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PRESS RELEASE

The City of Batavia Water Department is repairing a water main break on Richmond Ave, between Vernon Ave and Union St.

The length of time the water will be off is unknown.

Traffic may be closed on Richmond Ave, between Vernon Ave and Union St while the repairs are being made.  Please use an alternate route.

As always, when the water is restored it may be discolored.  Please refrain from doing any laundry until the water runs clear.

We apologize for any inconvenience and the public’s patience is greatly appreciated.

Press release:

Local author, Scott Wakefield, joins UGH! Entertainment’s creative team as they launch the debut of their epic, years-in-the-making science-fiction comic book tale, The Ku-Mighty, now on Zoop Collective for pre-order.

The Ku-Mighty is a deeply-developed story world co-created by acclaimed Starlight Runner Entertainment that taps into our Earth's mythology, legends, and secret societies, and turns them all upside down. Several species and god-like entities populate a planet much like Earth and share a common lineage to be revealed as the story unfolds.

Scott was asked to provide creative feedback and story editing for their first comic, and will take on a writing role as the story world grows.

“The Ku-Mighty world is sprawling,” says Scott, “with deeply developed characters, and huge stakes on the line, which will give readers an immersive, thrilling story. Without spoiling too much, my writing will focus on a seafaring storyline – which I’m in love with – and will also include developing portions of the book from the antagonists’ point of view. I’m excited to see how it all grows and winds back together.”

This first issue will introduce readers to the Mythical-like Anthro species, their world, their plight and the omen of war, obliteration, and sacrifice.

Issue #1, Rise of the Righteous, starts with a dangerous relic-hunting expedition led by a Sage-Warrior named Pan-Ku, who, along with his band of “Collectors,” have dedicated themselves to unraveling a deep mystery.

Scott Wakefield joins story creators Scott and Todd Housel, both United States Navy veterans,  who collaborated with storytellers Fabian Nicieza, Jeff Gomez, Richard Garfield, and many others to bring this story to life.

To order your inaugural copy of The Ku-Mighty, and get exclusive content, go to: https://zoop.gg/c/ku-mighty

Press release:

Plans are already underway for the 19th Annual Celebrate Agriculture Dinner, which will take place Saturday, March 25, 2023, at 6 pm at the Alexander Fire Hall. This annual event is a celebration of Genesee County’s #1 Industry, Agriculture! The highlight of the night is a delicious meal using locally produced foods prepared by the Culinary Arts Students from the Batavia Career and Technical Education Center. Led by Chef Tracy Burgio and Denise Kaus, Culinary Arts teacher aide, this will be the second year of this collaboration between the Chamber’s Agricultural Committee and the Genesee Valley BOCES Culinary Arts Program. The dinner is open to the public.

Tickets go on sale December 5th at the Genesee County Chamber of Commerce, 8276 Park Road, Batavia. Tickets are $30 each or a table of 10 can be purchased for $275. Sponsorships are also available, which help support agriculture educational events in Genesee County. Only 400 tickets will be sold. For more information or to download the registrations flyer, visit the Chamber’s Website www.geneseeny.com.

The Celebrate Ag Dinner is coordinated by the following partners: Genesee County Chamber of Commerce, Cornell Cooperative Extension of Genesee County, Genesee County Soil & Water Conservation District and Genesee County Farm Bureau.

Sponsors of the 2022 celebration included: Alleghany Farm Services, Arctic Refrigeration, Baskin Livestock, Inc., Carolina Eastern Crocker, CPL, New York State Senator Edward Rath, Farm Credit East, Farm Family Insurance, Fieldstone Private Wealth, Five Star Bank, Freed Maxick CPA, Growmark-FS, L&M Specialty Fabrications, LLC, Lamb Farms, Lawley, My-T Acres, National Grid, OXBO International, Perry Veterinary Clinic, Scott Adams Trucking, Tompkins Community Bank, Torrey Farms, Western New York Energy, LLC, Upstate Niagara Cooperative, Inc. William Kent, Inc. and Windy Acres Farm.

Farms and businesses that donated locally grown food for the 2022 dinner included: Angry Bees Apiary, Dorman Farms, Fenton’s Produce, SJ Starowitz Farms, Torrey Farms, Upstate Farms, Harrington Produce, Farm Fresh First Inc. Star of the West, Jeremy Neal Poverty Hill Farms.

