The Pembroke Dragons improved to 5-0 on the season with a 69-28 win over C.G. Finney/Northstar on Saturday.
The Dragons amassed more than 500 yards in total offense while running only 30 plays.
Tyson Totten ran for 249 yards and five touchdowns on eight carries. The effort put him over 100 total career touchdowns.
Fullback Caleb Felski had 136 yards rushing and three touchdowns on four carries.
Quarterback Vijay Dhanda added 72 rushing yards and a touchdown while also throwing for 42 yards and the Dragons' first passing TD of the season to receiver Sean Pustulka.
Defensively, the Dragons were led by Caleb Felski, with 11 tackles and two interceptions. Totten added nine tackles of his own, while Octavius Martin, Jayden Mast, Madden Perry, Landon Suro and Jayden Bridge all added at least five each.
The Dragons have yet to punt this season.
The Dragons Host 4-1 Allegany-Limestone out of Section VI next Friday for Homecoming.
Also, on Saturday, Notre Dame beat Geneseo/Mount Morris 35-0. Jay Antinore was 8-14 passing for 133 yards and two touchdowns. Antinore ran four times for 74 yards and a TD. Roy Ricks had 59 yards on seven carries. Ryan Fitzpatrick scored a TD while hauling in five passes for 85 yards. Jacob Sherwood and Antinore also each had TD receptions.
Summer highlights of the 60s included going to the neighborhood park, swimming in the afternoon at the New Pool, and attending the four lawn fetes scheduled throughout the summer.
The summer recreation program was divided into eight parks. Every neighborhood had a park, and the names of the parks all have a little local history.
Austin Park was named after George Austin, a jeweler who died in 1914 and left some of his money to be used to develop a public park.
Mrs. George Farrall gifted Farrall Park's land. The land was originally a pasture.
Kibbe Park is named after Chauncey Kibbe. In 1934, with the help of federal funds and purchasing land from Chauncey Kibbe, Kibbe Park was born.
John Kennedy Playground was formerly known as Cary's Woods. It was located on Vine Street. In 1954, the park was built on land sold from the city to the Batavia School District.
MacArthur Park got its name from Douglas MacArthur. During WWII, the city organized an air raid observation post with headquarters in the baseball dugout at the ballpark. In 1961, the city cleared a small land area and built a picnic shelter with tables and grills behind the stadium.
Pringle Park was named after Judge Benjamin. Pringle also had a playground that was used for the summer recreation program.
In 1927, Mr. and Mrs. Ernest Woodward from Le Roy gave the land along Richmond Ave. across from Robert Morris to the Batavia School District. This began the creation of Woodward Field. In honor of Mr. Woodward, his name is on the ticket booth, along with his good friend Andrew McWain, the editor of The Daily News at the time.
In 1915, the city owned a tract of land on Pearl Street that was left to the city in the will of Robert Williams. This was originally his farmland. Today, it is Williams Park.
The parks were open from 9 a.m. to noon and then from 1 to 5 p.m. Your days were filled with baseball and volleyball games and arts and crafts, and the summer's culmination was the Park Parade. Main Street closed, and the streets were crowded with spectators and store employees. Your park was judged on your float and your scrapbook. You became proficient in making hundreds of paper crepe flowers and how to add the flowers to chicken wire. The goal of each park was to create a unique float to represent the park.
Friends were made for life at your neighborhood park.
In 1959, the building contract was awarded to Ed Leising to excavate a choice piece of land in MacArthur Park. It would be the home of the new community pool. When it opened in 1962, another chapter of our childhood was created. It was a 60-foot by 100-foot pool that could accommodate 600 swimmers. Your afternoons were spent swimming in what I thought was the largest pool I ever saw. You rode your bike to the pool, paid your .25, and were given a key to a locker. When you left, you were given your quarter was returned, which we immediately used on one of the vending machines when we left the pool.
Another wonderful memory of summer in the 60s was the church picnics, or as many called the lawn fetes. St. Joseph's Church began the summer with its fete on the first June weekend. Rides, games, food, baked goods, and a beer tent were there. My favorite part was the mammoth parade that opened the weekend's picnic.
Our Mighty St. Joe's Drum Corps highlighted the parade. Main Street was packed with spectators. Parents and children in strollers lined Main Street. St. Joseph's Drum Corps was founded in 1931 by the Rev. T. Bernard Kelly, pastor of St. Joseph's Church in Batavia. St. Joseph's Drum Corps operated as a parade corps until the late 1950s, when it became a field competition corps. During the 1960s, Mighty St. Joe's rose to National and International prominence, consistently ranking among the top ten junior corps in the country.
The end of the lawn fete was marked by the lucky winner of the raffle ticket. You couldn't forget the grand prize, a new Cadillac that would be raffled at midnight Sunday evening. If you didn't want the Cadillac, you could choose $10,000.
St. Joe's wasn't the only church that had a lawn fete.
