Local News

Bishop Richard Malone, head of the Catholic Diocese of Western New York, will seek and early retirement.
The Buffalo News had reported that Malone would submit his resignation tomorrow. Now, sources tell the paper Malone will request early retirement.
Malone is 73. By Catholic Church Law he would have to retired at age 75.
Malone has been criticized for how he’s handled the clergy sex abuse scandal in the diocese and has said in the past he wouldn’t retire until he was required to in 2021.
The Diocese had no comment on the report.
If Malone steps down, Albany Bishop Edward Scharfenberger [[schar-fen-burger]] would reportedly serve as an apostolic administrator until Malone’s replacement is named.

Batavia’s new, full-time, city court judge will be sworn into office on Dec 20th.
Judge Durin Rogers won election last month to move from part-time to full time judge of city court.
The Batavia City Council will appoint a new part-time judge. The council is meeting in executive session this Friday to discuss the appointment.

From Batavia Police: 38 year old Mark Helm of State Street has been jailed for assault and child endangerment.
Police say Helm struck another person last Friday causing what were described as serious injuries. All of this, police said, occurred in front of four children.
Helm has been jailed without bail.

Go ahead and call City Hall – they can answer now.
Batavia City Hall says their telephone have been fixed.
Officials said a power failure in the server room caused the equipment failure.

How would you like to adopt a fire hydrant?
The city’s fire department are asking residents to adopt a hydrant near their home or business and keep it clear of snow during the winter season.
They prefer that you clear a 3ft area around a snow covered hydrant so firemen can quickly access a water supply in case of fire.

With winter now thrust upon us and in the event of an emergency, could firefighters find the closest fire hydrant near your home or business?
Fire Chief Stefano Napolitano and the members of the City of Batavia Fire Department are encouraging residents to “adopt a fire hydrant” near their home or business this winter season.

We are asking residents and business owners for their assistance in keeping fire hydrants clear of snow and debris. The Chief also
noted that this is an informal program and therefore it is not necessary to advise the department about which fire hydrants you will be keeping clear.

If possible, we ask that the “adopted” hydrants be uncovered of snow after each snowfall and provide a clear
path of approximately three feet around the hydrant. This path will allow fire department staff to quickly
locate the hydrant and obtain a water supply used in firefighting activities. Delays in locating and connecting
to a fire hydrant can hamper fire suppression activities, raising the risk of injury and furthering property damage.

Additionally, the department asks residents and business owners to contact fire headquarters at
585-345-6375 if they require assistance in clearing their hydrant or notice damage to the hydrant itself or the reflective marker attached to the hydrant.

Lastly, Chief Napolitano request to please consider helping a neighbor who may be elderly or has a
medical condition by keeping the fire hydrant clear near their residence. “Together we can help keep our
City safe this winter season” stated Napolitano.

The Fire Officers and Firefighters of the City of Batavia Fire Department would like to thank the
community for its continued support of the men and women of the department and the services that we
provide.

News Release

BATAVIA, NY- Judge Durin B. Rogers, formerly the part-time judge for the City of Batavia, will assume the role and responsibilities as Batavia’s next full-time City Court Judge.  Judge Rogers was elected to the full-time position on November 5^th, 2019 and will take over for Judge Robert Balbick who will retire at the end of the year.

The “Swearing In” ceremony will take place on Friday, December 20, 2019 at 12 noon in the Batavia City Courtroom located in the Genesee County Courts Facility, 1 West Main Street, Batavia, NY 14020, and all are welcome to attend.

Judge Durin B. Rogers will assume the duties and responsibilities of the full-time City Court Judge on January 1, 2019.

Press Release:

BATAVIA, NY- Judge Durin B. Rogers, formerly the part-time judge for the City of Batavia, will assume the role and responsibilities as Batavia’s next full-time City Court Judge. Judge Rogers was elected to the full-time position on November 5th, 2019 and will take over for Judge Robert Balbick who will retire at the end of the year.

The “Swearing In” ceremony will take place on Friday, December 20, 2019 at 12 noon in the Batavia City Courtroom located in the Genesee County Courts Facility, 1 West Main Street, Batavia, NY 14020, and all are welcome to attend.

38 year old Mark Helm of State Street was apprehended by City Police following investigation into a reported assault at a State Street address.
Helm allegedly caused serious physical injury by striking another individual in the alleged assault that occurred last month.
The violent incident also played out in front of four children.
Helm was charged with Assault in the second degree along with Endangering the Welfare of a Child and was committed without bail to the Genesee County Jail.

Batavia burglary leads to arrest for a LeRoy resident.
Batavia Police took 22 year old Kiha McNear of Lake Street LeRoy into custody after he allegedly violated an order of protection and illegally entered a Walnut Street residence late last month.
McNear was accused of damaging the individual’s property while he was at the address and was charged with counts of Criminal Mischief, Aggravated Criminal Contempt, and Burglary in the second degree for illegally entering a dwelling.
He was subsequently released with an appearance ticket for Thursday in Batavia City Court.

A Leroy man indicted on a count of sexual abuse.
Donald J. Frisby has been indicted by a Genesee County Grand Jury for the crime of first-degree sexual abuse, a Class D violent felony.
Frisby is accused of subjecting another person to sexual contact by forcible compulsion on July 14 on Clay Street in the Town of Le Roy.

According to Assistant City Manager Rachael Tabelski the City of Batavia phone system is currently down for all City locations until further notice.
City offices will be open normal business hours for walk-in business today and city officials can be reached via email or through the city’s website.
For emergencies please remember to call 911.
City Police and Fire will be notified about any emergency situations directly from dispatch and will operate as normal.

An honor for the Albion Police Department.
The Triple A has given the Albion PD its 2019 Community Traffic Safety Platinum Award, the highest award the auto club can bestow on any Police Department.
Albion Police were recognized for several safety initiatives including Buckle-Up, Stop DWI, Targeted School Zone Patrols and Child Safety Seat programs.

Another candidate has officially entered the race for the 27th Congressional District seat.
Democrat Melodie Baker is seeking the position left open following the resignation of ex-Republican Congressman Chris Collins.
Earlier this year, he pleaded guilty to federal insider trading charges.
Baker is competing for her party’s nomination with Nate McMurray, who narrowly lost to Collins in 2018.
A date for the special election to fill Collins’ spot hasn’t officially been announced yet.

The Buffalo Sabres light up the scoreboard in a rout of the New Jersey Devils.
Conor Sheary had a pair of goals while Jack Eichel, Victor Olofsson, Jeff Skinner, Henri Jokiharju and Rasmus Asplund also scored in Buffalo’s seven-to-one win at KeyBank Center last night.
Sabres goalie Linus Ullmark also contributed by stopping 44 of the 45 shots he faced.
Buffalo is back in action Thursday when they visit the Calgary Flames.

A violent domestic incident in Corfu.
Authorities have arrested 50 year old Jerrol Newell of East Main Street in Corfu with three counts of strangulation, assault and menacing with a weapon.
Sheriff’s Deputies, Corfu Police and State Police handled the case.
The incident occurred early Friday morning.
Newell has been locked up in the county jail in lieu of $50,000 bail.

An honor for the Albion Police Department.
The Triple A has given the Albion PD its 2019 Community Traffic Safety Platinum Award, the highest award the auto club can bestow on any Police Department.
Albion Police were recognized for several safety initiatives including Buckle-Up, Stop DWI, Targeted School Zone Patrols and Child Safety Seat programs.

The Buffalo Bills are getting another chance to impress a nationwide audience. Following their big win on Thanksgiving against the Dallas Cowboys, the NFL has pushed Buffalo’s Week 15 road game against the Pittsburgh Steelers to prime time. The contest was set for the afternoon, but will now start at eight-20 p-m on Sunday, December 15th. Both the Bills and Steelers are competing for a playoff spot in the AFC. The last time the Bills played on Sunday Night Football was in 2007 when they lost 56-10 to the New England Patriots.

Press Release:

“Learn a new skill or hobby.” It’s on the top five list of most common New Year’s Resolutions, and there is a wide assortment of options available at Genesee Community College this coming semester. Learn karate, how to write a screen play, sign language, or how about public speaking or digital photography? Courses in these topics and many more will be offered at GCC this semester starting Monday, January 13, 2020.

GCC’s Beginning Karate (PED132) is being taught by the world’s highest ranking black-belt! Instructor Cynthia Jones, Hanshi, recently received a 10th Degree Black Belt (Ju-Dani) from the Isshinryu World Karate Association making her the highest ranking black-belt in the world. Who better to teach Beginning Karate (PED132) right here in Batavia? Registration for this course is now open! Anyone can enroll for this eight-week course, no pre-requisite courses are required and it does not have to be taken as part of a degree program. Beginning Karate runs on Monday, January 13 through March 6, 2020 and meets every Monday and Wednesday from 3:40 p.m. till 5 p.m. at GCC’s Batavia Campus.

Beginning Karate (PED132) focuses on achieving the physical and mental conditioning and training required to execute a variety of basic martial arts techniques and forms (or kata) and engages in effective sparring and self-defense. In just eight weeks, the course will also cover:

• A brief overview of the historical, philosophical and spiritual aspects of the martial arts
• The benefits of daily fitness activity specific to karate

Any budding screen or stage writer will appreciate the small class size learning environment with instructor Shawn Adamson in his Writing for the Stage and Screen (CIN214). The 15-week course teaches the proper screenplay format and introduces the technique of storytelling though dialogue, action and characterization in a continuous workshop process. The class meets Mondays and Wednesdays from 2:50 – 4:10 p.m., starting January 13, 2020.

American Sign Language 1 (ASL101) is offered five different times and at three different campus locations; Intro to Digital Photography (PHO118) is offered three different times and at two locations; and Public Speaking (SPE108) is offered 14 different times, at five campus locations and online.

“Education really is the gift that keeps on giving. No matter your age or interests-learning something new in 2020 is a rock solid way to kick off the new decade,” Donna Rae Sutherland, director of Marketing Communications said.

Anyone interested in this course who is not a current GCC student, is encouraged to contact the College’s Admissions team at (585) 345-6800 or via email at admissions@genesee.edu, or apply online at https://www.genesee.edu/courses/nonmatriculated/ to get started.

Dr. Melinda Grube as Abilgail Adams

Press Release:

What: GCC’s History Club Presents: Abigail Adams – LIVE by Dr. Melinda Grube

When: Wednesday, December 4, 2019 at 7 p.m.

Where: Genesee Community College ~ One College Road, Batavia Campus ~ Room T102 Conable Technology Building

Who: All are invited and welcome!

Background: Genesee Community College’s History Club is proud to present its own adjunct instructor of history, Dr. Melinda Grube on Wednesday, December 4, 2019 at 7 p.m. who will portray Abigail Adams – LIVE!

One of the Founding Mothers of America, Abigail Adams is one of the most remarkable people of her generation. Left to care for her children, the farm and the family business interests when her husband, John Adams was off chasing political fame, Abigail carried on to the best of her ability. She accepted the long absences from her husband as a necessary sacrifice for the good of the country. Come hear her story live, as presented in period costume and tone by Dr. Grube.

The show begins at 7 p.m. in room T102 of the Conable Technology Building on GCC’s Batavia Campus and is free and open to the public.

For more information, visit https://gcchistoricalhorizons.wordpress.com/ or contact Marketing Communications Director Donna Rae Sutherland at (585) 343-0055 ext. 6616, or via email: dsutherland@genesee.edu.

Most of the Western New York region remains under a Winter Weather Advisory through the remainder of the morning according to the National Weather Service based out of Buffalo.
Forecasters are calling for an additional 1 to 3 inches of snow accumulation while the advisory remains in effect for Niagara, Orleans, Erie, Genesee, and Chautauqua counties until 11 a.m.
Slick road conditions are to be expected and motorists are encouraged to driver cautiously especially during the morning commute.
Livingston County also remains under a Travel Advisory until further notice.

Alleged assault lands a Corfu man in lock-up.
50 year old Jerrol Newell of East Main Street Corfu was taken into custody by Genesee County Sheriff’s Deputies Friday morning following investigation into a violent domestic incident at an East Main address last week.
Newell is facing three counts of Strangulation, and single counts of Unlawful Imprisonment, Menacing with a weapon, and Assault.
He was arraigned in Pembroke Town Court and remanded to the County Clink in lieu of $50,000 bail.
Newell also has additional charges pending against him in the incident.

Harassment in the city ends in arrest for a Walnut Street woman.
20 year old Raylynne Santiago was apprehended by Batavia Police after investigation into a domestic incident that took place last Sunday at the corner of Jackson and Maple Streets.
She is now facing counts of Harassment and of Obstruction of Governmental Administration and was released an appearance ticket for Batavia City Court for tomorrow afternoon.

A Batavia man busted for driving over twice the legal limit.
28 year old Zachary Marrow of Manhattan Ave was arrested by Batavia Police after he was allegedly found to be intoxicated while driving on East Main Street in Batavia last month.
He was charged with Aggravated DWI for having a Blood Alcohol Content of .18 % or higher and was issued tickets for City Court on Dec 11th.