For ticket information or questions, contact the Kelly B. at The Genesee County Chamber of Commerce, at (585) 343-7440 or kbermingham@geneseeny.com. 

The ex-wife of David Bellavia, former Batavia resident and a Medal of Honor recipient, has filed a Federal lawsuit against the Orleans County Sheriff's Office alleging a violation of her civil rights for an arrest on a harassment charge in January 2021.

David Bellavia is named as a co-defendant in the suit. The suit was filed on Nov. 4.

The suit contains numerous accusations made by Batavia resident Deanna Marlene Bellavia, known professionally as Deanna King, against Bellavia as part of a contentious divorce proceeding that preceded her arrest by Corey Black, who is also named in the suit.

The suit states that King was informed there was an arrest warrant for her in Orleans County. At first, she thought it was a prank. To confirm it was real, she contacted a family member in a command position at the Genesee County Sheriff's Office, He confirmed there was indeed a warrant for her arrest.  She made arrangements for the family member, not identified by name in the suit, to be with her in Orleans County when she turned herself in.

Corey Black is identified as a former sheriff's deputy and an investigator for the Orleans County District Attorney's Office. It states Black was not a deputy at the time of King's arrest and states he confronted her with evidence that consisted of a screenshot of David Bellavia's phone log documenting a call from one of the sons of the couple regarding health insurance coverage. There was also a message on an app encouraging David Bellavia to be vaccinated against COVID-19 before visiting his children.  The suit states David Bellavia had traveled nationally during the pandemic on speaking engagements and expressed concern for the safety of the children.

The suit states that when King expressed disbelief, "Black cryptically and rather threateningly responded, 'There's more to it than that, but David didn't want to pursue it.'" 

The suit claims that Black -- whom the suit also claims is a "right-wing political activist" --  then "confirmed" that he and Bellavia were good friends.

The suit alleges that Black arrested King without probable cause and that an unnamed deputy assisted in her arrest and that Black was acting outside the law as a personal or political favor to Bellavia.

Sheriff Christopher M. Bourke said his office did not arrest King.

District Attorney Joseph V. Cardone said he knew nothing of the suit and said that investigators in his office make arrests on a daily basis.  He did not specifically confirm that Black arrested King.

Cardone's office is a co-defendant in the suit. Cardone said he could not comment on the suit. He said he has not been served and had not read the complaint. 

"I’m unclear as to what she is claiming," he said.

Black has not returned a call from The Batavian requesting comment.

The court clerk for the Town of Ridgeway said there is no court record of an arrest of King.

King told The Batavian she could not comment on the case and referred The Batavian to her attorney Nate McMurray. The Batavian left a message for McMurray to clarify the status of her arrest. He has not returned the call.

If the case is resolved, it's possible the file has been sealed, compelling the court clerk to deny it exists.

Bellavia referred a request for comment on the suit to his attorney, Joan Adams, of Williamsville. Adams has not responded to a message from The Batavian left with her assistant.

The defendants are accused in the lawsuit of denying King her rights of due process and equal protection under the law. It doesn't specify how much the defendants should pay in damages.

The suit identifies Bellavia as a "political provocateur and radio host" who ran for Congress, has publicly engaged in conspiracies and aligned himself with Donald Trump, Michael Caputo (a former consultant to Trump who briefly served in his administration), and Carl Paladino (a Buffalo developer who has run for governor and Congress).

While the suit describes loving moments and support following Bellavia's and King's marriage in 1999, it also accuses Bellavia of being aggressive and abusive. It specifies several abusive comments allegedly made by Bellavia to King and their three children.

It also claims that Bellavia frequently threatened King with violence, though it does not specify any actual violent action against King. 

David Bellavia was awarded the Medal of Honor in the White House by then-President Donald Trump in July 2019.  Bellavia is the only living member of the armed forces who fought in Iraq to receive the Medal of Honor.  The award was presented for his actions on Nov. 10, 2004, in Fallujah when Bellavia engaged multiple insurgents in an unlit house at night, killing four insurgents and wounding a fifth.

Divorce proceedings began in 2019.

