If you have thoughts or ideas about the prospective development of land along Tonawanda Creek near Evans Street on the city’s south side, the state Department of Environmental Conservation has opened the window for comments during the next month.

Known as Batavia Creekside Park Development, located at 26 and 60 Evans St., Batavia, the property, under the direction of the city, Batavia Development Corp., and Director of Economic Development Tammy Hathaway, has been submitted for a Brownfield Cleanup Program application to the state agency.

Part of DEC’s protocol is to allow the public to weigh in on any potential project that may take place on the property. Hathaway said several links are available to review history, research and maps for the site as BDC pursues what is believed to be a future valuable housing asset.

“A key aspect of the BDC’s mission is to identify underutilized real estate within the city for potential redevelopment. Moving a piece of potentially contaminated land through the cleanup program ultimately improves its condition and unlocks its potential for safe use,” she said Friday. “As shared in previous months, the Brownfield Opportunity Area steering committee brainstormed potential uses for the Creek Park property and concluded that its highest and best use would be for housing, a critical need in our community.”

When asked if she recommended certain reading material for folks, Hathaway found that hard to answer, “because I find all of it interesting.”

“The real estate reports date back to when I was a teenager, and give a 450-page history of the property,” she said. “Reading through these and seeing what once occupied the property verifies the reason why the parcel requires attention to improve its condition for reuse.”

Before diving in, a reminder about what a Brownfield Cleanup Program is:

• Designed to encourage private-sector cleanups of brownfields and to promote their redevelopment as a means to revitalize economically blighted communities.
• This is an alternative to “greenfield” (land not previously developed or contaminated) development. It is intended to remove some of the barriers to and provide tax incentives for the redevelopment of brownfields.
• An incentive and catalyst for the cleanup and redevelopment of more than 500 contaminated sites statewide since 2003. There are more than 550 active sites in the program.

Research dates back to 1990, when a walking inspection of the site found the topography flat except for an alluvial terrace and steep slope near Tonawanda Creek; few, if any, buildings that have ever been constructed on the site had a lower floor or basement. The railroad roundhouse on the southern-most parcel apparently had a recessed area from which railroad personnel could inspect the steam-powered locomotives.

Several site sections have exposed concrete structures where buildings or other structures were once located. Compared to local terrain, the northwestern-most portion of the site appears slightly lower in elevation and is likely subject to periodic flooding.

Existing above- and below-grade utility lines are present on-site. Trees and shrubs cover the lower terrace area north of the existing railroad grade.

Because the study was completed during winter, no distressed vegetation was observed on site.

A potentially contaminated discharge was observed flowing out of the pipe located just north of the main storm sewer on Tonawanda Creek just downstream of Dam 2. Though this pipe is north of the site, its source has not been determined.

This pipe could be an old outfall acting as a discharge conduit for local groundwater. This is feasible since the soils in this area are very permeable.

Nearly 40 interviews were conducted with neighbors and past employees — 14 former Doehler-Jarvis employees, one engineer presently working for NL industries, four former employees of the railroad companies, and 20 others, city historian, neighbors, a member of the Democratic Committee, U.S. Army Corps of Engineers, Hazardous Waste Remediation Division of DEC, Genesee County Legislature, IDA, Planning Department, Batavia Town Supervisor, City of Batavia Water and Sewer Department, engineering, zoning, inspection and fire departments.

Not one was observed or familiar with any on-site dumping by Doehler Die Cast Company or Doehler-Jarvis. A few were familiar with on-site dumping of cinders/ash from coal-fired locomotives used by railroad companies prior to the use of diesel-powered engines along railroad spurs and near the creek.

A few were familiar with neighbors dumping household waste on-site several years ago, evidenced by local collectors acquiring bottles in that area. No one was familiar with on-site spills, explosions, fires, or emergencies related to petroleum, hazardous materials, or hazardous wastes used by the railroads or Doehler companies.

All that information is in a Phase I real estate investigation, followed by a Phase II investigation. In 1992, there was a quantitative environmental analysis and supplemental remedial investigation of remedial work.

Work continued in 2014 with a Phase I environmental site assessment when City Manager Jason Molino was here. The assessment reviewed unanticipated hazardous materials, external observations, and an executive summary about the aftermath of various manufacturing and industrial operations on site between 1919 and 1980, including Batavia Steel Products Corp., Doehler Die Casting Co., Adria Motor Car Corp., and Gray Machine & Parts Corp.

The parcel at 60 Evans St. had also been listed as a DEC State Superfund site; however, “no information was available from the DEC or other sources regarding that listing, it stated.

Investigative methods included advancing test pits, test trenches, soil borings, and groundwater monitoring wells. Soil, groundwater, and surface water samples from the site and creek were collected and submitted for laboratory analysis.

