Local News

L to R: Physical Education (PE) Teacher Rodney Allen, AjaLe Harvey (2nd Place) and Tycen Deaton (3rd Place), GCC Director of Health and PE Rebecca Dziekan, and Principal Steve Haynes. (Missing: Reagan Moroz who took 1st Place).

Press Release:

Congratulations to Perry Central School for winning GCC’s 2017 Play to Get Fit Challenge! The Health and Physical Education department at Genesee Community College has been rewarding schools and students for their Get Fit Challenge efforts since 2011.

The Play to Get Fit Program was created for third, fourth and fifth graders in the GLOW (Genesee, Livingston, Orleans and Wyoming counties) region to effectively illustrate how many minutes young people spend engaged in physical activity outside of school. Children record their active minutes on a five-week calendar log specially designed for the “Play to Get Fit” challenge. Walking, biking, running, skating, swimming, playing a sport, playing tag, playing on a swing set and other active, creative games are all eligible for active “credit” minutes. However, video fitness games utilizing Wii or Xbox Kinect are not eligible.

This year, the Perry Central School recorded a whopping 3,021 average active minutes based on the number of students enrolled in third, fourth and fifth grades. Last week, the school was awarded the 2017 winning plaque and each student received a certificate recognizing their participation and effort.

GCC would also like to congratulate the three most active (based on the total number of minutes recorded) participants in the GLOW region this year were:

Grant Grahagan of Batavia with 11,876 minutes

Sam Pies of Batavia with 9,895 minutes

Madison Needham of Batavia with 9,600 minutes

In addition, the program recognizes the three most active students from each participating school district:

LeRoy – 1st Isaac Stella; 2nd Cameron Riggi; 3rd Adam Woodworth

Batavia – 1st Grant Grahagan, 2nd Sam Pies; 3rd Madison Needham

Warsaw – 1st Parker Cartwright; 2nd Jacob McCormick; 3rd Jakob Cornell

York – 1st Brody Pangrazio; 2nd Connor Boyd; 3rd Havyan Wetmore

Pavilion – 1st Nicholas Deland; 2nd Kiara Gonzalez; 3rd Ella Tillotson

Perry – 1st Reagan Moroz; 2nd Aja Le Harvey; 3rd Tysen Deaton

Elba – 1st Noah Calarco-Smith; 2nd Tristan Snell; 3rd Ty Reilly

Oakfield-Alabama – 1st David Schichler; 2nd Alexis Roggen; 3rd Avery Watterson

“Play to Get Fit is a powerful way to expose kids to an active lifestyle and encourage them to have fun while being active,” said Becky Dziekan, GCC’s director of Health and Physical Education. “The participation from various school districts is proof that the program works! Congratulations to Perry and all of the students who participated.”

L to R front row: John Kennedy students Madison Needham (3rd place), Middle School students Grant Gahagan (1st Place) and Sam Pies (2nd Place). Back row: John Kennedy Principal Paul Kesler, Middle School PE Teacher James Patric, GCC Director of Health and PE Rebecca Dziekan, and John Kennedy PE Teacher Carmen Del Plato.

The Health and Physical Education program at Genesee Community College offers several areas of study. The Sports Management Studies transfer degree programs or associate of science (A.S.) program includes foundations in accounting, marketing, sports facility management and more. The Fitness and Recreation Management applied associate of science degree (A.A.S.) program offers a Personal Trainer concentration and the opportunity to earn the National Commission for Certifying Agencies (NCCA) accredited credentials through the American Council on Exercise (ACE) as a certified personal trainer. In addition, GCC offers both an A.S. and an A.A.S in Physical Education Studies in which students have the opportunity to earn a coaching certificate for NYS non-Certified Physical Education Teachers.

For more information, contact Becky Dziekan, GCC’s director of Health and Physical Education at (585) 343-0055 ext. 6424, or via email: rldziekan@genesee.edu.

Press Release:

Notice is hereby given that the following Local Law Introductory No. Five Year 2017 was adopted by the Genesee County Legislature on December 13, 2017 and is subject to permissive referendum. In the event no valid petition requesting such referendum is received prior to January 26, 2018, said Local Law shall be filed with the Secretary of State in accordance with the applicable provisions of Law.