In his new book, "Remember the Ramrods: An Army Brotherhood in War and Peace," Bellavia discusses the awkwardness of going through with the ceremony with his family at a time when he was already alienated from his wife.

"Their mother had insisted she come along to D.C., despite our impending divorce," he writes. "If I hadn’t agreed, the kids would not be allowed to come with me, so I had no real choice on this. The discomfort of two estranged people looking at a weekend together in Washington, D.C., under a microscope of media attention, was something the DoD tried to prepare me for, but until I was living it in the moment, I don’t think either of us understood what this would mean."

The arrest in 2021, the suit alleges, was carried out "to discredit, humiliate" King during the divorce proceedings.

The suit alleges that King did not get fair treatment in divorce proceedings because the presiding judge was Charles Zambito, who had made political contributions to Bellavia. Zambito was not on the bench at the time Bellavia was a candidate for Congress.

"Repeatedly," the suit states, "throughout the course of the divorce proceedings, Judge Zambito ignored evidence of domestic abuse and extreme harassment by Defendant Bellavia—even attempting to pressure Plaintiff to sign a non-disclosure agreement regarding the divorce proceedings—which she refused."

The divorce was finalized in December of 2021, the suit states, and that Bellavia now lives in Florida and has "limited interaction with his children" or King.

In his new book, Bellavia discusses the disconnect he felt with his family back home.

"In this world of normalcy, the people who should have been that innermost circle of my life -- my children, my family -- were almost strangers to me," Bellavia said in the prologue. "I'd been a continent or more away from the majority of my son's young life. I barely had time to experience fatherhood before I deployed overseas. I had a family of my own, but I didn't know them. Rectifying that became the defining feature of my life for many years.

"My real family was still overseas, scattered to different units and areas of operation."

On the side of preserving his marriage while in the military, he concedes that he reached a point where he couldn't accept another overseas deployment. The end result, he wrote, would be divorce. "I wanted to save my family and serve my country. I realized I couldn't do both. I had a decision to make. The hardest of my life."

In the book, Bellavia recounts the divorces of several of the men he served with in Iraq.

"For our generation of warriors, more than the World War II guys, the complexities of a broken marriage and a byzantine, contentious divorce became part of the consequence of our service long ago," he writes. "Most of the Ramrods have gone through it, emerging with deep battle scars that challenged their ability to ever trust again. To be clear, there is no clear right or wrong in these situations. It takes two to make a marriage fail. Right or wrong isn’t the point."

Bellavia and King's attorney, McMurray, have each sought to represent Genesee County in Congress, in separate races.  Both lost to now-disgraced former representative Chris Collins, who was convicted on insider trading charges and lying to the FBI in 2019. Bellavia lost to Collins in the 2012 primary, and Collins went on to beat incumbent Kathy Hochul, who is now New York's governor. McMurray lost to Collins in 2018. He lost to Chris Jacobs in 2020.

McMurray recently represented former state senator George Maziarz in a lawsuit against Batavia Downs that was eventually dropped.

For The Batavian's prior coverage of David Bellavia, click here.

Photo: File photo by Howard Owens of David Bellavia in the White House after receiving the Medal of Honor. 

Press release:

Batavia Downs Gaming & Hotel has announced that tickets are now available for several indoor events happening in the Park Place Room this Winter.

On Thursday, Dec. 15, Batavia Downs welcomes back Marsha McWilson as she performs a Motown Christmas.  This will be The Niagara Falls Music Hall of Famer’s second Christmas Concert on-site.  Doors are at 6:30 p.m. with music beginning at 7:30 p.m.  Tickets are $15 and concert go-ers will receive $10 in Free Play.

On Thursday, Dec. 22, The Uncle Louie Variety Show will return to Batavia Downs.  The Uncle Louie Variety Show is composed of two hilarious Italian American comedians, Carlo Russo and Lou Greco. For many years, they have been making people laugh through their unique brand of comedy that brings memories of what it was like to grow up as an Italian.  Doors are at 7 p.m. with music beginning at 8:00.  Tickets are $20 for VIP tickets and $15 for regular tickets.  Ticket holders will receive $10 in Free Play.

