Town planners in Batavia heard from multiple Lewiston Road residents about potential traffic issues and a perceived lack of transparency before the board voted to approve a site plan for a new Tractor Supply location.

The site plan approval was the last step in a long process for developers, who are building a location at 8727 Lewiston Road, which will allow the company to close its smaller, older store on East Main Street Road in the Town of Batavia.

Lewiston Road residents expressed concern that the busy corridor already produces a significant number of accidents, a few deadly, and the town is planning too many projects for the area.

"We are not upset about potential growth in Batavia, the potential of people moving into the area, all of those things," said Tanni Bromley. "But these projects that you're bringing affect the people that have lived here for 30 years who are putting equity in the properties that will be affected by these things."

A proposed road that connects Lewiston Road with Veterans Memorial Drive, running behind The Home Depot, has been part of the master plan for decades.  The Tractor Supply project will start to make the first part of that road a reality, with some other potential developer building out the remainder of the road for some future, as yet, unknown project.

The property behind The Home Depot is farmland owned by the Call family.  It is earmarked in the master plan for commercial development.

So is the property on the other side of Lewiston Road, with another road proposal to connect Lewiston with Route 5.

There is also the potential of a solar farm going in near Lewiston Road and the Thruway.

"It doesn't seem transparent to the people affected, because you're not allowing us to know the information ahead of time," Bromley said. "I understand you have a process as far as lead agencies and all of those things that need to be approved. And you have to take it all into account at the same time. Otherwise, the traffic study that you paid for is totally obsolete. It doesn't make any sense to do one traffic study. And then another traffic study when something was already built, because it didn't take into account the other traffic study that might have to happen. It's all connected."

Terry Marshall said, "As everybody's talked about, you can't take each piece at a time. You have to look at the full plan when you're doing these things. This piece of a road here is going to go all the way up to Veterans. Now it's going to go all the way across the street, and it's obviously a very dangerous area. Right now, we're all very concerned."

Other residents raised similar issues.

Board member Steve Tanner noted that it isn't possible to do traffic studies for projects that don't exist.

"I think the issue is we haven't seen any of that, nor have there been any studies that say what that road would look like," Tanner said. "What would be the proposed businesses along the roadway? What kind of traffic? Would they connect to the roadway? What would it do to the traffic that would make improvements required or not required? We don't have any information. I can't show you something we don't have. Is there some sort of plan to put a road there? I don't know. It sounds like there is. It's in the plan, but it might be 10 years from now. How do I study so it might not even ever happen?"

Board Chair Kathy Jasinski said that the board has rules and laws it must follow that limited its ability to act in the way, perhaps, residents expected.

"If we were to turn a project down because we didn't like it, the town could be sued, and probably would be," Jasinski said. "We have to make sure it fits in the comprehensive plan, that it meets all the requirements of the town. And that's what we're here to do. We can't say who can buy land or sell land or any of those things. We're just here to review the projects."

Town Engineer Steve Mountain said that while these potential changes have been on the books for a while, there have also been studies, and there will be more done.

"There are a lot of accidents and the whole corridor of Lewiston Road," Mountain said. "As I mentioned, several meetings ago. We've done a traffic study for just Tractor Supply, but we also have in the works, a full corridor study, which will identify all of those future needs for all the future expansion."

After public comments, Peter Sorgi, attorney for the developers, made his planned presentation in advance on the board vote on the proposed site plan.

He noted the original application for the project was submitted seven months ago, on Oct. 4, and since then, the developers have gone through six required steps, with public meetings all along the way, to get to this final approval stage.

The project has been to the County Planning Board. It received an area variance from the Zoning Board of Appeals. It's been through the environmental review process. It had traffic studies completed. It's been approved for a water hook-up by the county in accordance with the county's Smart Growth plan. 

After his presentation, the board approved the site plan by a unanimous roll-call vote with a contingency for final engineering review.

Three car accident with injuries is reported in the area of 61 South Lake Avenue, Bergen.

Bergen Fire and Mercy EMS dispatched.

Press release:

The Batavia Police Department has charged a 12 and 13-year-old with Making a Terroristic Threat from an incident that occurred on April 20. The juveniles were attending Notre Dame High School and made a phone call to a suicide hotline. 

During the call, a threat to shoot up a school was made, with the addition of it happening immediately. Police officers responded to all schools in the county, placing each school in a "lockout/secure" status. 

During a "lockout/secure," no one is permitted to enter or exit the building, but instruction can continue as normal. On-scene detectives were able to quickly determine that the threat was not credible and all schools were released from the "lockout/secure." 

Additional information can not be released in reference to the case as all juvenile matters are confidential.

Press Release:

On Monday, May 1st, to kick off Teacher Appreciation Week, the Bergen Business and Civic Association handed out cookies to the teachers at Byron-Bergen Central School District to show love and appreciation for all that they do. 

Spoonful of Sugar Sweets created these beautiful and delicious cookies, and we handed them out from her vintage 1964 camper-turned-sweets truck. 

"We were thrilled to bring lots of smiles to the educators and staff that are such an important part of not only our families, but the whole Byron-Bergen community," said Nicky Russell.