Contaminants identified included metals, petroleum constituents, and chlorinated solvents, prompting remedial work associated with the former Doehler-Jarvis, including:

Remove one 500-gallon underground storage tank, two 10,200-gallon underground storage tanks, and two in-ground hydraulic lifts.

Excavation and off-site disposal of lead-impacted soil.

Excavation, stockpiling, and bio-remediation of approximately 1,700 cubic yards of petroleum-impacted soil.

That work was completed as of April 5, 1995 as other concerns were identified, such as chlorinated solvents being detected in groundwater samples and fill materials consisting of ciders, ash, glass, brick, metal fragments and concrete located throughout the site seven feet down, with additional assessment of fill materials being warranted for redevelopment purposes.

Yet another Phase I and II environmental investigation report, 10 years later in 2024, now under City Manager Rachael Tabelski, shows updated findings of petroleum impacts, product globules on the groundwater entering test pits, and a heavy sheen coming out of the ground at a boring.

The company Roux Environmental Engineering and Geology recommended the site as a candidate for the Brownfield Cleanup Program and to apply “if the city of Batavia or other entity is interested in pursuing redevelopment of the site.”

A final link is the completed 2025 application, which includes history, maps, environmental assessments, and a project description—six three-story, 16-unit multi-family residential complexes with a first-floor garage, private drive, stormwater management areas, a walking path, a natural park, landscaping and green space.

To view all of the application links, go HERE. 

The documents are also available at the document repository located at Richmond Memorial Library, 19 Ross St., Batavia.

There are various ways to comment:

• Submit them to the site Project Manager Mackenzie Rees at NYSDEC, 6274 East Avon-Lima Road, Avon, NY, 14414
• Email Mackenzie.rees@dec.ny.gov
• Call 585-226-5409

All comments must be submitted by June 6.

8515 E Lake Road Stafford. Super opportunity to own waterfront property in Genesee County! This lovingly kept and well maintained ranch sits directly on waterfront edge of super peaceful Horseshoe Lake. Updated throughout the years this home is move in ready and will surprise you with how much space you have! Starting at road front this home has extra parking space across private road for all your guests as well as ample parking at house. As you walk in back door you are immediately in large enclosed porch in case you want a change of scenery and a perfect place for your extras and coats and shoes! Walk into pretty kitchen with plenty of cupboard space and work island and with easy viewing out through dining area to the lake-the scenery makes all cooking better! There is also an open office room or sitting room/hobby area off of kitchen! The formal dining area of course looks over "front" yard and lake and leads to large deck for outside entertaining as well as private dock for your water toys(Lake rules and regulations apply) The home has three good-sized bedrooms with plenty of closet space and then best of all there is large and brite family room with cathedral ceiling, wet bar and cozy gas fireplace! Furnace and hot water tank are 7/8 years old approximately, there is PUBLIC water and a BRAND NEW septic system install in 2021. Conveniently located to dining shopping college and thruway!! This year round waterfront property checks all the boxes! Any accepted offer is subject to approval by Horseshoe Lake Corporation.. Call Reliant Real Estate today - call 585-344-HOME (4663)

Byron-Bergen beat Attica in tennis on Friday, 5-0.

• 1st singles Riley Shallenberger (BB) defeated Jace Anetrini (Attica) 6-2, 6-2
• 2nd singles Erron Kimble (BB) defeated Julie Pawlak (Attica) 4-6, 6-2, 6-0
• 3rd singles Levi McGrath (BB) defeated Colton Spink (Attica) 6-2, 7-6 (9-7)
• 1st doubles Sara Bishop, Justin Gabehart (BB) defeated Lauryn Wescott, Brynne Wolcott (Attica) 6-3, 6-3 
• 2nd doubles Noah Clare, Craig DiQuattro (BB) defeated Baylee Mills, Makayla Kurtowicz (Attica) 6-0, 6-3

Photos by Jennifer DiQuattro. 

Press release:

The Trojan offense piled up 10 hits and eight walks during Thursday’s chilly matchup against Byron-Bergen. 

Faith Goodenbury led the Trojans at the plate, going 3-for-4 with a double, 2 RBIs, and two runs scored.  

Melissa Sawyer added in the box going 2-for-3 with 3 RBIs, 2 runs, a walk and a stolen base.  Ava Yax finished the day going 1-for-1 with a double, 2 walks, 3 runs, an RBI, and a stolen base.  Morgan Boyce went 1-for-3, driving in three runs with a run scored and a walk.  Lilly Szymkowiak went 1-for-2 with a double, 2 runs, a walk and a stolen base. Emily Pietrzykowski and Melanie each added a hit apiece to round out the Alexander offensive attack. Bump's hit was a 2-RBI double.  

Emily Pietrzykowski controlled the circle as the senior struck out 11 batters, limiting the Byron-Bergen offense. Pietrzykowski only allowed two hits and two runs (1 earned) over five innings while walking five.

Next up for Alexander is a doubleheader at Holley on Friday starting at 3:45pm.

