Senior Nick Bauer celebrating with his teammates after scoring the third run for the Batavia Blue Devils as they defeated Aquinas last night at Dwyer Stadium 4-0 to advance to the next round of the Section V playoffs. The first three innings left both teams scoreless on the opening night of the championship rounds.

Junior Greg Mruczek pitched the first five innings and recorded four strikeouts and allowing two hits.  

In the fourth inning, sophomore Jerry Reinhart walked and advanced on a double steal scored for the Devils. Senior Pat Wrobel drove in the run with to put the Devils up 2-0 after 4.

In the fifth inning Nick Bauer hit a single then stole second and third. When he crossed the plate, Batavia had their third run. Junior Alex Canty (pictured above stealing second) hit a single, stole two bases and scored on a sack fly from Junior Tyler Hale to extend the lead and eventually the final score 4-0.

Relieving pitcher Senior Quintin Weis finished the last two innings with three strikeouts and one hit. Batavia Blue Devils record is 12-8 and will play thier next secional game this Friday at Greece Athena.

For more Photos go to: https://www.facebook.com/SteveOgnibenePhotography

Info and photo submitted by Lauren Humphrey.

St. Joseph Catholic School students walked to meet sponsor pledges they raised in an effort to promote exercise and supplement funding for technology improvements.  The students have raised more than $3,000 to date and are still accepting donations. Visit our Web site, www.sjsbatavia.org  if you would like to make a donation online!

Batavia Little League has paid for a health permit, according to County Manager Jay Gsell.

Gsell said a VP with the league showed up at the County Health Department this morning and paid the fee, Gsell said.

The department had told league officials they couldn't sell pizza and hot dogs without a proper permit, which costs $175 per food stand.

The Holland Land Office Museum has replaced its decade-old banner with two new posters featuring Joseph Ellicott and Gen. Emory Upton.

The posters were created by Vinyl Sticks and sponsored by Ken Barrett Chevrolet and Cadillac.

Speaking of HLOM, June speakers:

Tuesday June 9th, 6 to 8 p.m., Genesee County Historian Michael Eula; Topic: Why do wars happen? Genesee County and the problems of human conflict 1775 – present

Friday June 12th, 6:30 to 7:30 p.m., Erica Wanecski; Topic: Health Resorts in the 19th Century

For more information call the Holland Land Office Museum, (585) 343-4727​ 

Six area figure skaters who train at Lockport’s Cornerstone CFCU Arena competed May 16-17 at the Spring Skate Festival hosted by the Skating Club of Western New York at Holiday Twin Rinks in Cheektowaga. Angelina DiTullio, of Lockport, Michelle Dyer, of Batavia, Macy Midla, of Batavia, sisters Emily and Allison Milleville, of Lockport, and Kristin Riemer, of Royalton, together competed in 13 events over the course of the two-day competition. The skaters collected one gold medal, four bronze medals, and three fourth-place ribbons overall.

The Figure Skating program at Cornerstone CFCU Arena is growing under the coaching and direction of Figure Skating Director Dawn Ahlers.

On June 13, Cornerstone CFCU Arena’s Lockport Skating School will host its first Basic Skills competition involving competitors from its Figure Skating and Learn to Skate program as well as skaters from out of town. To date, applications have been received from as far away as Rochester and Ontario, Canada. Plans are to create a United States Figure Skating Association (USFSA) sanctioned club and host recurring events to draw skaters from across the region to Lockport.

The Cornerstone CFCU Arena features two NHL regulation-size rinks, a pro shop, a performance training center and seating for 630 spectators. The 93,500 square-foot facility at 34 Chestnut St. in Lockport opened its Figure Skating and Learn to Skate programs in October. More information about these and other programs may be found at www.cornerstoneicearena.com.

In photo, from left, Macy Midla, of Batavia, Michelle Dyer, of Batavia, and Kristin Riemer, of Royalton.

Press release:

Here is a fun and interesting way that you can assist your community -- by volunteering a few hours at the Genesee County Visitor Information Center. If you love our surrounding communities, enjoy helping people, and feel that you could be great ambassador for Genesee County, the Genesee County Chamber of Commerce is looking you.

The Genesee County Chamber of Commerce will reopen the seasonal Visitor Information Center on Friday, June 5th. The center is located at 131 W. Main St. in Batavia and operates in the summer months to assist summer visitors.

The Chamber is currently looking for a few helpful residents to greet visitors and provide directions and area information to travelers at our visitor “booth,” which is located in the parking lot of the Holland Land Office Museum.  Our volunteers greet visitors, hand out maps, dining guides, provide directions, recommendations and more. 

Available shifts are:

• Saturdays from 1 to 3 p.m. and 3 to 5 p.m.
• Sundays: 10 a.m. to 1 p.m., as well as every other Sunday 3 to 5 p.m.

