Wednesday News Brief

Genesee County Democrats Announce State-Level Challengers for November

Genesee County Democrats are officially rolling out candidates for November, with party chairman Michael Plitt confirming two state-level races.
Batavia resident Sarah Wolcott will challenge longtime Republican Assemblyman Steve Hawley, while Victoria Guite, who lives on the Tonawanda-Seneca Indigenous Reservation, is running for State Senate against Republican incumbent George Borrello.
Plitt says recent local Democratic wins and national political tension helped spark the push, saying voters are looking for new ideas instead of what he called fear-mongering.
Wolcott, a lifelong Batavian and Genesee Community College graduate, is running a grassroots campaign focused on working families, affordability, healthcare access, and protecting rural communities. She says she’s not a career politician, but a neighbor stepping up.
Guite says her campaign centers on accountability in government, housing stability, healthcare access, and restoring public trust.
Democrats have also fielded Diana Kastenbaum against Republican Claudia Tenney in the 24th Congressional District, as the party looks to build on recent local election momentum.

CAREER CENTER JOB FAIR RESCHEDULED

The Genesee County Career Center has rescheduled its Winter Job Fair for Tuesday, February 10th, from 10 a.m. to noon at the Career Center on East Main Street in Batavia.
The event was postponed due to weather. Director Teresa Van Son says the goal is to connect job seekers with employers and help residents find long-term career paths.
Employers from manufacturing, healthcare, civil service, skilled trades, and human services will be on hand. Job seekers of all experience levels are encouraged to attend.
13-YEAR-OLD SWIMS FOR HELP, SAVES FAMILY AT SEA

A 13-year-old boy swam for four hours through cold, rough ocean waters to save his mother and two younger siblings after they were swept out to sea off Western Australia.
Police say Austin Appelbee swam about two-and-a-half miles to shore after abandoning an inflatable kayak and life jacket in heavy waves. He raised the alarm around 6 p.m.
A helicopter later located his mother and siblings nearly nine miles offshore after they had spent about ten hours in the water.
Police praised Austin’s determination and courage, saying his actions saved their lives.

BATAVIA YMCA RECEIVES $25,000 GIFT FOR FES BIKE PROGRAM

The Batavia YMCA has received a $25,000 donation from Ricky Palermo and the Ricky Palermo Foundation to support its Functional Electrical Stimulation Bike Program.
The check was presented to YMCA CEO Erik Fix, CFO Greg Watson, and physical therapist Alyssa Baumler.
For nearly 30 years, the Ricky Palermo Foundation has raised more than $2 million for rehabilitation and neurological care, including support for United Memorial Medical Center, Strong Memorial Hospital’s Spinal Wing, the Batavia YMCA, and The Miami Project to Cure Paralysis.
The YMCA thanked Palermo and the Foundation as they head into their 30th year of giving.

BATAVIA SCHOOLS CAPITAL PROJECT MOVING AHEAD

Batavia City School District leaders say the district’s $45 million capital project is already bringing visible changes, with more on the way through 2027.
At Robert Morris School, Universal Pre-K and kindergarten will move in this summer. A new playground and fencing are already complete, and roof work in one wing is finished. Phase two renovations are underway, including a new main entrance, expanded cafeteria, renovated classrooms, gender-neutral bathrooms and updated signage.
At Batavia Middle School, upcoming work will include new floors and ceilings in older corridors, added gender-neutral restrooms and major parking lot improvements. The redesign will separate parent drop-off traffic from buses, improving safety and flow without reducing staff parking.
Grade-level moves are also coming. This summer, fifth grade shifts to John Kennedy Intermediate, which will house grades three through five. Jackson Primary will serve first and second grade, while the Middle School will become grades six through eight.
At the High School, roof restoration is nearing completion, and future plans include new synthetic turf baseball, softball and soccer fields.
All three phases of the project are expected to be completed by the end of 2027.

U.S. SHOOTS DOWN IRANIAN DRONE NEAR AIRCRAFT CARRIER

A U.S. Navy fighter jet shot down an Iranian drone that was approaching the aircraft carrier USS Abraham Lincoln in the Arabian Sea, according to U.S. Central Command. Officials say the drone flew aggressively toward the carrier and ignored de-escalation attempts while U.S. forces were operating in international waters.
The Shahed-139 drone was destroyed by an F-35C jet launched from the Lincoln, which was sailing about 500 miles off Iran’s southern coast. No U.S. troops were injured and no equipment was damaged.
The shootdown came hours after Iranian forces harassed a U.S.-flagged merchant vessel in the Strait of Hormuz. The destroyer USS McFaul escorted the ship to safety.
The incident adds to rising tensions as the Trump administration continues military buildup in the region while signaling possible negotiations with Iran over its nuclear program.