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Tenney releases plans to defend Second Amendment rights

By Press Release

Press Release:

File photo of 
Claudia Tenney

Congresswoman Claudia Tenney (NY-24) released her American Values and Second Amendment Plans to highlight her commitment to supporting conservative and family ideals in Congress on behalf of New York’s 24th District. 

Tenney, a long-time champion of upholding the Second Amendment, introduced the Protecting Hunting and Archery in Schools Act to protect hunting, archery, and shooting sports programs in schools. Her three-pillar Second Amendment plan builds upon the progress achieved by NYSRPA v. Bruen and shows her vision for safeguarding our Second Amendment rights. She also released her comprehensive plan to preserve American Values, such as equality of opportunity. Tenney would do this by ending anti-American racist policies such as Critical Race Theory and DEI, and protecting the rights of the unborn. Tenney has also been a fearless leader in promoting legislation that protects equal opportunity for women and girls to compete and succeed in athletics. 

 “As the voice of New York’s 24th District in Congress, I will always be a steadfast advocate for American Values and Second Amendment rights,” said Congresswoman Tenney. “Today, I demonstrated my commitment by unveiling two three-pillar plans on how I will continue to strengthen American Values and defend our Second Amendment rights in Washington. I am dedicated to ensuring a future for our country that is anchored in liberty, equality of opportunity, and freedom while embracing the enduring principles that have defined our nation for centuries."

To view Tenney’s full Second Amendment plan, click here.

To view Tenney’s full American Values plan, click here.

Photo: 'Ribbon' cutting at Jersey Mike's franchise on Lewiston Road

By Howard B. Owens
jersey mike ribbon cutting 2023
Photo by Howard Owens

The new Jersey Mike's franchise opened this morning with a "ribbon" (in this case, a strip of sandwich paper wrap) cutting.

The location on Lewiston Road is in the parking lot of the former Kmart store.  The new shop's neighbors are Starbucks and Tropical Smoothie. Those businesses have not yet opened.

Pictured are Jonathan Duque, Marlon Duque, Brooklyn Zeier, Kayla Sexton, Evan Mayer, Town of Batavia board member Patti Michalak, and Betsy Mihm, representing Special Olympics.

Mayer is the franchise owner.  Mayer and his staff in the photo are all from New Jersey.  The beachballs are meant to represent the Jersey Shore.

The Kmart property is being developed by Florida-based Benderson Development. The company is also planning a second building for similar businesses in the parking lot.  No plans have been announced yet for the former Kmart building itself.

Lumineers found the 'Brightside' for fourth studio album

By Alan Sculley
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Photo courtesy of the Lumineers

By Dave Gil de Rubio

Whatever you do, don’t call “Brightside,” the Lumineers’ fourth and latest studio effort, a COVID-19 album, even though the band started tracking its nine songs in March 2021. 

While founding member Wesley Schultz acknowledges the pair of two-and-a-half week sessions occurred during the pandemic time frame as the 40-year-old New Jersey native was hunkering down with his family in Denver, he feels this latest outing is its own thing.

“We kept saying it was like the post-COVID-19 record,” Schultz explained in a recent phone interview. “To me, it was not consciously trying to float above that while still observing that. In a lot of ways, we were trying to make a record that we’d want to hear in 10 years and it would still make sense…Part of the goal of the record, at least subconsciously, is to try to write an album that describes the pain without getting so caught in the weeds in using the words quarantine or pandemic. It was bigger than that.”

Like many-a-music act, when touring was paused in March 2020, the Lumineers’ time on the road came to an abrupt halt. Schultz went through what he felt like was a quasi-grieving process.

“You go through your confusion, anger and then acceptance,” he said. “I felt pretty stifled and down. I was out of my element for a while there. I think the writing helped dig me out of the hole and find a purpose again and maybe channel some of the stuff I was really feeling in a healthier way versus drinking every day or doing something that was going to distract me.”

And adding a baby girl to a brood that already included his toddler son helped give him perspective during this unprecedented time. “The way touring goes, you say yes to a hell of a lot more things than you say no, so I was forced to be grounded and to see my son and spend real time with him,” Schultz said. 

“You’re like a workaholic in some ways because you’re hustling for so many years that it was a gift to be told that you have to stay still for a little while. Even though that was painful, I felt like what do I do with myself now? I felt useless. You crawl out of that and get a lot of beautiful time out of it. I feel way, way closer to my son than I probably would have had we been on the road.”