On Friday, Feb. 3, 2023, the BBQ and Bourbon Dinner presented by Beam Suntory is back for its 2nd annual event.  This event includes a BBQ buffet dinner, talks from Beam Suntory reps, Bourbon & BBQ flights, a blind Bourbon sampling, 40+ raffles from Beam Suntory, a free hand-dipped Makers Mark glass, and $50 in Free Play with every ticket.  Tickets are $109 per person and spots are limited.  Doors open at 5:15, and the event begins at 5:30 p.m.

Tickets for these events are available now at www.BataviaConcerts.com

Hotel Packages for select events can be found on the hotel deals page at https://www.bataviadownsgaming.com/hotel-deals/

Other events scheduled for January and February at Batavia Downs include the Polka Buzz, Experience Psychic Fair, the Legends & Stars Sports Expo, and a Fundraiser for local animal shelters.   Information on these events and the Summer Concert Series will be found in the coming weeks on the Batavia Downs Facebook page.

“We are looking forward to providing even more quality events this coming winter than in years past,” said Henry Wojtaszek, President and CEO for Batavia Downs Gaming & Hotel. “The success that these events had last year shows that we are offering the types of experiences that our valued guests have come to enjoy.”

Press release:

Genesee County Sheriff’s Office and the Village of LeRoy Police Department will be participating in a coordinated effort with the STOP-DWI program this week to bring awareness to the dangers of impaired driving.

Thanksgiving is one of the busiest travel times of the year, and unfortunately, more people on the roadways means the potential for more vehicle crashes.  In a combined effort to bring awareness to the dangers of impaired driving, prevent injuries and save lives law enforcement officers across New York State and STOP-DWI programs will be participating in special engagement efforts. The statewide STOP-DWI High Visibility Engagement Campaign start on Wednesday, Nov. 23, and will end on Sunday, Nov. 27.

While STOP-DWI efforts across New York have led to significant reductions in the numbers of alcohol and drug-related fatalities, still too many lives are being lost because of crashes caused by drunk or impaired drivers.  Highly visible, highly publicized efforts like the STOP-DWI High Visibility Engagement Campaign aim to further reduce the incidence of drunk and impaired driving.

Genesee County Legislature acted on a final 2023 budget proposal on Monday that won’t be exactly as county Manager Matt Landers initially promised.

There was a slight amendment made last week that will affect the tax rate, albeit slightly.

“I just received word a half hour ago that the assessments changed the tax rate by a penny,” Landers had said to the Ways & Means Committee.

Although legislators would have liked the penny difference to at least go the other way, it will increase the tax rate to $8.45. The total levy — money to be raised through property taxes —  is unchanged at $32,080,762, which reflects a 2 percent levy increase. That levy increase is within the state-mandated levy limit, or tax cap, Landers said.

How will that affect county taxpayers? The rate will be $8.45 per $1,000 assessed value versus $8.44 as initially declared. That will be a decrease of 73 cents per $1,000 assessed property value compared to the current rate of $9.18. To determine your total tax rate, multiply the property value in 1,000 increments (for example, 90 for a $90,000 home) by the tax rate.

Because property assessments have increased for many folks, it’s not a fair comparison to use a typical assessment by each the former and current tax rate for the difference in tax payments from this year. So if your property value was increased, you may not see a decreased total due to that larger number multiplied by the lower tax rate.

For example, a home assessed at $90,000 at the current rate of $9.18 is $826.20. If that home's value has been raised to $100,000 at the lower rate of $8.45, the total will be $845.

To read prior coverage: Genesee County proposes budget with 2 percent levy increase

File photo of Genesee County Manager Matt Landers, by Joanne Beck.

As Black Friday, Small Business Saturday, and Giving Tuesday are all looming ahead for hungry shoppers, there’s also an initiative to honor local veterans worthy of your investment, Matthew Moscato says.

Wreaths Across America is a project to ensure that those veterans who have served and died are commemorated with a red-ribbon accented pine wreath during a yearly ceremony every December. This year that event is set for noon Dec. 17 at the Western New York National Cemetery, 1254 Indian Falls Road, Corfu.

And while Wreaths Across America is, as it implies, a national effort, Moscato’s Veterans Outreach Club at Pembroke Junior-Senior High School is selling the wreaths locally to also benefit the WNY National Cemetery Memorial Council, a non-profit entity that runs many of the events at the National Cemetery.

