Press Release:

The Holland Land Office Museum will be hosting a Military Encampment & Timeline event on Saturday, June 14, from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. The event will take place on the museum grounds and inside the museum located at 131 W. Main Street, Batavia.

The event will feature reenactors dressed in military gear from the Revolutionary War to the current era. The encampment will feature real uniformed reenactors, military weapons, gear, and vehicles. The event coincides with the regular exhibits at the museum, including military exhibits and a new featured exhibit, "World War II on the Homefront: Propaganda and Rationing."

The event is included with museum admission, which is $5 for adults, $3 for seniors, students, and veterans, $1 for children, and $10 for a family of four. The event will include both outdoor and indoor displays. 

If you're a musical act playing a show in Genesee County, or a Genesee County music venue, send your press releases about your shows to Kara Richenberg at kara@thebatavian.com or use the "+ Add your event" button above.

Alabama-Basom Methodist Church, 1392 Lewiston Road, Alabama. Join us for worship at 10:30 a.m. on June 1. This week, our sermon title is "Love and Unity" By Celinda McQuistion CLM Scripture reading Acts 16:16-35 and Gospel reading John 17: 20-26. Come join us for Worship and fellowship after the service!

Ascension Parish - Roman Catholic Church, 135 Swan St., Batavia. We are open for Mass in the Church on Sundays at noon. We hope to see you there! 

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

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

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

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

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

Byron Presbyterian Church, 6293 W. Main St., Byron. Pastor: Rev. Michael Fry. Musical Director: Laurence Tallman.
Worship/Sunday School at 9:45 a.m. Scripture Reading: Acts 2:1-21. Message: “Making a Difference”. Join us for Pentecost Sunday! Wear your best red and orange and look forward to a special service honoring our Cradle Roll, Sunday School, and Youth Group! The choir will sing! And of course…there’s cake and ice cream after the service. All are welcome!   

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

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

Corfu United Presbyterian Church 63 Alleghany Road, Corfu. Corfu United Presbyterian Church (CUPC) welcomes all visitors to come worship with us on Sunday mornings at 10:30 a.m. in person or via our Facebook live stream led by our pastor, the Rev. Evan Wildhack. Our mission at CUPC is to connect with Christ, connect with others, and connect others with Christ. We offer children's Sunday School at 9:15am on Sunday mornings and youth group for 7-12th graders on the 2nd and 4th Sundays of the month from 6-8 p.m. The church also hosts the Corfu Food Pantry which is open on the third Saturday of the month from 9 - 10 a.m. For Lent this year, we are hosting a Lenten lunch on Wednesday, March 26 at 12 p.m. During Holy Week, we will be holding a special Holy Week service at 7 p.m. on Thursday, April 17. Easter worship will be at our regular worship time of 10:30am with a breakfast preceding at 9:30am. For more information about the church, feel free to contact the church office by phone at (585) 599-6414 or via email at office@corfuchurch.org. You can also visit us on Facebook at facebook.com/corfuchurch. CUPC is a congregation of the Presbyterian Church (U.S.A.) 

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

Darien Disciples Church, 1951 Broadway (Route 20), Our worship service begins at 9 a.m. Prayer requests to Jerry at: jeromedmorrison@yahoo.com. This week, June 8, our sermon title is “Never Alone” led by Rodney Stringham. (CLM). Scripture Readings will be from Acts 2:1-4 and John 14:25-27. Come join us!

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

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

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

Emmanuel Baptist Church, 190 Oak St., Batavia. Join us for our Sunday service at 11 am or come earlier for bible study at 9:45 am.  Free coffee and fellowship!  Pastor Tom is continuing his preaching through the book of Acts.  Debbie Prosser is leading the choir in lifting up a joyful noise to the Lord every Sunday with practice on Thursdays.  We would love to hear your voice as well!  Particularly we need ladies who love to sing to join the choir!  Can't wait to meet you!

