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GO Health raises awareness on sexually transmitted infections

By Press Release

Press Release:

April 14-20 is Sexually Transmitted Infections (STI) Awareness Week. This provides an opportunity to raise awareness about sexually transmitted infections (STIs) and how they impact our lives.

According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), sexually transmitted infections, commonly referred to as sexually transmitted diseases (STDs), are very common. STIs spread through anal, oral, and vaginal sex, and are caused by a virus, bacteria, fungus, or parasite. Sometimes, STIs only create minor symptoms, or they don't cause any symptoms at all. As a result, it is easy to get infected without realizing it. For this reason, if you are having sex, it is important that you get tested for STIs.

Locally, according to the New York State Communicable Disease Electronic Surveillance System (CDESS), in 2023, Genesee County had an increased number of chlamydia, gonorrhea, and syphilis cases, compared to 2022 and Orleans County experienced an increase in gonorrhea during this same time period.

A variety of symptoms, including none at all, may occur with STIs. As a result, STIs can be spread unknowingly and this is why it is important to get tested. Delayed treatment can cause serious health effects. STI symptoms could be: 

  • Sores or pimples in the oral or rectal cavity, as well as on the genitalia
  • Painful urination
  • Unusual or smelly discharge
  • Unusual bleeding
  • Discomfort during intercourse
  • Aches in the lower abdomen
  • High temperature
  • Rash on the hands, feet, or trunk

Taking the time to learn about STIs, safe-sex practices, and how to make educated decisions is important in prevention. Here are some ways to prevent STIs:

  • The best defense against STI infection is to avoid all forms of sex (oral, vaginal, and anal).
  • Talk to your healthcare provider about getting vaccinated against Hepatitis B and HPV. Receiving both vaccines can prevent several kinds of cancer. HPV is the most common STI in the country, affecting over 79 million people.
  • Limit sexual partners. The more sexual partners a person has the more at risk of getting an STI.
  • Discuss your partner(s)’ STI status.
  • Use condoms and or other forms of protection.

“As indicated or needed, make sure you routinely test for STIs,” stated Brenden Bedard, Director of Community Health Services for the Genesee and Orleans County Health Departments (GO Health). “Untreated STIs can have effects such as infection, miscarriage, infertility, and an increased risk of cancer. By engaging in preventative measures, you are protecting yourself and your sexual partners.” 

Learn how to prevent STIs for both you and your partner(s). Get help today.

If you are interested in STI testing or want more information:

  • Visit the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention Sexually Transmitted Diseases - Information from CDC.
  • Talk with your healthcare provider about testing and how to further prevent STIs.
  • If diagnosed with an STI, do not have sex until you and your partner(s) have completed treatment, otherwise, reinfection will occur.
  • If diagnosed with chlamydia, gonorrhea, or trichomoniasis, talk to your provider about Expedited Partner Therapy (EPT). EPT gives providers the option to treat your sexual partners without requiring an examination.

For more information about GO Health programs and services, visit GOHealthNY.org or contact your local health department at:

  • Genesee County: 585-344-2580 ext. 5555 
  • Orleans County: 585-589-3278

Follow GO Health on Facebook, Instagram, and X at GOHealthNY.

Napoleone Foundation raises $1M since inception, moves in new direction

By Press Release

Press Release:

As the Michael Napoleone Memorial Foundation enters its 17th year, it is extremely proud of the accomplishments of this grassroots organization. 

After the passing of Michael Napoleone at the age of 8 due to a pediatric cancer diagnosis, the Foundation was created in his memory to pay forward to all those who assisted, to give back to those in need, and to Lend a Hand for Hope.

As its main purpose and mission, the Foundation assists families with the challenges of cancer. The Foundation has close ties to both Oshei Children’s Hospital in Buffalo and Golisano Children’s Hospital in Rochester. In addition to helping families, it assists the Social Work and Childlife teams with needed items for the continuing care of the families and the children during their hospital stays. 

The Grant Committee recently met and selected the grant winners for the 2024 year. Letters and checks will be distributed by the end of the month and the information will be shared in the media. 

Though the Michael Napoleone Memorial Foundation will not be hosting the Derby Day Gala, it is hopeful and excited as it moves to a new strategic fundraising plan to provide long-term sustainability for our mission and organization. 

The first step in moving in a new direction is the Heroes for Hope Campaign (https://michaelshope.org/hero-for-hope-campaign). Your donation will continue to provide needed funds to support the mission.

To date, the Foundation, with only a volunteer board, has raised over a million dollars and has continued its mission with less than 3% of funding going to administrative costs. Our giving is as follows:

  • Over $725,000 in assistance to families with the challenges of a pediatric diagnosis
  • Over $95,000 to support research in pediatric blood cancers
  • Over $75,000 to assist youth activities/sports through grant funding
  • $50,000 to Golisano Children’s Hospital, Rochester
  • $25,000 to United Memorial Medical Center, Batavia
  • Annual giving to Oshei and Golisano Childlife Therapy Teams

Again, the numbers speak volumes of the assistance the Foundation has been able to offer due to the generosity of our donors. We are committed to continuing this mission. Whether through donations, volunteering, sponsorships, or attending our events, it is all because of you that we can and will continue to Lend a Hand for Hope.

Field clean up at MacArthur Park is this weekend for upcoming baseball season

By Press Release

Press Release:

The Batavia Youth Baseball League is hosting a Field Clean Up to get ready for the upcoming baseball season. 

