batavia

Press Release:

Batavia High Class of 2010 graduate and past parishioner of Sacred Heart/Ascension, Father Aaron Kulzcyk, joined our final Resurrection and Ascension Family Faith Formation Session to discuss how God calls us all to use our gifts and talents.

Submitted photos.

Press Release:

The 25th Annual Batavia Rotary Club High School Baseball Tournament will take place Saturday, May 3 at Dwyer Stadium with a rain date of Sunday, May 4.

Oakfield-Alabama and Notre Dame will play in the first game at 11 a.m. followed by Le Roy vs Batavia at 1 p.m. The Consolation Game will be at 4 p.m. with the Championship Game at 7 p.m. 

An All-Day Admission Pass is $5 for an adult and $3 for a student or senior. Cash or Venmo will be accepted for payment. All proceeds from the tournament will help benefit Batavia Rotary Club charities.

Youth ages 12 and under will get in free if they wear their baseball or softball uniforms to any of the games and attend with a parent/adult family member.

Any Challenger Sports athletes and Unified Sports athletes will get in free if they wear their uniform or t-shirt and come with a parent/adult family member or adult caregiver. 

We look forward to seeing the community come out to cheer on our local athletes!

Roll into May at the David M. McCarthy Memorial Ice Arena! We’re bringing the energy with a full lineup of fun for all ages! Public Roller Skating starts Friday, May 2nd from 7:30 PM- 9PM. Join us Friday & Saturday nights – just $8 admission and $3 rentals!

We’ve got quad skates and brand NEW roller blades in our rental fleet this year – or bring your own! Want to skate more often? Grab a Public Skating Membership: Individual: $25 start-up | $20/month. Family: $40 start-up | $30/month. (Includes pickleball too!)

Sunday, May 4th | 10 AM – 4 PM It’s Picker’s Paradise – “A Foodie’s Day in May!” FREE Admission, $1 Sahlen’s Hot Dogs. Tons of local vendors. Vendor spots still open! Details here

Pickleball starts Monday, May 5th! Every Mon, Wed & Fri from 9 AM – 12 PM. Individual Membership: $25 start-up | $20/month. Family Membership: $40 start-up | $30/month. (Also Includes roller skating!) $8 day pass 

Let’s roll! Skates are ready… are you? See you at the rink! Visit our Facebook page & stay up to date on what's happening!

Could one of the people you see in these photos be the next Steve Moses, the 2015 winner of the CBS reality series Big Brother?

More than 300 people turned up at Batavia Downs on Wednesday to try and repeat what Moses did in the show's 17th season when Moses won slot as a constant through an audition at Batavia Downs.

"He was from the Fredonia area, but he was going to college in St Lawrence up by Alexandria Bay. and of course, we're on the way right. Batavia is right on the Thruway, so he timed his run after spring break to be here for the audition," said Ryan Hasenauer, vice president of business development for Western Regional Off-Track Betting.

Channel 8 out of Rochester, a CBS affiliate, ran the auditions, which involved potential contestants waiting their turn to step into a black-curtained booth to be filmed making their pitch to the show's producers. The video will be screened by the producers and the finalist selected.

"Some people are very reserved, and a lot of people are Type A's like me, where they're very loud about it," Hasenauer said. "They get excited, and like that young lady was saying that you were talking to earlier, she was somebody who's watched the show for a long time, 12 years. Some of these people are geared up to do it. It's an exciting thing for us."

That young lady was Chelsea Dezuko, from Buffalo.

"I've been watching Big Brother since I was maybe, like, 13," Dezuko said. "It's something that me, my mom, my sister, we would do together. We would get together, sit on the living room couch. It was like the one excuse that we got to stay up late for school, like past our bedtime."

Big Brother is really the only reality TV series she's watched.

"Honestly, I'm not a huge reality TV person, but Big Brother just feels different," she said. "I feel like there are people of all walks of life who enter the Big Brother house. I love the competitions. Like one of my Big Brother idols is probably Nicole F. She's won the show before."

Tacido Curry, from New York City, was in Batavia to take his second shot at auditioning for Big Brother. He returned from a trip to Brazil to make it to the audition. 

"I'm one of a kind," Curry said. "I'm a little bit different, so I needed to be on the show."

