At least one City of Batavia resident is fed up with the traffic jams at the Dunkin Donuts at 405 West Main St. and ambulance sirens in the vicinity of Oak and Union streets.

Speaking during the public comments portion of tonight’s City Council Conference Meeting at the City Hall Council Board Room, Michael Barrett urged council members to look into a way to alleviate both situations.

The owner of Barrett’s Batavia Marine Sporting Goods reported that vehicles lined up for coffee and donuts are infringing upon his property and, moreover, said he is afraid that a major accident is just waiting to happen.

“They’re blocking my east entrance to come into the store and they’re backing up onto the (West Main) street and forming a line,” he said after the meeting. “So, they’re taking one lane of the street and blocking it off just so they can go into Dunkin Donuts.”

He noted that there is a sign there that indicates no left hand turns, but it isn’t being heeded.

“I’ve put signs out; I’ve put pylons out, and I see that Arby’s has got a little bit of that and downtown Tim Hortons had that until they had that extension put on the back part of their lot,” he continued. “If the police would just park out front for a couple days and just keep the people from turning and keep the traffic flowing, it wouldn’t be so bad.

“There’s going to be one heck of an accident coming one of these days. They’re going to come barreling down the street and ram right into somebody that’s parked in front of my store.”

During the meeting, he expressed his frustration to Council, stating he doesn’t know what to do next.

As far as the sirens are concerned, Barrett, who lives on nearby Richmond Avenue, said it seems to be constant as ambulances speed south on Oak Street before exiting onto Union Street to get to West Main.

Council members agreed with Barrett’s observations, with Council President Eugene Jankowski Jr. asking City Manager Rachael Tabelski to see if the ambulances could sometimes use a different route that could be just as fast and to study traffic patterns at Dunkin Donuts during its peak times.

“I can hear them from where I live (on Otis Street),” Jankowski said about the sirens. “Maybe they could vary their routes a little bit … but we will let them know there has been a complaint.”

Council member John Canale said he checked into the siren issue in the past, and acknowledged that “it’s almost constant and very unsettling.”

It was asked if the ambulances could turn on the sirens only when they approached intersections, but Canale and Tabelski said that they have to have them on for insurance purposes.

Citing the “need for speed,” the Genesee County Legislature at a special meeting this afternoon approved a resolution to accept a pair of bids for the construction of a new water pump station along Golden Road in the Town of Chili to advance Phase 2 of the Countywide Water Project.

Legislators awarded the general construction contract to C.P. Ward, Inc., of Scottsville, for an amount not to exceed $2,825,533, and the electrical construction contract to Kaplan-Schmidt Electric, Inc., of Rochester, for an amount not to exceed $595,000.

The $3,420,533 total will be funded from bonds issued by the Monroe County Water Authority for the Phase 2 construction.

Prior to voting, County Highway Superintendent Tim Hens stressed that timing was the major factor in calling the meeting outside of the board’s normal schedule,

“The biggest concern is the need for speed, obviously, with the supply chain disruptions we’re seeing with COVID and long lead times, especially on things such as motor controls and pumps,” he said. “So, we want to give contractors the most time as possible to get the project completed.”

Hens said the completion date in the contract is June 1, 2022, but it could take up to eight months to receive the pumps. Thus, the importance of awarding the contracts to get materials ordered while the building is being erected.

He also pointed out that the cost is about $600,000 more than expected, but not as much as it could have been when factoring in the increased costs due to COVID.

“The original total bid package for the general and the electrical when we were designing this about two years ago was around $2.8 million,” he said. “With what we’ve seen with COVID bidding recently, I was really nervous that we would be up around $4 million. So, I’m actually very pleased that are inflation was somewhat muted.”

A car reportedly involved in a motor vehicle accident on Clinton Street Road at Jericho road has reportedly fled the scene.

A passenger called dispatch to report that the driver of the car he was in, a blue Chevy Impala, fled the scene and then stopped on Dublin Road and the driver got out and ran into the woods.

The driver is described as a white male, about 6' 2" wearing sneakers, jeans, and no shirt.