Any local families registered to play this season or community volunteers interested in helping can show up at MacArthur Park on Denio Street, Batavia this coming weekend. 

Come help on either Friday, April 19 from 4 – 6 p.m. or Saturday, April 20 from 8 a.m. - 12 p.m.

During Field Clean-Up times, the Batavia Youth Baseball League will also be taking any donations of used baseball equipment for youth in need this season. The league will also be offering youth baseball pants to players who need pants for upcoming practices.

Pembroke Dragons beat Byron-Bergen 9-2 in baseball

By Staff Writer
pembroke dragons baseball

The Pembroke Dragons triumphed over the Byron-Bergen squad 9-2 on Monday. 

Hayden Williams led the way from the pitcher's mound, dominating with 13 strikeouts. 

Jayden Bridge emerged as a standout player at the plate, going 3-4 with two doubles, driving in crucial runs and keeping the pressure on the Bee's defense.

Anthony Abbatiello also went 3-4.

Speed also proved to be a weapon for the Dragons, with the team racking up 6 stolen bases. Landon Santini swiped three himself.

In his first victory as the head Varsity Coach for the Dragons, Coach Lang expressed immense pride in his team's effort and dedication. The win not only highlights the talent of the players but also speaks volumes about the resilience and determination of the entire team, he said.

Photos and information submitted by Allison Lang.

pembroke dragons baseball
pembroke dragons baseball
pembroke dragons baseball

Genesee Region USBC bowling banquet is May 11 at Batavia Downs Gaming with reservations due by May 4

By Press Release

Press release:

The Genesee Region USBC will be conducting its Annual Banquet & Hall of Fame Dinner on Saturday, May 11 at Batavia Downs Gaming’s Genesee Banquet Room.

The event will get underway at 6 p.m. with a memorial service in honor of members of the bowling community who passed away over the last year.

Highlights of the evening include the induction of brothers Tim and Tom Rohl into the association’s Hall of Fame in the Bowling Achievement category, presentation of the Barbara J. Kreiley Memorial Scholarship and recognition of tournament and regular season league champions.

Election of officers and directors also will take place, along with voting to raise the annual Standard and Local Only Adult membership dues by $1.

The cost of the buffet dinner is $35, with the following exceptions:

NO CHARGE – GRUSBC directors, Adult Tournament Champions (limit one tournament only), Youth Tournament Champions and one guest (limit one tournament only), guest speaker and one guest, Hall of Fame inductees and one guest.

$20 PER PERSON – Past GRUSBC Hall of Famers, league secretary or representative (limit one per league).

The reservation deadline is May 4. The banquet is open to all GRUSBC members, with a reservation deadline of May 4.

Please RSVP by sending an email to mikep@bowlgr.com or by calling 585-343-3736.

ASSOCIATION TOURNAMENT CONCLUDES

The 17th Genesee Region USBC Association Tournament concluded on Sunday at Oak Orchard Bowl in Albion.

Unofficial winners of the various divisions are as follows:

Open Team -- Christ Recycling, Albion, 2,860. Robbie Hanks' 300 game and 805 series on the tournament's opening squad sparked the team to the big score and it held on for first place. Other team members were Albert Burch (631), Larry Boyce (523) and Marvin Christ (483). The team received 418 pins handicap.

Women's Team -- Splitz & Giggles, Albion, 2,501. Barbara Casavant posted 604 scratch to lead the way. Other members were Sharon Stefanini (306), Tiffany Crawford (522) and Breanna Seever (502). The team received 590 pins handicap.

Open Doubles -- Daryl Dillon & Greg Gilman, Albion, 1,524. Bowling on the final squad on Sunday, Dillon registered 682 and Gilman rolled 651 for 1,333 scratch plus 191 pins handicap.

Women's Doubles -- Karen Allis & Jane Chaddock, Batavia, 1,284. Chaddock posted 566 and Allis had 532 on the second to last squad of the tournament. They received 186 pins handicap.

Open Singles -- Jeremy Yasses, Oakfield, 781. Yasses recorded games of 246-211-235 for 692 scratch. With his 89 pins handicap (based on 192 average), he took the lead on the Sunday morning squad.

Women's Singles -- Breanna Seever, Albion, 654. Seever started with a 211 game and went on to roll 522 scratch. Her 132 pins handicap enabled her to top the leaderboard, and she went on to place first in Women's All-Events as well.

Open All-Events -- Scott Culp, Honeoye Falls-Lima, 2,262. Culp put up the winning score without the benefit of handicap. His three series were 747 (Team), 773 (Doubles) and 742 (Singles).

Women's All-Events -- Breanna Seever, Albion, 1,937.

For unofficial final standings and the projected prize list, go to www.bowlgr.com.

A career of 'difficult work' and passion: new face fills the void at CAC

By Joanne Beck
Trisha Reynolds
New Justice For Children Advocacy Center Program Coordinator Trisha Reynolds. 
Photo by Joanne Beck

There are some career paths that seem so riddled with potential pain, that there might not seem like an adequate answer for why one chooses it.

Yet, time and time again, there are people willing to step up and take on the grimy jobs, such as fighting for children who have been sexually or physically abused or who have witnessed violence.

Enter Trisha Reynolds, Genesee County’s new Justice for Children Advocacy Center program coordinator. As it seems with her predecessors, Reynolds attributes one main reason for her interest.

