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Kelly Boyle delivers a few remarks this afternoon at Town of Batavia Fire's Station 1 to thank the volunteers for their service to the community as part of an ABATE motorcycle ride around the county to recognize firefighters.

Boyle said, "We thank you because you're there for us. You save us no matter who we are, white, black, or brown, you are there to help us when we need it most."

ABATE a national nonprofit organization of motorcycle enthusiasts which has a chapter in Genesee County -- also visited Mercy EMS, City fire, Stafford, and Le Roy today in their "Ride for the Red."

(ABATE is dedicated to preserving motorcyclist rights, promoting safe operating practices and raising motorists' awareness of motorcycles.)

The Just Kings Social Club distributed 80 backpacks containing school supplies to children at Austin Park on Friday evening.

The club raised funds to support the project through sales of chicken dinners and other fundraising events. 

A member of the club said there are still some funds available for school supplies if there were any parents who could not bring their children by for a backpack. The Kings can be contacted through their Facebook page.

Rochester and Southern Railroad is in the process of replacing a bridge abutment on Mill Street in Le Roy that was heavily damaged July 15 when a Waste Management garbage truck struck the bridge.

The truck was powered by compressed natural gas with the tanks on top of the truck. With the tanks, the truck stood 13' 6" tall. Unfortunately, the bridge clearance was only 12' 6". The gas tanks exploded on impact, causing a large crack in the foundation of the bridge.

A spokesman for R&S said crews still take at least another three weeks to replace the abutment but with the work, the bridge will be ready to "meet the next century."

Rail service is not affected by the repair. there are temporary structural supports under the bridge during the project.

Mill Street is closed to thru traffic during the repairs.

Members of the volunteer Corfu Rescue Hook & Ladder Co. #1 carried the U.S. flag through the village yesterday evening in remembrance of those who fell on Sept. 11, 2001.

Photos submitted by Tyler Lang.

A semi-truck has rear-ended a sedan in the Easy Pass lane of Exit 48 of the Thruway in Pembroke.

Unknown injuries.

Pembroke and Indian Falls along with Mercy EMS dispatched.

UPDATE 8:49 p.m.: The occupant of the sedan is likely a sign off.

The gaming floor at Batavia Downs reopened this week, along with Fortune's and the Backstretch Grill, and the Grandstands will be opening soon, after a six-month closure mandated by the State of New York in the battle against COVID-19.

Race fans, however, are still prohibited at this point from attending live harness racing.

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Update: Sept. 11, 3 p.m.

Even at a fourth of maximum capacity, Batavia Downs Gaming will be able to keep its employees on the job but, unfortunately, monetary distributions to the municipalities it serves will suffer.

That’s the perspective of Henry Wojtaszek, president and chief executive officer of Western Regional Off-Track Betting Corp. that oversee operations at the casino, harness race track and OTB parlors in 15 counties plus the cities of Buffalo and Rochester.

A public benefit corporation, WROTB returns a portion of its profits to counties and the two metropolitan communities.

“You know, we've done the math, we've done some projections, and we certainly can pay our bills probably at 25 percent,” Wojtaszek said on Wednesday, the day the gaming facility was allowed to reopen – but only at a quarter of the maximum occupancy. “If we remain pretty steady, we can pay our bills. We can keep our employment levels pretty close to where we were before.”

Wojtaszek said “difficulty” comes into play when considering profit and return to municipalities – “which is obviously one of the big reasons why we exist.”

“We exist to make sure we create jobs and create an environment for people to have an entertainment venue, but also to return money to the municipality. So that's going to be a little tough. But I think for now, even at 25 percent, we can cover our costs.”

He said the business has to dig itself out of a “deep hole” caused by ongoing utility and building maintenance costs and unemployment insurance and by having to pay employees still on the job.

Despite the setbacks, Wojtaszek said he it is “very rewarding to see people come back so quickly.”

“We were having people call us all the time during the last six months," he said. "They were stopping at the front door. A lot of emails following our Facebook page. So, when we knew we had a pretty good following of people who want to come back here, we'd like to think we do deliver great customer service."

Batavia Downs has had to cancel its summer concert series due to the pandemic, but six of the eight bands have been rescheduled for next year, Wojtaszek said.

“And we’ve added two,” he said. “We have Queensrÿche signed up for sure. And then the eighth band will remain silent until I confirm it. But it's a great band. They'll be probably the best band we've ever had here.”

Statement from Rep. Chris Jacobs:

“The Paycheck Protection Program (PPP) has preserved roughly 12 million rural jobs during the pandemic and I support the $150,000 threshold for automatic forgiveness of a PPP loan included in the Senate GOP bill considered yesterday. Unfortunately, every Senate Democrat voted against advancing this critical legislation. Small businesses, workers, and families are facing a major uphill battle as we rebuild our economy, and Congress must act to provide critical relief. I urge the Democrats to stop playing games with American’s livelihoods and work with Republicans and the White House to advance something more than a partisan wish list.”

NOTE: The vast majority of $659 billion Paycheck Protection Program loans, 85 percent, were for $150,000 or less. These are very small businesses and independent contractors. These loans accounted for only 26 percent of the loans approved by the SBA. About 15 percent of the borrowers received 74 percent of the funds. Currently, these small businesses must complete a loan forgiveness form and provide documentation on how the money was distributed (payroll, rent, and utilities are the primary expenses eligible for forgiveness). With automatic forgiveness, these small businesses would need only submit a signed document stating that the funds were used within the guidelines of the program.

