Congresswoman Claudia Tenney (NY-24) introduced the Fostering Innovation and Research to Strengthen Tomorrow (FIRST) Act, to enhance the research and development (R&D) tax credit for small businesses and startups, allowing them to create jobs and boost American innovation.
“Now more than ever, the United States must work to out-compete and out-innovate our adversaries by investing in proven policies like the R&D tax credit,” said Congresswoman Tenney.
“Once a leader in promoting R&D, the United States has recently fallen behind other countries around the world who are offering greater R&D incentives. China, in particular, has chosen to invest heavily in R&D by providing a “super deduction” for R&D expenses. By enhancing the R&D tax credit, we can help small businesses and entrepreneurs across America invest in innovation that will unleash economic growth and create jobs on American soil. The FIRST Act is a crucial step in boosting American innovation and advancing our competitiveness on the world stage, reinforcing our nation’s position as the economic powerhouse of the 21st century.”
“Manufacturers in the United States perform more than half of all private-sector research and development in the nation, driving more innovation than any other sector," said Chris Netram, Managing Vice President, Policy, at the National Association of Manufacturers. "The Fostering Innovation and Research to Strengthen Tomorrow Act recognizes the importance of R&D in creating well-paying U.S. jobs and supporting innovation. We thank Rep. Tenney for her leadership in ensuring that manufacturers in the U.S. continue to be the world’s leading innovators.”
Specifically, this bill would:
Increase the "Traditional" Credit to 40 Percent: Established companies would see their current traditional credit rate, determined by a complex formula, boosted from 20 percent to 40 percent of the increase in R&D spending.
Raise the Alternative Simplified Credit (ASC) to 28 Percent: The existing ASC rate, calculated through a simpler formula, would be raised from 14 percent to 28 percent of the increase in R&D spending.
Significantly Enhance the Credit for Firms with Limited Research History to 14 Percent: Companies without any U.S. research track record in the past three years would experience a more than twofold increase in the credit from 6 percent to 14 percent of R&D spending.
The City of Batavia Police Department announced that Batavia Downs Gaming, Upstate Niagara/O-AT-KA Milk Products and WNY Heroes have signed on as Diamond Sponsors ($2,500+) for the department’s annual Batavia Police Community Night.
The event is in partnership with The City Church and will take place on Tuesday, Aug. 22 from 5:30 p.m. to 8 p.m. at St. Anthony's, 114 Liberty St., Batavia. Batavia Police Community Night is an annual community-building campaign that promotes strong police-community partnerships and neighborhood camaraderie to make safer neighborhoods.
Various organizations and groups once again will be participating in the annual event which will include free food, a bounce house, games for kids and more.
There are various sponsorship opportunities at the Bronze level ($249 or less); Silver level ($250 - $499); Gold level ($500 -$2,499); and, Diamond level ($2,500+). There will be several interactive displays and booths available. The sponsorship deadline is Tuesday, August 1, 2023.
“This event is aimed to enhance the relationship between neighbors and law enforcement while bringing back a true sense of community,” said Batavia Police Chief Shawn Heubusch. “The support of sponsors is critical to this effort and we are extremely grateful for the generosity of various businesses across the city and region as they recognize the vital importance between law enforcement and the community we serve.”
Gold sponsors include Chapin, Genesee County Youth Bureau, Ken Barrett Chevrolet Cadillac, Mogavero's Auto and the Tonawanda Valley Federal Credit Union.
Silver sponsors include Batavia Teachers' Association, Batavia Original Pizzeria, GCASA, Genesee County Economic Development Center, Habitat for Humanity Genesee County, Horizons Health Services, Northside Deli, Salmon Orthodontics, Southside Deli, V.J. Gautieri Constructors, Inc., and the WNY Association of Chiefs of Police.
Bronze sponsors include Bob Bialkowski, Batavia Composite Squadron Civil Air Patrol, Bohm-Calarco-Smith Funeral Home and Roman’s.
