Stories from

Press release:

Data Update – Covering June 1-4:

Genesee County reporting 11 new positive cases of COVID-19.

• The individuals are in their 0-19s, 20s, 30s, 40s and 50s.
• Three of the current positive individuals are hospitalized.
• Fifteen of the previous positive individuals have completed their 10-day isolation and have been removed from mandatory isolation.

Orleans County reporting seven new positive cases of COVID-19.

• The individuals are in their 0-19s, 20s, 30s, 50s, 60s and 70s.
• Zero of the current positive individuals is hospitalized.
• Twenty-eight of the previous positive individuals have completed their 10-day isolation and have been removed from mandatory isolation.
• The ages and number of those removed from isolation have been reconciled.

Submitted photos and information from Mary Alice Loucks.

An Attica artist will be carving an abstract totem from a tree in Genesee County and the work starts tomorrow.

Jeffrey Loucks was given an Individual Artist Award by the Arts Council of Wyoming County to carve the totem into the shape of an obelisk on Maplewood Road in Alexander.

The project will take approximately one week. The public is welcome to come and see the sculptural carving and watch the tree transform and take its shape. Look for the safety cones and scaffolding surrounding the tree.

Loucks uses a chainsaw and burns the wood to preserve it using a Japanese Shou Sugi Ban technique. His work is remarkable and beyond surprising to everyone who sees it, according to Mary Alice Loucks.

The artist award grant is made possible by the NYS Council of the Arts with the support of Governor Andrew Cuomo and the NYS Legislature; administered in Wyoming County by the Arts Council for Wyoming County.

Top photo: Jeffrey Loucks with the tree on Maplewood Road in Alexander that he will carve with a chainsaw into an obelisk.

Below, a completed carved obelisk by Attica artist Jeffrey Loucks.

Press release:

Summer is quickly approaching and many children are eagerly waiting to hear the final school bell so they can enjoy a couple months of fun in the sun, including some family outings to the local park. New this year, families who forget to pack sunscreen at DeWitt Recreation Area won’t have to worry. 

United Memorial Medical Center (UMMC) and the Genesee County Parks Department are partnering to prevent park visitors from getting skin cancer. Through a grant provided to UMMC’s Healthy Living Program, five sunscreen dispensers have been installed throughout DeWitt Recreation Area for the 50,000 people who frequent it each year.

“Skin cancer rates are increasing every year,” said Laurie Thornley, UMMC’s Healthy Living manager. “It’s the country’s most commonly diagnosed cancer and it can be prevented. By putting these sunscreen dispensers in our local parks, we’re making sun protection more accessible. Sunscreen is a vital part of sun safety and we’ve put the solution right there for you in the park.”

According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), five million people are treated for skin cancer in the United States every year; with 37 percent of U.S. adults reported having been sunburned in the past year.

“If you forget the sunscreen at home you don’t have to worry about burning your skin,” Paul Osborn, Deputy Highway superintendent. “We want the community to enjoy the many activities DeWitt Recreation Area has to offer, from fishing and kayaking to hiking and having a picnic, but to do so in a safe manner.”

This project is supported by Health Research Inc. and the New York State Department of Health with funds from the Centers for Disease Control.

Press release:

The Genesee County Economic Development Center (GCEDC) Board of Directors approved incentives for a $345 million solar project in the Town of Byron, and construction of a campus-wide substation at the Science Technology and Advanced Manufacturing Park (STAMP) at the agency’s June 3 board meeting.  

Excelsior Energy Center is a $345.55 million utility scale solar farm project that will be located on multiple agricultural properties in Town of Byron and will generate 280 MW (AC) solar generation. The project will receive approximately $32.7 million in property and sales tax incentives. 

The project will provide enhanced property tax payments via a 20-year PILOT (Payment In Lieu Of Taxes) and host benefit agreements. The project will contribute $6,500/MWAC in total PILOT/host benefit payments annually + a 2-percent annual escalator over the 20-year term. Resulting property tax-type benefits of the project in the Town of Byron, Byron-Bergen Central Schools, and Genesee County are estimated at more than $45.2 million.

The project has an estimated $117.5 million fiscal economic impact, including PILOT payments, host benefit payments, fire district payments, elimination of agricultural exemptions on acreage used for solar panels, direct construction payroll, other direct construction related purchases, and the payroll and purchases during operations. This results in an estimated return of $20.60 in economic impacts vs the tax impacts of the land's prior use.

Plug Power Inc. is investing $55 million toward the construction of a campus-wide substation at STAMP. The substation will enable 100-percent renewable, reliable electricity at less than $0.035/kwh to future tenants in partnership with the New York Power Authority and National Grid.

Plug Power’s investment in the substation is on top of the $232 million the company is investing to build a green hydrogen manufacturing facility at STAMP. The facility is estimated to create 68 full-time jobs. 

Plug Power’s facility will produce green hydrogen produced using an electrolysis process of water utilizing clean hydropower producing approximately 45 metric tons of liquid hydrogen annually for applications such as heavy-duty freight and forklifts.

Plug Power will receive approximately $2.8 million in sales tax incentives related to the electrical substation construction.

Press release:

Officials from Genesee County, the City and Town of Batavia, Village of Oakfield, Village of Elba, and the Genesee County Department of Health are once again reminding residents connected to the Public Water Supply System to conserve water.  

The call to conserve takes on even greater importance with unseasonably hot weather forecasted for next several days, including over the weekend and into next week. 

Residents are urged to avoid filling swimming pools, watering lawns and washing cars and only use appliances such as dishwashers and washing machines for full loads.