“We have 40 to 50 students, it’s the largest club at the school,” Moscato said to The Batavian. “We do a ton of stuff; our kids really wanted to promote this. The Memorial Council is in charge, and our kids play a role in helping with that. They’ve gone to the community collecting donations for the wreaths.”

They have so far collected enough for 450 wreaths, with a total need of about 1,300 this year, he said. Students volunteer to participate during the annual ceremony by helping visitors get around the large cemetery grounds, passing out wreaths and being on hand to assist with other duties. They also participate in a detail one week out of each year to take down, inspect and raise flags for the revered Avenue of Flags, he said.

“They’ve been very enthusiastic about it” he said. “They’re very integrally involved.”

For every $15 wreath sold, $5 goes to the Council to offset expenses related to the cemetery, such as maintaining U.S. flags for the Avenue of Flags and providing uniforms for the Honor Guard.

Moscato, a teacher at the school and this year’s Wreaths Across America coordinator, began the club a few years ago, and it has been growing in size and scope ever since. The group recently created a Wall of Honor for all Pembroke graduates who went into the military. An entire hallway has been dedicated for that project, and more than 230 plaques — made at the school — hang on the walls with those students’ names on them, he said.

“We held an opening ceremony that hundreds attended and many flew in from around the country to be there,” he said. “The Pembroke Veterans Outreach Club is a community service club that works to ‘honor our local veterans.’

“Our club is a pure community service club, we make no money from it,” he said. “We want to make sure there are 100 percent enough wreaths for the veterans. The kids are really excited. Being in the school district that the cemetery is in, it plays an important role … and the kids are definitely doing their part.”

Pembroke Veterans Outreach Club is selling wreaths for this event, with the goal of having a wreath placed on every headstone in the cemetery for the holiday season, Moscato said. He is also on the WNY National Cemetery Council. The Outreach Club plays a major role in hosting this public event, which includes a short ceremony with a couple of speakers, followed by community members laying wreaths on the headstones of graves.

“This is the same ceremony that takes place in Arlington,” he said. “I’m sure you have seen the iconic pictures of the wreaths on the graves there. This is the same ceremony right here in Western New York.”

Go HERE to sponsor one or more wreaths, or send cash or checks to: Veterans Outreach Club, Pembroke Jr-Sr High School, P.O. Box 308, Corfu, NY, 14036. If more wreaths are purchased than are needed this year, the money will go toward next year's gravestones and ceremony, Moscato said. Deadline for ordering is Nov. 29.

Submitted photos of Pembroke students helping out at the WNY National Cemetery during last year's ceremony.

Video: Last year's ceremony.

Tesla, apparently, has installed 12 electric vehicle charging stations in the parking lot of Batavia Towne Center off Veterans Memorial Drive.

Neither Tesla, which makes electric cars, nor COR Development, owner of the shopping center, responded to requests for additional information.

The Tesla website lists Batavia as a future location for electric vehicle charging stations but says the stations won't open until the second quarter of 2023.

Photo by Howard Owens, taken on Thursday.

Alexander C. Schwartz, 26, of Rochester, is charged with aggravated unlicensed operation 1st. Schwartz was stopped at 9:30 a.m. on Nov. 13 on East Main Street, Batavia. He allegedly has 34 active license suspensions. He was arraigned in City Court and released under supervision.

Martin F. Jones, 51, of Batavia, is charged with harassment 2nd. Jones is accused of being involved in a disturbance at 1 p.m. on Nov. 3 at a location on South Main Street, Batavia. He was issued an appearance ticket.

Jason S. Wood, 44, of Batavia, is charged with DWI, speeding, avoiding intersections, and open alcoholic beverage container. Wood was stopped at 5:38 p.m. on Nov. 13 on Chestnut Street, Batavia. He was issued appearance tickets.

Cassandra L. Brunea, 49, of Batavia, is charged with harassment 2nd and endangering the welfare of a child. Brunea allegedly threatened to hit another woman while that person was holding a child at 11:13 a.m. on Nov. 15 at a location on East Avenue, Batavia. She was arraigned in City Court and released.

Madalyn R. Muntz, 36, of Batavia, is charged with petit larceny. Muntz was arrested by State Police in connection with an incident reported at 9:19 a.m., May 16, in the Town of Batavia. She was released on an appearance ticket. No further details released.

