Press Release:

The Genesee Community College Foundation and Cougar Classic Scholarship Scramble Honorary Chairperson, Todd Bender '89, have announced the Annual Cougar Classic Golf Tournament is scheduled for Monday, July 17, 2023 at Stafford Country Club in Stafford.

Bender, a Batavia resident, earned an associate degree in Liberal Arts and Science from GCC in 1989, and went on to earn an associate degree in Electrical Engineering and a bachelor degree in Business Management and Decision Sciences from RIT. Bender is married to Kathy Bender and is the proud father of three children and spouse/fiance, Ryan & Courtney, Lindsey & Jason and Evan & Savannah. Todd is the co-founder of The Igniter Group, a point in time investment company that holds a number of operating companies within their portfolio. Todd is a serial entrepreneur with several successful start-up companies and acquisitions throughout his career.

A member of the Foundation Board of Directors since 2007, Bender has led the Board as President as well as served on the Housing Corporation Board of Directors and numerous committees. Todd and is wife, Kathy, also chaired Encore, the Foundation's largest annual fundraising event which benefits the GCC scholarship program.

"I am sincerely grateful to Todd for serving as chair for this year's Cougar Classic," remarked Justin Johnston, GCC Foundation Executive Director. "He has supported the Foundation and College and is a proud GCC Alum. Todd's leadership is vital to so many areas of GCC, and I look forward to working with him on this important initiative to raise scholarship funds for our GCC students."

"It is my honor to chair this year's Cougar Classic Golf Tournament", said Bender. "I have been a participant for many years now and really enjoy it. It is well run, held on a beautiful local golf course, there are a lot of community members I see every year and it is always a lot of fun! Most importantly, I am so thankful to help raise money that goes directly into the hands of the students in need at GCC. I look forward to seeing everyone on July 17th!"

The Cougar Classic Scholarship Scramble allows up to 36 foursomes for the 18-hole event at the esteemed Stafford Country Club. Registration includes 18 holes of golf, a golf cart, all beer and nonalcoholic beverages during play, lunch and dinner with a cash bar, and much more!

Most importantly, all proceeds from the Cougar Classic support GCC's student scholarship program, making higher education possible for deserving students in our communities.

Businesses and individuals looking to take advantage of this event's advertising opportunities and lock in sponsorship levels are encouraged to act early as this event sells out quickly! Event details, registration and sponsorship forms are available by contacting the Foundation office at (585) 345-6809 or via email at foundation@genesee.edu.

For more information or photographs contact Vice President, Development and External Affairs Justin Johnston, at 585-345-6809, or via email: jmjohnston@genesee.edu.

Photo submitted by GCC. 

Press Release:

The Genesee County Sheriff’s Office, the City of Batavia Police Department and the Village of LeRoy
Police Department will be stepping up patrols and participating in a coordinated effort with the STOP-DWI
program to bring awareness to the dangers of impaired driving.

The statewide STOP-DWI efforts begins Thursday and will continue through Friday. New York State Police, County Sheriffs and municipal law enforcement agencies will be out in force during this across the board effort. Incidents of drugged driving are on the rise. Even though some marijuana laws have changed. It is still illegal and unsafe to drive while impaired by marijuana and other drugs. Drugs impair your ability to drive safely and make it just as dangerous as driving drunk.

“Have a Plan” to get a safe ride because impaired driving is completely preventable – all it takes is a little
planning. Visit www.stopdwi.org for more information.

Press Release:

The City parking lot between Court Street and Jackson Street (commonly referred to as Save A Lot parking lot) will be having the surface milled and resurfaced beginning on Thursday, April 27.

The milling will begin on Thursday, April 27 and is anticipated to be completed on Friday, April 28. To begin, the west half of the parking lot will be closed to traffic on April 27 and then the east half will be closed to traffic on April 28 for milling. The parking lot will reopen for the weekend once completed.

The paving portion of the parking lot is expected to take three days to complete and is scheduled for Monday, May 1 through Wednesday, May 3. The parking lot will be split into thirds and will be affected similarly to how it will be for the milling operation, closing and resurfacing one section at a time until lot is completed.

Once the parking lot is completely resurfaced, City of Batavia staff will begin restriping parking spaces and driving lanes. Parking will be closed off in sections as crews work from east to west during the repainting process.