EverPresent Church, 4 Batavia City Centre, Batavia(off of Bank Street). Pastor Jason and Pastor Michelle Norton Welcome you! Our hours are Wednesdays 6 p.m. midweek service. Sundays 10:30 a.m. doors open 9:45 a.m. Children's church starts directly following worship. Children's church ages are 5 to 11. Counseling and other appointments are scheduled through the church via Office Scheduling. You can view some of our messages through Facebook or YouTube -EverPresent Church. Our phone number is 585-297-3155. Visit our Website for more information for up and upcoming events. Our beliefs, our vision and mission. www.everpresentchurch.com

Grace Baptist Church, 238 Vine St., Batavia. We offer two Sunday Morning Worship Services. Both services are live-streamed on our Facebook page, Grace Baptist or view it on the web at: www.gracebatavia.org. The first service is at 8:45 a.m. (children's classes available for Nursery - 1st grade). The second service is at 10:30 a.m. (children's classes available Nursery - 5th grade). KidZone for ages 4-5th grade and Grace Student Ministries (Grades 6-12) meet on Sunday Evenings at 6 - 7:30 p.m. 

Indian Falls Methodist Church, 7908 Alleghany Road, Corfu. We have our worship service at 10 a.m. on Sunday mornings, led by Rev. Karen L. McCaffery. This week's message is "The Faithful" led by Confirmands & Mentors. To view our services online please go to our website https://indianfallsgmc.com/ for a link for Live Streaming. We host a Senior Lunch ($8ea) on Saturday, June 14 at 12 p.m. We offer FREE Respite Care on Wednesday, June 18 from 10 a.m. - 2 p.m.; register by emailing redlady5343@earthlink.net. Join us for our 81st Annual Strawberry Social on Wednesday, June 25 starting at 3:30 p.m. with our Bake Sale, 4 p.m. Chicken BBQ, and ending with our Auction at 6 p.m.

Morganville United Church of Christ, 8466 Morganville Rd, Stafford. Your invited to join with us this Sunday at 10 am as Reverend James Morasco shares his sermon, “Listen.” Our God is still speaking church is a country ride away. Friend us on Facebook! or better yet, visit us Sunday.

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

Northgate Free Methodist Church, 8160 Bank Street Road (North Campus), Batavia. Life is made up of relationships — with our families, our friends, our spouses, and our kids. And while those connections can bring incredible joy, they can also come with challenges, heartaches, and questions we don’t always know how to answer. In our new series “This Is Us", we’re leaning in together to talk about navigating life’s most critical relationships — with honesty, grace, and a whole lot of love. Because God cares deeply about the people in our lives, and He offers wisdom and hope for every relationship we’re in. So wherever you are, whatever you’re walking through — this is us, and we’re in this together.

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

Oakfield Community Bible Church, 82 North Main St. Oakfield. This Weeks “Oakfield Community Bible Church”, Weekend Worship Service is at 10:30 a.m.  With Praise & Worship Music by Keith Burroughs. The morning message by Pastor, Timothy Young;: “Guest Speaker Jon Andre. Our Adult Sunday School is at 9:30 a.m., along with “Sunday School through Age-16”.  There will be a Time of “Fellowship” following our Worship Service! ALL ARE WELCOME!

Our Lady of Mercy (44 Lake St. LeRoy) & St. Brigid (18 Gibson St. Bergen) parishes; Parish Office - 44 Lake Street, Le Roy. Our Lady of Mercy Mass times: Daily Mass, Monday -Friday at 7:30am, Saturday 9:00am. Weekend Masses: Saturday Vigil Mass 4:30pm, Sunday, 7:30am, 9:30am and 5:30pm. St. Brigid Mass times- Daily Mass Thursday at 8:30am & Saturday Vigil, 5:00pm. View on YouTube and Facebook. Please visit the parish website (https://www.ourladyofmercyleroy.org/).

Resurrection Parish (St. Joseph church in Batavia). St. Joseph's Church masses are on Saturdays at 4 p.m. and Sundays at 7:30 a.m. and 10 a.m. Daily Mass, Monday - Friday at 8 a.m. Confessions are held at St. Joe's on Saturdays from 3 - 3:30 p.m. Vigil & Holy Days to be announced. Holy Name of Mary Site (East Pembroke) 8656 Church St., East Pembroke. Mass on Sundays 11 a.m. and Tuesdays at 8:30 a.m. St. Cecilia Site (Oakfield) 56 Maple Ave., Oakfield Mass is celebrated on Sundays at 9 a.m. and Wednesdays at 7 p.m.

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

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

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

St. Paul Lutheran Church, Batavia, 31 Washington Ave, Batavia.  This coming Sunday (June 8) we will celebrate Pentecost. The Sermon Theme: God caused the one Gospel of the Lord Jesus Christ to be preached in a multitude of languages. “At this sound the multitude came together” (Acts 2:6), for the preaching of Christ is the primary work of the Holy Spirit, whereby He gathers people from all nations into one Church. Our Sunday service begins at 10:15 am and can be viewed 'live' on Facebook. Communion is part of every Sunday service. Men's Bible Study meets every first & third Wednesday at 6:30pm. VBS will run July 14-18, 1 - 3 p.m. Ages PreK - 6th grade are all welcome. This is a free event.