A LOCAL LAW IN RELATION TO THE SALARIES OF COUNTY OFFICERS OF THE COUNTY OF GENESEE, ELECTED OR APPOINTED FOR A FIXED TERM BE IT ENACTED by the Genesee County Legislature as follows:

Section I. The salary of the County Officers set forth below shall be as follows

a. Commissioner of Elections (2) $ 47,165
b. Highway Superintendent $109,051
c. Director of Real Property Tax Services $ 82,164
d. Director of Human Resources $ 75,638
e. Public Defender $ 98,283
f. County Clerk $ 92,674
g. Sheriff $ 102,423
h. Treasurer $ 95,375

Section 2. The above salary shall take effect January 1, 2018
Section 3. This Local Law is subject to referendum on petition pursuant to the provisions of Section 24 of the Municipal Home Rule Law.
Section 4. This Local Law shall take effect upon proper filing with the Office of the Secretary of State.

Pamela LaGrou, Clerk
Genesee County Legislature
DATED: December 14, 2017

Genesee County Baseball Club hands control of Muckdogs Franchise to the New York Penn League.
Owners of the Batavia Muckdogs, The Genesee County Baseball Club has transferred control of the franchise to the New York-Penn League.
The announcement was made yesterday that the GCBC’s 23-person volunteer board officially approved the transfer.
GCBC President Brian Paris said,

“The New York Penn League will be organizing and developing a direction as to how they’ll be operating the team moving forward. At this point in time there isn’t any further information with this regard.”

The league is seeking a buyer for the franchise.
If it is sold the Rochester Red Wings will receive 50 percent of the profits, and the GCBC will receive the other half, minus legal fees and another 10 percent share of sale proceeds that will be kept by the league.
The “Muckdogs” name will remain property of the local ball club and GCBC President Paris said he hopes that a team called the Batavia Muckdogs will take the field at Dwyer Stadium in 2018.

An ARC employee accused of sexually abusing a client.
Following investigation by the Orleans County Sheriff’s Office, 39 year old Rome Santiago of East State Street Albion was arrested and charged with Sexual Abuse in the third degree.
Santiago works with the disabled at the ARC of Genesee Orleans.
He allegedly had inappropriate and unwanted contact with an adult client during outings in both counties.
Santiago was released with an appearance ticket returnable to Albion Town Court on December 20th.

Jail without bail for an Alabama resident accused of threatening with a knife.
Genesee County Sheriff’s Deputies arrested 47 year old Kevin Weber of Judge Road yesterday afternoon following an incident at a Judge Road address in Alabama.
Weber was accused of threatening another person with a knife and a full stay away order of protection was put in place against him.
He was charged with second degree Menacing and was remanded to the Genesee County Jail without bail.
Weber is scheduled for January 4th in Alabama Town Court.

Troopers in Warsaw arrest a Wyoming man following a violent domestic dispute.
25 year old Aaron Cory of Wyoming is facing charges of Aggravated Harassment for communicating a threat, Criminal Mischief with intent to damage property, Harassment with Physical Contact and Menacing.
Cory was arrested by State Police after the domestic dispute last Thursday.
An order of protection was issued for the victim and Cory was ordered to be held in lieu of $2,500 bail in the Wyoming County Jail.
He is slated for Perry Town Court on January 10th.

Another winter storm watch is called for much of Western New York.
Forecasters say Buffalo could be in for up to five more inches of lake effect snow tonight.
Wyoming, Chautauqua and Cattaraugus Counties are also in line for some serious snow.
The storm watch starts at four o’clock this afternoon and ends at one o’clock tomorrow afternoon.

Call came in shortly after 9 a.m. for a semi into a utility pole accident at 5902 Ellicott Street Road in East Bethany between Transit and East Road.

Bethany Fire, Stafford Rescue and Mercy Medic One were called to the scene for reported injuries.

There was a power outage reported in the area and crews were shutting down Route 63 around the scene.

Press Release:

By Tim Bojarski, for UNY USHWA

The Upstate New York Chapter of the United States Harness Writers Association (USHWA) will present performance awards to the top dash winning trainer and driver of the meet during the 10th annual “Night of Distinction” ceremony in the winner’s circle at Batavia Downs on Saturday (Dec. 16) and whereas the top conditioner has been well identified, the driver’s race will likely go down to the final races of the weekend.