Vehicles that are using permitted parking are asked to temporarily use the City lot off of School St. or any other permitted parking areas in City owned lots.

Press release:

At approximately 1:07 p.m. the Genesee County 911 Dispatch Center received a report from the Veteran's Administration Hotline that a male subject had called them and stated they were going to get a weapon and "shoot up a school". This information was immediately relayed to patrols in the City and throughout the County working. An initial trace of the phone number provided showed the phone to be in the City of Batavia area. Patrols were dispatched to each school in Genesee County as a precautionary measure, and all county-wide schools were placed into lockout.

Officers and investigators from multiple law enforcement agencies followed up on leads and determined the threat to not be credible and, in fact, was false. Currently, a juvenile is being interviewed by the City of Batavia Detective Bureau regarding the matter, no further information regarding the juvenile will be released at this time. 

All schools were released from lockout at approximately 2:25 p.m.

We wish to thank the public, the school districts and the other members of law enforcement for their assistance during this investigation.

UPDATE, statement from Batavia Superintendent Jason Smith:

After the events of this afternoon, I wanted to provide additional information regarding today’s lockout.

At around 1:30 p.m., the Batavia Police Department received a tip that a threat had been made against a local school. While no specific school was directly named in the threat, all schools in Genesee County went on lockout.

The Batavia Police Department worked quickly to identify the suspect, and after an investigation, the threat was deemed not credible. The lockout was lifted at 2:30 p.m..

At this time, there is no additional threat to the Batavia City School District, so all school activities will resume as normal.

While this was a stressful situation for all involved, I want to thank the Batavia Police Department, our administrators, teachers, and staff for handling our lockout procedures quickly and efficiently. While we train for situations like these and have strict protocols, we never want to have to use them. I thank everyone for their quick actions and commitment to keeping our students safe.

Please feel free to reach out to me or your student’s building principal should you have any additional questions or concerns. Thank you again for your cooperation and support.

Previously: UPDATED: Schools throughout Genesee County on lockout

Rosemary R. Waters, 37, no permanent address, was arrested on April 7 on two warrants out of City Court. On Aug. 17, Waters was taken into custody at a hotel on Oak Street, Batavia, on an unrelated warrant and was allegedly found in possession of narcotics and a modified fully automatic 9mm pistol with a 40-round magazine.  Waters was released pending lab results.  A warrant for her arrest was issued after the investigation was complete. On July 30, Waters was reportedly the passenger in a vehicle during a traffic stop on Mix Place, Batavia.  Waters is accused of providing a false name. Narcotics and a modified short-barrel shotgun were allegedly recovered inside the vehicle. A warrant was issued for her arrest. Waters was arraigned in Centralized Arraignment Court and released.

Kyle J. Schroeder, 26, of Clinton Street Road, Batavia, was arrested on four bench warrants issued by City Court after his alleged failure to appear to answer to charges from four separate incidents. On April 23, 2022, Schroeder allegedly entered a residence on Liberty Street and stole a pack of cigarettes.  He was arrested on three days later and issued an appearance ticket. On April 29, Schroeder was arrested on a charge of DWI drugs and criminal possession of a controlled substance 7th.  He was arraigned in City Court and released. On August 25, 2022, patrol officers were dispatched to check the welfare of an individual "tweaking out" behind a business on East Main Street. Schroeder was arrested on warrants for alleged failure to appear on prior charges and was also charged with criminal possession of a controlled substance 7th. He was allegedly found in possession of narcotics and drug paraphernalia at the time of his arrest. He was arraigned in City Court and released. On Oct. 20, 2022, when Schroeder appeared in court on another matter, he was arrested and charged with criminal mischief. He is accused of kicking and damaging an electrical lock box on the exterior of a business on Jackson Street so he could charge his mobile phone. He was released under supervision. Schroeder was arraigned in Centralized Arraignment Court, and his release status is unknown.

Josia G. Culver, 18, of Tracy Avenue, Batavia, is charged with burglary 3rd, criminal mischief 3rd, and petit larceny. Culver is accused of making a forced entry into a business in the mall, causing damage, and stealing money. He was arraigned in City Court and released under supervision. 