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

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

West Middlebury Baptist Church, 4950 West Middlebury Rd. East Bethany, Sunday service is at 9 a.m. Kids Club meets on Sundays at 10:30 a.m. Youth Group (grades 7-12) meets on Sundays at 10:30 a.m. and Wednesdays at 6:30 p.m. For more information visit us online at westmiddlebury.org.

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

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

The Batavia Muckdogs fell short in a high-scoring contest at Dwyer Stadium, dropping a 10-8 decision to Niagara Falls America in Perfect Game Collegiate Baseball League action Wednesday night.

Down 1-0 entering the third, Niagara Falls broke out for seven runs, highlighted by Nick Paszt’s two-run triple and Ian Huang’s two-run single. Grant Moore and Christopher Guzaldo each added RBI singles in the frame, giving the visitors a 7-1 lead.

Batavia answered with two runs in the bottom of the third on Sean Mindas’s two-run single, then closed the gap to 7-5 in the fourth when Jacob Veczko delivered a two-run single. The Muckdogs pulled within a run in the fifth when Justin Espinal and Mindas advanced scored on separate wild pitches.

Niagara Falls extended its lead in the sixth. Huang singled home Guzaldo, and Moore’s two-run single capped a three-run inning to make it 10-7. Batavia added a run in the eighth on Brian Fry’s fielder’s choice, but could not complete the comeback.

Both teams finished with 12 hits. Cooper Fesh led Niagara Falls with three hits and three runs scored, while Mindas and Fry each had two hits for Batavia.

Carter Hall earned the win in relief for Niagara Falls, tossing two innings and allowing two runs. Bryceton Berry took the loss for Batavia.

The game drew 2,889 fans.

To view or purchase photos, click here.

Oakfield-Alabama Central School District will present its 2025-26 budget to voters again on June 17 following the defeat of an initial proposal in May, after hearing the call from residents for greater transparency in the budget process, officials say.

District officials said community members raised concerns about the lack of information and clarity surrounding the original budget, which failed to secure enough support at the polls. 

In response, the Board of Education and administration held budget workshops and special meetings on May 27 and May 30 to engage with residents, answer questions, and gather feedback.

Based on that input, the Board voted to bring the same budget proposal back to voters. The $25,555,345 plan represents a 2.13% increase from the current year and includes funding for three new diesel-powered buses, facility maintenance, and expanded support for special education, substitute teaching, textbooks, athletics, career and technical education, and mental health counseling.

The district will hold a public hearing on the budget at 6 p.m. Monday in the Middle/High School auditorium. A budget newsletter with a Q&A section will be sent to all district residents. Additionally, recordings of recent budget meetings are available on the district's website.

If the proposal does not receive at least 60% voter approval, state law requires the district to adopt a contingent budget. That would mean $954,000 in cuts, affecting bus and equipment purchases, as well as educational and extracurricular programs, and school staffing. Use of school facilities by outside groups would also be restricted.

"Our valued educational and extracurricular programs, along with school personnel, may also face reductions," said Superintendent John Fisgus and Board President Justin Staebell in a letter to residents. "Managing the use of facilities by outside organizations will be challenging, as a contingent budget restricts such usage that may incur costs for the district."

Voting will take place from 11 a.m. to 8 p.m. on June 17 in the Middle/High School library.

District leaders encouraged residents to attend the hearing and reach out with questions or feedback. 

“We care deeply about our students, our schools, our programs, and our community,” the letter stated. “Together, we can achieve our shared educational goals by collaborating for a better OA.”

For advanced art students at Pavilion High School, art is about more than just paint on a canvas or film in a camera; it’s a form of expression—of emotions, ideas, and creativity.

At the school’s AP Art Showcase, held at the Yard of Ale in Piffard, six of Pavilion’s AP Art students had the chance to present their work to the public. 

Emily Vattimo, Lilaith Spencer, Anna Chen, Logan DioGuardi, Norah Manurung, and Hayden Kramer shared pieces they’ve created not only in class but also throughout their budding careers as artists.

For young artists like Hayden Kramer, being an artist means stepping outside of one’s comfort zone and embracing trial and error.

