a former resident of the Buffalo Zoo who now lives at another facility.  The calf doesn’t have a name yet, but you can help naming her! The zoo announced Friday its keepers have picked two names that pay homage to her father, Georgia and Georgie, and they need the public to help break the tie. You can vote by following the link at wbtai.com, voting will end November 16.

https://www.surveymonkey.com/r/ZLGL3FY

A big weekend for high school football.
Two local teams compete for Section 5 championships.
Tonight: The Oakfield-Alabama/Elba Aggies square off against Avon. The Aggies are ranked Number One in Class D. The game will be played ton9ight at VanDetta Stadium with Kick-off at 7.
Bob Brown and Pete Zehler call the game for WBTA. Coverage begins on-air and on-line at 6:45
Then tomorrow night, the Class B Sectional Final: Number 2 Batavia Blue Devils meet their nemesis, Number One ranked Honeoye Falls.
Kick-off is 6pm tomorrow night from Sutherland High School. Bob Brown and Paul Spiotta call the action on WBTA FM and AM, and on-line at WBTAi.com beginning at 5:45pm.

The Buffalo Bills will be back on the road this weekend as they look to rebound from a tough loss.
The Bills are going to take on their longtime AFC East rival the New York Jets in East Rutherford, New Jersey. Last weekend, the Bills’ offense struggled in a nine-to-six loss to the Jacksonville Jaguars which dropped their record this season to five-and-three which is still good enough for first place in the division.
Kickoff for Sunday’s contest is set for 1pm

Come Monday night, the Batavia City School District will reveal the name of the next Superintendent of Schools. The Board of Ed is meeting in special session Monday night to appoint the new superintendent.

Veterans across Western New York who are in need of dental care have somewhere they can go this weekend to receive it. Students with the University at Buffalo School of Dental Medicine will offer services such as cleanings, extractions, restorations and denture repairs.
The clinic will take place in Squire Hall on the UB North Campus in Amherst. The hours are eight a-m until three p-m tomorrow.
All services will be free.

Rochester has hit a new high and it isn’t one to be proud of.  With a shooting on chestnut Street on Thursday in which 2 young men were killed and another where a man was beaten to death after being shot outside Transit Center, Rochester stands with over 70 homicides this year.  This beats the previous high in 1993 and is the highest number since it started being recorded.  The average number of homicides for the last decade was 34 in a calendar year.  Capt. Frank Umbrino, who commands RPD’s major crimes unit, says “Rochester is worse than a warzone lately.”  He also said that the only way that it will stop is for “the community to get fed up” with the violence.

A new candidate has entered the ring for the US House of Representatives in Western New York.  Sgt Steven Sams the 2nd, a 90 percent disabled combat veteran is running for the 26th district seat.  He says division and government overreach is motivating him to run for office.  Sams says he wants to do things that will improve the lives of the people of western NY and make an actual difference in the lives of people, not just improve canalside and the waterfront in Buffalo.  Sams has also spoken out on the failure of party politics and the effect it has on the everyday life of average people.

A Batavia woman has been arrested on drug trafficking charges.  36 year old Emily Smith of Wilkinson Road in Batavia, was arrested by members of the Local Drug Task Force following an investigation into the transportation, sale, and possession of cocaine in and around the City of Batavia. Smith is charged with criminal possession of a controlled substance 3rd, criminal sale of a controlled substance 3rd, criminal nuisance 1st, and endangering the welfare of a child.     Smith was arraigned in City Court and released on her own recognizance.

The Western NY Gas and Steam Engine Grounds is putting on its second annual Christmas Light Display starting Thanksgiving night and running through December 18th.  The drive through display will run Fridays and Saturdays only, from 5 to 9 o clock.  Entry is 10 dollars a car, 20 for big vans and busses cash only at the gate, no presale tickets.  There will be food and drinks available.  

In 1938, Congress made the 11th of November each year a legal holiday—a day to be dedicated to the cause of world peace and to be celebrated and known as “Armistice Day.”
Armistice Day was primarily a day set aside to honor veterans of World War I.
In 1954 Congress amended the Act of 1938 by striking out the word “Armistice” and inserting in its place the word “Veterans.”
November 11th became a day to honor American veterans of all wars.

The lesson of Veteran’s Day was recognized by students and staff of Batavia High School. A ceremony was held yesterday and attended by 95-year-old Navy World War Two veteran, Roger Martin…

PHOTO: Roger Martin,  Courtesy Howard Owens, The Batavian

This was the fifth year in a row the school held its Veterans Day observance led by High School Principal Paul Kessler.

There were several Veteran ‘s Day observances held locally this morning. Among them were traditional ceremonies at VC-A and the State Veteran’s Home, the Upton Monument and the Jerome Center Monument.

Tops Markets in Batavia and all of their Western New York stores, are offering an 11-percent discount off a total order. The discount is available to all vets and their immediate family in the same household.

Some National Fuel customers may see an additional charge on an upcoming bill. According to a National Fuel spokesperson, the company stopped doing in-house meter readings due to the COVID-19 pandemic, which led them to regularly give estimates on monthly bills. The company resumed in-house meter readings in July 2021. Now, some customers may be seeing a “rate or billing adjustment” on their monthly statement, possibly resulting in a higher bill than usual. The adjustment is a result of the accurate meter reading. National Fuel says this is not a widespread situation and only impacts customers with indoor meters.

The raising of the flag, the stirring notes of the Star Spangled Banner, and words honoring our veterans of military service to the USA started off the Batavia City Schools ceremony Wednesday morning just after 8 o clock.  After the outside portion of the ceremony the event moved inside with a concert and recognition of local heroes who were attending.  95 year old World War 2 veteran Roger Martin says he got up early to be there.  Martin says he wishes for more people to attend.  This was the fifth year of the high school’s effort to recognize local veterans.

There are many celebrations of our veterans going on today.  Here is a list of several of them.  Genesee County ceremonies are set to begin at 9 a.m. Today at Genesee County Park in East Bethany, followed by Batavia VA Medical Center at 10 a.m. and the New York State Veterans Nursing Home at 10:15 a.m., both on Richmond Avenue, Batavia, the Upton Monument at 11 a.m. at routes 5 and 33, Batavia, and ending at 11:30 a.m. at the Jerome Center monument at the corner of Bank Street and Washington Avenue in Batavia. Participating organizations include Veterans of Foreign Wars of Genesee County, Genesee County American Legions, Marine Corps League – Hansen Brothers Detachment, and Vietnam Veterans of America, Chapter 193.