A license plate for the car was recovered at the accident scene.  The caller is the registered owner of the car.

The people in the other car are reportedly not injured.

UPDATE 5:27 p.m.: Correction on injuries: One person complaining of neck pain, requesting ambulance transport to a hospital.

Press release:

“According to the CDC COVID Data Tracker (https://covid.cdc.gov/covid-data-tracker/#county-view) Orleans County has increased to substantial level of community transmission,” stated Paul Pettit, Director of the Genesee and Orleans County Health Departments (GO Health).  “Genesee County is currently maintaining a moderate level of transmission for COVID-19.  This is not surprising as Niagara, Erie, and Monroe Counties are all considered to be at the substantial level of transmission.”

“We continue to monitor the data and update the Genesee – Orleans – Wyoming COVID Case Tracker map daily (https://experience.arcgis.com/experience/5f8401b0516247b490934303e3975e49/),” stated Pettit. 

Although we are not sending daily data updates to the media, the GO Health website is updated on Monday’s and Thursday’s with COVID-19 data and the public can access this information by visiting our website at www.GOHealthNY.org and clicking on Emerging Issues. 

Both Genesee and Orleans are experiencing an uptick of new cases of COVID-19, including some cases where the individuals are fully vaccinated.  This is not unexpected as we are seeing this across the state and nation.  This is what viruses do. Even for those who are fully vaccinated there is a chance the individual may become infected with COVID-19, especially due to the high transmission rate of the Delta Variant.  Although being fully vaccinated may not completely protect someone from getting COVID-19, the vast majority of those who have been fully vaccinated and have become infected had little or no symptoms or serious complications.

It is important for everyone who is not vaccinated and eligible, to get vaccinated as soon as possible. The vaccination is free and clinics are held weekly at each of the health departments (visit: https://bit.ly/GOHealthCOVID for updated clinics and locations). Pharmacies and health care providers also provide the COVID-19 vaccine and you can visit (www.vaccines.gov) for a location near you. If anyone has concerns about whether or not the vaccine is right for them, we encourage them to talk to their primary care provider.  

Per the CDC recommendations for communities with substantial or high spread of COVID-19 we encourage everyone to continue, vaccinated and unvaccinated, to continue practicing the following public health prevention precautions: 

• Avoid touching your eyes, nose and mouth with unwashed hands. 
• Wash your hands often with soap and water. 
• If water is not readily available, use hand sanitizer. 
• Wash and sanitize frequently shared/touched items.
• Stay 6 feet away from others and avoid close contact with people who are sick.
• Avoid crowds and poorly ventilated spaces.
• Wear a face mask indoors in public if you are in an area of substantial or high transmission. 
• Monitor your health daily and stay home if you are experiencing any symptoms.
• Get tested if you are experiencing symptoms and self-isolate until you get your results back. If you test positive for COVID, you are to isolate for 10 days. 

“The best way to protect yourself from COVID-19 or health complications from COVID-19 is to get vaccinated,” stated Pettit. “Now is the best time to take advantage of getting vaccinated for COVID-19 before the new school term starts and the weather changes and we start moving back indoors”.   

A caller to emergency dispatch reports there are people in the water at Indian Falls.

The caller stated that the people parked their cars in the Log Cabin parking lot, on the south side of the falls, and walked around to the north side to enter the water.

A deputy is responding.

UPDATE 4:15 p.m.: The caller is no longer at the restaurant but provided a description of the vehicles to pass along to a deputy.  The deputy has found the vehicles.

Thomas Matthew Bergman, 22, of Park Road, Batavia, is charged with forcible touching. Bergman is accused of touching the intimate parts of a female Uber driver at 12:49 a.m., Aug. 1, at the Relax Inn on Park Road, Batavia.  Bergman was arraigned in Town of Batavia Court and released on his own recognizance. 

Karrie Morrow, 38, of Batavia, is charged with criminal possession of a substance 7th. Morrow's car was reportedly stopped at 1:15 a.m. on East Avenue on July 31 by Officer John Gombos.  Police say K-9 "Batu" alerted on Murrow's purse on the front passenger seat of the vehicle. The purse allegedly contained "illegal contraband." Morrow was processed at the jail and issued an appearance ticket.

