Students at John Kennedy Intermediate School, Jackson Primary School, and Batavia Middle School, on Friday were joined by the Joint Veterans Honor Guard of Genesee County to celebrate Flag Day.

Flag Day commemorates the adoption of the first national flag on June 14, 1777.  It was declared Flag Day by President Woodrow Wilson in 1926 and Congress made it a national holiday in 1949.

Principal Maureen Notaro noted teachers' role in teaching children about honoring the flag.

"We thank all of you teachers and all of the students here with us today to carry on the work of honoring our American flag," Notaro said during remarks to the students at Jackson.

She told the students about the way the nation is honored through displays of the flag.

"In many different ways and places, it waves its colors on government, state and public buildings all across the country, on our schools, churches and playgrounds,” Notaro said. "It's been placed on the moon by our astronauts. Did you know that? So there's a flag there on the moon. It's on so many uniforms of our law enforcement officers. If you turn around, you'll see our New York State Troopers back there with their dog. And they're here, and they have that on their work gear. You'll see it probably displayed by our veterans active and retired. Every cemetery that you drive by or visit is covered in American flags. And it's internationally recognized in every country and city around the world. But nothing touches one's heart and soul more than seeing the honoring of the flag." Local veterans unfolded the American flag during the Flag Day ceremony at Jackson Primary.

Press release:

Ahead of the 2nd Annual Jackpot 5k Race at Batavia Downs on Sunday, June 16, Batavia Downs asks that all those traveling to or near Batavia Downs Gaming and Hotel during that morning to please note the following: 

Beginning at 9 a.m. on Sunday, June 16, Park Road alongside Batavia Downs will only be open to southbound traffic beginning at Richmond. The lane closest to the gaming facility will be only for runners. 

Motorists should be advised that Richmond Avenue and VA Hospital Drive will also have lanes closed during the race, lasting from approximately 9 to about 10 a.m.

Due to the pedestrian traffic, if you do not need to be near the Batavia Downs facility, it is best to avoid the area during that small window of time.

Persons interested in signing up for the 5k, which benefits WNY Heroes Inc, can still sign up at https://www.adventuresignup.com/Race/NY/Batavia/Jackpot5KBataviaDowns 

Racers will receive $25 free play, a T-shirt, a post-race drink and a snack. The 5k is family-friendly for all ages and open to walkers and runners.

A fire is reported on the roof of 11 Mill St., Batavia.

That is off Evans Street.

It's a business building and the building is being evacuated.

City Fire responding.

UPDATE 11:41 a.m.: Second alarm. Town of Batavia, Elba, and Mercy EMS dispatched.

UPDATE: 

The fire seems to have originated with a piece of machinery and molten metal. It was very hot, said Capt Dan Herberger. The machine got on fire.  The flames got into the installation in the ceiling. There was no real structural damage, Herberger said. "The concern was it was molten metal and that doesn't react very well with water," Herberger said. 

The building is the location of SCI Manufacturing, which manufactures die-cast aluminum.  

Until 1982, the building was home of the Genesee County Highway Department, before the department moved to its current location on Cedar Street.

Photos by Howard Owens

Local organizations are increasingly relying on Facebook to announce their events and other important announcements without putting out a press release.

Here’s why that’s a bad idea: Not everybody on Facebook sees everything you post. In fact, only a fraction of the people who follow your account will see your post in a timely manner.

We missed out on two events recently  -- one where the organizer wondered why we didn’t show up, and the other, we wondered why we didn’t know about it in advance. In both cases, we were told, “but it was on Facebook.” 

At a third event, I found out about it by accident when the event was already more than half over. It was an important event, and I was free at the moment, fortunately, so I rushed over and took care of some coverage.  When I got there, the response from multiple people, including key organizers, was, “You didn’t know about it?  It was all over Facebook!”

All of these organizations have, in the past, recognized the importance of issuing press releases for important events.

It's good that these organizers still expected and wanted coverage from The Batavian and expressed disappointment when we missed it.  But if we're missing their Facebook posts, so are a lot of other people they might like to reach. This message is intended to help them understand why it's important to send out a press release.

Facebook uses a formula called an algorithm to control what you see and when. This makes it easier for them to mix ads into your feed and to, they think, make your feed more engaging so you waste more time on the platform.  They believe they are filtering out the dreck that will not be as interesting to you as the stuff they do show you.

The Batavian doesn’t use an algorithm. When a press release is posted to our home page, all of the readers who visit that page see that post. That is, reliably, at least 10,000 local readers a day and as many as 20,000 individuals over a three-day period.

