The Oakfield-Alabama Central School District is facing a unique challenge—convincing voters to pass a 2025-26 school budget that requires a tax cap override. 

District officials say a tax cap override, without difficult spending cuts, is unavoidable due to the ongoing economic development in the community.

To avoid a tax cap override, the district would need to reduce the tax levy under the state’s tax complicated cap formula, which requires school districts to account for Payments in Lieu of Taxes (PILOTs) from new business projects under development in the community. 

The tax cap levy mark under the formula for the district this budget year is -2.61%.

The proposed budget is $25,555,345, representing a $533,000 increase from the current year’s adopted budget. The proposed levy is $5,839,050, or $142,416 over the current levy.

The budget vote on May 21 failed, and board members shared during Monday night’s budget hearing that feedback from district voters indicated there was confusion over spending, the need for the override, school bus expenses, and capital project spending.

The district is presenting the same budget proposal to voters, which some residents find confusing, according to a couple of speakers. 

There were about 20 residents, plus board members, in the audience for the hearing, which Board President Justin Staebell said was the biggest turnout he's seen for a school district budget meeting.

Laura Kowalczyk, business administrator, explained the board’s reasoning, “There was a lot of communication between the residents, between the board, and between the staff, to answer a lot of questions and discuss these things. And the conclusion was that we should, with additional information and having answered questions, we should present the same budget to the voters the second time, with clarifications being made.”

The budget includes the purchase of three diesel buses—a full-size bus, a small bus with a wheelchair lift, and another small bus—following the district’s replacement cycle. 

“These are all diesel buses, and these will be aided at 90% over the next five years,” Kowalczyk said.

The district is also preparing for the state’s coming electric bus mandate.

Alabama resident Jessica Gang had several questions during the meeting. She wanted to understand better what was driving the board's decision to come back with essentially the same budget as the one that had been voted down.

"I do want my kids to have a wonderful education, but I don't understand how we got here," Gang said. "It felt like you guys said you're going to have to keep increasing taxes for the foreseeable future, so I guess I just wanted to know there are some changes on the horizon," Gang said.

Board member Malorie Benjamin empathized with Gang.

“I agree. I don’t want my taxes to go up. I don’t want to pay anymore, but at the end of the day, I also like all the options our kids are afforded here as a community, we have a lot of things that most rural school districts don’t have and a lot of opportunities for kids to be involved, and I don’t want to see any of those go away,” Benjamin said.

At the heart of the district's tax levy challenge is the influx of projects coming into WNY STAMP, particularly this year's projects, such as Edward's Vacuum, and how these projects complicate the state’s tax cap formula. 

“The reason that our tax cap is negative this going into next school year is that we have a PILOT payment from them that is coming on our rolls," said Superintendent John Fisgus. "So if you have that tax formula, you know formula here, you’ll see that the prior year tax levy number is always the first number that goes into this formula, and then there’s a growth factor that’s set. And then the next number is you add on the prior year's PILOT payments. So that’s what we have this year.”

Fisgus also addressed alternatives to PILOTs, such as educational contribution agreements (ECAs), which provide revenue that does not count against the tax levy and offer more flexibility in budgeting.

“One of the things, too, that school districts are getting into are these ECAs, these educational contribution agreements, instead of PILOT payments," he said. "When PILOT payments come on for school districts, it does have a negative tax impact on your tax levy. So, receiving that money really gives us more freedom to use it for what we need it for."

The district aims to negotiate Economic Development Agreements (ECAs) with companies relocating to the area, such as a proposed data center for WNY STAMP in the town of Alabama.

If the budget does not receive at least 60 percent approval, the district must adopt a contingency budget. Kowalczyk said,

“If this proposed budget doesn’t pass, the board will adopt a contingent budget, and there are parameters that go into what contingent expenses are and are not. So, all non-contingent expenses will have to be removed from this budget. So that includes equipment, our bus purchases, our transfer to capital, and our capital outlay expense. The district can also not allow the free use of facilities, so we cannot incur any costs for outside organizations to use the facilities.”

Fisgus said the district is proud to provide its facilities for community groups to use during non-school hours, and that use has increased over the years. If that budget fails, there will be a radical change for the community.