Luis Santiago-Arroyo, 33, of Batavia, is charged with criminal contempt 2nd. Santiago-Arroyo allegedly violated an order of protection by calling the protected party.  He was issued an appearance ticket.

Alex Dumbleton, 28, of Batavia, was arrested in Rochester on three bench warrants out of Batavia and for failing to appear as directed on one arrest warrant. The arrest warrant was for alleged burglary 2nd and criminal contempt 2nd. Dumbleton was arraigned in City Court and ordered held on bail pending his next court appearance on Aug. 25.

Carlene Mahoney, 59, of Batavia, is charged with petit larceny. Mahoney allegedly took produces from a store on Ellicott Street without paying on July 28. She was issued an appearance ticket.

Brittany Lynn Bolton, 21, of Main Road, Stafford, is charged with petit larceny. Bolton is accused of stealing $293.80 in merchandise from Walmart in the Town of Batavia.  She was issued an appearance ticket.

Joseph Michael Dispenza, 27, of Lewiston Road, Batavia, is charged with two counts of harassment 2nd. Dispenza was allegedly involved in an altercation with two people outside the Autozone at 8347 Lewiston Road, Batavia.  He was issued an appearance ticket.

Carl Eugene Goodman, 34, of Main Street, Yorkshire, is charged with criminal contempt 2nd. Goodman allegedly violated a stay-away order of protection by calling the protected party multiple times for no legitimate purpose. Goodman was issued an appearance ticket.

Teresa Marie Stephenson, 31, of Cedar Street, Batavia, and Justin Thomas Stephenson, 36, of Cedar Street, Batavia, are charged with trespass.  Teresa and Justin are accused of being inside a building on Bethany Center Road Bethany, at 2:54 a.m., Aug. 6, without permission.  Both defendants were issued appearance tickets.

Anthony L. Vanelli, 43, of Batavia, is charged with petit larceny. Vanelli was arrested by State Police in the Town of Batavia at 6:10 p.m., July 28. No further details were released. He was issued an appearance tick.

Photos by Philip Casper

Memorial Final Ride for Dean Wright - A riderless horse with boots turned backward is led around the arena to honor a lost cowboy

The heat index today could reach as high as 100 degrees according to the National Weather Service has issued a heat advisory for the region.

The index will at least hit 95 degrees.

High heat and humidity may cause heat-related illness.

The NWS advises: 

Drink plenty of fluids, stay in an air-conditioned room, stay out of the sun, and check up on relatives and neighbors. Young children and pets should never be left unattended in vehicles under any circumstances. 

Take extra precautions if you work or spend time outside. When possible reschedule strenuous activities to early morning or evening. Know the signs and symptoms of heat exhaustion and heatstroke. Wear lightweight and loose-fitting clothing when possible. To reduce risk during outdoor work, the Occupational Safety and Health Administration recommends scheduling frequent rest breaks in shaded or air-conditioned environments. Anyone overcome by heat should be moved to a cool and shaded location. Heatstroke is an emergency! Call 9 1 1.

Press release from AAA:

Today’s national average price for a gallon of gasoline is $3.19, up one cent in the past week. One year ago, the price was $2.18. The New York State average is $3.21 – up one cent from last week. A year ago, the NYS average was $2.26. AAA Western and Central New York (AAA WCNY) reports the following averages:

• Batavia - $3.21 (up two cents since last week)
• Buffalo - $3.15 (no change since last week)
• Ithaca - $3.20 (no change since last week)
• Rochester - $3.20 (up one cent since last week)
• Rome - $3.26 (up one cent since last week)
• Syracuse - $3.19 (up one cent since last week)
• Watertown - $3.23 (up one cent since last week)

In its latest weekly report, the Energy Information Administration (EIA) reported that gas demand increased from 9.33 million b/d to 9.78 million b/d. Not only is the demand reading very robust for peak driving season, but 2% higher than the same time period in 2019. Additionally, total domestic gas stocks declined by 5.3 million bbl to 228.9 million bbl. These trends, combined with high crude prices, have helped to increase pump prices. As crude prices remain high, though back below $70/bbl, AAA expects the national average to remain above $3 per gallon throughout the summer.

