The Floyd Concept, a Pink Floyd tribute band from Buffalo, closed out the third and final day of the Oakfield Labor Daze Music and Food Festival with a show that brought the legendary progressive rock band's most iconic recordings to life.
Photos by Howard Owens.
Rochester-based Public Water Supply, an alt-Americana band that artfully mixes tasteful covers with well-written originals, played Monday afternoon at Labor Daze in Oakfield.
The Pink Floyd tribute band, The Floyd Concept, is on the main stage from 7 to 10 p.m.
Photos by Howard Owens.
Main Street in Oakfield was lined Monday morning with parade spectators as the community hosted its 39th Labor Daze Parade.
Photo by Howard Owens.
Wings Over Batavia's second and final day brought out another big crowd to the Genesee County Airport.
Photos by Steve Ognibene
It was a packed park in Oakfield on Sunday night during the high-energy performance of Nerds Gone Wild.
Here's today's (Monday's) line of live music at Labor Daze:
The Labor Daze parade is at 10 a.m. on Monday.
Photos by Howard Owens.
Photos submitted today (Sunday) by readers of Wings Over Batavia.
The Oakfield Betterment Committee is putting on quite a music festival for Labor Daze this weekend.
This afternoon, local Fleetwood Mac tribute band Songbirds took to the main stage and put on a great show.
At 6:30, Nerds Gone Wild takes the stage.
Monday
The Labor Daze parade is at 10 a.m. on Monday.
Previously: It's more than just ‘Rumours’ that Songbirds pay tribute to Fleetwood Mac
Photos by Howard Owens.
The chief of East Pembroke Fire has ordered Area 51 to shut down its motocross races.
When a first responder informed the chief, a person at the races said, "There's no way that's going to happen," the chief responded, "Tell him if he doesn't shut it down, I'm going to have him arrested."
There have been multiple calls to the dirt track today for injuries and the latest call is requiring a Mercy Flight dispatch. There are reportedly more than a couple of people currently in need of treatment for injuries.
Mercy EMS is tied up on multiple calls so Alexander's ambulance has been dispatched to the scene. Darien is being asked to staff its ambulance because of the current ambulance shortage.
Area 51 is located at 3323 Harloff Road, Batavia.
UPDATE 4:46 p.m.: Mercy Flight has landed.
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Photos by Philip Casper
The Oakfield-Alabama/Elba Aggies started its new season with another convincing win, beating Geneseo 55-14.
The Aggies shut out Geneseo in the first half, going into the locker room with a 42-0 lead.
Key stats:
Ronald Szpylman, Austin Pangrazio, and Gavin Armbrewster all also had rushing TDs (Gavin Armbrewster also had an interception).
"It was great to see this team come out of the gate and play a style of football that we felt they were capable of playing," said Head Coach Tyler Winter. "They were physical, played well at the point of attack, and they executed at a level much greater than a typical group in a week zero game. We are very pleased with the victory, but this group is more excited that they can now dive into film and begin preparations for the next challenge that awaits them."
Also on Friday and Saturday:
Coaches: Send your team's results and stats to howard@thebatavian.com
Photos by Debra Reilly.
Wings Over Batavia made a triumphant return on a cool and breezy Saturday night as more than a dozen highly skilled aerobatic and military pilots thrilled an estimated crowd of 7,000 at the Genesee County Airport.
Spectators were treated to what air show organizers repeatedly said was “the best of the best” on the air show circuit -- looking up in amazement as the performers maneuvered their planes through a series of rolls, loops, spins, twists and turns.
“This is my first show, and I’m gobsmacked!,” said Nancy Lamb, using a word defined as utterly astonished. “I can’t believe how they can do these things. It’s wild.”
Lamb and her husband, Tom, traveled from their Reading, Pa., home for the air show and also for a family wedding in Oakfield. Both retired, they said they’re having a blast and enjoying their 18-month-old twin grandchildren.
From the traffic control getting to the airport on Saile Drive to the hundreds of friendly volunteers at their posts to the layout of the various viewing areas, the four-hour show went off without a hitch (with just a few sprinkles of rain around the 5 p.m. starting time).
Skydiver Luke Aikins made a grand entrance to kick things off, floating safely to earth, American flag in hand, as the national anthem was sung. And it was Nathan Hammond – the Skywriter – who closed out the event by releasing fireworks from his Super Chipmunk as he buzzed through and around a dazzling show-ending pyrotechnics' display.
“We’re looking forward to the fireworks,” said James Turchiarelli of Depew, who was at the show with his fiancée Alexis Jefferds and 6-year-old Willa. “I haven’t been to one of these shows in years, and it’s pretty great.”
Midway through the show, American pride took center stage as the U.S. Air Force A-10 Thunderbolt II (“Warthog”) piloted by Capt. Lindsay “MAD” Johnson and P-51 Mustang steered by Lee Lauderback linked up for a Heritage tribute with the U.S. Air Force F-22 Raptor that flew into Genesee County airspace.