“It's difficult work. But that's my passion, for sure. Working with crime victims and children when I was in CPS was really what I felt like I was meant to be doing. I took a break from it to work in (the Department of Corrections), and working with offenders was eye-opening,” she said after the county’s Public Service meeting. “So it was a great experience. But doing that, I kind of kept feeling that tug. I knew I had to go back to working with victims.”

Reynolds, a resident of Corfu with a background in social work, has worked for the Wyoming County Department of Social Services for 10 years, first in preventive foster care as a child and adult protective senior caseworker and then at Wyoming Correctional Facility. 

“So for me, the crossover between social work and law enforcement is just a place I feel really strongly about, so it’s a great opportunity. I did Child Protective Services for the majority of my time there; we would investigate reports of abuse and neglect,” she said. 

The current CAC is housed at 304 E. Main St. in Batavia and has a staff of six people, including a therapist who gets fairly booked up. During the meeting, Legislative Chairwoman Shelley Stein said that she was "stunned" at how many mental health appointments have been offered at the center.

As new at the agency, what is most important when working with this population?
“To be real. When you're working with kids, the most important thing is to get them to connect with you, and just to be real and be open and honest,” Reynolds said. “The kids that we work with are victims of someone or something. So they've been through a lot, they may have trust issues, they don't feel a lot of control. So we really try to give them a safe place where they feel comfortable.

“We try to empower them, give them choices, and let them know what they can do in their life to move forward,” she said, listing the staff positions. “We have a lead family advocate. And then we have two family advocates under her. And then we have a couple part-time staff, we have a part-time fiscal officer. And then we have a full-time therapist and a part-time therapist … they're always offered the service regardless of why they're there or what they may or may not disclose. They're always offered the service. We do find a lot of people do take advantage of it. There is a shortage of child therapists, trauma therapists, and crisis therapists in the area, especially to deal with children. So, unfortunately, it's hard to find help. And a lot of places do have waitlists, and we're approaching a waitlist as well.”

According to the agency’s first quarter report, there were 135 mental health therapy sessions from January to April 4 of this year.

So far in 2024, 54 new cases have been opened, 127 children, caregivers and family members have been served, 201 counseling sessions have been provided, two medical exams and 46 forensic interviews have been conducted.

During that three-month period, there were 235 advocacy/consultations with law enforcement and 338 with the Department of Social Services. 

Reynolds began her new position on eclipse day, April 8. Her biggest challenge is the volume of information to consume and digest, she said.

“There's so much to learn. There's a lot to learn, especially with the administrative, the grants, the legislature, so that's all new to me,” she said. “Everyone's been very, very helpful. Particularly (Genesee Justice coordinator Diana Prinzi) has been amazing. So they're really throwing me right in. But I'm excited to be here and I think everyone's on the same page with what our mission is. And as long as we keep focused on that, the rest is kind of detail. And we can figure that out.”

Reynolds filled the vacancy left by former coordinator Theresa Roth, who received a certificate for her work of eight years serving citizens on behalf of Genesee County Sheriff’s Office.

The advocacy center has just been selected to receive a $18,000 grant from the New York State Office of Children and Family Services. The grant will be used for the multidisciplinary team for a term that runs from March 1, 2024, through Sept. 30, 2024.

Another initiative to be on Reynolds’ plate will be a partnership with Genesee Justice to provide the YWCA of Genesee County with advocacy and referrals for adults in need of counseling services due to dating violence, sexual assault, human trafficking and stalking, and children in need of crisis counseling services, or trauma counseling services when a wait list exists, due to domestic violence, sexual assault, and stalking.

YWCA is applying for a grant that would pay for these services, and the agency, Genesee Justice and CAC are to enter into a Memorandum of Understanding regarding the arrangement. The Public Service Committee has agreed to pass it on to Ways & Means and then to the full Legislature for a final vote.

Pembroke town board rolls back assessment increases in wake of community outcry

By Howard B. Owens
pembroke town board meeting
Thursday's town of Pembroke board meeting.
Photo by Rachel Doktor.

Two days after more than 100 local residents turned up at a town of Pembroke board meeting to protest increased property assessments, the board voted in an emergency session on Saturday to roll back the increase for 2024.

Assessments will remain at the 2023 levels for 2024, said Supervisor Thomas C. Schneider Jr. 

Property owners will receive written notice of the rollback to the 2023 assessments.

All scheduled meetings with the town's assessor have been canceled. A taxpayer information session scheduled for Wednesday was also canceled.

So many people turned out at Thursday's board meeting that the session was relocated from the board's chambers on Main Road to the Town Hall in the village of Corfu.

Rachel Doktor attended the meeting and provided The Batavian with photos of the full house. She said people are reporting the same experience she's had -- an astronomical assessment increase.

"Ours was raised over $100,000 just last year, and now they want another $84,000," Doktor said on Friday.  "Basically, they're raising our assessments like crazy, and they're doing it again ... everyone is pissed about the assessment."

Doktor said she thinks property values have been going up because people are moving to the area from Buffalo and Rochester and "overpaying" for their new homes.

"All of these city people, they buy a huge home for $250,000 that in Rochester could cost a million dollars," Doktor said. 

Realtor.com currently lists one house for sale in Pembroke, a three-bedroom, one-bath, 2,208-square-foot residence on South Lake Road for $249,500.  A newer but smaller home sold in March for nearly $370,000, but other home sales in the area have been below that price.