Some National Fuel customers may see an additional charge on an upcoming bill.  According to a National Fuel spokesperson, the company stopped doing in-house meter readings due to the COVID-19 pandemic, which led them to regularly give estimates on monthly bills. The company resumed in-house meter readings in July 2021.  Now, some customers may be seeing a “rate or billing adjustment” on their monthly statement, possibly resulting in a higher bill than usual. The adjustment is a result of the accurate meter reading. National Fuel says this is not a widespread situation and only impacts customers with indoor meters.

The New York State Office of Cannabis Management has created an online portal for municipalities to opt out of retail or on-site consumption licenses.  The portal, will allow municipalities if they so choose to opt-out of adult-use cannabis retail dispensaries or on-site consumption businesses from operating in their jurisdiction.  The deadline is December 31.

Michael Tomaszewski

For the fourth time, the sentencing of former Batavia Funeral Director Michael Tomaszewski has been delayed.
Tomaszewski has already plead guilty in the case involving the theft of nearly a half-million dollars in prepaid funeral arrangements.
Tomaszewski had a private lawyer but now says he wants the public defender to represent him at sentencing. The family of Al Kurek, one of Tomaszewski’s victimized families, said the postponement of sentencing was a “delay tactic by someone who doesn’t want to go to jail.”
Sentencing for Tomaszewski has now been set for December 7th. The delay today was ordered by Genesee County Court Judge Charles Zambito who told Tomaszewski at his last sentencing that it was the last delay he would allow.

Michael Ficarella

A promotion at Batavia City Hall.
Batavia native Michael Ficarella has been named the new Superintendent of Water and Waste Water.
Ficarella has worked in the department for nine years. He will earn $75,978 a year.

The investigation continues into what caused a fatal house fire in Livingston County. Crews were called to the scene on Pond Road in Lima yesterday. They arrived to find heavy smoke and flames coming from the residence.
A neighbor used a tractor to tear through a wall of the home and pull 67-year-old Cynthia Chambery out of the fire.
She was rushed to a nearby hospital but was later pronounced dead.

The long-awaited transcript from former New York Governor Andrew Cuomo’s sexual harassment interview is now public. Attorney General Letitia James released the 515 page document which also includes exhibits from Cuomo’s July interview. Included in the transcript is the deposition of Brittany Commisso whose allegations are thought to be those which led to the current misdemeanor complaint against the Democrat filed by the Albany County Sheriff’s office. This interview preceded the bombshell August 3rd Attorney General’s report concluding Cuomo had sexually harassed multiple women. That led to his eventual resignation.

News Release

Although not a well known branch of municipal government, the Bureau of Inspections impacts each of us on a daily basis. The Bureau of Inspections strives to keep the City free of trash and debris by enforcing local ordinances, inspecting current structures for safety and ensuring new building construction meets State and City regulations. As a result of this, the Bureau of Inspections is tasked with many different responsibilities including, permit review, site plan review, inspections of permitted work, enforcement, and staffing the City’s three land use boards. With a staff of 3 full time employees and one part time employee, the Bureau of Inspections covers the entire City; all 5.2 square miles of it!

Over the course of the next few weeks, we are going to take a deeper dive into the inner workings of the Bureau of Inspections, including permitting, land use boards, and enforcement. Each of these is a portion of the daily tasks that are part of the responsibilities of the Bureau of Inspections, but arguably have the most impact on City residents.

“It is extremely important for residents to understand the role inspections plays here in the City of Batavia, “ said Jill Wiedrick, Assistant City Manager. “Residents in Batavia seek a high quality of life in an aesthetically pleasing environment and are affected by what they see when they open their door every day. The Bureau of Inspections mission is to ensure a City where all residents have a clean, safe environment to live, work and play.”

Michael Tomaszewski

Michael Tomaszewski has had his sentencing delayed, again.
County Court Judge Charles Zambito delayed sentencing for the former funeral director for a fourth time after saying the last delay would be the last.
Now, Tomaszewski is asking for the services of the public defender after firing his previous private attorney. Tomaszewski admitted to defrauding local families out of nearly a $500,000 dollars in pre-paid funerals. Outside the courthouse today two victims of the fraud spoke to reporters.

Kathy Tyson, said her family is out $7,000 and Al Kurek is out $2.800

The new sentencing date is December 7th.

The investigation continues into what caused a house fire in Livingston County that left a woman dead. Crews were called to the scene on Pond Road in Lima yesterday and arrived to find heavy smoke and flames coming from the residence. Officials say a neighbor used a tractor to tear through a wall of the home and pull 67-year-old Cynthia Chambery out. She was rushed to a nearby hospital but was later pronounced dead.

New York State is offering an incentive for parents to get their young children vaccinated against COVID-19. Governor Hochul said yesterday that over the next few weeks, 50 full SUNY and CUNY scholarships will be raffled off to kids between the ages of five and 11-years-old who get immunized. The scholarships will cover tuition, fees, expenses, and room and board at two-year and four-year schools.

The Buffalo Sabres have made an addition to their team, but you’re not going to see him compete in a game. The Sabres have announced they’ve adopted an eight-month-old Newfoundland puppy who was rescued by the Niagara County SPCA. The dog is named Rick after longtime play-by-play announcer Rick Jeanneret who has spent decades with the team and is going to retire at the end of the season.

Governor Hochul announced yesterday that the new Vaccine incentive program, Vaccinate, Educate, Graduate will be running from now until December 19th and will give kids 5-11 the chance to win free 4 year tuition, fees, expenses and room and board at SUNY or CUNY schools if they get the COVID vaccine.  50 kids can win if they get at least the first dose of the Pfizer vaccine before December 19th and then their parents register online by following the link on WBTAi.com.  Governor Hochul said “If one of your children wins this, you should probably take them to Disney World.”  Only 27 percent of parents said they were interested in getting their kids the vaccine in a recent poll.

https://forms.ny.gov/s3/Vaccinate-Educate-Graduate-Vaccine-Incentive

Assemblyman Steve Hawley is speaking out against the closing of six prisons across New York State.  The announcement went out yesterday that 6 facilities, which includes Rochester Correctional and Willard Drug Treatment Campus, will be shuttered by close of day March 10th.  Hawley says that it is disrespectful to employees and local governments and communities as it disrupts their lives and communities with little warning.  None of the facilities were operating at full or near full capacity so the inmates will be able to be absorbed into other facilities according to department of Corrections spokesman Thomas Mailey.  Ogdensburg correctional Facility, slated to be shut down, had just undergone a 10 million dollar renovation.