From Gas Buddy:

"Motorists have seen average gas prices edge slightly higher over the last week, even as the price of oil saw selling pressure. This leads me to believe that the tide may soon turn on gas prices, so long as we don't see hurricanes target the country. In addition, GasBuddy data showed a decline in gasoline demand last week as we inch towards the end of the summer driving season, a time when demand softens," said Patrick De Haan, head of petroleum analysis for GasBuddy. "With the factors that drive prices higher now softening, I'm hopeful that in the next few weeks, we'll start to see average gas prices declining. However, motorists shouldn't get too excited yet - larger declines will likely not come until late September and October, as we transition back to cheaper winter gasoline."

Village of Corfu? In.

Town of Darien? Out.

Town of Pembroke? To be determined.

That’s the status of three municipalities on the western side of Genesee in the county’s quest to achieve updated water supply agreements from all towns and villages leading up to a proposed $10 million annual sales tax distribution plan.

Corfu, Darien and Pembroke had been holding out on signing the amended water agreements since early July when the Genesee County Legislature introduced its potential solution to revenue distribution by linking it to a reworking of current water supply pacts.

On July 28^th, Corfu trustees voted to accept the agreement.

Last week, Darien Town council members voted, 5-0, to not accept the county’s offer.

And this coming Thursday (Aug. 12), the Pembroke Town Board is scheduled to vote on the issue.

A $10 MILLION OFFER

As previously reported, the county needs universal buy-in to the updated water agreements to set a plan in motion to distribute $10 million in sales tax revenue to municipalities over the next 38 years.

Without all towns and villages opting in, the county is proposing to distribute $7 million in annual sales tax revenue and another $3 million in other revenue on a periodic basis over the next 38 years. Municipalities not opting in would receive less in revenue distribution than expected to allow for the equalization of water surcharge revenue.

Contacted Sunday, County Manager Matt Landers explained that money would have to be withheld from communities that don’t sign the agreement to ensure that the water fund is made whole.

“In those cases, it will be the entire community paying for it and not just the water users,” he said. “For the Town of Darien, we’ll make sure water consumption is covered at $1.20 (per 1,000 gallons) if it can’t be covered by a surcharge because there’s a valid contract in place only charging them 60 cents. So, we’ll just have to equalize that through lower revenue distribution payments.”

Landers said he respects Darien’s decision, but welcomes further discussion with Darien Supervisor Steve Ferry Jr. and the board.

“We would love to have a $10 million sales tax sharing agreement in place for the next 38 years to provide that guaranteed revenue source to all towns and villages, but Darien is going to do what it feels is best,” he said. “I understand he’s (Ferry) doing what he believes is in the best interests of his constituents, which a town supervisor would do. I happen to disagree.”

DARIEN BOARD NOT CONVINCED

Ferry said his board rejected the county’s idea for several reasons.

“We have a water agreement in place,” he said. “This is the same resolution that they offered in 2018 and the board, then, rejected it. It was a totally different board but the outcome was the same, a vote of five to nothing.”

He said Darien officials are looking for a master plan to see “what was going to happen in the future” and also for movement toward an equitable, unified water rate in the county.

“We felt that our positioning was that if we signed it, they would still ignore us. So, we did not sign it because it is the only bargaining position that we have,” he advised.

Ferry said the county “ditched the sales tax agreement in 2018 with the towns and village in favor of a contract with the City of Batavia, and now they want us to try and fix it.”

“The two (water and sales tax) shouldn’t even be connected,” he said. “Why is it that we’re tying them together now?”

FERRY: ‘GIVE US A BONE’

When it was mentioned that the Town of Darien would receive less in revenue than entitled to based on assessed valuation, Ferry said, “Possibly, but then again, possibly, I call the AG’s (New York State Attorney General) office.”