Kim Asher is currently the top percentage trainer in North America with a UTR of .427 and $1.1 million in earnings. She is also ranked eighth in North America for wins, currently with 208.

So it’s no surprise that Asher is also the trainer of the meet at Batavia Downs for 2017.

Asher has started 351 horses during the session winning 88 races, finishing second 55 times and third another 55 times and saw her horses hit the board 56% of the time. Those efforts gave her a stellar UTR of .390 and $479,491 in purses. Her win total more than doubled her closest competitor.

Competing for only the second year at Batavia, Asher’s training career spans 19 years and during that time she has won multiple training titles including most recently, the 2017 Buffalo Raceway meet. This year Asher has sent out 208 winners and that mark was a personal best. Her stable boast horses with gaudy win totals like Quicksilvercandy A (20), Saint William A (16), Itsonlyrocknroll A (13) and Kaitlyn Rae (11).

During her career Asher has 1,934 wins, 1,456 seconds and 1,222 thirds out of 9,196 starts for a lifetime UTR of .342 and earnings of over $15 million.

The driving accolades for this meet are still up in the air.

Larry Stalbaum is the current dash win leader with 127 wins while Ray Fisher Jr. is second with 122 and Drew Monti is third with 117. With only two cards of racing left and probably 20 starts apiece remaining for all three drivers, Stalbaum looks fairly solid with a five-race lead.

If Stalbaum does win the title it would be his first at Batavia Downs. However the long-tenured horseman is no stranger to being the best set of hands on any circuit. Over his 32-year career he has won dash honors at Northville Downs, Hazel Park, Sports Creek Park, Jackson Harness Raceway, Monticello Raceway, Raceway Park, Cal Expo and most recently, Buffalo Raceway earlier this year.

During his career, Stalbaum has driven 5,732 winners and earned just under $39 million in purses.

Ray Fisher Jr. has won two driving titles at Buffalo Raceway and four at Northfield Park. But since arriving at the Genesee County oval in 2007 has never taken the top spot there although he did finish second and third three times each. So winning it this year would definitely be a notch in his belt.

Since his career began in 1987, Fisher has won 4,200 races lifetime and just shy of $18 million in purses.

Drew Monti is the defending dash driving winner at Batavia Downs, taking his first-ever driving title last year with 116 wins. He had a substantial lead this year earlier in the meet, but the competition stiffened and now he has a lot of work to do in order to repeat.

Although the 23-year-old Monti has only been driving for five years, he is already closing in on his 1,000th win (currently with 979) and has made $5.5 million in purses during that time.

The competition for the driving title will resume on Friday night (Dec. 15) and will be decided on Saturday (Dec. 16). Post time for both nights is 6 p.m.

Press Release:

Lady Cougars Improve Win Streak to Three with 31-Point Fourth Quarter Rally

The Genesee Community College women’s basketball team improved its winning streak to three games after a season –high, 31-point fourth quarter in a come-from-behind Western New York Athletic Conference win over Mercyhurst North East 81-76.

The 81 total points were also a season high after the Cougars entered the final quarter trailing 54-50. Genesee opened the fourth quarter with a 10-1 run led by Estella Anderson, who scored seven of the team’s first dozen points of the fourth including the basket that put the Cougars ahead to stay at 55-54. Anderson just missed a double-double with nine points, but her 11 rebounds led the team.

The Saints came within one score in the final minute, but current National Junior College Athletic Association Region III Player of the Week TaLia Burgess sank a pair of free throws in the final seconds to make it a two-score game and seal the win. Burgess registered 18 of her team-high 23 points from three-land and shot above 50 percent from beyond the arc. In addition, her nine rebounds were only second to Anderson and it was the third-consecutive game she either led or co-led the team in scoring.

Rosalyn Sealey was also instrumental in the win, especially her free-throw shooting where she hit 14-of-16 at 88 percent and finished with 21 points.