Trisha M Moyer, 44, of Kendall, is charged with DWI and driving with a BAC of .08 or greater. Moyer was stopped at 11:11 p.m. on Nov. 15 in the Town of Elba by State Police. She was released on an appearance ticket.

Jody Ann Minuto-Carey, 52, of Chili Riga Court, Churchville, is charged with DWI, driving with a BAC of .08 or greater, and moved from lane unsafely. Minuto-Carey was stopped at 4:33 p.m. on Nov. 8 on Clinton Street Road, Bergen, by Deputy Trevor Sherwood. She was released on an appearance ticket.

Loretta Lynn Baer, 51, of Batavia, is charged with criminal possession of a controlled substance 7th. Baer is accused of possessing Fentanyl at 4:03 a.m., May 20, at a location on East Main Street, Batavia. She was arrested on Nov. 10 and issued an appearance ticket.

Press release:

Tis the season to bundle up, spend more time indoors, and enjoy family and friends over the holiday season. Unfortunately for some, it is also the time of colds, flu, COVID and RSV.  We are already seeing an increase in flu activity across Genesee and Orleans Counties.

Everyone 6 months and older should get a flu vaccine every year. “The flu vaccine is a safe and effective way to reduce the spread of the flu in the community, as well as decrease the risk of severe symptoms,” stated Paul Pettit, Public Health Director for Genesee and Orleans County Health Departments (GO Health). For those who are more at risk of serious complications of these respiratory viruses, it is important to talk with your primary care provider about the best way to protect themselves from illness.  If you are sick, stay home!  Wash your hands and sanitize shared items frequently.  Take care of yourself by eating healthful foods, getting good sleep, regular exercise and drinking plenty of water, non-caffeinated or non-alcoholic beverages.  If you are a smoker or someone who vapes, that increases your risk of upper respiratory viruses.   

If you are at high risk, consider that the more people you are exposed to, the more likely you are to get a virus.  During this time of year, it is important to stay connected with family and friends, so be creative in how you do that.  If the weather is good, spend time with family outdoors snowshoeing, hiking, and cross-country skiing.

For more information about the flu activity in New York State, visit https://www.health.ny.gov/diseases/communicable/influenza/seasonal/

UPDATE Nov. 23: Jaylynn has been located and is safe.

The Batavia Police Department is seeking public assistance in locating a missing 13-year-old girl.

Jaylynn Alvord was last seen at about 7 p.m. on Nov. 17.

She was last seen wearing black jeans and a tie-dye sweatshirt. She has a nose ring.

Jaylynn is slightly over 5' tall and weighs 145 pounds. She has brown hair and brown eyes.

Anybody with information that could assist police in locating her is asked to call (585) 345-6350 or the NYS Missing Persons Clearinghouse at (800) 346-3543.

Cancer has diminished the speaking voice of Antonia Richenburg but now her spirit, as she made clear at the annual dinner of Genesee Cancer Assistance at Batavia Downs on Saturday night.

Richenburg was diagnosed with squamous cell carcinomas on her right vocal chord in the Fall of 2013.  The following February she was referred to Genesee Cancer Assistance.

"Genesee Cancer Assistance has been a wonderful asset," Antonia said through her daughter Carson, who read her speech. "When I was confused and not able to find the answers I needed, the staff at Genesee Cancer Assistance were there to help out by doing their best to answer my questions. They even made the process of receiving financial assistance during my struggle with cancer a stress-free process."

It has been her family who has been her strength, though, she said.

"Although this has been a rough road for me, I never gave up," she said. "I have a strong support system. My family has been my biggest supporter, with more love and encouragement than anyone has ever asked for. I would have never survived without my husband, Eric, and my children, Todd, his wife, Rachel, and my daughters, Kearson and Carson."

She added later to encompass her entire support entourage, including her doctors, "the love and support of these people kept me focused on what's important."

And ended with advice for anyone diagnosed with cancer.

"Love and support are definitely needed," she said. "It will help keep you alive."

Photos by Howard Owens

Tami Burbules, also a cancer survivor, thanked Genesee Cancer Assistance for its support after she was diagnosed with breast cancer in 2021.

Dorothy Schlaggel, a founder of Genesee Cancer Assistance, received a standing ovation when she was introduced.