“It seems like this place is now open -- we’re getting 24/7 coverage, which includes 12–14 hours on a Saturday and 12–14 hours on a Sunday," Fisgus said. Obviously, we need to staff, to have people here. We just can’t incur those costs when you know our custodial or maintenance crew are working overtime and those additional hours.”

Community groups would likely be required, in that case, to pay a user fee, Fisgus said.

"We will have to go back and review our facilities use fee. I want to say they’re $50 an hour," Fisgus said. "We’re going to have to go back and make sure that we are not incurring any costs moving forward when an outside organization uses our facilities.”

Salaries and benefits account for approximately 63 percent of the budget, with other categories including debt service, BOCES, shared services, and capital outlay. The district plans to use $738,000 of appropriated fund balance and $470,470 of reserves.

Fisgus emphasized that there is no relationship at all between the proposed budget and the capital improvement project approved by voters last year,  except for the planned transfer to capital.

“This capital project is already taken care of. It’s already been approved," Fisgus said. "But this work is going to continue and be completed by the end of next fall. Whether this budget is approved or not. It’s really two separate buckets. People get confused a little bit about this project being in the budget.” 

In order to avoid spending peaks and valleys, Fisgus said it is important to keep finances level year to year, especially as it relates to debt service.

“As far as the funding goes, we have debt service falling off from the last project, and we have this transfer to capital coming on with this project, which is part of our budget," Fisgus said. "What we’re doing is we’re keeping it a flat line. So, you don’t want to see the ups and downs, the ebbs and flows, of debt service falling off and new expenses. So it’s very systematic in that we keep everything at a level pace.”

The district’s history shows that proposed tax levy increases have typically stayed below the tax cap calculation in recent years. The board emphasized the importance of maintaining the budget to ensure long-term sustainability and avoid future financial issues.

“So cutting that stuff out gets you through this year, keeps you at zero percent, but next year you’re going to have to deal with it—you can’t just keep pushing off the buses," Staebell said. "Eventually, you’ve got to replace them. If you don’t start to get the additional revenue, then you have to make more of the long-term cuts to make the budget work. That’s where we’re looking at the long term—what can we do to trim and make those lasting cuts that are sustainable in the district? The additional revenue in this budget is what helps keep things going as we continue to work through and figure out what we can cut long term.”

Benjamin said the board received a good deal of useful feedback from community members in a survey the district took after the budget vote failed, and that factored into how the board approached representing the budget to voters.

“I think the reason for part of why we made that decision collectively was related to the fact that we heard the feedback we took into account," Benjamin said. "It’s not perfect, right? Because we didn’t hear from every single voter in the community, but it was some level of information. What we found was that there was a lot of misinformation about this particular budget. So I think what we were trying to focus on was whether it was an educational failure on our part to give people the information so that they can make an informed decision."

The survey will help inform the board going forward, she said.

"I think there’s a lot in that survey that we learned that we’re trying to make action on at this point in time, but none of that was things we could do in a week’s time to actually make an impact the longer term things that we need to address, and I think we’re all committed to actively taking action on those things,” Benjamin said.

Board member Maria Thompson said the board has put a lot of time and thought into the budget, and the community has been in constant communication, providing them with feedback to consider.

“We have put in a considerable amount of time here and on the weekends," Thompson said. "I was at a tournament in Olean, coaching my daughter’s softball team. I’m on third base coaching, and I’m texting people. They’re asking questions. So I mean, again, maybe it’s just, you know, lip service at this point, but I promise you, we have heard and we it’s not going to stop on June 17, at 8:01 p.m., this is something that we are going to be working diligently towards, not just for this budget, but for future budgets as well. We’ve got a lot of feedback, and we appreciate the community for coming forward and doing that.”

The budget revote is scheduled for Tuesday, June 17, from 11 a.m. to 8 p.m. in the Middle High Community Room.

When Rochester Regional Health officials launched a new site in September 2023, the Batavia Medical Campus on the north side of the Thruway entrance, they were aware of some residents’ disappointment in having a facility that much farther out of reach for a pedestrian.