Coach’s Comments:
"This was a solid win for us as we work to build momentum, picking up our second straight," said Coach John Goodenbury. "It's great to see our bats coming alive more each day. One of the best feelings as a coach is watching good hitters break out of slumps. We've had players making solid contact lately, just hitting it right at fielders. Today, we found the gaps and gained some confidence. We're ready for a packed final stretch and prepared to finish strong."

Submitted photos.

Oakfield-Alabama beat Lyndonville in baseball on Thursday, 11-0, in a game shortened to five innings.

Travis Chaya got the win, going all five innings, giving up two hits, no walks, and no runs, while striking out seven hitters, in his first varsity game. He was also 0-1 at the plate with a run scored. He was also hit by a pitch.

Offense:

• Jackson Gilbert, 3-3, double, 2 RBIs, run
• David Schnaufer, 1-3, double, 2 RBIs, 3 runs, 1 stolen base
• Avery Watterson, 1-3, double, 2 RBIs, 2 runs, 2 stolen bases
• Hunter Tobolski, 1-2, double, RBI, 2 runs, walk
• Jack Cianfrini, 0-3, RBI, run, stolen base

Photos by Jordyn Tobolsk. 

Diana Prinzi seems like a no-nonsense type of person, someone with a shy smile backed up by a passion for law enforcement and keeping the protocols in check.

So, it may come as no surprise to those who know her best that her latest role falls right in line with her goal to continue being a central point of the organization. She worked for Immigration and Customs Enforcement for 22 years before retiring in 2019, and then two years later, she worked part-time for Genesee County, becoming program coordinator for Genesee Justice in 2022.

She began as Genesee County Jail superintendent on Jan. 1.

“This job was a continuation of a path that I had with ICE, as far as with an open facility. I worked on policies and procedures and the accreditation. So this is sort of a branch off of that. It's the administrative portion of that now, and having oversight of a new facility, bringing that to fruition, and getting everything in place,” Prinzi said during an interview Wednesday at the West Main Street Road jail. “Obviously, this new jail has been open and things were up and running, but there's still a lot of growing to do, and getting everything in tune with a much larger facility, all different aspects of how it operates compared to what it was at 14 West Main. I enjoy the administration oversight of it, trying to get all those different parameters in place. And everything that comes to mind, whether it’s policies and procedures, whether it's training, whether it's security oversight, whether it's just daily operations staffing, there's a lot to it. And I like that aspect of bringing all those pieces together.”

Those pieces include 106 inmates, of whom 86 are men and 20 are women. There are approximately 50 correctional officers and a dozen vacancies; three kitchen staff; and medical, religious, and financial service providers, including Genesee County Mental Health. There is a Bible study and Sunday church service, and Genesee Valley BOCES provides lessons for a General Education Diploma program. As she said, there are a lot of working pieces.

Prinzi also noted her deputy superintendent, Jason Queal, aka “my right hand.”

“He’s invaluable,” she said.

Backing up a bit, what led Prinzi, who was born and raised in Le Roy, to follow a criminal justice path? She figured it was some of her college classes, such as research methods and a criminal justice course.

“I got drawn in at the time I graduated from college. They were just building the immigration facility (in Batavia). So that’s really where my path went, that’s really what led my pathway,” she said, bringing it to her current position. “It’s the care and custody of the inmates inside, and what we provide to them, the services that they need, whether it's medical care or food, outside providers for religious services or classes instruction, making sure that we meet the compliance with the Commission of Corrections and what their standards are. So all those types of things tied together, you know? So, sort of it's like a direct oversight of all those things, and I like seeing how all those inner workings come together.”

What else is part of the job?
Certainly, paperwork is part of the job, she said, because “if you didn’t like paperwork, you wouldn’t do the job.” There is a lot of documentation involved when someone is brought into custody, she said.

“You have to make sure that everything's being done properly, everything's being documented properly, and that you can show that the things are being done. So that's a very important aspect,” she said. “So definitely, there's a lot of aspects to this position. It's very fluid. Every minute, there's something new. Being a county jail, arrests come fresh off the street, so there are all different aspects of what people bring in with them. Whatever their care needs are, their backgrounds, they could have immediate needs that need to be attended to.

“Whether it's their situation, where they just came from, their home life, drug use, things like that. Little bit different than somebody that's going into city department corrections, that’s already been through a county jail and spent some time here in terms of just transitioning to basically a new facility,” she said. “So that has been a little bit eye-opening, because I didn't have the county jail aspect under me before, I had more of a controlled environment, I should say, from what we had when working with Genesee Justice.”

She wanted to take special note of National Correction Officers’ Week, thanking them all for their work and stating that they “should be very highly respected.”

“I don’t think people understand the job that they do and the sacrifices that they make and what they deserve for all the work that they put into it, but they see things every day that they come in here that most people never imagine seeing,” she said. “And everything that they do is obviously to support the criminal justice system, but it’s to keep our community safe, too. So it’s definitely a whole different world when they walk in those doors, and what they take every day when they go in the back and they leave.”

