Patrick Burk, right, will continue to serve as school board president during the 2016-17 year, and Jessica Maguire-Tomidy will serve as VP. Madison Moore, left, is the student, ex-officio member for the year.

The district board held its annual meeting this morning at the district office. The meeting included approving the board calendar, appointment of committees and appointment of key district staff. Chris Dailey was reappointed as district superintendent.

A house fire is reported at 54 Hutchins St. Everybody is out of the house, according to a dispatcher. City firefighters are responding.

UPDATE 7:35 a.m.: Fire under control; checking for extensions.

Photos submitted by Frank Capuano.

Genesee County is officially in a moderate drought condition and it's having an impact on our local farmers. The Batavian's news partner, 13WHAM produced this story.

The map below of the Northeastern United States shows where it's considered "unusually dry" (in yellow) and where moderate drought conditions (tan) exist.

We got less than an inch of rain in June, two inches below average and the fourth lowest rainfall total for June since the 1940s.

Are you ready to play some golf? If you have not signed up, you still can for the ninth Annual Chapin's Charity Golf Tournament Saturday Aug. 13th, at Terry Hills Golf Course, 5122 Clinton Street Road in Batavia.  This year’s beneficiary is the Disabled Veterans Local Chapter 166 of Batavia.  Our goal is to raise $12,000, everyone will walk away with prizes, said tournament chair Norm Hubbard.

The four-person shotgun scramble starts at 1 p.m., registration is at 11 a.m., including lunch and chances to win a set of clubs, also a chair from Max Pies Furniture store and much more!  

Skins and Mulligans are available at registration along with a putting contest before the tournament starts. The $70 ticket price includes lunch, dinner, 18 holes of golf with a cart, a sleeve of balls, gift bag, an American flag and chances to win many prizes.  

Chapin's encourages ladies' teams to participate and there will be prizes for everyone.

Pictured above is Norm Hubbard, tournament chair, with Doug Titus and members from the Disabled Veterans Chapter 166. Girl Scout Lily Gaylord along with leaders Lorelei Roll, Troop 42003, Laura Ranalli, Troop 42001 and GSWNY membership manager Jenni Malcomb.

To register your team, sponsor or donate go to: www.chapincharitygolf.com

Pictured above is 12-year-old Lily Gaylord from Girl Scout, Troop 42003, preparing gift bags. Lily is also pictured with her grandpa, Paul Gaylord, Disabled Veterans Chapter 166 commander holding the United States' flag. 

Click here to view our full sales flier. Crocker's Ace Hardware is located at 8457 North Street Road in Le Roy. Like us on Facebook to stay up-to-date with current sales & store specials.

Press release:

Calling all eighth- through 11^th-graders, the Genesee County Youth Court is recruiting new members!

Youth Court is a voluntary alternative for young people who face disciplinary action through school or law enforcement. Youth who are referred admit to the charge and appear before a court of their peers. Three youth judges listen to both sides of the issue and determine an appropriate disposition. The goal of youth court is to improve youth citizenship skills and decrease problematic behavior.  

Youth Court members learn about the judicial process & law enforcement; develop group decision making, leadership and public speaking skills; participate in all roles of the courtroom: judge, prosecution, defense, and bailiff.  

Genesee County eighth- through 11^th-graders who are interested can go online to download an application from the website www.co.genesee.ny.us , where you will find a link on the Youth Bureau page. Applications are due by Aug. 19. Interviews of potential candidates will take place during late summer/early fall with the training to begin in October.  

For more information on the Genesee County Youth Court, please contact Chelsea Elliott at the Genesee County Youth Bureau, 344-3960.

Marlek E. Holmes, 42, of Niagara Street, Buffalo, is charged with: intimidating a victim or witness by instilling fear of physical injury; second-degree criminal contempt; and second-degree harassment -- threatening physical contact. Holmes was arrested at 10:10 a.m. on June 23 following a disruption during a court proceding in Genesee County Family Court wherein he allegedly threatened his ex-wife with physical harm. He was jailed and was to appear in Batavia City Court June 28. The case was handled by Batavia Police Officer Marc Lawrence.

Chad N. Gibson, 26, of East Lee Road, Albion, is charged with: driving while intoxicated; aggravated DWI per se -- a BAC of .18 percent or more; moving from lane unsafely; leaving the scene of a personal injury accident; and driving left of pavement markings. Gibson allegedly struck another vehicle while operating a motor vehicle while intoxicated at 12:27 a.m. on June 25. He then allegedly left the scene. He was subsequently arrested and jailed on $1,000 bail and was due in City Court June 27. The case was handled by Matthew Wojtaszczyk, assisted by Sgt. Dan Coffey.

Thomas T. Bennett, 51, of Ellsworth Avenue, Batavia, is charged with fourth-degree criminal mischief and second-degree harassment. At 6:12 p.m. on June 27, Bennett was arrested after an incident in which he allegedly grabbed a female's arm, took a phone out of her hand and then broke it in half. He was jailed on $1,000 bail and was due in City Court on June 28. The case was handled by Batavia Police Officer Arick Perkins, assisted by Officer Jason Ivison.