And he likes his shot.

"I've watched all the seasons, so I wish I were there all the time," Curry said. "I have a very strong personality. I lived in many countries. I am a world survivor. I survived lots of crazy things in my life. I was kidnapped three times. I was in the World Trade Center. I survived the tsunami and the fires of Notre Dame. I'm sure I can survive in the big house. I have a big resume, you know, to share with people and provoke people, too."

Chris Hadlock, from Victor, thinks he's got the resume for a slot on the show as well.

"I've been doing this stuff my whole life," Hadlock said. "I was a professional musician for 30 years. Now, I'm a helicopter pilot. I kind of miss the limelight a little bit, so if I can entertain the crowd, you know what I mean, on a national level, let's do it."

Press Release:

The Batavia Social Security office located at 571 East Main Street, Batavia, NY, will remain open on Thursday, May 1, and Friday, May 2. The office was scheduled to be closed temporarily for these two days due to space renovations. The renovations have been temporarily delayed due to a facility issue.   

You may continue to call the Batavia Social Security office at 1-866-931-7103.  Social Security office hours are from 9:00 a.m. until 4:00 p.m., Monday through Friday.    

Social Security’s customers can now make appointments for all types of services instead of waiting in line, resulting in a better overall experience and reductions in wait times. 

Customers can still wait in line if they cannot or do not want to make an appointment.  Staff at local offices are particularly mindful of vulnerable populations, people with disabilities, and other groups that need specialized or immediate attention when they walk in.  People can schedule an appointment by calling their local office (recommended) or 1-800-772-1213, which also has a call-back feature.  People who are deaf or hard of hearing may call Social Security’s TTY number, 1-800-325-0778.

Batvaia defeated Pittsford-Mendon in softball on Monday, 13-1, with the game being called under the mercy rule at the end of the fifth inning.

The Lady Devils are now 2-5. Mendon is 2-6.

The winning pitcher was Ariana Almekinder, who gave up only three hits while striking out four.

Offense:

To view or purchase photos, click here.

Press release:

The Batavia Lady Blue Devils lost to Churchville-Chili 18-6 on Monday evening in Flag Football.

Quarterback Jaimin Macdonald was 17-30 passing for 120 yards, 1 TD, and 3 INTs.  Macdonald also led the team in rushing with 20 yards on six carries.  Wide receiver Leilah Manuel had four receptions for 55 yards, with a 37-yard touchdown reception from Macdonald.  Nicole Doeringer added four receptions for 49 yards.

Defensively, Macdonald led the team with eight flag pulls, 3 for loss from her inside linebacker position.  Manuel and Kylee Brennan added seven flag pulls each, with Brennan adding two passes defended.  

The Lady Blue Devils fall to 3-3 with four regular-season games remaining.  On Friday, May 2, Batavia will host Spencerport for Senior Night at VanDetta Stadium at 6 p.m.

 

To view or purchase photos, click here.

With four festivals under its belt, and a new one added this year, GO ART! needed a designated special events coordinator, Gregory Hallock says, and tacked the extra duties and label onto Social Media Director Courtney Henderson’s title.

Henderson has taken on this year’s Just Kings' Juneteenth Celebration Festival, in collaboration with Just Kings, a grassroots group that has been organizing fundraisers and giveaways in Batavia for the last several years. With a growing event to celebrate Juneteenth, Just Kings organizers wanted to pool resources and also use GO ART!’s nonprofit status for donations and sponsorships, Hallock and Henderson said on Monday.

“It’s growing, and they’re a group of volunteers trying to make that happen,” Hallock, GO ART!’s executive director, said. “They’re growing to secure its continued success and wanted to go with a nonprofit to make sure that happens. We want this to happen, we’re just helping to make that happen, and we will have a booth at Juneteenth as well.”

Working with a 501(c)(3) means that any donations and sponsorships can be declared as tax write-offs, Hallock said, which is helpful to organizations and businesses. 

GO ART! has been a supporter of the Juneteenth celebration for several years, said Greg Munroe, one of the event's organizers.

"After the first or second year, GO ART! reached out and wanted to help us out, and they helped us get a grant, I want to say, like three years ago," Munroe said. "To this point, that grant has basically run out. We're looking for funding help, and we've reached out to GO ART! again. They said they would love to collaborate with us."