Prinzi and other personnel were put to the test a week ago when a fire erupted at nearby Hodgins Engraving, causing chemical explosions and billowing smoke to create potentially toxic air quality for the jail and other building occupants.

"It was a little bit chaotic. You have to understand that, working in the jail, there's different safety and security procedures. I worked with my supervisory staff and with emergency management and our facilities team, just checking to make sure that things were where they needed to be. I mean, we had air quality checks going on. We obviously had smoke everywhere. The wind was blowing in our direction; we couldn't avoid it. We kept an eye on things like that,” she said. “There was talk about whether or not we would have to evacuate. There was a very close eye kept on that. So we were reviewing how we would handle that, and we made close contact with other facilities that we would utilize as resources for that. So we had things in place. Fortunately, we did not have to go that route, because that's a significant undertaking to have to move 100 inmates out.

“I was here long hours that day, as everybody was, making sure people were safe. And unfortunately, people do get affected by it. They can't stop what happens on the outside in the environment. But everybody took their roles. We had the air quality testing coming in … the sheriff was here,” she said. “We had a lot of people, my deputy was here, my deputy superintendent, everybody was trying to do their part to figure it out, besides the staff and the supervisors and the people that are normally here, medical here, we had some extra medical staff evaluate the inmates and stuff. So we just took the precautions that we needed to. Being in a jail, you can’t just pack up and walk out.”

What has been the most challenging part of the job so far?
“There’s a lot of daily challenges, and that’s just part because it is a county jail and we deal with a lot of different things every single day, part of it is generally our staffing. We have a lot of staffing still we're catching up on. There isn't one challenge that stands out above everything else. I think that if you're working in a jail and you're not being challenged, then something's not right, and you should be aware, or be cautious, because you're missing something,” she said. “If those challenges aren't there, challenges make us better, because we have to address them. And we find things every day. You can find something that you've been doing, and you can look at it a different way, and realize, oh, well, we should have been doing this a little bit differently, and we would have been doing it better. And to me, that's just a way of progressing, and improving upon who we are and what we do.”

Prinzi and husband Sam have five children and three grandchildren and when she has any free time, they enjoy traveling or doing projects around the house and spending time outdoors.

As for her free time, she smiled when asked if she had a daytime shift or not. Her hours are during the day, but “it’s a 24-hour shift,” she said. She and Queal are often catching up on busy work — computer, emails, and she is on call — after hours. That means 24/7, 365 days a year, she said. It’s just part of the job.

“It’s part of what the job is, and you need to know that going into it,” she said. “Any law enforcement job has that type of connection to it.”

Prinzi has no qualms about being a female leader of primarily male employees at the jail. She exudes controlled confidence when stating her open-door leadership style and goals for the facility, which was completed and opened toward the end of 2024.

She values input from the most experienced, veteran officers to newer ones just starting out, she said, and understands that all of them "bring something to the table."

“There's a lot of potential in this building, as far as what the staff can bring to the table, what we can do with the physical plant, as far as what the classroom is, what we can offer. And just make it a good place to work and get the staffing where we want it to be. So we have a lot of goals when it comes to that,” she said. “I have my thoughts on things that I want to see based on my experience, and those things are important, and they will definitely trickle into what I'm doing. But I also am very open to the fact that I have not worked in this county jail for all these years. I am very open to what they have to say and to the knowledge that they have, because they work back there every day.

“I will never discount an idea or suggestion. I can't implement all of them. They're not all going to be feasible for what we have, but I'm going to listen to them all and know what they say,” she said. “We have oversight, but we can make it into the best place possible.”

In 2021, J&R Fancher Property Holdings started construction on a mixed-use -- apartments and retail -- near Brickhouse Corners in Pembroke, and given the demand for those six units in that complex, Randy Fancher is confident his new housing project will be a success.

Fancher met with the Genesee County Planning Board on Thursday night to discuss his plans for two new 10-unit townhouse complexes in the same location.

"The apartments -- they went great. The retail, not so much," Fancher said. "We have six apartments. We got 150 phone calls in the first year we stopped tracking. So, I'm very confident the apartments will rent."

The townhouses, dubbed "Brickhouse Commons," will be market rate, Fancher said, and a bit more higher end than might currently be available in Pembroke. Each unit will have its own garage and private entry. The design has been previously used and successful, in Buffalo and Rochester, he said.

One of the primary complications facing the project is the presence of a wetland on the property, which requires a 100-foot buffer for any building or roadway. The Department of Environmental Conservation requires a "delineation" every five years to determine the boundaries of the wetlands, which grow and recede over time. There hasn't been a delineation on the property in six years, before Fancher acquired it from the Genesee County Economic Development Center. A new delineation could take up to a year to certify. 