For more information and for those interested in a sponsorship opportunity, should contact Batavia Police Department Detective Matthew Wojtaszczyk at 585-345-6357 or at mwojtaszczyk@batavianewyork.com.
The Genesee-Orleans-Wyoming Opioid Task Force, in conjunction with the National Institute of Health’s HEAL (Helping to End Addiction Long-Term) Initiative, will be commemorating Overdose Awareness Day next month to raise awareness of the dangers of opioids and to remember the lives of those who have succumbed to an overdose.
The annual event is scheduled for 4 - 7 p.m. on August 30 at Austin Park in Batavia.
Residents are invited to take part in the family-friendly activities – which include face painting and live music courtesy of Groove -- and enjoy free pizza and refreshments.
Narcan (naloxone) training is on the agenda and local health and human services agency representatives will be on hand to provide information on recovery resources, medications for opioid use disorder, and the benefits of staying on medication treatment for people in recovery.
Guest speakers include:
John Bennett, chief executive officer at Genesee/Orleans Council on Alcoholism and Substance Abuse, who will provide updates on substance use treatment programs and lead a moment of silence in memory of those who have died.
Dawn Stone, a peer advocate from Spectrum Health in Wyoming County, who will discuss the stigma surrounding substance use disorder and steps that are being taken to remove unhealthy perceptions.
Cheryl Netter, a community “hope coach,” who will share a story of hope and healing.
Scott Davis, a certified peer recovery advocate for the Rochester Regional Health system, who will share how medication has helped him in his recovery.
Paul Pettit, public health director for Genesee & Orleans County Health Departments, will share local data and the initiatives that the health department and local partners are implementing to address overdoses.
Nikki Lang of Batavia, who lost a loved one to an overdose.
Additionally, Lynda Battaglia, director of Genesee County Mental Health & Community Services, and Danielle Figura, director of Community Services at Orleans County Department of Mental Health, are expected to talk about opioid use disorder related to mental health.
Participants will be offered the opportunity to leave a note on the task force’s memory board for a deceased loved one.
Rounding out the musical portion of the Genesee County Fair was a booth in the Exhibit Hall set up by music teacher Jonathan Jaeger, who, on Friday evening, brought in a group of his students for a jam session.
From left are Mike Lauria, Vern Saille, Steve Pribek, Bill Carrigan, and Dot Carrigan.
For anybody interested in music lessons, Jaeger can be reached at jonathan.a.e.jaeger@gmail.com.
The Batavia Muckdogs close out the regular season at Dwyer Stadium tonight with a chance to repeat as Western Division champions on the line.
Trailing the Elmira Pioneers by mere percentage points, the Muckdogs need a win against Niagara Power after a doubleheader split on Friday against Newark.
Batavia won the first game 2-0 behind the pitching of Rijnaldo Euson and Garrett Beaver.
Euson tossed six innings of shutout ball, scattering five hits and fanning eight. Euson finishes the regular season with a record of 3-1 and an ERA of 2.48. He amassed 35 strikeouts.
Beaver picked up his second save in 12 relief appearances. He's 3-0 with a 1.22 ERA.
Lucas Lopez reached base three times, twice on a walk and once with a hit in three plate appearances.
Newark took the second game 4-2.
For Batavia, Lopez was 2 for 3 and Kyle Hetherington went 2-3 with an RBI and a run scored.
8:30 AM – NIOGA Dairy Showmanship Show (Main Show Ring)10 AM – Exhibition Halls & Buildings Open
10:30 AM—NIOGA Dairy Show (Main Show Ring)
1 PM – 9 PM—Midway Opens Kids 16 & Under Ride for $15/wristband from 1 PM—5PM
2:30 PM – Color War (Lawn West of Bathrooms) 3:30 PM- Small Fry Tractor Pull (Exhibition Building) Sponsored by Upstate Niagara Cooperative, Genesee County Pamona Grange, and Duane Schmigel
7 PM – Enduro ( Race Track Grandstands)
7 to 11:00 PM – BarnStorm – (Entertainment Tent)
10 PM – Exhibit Halls & Buildings Close
Daily at the Fair:
Air Sculpture (Balloon Display Build All Day Every Day and Balloon Demonstrations 12pm & 4:45pm) (All Day Every Day)
Robert Boyce in 2014, accepting the St. Jerome Foundation Health and Humanitarian Award at Terry Hills Golf Course. Photo by Howard Owens.
