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Jason Ostrowski is definitely excited about his upcoming concert at Batavia Downs.

Why? He loves playing rock and roll. He loves Elton John and Billy Joel. With a background in musical theater, he loves performing. He loves meeting people. And, he won't be far from his hometown, Rochester.

More than once during an interview with The Batavian about his Feb. 27 show (doors at 6:30 p.m., show at 7 p.m.), Ostrowski said about performing, "I love it. I absolutely love it.

Ostrowski isn't sure where this love for music and performance came from but it started young.

"Nobody in my family is in entertainment at all," Ostrowski said. "(Starting in) kindergarten, I was bothering my parents for lessons, and then I took classical for about six years. I hated taking it. I loved my teacher, but I hated classical piano. And then I learned rock and roll."

In high school, at Greece Athena, he discovered musical theater.  He was inspired to get his degree from SUNY Fredonia in musical theater and he chased a career as an actor.

His resume includes roles on Broadway, cast on national tours for major Broadway productions, and regional musical theater.  His TV roles include co-starring roles on FBI: Most Wanted, Bull, The Detour, WeCrashed, and A Crime to Remember.

"I've been very lucky working for as long as I have in the entertainment industry and being able to support myself," Ostrowski said. "And the piano playing has always been there for me."

Ostrowski's path toward doing concerts featuring the music of the likes of Elton John and Billy Joel began when he was on Broadway in a show where cast members played their own instruments; then, on his own, he started playing more rock and roll on piano.

"I always thought, 'Oh, that would be fun to do for people. But I guess I was a little too shy or something," Ostrowski said. "In 2014, I learned how to do dueling pianos in Orlando, Florida. From there, I was just hooked on performing behind the piano."

Ostrowski was more of a Billy Joel fan (he's even met him a couple of times) but people always told him he looked like Elton John, so he explored his music and found it compelling, so he developed a live act around John's music. He said it's not exactly a tribute show.

"I started putting on my Nana's costume jewelry and some sparkly clothes and doing an Elton John show," Ostrowski said. "It's not an impersonator show because you already know it's not him. I look enough like the guy. I'm not going to try to pretend to be him but to capture the essence of his music and performance. What I do live hopefully translates, and that gives people an experience that, if they haven't seen him, can come close to what it would be like to hear that music live by him. And I love doing it. I love it."

The Feb. 27 show will feature both the music of John and his idol, Joel.

He said Joel is his biggest influence as a singer, piano player, and writer.  Ostrowski has singles and EPs of his original music on streaming platforms and is anticipating releasing an album later in 2025.

"I've always written. I've always been, I guess, I've always been a little timid about it, like, uh, nobody's gonna like this or whatever," Ostrowski said. "But now, as I reach 50, I'm like, 'Well, who cares?' So I actually started work on an album in December, and in March, I'm going back to recording in New York City with this producer who was Bruce Hornsby's guitar player for 16 years, and he's worked with Dave Matthews and Ben Folds. He really likes my writing, so we started work on just a little album, four or five songs, but it's exciting, and it's gotten me excited about my own music again."

Ostrowski isn't surprised the music of legendary rockers like John and Joel remains popular, not just with the generation that grew up with John's songs on AM radio.

"I'm on ships quite a bit, and generally, the crowds are people who grew up with Elton John, but every now and then, I get young people and young teenagers out in the audience, and they're singing along to every single song," Ostrowski said. "There's some kind of magic in performing some of this music that's 56 years old now, much older than some of these people listening to it, and they know every single lyric. It really is a rush to just play this rock and roll music."

John, he said, is particularly thrilling.

"He's such a theatrical performer in how he dresses and presents himself," Ostrowski said. "So to be able to do that and sit behind the piano and play this amazing music with incredible bands is all I need. I love it. Absolutely love it."

Tickets are available through Eventbrite, starting at $13.37.

What do three lifelong friends who enjoy cutting hair do when the opportunity arises -- they open a barbershop together, of course.

The Local Barbershop is located at 466 Ellicott St., Batavia. It was previously Canzoneri's Barbershop. The former owner Joe Canzoneri left to pursue a business opportunity in Buffalo.

The new owners are Alton Rupp, Tommy Slenker, and Damian Hargrave.

"We all went to Alexander High School, so we wanted to collectively own something one day," Rupp said. "It's just a matter of when the opportunity came up, we jumped on it, and it's been a good time, man. It's been a lot of fun."

All three emphasized that they like the idea of community, that they're doing something for the community, and they're offering a community.  Their open casual floor plan with couches and chairs in the middle and a beer cooler on one wall is inviting.