The pair that broke into a foster home and kidnapped two children in January have been charged with conspiracy to kill a judge.  Jonathan Cash and Dimitri Cash are accused of a conspiracy to kill Monroe County family court judge Stacey Romeo.  Dmitri had been in a 3 year custody battle over the 2 children who were kidnapped in January and spirited away to Alabama where they were discovered and returned home safely.  Earlier this month, the two were accused of trying to plot a jail escape.  Both defendants are being held without bail with the opportunity to make future bail applications.

The Buffalo Sabres are introducing their new team dog, Rick.  Rick is an approximately 8-month-old Newfoundland that was rescued by the Niagara County SPCA. He is named after Sabres Hall-of-Fame play-by-play announcer Rick Jeanneret, the name was decided by the fans in an online vote.  He is currently being trained to be a service dog for a local veteran and the Buffalo Sabres Foundation is sponsoring his training.

What’s wrong with working for the Batavia Police Department.
Just recently, three officers have left BPD. Some left for more money and benefits.
The city is looking to fill those positions and hire four new firefighters.
Council members John Canale and Rose Mary Christian suggested that the city look into a better pay and benefits package and look at what other police departments are paying in similar size cities.
Council President Gene Jankowski questioned if the city can get back some of the cost of training officers who leave shortly after being hired. Chief Shawn Heubusch said New York State’s Civil Service bureaucracy is partially to blame.

There is now a vacancy on City Council Ward Six. Rose Mary Christian is leaving council after 30 years in the seat. Council President Gene Jankowski said, she will be missed

PHOTO: Rose Mary Christian

There could also be a flap brewing on just what party Christian’s replacement on council should be from.
When first elected, Christian was a democrat when elected to her recent term but changed her affiliation to republican.
The city charter provides that if a vacancy occurs, a temporary appointment is made of the same political party as the person leaving.

Governor Hochul is taking aim at putting an end to those annoying robocalls. She has signed a new law that’s intended to build on federal action to better protect New Yorkers who are tired of the predatory calls. Under the legislation, telecommunication companies now have to block robocalls from certain numbers which are most likely illegitimate and prevent their spread across additional providers.

Thousands of employees at Mercy Hospital in Buffalo will be returning to work after voting to accept a new labor contract. The agreement will be in place for the next four years and put an end to a strike that began several weeks ago. Officials say 94-percent of union workers voted yes on the deal.

One of a slew of bills signed by Governor Hochul yesterday was aimed at combatting the plague of robocalls in New York State.  One part of the legislation implements a program that tracks whether a call is coming from the number it says it is by using the Stir/Shaken framework.  Another allows telecom companies to block calls that they deem to be from spammers or illegitimate numbers.  Hochul says that these bills will let the authorities take action against bad actors and stop annoying calls targeting New Yorkers.

Former Greece Police Chief Forsythe has been charged with misdemeanor drunk driving and leaving the scene of an accident with property damage and 3 officers have been suspended.  Forsythe resigned following an investigation into an accident where he totaled his police vehicle late at night after a State Police event.  He said he swerved to avoid a deer and then drove 6 miles with a busted wheel and major damage to the vehicle.  The DA says Forsythe drank 6 drinks at the event just before driving and that there is an investigation into how officers handled the crash.

Catholic Health and the striking nurses and other workers have reached an agreement which will end the strike.  The Communication Workers of America overwhelmingly voted to ratify six new contracts to cover the over 2500 workers at Mercy Hospital, Kenmore Mercy Hospital and Sisters of Charity.  All agreements are retroactive back to July 1st and workers return to their jobs on Wednesday.

Six Flags Darien Lake will start their Magic of Lights drive through light display November 18th.  It will run through January 2nd and be from 5 to 9pm.  All guests are required to purchase tickets in advance and admission is free to all current members and season pass holders. Six Flags said season passes for the 2022 season are now available and includes admission to this event.

The Sabres continue their losing streak as they fell to the Capitals last night.  It was their fifth straight loss.  Washington made 5 goals to Buffalo’s 3.  The Sabres are now at 5 and 5 and 2.  They will be hosting the Edmonton Oilers at Keybank Arena Friday night at 7.

Some new data from Governor ‘s office is taking a look at the ongoing spread of COVID-19 across the Finger Lakes. The seven-day average infection rate in the region is six-point-five percent, which is the highest of any region in the state. Genesee County is part of the Finger Lakes Region. The Genesee County passivity rate if 7.7 percent.
The governor’s office is urging everyone who still hasn’t been vaccinated to get their shots soon to prevent a spike in infections during the holiday season.

A great weekend of High School Football playoff action is set up.
On Friday, a section 5 Class D final showdown between the Number One ranked Oakfield-Alabama/Elba Aggies meeting Number 2 Avon. That game will be played at VanDetta Stadium in Batavia. Kick-off is 7pm and will be broadcast over WBTA.

On Saturday afternoon, the Class B sectional match-up between Number 1 Honeoye Falls versus Number 2 Batavia. That game will be played at 6 Saturday night at Pittsford-Sutherlund High School. You can hear all the action of that game on WBTA.

And just in case you haven’t heard: The Buffalo Bills suffered a stunning defeat at the hands of a team with one of the worst records in the National Football League. The Bills offense was only able to muster a pair of field goals as they lost on the road to the Jacksonville Jaguars yesterday by a final score of nine-to-six.

Governor Hochul has signed off on a new bill aimed at protecting drivers who purchase used vehicles. Under the legislation, car dealers are banned from selling used vehicles to if they do not have a working airbag inside.

Following weeks of increases, Batavia drivers are finally seeing consistent prices at the gas pump. According to Triple A, the average cost for a gallon of regular gas is now $3.47, a penny less than last week.