At the time, Dan Ireland, the newly promoted Chief Nursing Executive and Patient Care Officer, recognized the fears expressed by some people that this new place is out of bounds for someone with no dependable means of transportation and too far for one to walk. 

Rochester Regional Health had been coordinating a solution with Regional Transit Service in Genesee County to provide an on-demand service for rides to the medical center. That has now been expanded effective June 16.

RTS Genesee announced Monday that it will offer  a new free express service that will travel from Batavia City Centre to University of Rochester and Rochester Regional Health medical centers in Batavia from morning to afternoon throughout the week.

The express route will run in a loop four times per day, departing from City Centre for transfer and/or continuation on to URMC and RRH. This service is subsidized by URMC and RRH, which means it is free to any and all customers who use it.

Providing this “free, reliable service” will help ensure that people can access the care they need, United Memorial Medical Center Associate COO Sonja Gonyea said.

“Rochester Regional Health is proud to support the new RTS Genesee Express Service, connecting riders to key medical destinations in Batavia, including our Batavia Medical Campus. Transportation is a common barrier to care, especially in rural areas,” Gonyea said.  “This partnership reflects RRH’s ongoing commitment to improving access and supporting community health.”

Likewise, the transportation service is “happy to partner” with URMC and RRH, RTS Chief Executive Officer Miguel Velázquez said.
 
“Medical Centers like these are among the most important destinations we connect our customers to, and it is our hope that this partnership and new service meets that need for many years to come,” Velázquez said. “I thank the teams at URMC and RRH for their partnership and support, and the RTS team for bringing this important service to life.”
 
The express service schedule, which includes specific departure and arrival times, is available on the RTS website. Customers are encouraged to contact RTS Genesee with questions at 585-343-3079.

For all other information, visit www.myRTS.com.

Click here to view our FEATURED LISTINGS

Press Release:

Assemblyman Steve Hawley (R,C-Batavia) was thrilled to host a group of students from the Oakfield-Alabama school district at the state Capitol today. The group, led by their civics teacher, Mr. Peter Beuler, gave a presentation in Hawley’s office on the correlation between mental health and substance abuse with several other legislators, including Assemblywoman Andrea Bailey (R,C-Geneseo), Assemblyman Joseph Sempolinski (R,C-Olean), Assemblyman Keith Brown (R,C-Northport) and Sen. George Borrello. Additionally Assemblywoman Jo Anne Simon (AD-52), the chair of the Assembly Mental Health committee, stopped by to speak with the students about their project.

The students gave a detailed synopsis on the rising number of mental health issues across the state and its relationship to drug and alcohol abuse. The group also presented several policy proposals, including increasing the salaries of the state’s mental health professionals and providing increased access to emotional support and recovery services. Hawley was proud to introduce the students in the state Assembly chamber before their presentation and honor them for their hard work and dedication to this important issue.

“One of the best parts of being an assemblyman is being able to hear from our young people about the issues that matter most to them,” said Hawley. “The topic of mental health and its relation to substance abuse is one that is often overlooked, but I am confident our future is in good hands after hearing the insight and passion these students had for finding solutions to this pressing issue. Their presentation offered both an informative and detailed look into why this issue matters and the steps we can take to provide better care for those affected across our state. It was an honor to welcome this group to Albany and I look forward to seeing the impact these young, brilliant minds will have on New York’s future.”

Submitted photos.

Press Release:

Premier Genesee Center for Nursing and Rehabilitation has notified the City of Batavia that they will be flushing their fire hydrants on Tuesday, June 10. This may cause flow disruptions and water discoloration in the north section of the City.

If you do experience a discoloration of your water, turn on a cold water tap and let it run for about 5 minutes or until clear. Please refrain from doing any laundry until the discoloration has dissipated.

We apologize for any inconvenience. Your patience is greatly appreciated.

Press Release:

Join us for a fun-filled evening of roller skating and community connection at the David McCarthy Ice Rink! The Batavia Police Department invites you to "Skate with a Cop," an exciting opportunity to get to know your local officers in a relaxed and enjoyable setting. 

On June 20, from 7:30 to 9 p.m., come lace up your skates and hit the rink with your friendly City of Batavia Police Officers. This event is designed to bring our community together, build relationships, and create a positive atmosphere for all ages. 