Shawnna L. Lamont, 33, of Page Road, Perry, was taken into custody on an arrest warrant. Lamont is accused of failure to appear on a prior charge of criminal possession of a controlled substance 5th. She was initially charged Feb. 19 following a traffic stop on East Main Street, Batavia. Lamont was arraigned in City Court and ordered to appear on May 10. 

Breanna E. Brummond, 32, of Limekiln Road, Lyons, was arrested on two bench warrants issued our of City Court. Brummond is accused of failure to appear on appearance tickets issued in connection with prior arrests. Brummond was arrested on Feb. 3 along with Brittany L. Hollaert, 26, of St. Paul Street, Rochester, after the two women were the subject of a pursuit in a U-Haul van following a reported larceny at a local store. The suspects entered a residence on Burke Drive and allegedly tried to steal the homeowner's car.  Brummond was held in jail pending arraignment in Centralized Arraignment Court.  Her current release status is unknown. Previously: Unexpected visit ends in manhunt, K-9, and arrest in city neighborhood 

Adam Edward Roberts, 31, of Cheektowaga, is charged with DWI, driving with a BAC of .08 or greater, and unsafe tires. Roberts was stopped at 4:02 a.m. on March 29 on West Main Street Road, Batavia, by Deputy Carolos Ortiz Speed. Roberts was issued an appearance ticket.

Christopher Scott Usselman, 31, no residence provided, is charged with criminal mischief 3rd and obstructing governmental administration 2nd.  Usselman is accused of damaging property inside the Genesee County Jail at 12:30 p.m. on April 18. He was issued an appearance ticket.

Kelly Anne Rodriguez, 50, of Clinton Street Road, Batavia, is charged with criminal contempt 2nd. Rodriguez is accused of violating an order of protection at 8:45 a.m. on April 12 at a location on Clinton Street Road, Batavia. Rodriguez was issued an appearance ticket.

All schools in Genesee County are on lockout (not lockdown), according to one district superintendent.

The Batavian has received multiple calls and messages asking for more information.

We are attempting to get more information.

Batavia Chief Shawn Heubusch said he is working on providing more information but doesn't have anything to release at the moment.

The lockout seems to have begun about 1:45 p.m., according to a source, who also said GCC is on lockout as well.

UPDATE 2:27 p.m.: Heubusch said the lockout is over.  It was determined there was no credible threat.

This week’s city school board meeting was rolling along until member Alice Benedict began to ask questions related to half a million dollars worth of late-stage, safety-related modifications to each of the district’s schools as part of the 2020 vision capital project.

After motions were on the floor, Benedict asked for details about the “window film installation/window hardening work.”

Business Administrator Scott Rozanski said that it’s “a security measure to prevent unauthorized access,” and then Superintendent Jason Smith suggested that the board go back into executive session to discuss any further details.

The group had come out of an executive session minutes prior to that for “matters relating to the medical, financial, credit or employment history or a particular person or corporation, or matters leading to the appointment, employment, promotion, demotion, discipline, suspension, dismissal or removal of a particular person or corporation.”

This second private meeting was needed to discuss “matters which will imperil the public safety if disclosed.”

Were the executive session and late-stage window modifications related to a current, past, or potential threat to the district?
“A board member asked for more detailed information on the window film project. It is not related to a current, past or potential threat, but is part of our overall safety program throughout the district. We do not discuss matters regarding safety and security projects in public sessions while the project is ongoing or has not yet started,” Smith said.  “The board was voting on a resolution to authorize the expenditure for the window film project from remaining funds from the most recent capital project. The project does include all of our buildings, and for safety reasons, I did not want to discuss the exact details of the project, including when, where and how the film will be installed, in public session. 

“Once the project is completed, we look forward to sharing more detailed information with our BCSD community and the media regarding our buildings’ safety enhancements,” he said. 

Why was this a late addition to the capital project? And why the executive session in the middle of a regular board meeting (for items that members are going to vote on)?
“This was not a late addition, as this has been discussed at our Buildings and Grounds Committee meeting. There are numerous prior steps that must be taken in order for the board to vote on this resolution,” Smith said.  “Given the safety concerns nationwide, we proceeded as expeditiously as possible to begin this important project.

“It is not unusual to have an executive session in the middle of the meeting, as we did this twice this meeting, and has been done before when needed,” he said. “A board member asked a question regarding the window film project, and for the reasons I stated above, the answers to the question did not belong in a public session, but will be discussed openly upon completion of the project.”