With snow comes the risk of power outages, and National Grid says it’s ready to help customers if needed.
The utility company says it has line, service and tree workers prepared to deal with any issues.
Officials say you should never touch a downed power line and if you do have to use a generator, make sure to put in a safe location to avoid the possibility of carbon monoxide poisoning.
National Grid says you can report an outage online or by using it’s 24-hour customer service hotline.

The Buffalo Bills are getting another chance to impress a nationwide audience.
Following their big win on Thanksgiving against the Dallas Cowboys, the NFL has pushed Buffalo’s Week 15 road game against the Pittsburgh Steelers to prime time.
The contest was set for the afternoon, but will now start at 8:20 p.m. on Sunday, December 15th.
Both the Bills and Steelers are competing for a playoff spot in the AFC.
The last time the Bills played on Sunday Night Football was in 2007 when they lost 56 to 10 to the New England Patriots.

(Photo courtesy of Paul White)

Press Release:

By Tim Bojarski, for Batavia Downs

Batavia, NY — It was a big night for driver Ray Fisher Jr. on Friday (Nov. 29) as he hit a major career milestone by surpassing the $20 million mark in career earnings at Batavia Downs after winning with trotter Lady Justice who is owned and trained by his wife, Ryan Swift.

Fisher first started driving in 1987 and 30,212 starts later he has now registered 4,494 wins, 3,995 seconds and 3,725 thirds, all of which pushed him to this current earnings mark. Fisher’s career best one-year win total came in 1997 when he got 317 and his best earnings total came just two years ago when he banked $1,437,878 in 2017.

This year Fisher has earned $971,684 to date on the strength of 120 victories. At the current Batavia Downs meet Fisher has 49 wins and over $400,000 in earnings.

Fisher was joined in the winner’s circle by his wife Ryan and son Kyle for a special presentation made by Batavia Downs Director/General Manager of Live Racing Todd Haight.

The top races on Friday night were both trots and each yielded convincing winners.

In the $12,500 Open I Handicap, Rockefeller Lindy (Mike Baumeister) tripped-out behind the frontrunning Majestic Kat (Billy Davis Jr.) until mid-stretch when Baumeister pulled right line, cleared and hit the wire three-quarters of a length ahead in 1:58.4.

It was the fourth win of the year for Rockefeller Lindy ($20.60) who has now earned $46,093 for owners Burke Racing and Weaver Bruscemi. James Clouser Jr. trains the winner

Then in the $10,000 Open II trot, newcomer Chuckabuck (Drew Monti) toured the facility on the front end from start to finish and won by 2-1/2 lengths in 2:00. Scoring his seventh win of the year, Chuckabuck ($7.40) scored his first for new owner Carl Monti. Darrin Monti trains the winner.

The Downs leading dash driver Billy Davis Jr. lit it up again, winning four races on the card. He now has 123 wins for the meet, 42 ahead of second place Jim Morrill Jr. Shawn McDonough also had a good night winning three races each. Angus McDonald and JD Perrin led all trainers Friday with two wins each.

Racing resumes at Batavia Downs on Saturday (Nov. 30) with pot time at 6 p.m.

The National Weather Service has issued a Winter Weather Advisory for most of Western New York including Orleans, Genesee, Livingston, and Wyoming counties.
The advisory is going into effect at 4 a.m. Sunday morning and is expected to expire at 6 p.m. Sunday evening.
Total snow accumulations of 1 to 2 inches are expected with up to 4 inches across the northern Finger Lakes.
Forecasters are also calling for total ice accumulations of around one tenth of an inch.
Plan on slippery road conditions and limited visibilities during the snowfall Sunday.

Savings abound as Black Friday rolls into Small Business Saturday in Downtown Batavia.
The shopping season has arrived and while another Black Friday is in the books, the retail market is still hopping with resident shoppers supporting their smaller local establishments.
In downtown Batavia, Stephen Valle of Valle Jewelers on Jackson Street shares why shopping at a local brick and mortar store is an experience you just can’t get online or even at some big box retailers…

Another holiday shopping staple of downtown is Adam Miller toy and bike where owner John Roche says service and quality are always in stock…

The shopping spree continues online with exclusive internet only deals during the newest addition to the retailer’s holiday, Cyber Monday.

The suspect in last week’s Liberty Street stand-off is facing new charges.
46 year old Daniel Wolfe is now accused of making two telephone calls from the county jail to a person he was ordered to have no contact with.
Wolfe is being held in the county jail since he surrendered to police following a 20 hour standoff.

A Bergen man hit with a felony count of DWI following an early morning traffic stop on Thanksgiving.
30 year old Sean Crowe of Cook Road is charged with felony drunk driving for having been convicted of DWI within the past 10 years.

It’s one of the biggest – if not the biggest- shopping days of the year,
Black Friday a retailers dream.
Some big box chains and national department stores have extended hours.
Big or small Black Friday has an impact on downtowns like Batavia’s.
Stephen Valle is proprietor of Valle Jewelers on Jackson Street.
He tells us today business is brisk and the shopping experience is personal

Much the same story at heritage toy store Adam Miller where owner John Roche says it’s quality and personal attention that matters

Tomorrow is called small business Saturday.
Enjoy the experience and the good feeling of keeping your dollars local.

The suspect in last week’s Liberty Street stand-off is facing new charges.
46 year old Daniel Wolfe is now accused of making two telephone calls from the county jail to a person he was ordered to have no contact with.
Wolfe is being held in the county jail since he surrendered to police following a 20 hour standoff.

PHOTO: Daniel Wolfe

A felony count of DWI filed against a Bergen man early Thanksgiving Morning.
30 year old Sean Crowe of Cook Road is charged with felony drunk driving for having been convicted of DWI within the past 10 years.

Another sign of the season:
Crossroads House is holding their 4th annual Christmas sale today and tomorrow.
Various Christmas decorations are featured along with a collection of glassware. If you missed it today, the sale will go on tomorrow from 9 until 3.

While the special Thanksgiving holiday DWI enforcement effort continues across the state and region this weekend the detail has already netted results for local lawmen.
30 year old Sean Crowe of Cook Road in Bergen is charged with a felony count of DWI for having a previous conviction in last 10 years, along with a count for having an Uninspected Vehicle after being stopped by Sheriff’s Deputies just after midnight last night on South Lake Ave in Bergen.
Crowe was released with an appearance ticket for Bergen Town Court on December 4th.
A multi-agency Orleans County Wide DWI Saturation Patrol was hosted by the Albion Police Department from 9pm until 3am which resulted in 3 DWI arrests, 6 drug related arrests, 21 tickets and a total of 76 traffic stops.
The Genesee County Sheriff’s Office, State Police, the City of Batavia and the Village of LeRoy Police Departments are all continuing their statewide STOP-DWI Crackdown efforts through the weekend until December 1st.

County Jail inmate arrested after repeated violations.
46 year old Daniel Wolfe of Liberty Street was arrested following an incident Monday night at the Genesee County Jail.
Wolfe was accused of violating a court order of protection by calling a protected party multiple times while housed in the County Jail and was hit with a count of Criminal Contempt in the 2nd degree.
He is scheduled to appear in Batavia City Court on December 10th.

Bail reform going into effect has judicial officials shuffling court dates to expedite eligible inmates for release.
Beginning in January, nearly everyone charged with non-violent crimes will be released. The bail reform measure impacts nearly half of all inmates in the County Jail.
In anticipation of those changes, they’re being given new court dates to determine whether they should get out of jail before the end of the year.
Starting in 2020, inmates being held on misdemeanors and some felonies won’t be required to post bail. The law is retroactive, so those locked up for similar crimes now must also be freed.

Whether it’s for Black Friday, Small Business Saturday, or Cyber Monday, there’s a good chance you’ll be doing some shopping in the coming days.
And with that in mind, the New York State Division of Consumer Protection has some tips.
If you’re buying a so-called “big ticket” item, take a look at the warranty and check your financing options before purchase.
If you’re getting someone a gift card, make sure the packaging and security seals are intact and always read the fine print to see if there are any hidden fees or restrictions.
Finally, if you’re shopping online, take the necessary steps to keep your personal information safe and only shop when connected to a secure network.

The Buffalo Bills certainly have the attention of the rest of the NFL after a huge win in front of a national audience.
Quarterback Josh Allen threw for one touchdown and ran for another as the Bills dominated the Dallas Cowboys in a 26 to 15 win at AT&T Stadium in Arlington, Texas yesterday.
It was the first Thanksgiving Day appearance for the Bills since 1994.
Buffalo is now at nine-and-three on the season and sits in second place in the AFC East.
Up next for the Bills is a home game December 8th against the Baltimore Ravens.

MORNING NEWS BRIEFING

Changes in state law about when and how defense attorneys receive evidence in criminal cases are going to create a greater burden on police and drive up costs for the City and the County, members of the City Council were told Monday night.
City Attorney George Van Nest and Police Chief Shawn Heubusch made about a 40-minute presentation on changes to the rules around what is called “discovery” — the prosecution turning over evidence and information to the defense — and bail reform.
Both the compressed time frame of gathering and preparing the evidence for dissemination and the greater volume of information and evidence will consume more time for law enforcement and the DA’s office.
In the case of traffic tickets — the city issues about 1,500 a year — all evidence must be turned over within 24 hours of the issuance of the ticket.
As for bail reform, Heubusch said starting Jan. 1, people accused of misdemeanors or Class E felonies will no longer be arraigned in City Court. The arresting officer, instead, must issue an appearance ticket. The officer must also issue appearance tickets, rather than taking the suspect in for arraignment, for burglary 2nd and robbery 2nd, all other violent felonies are still eligible for a bail review by a judge.

There is a potential plea offer pending for Guillermo J. Torres-Acevedo, the 23-year-old Batavia man facing 10 criminal charges locally for allegedly having sex with an underage girl and taking her to Pennsylvania, his attorney told Judge Charles Zambito in County Court yesterday. Torres-Acevedo is charged locally with: four counts of second-degree rape, a Class D violent felony; four counts of criminal sexual act in the second degree, also a Class D violent felony; second-degree kidnapping, a Class B violent felony; and second-degree criminal contempt

New information has been revealed in the case of an Allegany County teenager accused of killing his parents.
Prosecutors say 17-year-old William Larson Junior told police his father William Larson Senior killed his mother Lisa before throwing a knife at him. Larson Junior admitted to shooting his father in the driveway of their Clarksville home, but denied hurting his mother.
The bodies of the victims were found following a fire at that residence last week. An autopsy showed they suffered stab and gunshot wounds.

Don’t mean to spoil your party, but local lawmen will out in force tonight.
The Genesee County Sheriff’s Office, City of Batavia and the Village of LeRoy Police will participate in a special enforcement effort to crackdown on impaired driving over the over the holiday weekend.

For the first time since 1994, the Buffalo Bills are playing football on Thanksgiving Day. They’ll be on the road to take on the NFC East leading Dallas Cowboys at AT&T Stadium in Arlington, Texas. The Bills are coming off back-to-back wins over the Miami Dolphins and Denver Broncos. They’re currently sitting at eight-and-three, two games behind the New England Patriots for first place in the AFC East. Kickoff for today’s contest is set for four-30 p-m.

Genesee County and most of Western New York are now under a High Wind Warning.
Officially, the warning lasts until 1 am Thanksgiving morning.
The National Weather Service says we can expect winds of 30 miles an hour gusting to 60.
The weather service warns of possible downed power lines and tree limbs, and be sure to try and secure outdoor Holiday decorations.

New information has been revealed in the case of an Allegany County teenager accused of killing his parents.
Prosecutors say 17-year-old William Larson Junior told police his father William Larson Senior killed his mother Lisa before throwing a knife at him. Larson Junior admitted to shooting his father in the driveway of their Clarksville home, but denied hurting his mother.
The bodies of the victims were found following a fire at that residence last week. An autopsy showed they suffered stab and gunshot wounds.

We don’t mean to spoil your party, but local lawmen will out in force tonight.
The Genesee County Sheriff’s Office, City of Batavia and the Village of LeRoy Police will participate in a special enforcement effort to crackdown on impaired driving over the over the holiday weekend.
The special enforcement begins tonight.

Governor Cuomo is spending Thanksgiving in Puerto Rico.
The guv leaves today and returns on Sunday.
He announced last month that he would spend the holiday with his three daughters on the island to help promote tourism.
The tourist industry was hit hard following Hurricane Maria in 2017.

Press Release:

Genesee County Economic Development Center part of state contingent comprised of economic development entities

BATAVIA, NY – The Genesee County Economic Development Center (GCEDC) recently participated in Semicon Europa, the largest European semiconductor industry event connecting leaders across the advanced manufacturing world and related supply chains.

Director of Marketing and Communications Jim Krencik represented the GCEDC and the Western New York Science & Technology Advanced Manufacturing Park (WNY STAMP) at the event, which was held in Munich, Germany November 12th through November 15th.