Men’s Basketball Team Registers Third-Consecutive 100-Plus Point Win

The Genesee Community College men’s basketball team extended its winning streak to four games with a 101-67 road win over Mercyhurst North East Dec. 13. It was the third-consecutive time the team reached triple digits, while the win improved Genesee’s Western New York Athletic Conference record to 4-1. Over the Cougars current four-game win streak, Genesee has averaged 104 points.

Genesee scored the game’s first basket for their first lead and never trailed. After building a 14-point first-half lead at 44-30, the Cougars opened the second half with a 10-run before out-scoring the Saints by 20 in the second half.

Three Cougars accounted for 75 points with each having 20-point-plus performances. Rahmel Thompson led the team in scoring with 27 points, but Jaheem Page and current National Junior College Athletic Association Region III Player of the Week Brian Fobbs both registered double-doubles. The latter pair each scored 24 points with Page leading the team in rebounds with 15 and Fobbs not far behind with 13 boards.

Coach Gavin Garners Recognition for GCC as USC National Staff of the Year

The United Soccer Coaches announced its staffs of the year for each level of competition associated with the prestigious organization that includes the National Christian College Athletic Association (NCCAA), National Association of Interscholastic Athletics (NAIA) and Junior College at Division-I and Division-III for both men’s and women’s teams.

Genesee Community College was recognized as the Junior College D-III Staff of the Year for the men’s division Dec. 13. USC will honor GCC at its annual convention and awards banquet Jan. 19, 2018 at the Pennsylvania Convention Center.

Genesee Community College men’s soccer staff of head coach Ken Gavin and assistant coach Josh Carpenter led the 2017 GCC men’s soccer team to its first national title in Herkimer, N.Y. in November. An often overlooked, but vital part to Genesee’s staff is athletic trainers Amber Nichols and Jeff Engels, who assisted the coaches and players throughout their championship run. The Cougars finished their magical season on a 10-game winning streak and a 20-game unbeaten streak.

The United Soccer Coaches (formerly known as the National Soccer Coaches Association of America / NSCAA) is an organization of American soccer coaches founded in 1941. It is the largest soccer coach’s organization in the world, with more than 30,000 members. The NSCAA was rebranded as United Soccer Coaches about four months ago in early August and is based out of Kansas City, Mo.

Cougar Athletes of the Week Announced

The Genesee Community College’s athletes of the week for the period ending Dec. 10 are TaLia Burgess (Philadelphia, Pa.) from the women’s basketball team and Brian Fobbs (Rochetser, NY) from the men’s basketball team. Both were also announced as the National Junior College Athletic Association’s Region III Players of the Week Dec. 12.

Brian led Genesee to its first three-game win streak of the season with a pair of weekend tournament victories by accumulating 49 points, 19 rebounds and six assists. Even more impressive than his totals was his shooting percentage, where he shot 74 percent from the field that included 75 percent from beyond the arc with 18 points, and 100 percent from the free-throw line with nine points. He also helped the team to its first 100-plus point game twice.

TaLia led Genesee CC in scoring in a pair of tournament wins where the Cougars emerged as the only undefeated team in the women’s bracket. TaLia scored 40 points with 11 rebounds and four assists that included 30 points from beyond the arc at a 53 percent shooting percentage. Her point totals of 25 and 15 were team-highs in each contest.

Press Release:

In the past four years, nothing short of nine new digital opportunities have been introduced by Genesee Community College to help streamline the course registration process and assist students and/or their success coaches and advisors in creating the best possible academic schedule. The College’s Board of Trustees was given a demonstration of the latest online tool, College Scheduler on Monday night. GCC assistant registrar Tara Conrad showed the Trustees how the new software program can reduce a typical 45-minute registration process down to 15 minutes, and how it helps ensure students are following the best pathway for the most effective, timely degree completion.

College Scheduler joins a host of other empowering course registration utilities that have been introduced by GCC, such as Banner Mobile (2013), DegreeWorks (2014), Student Educational Planner and Axiom (2015), Student Outcome Tracking (2016), Student Advising Profile and Credentials Solution Transcripts Plus (2017). Together, this new technology or software programs have changed the way students can manage their academic progress.

