Le Roy won its home opener in volleyball last night over Dansville in four sets, 25-19, 21-25, 25-20 & 25-10.
Allie Ingles had 12 kills. Abbie Woodworth had 23 assists and Hailey Johnson had 15. Riley Wood led with 12 digs.
The Knights are now 3-0 on the season.
Photos and info courtesy Tim McArdle.
Press release:
Plug Power Inc.’s development of North America’s largest green hydrogen production facility at the Western New York Science & Technology Advanced Manufacturing Park (STAMP) received final approval from the Genesee County Economic Development Center (GCEDC) Board of Directors at its March 25 meeting.
Plug Power Inc. plans to build the $232.7 million green energy technology facility at a 29.884-acre site at STAMP, with a proposed initial operation creating 68 new jobs at an average salary of approximately $70,000.
Plug Power Inc. also will invest $55 million to help build a 345/115KV electric substation in partnership with the New York Power Authority and National Grid. The substation will support future expansion and growth opportunities at STAMP’s 1,250-acre mega-site.
“The investments by Plug Power Inc. will advance our region’s expanding green hydrogen economy, create good jobs aligned with our county’s workforce training programs, and advance major infrastructure that is accessible to future projects,” said GCEDC President & CEO Steve Hyde.
“This project by Plug Power, along with the team effort by the GCEDC Board of Directors, the Empire State Development, the New York Power Authority, and National Grid, show our capacity to advance regionally significant projects at STAMP.”
Under the incentives application approved by the GCEDC Board, Plug Power Inc. will contribute approximately $2.3 million annually to support local municipalities and infrastructure development under a 20-year agreement.
In addition to Plug Power, the GCEDC Board also approved or accepted applications from five projects totaling another $420 million of capital investment in Genesee County.
The GCEDC Board approved final incentives for Forefront Power LLC (Elba Solar) for a $9.7 million community solar project on Norton Road in the Town of Elba. The project will generate 5MW of power and generate approximately $518,803 in new revenue to Genesee County, the Town of Elba, and the Elba Central School District over the proposed 15-year agreement.
The board also approved final incentives for Solar Liberty for community solar projects on Tesnow Road in the Town of Pembroke at a capital investment of $7.7 million. The projects will generate 4MW and 5MW of power and will generate approximately $856,024 in new revenue to Genesee County, the Town of Pembroke, and the Akron Central School District over the proposed 15-year agreement.
Finally, the GCEDC Board of Directors accepted initial applications for two other projects:
- Excelsior Energy LLC is proposing to invest $345.55 million in a utility-scale solar project on multiple properties in the Town of Byron. The project will generate 280 MW of power. Excelsior has negotiated a 20-year tax and community host agreements, including payments of $6,500 per MW, with a 2-percent annual escalator, to Genesee County, the Town of Byron, and the Byron-Bergen School District.
- DePaul Special Needs Apartments LP is proposing to invest $3.75 million to expand by 20 living units an existing special needs housing campus in the City of Batavia. The project would increase annual PILOT payments by approximately $6,000 per year for the remainder of the facility’s existing PILOT schedule.
UPDATE: We asked Jim Krencik, marketing director for GCEDC, to clarify the tax abatements for these projects. He provided the following. The "Property Tax Payments" followed by tax savings is the PILOT on the project (payments in lieu of taxes). The sales tax exemption is an exemption on sales tax for materials used in construction.
Plug Power
Excelsior Solar
Press release:
The Batavia Society of Artists is having a Virtual Hands-on Art Demonstration by artist Karen Crittenden at 7 p.m. on Tuesday, April 13th.
It is open to nonmembers for a $5 fee, please go to the society's Facebook page to sign up. Members will receive an email with Zoom meeting info.
Crittenden is a local mixed-media artist and photographer who owns and operates a niche craft store -- Karen's Yarn Paper Scissors at 550 E. Main St. in Batavia.
She teaches there and offers a variety of lessons. She is a lifelong artist, learner and enjoys sharing what she does with others.
