More than 350 volunteers spread throughout Genesee County on a sunshine-drenched Thursday morning to help repair, clean up, or landscape properties of non-profit agencies.
Thursday was United Way's Annual Day of Caring.
The Batavian visited four of 32 sites -- the Historic Batavia Cemetery, St. Joe's, 400 Towers, and St. James.
Photos by Howard Owens.
A brick wall of a long-dilapidated building at the Harvester Center complex in Batavia collapsed Thursday night as GO ART! staff loaded a U-Haul with stored property, capping a long day of moving as part of United Way’s Day of Caring.
“It sounded like thunder,” said Courtney Henderson, GO ART!’s special events and social media director. “I said, ‘Nope, this is the start.’ The whole top part was caving in slowly, and then it was just a cloud of smoke. It was wild. I’m glad I could get out.”
The GO ART! U-Haul was parked in a courtyard-like area about 100 yards from where the wall collapsed, blocking the tunnel beneath two stories of the building that hasn’t been occupied for decades. The roof collapsed long ago, and the third floor fell onto the second floor.
No injuries were reported.
The group, which included volunteers earlier in the day, had been moving items stored in the Harvester Center in preparation for basement renovations at GO ART! The plan was to transfer everything to the former J.C. Penney building downtown.
City Manager Rachael Tabelski confirmed the city has an active code case on the Harvester Center.
“Unfortunately, that’s what happened,” Tabelski said. “It looks like a portion of this building has collapsed. Thank goodness no one got hurt, and code and fire will assess what to do with the scene.”
Code Enforcement Officer Doug Randall said the building owner will bring in heavy equipment to demolish the unstable section and clear debris, allowing the U-Haul and another rental vehicle to be safely removed.
The city applied five months ago for a Restore NY grant to help demolish parts of the Harvester Center and the old Melton Building. If awarded, the grant would provide up to $1 million for demolition and site redevelopment, with the goal of transforming the area into a mixed-use campus with new businesses, apartments, and public spaces.
“My number one question is, how does Gregory get his truck out?” Henderson said, referring to GO ART! Executive Director Gregory Hallock. “U-Haul is going to have to be super nice to Gregory Hallock because of this incident.”
It appears U-Haul will be accommodating. Hallock told Tabelski that he had already spoken with a representative from U-Haul, who told him not to worry.
Henderson also has a rental vehicle trapped on the other side of the pile of rubble.
Previously: Apparent building collapse reported at Harvester Center
Photos by Howard Owens.
An apparent building collapse has been reported in the Harvester Center Complex, 56 Harvester Ave., Batavia.
The reader who submitted the picture said she doesn't believe anybody was hurt in the collapse but two vehicles are now trapped, with the driveway now a dead end because of debris.
City Fire is on scene.
OLV Human Services marked the expansion of mental health services in Genesee County with a ribbon cutting and open house Wednesday at its new facility on Main Road in Stafford.
“This is a really exciting day for us to be able to expand our mental health services out to Genesee County,” said Cindy Lee, CEO of OLV Human Services. “One of the things that we discovered in our research about underserved areas was that Genesee County is definitely an area where there’s long wait lists for people to be able to get in for mental health supports. So we were able to locate this facility with very minimal renovations needed, and it was the perfect fit for us.”
Lee said the organization will also open an evaluation and treatment center at the site in July. The center will serve families of young children suspected of having developmental delays and provide diagnostic and treatment services for children currently on long wait lists at area hospitals.
“We think we’re bringing a very necessary service to the area,” Lee said.
Dr. Ted Andrews, a pediatric psychologist, pediatrician and specialist in developmental and behavioral pediatrics, said the new center will focus on autism evaluation and treatment. He noted that wait times for similar services at major hospitals in Buffalo and Rochester can be 12 to 24 months.
“We’re trying to put ourselves in between those bigger hospital systems to be able to provide the same coverage,” Andrews said.
The new facility is located at 6917 Main Road in Stafford. OLV Human Services provides counseling, treatment, and support services for children and families across Western New York.
Previously: Stafford facility a 'perfect setup' for counseling and treatment services site
Have you ever seen a tree wrapped in a cozy, crochet sweater?