For the past decade, the duo of Schultz and Jeremiah Fraites have been the constants in The Lumineers (cellist/vocalist Neyla Pekarek was in the band from 2010-18), carving out a niche as one of the premier folk-rock/Americana acts through what is now the group’s fourth album. 

The band’s breakthrough single was the 2012 Top 5 hit “Ho Hey.” Its simplicity taps into an organic vibe that has come to define much of the Lumineers’ work that Schultz has found to be lacking in a lot of pop music.

That straightforward simplicity comes across in spades on “Brightside,” whether it’s the opening title track that uses a cadence reminiscent of Tom Petty’s “Don’t Come Around Here No More” while Schultz implores that, “I’ll be your brightside, baby, tonight” or providing reassurances during uncertain times amid bare-bones piano accompaniment and just a hint of strings amid the optimistic vibe of “Where We Are.” Both songs have provided a degree of comfort to the band’s fan base, who have shared their feelings on social media.

“Ironically, a lot of parents, whether it’s people I don’t know that are posting it or parents that I know personally, so many have sent me images of their kids singing ‘Where We Are’ or ‘Brightside,’” Schultz shared. “But particularly ‘Where We Are’ and they’re singing, ‘Where we are/I don’t know where we are’ and it’s these little kids, most of whom don’t even know words yet and they’re mouthing these words. That for me is very exciting to see. It’s like tapping into some kind of universal power.”

Suffice it to say that the creative restlessness that defined so much of how “Brightside” came out will be a driving force of what the Lumineers will bring to the stage on this summer’s tour.

“We have four albums out and we have to cut songs now and that’s a good feeling,” Schultz said. “We can actually put on a show that has no fat. As a band, we’re most excited to play. Not pulling a rabbit out of our hat, but having, from start to finish, moments [fans] won’t want to leave, grab a beer or take a leak. You want to just be there. I got to see Tom Petty during his “Wildflowers” tour and I forgot how many songs he wrote. I would never compare us to him, but in that feeling, I want people to leave hopefully saying, ‘I forgot how many songs they wrote,’ even just four albums in.”

Lumineers will be playing at Darien Lake Performing Arts Center on Tuesday.

Pavilion Central School considering hiring school safety consultant

By Howard B. Owens
mary kate hoffman pavilion superintendent 2023
Mary Kate Hoffman, superintendent of Pavilion Central School District.
Photo by Howard Owens.

Pavilion Central School District is looking at spending nearly $69,000 on a consultant who would visit district schools and assess their security vulnerabilities. 

Most, if not all, of the expense, could be covered by state aid to school districts.

The Board of Education voted on Monday to table the proposal in order to first talk with the consultant, Don Shomette, via Zoom during its Aug. 28 meeting.

A couple of board members called the fee "pricey."

According to Superintendent Mary Kate Hoffman, Shomette has previously worked for Oakfield-Alabama Central School District and Geneseo School District.

"This is something we've talked about for five years, ever since we first started the SRO program, and I think about as I'm reading through (the proposal) it's like it's got to be better than some contractor coming in and saying, 'oh, you should do the windows' or 'you should do this, or you should do that,' you know. I know it's pricey, but for me, I was ok with it," said Board Vice President Jeff Finch. 

When Hoffman asked if he would like to have a meeting with Shomette, Finch said yes.

"Because we can ask him straight up, why is this so pricey?" Finch said. "I mean, obviously, he must have had that question before, so let's do that."

Hoffman described Shomette as a school violence prevention expert with 30 years of experience. She said that he would visit the school campuses -- at a price of $29,500 each -- and "really take a look at every lock, every door, the windows, check every entrance of our schools."

He would then produce a report with specific recommendations about how to improve school safety.

The proposal also includes a $9,875 fee for staff development training.

"His ultimate goal as part of this," she said, apparently quoting him, "is to 'keep away fear, anxiety and threat of violence so students and teachers can direct their efforts on classroom success instead of personal safety. By doing so, students, teachers and parents will achieve a richer experience and higher levels of physical growth.' 

"Now, that sounds very interesting," Hoffman said. "His message is, 'School safety is more than a locked door, a locked window, a procedure for lockdown. It is the relationships you build between your staff and your students.'"