Smith said that the window treatments are a proactive safety measure. The Batavian wanted to make sure that the public has the most up-to-date information about the district’s safety, so the following question was asked again about threats and swatting — an action of making hoax phone calls to report serious crimes to emergency services, which results in SWAT teams responding to an address.

Has the city school district had any threats or swattings recently, or in the past year? If so, how many and when? Were any of them credible?
“We have received no credible threats, swatting or otherwise, this year. We were among several districts across the country that were part of a swatting hoax during our February recess—this was communicated to our families and with the media,” he said. “Per the Batavia Police Department, the threat was deemed not credible.”

The school board approved the resolution to spend no more than $520,000 of the remaining funds in the capital account for the window project at the district’s high and middle schools, Jackson Primary, John Kennedy Intermediate and Robert Morris. The $26.7 million 2020 capital project was voter-approved in March 2017.

File Photo of Batavia Middle School, by Howard Owens.

After a short hiatus, Dolly Parton’s Imagination Library returns to the Pembroke Central School District. The Kiwanis Club of Pembroke Corfu Darien, along with The Richter Family Foundation, joined forces to reintroduce this free book program to children 5 and under.

Since the beginning of its operations in 2004, the Richter Family Foundation has focused on the needs of children and educators. Now, the foundation has added Pembroke to its long list of school districts it supports.

The Dolly Parton Imagination Library, created by the country icon herself, was founded on the desire to inspire young children to love reading. Parents who sign their children up will receive one free book a month mailed directly to their home with the child’s name on their new book.

Parents can register online or in person at the Corfu Public Library. To be eligible for this program, children must be between the ages of birth and 5 at the time of registration.

“We’re already signing up children,” Tim Richter, president of the Richter Family Foundation, said. “Anytime [parents] want to sign up, they can sign up. May books are already ordered, so if you sign up today, you would not get your first books until June.”

Bontrager Real Estate & Auction Service is holding an online Hunting & Sportsmen's Auction with over 1000 lots! Bid on rifles, shotguns, pistols, revolvers, black powder, ammo, knives, hunting supplies, fishing tackle, mounts, scopes, lasers, sights and more.  A live preview will be held Tuesday, April 25th, 2 - 5 pm at Bontrager's Auction Center, 8975 Wortendyke Rd, Batavia, NY 14020. The auction will "soft close" April 25th beginning at 6 pm. Go to bontragerauction.com to view the catalog & photos, and place your bids.  

Now that Eden Cafe & Bakeshop is approaching its one-year anniversary of being on the south side, it’s a fitting time to add something new to the menu, owner Judy Hysek says.

Move over cauli wings and hummus wraps, and make room for a glass of beer, wine or cider. Hysek has been given the nod of approval from City Council and is waiting for the state to issue her liquor license.

“We all talk to our customers. And a lot of them said that it’s just something that they would like to see us offering,” Hysek said Wednesday.  “And you know, we think it would be a good fit for our dinner crowd. I know a lot of people like to have a glass of wine or beer with their foods.

“And we’re hoping that it will help bring a little bit more business than what we normally have,” she said. “We do a lot of takeout, so we’d like to have more dining as well.”

She plans to add a few more appetizers to go with expanded later night hours, such as stuffed mushrooms.

And talks have already been in the works with Eli Fish, Hysek said, which was home to Eden Cafe during its inception and learning years. She plans to have some of Eli’s craft beers at her place at 242 Ellicott St., Batavia.

Once the license arrives, the new hours and additional appetizers will be announced, she said.

File photo of Eden's cauli wings, by Howard Owens.

Motorists can expect a detour on Route 19 at the railroad crossing in Le Roy for a few days in May, a Rochester and Southern Railroad representative says.

Work is expected to begin May 11 for a “full rehab” of the railroad crossing, and that’s to last for about four to five days, the representative said to The Batavian Tuesday. Work includes tearing out the old rail ties and rebuilding with new ones, plus resurfacing a section of Route 19, he said.

“As far as the roadway, it will be a full new product,” the representative said. “This has all been approved by the state. There’s been significant state inspections at crossings all day, every day. 

"The state would only allow detours on the weekend. The brunt of the work is being done on Saturday and Sunday. It will be starting on probably midday Thursday and will go through Monday or Tuesday, weather permitting.”