St. Anthony's had one on a smaller scale, but it was just as fun. I loved their baked goods booth. They also had a popular beer tent.
When our daughters were little, we would walk to the fete. I remember one year carrying our youngest daughter from the fish pond, screaming. She wasn't ready to leave, and when we got home, we discovered that she had a rubber fish in her hand from the fish pond.
Sacred Heart Lawn fete was very special to me because you could always find my wonderful father-in-law in the church garage counting money. He was always happy to give his granddaughters cash for the games. It was a smaller lawn fete, but every booth had a church member operating it year after year.
Every church supported the various lawn fetes. St. Mary's also had a Lawn Fete.
It was the community that benefited from the summer events. My memories span from when I was nine to when the last lawn fete was held in 2017. It ran for 61 years. When you think of our lawn fetes, you remember the long lines for the waffle booth or the smell of Italian sausage, pepper, onions, or, respectfully, Polish sausage being grilled at Sacred Heart's Lawn Fete. You got used to the sound of the game I've Got It or someone yelling Bingo.
So many of these beautiful memories are gone. I regret that children today will never experience the fun. We all remember walking the tarmac of the various lawn fetes, walking in their park parade with their float, or swimming in the New Pool. My heart is filled with great memories and the sadness of dealing with all the changes we baby boomers must accept.
As you read this today, I hope you smile and remember our summers in Batavia. Smile and be thankful we lived at a time when lawn fetes, the park program, and the New Pool filled our summer days.
Photos courtesy of Genesee County History Department.
OPEN HOUSE - Sun Oct. 1st, 11am - 12:30pm! 5671 Route 262, Byron. This two-story custom built home is a sight to behold, with its beautiful woodwork and large kitchen, dining room, living room. The first floor also boasts a laundry and the primary suite. A highlight of the property is the beautiful enclosed porch looking over the backyard, perfect for admiring the scenery and spending time with family and friends. The second floor features three bedrooms, one full bathroom and a reading nook. Lastly there is a studio on the property, great for a creative outlet or hobby. Public water is being installed in a few weeks.
Canisteo-Greenwood beat Oakfield-Alabama/Elba, 19-12. Avery Watterson gain 172 yards on 24 carries and scored twice. Gavin Armbrewster was 7-12 passing for 83 yards. Jack Cianfrini had three receptions for 52 yards. Ashton Bezon had 14 tackles.
York/Pavilion beat Avon 28-18
LeRoy’s Merritt Holly (15) soars at the Attica-Alexander PAT kick. Photo by Ed Henry.
Le Roy’s Drew Strollo (34) and DJ O’Geen (54) look to stop Landyn Thomas (3). Photo by Ed Henry.
The Le Roy defense converges on Attica-Aleander’s Tyler Marino (22). Photo by Ed Henry.
Xavien Walker is a valuable return specialist for the Knights. Photo by Ed Henry.
The Le Roy defense looks to stop Attica-Alexander star Clayton Bezon (44). Photo by Ed Henry.
Le Roy’s Connor Hegeman hauls in a Le Roy TD pass against three defenders. Photo by Ed Henry.
Le Roy’s Tony Piazza (22) follows his O-line for a late-game TD. Photo by Ed Henry.
The Le Roy defense swarms Attica-Alexander RB Levi Pearl (33). Photo by Ed Henry.
After a long reception early in the third quarter, Vertus Charter was threatening to score near the goal line when Batavia's Mekhi Fortes grabbed QB Malachi Jones, knocking the ball loose, allowing Maggio Buchholz to recover the fumble. Photo by Howard Owens.
With an aggressive Blue Devils defense harassing Vertus QB Malachi Jones all night, forcing turnovers and lost yardage, Batavia was able to securing a convincing win over Vertus Charter 37-16.
Bronx Bucholz was 11-16 passing for 139 yards and two touchdowns.
Cole Grazioplene had two receptions for 18 yards, and 22 yards on one carry, with two TDs and a defensive interception.
Zailen Griffin had 10 carries for 89 yards.
Carter Mullen had four receptions for 44 yards and touchdown.
Mekhi Fortes, who was also a dominant presence on defense, had three receptions for 43 yards and ran for a touchdown.
The Blue Devils are now 2-2 on the season.
This is exclusive game coverage by The Batavian. You can help support The Batavian's coverage of the community by joining Early Access Pass.
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Flushed from the pocket, QB Malachi Jones spikes the ball to prevent a sack by Mekhi Fortes in the first quarter. Photo by Howard Owens
Zailen Griffin sprints away from a defender in the second quarter. Photo by Howard Owens.
Mekhi Fortes with the ball over the endzone in the second quarter. Photo by Howard Owens
Zailen Griffin Photo by Howard Owens
Mekhi Fortes with the stiff arm in the second-quarter. Photo by Howard Owens
A defensive stop in the second quarter left Vertus inside the one-yard line. Photo by Howard Owens.
Leading to a touchdown on a fumble recovery. Photo Howard Owens.