"We want to bring back that home-like atmosphere," Rupp said. "Come in, hang out, have some fun. More than anything— and I'm not saying the other ones don't have that— I think what we have going here in the middle, a centralized location, is that clients come in, hang out, and chat with each other. We've had a lot of clients intermingle already, so it's been awesome."

Slenker also thinks the location is conducive to getting attention and building community.

"The space itself -- we got plenty of eyes on us, with (Route) 63 being right here in the outskirts of Batavia, so we're not right in the thick of things, but we like having plenty of parking, and the building's definitely identifiable," Slenker said.

Hargrave said that comes with being one of the owners, where the business can reflect who they are.  Otherwise, it's business as usual.

"Honestly, it feels like same old, same old, you know, you're kind of just cutting hair," Hargrave said. "It's been nice to get a lot of love and feedback from the community. What I like most is just being able to make it what we want, just making it how it is, and controlling the dynamic, you know, whether the TV's on, the music's going, everything that people see, just making it a better experience and being in control of that compared to when you're just a barber in another shop, you might not have a say in that kind of stuff."

The Local Barbershop can be reached at 585-483-3060.

There were plenty of jokes at Scott German's retirement party at Batavia Downs on Saturday night along with kudos for a job well done during his 21 years as county treasurer.

German retired four months shy of being Genesee County's longest serving treasurer, the culmination of 31 years total working in the treasurer's office.

But the goodbye was also a hello because German has taken the part-time job of Republican Election Commissioner at the Board of Elections.

"I'm happy that he's staying with county government," said County Manager Matt Landers, who started working for the county 21 years ago as German's deputy treasurer. "He's gonna help us out on the election side. So it's interesting. It's a retirement bash and going away, and I'll give him a big hug at the end of the night and say, 'I'll see you on Monday.'"

Kevin Andrews, the new county treasurer, got in a few zingers while roasting his former boss.

German only faced an election opponent once over his five terms, in the first year, he stood for election (after being appointed mid-term by then Gov. George Pataki).  That doesn't mean, however, that there weren't write-in votes.

"I honestly can't remember which year this happened, but Scott shared with me that one year when he ran for office, one of the write-in votes against him for county treasurer was an old sock," Andrews said.

So, Andrews wrapped up one of his old socks and gave it to him as a present. Just so he would have a moment of that write-in vote (top photo).

Andrews also praised his mentor.

"Sincerely, though, you've always been supportive of me, especially when I have been overly self-critical," Andrews said. "I appreciate the many conversations that we've had over the years where you've offered advice or encouragement when I've needed it personally; Scott, I want to say that it has been a pleasure and honor working with you."

Legislature Chairwoman Shelley Stein praised German for the millions of taxpayer dollars his diligent work has saved the county and the millions he earned for the county through wise investments.

"You've been passionate and you have been aggressive in your approach to county government," Stein said.

Garrett Macdonald, a consultant with Three+1 based in Rochester (Macdonald is also a Genesee County resident and a second cousin of German's, though they never met until they started working together), helped provide German with the strategy to invest the county's cash reserves.

"There's very few treasurers where you walk into their office, and they look at you dead in the eyes, and they say, 'I want to do everything I possibly can to earn and save and help my taxpayers,' and that has been a stamp on Scott's legacy for Genesee County, doing whatever he possibly can to take care of his constituents and taxpayers," Macdonald said.

When German closed out the evening, he put some hard numbers on those accomplishments. He said the county, by investing reserves, has earned $21 million for the general fund and more than $28 million overall.

"In 2004, the county's fund balance was $5.4 million, and at the end of 2023 the fund balance is $22.2 million," German said. "The total fund equity in 2004 was $11.8 million, but at the end of 2023, fund equity was over $84 million. Personally, I am very proud of those numbers, and I have turned over to Kevin accounting that is in a very strong financial state. So Kevin, don't screw it up."

Hawley took note of all the praise for German's handling of the county's finances and mused that it would be nice if state government could do as well.

"We've heard about the fact that you saved taxpayers millions and millions of dollars," Hawley said. "You've also earned the county millions and millions of dollars. And we wish that some of your philosophy of governing and finances would translate to the state of New York, I'll give Kathy Hochul your best and tell her to read your upcoming book on how to make money and not have to spend money just because it's there."

Elba beat Wheatland-Chili on Thursday in Girls Basketball on Senior Night at Elba.

Elba scored 66 points to 20 points for Wheatland.

Scoring:

• Sydney Reilly, 16 points
• Brea Smith, 14
• Mariah Ognibene, 10
• Lydia Ross, 9

Photos by Debra Reilly

Hey, golfers, snow and cold got you down? Tyler Crawford is ready and waiting to help you drive away those winter blues.

At the beginning of 2025, he opened The Sim, a shop in Batavia's City Centre where golfers can keep their game sharp even on the coldest of days.

