Stories from

Since the start of the coronavirus pandemic, City Church, at its St. Anthony facility, has continued to offer free food to anybody who drives through on the distribution today. There was another distribution this morning with a line of cars stretched down Liberty Street and dozens of volunteers helping with the distribution.

Three Batavia High School student-athletes have signed letters of intent to continue both their studies and their sports careers in college.

Stone Siverling, above, will play basketball at Alfred State College. Pictured with him are: Jason Siverling, Holly Siverling, Coach Tim Stevens, Coach Buddy Brasky, Sawyer Silverling, Sheldon Silverling, and Morgan Murray.

Rebekah Daniszewski, center, will compete at Seton Hill University in track and field. Pictured are Paul Daniszewski, Douglas Daniszewski, Wendy Daniszewski, and Coach Dan Geiger.

Tyler Kleinbach, second from left, will swim at Genesee Community College. Pictured, David Kleinbach, Desire Kleinbach, and coaches Eric Geitner and Frank Dibacco.

A traffic controller has contacted Genesee County Emergency Dispatch to report the sighting of a drone flying at 3,000 feet over Pembroke, apparently in the flight path for the Buffalo Airport.

It's illegal to fly a drone above 400 feet unless flying over a tall structure. 

A deputy has been dispatched to the area of Gorton Road and Phelps Road.

The drone is described as about two feet by two feet and silver.

Interview with Dr. Ahmet Guler at the ribbon cutting last week for his new cardiology and wellness center at 34 Swan St., Suite 3, Batavia.

Sunset in Pavilion yesterday evening, submitted by Jeslene Beach.

The labor market in Genesee County continued to tighten in May the number of people in the job market without a job dropped by 200 from the previous month.

In May 2021 in Genesee County, there were 1,200 people in the labor force without jobs according to NYS Labor Department data.

The unemployment rate is 4.2 percent, or similar to May 2017, when it was 4.3 percent. In May 2019, the rate was 3.2 percent. Last year, three months into the coronavirus pandemic, it was 11.1 percent.

Meanwhile, there are 1,057 open job positions listed with the Job Bureau in Genesee County, according to Director Teresa VanSon.

Also according to the state, there are 21,000 non-farm jobs that are filled in Genesee County, up 1,700 from 19,300 May 2020. The total private-sector jobs jumped from 14,200 to 15,900 year-over-year. Government jobs remained unchanged at 5,100.

Press release:

United Memorial Medical Center (UMMC) has been gifted the largest donation in its history of more than 100 years. Marian Ransom, who lived in LeRoy, left her entire estate of more than $1.2 million to the hospital upon passing away last year. In honor of Marian Ransom and her generous contribution, the second-floor medical wing at UMMC has been renamed the “Marian Ransom Medical Unit.”

“Its contributions like Marian’s that make such a profound impact on the community,” said Dan Ireland, president of United Memorial Medical Center. “We are beyond grateful for Marian’s contributions and what it will mean for the hospital, our patients, and the community. With the support of her donation, we’ll be renovating the intensive care unit (ICU), which will also have a significant impact on the newly named Marian Ransom Medical Unit.”

The ICU project is still in the early stages of development, but when complete will improve patient, visitor access, and flow to both the ICU and the Marian Ransom Medical Unit. The ICU will get a new waiting area and greeting area and also, clinical support spaces for both units. 

“Marian desired to make a difference at the end of her life and so bequeathed her entire estate of more than $1.2 million to United Memorial Medical Center," said Michael T. Welsh, Marian’s attorney. “This humble and philosophical woman has left a legacy which will benefit so many of our citizens for years to come.”

Press release from AAA:

Today’s national average price for a gallon of gasoline is $3.07, down 1 cent in the past week. One year ago, the price was $2.13. The New York State average is $3.13 – up 2 cents from last week. A year ago, the NYS average was $2.23.