Press release:

While there are plenty of acronyms in the field of substance use prevention and treatment, not many are as relevant to today’s environment than MOUD.

The Genesee-Orleans-Wyoming Opioid Task Force, in conjunction with The HEAL Initiative, is continuing its effort to inform the public of the benefits of MOUD – medication for opioid use disorder – by hosting a public forum on May 3 at the Genesee County Office for the Aging at 2 Bank St.

The “MOUD Anti-Stigma and Awareness Town Hall” will feature six speakers, including two men who are in recovery, and will be moderated by Paul Pettit, public health director for Genesee & Orleans Health Departments.

Registration is set for 5 p.m., with the session to run from 5:15 to 7 p.m. Registration is recommended but not required, and a light dinner will be served. Naloxone training will be offered following the presentation.

“The major insights that we are looking to share with the public are defining MOUD and illustrating its effectiveness in treatment,” said Christen Foley, GOW Opioid Task Force coordinator. “We hope that this town hall meeting is a step toward clearing up any misconceptions with MOUD and reducing the stigma associated with substance use disorder.”

The forum also will touch upon topics such as creating a supportive environment for those struggling with opioid use disorder and providing local treatment and recovery resources in the region.

Panelists are as follows:

-- Dr. Samantha Gray, PhD, an advanced practice clinician at Horizon Health Service’s Batavia location and an adjunct professor within the department

of Counseling, School and Educational Psychology at the University at Buffalo. She also has her own private practice.

Dr. Gray said she became invested as an advocate after her father passed away from an overdose in 2015. Her experience beyond the outpatient settings includes work with methadone programs, crisis response, homeless shelters, housing programs and community/resource coordination.

-- Reilly Climenhaga, a detox technician at Genesee/Orleans Council on Alcoholism and Substance Abuse, who has recovery coach and peer advocate certifications.  He struggled with opioid use disorder for more than 20 years, and has been on and off since the age of 20. He had been taking Sublocade -- a once-a-month injection of buprenorphine.

Climenhaga said that MOUD, coupled with working a strict program of recovery, has changed his life for the better.

-- Randi Johnson, a physician assistant at GCASA for three years, working at the Albion outpatient clinic, at the detoxification facility and the methadone clinic. Previously, she worked in emergency room and urgent care settings.

Johnson said she has utilized buprenorphine micro-inductions to successfully initiate many patients on buprenorphine.

-- Scott Davis, who is in his second year as a recovery coach and certified peer advocate with the Rochester Regional Health system. In recovery for three years, he attributes his success to determination, faith, a strong support team and the application of medication for substance use disorder.

Davis works with clients through Monroe County treatment courts – providing guidance and peer support, providing transportation for same day/next day inpatient admissions, and other services, including reentry into society following incarceration.

-- Kate Gregory, a licensed master social worker who is the manager of Chemical Dependency at Rochester Regional Health and Hope Haven Inpatient unit.

A social worker since 2005, she has worked in both the mental health and chemical dependency fields in a variety of treatment settings, with direct patient care ranging from residential counseling, inpatient social work, jail counseling, community based crisis response and primary therapy.

Gregory, a RRH employee since 2018, was instrumental in overseeing the development of the system’s central access team to increase immediate access and response support across all RRH chemical dependency departments.

-- Daniel Hauck, clinical supervisor at Hope Haven Inpatient Rehabilitation, RRH Chemical Dependency unit in Batavia. He has worked in the substance use treatment field since 2005 across multiple states, having received Master Credentialed Alcoholism and Substance Abuse Counselor status, specializing in trauma-informed care, community engagement and crisis intervention.

Hauck also has worked as a treatment court liaison for the Tompkins County Drug Court.

To register for the town hall meeting, go to bit.ly/3ndGbk4.

Press release:

Congresswoman Claudia Tenney (NY-24) voted to override President Biden’s veto of H.J. Res. 27, a bipartisan resolution to overturn the Administration’s deeply flawed and burdensome “Waters of the United States” (WOTUS) rule. The legislation passed by a vote of 227-196 but failed to achieve the two-thirds necessary for a veto override. 