He's providing a golf simulator for foursomes or practice rounds throughout the winter months and after dark in the summer.

"It's playing golf indoors," Crawford said. "You're hitting everything from a driver to a putter. Alot of these indoor facilities, you don't putt or you chip instead of using your putter. I think that's something that's nice and unique. Here, you use your putter. The main reason I wanted to do it was just to play golf indoors in the winter. I got into golf pretty heavily these last few years, maybe a league or two, and I can't afford to travel to play golf all winter long. Really, who can? So I figured I'm not the only one. It's been going good."

The Sim is open by appointment, Crawford said. You can call or text him at 585-356-9358 to book a tee time. He will take tee times as early as 6 a.m. and he's had golfers playing a round as late as 11 p.m., he said.

He said he expects to be open during the summer, either for the golfers who didn't get in enough holes during daylight or for parties and company events.

Currently, he sells memberships. A membership isn't required but membership does have its advantage, such as $10 off a round ($50 an hour for non-members, $40 for members). Non-members must book at least 24 hours ahead.

"As a member, you get to leave your bag in our members' bag room," Crawford said. "You don't have to lug the clubs in and out or leave them in the garage or in the car. And we're going to host a little Club Championship at the end of the year."

As for liquor, he's applied for a license for BYOB. For food, Everybody Eats is just a few doors down from Crawford's shop.

Crawford said he thinks the mall, with the renovation and growth plans in progress, and the current mix of property owners, is a good spot for his business.

"There's a lot going on in here, and I think there's more to come that we'll see here in the future," Crawford said. "I think food and drink will be readily available right outside the doors. And I definitely plan on marketing and planning to work with everyone who's in here serving food."

At Wednesday's basketball game between Notre Dame and Oakfield-Alabama at O-A, a song with crude language was apparently played during a break in the action.  

Videos provided to The Batavian indicate some sort of confrontation between a couple of adults who attended the game and O-A Superintendent John Fisgus.  One video is blurry with no discernable audio, and the other is very short with no significant statements, so it's hard to say what happened.

A person who complained to The Batavian about the incident said the song contained racial slurs.

Fisgus issued the following letter to members of both school communities and in response to a request from The Batavian for a comment on the incident, provided it to The Batavian.

Dear Notre Dame High School and Oakfield-Alabama School Communities,

On behalf of the Oakfield-Alabama School District, I sincerely apologize for an event that occurred during the Varsity Men's Basketball game on Wednesday, February 5, 2025, in our
gymnasium. After the game concluded, I was approached by some concerned parents who brought to my attention the inappropriate lyrics of a song played during the contest.

Upon further investigating this situation, I confirmed that the song contained very inappropriate lyrics and language and should never have been played. Please know that this song's selection was unintentional, and I am utterly embarrassed that this occurred.

Again, my sincerest apologies to all the attendees and fans who showed up to root for their children and respective teams that evening. Our school and its environment is a place where everyone should feel respected, valued, and safe. Please know that we will have extra measures in place to prevent this situation from occurring again.

My sincerest apologies to anyone affected or hurt by these actions. We look forward to having the Notre Dame School Community at future events on our campus.

Opening Friday at the Main St. 56 Theater in Batavia is the Batavia Players' production of Agatha Christie's "The Mousetrap."

A murder mystery, it is Christie's most popular play and is directed by Sophie Houseman.

Set in a cozy guesthouse nestled in the snowy English countryside, run by a husband and wife new to the hospitality business, a group of strangers become trapped by a snowstorm. When a police detective arrives with chilling news—a killer is among them—secrets begin to unravel, and tensions rise.
Everyone is a suspect in this classic whodunit, filled with Christie’s signature twists and turns. 

Show times are Friday and Saturday at 7:30 p.m. and Sunday at 2 p.m.

Tickets are $24 for adults at the door and $22 for students and seniors. Tickets are $2 cheaper if purchased online.

Photos by Howard Owens.

A 10-year-old who was rescued from a house fire at 3 Vine St., Batavia, early Thursday morning, has died, according to the Batavia Police Department.

The name of the child has not been released.

The child's two siblings, ages 4 and 12, are in critical condition at Strong Memorial Hospital.

The fire remains under investigation by Batavia PD and the Batavia Fire Department.

The fire was reported at about 12:30 a.m. when a downstairs neighbor heard the smoke alarms going off.  The neighbor, Dennis Say, said he called emergency dispatch and while the children were yelling that they were trapped, he tried to break down a locked door but was unsuccessful.

An initial fire crew was on scene and minutes and quickly extricated two children and a third child was located and carried from the house a short time later.  All three were quickly transported by Mercy EMS to UMMC before being transferred to Strong.