No Facebook post for any local organization is going to have that kind of local reach.

Reliance on Facebook by local organizations is a problem for all of us. It deprives local organizations of greater reach, means many people who might be interested won’t find out about the event and weakens the bonds of a local community. And in the long run, it might lead people to think local news outlets aren't all that important.

If local news organizations go out of business, nobody will go to meetings of government agencies and write stories that put government actions in context, ask hard questions of public officials, request public documents officials might rather keep under wraps, or do any of the other reporting activities that help hold government agencies accountable.

Where there is a dearth of local news coverage, government corruption grows.

Without local news outlets, over time, the diminished attention local organizations receive on Facebook will eventually make it harder for them to stay relevant, raise funds, and attract and retain members.

Facebook may seem like the new shiny thing that is fun to play with, but it is not the friend of this or any other local community. It exists to take money and attention out of communities to enrich shareholders.  Unlike a locally owned news outlet, it's not invested in a local community.

Posting first, or only, to Facebook favors wealthy media tycoons in Silicon Valley over locally owned news that are dedicated to serving their communities.

So, local organization leaders, please do us all a favor and prioritize our community over multinational corporations. Please send out press releases before posting your news to multinational media outlets.  You will get better results and help ensure the local news outlets our community needs to thrive will continue to provide us with local coverage.

Email press releases, media alerts, and calendar items to news@thebatavian.com

Press Release:

The Byron-Bergen Class of 2024 Valedictorian Victoria Rogoyski has signed to continue her Track & Field career at the collegiate level with Saint John Fisher University. During high school, Rogoyski boasted an impressive 17’ 103⁄4” in the long jump, 5’ 00” in the high jump, 16.66 seconds in the 100m hurdles, and 2734 in the pentathlon. 

At Fisher, she plans to study biology, chemistry, and pharmaceutical science. 

“Victoria epitomizes what it means to be a student-athlete,” said Byron-Bergen Athletic Director Rich Hannan. “She is driven in everything she does, and it shows. She is graduating at the top of her class and is one of the best athletes in her grade, and that all comes from hard work and determination. We are all so proud of her!”

In addition to being captain of the outdoor track & field, she was captain of the varsity soccer and basketball teams. She also participated in varsity gymnastics, swimming, and indoor track. Outside of sports, she is treasurer of the senior class, Varsity Club, and National Honor Society.

“I would like to thank my parents, who have been my support system throughout high school and sports, and my siblings for their hard work and persistence in their own sports that inspire me to never give up while also being the loudest cheering section ever. I want to thank my coaches in all of my sports, I couldn’t have done any of this without them and I am entirely grateful for their help. Finally, I want to thank my teachers for teaching me knowledge and inspiring me to continue my education elsewhere. Oh yeah, and the best teammates on the planet need a special shoutout!” said Victoria Rogoyski.

Press release:

Congresswoman Claudia Tenney (NY-24) has sent a letter to Governor Kathy Hochul demanding she pardon President Trump.

This letter follows the recent verdict in the case of The People of the State of New York V Donald J. Trump, which undermined the impartiality and credibility of our justice system by convicting President Trump in an attempt to silence him. The case was based on a targeted investigation in search of crimes to convict the former President for political purposes. Tenney's letter calls for Governor Hochul to pardon President Trump and to remove Manhattan District Attorney Alvin Bragg.

“Our justice system was founded on the principle of blind justice, yet in an attempt to silence President Trump, this core value was denied to him,” said Congresswoman Tenney. "As a member of the New York Bar Association and the daughter of a New York State Supreme Court Justice, I am appalled by this abuse of power and the politicized, two-tiered system of justice Governor Kathy Hochul and DA Alvin Bragg have created. This verdict was an insult to our country, and it is evident that it had nothing to do with facts but was an attempt to hinder President Trump's ability to campaign freely. I demand Governor Hochul immediately pardon President Donald Trump and restore the integrity and faith of our legal system."

Press Release:

Assemblyman Steve Hawley (R, C-Batavia) recently commented on the newly announced pay raises for correction officers in New York. The New York State Correctional Officers & Police Benevolent Association, Inc. (NYSCOPBA) announced earlier this spring that they agreed on a new three-year contract with the state. 

On top of wage increases, the contract also includes new bonuses, reduced health care costs and up to 12 weeks of fully paid parental leave. Hawley believes this new deal is a step in the right direction toward supporting our correction officers.