Enjoy some quality time with your family and friends while getting to know the men and women who serve and protect our community. Our officers are excited to meet you and share in the joy of roller skating! 

So mark your calendars and we'll see you at the David McCarthy Ice Rink! Don't miss out on this fantastic chance to build bridges and create lasting memories with your local law enforcement.

We look forward to seeing you on the rink!

Press Release:

Two projects submitted to the Genesee County Economic Development Center are projected to generate $9 million in community benefits.

The Genesee County Economic Development Center (GCEDC) board of directors advanced an initial resolution at its June 5 meeting for HP Hood LLC’s 7,722 sq. ft. facility expansion at the Genesee Valley Agri Business Park.

HP Hood LLC’s $25 million investment will include the construction of a two-bay, raw milk silo alcove and silo pads for four silos, Clean-in-Place (CIP) room for four CIP systems, remote truck testing lab and electrical room. The expansion will enable HP Hood to increase capacity and boost dairy product production.

HP Hood LLC is requesting a sales tax exemption estimated at $1.12 million and a property tax abatement estimated at approximately $84,097 based on the incremental increase in assessed value via a new traditional 10-year PILOT. The project is estimated to generate $6.3 million in financial benefits, including payroll and tax revenues, for an estimated $10 local benefit for every $1 of requested incentives.

A public hearing on the proposed project agreements will be held in the town of Batavia.

The board of directors also approved a final resolution for Ivy Village Corp.’s proposed $3.5 million construction of 20 units of market-rate patio homes in the Village of LeRoy. The project will add 24,960 sq. ft as part of a planned three-phase, 60-unit development on 16 acres.

Ivy Village Corp. requested a sales tax exemption estimated at $168,000, a mortgage tax exemption estimated at $28,000, and a property tax abatement estimated at $669,440 based on the incremental increase in assessed value via a 20-year PILOT. The project is estimated to generate $2.7 million in local fiscal impacts, including payroll and tax revenues, for an estimated $4 local benefit for every $1 of requested incentives.

Press release:

Northgate Free Methodist Church is excited to announce the launch of a brand-new Thursday Night Service, beginning June 26, at 7 p.m.

This new service time is the perfect option for those who travel or work over the weekend. It’s all about making space for more people to experience worship, community, and faith before the weekend even begins.

To celebrate the launch, Northgate is hosting a Northgate Tailgate at 5:30 p.m. on June 26, right before the first Thursday service. Guests are invited to bring a picnic dinner, a lawn chair or blanket, and enjoy free ice cream provided by the church. We will enjoy the summer weather before heading inside for worship.

And the fun doesn’t stop there. All summer long and into the fall, the last Thursday of each month will feature a themed Tailgate Night before the service. Expect fun events like Disc Golf Night, Pizza on the Playground, Flag Football, Hot Dogs & Bonfires, and more.

Join us Thursday nights at 7 p.m.—your weekend starts here!

Location:
Northgate Free Methodist Church
8160 Bank Street Road
Batavia, NY 14020

As the communities of Genesee County contemplate the future of industrial development in the Western New York region, critics of the Science and Technology Advanced Manufacturing Park (STAMP Project) convened an informational meeting at the Alabama Fire Hall on Thursday. 

Open to the public, the event included a PowerPoint presentation, educational brochures, and guest speakers who shared their views on the project’s implications. 

“We need to think seven generations from now,” said meeting organizer and Snipe Clan spokesperson, Grandell “Bird” Logan. “Whatever we do to the land today will affect our children and their children many years from now, long after we’re gone.”

A significant portion of the meeting’s discussion focused on the Genesee County Economic Development Center’s (GCEDC) recent approval of plans to construct a 2,525-megawatt data center and an associated wastewater pipeline. Spanning 900,000 square feet, the development site is located in the town of Alabama, just 400 feet from Seneca Nation territory. 

Opponents argue that the pipeline will discharge sewage into the Oakfield Municipal Water Treatment Plant, and subsequently into Oak Orchard Creek.