Thursday is Veterans Day and Batavia City Schools are planning to honor veterans with a special ceremony the day before.  The event is set for 8:15 a.m. Wednesday, at the high school, 260 State St., Batavia.  Activities include a flag-raising ceremony by Batavia Boy Scouts, an audience participatory Pledge of Allegiance and a performance of the national anthem, otherwise known as the “Star-Spangled Banner,” by BHS Concert Band.  Keynote speaker Charles Williams, a BHS 2014 graduate, is slated to say a few words about his reason for serving in the United States Navy, and how that service helped shape his life. Williams is a Master at Arms Petty Officer Second Class.  Veterans will then be treated to a more formal concert and ceremony in the school’s auditorium. The high school’s band, orchestra and chorus are to give a musical tribute, and veterans in attendance will be introduced.

Gas prices hit a plateau.  Is this hope for a drop soon? According to AAA a gallon of regular gas will cost you 3.46 in Batavia, which is the same as last week.  The New York average is 3.55 and the national is 3.42.  There is increased demand to counter the increase in supply and the Biden Administration is making moves toward shutting down another pipeline.  All this may mean higher prices going into Thanksgiving but there is hope for a winter drop off.  

The Buffalo Bills kicking game was put to the test against the Jaguars Sunday afternoon in a no touchdown game against the Jaguars.  Jacksonville emerged victorious in the contest 9 to 6 after a late game drive saw Josh Allen drop the ball and the Bills were unable to recover.  Going into the game the Jaguars were 1 and 5 and the Bills were 5 and 2.  Next week the Bills take on the Jets.

The Sabres went to overtime against the Red Wings but were not able to pull out a win as the Red Wings scored and ended the game 4 to 3.  Tage Thompson, Rasmus Dahlin, and Arttu Ruotsalainen all scored for Buffalo. The Sabres play the Washington Capitals on the road tonight.

If you have a 5 to 11-year-old and you would like them to be vaccinated against COVID-19, now is the time to sign up.  The Genesee-Orleans Health Department is making appointments for next week.  In Orleans County, vaccinations will be given on Tuesdays between 4:30 and 6:30pm. Genesee County will administer shots on Wednesday, 4:30 to 6:30.  Public Health Educator Nola Goodrich-Kresse says only the Pfizer vaccination has been approved for kids. They will get 1/3 of the adult dose and three weeks later, another 1/3 dose…Complete information on the vaccine for kids, and how to make an appointment, is available on the Health Department’s website.

Representative Brian Higgins announced on Friday that the United States land border will reopen to international travelers at 12:01 a.m. on November 8; while the Whirlpool Bridge will reopen at 7 a.m. on November 8.  The land border has been closed to non-essential travel since March 2020.  Canadians do not need to take a COVID-19 test to get into the United States, but will need to take a COVID-19 test to return to Canada.

The New York State Partnership Against Drowsy Driving reminded motorists to be aware of the dangers of drowsy driving after the end of Daylight Saving Time. Despite the additional hour gained in the time change, it can disrupt sleep patterns, causing people to feel drowsy.  Daylight Saving Time ends at 2 a.m. on the first Sunday of November every year. The National Sleep Foundation uses the occasion to begin its Drowsy Driving Prevention Week, November 7 to 13.  “The risk posed by driving drowsy or fatigued is known, yet each year police report ‘fatigue/drowsy driving’ and/or ‘driver fell asleep’ as contributing factors in thousands of crashes statewide, resulting in deaths and injuries that are preventable,” said NYS DMV Commissioner and Chair of the Governor’s Traffic Safety Committee Mark Schroeder.  If you feel tired or drowsy while driving, find a place to pull over safely.  

Tuesday the 9th Batavia City Schools is hosting a Fall Expo at Robert Morris School.  There will be a Job Fair from 2 to 7pm with openings at local businesses for all ages.  At 5pm the Warm the Night winter clothing giveaway starts.  Families can come get Coats, Hats, Gloves, Scarves and Boots all gently used and free.  There will also be community agency tables offering information about their services along with food and raffles.

Pfizer COVID vaccinations are ready for Genesee County Kids.
The health department is scheduling 5-to-11-year-olds to receive the Pfizer vaccine beginning this Wednesday.
Public Health Educator Nola Goodrich-Krese appeared on WBTA’s Main and Center program this morning. She says only the Pfizer vaccine is currently available for children

Pfizer vaccines for kids will be available from 4:30 to 6:30 at County Building Two. They will be available in Orleans County beginning Tuesday.
You can make an appointment and read all the information at the health departments website, GOhealthn.org.

Sand, American Girl Dolls, and the board game Risk will join the National Toy Hall of Fame’s collection at The Strong National Museum of Play in Rochester.
They were chosen from a field of 12 finalists.
The hall of fame was created in 1998 to recognize toys that have shaped play, been popular, and have had a lasting impact.

Several weeks after it began, it looks like a tentative agreement has been reached to end the strike at Mercy Hospital in Buffalo. Catholic Health and the union representing hospital employees announced they’ve finished hammering out a four-year contract. The rank and file must now vote.

The Kraken scuttled the Sabres 5 to 2 on Thursday night. The Kraken outshot Buffalo 38 to 21. The Sabres next game is 7pm at Keybank Arena facing the Detroit Redwings.

The Buffalo Bills will be visiting the Sunshine State this weekend to take on one of the worst teams in the National Football League. The Bills are going to battle the Jacksonville Jaguars in Jacksonville. The Bills have a five-and-two record this season and are currently in first place atop the AFC East

High School Football, Section 5 Semi-finals tonight:
Class B Wayne at Batavia, 7pm Vandetta Stadium WBTA Broadcast at 6:50pm
Class D Avon v Alexander, 7pm Avon HS
Class D   OAE v Cal-mum 7pm

Tomorrow:
Class C Haverling v LeRoy, 12 Noon at LeRoy WBTA Broadcast at 11:50am

It is now official, companies with more than 100 workers now have till January 4th to have all employees fully vaccinated or have every unvaccinated employee tested weekly for COVID or face hefty fines by the federal government.  OSHA will be administering the mandate which affects roughly 84 million American workers.  Regulation included in the 490 page order will force the companies to require that unvaccinated workers test negative for COVID-19 at least once a week and wear a mask while in the workplace.  It also opens the possibility to expanding the mandate to smaller businesses.  Also included in the mandate is a blanket national mandate for all healthcare workers which says they need to be vaccinated or let go.  Many companies are refusing to follow the mandate with some bringing lawsuits against the government saying that this is unconstitutional government overreach.