“I’ve worked with acrylic paint and things in the studio, but not to the level that I did this year,” Kramer said. “It was a lot of ‘I have no idea what I’m doing,’ throwing things at the wall to see if they stick, and just trial and error. Really figuring out what’s going to work.”

As part of her exhibit, Kramer even experimented with painting using actual frosting when depicting strawberry shortcake. Some attempts, like crochet portraits, were less successful, but for Kramer, the value lies in the creative journey itself.

Logan DioGuardi, also a senior at Pavilion, uses another medium to express himself: photography.

“I was working in different ways to show motion and emotion,” DioGuardi said about his photo process.

Working with everything from film to various lenses, DioGuardi showcased the many ways photography can capture both rare and everyday moments.

Some students used multiple pieces to tell a story, building a narrative timeline. One of these students was Emily Vattimo. Using both digital tools and traditional paint, Vattimo created a sequence of artwork that followed a story.

“It’s about death, and then becoming a person again,” Vattimo explained about the chronology of her work. “Here, she’s coming back to life, looking in the mirror and having a who you might have once been kind of a thing.”

The AP Art course is more than just a class—it’s a yearlong journey where students build a cohesive portfolio that reflects their creative process and personal growth. For many, the showcase represents the culmination of months of experimentation, development, and self-discovery.

For some students, AP Art is more than an academic requirement—it’s a stepping stone to something bigger. For Hayden Kramer, that next step is attending the Rochester Institute of Technology to study illustration.

“I took a pre-college portfolio class there over the summer for two weeks,” Kramer said. “Being there and being with other people, I was like ‘this is really what I want to do with my life.’”

Photos by Camryn Brookhart

Summer Kickoff Weekend at Northgate - Join us on Father’s Day Weekend—June 14 & 15—for our Summer Kickoff at Northgate! After each service, head out to the playground area for a sweet treat from our annual ice cream truck as we celebrate dads and the start of summer. Bring the whole family and enjoy the fun!
Service Times: Saturday at 6:00 PM or Sunday at 9:30 AM & 11:00 AM. Location: 8160 Bank Street Road, Batavia, NY 14020
Visit us online: https://northgatefmc.com

It’s safe to say that Jeff Post is no fan of Assemblywoman Linda Rosenthal, who represents District 67 in the Upper West Side and part of Hell’s Kitchen in Manhattan.

Rosenthal was the primary sponsor, with fellow New York City co-sponsors, for legislation that attempts to regulate the number of cows on a dairy farm. Although still in the early phases of the bill process, this measure -- which would limit the number of cows to 700 on a farm -- has been gaining more widespread attention.

“I think it’s just something being done by an uninformed person trying to glom onto the ‘cows are bad for the environment,' which can be proven to be wrong, obviously,” said Post, who owns Post Dairy Farms with his dad and uncle in Elba. “It’s irrational to think that dairy farmers are going to be capped at any size. It stifles growth and it stifles your ability to bring in the next generation.”

He also said that if local dairy farms had to reduce or cap their size, New York and the region would have to rely on imported milk products to meet the demand. That doesn’t make sense to spend money elsewhere when there are “dairy farms that could supply all the milk here, and are willing to,” he said.

Upstate United issued a statement, explaining that this very bill is an example of why the organization was created in the first place.

“To speak out against poorly crafted policies driven by downstate legislators that impact the viability and success of Upstate families, industries and communities. They don’t have dairy farms in their districts, and legislation like this suggests that either they don't care or are unaware of the industries that support Upstate’s economy,” the organization stated. “More than 95% of New York’s farms are family owned. At a time when New York State is making significant investments in major processors like Fairlife, Chobani and Cayuga Milk Ingredients, it makes absolutely no sense to restrict or limit the number of cows those farms can have when the milk they’re producing is needed for those companies to be successful.”

Another description is that “it’s just stupid,” Post said. And a valid reason for why droves of people are leaving the state each year, he said. “It’s all of that same kind of thinking that affects the whole government of New York,” he said.

One of Rosenthal’s concerns is apparently the environmental repercussions of runoff from manure in the fields, and Jack Klapper, co-owner of Noblehurst Farm, said that’s just a misnomer.

“There's nobody that cares more about this land or these animals that we take care of than farmers themselves, because this is what provides us our livelihood. We are environmental stewards. We try to do the best we can. We want to see this land prosper for the next generation to come, and we take the utmost care and respect for it," Klapper said of the farm situated in Genesee and Livingston counties. 