Anyone with information related to the incident is asked to contact Batavia PD at 585-345-6444.

Rep. Claudia Tenney announced late Wednesday that members of staff were the targets of violent threats.

The Batavian asked a spokeswoman for Tenney for copies of police reports or other documents substantiating the claims. She said Tenney's office would make no further statement about the matter.

The public information officer for Capitol Police also declined to confirm the alleged threats.

Here is Tenney's statement;

“Unfortunately, our team had to contact law enforcement today on three separate occasions due to threats of violence and intimidation against our staff members. I am appalled by these threats and am calling on everyone to express their First Amendment Rights in a peaceful and compassionate way. Our team of expert caseworkers are dedicated to serving all of the constituents in NY-24 with compassion and professionalism. I can confidently say that our team is among the very best in Congress. I am grateful to the Capitol Police and local law enforcement for their swift response and commitment to the safety and security of everyone who is seeking help in our offices as well the safety and security of our staff. If you have a comment our concern you would like to share with our office, please visit tenney.house.gov to speak to a member of our team.”

Data centers are big, noisy, use too much energy, and pose a risk to watersheds, more than two dozen speakers told the staff of the Genesee County Economic Development Center at three public hearings on Monday in the town of Alabama.

The hearing was held at the rec hall of the Alabama Volunteer Fire Department and was attended by more than 50 people. Some brought signs or wore T-shirts expressing their opposition to locating a data center at WNY STAMP.

They came from Syracuse, Buffalo, Rochester, Niagara County, Orleans County, and Genesee County, including the Tonawanda Seneca Indian Reservation.

The proposed projects are massive -- all more than 750,000 square feet, or more than 13 football fields -- and will range in cost from $2.2 billion to $6.32 billion. They would each create from 100 to 200 jobs.

The three projects are STREAM U.S. Data Centers, LLC, Project Rampart, LLC, Potentia Holdings, LLC.

Exactly what kind of data the proposed centers would store and retrieve is unclear, but data centers typically provide services for artificial intelligence, cryptocurrency data mining, data analytics and storage, IT and telecommunications, and co-location services for major corporations.

Stream Realty Partners builds data centers for Fortune 500 companies. PRP Real Estate Investment Management backs Project Rampart, and its clients include Meta (Facebook), Microsoft, and Amazon.  Potentia Capital is an Australian private equity firm specializing in technology, software, and tech-enabled services.

These sorts of projects are usually backed by a consortium of private equity investors, often global in nature. 

CORRECTION from prior version of the story: Neither Steam nor Project Rampart are seeking property tax exemptions, just sales tax and mortgage tax exemptions.  The Stream project would generate $10.9 million in annual revenue for local municipalities and school districts, and Project Rampart, $10.3 million annually. Potentia is seeking $42.7 million in property tax exemptions over 20 years, resulting in an average of $7.1 million in annual PILOT fees.

Many speakers questioned whether data centers fit into the promised profile of WNY STAMP, which was sold to the community as a high-tech manufacturing hub, much like the Edwards Vacuum plant currently under construction.

Edwards is promising 600 jobs in a 240,000-square-foot facility, or one job per 400 square feet. Stream is projecting one job (at a salary of $89,000 annually) per 7,800 square feet, Rampart, one job ($64,000 annually per 7,142 square feet, and Potentia, one job ($129,000 annually) per 4,460 square feet.

There is only enough space available in STAMP for one of these data centers, so the GCEDC board will need to decide whether to reject all of them or pick only one of them for approval.

Data centers have been controversial in other communities, and several speakers brought up issues with the Digihost Fortistar Niagara County facility. It is a 60 MW cryptocurrency mining operation located off Erie Avenue in North Tonawanda. Residents there have protested against noise pollution, leading the city to ban the facility from expanding for two years. 

Other complaints about the facility have included excessive greenhouse gas emissions, 

There have also been complaints about noise from data centers in Loudoun County, Virginia, Granbury, Texas, and Fairfax County, Virginia.

Health concerns from data centers include stress and anxiety, hearing loss, disrupted sleep, and even cardiovascular risk.

The controversy in Niagara County about data centers may have contributed to chasing away Kevin O’Leary, of Shark Tank fame, when he sought to build a data center in the region. He claimed the project was fully funded and would have created thousands of jobs. He said he ran into significant roadblocks raised by local politicians and state policies. 

He reportedly said on CNN, "It got so bad with the politicians in the local region and the state policy, we moved it to Norway, and all the jobs. Norway has it now. Thousands of jobs coming out of that! That’s New York. Uninvestable.”

While many speakers on Monday focused on these issues, the only matter before the GCEDC board, when the projects come up for a vote, is economic -- will a data center create jobs and help grow tax revenue in Genesee County? NOTE: The environmental issues will come before the board during the SEQRA, if GCEDC is lead agency.