DaShaun Wright and teammates celebrate his fumble recovery in the endzone for a touchdown. Photo by Howard Owens.
Maggio Buchholz with the reception on the PAT. Photo by Howard Owens.
Cole Grazioplene with a third-quarter interception. Photo by Howard Owens.
Offensive lineman Karvel Martino with a block. Photo by Howard Owens.
Jonell Chudyk, with Gilbert, and Jon Tedd, with Anne, co-founders of Mockingbird Farm Sanctuary in Byron, are preparing for the nonprofit's second annual Fall Festival with hopes to raise enough money to shore up their hay needs for the winter season. Photo by Joanne Beck
Barnaby's eyes -- with two dark thin slits across each eyeball -- cautiously observe and capture a stranger's attention as he approaches his front yard fence, while Anne has a way about her when she sidles up to a person and nudges her neck ever so gently against you. There’s only one thing to do but reach out and stroke her nose and neck in quiet sympathy for her current hip pain that causes her to limp.
Ferris and Forrest seem obliviously content to continue snacking while Cici may try to take a lick of a visitor’s arm, and there are so many more residents of Mockingbird Farm Sanctuary just waiting to say hello.
And they’ve all got names, personalities and individual voices if you just give them a moment, co-founder Jonell Chudyk says.
“I heavily believe in the power of the human-animal bond when it's done when it's mutually beneficial. I think humans can heal animals, and animals can heal humans as long as it's done in a mutually beneficial environment,” Chudyk said during an interview with The Batavian. “So my goal, obviously, was to create this place that's a sanctuary for both humans and nonhumans.”
It was quite apparent during a recent tour of the Upper Holley Road farm that Chudyk has given the 52 animals — 19 species in all — many moments since the farm’s founding with Jon Tedd in 2015.
From Barnaby, a brown goat, to Anne, a miniature donkey once used for a traveling petting zoo and who got caught in a hoarding situation with fellow donkey Gilbert, all of the animals have been rescues or turn-ins that are now living a much healthier, safer and happier life.
There’s a story for every animal, including the pot-bellied pigs that were purchased by people thinking they’d be a cute, petite pet for the house, until the realization that it was a pig that was going to grow in girth and poundage.
And River, the now three-year-old black-and-white cow who was found running down a Rochester street as a three-day-old calf with its umbilical cord still attached. Nobody claimed the poor confused baby, and it eventually found refuge at Mockingbird.
Or those Eastertime gifts that might get tucked into a child’s basket along with the chocolate bunny rabbits.
“We’ve gotten 245 requests for surrenders of roosters from people who got chicks and then couldn’t keep them or didn’t want them when they got older,” she said.
Lucy, a mom goat, and her baby, Ruby, were part of a breeding operation used for ritualistic slaughter out of state. They came to the farm quite sick, requiring extensive medical treatment and Tedd and Chudyk donning tyvek suits just to treat them.
Some of the animals have stayed inside with Chudyk until they were recovered enough to go back into the barn.
Cici the cow became a big fundraising effort, with the community rallying around to raise $14,000 to save her from multiple diseases after a stay at Cornell University.
Why farm animals, and why spend so much money on them? Well, why not farm animals, Chudyk counters.
“I’ve been around horses for 26 years. And they were sort of my happiness and therapy growing up. So I knew I always wanted to do something with animals,” she said. “And for as long as I can remember, I've been rescuing animals like baby squirrels and just involved with, I guess I would say, the welfare of animals for as long as I can remember.”
She met Tedd through a mutual friend who was in a band with him, and they discovered they shared the same dream to operate a sanctuary like this. The dream came true in 2015 when Chudyk moved there and bought the place. Mockingbird became an official 501(c)(3) two years later.
She believes that one animal is as important as any other, and learning about all species has allowed her to understand that they all really do have their own niche.
Just like their cats, dogs and smaller animals that reside inside their home on the farm, all of them have their rightful place and a voice that if you stop and listen, you’ll hear it, she said.
Hart, the large green-eyed Maine coon cat that appeared on their property years ago and never left, has nuzzled right into the mix — amazingly unfazed by the ducks and chickens.
Chudyk and her family, husband Joseph and daughter Audrey, have adopted this way of life quite naturally, though it's not easy. The sanctuary is completely run on a volunteer and donation basis, with no grant or government assistance, she said.
The property includes a 6,000-square-foot barn, circa 1800s, and five out-buildings on 10 acres of land. There's a board of directors and some 16 volunteers who work according to their own schedules.
There is a subscription service, Patreon, and her job as a licensed therapist that helps to support the organization, Chudyk said, plus sponsorships of animals, donations, and events.
One of the farm’s big events will be the second annual Fall Festival, set for 1 to 6 p.m. Oct. 7 at 5978 Upper Holley Road, Byron. This year’s goal is to raise $15,000, which would buy hay for this winter season. There’s no formal admission, with a suggested donation of $10, which includes a self-guided tour of the farm and availability to meet its residents.