That changed Fancher's plans for the driveway to the apartments. At GCEDC's suggestion, he's now planning to connect the complex to Route 77, requiring a curb cut, which requires the approval of the Department of Transportation. That permit is expected to take less time to receive.

Fancher is planning to apply for incentives, as he did with the first projects, from the GCEDC.

He told the board, "When we built that building, the incentives were for mixed use, which is why we did mixed use. Now the IDA is giving incentives for apartments only."

The retail portion of the Fancher-built mixed-use project, completed in 2022, has been hard to fill, Fancher told the board, because it's expensive to start a new business in a new retail space.

"To be honest, I thought it would go better (for the retail units," Fancher said. "We've gotten a lot of phone calls, but it's expensive. I mean, for anybody to come in there, because it's a new building and it has to be built out, right? I mean, it's expensive for us. It's expensive for them."

The board recommended approval of the site plan, which sends the plan back to the Town of Pembroke Planning Board for final development approval, but with modifications.

• The applicant obtains an area variance for front yard setback;
• The applicant obtains a driveway permit from NYS DOT;
• The applicant obtains documentation from the State Historic Preservation Office (SHPO) as to the project's impacts on archaeological resources;
• The applicant obtains any necessary permits from the NYS Department of Environmental Conservation (DEC) as it relates to threatened or endangered species.

Given that the project will disturb more than one acre of land, the applicant completes a Stormwater Pollution Prevention Plan (SWPPP) and obtains a Stormwater Permit for Construction Activity from NYS DEC; and 

Any additional signage complies with the Town's zoning regulations. 

The endangered species of concern that is potentially on the property is the Northern Long-Eared Bat.

Fancher, a 20-year resident of Pembroke, is also hoping to develop another parcel in the same location, and that it will be a commercial project that will benefit the entire town.

"Our hope is to get a larger chain that would be good for the community, a grocery store, or something, but some sort of commercial project," Fancher told The Batavian after the meeting. "Something that would be good for the town of Pembroke. I believe the town of Pembroke is really growing with all the stuff that's going on. We want to do it responsibly and smart. We don't want to just blow it up, make it Buffalo. But I think, you know, smart growth in that area that's classified as an interchange is good for the town."

On Thursday night, Byron Brown, president and CEO of Western Regional Off-Track Betting, had something to celebrate during the concert of polka star Jimmy Sturr in Park Place at Batavia Downs.

Earlier in the day, the state Senate and Assembly passed a budget that includes a 5% reduction in taxes on OTB revenue over the next five years. The budget is now on Gov. Kathy Hochul's desk, and she is expected to sign it.

Brown projects an additional $4.5 million in revenue for the corporation, and with revenue growth likely to top a total of $25 million in additional revenue over the next five years.

The new tax structure starts on June 1.

"We're thankful for the support that we received from the governor, the members of the Assembly, and the Senate," Brown said. "Through this process, we were in pretty constant communication with the Governor's Budget Office, Assembly, Ways and Means, and Senate Finance, and we were able to work closely with them on how the bill was drafted, which we deeply appreciate."

The additional profits will help fund a 3% raise for employees, a reduction in the employee share of health insurance costs, and an increased distribution to the 17 municipalities that control OTB, Brown said.

Under the current health insurance plan for employees, those hired before 2011 pay only 5% of the monthly premium. Those hired after pay 72%.

A family health insurance plan is curently $3,325 monthly. If hired after Jan. 1, 2012, the employee contribution is $2,394.

In March, according to a response from the corporation to a FOIL request from The Batavian, the corporation paid out $204,598 in insurance premiums for employees at the 5% tier, $13,408 at the 10% share tier, and $13,788 at the 20% tier. There are apparently no employees on the OTB's health plan at the 72% tier since OTB did not pay any premiums for the tier group.

The corporation paid out $33,788 in premiums in March for retirees and current and former board members (grandfathered in because of longevity).

At the end of March, of OTB's 440 employees, 188 were enrolled in health insurance coverage. In 2024, the corporation spent $2,912,879.27 on health insurance.

Press Release:

Assemblyman Steve Hawley (R,C-Batavia) commented on the annual Police Memorial in Albany to honor the officers across the state who gave the ultimate sacrifice for their communities last year. The event was attended by lawmakers in both the state Assembly and Senate, as well as Gov. Kathy Hochul. 

Hawley, who has been a staunch supporter of law enforcement, was grateful this event took place for another year and is proud of the hard work and dedication our law enforcement officers put in every day to keep our communities safe.

“Every day, law enforcement officers across our state leave their families and put on their uniforms, not knowing if they will make it home at the end of the day. These are husbands, wives, parents and siblings who put their lives on the line to keep us safe. My heart breaks for families like that of Sergeant Thomas A. Sanfratello, who lost their loved one in the line of duty. We are eternally grateful for their service, and we will never forget their sacrifice,” said Hawley.