NOTE: The Batavian promised a follow-up story on the appointment of Deputy Trevor Sherwood to the position of school resource officer in Pavilion. We anticipated receiving a copy of the memorandum of understanding between the school district and the Sheriff's Office, which was approved by the board on Monday, and is public record, but Hoffman declined to provide it today. We also made written and telephone requests for an interview on Tuesday, which we anticipated getting, but we were unable to get that interview with Hoffman.  So we have no follow-up story at this time.

Fine-tuning BK plans means more green, less pavement and all rights

By Joanne Beck
Derek Geib, Doug Beaches and Patrick Mahoney at PDC meeting
Derek Geib, left, a member of the city's Planning & Development Committee, discusses a new Burger King location with Real Estate Manager Doug Beachel and site engineer Patrick Mahoney during the committee's meeting Tuesday at City Hall. 
Photo by Joanne Beck.

After making additional tweaks to their blueprint of a new Burger King location on the city’s southwest side, site engineer Peter Sorgi and his team were encouraged Tuesday by the progress being made in Carrols Corporation’s incremental steps toward approval, he says.

“We reduced some of the pavements and some of the drive aisles, which increased the landscaping, and we also reduced some parking, which increased the landscaping, which is a direct result of the comments of this board. So, more green space, less pavement,” Sorgi said after the city’s Planning and Development Committee meeting. “And the other change I made was a right in or right out on Main Street, no left either way. And our initial plan had left both ways. So, again, it was working with the board to get that understanding. We have (the Zoning Board of Appeals) for two variances and then back here for site plan. We've been very happy with the comments. It's a better plan than it was when we started, and that's the process.”

He expects to be attending the ZBA’s meeting in September and then back to the planning committee with “our whole engineered site plan and all the landscape plans” in November for the beginning of a formal site plan review. That would most likely leave construction for the spring of 2024, he said. 

Sorgi and site engineer Patrick Mahoney reviewed those updated plans before a slightly different committee — alternate Jim Krencik sat in for Ed Flynn, who was absent. During the last meeting, Flynn raised concerns about the skewed ratio of pavement to landscaping, preferring and recommending to see more green space and taking issue with a 17-foot lane, which he said he felt was excessive. 

“Right now, I may be the only one talking about the 17-foot excessive lane over here, but I want more landscaping along Lyon Street,” Flynn had said.

No one seemed to have a problem with the updated landscaping; however, member David Beatty questioned the right-turn exits. 

"Have there been any traffic studies done … that would show how this actually works? In reality, I mean, you've got a situation where people get their food, and they're going to be either going out to West Main, right? Or they can go all the way around to Lyon Street. Are there any studies that would show you how many people would go one way or the other, for instance?” he said.

There haven’t been any such specific studies, Sorgi said. That would come up along with the state Department of Transportation environmental review, he said. Mahoney added that it’s not unusual to have both a side and front exit and to provide a sign, “which we would be willing to do, saying exit to south Lyon with an arrow direction.”

“I still think it is somewhat problematic,” Beatty said. 

Code Enforcement Officer Doug Randall asked if they were expecting the trip count to change with the new Burger King location at the corner of South Lyon and West Main streets. Mahoney estimated that it could go up at least 10 percent with increased visibility. That being said, he also doesn’t believe that folks are going to bypass other Burger Kings just to visit this new one, he said. 

Real Estate Manager Doug Beachel spoke on behalf of the company, representing “1,100 of these throughout the East Coast,” he said. 

“Typically, we do cell phone analysis that shows a heat map in terms of where they're coming from in the city of this size,” he said. “You know, most of your business is within five miles, they’ll show us where your outliers are, and then it’ll kind of take the highs and lows … it’s really, you know, three to five miles max.”

Beachel was there as the new real estate manager and said that things have been moving too slowly up to now. He would be part of the process to ensure it would be more swift, he said.

Click HERE for prior coverage.

Rezoning proceeds for Mix Place, target area drops to two properties

By Joanne Beck
Ed Smart
Edwin Smart of Smart Design explains his process so far in attempting to get his property on Mix Place rezoned and his business included by rewording municipal code to include "and other similar professionals" during Tuesday's Planning & Development Committee meeting.
Photo by Joanne Beck

A potential snag to proceed with rezoning a section of Mix Place was fairly quickly remedied during Tuesday’s Planning & Development Committee meeting. 

Earlier this year, Edwin Smart had filed a petition to rezone his property at 4 Mix Place to allow him to convert the one-family dwelling into a professional architectural office building. Smart has requested that the words “and other similar professionals” be included in the permit that allows for offices for attorneys, physicians and/or dentists, not exceeding four offices in a single structure. 