There will also be at least a dozen vendors with food and crafts for sale, including Grass Fed Rochester, New Ethic Pizzeria & Cafe,and Isotope Ice Cream and Desserts. Other activities will include games, face painting, temporary tattoos, live music, a pumpkin patch and raffles.
Vendors and sponsorships are still being accepted for the festival, with a variety of online and in-person promotional perks for sponsors. Volunteers and donations are always needed and welcomed, she said.
It takes $6,000 a month to care for the animals, and untold hours of cleaning, scrubbing, and filling bowls and buckets with food and water, clearing out their beds of poop, providing for their medical and personal needs, and, of course, giving a good ear, nose or back rub for those that have come to trust it.
Chudyk bakes cookies with CBD so that some of the treatments are more palatable, as many of the animals have joint issues, osteoarthritis, or other injuries and ailments from their prior journeys.
Again, why go to such time, energy and expense for farm animals?
“You can care about humans and animals at the same time. And if folks are compelled to donate, awesome, if not, they don't have to," she said. "So we always make it a point where like, personally, I would pay the bills, you know, I would never expect the public to, if we take on an animal with expenses like that, we don't expect the public to just fund it. If we can't get that support, we would never put an animal in a situation where we wouldn't be able to afford it personally.
“But the thing is, don't they deserve voices? You know, we are essentially the voices for the voiceless. And it's difficult to see so much support for companion animals when nobody would bat an eye at $14,000 to have colic surgery for a horse, but to save a calf, that would be controversial," she said.
"We just don't see it that way. And that's okay if other people don’t.”
Reagan Elizabeth Heubusch, shown here with her dog Edie, offers a pet-sitting service that includes drop-in visits, walkings, and overnight stays with your dog. Photo by Joanne Beck
As she was approaching high school graduation, Reagan Heubusch wanted to at least supplement her part-time job with something else to make a little more money, and a family friend suggested that she try a pet-sitting service.
Almost immediately, her own social media, plus word-of-mouth, earned her three or four clients, and the business grew to the point where the 18-year-old dropped the other job altogether.
“It started out as a very small idea, and my initial goal was for it to keep me afloat while I found another job,” she said during an interview with The Batavian. “What actually ended up happening was it replaced a job entirely for me; I was able to do it full time, not just not on the side. I offer four services currently, but am hoping to be able to expand in the future as I take some courses to help educate me more.”
It was her boyfriend’s step-mother who can claim credit for the idea, and her own mother, Danielle, who gave the push to “go for it” in pursuing her own business, Reagan said. She’s always had a love for dogs, having grown up with four up to now, so the idea especially appealed to her.
Still in its early stage, the owner and namesake of the Reagan Elizabeth Pet Sitting Services is in progress with obtaining her LLC, and she offers dog walking and drop-in visits of 30 to 60 minutes to provide some companionship, exercise, a feeding, or outdoor break; and then more extensive day and night stays at the client’s home.
A 2023 graduate of Pavilion Junior Senior High School, Reagan has also taken some online courses to learn more about handling dogs, grooming and trimming their nails, she said, with plans to take more in-depth lessons, such as certified dog CPR, certified grooming and administering medical injections.
She already has experience with giving oral treatments, has booked repeat clients for all of her services, and gained some experience working at Rover.com, she said.
Reagan has a repeat overnight client booked for a 12-night package in November, and that includes caring for the dog and watering the client’s plants. She will do other tasks around the house as needed, she said.
While most of her clients so far have known her, why might strangers trust her services?
“I got booked with a complete stranger, and I think what sold them was that I was newer, my prices were affordable, and I had personal experience with dogs,” she said. “And when I met them, they felt safe that I was going to be in their home and with their pets, and nothing was going to go wrong. So it's just making yourself seem credible.”
There is always a pre-meeting for everyone to get a sense if the arrangement will work out — both with Reagan and the dog — and to ensure “it’s a good fit,” she said. She wants to make sure that she’s comfortable with the pooch and that there’s no apparent aggression there.
That meeting is a great time for both sides to size each other up, she said
“I think dogs are a really good judge of character. I think it’s up to them to trust you, I don’t think you can make a dog trust you,” she said. “I’ve always loved dogs, and I’ve always loved caring for them. It’s nice having an animal that loves you unconditionally and that you can unconditionally love back.
“I’m very good with animals. So far, there hasn't been a single dog I've turned away. I've worked with a Chihuahua, a pit bull, and even a few Great Pyrenees,” she said. “I love all dogs and would only turn one away if I felt as though I could not handle it or it showed signs of being overly aggressive. Thankfully, though, I have not had that issue yet.”
She has learned to begin with affordable pricing, establish herself and then go from there with her fees. She charges per service and serves Genesee and Wyoming counties.
Future goals are to provide a doggy day care or boarding service, plus offer nail trimmings, baths and other potential services as she becomes more established, she said. At that point, Reagan hopes to also employ others to help with the business.
For more information or to contact Reagan, email reaganelizabethht@gmail.com or go to her business site.