Henderson has been particularly helpful with social media and promotion, and helping bring together some funding for the event.

Just Kings is still running the event, he said.

While Juneteenth, the nationally recognized holiday, is on June 19, this event is set for noon to 8 p.m. on June 14, which is a Saturday. (Being Pride month, there will also be a related event going on that day at Jackson Square.)

“We’ll have a sign at each event asking people to support both,” Hallock said. “We’re working on adding a bunch of educational and art components to Juneteenth.”

Last year’s event was busy with vendors and attendees, music and food, and this year should not disappoint, Henderson said. She welcomes applications from nonprofits, businesses, food trucks and booths, and musicians.

“I am in the search right now for a storyteller, an enthusiastic storyteller for kids, who can give educational tales as part of our entertainment/culture portion," she said. "We're also looking into trivia, like toy trivia when it comes to black inventors -- did you know the Super Soaker was invented by a black man? And I know we're looking into getting a double Dutch team, okay, and we're trying to find a step team.

“We are asking for anybody who is a food vendor to have at least one item that culturally represents the black community, and that obviously can vary widely based on what they serve," she said. "But that will also flow with the educational portion. That way, there’s education throughout the entire event."

On June 19, 1865, enslaved people in Texas received official emancipation, marking the end of slavery in the United States. Juneteenth is celebrated annually, often with parades, parties and festivals that highlight African American history and culture.

"GO ART! is excited to host just King's Juneteenth Celebration Festival, a day dedicated to honoring freedom, unity, and the rich cultural heritage of Juneteenth," Henderson said.

On the group’s social media site, Just Kings invites folks to “celebrate freedom, culture, and community at this vibrant, family-friendly event in the heart of downtown Batavia! Enjoy live music, African drumming, spoken word, food trucks, Black-owned vendors, art, history, and kids’ activities — all honoring the legacy and significance of Juneteenth.

Munroe said that anyone who would like to donate in support of the event can contact Just Kings directly. If the donor seeks the tax benefit of a charitable donation, donations can be made through GO ART!

“Bring the whole family for a day of joy, learning, and connection,” organizers state. “Let's celebrate Black excellence, community strength, and the power of unity!”

The deadline for vendor and food vendor submissions is May 15. For more information, email festivals@goart.org.

The Salvatore's Pizzeria chain, with more than 30 restaurants in the Rochester region, celebrated the opening of its first location in Genesee County, at Lewiston and West Main, Batavia, on Monday.

The new owners of the location are Kevin and Kari Consaul of Churchville.

Kevin said he's excited to open in Batavia because of the warm welcome he's received from the community.

"Over the past eight months, I witnessed vibrant energy throughout Batavia, in this community," Kevin said. "That lets me know that we made the right decision to be in Batavia -- things like, 'when are you opening,' and 'I love this pink roof,' and the best is, 'I love your pizza.'"

Hours are 11 a.m. to 10 p.m. Sunday through Thursday, and 11 a.m. to 11 p.m. Friday and Saturday. For more information, go HERE or call 585-250-4004.

Press Release:

The Holland Land Office Museum is proud to welcome Dr. Michael Boston of SUNY Brockport as our next Guest Speaker on Saturday, May 3 at 11 a.m. Dr. Boston of SUNY Brockport will be presenting on "Female Conductors of the Underground Railroad in Western and Central New York." Admission is $5 or $3 for museum members. Please contact the museum at 585-343-4727 or hollandlandoffice@gmail.com if you plan on attending.

Every first Wednesday is Night at the Museum at the Holland Land Office Museum. Come to the museum between 5 and 8 p.m. for extended hours on Wednesday, April 7 for those who cannot make it during our regularly scheduled ones! For Night at the Museum, you will get special personal tours from staff and volunteers, and see more behind the scenes! We hope to see you there! Admission is the regular pricing listed on our website!

Join us at the Holland Land Office Museum for the next Trivia Night on Thursday, May 8 at 7 p.m. Come and test your knowledge our county and study up on the history of Genesee County. Admission is $5 or $3 for museum members. Please contact the museum at 585-343-4727 or hollandlandoffice@gmail.com if you would like to attend.