Submitted photos.

There were a lot of runs scored on Wednesday when Oakfield-Alabama and Alexander met for a sun-drenched baseball game in Oakfield.

The Hornets scored 12 runs to 11 for the Trojans.

OA also out-hit Alexander, 13-12.

Avery Watterson got the win, going six innings and giving up 11 hits and 10 runs, seven earned, while walking five and recording 10 strikeouts.

Oakfield-Alabama offense:

• Avery Watterson, 2-5, 2 RBIs, 2 runs, 2 stolen bases
• Jackson Gilbert, 1-4, run, stolen base
• Jack Cianfrini, 3-5, double, 3 RBIs, 3 runs , stolen base
• David Schnaufer, 3-4, double, 5 RBIs, stolen base
• Levi Kabel, 3-4, 2 runs, stolen base

Alexander offense:

• Leo Marzolf, 3-4, 3 RBIs, run, walk
• Alexander Bartholomew, 2-, 2 RBIs, run
• Leo Egloff, 1-4, double, 2 RBIs, run, walk, stolen base
• Sean Pietrzykowski, 3-4, double, home run, 2 RBIs, 2 runs, walk, stolen base
• Duke Snyder, 1-3, run, 2 walks, stolen base

Oakfield-Alabama beat Kendall 14-2 in softball on Wednesday.

The game was called by Mercy Rule after the top of the fifth inning

Allison Harkness went five innings to get the win, giving up four hits and no earned runs. She struck out five.

Offense:

• Allison Harkness. 3-3, triple, 3 RBIs
• Rylee Denny, 2-2, 3 RBIs, 3 runs scored
• Savannah Durham, 2-3, double, 2 RBIs
• Jessica Sosnowski, 2-3
• Piper Hyde, 1-2 RBI
• Emma Moeller, 1-4 2 RBIs
• Ysa Schruager, 1-2
• Raine Denny, 1-4 RBI

"I was pleased with how we responded defensively today," said Coach Jeff Schlagenhauf.  "Allison was very good and in command on the mound, and we hit the ball well and capitalized on our opportunities early."

Press Release:

Byron-Bergen Jr./Sr. High School Principal Paul Hazard is proud to announce the third quarter Honor Roll and High Honor Roll students. Hazard and the Byron-Bergen Central School District staff offer their congratulations to these students.

2024-2025 QUARTER 3 HONOR ROLL 

GRADE 7:

HIGH HONOR ROLL – Jayda Amesbury, Ian Bannister, Teagan Burch, Lillian Czachorowski, McKenna Diehl, Leonard Dykstra, Katelyn Gay, Nina Hammerl, Aaliyah Hawley, Hannah Hunt, Lacie Ivison, Jason Ivison, Jr., Grant Kuipers, Anastasia Kuszlyk, Ella Maher, Liam McAlister, Amelia Meier, Elizabeth Merrick, Lawrence Moore III, Christian Perkins, Jaelynn Reynolds, Dylan Riedmiller, Collin Starowitz, Devin Stranc-Holmwood, Emma Tanner, Kylee Tirrell, Payton White 

HONOR ROLL - Addison Alejandro, Amelia Baker, Diamond Dykstra-Culver, Claire Fogg, Harlow Galves, Brooklyn Louis, Gabriel Peebles, Hanna Richardson, Lincoln Senf, Jackson Senf, Monica Tobin, Brynn Weaver

GRADE 8: 

HIGH HONOR ROLL - Faith Apley, Charlotte Bloom, Riley Boland, Evelyn Borycki, Madison Carson, Alyssa Chupp, Emily Cubas Canizales, Addyson Day, June Dorman, Olivia Galdun, Hunter Jarosinski, Isabella Kessler, Sophia Matthews, Lia Ray, Miranda Stanton, Contessa Vander Wyst, Benjamin Vargas, Kaylanah White, Dahlia Wolff

HONOR ROLL - Ayden Day, Katherine Erion, Cruz Gilbert, Ce'Andre Johnson, Delilah Malin, Emmarose Michaels, Jack Miller, Riley Norman, Trevor O'Brien, Caleb Rassel, William Scharvogel, Landon Starkweather, Gunner Starowitz, Aiden Thurston, Sierra Vandenbosch, Teagan Williams 

GRADE 9:

HIGH HONOR ROLL - Evan Bannister, Eala Coniglio, Samantha Copani, Emily Diehl, William Duell, Zachary Gay, Cambria Goodenbery, Lila Graff, Ruth Kuipers, Alexander Kuszlyk, Isabella Lewis, Levi McGrath, Timothy Michaels Jr., Liliana Moore, Evan Phillips, Alexandra Pocock, Natalie Randall, Lucy Rea, Jenna Redick, Michael Rogoyski, Genevieve Smith, Xavier Vargas, Jillian Weaver, Paige Winkler 