“With the threat of prison closures across our state, our correction officers need all the support they can get,” said Hawley. “Providing pay raises and better benefits is just one way we can repay them for all they do to keep us safe. This new contract is a great sign of progress in supporting our correction officers and I hope we continue to see more strides in this area as we provide for our law enforcement personnel.”

Press Release:

The Genesee County Retired Educators’ Association held its annual spring luncheon meeting at Byron Presbyterian Church. Members attending were treated to a delicious lunch prepared by members of the church.

After lunch, the winners of two $500 scholarships awarded by the GCREA were introduced. The scholarships are given to high school seniors who intend to pursue a career in education or to people who are already students in an education program at an institution of higher learning. 

The winners for this year are Alexandra Manley and Emily Rowe.

Alexandra is a senior at Elba Central School. She will attend Nazareth University in the fall, studying to become a music teacher. Emily is currently a student at SUNY Geneseo in the Childhood with Special Education program. Congratulations to both winners!

After the conclusion of the awards, Dan Lyon from Lifespan presented a program to attendees titled “Name That Scam.” In a fun, game-themed presentation Dan introduced many scams that senior citizens have been victimized by. He provided a great deal of valuable information in the presentation and provided flyers and pamphlets to help our members avoid falling victim to a scam.

After the program, a short meeting was held. Changes in the bylaws were approved, and officers were elected.

One of GCREA’s missions is to assist the community. A collection of personal care, laundry, and cleaning items and a monetary collection was taken. These will be donated to Community Action of Genesee County.

Press Release:

The Genesee and Orleans County Health Departments (GO Health) are reminding pet owners of the importance of keeping their dog(s) leashed and under control at all times. 

This year, there have been numerous reported incidents of off-leash dogs biting children, pedestrians, and cyclists.

Leashing dogs can give pet owners greater control over their animals and lower the risk of mishaps, aggressive behavior toward people or other pets, and interactions with wildlife. 

“GO Health is strongly encouraging all pet owners to prioritize the safety of themselves, their pets, and the broader community,” stated Darren Brodie, Environmental Health Director for GO Health. “Leashing your dogs is an essential step to prevent dog bites and protect the safety of all residents.”

In 2023, Genesee County investigated 191 animal bite and rabies incidents, and Orleans County investigated 137. In 2023, a combined total of 45 individuals were treated for rabies post-exposure, 22 in Genesee County and 23 in Orleans County. Many of these incidents could have been avoided by pet owners keeping their dog on a leash.

Pet owners should:

• Keep your dog fenced in or on a leash outside your home and in public areas.
• Avoid allowing your dog to approach unfamiliar dogs, people, or wildlife.
• Stay on top of your pet's yearly vaccinations.

Residents are encouraged to take note of our upcoming drive-thru rabies vaccination clinics for dogs, cats, and ferrets in Genesee and Orleans Counties, which are offered at no charge.

Genesee County Rabies Clinics at the Genesee County Fairgrounds (5056 East Main Street, Batavia)

• Thursday, August 8, from 4 - 7 p.m.
• Thursday, October 10, from 4 - 6 p.m.

Orleans County Rabies Clinics at the Orleans County Fairgrounds (12690 State Route 31, Albion)

• Saturday, August 10, from 9 - 11:30 a.m.
• Saturday, October 19, from 9 - 11:30 a.m.

For more information on GO Health’s programs and services, visit GOHealthNY.org. You can also contact your respective health department:

• Genesee County- 585-344-2580 x5555 or Health@geneseeny.gov
• Orleans County- 585-589-3278 or OCPublicHealth@orleanscountyny.gov

Follow GO Health on Facebook, Instagram, and X at GOHealthNY.

Press Release:

As the Genesee County Fair approaches, anticipation rises for the annual Princess/Queen Pageant, scheduled to take place on July 19 and 21 at the fairgrounds in Batavia.

The pageant, a highlight of the fair, offers participants a unique opportunity for personal growth and development while also opening doors to significant educational and career prospects. Moreover, it serves as a vital platform for agricultural representation, fostering a positive impact on both individuals and their communities.

Participants in the pageant receive complimentary entry to the fair, granting them access to a plethora of engaging activities and exhibits. The event itself comprises several components, including delivering a speech, showcasing a talent, and fielding questions from a panel of judges. Additionally, contestants have the honor of joining the fair's parade, further enriching their experience.

For those interested in participating, applications are available by emailing geneseecountyfair.pageat.ny@gmail.com.