Photos submitted by Nicky Russell

Press Release:

All residents/businesses and local traffic please be aware that Route 5 between Bank Street and Redfield Parkway will experience traffic delays beginning on Monday May 8, while Verizon will be closing one of the two west bound lanes starting at Bank Street ending at Redfield Parkway. This will be about a two week duration.

When Verizon’s operation gets to Route 98, Route 98 northbound will be closed for one day.

Please contact the NYS Department of Transportation at (585)343-0502 if there are any questions.

Treating someone struggling with substance use disorder can take many paths, but the road to recovery can become much easier to navigate with the help of specific clinically proven medications.

That premise was brought to light on Wednesday night by six professionals in the substance use field – including two who have experienced the pain of addiction – who participated in a “MOUD Anti-Stigma and Awareness Town Hall” event at the Genesee County Office for the Aging.

The session was sponsored by the HEAL Initiative and Genesee-Orleans-Wyoming Opioid Task Force, with Paul Pettit, public health director for Genesee & Orleans Health Departments, serving as moderator. About 45 people attended.

“I have sustained healthy sobriety for just under three years, and one of the tools I used to get that sobriety in my toolbox of recovery is buprenorphine,” said Reilly Climenhaga, a detox technician at Genesee/Orleans Council on Alcoholism and Substance Abuse, who said he has fought the substance use battle in his life for more than 20 years. “My issues and those of many others go much deeper than just the use of a chemical. There are many paths to sobriety for someone addicted to opiates, but I truly believe that using MOUD (Medication for Opioid Use Disorder) greatly increases a person's chances.”

The Food & Drug Administration has approved buprenorphine, methadone and naltrexone to manage opioid use disorder, and those medications are available through local agencies such as GCASA, Horizon Health Services and Rochester Regional Health.

Pettit pointed out that opioid use disorder has been recognized as a chronic disease and these medications work by relieving withdrawal symptoms, addressing psychological cravings and lowering the risk of return to use and overdose death.

“And that is the goal of The HEALing Communities study (a countywide initiative funded by the National Institutes of Health and Columbia University) – to reduce opioid deaths by 40 percent,” he said, noting that data shows that Genesee County has one of the highest opioid overdose death rates in New York.

Dr. Samantha Gray, PhD, an advanced practice clinician at Horizon Health Service’s Batavia location and an adjunct professor at the University of Buffalo, emphasized that MOUD not only helps with substance use disorder but also with the mental health aspect that usually is a key part of the treatment process.

“Over at Horizon, we are an integrated clinic. So, we assess for both substance use and mental health,” she said. “For those of you who are familiar with this population, those two things generally go hand in hand.”

Randi Johnson, a physician assistant at GCASA who works at the agency’s detoxification facility and Albion outpatient clinic, said MOUD, despite what people may think, is not a matter of trading one drug for another.

“I think we've probably all heard that at one point or another. But the important thing to remember is that we are treating this like a disease,” she said. “So, if you go to your primary care physician, you have high blood pressure, you have diabetes, you have any number of other common complaints, we're going to give you a medication to help treat that.

“The beauty of MOUD is that we can use this to take away any withdrawal symptoms for patients. This allows them clarity … it gives them a good baseline that they can function at, so that they can work with the counselors to change the behavioral aspect of this.”

Johnson said she has utilized buprenorphine micro-inductions – a gradual process -- to successfully initiate many patients on buprenorphine.

For Daniel Hauck, a clinical supervisor at Hope Haven Inpatient Rehabilitation, RRH Chemical Dependency unit in Batavia, medication for opioid use disorder has evolved over the years, leading to his acceptance of the practice.

“As I’ve seen it evolve, I've seen that there's better access to those medications. And as we really see better outcomes, it becomes much easier to engage a patient who feels hopeless in that moment, to actually be willing to come into that first appointment and come back to that second appointment,” he offered. “Oftentimes, that hopelessness comes from times where they have tried and feel like they failed.”

Hauck, along with panelist Kate Gregory, a licensed master social worker who manages the chemical dependency unit at RRH and Hope Haven, said they have made great strides in expanding services locally.

Gregory said it was a matter of figuring out how to serve patients better by developing immediate access.

“We launched a community-based care where we were able to go out and really serve patients, where they are literally meeting patients where they're at -- figuring out how not to let the EMR (electronic medical record) stop us from getting creative, and instead really expanding our services to meet the patient at any stage in their recovery,” she said.

When RRH added peer recovery advocates, that was a game-changer, she said.

One of those peers is Scott Davis, who also took part as a panelist at the public forum. Davis is in his second year as a recovery coach and certified peer advocate with RRH and is in recovery after many years of substance use.

In and out of legal trouble, including stints behind bars, Davis said that MOUD as prescribed by a physician was a key factor in his recovery.

“When I went to inpatient (treatment) in 2019, fentanyl was everything in my life,” he said. “I had cravings in rehab but I chose to go to a higher dose (of MOUD). I talked to my doctor, he had a plan, and when I got out I went to the Atwater (Community Residence) halfway house.”

