Golfers had a long day Tuesday during Western New York's PGA Works fundraiser "Birdie Bash 2025" at Stafford Country Club, Fellow Abbie Kludt says.
The upside was that plenty of birdies were counted under the sunshine and $31,655 was raised for worthy causes, including Golisano Children's Hospital and Oishei Hospital in Rochester.
"And the event doesn't close for another two days, so that number might fluctuate a little bit," Kludt said later Tuesday night. "As a field, there were 458 birdies made from 9 a.m. to 6 p.m. with a one-hour lunch break."
City Council President and retired City Police Lieutenant Eugene Jankowski Jr. read a proclamation during Tuesday’s council meeting as a preview to Wednesday’s memorial police ceremony at who Cemetery on Clinton Street Road (Route 33).
The public is invited to attend the event at 1 p.m., at which time Batavia Police Department officers will place flags on the graves of officers who have died, and to remember those officers in other cemeteries in the area, Jankowski said.
City of Batavia proclamation, WHEREAS the officers of the city of Batavia Police Department are committed to the preservation of life and property, risking their lives to provide protection law and order in serving the cause of justice, and
WHEREAS the officers of the city of Batavia Police Department accept the profound responsibility and work to uphold our laws, safeguard our rights and freedoms and serve on the front lines in the fight against crime in an effort to keep our neighborhoods safe, and
WHEREAS many of the officers dedicated several years serving the residents of the city of Batavia, most serving longer than 20 years their service to the city meant time away from their families and loved ones in order to protect the community that they took an oath to safeguard.
And WHEREAS each year, the city of Batavia will recognize the dedicated and brave police officers who have been laid to rest since retiring from the police department by placing Memorial flags at each officer's grave site in remembrance of their service to the city.
Now therefore be it RESOLVED that I, City Council president and retired police lieutenant, Eugene Jankowski Jr., on behalf of the City Council of the City of Batavia, do hereby make this proclamation to honor our departed police officers who have retired from the city of Batavia Police Department, who, by their loyal and selfless devotion to their duties, have rendered dedicated service to our community and to declare May 28, 2025 as the city of Batavia Police Department Flag Commemoration Day.
“And I thank the community for their service to the officers, and to the officers for their service to our community,” Jankowski said, to applause from the audience.
Fillmore defeated Elba 3-1 in extra innings Wednesday in the Section V Class D baseball quarterfinals. The game was tied 1-1 after seven innings before Fillmore scored twice in the ninth to secure the win.
Nicholas Scott pitched eight innings for Elba, allowing three hits and one run with seven strikeouts. Damon Potter went the distance for Fillmore, striking out nine and allowing just three hits. Brayden Jacomowichiz doubled for Elba, while Mark Caparco and Alex Rascoe each added a hit. Elba finishes the season with 13 wins, the most in program history.
Coach Andy Boyce said, “I am so proud of what our boys accomplished this season. They have absolutely nothing to hang their heads about as they left everything on the field against a quality, well-coached Fillmore team.” Boyce also noted that with no seniors on the roster, the team is looking forward to returning next season.
Le Roy edges Haverling, 3-1, to reach Class B semifinals
Behind a dominant outing from Alex Spezzano and some highlight-reel defense, Le Roy advanced to the Section V Class B baseball semifinals Tuesday with a 3-1 win over Haverling.
Spezzano tossed a complete game two-hitter, striking out seven.
After Haverling’s Dylan Wenban reached on an error and scored in the first, Spezzano allowed just one hit the rest of the way.
Le Roy’s defense came up big, highlighted by left fielder Jude Sherman’s diving catch to end the fourth and strand a runner. At the plate, Adam Woodworth and Jake Higgins drew back-to-back walks in the fourth, pulled off a double steal, and both scored—Woodworth on a wild pitch and Higgins on a fielder’s choice by Holden Sullivan. Higgins later drove in Woodworth with an RBI single in the fifth.
Jude Christ and Jagger Smith added hits for Le Roy. Haverling’s Gage Thomas pitched well in the loss, allowing just four hits.
Le Roy moves on to face No. 3 seed Wayland-Cohocton in Thursday’s semifinal.
Oakfield-Alabama earned a spot in the Section V Class C2 semifinals Tuesday with an 8-2 win over Alexander.
Piper Hyde went 4-for-4 with a triple to lead the Lady Hornets at the plate. Raine Denny drove in four runs, including a triple, while Chloe Lamb added three hits and two RBIs. Allison Harkness finished 2-for-3 with an RBI, and Ysa Schrauger and Allie Williams each added a hit.