Over 8,000 industry professionals participated in the conference. Krencik participated in the event as part of the New York Love Nanotech pavilion, which included representatives from Empire State Development’s Strategic Business Division, SUNY POLY/NY CREATES, AIM Photonics, site developers, and New York-based supply chain companies, with the support of National Grid.

While connecting with representatives of semiconductor industry companies from North America, Europe, and Asia, Krencik was able to tout many of WNY STAMP’s assets, such as low-cost hydropower, site infrastructure development, and the availability of top-end talent in the region.

“New York State has proven to be an ideal location for the industries represented at Semicon Europa,” Krencik said. “The assets available at Western New York Science & Technology Advanced Manufacturing Park provide a ready source for the growth of the semiconductor industry and advanced manufacturing in our region.”

Located in Alabama, Genesee County, WNY STAMP is a 1,250-acre campus connecting New York’s second- and third-largest metropolitan areas, and developed to best serve the needs of advanced manufacturing projects. Ongoing site development will enable WNY STAMP to achieve full capabilities of 485-megawatts electric capacity and 11-million gallons per day of water capacity.

Press Release:

The New York State Police will participate in a special traffic enforcement initiative to crack down on unsafe driving behaviors during the upcoming Thanksgiving holiday. The special traffic enforcement period runs from Wednesday, November 27, 2019, through Sunday, December 1, 2019.

Superintendent Keith M. Corlett said, “During this Thanksgiving holiday weekend I encourage all New Yorkers to make safety their top priority. If your celebrations include alcohol, plan ahead to ensure you have a safe ride home. There’s simply no excuse to get behind the wheel if you’re impaired, and State Troopers will have zero tolerance. Make the right choice and avoid the senseless tragedies caused by impaired driving.”

The State Police will supplement regular patrols statewide, including fixed sobriety checkpoints, an underage drinker enforcement and the “Operation Hang Up” initiative, which targets distracted drivers by utilizing Concealed Identity Traffic Enforcement (CITE) patrol vehicles to better locate drivers talking or texting on hand held devices. These unmarked vehicles blend in with every day traffic but are unmistakable as emergency vehicles once the emergency lighting is activated.

Very high traffic volumes typically occur during the Thanksgiving holiday weekend. It is also a time when alcohol consumption is widespread. During the 2018 Thanksgiving holiday period, troopers arrested 215 drivers for DWI, issued 5,834 speeding tickets, 774 tickets for distracted driving, and 218 tickets for move over law violations.

The Thanksgiving impaired driving enforcement initiative is funded by the Governor’s Traffic Safety Committee (GTSC). The GTSC and the New York State STOP-DWI Foundation remind motorists that their “Have a Plan” mobile app, is available for Apple, Android and Windows smartphones. The app enables New Yorkers to locate and call a taxi or rideshare service and program a designated driver list. It also provides information on DWI laws and penalties, and provides a way to report a suspected impaired driver.

If you drive drunk or drugged, you not only put your life and the lives of others at risk, you could face arrest, jail time, and substantial fines and attorney fees. The average drinking and driving arrest costs up to $10,000.
Arrested drunk and drugged drivers face the loss of their driver’s license, higher insurance rates, and dozens of unanticipated expenses from attorney fees, fines and court costs, car towing and repairs, and lost time at work.
The New York State Police, GTSC and National Highway Traffic Safety Administration recommend these simple tips to prevent impaired driving:

• Plan a safe way home before the fun begins;
• Before drinking, designate a sober driver;
• If you’re impaired, use a taxi or ride sharing service, call a sober friend or family member, or use public transportation;
• Use your community’s sober ride program;
• If you suspect a driver is drunk or impaired on the road, don’t hesitate to contact local law enforcement;
• If you know someone who is about to drive or ride while impaired, take their keys and help them make other arrangements to get to where they are going safely.

The High Wind Watch posted for today by The National Weather service has been elevated to a High Wind Warning for most of the region including Genesee, Wyoming and Orleans counties.
The Warning will be in effect from 10 o’clock this morning expiring at 1:00 a.m. on Thanksgiving.
The weather service is predicting 30 to 40 mile per hour winds out of the Southwest with gusts reaching up to 60.
Other than the usual concern for downed tree limbs and power lines leading to scattered power outages, officials are reminding residents that unsecured holiday decorations could also be damaged in the high winds.

Three Albion Middle School students accused of conspiring to attack fellow students and staff are now slated for trial in January.
The three were placed on probation and ordered to undergo mental health exams after appearing in family court yesterday.
The students have been charged with conspiracy to commit a felony according to authorities.
The trio is due back in court next month.

County lawmen’s top dog is getting another protective coat this Christmas.
K-9 Frankie will receive a bullet and stab protective vest as a charitable donation according to the sheriff’s office.
The vest is being provided by the non-profit group “Vested Interest” and will be embroidered, “in memory of GS-29.” In honor of the late deputy Frank Bordonaro, Frankie’s name sake.
Frankie was attacked with a knife during a stand-off on Liberty Street just last week but was fortunately uninjured.

Holley woman busted for lifting smokes from a business on the Rez.
Genesee County Sheriff’s Deputies took 49 year old Susan Devault of North Main Street Holley into custody following investigation into a larceny complaint where she was accused of stealing a carton of cigarettes from a Bloomingdale Road business on the Tonawanda Indian Reservation.
Devault was hit with a count of Petit Larceny and issued an appearance ticket returnable to Alabama Town Court on December 11th.

New information has been revealed in the case of an Allegany County teenager accused of killing his parents.
Prosecutors say 17-year-old William Larson Junior told police his father
William Larson Senior killed his mother Lisa before throwing a knife at him.
Larson Junior admitted to shooting his father in the driveway of their Clarksville home, but denied hurting his mother.
The bodies of the victims were found following a fire at that residence last week.
An autopsy showed they suffered stab and gunshot wounds.
Larson Junior is due back in court December 17th.

Former Rochester City Court Judge Leticia Astacio will be spending 180 days behind bars.
A judge sentenced her yesterday after Astacio violated her probation.
Astacio was on probation following a DWI conviction in 2016.
In court, Astacio admitted to not showing up for probation hearings so she could end up in front of a judge and argue that the sentence for her DWI conviction is illegal.
The State Court of Appeals removed Astacio from the bench after several run-ins with the law.

The problem is simple, there are too many deer in places where most people do not want them.
It’s become a nuisance and problematic for the City of Batavia to control.
A wildlife expert from the state briefed city council last night and dispelled the widely held belief that humans are pushing the deer out of their natural habitat.

Susan Booth-Binczik says residential neighborhoods create an excellent environmental for white tailed deer.
The most efficient way to control the population is hunting.

City Council President Gene Jankowski favors that approach:

City Council President Eugene Jankowski

The city is expected to soon form a committee to come up with a plan. Jankowski likes the idea of bow hunting deer in the city – less noisy.

Genesee County’s K-9 deputy gets an extra layer of protection.
The sheriff’s office announcing today that K-9 Frankie will receive a bullet and stab protective vest as a charitable donation.
A non-profit group called Vested Interest in K-9 will provide the vest to Frankie. It will be embroidered, “in memory of GS-29.” In honor of the late deputy Frank Bordonaro, Frankie’s name sake.
Just last week during a stand-off on Liberty Street Frankie was attacked with a knife but fortunately not hurt.

Susan Tercero, Macy’s Parade Producer

A High Wind Watch has been posted for the day before Thanksgiving.
The National Weather service forecasts southwest winds of 30 to 40 miles per hour with gusts up to 60.
The Watch takes effect at 7 tomorrow morning until 10 tomorrow night.
The High Wind Watch covers Genesee, Wyoming and Orleans counties.

Gusty winds on Thursday might cause problems for the balloons in Macy’s Thanksgiving Day Parade.
Producer Susan Tercero says it’s still too early to determine if the balloons will fly.

Winds could gust in New York City up to 40-mph on Thanksgiving Day.
City officials do not allow the balloons to fly if there are sustained winds higher than 23-mph. It could be the first time in 48 years the balloons don’t fly.

Governor Cuomo has signed off on a new law preventing consumer agencies from using your social media accounts to determine your credit worthiness.
The governor says basing someone’s credit score on who they know online is an invasion of privacy and can penalize low-income residents.
According to the government, 75-percent of credit scores are wrong since they’re based on incorrect information.
A low score could affect people when they go to apply for jobs or even fill out a housing application.

Big Pauly is hanging up his pizza pan.
Paul Berardini is selling his shop after 15 years of ownership and a total of 35 years making pies. He is selling to his manager Angela Cinquino who plans to open at the same location next week under the name of Cinquino Pizza.
Ironically, Berardini began his career working for Cinquino’s father.

“Big Pauly” Berardinia turns over his pizza oven to Angela Cinquino, who will re-open the pizza shop next week under her name

PHOTO: Courtesy The Batavian

File Photo: K-9 Frankie with his handler, Deputy Chris Erion at Niagara Falls

Genesee County Sheriff’s Office K9 Frankie will receive a bullet and stab protective vest thanks to a charitable donation from non-profit organization
Vested Interest in K9s, Inc. and private citizen donors. K9 Frankie is a
2 1/2-year-old Belgian Malinois from Holland and was named in honor of deceased Deputy Frank Bordonaro. K9 Frankie’s vest will be embroidered with the sentiment “In memory of GS-29.” Delivery is expected within eight to ten weeks.

Vested Interest in K9s, Inc. is a 501c (3) charity located in East Taunton, MA whose mission is to provide bullet and stab protective vests and other assistance to dogs of law enforcement and related agencies throughout the United States. The non-profit was established in 2009 to assist law enforcement agencies with this potentially lifesaving body armor for their four-legged K9 officers. Since its inception, Vested Interest in K9s, Inc. provided over 3,500 U.S. made, custom fitted, NIJ certified protective vests, in 50 states, through private and corporate donations, at a value of $6.9 million dollars.

The program is open to dogs actively employed in the U.S. with law enforcement or related agencies who are certified and at least 20 months of age. New K9 graduates, as well as K9s with expired vests, are eligible to participate.

The donation to provide one protective vest for a law enforcement K9 is $950. Each vest has a value between $1,744 – $2,283 and a five-year warranty, and an average weight of 4-5 lbs. There is an estimated 30,000 law enforcement K9s throughout the United States.

A High Wind Watch has been posted for the Day before Thanksgiving.
The National Weather Service today issued the alert to take effect Wednesday morning at 7 through Wednesday night at 10.
Southwest winds of 30 to 40 miles per hour are forecast with gusts up to 60 mph.
The Watch includes Genesee, Wyoming and Orleans counties.

Gusty winds on Thursday might cause problems for the Macy’s Thanksgiving Day Parade balloons.
Winds could gust in New York City up-to-40-miles-an hour on Thanksgiving Day.
City officials don’t allow balloons to fly if there are sustained winds higher than 23 mph or gusts over 34-mph
If the balloons are grounded, it will be the first time they don’t fly since 1971.

A fracas on Ross Street ends in the arrest of two.
Batavia Police say Justin Mcgirr and Jeremiah Jones got into fisty-cuffs Saturday afternoon. Both were charged with disorderly conduct, given court appearance tickets and released.

Funeral services have been announced for the Allegany County parents allegedly murdered by their son.
Police say the bodies of William Larson Senior and Lisa Larson were found inside their Town of Clarksville home following a fire Thursday.
Their son, 17-year-old William Larson Junior, is now facing murder charges. The funeral for his parents will be tomorrow afternoon in Cuba, New York.

If you’re one of the millions of drivers hitting the road this week, you’ll find steady prices at the pump.
According to Triple A, the average cost for a gallon of regular gas in Western New York is $2.67
That’s the same as it was last week and is a penny cheaper than this time a month ago. Triple-A puts the average price of a gallon of gas in Batavia at $2.66.

Howmac Dancer (Photo courtesy of Paul White)

Press Release:

By Tim Bojarski, for Batavia Downs

Batavia, NY — A late-comer to the party, Renaldo Morales III headed to Genesee County upon the completion of the Tioga Downs meet and since arriving has become one of the hotter drivers in the area. On Saturday (Nov. 23) he continued to streak as he won four races, including both pacing features at Batavia Downs.

In the $12,500 Open I Handicap Morales put Howmac Dancer right on the point and led the entire race by open lengths. After setting easy fractions of :28, :57.1 and 1:25.2, Morales let Howmac Dancer out a notch in the far turn and the gelding roared away down the lane, opening up a 3-½ length lead in a :28.1 final quarter to win in 1:53.3.

It was the sixth win at Batavia Downs and eighth of the year for Howmac Dancer ($6.10) who is owned by the Burke Racing Stable and Weaver Bruscemi. James Clouser Jr. trains the winner.

Then in the $11,000 Open II pace, Morales did an about-face and took In Runaway Bay N off the gate and sat a snug fourth on the pegs through the first half. From there he pulled second-over behind Southwind Onyx (Kyle Cummings), followed that cover to the three-quarters where Southwind Onyx took the lead from Lots Of Loving (Denny Bucceri) and then ran that one down in the stretch to win by 1-½ lengths in 1:55.2.

In Runaway Bay N ($4.30) is owned by Mark Jakubik and trained by Angelo Nappo.