The Holland Land Office Museum is proud to welcome back the DSP Trio for a concert on Friday, May 16 at 7 p.m. The local jazz group of Derek Reiss, Skip Taylor and Peter Mark will get your toes a tapping with a great selection of jazz music. Admission is $5 or $4 for museum members. Please contact the museum at 585-343-4727 or hollandlandoffice@gmail.com if you would like to attend.

Join us at the Holland Land Office Museum for the next edition of our Java with Joe E. Series on Thursday, May 22 at 9 a.m. Richard Beatty will be presenting on "Dr. Seuss Goes to War." In conjunction with the new exhibit at HLOM, Richard Beatty will present a look back at Dr. Seuss's virtually unknown WWII era political cartoons. Author Richard H Minear, now retired Professor of History at the University of Massachusetts Amherst, discovered that there existed 400 drawings that ultimately became the subject matter for his 1999 book, "Dr. Seuss Goes to War, the World War II Editorial Cartoons of Theodor Seuss Geisel." Come and hear about Seuss's contribution to the war effort years before his name became famous for his wildly popular children's books. Thank you to Tim Horton's of Batavia for sponsoring the refreshments for Java with Joe E. for 2025.

The Holland Land Office Museum is proud to announce the next edition of its Concert Series on Friday, May 23 at 7 p.m. Bart Dentino will be playing an acoustic selection of music that will include original compositions and songs by such artists as James Taylor, Gordon Lightfoot, The Beatles, and others. Bart was twice selected Best Performer and Best Vocalist of the Year by Freetime Magazine. It was the first time in the magazine’s history an artist was selected in two individual categories. Admission is $5 or $4 for museum members. Please contact the museum at 585-343-4727 or hollandlandoffice@gmail.com if you would like to attend.

The Holland Land Office Musuem is proud to announce the latest presenter in our Guest Speaker Series on Thursday, May 29 at 7 p.m. Vic Vignola will be presenting on his book "Contrast in Command: The Battle of Fair Oaks, May 31-June 1, 1862." His presentation describes the golden opportunity McClellan presented Confederate leadership at Seven Pines/Fair Oaks on May 31, 1862. A day which developed into one of contrasts regarding leadership and command decisions made by Johnston, Sumner, and others. Award winning author/historian Victor Vignola is a lifelong student of the Civil War. His first book Contrasts in Command: The Battle of Fair Oaks – May 31 – June 1, 1862. He has also authored magazine articles for the American Civil War, and North and South publications. Vic conducts Civil War history programs and conducts tours of various sites. Admission is $5 or $3 for museum members. Please contact the museum at 585-343-4727 or hollandlandoffice@gmail.com if you plan to attend.

NOTE: The Batavian asked a spokesman for the Social Security Administration about the reason for the temporary closure. He said, "The Batavia SSA office underwent renovations to feature additional interviewing booths, which will allow us to provide better service with additional privacy for our visitors.  On Thursday, May 1, and Friday, May 2, 2025, the office will be temporarily closed to walk-in visitors while we finalize renovations."

Press Release:

The Batavia Social Security office located at 571 East Main Street, Batavia, NY, will be temporarily closed on Thursday, May 1 and Friday, May 2. The office will reopen to the public on Monday, May 5th, 2025, at 9:00am. Local telephone services at the Batavia Social Security office will remain available at 1-866-931-7103. 

People who need to conduct their Social Security business in person may visit the following Social Security offices:

• 4050 West Ridge Road, 2nd Floor, Rochester, NY
• 200 East Main Street, 2nd Floor, Rochester, NY   

Social Security office hours are from 9:00 a.m. until 4:00 p.m., Monday through Friday.   

Social Security’s customers can now make appointments for all types of services instead of waiting in line, resulting in a better overall experience and reductions in wait times. 

Customers can still wait in line if they cannot or do not want to make an appointment.  Staff at local offices are being particularly mindful of vulnerable populations, people with disabilities, and other groups needing specialized or immediate attention when they walk in.  People can schedule an appointment by calling their local office (recommended) or 1-800-772-1213, which also has a call-back feature.  People who are deaf or hard of hearing may call Social Security’s TTY number, 1-800-325-0778.