The Muckdogs are back at home, holding a 7-game winning streak, and first place in the PGCBL. On the other side, the Tarp Skunks look to end the streak tonight.

Hough (JTS) v.s. Brooks (BAT)

#GoDogs

Arbor House, 350 Bank St., Batavia. We are a community of believers and disciples of Jesus Christ. Arbor House was founded to be a place of safety, refreshment, and renewal for all. Each week we gather to hear the spoken Word, eat from the Lord’s Table, and enjoy fellowship with all who come. If you have been hurt by a church before we want to be the place where you can find healing and hope. All are welcome! Service will be in person on Sunday morning at 10 a.m. and available live stream on Facebook. For more information about Arbor House visit arborhousefmc.com.

Alabama-Basom Methodist Church, 1392 Lewiston Road, Alabama. Join us for worship at 10:30 a.m. This week our sermon title is "How Big is Small", led by Rodney Stringham (CLM). 

Ascension Parish - Roman Catholic Church, 135 Swan St., Batavia. We are open for Mass in the Church on Saturdays at 4 p.m. and Sundays at 10:30 a.m. We hope to see you there! 

Assemblies of God-New Covenant Chapel, 6690 Oak Orchard Rd., Elba.14058. We welcome all seeking a personal relationship with the Lord Jesus Christ through His finished work on The Cross with The Power of The Holy Spirit. John 3:16. “For God so loved the world, that he gave his only begotten Son, that whosoever believeth in him should not perish, but have everlasting life.” If you want a small, close-knit church family and a place to make a difference, please join us. Worship Service is Sunday at 10:30 a.m. Bible Study Sunday at 9:30 a.m. and Thursday at 7 p.m. Contact us at (585)-757-6651 (585)-969-1528 or visit us on Youtube.

Batavia Assembly of God, 24 North Spruce St, Batavia. Join us for coffee in our café before our Sunday morning service that begins at 10:30 a.m. We offer "Movement Kids" (age 4 - grade 5) at 10:30 a.m. and "MVMT YTH" (grades 6-12) meet on Sunday nights at 7 p.m.

Batavia First Baptist Church, 306 E. Main St., Pastor David Weidman, where "Christ the Center, Love for All" is very evident to all who enter. We invite you to our Full Gospel Sunday services at 10 a.m.; The Thrift Shoppe is open Monday-Friday from 11 a.m. - 1 p.m., come and browse in our beautifully renovated space. Donations are accepted during business hours. You can also enjoy a light lunch at Lydia's Kitchen while you shop. Questions? Email: firstbaptist2002@yahoo.com. Call us at (585)343-9002.

Batavia First Presbyterian Church, 300 E. Main St., Batavia, invites you to join us for in-person worship on Sundays at 9 a.m. (Arise-relaxed with band music) or 10:45 a.m. (Sanctuary -liturgical and organ) or on Livestream via Facebook Live for both times at: https://fpcbatavia.org/  or https://www.facebook.com/fpcbatavia/videos/.

Batavia First United Methodist Church, 8221 Lewiston Road, Batavia. Our mission & vision statement:  “To be disciples, we must listen, learn, lead, and love our way to God.” Reverend Wayne Mort leads our worship service every Sunday morning at 10 a.m. in the church sanctuary. Childcare is offered for children birth-3 years old and Sunday school is offered for children ages 4-14 years old. You can also find the service on Facebook. We invite you to learn more about Batavia First UMC by visiting our website at www.BataviaFirstumc.com.

Byron Presbyterian Church, 6293 W. Main St., Byron. Pastor: Rev. Michael Fry. Musical Director: Laurence Tallman. Service and Sunday School at 9:45 A.M. Scripture Reading: Psalm 20:6-7. Message: “In the Arena”. We honor dads and grads during the service. Communion this week. Activity time for kids. All are welcome.

Calvary Baptist Church of Le Roy, 8703 Lake Street Road, Le Roy.  If you do not already have a church that you attend regularly, we would like to invite you to give Calvary Baptist Church a try.  It would be a pleasure to have you join us for worship and fellowship on a Sunday morning or at one of our other mid-week events. As a multi-generational congregation that enjoys our time together, our Sunday worship service typically includes singing a mix of both traditional and contemporary songs and hymns, a children’s message, and a sermon from the Word of God. Our Sunday worship service begins at 10:15 a.m.