“I’m saying, ‘Work with us here. Give us a bone.’ And they did nothing. They would not even produce a letter stating that they would try to equalize the rate within X amount of years – because I think they don’t think they can.”

Ferry said the Town of Darien pays $1.12 more per 1,000 gallons of water than other communities.

“If they make the claim that water pays for water, we on the western side of the county have been paying more for our water to get water out here,” he said. “If the east and the central part need water, why not make them pay more?

“We represent our constituents and if we were to sign this contract … in addition to the old one, and they get charged 60 cents more per thousand (gallons) right off the bat, what else do they get out of that contract? We can’t enter into an agreement that is worse than the one we have without something as an offset.”

Landers said by opting in to updated water agreements, municipalities are ensuring that their water users are paying their fair share of the cost for water.

“One way or the other, Darien will still pay the additional costs – it’s a matter if they want to pay through the entire town or through the water users,” he said. “I still hope and there’s still time since I’ll be back in the office tomorrow and will reach out to Steven and see if there’s anything else that I can communicate.”

LANDERS OPEN TO MORE TALK

He said that he and Legislature Chair Rochelle Stein presented the plan at meetings of the Village of Corfu and Town of Pembroke boards, and indicated that Ferry attended the Corfu meeting as well while another Darien council member was at the Pembroke meeting.

Landers also said he would like to address the entire Town of Darien board – something that hasn’t happened yet – as the deadline for towns and villages to make their intentions known is this Friday.

“I’d be more than willing to have further talks with Steve,” he said. “I’m 100 percent available to Steve and the Darien Town Board to talk some more, and until the 13^th comes and goes, there is still an opportunity.”

Calling it a “complex issue,” Landers said the original water agreement has limitations to it as it has a fixed 60-cent surcharge (per 1,000 gallons).

“Genesee County is responsible for bringing an adequate supply of water into the county, and we have incurred significant monies beyond Phase 1 into Phase 2, and now going into Phase 3. If we truly want water paying for water, we can’t live by water supply agreements that are fixed at 60 cents for time in eternity,” he said.

“When we raise the surcharge, we have to raise it across the board for all users because it’s our responsibility to bring supply into the entire county. I realize that Darien and Pembroke don’t see the benefit of paying that extra 60 cents because they received their benefit from Phase 1. But with Phase 3, there will be future enhancements that will benefit them.”

Landers said he was not involved in the first round of water supply agreements with municipalities … and looking back, “the 60 cents didn’t work and that is one of the major factors that we’re trying to change with all of these updated water supply agreements; the ability to have water paying for water.”

PEMBROKE: IT’S A MATTER OF TRUST

When asked about the Town of Pembroke, he said he did not want to speculate, stating only that he has had “a good conversation” with the Pembroke Town Board.

Pembroke Supervisor Thomas Schneider Jr. said he believes there is support for the amended agreement, but also noted “some concerns from the past over the way things have been handled, as far as agreements with the county.”

Citing lingering hard feelings, he said the county has “made agreements that they don’t seem to be concerned about breaking.”

“So, now if we sign on to this new one, what’s to say that it can’t be changed five years down the road. I think that’s the biggest concern that most people on our board have.”

Landers said it’s his job to try and build trust in all the towns and villages and hopes that “over time they will believe what we say.”

An email to Corfu Deputy Mayor Michael Doktor and a phone call to Mayor Thomas Sargent seeking comment were not returned. In fact, there has been no reply to requests from The Batavian from either village official throughout this process.

Previously: Ways & Means passes measures rescinding revenue distribution payments, accepting HCA with Plug Power.

Previously: Genesee's west side municipalities considering county legislature's sales tax/revenue distribution proposal.

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Police have been dispatched to Harvester Avenue where a skunk reportedly has its head stuck in a cup and is in the middle of the roadway tying up traffic.

Rockin' The Downs: Pink Floyd tribute band The Machine plays "Welcome to the Machine"  at Batavia Downs

Photos by Philip Casper

Press release: 

A Million dollar capital project to fix the air header system at the Waste Water Treatment Plant (WWTP) was approved by City Council at the beginning of April 2021.  After the design process was complete by GHD Group engineers, the City Department of Public Works bid out the project and City Council awarded the construction contract to Keeler Construction.