To play along with this mixed-media offering you will need:
Optional
Press release:
Assemblyman Steve Hawley is renewing his call for the governor’s impeachment following a bombshell report that the governor secured state-administered COVID-19 tests for himself, members of his family and those with close political and personal ties to him.
This was during a period in the coronavirus pandemic in which government labs only had the capacity to process several hundred tests each day. State police resources were also reportedly used to transport these tests to state labs for faster processing.
“It has become abundantly clear the governor is willing to take actions that benefit himself and those close to him at the public’s expense,” Hawley said. “Somebody with such misguided convictions has no place continuing as our governor, and we need to move forward with impeachment proceedings as quickly as possible. Of course, he could still do the right thing and resign.”
Scanner: City police are dispatched to "South Main and Roosevelt for a trampoline rollin' around in the roadway." Drivers beware.
UPDATE 12:13 p.m.: A resident put the tumblin' trampoline back in the yard.
0 Byron Road, Stafford - click here.
0 Angling Road, Pembroke - click here.
0 Linden Road, Bethany - click here.
Press release:
In anticipation of gale-force winds that could exceed 60 mph beginning Friday morning in Western New York, National Grid is increasing staffing to include 1,300 line, service, tree, damage assessment and public safety workers.
The bolstered field force includes external resources and will be deployed across the region as necessary if the anticipated wind event disrupts electricity service to customers. The company will continue to closely monitor the weather forecast and has activated its comprehensive emergency response plan, which includes:
Securing extra resources and mobilizing field and tree crews.
Pre-staging crews and materials in areas anticipated to be most severely impacted.
Proactively reaching out to elected, municipal and emergency management officials to keep them updated on our preparations and provide safety information.
Reaching out directly to customers through traditional and social media, email and texts, and on our website to provide safety information and to urge them to be prepared.
In anticipation of the adverse weather, National Grid also provides customers with the following safety reminders:
Electricity & Generator Safety
If a power outage occurs, customers can notify National Grid online to expedite restoration.
Never touch downed power lines; always assume they are carrying live electricity. Downed lines should immediately be reported to National Grid at 1-800-867-5222 or by calling 9-1-1.
Generators used to supply power during an outage must be operated outdoors to prevent the buildup of deadly carbon monoxide. Before operating a generator, be sure todisconnect from National Grid’s system by shutting off the main breaker, located in theelectric service panel. Failure to do this could endanger our crews and your neighbors.
Customers who depend on electrically powered life support equipment, such as a respirator, should register as a life support customer by calling National Grid at 1 -800-642-4272. (In a medical emergency, always dial 9-1-1.)
Keep working flashlights and an extra supply of batteries in your home and be sure to charge all electronic devices before the storm.
Please use caution when driving near emergency responders and crews restoring power.
Be sure to check on elderly family members, neighbors and others who may need assistance during an outage.
Stay Informed and Connected
Customers with active electricity accounts who text "REG" to 64743 can receive personalized alerts via text, email or phone call when we detect an outage on their premises. Customers also can text "OUT" to 64743 to report an outage.
For real-time power outage information, online outage reporting, and in-depth storm safety information, visit National Grid’s Outage Central website. Customers who create an online profile also can sign up for email alerts.
Visit our website: http://www.nationalgridus.com
Data Update –
Orleans County reporting seven new positive cases of COVID-19.
Thanks to the Class of 1964, the three Notre Dame High School graduates who died in the Vietnam War finally got a plaque memorializing them placed in the foyer of the school more than 50 years later.
Fashioned by VP Graphics, the display remembering Donald Judd ('61) , and Daniel Bermingham and Thomas Welker ('64) can now be seen immediately as you go in the main entrance of the school at 73 Union St. in the City of Batavia.
The story of how the memorial came to be evolved over the past several years.
Dave Reilly and Jim Heatherman, who had attended Saint Mary's Elementary School, Notre Dame ('64) and Saint John Fisher College together reconnected after not seeing each other for almost 50 years. Heatherman had become a lieutenant in the Marine Corps and served in Vietnam while Reilly had gone on to a long teaching career.