The powerful sound of the supersonic stealth fighter Raptor and the precise formation of the trio of planes had the audience spellbound.
Wings Over Batavia, the first such event in Genesee County in 25 years, concludes tonight with the show starting at 5 p.m. For more information, go to www.wingsoverbatavia.com.
Some news and notes from the ground:
SHOW HAS SPECIAL MEANING TO COUPLE
Wings Over Batavia has a special place in the lives of Batavian Steve and Mona Doyon. It was 27 years ago when Steve, as a member of the Navy SEAL parachute team, performed at the Genesee County Airport and, later that Saturday evening, met Doyon, his future wife.
“Five of us came up and did a static line jump, and another five did a high altitude jump, freefall jump. After that, we packed up and stayed for the day, and then I met Mona over at The Sheraton, where they had a big gathering,” Steve said during yesterday’s show. “We met at the gathering, stayed in touch and did a long-distance relationship thing for a while. Then, she moved down with me to Virginia Beach, we got married, and she stayed with me through my military career.”
In 2004, Steve left the Navy and took a job with the New York State Police. They moved back to Batavia, Mona’s hometown, and have lived here ever since.
Mona, who works for All Babies Cherished in Batavia, recalled that she was at the show in 1996 with her mother and father and her three small children, watching the Navy SEAL skydivers.
“He (Steve) fell from the sky. God knew what I needed, and he fell from the sky,” she said.
Steve has been with the State Police Special Operations team for the past 16 years and also is a chaplain with the Air National Guard.
AIR SHOW MOM ‘LEARNING EVERY DAY'
Growing up in California, Catherine “Cat” Williams never imagined being part of the air show circuit. But today, she’s relishing her role as “air show mom.”
“This was definitely strange to me, but I am learning every day,” she said, noting that she and her husband, Rob, have helped out at Batavian Pete Zeliff’s WNY Aviation Adventure Camp for children for the past 10 years. “I’m amazed at what these pilots do. They are just phenomenal.”
She and Rob, who is from Rochester and lived in Barre Center for a while, own four vintage airplanes.
“Rob is teaching me how to fly,” she said. “He is so patient in teaching me the importance of how to get the plane down if needed, so we do a lot of touch-and-go."
Cat said she came to New York about seven years ago after her daughter enrolled in the Culinary Institute of America in Hyde Park.
Rob supports the pilots on the ground.
“I’m the ramp rat,” he said. “Whatever needs to be done. Like last night, I was bringing all the heavy planes in. If we need to run and fix the smoke oil, whatever they need.”
BILL FORAKER: JACK OF ALL TRADES
When it comes to cross-training, Bill Foraker of Green Valley, Ariz., is an expert.
“I work air shows around the country. I've worked on air ops and ground ops. I think I've done every job involved in air shows over the years. I used to fly in air shows, I’ve air bossed, I’ve announced, I’ve done all kinds of stuff,” said Foraker, 72, dressed in bright orange with his Air Operations badge.
Foraker’s job for the Batavia show started several weeks ago as he made hotel and rental car arrangements for the performers. His varied duties continued yesterday.
“During the show, I'll be on the radio with the air boss, doing pretty much anything the air boss needs,” he said. “And when the American flag comes down, I'm going to take a group of kids out there that are volunteers, and we’re going to go out and gather up the flag after hits the ground.”
The threat of rain had Foraker monitoring the weather pattern on his phone.
“Right now, I'm watching the weather because we've got rain about 45 minutes west of here headed this way. But it looks like it's coming apart as it hits the ground. But I'm watching that, and I'll keep the air boss and everybody informed if there's any convective activity on rain,” he said.
Foraker said he helps out at five or six shows a year. In two weeks, he’ll be at a show in Sacramento, Calif.
“I'm actually directing ground operations because we have a bunch of static displays --100 airplanes on static for people to walk around and look at. So I get there early. We park all of them and then work with the air boss for the air show. And then after the air show, we get them all out.”
Music fans were clearly having a good time on Saturday night at Labor Daze during performances by a hardcore country band, Hazzard County, and the rockin' trio, Dave Viterna Group.
There is more music planned for the rest of the long weekend.
Sunday:
On Monday:
The Labor Daze parade is at 10 a.m. on Monday.
Photos by Howard Owens.
While driving back to Batavia from Labor Daze in Oakfield on Saturday evening, the Wings Over Batavia air show was clearly visible from Route 63.
The Batavian will have ongoing coverage of the air show on Sunday.
Labor Daze is underway in Oakfield, and organizers have set up two stages so that the entertainment continues pretty much non-stop throughout the event.
Batavia Players kicked things off with a set of show tunes, and then the SkyCats started rocking on the other stage at 1 p.m.
Hazzard County took the stage at 4 p.m. and performs until 7 p.m., followed by the Dave Viterna Group from 7 to 10 p.m.
Tomorrow, Sunday:
On Monday:
The Labor Daze parade is at 10 a.m. on Monday.