If approved by the board, the winning project must jump through a series of regulatory hoops, including:

• State Environmental Quality Review Act (SEQRA) compliance, which assesses potential impacts on air quality, water resources, wildlife, and other environmental factors.  GCEDC has applied for lead agency status for the SEQRA review.
• Air and Water Quality Permits, which cover air emissions and water usage.  It would be up to the Department of Environmental Conservation to provide the permits.
• The project must comply with the Climate Leadership and Community Protection Act (CLCPA), which focuses on greenhouse gas emissions. There would also be a requirement for energy consumption disclosure.
• The town of Alabama's local zoning boards and the Genesee County Planning Board would review the projects. The project would need to comply with existing noise ordinances, for example, as well as other land-use regulations. As part of the public hearing process at the local level, the developer would need to address community concerns about noise, emissions, and resource usage.

Highlights of speakers' remarks (not all speakers included):

Madeline Nyblade, an assistant professor at SUNY ESF with a Ph.D. in Earth and Environmental Sciences, specializing in hydrology.
Nyblade expressed concern about the hydrology of the region, which includes wetlands and clay-rich soils that create perched water tables. The area is upstream from critical ecosystems such as the Tonawanda Seneca Nation lands, the Tonawanda Wildlife Management Area, and the Iroquois National Wildlife Refuge, making it susceptible to downstream impacts.

“This land is wetland, part of this larger wetland complex, yet none of the proposals take into account the wetlands that will be destroyed,” she said.

Margaret Wooster, reading a letter from Allies of the Tonawanda Seneca Nation, Western New York Environmental Alliance, and 57 other environmental, faith-based, human rights, and good governance groups.
The letter states that the project contradicts New York State’s and international commitments to environmental sustainability, social responsibility, and long-term stewardship and expresses concerns about the destruction of wetlands. The data centers will consume 200 megawatts of electricity annually, straining regional energy systems, she said. The centers would also use 800,000 gallons of fresh water daily. She also raised concerns about air pollution. 

“Industrial runoff, hydrological disruptions, and heated water discharge from a data center would devastate these fragile ecosystems,” she said.

Joseph O’Malley (reading a statement by John Whitney)
The letter noted the area is a 20,000-acre network of wetlands and wildlife refuges critical to biodiversity and carbon sequestration. 

“The GCEDC STAMP site is situated in an area with deep cultural and ecological significance," the letter stated. "It is central to Western New York’s heritage, including that of the Haudenosaunee people and the Tonawanda Seneca Nation.”

It also called into question the "excessive" financial incentives given the limited number of jobs expected. 

“Public funds should not be used to incentivize these uncertain benefits, not without first conducting an independent economic analysis of the costs and benefits,” he said.

The long-term costs could outweigh any short-term financial gains, he said, especially if rapid technology advancements render the facilities obsolete in a few years. 

Dr. Kirk Scirto, a family physician who treats patients from Tonawanda Seneca Nation and is a public health specialist
He said the data centers would emit at least 500 tons of carbon dioxide annually and burn 60,000 gallons of diesel fuel per year, leading to air pollution that disproportionately affects the nearby Tonawanda Seneca Nation.  The noise, he said, would be 50–90 decibels, "akin to jet engine noise." The projects he said are a threat to The Big Woods, a key hunting ground for residents of the reservation. Water usage, he said, would deplete resources for the surrounding counties. The superheated discharge water, which could also contain toxins, could harm downstream fisheries. If the centers are used for AI, AI could lead to significant job loss throughout the United States.

"In medicine, we study how parasites suck up the nutrients or resources while harming them," Scirto said. "Well, that's exactly what these data centers are -- parasitic centers that would suck up an immense amount of the drinking water of Niagara, Orleans, Erie and Genesee county residents. They would also steal a huge amount of their energy in exchange for a barrage of contamination. What's more, hardly any jobs would be offered to local residents."

Diane Sirczyk, representing the Atlantic Chapter of the Sierra Club
"Data centers around the country are notoriously dirty and noisy consumers of vast amounts of electricity, which are straining electric grids, emitting large volumes of greenhouse gas pollution and undermining our country's ability to transition away from fossil fuels," she said.

She noted that Project Potentia, if approved, would require 195 megawatts of electricity per year, which is enough to power about 32,000 homes.

She suggested the data centers would not comply with CLCPA.

Barbara Jonathan
Jonathan said she lives near Big Woods. She expressed concern about the impact on future generations, given the potential for a negative environmental impact. She expressed concerns that the data center will have no accountability and no relationship with the local community once built. 

“Where are these people who operate these data centers? Are they going to really give a damn about you or me?” she said.