President Biden’s overly broad WOTUS rule would redefine the Environmental Protection Agency’s definition of a “navigable” waterway to include small seasonal streams, small ponds, and even large amounts of groundwater. This vague and overreaching rule would drastically expand the government’s authority, increasing its power over farmers and producers throughout New York’s 24th Congressional District.

In January, Tenney and 195 House Republicans sent a letter to the Biden administration calling on it to reconsider this damaging rule. Tenney was also an original co-sponsor of H.J. Res. 27, which passed the House in February and the Senate in March, both with bipartisan support. The resolution, passed under the Congressional Review Act, would nullify Biden’s WOTUS rule. President Biden vetoed the resolution earlier this month. 

"With his veto of H.J. Res. 27, President Biden proved once again that he continues to prioritize far-left activists over our nation's farmers and landowners," said Congresswoman Tenney. "Earlier this month as part of my Farm Bill Listening Tour, I met with farmers and producers across New York’s 24th District, who expressed concerns that Biden's WOTUS rule was overly broad and poorly defined. Our region’s farmers are among the best stewards of our natural environment, and they should be viewed as important partners in conversation efforts. Instead, this bill targets them with even more regulations, which are overly burdensome and will drive up costs at a time of already soaring inflation.” 

Photo: File photo by Howard Owens.

Hard as it may be to imagine, it was only 55 years ago that a law preventing discrimination against who can live where was officially recognized with the Fair Housing Act. It was established in April 1968.

Genesee County Legislator John Deleo, speaking on behalf of the Legislature to celebrate this feat, shared a little history about the early days of Batavia.

“When I was a kid growing up, I was on the south side. And of course, there used to be a division. Not as bad when I was younger, but my dad and my grandfather would say the railroad tracks were the dividing line in the city of Batavia,” Deleo said during a recent county meeting. “And if you lived on the south side, you stayed on the south side with the Polish and the Italians, and so on, in the north side. And they kind of stayed there.

"But as time has gone on, and due to the Fair Housing Act here, I think it really helped out, I mean, I think we still have a few problems, but we don't tolerate it here in Genesee County. We're all in the ship together.”

Before that piece of legislative action, prospective home-buyers and renters had much less chance of getting into properties and neighborhoods if they weren’t deemed of the right ilk — ethnicity, skin color, or culture. And although that hasn’t gone away, the Fair Housing Act has been one measure to recognize the issue and serve as a legal avenue for folks to lean upon when encountering such issues.

Genesee County officially celebrated the month of April for the establishment of the Fair Housing Act on April 11, 1968. Deleo read the proclamation as follows:

The County of Genesee celebrates the month of April as the anniversary of the establishment of the Fair Housing Act,
enacted on April 11, 1968. This Act outlines a national policy of fair housing for all individuals who live in the United States, and WHEREAS, the Fair Housing Act prohibits discrimination in housing based on race, color, sex, disability, religion, family status and national origin, and is committed to recipients of federal funding to affirmatively further Fair Housing in
their communities, and

WHEREAS, the County of Genesee is committed to the mission and intent of Congress to provide fair and equal housing opportunities for all, and WHEREAS, Fair Housing is essential to the ethical commitment of the County and is crucial to serving our community. Now, therefore, be it RESOLVED, the Genesee County Legislature fully embraces fair and equal housing opportunities and promotes an inclusive community devoted to Fair Housing.

Be it further RESOLVED, that the Genesee County Legislature proclaims the month of April 2023 as “Fair Housing Month” advocating for equal housing opportunities for all residents and prospective residents of Genesee County.

Deleo presented a proclamation to Nate Varland of Batavia Housing Authority, which oversees Edward Court, The Pines, The Terraces, and 400 Towers in the City of Batavia.

The Batavia Housing Authority’s board members work every day to “provide high quality, safe, affordable housing here,” Varland said.

Photo of Legislator John Deleo presenting the proclamation to Nate Varland of Batavia Housing Authority during a Genesee County Legislature meeting, by Joanne Beck.

GO ART! hosted a steel drum band concert in the City Centre concourse on Saturday.

The featured bands were: 

• Ithaca College, “I C Steel” 
• Steel Alchemy Community Steelband from Geneseo
• Rochester Institute of Technology’s “Tiger Steel” 
• Lancaster High School, “Carnival Kids Steel Orchestra”  

Photos by Howard Owens

Press release:

Officials from Batavia Downs Gaming and Hotel announced that their inaugural Jackpot 5k will be taking place on Saturday, June 17th.  Proceeds from the race will benefit local community groups and WNY Heroes, an organization that works with Veterans and their families across WNY, including Genesee County, to provide support and assistance.