Proponents of the STAMP project have previously highlighted the promise of substantial job creation and the potential for low-cost hydropower from the Niagara River, as facilitated by the New York Power Authority (NYPA). However, attendees of Thursday’s meeting indicated they remain unconvinced, questioning whether the anticipated economic benefits justify the potential risks to local ecosystems, environmental safety, and public health. 

STAMP was initially conceptualized in 2008 as a community investment aimed at attracting semiconductor, renewable energy, and high-tech manufacturing industries to the Genesee County region. 

Over the course of several years and through multiple phases of planning, the GCEDC worked to secure state funding and gain regulatory approvals to develop the site. Throughout the 2010s, the agency acquired land and expanded utilities, including the low-cost hydropower benefits from the NYPA. 

As of 2025, STAMP has two committed tenants: Plug Power, a manufacturer of green hydrogen fuel, and Edwards Vacuum, a manufacturer of semiconductor equipment. 

More recently, Stream U.S. Data Centers has received approval from the GCEDC board to acquire land in the park to build a 900,000-square-foot facility for $6.3 billion. Stream is prepared to purchase the land for $17.8 million and contribute $50 million toward completion of the site's electric substation. GCEDC has pledged a tax incentive package valued at approximately $471.6–$472 million, primarily in sales and mortgage tax exemptions

STAMP has received statewide support since its inception, including endorsements from Sen. Charles Schumer, former Gov. Andrew Cuomo and Gov. Kathy Hochul. At the same time, the Tonawanda Seneca Nation has opposed the project. 

Scott Logan, subchief of the Bear Clan, expressed his dissent, “They originally wanted to place the facility 100 feet from the reservation. We had to fight for the 400-foot buffer. I don’t want this on or near our land.” 

He added, “We found that the construction of the data center and pipeline would threaten rare medicinal plants and wildlife in the Iroquois Wildlife Refuge, some of which can only be found in very few regions of the state”.

Local residents of Alabama in attendance at the meeting expressed concerns over the STAMP’s impact on public health, citing the project’s potential to produce hazardous waste, spills, noise pollution, increased traffic congestion, and industrial accidents such as fires or explosions. 

On noise pollution, guest speaker and family medicine physician, Dr. Kirk Scirto, said, "Constant exposure to low-vibrational frequencies, particularly those above 60 decibels, can disrupt one's sleep cycle and exacerbate symptoms of mental illnesses such as anxiety and depression."

Meeting organizer Angela Carlson and Oakfield resident urged those still uncertain about STAMP’s developments to learn more about the proposal.

 “Knowledge is power. Please do your research and learn about greenwashing and its effects. STAMP is stubborn," she said. "They won’t listen to their constituents”. 

In their closing remarks, the organizers and guest speakers encouraged the audience to take action by contacting their representatives, attending GCEDC board meetings, and engaging their neighbors in meaningful discussions about these initiatives.

Press Release:

It's time to clear out that old tech and give back to our amazing community! Assemblyman Steve Hawley (R,C-Batavia) is thrilled to announce his annual FREE electronic device collection and recycling event, once again teaming up with the fantastic folks at Sunnking. This is your chance to make a real difference and keep our neighborhoods clean! 

Collection day will be Saturday, June 21, from 8:30 a.m. to 12:30 p.m. at the parking lot at 5130 E Main Street Road in Batavia. Attendees can access the required pre-registration form here.

“Recycling is a small but impactful way we can help keep our communities clean, and I’m grateful to the good people at Sunnking Sustainable Solutions for partnering with me for another year of work,” Hawley said. “Anything from cell phones to computers to TVs can be recycled, so please, register today and help keep our communities clean!”

Press Release:

The Genesee County Board of Elections announces important dates and details for the upcoming Primary Election on June 24, 2025. New York State has a closed primary system, which means only voters registered in the Republican Party may vote in this primary. 

 

There are four Republican Primary Elections in three jurisdictions:

• Town of Le Roy (Masonic Community Center & Knights of Columbus)
• City of Batavia – ONLY Wards 4 & 5 (ARC Community Center & Ascension Parish)
• Town of Byron (Byron Town Hall)

Polls will be open on Primary Day, June 24, from 6 a.m. to 9 p.m., and all sites are accessible. 