Morales completed his Grand Slam behind Weekend Atnannies (1:56, $8.10) and Cee Pee Panic (1:58, $2.70).

Racing resumes at Batavia Downs on Wednesday (Nov. 27) with pot time at 6 p.m. This will be the final Wednesday of live racing this year.

The 2019-2020 Swimming & Diving Team

Press Release:

POTSDAM, NY… The Genesee Community College swimming and diving team competed at the two-day North Country Invitational at SUNY Potsdam with both teams coming in fourth place. Genesee swam against NCAA D-1 Clarkson University, NCAA D-2 Saint Michael’s College, and NCAA D-3 SUNY Potsdam.

In day one of the North Country Invite, the women’s 400 medley relay team of Bria Ohlson, Ashton Laird, Brianna McMullen, and Ana Carolina Cerezer Pinto placed seventh. The men’s 400 medley relay team of Tyler Stachowiak, Ethan Heim, Carlitos Sanchez, and Daniel Nickerson placed fourth. Nickerson placed 12th in the 500 freestyle. Brianna McMullen placed seventh in the 200 IM. Ethan Heim finished fifth in the men’s 200 IM. Bri Davis, Ana Carolina Cerezer Pinto, Ashley Hearn, and Madison Hammond swam in the 50 freestyle. Raymond Pray finished 14th in the men’s 50 freestyle. Ashton Laird finished seventh in the women’s 200 backstroke, while Tyler Stachowiak placed sixth in the men’s backstroke. Carlitos Sanchez finished eighth in the men’s 100 Butterfly. Ethan Heim finished eighth in the men’s 100 Breaststroke. The women’s 200 freestyle relay team of Bri Davis, Ana Carolina Cerezer Pinto, Ashton Laird and Brianna McMullen finished fourth. The men’s 200 relay team of Tyler Stachowiak, Daniel Nickerson, Ethan Heim, and Carlitos Sanchez finished in fourth place.

On day two of the North Country Invite at SUNY Potsdam, Brianna McMullen and Ana Carolina Cerezer Pinto placed 13th and 14th respectively in the 100 Freestyle. Carlitos Sanchez finished fourth in the men’s 100 Freestyle with Raymond Pray placing 10th. Sanchez and Pray finished seventh and eighth in the men’s 100 Backstroke. Ethan Heim and Tyler Stachowiak were both in the top ten in the 200 Breaststroke. Ashton Laird finished ninth in the women’s 100 Backstroke. Daniel Nickerson swam in the men’s 200 Freestyle. The women’s 400 relay team of Bri Davis, Ana Carolina Cerezer Pinto, Ashton Laird, and Brianna McMullen finished fourth, while the men’s team of Tyler Stachowiak, Daniel Nickerson, Ethan Heim, and Carlitos Sanchez finished third.

Genesee returns to the pool on Saturday, December 7 at the Monroe CC Invitational starting at 1pm. The meet will take place at Monroe Community College in Henrietta, NY.

Alayah Sweeney (24), Haley Alvord (3), and Erina Ishiguro (42) look to take the ball back against the Bobcats Saturday afternoon (Xi Lin – Genesee Athletics)

Press Release:

BATAVIA, NY… The Genesee Community College women’s basketball team fell to the Bryant & Stratton College Bobcats of Rochester 62-43 Saturday afternoon, dropping their season record to 3-5. After enjoying a six-point lead at halftime, the Bobcats came back and outscored the Cougars 42-17 in the second half to pull away to the 19-point victory.

Erina Ishiguro led the team in scoring with nine points and three assists. Alayah Sweeney had 14 rebounds to lead Genesee. Abigail Willis had seven points off the bench.
Genesee travels to Villa Maria College Monday at 6:00pm.

City Police report the arrest of 28 year old Timothy Zorn of Batavia following report of a domestic dispute at a Hall Street residence in the city.
Zorn was taken into custody last Thursday afternoon after being accused of choking an individual during the incident and is now facing counts of Criminal Obstruction of Breathing, Assault and Unlawful Imprisonment.
He was ultimately released under supervision of Genesee Justice with appearance tickets returnable to City Court on December 4th.

Two Batavia men busted for brawling on Ross Street.
37 year old Justin Mcgirr and Jeremiah Jones were both collared by City Police after they were allegedly observed fighting on Ross Street Saturday afternoon.
Both were charged with Disorderly Conduct by way of fighting or violent behavior and both were given appearance tickets for Batavia City Court at a later date.

Funeral services have been announced for the Clarksville parents allegedly murdered by their son.
Police say the bodies of William Larson Senior and Lisa Larson were found inside their Courtney Hollow Road home following a fire Thursday.
Their son, 17-year-old William Larson Junior, is now facing murder and manslaughter charges.
The funeral for his parents will be tomorrow afternoon at Mark F. Rinker Funeral Home in Cuba.

Ken’s Charcoal Pits is changing ownership.
Derek Geib, the owner of Bourbon & Burger Co. and The Coffee Press, has recently acquired Ken’s Charcoal Pits from local businessman Ken Mistler.
The main restaurant menu is expected to change, however the pizza and charcoal pits will remain the same according to Geib.
Geib isn’t ready to announce the new name of the restaurant just yet but is hoping to make the most of the changes by early next year.

The Buffalo Bills are off to their best start since 1996 following a big win at home.
Quarterback Josh Allen threw for 185 yards and two touchdowns as the Bills beat the Denver Broncos 20 to three at New Era Field yesterday.
Buffalo is now eight-and-three on the season and sitting two games behind the New England Patriots for first place in the AFC East.
The Bills are back in action Thanksgiving Day when they visit the Dallas Cowboys.

The Genesee County Sheriff’s Office, City of Batavia and the Village of LeRoy Police Department will participate in a special enforcement effort to crackdown on impaired driving over the Thanksgiving Holiday weekend.
The statewide STOP-DWI Crackdown efforts start on November 27th and will end on December 1st.

A final reminder to residents that City wide leaf collection resumes today.
To take advantage of the last leaf sweep of the season the city asks that residents place leaves in the parkway near the curb line.

Press Release:

Assemblyman Steve Hawley (R,C,I-Batavia) announced today that application guidelines are available for the Lake Ontario Business Resiliency Program at https://esd.ny.gov/lake-ontario-business-resiliency-program.

This program will support private businesses, homeowners associations, certain not-for-profits, farms and owners of multiple dwellings that are located in Niagara, Orleans, Monroe, Wayne, Cayuga, Oswego, Jefferson or St. Lawrence counties that sustained damage from high water levels in the vicinity of Lake Ontario and the St. Lawrence River between January 1, 2019 and October 31, 2019.

“Tragically, many businesses have been severely damaged by Lake Ontario’s record flooding the past year but, help is available to rebuild and fortify businesses along the shoreline,” Hawley said. “It is paramount that all affected business owners do not delay and submit applications by January 31, 2020. As always, my office is available to help navigate this process and I am pleased to see so many coming together to lift up those struggling in our community.”

The Lake Ontario Business Resiliency Program will provide up to $30 million in grants to reimburse up to 50% of the costs of resiliency-related capital improvement projects. The minimum award eligibility amount is $10,000 with a maximum award amount of up to $200,000 for resiliency projects. As a condition of receiving a grant, eligible entities must also receive a local matching contribution totaling at least 5% of the state grant.

For inquiries about the program, email LakeOntario@esd.ny.gov or call 518-292-5100. All applications must be postmarked by January 31, 2020 and delivered to Empire State Development at 625 Broadway, Albany, NY 12245.

(Photo courtesy of Paul White)

Press Release:

By Tim Bojarski, for Batavia Downs

Batavia, NY — After making back-to-back breaks earlier this month forcing him to qualify, Lougazi rebounded from an off-track last week to score an easy 1-¼ length victory in the $12,500 Open I Handicap trot at Batavia Downs on Friday evening (Nov. 22).

Rockefeller Lindy (Dave McNeight III) inherited the lead off the pylons as no one else left in the abbreviated field of five. He took advantage of the situation and went a pedestrian :29 to the quarter and :59.1 to the half. Lougazi (Ray Fisher Jr.) pulled first-over at that station and began to pursue around the third turn.

The race was on as Lougazi engaged Rockefeller Lindy on the backstretch and the two then trotted side-by-side to the three-quarters and around the last turn. Heading into the lane Lougazi took control, cleared and trotted away in the stretch, hitting the wire a wrapped-up winner in 1:58.3.

Lougazi ($3.00) raised his earnings for the year to $89,375 after scoring his ninth win for owner Mary Warriner and trainer Ryan Swift.

In the $11,000 Open II trot, Ticket To Seattle (Renaldo Morales III) tripped-out behind Majestic Kat (Billy Davis Jr.) until halfway down the stretch when he tipped-out and blew by his cover at the light to win in 1:59. A $21.60 upset winner, Ticket To Seattle is owned by William Emmons and trained by James Clouser Jr.

Dave McNeight III was the top driver on Friday with three wins.

There is a $1,200 carryover for the Pick-5 wager in the first race on Saturday (Nov. 23) when live racing resumes at Batavia Downs with a 6 p.m. post time.

Following a suspicious fire with two dead bodies inside an Allegany County residence, State Police have taken a Clarksville teen into custody.
Troopers held a 17 hour man-hunt to track down 17 year old William Larson Junior after the teen was seen leaving the residence during the fire and before law enforcement arrived.
Investigators say Larson lived at the residence and he is now facing two counts of second degree Murder and two counts of Manslaughter.
The names of the victims haven’t been released, but police don’t believe they were killed by the fire. Investigation remains on-going.

Perry police bust a Batavia resident for DWI.
39 year old Celestino Barrera-Antunez of Batavia was stopped for driving with only one headlight by Perry Police on South Main Street in Perry just after midnight into Friday morning.
Police reported that Barrera-Antunez had bloodshot eyes and that his breath had the odor of an alcoholic beverage.
Following a series of roadside sobriety tests Barrera-Antunez was arrested and charged with DWI and operating a motor vehicle with one headlight.
Barrera-Antunez was released on appearance tickets for Perry Village Court at a later date.

Batavia man arrested following a harassment complaint.
Troopers based out of Batavia took 25 year old Alexander Wallace into custody following investigation into a harassment complaint last week.
Wallace was charged with two class A Misdemeanor counts of providing a False Written Statement and was released with an appearance ticket as the investigation is pending into the incident.

Downtown restaurant in Batavia changes hands.
The owner of Bourbon & Burger Co. and The Coffee Press, Derek Geib, has acquired Ken’s Charcoal Pits from local businessman Ken Mistler.
According to Geib, while the main restaurant menu will change, the pizza and charcoal pits will remain the same.
Geib isn’t ready to announce the new name of the restaurant just yet but is hoping to make the most of the changes by early next year.

The Buffalo Bills are looking to make a push towards the playoffs with just six games left in the regular season.
They’re hosting the Denver Broncos at New Era Field in Orchard Park this weekend.
Buffalo is coming off a win over the Miami Dolphins and is two games behind the New England Patriots for first place in the AFC East.
Kickoff for Sunday’s game is set for one p-m.

On Monday City wide leaf collection will resume.
The recent snowfall put the city slightly behind schedule however the anticipated thaw this weekend has allowed for one final sweep.
To take advantage of the last leaf sweep of the season the city asks that residents place leaves in the parkway near the curb line.

State Police have taken a teenager into custody following a suspicious fire in Allegany County.
Troopers had been searching for 17-year-old William Larson Junior since two bodies were found inside a home in Clarksville yesterday. Investigators say Larson lived at the residence.
The names of the victims haven’t been released, but police don’t believe they were killed by the fire.

Former Vice President Joe Biden continues to be the favored candidate among Democrats in New York State.
A new Siena College poll shows Biden with a 10-point lead over Massachusetts Senator Elizabeth Warren and an 11-point edge over Vermont Senator Bernie Sanders.
That’s the largest lead Biden has had over the competition since at least September.

The 18th annual Holland Land Office Museum “Wonderland of Trees” begins later today.
Doors open at 6 this evening for the basket auction.
There will be music and hors d’oeuvres until 8:30 tonight.
Tickets for the kick-off event are $15, $10 for museum members and $5 for children under 12.

With just six games left in the regular season, the Buffalo Bills are looking to make a push towards the playoffs.
They’re hosting the Denver Broncos at New Era Field in Orchard Park this weekend.
Buffalo is coming off a win over the Miami Dolphins and is two games behind the New England Patriots for first place in the AFC East.
Kickoff for Sunday’s game is set for one p-m.

Press Release:

By Tim Bojarski, for Batavia Downs

Batavia, NY — Horsemen and horsewomen are reminded of the draw schedule for Thanksgiving week at Batavia Downs.

A double draw will be held on Tuesday (Nov. 26) for races to be held on Friday (Nov. 29) and Saturday (Nov. 30). The entry box will close at 9 am for both days.

After the draw, the judges must receive driver changes for Friday’s card (Nov. 29) by 1 p.m. on Tuesday (Nov. 26). Drivers changes for Saturday’s card (Nov. 30) are due by 10 a.m. Wednesday (Nov. 27).