City Church, 210 E. Main St., Batavia, invites you for our Sunday morning services at 8:30 and 10 a.m. with Kids ministry at 10 a.m. and Thursday evenings at 7 p.m.  Everyone is welcome to join us for worship and a message. We believe in doing life together and would love to do life with YOU!  You can also connect with us online at www.thecitychurch.com, through our Facebook page, The City Church, or our YouTube channel.  We do life together.

Corfu United Presbyterian Church 63 Alleghany Road, Corfu. Corfu United Presbyterian Church welcomes all visitors to come worship with us on Sunday mornings at 10:30 a.m. in person or via our Facebook live stream led by The Rev. Evan Wildhack. Our mission at CUPC is to connect with Christ, connect with others, and connect others with Christ. We offer weekly Bible study on Monday evenings at 6:30 p.m. in the Fellowship Hall. The Mission Committee will be hosting a Bingo Night on Saturday, June 8, at 6 p.m. to benefit St. Jude Children’s Hospital. There will be fun prizes to be won. You may also find our baked goods at the Corfu Farmer's Market for purchase. We look forward to seeing you there!  CUPC's food pantry is open on the third Saturday of the month from 9 - 10 a.m. Contact the church office by phone at (585) 599-6414 or via email at office@corfuchurch.org Our office hours are Monday to Thursday, 10 a.m. to 2 p.m.

Cornerstone Church of East Pembroke, part of American Baptist Churches USA, 2583 Main Road, East Pembroke. Our Sunday service is at 10:30 a.m. with Pastor Glenn Bloom preaching. Bible Study is every Wednesday at 10 a.m. We are a small church and welcome new members. (585) 762-8721

Darien Disciples Church, 1951 Broadway (Route 20), worship at 9 a.m. on Sundays. Prayer requests to Jerry at: jeromedmorrison@yahoo.com.

Discovery Chapel, 315 West Main Street, Batavia. Pastor Ingrim Green's services are on Sundays at 10 a.m. "Let's Talk Real Talk the Gospel For Real Life." Visit our website letstalkrealtalk.org for more information.

East Bethany Presbyterian Church, 5735 Ellicott Street Road, East Bethany. Our Sunday morning worship service is held at 10:30 a.m. and is led by Rev. Dr. Shiela McCullough. Visitors are always welcome. You can find out more information on our Facebook page or by emailing us at ebpresbyterian@gmail.com.

Elba First Baptist Church, 31 S. Main St., Elba, is open for the main service in person at 10:45 a.m. on Sundays. For more information about our church go to www.fbcelba.net. The pastor is Michael Davis. Email: office@fbcelba.net / Phone (585) 757-2722

Emmanuel Baptist Church, 190 Oak St., Batavia. We would love to have you join us for our regular Sunday worship at 11 a.m. this weekend! We are trekking through the book of Acts and learning Don't Lie to God. There is also a bible study at 9:45 a.m. with free coffee and cookies. Unfortunately, if you still wanted a spot in the Community Garden and didn't call or email the church, they are all taken!  

EverPresent Church, 4 Batavia City Centre, Batavia(off of Bank Street). We welcome you to come to experience the Holy Spirit in a fresh way. Jesus wants to set you free from your bondages. Wednesday Service at 6 p.m. & Sunday Service at 10:30 a.m., Toddlers dismissed at 10:15 a.m., Children's Church dismissed after 2nd Worship Song. For more info visit www.everpresentchurch.com. 

Grace Baptist Church, 238 Vine St., Batavia. Sunday Morning Worship begins at 9:30 a.m. Grace Kids for ages nursery – 5th grade meets during the 9:30 hour. The service is live-streamed at www.gracebatavia.org. or view it on our Facebook page: Grace Baptist. Kid Zone & Grace Student Ministries meet on Sunday evenings from 6-7:30 p.m. Visit our website or our Facebook page for other events happening throughout the year. 

Indian Falls Methodist Church, 7908 Alleghany Road, Corfu. We have our worship service at 10 a.m. on Sunday mornings, led by Rev. Karen L. McCaffery.  This week's message is "Moving Forward". To view our services online please go to our website https://indianfallsgmc.com/ for a link for Live Streaming. We offer FREE Respite Care on Wednesday, June 19 from 10 a.m. - 2 p.m. (registration required). We will not have our Community Dinner in June. Join us on June 26 for our 80th Annual Strawberry Social starting at 3:30 p.m. with a bake sale & ending with an auction at 6 p.m.

Le Roy First Presbyterian Church, 7 Clay St., Le Roy. Sunday morning in-person worship at 10 a.m. followed by coffee fellowship. We are an open and accepting church of all people.