He would like to operate his Smart Design architecture firm on the premises, and he purchased the property with that goal in mind. 

Smart had sent out a letter to the surrounding neighborhoods earlier this summer to introduce himself and his intentions and to offer residents the opportunity to call or email him with questions, comments and concerns. 

He had previously said that he has only heard positive feedback; however, he and the committee discussed the lack of response from Mike Ognibene, the property owner of 1 Mix Place, which is listed on the petition for rezoning.

“One thing that we have outlined in the application, I think, is there is no negative impact to Mr. Ognibene and his properties. He hasn’t expressed an opinion either way.  So my attorney, using the Whiting Law Firm out of Le Roy, they actually did get him on the phone. He was noncommittal,” Smart said. “And then we did send him information and asked for an affidavit. And he just never, after that initial conversation, he never responded. And we tried for several months, probably three months. And we actually tried to motivate him to do this by contacting his attorney in a very friendly way.

“This would actually bring his apartment building into compliance. And 1 Mix is a single-family residence originally back there as well,” he said.

That was a good point, Committee Chairman Duane Preston said.

“Why is 1 Mix being considered at this point? Why can’t we keep that R-1?” Preston said.

Smart wasn’t sure why, only that “that’s what I was counseled to do.”

Smart’s request first went to City Council, and the recommendation from city management was to consider including 1 and 3 Mix, a single-family residence, and a two-building, eight-unit apartment building to bring them into the R-3 district for zoning compliance. 

Code Enforcement Officer Doug Randall said that those addresses were on the paperwork “that we received from the applicant.” A committee member then suggested excluding some of that information.

“Absolutely, my recommendation would be to approve the application with the exception of 1 Mix Place,” Randall said. 

Smart had no issue with that.

“I’m eager to get started,” he said, answering The Batavian after the meeting about what happens next. “So I'm not 100 percent certain yet. I think what they just voted on is to make a referral back to City Council, I believe this still has to go in front of the county after this stage, which I think is, it's very standard procedure. And I'm hoping that everybody is supportive and that the City Council votes for the zoning change.

“And then from there, it becomes a more typical building permit process. That's where I would take the drawings that we've come up with and submit them to the building department, and then we will have to go through a special use permit per the zoning law,” he said. “And that's where, again, we hope that language change includes us because, you know, I'm not a dentist or a doctor.”

Photos: Corfu's National Night Out and Farmers Market

By Howard B. Owens
corfu-national-night-out-farmers-market

The Village of Corfu hosted its National Night Out -- an event held in communities throughout the U.S. to bring together public safety officers and communities -- along with its weekly Farmers Market. The market is open each Monday evening, as it was yesterday.

Photos by Howard Owens.

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Pavilion AD offers school board refresher on state's coach licensing requirements

By Howard B. Owens
pavilion athletic dierctor matt roth
Pavilion Central Schools Athletic Director Matt Roth addressing the Pavilion Board of Education on Monday evening.
Photo by Howard Owens.

Serving as a high school sports coach takes a lot more than understanding where to put the Xs and Os if school districts are to abide by New York State regulations, a Matt Roth, athletic director in Pavilion, laid out for the Pavilion Board of Education on Monday night.

Non-teacher coaches have a multi-year program of classes they need to take and that total cost to the coach can exceed $700.

"This is for any coach who is board-approved," Roth said. "They have to have all of these classes. They can't just show up and help out anymore."

For the non-teacher coach, there are nine steps that must be completed at the time of application.  It's about a two-month process to get the initial temporary coaching license, Roth said.

"When I came here two years ago, I kind of went through this with everybody, but I just wanted to give everybody a refresher on it," Roth told the board at the start of his report.

The candidate must submit evidence of an acceptable first aid and CPR course completion along with completion of a child abuse identification worship, a school violence and prevention and intervention worship, and training in dealing with harassment, bullying, cyber-bullying and discrimination in schools. The would-be couch must also submit fingerprints and be cleared through a database check.

Then they are eligible to coach for one or two years on a temporary license. They must pay a $50 fee for each sport they wish to coach.

In years three, four, and five, they must complete a fundamentals of coaching course, along with courses on contusions, protecting students from abuse, and a course on student cardiac arrest.

In the next level, they must complete courses in student mental health and suicide prevention, heat illness prevention, first aid for coaches, and a sport-specific course. 