If you are interested in a two- or three-hour shift, weekly or biweekly, please call Kelly Rapone (585) 343-7440, ext. 23, at the Genesee County Chamber of Commerce.

Photo by Howard Owens.

It's planter planting day in Downtown Batavia with volunteers from the Sun Catcher Garden Club of Batavia helping out. Above, Connie Moon and Barb Defazio take care of a planter at Main and Jackson.

The Landmark Society of Genesee County announced the winners of the 25th annual fourth-grade architectural art contest. The goal of the contest is to promote awareness of Genesee County and highlight the talents of the area's fourth-grade students.

Below is 1st Place winner Zoey Shepard from Byron-Bergen.

Below is 2^nd Place Aidan McClurg from Elba.

Below is 3rd Place Alyssa Ball from Byron-Bergen.

There were also 20 Honorable Mentions.

From John Kennedy School: Jasmine Penders, Raydence Stehlar, Avelin Tomidy, Sofia Oltramari, Jakenzi Lee, Shawn Schwartzmeyer, Briana Welsh, Christina Michele Brown, Jenick Baker, Ariana Ddelandi, Katelyn Mance, Olivia Shell, Gavin Fowler.

From Oakfield –Alabama: Brooke Kennedy.

From Pavilion: John Philips, Evelyn Northrup.

From Byron-Bergen: Jason Bleiler, Ava Wagoner, Kendall Phillips.

Shown with the children is Lucine Kauffman of the Landmark Society of Genesee County. For more information please visit https://www.facebook.com/pages/Landmark-Society-of-Genesee-County/120196221335371

Report from our news partner 13WHAM about the County Health Department requiring Batavia Little League to acquire a health permit to sell pizza and hot dogs.

Results from Tuesday's school budget vote for the Oakfield-Alabama Central School District:

Results from Tuesday's vote in the Batavia City School District vote:

I.  Budget - $43,108,373 (increase of $122,011 or 0.28%: $0.00 increase in tax levy)
   Yes   - 426 (85.03%)
   No    - 75  (14.97%)

II.  Capital Reserve - $7,500,000, ten years
   Yes -  391  (81.12%)
   No -    91   (18.88%)

III.  Transportation Mileage Change - Grades 2-4 > 0.50 miles and Grades 9-12 >1.50 miles within the city limits (all outside city limits are eligible already)
  Yes -  405  (83.16%)
  No -   82   (16.84%)

Press release:

Assemblyman Steve Hawley (R,C,I-Batavia) today called on Assembly Democrats to pass Brittany’s Law, which would establish a statewide registry of violent offenders. The legislation provides the public with crucial information about criminals with histories of violence to prevent future victimization. The Senate version, S.513, was passed on Monday and championed as a method to combat domestic violence and preserve the safety of New York’s communities and families.

“Every day this legislation sits dormant in the Assembly is another day that New York’s women are at risk of becoming victims,” Hawley said. “Unfortunately, many victims do not know that their assailant has a violent history or has been incarcerated. This bill would make information of that nature accessible and help law enforcement track convicted felons to ensure the safety of the neighborhood or community in which they live. I am once again calling on Assembly Democrats to stop playing politics with women’s safety and passBrittany’s Law immediately.”

The people who have joined The Batavian Club over the past two years have helped The Batavian tremendously. The membership dues have helped pay dues and helped us make more use of freelancers.

We even ended up hiring a contract worker to send out the most recent batch of membership kits (long, long overdue, which had a lot to do with my decision to just say, "I should hire somebody to do this work.").  

Join now and help us do more. We have a good group of people willing to help The Batavian and I'd like to throw more work their way. Join The Batavian Club and help employ local people.

You love The Batavian, so help us get better.

Use this button to set up a recurring annual payment of $50 (a discount for subscribing on an annual basis):

Use this button to make a single-year payment of $60:

Press release:

Genesee County Economic Development Center officials announced today that the new owners of Falcone Electric, an electrical supply provider in Batavia, have completed repayment of a $100,000 revolving business loan issued by the GCEDC in 2010.

On January 1, 2010, Dan and Amy Vanderhoof purchased the assets of Falcone Electric from Michael Falcone with the assistance of GCEDC’s Revolving Loan Fund Program. The loan was issued to assist in the new owners’ purchase of the company and ensure that Falcone’s would continue to operate and provide jobs for the existing employees under the new ownership. Through the process, Michael Falcone was able to transition to retirement knowing that his three wishes for the business would be carried out – that Falcone Electric would remain a family owned and operated small business; it would maintain close ties to the local community; and it would support the employees and customer base that have been loyal to Falcone’s for many years.

The Revolving Business Loan also helped fund operating capital and the purchase of a computer warehouse management system. GCEDC provides this type of loan to fund investments that support enterprise sustainability, growth and job retention or creation.