His family farm, he said, is "doing very cool things" when it comes to the environment.

"On my family's farm, we have a methane digester where we take in the cow's manure, and we also take in food scraps from the area -- food scraps that would otherwise end up in landfills -- and we take that food waste, and we take that cow's manure and we mix it together and put  into our anaerobic digester, and we're able to create electricity off of it, which helps us power the farm, and we could also power between 300 to 500 homes with it, if we wanted to."

When he first heard about the NYC legislators pushing for this bill, he cited former President Dwight D. Eisenhower’s words, “farming looks mighty easy when your plow is a pencil and you’re a thousand miles from the corn field.”  

“My mind went there, because it is classic New York City politicians trying to muck up waters in upstate, where they know little to nothing about, obviously. It would have a humongous impact on the New York dairy industry if it were to happen. I do not foresee it gaining a whole lot of traction. I think it's more of a headline reaching thing,” he said. “But if it were to happen, it would have huge consequences on the dairy industry here in New York State, from a growth perspective. 

The industry has invested billions in processing facilities in upstate, he said, including Great Lakes cheese in Franklinville, Fairlife in Webster, and the new Chobani plant that will be located in central eastern New York.

"And I think, at the state level, we should be promoting agriculture. We should be promoting business, not limiting business."

The dairy industry competes globally, he said.

"We're competing with countries like China and European countries, so we have to have access to these global markets and be able to compete on a global scale," he said. "And we're also competing in the States against other states as well. So if this legislation were to pass, New York farmers would be slapped with a huge disadvantage compared to Ohio farmers or Pennsylvania dairy farmers, we would just be at a huge disadvantage compared to our neighboring states and neighboring countries and things like that.”

He spoke as a farmer and as president of the Livingston County Farm Bureau. Klapper is planning a trip to Washington, D.C. this Sunday. While not a federal issue, the bill in question is important enough for him to “get ahold of some representatives to rattle the cage of some upstate reps to really squash this.”

He wanted to clarify that it's not about just defending large farms, as they all have a place.

“It’s not a small farm versus big farm thing; all farms are good. We need all farms,” he said. “The amount of money that these farms pass through these local rural communities is astonishing. Just in pass-through dollars (to local companies) … that's a lot of dollars passed through local hardware stores, lots of jobs created because of these farms in the area. And without these farms, all that business goes away, those jobs go away. So it's very important.”

There are upstate representatives on the dairy farmers' side, including Genesee County representatives Assemblyman Steve Hawley and Senator George Borrello, the ranking member of the Senate Agriculture Committee, each of whom has spoken against the preliminary bill, along with others from various parts of the state.

“This outrageous proposal is a slap in the face to every hardworking dairy farmer in New York. It’s yet another example of radical New York City lawmakers trying to control an industry they know nothing about,” Borrello said during a recent press conference. “These farms aren’t factory operations, they’re family businesses built over generations. And instead of helping them grow, Albany is threatening to regulate them out of existence.

“The same extreme ideology that gave us the Farm Labor Act—a law that’s already done lasting damage to agriculture in this state—is now back to finish the job,” he said. “If the goal is to drive dairy production out of New York and into other states, this bill will get it done—at the expense of rural communities, local economies and our state’s food security.”

With a poster theme of “Save our cattle from downstate rattle” affixed to the podium, during this week's press conference, Hawley also discussed how New York has experienced a drastic decline in the number of dairy farms over the last 25 years, dropping from 9,300 to approximately 3,000. 

This decline has accelerated substantially in recent years as the dairy industry has struggled to turn a profit and keep up with operating costs, Hawley said, strongly opposing the proposal that “will only accelerate this trend” and push more dairy farmers out of business.

“While small-scale dairy farms are struggling to make ends meet, members of the Majority who have never stepped foot on a farming operation are trying to regulate them out of business,” Hawley said in a press release. “As a former farmer myself, the assertion that our local farms are destroying our environment is completely ridiculous. Working families across our state rely on our dairy farms for their basic necessities, and this proposal will only bring up costs and reduce availability. We cannot allow this out-of-touch proposal to hurt our rural communities, and I will continue to stand with my colleagues in the state Assembly to ensure this initiative is shut down once and for all.”

Faces are Molly Osterman’s favorite subject. The Le Roy Jr.-Sr. High School senior said she is drawn to the intricate details of a face, especially eyes and noses, and finds endless inspiration in capturing their uniqueness.

