Morning News Brief
Written by Tom Tharp on January 4, 2023
A Buffalo Attorney who worked in Batavia and Genesee County has been suspended from practicing law for 3 years. From 2015 to 2017 Frank Housh had numerous complaints. He was accused of taking money from clients and not delivering services promised, sending settlement money to the wrong people, saying he had filed claims and lawsuits but failing to do so, and not following up with clients or cases. Housh represented Antwan Odom, of Batavia, in 2019 after Odom, then 18, was charged with attempted assault, and criminal possession of a weapon, following a dispute with a former teammate. Odom was acquitted. After an investigation into the complaints against him Housh was found to have knowingfully deceived his clients and had no remorse.
Officials from Batavia Downs Gaming & Hotel formally closed the books on a record-breaking 2022. Credits played topped $1 Billion for the first time ever. Net win totaled just over $76 Million Dollars. That was up 14.5 percent or $9.63 Million over 2021’s numbers. Surcharge & Earnings to be distributed to member municipalities are projected to total $9.2 Million, with earnings projected to be $8.6 Million, a record amount since the Corporation’s inception in 1974. This is an increase of 48 percent over the 2021 Surcharge & Earnings distributions to member municipalities of $5.8 Million. Batavia Downs Gaming contributed $37.25 Million to State Education via the New York State Lottery. This number was also a record, beating 2021’s number of $32.55 Million by $4.7 Million.
Did you enjoy the fall Wine Walk? Well get ready for Fe-Brew-ary on February 25th. A close replica to the BID’s popular fall wine walk, Febrewary features tastings — 21 stops are planned this year — at various downtown merchants, many of which will have specials, drawings, and giveaways. It had been going for a few seasons until COVID shut it down in 2021. Out of town attractions include 810 Meadworks of Medina, Windy Brew from Sheldon and OSB Ciderworks from Buffalo. General admission tickets are $30 and include a collectible snifter glass, snacks along the way, raffles and giveaways and tastings. VIP tickets are $40 and include all of the regular features plus an extra hour, from 4 to 8 p.m., an exclusive tasting and a food station. Designated drivers will be able to partake of the specials, raffles, snacks and non-alcoholic tastings for $10. Hurry, there are only 600 tickets being sold at Adam Miller Toy and Bicycle, Yngodess, and on Event Brite.
While cataloging the artwork housed inside of the Hartley Dodge Memorial, Mallory Montillaro uncovered a masterpiece that had been lost to the art world since the 1930s. After a year of research, the piece was authenticated as an official work by Auguste Rodin. Join the Richmond Memorial Library on Wednesday, Jan. 18, at 7 p.m. for an intriguing virtual program about it. Watch from home on Zoom or screen the virtual program in person at the library. Mallory will share the story of how a simple art cataloging project evolved into a search for a mysterious piece’s provenance and became one of the biggest art finds in recent history. To watch from home on Zoom, visit batavialibrary.org/calendar. You must be registered to receive the Zoom link. To watch in person at the library, visit the circulation desk or call 585-343-9550.
The NFL is still weighing their options regarding the resumption of the Bills-Bengals game, league officials stated during a Wednesday conference call. Monday night’s game between the Bills and Bengals was officially postponed after Bills safety Damar Hamlin went into cardiac arrest and was taken by ambulance to UC Medical Center in Cincinnati. NFL executive Jeff Miller said there has been no decision on whether to resume the Bills-Bengals game at a later date. A decision will be made in the coming days. The outcome of the game has major playoff implications because the Bills (12-3) entered Monday night as the AFC’s No. 1 seed. The Bills-Patriots game set for Sunday and the rest of the Week 18 games remain on schedule as of Wednesday.
New York bet on sports significantly more in 2022. Research by Sportsbook Review analyzed state reports of the amount of handle and gross gaming revenue monthly. With the data, Sportsbook Review concluded the states that have spent the most in total along with breaking down the totals of 2021 and 2022. The study puts New Jersey at the top of the list having wagered the most amount of money since 2018 with over $31 billion. In 2022, New Jerseyans wagered more than $8 billion in 2022, the second-highest total in the country. Following New Jersey comes Nevada with $27 billion wagered and over $7.5 billion in 2022. Our beloved empire state ranks fifth with $15 billion but sees its handle grow from $176 million in 2021 to a nation-leading $14 billion in 2022, an 8,000% increase.