At the end of nearly three hours of racing on Oak Street in Oakfield, Elias Pamer won the younger division and Cody Pangrazio won the older division in the Inaugural Oakfield Labor Daze Box Car Derby.
Photos by Howard Owens.
A late surge in volunteer sign-ups has Batavian Pete Zeliff, catalyst of Genesee County’s return to the air show arena after a 25-year hiatus, feeling pretty good just hours before the start of the star-studded Wings Over Batavia event.
“After the last volunteer meeting we had, another 180 people signed up to be volunteers. So, we’re near 400 volunteers right now for this show, which is about right where we wanted to be,” Zeliff said on Friday at the rehearsal for the show that takes place today and Sunday nights at Genesee County Airport on Saile Drive.
Zeliff said he’s projecting attendance of 10,000 to 12,000 per day. The show runs from 5-9 p.m. both days.
“Yesterday, when Nate Hammond went up and did the sky writing, every time he went up and did that, the online ticket sales spiked. So, that was great to see that,” he noted.
The show is being sponsored by more than 30 businesses and individuals from the surrounding area.
“We did okay on sponsors, but I wish we could have done a little better,” he said. “But we’ll get there. It’s our first year.”
Zeliff said he is impressed by the caliber of performers who have flown into Batavia to participate.
“Well, I think a lot of people didn’t realize (the magnitude of the show) or didn’t think that it was really going to happen,” he said. “Now, with everything going on here, people are seeing that this is going to happen.”
When asked how Genesee County was able to attract such top-notch talent, a couple of the performers said it was due to their respect for Pete’s wife, Doreen Hillard-Zeliff.
“Dennis (Dunbar, show chairperson) helps, but Doreen is the reason why everybody’s here. Doreen is it,” said Kevin Coleman of the Red Bull team.
His partner, Luke Aikins, agreed.
“I think Doreen and Dennis, that combination of those two. At every air show Dennis has ever organized, everything runs smooth. They take care of the performers. And that's what Doreen and Dennis are known for from us. They keep us safe, and they give us great support. And we're happy to be here for them,” he said.
Zeliff had no problem getting on that bandwagon.
“Doreen was the air show mom to all these guys when they were young and getting started,” he said. “You can see that they have a lot of respect for Doreen.
“And it’s amazing to have the lineup that we have. The A-10 sitting out here on the ramp. There hasn’t been – other than helicopters at practice here from the National Guard – a military plane on the ramp in 26 years. Plus, Mike Goulian, Rob Holland, Lee Lauderback. We’ve got the top performers in the industry.”
Photos from Friday's rehearsal flights by Jim Burns.
Kevin Coleman is living the dream.
“I’m 33 years old and I started flying air shows when I was 18. So, I grew up in an air show family and my dad flew air shows. Ever since I was 3 years old, this is all I’ve ever wanted to do,” the Coushatta, La. resident said this afternoon while getting ready for this weekend’s Wings Over Batavia Air Show.
Coleman and skydiver Luke Aikins comprise the Red Bull “Airforce” team that wows audiences all over the world. The event at the Genesee County Airport is their 16th show this year.
Their airplane is an Extra EA-300, a 1,200-pound, 400-horsepower machine that was built specially for aerobatics, Coleman said.
“Basically, it was built to do all the cool stunts or tricks, whatever you want to call it,” he added. “So, it's not comfortable; it's not a good traveling airplane. It's built for one purpose and that's to fly air shows and do all the cool stunts.”
Sponsored by Red Bull, Coleman said he’s been flying this plane since 2010.
“I own the airplane, while Red Bull is our partner that makes the deal go around,” he said.
Aikins, 49, of Seattle, said he’s been skydiving since 1989, amassing 22,000 dives over that time.
“I’ve done lots of jumping all over the place. I think the thing that is most known about me happened in 2017 when I jumped out of a plane without a parachute and landed in a giant net,” he said. “I did that on live TV and that was from 25,000 feet.”
Coleman quickly responded, “When he says it was a giant net, it was not a giant net. It was a small net.”
Aikens then said it was a 100- by 100-foot net “and I landed in that, without a parachute.”
He won’t be attempting that stunt this weekend, but he said he has something really special in store.
“Here in Batavia, I’m going to jump into a big American flag to start the show and Kevin’s going to circle around me with smoke while the national anthem goes on,” he said. “After that, Kevin’s going to put on an awesome display with the extra flip-and-twist-into-it turns and blow your mind.”
Later at night, Aikins said he’s going to come out wearing a wingsuit with pyrotechnics (sparklers) on his feet.
“I'm going to come out with a wingsuit with a sparklers on my feet and I’m going to jump out from about 7,000 feet and fly my wingsuit at night … and open a parachute and land in that.”
Press release:
The City of Batavia Police Department is currently looking for information leading to the arrest of Nathan L. Royse, 31, of Batavia, who is wanted on a violation of parole warrant as well a City of Batavia warrant for Criminal Possession of a Weapon 3rd degree.
Anyone with information is asked to contact our dispatch center at 585-345-6350 or submit a tip by clicking here.
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