Wednesday News Brief

Assemblyman Hawley Honors 101-Year-Old WWII Veteran Joe Oddo

Assemblyman Steve Hawley stopped by the Glenn S. Loomis American Legion Post 332 in Batavia on Tuesday to honor Joseph “Joe” Oddo with a New York State Assembly Citation, recognizing his service during World War II.
Oddo, who turned 101 in August, served as a Communications Technician with the 3342nd U.S. Army Signal Service Company from 1943 to 1946, stationed in the Middle East. After graduating from Batavia High School in 1942, he was drafted soon after turning 18 and completed training at Fort Monmouth, New Jersey.
During his service, Oddo maintained vital telephone communications to keep commanders informed of troop and equipment movements — often coordinating with Russian forces.
Still active today, Oddo walks a mile daily — at Van Detta Stadium in the warmer months and inside the City Centre during winter.
He credits his longevity to staying active, saying, “I tell my grandkids, they’ve got my genes — you gotta keep going, don’t stop.”

VETERANS HONORED WITH HANDMADE QUILTS

Three Genesee County veterans were honored Monday morning by the Genesee Senior Foundation and the Senior Quilters at the Office for the Aging with custom-made quilts.
Those recognized were Air Force Major Adam Bachelor, who served 20 years; Navy veteran Larry Tresco, who served six years beginning in 1966; and Army and National Guard veteran Robert Will, who served 40 years as a tank trainer.

City Council moves quickly through packed agenda

Joanne Beck with the Batavian reports, in just 16 minutes Monday night, Batavia City Council approved more than $441,000 in purchases, nearly $374,000 in grants and potential funding, and set its 2026 meeting schedule.
Council approved a $125,000 pilot project with Econse to explore aquifer recharge — converting lagoon water into drinking water — as part of the city’s ongoing response to water scarcity. Other approvals included a $292,650 roof replacement at Batavia City Centre by Grove Roofing of Buffalo, a $23,768 contract with Bailey Electric of Corfu for a pump replacement at the Water Treatment Plant, and a maintenance agreement with E-Lectric of WNY for streetlight repairs.
Grants included $70,095 from FEMA for new Batavia Fire Department equipment with a 5% city match, and $4,500 in STOP-DWI funds for police enforcement. City Manager Rachael Tabelski was also authorized to apply for a $300,000 Microenterprise grant through Batavia Development Corp.
Council’s 2026 meetings will be held twice monthly on Mondays at 7 p.m.

Full SNAP Benefits Issued for November in Genesee County

Genesee County officials have confirmed that full SNAP benefits have been issued for all November recurring cases. Some were made available starting Sunday, with all expected to be accessible by Thursday.
The state’s Office of Temporary and Disability Assistance says new cases are still being processed, but benefits already released are valid and can be used without restriction.
No major updates have been announced for the Home Energy Assistance Program, though it’s expected to open November 24 if funding is available.
For help, residents can contact the Office for the Aging at 343-1611 or DSS at 344-2580, or reach 211 WNY for additional food and housing assistance.

Le Roy Volleyball

After dropping the first two sets to powerhouse Bloomfield in Tuesday’s Class C regional qualifier, the Oatkan Knights stormed back to win the next three and stun the Bombers in five sets — advancing to the NYSPHSAA Far West Regional.
Head coach Sue Staba called the comeback “unbelievable,” praising her team’s grit and mental toughness.
Shea Williams led Le Roy with 16 kills, while Evy Kanaley added 27 assists. The win improves Le Roy to 23-1 on the season.
The Oatkan Knights now face Section VI champion Portville Saturday at 1:30 p.m. at Wayne High School.