Schneider said his own assessment has gone up $350,000. He said the factors driving up home prices include the desirability of the Pembroke Central School District, Pembroke's proximity to Erie County, and easy access to the Thruway.

Pembroke has been a hotbed of growth the past couple of years, with new apartment buildings going up, a new mixed-use development opening, a new distribution center by the interchange, and a planned new travel plaza.  

Property by the interchange, Schneider said, is going for $30,000 an acre.  He expressed concern that those high commercial property values may have played too big of a role in determining residential property assessments. That was why he suggested on Friday, before the emergency meeting on Saturday, that a rollback to 2023 assessments might be in order.

"That needs to be looked at as part of the increase in her calculations," Schneider said.

The assessor is appointed for a seven-year term, and outside of hiring the assessor, the town board has no role in assessments, Schneider said.

"The board should remain independent of the assessor," Schneider said. "We don't want politicians assigning values to properties in my opinion and in the state's opinion, too."

The rollback, Schneider said, will allow a reassessment of the assessments.

"We need to dig into the data and see if there are structural deficiencies (in the calculations)," Schneider said. "We will roll it back for a year and talk with the assessor about where things might have gone awry."

Rainbow Resilience to bring mental health, suicide insights to the stage

By Joanne Beck

 

Sara Vacin
GLOW Out! Executive Director Sara Vacin in her office at First Presbyterian Church in Batavia. 
Photo by Joanne Beck

Sara Vacin is pretty stoked about this year’s GLOW Out! event, which will not only draw upon her prior theater background but has garnered the attention of the New York State Legislature, which awarded the nonprofit a mental health grant as one of about only five local recipients, she says.

The funding comes from a little box about funding mental health efforts that folks can voluntarily check when filing their tax returns. Initiated in 2016, this campaign has raised more than $100,000, which is doled out to programs based on an application that must be submitted for review and approval. 

“So it's a real honor; it gets a lot of attention through the legislature because they're kind of a part of the funding and the whole process. But it is managed through the New York State Office of Mental Health. And I've been working with a person on their anti-stigma team for about a year now, preparing everything, which includes research, which is exciting,” Vacin said at her Batavia office as GLOW Out! executive director. “And a big part of the stigma program is measuring an impact. So everyone who comes through the theater eventually will have a pre and post-survey, and everyone going through the conference will also kind of get a pre-conference screening on stigma, you know, their beliefs, mental health stigma, would you get help? Wouldn't you get help? If you see people as being disabled, unworthy of opportunities, or you just get that it's another aspect of health, another part of us that we need to attend to.”

The grant will be used for GLOW OUT’s Rainbow Resilience Youth Conference. Free for attendees, it will be from 9:30 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. Friday at Genesee Community College, 1 College Road, Batavia. 

“The conference is geared towards suicide prevention. It is for middle and high school students. And we explicitly intentionally reached out to the gender and sexuality alliances, the clubs in the various middle and high schools. We might see some schools or some people from out of the GLOW region, but we have I think seven schools at this point coming, and we have some individuals coming as well,” she said. “So if anyone wants to, they're welcome to come as individuals, come with their parents, come with some friends. Because we have kids who come to our drop-in center here, their middle school isn't going but we're all really well connected. So I reached out to their parents, and they're very excited to take them there.”

There are several workshops lined up, including:

  • Responding to suicide risk factors and warning signs

  • Understanding and overcoming mental health stigmas

  • Dealing with difficult family members

  • Knowing your rights and advocating for change

  • Beloved Arise: faith-based youth organization

  • Life on the stage with Roger Rosen

Self-care sessions also include topics of art, yoga, exploring spirituality, connecting with nature, journaling, healthy eating and mindfulness in motion.

Keynote speaker Ashton Daley, who serves as the youth/young adult recovery program director for Youth Voices Matter, is a “firm believer in serving his community, and in doing so has volunteered extensively through multiple recovery programs and currently as a youth mentor for trans-identifying young people in the Capital Region,” his bio states. 

"And I think that's a part of the appeal because he gets our students. He'll be talking about his experiences; he's transgender, and he's from a rural area," she said. "He's now a social worker, and he serves on some pretty important committees for New York State. And he overcame some suicidal ideations and some substance use issues as well. So he can be quite the inspiration on many points to our youth. 

The day is to also include a panel discussion featuring “LGBTQ inspirations” with:

  • Genesee County Mental Health Director Lynda Battaglia (she/her)

  • GLOW Out! Communications Director Lauren Berger (she/they)

  • Medina Village Trustee Jess Marciano (she/her)

  • Roger Rosen, actor and educator (he/him)

  • Ashton Daley (he/him)

And this is the starting point of the theater project, she said, and where her bachelors in theater will come in handy. 

“After the keynote, I will be working with all of them at one point in the day or another, to do a workshop specific on anti-stigma, mental health stigma, that needed to get help, and also using theater. What's really neat is we learned so much through COVID about stigma and distance and how personal distance is a good way to measure how comfortable people are around each other. So theater games, where people get up on their feet, and move around, and I kind of lead them in a way that they get out of their heads. And then they kind of get led in a process to maybe feel some of this, rather than try to get it intellectually, they can get that part later," she said. "So it's a kind of deeper way to learn about stigma. And from there, we're taking Ashton's inspiration and asking them to help us with different scenarios that they see or they've experienced, as far as leading mental health support or issues with suicide. And after the conference, we're going to work together with this troupe and with all of my LGBTQ youth in the GLOW region, to take those scenarios and create them into scenes. And so the conference is the starting point, Ashton is the inspiration, but then the workshops lead to the creation of the scenes.