Many Social Security services are conveniently available online at www.ssa.gov.  People may create their my Social Security account, a personalized online service, at www.ssa.gov/myaccount.  If they already receive Social Security benefits, they can start or change direct deposit online, request a replacement SSA-1099, and if they need proof of their benefits, they can print or download a current Benefit Verification Letter from their account.  People not yet receiving benefits can use their online account to get a personalized Social Security Statement, which provides their earnings information as well as estimates of their future benefits.  The portal also includes a retirement calculator and links to information about other online services. 

Need a Social Security Number card? 
Please note for many situations people only need their number and not the actual card.  If they need a card, they should start the process online. 

People can visit www.ssa.gov/number-card to submit a request for a replacement card, start an application for an updated card, or to request a Social Security number for the first time.  Some people may not need to visit an office and, if they do need to visit an office to complete the application, they will save a lot of time by starting online. 

Want to apply for benefits?  
People can apply online for most benefits.  In many cases, there are no forms to sign.  The agency will review the application and reach out with questions or for more information.  Visit www.ssa.gov/onlineservices to apply for retirement, disability, or Medicare. 

Need proof of benefits, want to check the status of an application or appeal, or curious what else people can do online?   

Visit www.ssa.gov/myaccount or www.ssa.gov/onlineservices today. 

Press Release:

The Batavia Concert Band is beginning its 101st season, and is actively recruiting youth musicians to join us for a couple of amazing concerts in beautiful Centennial Park this summer!

Eligible student musicians need to be able to play level 2/3 music.

Session One

Tues. July 8 - Rehearsal, 5:45 to 6:45 p.m. at GCC
Tues. July 15 - Rehearsal, 5:45 to 6:45 p.m. at GCC
Tues. July 22 - Rehearsal, 5:45 to 6:45 p.m. at GCC
Wed. July 23 - 6:30 p.m. Arrival, 7 p.m. Concert in Centennial Park

Session Two

Tues. July 29 - Rehearsal, 5:45 to 6:45 p.m. at GCC
Tues. Aug. 5 - Rehearsal, 5:45 to 6:45 p.m. at GCC
Tues. Aug. 12 - Rehearsal, 5:45 to 6:45 p.m. at GCC
Wed. Aug. 13 - 6:30 p.m. Arrival, 7 p.m. Concert in Centennial Park

For more information, please contact Lindsey Almeter at Lalmeter@albionk12.org or 716-949-5376.

The registration link may be found here Cadet Band registration.

Welcome home to 8465 Violet Lane! This gorgeously updated 4 bedroom, modern colonial is situated on a .5 acre lot in a quiet cul-de-sac. Entering this pristine 2,790sqft home, you are greeted by a grand staircase and welcoming foyer. Enjoy the formal dining room, or the updated eat-in kitchen. The impressive great room has a built-in fireplace & vaulted ceiling; perfect ambiance for the holidays! Convenient home office! Natural light streams through professionally tinted windows, ensuring efficiency & privacy. Enjoy the long-term protection of the maintenance-free metal roof. Upstairs, enjoy the primary suite w/ walk-in closet, and en-suite master soaking tub. The luxuries abound in the other 2.5 baths and spacious first floor laundry. 1,600sqft of finished basement, feat: built-in bar, optional LRoom, 2 additional storage rooms, a newer on-demand hot water tank & furnace. Between the 20'x25' reinforced (hot tub ready!) vinyl deck wrapped around a new 24' above ground pool and the 15'x11' stamped concrete patio, ample outdoor space and a fully wrapped NEW vinyl fence for added privacy. Also includes an attached 2 car garage with epoxy floor, and a 12’x20’ Amish-made shed! Call Sunny Rathod today!!

Shad Nowicki, an Ellicottville resident who has gained a national reputation as a pop artist specializing in vivid portraits of movie characters, appeared at Foxprowl Toys and Collectibles on Ellicott Street, Batavia, on Saturday.

He met with fans and discussed his work for six hours.

Owner Bill Hume said Nowicki "has been commissioned directly by many celebrities to do work for them and is very well-known in the Comic-Con circuit."

Wholesome nutrition, doing chores as needed, daily exercise and family have been the staples to ensure Celia Puccio’s longevity all these years.

Just how many years? A native of Batavia, she just celebrated her 103rd birthday earlier this week.