“The days of standing in a long line to register for classes with a printed course catalog are long gone,” Conrad said. “College Scheduler is our ninth new element for student success.” An admitted ‘data and software junky,’ Conrad’s enthusiasm for the new program is compounded by its reporting structure and data collection capabilities. In the coming year, she is very excited about the new intelligence College Scheduler will reveal including term over term persistence rates.

Equally as impressive, however, is the user-friendly interface. Students can use the program independently without the oversight of a success coach, and they choose their own parameters-from campus location to term of enrollment, favorite instructors to preferred class times. College Scheduler also allows students to factor in their personal break time for things like athletic practice, work-study employment and even registering for a particular section to be with a friend. In Conrad’s five minute demonstration, the sample schedule started with more than 275 spring schedule options, but was quickly reduced down to less than six options as she clicked through a variety of preferences.

“By streamlining the entire registration process, we are enhancing the student and the success coach experience,” James M. Sunser, president of GCC said. “Reducing 45 minutes to 15 minutes is huge! Low value time gives way to engaging students in something more meaningful. Automation allows the success coaches to ask the students how things are going and talk about things that are much more important rather than of hunting and pecking for the right course.”

To watch a short, 1:21 minute video about College Scheduler go to https://youtu.be/rGvN7WobdC0.

In other business, the Board of Trustees:

• Announced that GCC is again accepting nominations for Honorary Associate Degrees that would be conferred at the College’s fiftieth Commencement Ceremony on May 20, 2018. Any person is welcome to make nominations. Nominees should be associated with the College and have achieved business, professional, civic and scholarly accomplishments; made extraordinary contributions to the life and the growth of the College; or notable leaders in the academic disciplines taught at the College. Recipients of honorary degrees are individuals whose accomplishments, contributions or leadership are well beyond ordinary standards, and serve as an inspiration to members of the College community and as role models for students and citizens of the region. All nominations are due by February 1, 2018 to Cathy Costello, Executive Assistant to the President and Secretary to the Board of Trustees, Genesee Community College, One College Road, Batavia, NY 14020. For further information, please call Cathy at 585-345-6812 or email: cecostello@genesee.edu.

Previous Honorary Degree recipients include Alfred C. O’Connell, Neil Burns, William W. Stuart (posthumously) in 2007; Anthony T. Zambito (posthumously) in 2008; Eva L. Bohn in 2011, John C. Dwyer in 2014 and Norbert J. Fuest in 2017.

For Honorary Degree guidelines and the nomination form go to: https://www.genesee.edu/home/about/administration/trustees/honorary-associates-degree-nomination/

• Approved the granting of degrees and certificates to 287 students for January 2018 pending the successful completion of academic requirements. GCC anticipates awarding 133 Associate in Applied Science degrees (AAS), 128 Associate in Science degrees (AS), two Associate in Arts degrees (AA), and 24 certificates.

• Approved the updated language in Policy #1032 for GCC Computing Policies, Policy #2012 for Family and Medical Leave, and Policy #6008 for Alcohol Use during College events or functions.

• Approved the appointment of Samuel DiSalvo as student advisor for the Upward Bound Program. His temporary, grant-funded position continues through August, 2018. A former math teacher at Urban Choice Charter School in Rochester, DiSalvo holds two bachelor’s degrees from SUNY Oswego in Mathematics and Creative Writing. He was a substitute teacher for the City of Batavia School District, where he also resides.

• Approved the retitling of two management positions to be aligned with SUNY professional service classifications, specifically Assistant Dean for Admissions and Recruitment (formerly Director of Admissions), and Associate Dean for Student Support Services (formerly Dean of Students).

Press Release:

Assemblyman Steve Hawley (R,C,I-Batavia) today announced a number of new local economic development projects are being funding as part of the 2017 Regional Economic Development Council Awards (REDC).

“The benefits of economic development influence many facets of our region like encouraging new and expanding businesses, increased tourism and supporting community resources like libraries and historical sites that people visit each day and bolstering our tax base,” Hawley said. “I am very proud to announce that our community has received such a large commitment in economic development funding, and very much look forward to the completion of these projects and the benefits they will bring all of us.”