“I love faces. They're not necessarily the easiest to draw, but I think that the intricate details of a face -- I'm just really passionate about them," Osterman said during Le Roy's annual student art show in the auditorium on Wednesday evening. "I love drawing eyes specifically. And I love noses. I love any piece of art I can get with a nose. It’s definitely like the centerpiece of it.” 

Osterman’s work was on display as one of the seniors getting spotlighted, among younger students. This year, Osterman completed 19 pieces.

Art teacher Antonio Koukides said he has watched Osterman’s growth since her sophomore year.

“I met Molly in her sophomore year coming into art, and she definitely wasn’t as confident as she is now," Koukides said. "Every project, I feel like she—there was a lot of uncertainty about, can I do this? Can I do it? I don’t like this. I want to move forward. And I think that in her junior year, she started to see that she had more potential. I kept pushing her into different things in this senior year. I mean, 19 pieces of art is pretty amazing for a senior year -- and confidently, 19 pieces of art with little to no questions or guidance. She’s more of a teacher in her own self, so what an example for the other kids. That’s what I say. It’s been awesome.”

For Osterman, art is more than a hobby—it’s an escape from the pressures of school and a source of calm.

“Art-wise, I think it’s just a really great escape. Whenever I’m stressed, I don’t even need any inspiration," Osterman said. "It’s nice to be able to go to something after a long day of being in classes and being stressed out by all the homework I have, and just be able to do something that I enjoy so much, and I can actually just be free from everything else and not think about it.” 

She credits her art teachers for helping her gain confidence and develop her skills.

“Everything about it is relaxing, because I’m just feeling calm, and I can listen to music whenever I’m doing art," she said. "Mr. Koukides is such an amazing teacher. He makes me feel like I actually know what I’m doing, and he’s good at explaining what I should do to make my artwork better. So I just feel comfortable.”

Osterman said her favorite artist is Da Vinci, and much of her work this year was inspired by Renaissance paintings. 

She plans to minor in art while majoring in political science at Le Moyne College, then attend law school at Syracuse University.

“I would say that’s probably the dream—I want to stick with art my entire life,” she said. “It’s just amazing to have a hobby that you’re actually good at and you can feel passionate about, and it’s not like a hobby where I get stressed over it or I’m upset over it, I actually can enjoy it 24/7 and not worry about anything.”

Koukides said Osterman’s interest in Renaissance art sets her apart.

“I don't get many seniors that get turned on by Renaissance—not often, but I do think more of them research things on their own than people realize," Koukides said. "It’s just a style they see, then they start research.”

Photos by Howard Owens

Building memories. That’s been the tradition of Kinderfarmin' for more than four decades.

Natasha Sutherland of Stein Farms in Le Roy, a member of the Genesee County Farm Bureau and one of the event’s organizers, said Kinderfarmin’ is the county’s key connection between local agriculture and its youngest residents.

“Kinder farming is the one educational piece that we have in this county to connect our future with our agriculture,” Sutherland said. “Agriculture is our economic powerhouse for this county, between the processing and the farms, we are the engine of Genesee County. So it’s teaching these kids young, why there’s farms, why there’s tractor trailers on their roads, why agriculture is so vital to their community.”

The annual event drew 600 students and about 400 adults on Wednesday to Post Farms in Elba, owned by Jeff Post.

Sutherland said the hands-on experience leaves a lasting impression on children. 

“The best part about today is that every kid will take away something different because today is engaging. They’re not behind a desk, they’re not sitting in front of a screen, they’re engaging. So it is wild to see what each kid’s little takeaway is, they’ll remember something for years from today,” she said.

She recalled a recent encounter that underscored the event’s impact. 

“I’ve been telling the story all morning," she said. "I went to Dick’s last night to grab some equipment, some extra tents for today, because it’s hot, and the girl at checkout remembered doing this. She’s 20, and she remembered this. I mean, that is the piece that is important to me. I’ve been on a farm before. I did that field trip when I was a kid, and this is why it’s important. That’s what I want to make those core memories.”

Post said this was the second time his farm hosted the event recently, and before that, it was at least 35 years ago. 

“I know that we hosted it like 35 years ago, because I remember coming here when I was in first grade for the same—it’s not what it is now. But yeah, we’ve hosted it several times over the years,” he said.

He expects Post will host the event for the next two years, as well.

He said it’s essential for the community to see what dairy farming has to offer. 