For more information or to make phone entries please call the Batavia Downs Race Office at 585-344-6161.

Press Release:

Holland Land Office Museum Wonderland Of Trees Kickoff Basket Raffle and More

We are ready for our 18th Annual Wonderland of Trees Kickoff! Our baskets are nestled all snug in their places, so come on down today or tomorrow during business hours if you want a sneak peak and to get your choices in early! Not only do we have close to 40 gift baskets for our raffle but we also have a beautiful tree to win decorated by the lovely ‘Anything Your Heart Desires’ Florist. If you would rather try your luck at winning Cash grab a couple of tickets for our 50/50 raffle instead.

The Kickoff starts Friday November 22nd at 6 pm and will continue until 8:30 pm. There will be delicious hors d’oeuvres provided by the D & R Depot throughout the night to enjoy while you listen to music performed by voice students of Sound Foundation Voice Studio as well as a flute ensemble from Batavia Middle School.
Tickets for the Kickoff can be purchased online, by calling (585) 343-4727 or stopping into the Museum for $15 per person, $10 per member or $5 per child under 12.

Tickets for the basket raffle are $2 per ticket, 10 tickets for $10 or 25 tickets for $20.

Tickets for the 50/50 raffle are $1 per ticket or 5 tickets for $4.

At the Kickoff we will be holding a silent auction for a couple of the bigger items so make sure you don’t miss out.
Winners will be pulled at 8:15 pm at the Kickoff but you don’t have to be present to win!
What a great way to kickoff the holidays with food and entertainment for the whole family!

Following the election of Durin Rogers as Batavia’s full-time City Court Justice, City Council is now seeking qualified candidates who want to fill the part-time City Court Judge position Rogers once held.
To be eligible candidates must be a current attorney in New York State and for at least the past five years.
Those interested are encouraged to send letters to City Council President Gene Jankowski, in care of city hall.
The deadline to apply is December 2nd for the six year term to the part-time post which begins January 1st of 2020. Follow the link for more information on the posting.

Assault in the City lands a South Swan Street woman in lock-up.
Following investigation into an incident in an upper apartment of a South Swan Street address last Friday Batavia Police took 52 year old Cynthia Mack into custody.
Mack allegedly punched an individual in the face and causing a laceration, while violating an order of protection that was in place against her.
She was arraigned in City Court and subsequently was committed to the County Jail without bail.

Speeding in Alabama ends in a DWI arrest for a Medina woman.
38 year old Christina Taylor of S. Academy Street Medina was taken into custody by Genesee County Sheriff’s Deputies early yesterday morning after she was stopped for speeding on Alleghany road in Alabama.
Taylor was charged with DWI upon further investigation and was issued appearance tickets to appear on December 18th in Alabama Town Court.

Two Batavia residents arrested for fraud.
64 year old Linda Thomas was arrested by Troopers out of Batavia two Class A Misdemeanor counts of providing a False Written Statement following investigation into an incident on the first of October.
Thomas was arrested on October 30th and on Wednesday 26 year old Richard Demmer of Batavia was taken into custody on a Class C Felony count of possessing a Forged Instrument from the same investigation.
Both were given appearance tickets for Batavia Town Court.

Medina woman faces DWI after stopped for speeding in Alabama.
Genesee County Sheriff’s Deputies took 38 year old Christina Taylor of S. Academy Street Medina into custody just after midnight into yesterday morning after she was stopped for speeding on Alleghany road in Alabama.
Upon further investigation Taylor was charged with DWI and she was issued appearance tickets for Alabama Town Court on December 18th.

With just six games left in the regular season, the Buffalo Bills are looking to make a push towards the playoffs.
They’re hosting the Denver Broncos at New Era Field in Orchard Park this weekend.
Buffalo is coming off a win over the Miami Dolphins and is two games behind the New England Patriots for first place in the AFC East.
Kickoff for Sunday’s game is set for 1:00 p.m.

City wide leaf collection will resume on Monday, November 25 with one final sweep.
City Officials request residents place leaves in the parkways near the curb line if they want the City to collect leaves.
Residents can also bring leaves to the yard waste station on Law Street until December 14th

With the election of Durin Rogers to the position of full-time city court judge, Batavia is looking to fill the part-time post that Rogers vacated.
The term for the part-time post is six years beginning January 1st.
Candidates must be an attorney in New York State for at least five years.
Letters of interest should be directed City Council President Gene Jankowski, in care of city hall.
The deadline to send those letters is December 2nd.

City wide leaf collection will resume on Monday.
The recent snowfall put the city a bit behind schedule.
The city asks that residents take advantage of the anticipated thaw this weekend and place leaves in the parkway near the curb line…that’s the area between the sidewalk and the curb.

Recognition for two local businesses today.
General Motors has recognized Ken Barrett Chevrolet for a quarter Century of service to Batavia.
Officials from GM presented owner Ken Barrett with an award recognizing his 25 years in city. Barrett gives credit to his 41 employees…

Photo: Ken Barrett, left, with officials of General Motors

Ken Barrett Chevrolet has hosted WBTA’s annual Christmas Toy Drive in conjunction with the Salvation Army for all of the dealerships 25 years.
This year’s drive will be held on December 13th.

Tompkins Bank of Castile, based here in Batavia, has been recognized with an award from the Small Business Administration.
The bank was singled out for making 5-million dollars in SBA loans over the past year. The cash supported 345 jobs in the local economy.

Where were you when the pickles flew?  A Genesee County Sheriff’s Deputy dispatched to the parking lot of Oakfield’s 7-11. Reportedly two women were throwing a jar of pickles at each other. The caller said the combatants appeared to be (sic) pickled.

Press Release:

The City Council is seeking to fill a part-time City Court Judge position. This position is appointed by City Council to serve a six (6) year term and will be effective January 1, 2020. Minimum qualifications require candidates to be an attorney admitted to practice law in the State of New York for at least five (5) years as of the date he or she commences the duties of the office and must be a resident of the City of Batavia.

All interested candidates please submit a letter of interest and resume to:

City Court Judge
Attn: City Council President Eugene Jankowski, Jr.
One Batavia City Centre
Batavia, New York 14020

Resumes and letters of interest are due by 4:30 p.m. on December 2, 2019. Please provide 10 hard copies of your materials directly to the City Manager’s office as well as an electronic copy.

If there are any questions, please contact:

Office of the City Manager
One Batavia City Centre
Batavia, New York 14020
Phone: (585) 345-6330
Fax: (585) 343-8182
E-mail: mmoore@batavianewyork.com

Press Release:

City leaf collection will resume on Monday, November 25, 2019 and will make one final sweep of the City for leaf collection. We ask residents take advantage of the current snow thaw this weekend to place leaves in the parkways near the curb line if they want the City to collect leaves. Please, do not pile leaves around sign posts, trees, fire hydrants or light poles, this prevents the equipment from being able to collect the leaves.

Residents can also bring leaves to the yard waste station on Law Street (Mon- Sat 11AM to 5PM until December 14th. Closed Thanksgiving Day).

(Photo courtesy of Paul White)

Press Release:

By Tim Bojarski, for Batavia Downs

Batavia, NY — Just to prove last week’s 5-¾ length win was no fluke, Lady London moved up to the top class and wired the field again in the $12,500 Open I Handicap pace for fillies and mares at Batavia Downs on Wednesday night (Nov.20).

Driver Ray Fisher Jr. was decisive in strategy and repeated last weeks script; he left strong with Lady London and called out every quarter. They went :28 to the quarter and :57.1 to the half with the field in single file, and then rolled to the three-quarters in 1:25.4 with Squeeze This (Billy Davis Jr.) following close in the pocket and the favored HP Sissy (Drew Monti) winging it first-over on the rim.

Coming off the final bend HP Sissy stalled and Squeeze This popped the deuce and was in full flight coming for home. She made up ground all the way down the lane but despite her valiant attempt to close the gap, Squeeze This fell a nose short to Lady London who stayed tough and won in 1:56.

It was the eighth win of the year for Lady London ($7.50) who has now earned $70,873 for owner VHF Racing. Sabrina Shaw is the trainer.

In the $9,000 under-feature, Little Joke (Billy Davis Jr.) dropped from Open II company and looked impressive as the heavy favorite with a wire to wire 1-1/4 length victory in 1:57.1. The eighth win of the year for Little Joke ($2.40) pushed her earnings to $74,428 for owners Vogel and Wags Nags Stable and Jack Rice. Maria Rice trains the winner.

Ray Fisher Jr. and Denny Bucceri led all drivers on Wednesday with three wins each.

Live racing resumes at Batavia Downs on Friday (Nov. 22) with post time at 6 p.m.

Press Release:

The 2019 Market Basket Survey reveals a 15% price decrease for the classic Thanksgiving Day dinner compared to the price of last year’s meal. The average total price this year, which includes a 16-pound turkey, is $48.73. This is down over last year’s survey of $57.57, much of that attributed to a reduction in retail turkey prices.

Turkey prices are about $1.27 per pound in New York State, down about 31% on average in this informal survey compared to 2018. Prices found by volunteer shoppers ranged from $.37/lb. to $2.49/lb. This price is comparable to the national average of $1.30 per pound. As we move closer to Thanksgiving, turkey prices may continue to drop in the stores, reflecting sales in the final days before the holiday.

The New York numbers did show modest price increase in several categories including for a gallon of whole milk, Libby’s Pumpkin Pie Mix, and for many of the vegetables on the list.

This year’s survey also includes comparable numbers for an expanded menu that includes a four-pound ham, five-pound bag of russet potatoes and a package of frozen green beans. New York Farm Bureau included those in the survey for the first-time last year, reflecting more diversity in traditional Thanksgiving meals. When those prices are included, the total meal price jumps to $62.26.

The survey reveals that the classic meal remains affordable with a price point of under five dollars per person for a 10-person meal. The affordability demonstrates that although farmers and ranchers are dealing with a variety of issues, consumers still benefit from lower retail prices, in part because the actual cost of the food – the portion paid to farmers – is only eight cents of each dollar consumers spend on food at the store.

“It is good news for consumers that this year’s dinner is more affordable than last Thanksgiving. Farmers have faced a difficult year with low commodity prices, weather challenges and trade disruptions, but because of their tenacity and hard work, Americans can still enjoy a nutritious dinner on their tables. This season, we should all give thanks to the farm families and their employees in New York who make it possible to feed ourselves,” said Phyllis Couture, Chair of New York Farm Bureau’s Promotion and Education Committee.

This survey is one of the responsibilities of the NYFB State Promotion and Education Committee which also participates in the American Farm Bureau Federation’s Quarterly Market Basket Survey. AFBF’s 34th annual informal national price survey of classic items found on the Thanksgiving Day dinner table indicates the average national cost of this year’s feast is $48.91, slightly more than New York’s number. The national price for the expanded menu is $62.32. More information on the national survey can be found at www.fb.org.

New York Farm Bureau’s volunteer shoppers sampled prices at 31 different supermarkets throughout the state trying to get the best prices available, but they did not use promotional coupons or special deals such as “buy one-get one free.” The shopping list includes 15 common Thanksgiving food items ranging from turkey and rolls to stuffing and celery to pumpkin pie mix, enough to feed 10 people around the dinner table. An average for miscellaneous ingredients, like flour and butter, is also included. The 2019 Thanksgiving survey displayed considerable price variation across the state as well as within the regions surveyed. No area had the highest or lowest in every category. The best advice for shoppers is to compare prices to save money. The numbers below reflect the overall average of the volunteer shoppers, and this is not meant to be a true scientific survey, but rather a snapshot of what shoppers may find leading up to the holiday.

Market Basket Survey Comparison       2019 Average Price       2018 Average Price
Frozen, Self-Basting Turkey 16 lb.        $20.38                             $29.68
Herb-seasoned cube stuffing 14oz.       $2.64                               $3.02
Enriched Brown & Serve Rolls 12 oz./12 per pkg. $2.96            $3.26
Gallon of Whole Milk                               $2.90                               $2.54
Frozen Green Peas 16oz. pkg.                 $1.34                               $1.40
Libby’s Pumpkin Pie Mix 30oz. can      $3.20                              $2.48
9 in. frozen pie shell- 2 count                 $2.75                               $3.37
Whipping Cream ½ pint carton            $2.17                               $2.18
Fresh Carrots per pound                         $1.22                               $.98
One Bunch of Celery                                $2.10                               $1.84
Sweet Potatoes per pound                      $1.21                                $1.12
Package of Fresh Cranberries                $2.64                               $2.66
Miscellaneous Ingredients                     $3.22                               $3.01
Classic Thanksgiving Total                    $48.73                             $57.54

Half Bone-in Ham, 4 lbs.                       $8.86                               $10.82
Russet Potatoes, 5 lb. bag                      $3.26                               $3.30
Frozen Green Beans, 16 oz. pkg           $1.41                                $1.35
Expanded Dinner Total Price               $62.26                            $73.01

New York Farm Bureau does not make any statistical claims about the survey data, but it is a useful gauge of price trends across New York and the country for shoppers who look to compare prices.