Schlaggel said the idea for Genesee Cancer Assistance came after she and some others attended the Relay for Life in Rochester and they decided they didn't want to make that trip anymore so they started the Festival of Hope Walk to raise money to help battle cancer.

"There are a lot of our volunteers who are still volunteering, and it's been 30 years or more," Schlaggel said. "And all I've got to say is Genesee Cancer Assistance has the best volunteers ever and this place is fantastic."

Before the speeches, the volunteers were recognized, including, above, Mary Valle and Martha Woodruff.

Sue Underwood applauds Antonia Richenburg after her speech. Soon the whole room was on its feet applauding.

Paul Figlow was master of ceremonies.

The cash door prize was awarded by a process of elimination.  Everybody had a little lighted trinket and if your number was called, you turned off your light. At the time this picture was taken, just before The Batavian left, there were 61 lights still on.

A two-car motor vehicle accident has been reported at Route 77 and Ledge Road, Alabama.

A person reportedly has a leg injury.

Alabama Fire and Mercy EMS dispatched.

It was "A Night in Casablanca" for attendees of the GCC Foundation's annual gala fundraiser, Encore 2022.

Encore co-chairs Robert and Zje Savage prepared a classic throwback to Rick’s Café Americain in World War II era French Morocco featuring gourmet food and dessert stations and live music by the Hanna PK Trio.

Proceeds from Encore support student scholarships at Genesee Community College. 

Top photo: Dr.Ginny Taylor, Chair of the GCC Foundation and Justin Johnston, executive VP of the GCC Foundation, present a plaque of appreciation to
Bob and Zje Savage, co-chairs of this year's event.

Photos Courtesy Genesee Community College.

Bob and Zje Savage, Co-Chairs, Encore "A Night in Casablanca"

The music headliner for the evening was Hanna PK and the Blue Hearts.

Volunteer and career firefighters from Genesee County are being deployed to Erie County to assist with emergency management as a result of heavy snowfall in the area.

Tim Yaeger, emergency management coordinator for Genesee County, announced Saturday night that the following departments have been approved for deployment starting Sunday morning at 6 a.m. for a 12-hour shift.

• City of Batavia Fire
• Town of Batavia Fire
• Oakfield Fire
• East Pembroke Fire
• Corfu Fire
• Genesee County Emergency Management

Participating personnel are instructed to assemble by 5:15 a.m. at the Corfu Fire Department, 116 East Main St., Corfu, for deployment to the Erie County Training & Operation Center, 3359 Broadway, Cheektowaga.

The Holland Land Office Museum hosted its annual gala Friday evening for the opening of the Wonderland of Trees.

Again, the museum is filled with holiday cheer provided by Christmas trees decorated by various local organizations and businesses.

The trees are on display through the end of the year.

The main gallery at GO ART! is filled with wooly bright colors until Dec. 3 in an exclusive show for East Bethany artist Terry Webber. 

Webber's show of painted wool is unique.  The pictures are bright and vibrant but filled with texture and an element of 3D vision.

Webber, who owns East Bethany Arts and Antiques at 5769 Ellicott Street Road, Bethany, explained the involved process of creating her pictures.  It starts with a sheet of wool, called "pre-felt," and that becomes the background.  She then adds puff balls of color and everything is soaked in soap and water. The work is then placed in a felting machine that spins the felt 4,000 to 5,000 times. The pieces of wool then become one solid piece.  From there, she ads needlework as needed or ads "naps" that provide additional texture.

She's been working in the medium for about a decade. She found out in April she would have a show at GO ART! and began creating 40 new pieces -- she actually exceeded her goal, producing 44 pieces.  

"I like the vibrancy," Webber said.  "It also keeps you from being too nitpicky just because it's not paints and it's not pencil. It's more freeform but the colors are what I like the most."

Stacey A. King is indicted on counts of criminal possession of a forged instrument in the second degree and falsifying business records in the first degree. King is accused of presenting a forged COVID-19 vaccination record to her employer in the City of Batavia on Oct. 1, 2021.

Katherine J. Briggs is indicted on one count of criminal contempt in the first degree. Briggs is accused of violating an order of protection on July 27 at a location on South Main Street, Batavia.