The mayoral election in Buffalo is hitting some rough waters as several election inspectors have been dismissed and replaced for allegedly misusing a stamp with Mayor Byron Browns name on it at the polling place.  Browns campaign bought thousands of stamps and handed them out to voters to use while voting, which is legal, but Runner up India Walton claimed that Brown was using every “dirty trick in the book” to win the election and that “republican poll inspectors were pre-stamping ballots.”  

With one small flurry hitting Batavia this week people are thinking of Christmas and the Batavia Business District is planning its Christmas in the City event for December 4th.  The event  goes from 2 to 6pm on that saturday with a parade to follow.  All businesses, groups and organizations are are invited to participate by walking riding or entering a float in the parade.  Downtown businesses are encouraged to host an activity or have a store special during the event.  This year’s event includes train rides, pictures with Santa, hot cocoa, crafts, and a Downtown Scavenger hunt with chances to win some great prizes.  The BID also is hosting its second annual Wreath Contest for Downtown Batavia.  Again, any business, group, organization or family are invited to enter the contest.

Sand, American Girl Dolls, and the board game Risk will join the National Toy Hall of Fame’s collection at The Strong National Museum of Play.  The announcement was made Thursday morning.  They were chosen from a field of 12 finalists that included Battleship, billiards, Cabbage Patch Kids, Fisher-Price Corn Popper, Mahjong, Masters of the Universe, piñata, the Settlers of Catan, and toy fire engine.  The hall of fame was created in 1998 to recognize toys that have shaped play, been popular, and have had a lasting impact.

The Kraken scuttled the Sabres 5 to 2 on Thursday night.  In the first matchup by the two teams Tage Thompson and Kyle Okposo scored for Buffalo and the Sabres goalie Dustin Tokarski blocked 33 shots.  The Kraken outshot Buffalo 38 to 21.  The Sabres next game is 7pm at Keybank Arena facing the Detroit Redwings.

The Genesee County Health Department has begun administering COVID booster shots.
The vaccine is available every Wednesday. The clinic started yesterday and appointments are being scheduled for next week.
The clinic is at the health department offices at county building two on West Main Street. Pzizer, Moderna and Johnson and Johnson doses are available.
You can schedule an appointment and read the eligibility criteria, on the Health Department website.

Genesee Community College announces their fundraiser “Encore” will be held December 4th. The annual event will be held in the Richard Call arena.
A ticket includes dinner, beverages and music by Nik and the Nice Guys and it supports the GCC’s scholarship program. The school awarded 120-thosuand dollars in scholarships last year.
Tickets start at $100. They are available at gccfoundation.org.

A Buffalo Bills fan is being investigated by the state Department of Health after saying she used a fake COVID-19 vaccination card to enter Highmark Stadium.
In a message posted on Twitter, Kimberly Ray claimed that stadium staff never looked at her card before the Bills played the Dolphins on Sunday.
In the past, Erie County Executive Mark Poloncarz has threatened to prosecute fans who use a fake vaccination card but there have been no issues this season.

The Buffalo Sabres have lost back-to-back games and they’ll try and end their western road trip on a winning note tonight. The Sabres will be taking on the Seattle Kraken at Climate Pledge Arena in the first-ever meeting between the two franchises. Face-off on the left coast is set for 10 o’clock tonight.

There is still an undecided race in this year’s election.  This is the race for LeRoy Town justice where only the name of Carol DeFrancisco appeared on the ballot. She tallied an unofficial 638 votes.  But there are a total of 700 write-in votes. Tom Freely conducted a serious write-in campaign and although earlier reports had him winning as all 700 were attributed to him, none of the write-ins have yet been counted. 

The CDC has now authorized the Pfizer vaccine for Children ages 5-11 and yesterday was the first day they could receive the shot.  No mandates can be put in place till the vaccine has full authorization.  In New York a child who is in a classroom with someone who tests positive for COVID does not have to quarantine if they are vaccinated but those who are not have to go into quarantine.  Surveys done in October found that only 27 percent are eager to get their kids the shot.  Several medical experts question why the gap between shots is 3 weeks when most vaccines require 6 months to a year between shots.  Test to stay in school is still being discussed.

Former Rochester Police Chief La’ron Singletary plans to run for congress.  The announcement came on a campaign website declaring his candidacy as a republican for congress in New York’s 25th District. The seat is currently held by Democrat Joe Morelle.  Singletary retired following the controversial death of Daniel Prude in March 2020 and two weeks before his retirement date he was fired by Rochester Mayor Warren who blamed him for poor communication in the case.

GCC is announcing their fundraising dinner and dance, Encore!  This event scheduled for December 4th from 6-10pm at the Richard Call Arena is a fundraiser for GCC’s scholarship program which awarded 120,000 dollars last year.  Tickets are on sale now at gccfoundationinc.org for dinner, drinks and dancing and a holiday concert by Nik and the Nice Guys.  

Former Team Captain for the Sabres Jack Eichel has been traded away to the Las Vegas Golden Knights in exchange for Alex Tuch.  The deal was announced this morning.  The Sabres drafted Eichel in the 2015 NHL Draft with the 2nd overall pick. In October of 2017, he signed an eight-year, $80M contract extension that began at the start of the 2018-19 season. Exactly a year after signing that contract extension, Eichel was named the team’s captain. He held that Captaincy until September 2021, in which General Manager Kevyn Adams took the letter ‘C’ away following an offseason of tension between Eichel and the Sabres over an injury and disagreements over which surgery he should have.  Eichel failed his pre-camp physical and has been on long-term injured reserve ever since.

The Buffalo Sabres are getting a dog, and they need your help choosing a name.  The choices for the name of the new team dog are based on things familiar to the team and their fans.  There are 5 choices, Bert, for Gilbert Perreault, Rick, for Rick Jeanneret, Audie, for the old arena, the Aud.  Punch, for George Punch Imlach.  And Puck, for that little black disc that gets hit back and forth on the ice.  Follow the link at wbtai.com to vote. https://onebuffalo.formstack.com/forms/sabres_team_dog

A new study is recommending that a brand-new stadium be built for the Buffalo Bills instead of renovating their current stadium in Orchard Park.
A private consulting firm hired by the state said the cost of building a new stadium would be over one-billion dollars compared to the 862-million-dollars in repairs and upgrades that are needed at Highmark Stadium. While the price of fixing up the current stadium is cheaper, it’s considered cost prohibitive.
The study didn’t say whether the stadium should be built in Orchard Park or possibly downtown Buffalo. Negotiations on a new stadium are continuing and the hope is a deal can be reached by the end of the year.