Over the course of a number of conversations, Heatherman expressed regret that he had survived Vietnam and had gotten to have a large and loving family, but his classmates Bermingham and Welker did not. Reilly, who had been writing nostalgic articles about growing up locally for The Batavian, encouraged Heatherman to express his feelings by writing his own story.
Heatherman's article* appeared in The Batavian in August 2019. It was read with interest by another '64 classmate, Jim Fix. For many years, Fix had led local tour groups on tours of Washington, D.C., for First Choice Travel, which always included a trip to the Vietnam Veterans Memorial. At "the Wall," designed by Maya Ying Lin, Fix would highlight his classmates and include Judd, too, who also was killed in the Southeast Asian war.
A highlight of the group's time at the Wall was when Fix would have the tour members make stenciled grave rubbings of the names of Judd, Bermingham and Welker as keepsakes to remember them by.
So when Heatherman's article appeared the proverbial light went on in Fix's head. His thoughts were that his classmates and Judd had long deserved to be remembered at their high school (There had been a Donald Judd Memorial Trophy that Notre Dame and Le Roy played for in football in the late 1960s and early 1970s.). So, combining the idea of a plaque with the design of the rubbings from the Vietnam Wall, Jim Fix put a plan in motion.
In the meantime, last Memorial Day Reilly carried out a request by Heatherman, who lives in Oklahoma, to place a Marine Flag on Welker's grave in Attica -- even though Welker was a Navy Corpsman, he was caring for Marines as their beloved “Doc” when he was killed -- and a Navy flag on Bermingham's grave in Batavia. He wrote an article detailing this with photos for The Batavian. This further made up Fix's mind to get the plaque project accomplished.
After consulting with Heatherman (who asked only that “Doc” be placed by Welker's name), Fix sent out an email to his 1964 former classmates asking for donations. As you might expect, the response was overwhelming and more than enough funds were raised.
Working with VP Graphics utilizing his grave rubbing stencils and photos and descriptions from the Notre Dame Mater Dei yearbooks, Fix persevered through the COVID-19 roadblocks and completed his “mission,” so to speak, with full cooperation from the current Notre Dame administration.
It took a very long time, but thanks to some hard work and dedication by their schoolmates the three Notre Dame graduates who in the words of Abraham Lincoln,”...gave the last full measure of their devotion,” will now be remembered by those who visit Notre Dame High School.
Photos courtesy of Dave Reilly.
Previously: Memorial Day 2020: Belated thanks to a Seabee and a 'Doc'
Previously: Marine vet wishes he had 'do-over' to get to know two fallen comrades who were Notre Dame schoolmates
Below, Dave Reilly drove to Batavia Tuesday (March 23) to check out the new Vietnam Memorial for fallen members of Notre Dame High School's classes of '61 and '64.
Press release:
Hospitality icon Russell J. Salvatore made a SURPRISE donation to the Pembroke High School Dragons Varsity Girls Basketball team, their Coach Ronald Funke, and “Shoot For The Cure” event organizer and Special Education teacher Michael Wilson Thursday, March 25th at 11 a.m.
Salvatore presented a check for $6,000, bringing the “Shooting For A Cure!” to their 10-year goal of $200,000, supporting research at Roswell Park Comprehensive Cancer Center.
The Pembroke Girls Basketball Team recently hosted their 10th Annual charity “Shooting For A Cure!” -- called the “Pink Game”-- on Friday, March 5th at Pembroke High School.
The game and fundraising efforts this year totaled more than $42,000, despite the coronavirus pandemic. Over the past 10 seasons, the games have raised over $194,000. Organizers however had hoped to eclipse the $200,000 mark by April 1st. Broadcast and social media have been supportive of the team, the cause, and the community.
Event organizer Michael Wilson said, “This is just unbelievable! We are so thankful to Mr. Salvatore for stepping up in support of the team, and Roswell. These girls, and the players before them, play their hearts out. The 'Shooting For A Cure' has been bringing people together in our community for such a good cause."
Salvatore said, “To see the excitement on the faces of the team, and everyone involved in helping Roswell Park, is very special. I am so glad to be able to support these fine young people who have done so much for Roswell Park Comprehensive Cancer Center.”