Robert L. Boyce
A stalwart of the Le Roy, and Genesee County, community for more than 50 years, Robert L. Boyce, has passed away at age 88.
Boyce, a native of Hamburg and an Army veteran, moved to Le Roy in 1968 after graduation from the University at Buffalo to go to work for an insurance company that eventually became Tompkins Insurance.
He quickly became involved in the community, joining Jaycees and Rotary, eventually becoming a Paul Harris fellow.
He served the Le Roy Ambulance Service for 27 years, including 13 years as president.
His honors and awards include the Genesee County Health and Humanitarian award (2014), Botts-Fiorito Post #576 LeRoyan of the Year (2018), Boys Scouts Distinguished Service award (2019), and the Alpha Medal of Service award at GCC Foundation (2020).
Boyce is survived by his wife of 61 years, Beth, and daughters Ann (Alan) Nordyke and Tracey (Jim) Carter, and son David (Irena) Boyce. His 8 grandchildren, Laura Nordyke Boland, Andrew Nordyke, Megan Boyce, Ryan Boyce, Emily Carter, Madelyn Carter, Gil Katz, Ella Katz and 2 great-grandchildren
Editor's Note: The Batavian has a booth at the fair in partnership with WBTA as part of the official Genesee County Fair Media Center. Stop by to say hello in the Exhibition Building. We are an exhibitor and are providing coverage of the fair all week long as a proud supporter of the county fair, 4-H and the dedicated volunteers of the Ag Society.
If you appreciate our fair coverage, as well as all of our coverage of Genesee County, you can help us continue news coverage by signing up today for Early Access Pass.
Registration is now open for the 2023-24 Faith Formation Program at Resurrection and Ascension Roman Catholic Parishes in Batavia. The parish families are excited about this joint venture to share our Catholic faith with our families and children.
All sacramental preparation classes (Reconciliation, First Communion, and Confirmation) will be offered as well as enriching programs for the entire family.
Classes will begin on Sunday, September 10 at 10 a.m. Mass at Ascension Parish, followed by lunch, meetings, and a fun kick-off event! Come and join us!
Please contact Jason Smith from Resurrection Parish at resurrectionff14020@yahoo.com or Ann Pratt from Ascension Parish at mgp1731@gmail.com for information.
Evan Gefell of Quattro Development discusses details about his proposed Take 5 oil change business on West Main Street in Batavia during this week's city Planning & Development Committee meeting. Photo by Joanne Beck
It has taken nearly five attempts for a Take 5 oil change business to receive final blessings to move into a former T Mobile building on the west end of the city, due to special use and variance requests that agent Evan Gefell needed before proceeding with his plans.
Gefell, of Quattro Batavia LLC, agent for the proposed Take 5 oil change business at 425 West Main St., Batavia, spoke about the project during the city’s Planning and Development Committee meeting Tuesday after a preliminary meeting in May and a subsequent trip to the County Planning Board.
Fellow Quattro Development representative Peter Pavek attended in May and asked for approval to remove the existing building at the site — formerly used for the phone business — and to construct a new building with pits to do oil changes. That revision required a special use permit.
Code Enforcement Officer Doug Randall had said that per zoning, they wanted to change the number of bays, and asked if the company would be good with that, and Pavel had agreed.
Given the minimal use for a waiting area, there was also no use for so many parking spaces, and Pavek said they could reduce the parking spots and add to the green space.
“Any additional green space you can maintain, that’d be great,” committee member Ed Flynn had said.