“I think it’s important to show the community what dairy has to offer so that they understand that when they see tractors on the road and people farming, they know what’s going on. We’re the number one economic driver in Genesee County, and it’s good to let people know.”

Post said he hopes the experience encourages children to try local dairy. 

“I just hope that they want to try something else besides the crappy milk they get in school, and understand that it’s good for them and it’s healthy," he said. "We've got a real problem with unhealthy people in this country, and dairy could be the solution to it.”

He said he was glad to host the event. 

“I’m glad that we had a good day that it wasn’t raining and, yeah, we look forward to hosting it the next couple of years.”

Photos by Howard Owens.

Thirty-three members of Notre-Dame High School’s Class of 2025 received their diplomas during a commencement ceremony held Sunday at Resurrection Parish.

Interim Principal Julia Rogers served as Master of Ceremonies and presented special recognition awards to outstanding students. The senior class gift was presented by Chance King and Gabe Mileham.

Anna Panepento was named valedictorian, while Rocco Sprague earned the title of salutatorian.

Tracy Page presented the candidates for graduation, and Lindsay Warner and Julia Rogers conferred diplomas.

To view or purchase photos, click here.

Press Release:

Assemblyman Steve Hawley (R,C-Batavia) is congratulating his Chief of Staff, Eileen Banker, on her retirement after 19 years of serving the 139th Assembly District. Eileen began working with Hawley when he was first elected to the state Assembly in 2006 and has played an instrumental role in serving the community. Her deep roots in the community, along with her steadfast advocacy, exemplify the true meaning of public service. Hawley is grateful to have worked alongside Eileen for nearly two decades and proud to be able to congratulate her on her well-deserved retirement.

“Eileen Banker is a model of what public service should look like,” said Hawley. “From being my chief of staff, to serving as the mayor of Albion and a former village trustee, her dedication to this community is unmatched. I’m thankful for her years of service to this district and its constituents, and I offer her the utmost congratulations on her well-earned retirement.”

Hawley is also announcing several staffing changes taking place in his office, including former executive assistant Jayleen Carney as the new chief of staff and Jacki Tarricone being brought on as the new executive assistant.

“I couldn’t be prouder of my staff as they continue to serve the people of Western New York,” said Hawley. “Jayleen has been an amazing asset to our team, putting in countless hours to keep our office running in good shape and planning events such as our annual Patriot Trip. I’m also proud to bring Jacki Torricone on board to continue our mission of providing meaningful results for the residents of the 139th Assembly District. Our offices are open and available to hear your concerns and address your needs.”

Press Release:

The Pembroke Teachers' Federation and Pembroke School Related Professionals teamed up for a great cause. From February to May, PTF and SRP members, along with members of the Pembroke community, dropped off cans and bottles at CanJam Redemption in Corfu to raise funds for Mental Health Services in Genesee County. This year, $316.79 was collected, up from $205 last year!

Click here to view these listings!

After pulling a larger $120 million expansion project off the table in September 2024, HP Hood officials are pursuing another, albeit smaller, project at the Batavia Agri-Business Park, per a request made to Genesee County’s Economic Development Center board.

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

The board will consider a related resolution during its meeting at 4 p.m. Thursday at the MedTech Center’s Innovation Zone, 99 MedTech Drive, Batavia. If approved, a future public hearing on the project will be scheduled in the town of Batavia.

Hood had altered course a year ago after being notified that permitting was not approved by the city of Batavia for a 32,500 square-foot addition due to a wastewater disagreement and capacity issue between the city and town of Batavia. 

The plan was said to create 48 new jobs and have a local economic impact of nearly $50 million in wages and tax revenue.

Although an agreement was in place by September, Lynne Bohan, Vice President of Communications & Government Affairs at Hood's group, confirmed that the project was no longer being moved forward at that time, labeling it a “tactical pause on the expansion projects in progress.”

She also said that the company would consider future projects for the 7,722-square-foot facility at the Agri-Business Park.

The current $20 million proposed expansion includes a sales tax exemption request estimated at $1,122,394 and a property tax abatement estimated at $84,097, based on the incremental increase in assessed value via a new traditional 10-year PILOT (payment in lieu of taxes). 

The project is estimated to generate $6.3 million in local fiscal impacts, including payroll and tax revenues, for an estimated $10 local benefit for every $1 of requested incentives.