For 34 years, Myrtle Burrell dedicated herself to keeping the children of Le Roy safe as they crossed Main Street at Wolcott. In honor of the crossing guard, who passed away in July at 92 years of age, a bench was dedicated to her today at the intersection.

Along with community members and local leaders, Burrell's family was on hand for the dedication.

Pictured above, from left, are Jim Burrell, Brendan Burrell, Michael Burrell, Danielle Grzymala, Gregg Burrell, Evan Grzymala, Greg Grzymala, Matt Burrell and Corlin Burrell.

We made this video in August when What About Jane performed in the Elba Village Park as part of the Elba Betterment Committee's summer concert series. The band will be back this Saturday with the Old Hippies for a double-bill End of Summer concert starting at 4 p.m.

There will be an FM radio broadcast (92.7) so concertgoers can sit in their cars, to help maintain social distancing, and listen to the show. It will also be livestreamed.

Food trucks will include Dubby's Wood Fired Pizza, Los Compadres, Lori's Delectable Edibles (desserts), and Bubble Tea.

Donations for the bands will be accepted. The event has been approved by the Health Department.

An accident involving a tractor-trailer is reported in the area of 401 W. Main St., Batavia.

Westbound traffic is blocked in both lanes.

No extrication required.

City fire on scene.

UPDATE 8:33 p.m.: There is also a sedan involved in the accident.

A vehicle -- no description available -- fled a traffic stop apparently in Le Roy and the chase speeds reached 115 mph as the vehicle passed through Bergen.

The deputy who made the stop said, "he did have marijuana in his car, that's why he fled."

The vehicle ran red lights and came close to causing a couple of head-on collisions.

After the vehicle passed the Route 19 and Route 33 intersection, a supervisor advised the deputy "if that's all you have, break it off."

The vehicle proceeded onto I-490 and Monroe County law enforcement is advised.

UPDATE 1:26 p.m.: Dispatchers inform the deputy that the vehicle is proceeding on the 490 in the area of Chili-Riga Road on one tire.

UPDATE 1:28 p.m.: The vehicle is exiting at Brooks Avenue, the airport exit.

UPDATE 1:29 p.m.: The pursuit continues at 30 to 40 mph.

UPDATE 1:33 p.m.: The pursuit is now on foot.

Submitted by JoAnne Meiser.

One hundred golfers gathered at Batavia Country Club on Saturday for a golf tournament held in memory of Mike Tenebruso and to raise funds for the Michael Tenebruso SUNY Brockport Memorial Scholarship Fund. This year's recipient was Ray Zajac.

Photos and information submitted by Al Fulton.

From left, Marcia Tenebruso, Ray Zajac, Kristine Tenebruso, Anna Tenebruso, Nicholas Tenebruso, Nathan Tenebruso, organizer Dave Petruzzi and Tony Tenebruso.

These photos were submitted by Laurie Rudolph.

We enjoyed some spectacular cloud formations from a passing storm yesterday evening.  

Top photo by Caroyln Schultz.

By Monica Urvizu.

By JoAnne Meiser.

The Old Hippies and What About Jane are teaming up for a special concert, sponsored by the Elba Betterment Committee, in Elba from 4 to 7 p.m. on Sept. 12.

The concert will be livestreamed and it will also be broadcast on FM radio so people can come to the park and site in their vehicle. Erakare Productions will record the entire concert for future release.

There will be food trucks at the Village Park. 

Bill McDonald, of the Old Hippies, said the Health Department has approved the plans for the concert.

"There will be plenty of spacing for parking and sitting for this end-of-summer event for many to enjoy in a number of ways," McDonald said.

The video below of What About Jane playing "Girls Just Want to Have Fun." 

Recorded at Eli Fish, Feb. 15, 2020

Press release:

Representatives of Lighting Design Innovations and Cedar Street Sales and Rentals are pleased to announce the completion of the third phase of the feature lighting at the Old Genesee County Courthouse site in Batavia.

The firms sponsored the donation of lighting design activities and lighting system luminaires, components, and advanced control system to accentuate the building façade and its location in the cityscape by lighting the courthouse corners with RGBW color changing LED luminaires.

The advanced lighting control system allows the County to program coordinated colored light displays for the new courthouse corner lights and the cupola, which received its color-changing light as the first phase of the project. Initial system programming and controller training was sponsored by Vertex Lighting Solutions. 

The illuminated façade of the Old Genesee County Courthouse is the backdrop for the new white LED lighting that was provided for the Soldiers’, Sailors’, and Marines’ Monument as the second phase of this project. The monument lighting was unveiled Memorial Day 2019 in time for the monument’s centennial, celebrated in August of 2019.

Although the final phase implementation was temporarily delayed by the COVID-19 pandemic, County personnel worked with the consultants to complete the work in time to be shared with the community for Labor Day 2020.   

Photos and video by Howard Owens.

The flowers in the sunflower field along Wortendyke Road have mostly faded, though there are a few blooms that are still radiant, and yesterday was another beautiful late summer evening so the field remained a popular destination for area residents.

Above, Ayo Jr., Tobin Carson, Ayomi and Jasmine Pitan pose for a picture in the field.

Ella Houseknecht and MacKenzie Lavrey.