It was there that Davis said he finally found the support system he needed, and eventually went to work for GCASA as a peer, before joining RRH as a recovery coach.

The panelists also shared their thoughts about the stigma attached to substance use disorder – perceptions among friends, family members and the community that can affect a patient’s self-worth.

“I think that, as a mental health or addiction therapist, it’s really important to just acknowledge that that exists. That validation alone can be huge,” Gregory said. “It’s also really important to infuse the culture of your agency with the right language and with the right education and with the right trainings and expectations around what creates a welcoming environment for people.”

She acknowledged the differing views of community members, and said that continuing education through public forums such as this town hall meeting will help to change perceptions.

Johnson said a major hurdle is that patients tend to believe the negative things that are said about them.

“As much as the community stigmatizes them at times, they come in and they believe that so wholeheartedly,” she said. “And so, one of the conversations I usually have with my patients, because almost every single one of them will come in and say I failed my urine test today, that it’s not pass or fail. We have that education in the visits with them because I don't want them to feel like one use constitutes a failure.”

Disclosure: Mike Pettinella is the publicist for GCASA.

About 45 people attended the two-hour session that explored the issues surrounding medication for opioid use disorder.

Somewhere between February’s beer walk and October’s assortment of wines, the Business Improvement District skipped right over a summer beverage for Batavia’s downtown walking events.

That’s now been resolved, says Shannon Maute, BID executive director, with the first-ever Cider Walk.

“It’s from 4 to 8 p.m. June 17, and 18 downtown businesses are participating,” Maute said. “Only 300 tickets are being sold. Top cideries will be pouring.”

Similar to Febrewary’s beer walk and the Fall Wine Walk, this one will feature 18 hard cider tastings at different stops throughout downtown locations.

New York State cideries will be featured, Maute said, and participants can sample “an amazing assortment of ciders, snacks and specials” during the four-hour event.

Tickets are $30 each, and there will be a discounted price of $10 for designated drivers. All participants must be at least 21 years of age.

“This walk will not disappoint,” she said.

As with each of these walks, she encourages folks to buy their tickets early as they tend to sell out before the event date. 

To get yours, go to BID Cider Walk.

Daniel L. Goodell is indicted on two counts of predatory sexual assault against a child, a Class A-II felony. Goodell is accused of committing rape in the first degree and of engaging in sexual intercourse as an adult, with a child of less than 13 years old, in the Town of Alexander sometime between Sept. 6 and Nov. 26, 2010.

Mone N. Wiggins is indicted on counts of grand larceny in the fourth degree, a Class E felony, conspiracy in the fifth degree, a Class A misdemeanor, and criminal impersonation in the second degree, a Class A misdemeanor. Wiggins is accused of stealing property valued at more than $1,000 from Ulta Beauty, 4193 Veterans Memorial Drive, Batavia, on Jan. 6.  Wiggins is accused of coordinating the crime with another person. Wiggins is also accused of falsely assuming the identity of another person. 

Angela N. Bennett and Schamya I. Brown are indicted on a count of grand larceny in the fourth degree, a Class E felony. Bennett and Brown are accused of stealing merchandise valued at more than $1,000 from Dick's Sporting Goods, 4180 Veterans Memorial Drive, Batavia, on May 23.

Jacob A. Richards is indicted on counts of grand larceny in the fourth degree, a Class E felony, and of criminal possession of a forged instrument in the second degree, a Class D felony. Richards is accused of stealing property valued at more than $1,000 in the City of Batavia on Oct. 4. He is accused of possessing a forged check from Tonawanda Valley Federal Credit Union.

Lance M. Mercado Sr. is indicted on a count of criminal possession of a weapon in the third degree, a Class D felony. Mercado is accused of possessing metal knuckles in the Town of Alexander on Dec. 29.

Ethan M. Conrad is indicated on DWI, a Class E felony. Conrad is accused of driving drunk in a 2013 Volkswagon on South Main Street Road, Town of Batavia, on Feb. 16. He was convicted of a previous DWI on April 28, 2021, in the CIty of Batavia.

Jonathan K. Banks is indicted on counts of criminal possession of a controlled substance in the fifth degree, a Class D felony, tampering with physical evidence, a Class E felony, and obstructing governmental administration in the second degree, a Class A misdemeanor. Banks is accused of passing 500 milligrams or more of cocaine while in the City of Batavia on Jan. 31, and attempting to conceal or destroy the evidence.

Jason R. Anderson is indicted on counts of robbery in the first degree, a Class B violent felony, criminal possession of a weapon in the third degree, petit larceny, a Class A misdemeanor, and menacing in the second degree, a Class A misdemeanor. Anderson is accused of stealing by threat of violence with a knife, bedsheets and a bottle from Walmart, 4133 Veterans Memorial Drive, Batavia, on Jan. 23. 

Demetrius W. Richardson is indicted on eight counts of criminal possession of a forged instrument in the first degree, a Class C felony, and one count of petit larceny, a Class A misdemeanor. Richardson is accused of trying to pass two forged $20 bills at Quicklees in the City of Batavia at 1:43 a.m. on Sept. 7., and four more at 4:15 a.m., and again at 4:28 a.m., and at 12:29 a.m. on Sept. 8.