Batavia Police have identified 45 year old Daniel Wolfe of 209 Liberty Street as the subject who held multiple law enforcement agencies at bay in a near 20 hour police stand off earlier this week.
Batavia’s Assistant Police Chief Todd Crossett said in a statement released yesterday that Wolfe was looking for a suicide by police intervention.
Wolfe is accused of firing multiple pellets from a BB gun at lawmen, and also of trying to stab The Sheriff’s Office K9.
He is now facing charges of Criminal Contempt, Criminal Possession of a Weapon, Menacing and Harassment.
After surrendering peacefully Tuesday morning Wolfe was initially taken to Strong Hospital.
Upon his release from the hospital he was taken into police custody, and after being arraigned in Batavia City Court he was ordered to be held in the Genesee County Jail without bail. Additional charges are still pending in the matter.

Senator Chuck Schumer is going to bat for minor league baseball to rail against a proposal by Major League Baseball that would give the Muckdogs the ax.
Because baseball enjoys an exemption from anti-trust laws the plan has the potential to draw the attention of Congress according to Senator Schumer.
He says Congress has the power to overturn that exemption.
Schumer cited the importance of minor league ball during a telephone news conference yesterday…

Major League Baseball has proposed eliminating 42 minor league teams as a means of reducing the cost of player development.

Batavia man busted for grand larceny at Walmart.
Genesee County Sheriff’s Deputies report the arrest of 37 year old Ricky Lee Miller of North Spruce Street following investigation into a larceny from the Walmart in Batavia last month.
Miller was hit with a count of Grand larceny after he allegedly stole merchandise worth over one-thousand dollars from the store.
He has an appearance ticket for December 5th in Batavia Town Court.

There will be a Wind Advisory going into effect tonight for the region according to the National Weather Service out of Buffalo.
The advisory is in effect for areas including Orleans and Genesee Counties from 11 p.m. this evening to 10 a.m. tomorrow morning.
Forecasters are calling for westerly winds from 25 to 35 mph with gusts up to 50 mph.
Weather Service officials say the gusty winds could blow around unsecured objects down tree limbs and possibly lead to a few power outages.

An interesting report from the scanner last night as Police were called to the 7-11 in Oakfield just after midnight for a reported fight between 2 women.
The caller reported both women were fighting and appeared intoxicated, while one through a jar of pickles at the other.
There were no injuries reported from the incident.

The Sabres are in Boston tonight to take on the Bruins.
Buffalo has lost consecutive 4 to 1 games to the Blackhawks and Wild.
The Bruins have only lost three games in regulation through the first 21 games of this NHL season, and lead the division.

Daniel Wolfe

The subject of a 20 hour police standoff on Liberty Street earlier this week has been identified.
45 year old Daniel Wolfe of 209 Liberty has been charged criminal possession of a weapon, menacing and harassment.
He is currently being held in the Genesee County Jail without bail.

In a statement released today, Assistant Batavia Police Chief Todd Crossett said that Wolfe wanted police to kill him.
Wolfe allegedly fired shots at police from a BB rifle, and attempted to stab a police dog.

Wolfe was originally taken to Strong Hospital after he surrendered peacefully yesterday morning.
Upon his release from the hospital he was taken into police custody, arraigned in Batavia City Court and jailed.

Sen Charles Schumer (D-NY)

New York’s Senior Senator Chuck Schumer has now weighed in on a plan by Major League Baseball that would eliminate the Muckdogs from professional ball.
Schumer says the plan has the potential to draw the attention of Congress because baseball enjoys an exemption from anti-trust laws. Congress has the power to overturn that exemption.
During a telephone news conference today, Schumer cited the importance of minor league baseball…

Major League Baseball has proposed eliminating 42 minor league teams as a means of reducing the cost of player development.

Parents in the Albion Central School District are expressing concern after three students were arrested as part of a plot to attack the middle school. Some parents said their children were shaken up after it was revealed the three students were planning to use explosives and guns against their fellow students and staff.
The superintendent says extra patrols have been added as a precaution. The three students involved have been suspended and are receiving counseling.

News Release

On November 18, 2019 at approximately 1:18 PM, the Genesee County Dispatch Center received a domestic call at 209 Liberty Street. The caller reported that an intoxicated male struck a female and the male was in possession of a sword. It was also reported that the female was able to escape the residence. Officers from the Batavia Police Department arrived on scene and encountered the male who had barricaded himself inside the residence. The female was located and found safe at a neighbor’s home. The suspect, who remained inside the house, began shooting at officers with a BB rifle.

Immediately, the Batavia Police Department set up a perimeter around the residence and neighbors were told to shelter in place. The Batavia City School District was informed of the incident so appropriate measures could be taken to ensure the safety of the students, including the students attending the Jackson Primary school located a few blocks away.

Batavia Police Negotiators were called to the scene along with the Batavia Police Emergency Response Team (ERT), the New York State Police, and the Genesee County Sheriff’s Office / K9 Unit and the New York State Department of Environmental Conservation K9 Unit.

Daniel Wolfe, BPD Photo

Negotiators were able to make verbal contact with the suspect who was identified as Daniel Wolfe, age 45, who resided at 209 Liberty Street in the upstairs apartment. Wolfe repeatedly told negotiators that he wanted officers to kill him. He refused officers commands to come out of the house.

The Genesee County Sheriff’s K9 handler attempted to send in Frankie inside to safely take Wolfe into custody. Wolfe then attempted to slash Frankie with a knife, and the handler pulled Frankie back to safety.

Wolfe continued to tell officers, throughout the incident, that he wanted officers to kill him, and he threatened to shoot officers. Several options were tried to get Wolfe to surrender that included the launching of chemical agents into the residence and the use of robots/drones to determine where he was in the residence. Other negotiating and swat teams were called in to assist.

After approximately 20 hours, Wolfe exited the residence and surrendered to Detective Sargent Kevin Czora of the Batavia Police Department. Wolfe was transported to Strong Hospital for injuries he sustained during the incident. These injuries were self-inflicted. All officers on scene, and civilians in the neighborhood, were unharmed during this incident.

Wolfe was later released from Strong Hospital, at which time he was arrested by Batavia Police Department on Criminal Contempt 1st, two counts of Criminal Possession of a Weapon 3rd, Menacing 2nd, and harassment 2nd.

Wolfe was arraigned in Batavia City Court on November 19, 2019 and is being held without bail at the Genesee County Jail. He will re-appear in Batavia City Court on November 21, 2019 at 11:00 AM. Additional charges are pending at this time.

The Batavia Police Department would like to thank the Genesee County Sheriff’s Office, Orleans County SWAT, New York State Police troopers, negotiators, drone unit, K9 unit and SORT teams, the New York State Department of Environmental Conservation K9 Unit, Monroe County Crisis Negotiating Team, Genesee County Emergency Management, Genesee County Dispatch Center, City of Batavia Fire Department, Mercy EMS, and the numerous citizens who supported the efforts, both on the scene and in the days following this incident.

Press Release:

Genesee County STOP-DWI Coordinator Matt Landers announced today that the Genesee County Sheriff’s Office, City of Batavia Police Department and the Village of LeRoy Police Department will participate in a special enforcement effort to crackdown on impaired driving.

This Thanksgiving weekend, millions will hit the roads eager to spend time with family and friends. It’s 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 stop impaired driving, prevent injuries and save lives law enforcement officers across New York State will take to the roads. The statewide STOP-DWI Crackdown efforts start on November 27th and will end on December 1st.

Research shows that high-visibility enforcement can reduce impaired driving fatalities by as much as 20 percent. Sobriety checkpoints play a key part in raising awareness about the problem. New York State Police, County Sheriff and municipal law enforcement agencies across the state will be out in force.

The STOP-DWI Thanksgiving Weekend Crackdown is one of many statewide enforcement initiatives promoted by STOP-DWI NY and the Governor’s Traffic Safety Committee. Throughout the remainder of the year the Statewide STOP-DWI Crackdown Campaign will also target the national Holiday Season in December.

While STOP-DWI efforts across New York have led to significant reductions in the numbers of alcohol and drug related fatalities, still too many lives are being lost because of crashes caused by drunk or impaired drivers. Highly visible, highly publicized efforts like the STOP-DWI Crackdown Campaign aim to further reduce the incidence of drunk and impaired driving.

You can help to make a difference by Having a Sober Plan! Download our mobile app – “Have a Plan” and you will always be able to find a safe ride home www.stopdwi.org/mobileapp Impaired driving is completely preventable. All it takes is a little planning. Have a safe and happy Thanksgiving Weekend!

The Batavia Muckdogs may finally be getting the ax if a proposed revamp of minor league baseball is enacted.
A list of 42 minor league teams across the country, including the Muckdogs have been named as part of a proposal to sever major league affiliations.
Major League Baseball says it’s a business decision and that the farm club system is just too costly to maintain.
Jeff Lantz, Senior Market Director for Minor League Baseball tells WBTA News that the eliminations are only a proposal for now.
He’s confident professional baseball will still be played at Dwyer stadium this summer as the contract between baseball and the minor leagues does not expire until next September.
After that point remains the subject of negotiation according to Lantz.
Senator Chuck Schumer is expected to hold a televised press conference this afternoon raising strong objections to the reported proposal from Major League Baseball to restructure the Minor League Baseball system.
Schumer is expected to urge MLB to stop playing hardball and to work with local stakeholders on the ground to ensure that “America’s past time” doesn’t become a part of Upstate New York’s past.

No injuries reported as the 18 hour police stand-off on Liberty Street came to an end yesterday morning.
Batavia Police Investigator Kevin Czora spent hours building trust with the man who had barricaded himself inside a home at 209 Liberty before convincing him to surrender shortly before 9 a.m.
Assistant Police Chief Todd Crossett was on scene after the resolution…

The man was armed with a sword and a pellet gun and had taken several shots at police during the incident.
At one point during the standoff the man unsuccessfully attempted to stab the sheriff’s office K-9 Frankie, but the dog was not injured.
Police have not yet released the man’s identity or reported charges he may be facing this morning.

The start of the 2020 census is only a few months away, and Governor Cuomo says the state will be working hard to make sure everyone is counted.
New York will be spending millions of dollars on census outreach efforts. Several state agencies will be involved answering questions residents may have about the census process and making sure they fill out the proper documentation.
Governor Cuomo says the 2020 census is important since it affects representation in Congress and the amount of federal funds New York can receive.

Parents in the Albion Central School District are expressing concern after three students were arrested as part of a plot to attack the middle school.
During a meeting last night, some parents said their children were shaken up after it was revealed the three students were planning to use explosives and guns against their fellow students and staff.
The superintendent says extra patrols have been added as a precaution.
The three students involved have been suspended and are receiving counseling.

The struggles of the following a tough loss at home.
Zach Parise had a pair of goals as the Minnesota Wild beat the Sabres 4 to 1 at KeyBank Center last night.
Brandon Montour had the lone tally for Buffalo, who have won only one of their last nine games.
The Sabres will be back in action tomorrow night when they visit the Boston Bruins.

Batavia Muckdogs’ fans holding their breath today over the future of their team.

The Muckdogs are on a list of 42 minor league baseball teams across the country proposed to lose their major league affiliations.
Baseball says it’s a business decision. The farm club system is just too costly to maintain.

This afternoon, Minor League Baseball Senior Market Director Jeff Lantz tells WBTA News the chopping of Batavia and the other 41 teams remains only a proposal. The contract between baseball and the minor leagues does not expire until next September, insuring that baseball will be played this summer at Dwyer stadium. Beyond that, Lantz told us, remains the subject of negotiation.

Also this afternoon, Batavia City Manager Martin Moore says he was briefed on the situation last week by officials of the Muckdogs and the NYP League. Moore admits there is little the city can do to influence Baseball’s decision.

The 20-hour police stand-off on Liberty Street ended peacefully this morning.

Ast Batavia Police Chief Todd Crossett

BPD Investigator Kevin Czora successfully convinced a man who had barricaded himself inside a home at 209 Liberty to surrender.
Assistant Police Chief Todd Crossett described Czora’s contribution to the incident:

PHOTO Courtesy: The Batavian / Jim Burns

The unidentified man was armed with a sword and a pellet gun and had taken several shots at police who had cordoned off the area.
Police said that at one point during the standoff the man attempted to stab K-9 Frankie, the police dog of the sheriff’s office, but the dog was not injured.

Buffalo Bishop Richard Malone is revealing details of his brief meeting with Pope Francis. The pair spoke last week while Malone joined other religious leaders on a trip to the Vatican. Malone says he believes the Pontiff understands the difficulties he’s been facing. Malone has been criticized for his handling of the clergy sex-abuse scandal in the diocese. There have been calls for Malone to resign, but he says he’s not planning to do that.

After nearly 20 hours the Liberty Street Stand-off has come to an end this morning.

According to our news partner The Batavian the male subject was coaxed out of the residence by Detective Kevin Czora at around 9 this morning and walked to an ambulance about a block away from the scene.

More on this story as it develops.