During Thursday's meeting, the EDC board of directors will also consider 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 would add 24,960 sq. ft as part of a planned three-phase, 60-unit development on 16 acres.
 
Ivy Village Corp. is requesting 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.
 
Meeting materials and links to a live stream/on-demand recording of the meeting are available at www.gcedc.com.

GOW CARES Alliance is hosting its quarterly meeting at 9 a.m., registration at 8:30 a.m., and a workshop that runs 9:30 a.m. to noon, on July 9 at Genesee Community College, 1 College Road, Batavia.

This workshop will define the Safer Choices Spectrum of Care with a
focus on how to help and support individuals with substance use and
mental health challenges to make safer choices in the fields of prevention, treatment and community care settings.

You will learn how to:

• Define the Safer Choices Spectrum of Care.
• Evaluate and access safer choices and safer choices supports and services that are a good fit for both individuals and the communities in which they live.
• Build Coalitions of Care that can support safer choices in prevention, treatment, and community care settings.

Presenter: Dr. Delores Blackwell, LCSW, is a multi-jurisdictional licensed clinical social worker, master addiction counselor, certified trauma professional, certified compassion fatigue professional, and holds multiple certifications.

RSVP by July 3 to: gowcaresquarterly.eventbrite.com

National Grid conducted live wire training at the Fire Training Center in Batavia on Monday to better inform the public about the dangers posed by live electricity wires, including downed wires during summer weather events.

The demonstration provided real-life examples of the power generated during emergencies and examples of the risks associated with such circumstances during storms. These include what happens when a tree hits a wire, when a downed wire hits a fence, and when the ground/water is electrified. There will also be a demonstration on how to safely connect a generator.

Submitted photos.

All Babies Cherished Pregnancy Assistance Center would like to invite you to join us for a morning of fitness and support! We will be holding our ninth annual Run Baby Run 5K benefit event to raise money for the powerful and fulfilling work that we do, supporting young mothers, working hard to raise their precious babies during difficult financial times!

Lace up your sneakers and gather all of your friends to join you!  Runners and walkers are All welcome!!!  Prizes for top runners in 5 age categories, both male and female. Timing by Spirit Timing! Can’t wait to see you there!!

Press Release:

Canning jams and jellies is an easy, fast, and fun way to preserve fruit.  During this workshop series, we’ll start with some of the basics of canning, including equipment and food safety, and then learn how to make jams and jellies. (A different one at each session.)  Recipes and handouts will be provided.

Strawberry Jam on June 19, 6 - 8 p.m. In this hands-on class, students will prepare a sugar/pectin jam from fresh strawberries. Instructions and recipes will be given for frozen strawberry jam and low/no-sugar jams. Registration & payment close June 13 for the Strawberry Jam class.

Fruit Jelly on July 17, 6 - 8 p.m. First, learn the process of preparing fruit into the juice needed to make jelly, then the steps of adding sugar, pectin, and any spices to process it into jelly.  This class will include a few special tastings of unusual flavors of jelly. Recipes will be provided. Registration & payment close July 11 for the Fruit Jelly class.

Hot Pepper Jam on September 11, 6 - 8 p.m. Learn how easy it is to process peppers into a special appetizer for your next event.  Hot pepper jam over cream cheese, Yum!  Wearing protective gloves is a must in this class. You will learn how to cut a variety of hot peppers and process it into a mouthwatering jam. Registration & payment close September 5 for the Hot Pepper Jam class.

Participants will have the opportunity to practice skills with hands-on demonstrations and will be able to take home some of the items they make.

Due to the hands-on nature of this topic, it will only be offered in person, and attendance will be limited to 12 adults in each session.

The instructor for this series is Catherine Johnston, a Master Food Preserver Volunteer at Genesee County Cornell Cooperative Extension.  She completed her Cornell Master Food Preserver training in 2019. She was also a Family and Consumer Science Educator for 38 years at the Pavilion Central School. Catherine has many years of experience teaching all ages about food and canning practices.

The classes will be held at the Stafford Methodist Church, 6134 Main St., Stafford, from 6 to 8 p.m. Pre-registration is required as class size is limited to 12. No walk-in participants. The cost for each class is $25 per person. Sign up for all three at once for $65. Registration and payment are due prior to each class. Contact Elizabeth at 585-343-3040, ext. 101 or stop by our office to register and pay by cash or check. You can register and pay online by going to our event page at https://genesee.cce.cornell.edu/events. We cannot issue refunds after the registration deadline for each class.