Thursday News Brief

GCC Students Honored with SUNY Chancellor’s Award

Two Genesee Community College students have received the 2025 SUNY Chancellor’s Award for Student Excellence—the highest honor for SUNY students statewide.
Ayaka Hibino, an international student from Omihachiman, Japan, graduated in Fall 2024 with a 3.90 GPA in Tourism, Hospitality, and Event Management. She held multiple leadership roles, including president of Phi Theta Kappa and the International Student Organization, and launched GCC’s first Cultural Fusion Festival. Ayaka is currently participating in the Disney College Program.
Biology major Ruby Hoyt of Brockport earned a 3.74 GPA while excelling in athletics. She was named to the Region 3 Women’s Soccer All-Region Team and earned Academic All-American honors. Ruby also serves as secretary of the Athletic Leadership Committee and is active in Phi Theta Kappa.
GCC President Dr. Craig Lamb praised both students for their academic excellence and leadership. They were among 193 students honored across 63 SUNY campuses this year.

Free Meal Today

Today, Thursday, May 15th, you’re invited to a free community lunch at St. James Episcopal Church, located at 405 East Main Street in Batavia. Starting at noon and continuing until the food is gone, this event offers a great opportunity to connect with neighbors and enjoy a meal together. The menu includes sandwiches, chips, cookies, and drinks, available for both dine-in and take-out. No RSVP is needed—just come as you are. This lunch also serves as a thank-you to the volunteers participating in the 2025 Day of Caring. For more details, visit sjecbataviany.org.

Bomb Threat at FLCC

13WHAM News reports, a bomb threat at Finger Lakes Community College’s main campus in Hopewell led to a full evacuation Wednesday morning. Around 9 a.m., a student reported that 19-year-old Nahrie Watts of Canandaigua claimed to have a bomb in his backpack during class. Campus police quickly evacuated the building and detained Watts as he exited the classroom. The Monroe County Bomb Squad and K-9 units from multiple agencies, including the FBI, searched the premises. No explosives were found, and the building was declared safe by 1 p.m. Watts was charged with first-degree falsely reporting an incident, a class D violent felony, and is being held at the Ontario County Jail. Sheriff David Cirencione praised the swift actions of campus police and the student who reported the threat, emphasizing the importance of “see something, say something.”

Batavia Fire Chief Gets a New Ride

Joanne Beck with the Batavian reports, in Batavia, Fire Chief Josh Graham is now behind the wheel of a new emergency vehicle — but not without some unexpected bumps along the way.
The city’s 2020 Ford Explorer, used by the chief for emergency response, broke down due to transmission failure and is now out of service indefinitely. Though initially believed to be under warranty, it’s not — and the repair timeline remains unknown.
City Manager Rachael Tabelski says the Explorer’s model is also at risk for a full engine failure. With no reliable vehicle available, the city approved an emergency purchase: a 2015 Chevy Tahoe from the Town of Shelby for $30,000.
Chief Graham says the Tahoe is in near-new condition, with only 16,000 miles, and wasn’t used daily.
The City Council unanimously approved a resolution to transfer up to $50,000 from the fire department’s equipment reserves — which currently total more than $867,000 — to cover the cost.
Council members say the vehicle is essential, not just for transport, but as a mobile command post at emergency scenes.

Learn About Flood Risks in Your Home

Happening today — FEMA is hosting a Flood Risk Open House for Genesee County residents from 3 to 6:30 p.m. at Genesee County Building #2, 3837 West Main Street Road in Batavia.
Stop by to learn about updated flood maps, flood insurance, and how to protect your property. FEMA reps will be on hand to answer your questions.
Know your flood risk — it’s the first step to staying safe.
Learn more at msc.fema.gov.

Rochester Stabbing

In Rochester, a 14-year-old girl is recovering after being injured during a fight on the city’s northeast side Wednesday afternoon.
Police responded around 4:30 p.m. to Rosewood Terrace, where a group of teenagers had gotten into an argument. During the altercation, an 18-year-old male allegedly swung a knife recklessly, striking the girl in the upper body.
She initially refused medical attention but was later taken by private vehicle to Rochester General Hospital. Her injuries are described as non-life-threatening.
As of now, no arrests have been made. Rochester police say the investigation is ongoing.

Sports Scores

Let’s take a look at Wednesday’s Genesee County high school softball scores:

Oakfield-Alabama topped Elba 9–1.
Pavilion edged out York with a 3–1 win.
Avon slipped past Le Roy in a close 1–0 matchup.
Pittsford Mendon defeated Batavia 5–3.
And in a high-scoring game, Attica rolled past Byron-Bergen 14–6.

Here are Wednesday’s Genesee County high school baseball scores:

Elba edged Byron-Bergen 3–2.
Le Roy dominated Avon with a 13–1 victory.
Geneseo took down Pavilion/York 6–2.
Attica squeaked past Alexander 3–2.
And in a second game, Byron-Bergen bounced back strong, beating School of the Arts 8–1.