Celia grew up on Hutchins Street with her parents, Josephine and Rocco, grandmother, and nine siblings, plus brother Tony’s hunting dogs. They grew a garden and canned vegetables, baked bread, sharing chores either before and/or after school, she said.

“I did whatever had to be done, they were always baking or cooking, and we had to pick up after them,” Celia said at her Oak Street home. “They did the canning process, and you had to clean up all the messes.”

Was it ever tough to get attention or enough to eat in that brood? “Never,” she said. “It was wonderful.”

“My brother said ‘never eat everything on your plate, give some to the dogs,’” she said.

His sisters would clean up after dinner, and Mary didn’t listen to him; she ate everything on her plate, Celia said with a smile. Celia went to Lincoln, then Jackson Elementary School, finally attending the former Batavia Jr-Sr High School on Ross Street. She didn’t graduate, because “I met him,” as a junior, she said, pointing to her framed wedding photo of her and the late Charley Puccio from decades ago.

She dropped out of school a year early and married Charley, and they first moved in with her grandmother in Oakfield before settling into their longtime home on Oak Street. Charlie set up a barbershop with his uncle, beginning at age 12 before meeting the love of his life. He incrementally built onto the original structure as money allowed, to create a larger home, barber shop and garage. Those renovations more than doubled the space, Celia said.

He died in 2002 after the couple was married for nearly 60 years. And the barbershop carries on with daughter Kathy, who stays with mom about three days a week. Just thinking about all of that commotion and dry wall dust made Celia wince a bit.

“I wouldn’t want to go back,” she said. “I was a stay-at-home mom ,and in later years I worked as an assistant cook at the high school. I enjoyed cooking for the family.”

Every Sunday meant the air was filled with simmering homemade tomato sauce — with tomato paste added in — for the weekly spaghetti supper.

Her meals have been nutritious, such as beans and greens of all kinds, with lots of garlic. And she used to take daily walks, meeting four girlfriends at the corner of Oak and Richmond. She also refused a few habits, such as smoking and drinking.

Walking is more difficult now, and Celia likes to watch cooking shows and use a bike pedal machine. She pointed to a picture frame of scrolling family photos.

“They mean more to me than TV,” she said.

Family includes four children, five grandchildren, six great-grandchildren, and two twins on the way for a September arrival. That's a new goal to make, her daughter said. 

Visits with family are golden.

“I enjoy it very much,” Celia said, sharing a piece of life advice she’s learned along the way. “Just love one another.”

Will Bardenwerper's book about baseball in Batavia and America has been getting national attention and is currently ranked #17 on Amazon's list of best-selling baseball books.

 The book, "Homestand: Small Town Baseball and the Fight for the Soul of America," is resonating with readers and reviewers.

That may signal, Bardenwerper said, that people are looking for small-town values of community.

"I think it speaks to the fact that maybe there is a real hunger for these kinds of places where people can come together for an affordable price and have a good time and kind of put some of the division that we find in our society behind us for a few hours and just have fun," Bardenwerper told The Batavian during a book signing at Eli Fish Brewing Co. on Saturday evening.

There have been several book reviews of Homestand published, including in major publications such as the Washington Post and the Wall Street Journal.

The book addresses the growing divide in America between the corporatist world of Major League Baseball and the grassroots game in places like Batavia, which lost its historic minor league team when MLB broke with tradition and consolidated its minor league affiliates. That decision turned out to make baseball in Batavia better with the arrival of Robbie and Nellie Nichols, owners of the revived Batavia Muckdogs of the Perfect Game Collegiate Baseball League.

If highlighting that dichotomy has ruffled any feathers in the executive suites at the MLB, Bardenwerper hasn't heard about it.

"I don't know to what extent it is or isn't on their radar," Bardenwerper said. "If it is, I'm guessing they just kind of would like it to go away."

If you missed Bardenwerper at Eli Fish, there is another book signing Saturday (today) in Medina at Author's Note Bookstore, as part of Independent Bookstore Day. Bardenwerper will be in store from 1:30 to 3 p.m. Other authors participating are Doogie Horner from 10:30 to noon and Mylisa Larsen from noon to 1:30 p.m. Author's Note is located at 519 Main St., Medina.