Projects to be funded within the 139th Assembly District include:

• $333,000- City of Batavia Water System Improvements
• $180,000- First Light Creamery Expansion
• $30,000- Town of Batavia Wastewater Treatment Assessment Planning
• $30,000- Village of Bergen Wastewater Treatment Plant Disinfection Study
• $1,000,000- Village of Oakfield Wastewater Treatment Facility Improvements
• $1,000,000- Village of Oakfield Wastewater Treatment Plant Improvements
• $180,000- Western Region Off-Track Betting Paddock Improvements
• $250,000- Barsuk Recycling Railroad Infrastructure
• $100,000- Monroe County Development of a county-wide storm water system map
• $57,000- The College at Brockport will construct a new trail along the Erie Canal
• $62,000- Orleans County Local Waterfront Revitalization Program
• $50,000- Orleans County Water Sewer Efficiency Study
• $37,500- Village of Medina Local Waterfront Revitalization Program

Bank Street man behind bars without bail for alleged drug dealing.
46 year old Corey Armstrong of Bank Street in Batavia was arrested following investigation by the Genesee County Local Drug Task Force into the sale of crack cocaine in and around Batavia.
Armstrong was arrested on an active warrant during a traffic stop in the city.
He was charged with four Class B Felony counts of Criminal Possession and Sale of a Controlled Substance and was also allegedly found in possession of a quantity of Marijuana leading to a single misdemeanor count.
Armstrong was committed to the County Jail without bail.

Young Inventor in Alexander wins big in nationwide contest.
14 year old Alexander High School Student Andrew Young Jr. has been selected as the winner of the nationwide My Dreamvention contest.
Andrew created the winning invention the “Toaster Shooter” after seeing his grandmother burn her fingers on a conventional toaster.
Along with all the excitement from winning, Andrew will receive a quarter million dollar prize.
His father Andrew Senior said the winnings will be put away for a college fund as Andrew Jr. plans on attending M.I.T.

A Batavia man picked up on warrant with addition charges for the contents of his pocket.
23 year old Austin Wester of Pratt Road Batavia was arrested on an active warrant out of Batavia City Court.
Wester was charged with four counts of Forgery and a single count of Petit Larceny after he allegedly took checks from another person, forged their name and cashed them.
When Wester was placed under arrest Police allegedly located a hypodermic instrument in his pocket leading to a an additional charge.
He was remanded to the Genesee County Jail in lieu of bail.

County Jail Inmate adds to charges with contemptuous letters.
35 year old Shawn Twardowski of West Main Street in Batavia who is currently incarcerated in the Genesee County Jail is now facing two counts of second degree Criminal Contempt.
Twardowski is accused of sending a letter through the postal service to a female acquaintance in March and November violating a complete stay away order of protection.

Governor Cuomo is working to take guns away from those convicted of domestic violence.
It’s already illegal for New Yorkers convicted of felonies related to domestic violence to own guns but the governor wants to make it illegal for those convicted of domestic violence misdemeanors too.
Yesterday Cuomo said he’s going to push for bills that could allow their guns to be confiscated.
He’s targeting all guns, not just handguns.

Press Release:

Batavia, New York – As the volunteer lists keep growing, Progressive Democratic Congressional Candidate Nicholas Stankevich has opened his first district office. The work space is located at 56 Harvester Avenue in Batavia, Genesee County. Renovated from a former industrial work space, the Stankevich campaign has scheduled an Open House and the official opening to be Thursday, December 21st from 6:30 to 8:30pm.

“Our intention is to provide a great place for our volunteers to work on our campaign as we begin the important process of taking back the 27th Congressional District,” said Stankevich. “We will win this election only with the hard work of our volunteers and pressing the important issues that greatly influence the families of this district.”

The office is housed in the old Massey-Harris plant at 56 Harvester Avenue in Batavia. Designed as a work space for volunteers, the office will be used on a continual basis to house volunteer activities for the Stankevich campaign. “This office is really what this campaign is all about,” stated Stankevich. “Our district used to be full of manufacturing jobs like those that were housed in this facility. Today, we have to develop 21st century jobs, educate our young people, train them in new technologies and opportunities that provide a strong livable wage. That is how we will bring back our communities in western New York.”

Office Hours are daily, but dependent on the volunteer schedule. The Open House is a great way to grab a cup of coffee with the candidate to discuss the issues of the 27th Congressional District.