Katelynn M. Higgins, 30, of Grandview Terrace, Batavia, is charged with second-degree harassment. She was arrested on June 27 following an investigation of an incident that occurred at 11:50 p.m. on June 11 on Grandview Terrace in Batavia wherein Higgins allegedly struck a person with a shoe. She was issued an appearance ticket for City Court on July 12. The case was handled by Batavia Police Officer Arick Perkins.

Joshua W. Eccleston, 32, of Winters Avenue, Mt. Morris, is charged with third-degree criminal mischief. He was arrested June 27 following an investigation into an incident that occurred at 11:30 p.m. on June 11 on Grandview Terrace in Batavia wherein Eccleston allegedly damaged a cell phone. He was issued an appearance ticket for City Court on July 5. The case was handled by Batavia Police Officer Arick Perkins.

Donald J. Egan, 25, of Boardman Street, Rochester, is charged with criminal possession of a weapon, 4th. At 12:08 p.m. on June 28, Egan's vehicle was disabled at 26 W. Main St. in Batavia. While attempting to assist Egan, Batavia Police Officer James DeFreze observed a wooden billy club in between the driver door and the driver seat. Egan was arrested and issued a computer-issued appearance ticket for City Court on July 12.

Press release:

In celebration of its 200th anniversary next year, St. Mark’s Episcopal Church, 1 E. Main St., Le Roy, is sponsoring a Photo Contest open to all ages.

Considered the most photographed building in Genesee County, St. Mark’s has a beautiful natural setting above Oatka Creek with architecture in the English Gothic style.

The sanctuary of St. Mark’s Church will be open to photographers for interior photos from 9 to 10:30 a.m. and again from 3 to 4 p.m. on Saturday, July 16, during Le Roy’s Oatka Festival.

The sanctuary will again be open to photographers from 1 to 3 p.m. on on Saturday, Dec. 17, when the church will be decorated for Christmas.

Photographers may enter up to two photos of the interior or exterior of the church. Photos may be black and white or color, may be digitally enhanced and must be received in an 11 x 14” frame, ready to hang. The photographer’s name must only appear on the back of the frame.

Photo entries will be received at 58 on Main, Le Roy, from Jan. 2 through Jan. 7.

A wine and cheese reception will open the show of photographs at 58 on Main at 7 p.m. on Friday, Jan. 31. Photographs will be on display at 58 on Main until Saturday, Feb. 4, and then will move to the Woodward Memorial Library in Le Roy from Feb. 6^th through March 31^st. At both locations, people will have a chance to vote on their favorite photograph.

The show of photographs will be on display in St. Mark’s during the month of April.

Prizes will be awarded in two categories. The Judges’ Prize will be selected by a panel of three judges, and a winner will receive a $50 gift certificate to Rowe Photo and a 16 x 20” custom print by 58 on Main. The Peoples’ Choice Award will be chosen by ballots available at 58 on Main and the Woodward Memorial Library, and the winning photo will be used on commemorative ornaments to be sold by St. Mark’s during the anniversary year. The winner will receive a $50 gift certificate to D&R Depot restaurant along with three ornaments.

Complete contest rules will be posted on St. Mark’s website at www.stmarks-leroy.org

Information and complete details about the contest will be available at www.stmarks-leroy.org, at the Oatka Festival, and in the church.

Press release:

Batavia’s premier consumer-run human service and advocacy agency for people with disabilities, Independent Living of the Genesee Region (ILGR) will hold an ADA Picnic to celebrate the 26^th anniversary of the signing of the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA).

Open to the general public, and offering FREE food, fun, and games, the event will take place from noon to 1:30 p.m. on Tuesday, July 26, at Kiwanis Park, 3808 W. Main Street Road, Batavia.

To ensure that we have enough, if you plan to attend, please R.S.V.P. to Donna Becker at (585) 815-8501, ext. 411.  

At the time the Americans with Disabilities Act was signed in 1990, a patchwork of laws existed to protect the civil rights of citizens with disabilities only in certain situations, such as access to airports, fairness in housing, and non-discrimination by federally funded institutions.

The ADA broadly bars disability-based discrimination in employment, telecommunications, by state and local governments, in places of public accommodation such as stores, restaurants, banks, theaters, hotels, and stadia, among other protections. This has made it the single most important body of law for a particular population, the disability community, since the protections for racial and ethnic minorities and women of the Civil Rights Act of 1964, which inspired some of the ADA’s provisions.

City officials expected the governor's office to announce today the winners of the statewide contest for grants to assist in downtown economic development, but City Manager Jason Molino said this afternoon that he's received word not to expect the announcement today.

The city is competing with other municipalities in the Finger Lakes Economic Development region for a $10 million prize.

With a flourish of patriotic favorites and classic pops pieces, the Batavia Concert Band opened its summer season at Centennial Park on Wednesday evening with Josh Pacino conducting.