“The City advanced the project to the top of the capital improvement list for 2021 as it was determined that the air lines were degraded more than originally anticipated,” said Rachael Tabelski, City Manager, City of Batavia.  

The project will replace the air header system servicing the ponds.  The existing 30-year-old air header system was found to be compromised.  It is leaking a significant amount of air, and not delivering enough air to the ponds to efficiently digest waste.  These conditions have led to more odor in areas adjacent to the ponds. 

Currently, a temporary airline system is being used that introduces supplemental oxygen to the three primary wastewater ponds (attached graphic).   The temporary system is working on 50% capacity and will remain in place until project completion. 

“The City expedited the project; however the contractor had material supply chain issues in June and July.  These have been remedied and last week work on the site started up again.  Pond three airlines have been fully replaced and tested.  Keeler is moving swiftly to ponds one and two for replacement now,” said Ray Tourt, Acting Director of Public Works.

The material delays have set the project back by two months.  Manufacturers and distributors are struggling to make their commitments and this is one of the projects that was impacted by the disruption.  The project team of GHD Group, Keeler Construction and the City of Batavia are working to expedite the project and make up for lost time.  The City, at the request of the New York State Department of Environmental Conservation (DEC), has taken steps to mask and minimize odors until project completion.  

“The City continually revises complex capital improvement plans for infrastructure that includes the WWTP, water plant, sewer collection stations, water distribution lines, paved surface areas, vehicle and equipment as well as other City facilities.  The air header project was identified in recent capital plans and the City was able to reserve enough funds to begin the project in 2021,” said Rachael J. Tabelski, City Manager.   

History of the Waste Water Treatment Plant 

In 1990 treatment of waste began at the “new” wastewater treatment facilities which serves the City and a portion of the Town of Batavia. Completion of the new facilities represented the culmination of a long-term effort to provide upgraded treatment of wastewaters from the City and Town prior to discharge to Tonawanda Creek. At the time, the new facility enabled the City and Town's opportunities to expand their economic growth.

The WWTP is constructed on approximately 500 acres of land bordering the Conrail railroad tracks east of Donahue Road and north of Rose Road and replaced the City's old mechanical wastewater treatment plant, which was located on the south bank of Tonawanda Creek east of River Street.

Initial study and planning efforts focused upon upgrading or replacing the City's existing mechanical treatment facility with a similar facility. However, estimates indicated that the project costs, particularly with regard to annual operation and maintenance of the new facility, would place a tremendous burden upon the City and its customers.  A more cost-effective treatment system was devised whereby the City constructs the treatment process using a series of wastewater treatment lagoons instead of a mechanical treatment plant.

The lagoon system requires the use of a significantly larger land area and overall costs to the City was estimated to be one-third less than with a traditional plant upon construction.

Previously:

• No time to 'waste': City moving quickly to replace inefficient air header system at water treatment plant
• Batavia Wastewater Treatment Plant, one of city's hidden treasures

City of Batavia Manager Rachael Tabelski and Maintenance Superintendent Ray Tourt are seeking to “tap” into a funding source that has benefited the community in the past.

Tourt, in a memo to Tabelski dated July 22, advised that the Genesee Transportation Council and New York State Department of Transportation put out a call to municipalities wishing to apply for 2021 TAP (Transportation Alternative Program) grants.

Ranging from $500,000 to $5 million, these grants are earmarked for planning, design and construction projects that “address improvements to non-driver safety, access to public transit and enhance mobility,” Tourt wrote.

TAP initiatives are eligible for up to 80 percent federal funding with a 20 percent local share match.

According to the memo, the city has received TAP grants before, including one for its Pedestrian Way and Healthy Routes to Schools projects. This year’s funding, if received, would be used for improvements on Bank Street between Main Street and Washington Avenue.

Per the memo, that area has been identified in both the Downtown Revitalization Initiative proposals and City Centre Feasibility study “to promote economic prosperity corridor to promote accessibility to downtown.”