To confirm your polling location, visit: https://voterlookup.elections.ny.gov/ or call the Board of Elections at 585-815-7804.

Early Voting Schedule:

Early voting will take place over nine days at the ARC Community Center, 38 Woodrow Rd. Batavia:

• Saturday, June 14: 9 a.m.- 5 p.m.
• Sunday, June 15: 9 a.m.- 5 p.m.
• Monday, June 16: 9 a.m.- 5 p.m.
• Tuesday, June 17: noon - 8 p.m.
• Wednesday, June 18: noon - 8 p.m.
• Thursday, June 19: 9 a.m.- 5 p.m.
• Friday, June 20: 9 a.m.- 5 p.m.
• Saturday, June 21: 9 a.m.- 5 p.m.
• Sunday, June 22: 9 a.m.- 5 p.m.

Absentee Ballot Deadlines:

Voters may request an absentee ballot by contacting the Genesee County Board of Elections or by using the NY State Portal at: https://absenteeballot.elections.ny.gov/

Key deadlines include:

• June 14: Last day for the Board of Elections to receive an absentee ballot application
• June 23: Last day to apply in person for an absentee ballot
• June 24: Absentee ballots must be received by the poll site or the Board of Elections by 9 p.m.
• June 24: Last day to postmark an absentee ballot (must be received by July 1)
• July 1: Deadline for military/special federal absentee ballots to be received

Voter Registration Deadlines:

To be eligible to vote in the Primary Election, voter registration applications must be received by June 14.

In-person registration is available at the Genesee County Board of Elections or at any state agency participating in the National Voter Registration Act.

The Board of Elections office at 15 Main St., Batavia will also be open for registration on Saturday, June 14, from 9 a.m.- 5 p.m.

Please note: any party enrollment changes will not take effect until after the Primary Election.

Address Changes:

All changes of address must be received by June 9.

For questions, registration forms, or absentee applications, contact the Genesee County Board of Elections at 585-815-7804 or visit www.geneseeny.gov/elections.

Press Release:

The Genesee County Office for the Aging has released its Farmers’ Market Coupon Distribution Schedule for the month of July.

For residents living in senior housing, a flyer will be posted at each location announcing the specific date the Office for the Aging will be on-site.

Community Distribution Schedule:

Tuesday, July 1 - Office for the Aging, 2 Bank St., Batavia, 10 a.m. to 12 p.m.

Saturday, July 5 - Le Roy Farmers’ Market, Trigon Park, Le Roy, 9 to 11 a.m.

Tuesday, July 8 - Genesee Country Farmers’ Market, Between Center and Jackson Street, Batavia, 10 a.m. to 12 p.m.

Thursday, July 10 - Office for the Aging, 2 Bank St., Batavia, 11:30 a.m. to 12:30 p.m.

Friday, July 11 - Genesee Country Farmers’ Market, Between Center and Jackson Street, Batavia, 10 a.m. to 12 p.m.

Tuesday, July 15 - Bergen Harvest Market, 1 Hickory Way, Hickory Park, Bergen, 3 to 4:30 p.m.

Wednesday, July 16 - Office for the Aging, 2 Bank St., Batavia, 2 to 4 p.m.

Friday, July 18 - Genesee Country Farmers’ Market, Between Center and Jackson Street, Batavia, 10 a.m. to 12 p.m.

Saturday, July 19 - Le Roy Farmers’ Market, Trigon Park, Le Roy, 9 to 11 a.m.

Friday, July 25 - Genesee Country Farmers’ Market, Between Center and Jackson Street, Batavia, 10 a.m. to 12 p.m.

Monday, July 28 - Office for the Aging, 2 Bank St., Batavia, 11:30 a.m. to 12:30 p.m.

Monday, July 28 - Corfu Farmers’ Market, Corfu Presbyterian Church Parking Lot, 4 to 6 p.m.

Thursday, July 31 - Office for the Aging, 2 Bank St., Batavia, 10 a.m. to 12 p.m.

Press Release:

The Oakfield Box Car Derby Association presents the 3rd annual Oakfield Box Car Derby on Saturday, July 26, at noon on Bennett Ave in Oakfield.