“The GCEDC educated and guided us throughout the process in finding the loan program that was the perfect fit for our needs,” said Dan Vanderhoof, co-owner of Falcone Electric. “It is comforting to know that there are financing opportunities for small businesses through local resources provided by entities such as the GCEDC.”

“Purchasing a business, especially a business with such a strong tradition, can be a daunting task especially in finding the capital to make such a transaction feasible, said Dan Vanderhoof, co-owner of Falcone Electric. “Were it not for the Revolving Loan Fund program, we may not have been able to fulfill our dream in buying Falcone Electric from Mike.”

Upon the company’s purchase in 2010, the Vanderhoofs kept the company under the “Falcone” name and have made upgrades to modernize the store.

“We wanted to recognize Dan and Amy to simply remind small businesses that they have low-cost options when it comes to financing their business,” said Mark Masse, senior vice president of operations at the GCEDC. “What better testament to the revolving fund program than through business owners who were able to directly benefit from it.”

GCEDC offers revolving businesses loans at a minimum of $25,000 and maximum of $200,000. The utilization of the loan funds must be consistent with GCEDC’s mission to support enterprise sustainability and job retention and/or enterprise growth and job creation. For more information about GCEDC’s loan programs and incentive offerings, please visit www.gcedc.com.

Photo by Howard Owens.

Twenty-four volunteer firefighters from Genesee County are participating in a three-day class to improve their knowledge and skill in dealing with spill-related fires.

The class, conducted by state fire trainers, is designed to give them a better understanding of fighting fires involving flammable liquids using Class B foam.

"These fires are pretty tricky to deal with," said trainer David Baker. "These are fires that can move, so it's a different kind of fire than most people are used to dealing with and can present some pretty significant problems."

The course, which includes classroom instruction, covers types of foam from different manufacturers, how to apply it in different situations and how much foam to use depending on the fire.

Terrain, as well as the nature and amount of the liquid, dictate best practices for fighting specific fires, Baker said.

"This program is designed to teach firefighters how to make the appropriate type and amount of Class B foam and how to apply it correctly to put out a spill fire," Baker said.

Genesee County was picked as one training location, in part, Baker said, because of all the transportation routes that pass through the county.

The basics of fighting spill fires are covered in all early firefighter training, but the course is designed to provide both a refresher for experienced firefighters as well as a hands-on opportunity to work with foam on spill fires. Because such fires are so rare, fighters don't get to practice dealing with them very often.

A fun, friendly atmosphere where people can enjoy a good, homestyle meal -- that's the goal for Lori Trader and Cindy Eggelston, proprietors of Le Roy's newest eatery, the No Finer Diner, right on Main Street, Downtown.

Longtime residents will remember the location as the former Tyler's Restaurant.

Eggleston said is their very basic goal is "We want happy customers."

In the tradition of great American diners, No Finer offers a big breakfast spread and the usual fare for lunch and dinner of burgers and hot dogs, sandwiches, melts and salads, along with entre staples such as ham steak, liver and onions and a seafood basket. There's also a veggie lasagna for those who go meatless and a lasagna in the opposite direction that substitutes veggies for pasta and is filled with turkey for those looking for lean protein with fewer carbs. There's also a kids' menu.

Opening a restaurant of her own had long been a dream, said Trader, who worked for years as a waitress at various local establishments.

"I would walk my dogs by this restaurant almost every day and just imagine what it could be, see the people in there, and I was excited about it," Trader said.

Eggleston had a background in catering and was thinking about finding a commercial kitchen so she could expand her business.

"On April 6, Lori said, 'I really want to open the old Tyler's and I said, 'Ok, let's do it,' Eggleston said. "By the end of that week, we were at the attorneys signing all of our corporate paperwork."

It all came together that quickly, and soon the buzz started spreading around Le Roy that the diner would reopen, run by a couple of local women.

"One of my customers came to my house two days ago and said he's never seen a community so supportive and so excited about somebody opening a diner," Trader said.

It's budget vote day in the Batavia City School District.

Polls open at 7 a.m. and close at 9 p.m.

Besides the proposed 2015-16 budget, residents are asked to vote on establishing a capital reserve fund, a mileage change in transportation, and three board of education seats.

A summary of the public proposal is available on the district Web site, as well as all the budget documents.

If you live north of Route 5/Main Street, vote at Robert Morris. If you live south of Route 5/Main Street, vote at Batavia High School.

• April 22 -- Do I have what it takes to own a small business?

• April 29 -- Can I earn a living through my passion? Maybe I should buy a business?
• 
May 6 -- Why didn’t I think of THAT business?
• 
May 13 -- The Sniff Test, assessing your business idea!

• May 27 -
- Trials, tribulations & skills of a successful business leader
• June 3 -
-  Marketing strategies to increase sales

• June 10 -
- Using financial information to guide my business
• June 17 --  Learning to “manage” a business
• June 24 -- Business plan presentation and networking