“We’ll be auditioning in all four counties for the troupe. It's an LGBTQ youth troupe. We're looking at individuals 14 to 18 years old. There's a four-night acting intensive in August, all paid for. It’s like a camp and acting intensive that we’re taking them to.”

Auditions will be in May, and the cast will be announced during PRIDE events in June, she said. The theater project then culminates in September and October with performances for the public, including Ashton Daley so that he can see what resulted in this beginning phase, Vacin said. 

“And we're hoping that there's some deeper education that comes from it. So the cool part about the creation cycle and this LGBTQ theater troupe is that once it's done, we will be self-sustaining. You know, grant money ends but we'll have this troupe. And we'll have this really neat mechanism to help train people. And to help understand what it feels like being young and LGBTQ," she said. "One of my challenges has always been supporting parents. We have PFLAG, which is a group specifically to help parents and families. And most people reach out soon after their kids come out. And we just can't get the parents here. But you get your kid on stage, and you'll be in the front row. So we're hoping that this will work to educate the whole community in a really creative way." 

To register for the conference, go HERE

Hawley cancels mobile hours for this week

By Press Release

Assemblyman Steve Hawley (R,C-Batavia) announced today that his previously scheduled mobile office hours in Brockport on Wednesday, April 17, 2024, from 12 to 2 p.m. at the Seymour Library have been canceled due to unforeseen circumstances. Hawley and his staff plan to reschedule these hours and will provide an update when more information is made available.

“I encourage everyone to visit as soon as we reschedule our office hours in Brockport. My office is ready to take your calls and help address your needs,” Hawley said.

You can contact Hawley’s office by phone at 585-589-5780, or by email at HawleyS@nyassembly.gov for more information.

Home owners sought for residential rehab program with grants up to $25K

By Press Release

Press Release:

The City of Batavia is seeking applications from income-qualified home owners for housing repairs.

The City of Batavia received federal Community Development Block Grant Funds (CDBG) to provide grant assistance to 10 income-qualified homeowners within the City of Batavia. The Residential Rehabilitation program offers assistance of up to $25,000 per structure for repairs and basic structural deficiencies. Repairs include foundation work, exterior work, roofing, siding, windows, heating, electrical, plumbing, and more.

Interested applicants should submit a Residential Rehabilitation Program application and accompanying documentation by June 1, 2024. For more information, details on program requirements, and applications visit https://www.batavianewyork.com/ or contact Julie Dahlie, Grants Administrator at jdahlie@batavianewyork.com, 585-565-4423.

Batavia is seeking contractors for housing rehab projects

By Press Release

Press Release:

The City of Batavia is seeking general contractors to complete housing rehabilitation projects for low-income homeowners who qualify. The Housing Rehabilitation Program is a Community Development Block Grant (CDBG) and is federally funded through Homes and Community Renewal and administered by the City of Batavia. Qualifying contractors must be able to provide the following:

1. Valid business license and insurance
2. IRS Tax ID (EIN)
3. DUNS Number
4. Certification of asbestos and lead testing

Projects may include replacing roofs, performing weatherization, electrical, plumbing, and similar improvements. Minority and Women owned Business Enterprises are encouraged to apply. Contractors are subject to Davis Bacon Labor Standards and Wage Rates.

Any general contractors interested in becoming qualified to bid on CDBG Housing Rehabilitation projects should contact Julie Dahlie, Grants Administrator, at the jdahlie@batavianewyork.com or 585-565-4423 by June 1, 2024. 

All contractors on the list of qualified and approved Contractors will be
notified via email of any bid invitation.

Alexander resident wins Wings Over Batavia VIP tickets from The Batavian at the Home Show

By Howard B. Owens
air show tickets winner
Howard Owens, publisher of The Batavian, and Sandra Wolfley, winner of the Wings Over Batavia prize drawing, at the Genesee County Home Show.
Photo by Lisa Ace.

Alexander resident Sandra Wolfley won The Batavian's prize drawing Sunday at the Genesee County Home Show, which was on Friday, Saturday, and Sunday at the David M. McCarthy Memorial Ice Arena in Batavia.

Wolfley won a pair of VIP Pilot's Lounge Tickets for the Wings Over Batavia Air Show, set for Aug. 31 and Sept. 1 at the Genesee County Airport.

There were more than 160 people in the contest, which required home show attendees to fill out an entry form and stamp it with The Batavian's logo.

Thanks to Wings Over Batavia for partnering with us on this promotion.

'Historic Chronicles' debuts Monday, author talk and book-signing April 27

By Joanne Beck
michael eula 2023
Michael Eula, 2023 file photo.
Photo by Howard Owens.

After talking to The Batavian in November 2023 about the premise and subject matter of his latest book, “Historic Chronicles of Genesee County,” county Historian Michael Eula will finally get to celebrate the official release on Monday.

The book is a twofer of sorts: it’s a local collection of essays on how American history affected Genesee County, and, per the stamp on the book’s jacket cover, it’s Made in the USA. Throw in assassinations, immigration, presidential politics and suffragists, and you’ve got a plethora of hot subjects as future reading material.