James R. Cooper is indicted on a count of criminal possession of a forged instrument in the first degree, a Class C felony. Cooper is accused of possessing a forged $20 at Crosby's on Clinton Street Road, Batavia, on Dec. 27.

Anthony D. Rossi is indicted on counts of burglary in the third degree, a Class D felony, and criminal possession of a controlled substance in the seventh degree, a Class A misdemeanor. Rossi is accused of knowingly and unlawfully entering a building, a shed on Oak Orchard Road, Elba, with the intent to commit a crime within the structure. He is also accused of possessing cocaine.

Raymond M. Hardy is indicted on counts of attempted grand larceny in the second degree, a Class D felony, and criminal possession of stolen property in the fifth degree, a Class A misdemeanor. Hardy is accused of attempting to steal property valued in excess of $50,000 in the Town of Elba on Sept. 16.  He is accused of possessing a stolen motor vehicle certificate of title. 

Gary E. Jackson is indicted on counts of assault in the second degree, a Class D violent felony, resisting arrest, a Class A misdemeanor, obstructing governmental administration in the second degree, a Class A misdemeanor, and harassment in the second degree. Jackson is accused of causing physical injury to a police officer while resisting arrest in the City of Batavia on Aug. 14.

Shelby L. Hall is indicted on a count of grand larceny in the fourth degree, a Class E felony. Hall is accused of stealing a 2002 Chevrolet Silverado valued at more than $100 in the Town of Le Roy on Aug. 10.

Arthur L. Golden is indicted on a count of bail jumping in the second degree, a Class E felony. Golden is accused of not showing up in court as ordered on a felony charge in July.

Tuesday was graduation night in the Old Courthouse in Batavia for the seniors who have participated in Youth Court during their high school years.

Youth Court adjudicates actual cases involving youthful offenders. It's a voluntary alternative for young people facing disciplinary action.  The young offenders are those who are willing to admit to wrongdoing and submit to a hearing before their peers, who will recommend a sentence based on facts presented at trial. 

The goal of Youth Court, which began in Genesee County in 2008 and is coordinated by the Genesee County Youth Bureau, is to develop citizenship skills among students as well as help them develop decision-making tools and better understand the judicial process.

The graduation was timed to coincide with National Law Day.

Six of the nine school districts in Genesee County participate, and this year there were 23 students involved in Youth Court. 

Youth Court proceedings are confidential.

"The youth who come before our members really learn from their mistakes, and they don't end up somewhere else in our criminal justice system," said Chelsea Elliott, youth program coordinator.  "We hope they come here, they say, 'I don't want to get in trouble again,' and then they don't end up across the street at Family Court or anywhere else in our criminal justice system."

Following the brief graduation ceremony, the students performed a Mock Trial for the parents who attended to observe.

A vacant lot on Snipery Road in Pembroke is up for sale, but a search and survey process recently uncovered a surprise 133 years in the making.

As it turns out, a small portion of the property’s northwest corner is part of the tax map — but it is not part of the title.

This is according to the minutes of last week’s Pembroke Town Board meeting.

“Search work was done on this little parcel, and a deed was discovered from 1890 showing ownership to the Highway Commissioners of the Town of Pembroke,” according to the minutes.

“There was no other title or deed found moving the property out of the hands of the Highway Commissioners of the Town of Pembroke. We checked all public records, and due to the time frame, there are no records on file of the town owning the property and no board minutes since the Town Board minutes don’t begin until 1911.”

Board members were also informed that the current adjoining property owner has paid taxes on the property for an undisclosed number of years. To clear up the search and survey, and deed, the town must sell the property back to the adjoining property owner for a nominal fee.

Town Supervisor Thomas Schneider Jr. will speak with Town Assessor Tina Rados at an undisclosed time to get a value. Board members must pass a resolution by permissive referendum to finalize the sale, according to the minutes.

Press Release:

GO ART! is offering a special 2-session class in Ukrainian Egg Decorating, or pysanky, with master pysankar artist, Irene Grassman, as part of our Explore Art! program. The classes will be held on Saturday, May 6 and May 13, from 9:30 am to 12:30 pm at GO ART!, 201 East Main St., Batavia. 

The class is open to participants age 12 and older, those who sign up should expect to attend both classes to complete the project. The cost is $25 per person, in total, and all materials and tools will be provided. Contact GO ART! at 585-343-9313, email info@goart.org, or sign up online at goart.org. Registration is requested by May 3. 

Irene Czolacz Grassmann was born in Germany in a displaced persons camp and came to America with her parents in 1952. While quickly adapting and embracing the customs of their new homeland, Irene’s parents continued to observe and instill their beautiful Ukrainian culture and heritage in their children. 

From an early age, Irene was interested in various Ukrainian arts, including embroidery and ceramics, but fell in love with the art of writing Pysanky (decorated eggs) continues to this day. She has taught history and the process of the Pysanka through BOCES-Continuing Education Programs; the Castellani Art Museum at Niagara University; various cultural festivals in Buffalo, Kerhonkson, and Rochester, as well as teaching the Art of Pysanky at a Ukrainian American Youth Association Arts and Crafts Camp in Ellenville, NY in the Catskills for 17 years.