If not, head to Downtown Batavia and stop by GO ART!, 201 E. Main St., because a circle of crocheters who meet monthly at GO ART! have completed their first tree sweater outside of Seymour Place.
“We meet every second Thursday of the month,” Melissa Lee explained, as she and her fellow crafters worked to attach the final pieces to the tree. “Gregory (Hallock), who’s in charge at GO ART!, thought it would be a good idea. He came to us about doing tree sweaters. He talked us into maybe applying for a grant. We got the grant, and we’ve been working together to create these motifs to put on the tree.”
The project, which Lee describes as “just a fun project,” is more than just a whimsical art installation. It’s a statement about the versatility of crochet and the power of collaboration.
“We want to get it out there and let people know, crocheting can be more than just blankets, and old ladies and crocheting,” Lee said.
The group, including Lee’s mother, Debbie Urban, Ashley McClellan, Tim Lee (wearing crocheted pants in photos), and Lee’s father, Don Urban, has poured nearly 80 hours into the project.
“It’s been a collaborative work for quite a few of us,” Lee said. “We started at 2:30 today and did a lot of work yesterday, pretty much all day, trying to finish it so that we’d have one big kind of blanket-looking piece, so that we could wrap it around the tree. And then we’ve been taking small pieces and just attaching them.”
The finished result is a mosaic of color and texture, accented by the individual expressions of each crocheter.
“We all had the same pattern that we started with, and then everybody picked their own colors, so they all had their own little spin on it. So it’ll be fun when the ladies come out and they’re like, ‘Oh, that was mine,’ and they can come and look at the tree and pick out their pieces,” Lee said.
The project has become a family affair, with Lee’s mother and husband joining in the fun.
“My mother is working on the tree out there too, and she was the one who made the pants,” Lee added, referring to crocheted pants worn by Tim Lee.
And this is just the beginning. The group plans to yarn bomb another tree on the side street later this summer, with a new theme featuring crocheted characters, butterflies, animals, and flowers.
“This one is granny circles. The other one will be little characters, butterflies, animals and stuff and then flowers around. That should be fun,” Lee said.
Byron-Bergen beat Pembroke 3-2 in tennis on Wednesday.
Photos by Jennifer DiQuattro.
Press release:
Batavia Boys competed against Greece Olympia/Odyssey on Tuesday and came away with a 110-31 victory. Winners for Batavia were:
- Jamere Reeves -110 Hurdles (17.3)
- Grant Gahagan - 400m (54.0)
- Cameron Garofalo - 1600m (4:35.6), 3200m (10:56)
- Sheldon Siverling - Shot Put (58-11), Discus (155-10)
- Justin Smith - Triple Jump (39-6.75), High Jump (5-10)
- Da'Von Gallo Williams - 400 Hurdles (1:03.9)
- Cooper Banser - 800m (2:18.0)
- Keagan Calmes - 200m (23.7)
- Cooper Konieczny - Pole Vault (10-6)
- 4x400 Relay - Jamari Irvin, Brandon Currier, Da'Von Gallo Williams, Isaac Varland
- 4x800 Relay - Mason Bellamy, Gabe Flanagan, Noah Richmond, Grady Moore
We also celebrated and recognized our seniors prior to this meet and we have 23 Seniors who have competed with us this year!
Photos by Kristin Smith.
Contractors with Soil-King were on Jackson Street in Batavia on Wednesday afternoon, laying down a new layer of soil and grass seed as work nears completion on a $1.3 million project to lay new water lines and replace the sidewalk on the east side of the street.
Batavia received a $1 million CDBG grant to improve the aging waterlines on Jackson Street. The city committed an additional $351,908 of local funds.
Photos by Howard Owens.
The Le Roy Central School District is bracing for difficult financial decisions as it asks voters to approve a $32,035,588 budget for the 2025-26 school year.
Spending is projected to increase 3.18%, or $986,768.
Superintendent Merritt Holly, speaking Tuesday night at a public hearing on the proposed budget in the Wolcott School auditorium, outlined a budget shaped by rising costs, staff reductions, and heavy reliance on state funding.