Eula said that one of his favorite chapters while working on the book was about the Cold War. While doing his research, he learned how much locals disagreed with the Korean War via letters to the editor in the local newspaper. He has also wondered—and examined—if all of society’s anxiety was really warranted during those Cold War days in which preparedness drills became more common.

“On Friday, Sept. 14, 1956, a civil defense exercise commenced at Batavia’s Veterans Administration Hospital.

At ten o’clock that morning, civil defense sirens blared, announcing a simulated fire raging in Ward D, part of a disaster test designed to recreate the conditions that would result from an explosion produced by an enemy attack. A second simulation that day include a nuclear attack that resulted in the destruction of the Batavia Post Office building. During this second simulated attack, a postal truck carried emergency supplies and equipment to a relocation site reached via West Main Street and Redfield Parkway. A second postal truck supervised by the foreman of mails, Arthur Norton, transported more people and equipment over Jefferson Avenue, Washington Avenue, Ellicott Avenue, Richmond Avenue and Redfield Parkway. A third postal truck remained on standby, while the Veterans Hospital supply officers, John Lane, ordered one truck to facilitate removal from what was left of the post office building while simultaneously keeping eight additional vehicles on standby. Officials drew on the help of volunteers responding to sirens located throughout the county.

In its Saturday edition, the Daily News reported that the exercise was an unqualified success. This drill serves as a stark reminder of the political and cultural realities of Cold War America in 1956 — and the anxiety regarding the possibility of a nuclear confrontation with the Soviet Union apparent in the county.

Why did a disaster produced by the enemy take place at all? Why was there a clear anxiety about its real possibility, who was this enemy and how could such an intrusion reach into the heart of an otherwise stable and peaceful Genesee County in 1956, Eula wrote.

He evaluates the situation in a section titled “What Happened and Why.” One line seems to answer it best: "The cultural preoccupation with a communist threat remained as apparent in Genesee County as it was in the nation at large. Local media continuously stressed the lethal quality of communist threats, subversion and attacks.” 

Furthermore, “newspaper articles emphasized the necessity of American involvement in the Korean War, as evidenced by the participation of county residents in a conflict half a world away,” he wrote, using Batavia Daily News headlines in 1953, such as the one proclaiming “Airman from Oakfield Expects Duty in Korea,” as evidence. 

“There were constant reminders of how hot the Cold War was capable of becoming and of how tragic the consequences were for some county families,” Eula said. 

He cited the example of Private John V. Peca of Le Roy, who at 24 died during this time, leaving behind a wife, brother and parents, and whose remains were returned from Korea. 

“Such stories abounded in the earlier years of the Cold War as the fighting raged in Korea,” Eula said. “Other accounts revealed that soldiers initially listed as missing in action subsequently reappeared as killed in action, as 18-year-old Army Corporal Norman F. Smart of Batavia. His brother, Private First Class Robert D. Smart, was also in Korea. While there, he suffered wounds.”

And those soldiers from the county that were not killed or wounded “sometimes languished as prisoners of war in communist prison camps,” he said. 

“This, too, brought home to rural Genesee County residents the nation’s very real conflict with the communist world,” Eula said. “The many media accounts of those killed, wounded and mistreated by communists during a very hot Cold War period reminded readers of the threat posed by the communist world.”

There are six chapters in which Eula takes a swim in how national affairs affected locals at the time:

1. In Only Six Years: Genesee County Reacts to the Assassinations of The Kennedys and Martin Luther King Jr.;

2. Batavia Explodes: Cold War Anxiety and the Preparedness Drill of 1956;

3. Immigrants to White Ethnics;

4. Hoover, Roosevelt, and the New Deal in Genesee County;

5. In Western New York?: The Ku Klux Klan in Genesee County in the 1920s;

6. Activists, Farm Women, and Professionals

What illumination might a farm woman have to share? Genie Green’s mother wrote, on Jan. 24, 1887: 

“There are periods in our lives when some new book or acquaintance comes to us like an added sun in the heavens, lighting the darkest places and chasing every shadow away.”

Eula noted that for many days after that entry, she spoke of drudgery in “doing odd jobs.” But then “an unexpected and particularly long entry appeared." On her 89th birthday, Genie’s mother wrote, “I can best honor it by consecrating myself to work for every good … for progressive thought and for moral and spiritual growth and development.”

“Much of her remaining diary entries exhibit much the same — her deep desire to light the dark places in a woman’s life,” Eula said. 

When all was said and done, and documented and written — what was his conclusion at page 125?

“I started to write this book wondering where to begin. I now end it wondering where to stop,” Eula said. “There remains so much to write. Nonetheless, I consciously selected areas of the county’s past serving to illuminate the reality faced by people living there. This is admittedly not a traditional history, as I did not confine myself exclusively to events or to an orderly chronological span of time.

“Genesee County’s history is a long stretch of time punctuated by specific realities. Those realities were influenced by the national events addressed in this book. In turn, local perceptions of those events shaped the understanding of nationwide phenomena,” he said. “There was an underlying continuity in the county’s history. While much changed since 1802, much also remained the same. The history of the county remained anchored in a belief in individual liberty. The enlargement of individual liberty was viewed as the cornerstone of a good life.”

The History by the Hearth series will feature Eula from 1:30 to 3 p.m. April 27 at Richmond Memorial Library, 19 Ross St., Batavia. 

He will read from the book, and a book signing will follow. The book will be available for purchase before and on the day of the event.