Morganville United Church of Christ, 8466 Morganville Rd, Stafford. Summer is here and we love it here in the country. See what we mean and join us and our "God is still speaking" church, at 10 a.m. Sunday as Reverend James Morasco shares his sermon. Fellowship and refreshments will follow at our coffee hour. Friend us on Facebook! or better yet, visit us Sunday!

North Darien Bible Church, 9768 Simonds Road, Corfu. We are open! Sunday worship service begins at 10 a.m. Children's Church classes are available for children ages birth through sixth grade, including a classroom for children with special needs. For more information, visit our website. You can also watch LIVE on our Facebook or YouTube channel. Join us from 9 a.m. to noon on the first Saturday of every month for our free community closet, full of clothing, coats, and shoes for all. (585) 547-9646.

Northgate Free Methodist Church, 8160 Bank Street Road (North Campus), Batavia. Would you like to hear some good news? We're going to hear a lot about the good news that God has for us in our next series based on the books of 1st and 2nd Timothy. We hope you'll join us for a series we're calling "No matter what: remaining true to the Gospel." Join us on Saturdays at 6 p.m., and Sunday mornings at 9:30 and 11 a.m. For more information about Northgate Free Methodist Church and to watch our services online go to northgatefmc.com or facebook.com/northgatefmc.

Oakfield-Alabama Baptist Church, 2210 Judge Road., Oakfield. Join us for Sunday School for all ages at 9:45 a.m., followed by our worship service at 11 a.m. every Sunday! Visit our website (www.oabchurch.com) for additional information about our church, our beliefs, upcoming activities, and past messages. Men’s and Ladies’ Bible studies also meet on Thursdays at 6:30 p.m. on the church grounds. We look forward to worshiping and fellowshipping with you! Questions? Email Pastor Matt Ervin at mervin@tyndale.edu.

Oakfield Community Bible Church, 82 North Main St. Oakfield. This Weeks “Oakfield Community Bible Church” Father’s Day Worship Service is at 11:15 a.m., with Praise & Worship Music by Keith Burroughs & Andrew Lacey. The morning message by Pastor, Timothy Young; entitled: "REMEMBER, We’re All Broken".  With Scripture: Colossians 3, 1-15 (NLT). Our Adult Sunday School is at 10:00 a.m., along with “Sunday School through Age-16”. There will be a Time of “Fellowship Together” following our Worship Service! Come out and Join Us. ALL ARE WELCOME!

Our Lady of Mercy (44 Lake St. LeRoy) & St. Brigid (18 Gibson St. Bergen) parishes; Parish Office - 44 Lake Street, Le Roy. Weekend Masses Saturday at 4:30 p.m. (livestreamed); Sunday at 7:15 a.m., 10:45 a.m. (livestreamed), and 5:30 p.m. at Our Lady of Mercy. Also, Sunday at 9 a.m. at St. Brigid. Daily Masses Monday-Friday at 7:30 a.m. (livestreamed) and Saturday at 9 a.m. at Our Lady of Mercy and Tuesday and Thursday at 8:30 a.m. at St. Brigid. View on YouTube and Facebook. Please visit the parish website (https://www.ourladyofmercyleroy.org/).

Resurrection Parish (St. Mary and St. Joseph churches in Batavia). St. Joseph’s Church masses are on Saturdays at 4 p.m. and Sundays at noon. Confessions are held at St. Joe's on Saturdays from 3 - 3:30 p.m. St. Mary's Church mass is on Sundays at 7:30 a.m. Vigil & Holy Days to be announced.

St. James Episcopal Church, 405 E. Main St., Batavia. Join us on Sundays at 9 a.m. on zoom, 10 a.m. in the church building, and on Facebook Live. Links and the bulletin can be found on our website: https://www.sjecbataviany.org/

St. Mark’s Episcopal Church, 1 E. Main St., Le Roy, is open for in-person services at 10:30 a.m. on Sundays. Communion will be offered to people in their seats and will only include bread. We welcome you to join us -- either in person or online. For more information, visit our website.

St. Maximilian Kolbe Parish, 18 W. Main St., Corfu. Weekend Masses are celebrated: Saturday at 5:30 p.m. at the Corfu Church Site; and at 9 a.m. Sunday at the East Pembroke Church site, 8656 Church St., East Pembroke. Weekday Masses are celebrated on: Tuesday at 8:30 a.m. in East Pembroke and Wednesday at 7 p.m. in Corfu followed by Adoration. Corfu Masses are also available for viewing on our YouTube channel. All information is on the church website and on Facebook. Email: stmaxkolbe09@gmail.com (585)-599-4833.