Sarah Howard, a resident of Syracuse
Howard opposed the incentives and criticized GCEDC for a "lack of transparency" and "procedural flaws." 

She expressed environmental concerns, concerns about energy consumption, and a lack of a significant number of jobs created by the projects.

“The revised EAF states no water is needed for cooling but includes an 8-acre retention pond holding 10 million gallons. This raises serious questions about transparency," she said.

Howard was the only speaker who steadfastly refused to stop talking at the end of her time limit.

Maggie Cowen (reading a statement from a person named George)
Cowen noted that wastewater from a data center could contaminate Orleans County rivers and creeks, ultimately reaching Lake Ontario and affecting its growing tourism industry, notably fishing.  Cowen noted that a data center in Niagara County generates noise levels from its cooling fans of 85 decibels. Cowen argued that a data center provides no meaningful value to the community. 

Cowen fought back tears near the end and said,  "I've got a little bit more time, so I just like to say, like, this is one of the few natural areas remaining in this region of the state, and it seems ridiculous to throw away."

Evelyn Wackett, Buffalo resident and environmentalist
The STAMP project threatens endangered and threatened species, she said, including the short-eared owl, northern harrier hawk, monarch butterfly, and bog turtles. She said a data center would draw six million gallons of water from the Niagara River daily. 

“Yesterday was World Wetlands Day," she said. "I want to celebrate the wetlands. I don’t want to see them destroyed.”

Kristen Moser, a wildlife photographer from Syracuse
Moser said these projects do not belong near the Tonawanda Seneca Nation or the surrounding wildlife refuges, including the John White Wildlife Management Area, Iroquois National Wildlife Refuge, Tonawanda Wildlife Management Area, and Oak Orchard Wildlife Management Area.

“The Big Woods is home to over 100 species of birds, many of which are dependent on undisturbed areas to reproduce,” she said.

She played a recording of birds singing in the woodlands and then a recording from the same spot when a supply truck for one of the STAMP projects passed by. The birds were silent and only the truck could be heard.

"That's what you'll be hearing if these three data centers go in," she said. "If any of this continued destruction continues, the data center would be one of the closest complexes to this exceptional forest. The sound of the trucks will be multiplied by the constant industrial sounds of the center. Noise pollution will not only impact and displace wildlife in the Big Woods, it will forever destroy the peace and serenity of this sacred land for the people of Tonawanda."

Katie Rivers, Alabama
Rivers said she has lived near the project site for 30 years. She said development has already disrupted local wildlife, particularly deer, which have been displaced from their natural habitats. She suggested economic developers and planners prioritize corporate interests over community welfare.

“It seems like you’ve all been bamboozled," Rivers said. "I can’t even imagine that you think this could be beneficial to anybody in the town.”

Angela Carlson, from Oakfield, now living in Batavia
She claimed that a cost-benefit analysis has not been produced, violating General Municipal Law 859-a. She highligned the environmental risks of the project and its potential adverse impact on threatened species such as the northern harrier and short-eared owl. 

She called on GCEDC to produce a cost-benefit analysis, disclose the names of the owners and operators of the projects, conduct a comprehensive noise study, and provide more opportunities for public participation. 

“One cannot claim to care about the environment while continuing to disregard and disrespect the rights of Indigenous peoples,” Carlson said.

A house fire at 82 Main St., Corfu, was reported shortly after 9 a.m. on Monday.

When the Corfu Fire chief arrived on scene reported a full-involved structure fire on the first floor of the house. He immediately called for a second alarm, which included the city's FAST Team, Town of Batavia Fire, and Pembroke Fire.  Elba Fire and Darien Fire also dispatched.

The resident and her pet were not at home at the time, according to Tim Yaeger, emergency management coordinator. He said the resident was on her way to the airport when she learned of the fire. She returned to the scene.

The cause of the fire is unknown at this time and will be investigated, Yaeger said..

The 2,128-square-foot residence was built in 1900 and remodeled in 1940, according to county tax records. Its assessed value is $186,890. The listed owner is June Myers.

Photos by Howard Owens.

Richard James Burdick, 46, of Clinton Street Road, Batavia, is charged with criminal possession of a narcotic drug with intent to sell, criminal possession of a controlled substance 3rd, and aggravated unlicensed driver. Burdick was stopped at 6:22 p.m. on Jan. 30 on Clinton Street Road, Batavia, by Deputy Nicholas Chamoun. Burdick was allegedly found in possession of 62 grams of cocaine. He was held pending arraignment.