Participants will learn about traditional motifs, symbols, designs and colors, many of which are used to wish good luck and prosperity to the receiver of the egg. The word Pysanka is derived from the Ukrainian word, “pysaty” which means to write—which is how artists describe the process of creating their beautiful and intricate designs.

File photo provided by GO Art!.

Ginger is a bit lost, and maybe this kitty belongs to you.  David Austin said the feline had a red collar on when he first spotted the beauty in the area of State and MacArthur.  The collar is gone, but the cat is still in the neighborhood.  He would like to reunite the cat with its proper home.  He can be reached at  (585) 300-3441 or Christina can be reached at (585) 297-3082.

Tournament Director Tom Turnbull is sticking to "23rd Annual" for the 2023 Rotary Baseball Tournament, even though there have only been 18 champs actually crowned over the two-plus decades since the first game.

Rainouts and two seasons lost to COVID-19 have kept a few names off the championship trophy -- which is new this year (see photo above) after the former trophy filled up with the plaques of previous winners.

Notre Dame's coach, Rick Rapone, at Tuesday's Rotary Club meeting in Batavia, called it the premier tournament in the area that every local baseball player is excited to compete in.

The first pitch Saturday is at 11 a.m. with the battle of the Blue Devils, Batavia vs. Attica.  Game 2 is at 2 p.m. when two hot teams face each other for the second time this season -- Oakfield-Alabama vs. Notre Dame.  Notre Dame is a pitching powerhouse, and the Hornets pack a lot of offensive punch. The last time these two teams met, Notre Dame prevailed.

The championship game is tentatively scheduled for 7 p.m. on Saturday.  However, if Attica beats Batavia, the game will be played at 2 p.m. on Sunday because Attica has its senior prom on Saturday night.

Admission is $5 for an adult all-day pass and $3 for a student or senior all-day pass. All proceeds from the tournament will help benefit Batavia Rotary Club charities.

A walkability task force has tentatively put one foot in front of the other and landed at the Bank Street crosswalk between Main Street and Washington Avenue.

The task force, made up of six members of the county that include public health, planning, transportation, Office for the Aging, the Youth Bureau and an elected official, were given an assignment to take photos of various “walkability/rollability” successes, challenges and surprises in Batavia — one of the largest areas for pedestrians — and one spot popped up most frequently, participants Paul Pettit, director of the Public Health Department, and Kaitlin Pettine, communications rep for the department.

“Based on this assignment, one area that we believed walkability/rollability could be improved was Bank Street between Washington Avenue and East Main Street,” Pettine said to The Batavian on behalf of both. 

Backing up to the beginning of this project: It stems from a $10,000 grant to fund a walkability virtual academy for communities to explore and solve issues of poor walkability for pedestrians. 

This involved a training seminar and a photo assignment. Another step is likely to be some type of demonstration, perhaps at the site of the crosswalk, for the potential dangers and safety measures that can be taken, OFA Director and task force member Diana Fox said.

“It would be a pop-up demonstration,” she said. 

One of the problems with that section, with Bank Street itself, is that it is quite wide, and the city may be involved by narrowing the width and “shrinking the distance of the crosswalk,” she said.

“And so the pop-up is being able to do some demonstrations and purchase materials to create different crosswalks and designs to make some green space so that the edge of the curb comes out more so that you have to slow things down,” Fox said during this week’s Human Services meeting. “So that's one of the things that we're looking at doing with that, and creating a whole demonstration. We’ll probably do it by the end of the summer and in September.”

A video was made in May 2019 to promote that very crosswalk and how to ensure safety when crossing. Former City Manager Martin Moore and Former County Manager Jay Gsell assisted folks across the walk, offering advice in a campaign for safety awareness and education, Gsell said.

"We find this intersection is a heavily-used pedestrian traffic area, and there has been too many pedestrians 'near misses' between vehicles and pedestrians," Gsell said. "We said, 'let's make an effort to heighten awareness, and to also start the process to put signs up."

People park across the street, "like they're supposed to," he said, and then proceed to use the crosswalk, as they hope it's safe -- but that isn't always the case. Motorists sometimes blow through the walk without stopping or even slowing down. 

As for the task force's vision, this is all in the conceptual phases right now.

The Batavian asked if members of Healthy Living and GLOW YMCA would be part of this effort, given the brand new campus being built adjacent to the crosswalk.

“Healthy Living/YMCA folks were not involved in the academy, but will be invited to the table along with other interested stakeholders as the process moves forward,” Pettine said.  

Will the entire grant amount go towards the demonstration to be done in downtown Batavia or to be used for various walkability efforts?  
“The goal of the Walkability Virtual Academy (WVA) was to bring stakeholders together to participate in this academy so that we have the foundation for future planning around walkability/movability in our county. We hope that we can bring the knowledge learned to towns, hamlets, and villages to improve the collaboration among partners regarding future designs and plans that relate to walkability and movability,” Pettine said.  “Having this baseline work completed will also position us to be more competitive in future grants to address initiatives throughout the county."