His book may also be purchased at Holland Land Office Museum and online at Barnes and Noble and Amazon. In addition to being the county historian, Eula is also Professor Emeritus of History at El Camino College. He is the author of more than 30 articles and books in American and European history, including “Between Peasant and Urban Villager: Italian-Americans of New Jersey and New York, 1880 to 1980--The Structures of Counter-Discourse.”

He was named a National Endowment for the Humanities Fellow three times, and received the DeAngelis Prize in History in 2000. He is an honors graduate of Rutgers and the Regent University School of Law, where he received an LLM degree. He holds an MA and a PhD in history from the University of California-Irvine.

Making prom dreams come true, one dress at a time: next event is Tuesday

By Joanne Beck
School for Blind prom
A young lady models one of the several prom dresses brought to the NYS School for the Blind in Batavia by Cass Healy of Main Street Corner Thrifts, Gifts and More as part of a multi-county free prom dresses program.
Submitted Photo

When it comes to high school proms, there are most likely three camps of students: those who are definitely planning to attend, those who have no interest in such an event, and then those who would like to attend but don’t have the money to afford all the trappings of what prom is known for: a lavish, fashionable affair. 

Cass Healy, store manager of Main Street Corner Thrifts, Gifts and More for Community Action of Orleans and Genesee, has been working to bridge the gap for that last group so that students can obtain the necessary attire and extras so they can enjoy the spring event as well.

“Last year I had started to hold Prom Events here at the store in which I would allow students to come in and pick out a prom dress free of charge in order to attend prom. I also worked with a few schools that gave us a chance to bring some in to allow the students to look at the dresses. We are having the same event this year, with a few new perks,” Healy said to The Batavian. “At (this year’s) store event, we will be having a couple of hundred dresses, suits, makeup and other accessories out for the students to pick from. We also will have a drawing for free prom tickets — with the help of the Ministry of Concern, which has set out jars for “Pennies for Prom” in local shops — and we will be raffling off gift cards for those who need some help purchasing items to prepare for prom.

There will also be a makeup artist on hand to provide students with tips on how to do their makeup for the big night, she said. This event is not limited to Orleans County residents. It is also open to Genesee County students.

She recently took a bunch of dresses to the School for the Blind in Batavia, providing prom dresses to 18 girls who needed them. Healy said that she is willing to bring dresses to any school district in Genesee County upon request. 

Why does she do it?

“One particular girl we had last year was able to get a dress, shoes, accessories, and all her makeup and hair needs taken care of through us. She had informed me that she had won tickets, but due to her family’s financial situation, she did not think that she would be able to go,” Healy said. “She had expressed her appreciation many times and was very excited that she would be able to go and experience this. She had also sent us some photos of her at prom with her friends. Truly one of those ‘this is why I do this’ moments.”

Her event runs from 6 to 8 p.m. Tuesday at 131 S. Main St., Albion, and is open to students beyond Orleans County. It will be a fun night with free prom dresses, suits, accessories, and hair and makeup tips.

“I am hoping to reach out to more students this year in any of the surrounding counties. I believe that everyone should be able to experience prom no matter their financial situation,” she said. “So here at Main Street Corner Thrifts, Gifts and More, we are always accepting dresses, suits, shoes, makeup, hair supplies and other accessories for these events. We encourage the community to check their closets for their prom-appropriate attire and bring it by the store to help our youth make these lasting memories.”Cass Healy of Main Street Corner Thrifts, Gifts and More brought to the NYS School for the Blind in Batavia 

For more information or to arrange a school event, contact her at chealy@caoginc.org.

Submitted Photos of dresses during the NYS School for the Blind event.

Batavia School For Blind prom dress
Batavia School For Blind red dress

Pavilion Fire receives donation from staff of Batavia Middle School

By Staff Writer
pavilion fire department

The Pavilion Fire Department accepted a donation on Friday made possible through the generosity of the Batavia Middle School’s dress-down days. 

Rebecca Matteson, the mother of a patient treated by the department in May 2021, made the donation to the department. 

Jeffrey DeMare was involved in an automobile accident involving one box truck and two semis at the curve on Route 63 and Peoria Road. Thanks to quick actions taken by a good Samaritan and a State trooper from Wyoming County, who both applied a tourniquet and with the Pavilion Fire Department providing Basic Life Support, Jeffrey was able to make a full recovery after multiple surgeries. 

Ken Weaver, president of the Pavilion Fire Department, accepted the check. Jeffrey is standing to the right of Rebecca. Also in the photo are firefighters who responded to the call.

Submitted photos and information.

pavilion fire department

Stafford Fire recognizes top responders in 2023, installs 2024 officers at annual dinner

By Howard B. Owens
stafford fire dinner 2024

For 2023, the Firefighter of the Year in the Stafford Volunteer Fire Department was a collective award, going to the Top 10 responders (11 members, counting a tie) for the year.

The Firefighters of the Year are Brian Breemes, Randal Henning, Tim Eckdahl, Chris Penkszyk, Mark Dougherty, Ashley Swartzenberg, Jason Smith, Ken Collins, Brian Pocock, Don Hall, and Ben Pocock.