Photo from 2022 Muckdogs trick or treat by Howard Owens.
Press Release:
The Batavia Muckdogs are excited to announce their 3rd annual Muckdogs Trick or Treat at Dwyer Stadium on Saturday, October 21 from 3 - 6 p.m.
“This tradition started when we took over the team in 2021 as a free event for the community to get together and have some fun around Halloween. Last year we saw over 5,000 people attend the event and we are expecting another great crowd. We really can’t thank the businesses that are involved who help make this event possible.” Owner Robbie Nichols.
The event is free to enter and is for all ages. Attendees can trick or treat, participate in games & activities, and enjoy the Halloween festivities at Dwyer Stadium. If you or someone you know wants their local business to be involved please email Muckdogs General Manager, Marc Witt mwitt.canusa@gmail.com.
131 Oak Street, Batavia.Solid and spacious ranch home that has much more room than appears from the road! Three good sized bedrooms, full bath on first floor and 1 additional room with full bath in basement if needed-or could make great work/man cave! The living room is very inviting with tongue and groove wood walls and cozy gas fireplace!! Kitchen is bright with lots of great cupboard space and breakfast bar for food on the run! Basement also has secondary huge finished room that would make great play space or hobby room-definitely loads of possibility offered here for the money!! Location is perfect for quick work commutes, within a minute of thruway or Main Street and within walking distance to eating, shopping, schools, parks and stadium! Back yard is partially fenced in back but will surprise you how deep it goes-almost park like and with BEST VIEWS of games and entertainment at stadium! Call us today to see this property. Call 585-344-HOME (4663).
UPDATE 5:58 p.m.: Batavia PD says Stephenie Underwood has been located.
Press release:
The Batavia Police Department is seeking public assistance in locating 42-year-old Stephenie Underwood. Underwood was last seen on Sept. 27 at approximately noon in Batavia. She was last seen wearing tan sweatpants and a black long-sleeved shirt. Underwood is about 5'2", 126 lbs, with black hair and brown eyes. Anyone with information on her whereabouts is asked to call the Batavia Police Department at 585-345-6350 or the confidential tip line at 585-345-6370. Tips can also be submitted by clicking the "submit a tip" button at bataviapolice.org.
Engineer Michael Metzger points out some of the changes to a proposed apartment complex on Route 77 in the Town of Pembroke during Wednesday's Town Planning Board meeting. Photo by Howard Owens.
Based on feedback from the community, the engineer and property owner planning an apartment complex at 8900 Alleghany Road, Pembroke, have scaled back the project, the Pembroke Planning Board learned on Wednesday night before voting 6-1 to let the development move forward.
A month ago, when the plan was last publicly discussed, developer Michael Schmidt and engineer Michael Metzger were planning six buildings in the complex and a total of 144 apartments with 326 parking spaces.
The new site plan calls for four buildings -- plus garages -- with 96 apartments and 168 parking spaces.
The change helps reduce the amount of impervious developed service to less than 50 percent, leaving 57 percent greenspace on the 8.2-acre lot.
The changes will make the complex more attractive from the roadway, Metzger said.
"There was some talk of making the project a little bit more of a park-like as opposed to what we had before where we had six buildings in there and a lot of asphalt," Metzger said. "With these large tracts of natural vegetation, we're trying to replicate a park-like setting that would be better for the aesthetics for the community as well as the residents that would live in this facility."
Chairman David Knupfer voted no after expressing his concern about setting a precedent while not expressing any specific objections to the project.
"This project is a precedent-setter for this town," Knupfer said. "There's no other project like this in this town. So whichever way it goes, it sets a precedent with stipulations or no stipulations. So if this is approved, and somebody else, some other developer comes in, you gotta be careful. So make sure you have what you want in here."
There were two big concerns raised by planners and community members. First, access for school buses; second, whether Schmidt would pull a bait-and-switch, which speakers expressed concern about in light of what happened with Ellicott Station in Batavia, and turn the complex into low-incoming housing.
Metzger explained the plan for school buses, worked out with Pembroke Central School Superintendent Matthew Calderon, and Schmidt said there is no way the complex will become low-income housing.
Calderon sent a letter to the planning board expressing his thoughts on school buses, which Metzger acknowledged.
"He goes into detail there about various options, and actually, some of the options he's suggesting would work quite well," Metzger said. "He also offered the opportunity for the buses to actually come on site. One of the things that he talked about, and he talked about it with Mr. Schmidt, and he would be agreeable to is allowing the buses to actually come on site and stop at each one of the buildings, each of the four buildings. Because of the geometry that is set up for the largest of emergency vehicles and fire trucks, there's way more than enough capacity and room for buses to maneuver on the property."
Metzger explained that the driving lanes and turning lanes through the parking lot are compliant with state fire codes so that fire trucks can easily maneuver through the area. School buses, he noted, have shorter wheelbases than the largest fire trucks.