The election brings no changes to Genesee County Government…all nine members of the county legislature were incumbents running unopposed, all are republicans. The same is true for the Batavia City Council, the three incumbent Republican at-large council members easily won re-election over the lone Democrat.

See results of all contested races

Due to a lack of entries, live racing this Friday and next will be canceled at Batavia Downs.
All top trot classes that normally race on Friday will be moved to Saturday and the remainder of the Friday classes will be moved to Wednesday, and both moves are for the remainder of the meet.

UPS is offering people in the Western New York area the opportunity to make some extra money during the holiday season. The company is looking to add hundreds of local workers during its annual “UPS Brown Friday” hiring event which runs from Thursday through Saturday. There are several positions that need to be filled including package delivery drivers, tractor-trailer drivers, warehouse workers and package handlers.

The San Jose Sharks beat the Sabres 5 to 3 last night in San Jose.
Buffalo is now 5 and 3 and 1 on the season.
The Sabres meet the Seattle Kraken tomorrow night, 10pm ET.

Election results are in for Genesee county.  In Batavia all 3 republican At large council members, Jankowski, Karas, and Bialkowski, were re-elected.  Joseph Nowakowski and Jeff Wolak were elected Bethany Town Justice.  In Bergen Starowitz and Whalin were elected to the town council.  And in Leroy Tom Feeley won as a write in candidate for Town Justice while Paddock and Fox took the town council spots.  All results are unofficial at this time.

Buffalo Mayor Byron Brown has declared victory as a write in candidate after he was primaried earlier this year by India Walton.  It appears that he won 59 percent of the vote over Walton’s 41 percent.  Low voter turnout due to a date change during the primary was blamed for Browns surprise primary loss and subsequent aggressive campaign to get people to write him in after the courts denied him a place on the ballot.  Walton has not conceded.

The CDC has advised that they believe that kids 5-11 should be able to receive the Pfizer ⅓ dose COVID vaccine.  Once CDC director Rachel Walensky signs off on the decision the vaccine will be open to being received by the 28 million children in that age group in the US.  NY is already preparing for the vaccine with Governor Hochul announcing that pop up clinics for kids are being prepared.  

The Buffalo Zoo has had to euthanize their 19 year old African Lion Shona.  She had had deteriorating health for some time and the zoo says her kidney and liver could no longer be treated medically.  Shona was born at the Como Park Zoo in St. Paul, MN. in 2002 and came to the Buffalo Zoo with her sister Acacia and brother Tsavo when they were around a year old.  Acacia passed away earlier this year. 

New York State has released the Buffalo Bills stadium study conducted by AECOM that will be used to inform stadium negotiations.  According to the study, it will cost $862 million to renovate the current stadium and $1.354 billion to build a new stadium next to the current site.  It was recommended that the Bills, state and county proceed with options for a new stadium over renovating the existing stadium.  The two main areas of land considered in the study for a new stadium are the South Park site in Buffalo, as well as parking lots 3 and 4 at the current location in Orchard Park.

The Sharks beat the Sabres 5 to 3 last night in San Jose.  Buffalo is now 5 and 3 and 1.  Jeff Skinner scored 2 goals for the Sabres and Drake Caggiula put in one.  Their next game will be against the Seattle Kraken at Climate Pledge Arena.  Both the Kraken and Sabres are coming off a 2 game losing streak.

Genesee County Contested Races

Batavia City Council at-large  (Top three are elected)

Bethany Town Justice  (Top two are elected)

Town of Bergen Town Council  (Top two are elected)

Town of Byron Town Supervisor  (Vote for One)

LeRoy Town Justice (undecided)

LeRoy Town Council   (vote for two)

Town of Pembroke Town Council   (vote for two)

Download all Unofficial Results from Board of Elections Website

Heavy Equipment and construction workers are on the site of the long overdue Ellicott Station project in Batavia.
Crews have begun demolition at the site once known as the Della Penna property and home of Santy’s Tires.
Sam Savarino is the chosen developer for the site. He is planning to build a five-story building of 55 apartment units on the upper four floors with parking on the first floor. The project is estimated to cost $22-million.
The project is using a fist full of state grants money and $3.5-million in county tax incentives.
The project was first proposed 51/2 years ago.

PHOTO: Demolition begins on the site of the long delayed Ellicott Station Project

Today is Election Day. Polls opened in Genesee County at 6 this morning.
Turn-out is said to be very light. There are few contested races in Genesee County and none are county wide. Polls are open until 9 tonight. WBTA will post the returns as soon as they are released by the Board of Elections.

New Yorkers will have the opportunity today to vote on five amendments to the state’s constitution. The first proposal would freeze the number of State Senate seats at 63 while making sure each district is equal in population while a second proposal would put the right to clean air and water in the constitution.
Also on the ballot is a proposal to eliminate the requirement that voters need to be registered for an election at least 10 days in advance. There’s also a proposal that would allow any eligible voter to request an absentee ballot no questions asked. The final proposal only affects New York City.

A LeRoy based physical therapy practice is expanding. Village Physical Therapy has opened a fourth office in Webster, Monroe County.
It is the fourth location for the company.

In advance of the upcoming Veterans Day holiday, Genesee County announced that the Old Court House will be illuminated green November 7th through the 13th as part of Operation Green Light. That’s a new collaborative initiative to support veterans of all military conflicts, with a special emphasis on the veterans of Iraq and Afghanistan. Residents are also encouraged to change an exterior or interior light-bulb on their house to green in support the week of Veteran’s Day.