A stand-off that began around 2 o’clock yesterday afternoon on Liberty Street apparently continued through the night and remains on-going this morning.
The incident started after emergency dispatchers received a report that a man carrying a sword had entered a home in the 200 block of Liberty Street.
Later police said the unidentified man had barricaded himself in an upstairs room and refused to come out armed with a sword and a pellet gun.
Batavia Police, Genesee County Sheriff’s Deputies and State Police cordoned off the section of Liberty Street and the man fired several pellets at police, shot out windows in the area and refused to come out peacefully.
The Orleans County SWAT team responded to the incident last night and at about 8 p.m., shot CS gas canisters into the house which only shut down communication with the subject for around 45 minutes.
Police Chief Shawn Heubusch explains why officers have not stormed the residence to apprehend the suspect…

Shortly before 11 p.m. last night Heubusch confirmed that the suspect unsuccessfully attempted to stab “Frankie,” the K-9 of Deputy Chris Erion.
No one has been reported injured including Frankie.
At around 6:13 a.m. this morning radio communication was reported that negotiators were coming to an end of their options.
For more on the story check the article by our news partner The Batavian.

42 minor league teams may get the ax by their Major League parent clubs.
The New York Times is reporting today that the Batavia Muckdogs are on the list.
It is part of an effort by M.L.B. to overhaul the lower minor leagues and the way players are developed to make it to the bigs.
Baseball has been sending signals of a minor league re-do for the past several months but this is the first time that actual teams have been named.
Also on the proposed chopping block is the Auburn Double Days, who like Batavia, are part of the New York Penn League.
Attempts to reach officials with the Muckdogs were unsuccessful.
The cellphone for Muckdogs General Manager Brendan Kelly is no longer in service.

Senate Minority Leader Chuck Schumer is continuing to push for a ban on the sale of flavored e-cigarettes.
At Depew High School yesterday, the New York Democrat said there’s legislation pending in the Senate that would put that ban in place. President Trump said back in September he supported a ban on these products, but The Washington Post reports he’s backing away from a ban due to concerns it could lead to job losses.
The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention says over 40 recent deaths have been connected to e-cigarette use.

Buffalo Bishop Richard Malone is revealing details of his brief meeting with Pope Francis.
The pair spoke last week while Malone joined other religious leaders on a trip to the Vatican.
Malone says he believes the Pontiff understands the difficulties he’s been facing. Malone has been criticized for his handling of the clergy sex-abuse scandal in the diocese.
There have been calls for Malone to resign, but he says he’s not planning to do that.

A stand-off continues on Liberty Street early this evening.
Batavia Police, Genesee County Sheriff’s Deputies and State Police have cordoned off the 200 block of Liberty Street for a man believed to be armed with a sword and a pellet gun.

Police Chief Shawn Heubusch says the man has fired several shots at police from the pellet gun and has refused to come out peace fully.
No one has been reported injured.

Heubusch categorizes the incident as a domestic disturbance.
It began around 2 p.m. Monday afternoon. The emergency dispatch center received a report that a man carrying a sword was walking on Liberty Street and entered a home. Later police said the unidentified man had barricaded himself in an upstairs room and refused to come out.

As a precaution, Jackson Primary school was placed on lockout.
Around 3:30 this afternoon the students were dismissed and board buses to be taken home.
The chief says police are continuing to work through a process to get the man to come out.

Major League Baseball is proposing to severe its parent club ties with 42 minor league teams across the county.
The New York Times is reporting today that the Batavia Muckdogs are on the list.
It is part of an effort by M.L.B. to overhaul the lower minor leagues and the way players are developed to make it to the bigs.
Baseball has been sending signals of a minor league re-do for the past several months but this is the first time that actual teams have been named.
Also on the proposed chopping block is the Auburn Double Days, who like Batavia, are part of the New York Penn League.
Attempts to reach officials with the Muckdogs were unsuccessful. The cellphone for Muckdogs General Manager Brendan Kelly is no longer in service.

Bishop Richard Malone is back home after spending several days at the Vatican.
He and several other bishops were in Rome to visit with Pope Francis and give a report on what’s going on in their respective dioceses.
Malone has been criticized for how he’s handled the clergy sex abuse scandal in the Buffalo Diocese which includes Genesee County.
He has rejected calls to step down, saying he’s planning to stay in his position until he’s required to retire in 2021.

Western New York drivers are continuing to find steady prices at the pump. According to Triple A, the average cost for a gallon of regular gas is $2.66. That’s down a penny from last week and is two cents cheaper than this time a month ago. Gas Buddy.com lists the average price of a gallon of regular in Batavia at the regional average of $2.66.

Major League Baseball is proposing to severe its parent club ties with 42 minor league teams across the county.
The New York Times is reporting today that the Batavia Muckdogs are on the list.

It is part of an effort by M.L.B. to overhaul the lower minor leagues and the way players are developed to make it to the bigs.
Baseball has been sending signals of a minor league re-do for the past several months but this is the first time that actual teams have been named.

Also on the proposed chopping block is the Auburn Double Days, who like Batavia, are part of the New York Penn League.

Attempts to reach officials with the Muckdogs were unsuccessful. The cellphone for Muckdogs General Manager Brendan Kelly is no longer in service.

Selassie (Tyler) Bourne (Left) and Erina Ishiguro (Right) named Genesee Athletics Athletes of the Week for the Week of November 18

Press Release:

BATAVIA, NY… Basketball players Selassie (Tyler) Bourne and Erina Ishiguro were named Genesee Athletes of the Week for the Week of November 18.

Selassie (Tyler) Bourne scored 40 points in Genesee’s 94-89 victory over Lakeland Community College. The sophomore Guard from Brooklyn, NY followed that performance with a 25-point performance, in a 90-87 win over Howard Community College.

Erina Ishiguro scored 23 points in Genesee’s 76-72 loss against Onondaga Community College. The sophomore from Yokohama, Japan scored 15 points against Lakeland Community College.

Genesee Basketball is on the road Tuesday at Cayuga Community College in an NJCAA Region III doubleheader starting at 5pm. Genesee returns home on Saturday, November 23 as the women host Bryant & Stratton College (Rochester) at 1pm and the men will host NY International Prep at 3pm. Both games will be streamed live on www.geneseeathletics.com.

(Photo courtesy of Paul White)

Press Release:

By Tim Bojarski, for Batavia Downs

Batavia, NY — Starting slow and finishing fast was a winning strategy for Tullow N, who posted a convincing victory in the $12,500 Open I Handicap pace at Batavia Downs on a very cold Saturday night (Nov. 16).

I’m So Handsome (Billy Davis Jr.) took command early and led the single-file field to the half in :58.2. It was there that Tullow N (John Cummings Jr.) pulled first-over and motored up the outside as they made their way around the third turn.

When they straightened out on the backside Tullow N was in full gear and paced right by the entire field, clearing by the three-quarters. Cummings then settled Tullow N and took a two-length lead into the last turn. In the stretch, the pocket-sitting I’m So Handsome and a three-wide Howmac Dancer (Renaldo Morales III) tried their best to reel-in the leader, but Tullow N was on a mission and won in-hand in 1:55.2.

The eighth win of the year for Tullow N ($9.60) pushed his earnings to $89,260 for the season. The Blindswitch Racing Stable owns the classy 8-year-old altered son of Mach Three-Tessa Bromac who is trained by Dave Russo.

Despite coming off a very solid win in his last start, a jump in class shied bettors from backing Carlos Danger this week in the $10,000 Open III pace. But the game 6-year-old had the last laugh over the doubters after he went gate to wire in 1:56.3 at 10-1 for trainer/driver Ron Beback Jr. Carlos Danger ($23.40) is owned by Decker’s Corner Stable, Decker’s Gate Stable and Jo’s Get R Done Stable.

Billy Davis Jr. was the top dash driver again on Saturday adding three more wins to his total. He now has 111 wins for the meet and has long locked-up the driving title for the meet as he is 32 wins ahead of the second place Jim Morrill Jr.

Drew Monti and Dave McNeight III also scored two wins apiece.

There was no winner in the Pick-5 wager on Saturday night and as a result, there is an $1,134 carryover and a $4,000 guaranteed pool in the Pick-5 wager on Wednesday evening (Nov. 20) when live racing resumes at Batavia Downs at 5 p.m. The guaranteed pool is part of the United States Trotting Association’s (USTA) Strategic Wagering Program and that means free program pages of the Pick-5 races will be available on the USTA website beginning on Sunday (Nov. 17).

Tyler Bourne (3) going up with the rock against the Dragons (Xi Lin – Genesee Athletics)

Press Release:

BATAVIA, NY… The Genesee Community College men’s basketball team moved to 6-1 on the season after a 90-87 victory over the Howard Community College Dragons Sunday afternoon.

For the second straight game, Selassie (Tyler) Bourne led the way offensively for Genesee, scoring a team-high 25 points and six assists. Brandon Speller had 20 points and Jean Aristil had 13 points. Aristil was 3-4 from behind the arch. Jordan Matos scored 12 points off the Cougars bench.
There were nine ties throughout the contest and six lead changes. Genesee scored 13 second chance points.

Genesee hits the road for an NJCAA Region III contest at Cayuga Community College Tuesday at 7pm. The Cougars next home game will be on Saturday, November 23 at 3pm against NY International Prep. The game will be streamed live on www.geneseeathletics.com.

Batavia Police report the arrest of 32 year old Phillip Brunson of Gowanda on two active arrest warrants out of Batavia City Court.
Brunson was wanted on two counts of second degree Harassment with Physical Contact for an incident that allegedly occurred in November of 2016 at a Maple Street address in the city.
Brunson was accused of slapping and spitting in a females face then shoving another female following a domestic incident.
Brunson was arraigned in City Court on Thursday in front of Judge Balbick.

Batavia teen busted for Burglary.
Genesee County Sheriff’s Deputies took 19 year old Jahmaal Barnes of Batavia Stafford Townline Road into custody on Saturday morning following investigation into a burglary at an apartment on Batavia Stafford Townline Road that reportedly occurred last Thursday.
Barnes was accused of illegally entering the apartment and stealing a debit card.
Barnes was charged with third degree Burglary and Grand Larceny in the fourth and was ultimately released under supervision of Genesee Justice.
He is expected to return to Batavia Town Court on December 16th.

Teen Girl in Batavia arrested for threats with a baseball bat.
Batavia police report the arrest of 17 year old female in Batavia after officers responded to a call earlier this month to a Hutchins place address for a reported disturbance.
The teen was charged with Disorderly Conduct after allegedly threatening to harm people while holding a baseball bat and she was subsequently given an appearance ticket for tomorrow in City Court.

Buffalo Bishop Richard Malone is back home after spending several days at the Vatican.
He and several other bishops were in Rome to visit with Pope Francis and give a report on what’s going on in their respective dioceses.
A report surfaced on Malone’s trip claiming he was going to resign, but Malone called it quote “absolutely false.”
Malone has been criticized for how he’s handled the clergy sex abuse scandal in the Buffalo Diocese.
He has rejected calls to step down, saying he’s planning to stay in his position until he’s required to retire in 2021.

The 8 man Oakfield/Alabama-Elba team dominated Maple Grove at St. John Fisher College Saturday winning the section 5 championship handsomely with a final score of 60 to 34.
Ty Mott took the title of MVP for the championship match after gaining 202 yards and scoring 3 touchdowns to lead the Oakfield/Alabama-Elba team to victory.

The Buffalo Bills are off to their best start in 20 years following a blowout win on the road.
Quarterback Josh Allen threw for 256 yards and three touchdowns as the Bills beat the Miami Dolphins 37 to 20 at Hard Rock Stadium yesterday.
Allen also had a rushing touchdown as Buffalo improved to seven-and-three on the season.
Up next for Buffalo is a home game against the Denver Broncos this coming Sunday.

Alayah Sweeney scored a team high 19 points against Lakeland Friday (Xi Lin – Genesee Athletics)

Press Release:

BATAVIA, NY… The Genesee Community College women’s basketball team lost 80-64 to the Lakeland Community College Lakers on Friday night to fall to 3-3 on the season.

Turnovers were key in the contest, which the Cougars committed 35 in the contest. The Blue and Gold were led offensively by Alayah Sweeney who scored 19 points. Erina Ishiguro scored 15 for the Cougars. Tylasia Weaver scored nine points and added seven assists.

Genesee will return to action on Tuesday, November 19 at Cayuga Community College. Game time from Auburn, NY will be at 5:00pm.

(Photo courtesy of Paul White)

Press Release:

By Tim Bojarski, for Batavia Downs

Batavia, NY — Wheels A Turning scored a narrow come-from-behind win in the feature trot at Batavia Downs last week. This week she took control off the gate and provided the same outcome in the $12,500 Open I Handicap trot over a sloppy track at the Downs on Friday night (11-15).

The feature field was scratched down to five and the lone mare, Wheels A Turning (Shawn McDonough) was the best off the gate, hitting the quarter in :30 flat. With no one applying any pressure, McDonough kept the fractions tepid; 1:00.4 to the half and 1:30 to three-quarters.