St. Padre Pio Parish, St. Cecilia, 56 Maple Ave., Oakfield Mass is celebrated on Sundays at 10 a.m. and Wednesdays at 7 p.m. OR Our Lady of Fatima Church, 65 S. Main St., Elba, Mass is celebrated on Saturdays at 5:45 p.m. and Tuesdays at 7 p.m.

St Paul’s Episcopal Church, 6188 Main Road, Stafford. In-person service, including Holy Communion, is at 9 a.m. Sunday mornings. All  Are Welcome. 

St. Paul Lutheran Church, Batavia, 31 Washington Ave, Batavia. This coming Sunday (June 16) we will celebrate The Fourth Sunday After Pentecost/Father's Day. The sermon theme: “A Secret About A Father's Love” is based on the scripture from Ephesians 6:1-4. Our service begins at 10 a.m. or can be viewed 'live' on Facebook. Our Youth class meets at 8:30 a.m. for Bible Study. Sunday School children will attend the service through the children's sermon and will then go to their Sunday school rooms for their studies. Communion is part of the service on the 2nd and 4th Sundays. Our Adult Bible Class & Quilters group are on break for the summer.

The Church In Alexander, 10540 Main St., Alexander. Join us for Sunday Worship at 10 a.m. weekly. For more information please visit our website at www.thechurchinalexander.com. We offer a Free Food Pantry for people in our community, please call ahead if you need items from our pantry. For more information on Programs and services please contact us at (585)591-1765 or by email at thechurchinalexander@gmail.com. Church office hours are Monday, Wednesday, and Friday from 8:15 - 11:15 a.m.

Trinity United Methodist Church, 75 Main St. in Attica, worships together at 10:45 a.m. on Sundays. All are welcome! Contact Frank White at uncleferter@msn.com for a ZOOM link or for prayer requests.

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"Spiritual Connections" -- The Batavian will post updates to connect people with their places of worship, religious services, fellowship opportunities, and/or spiritual advisors, etc. There is no charge for this service.

If you have information to announce, please email: news@thebatavian.com

On Thursday, the class of 2024 of Alexander High School gathered in caps and gowns with children moving up from Pre-K class at Alexander Elementary School for a graduation celebration photo.

Submitted photo.

Anna Long, a senior at Le Roy High School, is the 2024 William F. Brown Jr. Memorial Scholarship winner.

The Jerome Foundation administers the scholarship, which is worth $1,000 a year for four years.  Genesee County seniors who are planning to major in journalism, communications, marketing, or public relations are eligible for the scholarship.

Long plans to attend Syracuse University, joining the Newhouse School of Journalism, majoring in magazine, news, and digital journalism.

The scholarship honors the late Brown, a local journalist and author, one-time owner of WBTA, as well as a community leader and volunteer.

In school, she's been named to the National Honor Society and participates in the music council, senior high chorus, school musicals, jazz, varsity basketball and varsity tennis.

Click here to sign up for an Early Access Pass from The Batavian. Join before June 14 and receive as a thank you gift from The Batavian and T.F. Brown's a $50 gift card redeemable at T.F. Brown’s.

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Representatives from local law enforcement, including the Sheriff's Office and Batavia PD, participated in the Arc GLOW Torch Run on Thursday morning in support of the Special Olympics.  The route took the officers from the Sheriff's Office on Park Road to the Arc facility on Walnut Street in Batavia.

Akron resident Leonard Woltz, Jr. was likely just days from death in October when he encountered the UMMC wound care treatment team.

Now, he is nearly healed, and Dr. Joseph Canzoneri expressed confidence that he will walk again.

Woltz had a necrotizing fasciitis infection in his foot.  The infection is caused by a rare, flesh-eating bacteria.

"It just absolutely blew up over a matter of three or four days," Woltz said. "And that's it. I got a football on the end of my foot, and then that one day we came in, and I got right in, and you know, they started treatments and everything in the hospital. But the care here, and the folks here are just they are -- it's absolutely incredible."

On Tuesday, Woltz attended a ceremony honoring the Wound Care Center for its eight consecutive years of being honored by Healogics, the nation’s largest provider of advanced wound care services. This year, the clinic received the President’s Circle Award along with the Center of Distinction and Robert A. Warriner III Clinical Excellence awards for 2023.

The trio of awards was dubbed the hat-trick, after the sports metaphor that originated in England among cricket players.