We are a local family and friends-based non-profit organization founded to hold this annual event for the children of Oakfield and surrounding communities. The event promotes STEM programs, teaches some basic car-building skills, and gives the kids a chance to use hand tools. 

Kids get an opportunity to customize their cars and then race them. 

The event is in memory of Suzanne “Sue” D’Alba, who was one of the founders of the Oakfield Betterment Committee and the Oakfield Labor Daze festival, as well as a volunteer and member of many other civic organizations. She always liked a good old-fashioned event, and we feel this fits that mold.

Please join us as it will be a family-friendly, fun-filled event which promotes competitiveness and sportsmanship. There will be prizes for all who attend. To register, please see the information below. Register now as we have 32 slots available, and they are filling fast.

Registration is open from June 1 - July 10 and is on a first-come, first-served basis. The registration fee is $25 per child. Open to boys and girls from 7 to 13 years old. Two divisions, 7-10 and 11-13. To register, please call or text Scott at 716-218-6000.

Joseph Flynn, of Batavia, finished first on Saturday in the Ninth Annual Run Baby Run 5K, which benefits All Babies Cherished.

Flynn's time was 20:16.

The top female, and second overall, was Ruby Parrish, 24:16.

Third place was taken by 9-year-old C. Johnson.

The race started and finished at the Northgate Community Center, 350 Bank St.

Photos by Howard Owens.

At the Class B state qualifier meet hosted by Batavia at VanDetta Stadium on Friday, Section V presented the Devin Snyder Class B2 MVP awards based on last week’s sectional results. 

The boys' track MVP was Cameron Garofalo, and the boys' field MVP was Sheldon Siverling. For the girls, the track MVP was Karizma Wescott, and the field MVP was Ella Shamp.

The Devin Snyder award is named in memory of Devin Snyder, an outstanding student-athlete from Wayland-Cohocton who excelled in track and field, as well as other sports, during her varsity career. The award is presented by Section V to recognize top track and field athletes in various classes, honoring Snyder’s legacy and contributions to the sport in the region.

Josh Hawkins and Philip Casper performed at Tracy B's Farmhouse and Brewery on Friday evening in Le Roy.  The duo plays on weekends throughout Genesee County and travels around Western New York.  Click here for information on future gigs. 

Friday, Iburi Photography hosted the second annual Jackson Square Open Mic, drawing performers and community members for a night of music and stand-up comedy. 

On the first Friday of each month, Ibrui hosts an open mic at its study on Jackson Street in Batavia.

“We’re a very supportive group, and we really just genuinely enjoy spending time with everyone and uplifting people and just being a part of their creative outlet,” said sponsor Akari Lewis-Iburi. “It’s important to have that, to build community around that, and connect.”

Previously: Musicians 'share a part of ourselves' through open mics taking hold locally

To view photos, click here. 

On Thursday, students at Pembroke Intermediate School were treated to a surprise visit from Buffalo Bills defensive end Greg Rousseau.

All 250 students gave Rousseau a warm welcome as he joined them and their teachers for games, photos, and autographs. During his visit, Rousseau shared words of encouragement, urging students to “have the belief of confidence” and to “be present where your feet are.”

In honor of his birthday, April 5 has been designated as "Gregory Rousseau Day" at the school. To celebrate this year, students were allowed to wear hats in exchange for a donation of their choice, whether 50 cents or five dollars. Together, they raised $130 in a single day for The Rousseau Family Foundation.

Photos by Kara Richenberg.

Although two important people were missing from the list of board and staff leaders, the architect and construction team, volunteers, friends and neighbors present for a celebratory ribbon-cutting of the newly completed back deck at Crossroads House Friday, they were well represented.

Emmett and Antoinette Clancy, 1970 Batavia Notre Dame High graduates who met in school and married at St. Joseph’s Church four years later, are the ones that got the ball rolling for the new deck even though they no longer live here.

Antoinette’s father, Sam Marchese, died in 2000 of cancer — spending his final days at Crossroads House. The care he received left that indelible embrace on the couple’s hearts and when they wanted to give back for their golden wedding anniversary, Crossroads became one of the beneficiaries.