Teresa K. Hillin, 41, of Batavia, is charged with criminal possession of a controlled substance 7th, driving without insurance, and driving a vehicle without an inspection sticker; Peter Dercqu, 46, of Lyndonville, is charged with criminal possession of a controlled substance 7th; and Steven Hadden, 43, of Pembroke, is charged with criminal possession of a controlled substance 7th. Hillin was reportedly the driver of a vehicle stopped by a deputy at 2:25 a.m. on Jan. 29 in Pembroke. Deputies reportedly found cocaine in the vehicle. All three occupants were processed at the Genesee County and Released.

Brevin J. Mast, 27, of Batavia, is charged with two counts of criminal possession of a weapon, 3rd and two counts of menacing, 2nd. Mast allegedly threatened two people on Jan. 15 at a location on Trumbull Parkway, Batavia. He was jailed following his arrest.

Tyler James Bull, 22, of West Main Street Road, Batavia, is charged with criminal contempt 2nd. Bull, who is incarcerated, is accused of calling a person 142 times in violation an order of protection. he was arrested on Jan. 15. He was scheduled for arraignment.

Jacob Herbert Tillotson, 25, of Walker Road, Pavilion, is charged with DWI, driving with a BAC of .08 or greater, drinking alcohol in a motor vehicle, and moving from lane unsafely. Tillotson was stopped at 8:58 p.m. on Jan. 17 on Linwood Road, Le Roy, by Deputy Zachary Hoy. He was issued traffic tickets and released.

Julie Lynn Dutton, 29, of East Main Street, Batavia, is charged with petit larceny and criminal mischief 4th. Dutton is accused of stealing and damaging property from the La Quinta Inn & Suites at 8200 Park Road, Batavia. She was held at the Genesee County Jail pending arraignment. Dutton was also arrested by Batavia PD on Jan. 15 and charged with two counts of petit larceny. She is accused of shoplifting from Tops. She was arraigned and held.

Jordan Nicholas Wieseltier, 43, of Route 20, Pavilion, is charged with DWI and driving with a BAC of .08 or greater. Wieseltier was stopped at 6 p.m. on Jan. 20 on West Main Road, Le Roy, by Deputy Nicholas Chamoun.

Sergiy Borkowski, 44, of Branch Street, Rochester, is charged with felony DWI, driving with a BAC of .08 or greater, and moving from lane unsafely. Borkowski was reportedly involved in a one-car motor vehicle accident at 9:22 p.m. on Jan. 9 on Reuben Road, Tonawanda Indian Reservation, and arrested by Deputy Matthew Wesolowski following an investigation. He was processed at the Genesee County Jail and released.

William Stanley Pyszczek, 72, of Pembroke, is charged with menacing 2nd and harassment 2nd. Pyszczek is accused of brandishing a knife and threatening the life of another person at 1:57 a.m. on Jan. 27 at a location on South Lake Road, Pembroke. Pyszczek was held pending arraignment.

Joseph Michael Degweck, Jr., 52, of Pine Street, East Aurora, is charged with criminal contempt 1st. Degweck is accused of violating a stay-away order of protection at 1:20 p.m. on Jan. 24 while incarcerated at the Genesee County Jail. He allegedly made third-party contact with the protected party.  He was scheduled for arraignment at a later date.

Bryan Francis Walczak, 42, of Ellicott Street, Batavia, is charged with DWI and moving from lane unsafely. Walczak was stopped at 11:43 p.m. on Jan. 26 on Alexander Road, Alexander, after the Sheriff's Office received a report of an erratic driver from a witness. Walczak was held pending arraignment.

Michael J. Difalco, 37, of Batavia, is charged with criminal contempt 1st, resisting arrest, obstruction of governmental administration 2nd, and harassment 2nd. Difalco was allegedly involved in a disturbance on South Main Street on Jan. 9. He is accused of violating an order of protection. He allegedly fled on foot when officers attempted to take him into custody. He was arraigned in City Court and jailed.

Joseph W. Freeman, 40, of Batavia, is charged with trespass. Freeman was allegedly on the property of the Budget Inn on Oak Street after previously being told he wasn't allowed on the property. He was issued an appearance ticket.

Joseph Hagen, 41, of Batavia, is charged with DWI. Hagan was reportedly involved in a motor vehicle accident on Jan. 9 on Highland Park, Batavia. His vehicle reportedly struck multiple objects. He was issued traffic tickets and released.

Sean M. Conway, 47, of Batavia, is charged with petit larceny. Conway is accused of shoplifting from Harbor Freight on Dec. 17. He was arrested on Jan. 11. He was arraigned and released.

Michael R Marchese, 34, of Honeoye Falls, is charged with DWI. Marchese is accused of driving a vehicle on Nov. 6 at an undisclosed location in Batavia that struck a tree, light pole, and another vehicle, before leaving the scene. Marchese was issued multiple traffic tickets on Jan. 9.