Today is Election Day.  In Genesee County polls are open from 6am to 9pm.  There are only a handful of contested races locally.  In the city of Batavia, there are four candidates running for three city council -at-large seats.  At the county level, there are elections for County Court Judge, District Attorney and all nine seats on the county legislature…all are Republicans and all are running unopposed.  There is a contested race for Bryon Town Supervisor: Peter Yasses the incumbent is opposed by Gerald Heins.  In LeRoy, five candidates are vying for two seats on the town board,  There is one seat to be decided for LeRoy Town Justice. Carol DeFrancisco is the endorsed Democrat while Tom Freely is conducting a write-in campaign.  Bethany will elect two Town justices from a field of four candidates.

Paid Family Leave is expanding in New York State and will now allow for individuals to care for siblings.  Governor Kathy Hochul signed legislation on Monday to expand the law. Currently, the law covers caring for spouses, domestic partners, children and step-children, parents, parents-in-law, grandparents and grandchildren with a serious health condition.  The new law goes into effect January 1st.

You’ve seen them decorating the lamposts of Main Street for the Halloween season.  The Batavia Improvement District scarecrows made by businesses and organizations in Batavia. Well now they have been voted on and the winners picked.  The First Place Winner for 2021 is Veterans Services.  Second Place Winner is Charles Men’s Shop and Third Place goes to Eli Fish Brewing Co.  First place winner receives $100 cash prize, second place $75 and third place $50. The BID thanks Home Depot for sponsoring the scarecrows, the City of Batavia Fire Department for assembling the posts, and The Daily News for assisting with the voting process.

The sheriffs office has  announced that due to COVID-19 cases within the Genesee County Jail, Sheriff Sheron is suspending all visitations effective today until Nov. 22, tentatively.  This is a precautionary measure to prevent the risk of exposure to the novel coronavirus to incarcerated individuals’ families and employees.

Tops Friendly Markets announced it will offer military personnel and their immediate families an 11% discount off their grocery bill on Veterans Day.  Customers will be asked to present proof of service that they, or an immediate family member are U.S. Veteran, active duty, reserve or retired military personnel to receive the discount.  Veterans Day is Thursday the 11th.

The price of a gallon of regular gasoline in Batavia is up a penny from last week to $3.46 a gallon.  The Average price in New York is 3.55 while the US average is 3.40.  The Triple-A reports the current average in Batavia is 21-cents a gallon higher than a month ago.  Gas Buddy is predicting that prices will level off this week and possibly start to drop soon.  

Genesee County

2021 General Election

Contested Races

 Batavia City Council at-large  (Top three are elected)

Bethany Town Justice  (Top two are elected)

Town of Bergen Town Council  (Top two are elected)

Town of Byron Town Supervisor  (Vote for One)

LeRoy Town Council   (vote for two)

Town of Pembroke Town Council   (vote for two)

Genesee County Manager Matt Landers has released his proposed county budget for next year. The budget proposes a tax rate increase of 2.16-percent. If you break that down, Landers say the budget – if approved in its present form – would increase the average homeowners property tax bill by $24.33.
The budget increase is due in part to water system improvements, new hires in the Public Defender’s Office, jail and highways departments. There has also been an increase in the health department’s budget for combatting COVID-19.
The budget now goes to the full legislature for consideration and final adoption.

The price of a gallon of regular gasoline in Batavia is up a penny from last week.
The Triple-A reports the current average in Batavia is $3.46 a gallon, that’s 21-cents a gallon higher than a month ago.
One year ago today: the average price for a gallon of regular in Batavia was only $2.20.

Tomorrow is Election Day.
In Genesee County polls are open from 6am to 9pm.
There are only a handful of contested races locally.
In the city of Batavia, there are four candidates running for three city council -at-large seats.
At the county level, there are elections for County Court Judge, District Attorney and all nine seats on the county legislature…all are Republicans and all are running unopposed.
There is a contested race for Bryon Town Supervisor: Peter Yasses the incumbent is opposed by Gerald Heins.
In LeRoy, five candidates are vying for two seats on the town board,
There is one seat to be decided for LeRoy Town Justice. Carol DeFrancisco is the endorsed Democrat while Tom Freely is conducting a write-in campaign.
Bethany will elect two Town justices from a field of four candidates.

The Macy’s Thanksgiving Day Parade is set to make a full comeback this year after being forced to comply with extensive COVID-19 regulations last year. Crowds will once again line the New York City parade route and human handlers will be used to pull along the giant helium balloons after vehicles were utilized in 2020. Last year, the route was contained to the front of Macy’s flagship store in Manhattan as a way to reduce crowds. When the parade steps off later this month, it will feature 28 floats, 36 inflatables, and 15 giant character balloons.

Crews from then city’s water department spent much of their Halloween day fixing a water main break.
City Manager Rachel Tabelski said the trouble began to show itself on Saturday…

Come day light on Sunday crews walked the line and found a break on Law Street. Service was shut off to nearby homes until repairs were completed about 11:30 yesterday morning.

The Buffalo Bills say talks on a new stadium are moving forward and that the NFL franchise may have its new home by 2026. An official with Pegula Sports and Entertainment tells The Buffalo News it could happen if the team reaches a deal soon with both New York State and Erie County on how much public funding would be used to build the stadium. One proposal is calling for an over one-billion-dollar facility to be constructed close to Highmark Stadium which is where the team plays now. The Bills’ current lease is scheduled to expire in 2023.

The Buffalo Bills have extended their winning streak to seven straight games over a division rival thanks in large part to quarterback Josh Allen. Allen threw a pair of touchdown passes and ran for a third score as the Bills defeated the Miami Dolphins 26 to 11 at Highmark Stadium yesterday.
Up next is a road game against the Jacksonville Jaguars this coming Sunday.

The Los Angeles Kings have collected a second consecutive win after topping the Buffalo Sabres 3-2 in Los Angeles. Buffalo will continue its western road trip tomorrow with a game against the San Jose Sharks.

Our Monday gasoline price report:
The price of a gallon of regular gasoline in Batavia is up a penny from last week.
The Triple-A reports the current average in Batavia is $3.46 a gallon, that’s 21-cents a gallon higher than a month ago.

Hochul Signed legislation on Saturday which protects pets, vets and owners.  The legislative package prohibits insurers from refusing to issue certain policies based solely on the breed of the dog owned. It also would prohibit insurers from refusing to renew, cancel, charge or impose an increased premium based solely on the breed of dog owned.  The new legislation also requires veterinarians to report suspected animal cruelty. It also protects the identity of such veterinarians and allows veterinarians to receive a copy of any report generated.  Governor Hochul said that “to own a pet is a blessing, and we owe it to the animals of New York state to keep them safe and healthy.”