The gift Salvatore was made at Russell's Steaks, Chops, and More & Salvatore's Grand Hotel and restaurant.
Others in attendance included: Pembroke School Superintendent, Matt Calderon; Athletic Director, Ryan Winchip; Basketball Coach, Ron Funke with his wife, Toni Funke (who was the inspiration for the “Pink Game"); teacher Aaron Brown; Mike Wilson's wife, Jennifer Wilson; Mike's mother, Kathy Wittman; with daughters, Cameron and Ava Wilson; Roswell Park fundraising manager, MacKenzie Giancarlo; Roswell Park fundraising coordinator Mary Russell; and the Pembroke High School Girls Basketball Team -- Emily Peters; Serene Calderón (who spoke to media); Nicole von Kramer; Allie Schwerthoffer ( who spoke at the podium); Sydney Johnson; Ally Dubois-Rider' Ariel Moss; Isabel Breeden; and Karli Houseknecht.
A child of immigrant parents, Salvatore started in the restaurant business at his father's East Delevan Avenue location in the 1930s. He served in the Army in the 1950s. In 1967, Salvatore sold his home and purchased a small pizza business that would later become Salvatore's Italian Gardens for just $40,000. After leaving that business at age 75, he decided he was not done and opened Russell's Steaks, Chops, and More and Salvatore's Grand Hotel in 2008. Russell's has been honored as the top Steakhouse in New York State.
Through the years, Russell has always given back to the community in so many ways. He has purchased tens of thousands of Buffalo Bills tickets so blacked-out games could air on television, and those less fortunate could attend. This list of hometown organizations Salvatore has touched is almost too many to count.
They include Trocaire College School of Hospitality; Erie County Medical Center “Free to Patient” flatscreen TVs, Orthopedic Rehabilitation Floor and Atrium Lobby, Roswell Park Cancer Institute, Oishei Children's Hospital, Sister's Hospital, and St. Joe's Hospital “Free to Patient” flatscreen TV's; Red Cross, new mobile Blood Drive Vans; Kevin Guest House; Russell J. Salvatore Hospitality House & Bone Marrow Rehabilitation Center; Buffalo State College, Russell J. Salvatore Demonstration Kitchen; 10 veterans transportation vans; Brothers of Mercy Rehabilitation Center, Shea's Center for the Performing Arts; Lancaster Year-Round Indoor Baseball Facility; Boys and Girls ClubsLancaster re-build after a fire; Buffalo Hearing and Speech Center; UB Medical New Student Center Downtown Campus; Gospa House Respite Home for unwed Mothers; Niagara University Russell J. Salvatore Student Commons construction; Mathewson McCarthy Baseball Field Batting House & Field Restoration; Miracle League of Grand Island Special Needs Baseball Diamond and Park; are just some of the organizations Salvatore has supported as a philanthropist.
Submitted photo and press release:
St. Paul Lutheran School in Batavia will hold an Open House for prospective families with students of 3-year-old preschoolers through sixth grade* on Friday, March 26 from 4 to 6 p.m.
Registrations are now being accepted for the 2021-2022 school year.
Registration forms are available on the website or by calling the school office at (585) 343-0488.
The school is located at 31 Washington Ave. in the City of Batavia.
Why St. Paul?
For more information, visit the school’s website at stpaulbatavia.org.
*The school curricula is expanded to include grade six for the first time this upcoming academic year.
Above: the Culinary Arts team -- from left Alexa Wolcott, Isaiah Merrell and Sara Logsdon -- answers questions from the judges.
Submitted photos and press release:
In mid-March, three Culinary Arts students from the Batavia Career and Technical Education (CTE) Center participated in the national NASA HUNCH* Culinary Challenge.
According to the judges’ feedback, Isaiah Merrell, Alexa Wolcott, and Sara Logsdon hit a home run with their creation called "Sweet Potato Shepherd’s Pie"! Isaiah is a senior from Byron-Bergen High School, and Alexa and Sara are both juniors from Pavilion High School.
During the Challenge, this team prepped, prepared and served their recipe to a panel of judges, who scored their recipe based upon taste, texture, aroma and appearance. The scores from the competition were sent to NASA’s Johnson Space Center in Houston, Texas, and will be scored against 26 teams from around the United States.