A 3-2 victory over McQuaid by Batavia Notre Dame United was a big win for the program said Coach Marc Staley after the game.

The difference came down to United killing a penalty while scoring on its own power play in the third period.

We had that one chance," Staley said, "and we scored on it.  We talked about it going into the third period, if we could score on a power play and get the lead, I felt comfortable that we could shut them down."

Staley said the team went with a 1-1-3 defense in the third and it was effective.

"We had 38 clears in the third period, which is crazy, but the kids really committed to blocking shots, getting in lanes, limiting second chances, winning face-offs, doing all that stuff that doesn't show up on the score sheet," Staley said.

Ten minutes into the first period, Luke Staley took a slap shot from the point, and Jameson Motyka redirected a tip-in goal to start the scoring.

McQuaid, one of the top-ranked Class A teams in the state, scored in the second to tie the game when Lou Zaari passed to Sean Donlon.  

Two minutes later, BND answered on a fast break from Sam Pies to Jameson Motyka to regain the lead 2-1.   With two minutes left in the second, McQuaid scored a goal from Conor Edgecomb to tie the game.

The third period brought McQuaid their first penalty of the game. Brady Johnson capitalized a power-play goal, from Jameson Motyka past goalie Owen Salinas. 

In the net, Rhys Tanner stopped 28 of 30 shots on goal.

BND United is now 9-5-2 on the season and plays on the road versus McQuaid next Saturday at Rochester Ice Center at 3:45 p.m.

To view or purchase photos, click here.

Byron-Bergen beat Lyndonville in Boys Basketball on Wednesday 64-40.

For the Bees, Cody Carlson scored 25 points, Adam Cardenas, 15, Joe Brumsted and Noah Clare, eight each, and Cole Diquattro, 6.

Photos by Jennifer DiQuattro. 

Oakfield-Alabama beat Holley in Girls Basketball on Wednesday 58-27.

Scoring:

• Alea Groff, 12 points, 7 rebounds, 5 assists, 5 steals
• Alexa Clark, 12 points, 14 rebounds
• Piper Hyde, 15 points
• AllieWilliams, 7 points, 11 rebounds
• Jess Sosnowki, 5 points, 7 rebounds
• Rylee Denny, 3 points
• Raine Denny, 2 points
• Allison Harkeness, 2 points

The "Musical Fireworks" will be flying Sunday at Genesee Community College when the Genesee Symphony Orchestra plays its February concert at 4 p.m.

Featured works conducted by Music Director S. Shade Zajac:

• Symphony no. 9, Shostakovich
• Overture to William Tell, Rossini
• Three-Cornered Hat, Suite no. 2, Manuel de Falla
• Russian Sailors Dance, Gliere

Tickets are $17 for adults, $12 for seniors, and students with an ID can attend for free.

Audience members who arrive at 3 p.m. can meet the orchestra.

Photos by Howard Owens.

Western Regional Off-Track Betting was informed on Monday that the office of NYS Comptroller Thomas Dinapoli is conducting a financial audit of the corporation, according to a statement issued to The Batavian on Wednesday.

Jennifer Freeman, communication director for the comptroller's office said that the audit will start in February.

"It will take several months to complete," Freeman said. "During an audit, we do not comment on specifics or what we are finding."

Michael DeGeorge told The Batavian on Wednesday that the OTB was told that the audit could include a review of the past three to five years of financial operations, including internal controls.

"The president and CEO (Byron Brown) made it clear that the new management team will fully cooperate with the comptroller's office throughout the process and that we welcome outside review," DeGeorge said.

There has been recent controversy regarding executive buyouts, other perks, and executive-level expenditures as a result of the transition from the leadership of Henry Wojtaszek to Brown.

Previously: 

• Erie County's WROTB board member walks the line on agency's spending
• OTB approves consultants’ plan for executive reorganization, approves jobs for two former Brown staffers
• OTB chair vows to keep politics out of new CEO search, defends legality of severance pay for executives
• OTB board votes to buy out contracts of top three executives
• Wojtaszek confirms he's leaving OTB by mutual agreement
• WROTB board seeks accountability when it comes to sporting, entertainment events in Buffalo, Rochester
• For additional coverage of OTB, click here.

Monday night's heavy winds snapped a utility pole in the area of 434 East Main St., Batavia, just before 9 p.m. causing a power outage in the area.

National Grid was on scene quickly to begin repairs.

Eastbound lanes of East Main Street were closed during repairs.

A high-wind warning is in place until 6 a.m. with winds of 30 to 40 mph and gusts up to 60 mph.

Currently, the largest power outage in Genesee County is centered in Elba, stretching south into the Town of Batavia, affecting 327 National Grid customers.

Photos by Howard Owens.