Tuesday News Brief
Written by Pete Zehler on November 4, 2025
City of Batavia Begins Annual Leaf Collection
The City of Batavia’s annual leaf collection began Monday and will continue through December 5th.
Residents are asked to rake leaves into piles and leave them unbagged in the parkway near the curb — not in the street — and to avoid piling near hydrants, mailboxes, trees, or poles. Piles should contain only leaves, with no sticks, grass clippings, or debris.
Three city crews are at work: one on the north side starting from Grandview Terrace, another on the south side beginning on River Street, and a third using a vacuum truck along main roads and numbered routes. Crews expect it to take about two weeks to make a full pass through the city, depending on how heavy the leaf loads are.
Residents can also drop off leaves at the Law Street Yard Waste Station, open Monday through Saturday, 11 a.m. to 5 p.m. through the end of the season. The site will be closed November 27th and 28th for the Thanksgiving holiday.
Officials remind residents not to park on or block leaf piles. If snow arrives, plowing will take priority and leaf collection may be delayed.
For more information, contact the Bureau of Maintenance at 345-6400, option 1.
Master Gardeners Launch Holiday Book Drive for Kids
The Genesee County Master Gardeners are collecting new, unwrapped books for children from infancy through age 18. Donations will benefit the Batavia Salvation Army’s Christmas Angel Tree program.
Requested books include graphic novels, elementary titles, early reader chapter books, and young adult fiction.
Books can be dropped off at the Cornell Cooperative Extension office, 420 East Main Street in Batavia, Monday through Friday, 9 a.m. to 4:30 p.m., through December 5th.
For more information, call Jan at 343-3040, extension 132.
GCC Hosts Career Workshop on Elevator Pitches and Networking
Genesee Community College is hosting a Career Services Workshop today from 12:30 to 1 p.m. in room S103 on the Batavia campus.
The free session, titled “Elevator Pitch and Networking,” will help participants craft a strong personal introduction and learn how to network effectively to reach their career goals.
For more information, contact GCC Career Services at 343-0055.
Batavia Student Rides to School in Fire Truck After Coloring Contest Win
John Kennedy School student Elizabeth Colantonio got a special ride to school Monday morning — aboard Batavia Fire Department’s Ladder 15.
Elizabeth earned the honor as a first-place winner in the department’s Fire Prevention Coloring Contest. Firefighters say she was all smiles and very talkative during the ride, sharing her love for drawing foxes and exploring the fire truck’s many compartments.
Her parents, Monica and Phillip, were there to welcome her as Ladder 15 rolled up to the school.