The project would include streetscape elements, pavement markings, signs, accessible ramps, additional crosswalks, pedestrian corner “bump-outs” and/or center median refuge.

The city has contracted with LaBella Associates of Rochester to prepare the grant application.

Tabelski has drafted a resolution for Monday night’s City Council Conference Meeting and (if approved) for voting at the Business Meeting afterwards. The Conference Meeting is scheduled for 7 o’clock at City Hall Council Board Room.

In other developments, Council:

• Will consider a resolution authorizing the city to act as lead agency for the State Environmental Quality Review for the renovation of Jackson Square – one of the city’s several DRI projects. Jackson Square is located between Jackson and Center Streets, next to Center Street Smoke House.

In a memo dated Aug. 3, Tabelski wrote that the city looks to complete the SEQR process and then notify “involved interested agencies” of the city’s intent to act as lead agency.

She is recommending that Council move the resolution from the Conference to the Business Meeting on Monday, approve it, and then for Council to move a resolution to issue a declaration at the Sept. 13 Business Meeting.

Tabelski wrote that design drawings from Architectural Resources of Buffalo are almost done, and construction is expected to begin at the end of October.

• Will consider several event requests, as follows:

Batavia Players/Main St. 56 Theater Holiday Craft & Gift Sale – Dec. 3-4, 10-11, from 9 a.m. to 9 p.m. on Fridays and 9 a.m. to 4 p.m. on Saturday at the City Centre concourse.

Great Lakes & Attica Central Model Railroad Club Picnic – Aug. 19 from 6 to 8:30 p.m. at Farrall Park.

Batavia Police Community Night Out – Oct. 10 at City Church St. Anthony’s Campus on Liberty Street.

Batavia Players/Main St. 56 Theater Summer Youth Theater – Aug. 27-29, from 7 to 9 p.m. on Aug. 27-28, and 2-4 p.m. on Aug. 29, at the City Centre stage.

GO ART! Art Festival – Sept. 11 from 11 a.m. to 4 p.m. at the City Centre parking lot along Bank Street, featuring music, food trucks, beer tent, art vendors and demonstrations, dancing, theater and art walk.

Downtown Batavia Business Improvement District Wine Walk – Oct. 2 from 4-8 p.m. with 20 to 24 stops; a 21-and-over event for wine and cider tasting.

• Will hold a public hearing Monday night on the rezoning of 211 and 211 ½ East Main St. from P-2 (Planned Development) to C-3 (Commercial) in connection with the Healthy Living Campus project.

The city also is seeking lead agency status for the SEQR for this venture.

Batavia residents Chezeray Rolle and Michelle Humes have been selected to fill two vacancies on the City Schools Board of Trustees.

Rolle is a 2009 graduate of Batavia High and a U.S. Army veteran who served for six years, including two deployments to Afghanistan. He is currently employed at the Buffalo Federal Detention Facility in Batavia and coaches Batavia Bulldawgs football. He married his wife Bianca in 2012. He and his wife have three children attending City Schools.

Humes is a customer service manager at Hodgins Engraving.  She is married and her and her husband's son graduated from BHS in 2020.  

They replace Peter Cecere, who resigned in June, and Brenda Good, who won a seat on the board in May but resigned before taking office in order to become a candidate for an administrative position in the district.

John Schnitter, 32, of Geneseo, representing Genesee Valley BOCES, won the GLOW Cup 5k on Thursday with a time of 17:33.

John Bruggman, 22, of Batavia, came in second and Logan G. Clark, 18, of Batavia, came in third.

The women's race was won by Kimberly Mills, 30, of Oakfield, representing Batavia City Schools.

Team results:

• FIrst, Batavia City Schools, with William Buckenmeyer, Kimberly Mills, and James Patric
• Second, Silver Fox Crossfit, with Jason Harasimowicz, Michael Harasimowicz, and Mark Marasimowicz
• Third, Intergrow Greenhouses, with Tyron Wallace, Athumani Jonathan, and Adrian Rios.