AAA Western and Central New York (AAA WCNY) reports the following averages:

• Batavia -- $3.08 (no change since last Monday)
• Buffalo- - $3.07 (up 3 cents since last Monday)
• Ithaca -- $3.11 (up 6 cents since last Monday)
• Rochester -- $3.10 (up 3 cents since last Monday)
• Rome -- $3.20 (up 3 cents since last Monday)
• Syracuse- - $3.12 (up 6 cents since last Monday)
• Watertown -- $3.17 (up 2 cents since last Monday)

The national average for a gallon of regular gasoline has decreased by one cent to $3.07. In its latest report, the Energy Information Administration (EIA) noted growth in gasoline demand and stocks. The increase in total supply, even as gas demand increased, has helped to limit pump price fluctuations this week on the national level.

However, local motorists aren’t seeing much relief at the pump, and rising crude oil prices could mean higher prices later this month.

As of this morning, oil prices remain over $71 per barrel. Until two weeks ago, crude prices hadn’t crossed the $70/bbl threshold since mid-October 2018. 

From GasBuddy:

"The ferocious rise in gas prices has finally started to cool as gas prices have eased across a majority of the country for the first time in months," said Patrick De Haan, head of petroleum analysis for GasBuddy. "There have been some challenges in pockets across the country as demand remains very healthy, and stations in some areas where demand is very high struggle to keep up with demand thanks to the truck driver shortage.

"As we head toward the July 4 holiday, I'm optimistic that we'll continue to see prices slowly drift lower before possibly rising in later July or August should we see any disruptions from hurricane season. But for now it seems most Americans are simply happy to be getting outside and back to some sense of normal."

Oakfield-Alabama held its 2021 graduation ceremony on Friday.

Above, Karly Smith delivers her Valedictorian speech.

Zachary Hall, below, was the Salutatorian.

Photos by Kristen Smith.

Taylor Augello was crowned the 2020 Onion Queen in a ceremony in the Elba Village Park on Friday evening.

The 2021 Onion Queen will be crowned in September.

• Madison Harrington was first runner-up.
• Lily Thompson was second runner-up.
• Fanny Venegas was third runner-up.

Photos by Debra Reilly.

Sponsored by the Just Kings Social Club, Batavia's Juneteenth celebration is taking place in Williams Park today. The celebration of freedom continues until 7 p.m.

Chris Humel and Julio Morales busking this afternoon outside the Pok-A-Dot at Liberty and Ellicott. 

The Volunteers for Animals collected a dumpster full of scrap metal today, an annual fundraiser for the organization.  

You have plenty time yet to donate your old metal items. You can either drop it off this evening, placing it as close to the dumpster as possible, or tomorrow between 11 a.m. and 3 p.m.

The annual Challenger Baseball game was held at Dwyer Stadium this afternoon with the Batavia Muckdogs hosting clients of Arc of Genesee Orleans.

The Muckdogs play a home game tonight at 7 o'clock against Jamestown.

Tractor pulls are back with a competition going on all day today in Alexander at the WNY Steam Show grounds.

The event started at 9 a.m. with the deadweight pull. This afternoon and evening include the Class 5500, 6500, 7500, and 8500 stock and enhanced pulls, then the 9500, 10500, 12500, 14500 stock and enhanced pulls, followed by the 4x4 wheel drive truck diesel pulls and then the gas trucks.

Admission: $10 adult; children 5-12 $5; 4 and under free. Food and beverages are available for purchase.

Eight of Oakfield-Alabama's school bus drivers worked their last shifts today. To celebrate their retirements, they were paraded through the traffic circle at the elementary school.

The retiring drivers are Peggy Casper, Nancy Richthammer, Kathy Diver, Leanne Cleveland, Wesley Waldron, Al Davis, Carlene Betters and Bob Reusch.

The children and staff at the Agri-Business Child Development Center on Brooklyn Avenue in Batavia celebrated Juneteenth today with a parade in the playground.

Students at Batavia Middle School who have been accepted in to the Honor Society were celebrated in a ceremony at Van Detta Stadium on Wednesday afternoon.

Two months ago Batavia's Jack Houseknecht was involved in a horrific accident in the Town of Middlebury that left him hospitalized and in a coma. Yesterday, he came home, led to his house by a parade of family, friends, supporters, and escorted by City fire and Batavia PD.