Schmidt said he favors the buses stopping at each of the four buildings because it will be safer for the children of his tenants.
"As you know, it can be snowing, raining, sleeting," Schmidt said. "So if you have a tenant in the back building who has a little seven-year-old and the bus was to come in and park in a spot (up front), now that seven-year-old is going to be trucking down (the parking lot) with a backpack to get out on the bus where other people might be leaving for work. We talked about it being a bad situation from a safety standpoint for the children and said the best-case scenario in my mind is to have the bus be able to come around to each building. There will be plenty of clearance. So he (Calderon) was agreeable to that."
That scenario, Schmidt also noted, would allow the children to wait in the building's vestibule during inclement weather.
As far as concerns about low-income housing, Schmidt noted that, unlike Ellicott Station, his project is not subsidized by any state or federal agencies.
"They already had all the agencies lined up to work with them," Schmidt said. "We are here alone. Mike's my engineer. We have no intention of doing that. I can put that into writing. We certainly aren't going to be looking for any state financial aid or any type of anything from the government to help us."
While the apartments will be available to anyone who can demonstrate the ability to pay the rent, he indicated that a person who qualifies for subsidized housing isn't likely going to be able to qualify to rent an apartment in his complex.
Applicants will need to be able to demonstrate full-time employment with a credit score of at least 700 and an income of at least three times the monthly rental rate. The rent on a two-bedroom apartment will be at least $1,695 per month and $1,395 for a one-bedroom.
After one resident complained that apartments will just bring in a bunch of "riff-raff" and drive down property values, Schmidt, who owns and operates several other similar complexes in the region and repeatedly drew on his experience to explain the kind of tenants who fill his complex, told the man, "respectfully," that he had it backward.
"The people who are gonna live here are going to make a minimum of $50,000 with a credit score that is going to have to be very strong," Schmidt said. "In my experience, once they live here for a while, they're going to realize if they're moving in from another place, which a lot of people will be, I think -- we all know your whole corridor is growing -- and some of you don't like that, I understand. I grew up in Akron, a small town that has grown a little bit. But the reality is it's happening. The STAMP project and other things that are going on are gonna lead other people to want to move in.
"When they move in, they're gonna look for a nice place to move, and hopefully, we will be able to provide some of that," Schmidt added. "And then what they're going to do is look for places, homes to buy, which is going to take the prices of the homes up like it always does. When more people come in, the value of the homes goes up. That's good for everyone. You have more people coming in to help pay taxes and pay for the infrastructure ... You've got a great town. I'd say one of the towns in Western New York that's on the move. So I think it's going to be the opposite. I think what you find is when more people move in -- nice, good, hardworking people -- they're going to be looking for homes to buy. You're going to see the real estate values start climbing."
Related to the school bus issue, as well as traffic in and out of the complex, as well as the number of parking spaces, and the nature of the up-and-coming workforce quality apartments attract, is there simply won't be a lot of children living in the apartments, Schmidt said. He predicted fewer than 20 children at any one time.
He said the apartments are on the smaller side, and most are one-bedroom, and in his experience, even the two-bedrooms don't tend to attract adults with children.
Eight units in every building will be one-bedroom, and six will be two-bedrooms. There are no three bedrooms.
"They're not large units," Schmidt said. "They're very medium-sized units. So really, our experience is that we have very few children. And when people start having children, they look for a house."
Schmidt said he maintains high standards for his tenants. For example, tenants can have dogs under 30 pounds, but if a tenant's dog bites anybody, the dog has to go.
"We don't tolerate anything," Schmidt said. "That's why we keep the standards very high in who we rent to. If you don't, good people will not live around bad people, but bad people love living around good people. So you have to take care of the good tenants that you have."
And that's why he's attracted to building in Pembroke, he said. He believes Pembroke is a community that attracts good people.
"It's a community built around hardworking people," Schmidt said. "Hardworking people don't have a lot of time usually to screw around. We're going to protect that. I think you're gonna see there's a lot of great people that move in here."
Engineer Michael Metzger and Developer Michael Schmidt. Photo by Howard Owens.
A pilot program that allows 12- and 13-olds to hunt with a crossbow, rifle, shotgun or muzzleloading firearm is about to expire at the endof this year unless the Genesee County Legislature votes to extend the local law next month.
The public is invited for comments during a public hearing on the issue at 5:30 p.m. Oct. 11 in the Legislative Chambers in the Old Courthouse, 7 Main St., Batavia.
New York State enacted legislation in 2021 that created a new section of Environmental Conservation Law (11-0935) authorizing a license holder who is 12 or 13 years of age to hunt deer with a crossbow, rifle, shotgun, or muzzleloading firearm under the supervision of an experienced adult hunter in eligible areas. This program ran through 2023 and required counties to adopt a local law authorizing participation and to notify the DEC of their participation. Prior to that, the state’s legal age to hunt was 14.
Genesee County was one of the 52 counties in the state to register, leaving just two counties to opt out of the program. Currently, all other states allow youths 12 years old or younger to hunt big game with a firearm.
