Monday News Brief

BATAVIA COUNCILMAN LAUNCHES 48-HOUR PUSH AGAINST LOCAL HUNGER

Batavia City Councilman Nick Lord is planning an unusual two-day fundraiser next month aimed at helping families struggling with food insecurity.
Beginning the morning of November 13th, Lord will remain outside First Presbyterian Church in Batavia through Sunday morning as part of a new campaign called “Homeless for Hunger.”
The goal is to use those 48 hours to collect enough groceries to fill four pallets with food that can be distributed locally.
Organizers are asking for shelf-stable items such as canned goods, pasta, cereal, rice, peanut butter and boxed meals, along with gift cards and monetary donations.
The event is also meant to draw attention to the number of people in the Batavia area dealing with hunger and unstable housing.
As an added incentive, qualifying donors will be entered into a drawing for Buffalo Bills tickets for the December 19th game against Chicago.
Volunteers are also needed to help receive donations, organize food and keep the collection area running throughout the event.

COUNTY PLANNERS RECOMMEND AGAINST VARIANCES FOR NEW BATAVIA TACO BELL

Plans for a new Taco Bell on West Main Street in Batavia are hitting resistance from the Genesee County Planning Board.
The board voted unanimously Thursday to recommend against several zoning variances requested by developer Hospitality Syracuse for a proposed restaurant at 244 to 248 West Main Street, the former Timebuyer property.
The company wants to relocate the existing Taco Bell from Batavia Commons and build a new drive-thru location.
County planners raised concerns over a package of requested exceptions involving sign size, the number of wall signs, directional signs and how close parking would sit to the sidewalk.
Planning Director Felipe Oltramari said the number of variances, combined with the property’s location next to a residential neighborhood, could create broader impacts.
The developer says the site’s dimensions make some of the requested changes necessary to fit parking, drive-thru lanes and vehicle circulation.
The county board’s recommendation is advisory only.
The final decision remains with the City of Batavia, which can still approve, modify or reject the requested variances.

BATAVIA WOMEN’S CLUB DONATES 240 PILLOWS FOR LOCAL CHILDREN

A local service project has turned into a major donation for children across Genesee County.
The Batavia Business and Professional Women’s Club donated 240 new pillows to the Batavia hub of Sleep in Heavenly Peace, which provides beds and bedding to children who otherwise may not have a bed of their own.
The group originally hoped to collect about 50 pillows, but donations quickly grew far beyond that goal.
Sleep in Heavenly Peace’s Batavia hub has been operating for about 11 months and has already provided beds to 165 local children.
Families in need can apply through the organization’s website.

GENESEE COUNTY DISPATCHERS HONORED WITH STATEWIDE 911 AWARDS

Several Genesee County emergency dispatchers have received statewide recognition for their work.
Dispatcher Kelly Smith was named New York State Telecommunicator of the Year for her leadership, training efforts and support of fellow staff members.
Senior Dispatcher Robert Tripp, along with Beth Miller, Jason Holman and Stephen Smelski, received the Teamwork Award for their response to the August 2025 I-90 tour bus crash.
Officials praised the group for managing a large-scale emergency while continuing regular dispatch operations.
The awards were presented during the New York State 911 Coordinators Association conference in Geneva.

BIPARTISAN SENATORS URGE TRUMP TO DROP RUSSIAN DIESEL DEAL

A bipartisan group of six senators is calling on President Donald Trump to abandon a new agreement to purchase diesel fuel from Russia.
Trump announced Friday that Russia would begin supplying hundreds of thousands of tons of diesel to U.S. and global markets, with additional shipments planned in the coming weeks.
Four Republicans and two Democrats say the deal conflicts with existing U.S. restrictions on Russian energy imports and could provide Moscow with additional revenue while its war in Ukraine continues.
Republican Senator Thom Tillis says there is a legitimate argument that moving forward with the purchase could violate federal law.
The administration says the deal is aimed at lowering fuel prices, but energy experts say the amount involved is unlikely to significantly affect prices at the pump.

DEATH TOLL RISES AFTER ANOTHER ATTACK ON RIYADH AIRPORT

The death toll has risen to 13 following the latest attack on King Khalid International Airport in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia.
Saudi officials say more than 300 people were wounded in Saturday’s strike, and the airport has remained closed as authorities deal with the damage. The facility has now been targeted four times in five days.
Iran-backed Houthi rebels in Yemen have claimed responsibility for the recent attacks, which have also targeted Saudi oil facilities and military sites.
The escalation is raising concerns about a broader regional conflict and possible additional U.S. involvement. President Donald Trump has said he is considering whether the United States should join Saudi operations against the Houthis.
The renewed fighting is also threatening commercial aviation, oil markets and shipping routes through the Red Sea region.

GENESEE COUNTY HIGH SCHOOL FOOTBALL ROUNDUP

In Genesee County high school football action Friday night, Notre Dame/Byron-Bergen snapped a two-game skid with a 20-6 win over Avon. Chase Antinore accounted for all three Irish touchdowns, while Parker Moore rushed for 169 yards.
Alexander/Pembroke stayed unbeaten at 6-and-0 with a 22-8 road win over Dansville/Wayland-Cohocton. Ryder Reichert ran for 167 yards, while Brett Maloney broke a 69-yard touchdown run late.
Le Roy/Cal-Mum bounced back with a dominant 49-nothing win over Wellsville/Genesee Valley-Belfast, piling up more than 340 rushing yards.
And York/Pavilion took control of the Class D race with a 35-nothing shutout of Oakfield-Alabama/Elba. Yeriel Dias-Pena finished with 156 yards from scrimmage and two touchdowns.