In a ceremony at the Richmond Memorial Library yesterday, two original works by Roy Mason were dedicated to the memory of Ted and Rosemary Surowka, who both dedicated many years of service to the library and the NIOGA library system.

Director Bob Conrad said library officials have been looking for a way to honor the Surowkas after Rosemary's death a year ago and when they realized one of the Mason paintings at the library had hung in Ted's school district office for 30 years, before Rosemary had it moved to the library after his retirement, it seemed natural to rededicate the paintings in their honor.

Plaques will be affixed to the wall next to the paintings.

Ted, who died in 2001, was the business administrator for Batavia City Schools for 36 years and served on the NIOGA Board of Trustees. Rosemary was a trustee of the library from 1995 to 2011 and board president from 1997 to 2011.

Mason is a significant American artist who worked mainly in watercolor. He moved to Batavia as a child when his father took over a family label-making business. After pursuing a career as an artist for a time, he returned to Batavia to work in his father's business. He retired in 1959 and moved to La Jolla, Calif., (San Diego County) and lived there until his death in 1972.

Martha Spinigan, director of the library for 28 years, said both Ted and Rosemary were steadfast in their work for the community and support of the library. Ted was a force behind moving the library expansion forward and getting it completed in the 1970s.

Beth Stich, current board president, read two resolutions dedicating the paintings.

Join us at Centennial Park at 9 a.m. this Monday, July 4, for the Kiwanis Independence Day 5K. To register, click here.

A child may have an injury and will need evaluation by medics following a two-vehicle accident at Colby and Sumner roads. Darien fire and Mercy medics are responding.

UPDATE 11:38 a.m.: An adult female is complaining of mild back pain and a child has arm pain.

Pictured above, Pablo Garcia watching two West Virginia runs being scored.

A quiet start but energetic night coming into tonight’s second game versus West Virginia Black Bears, but the Batavia Muckdogs ended a three-game winning streak losing at Dwyer Stadium 9-4.

After the first few innings being tied, in the bottom of the sixth, Isaiah White stirs the field on a forced out grounder advancing Rony Cabrera to third who scored on Aaron Knapp’s single next at bat taking the game lead by one. Pablo Garcia hit a sacrifice fly to left which brought White in to score leading the Muckdogs after six innings 3-1.

Top of the 7^th Muckdogs Justin Langley comes in, West Virginia unloaded on Batavia, scoring six runs runs by, George, Krause, Baur, Craig, Pabst for the Black Bears. Ty Provencher replaced Justin Langley, Provencher  escaped the inning allowing two runs by Leffler and Owen which brought West Virgina’s lead 9-3.

No change until the bottom of the ninth with two outs Batavia’s Jhonny Santos homers on a fly ball to left field to eventually end the night with Batavia losing 9-4, tying the series 1-1.

Muckdogs will play tonight ending the three-game home stances against West Virginia game time 7:05.

A two-car accident is reported at Ellicott Street Road and East Road, Bethany, with injuries.

The accident is not blocking.

Bethany and Stafford fire departments and Mercy EMS dispatched.

UPDATE 9:24 a.m.: A first responder reports traffic is backing up.

UPDATE 9:30 a.m.: Photo submitted by Jordan Fleming showing the wheel from the passenger vehicle jammed under the tires of the tractor trailer.

Agents of the Local Drug Task Force report that they interrupted a crack cocaine sale in progress in the parking lot of Walmart on Wednesday afternoon and took two Rochester residents into custody.

Arrested were Antoine T. Clark, 32, of Lake Avenue, Rochester, and Kristina M. Kretchmer, 34, of White Swan Street, Rochester.

Uniformed deputies of the Sheriff's Office assisted in the arrest.

Clark is charged with criminal sale of a controlled substance, 3rd, criminal possession of a controlled substance, 3rd, criminal possession of a weapon, 4th, and unlawful possession of marijuana.

Kretchmer is charged with criminal sale of a controlled substance, 3rd, conspiracy, 4th, criminal possession of a weapon, 4th, unlawful possession of marijuana and aggravated unlicensed operation, 3rd. 

Both suspects were arraigned in Batavia Town Court and Clark was held without bail and Kretchmer was held on $5,000 bail.

The 2016 Oatka Festival Regatta Information is Sunday, July 17th, at 2 p.m. at the Oatka Creek Bank on Wolcott Street in Le Roy. For registration: You may bring your boat the day of the event. Registration/check in table will open at 12:30 p.m. on the creek bank. Cost: $15 per person. Please make checks payable to Oatka Festival and mail to: Sam Vagg, 72 North St., Le Roy, NY 14482. The deadline to register is July 8th.

Please mail payment, the completed team registration form, the 2016 Oatka Festival regatta application, statement of physical condition, and waiver & release of liability form for EACH MEMBER OF YOUR TEAM. All documents are available for download at: http://www.oatkafestival.org/. Please register your team together.

Please contact Sam Vagg at svagg@bhcg.com with any questions. The Regatta Steering Committee reserves the right to close registration due to volume of registrants.