Savannah Durham pitched a complete game, allowing three hits and no earned runs while striking out five.
“We played well defensively and cashed in our runners when we got them into scoring position,” OA coach Jeff Schlagenhauf said. “This is a great opportunity for these girls to move on to the semifinals.”
After decades of exceptional service in family medicine, Mary Obear, MD, PhD is preparing to retire at the end of May, leaving behind a profound legacy of healing, leadership, and community commitment. Her patients will be seen by Shannon Bartlett, ANP, and Kevin Beuler, PA, at Oak Orchard Health’s Corfu office.
A retirement party will be held in her honor on June 14 from 2 to 5 p.m. at the Pembroke Community Center. Family, friends, current and past staff and patients, and people in the community are welcome.
Dr. Obear has been a family physician in private practice since 2002 at Pembroke Family Medicine, which grew to three locations (Batavia, Alexander, and Corfu). On July 1, 2020, she combined her multi-location practice with Oak Orchard Health because of their common mission to provide high-quality primary care to everyone. At that time, we dedicated the health center to Dr. Obear.
“It is with mixed feelings that I announce my retirement from Oak Orchard Health on May 30. I have cared for patients in Genesee County and beyond for over two and a half decades (that’s a quarter of a century!). It’s been one of the most rewarding experiences of my life, and my time at Oak Orchard Health has been very important to me,” says Dr. Obear. “I feel it’s time for me to begin my next chapter of my life, traveling and seeing my family who live all over the country. I leave my patients in the care of Shannon Bartlett, ANP and Kevin Beuler, PA. I have supreme confidence in them. They are both skilled practitioners and are compassionate and caring with patients.”
Dr. Obear is well known in the community and serves in many volunteer roles. She is on the Board of Health for Genesee County and the Board of Directors at Crossroads House and Gateway House.
The Batavia Social Security office located at 571 East Main Street, Batavia, will be temporarily closed on Thursday, May 29, and Friday, May 30. The office will reopen to the public on Monday, June 2, at 9 a.m. Local telephone services at the Batavia Social Security office will remain available at 1-866-931-7103.
People who need to conduct their Social Security business in person may visit the following Social Security offices:
4050 West Ridge Road, 2nd Floor, Rochester
200 East Main Street, 2nd Floor, Rochester
Social Security office hours are from 9 a.m. until 4 p.m., Monday through Friday.
Social Security’s customers can now make appointments for all types of services instead of waiting in line, resulting in a better overall experience and reductions in wait times.
Customers can still wait in line if they cannot or do not want to make an appointment. Staff at local offices are being particularly mindful of vulnerable populations, people with disabilities, and other groups needing specialized or immediate attention when they walk in.
People can schedule an appointment by calling their local office (recommended) or 1-800-772-1213, which also has a call-back feature. People who are deaf or hard of hearing may call Social Security’s TTY number, 1-800-325-0778.
Many Social Security services are conveniently available online at www.ssa.gov. People may create their my Social Security account, a personalized online service, at www.ssa.gov/myaccount. If they already receive Social Security benefits, they can start or change direct deposit online, request a replacement SSA-1099, and if they need proof of their benefits, they can print or download a current Benefit Verification Letter from their account.
People not yet receiving benefits can use their online account to get a personalized Social Security Statement, which provides their earnings information as well as estimates of their future benefits. The portal also includes a retirement calculator and links to information about other online services.
Need a Social Security Number card?
Please note for many situations people only need their number and not the actual card. If they need a card, they should start the process online.
People can visit www.ssa.gov/number-card to submit a request for a replacement card, start an application for an updated card, or to request a Social Security number for the first time. Some people may not need to visit an office and, if they do need to visit an office to complete the application, they will save a lot of time by starting online.
Want to apply for benefits?
People can apply online for most benefits. In many cases, there are no forms to sign. The agency will review the application and reach out with questions or for more information. Visit www.ssa.gov/onlineservices to apply for retirement, disability, or Medicare.
Need proof of benefits, want to check the status of an application or appeal, or curious what else people can do online?
The American Legion Auxiliary Unit #576 of Le Roy has selected two students to attend this year's Empire Girls State the week of June 30 at SUNY Brockport.
Teagan Falk Submitted photo.
Teagan Falk and Elise Fisher have been selected to attend. As part of the premier ALA program, “citizens” of the New York Girls State will study local, county, and state government processes during this five-day nonpartisan political learning experience.