The district’s proposed tax levy is $10,800,650, an increase of 1.25%, keeping Le Roy under the state’s tax cap. However, the district is feeling the squeeze from inflation, escalating health insurance premiums, and contractual obligations, including a new teacher contract and higher special education expenses.
Holly noted, as he did in the district's budget newsletter, the district has no say in or control over property tax assessments.
The estimated tax rates for the municipalities that overlap with the district:
One of the most significant impacts: staffing. Six retirements are expected, but only two positions will be replaced. This is a shift from previous years, when Le Roy was able to add staff while neighboring districts made cuts.
“The impact is being felt most at Wolcott Street School, where we're not replacing four of six retirees," Holly said. "It will directly affect students and staff.”
Enrollment is currently 1,103 students, down 114 students since 2016. Enrollment affects the district's share of state aid.
"When you look at the Jr./Sr. high school, we have one of our smaller senior classes that we've had in a while, at least in my time," Holly said.
There are 81 seniors.
The district is reliant on state aid. Holly said 63% of Le Roy’s budget comes from Albany, far more than in wealthier suburban districts.
“We’re not like the Monroe County schools that can tap into their tax base to close gaps,” Holly said. “We rely heavily on state aid, and any changes at the state or federal level could have a big impact here.”
Holly noted, as he did with The Batavian in March, that there are 152 unfunded state mandates, including the looming requirement for electric school buses and costly special education placements, as well as ongoing budget pressures. Inflation has also hit utility costs and other essentials.
“We’re all competing for the same teachers, and we’re all feeling the pinch from rising costs,” he said.
The superintendent also warned of federal uncertainty, noting that political debates in Washington could threaten funding streams like Title 1, which supports students from low-income families.
“We can’t sit and worry about politics, but we have to plan and prepare for whatever comes,” Holly said.
Despite these fiscal challenges, the district has historically enjoyed strong community backing for its budgets, the superintendent noted. This year’s ballot also includes a $379,000 proposition for the Woodward Memorial Library and the uncontested re-election of two Board of Education members.
Edna Gruber, Batavia's notorious madam who operated a brothel at 101 Jackson St., Batavia, in the middle of the 20th century, is finally the subject of a book about her life.
With a dab of local scandal and a dash of historical intrigue, David Kinney’s new book, "Batavia’s Disorderly House," shines a fresh light on Gruber.
On Tuesday, Kinney, a Washington, D.C. resident, was at Eli Fish Brewing Company for a book signing.
Kinney recounted how a story about Gruber getting roughed up at Horseshoe Lake first piqued his curiosity, setting him on a year-long journey to untangle the real story behind Batavia’s so-called “most famous madam.”
Kinney, whose previous work explored the history of Horseshoe Lake, explained that much of what was known about Gruber came from a 1996 "Genesee Country Magazine" article. That account, he said, he found riddled with errors and gaps, especially regarding Gruber’s early years and family background.
“Many of the things in that article were incorrect,” Kinney said, noting that even Gruber’s granddaughter had been shielded from the true nature of Edna’s business, and family lore was often just plain wrong.
Born Edna Geyer in Buffalo in 1882, Gruber’s early life was marked by hardship. By 13, she was scrubbing floors in barrooms, and she married twice -- first to Joseph Gruber at just 15.
How she transitioned from these humble beginnings to become the proprietor of Batavia’s most infamous brothel was, until now, a mystery even to her descendants.
Kinney’s research, however, has resolved the question of how Edna entered the business and uncovered a significant family secret.
“Most of even the family didn’t know she had a brother, and her brother played a significant role (in her entering the business),” he said.
Gruber’s establishment, regularly raided during Prohibition, was notorious for its clientele and Edna’s ability to retain top legal counsel and pay handsomely for it. Despite her reputation, she was also known for acts of local charity, complicating her legacy in the community.
Kinney said his book will provide new insights into a woman who defied the conventions -- and the censure -- of her time.
Previously: Edna's 'house of ill-repute' funded madam's charity to the community, by Anne Marie Starowitz
For motorcyclists, a swath of grass clippings on a roadway is summer's version of black ice.