If the non-teacher coach is still going in year six, then the coach needs to apply for a professional coaching license.  

At that point, the coach must complete course in bullying and hazing, strength and conditioning, teaching and modeling behavior, engaging effectively with parents, and sportsmanship.

The courses are offered online by the National Federation of High School Sports, and most are free, but some have fees ranging from $25 to $50.

The professional coach must reapply for a license every three years, which involves refresher courses in first aid and CPR, along with a positive evaluation from the athletic director.

"The teacher coaching requirements, they are a little bit easier because they've already taken some of the coursework," Roth said. "A teacher only needs to have first aid and CPR to get started in their first three years, and then they are supposed to complete the same courses that nonteacher coaches have at two years and complete levels one, two and three within five years of starting."

Graham CEO rings opening NYSE opening bell to commemorate 55 years as a public company

By Howard B. Owens
Remote video URL

On Monday morning, Graham Corp. President and CEO Dan Thoren, accompanied by executive team members, rang the opening bell on the New York Stock Exchange to commemorate the company's 55th anniversary as a publicly traded company.

In a statement, Thoren said, “We are proud to commemorate fifty-five years as a public company by participating in the opening bell ceremony at the New York Stock Exchange.  This is a tribute to every associate at Graham who worked hard this past year to bring us to record sales and orders.  Their dedication to Graham and their deep engagement with their work for our valued customers and the security of our nation makes me excited for our future.”

 

City Council agrees to NET a solution for crime

By Joanne Beck
July 2023 file photo at Meadows apartments
July 2023 File Photo of an incident at an apartment complex in Batavia shows concerned neighbors watching as city police officers walk a suspect to the patrol car. City officials have decided to hire another police officer an re-establish the Neighborhood Enforcement Team in an effort to curb nuisance and gun violence issues throughout the city.
Photo by Howard Owens.

Recent incidents of violence — four gun shootings in the last three months — have pushed city officials to put a quick thaw on a hiring freeze that was locked until March 2024.

Instead, City Manager Rachael Tabelski has suggested bringing one more police officer on board and providing training, vehicles, and additional equipment for the new and a current officer to become a more intense Neighborhood Enforcement Team (NET) to assist the city police department and detectives to “more efficiently, proactively keep the community safer.”

“Because I think it's critically important that we have our zone cars that are out on calls. They respond very quickly to people's homes, and they're very responsive. But we need a proactive team to be in the neighborhoods doing gun and drug interdiction, and I think it's very important,” Tabelski said Monday during City Council’s conference session at City Hall. “So we're gonna find a way to make it happen in the budget next year.”

During her presentation to City Council, Tabelski emphasized that when state changes to the legal system occurred — including what's coined as “catch and release” for a quick turnaround jail and bailout time — Chief Shawn Heubusch warned her that more manpower was going to be required.

“And in the beginning, the chief told me, ‘we're going to need more, we're going to need more, we're going to need more,’ and I said, there's no money, there's no money, there's no money. Now, we're at critical mass. We can't allow this to happen in our city,” she said. “I don't think anyone here on council wants that to occur. I certainly don't. So we're gonna find a way to make it work.”

Tabelski recommended using video lottery terminal money (typically a yearly amount that comes from Batavia Down Gaming revenues) in the amount of $272,000 to pay for the salaries and benefits for the two officers for eight months ($117,000), purchasing and fitting two police vehicles ($120,000) and for uniforms and equipment ($35,000).

Councilman Bob Bialkowski asked what if the city doesn’t get the VLT aid next year, and Tabelski said she isn’t planning to use that resource next year anyway. Sales tax has been doing very well, she said, and perhaps cannabis sales will be bringing in more sales tax and will be able to help offset the cost, she said. 

“We need to find a way to make it happen next year,” she said.

As for the equipment, that would be a one-time expense, Council President Eugene Jankowski Jr. added. 

“I know it will work. It worked in the past,” he said.

The method for attacking the problem of gun violence, repeat offenders and nuisance neighbors is a team approach, Police Chief Shawn Heubusch said. “It’s a one-off,  it’s a very effective format,” he said. “You get to saturate a neighborhood. This is not a new concept. We did staff this way back in the day, and it was very effective.” 

Councilwoman Kathy Briggs was on board with the plan.

“I support this. We need this,” she said.

By a unanimous vote, council agreed to proceed with hiring an officer and using VLT money for the extra expense. 