According to company data, the sites typically get 50 vehicles per day, with variations of busiest times throughout the day — mid-morning and especially at 3 p.m. reaching peak times.
The committee gave a preliminary thumbs up, with instructions to return with a detailed site plan, which Gefell had done on Tuesday.
“So the model of this is, you stay in your car, it's a 10-minute oil change, and then you continue on. It's a little traffic generator, it doesn't require a lot of parking, it's just kind of for the staff since the user stays in their vehicle,” he said. “This allowed us to really expand the green space on site. It's increased the green space from 24 percent to 47 percent. You can see some of the trees and the buffering and landscape that we've added. You know, we're not concerned about queuing with the two bays. And I think some traffic or data was presented or provided, but peak hours, you know, it's not a significant amount of customers at one time for traffic generators.”
An average location serves 40 customers a day, he said. They don’t do ancillary services outside of oil changes, wiper blades and air filters.
“So it’s really quick,” he said. “There’s no transmission, there’s no brakes, no anything like that. So the idea is to get in and out quickly and not have any queuing.”
The meeting included a public hearing. There was no communication submitted regarding the business, and no one signed up to speak.
The committee approved the site plan and special use permit and gave a negative declaration for the environmental review, meaning that there would be no negative impact on the environment with the business in place.
Chairman Duane Preston liked the plan, he said.
“It’s a good plan, lots of green space,” he said.
The committee also referred the plan to the Zoning Board of Appeals for the zoning variance as the next step in the process.
Howard Owens, left, publisher of The Batavian, presents the top prize of the local news company's eagle-drawing contest to Colton Smith on Thursday during The Eaglez concert at the Genesee County Fair in Batavia. Photo by Joanne Beck
After five days of entries, narrowing down the pool to staff favorites, and a final random drawing at the Genesee County Fair, The Batavian finally had its winner for the guitar giveaway contest.
And on Thursday, the luck-winning artist, 14-year-old Colton Smith, who has been visiting Genesee County from West Virginia this week, received his prize during The Eaglez concert at the fairgrounds in Batavia. Colton had drawn one of the best eagles for the contest, and he walked away Thursday evening with a white polished Harley Benton Big Tone Trem guitar with gold-colored hardware.
Meant as a source of inspiration for young musicians and as a token of appreciation to the community for all that it has given us in terms of fantastic musical entertainment, the guitar was purchased by The Batavian's publisher, Howard Owens. His hope is that someday we will all be seeing Colton up on stage rocking out or otherwise reaping wild enjoyment out of some musical genre.
Don't forget to stop by The Batavian's booth on Friday to cast your vote for the People's Choice Award: the Top 20 staff favorite eagle drawings. The winning artist will be announced Friday evening and will receive a harmonica.
We will also be announcing the 18 and older prize of a $100 Red Osier Landmark Restaurant gift certificate on Friday, so remember to check back and see who won these great prizes!
The Batavian's publisher Howard Owens, right, joins The Eaglez tribute band on stage for a few moments Thursday to present a guitar prize to a young artist and aspiring musician during the concert at Genesee County Fair. Photo by Joanne Beck
The Eaglez Tribute Band at the Genesee County Fair on Thrusday evening. Photo by Howard Owens.Thursday
Sitting in the entertainment tent at the Genesee County Fairgrounds on Thursday evening, if you closed your eyes, you could be forgiven if you thought you really hearing Don Felder, Glenn Frey, Don Henley, Bernie Leadon, and Randy Meisner
The musicianship was that precise, and the harmonies that tight as a group of veteran Buffalo-area musicians, now performing at the Eaglez Tribute Band, ran through 28 hits of the Eagles over three hours of music.
The Eaglez are, in reality:
Randy Barnard, Lead Guitar/Keyboard
Dennis Makowski, Guitar/Vocals
Bob Brummitt, Bass Guitar/Vocals
John White, Rhythm Guitar/Vocals
Mike Nierenberg, Vocals/Percussion
Micky Judware / Rich Keigley, Drums
Paul Vanacore, Sax/Keyboard
Note: Sadly, and unknown at show time, Randy Meisner passed away on Thursday. An original member of the Eagles, he was 77. Glenn Frey, another founding member, passed away in 2016.