The firematic officers installed for 2024 are:

  • Timothy Eckdahl, chief
  • Brian Pocock, 1st assistant chief
  • Brian Breemes, 2nd assistant chief
  • Kari Breemes, 3rd assistant chief
  • Jason Smith, 4th assistant chief
  • Randal Henning, rescue squad captain
  • Chad Rambach, rescue squad lietuenent 
  • Donald Hall, fire police captain
  • Ben Fox, fire police lieutenant
  • Brian Pocock, master mechanic
  • Brian Breemes and Matt Hendershott, training officers
  • Julie Bobo and Ashley Swartzenberg, chief's secretary

The administrative officers: 

  • James Call, president
  • Kari Breemes, vice president
  • Bonnie Logsdon, secretary
  • Stephanie Call, treasurer
  • Trustees: Stanley Gere, Jason Smith, Ashley Swartzenberg, Chad Rambach, Stephanie Call
  • Auditors: Ben Fox and Kenneth Collins.

The dinner was held on Saturday at the Batavia Country Club.

Photos by Howard Owens

stafford fire dinner 2024

Photos: Genesee County Home Show 2024

By Howard B. Owens
Genesee County Home Show 2024

These are photos from Saturday's Genesee County Home Show, which the Genesee County Chamber of Commerce hosted and organized.

The final day of the home show is Sunday (today), and it runs from 10 a.m. to 3 p.m.

Saturday's show was well attended, and about a dozen new vendors, plus many of the usual locally owned home improvement-related vendors, were on the floor of the David M. McCarthy Memorial Ice Arena.

Photos by Howard Owens.

Genesee County Home Show 2024
Genesee County Home Show 2024
Genesee County Home Show 2024
Genesee County Home Show 2024
Genesee County Home Show 2024
Genesee County Home Show 2024
Genesee County Home Show 2024
Genesee County Home Show 2024
Genesee County Home Show 2024
Genesee County Home Show 2024
Genesee County Home Show 2024

Top Items on Batavia's List

Town Court Clerk Below are two lists: one details the myriad responsibilities that fall within the purview of the court clerk; the other summarizes the knowledge and abilities that court clerks possess or acquire through training. These lists are provided so that a judge and municipality can intelligently discuss the benefits that a court clerk can provide. The items below can also form the basis for a list of job duties should a municipality need to fill a vacancy in a court clerk position. Primary Responsibilities A. Maintain confidentiality of records and information when required to do so B. Prepare court calendar C. Collect monies, reconcile daily receipts, deposit receipts, prepare reports for monthly disbursements, reconcile bank accounts, and prepare administrative reports D. Enter convictions on drivers' licenses and prepare conviction reports electronically transmitted to the Department of Motor Vehicles E. Enter criminal conviction on NCIC reports and electronically send same to Division of Criminal Justice Services F. Respond to inquiries-in person, by phone, by e-mail and by mail-and provide assistance to lawyers, litigants, media, and members of the public G. Prepare monthly reports that are electronically sent to the Office of the State Comptroller H. Prepare orders, summonses, warrants and other court forms i. Communicate with outside agencies in order to coordinate the Court's activities and provide services to litigants. Such agencies include: ii. Law enforcement agencies, such as local police departments, New York State Police, Sheriffs office, FBI and CIA, US Armed Forces, and the Office of the District Attorney; I. Other courts, including superior courts and other local town and village courts; and i. Miscellaneous county agencies, such as Community Service, Community Dispute Resolution Center, Pre-trial Release, Probation, Stop DWI program, Victim Impact Panel, and Youth Court. ii. State agencies that require periodic reporting, including the New York State Unified Court System, the Department of Motor Vehicles, the Office of the State Comptroller, the Division of Criminal Justice Services, and the Office of Court Record Retention. J. Examine court documents to ensure their accuracy and completeness K. Receive and file summonses, traffic tickets and other documents for court proceedings i. Assist the Justice at the bench during all Court proceedings Knowledge of: 1. The functions and organization of the Unified Court System ii. Basic legal terminology, codes and abbreviations iii. Court forms, practices and procedures, including those set forth in the Uniform Justice Court Act and the Uniform Civil Rules for the Justice Courts (22 NYCRR Part 214) 2. Ability to: i. Prepare judicial orders and decisions ii. Effectively communicate information orally and in writing iii. File and retrieve materials, extract data from various sources for entry onto court form iv. Research and interpret laws outlined in court documents and litigants' motions and other papers v. Perform mathematical tasks in order to compile court activity reports, total receipts, accept payments, and verify bills vi. Refer to appropriate documents, statutes, citations or other sources in order to respond to specific questions from attorneys, litigants and members of the general public vii. Interpret policies, statutes, rules and regulations and apply them in specific contexts viii. Establish work priorities ix. Constructively manage conflict with court users Qualifications: Highschool diploma recognized by the NYS Dept of Education or appropriate equivalent. Along with 4 years of college, specialization in criminal justice, law, business administration or related field. -OR- 2 years college with specialization in Business Administration or related field. Please email your resume to abrownell@townofbatavia.com no later than 12/16/2024. Pay is based on experience.
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AVAILABLE NOVEMBER 1ST CITY OF BATAVIA 4-5 bedroom Duplex apartment with 1 Bedroom, Living room, laundry room, dining room, bathroom, and small kitchen on first floor. 4 bedrooms 2nd floor. Newly painted. Some new carpet. Basement storage. 1/2 garage use for storage/ not parking. Large yard. $1,100/month includes trash pickup, Refrigerator, Gas Stove. You pay gas, electric, water. No dogs. Good references required with background check. Pathstone approved. Near ARC. Mike 585-993-4002
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