After the meeting, Jankowski, a retired lieutenant with the city police department, shared his thoughts about what may be happening in the city and how this approach can help. 

“It worked in the past, which I hope it does in the future. When there were pockets of areas of maybe a drug house or some type of disruptive behavior in a neighborhood, we were able to send that team in there. And they were able to make observations, work with the community, work with the neighborhoods, and find a resolution to calm everything down and put it to rest. So if that works as well as it did last time, we have several hotspots we'd like to target, and we're going to want to use there and see how well it works,” he said. “And we're going to monitor it monthly to make sure that we are making gains. If it's not working out, then we're going to have to regroup and try something different. But we're pretty sure this will help.”

The Batavian asked Heubusch if there was already a list of potential candidates for the new officer and how long it would take to get one ready for this task.

“So we have a list that we've been working off of to hire our last round of hires. We'd have to take a look at that list and see who we can pick from it. We would have somebody in the background, we'd be able to put somebody in the background fairly quickly because we have a list that's already established, he said. “Police Academy for about five months and then field training for about four months after that. So it's a lengthy process unless we're lucky enough to find somebody that's willing to lateral to the department to fill the position then it's just field training.” 

City Council appoints new part-time judge to fill remaining term

By Joanne Beck
andrea clattenburg
Andrea Clattenburg

City Council approved a part-time City Court judge Monday to fill the remaining term of Tom Burns, who retired from his post with less than three of his six years served.

Andrea Clattenburg, a Genesee County assistant public defender since 2021, will now be the part-time City Court judge, a role established per the Uniform City Court Act. That act provides for the appointment of a City Court judge who acts in the temporary absence or inability of the city judge to exercise the power of said judge. 

The part-time judge will serve a term of six years, which in this case will expire on Dec. 31, 2026, the end of the original term of Burns.

Upon his retirement, Burns told The Batavian that there weren’t enough cases flowing through City Court to justify his time there, so he stepped down effective July 14. 

City Council approved Clattenburg by a vote of 8 to 1, with Bob Bialkowski, Rich Richmond, Eugene Jankowski Jr., Paul Viele, Kathy Briggs, Al McGinnis, Kathy Briggs and Tammy Schmidt voting yes, and John Canale abstaining because of his “close personal ties” to the candidate.

The Batavian asked Jankowski for his thoughts about filling a position that Burns had left because there wasn’t enough work to warrant the job. 

“In my research, my research has learned that the court is pretty much backed up with cases. So I have no idea what Mr. Burns, his comment was about. I'm not familiar with it. I do know that after looking into it, as part of this process, there is a definite need for many small claims actions, civil actions and such. And that's what a lot of the part-time job does, as well as overflow and recruitment. When the full-time judge has recused himself, then those criminal cases are passed on to the part-time judge. So from what they tell me, there are standards, 90-day standards for these cases that need to be resolved. That's a state recommendation, and they really pay attention to it,” Jankowski said. “So given that short timeline, there's a lot of work over there, and they need the extra help. And plus, the part-time position, if I'm not mistaken, is required per the state. So we're gonna have it one way or another. And I believe we will make good use of it over there.”

The part-time City Court judge is paid by the state, though the position is appointed by City Council. Durin Rogers is the current full-time City Court judge. He is also paid by the state but is an elected position.

The minimum qualifications for the part-time judge require candidates to be an attorney admitted to practice law in the State of New York for at least five (5) years as of the date he or she commences the duties of the office and must be a resident of the City of Batavia. 

Clattenburg is a Genesee County assistant public defender who received a Leadership Achievement Award from Western Michigan University Cooley Law School, where she obtained her Juris Doctorate in general law practice in 2014.

She lists arts and culture, children, education, poverty alleviation and social services as her causes of interest. 

Pacino retires but will still be here 'whenever they need me'

By Joanne Beck
Patti Pacino family
Former Second Ward City Councilwoman Patti Pacino, center, holds a proclamation given to her Monday by fellow council members during her official retirement as family members, left, grandson TJ, husband Jim, son, Josh and his fiancee Carrie show their support. 
Photo by Joanne Beck.

After persevering through illness, surgery, recovery, and admittedly being quite tired -- she was ready.

Patti Pacino, City Councilwoman, committee member, volunteer, advocate, cheerleader, educator, counselor, supporter, participant, friend, and outspoken when necessary, decided that it was time to announce her retirement.