The teams with the top 10 scores move onto the final round of the competition which will be held in the spring at NASA in Houston. If chosen, their recipe could be sent to the International Space Station for astronauts to enjoy.
Chef Tracy Burgio is the Culinary Arts instructor at the Genesee Valley BOCES Batavia Campus. She shared how this team of students collaborated and were persistent in creating their recipe.
“This was a process of trial, error, reformulating and much tasting! Isaiah, Alexa, and Sara were determined to make this recipe the absolute best it could be," Burgio said. "They did an amazing job preparing, cooking and presenting their recipe. I’m so very proud of all their efforts."
The panel of judges asked many questions of the team, which the students answered confidently. Isaiah shared how the team arrived at their recipe.
“We were given the food category and guidelines from NASA HUNCH," Isaiah said. "We brainstormed and came up with the idea of Sweet Potato Shepherd’s Pie."
The recipe process took weeks to perfect.
“I can’t even count how many times we made this recipe and changed ingredients," Isaiah added. "Even the day before this judging, we added two other ingredients to boost the flavor."
When asked about why some of the ingredients were used, Culinary Challenge team member Sara explained.
“The theme this year is comfort foods and we interpreted this recipe to have subtle flavors, but we did add garlic!” Sara said.
She also noted that only certain ingredients could be used in the recipe due to the recipe’s need to be processed and packaged for space travel and for astronaut consumption onboard the International Space Station.
Overall, the judges’ feedback was positive.
Pauly Guglielmo, the owner of Guglielmo’s Sauce, a food development company, was one of the judges. Over the last few years, Guglielmo’s company has launched a number of new products.
“It’s very difficult to work with these nutritional restraints set by NASA -- I understand!” he told the students.
Jon Sanfratello is the Executive Principal of the GV BOCES Batavia Campus. He noted how this program provides new and unique learning opportunities for the participating students.
“The students participating in this challenge had a great opportunity to learn about NASA, what astronauts can eat in space, why recipes need to be made a certain way, as well as, all of the nutritional values that need to be tracked while living on the International Space Station," Sanfratello said.
"Over the years, NASA has been a great partner with our programs and has provided many students many learning opportunities.”
The list of judges included: Bill Hayes, Turnbull HVAC; Tom Turnbull, president, Genesee Chamber of Commerce; Eve Hens, Genesee County; Jorden Strapp, GV BOCES; Ann Valento, GCC; Pauly Guglielmo, Guglielmo Sauce; Denise Newman, Artesano Bakery Manager, Rochester Institute of Technology; Christine Grout, senior development officer, St. Ann's Community; Maggie Poray, GV BOCES; Chef Jason Ball, Main Street Pizza Co.
*NASA HUNCH (High schools United with NASA to Create Hardware) was founded as a means of giving high school students new educational experiences by producing many needed elements for the International Space Station. The NASA Culinary HUNCH program gives high school students the opportunity to develop food items for astronauts aboard the International Space Station. Each year a new theme is developed. Students create new dishes considering food processing procedures and nutritional requirements in order to meet the standards of the NASA Johnson Space Center Food Lab.
Recipe for Sweet Potato Shepherd’s Pie (photo above)
Yield: 1 Serving
Calories: 329
Total Fat: 10.1 Grams Saturated Fat: 0.6 Grams Sodium: 163 Grams
Dietary Fibers: 7.1 Grams Sugar: 6.1 Grams
Ingredients
Procedure
Step 1 - Preheat the oven to 375 degrees Fahrenheit.
Step 2 - Place sweet potatoes in a large pot with boiling water. Cook the potatoes until tender.
Step 3 - Drain the potatoes and mash. Season with cinnamon and nutmeg.
Step 4 - Heat oil in a nonstick pan over medium-high heat. Mix in the onions and sauté the onions for 3-4 minutes. Then add garlic and continue cooking for 1-2 minutes.
Step 5 - Add ground turkey and water, crumbling the turkey into small pieces. Cook until all meat is brown.