Martin P. Macioszek, II, is indicted on one count of grand larceny in the third degree.  Macioszek is accused of stealing property with a value greater than $3,000 from a location in the Town of Batavia between May 2020 and September 2020.

Press release:

The New York State Department of Motor Vehicles (DMV) today reminds New Yorkers to register their snowmobiles. Snowmobile registrations must be renewed annually. DMV allows snowmobilers to renew registrations online on the DMV website, by mail or in person at a DMV office. 

“DMV has made the snowmobile registration process fast and convenient so snowmobilers can easily get out there and enjoy New York’s beautiful and vast trail system,” said Mark J.F. Schroeder, DMV Commissioner and Governor’s Traffic Safety Committee Chair. “I wish all snowmobile enthusiasts a safe riding season and remember to operate your snowmobile responsibly and never impaired.”

Learn more about registering a snowmobile in New York State on the DMV’s website at https://dmv.ny.gov/registration/register-snowmobile. Additionally, members of the New York State Snowmobile Association receive a $55 discount on snowmobile registrations. More information can be viewed here: https://nysnowmobiler.com/membership/.

All snowmobiles operated in New York must be registered and marked with a validation sticker. Riders who complete a registration online can print a temporary certificate, which is valid for 15 days. DMV generates a permanent registration and mails it to the recipient along with their validation sticker. There is no additional charge for the temporary certificate. 

Non-New Yorkers who wish to ride in New York State can register a snowmobile if it is already registered in their home state. They can use the NYS Registration for Out-of-State Snowmobile service to get the 15-day registration and operate their snowmobile here immediately. DMV will send a permanent registration in the mail. 

There are over 10,500 miles in the Statewide Snowmobile Trail System, traversing 46 counties and maintained by over 200 clubs. Revenue obtained through snowmobile registrations is used to support local areas through grants-in-aid for snowmobile trail development and maintenance, which is administered through 52 municipal sponsors. This vast trail network is comprised of lands under the jurisdiction of the Office of Parks, Recreation and Historic Preservation, the New York State Department of Environmental Conservation (DEC), NYS Canal Corporation, national forest land, local governments, and many private landowners who have increasingly opened their property to snowmobiling with insurance coverage provided by the state snowmobile program.

In addition, New York State is a leader in snowmobile education and offers operator training courses for snowmobilers aged 10 and up. This course, taught by experienced snowmobilers who volunteer their time, provides fundamental information which all snowmobilers should possess in order to ensure the safety of riders and other trail users. Successful completion of this course results in the award of an NYS Snowmobile Safety Certificate. For more information, visit https://parks.ny.gov/recreation/snowmobiles/education.aspx. 

Commissioner of the Office of Parks, Recreation and Historic Preservation Erik Kulleseid said, “New York State boasts some of the best snowmobiling in the nation, and it’s an exciting way to experience winter in Upstate New York. We look forward to working with our partners to keep the trail system safe and well-maintained for residents and visitors coming to experience New York in the winter season.”

DEC Commissioner Basil Seggos said, “There are more than 10,000 miles of snowmobile trails across New York State for outdoor enthusiasts to experience and enjoy this winter. As always, DEC joins our partners at DMV and State Parks to remind riders to ride responsibly and safely and to carry registration and proof of insurance documents at all times while snowmobiling. Even experienced riders can benefit from taking a snowmobile safety course to protect themselves and others.”

Snowmobilers must always carry registration and proof of insurance documents on them while snowmobiling. Riders must produce the documents at the request of any law enforcement officer or magistrate. Additionally, riders must produce insurance documentation at the request of anyone who is injured or suffers property damage as a result of operating a snowmobile. Holders of snowmobile safety certificates must carry the certificate when they are snowmobiling. 

DMV also reminds snowmobilers that it is illegal to operate a snowmobile while impaired by drugs or alcohol, and drivers and passengers must wear helmets on the state snowmobile trail system. 

For more info on the New York State Snowmobile Trail System and tips for operation please visit http://www.dec.ny.gov/outdoor/7718.html and https://parks.ny.gov/recreation/snowmobiles/. 

Contact a local club or tourism department for trail status and trail conditions where you want to ride. A map of New York’s extensive snowmobile trails is available at  https://webapps2.cgis-solutions.com/nysnowmobile/.