Editor's Note: The Batavian has a booth at the fair in partnership with WBTA as part of the official Genesee County Fair Media Center. Stop by to say hello in the Exhibition Building. We are an exhibitor and are providing coverage of the fair all week long as a proud supporter of the county fair, 4-H and the dedicated volunteers of the Ag Society.
If you appreciate our fair coverage, as well as all of our coverage of Genesee County, you can help us continue news coverage by signing up today for Early Access Pass.
It’s a bit ironic to know the song that saved Jelly Roll’s music career is called “Save Me.” The ballad seeped in despair is getting a second life as a featured track on Jelly Roll’s new album, “Whitsitt Chapel,” as a duet with Lainey Wilson.
“Save Me” first appeared in a stark acoustic guitar-and-vocal version on Jelly Roll’s 2020 independently released album “Self Medicated,” and the success the man born as Jason DeFord is enjoying now can be traced back to that song.
“For lack of a better word, ‘Save Me’ went viral,” Jelly Roll said in a mid-July phone interview. “It was undeniable. I had built a pretty good career. Keep in mind I had a billion views on my YouTube show. But I couldn’t get it, I was missing that one song that made people go ‘Oh, OK, this guy can do it all.’ I think ‘Save Me’ was that.”
Soon Jelly Roll was getting meetings with multiple record labels. He said the labels had plenty of ideas for his music, but it wasn’t until he met with Jon Loba, president of BMG Nashville, that he heard what he wanted to hear from a label.
“The cool thing was from go, Loba and everybody in the office sat me down and said the biggest thing we want from you is to do what you’ve been doing. It was awesome. I had complete creative control,” Jelly Roll said.
“Save Me,” however, wasn’t the song that put Jelly Roll on the radar of country and rock audiences. First came “Dead Man Walking,” a robust rocker from his first album on BMG, 2021’s “Ballads of the Broken,” which topped “Billboard” magazine’s Mainstream Rock Airplay chart and pointed to Jelly Roll’s potential to cross genres. Then a rootsy acoustic ballad from that album, “Son of a Sinner,” topped the magazine’s Country Airplay chart and spent a record-setting 28 weeks atop the Emerging Artist chart, which tracks the most popular developing artists across all genres.
Now “Whitsitt Chapel” is out, and he is starting a lengthy, highly anticipated tour headlining outdoor amphitheaters. Jelly Roll is doing his best to make sure his show lives up to the expectations.
“Knowing we have a chance to touch so many people, we’ve spared no expense,” he said of the show, which will feature not only new songs but selections dating back as far as to 2013. “I’m bringing tons of lights, video screens. Our goal is to kind of bring a mixture of a hip-hop show, a rock show, a country show and a little bit of a backroad tent revival.”
It’s quite a turn of fortune for someone who grew up on the streets of the working-class Antioch neighborhood of Nashville, did drugs and spent parts of his teens and 20s in jail for offenses ranging from robbery to drug dealing.
It was during one of those stints behind bars, though, that Jelly Roll, 38, was spurred to break his cycle of dead-end behavior. Informed by a guard that he had just become a father to a newborn daughter, he set his sights on making something of himself. Having begun making mix tapes in his teens, he decided that music was his ticket to a better future.
Around 2009, Jelly Roll began releasing a steady stream of indie albums, mixtapes and singles. His early music was predominantly rap and hip-hop, but as time went on, he began to broaden his sound.
“Ballads of the Broken” offered a preview of where Jelly Roll is now taking his music, as it spanned country, rock, pop and hip-hop. “Whitsitt Chapel” offers a similar cross-genre appeal as it touches on country (“Save Me,” “Nail Me,” and “Church”), muscular rock (“Halfway to Hell” and “The Lost”), hip-hop (“Unlive”) and songs that blend those styles (“Need A Favor,” which is currently a top 5 country single) with raw and emotional lyrics that continue to touch on his past struggles, but hint at the redemption he has started to attain.