Step 6 - Stir in tomato paste, carrots, peas, corn, chicken broth, fresh basil, oregano, thyme, and rosemary. Let simmer for 3-4 minutes to allow liquid to reduce.
Step 7 - Spread mixture into cast-iron skillets. Top with mashed sweet potatoes. Put in the oven.
Step 8 - Bake for 10-15 Minutes.
Step 9 - Place in a broiler to crisp up the sweet potatoes for 1-2 minutes.
Step 10 - Garnish with thyme and serve.
Photo below: Culinary Challenge judge Pauly Guglielmo, owner of Guglielmo Sauce, rates the students’ culinary creation.
About the Batavia Career and Technical Education Center
It is a program of the Genesee Valley BOCES. GV BOCES operates as a Board of Cooperative Educational Services offering shared programs and services to 22 component school districts located in Genesee, Wyoming, Livingston and Steuben counties in New York State.
Press release:
The Genesee County Youth Bureau will host the 18th annual Family Game Night in celebration of National County Government Month. The event will take place on Thursday, April 29th from 5:30 to 7:30 p.m. at County Building 2, 3837 W. Main Street Road, Batavia.
Due to the coronavirus pandemic, Family Game Night will be a “Grab 'n' Go” style event. Families will drive up to the main entrance of County Building 2 and staff will greet them with a family tote that will consist of information about the services provided by the Genesee County Departments as well as prizes and activities.
Each bag will also have snacks, beverages and of course a brand new board game for families to start their own “Family Game Night” at home.
The theme for this year’s County Government Month is “Counties Matter.” Many county residents aren’t aware of the many important services provided by County Government. Each County department will provide information that showcases their roles and responsibilities to our residents.
As we know, counties are on the front lines protecting our communities. Now more than ever, Genesee County residents are seeing firsthand the essential functions counties perform. The County provides critical services to all our residents, beginning at birth and spanning throughout their entire lives.
There is no cost for this event. Adults must be accompanied by a child to receive the board game. Please call the Youth Bureau for more information or to register at 344-3960. Registration is required by April 9th and is only open for the first 30 families to RSVP.
To register, click here.
Press release:
The Genesee and Orleans County Health departments have two Pfizer vaccination clinics with appointments available for residents in Genesee and Orleans counties.
Whichever COVID-19 vaccine is available is the right vaccine to get now! All approved vaccines are effective and saves lives. We encourage anyone that is currently eligible to register for an upcoming clinic.
Vaccine is now available for people age 50 and older along with the existing priority groups (http://bit.ly/NYSPriorityGroups). Pfizer is a two-series dose series, 21 days apart (three weeks), and is recommended for people aged 16 and older.
It is important to note that you must be able to return for the second dose 21 days after the first dose at the location you received your initial vaccination. You will be making that appointment after you are vaccinated. If you cannot make that date, please do not make an appointment for a two-dose series until you can make both appointments.
Visit the vaccination web page at: https://bit.ly/GOHealthVaccine
Direct links to the first-dose Pfizer COVID-19 vaccination clinics are:
Genesee clinic at Genesee Community College, Batavia: https://bit.ly/GCCPfizer
Orleans clinic at Ridgeway Fire Hall, Medina: http://bit.ly/OrleansPfizer
Orleans Community Health – Medina Memorial Hospital also has three clinics planned at 200 Ohio St., Medina:
If you are interested in making an appointment to get your COVID-19 vaccination, now is the time to do it locally!
Press release:
The Batavia Development Corp. is pleased to announce a New York Street Anchor Grant for $417,000 for the Batavia Players Inc. Main Street Theater 56 project.
The Batavia Development Corporation and Batavia Players Inc. were successful in being awarded a New York Main Street Anchor Grant through the Housing Trust Fund Corporation and the Office of Community Renewal to assist the Main Street 56 Theater project.
Batavia Players, a not-for-profit organization for more than 80 years is the longest continuing regional theater company in New York State. The mission of the Batavia Players Inc. is to bring affordable theater to the community by making theater accessible to everyone with a variety o fquality productions that enhance artistic growth of participants and encourage audiences to think, feel and develop an appreciation for theater.