It appears unexpectedly and causes the bike to lose traction, which can result in serious crashes—bikes flipping onto their sides, veering off the roadway, and striking other vehicles.
Trooper Lynnea Crane with New York State Police told RochesterFirst in 2023 that crashes caused by grass clippings can be deadly.
“A lot of police officers will contact homeowners or the person blowing grass into the roadway and just let them know they need to remove it,” she said.
Batavia resident and motorcycle enthusiast Gordo Montgomery asked The Batavian to remind residents of the dangers of grass clippings.
Under Vehicle and Traffic Law Section 1219(b), it is illegal to drop or permit any material, including grass clippings, that interferes with the safe use of a highway. Anyone responsible must remove it immediately. Section 1220(a) further prohibits dumping or placing any refuse, trash, or litter on highways
The danger is rising as the number of motorcyclists on New York roads has doubled since 2002. Environmental factors, including debris like grass clippings, account for roughly a quarter of motorcycle and car crashes. There are more than 750,000 licensed motorcyclists in the state.
The solution is straightforward, according to experts -- never blow or leave grass clippings in the street. Point mower chutes away from the road, sweep up any stray clippings, and consider composting or mulching them on your property, where they can benefit your lawn.
Batavia Players bring "Jesus Christ Superstar," a pioneering rock opera, to the Main St. 56 Theater with four shows this weekend.
Andrew Lloyd Webber and Tim Rice wrote and scored "Jesus Christ Superstar." It dramatizes the final week of Jesus’ life, focusing on his relationships with his disciples, especially Judas Iscariot and Mary Magdalene. The story is told largely from Judas’ perspective, exploring his concerns about Jesus’ growing influence and the potential consequences from Roman authorities.
The musical began as a concept album released in 1970, with the stage musical debuting on Broadway in 1971. The show broke new ground by blending rock music with theater, helping to establish the rock opera genre.
The production is directed by Patrick Burk.
Showtimes:
Oakfield-Alabama beat Kendall 4-1 in tennis on Friday.
The Hornets is now 9-0, and Kendall is 7-2
Photos by Jordyn Tobolski
In 2021, J&R Fancher Property Holdings started construction on a mixed-use -- apartments and retail -- near Brickhouse Corners in Pembroke, and given the demand for those six units in that complex, Randy Fancher is confident his new housing project will be a success.
Fancher met with the Genesee County Planning Board on Thursday night to discuss his plans for two new 10-unit townhouse complexes in the same location.
"The apartments -- they went great. The retail, not so much," Fancher said. "We have six apartments. We got 150 phone calls in the first year we stopped tracking. So, I'm very confident the apartments will rent."
The townhouses, dubbed "Brickhouse Commons," will be market rate, Fancher said, and a bit more higher end than might currently be available in Pembroke. Each unit will have its own garage and private entry. The design has been previously used and successful, in Buffalo and Rochester, he said.
One of the primary complications facing the project is the presence of a wetland on the property, which requires a 100-foot buffer for any building or roadway. The Department of Environmental Conservation requires a "delineation" every five years to determine the boundaries of the wetlands, which grow and recede over time. There hasn't been a delineation on the property in six years, before Fancher acquired it from the Genesee County Economic Development Center. A new delineation could take up to a year to certify.
That changed Fancher's plans for the driveway to the apartments. At GCEDC's suggestion, he's now planning to connect the complex to Route 77, requiring a curb cut, which requires the approval of the Department of Transportation. That permit is expected to take less time to receive.
Fancher is planning to apply for incentives, as he did with the first projects, from the GCEDC.
He told the board, "When we built that building, the incentives were for mixed use, which is why we did mixed use. Now the IDA is giving incentives for apartments only."
The retail portion of the Fancher-built mixed-use project, completed in 2022, has been hard to fill, Fancher told the board, because it's expensive to start a new business in a new retail space.
"To be honest, I thought it would go better (for the retail units," Fancher said. "We've gotten a lot of phone calls, but it's expensive. I mean, for anybody to come in there, because it's a new building and it has to be built out, right? I mean, it's expensive for us. It's expensive for them."