Teagan is a high school junior from Oakfield-Alabama High School. She participates in many extracurriculars, including Chorus, Band, Varsity Football and Basketball Cheer, Mock Trial, NHS, and is the president of her class. She takes multiple AP classes and has a 4.0 GPA. She also participates in activities outside of her school, including as lead singer of a band, and modeling in the GCC fashion show.
Elise Fisher Submitted photo.
Elise Fisher is a high school junior from Le Roy Jr./Sr. High School. She is well-known for her passion for social justice and conservation, participating in various clubs such as Mosaic, Ecology, Feminist Club, and the National Honor Society.
ALA Girls State attendees, known as “citizens,” receive special instruction in parliamentary procedure and organize themselves into two mock political parties. The young women then campaign, hold rallies, debate, and vote to elect city, county, and state officials. Once elected to office, delegates are sworn in and perform their prescribed duties. Attendees not elected to office are given appointments and visit the offices of those elected to share their viewpoints as citizens.
Every spring, approximately 25,000 young women across the country are selected to attend ALA Girls State programs in their respective states. Two outstanding citizens from each of the 50 ALA Girls State programs are then chosen to represent their state as “senators” at ALA Girls Nation held in Washington, D.C. in July.
Placing of flags honoring veterans at the memorial wall at UMMC, Jerome Center Photo by Steve Ognibene
Monday's Memorial Day ceremony at the War Memorial at the Jerome Center, Bank Street and
The ceremony featured an invocation, the National Anthem performed by the Batavia Concert Band, the GAR Order of the Day, a wreath-laying by Veteran Services with a Gold Star mother, and the reading of the honor roll. The program concluded with a 21-gun rifle salute, the playing of taps, a benediction, and the singing of “God Bless America.”
Oakfield-Alabama erupted for eight runs in the top of the eighth inning to break open a tie game and defeat Honeoye, 11-4, in an extra-inning thriller Monday night.
OA (now 13-8) tallied 11 hits and took advantage of three Honeoye errors, overcoming a 3-3 deadlock after seven innings. Ryan Schnaufer led the way with a double and a dramatic inside-the-park home run in the eighth, finishing 2-for-4 with three runs scored and three RBIs.
OA took a 3-0 lead into the third, but Honeoye (13-8) rallied to tie it in the fifth. Both teams’ pitchers worked out of jams through regulation before OA’s bats came alive in extras.
In the eighth, Jake Gehlert reached on an error to score Schnaufer, who led off with a double, for the go-ahead run. Avery Watterson reached on another error, and Jackson Gilbert delivered a two-run single, scoring Jack Cianfrini, who had singled earlier, and Watterson. Levi Kabel followed with a two-run single of his own, and Schnaufer capped the rally with his two-run, inside-the-park homer to right-center.
Watterson earned the win in relief, tossing 3.2 innings and allowing just one hit and one earned run while striking out one. He also reached base twice and scored three runs. Starter Travis Chaya went 4.1 innings, giving up three runs on seven hits and striking out three.
For Honeoye, Owen Cuba pitched seven strong innings, allowing three runs (one earned) and striking out eight. Kevin Schmitt took the loss in relief, charged with eight unearned runs in the eighth. Kevin Schmitt and Dylan Washburn each had two hits for the Bulldogs.
Stats:
OA: 11 hits, 11 runs, 3 errors
Schnaufer: 2-4, 2B, HR, 3 R, 3 RBI, BB
Kabel: 2-4, 2 R, 2 RBI, BB
Tobolski: 1-3, 2 RBI, R, 2 BB
Watterson: 1-4, 3 R, BB, 2 SB; 3.2 IP, 1 H, 1 ER, 5 BB, 1 K (W)
Chaya: 1-5, RBI; 4.1 IP, 7 H, 3 ER, 3 BB, 3 K
Oakfield-Alabama advances and will await its next opponent in sectional play.
The Village of Corfu held its Memorial Day Parade and Ceremony on Monday. The parade kicked off at noon, with the ceremony immediately following at the Pembroke Intermediate School.
Photos by Kara Richenberg.
Tom Sargent (on the right), Mayor of Corfu.
Lilly Senko, PHS Veterans Outreach Club President, speaking at the Memorial Day Ceremony.
Commemoration of America's Conflicts
William Joyce's reading of the deceased Corfu Veterans.
Mary Lichtenstein struggled and suffered most of her life with depression, and did so in silence, coming from a family at a time when one didn’t “air the dirty laundry,” and masking repercussions of having been in a car accident as a teenager by being “a walking pharmacy,” she says.