“The new Main Street 56 Theater project and our Board of Directors are humbled and very appreciative of this grant," said Patrick Burk, president and executive director of the Batavia Players. "We have all been heartened by the continued support for this project, which will genuinely affect our downtown community and the City Centre property in such a positive manner.
"This will allow us to build a beautiful, state of the art facility in our city as well as continue to bring many visitors and theater patrons to see our performances and support other downtown businesses. We could not be more excited with this new development. Our project has been blessed by the support of a lot of people who genuinely care and have been with us from the start. I would like to thank City Manager Rachael Tabelski, the City of Batavia, the Batavia Development Corporation and all of our partners for their ongoing dedication to our project."
The Main Street 56 Theater and the Main Street 56 Dance Company will occupy a vacant and underutilized space in the City Centre. The City of Batavia and the Batavia Players will rehabilitate approximately 14,000 square feet of tiered space into the state-of-the-art performing arts center, educational facilities, dance, and set development with a Main Street entrance at 35 Batavia City Centre.
This project will leverage grant funding from the Downtown Revitalization Initiative Grant program and the New York Main Street Anchor Grant program.
“The BDC has proven successful in obtaining grant funds to continue to revitalize the City’s commercial hub," said Eugene Jankowski Jr. City of Batavia Council president. "Delivering the Main Street Anchor Grant for the Main Street 56 Theater project is another example of City and BDC working together to deliver on the Downtown Revitalization Initiative (DRI) goals of arts and culture for the City."
In alignment with the Batavia Downtown Revitalization Initiative (DRI) Investment Strategy the Batavia Players will foster and promote more arts, culture, entertainment, healthy living, wellness and prosperity. Filling vacant and underutilized structures has been a common goal across many of Batavia’s planning efforts as identified by the Brownfield Opportunity Area and The City’s Comprehensive Plan.
“There are many catalytic and complimentary projects happening in our Downtown and this is one of the many," said Andrew Maguire, director of Economic Development for the Batavia Development Corporation. "Projects like Main Street 56 Theater will create more vibrancy, help increase commerce overall, and will deliver a better quality of life.
"We are thankful to New York State, the Office of Community Renewal and Homes and Community Renewal, along with all the other New York State agencies that continue to invest in the revitalization of Batavia.”
The Batavia Development Corporation excited to be awarded this New York Main Street Grant," said Lori Aratari, president of the Board of Directors for the Batavia Development Corporation. "The New York Main Street Grant program is very competitive and the Batavia Development Corporation continues to be successful in identifying and executing grant opportunities that help projects, like the Batavia Player’s, for the betterment of our community."
The Batavia Players Inc. and Main Street 56 Theater consists of a dedicated group of professionals and community members whom have brought theater and the performing arts to our community. They are unique in New York State with their ambitious schedule of performances while maintaining a high level of quality and diverse productions.
For more information regarding the Batavia Players Inc., Main Street 56 Theater, and Main Street 56 Dance Studio, please visit www.bataviaplayers.org.
Directors of the Western Regional Off-Track Betting Corp. this morning voted in favor of paying the Town of Batavia up to $395,000 for property enhancements as part of the Park Road Reconstruction Project that is scheduled to commence construction this fall.
Following the approval at the board’s monthly meeting at Batavia Downs Gaming, WROTB President/CEO Henry Wojtaszek said he was impressed with Town officials’ diligence in making the $3 million street reconstruction a reality and is eager to see the finished product.
“This will be a beautiful entry to our facility,” Wojtaszek said. “We’re talking about sidewalks, a promenade, tree-lined area, street and parking lot lighting, landscaping, road work, valet improvements for hotel purposes and some infrastructure work.
“We had a great meeting with them (town officials). They were very well prepared and they had excellent documents.”
Wojtaszek said that “every bit of the project is very well thought out,” noting that work will be done on one side of the street at a time to keep traffic moving – although at a slower pace. “The town is going to improve the speed bumps that we have, and that will help, also.”
Last June, WROTB granted the town three easements – small parcels to help facilitate drainage, utilities and sidewalk installation.