The board recommended approval of the site plan, which sends the plan back to the Town of Pembroke Planning Board for final development approval, but with modifications.
Given that the project will disturb more than one acre of land, the applicant completes a Stormwater Pollution Prevention Plan (SWPPP) and obtains a Stormwater Permit for Construction Activity from NYS DEC; and
Any additional signage complies with the Town's zoning regulations.
The endangered species of concern that is potentially on the property is the Northern Long-Eared Bat.
Fancher, a 20-year resident of Pembroke, is also hoping to develop another parcel in the same location, and that it will be a commercial project that will benefit the entire town.
"Our hope is to get a larger chain that would be good for the community, a grocery store, or something, but some sort of commercial project," Fancher told The Batavian after the meeting. "Something that would be good for the town of Pembroke. I believe the town of Pembroke is really growing with all the stuff that's going on. We want to do it responsibly and smart. We don't want to just blow it up, make it Buffalo. But I think, you know, smart growth in that area that's classified as an interchange is good for the town."
On Thursday night, Byron Brown, president and CEO of Western Regional Off-Track Betting, had something to celebrate during the concert of polka star Jimmy Sturr in Park Place at Batavia Downs.
Earlier in the day, the state Senate and Assembly passed a budget that includes a 5% reduction in taxes on OTB revenue over the next five years. The budget is now on Gov. Kathy Hochul's desk, and she is expected to sign it.
Brown projects an additional $4.5 million in revenue for the corporation, and with revenue growth likely to top a total of $25 million in additional revenue over the next five years.
The new tax structure starts on June 1.
"We're thankful for the support that we received from the governor, the members of the Assembly, and the Senate," Brown said. "Through this process, we were in pretty constant communication with the Governor's Budget Office, Assembly, Ways and Means, and Senate Finance, and we were able to work closely with them on how the bill was drafted, which we deeply appreciate."
The additional profits will help fund a 3% raise for employees, a reduction in the employee share of health insurance costs, and an increased distribution to the 17 municipalities that control OTB, Brown said.
Under the current health insurance plan for employees, those hired before 2011 pay only 5% of the monthly premium. Those hired after pay 72%.
A family health insurance plan is curently $3,325 monthly. If hired after Jan. 1, 2012, the employee contribution is $2,394.
In March, according to a response from the corporation to a FOIL request from The Batavian, the corporation paid out $204,598 in insurance premiums for employees at the 5% tier, $13,408 at the 10% share tier, and $13,788 at the 20% tier. There are apparently no employees on the OTB's health plan at the 72% tier since OTB did not pay any premiums for the tier group.
The corporation paid out $33,788 in premiums in March for retirees and current and former board members (grandfathered in because of longevity).
At the end of March, of OTB's 440 employees, 188 were enrolled in health insurance coverage. In 2024, the corporation spent $2,912,879.27 on health insurance.
Byron-Bergen defeated Holley on Tuesday in tennis, 5-0.
Press release:
Emily Pietrzykowski led the Trojans to a hard-fought 6-5 victory over the Fighting Irish on Tuesday, going 3-for-4 at the plate. The senior tripled in the second inning, singled in both the first and fifth innings, drove in three runs, scored twice, and added two stolen bases.
Ava Yax also had a strong showing for Alexander, collecting two hits in three at-bats, scoring two runs, and stealing four bases. Seniors Lilly Szymkowiak and Faith Goodenbury matched each other’s performance, each tallying a hit, a walk, and a run scored.
The game’s biggest hit came in the second inning when Pietrzykowski tripled to center field, driving in two runs and extending Alexander’s lead to 4-1.
Despite trailing by five runs, Notre Dame mounted a late comeback, scoring two runs in both the sixth and seventh innings to narrow the gap. However, Alexander’s defense held strong behind Pietrzykowski's pitching in the final inning to secure the win.
Pietrzykowski earned the win in the circle, pitching a complete game. She allowed four hits and five runs (four earned), striking out five and walking five.
Mia Treleaven took the loss for the Fighting Irish, striking out 11 and walking two over five innings while giving up six runs (four earned) on six hits.