HONOR ROLL - Mason Farner, Ainsley Kent, Taylor Louis, Lillian Meier, Laney Niedzwiecki, Brook Pagels, Audrey Rimmerman, Lila Sharp-Robinson, Madeline Smith, Miley Stalica 

GRADE 10:

HIGH HONOR ROLL - Nataly Barrera Zuniga, Rylee Burch, Emalyn Canfield, Cody Carlson, Lauren Gartz, Gavin Kinkelaar, Taylor Lundfelt, Ian MacMillen, Logan Marou, Emma Matthews, Hannah Riedmiller, Theodore Schelemanow, Elliana Tanner, Rena Wilson 

HONOR ROLL - Joseph Brumsted, Gianna Cicatelli, Brayden Gelsomino, Isabella Gifford, Kai Gilbert, Wyatt Lewis, Seth Prefontaine, Brandon Schuck, Kyle Smith, Paul Szalay III, Bradley Tatar, Kylee Thurston, Jack Walker

GRADE 11: 

HIGH HONOR ROLL - Katelyn Ball, Liam Boyle, Adam Cardenas, Gianna Clark, Connor Copani, Justin Deleo, Gary Donofrio, Gianna Graff, Megan Jarkiewicz, Pearl Jolliff, Carter Kuipers, Malacai McGrath, Maryn Meier, Grace Mundell, Paige O'Brien, Evan Orto, Bradley Pocock, Katherine Rogoyski, Julia Sanso Maya, Simone Scharvogel, Rayne Sheard, Hayden Starkweather, Elizabeth Starowitz, Aubrey Stein, Emma Wolfe 

HONOR ROLL - Sara Bishop, Addison Cummings, Grace DiQuattro, Estelle Dumuhosky, Ava Goff, Mia Gray, Nial Johnson, Giovanny Navarro Cruz, Colin Rea, Allison Rimmerman, Solomon Smith, Andre'a White, Evan Williams

GRADE 12: 

HIGH HONOR ROLL - Ryan Benstead, Sarah Campbell, Deborah Catalino, Kendall Chase, Noah Clare, Abigail Cook, Laura Curts, Isabella Davidson, Lea Donofrio, Annabelle Erion, Haylee Gartz, Peyton Goodenbery, Ava Gray, Rachel Hanel, Eli Kupfer, Ella Lewis, Draven Liles, Jackson Lundfelt, Martin MacConnell, Anna McLaughlin, Meghan Muscarella, Kasey Pagels, Ian Pulcini, Sydney Salmonds, Ashley Schlenker-Stephens, Olivia Senf, Roman Smith, Lily Stalica, James Starowitz, Ruger Starowitz, Rose Wilson, Hannah Wittman, Jade Wolff, Mikayla Yohon

HONOR ROLL - Jake Carlson, Craig DiQuattro, Jack Farner, Logan Fregoe, Landon Kent, Connor Moran, Adam Piper, Natalie Prinzi, Rayden Robinson, Jeremiah Romero, Victoria Santiago, Trent Sheard

Press Release:

As students, you have a lot on your plate - from classes to extracurricular activities, social events, and more. But amidst all the excitement, it's essential to remember one crucial thing: your safety. And that's where we come in. 

The Batavia Police Department is committed to ensuring your safety, especially when it comes to one of the most critical issues affecting young people today: drunk driving. As a student, you have a responsibility not only to yourself but also to your friends, family, and community to make smart choices. 

Here are some sobering facts: 

• Drunk driving is a leading cause of accidents and fatalities among young people.
• Even one drink can impair your judgment and reaction time, putting you and others at risk.
• Drunk driving is a crime that can result in serious consequences, including fines, license suspension, and even jail time. 

So, what can you do to stay safe and responsible? 

• Plan ahead: If you're going to drink, designate a sober driver or use a ride-sharing service.
• Stay hydrated: Drink plenty of water throughout the night to avoid dehydration.
• Look out for each other: If you see a friend who's had too much to drink, encourage them to call a ride or stay overnight.
• Make smart choices: Avoid getting into a car with someone who's been drinking. 

Remember, your safety is our top priority. By making responsible choices, you can help prevent drunk driving accidents and ensure a safe and enjoyable night out with friends. 

Stay safe, stay sober, and let's work together to create a safer community for everyone! Stay informed, stay safe, and let's make a difference.

Wednesday was more than a typical hump day for about 15 volunteers measuring, cutting and assembling new galvanized steel beds, filling them with fresh soil, lifting out the old wood-framed beds, spreading mulch and installing new artwork at Batavia Community Garden.

It was more like getting over the hump of the past while moving onto more efficient and long-lasting solutions as resident gardeners prepare to get their own hands dirty this weekend.

“We’re doing a lot of weeding. We have to have the garden ready to plant this Saturday,” Cooperative Extension Executive Director Jocelyn Sikorski said at the garden property on MacArthur Drive. “We sold out at the end of March. We always sell out, but this is the first time it’s so early. It was phenomenal.”