Yet despite the prescription drugs, there were the side effects, migraines from a head injury, and not much relief, rendering her feeling as if “I didn’t want to be here,” she said. It was her husband Mark that found out about Donna Eden, founder of the Eden Method, a way to use one’s body energy to live a “long, healthy and joyful life,” according to her website.
“It was the best gift he ever gave me, besides my daughter, Danielle. I stopped playing the movie in my head that I’m not good enough, I’m not pretty enough, I’m not thin enough,” Lichtenstein said during an interview with The Batavian from her home in Mexico, New York. “I teach people now. I no longer have foggy brain, that movie didn’t play over in my head any more. I gained healthy boundaries, I learned we surrender our power. Before, I was notorious for being a doormat.”
Lichtenstein owns Integrative Healing Solutions, LLC and is an advanced practitioner of Eden Energy Medicine, an integrated approach to healing by learning how to build neuroplasticity, detox your brain, open new neural pathways and calm the nervous system.
She’s bringing a class, Calm Within: Energy Medicine for Stress & Anxiety Relief, here from 1 to 3:30 p.m. June 5 at Batavia First Presbyterian Church, 300 E. Main St.
Serving as her own living validation that the Eden method of recovery and living actually works, Lichtenstein has gone on to teach it to others, watching remarkable transformations, she said.
“What I love about Donna Eden's work is that it's one of the quickest, most effective ways I've discovered in my 63 years of struggling myself. I mean, not so much in the last 15 years, but prior to that, it gives you tools that you can use for yourself to give you back and empower you and make you more resilient," she said. "I would dare say that every single health crisis has a stress component to deal with it, and not being able to deal with it or know how to deal with it, and this gives you those simple tools to deal with it, so that you don't get sick.
"And I'm walking proof of it. And most people that have become practitioners in energy medicine is because they are very sick themselves, and it saved my life, basically, learning how to do this," she said. "And I want it for everybody else, because, we deserve to have a full, beautiful life and enjoy every day to its fullest, because we don't know what's going to happen.”
She provides tools for people to use to calm themselves, she said. It’s a really soothing, simple yet powerful energy to restore one’s balance, whether it’s the breath, presence or intention, there is most definitely a noticeable before and after, she said.
A registered respiratory therapist for several years, she didn’t feel as though she was making much of an impact on her patients’ health. It was as if she was “taking this blazing fire and we were taking this little squirt gun, and going, ‘I’m wondering why they weren’t getting better,’” she said. So she eventually left that field and went on to work in schools.
Then in 2010, she began to study this new method, and saw “amazing results” with students while as a teen health educator for two school districts.
“Holy moly, what a difference. I had one girl who’d just as soon punch the vice principal as talk to him, and in her senior year, she didn’t get in any trouble, and now I’m so proud of her. She’s going to school to be a teacher, and it was just teaching her simple tools, which I’m going to teach in this class. It changed this girl’s life, and she got out of a toxic relationship and she’s doing fantastic.”
Participants in this class will receive a booklet of information and exercises to perform — not calisthenics that depend on one’s physical condition but those tools, Lichtenstein said — to enable anyone to do them and understand “how our energies affect” not only ourselves but others in the room, she said.
There will be “just enough” science to explain why and how this method works, but not too much to be overwhelming, she said. One key aspect is neuroplasticity.
What is neuroplasticity?
Neuroplasticity is the brain’s ability to change and adapt throughout life. It refers to the brain forming new neural connections and reorganizing itself in response to experiences, emotions, behaviors, and even energy-based practices.
“When you're stressed or anxious, your brain often strengthens neural pathways associated with fear, worry, and survival. However, with intentional practices — like those in Eden Energy Medicine — you can begin to rewire your brain toward calm, balance, and resilience,” Lichtenstein said. “Each exercise students will learn in this class, Calm Within: Energy Medicine for Stress & Anxiety Relief, supports rewiring the brain by helping the nervous system shift out of survival mode and into balance, calm, and healing.”
Fee is $25, and scholarships are available for those that may not otherwise be able to attend. Lichtenstein said that once participants connect with her, she is there for you afterward if needed.
“My goal is to put myself out of business, because people are stressed.," she said. "I have had personal stress, and I wouldn’t have been able to get through it without energy medicine, and now I want to share it with as many people as I can.”
Town of Batavia - Lower 1 bedroom apartment for rent with all appliances and parking. Sun room with gas fireplace and patio. $1100/ Month; plus electric, includes heat and water. No pets and no smoking. Security and references required. Available June 15th. Call 585-344-3141 for appointment.