Notre Dame’s offense was led by Amelia Sorochty, Sofia Falleti, Gianna Falleti, and Riley Hare, who each contributed a hit. Falleti finished 1-for-2 with two RBIs to pace the Irish.
"We really needed this win," said Coach John Goodenbury. "This game came down to the wire today, and Otis does a great job, so we knew it would be tough. We've faced some tough competition this spring and had stretches of sloppy play against other teams we have played that we felt we could have beaten, but tonight we did a better job focusing on the little things. With all the weather challenges, we’re just trying to stay consistent, survive the spring monsoon season, and get ourselves ready for sectionals. We’re heading in the right direction, but there’s still work to be done. One final note, hats off to Otis and the Notre Dame crew for busting their tails to get the field playable today."
Alexander returns to action Thursday at home against Byron-Bergen.
Photos by Makenna Boyce
On Tuesday, for the fourth time in 2025, the Tonawanda Creek overflowed and flooded areas throughout the town of Alexander, including Peaviner Road.
This is an inconvenience to motorists, damages roads, takes farm fields out of production, and costs taxpayers money.
Brian Farnsworth, Alexander's highway superintendent, says the problem would be solved with an annual cleanup of the creek further upstream, where trees fall into the creek, creating a natural dam that eventually overflows, sending a rush of water north that causes flooding.
"If we could get in there somehow or another and clean all the trees that are down, I think it would open it up where this water would run," Farnsworth said. "We wouldn't have, like down here on Peaviner, water that runs off from the creek. We wouldn't have that. It would slow the overflow."
Farnsworth said he's hoping to secure grants for the creek cleanup. Clearly, the log jams probably need to occur on an annual basis, he said, because erosion keeps knocking big trees into the creek.
"It puts a burden on the taxpayers in Alexander because we have to keep going back to Old Creek Road and Cookson Road, and we have to keep going back and fixing the roads," Farnsworth said. "They're all dirt roads, but it just washes them out, and then we've got the material and the labor to take care of it, plus it's a major inconvenience, because a lot of people go down this road."
There is also a danger to motorists and first responders because some people do, in fact, try to drive through the floodwaters.
"If somebody comes down here and they do get stuck, it puts a burden on the sheriff's department and our first responders," Farnsworth said."They have to go in there and rescue them."
As for the farmers, he said, they get wiped out, he said.
"The various fields, they get wiped out. They can't plant. They can't do anything because of the water runoff."
Peaviner Road is now (on Wednesday) clear, and Cookson Road should clear by early afternoon.
Press release:
Batavia defeated Gates-Chili 20-0 on Monday night in flag football.
Quarterback Jaimin Macdonald was 10-16 passing for 85 yards and two touchdowns.
Wide receiver Leilah Manuel pulled down an 8-yard strike from Macdonald to open the scoring.
Wide receiver Phoebe Beal reeled in a contested catch late in the first half and outran the defense for a 33-yard TD reception.
Macdonald added 21 rushing yards and a 14-yard reception on a ball thrown by WR Alyssa Turner.
Receiver Nicole Doeringer led the Lady Devils with 90 all-purpose yards (31 rushing, 36 receiving, 23 punt return yards).
Running back Kylee Brennan led the team in rushing with 36 yards on five carries, including a 1-yard rushing score in the second half.
Brennan led the defense with six flag pulls, two for a loss. Macdonald, Turner, and Doeringer added four flag pulls each, with Macdonald also snagging an interception.
Batavia improves to 5-3 on the season, and will host Irondequoit on Friday at 7:45 PM at VanDetta Stadium.
The Genesee Chorale will sing its "greatest hits" from its first 20 seasons in a concert on May 18 called Reflections.
The Chorale will highlight chorale-member favorites at St. James Episcopal Church, 405 East Main St., Batavia, at 4 p.m.
The song selection surveys a range of styles and genres, including pop, classical, sacred, spiritual, and folk music.
"We are really thrilled at how beautiful this concert is shaping up to be," said member Caryn Wood.
For tickets, click here.
Photos by Howard Owens.
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