How do you see the money being spent, and is there a chance that some of it could actually go to implement ideas that the task force comes up with?
“The WVA Taskforce is still in the planning process for how the $10,000 will be used. We just completed the academy classes and are in the process of developing an action plan,” she said. “What is written in the action plan will determine what the $10,000 will be used for. The funding could be used for pop-up demonstrations as well as walkability improvements.”

Since this is a federal grant, the task force must meet compliance obligations to receive the funding.

The Batavian reached out to Chief Shawn Heubusch for information related to the Bank Street crosswalk, and this story will be updated when those answers are received. 

To watch the entire video recorded in 2019, go HERE.

Are you a pedestrian in the city of Batavia? What do you think is the most dangerous “walkability” section here? Let us know at joanne@thebatavian.com.

Press Release:

Congresswoman Claudia Tenney (NY-24) announced today her May mobile office hours. During these hours, constituents can receive one-on-one assistance from Tenney’s team of expert caseworkers on issues regarding federal agencies such as the Veterans Administration, Social Security Administration, Internal Revenue Service, or Passport Agency.

If you are interested in attending any of these mobile office hours, please schedule an appointment by contacting Tenney’s District Office at (315) 236-7088 or walk in at any time to receive assistance. Please note, scheduling an appointment ahead of time will allow for an expedited casework experience.

In addition to Tenney’s mobile office hours during the month of May, Tenney maintains three full-time offices in Lockport, Victor, and Oswego, with regular satellite hours in Watertown every Tuesday 9 a.m. - 1 p.m. The Lockport (716-514-5130), Victor (585-869-2060), and Oswego (315-236-7088) offices are open Monday through Friday from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. Additional information on casework services and office locations can be found at tenney.house.gov.

Mobile office hours will be available at the following times and locations:

County: Genesee
Date: Wednesday, May 10
Time: 10 a.m. – 12 p.m.
Place: Genesee County Office Building
Address: 7 Court St., Batavia, NY 14020

Photo: File photo of Claudia Tenney by Howard Owens

Sign up for Early Access Pass by clicking here.

Press release:

Congresswoman Claudia Tenney (NY-24) today released the following statement on the passage of New York State Senate Bill 7855. 

This bill, which was passed as part of the New York State budget, changes the structure of Western Regional Off-Track Betting (OTB). The change will effectively diminish the role and input of rural Western New York counties.

Local leaders from across Western New York joined Tenney in condemning the highly politicized backroom deal, which upends decades of precedent to reduce the input of rural communities and hand disproportionate power to Democrat-leaning cities. The decision was made without any input or consultation from regional stakeholders. 

“Negotiated and agreed upon in the dead of night without any input outside of Erie County and the City of Buffalo, the termination of every appointed commissioner of the Western Regional Off Track Betting Corporation is an attack on rural New York counties,” said Congresswoman Tenney. “For half a century, the Western Regional OTB has operated under shared control between 15 county governments and the cities of Rochester and Buffalo, promoting economic growth, jobs, and tax revenue across Western New York. With the passage of New York’s Big Ugly Budget, the Western Regional OTB has been politicized, and the role of rural counties has been greatly diminished, with far more power now set to go to the cities. Now more than ever, when crime rates are skyrocketing, taxes are soaring, and people are fleeing the state at unprecedented rates, Governor Hochul should be focused on correcting these problems, not destroying the Western Regional OTB.”  

"The Western Regional OTB language snuck into the state budget is Albany's latest attack on rural communities. Governor Hochul and Albany Democrats have conspired to eliminate the longstanding arrangement that allowed 15 counties and the cities of Rochester and Buffalo to have balanced representation on the OTB board. The voice of rural counties is being smothered out simply because they are represented by Republicans. This is nothing more than a partisan power grab disguised as reform," said New York State Senate Republican Leader Rob Ortt.

“With the proposed legislation, including changes to the language in New York State’s Budget agreement regarding the Western Regional Off-Track Betting Corporation, will limit the number of representation Cayuga County has and negatively impact our county. This new plan will immediately remove the current OTB Directors and create a new board, giving more power to larger municipal governments in the public benefit corporation’s service area and taking away the voices of both smaller and rural counties. Ultimately, I strongly oppose any changes to this new agreement as it will create an unfair representation and take economic benefits away from Cayuga County and its surrounding counties,” said David Gould, Cayuga County Legislature Chair.

The proposed legislation to change the membership of the Board of Directors of the Western Regional Off-Track Betting Corporation will negatively alter the balanced representation formula previously provided by the State Legislature and the Governor. This agreement has proven to be fair and impartial by affording each municipality that comprises the Corporation an equitable voice in all Board matters. I strongly oppose any changes to this agreement as it will cause undue harm to Livingston County and its governance and economic interests in the Corporation,” said David LeFeber, Livingston County Board of Supervisors Chair.