Healthcare workers who were hoping for a lifting of the COVID vaccine mandate through the courts in New York were disappointed on Friday as the federal appeals court upheld the mandates legality.  The ruling late Friday by the 2nd U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals reversed a decision by an upstate judge who had temporarily blocked vaccination requirements on the grounds that the mandate did not accommodate religious exemptions.  In a brief order, a panel of three 2nd Circuit judges also upheld a ruling by a Brooklyn judge who had found the mandate constitutional.

There was a water main break on Law Street in Batavia Sunday morning.  The break was repaired quickly and water service was restored.  The city is asking everyone who lives on the South West side of Batavia to check their water for discoloration.  If your water is brownish they say to run the tap till it clears.

The Buffalo Bills beat the Miami Dolphins 26 to 11 at Highmark Stadium Sunday afternoon.  The Bills are now 5 and 2 and have knocked down the Dolphins twice.  They were tied at 3 3 going into halftime with a strange turnover when a snap hit a player instead of going to the Dolphins Quarterback and the ball being recovered by the Bills.  The Bills got ahead and stayed ahead to pull out the win.  Buffalo plays against the Jaguars in Jacksonville next Sunday at 1pm.   

The Sabres dropped their game against the Kings in Los Angeles last night 3 to 2.  Buffalo players Rasmus Asplund and Victor Olofsson scored the first 2 goals of the game but even with Dustin Tokarski making 31 saves it wasn’t enough.  The Sabres play the Sharks on Tuesday night in San Jose at 10:30pm.

The Food and Drug Administration on Friday authorized the use of Pfizer and BioNTech’s Covid-19 vaccine for children ages 5 to 11, a move that will make the shots available to 28 million kids in the U.S.  The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention must sign off before shots can be distributed. It’s scheduled an advisory committee meeting to review the pediatric doses next week and is expected to swiftly clear them for public distribution immediately thereafter.  The company said its low-dose vaccine for kids, which is a third of the dosage given to adults, is more than 90% effective in preventing symptomatic infection. It also said the shots were well tolerated in young children, producing side effects comparable with those seen in a study of people ages 16 to 25. 

State Attorney General Letitia James has now officially announced her challenge to Governor Hochul in 2022’s Gubernatorial race.  James will be running as a Democrat.  James, 63, was born in Brooklyn and has served as Attorney General since 2019.  The election for New York governor is November 8, 2022. 

You want a bit more bass or buzz from your car when you press the accelerator?  Don’t mess with the muffler.  A new bill signed friday by governor Hochul increases the fines for illegally modifying the muffler or exhaust system of a motor vehicle.  Fines are raised to 1 thousand dollars, and repair and inspection stations can lose their certificates if they install or fail to cite drivers for illegal systems.  Hochul says this is to combat noisy vehicles making neighborhoods feel less safe.

Holland Land Office invites the public to the 20th annual Wonderland of Trees opening Gala Friday November 19th.  This year’s theme to honor this milestone year is Through the Years. Visit the museum to see all the wonderfully decorated trees and displays by local businesses and organizations.  This year’s opening gala will feature many great gift baskets to win and a Silent Auction. The night will also feature holiday music by the Genesee Symphony Orchestra and hors d’oeuvres provided by the D R Depot. Tickets for this event are on sale at the museum. Tickets are $15 per person/ $10 for museum members and $5 for children under 12.  For more details contact the museum or visit www.hollandlandoffice.com.  The exhibit will run through December 17th.

NYS Attorney General Letitia James

New York Attorney General Letitia James is responding to a sex crime charge filed against Andrew Cuomo. A misdemeanor charge of forcible touching was brought against the former governor yesterday. James released a statement soon afterward, saying as soon as her office heard about the multiple sexual harassment allegations, they proceeded “without fear or favor.” James said the findings in their report ultimately led to the charge.

Some announcements from the City of Batavia:
The Yard Waste Station on Law Street has new hours for the rest of the season. Effective Monday, the hours of the Yard Waste Station will be 11 until 5. The facility will close for the season on December 11.

Batavia Police have that Halloween activities, including Trick or Treating, end at 8pm Sunday. for Sunday, Halloween, will end at 8:pm

High School Football playoffs begin tonight.
In Class B the Batavia Blue Devils take on Newark at Dwyer Stadium.
Kick-off is 7pm.
In Class C: 2nd seeded LeRoy meets Attica. That game will be broadcast on WBTA from LeRoy beginning at 7.
In Class D: Number 1 ranked Oakfield-Alabama-Elba meets number 8 Clyde-Savannah, that game to be played at Oakfield High School and also tonight in Class D number 2 Avon hosts number 7 Notre Dame.

The Buffalo Sabres began a four-game road trip last night by dropping the Ducks in Anaheim in overtime, four-to-three. Craig Anderson stopped 34 shots in goal for Buffalo.
The Sabres head for Los Angeles to square off against the Kings on Halloween.

New York Gov. Kathy Hochul has signed legislation that is aimed at combating gun violence and criminalizing the sale of ‘ghost guns’.  Ghost guns are guns that can be made or bought that have no serial numbers and are usually sold in pieces and then assembled later.  The legislation package includes the following  criminalizing the sale of ‘ghost guns’, criminalizing the sale of untraceable guns and cracking down on firearms that are designed to look like toy guns

Be careful when doing any kind of business online.  Erie County got scammed out of more than $100,000 taxpayer money after being tricked into paying a scam artist pretending to be a local construction firm.  In August, the Erie County Department of Works received an email believed to be from Mark Cerrone, Inc., a local construction company, doing work at the Rath Building in downtown Buffalo.  That email asked for the county to change the bank routing number for payment.  But when the actual construction firm called the county asking for its payment, the county realized the email was fraudulent and the comptroller’s office sent the money to a bank in Texas.

The Buffalo Sabres beat the Anaheim Ducks 4 to 3 yesterday in California.  Rasmus Asplund scored the winning goal with just 43.9 seconds left in overtime.  Zemgus Girgensons and Arttu Ruotsalainen also scored for the Sabres. Craig Anderson stopped 34 shots in a standout performance in goal.  The Sabres play the Kings next on Halloween afternoon at 4pm.