Morning News Brief
Written by Tom Tharp on October 20, 2022
There’s a new curriculum in New York State and hundreds of schools are taking part in it. The New York State Seal of Civic Readiness pushes students to make a difference in their community. This curriculum which teaches kids from kindergarten to their senior year of High School teaches civic knowledge skills and actions. Creators of the program say it is based in equity. More than 9,000 students in the state have graduated with this seal. New York is one of seven states who have implemented its curriculum. Students who earn the seal will be recognized with an additional regalia at graduation and a seal logo on their diploma.
An 89 year old woman is dead after being struck by a truck’s side mirror in Alexander. Ruth McVay was crossing the street around 4 in the afternoon Wednesday in the area of 10342 West Bethany rd near the crest of a hill when 55 year old Patrick McCormick drove over the hill from the North. He saw McVay in the road and swerved his 2013 Ford F150 to avoid her but clipped her with the side mirror. He stopped immediately and called 911. McVay was taken by Mercy EMS to Strong in Rochester where she died. The accident remains under investigation by the Sheriff’s Office, including the Crash Management Team.
The New York State Public Service Commission announced Wednesday that residential, business and wireless customers in the WNY region should prepare for the new 624 area code. The new area code will be rolled out as early as the second quarter of 2024. The new area code will be assigned to new phone numbers once all 716 numbers have been assigned. The area code will apply to any telephone number, regardless of service type. If requesting a new service or line, or moving within the WNY area, a 624 area code may be assigned. Existing numbers will not be changed to the new number.
The Sheriff’s Department is trying to get more people to sign up to be Corrections Officers. The Genesee County Legislature passed the law to allow people who are residents of Erie, Niagara, Monroe, Livingston and Wyoming Counties to become officers in Genesee County. Previously only Genesee county residents could take the civil service exam. The deadline to apply to take the exam is November 2 and the examination date is December 10. The civil service examination fee has been waived for the remainder of 2022. The new jail being built will require many more corrections officers.
Genesee County 2050 was awarded an award by the 2022 Upstate Chapter Conference of the American Planning Association. Members of the Genesee County planning team Felipe Oltramari, Rochelle Stein, Paul Osborne, and Erin Pence were honored for excellence in comprehensive planning. If you haven’t checked it out, you can go to genesee2050.com to see all the plans they have for the county and how you can get involved.
Batavia residents have lots of choices for mexican food in town. A new Mexican restaurant has opened in the plaza across from Walmart on Veterans Memorial Drive. Senor Leon, owned by the same man as Rancho Viejo on Ellicott, Guillermo Leon is serving up more seafood options and a higher caliber of foods than their other restaurant. They have expanded dessert options and, although their liquor license hasn’t come through yet, will have a full bar. Hours are 11 a.m. to 9 p.m. Sunday through Thursday and 11 a.m. to 10 p.m. Friday and Saturday. For more information, call 585-250-4484. Senor Leon joins Rancho Viejo, Los Compadres, that Taco Place, Taco Bell and Chipotle as well as a new restaurant run by the Mexican Market in the Valu Plaza.
Next week, members of the public will get an opportunity to share their thoughts on a proposed stadium for the Buffalo Bills. A hearing is scheduled for Thursday, October 27th at the Orchard Park Community Activity Center on California Road. It’s scheduled to begin at six p-m and people who can’t attend can watch it online through YouTube. Plans call for the over one-billion-dollar stadium to be built in Orchard Park across from Highmark Stadium which is where the Bills play their home games. A date on when construction could begin hasn’t been set yet.
The Buffalo Sabres will continue their road trip tonight as they try and pick up their second win in a row. The Sabres are taking the ice to battle the Calgary Flames at the Scotiabank Saddledome. Buffalo is coming off of a four-to-two victory over the Edmonton Oilers on Tuesday night. Face-off for this evening’s contest is set for nine-30 p-m.
Josh Allen has been named the AFC Offensive Player of the week for the second week in a row. Allen completed 27 passes for 329 yards and three touchdowns in the team’s 24-20 comeback win over the Kansas City Chiefs on Sunday. After Allen leapt over Justin Reid in a drive against the chiefs some enterprising person replaced the sign on Hertle Ave in Buffalo with a Hurdle with a U and a large cutout of Allen making the jump above it. Allen currently leads the NFL in passing yards and total touchdowns. He has now earned nine player of the week awards and trails Jim Kelly (10) for the most player of the week awards in team history.