 ​​“This is just one more example of Governor Hochul and a downstate, socialist-dominated Legislature usurping the home rule of upstate counties, ignoring 50 years of shared governance by 17 partner counties of OTB in favor of a blatant, and we believe illegal, power grab. The fact they did so under the cover of darkness with not so much as a conversation with the counties impacted is the height of arrogance and abuse of power. We will talk with our partner counties and decide on what steps to take next,” said Niagara County Legislator Majority Leader Randy Bradt.

"This proposed legislation being rammed through would cut the representation of Oswego County down. Diluting the voices of rural counties would only serve to shift the economic benefits away from Oswego and concentrate power to larger counties. Oswego County stands firmly against this,” said James Weatherup, Chair of the Oswego County Legislature. 

“Genesee County, the host county of Western New York Off Track Betting, calls on Governor and State elected officials to halt the assault on rural counties who own, provide guidance and leadership to the most successful OTB operation in NYS. Senate leaders are pushing to restructure the board of director's voting power to two-thirds of the urban counties of Erie and Monroe and the cities of Buffalo and Rochester. Through S7855A resetting the rural counties to 37 percent of weighted voting, from 1 entity/ 1 vote structure since inception of WOTB, 50 years ago. The successful leadership of WOTB is due to consistent leadership by rural counties that provided seed funds to operate and own WOTB. Our rural county leadership has experience in managing municipalities, providing value to owners of WOTB and especially safeguarding investments made by our taxpayers of Genesee County,” said Shelley Stein, Genesee County Legislature Chair.

Once again, Albany is okay with large counties taking away the representation of smaller and rural counties in a power grab ... this time, it is the board of directors of Western Regional Off-Track Betting/Batavia Downs Gaming that is the target. Currently, each member county gets equal representation, but not in the new plan, weighted voting will give control to the large counties, especially Erie County. Governor Hochul should line-item veto this legislation that hurts small counties like Orleans. Fifty years ago, by the Home Rule vote, OTB was created, and representation balanced and fair. This attempted change is wrong,” said Lynne Johnson, Orleans County Legislature Chair.

“To take a fair voting system that has worked for over 50 years and turn it into an unfair politicized system is no more than three people in a backroom politics. Its sole purpose is to take our voices away, and it will do just that. If it’s not broken, don’t fix it. I urge my colleagues to vote no,” said Chairman Michael Enslow, Seneca County Board of Supervisors.

“Wayne County needs equal representation in regard to the OTB setup. There are a lot of people that come from Wayne County that come to participate at the OTB, and we need a voice in what goes on there,” said Phil Eygnor, Wayne County Board of Supervisors Chair.  

Press Release:

The Paolo Busti Cultural Foundation Scholarship Awards Dinner will be held on Wednesday, June 7 at 6 p.m. The Foundation is excited to be able to celebrate its heritage together. It promises to be a wonderful evening of friendship, pride and of course a delicious Italian food, it will be hosted at Batavia Downs. 

Tickets are $35.00 and may be purchased from Board members and Ben’s Appliance. The Foundation will also have tickets available to purchase for our Spring 20/20 Raffle, which supports our Senior Scholarships.

The Foundation is pleased to honor our 2023 Outstanding Italian-American, James Saraceni, on this evening as well.

Kaylie F. Kratz, a Notre Dame High School senior and is the daughter of John and Jill Kratz. She plans to attend SUNY Cortland majoring in Early Childhood Education. Kaylie is a member of National Honor Society and was named Student of the Month for Excellent Academic Involvement 9th thru 12th grade. She also accepted the Mercedes Mahoney Mancuso Memorial Award for students excelling academically despite obstacles. 

Kaylie was awarded Future CEO Award for demonstrating growth and excellence. She also was Employee of the Month in response to her leadership in the workplace.

Kaylie participated in Environmental Action club and LE3. She was a after school/summer camp activity coordinator 9th thru 12th grade and participated in chorus at Notre Dame.

Kaylie volunteered at St. Joseph’s Regional School for various fundraisers and at the Notre Dame high school office. She also prepared healthy meals at Commit to Well to donate to the food pantry and hospital. 

Kaylie’s experience growing up Italian, inspired her to see the love that family shares for each other and the deep admiration for the Italian Culture. She will always remember her Italian experience that will remind her to honor her culture.

Cooper J. Fix, a Batavia High School senior and is the son of Aaron and Kristen Fix. He has been accepted at Oswego State University and plans to major in exercise science/physical therapy. Cooper was inducted into the National Honor Society for 8th-12th grade and National Art Honor Society for 11th and 12th grade.

Cooper participated in link crew, swimming, football, track and field, tennis and source of strength just to name a few extracurricular activities. He was the recipient of the 2022 Judd-Gouinlock Citizenship Award and
2023 NYSPHAA Sportsmanship Award.

Volunteering is a big part of Cooper’s life; he volunteers at community closet, soup supper and is a collector and greeter for Sunday Mass at Ascension Parish. He has been a part of National Honor Society projects, Source of Strength community projects and Make a Difference Day.

Cooper quoted Benjamin Franklin “Never base your life’s decisions on advice from people who don’t have to deal with the results of your decisions.” This quote has guided Cooper to support his ability to lead and know life is what you make it!