“He was loved deeply by Antoinette, and therefore by me,” Emmett said during a phone interview from Lake Arrow, California. “Batavia is our beginning, no matter where we live. Crossroads provided him with hospice care in the last months of his life.”

When they decided to donate for their 50 years together, he called Crossroads and founder Kathy Panepento answered, and “I said we wanted to help them with the side deck in his memory,” Emmett said.

The total project was a $170,000 investment, which required additional fundraising. There is a new roof that covers the garage, the deck and connects to the house sunroom addition, Executive Director Tracy Ford said.

“So we had permits that we had to get from the city, there was some cost to having the drawings done, because there had to be specific schematics for the builders that needed to be done. And the project build itself, then the materials. So it was a very large addition, a really large project, because of the weight of this roof and the fact that it ties into three other structures,” Ford said. “There was a lot of work that was required, foundation wise, for this project to come to fruition. So we are just so grateful that everybody was so supportive of it.”

Staff and volunteers were limited by the previous deck with the ability to bring residents outside safely, she said.

“And by that, I mean quite often it was too windy back here. You can feel this breeze right now that we’re standing in. There’s no breeze up on that deck.We were limited on our abilities to bring people out on a windy day. We were limited on days when it might be a little too warm, but now we have shade, and we have a fan,” she said. “We just have this massive amount of shade and it’s just quieter up there. And it really does give you more space to be able to enjoy the gardens. So it’s just a grander, serene space.”

The Clancy couple reached out a year ago and offered to make a gift of $50,000 for the project. Ford contracted with Ciurzynski Consulting LLC, which donated all of its time, and owner David Ciurzynski brought in Thompson Builds and Ed Smart of SmartDesign Architecture for renderings and the construction. Total costs came in well beyond the donation, and the Clancy couple agreed that Ford could reach out for additional funding.

That’s when longtime volunteers and retired Batavia City School teachers Janet and June Lee stepped up and offered to help in yet another way. They provided financial assistance to support the project.

“We heard rumors that they were thinking of changing the porch, and the garage team eats our lunch on the porch, and we knew how bad it needed to be replaced. And then Tracy showed us pictures, and we fell in love with it, and we thought we could help out,” June said. “So we did. It's wonderful. We enjoyed watching it being built.”

Just prior to the big moment when June and Janet took a big pair of shears to cut the ribbon,  Ford said it was a joyous occasion to unveil “our beautiful covered deck overlooking our memorial garden, a sacred space that will offer our residents and their families a place of reflection, comfort and connection, a place where nature and quiet moments can provide healing during some of life’s most tender times.”

“This space did not come to be on its own,” she said. “It was built board by board through the incredible generosity and hearts of a few very special people.”

She thanked Emmett and Antoinette, longtime supporters of Crossroads House “who have continually walked alongside us in our mission” with unwavering commitment that has made a lasting impact; June and Janet Lee, two extraordinary women who deserved her deepest sense of gratitude and admiration for their “steady, compassionate presence;” the consulting, architect and construction team, First Presbyterian Church and Rev. Roula Alkhouri, founder Kathy Panepento, and the dedicated volunteers working the garden, garage sale, in the house or other functions.

There was a large billboard with photos of the Clancy’s and a brief bio about them. It didn’t speak of their passion for a hometown that seemed to embrace them in a mutual fondness.

There’s a plaque on the back deck wall “in loving memory” of Antoinette’s dad, Samuel Marchese, who owned Marchese’s grocery store on the east end of Batavia many years ago. 

Emmett, a native of Caledonia, recalled their wedding reception being at the former Moose Club on Main Street in downtown Batavia, as Antoinette added that it featured an Italian buffet.

“Batavia is our roots,” he said, reminiscing about the original Genesee Community College, where Antoinette attended.

“The beginning of life, the end of life, and the middle of life, they are all very special to us. The acceptance of Batavia and going there, and meeting my future wife, and Notre Dame, and GCC when it started. Our affection for our past and for all those who played a part there — their souls and the memories — God has blessed us and we had wanted to help Crossroads,” he said, describing the photos he has seen of the deck. "It looks wonderful. The residents, and the ability for them to converse and enjoy the sunrise or sunset and enjoy a lemonade with family, gives us great joy.”

Photos by Joanne Beck