The awards recognize the center's quality care, consistent compassion for patients, and expertise.  The center, according to a Healogics representative, had an 86 percent heal rate in 2023 and a patient satisfaction rate of 94 percent.

Healolgics works with more than 600 hospitals nationwide and only 34 are receiving the 2023 Presidents Award, and only two in New York.

"These awards are achievements well deserved, well acknowledged," said Toni McCutcheon, director of operations for Healogics. "It really comes from the people-first patient-centered processes they have here. They're healing patients, they're taking care of their patients, they love their patients. If it wasn't for that, this wouldn't happen. So it's always about the patient and will always be about the patient."

That's precisely how Woltz feels about the center.

"From the time you walk through the door and you talk to Mary Beth, you know you're amongst friends and people who care about you," Woltz said.

Canzoneri said Woltz presented one of the most challenging cases the clinic has faced.

"This is one of the worst types of infection," Canzoneri said. "It travels up the foot and very quickly results in sepsis and can often result in death and high incidence of leg amputation."

Woltz was admitted on a regime of IV antibiotics and drainage of the wound.

"We then took him back to the operating room for limb salvage procedures to preserve as much of this foot as possible to avoid below-knee amputation," Canzoneri said. "It is crucial to prevent below-knee amputations because it results in high mortality rates within three to five years. And almost 80 percent of patients who sustain a below-knee amputation never walk again and are confined to wheelchairs or assisted living."

The infection was contained with a mid-foot amputation and aggressive treatment, including use of the center's hyperbaric oxygen chamber.

At the gathering, Canzoneri pronounced Woltz "almost healed" and that he would almost certainly be totally healed within weeks.

Woltz said he's gone from the psychological trauma in October of wondering what his future would be like, and if he even would have a future, to looking forward to resuming most of his prior activities.

"Now we're down to this part here where this thing is closing so rapidly now because of all the stuff we've done before and the brilliant move that Dr. Joe made with my foot," Woltz said. "It's all coming down to 'Wow, I'm going to be okay.' I'm gonna be able to do 97 percent of the things I used to do. You know, I'm not gonna be running marathons anytime soon, but yeah, it's all right."

A car has reportedly struck a tree in the area of 1867 County Line Road, Darien.

A mother and child are believed in the car with a patient bleeding from the head.

Darien Fire and ambulance dispatched along with Mercy EMS.

UPDATE 1:12 p.m.: A 30-year-old female has a cut on her head, according to a first responder. The child appears to be OK.

UPDATE 1:49 p.m.: A patient is being transported to Millard Fillmore Suburban Hospital. Darien assignment back in service.

Press Release:

Assemblyman Steve Hawley (R,C-Batavia) is announcing a portion of Route 77 in Darien is being renamed as the “Sgt. Terry James Garigen Memorial Highway.” Hawley and Senator Borrello both sponsored proposals that would dedicate this roadway in honor of Sgt. Garigen. Sgt. Garigen was a decorated Vietnam war hero who received the Silver Star Medal, Bronze Star Medal, Army Commendation Medal, and the Republic of Vietnam Gallantry Cross.

Sgt. Garigen served the town of Darien diligently as an active member of the Darien Town Board. He also served 50 years in the highway department and volunteered for the fire department. Sgt. Garigen was active in the veteran community as a member and leader of the Region 1 Patriot Guard Riders. Hawley is proud to recognize this local hero and hopes his legacy will help inspire others.

“Sgt. Garigen honorably served his country in Vietnam and exemplified the virtues of honor, courage, and sacrifice,” said Hawley. “Even after his military career, Sgt. Garigen dedicated himself to uplifting the people around him and supporting the veteran community. I was proud to be able to support this initiative in the state Legislature with Sen. Borrello and I couldn’t think of anyone more deserving of this honor. Sgt. Garigen’s legacy will continue to live on as an example of what it truly means to serve your country.”

Senator George Borrello spoke on the highway dedication saying:

“Sgt. Garigen bravely served in the United States Army during the Vietnam War. He and his fellow soldiers fought their way through dense jungles and endured blistering heat and guerrilla warfare tactics. He fought heroically on behalf of our nation and in support of freedom,” said Senator George Borrello, who represents the 57th district in the State Senate, which includes Genesee County.

“It always humbling to be able to pay tribute to brave individuals like Mr. Garigen who served our nation honorably out of love and loyalty to America,” Senator Borrello said. “One small way we can repay them is by honoring their example and contributions through highway designations like this one.”