And on Monday evening, with some of her biggest fans in the audience, Pacino was celebrated for her years of contributions during City Council’s conference session at City Hall.

A proclamation was drafted that listed her many efforts, including:

  • Her 13 years of service in representing the Second Ward as councilwoman
  • Serving as alumni coordinator for Genesee Community College and Career Center coordinator for Batavia High School
  • Performing duty as liaison to the Batavia Business Improvement District’s board, co-chair of the Volunteer Selection Committee and Memorial Day Parade Committee
  • Her steadfast involvement with the Zonta Club of Batavia-Genesee, Genesee-Orleans Council on the Arts, Kiwanis Club of Batavia, and Girl Scouts of Genesee Valley Inc.

And most notably, while on the council, she was “a true public servant, winning the support of her ward in two consecutive elections, advocating for residents and neighborhoods, and always having the best interests of the City of Batavia at heart.”

Now, therefore, be it resolved, the proclamation states, “the City Council of the City of Batavia does hereby congratulate Patti Pacino, City of Batavia Council Member, on her retirement, and wish her, and her family, good health and happiness for years to come.”

A soft-spoken Pacino said that she’s working on her walking ability after having surgery for a brain tumor in December 2022. She reflected on her time with the BID board.

“I remember probably the best 13 years of my life with a committee that I'm not sure everybody understands and realizes how much they put into this, how much time and effort and caring they put into the City of Batavia, and I miss that part,” she said. “But I won't miss the council because I'll still be here to talk to them whenever they need me or whenever they don't need me.”

Pacino officially retired from her role on council during a meeting on March 28. 

Deputy Trevor Sherwood named new SRO for Pavilion

By Howard B. Owens
sheriff deputy sherwood
Trevor Sherwood, center, upon graduation from the law enforcement academy at Niagara County Community College in 2021.
From left, Chief Deputy-Road Patrol Brian M. Frieday, Sheriff William A. Sheron, Jr., Deputy Trevor J. Sherwood, Investigator Pete Welker, Undersheriff Bradley D. Mazur.
Sheriff's Office photo.

Deputy Trevor Sherwood, a Batavia High School graduate who was a star athlete in baseball and basketball, was approved by the Pavilion Board of Education on Monday night as the school district's new resource officer.

The board voted unanimously to approve a new memorandum of understanding with the Genesee County Sheriff's Office.

Superintendent Mary Kate Hoffman told the board that a committee interviewed four deputies for the position and recommended Sherwood.

Sherwood joined the Sheriff's Office on road patrol in early 2021.

The SRO position became vacant after Deputy Jeremy McClellan was reassigned to road patrol at the end of the 2022-23 academic year at the apparent request of the school district, which was a move several parents protested.

The Batavian will have a more complete story on Tuesday.

trevor sherwood
Trevor Sherwood playing basketball for the Batavia Blue Devils in 2015.
Photo by Howard Owens.
Trevor Sherwood playing basketball for the Batavia Blue Devils in 2015. Photo by Howard Owens.
Trevor Sherwood playing basketball for the Batavia Blue Devils in 2015.
Photo by Howard Owens.

BHS grad and aspiring sports broadcaster encouraged by ESPN legend at Jim Kelly Classic

By Howard B. Owens
jim kelly tournament at terry hills 2023
Jim Kelly welcomes golfers to the annual Jim Kelly Celebrity Golf Classic at Terry Hills in Batavia.
Photo by Howard Owens.

After Jim Kelly, the Buffalo Bills Hall of Famer and host of the annual tournament at Terry Hills that bears his name, the celebrity who invariably gets the most attention upon his arrival year after year is sports broadcasting legend Chris Berman. 

On Monday, after local businessman Russ Romano introduced him, Berman took extra time to talk with Griffin Della Penna, a Batavia High School graduate now working on his Master's degree in broadcasting and digital media at Syracuse University. 

Della Penna said Berman was his earliest inspiration.

"I’ll never forget watching Sportscenter for the first time with my dad when I was six years old, and Chris Berman was on the screen," Della Penna told The Batavian. "I loved his passion and how you could tell that he genuinely loved his job. Since that day, I’ve admired him, and he ignited a dream of being in his shoes someday."

It was Della Penna's first time meeting Berman, though he had hoped to meet him last year.