It took some time and effort for Jelly Roll to find the direction of the album, as he set aside more than 70 songs after he realized only two of those songs – “Church” and “Hungover in a Church Pew” – were calling to him.
“I said, ‘Man, these two songs kept kind of putting their hands up to me, ‘Church’ and ‘Church Pew,’” he said. “Then I started thinking how God had kind of brought me to these two songs out of 70, the two I kept thinking of. And I was like, ‘That’s it. I’m going to write an album called ‘Going To Church.’”
“And my producer, Zach Crowell, sat me down and said, ‘What was the name of that church you went to?’ (I said) ‘Whitsitt Chapel,’” Jelly Roll said. “He was like, ‘You write songs that nobody else in this town could sing because they’re so personal to you.’ He said ‘Anybody in this town could have an album called ‘Going To Church.’ There’s only one person in this town who could have an album called ‘Whitsitt Chapel.’ That was the birth of the ‘Whitsitt Chapel' album. Me and Zach Crowell scratched everything but those two songs and started from there.”
Jelly Roll will be performing at Darien Lake Performing Arts Center on Thursday.
Two young men and a teenager from Batavia were taken into custody early Thursday morning following a report of shots fired in the area of Washington Avenue and Willow Street in the city, followed by the sound of gunshots on Dellinger Avenue.
The initial call of shots fired was received by emergency dispatchers at 11:22 p.m. on Wednesday.
Police officers responded to Washington Avenue and Willow Street and found evidence at the intersection consistent, according to Batavia PD, with a weapon being discharged.
Bryson R. Gentile
The nature of the evidence was not disclosed.
While officers were canvassing the area, multiple shots were heard coming from the area of Dellinger Avenue, and officers immediately responded.
At that location, officers again discovered evidence, police said, consistent with a weapon being discharged.
As the investigation continued, police reviewed footage from pole cameras, which helped them develop a vehicle description.
Information about the shooting and the suspect vehicle was shared with surrounding law enforcement agencies for their assistance in locating the vehicle and potential suspects.
After the scene had been secured, the City Fire responded to the Willow Street scene to provide ground ladders for officers to assist officers in their search of the scene.
At 1:11 a.m., four males were located walking in the area of Chase Park and North Spruce Streets.
The males were transported to a business parking lot on East Main Street, where a vehicle apparently matching the vehicle viewed on the surveillance video was located.
Officers at that scene located evidence consistent with a weapon or weapons being discharged, and all four males were taken into custody at that time.
After interviews, one male was released, and the other three were arrested.
Tmario H. Ayala, 20, Bryson R. Gentile, 18, and a 17-year-old male, all of Batavia, were taken into custody and charged with criminal possession of a weapon in the second degree, a Class C felony, and reckless endangerment in the first degree, a Class D felony.
Police did not say whether a weapon was recovered, nor did they reveal who or what may have been targeted, or if there was a target, by the alleged shooter or shooters.
They did not say which individual, or if it's multiple individuals, may have discharged a weapon.
The investigation did conclude, police said, that a residence had been struck by gunfire on Dellinger Avenue.
No injuries were reported.
Ayala and Gentile were arraigned in City Court and ordered held on $100,000 cash bail, $200,000 bond, or $300,000 partially secured bond.
The 17-year-old male was arraigned in Youth Part Court and was held on $25,000 cash bail, $50,000 bond, or a $100,000 partially secured bond.
Batavia PD was assisted by City Fire, the Sheriff's Office, and Emergency Dispatch. Citizens also assisted by providing information that aided the investigation.
The investigation is ongoing, and Batavia PD asks that any members of the public with information that may be relevant to the incident to contact the detective bureau at 585-345-6444.