Rounding the far turn the pocket-sitting Fox Valley Veto (Billy Davis Jr.) and outside rusher Lougai (Ray Fisher Jr.) had the best shot for top honors and both were looking strong in pursuit. However under meaningful urging from McDonough, Wheels A Turning maintained her position and won by 1-¼ lengths in 2:00.1.

Wheels A Turning ($4.20) hit double-digit territory, scoring her 10th win of the year and hitting the $85,560 mark for purses. Allan Schmucker Jr. owns the mare that is trained by Sabrina Shaw.

Despite his name, everyone apparently knew how this story would end in the $11,000 Open II Handicap trot as the heavy 3-5 favorite Spoiler Alert (Renaldo Morales Jr.) led every step of the way to score an impressive 1-½ length win in 1:59.3. Celebrating the eighth win of the year by Spoiler Alert ($3.20) were owner Jeffrey Hayes and trainer Misty Carey.

Billy Davis Jr. remained hot and extended his already insurmountable dash win lead for the meet by winning four races on Friday. He now has 108 wins for the session. Renaldo Morales Jr. also had three wins in Friday.

Live racing resumes at Batavia Downs on Saturday night (Nov. 16) at 6 p.m.

Albion School’s Superintendent has provided an update on middle school threat and set a date for a meeting on school safety.
The Albion Central School District is holding a public meeting at 7 p.m. on Nov. 19 in the Middle School Auditorium for parents to address school safety concerns.
Superintendent Michael Bonnewell posted an update about last weeks’ incident on the districts website Friday in which three middle school students were accused of and charged with conspiring to kill other students and school staff.
Bonnewell reaffirmed that the students have been suspended, and were turned over to Family Court and Probation.
Bonnewell said that Police, mental health personnel and school officials will also be present Tuesday evening to address concerns from parents.

After Albion threat Hawley renews push for statewide SRO’s
Following the stifled plot of three middle school students in Albion who intended to conduct a violent attack inside their school, Assemblyman Steve Hawley of Batavia is reiterating a call for armed School Resource Officers to be present inside every school in New York State.
Hawley’s legislation, which has bipartisan support, would mandate that all School Resource Officers are properly trained veterans or retired law enforcement and provides $50,000 in state grants to each school district that hires a SRO.

Batavia Police are seeking assistance from the public in identifying three individuals.
The City Police Department has posted surveillance camera stills of what appears to be three younger males who are possibly people of interest in an ongoing investigation.
Anyone with information in reference to these individuals may contact Detective Wojtaszczyk at 585-345-6357 or leave a tip online.

Two female inmates in Albion arrested on felony counts.
20 year old Aniah Ferguson of Medina was charged with a Class D felony count of Assault While Confined in a Correctional Facility for an incident from February and was ordered to be held in the Orleans County Jail.
23 year old Angela Tuitt of Albion was also ordered to be held on a Class E felony count of Aggravated Harassment of an Employee by an Inmate following investigation into an incident from May of this year.

Deputies bust a Bergen man for tampering with his utilities.
37 year old Stephen Marazita of North Lake Ave in Bergen was arrested on a count of Criminal Tampering after he was accused of tampering with his electric meter to turn his power back on after it was shut off in October.
Marazita was released with an appearance ticket for November 20th in Bergen Town Court.

Press Release:

HERKIMER, NY… The #5 Genesee Community College men’s soccer team is moving on to the NJCAA Division III Men’s Soccer National Semifinals after a 6-4 victory over the #4 Nassau Community College Lions Thursday afternoon at Wehrum Stadium.

After Nassau scored 91 seconds into the game, Ed Port scored his first of the match to tie the game from a pass from James Lighton. The Lions would regain the lead and then Port would tie the game at 2 just four minutes later. Ollie Ardle would score to give Genesee the lead two minutes later. Robert Keogh would score to double the Cougars lead after a pass from Shahin Tahir Nasabi. James Lighton would score to make it 5-2 Genesee early in the second half. Peter Rystad would set up Lighton to put the game away midway through the second half. Adrian Bergman made three saves in net for Genesee.

#5 Genesee (18-3) will play defending National Champion Richland College Thunderducks in the Semifinals Friday afternoon at 4pm. The game will be streamed on NJCAAChampsTV.
For more information, log online to www.geneseeathletics.com; follow us on social media by using #cougarPRIDE and check out our new Athletics video.

Press Release:

Following the stifled plot of three middle school students in Albion who intended to conduct a violent attack inside their school, Assemblyman Steve Hawley (R,C,I-Batavia) is reiterating a call for armed School Resource Officers (SROs) to be present inside every school in New York state. The School Resource Officer assigned to Albion Central School District helped thwart the planned attack after receiving information from school officials about a threatening message posted on the app Discord.

Hawley’s legislation, A.3732, supported by both Republicans and Democrats, would mandate that all School Resource Officers are properly trained veterans or retired law enforcement and provides $50,000 in state grants to each school district that hires a SRO. Hawley wrote Assembly Speaker Carl Heastie during 2018 budget negotiations asking for funding for each school statewide to hire more armed security following the horrific school shooting in Parkland, Florida.

“I applaud the work of local law enforcement and teachers in Albion for stopping this plan and thank them for their vigilance. The situation at Albion Middle School proves that increased security measures are absolutely necessary in schools across the state. This is a wake-up call that these dangers are very real, and tomorrow we may be faced with a different outcome,” Hawley said. “I will continue pushing for each school around the state to be given grant funding to hire at least one armed School Resource Officer. We cannot place a cost on the safety of our children and our teachers.”

The Genesee County Legislature is ready to move ahead with the design and construction of a new jail in Batavia following the approval of a new 40-year sales tax agreement between the County and City of Batavia.
Assistant County Manager Matt Landers presented an anticipated budget for the new facility with an anticipated expense of $60M at a Committee meeting Wednesday night.
The proposed jail will hold 184 beds in four pods, giving the jail staff space to keep separate jail populations for men and women as well as threat level, mental health issues, or substance abuse issues.
The site for the new facility is set to go in next to County Building #2 off West Main Street Road in Batavia. For more on the story check the article by our news partner The Batavian.

Hawley pushes for statewide School Resource Officers after Albion threat.
Following the stifled plot of three middle school students in Albion who intended to conduct a violent attack inside their school, Assemblyman Steve Hawley of Batavia is reiterating a call for armed School Resource Officers to be present inside every school in New York State.
The School Resource Officer assigned to Albion Central School District helped thwart the planned attack after receiving information from school officials about a threatening message posted on the Discord app.
Hawley’s legislation, which has support of both Republicans and Democrats, would mandate that all School Resource Officers are properly trained veterans or retired law enforcement and provides $50,000 in state grants to each school district that hires a SRO.

Bergen man busted by Deputies for tampering with his utilities.
37 year old Stephen Marazita of North Lake Ave in Bergen was arrested on a count of Criminal Tampering after he was accused of tampering with his electric meter to turn his power back on after it was shut off in October.
Marazita was released with an appearance ticket for Nov 20th in Bergen Town Court.

Governor Cuomo has signed off on a new bill allowing adoptees to get a copy of their birth certificate when they turn 18.
Previously, someone who was adopted had to file a court petition to find out the names of their birth parents.
Under the new legislation, they can request that information by visiting their county health department.
Governor Cuomo says every New Yorker deserves access to the same birth records.

The Buffalo Bills will look to rebound from a tough loss at the expense of one of the worst teams in the NFL.
They’ll be on the road in Miami to take on the Dolphins at Hard Rock Stadium.
The Bills are coming off a defeat at the hands of the Cleveland Browns and are six and three on the season.
The Dolphins are two and seven, but have won back-to-back games.
Kickoff for Sunday’s contest is set for 1:00 p.m.

The losing streak of the Buffalo Sabres has reached six games.
Dougie Hamilton scored in overtime as the Sabres lost to the Carolina Hurricanes five to four at KeyBank Center last night.
Jeff Skinner, Henri Jokiharju, Johan Larsson and Curtis Lazar all scored for Buffalo in the losing effort.
The Sabres will be back in action tomorrow night when they host the Ottawa Senators at 7:00 p.m.

Press Release:

BATAVIA, NY (11/14/2019) Great news for college students everywhere! Whether they are commuter students to GCC, or living and attending a college or university far away, Genesee Community College has 13 college courses available completely ONLINE during the Winterim session that begins on December 9, 2019 and runs five weeks through January 8, 2020.

The courses offered during this session help any college student complete their general education requirements, pick up an interesting elective, start an introductory program-specific course, and also transfer SUNY college credit back to their “home-school” institution. GCC generally sends official college course transcripts to more than 500 colleges and universities across the United States each year, helping college students earn their degrees faster and more affordably!

“Each year, more and more students from other colleges are joining GCC students to take advantage of our Winterim sessions,” said Dr. Craig Lamb, dean of Distributive Learning, who oversees GCC’s Online Learning program. “Winterim at GCC provides the same quality instruction at a much more affordable credit hour rate. This helps students financially, but it also lightens their course load for the spring semester.”

In addition to an accelerated timeline to graduation, students looking to retain their New York State Excelsior Scholarship find Winterim courses maintain their credit hour requirements and eligibility. Since the courses are all offered online, students enjoy the flexibility of studying on their own schedule from wherever they choose! Without venturing to a campus location, students can earn college credit and still have time to enjoy their semester break.

Among the options are College Composition (ENG101), Microeconomics (ECO101), World Civilizations (HIS101), General Psychology (PSY101), Business Communications (BUS106), and Hip Hop Culture (MUS107) provides a fun and fascinating elective!

The complete list of courses being offered during Winterim is available online and students are encouraged to sign up quickly as seats are limited.

For more information on Winterim classes, contact Online Learning at (585) 345-6969, or via email at GCCOnline@genesee.edu.

Press Release:

Batavia NY Skatepark Advocates to Hold Community Meeting Saturday, November 16th

BATAVIA, NY – November 11, 2019 – The Batavia Skatepark Advocates group (BSA) is holding their first public community meeting on Saturday, November 16th at 1:00 pm to discuss possibilities for development of a permanent, skatepark for the City. The meeting will be held at the Genesee County YMCA, located at 209 East Main Street in Batavia. Community members are encouraged to come out to share their thoughts and ideas about a public skatepark.

Batavia has a long history of skateboarding, and previously had a temporary skatepark. Local community member and skatepark advocate Richard Umlauf, lead advocate for the BSA says, “We are very excited to get started on a new public skatepark project. The skatepark will be great for the youth of Genesee County and the City of Batavia. Public skateparks provide a safe place for young people to meet new people, and can instill drive and determination as they learn new skills in a welcoming, free-to-use public recreation facility.”

Batavia Skatepark Advocates join community advocates from communities across Western NY in pursuing a skatepark for their City’s young people. Like Rochester, Medina, Lockport, Amherst, Buffalo, Jamestown, and Ellicottville, local advocates in Batavia hope to take advantage of the Built to Play Skatepark Grant offered by the Ralph C. Wilson, Jr. Foundation and Tony Hawk Foundation. Community members are excited to partner with the City of Batavia to create a skatepark that will not only be great for the local citizens, but also be a destination skatepark for regional enthusiasts.

The public is welcome to come out to the Genesee County YMCA on Saturday, November 16th at 1:00 pm to brainstorm and discuss public skatepark possibilities for the City of Batavia.

Contact:
Richard Umlauf, Batavia Skatepark Advocates
rwumlauf@yahoo.com
(585) 815-5470

First Inductee, Frank E. Owen

Press Release:

BATAVIA, NY, November 10th, 2019— MUSICIANS OF NOTE, a wall of fame to honor past Batavian graduates in music, was debuted at Batavia High School last May. The Music Department “Musicians Of Note” committee spearheaded the long overdue recognition of the excellence of musicians who have graduated and made careers all over the world in the music field.

Jane Haggett, Music Department Head, stated that, “We want to keep recognizing the outstanding musicians that Batavia High School has graduated for many years. Along with these excellent musicians, we have had outstanding music educators throughout the years that we will continue to recognize.” In addition to her statement, Sean Williams, Middle School Band Director has added, “Many famous musicians have graced our stages and our city over the past 90 years, including the inaugural performance last May. Many returning alumni performed a top-notch concert with Batavia HS students to the great delight of the crowd! We will continue to be recognize and salute great musicians from Batavia High School!”

Nominées who are selected for this award will be recognized during the 2nd Annual Musicians Of Note Ceremony and have a plaque with their visage and their accomplishments hung from the Musicians Of Note wall in the High School.

The Batavia Music Department and community members will be working once again as a committee to go through the nomination and selection process. This will culminate in honoring 5 alumni and one former faculty member of Batavia CSD. This process will come to fruition on March 26th, 2020 with a dinner for the honorees and any guests, the presentation of plaques and a concert open to the public. To nominate a Batavia graduate in music for this prestigious honor, please contact the Music Department through the high school or look for the nomination form on the Batavia City School District Website.

Sean D. Williams
Band Director,
Batavia Middle School

Click here for a nomination form for Musicians of Note 2019