"For years, I’ve known that he’s been to the tournament and spent time in Western New York, but our paths never crossed," Della Penna said. "I worked the tournament last year and was bummed to know that he wasn’t going to be in attendance. To be able to meet one of my heroes today is something that I’ll never forget. While people are coming up to him telling him where to go for registration or to sign autographs, he politely told them to wait because he wanted to learn more about me and my broadcasting journey! That was the best feeling in the world when he asked me about my time at Canisius and how my program at Syracuse has been so far. He asked how much I love this profession, and he had a huge grin when I told him, 'this isn’t work to me because I’m so passionate about it.' He told me how he had that same mentality with his first job at a small market in Rhode Island and carried that into his big break at ESPN. At the end of our conversation, I told him how much it meant to me to talk to me, and he said, 'I look forward to hearing you when you make it big, Griffin.'”

In addition to a stint as "The Voice of the Muckdogs," Della Penna has held down various internships and freelance sports journalism gigs while attending Canisius. He's also received a couple of awards and scholarships while in college.

Berman, along with the other sports stars and celebrities in attendance, was at Terry Hills for the annual Jim Kelly Celebrity Golf Classic, which is a fundraiser for the Kelly for Kids Foundation. The foundation provides grants to assist disadvantaged and disabled youth in Western New York.

sports broadcasting legend Chris Berman and griffin della penna
Griffin Della Penna poses with ESPN sports broadcasting legend Chris Berman.
Photo by Howard Owens.
sports broadcasting legend Chris Berman and griffin della penna
Chris Berman speaking with Griffin Della Penna.
Photo by Howard Owens.
jim kelly tournament at terry hills 2023
Photo by Howard Owens.
jim kelly tournament at terry hills 2023
Photo by Howard Owens.
jim kelly tournament at terry hills 2023
Thurman Thomas arriving at Terry Hills.
Photo by Howard Owens.
jim kelly tournament at terry hills 2023
Former Pro Bowler receiver Gerald McNeil at the autograph table.
Photo by Howard Owens.
jim kelly tournament at terry hills 2023
Kato Kaelin, with his wife Shengyi Xue, waits to step up to the autograph table behind Scott Norwood and Willie "Hutch" Jones. Jones is a former NBA player born in Buffalo who now runs the Willie Hutch Jones Sports and Education Program, a non-profit in Buffalo. Norwood is a former Bills kicker. Xue is a model and actress. And Kaelin, is, well, Kato Kaelin. 
Photo by Howard Owens.
jim kelly tournament at terry hills 2023
Johnny Damon, former star centerfielder with the Oakland As, Boston Red Sox, and New York Yankees, at the autograph table. Russ Romano on the left.
Photo by Howard Owens.
jim kelly tournament at terry hills 2023
Johnny Damon with WBTA's Nici Johnson.
Photo by Howard Owens.

Smoke in the building reported at Alex's Place in Batavia

By Howard B. Owens

Smoke in the building is reported at Alex's Place, 8322 Park Road.

The building is being evacuated.

Town of  Batavia Fire responding.

UPDATE 5:01 p.m.: The fire is out. Somebody on location used a fire extinguisher. There is smoke in the building.

UPDATE 5:09 p.m.: Confirmed. The fire is out. Firefighters are ventilating. 

DOT to replace 'Federal Rd' street signs at 98 and Federal Drive

By Howard B. Owens
federal drive traffic signals
Photo by Howard Owens

Last week, The Batavian published photos of the new traffic signals at Oak Orchard Road and Federal Drive and noted that the new street signs read "Federal Rd."

We asked a Department of Transportation official about the discrepancy and this morning received this statement:

“A contractor installed an incorrect sign on Federal Drive. The sign will be replaced and the new traffic signal will be activated into its 3-color operation later this week, weather permitting.”

We sent a follow-up question about the cost of replacing the signs and have not received a response.

Top Items on Batavia's List

Tourism Marketing Assistant Position The Genesee County Chamber of Commerce, serving as the official tourism promotion agency for Genesee County, NY is seeking an experienced marketing professional to assist in the overall Chamber tourism and marketing initiatives for Genesee County. https://visitgeneseeny.com/about/join-our-team
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Town of Batavia Court Department is seeking a part time as needed Court Officer. Court Officers are responsible for maintaining order in the court room and court facility during proceedings. Please send resume to Town of Batavia, Attention Hiedi Librock, 3833 West Main Street Road, Batavia, NY 14020. Complete job description is available on the Town web site or at the Town Hall Application deadline is April 15, 2024.
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