During a prior discussion about voting on a resolution to extend the law to a permissible Dec. 31, 2025, county legislators seemed in favor of doing so, including Legislator Christian Yunker, who said there has been "a lot of positive response" to the program.
He pointed to a report that was put out by the DEC to the state Senate and Assembly with feedback from participating counties in the pilot program.
There were 9,859 participating hunters in 2021-22 and 9,416 the following year of the program, with the highest percentage — 85 percent — using firearms during deer season, the report stated. The fewest amount of hunters used crossbows, at 18 percent for the first year and 22 percent during 2022-23.
Those who participated in bowhunting season were at 31 percent and 25 percent, respectively, and 26 percent and 18 percent for late muzzleloader season. The next largest group was youth big game hunting over Columbus Day weekend at 62 percent and 70 percent for each of the two years.
“No hunting-related shooting incidents, violations or license revocations involving 12- or 13-year-old hunters were reported/occurred during the first two years of the pilot program,” the report stated.
A satisfaction survey scored 82 percent for the youth hunter and 87 percent for adult mentors with a “moderately or greatly satisfied” rating, and 4 percent and 2 percent, respectively, with “moderately or greatly dissatisfied.”
Legislators voted this week to set the hearing and allow for local feedback about the program before taking a vote to extend the law. Anyone interested in speaking or obtaining more information is encouraged to attend the hearing.
According to the resolution, the intent of this local law is to authorize the county to permit 12- and 13-year-old individuals to participate in the new and safe hunting opportunities in accordance with Environment Conservation Law ECL 11-0935.
The enacted 2023-2024 New York State Budget includes a pilot program allowing the opportunity for youth hunters, ages 12 and 13, to hunt deer with certain firearms and crossbow through Dec. 31, 2025, if a County authorizes such action within their municipality.
The County is amending this local law because “hunting is a valued tradition for many families, and this new opportunity allows experienced adult hunters to introduce the value of hunting to the next generation. Furthermore, teaching young people safe, responsible, and ethical hunting practices will ensure a rewarding experience for the youth while providing quality food to families and contributing to important deer management population control practices,” the resolution states.
Definitions for the purposes of this Local Law:
a. “physical control” shall mean that the physical proximity of such minor to the parent, guardian or person is such that the parent, guardian or person is reasonably able to issue verbal directions and instructions, maintain constant visual contact, and otherwise provide guidance and supervision to the minor.
b. “eligible area” shall mean within the boundaries of the County.
State Requirements include:
A hunting license holder who is twelve or thirteen years of age may hunt deer with a crossbow, rifle, shotgun, or muzzle-loading firearm as provided in this title in an eligible area provided that;
a. Such minor is accompanied by their parent or legal guardian, or by a person designated in writing by such parent or legal guardian on a form prescribed by the Environmental Conservation Department who is 21 years of age or older; and
b. Such parent, guardian or person has had at least three years’ experience in hunting deer; and
c. Such parent, guardian or person holds a hunting license; and
d. Such parent, guardian or person maintains physical control over the minor at all times while hunting; and
e. Such parent, guardian or person and the minor remain at ground level at all times while hunting; and
f. Such parent, guardian or person and the minor shall each display either a minimum total of 250 square inches of solid fluorescent orange or pink or patterned fluorescent orange or pink consisting of no less than 50 percent fluorescent orange or pink material worn above the waist and visible from all directions, or a hat or cap with no less than 50 percent of the exterior consisting of solid fluorescent orange or pink material and visible from all directions.
The Town of Pembroke Planning Board approved a proposal for a new travel plaza off Exit 48a of the Thruway on Wednesday, clearing the way for construction to begin in the spring.
When completed, the as-yet-unnamed travel plaza will join Flying J, TA, and Speedway as locations on Route 77 where travelers and truckers can rest, get a bite to eat, refuel and perhaps get a wash.
The vote to approve the environmental review and site plan passed 6-1, with board member Thomas Marshall casting the lone "nay."
In a brief presentation before the vote, Engineer Michael Metzer addressed some of the issues raised at last month's public hearing before the board and by the Genesee County Planning Board.
Previously, there were concerns expressed about sight lines coming from the Thruway overpass and the increase in traffic the new travel plaza is likely to bring to the interchange.
Metzer said since the last meeting, a traffic study has been completed.
"The results of that study were that there are no sightline issues whatsoever," Metzer said.
As for additional traffic, that won't be an issue either.
They've determined that there would be no impact on the level of service in the area, interchanges or intersections," Metzger said. "They looked at seven intersections altogether, and every one of those still meets code. There are no adverse impacts to the intersections; obviously, there's gonna be more traffic, you know, nobody's debating that. But what this traffic impact study does is that it makes a determination of whether the impacts are adverse or not, whether they create a problem. And so, in summary, ... (there is) no significant impact as a result of this project."
Through the environmental review process, it was determined the project could impact an endangered species, the northern long-eared bat.