The major rehabilitation of the road will take place from Lewiston Road (Route 63) to Oak Street (Route 98).
Work will include new pavement, curbs and curbing from Lewiston Road to Richmond Avenue with sidewalks on both sides of Park Road, while pavement will be overlaid and sidewalks installed on one side of the road from Richmond Avenue to Route 98. The project also calls for new water lines and street lights on Park Road between Route 63 and Richmond Avenue.
Town Engineer Steve Mountain said WROTB’s request for “betterments” is typical of road projects in urban areas.
“If somebody wants additional streetscape and improvements to enhance the functionality of their facility – such as Batavia Downs – than oftentimes betterment improvements are performed,” Mountain said. “Things like additional lighting, surface treatments, walkways, landscaping and trees. They’re kind of above and beyond what we would normally do.”
Mountain said that the state-funded project is in its design phase and that the town is hoping to solicit bids in August.
“We’re waiting on our grant application for the water main,” he said. “Depending upon the results of that, replacement of the water main is out ahead of the road project.”
Last month, the Batavia Town Board approved a resolution to apply for a state Community Development Block Grant for around $900,000 to replace a 5,300-foot stretch of water main on Park Road.
Mountain said the plan is to remove the 50-year-old asbestos water main under the roadway that serves Batavia Downs Gaming and other commercial enterprises. The pipe runs along the length of Park Road from Route 63 to the gas station on Park Road, not far from Route 98.
In other developments:
Branch operations declined by about $73,000 in February. As of March 16, however, revenue was up by more than $900,000 compared to that time in 2020, which happened to be the first week of the COVID-19 shutdown.
Batavia Bets, the corporation’s interactive online platform, had a handle of $1.4 million in February, up $354,000, and through March 21, revenue is up by $383,000. Year to date, Batavia Bets’ proceeds are $4 million, a 50 percent increase.
$400,000 to Bally’s Casino Marketplace for the installation of a video lottery gaming player tracker and update of related hardware and software;
$55,000 to Kim Crawford for consulting services in respect to the resurfacing and maintenance of the harness horse racing track;
$16,500 to the William Ryan Group, Inc., for an application (app) that will alert gaming personnel when a machine or patron needs assistance;
$21,350 to United Tote Company for a horse racing ticket cashing kiosk.
JUST LISTED! 37 Edgewood Drive. Been daydreaming for more space over the last year? Look no further -- your car will come to a halt with the curb appeal at the all brick front 37-39 Edgewood Drive, situated on 1.23 acres!
This gorgeously updated and maintained four-bedroom home provides amenities for the entire family, not to mention your guests jaws will drop as they step into your foyer where your impressive staircase descends. All your entertaining needs are met with this open concept floor plan. You can throw a dinner party in your formal dining room or enjoy a casual meal in the eat in kitchen.
Culinary enthusiasts drool over the chef's kitchen, with a built-in fridge, spacious island, microwave-oven built-in, and dishwasher. Enjoy a master suite with walk-in closet, an en-suite master bath. The luxuries keep coming with three full bathrooms, a spacious laundry room, and natural sunlight.
Your extensive outdoor living area has privacy surrounding the beautiful in-ground pool and plenty of social distancing space for grilling and gathering evenings. Your storage needs are met with a full basement along with both attached and detached garage spaces. Click here to view the full listing. Call Sunny Rathod today! Call (585) 813-2445
Press release:
The Law Street Yard Waste Station will open for the season on Monday, April 5th for City of Batavia residents.
The station will be open from 12 to 6 p.m., Monday through Saturday until November, when time changes to 11 a.m. to 5 p.m.
The station will also be closed on May 31st for Memorial Day, July 5th for Independence Day, Sept. 6th for Labor Day, and Nov. 25th for Thanksgiving. The station will close for the season in early December.
City residents may bring yard waste material (grass, leaves and limbs) to the Law Street Yard Waste Station as there is no spring curbside pickup of these materials.
The following items CANNOT be accepted at the station:
Yard waste shall be free of trash (paper, plastic, bottles, cans, etc.), as this material cannot be processed.
Use Law Street entrance to enter and exit the City Yard Waste Station only.
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