This family-friendly 5K will start at 9 a.m. and finish at Batavia Downs. The start will be out in front of the facility, following a course around the streets near Batavia Downs and ending at the actual finish line on the Harness Track.  The post-race party will be on the track apron, where an awards ceremony for 5 different age groups will be held.

The early Bird price is $25, and participants can sign up at https://runsignup.com/race/ny/batavia/bataviadownsjackpot5k

Racers will receive $25 free play, a T-shirt, a post-race drink and snack.  The price increases after May 15, so those wishing to race or walk are urged to sign up as soon as possible.

“We here at Batavia Downs are looking forward to hosting our first 5k event, “said Batavia Downs CEO and President Henry Wojtaszek.  “We’ve wanted to do something like this for a long time, and having a course that incorporates the track is a unique twist you won’t find with other local 5k races.  We’re proud to be partnering with WNY Heroes on this event.  As a veteran myself, I know that WNY Heroes does great work locally, and we are honored to be hosting an event that will raise funds and help them gain exposure for the important work they do.”

The race is sponsored by Michelob Ultra, Nutrl, Tops Friendly Markets, Pepsi, Vivify, Red Bull and Pizza 151.

Press release:

Who: Calling all artists, sculptors, craftsmen, woodworkers, fiber artists, mixed media artists, photographers, painters, etc.

What: Art installations/gallery exhibitions/group shows for exhibition in the Roz Steiner Art Gallery

Where: Roz Steiner Art Gallery ~ Genesee Community College ~ 1 College Road ~ Batavia, NY 14020

When: Schedule for the 2023-2024 season and beyond

The Roz Steiner Art Gallery presents exhibitions by a variety of regional artists, faculty and students. We are proud to partner with the local community to uplift artists. The gallery opened in 2011, and since then, we have held a variety of shows featuring visual works, sculpture, ceramics, fiber arts, photography and other media. We offer a large professional space with state-of-the-art lighting and SMART technology to allow the presentation of new digital media, as well as online exhibitions. With over 1,700 square feet of space and equipped with moveable walls, the Roz Steiner Art Gallery is a flexible environment perfect for both intimate and large-scale exhibitions.

We also offer a secondary exhibition space in the form of the Stuart Steiner Theatre lobby. Equipped with the same fiberglass rail system as the gallery, we are able to install 2-dimensional work there.

The Art Gallery offers culturally-enriching events to GCC students and the community through a variety of media styles, concepts and processes. The College is an integral part of the arts community and works with regional arts organizations to enhance the Western New York art community.

The submissions and acceptance process are ongoing, so you can submit an application to the gallery at any time. Go to https://www.genesee.edu/campus-life/center-for-the-arts/art-gallery/ to submit your proposal. Please email gccgallery@genesee.edu if you have any questions.

Submission requirements

• Portfolio (digital/website preferred)
• Biography
• Artist Statement
• Resume or CV
• Exhibit proposal (include size and number of pieces to be displayed)
• Available to do solo exhibitions, duos and group shows

Quality of Artwork

• must be professionally matted and framed/displayed; ready to hang
• aesthetically show professional quality skills and techniques
• conceptually show originality and creativity
• artwork must fill the gallery space accordingly (single, duo or group exhibit)

Scheduling Goals

• schedule a diversity of media and concepts within a year's exhibition plan
• offer students exhibit times for fine arts and digital arts
• offer exhibit times for professional artists
• offer exhibit times for community arts organizations that are prepared to exhibit high-quality art at an age-appropriate level (high school/college/ and adult group exhibits will be considered
• Our goal is to create a well-rounded exhibit schedule that meets the above requirements.

Jury Procedure

The GCC Gallery Committee will jury the artwork and create a schedule of events for the Roz Steiner Gallery. The Gallery Advisory Committee will then approve the proposed schedule. After the exhibit schedule has been approved, the Gallery Manager will send out acceptance letters and collect Gallery Contracts from the participating artists. Exhibits dates will be confirmed and reserved when the artist hands in the signed contract agreeing to the exhibition terms.