Sean Czyryca, a senior at Le Roy High School and is the son of Michele and Mark Fuller. He will be attending Hillborough College in Tampa, Florida majoring in General Studies.

Sean participated in soccer, baseball, football, basketball, chorus, drama club and peer counseling. He is a member of St. Joseph’s Parish in LeRoy and Our Lady of Mercy RC Church.

Sean volunteers at Eagle Star, DePaul and is a Blood Donor. Sean enjoys to sing, especially a Frank Sinatra tune, and of course, dance!

He stated that participating in school musicals has given him the confidence to pursue his future career goals.

Sean believes growing up in an Italian environment has shown him love for family, church and food!

Aden J. Chua, a Batavia High School senior who will be graduating Summa Cum Laude and is the son of Allison and David Chua. Aden plans to attend Genesee Community College and then further his education at a 4-year college to achieve his goal as a Screen Writer and Theology major. He is a member of the National Honor Society, Tri-M Musical Honor Society and was offered Key Scholar Grant from Elmira College.

He has participated in many activities: jazz band, musical demons, concert band, chorus, strings in sync. orchestra, marching band, production club, musicals, drama club and cross country. The clubs he participated are: Source of Strength, Z club, Umoja, baking club, video game club, board game club, and was a Mr. Batavia candidate.

Aden volunteers at the Community Closet, The Veterans Home, ARC and the Community Garden along with 5k Race for Autism. He attends BASE Classes at Northgate Free Methodist Church, a participant in overnight camping trips.

Aden believes bring Italian means putting your family above all except God. Being there for your family though difficult times and joyous times is what accomplishes a full life.

Michael A Marchese, a Summa Cum Laude recipient and senior at Batavia High School is the son of Paul and Sandra Marchese. He will be attending Paul Smith College to earn a Bachelor Degree in Environmental Science. He was inducted into the National Honor Society and received Service and Academic Excellence Award in his sophomore year. 

Michael has participated in band for 8 years in the percussion section and orchestra for 12 years as a cellist. He participated in cross country and track for 6 years, earning a section patch for cross country for 2 years. He also participated in indoor track for 5 years earning a sectional patch and Tennis for 1 year.

Michael is completing his Eagle Scout Award by participating in The Boy Scouts, Scouts BSA(12 years), Senior Patrol Leader and Assistant Patrol Leader. He also participated for 2 years in the National Leadership Training. 

He volunteers for the Rotary Club Fly-in Breakfast, Student Council, Boy Scouts fundraisers and community service programs.

Michael’s Italian Heritage has taught him to connect with family. Knowing when the pasta is done boiling, learning to be a speaker and be heard and a good cook! Now that’s Italian!

It wasn’t very long after Sweet Betty’s closed before the void was palpable to the Le Roy community, Kristen Beardsley says.

“I have a lot of friends and family in Le Roy and we could tell they were really missing this place. And it's kind of like, there's really not a lot of places to eat in Le Roy, to sit down and eat,” Beardsley said to The Batavian during Wednesday’s reopening of Sweet Betty’s. “People just like to come here. The kids like to come here after school. It was nice for kids that were in sports. 

"I see it as a mom of two kids that when kids are in sports, there's not a lot of time, and on weekends, there's not a lot of time to be making dinners. So it just makes it accessible,” she said.

Beardsley, head chef and partner Steven Kelso and silent partner Gabe Dean approached former owner Gabrielle (Gabby) Keister, who closed the Main Street restaurant in October 2022, in January of this year, closing on the purchase in February 2023.

Much of the menu will remain the same — chicken sandwiches, tenders and souvlaki wraps, Italian sausage hoagies, cajun popcorn shrimp and burgers a la cheddar bacon, jalapeño bacon jam, mushroom swiss, and other varieties; assorted salads, sides and homemade desserts.

One change is that pizza was removed from the menu, since the new owners figured that’s a food item that can be purchased elsewhere in lieu of their menu, which features specialty fare.

New offerings include Kelso’s mac & cheese creations, from the reuben with corned beef, sauerkraut and swiss cheese to the Betty Bomber with sliced steak, peppers and onion. Kelso also makes daily soups, such as Wednesday’s cream of broccoli and Italian wedding.

With more than 20 years of experience in the restaurant business, including several at O’Lacy’s, Kelso of Batavia adds the kitchen element to Beardsley’s front-of-the-shop serving experience as a waitress.

They have several employees, including at some point Beardsley’s children, Lily, 16, and 14-year-old Kaleb; and Jo Berl, whose smile is a natural behind the counter serving up hard and soft ice cream cones and meals in the bright dining area.

“It was a very popular place before that and Gabby and Scott set a high standard, so it's just being prepared to continue what they started,” Beardsley, of East Bethany, said. “So, we're all prepared.”

Sweet Betty’s is at 15 Main St., Le Roy. Hours are 11 a.m. to 9 p.m. Wednesday through Saturday, noon to 8 p.m. Sunday and 11 a.m. to 8 p.m. Monday.

For more information, call 585-502-6084. or go HERE.