The developer has two options: Conduct a detailed study to see if the bat is present on the property, or not cut down any trees on the property during hibernation season -- from Nov. 1 to March 31.
The second option is the one the developer will take, Metzger said.
"If you don't remove any trees (during those months), you are in compliance with DEC guidelines and federal guidelines as well," Metzger said.
To address another issue, Metzger said the project is designed in full compliance with floodplain regulations.
As for historical preservation, Metzger said, "One thing that was identified through the environmental review through the State Office of Parks and Historic Preservation is that we are in a potentially archaeologically sensitive area. As such, we would commit to -- actually, we've started the process of doing a phase 1A and a phase 1B study. We will do that and provide the results prior to a request for a building permit."
During the board discussion, Marshall indicated he didn't agree that the project would have no traffic impact.
"I just think it's way too much volume for that intersection through the interchange," he said.
Board member Greg Kuras said he thought the additional travel plaza would actually help with truck traffic, especially during winter storms.
"Whenever you get storms, you get the states basically begging for parking spots for these things," Kuras said. "They want to get them off of (routes) 5 and 77. It's better to have a big parking lot for them than having them sit on the road."
Everyone is invited to a pet blessing at St. James Episcopal Church, which is to be followed by “A Time of Remembrance” service for one’s beloved pets who have crossed the rainbow bridge, Diane Cox says.
The blessing will begin at 6 p.m. Wednesday at the church, 405 E. Main St., Batavia.
All pets should be on a leash or in a carrier for their protection. Donations of pet food or other pet items will be welcomed and passed along to Batavia pet food pantries and rescue groups.
Participants may also bring bring a photo of their animal friends that don’t want to travel or enjoy crowds so that they may still participate in the blessing.
Made popular by St. Francis of Assisi, who had a great sense of care and respect for all creatures, pet blessings have been a popular event in early October, attracting people with their various types of animals to the church venues.
Following a raid by the FBI on a residence in Batavia Wednesday, two men have been arraigned in U.S. District Court on a sex trafficking indictment, including Joseph Barsuk.
The listed owner of the residence at 3604 South Pearl Street Road, Batavia, according to county tax records, is Barsuk Buffalo Properties LLC, and records list Joseph Barsuk Jr. as a former owner of the property.
Barsuk and Brian Rosenthal are indicted on federal charges of conspiracy to commit sex trafficking. Barsuk is also accused of sex trafficking by coercion.
On the first count of the indictment, Barsuk and Rosenthal are accused of working together, and perhaps with others, to "knowingly recruit, entice, harbor, transport, provide, obtain" sex workers for financial gain.
Barsuk is accused of using force, threats of force, fraud and coercion to get a victim, referred to as "Victim 1," in paid sex work.
The Buffalo News reported today that the case may be linked to an investigation of Pharaoh's Gentlemen's Club in Buffalo. Rosenthal is reportedly a long-time employee of the club.
“We are pleased to announce that Jamie Beedham-Rada will be starting the Executive Director position on Monday, October 9. The staff and board are excited to work with Jamie and look forward to growing the programs of the YWCA,” says Board President, Christi Waldron.
Jamie has a Bachelor in Psychology and a Master's in Management from Keuka College. She started her professional career as a Case Manager for the YWCA's Domestic Violence Program in 2005 and feels that it is one of the most rewarding positions she’s ever had. For the past 13 years, her focus has been fundraising, development, and non-profit management.
She comes to the YWCA from Lifetime Assistance, where for the last 10 years she has worked as the Associate Director of Day Services and as the Director of Development. She has been happily married to Ryan Rada for 14 years and they were blessed with their beautiful little boy Aiden, four years ago.
Her personal and professional goal has always been to support and improve the lives of our most vulnerable populations. Whether it is through advocacy, program support or fundraising, she wants her son to know the value of compassion and empathy and wants him to help others, not because he must, but because he wants to.
“I am excited to return to my hometown and work alongside the incredible team at the YWCA and the members of our amazing community. The YWCA is an integral part of Genesee County and I am thrilled for the opportunities that the next few years will bring,” says Beedham-Rada.
The Batavia Housing Authority is seeking a positive, hardworking teammate to perform a variety of outdoor landscaping tasks, primarily mowing, with some trimming and cleanup work. The Groundskeeper is independently responsible for outdoor landscaping tasks on a weekly basis with some flexibility. This job may require some weekend hours when necessary. Part-time position Pay Range: $19.00/hr - $22.00/hr Anticipated start date: May 2024 Application deadline: April 29, 2024 See full job description at: https://www.co.genesee.ny.us/Groundskeeper.pdf Complete Civil Service Application at: https://cms1files.revize.com/geneseecountynew/CivilServiceApplication2022Revision-09.22.22.pdf Contact Information Nathan Varland Executive Director Batavia Housing Authority 400 East Main Street, Batavia, NY 14020 (585) 344-1888 nvarland@bataviahousing.org Location: Batavia
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