What used to be a city-owned community garden operation transitioned to Cornell Cooperative Extension three years ago. Many dots connected since the nonprofit has a master gardeners program, enthusiastic volunteers, and a strong focus on agriculture.

RaeAnn Engler helped put together steel garden beds while other volunteers pulled weeds, raked soil, moved materials in a wheelbarrow and kept busy during the sunny day.

“We had these feed trough beds for ADA compliance, but they're really not that good because they dry out. So this year, we've gotten a three-foot deep, two-foot-by-eight-foot galvanized steel. I think that's going to work out really well,” Engler said. “It's a garden for everybody. We have flowers, vegetables, and fruit. People do melons, beans, tomatoes, eggplants.”

She has been chair of the garden committee since the idea took root in 2011 with help from Leadership Genesee. This is another dot connecting this effort to Cooperative Extension.

“They organized it, and the city was overseeing it at that point. And Jocelyn was working for the county and commissioned with the city at the Youth Bureau, so she’s been involved also from the start,” Engler said. “(Some members of the Class of 2011) started it, and then three years ago, I believe the city handed it over to Cooperative Extension to be the head agency. And that worked out well because Leadership Genesee is with Cooperative Extension, and master gardeners are with Cooperative Extension.

“Now that it is under that umbrella of Cooperative Extension, we accept membership from the county, any resident; it used to be limited to city residents, but no longer.”

Although membership has expanded to the county, people with a plot get first dibs on renting it the following year, she said, so “it does kind of limit it.”

“We have room for expansion. We’ve talked about that area,” she said, pointing to a parcel of grass nearby. “It’s a matter of having more people involved in helping to organize to be able to expand that much. We have some space available here, and we also have the additional panels, four-by-fours to make more beds if we get that option. 

"Whether we change that, I’m not sure, but this is the first year that we sold out before the garden opened," she said. "Something to really think more about going forward.”

Only once in its 26-year history has Plow Days had to be canceled because of rain.

Saturday morning, May 3, founders Louis Esten, his brother Chuck Esten, and Bob Newton watched and waited for the rain to stop.

Plow Days has taken place every year for the past 25 years, except for two years during Covid, on the farm of John Torrey, an avid tractor collector and farmer on Route 98, just south of Elba.

Esten said 25 years ago, he, his brother Chuck, the late Ron Komar, and Bob Newton (all of whom had an interest in antique tractors) got the idea for Plow Days and asked John Torrey if they could use his land. Louis said he and Newton had met at the Steam Show in Alexander, and during a conversation, the idea was born.

“We want people to understand what these old tractors are all about,” Louis said. “People actually used to plow with these.”

One of the antique tractor owners hoping to demonstrate plowing was Alexandria Smith of Attica. She brought her John Deere 630 with a three-bottom plow, which was built from 1958 to 1960, making it at least 65 years old.

Smith said her grandfather used to restore antique tractors, which piqued her interest, and she has been collecting them since she was 14.

She has a lot of respect for the old equipment and farming.

“Working on a farm is not like looking at a computer all day,” Smith said. “When you’re out on a farm, you put in a hard day’s work. You get tired, but it is a good tired.”

Plow Days is not just about plowing. Dozens of tractors from the 1930s to 1972 are on display. The giant barn is heated and has tables and chairs, a food counter, hot coffee, and vendors.

Photos by Virginia Kropf

Press Release:

To All Traffic Utilizing the Following Roadways:

• Stegman Road – Miller Road to Powers Road
• Barrett Road – Route 5 to END (Kistner Concrete)
• Access Road to Town Hall and Genesee County Bldg. 2 – From the turn off to the Animal Shelter to END (at Town Hall) and access to the Highway garage

Resurfacing operations will occur on the listed roads on Monday, May 12, from 7 a.m. to 4 p.m.

Traffic should expect delays and short-term closures while resurfacing operations occur. 

EMERGENCY SERVICE PERMITTED THROUGH.

All through traffic should seek alternative routes.

Residents and businesses on the listed roads will be permitted access to their property, but they may experience minor delays.

This work is weather dependent; if delayed for rain, the work will occur the next available day.

If you have any questions about this work, please contact the Town of Batavia's Highway Department at 585-343-1729 Extension 218.

Thank you for your cooperation in advance.

Batavia lost to Honeoye Falls/Lima in softball on Wednesday, 16-4.

With multiple rainouts recently, the Lady Devils have a daunting six-game schedule this week so 7th-grader Gabby Smith got her first varsity start. She fanned two HFL hitters.

Hannah Carney went 2-3 with a double and an RBI.

Libby Grazioplene, Adeline Dewitt and Kyleigh Kabel also had hits. 

Batavia's record is 3-9.

Blue Devils go on the road Friday at Canandaigua and Saturday at Honeoye Falls-Lima.

To view or purchase photos, click here.