Another conservation measure is to check faucets and pipes for leaks which often can be repaired with an inexpensive washer. Toilets also should be checked for leaks and can be done by putting a small amount of food coloring to the toilet tank. If, without flushing, the color begins to appear in the bowl, you have a leak that should be repaired immediately.

Taking shorter showers also helps as five to 10 gallons are used per minute. To help conserve water in your shower use easy to install water-saving showerheads or flow restrictors which are available at area hardware or plumbing stores.

For more information, please contact Tim Hens, the Genesee County engineer, at (585) 344-8508 or the Genesee County Department of Health at (585) 344-2580, ext. 5510.

By Griffin Della Penna:

The Batavia Muckdogs defeated the Elmira Pioneers in their inaugural game as a member of the Perfect Game Collegiate Baseball League Thursday night 7-0 at Dunn Field.

Strong performances on the mound from Julian Pichardo, Andrew Parr and AJ Winger were crucial to halt the Pioneer offense. The Muckdog bats came through in big moments, as all seven of their runs were scored with two outs.

In the start, Pichardo hurled a scoreless four 2⁄3 innings on three hits, no walks, and nine strikeouts. With a runner on second base, reliever Andrew Parr struck out left fielder Kevin Serrano on three pitches to retire the side in the bottom of the fifth. Parr finished with four strikeouts while only allowing a hit in 2 1⁄3 innings pitched. Winger did not record a baserunner in the final two innings of work, retiring all six batters he faced in order.

Batavia’s runs came in bunches as the three runs came around to score in the third and ninth innings. Catcher Brice Mortillaro safely got to first after a drop third strikeout which would later be the first run of the game after an Abner Benitez line drive single. First baseman Daniel Burroway knocked in Alabama State University teammates Luis Rodriguez and Benitez to build the lead to 3-0.

Outfielder Spencer Marcus’ two-out single resulted in a Mortillaro opposite-field RBI single in the fourth inning to increase the lead to four. Batavia added their next trio of runs stemming from errors by Elmira’s Sam Polanco and Ryess Youmans. Utility player Charlie Szykowny and outfielder Trevor Dean were late-game substitutions who contributed with RBI singles to add some more insurance runs in the top of the ninth.

Elmira will travel to Dwyer Stadium in Batavia tonight with intentions to spoil the Muckdogs home opener. The Muckdogs will be playing their first home game in 637 days in what is anticipated to be a sold-out crowd. Make sure to secure your ticket by calling the box office at (585) 524- 2260 or come to Dwyer Stadium from 9 a.m. - 5 p.m.

First pitch will be at 7:05 p.m. and can be viewed on Youtube Live by subscribing to BataviaMuckdogBaseball. Make sure to follow our Twitter @BataviaMuckdogs and liking our Facebook Page, “BataviaMuckdogBaseball.”

Go Dogs!

From the county Highway Department:

Sandpit Road between Spring Road and Dry Bridge Road in Alexander will be closed on Monday, June 7^th for bridge replacement work.

It will remain closed for approximately six to eight weeks and will not be open to local traffic. 

The public will be notified when the road reopens.

Press release:

Standing with Rochester Finger Lakes Region business and economic development leaders on Wednesday, U.S. Senate Majority Leader Charles E. Schumer re-upped his push for the Senate to pass his bold, bipartisan initiative next week to propel American leadership in science and technology into the 21st century.

The legislation is in the debate process on the floor of the Senate.

Schumer’s plan – which includes passing the Endless Frontier Act, now part of the broader U.S. Innovation and Competition Act, provides $52 billion in federal investment to fully fund the implementation of the bipartisan semiconductor provisions he passed in last year’s defense bill.

It would dramatically increase U.S. investment in domestic advanced manufacturing and research & development of strategically important technologies like semiconductors and establish regional tech hubs across the country.

These investments could help lead to the creation of new jobs and jumpstart innovation across Rochester and Western New York.

Senator Schumer said these new investments would both supercharge work by the region’s key economic development drivers, including the University of Rochester (UR) and Rochester Institute of Technology (RIT), to invest in new technological research and development that spur new jobs and businesses as well as support the region’s semiconductor manufacturers (like Akoustis Technologies in Candandaigua) and attract new semiconductor factories to the region’s STAMP business park in Alabama.

“We must immediately address several dangerous weak spots in our country’s competitiveness that threaten America’s global technological leadership. We’re in an all-out race for the jobs of the future and to protect our country’s global technological edge and it’s time to put New York’s top-tier workforce and tech community on the frontlines” Senator Schumer said.

“This legislation will enhance American competitiveness with China and other countries by building up places across Rochester and Western New York to lead in the innovation economy, creating high-tech American manufacturing jobs, strengthening R&D, and investing in workforce training capabilities.

“The stakes are enormous. If we do not invest now in the research, development, and manufacturing of technologies of the future, we risk falling behind in the race with China and other global competitors, putting at risk U.S. jobs, intellectual property, and national security.”

Today, the United States’ position as the unequivocal global leader in scientific and technological ingenuity and innovation is under pressure from China and is eroding. U.S. competitiveness and national security are being threatened by decades of U.S. underinvestment in research, manufacturing, and workforce development, coupled with foreign competitors stealing American intellectual property and aggressively investing to dominate the key technology fields of today and of the future.

Schumer said that without a significant and sustained increase in investment in research, education and training, technology transfer and entrepreneurship, manufacturing, and the broader U.S. innovation ecosystem across the nation, it is only a matter of time before America’s global competitors overtake the United States in terms of technological primacy, threatening national security and economic prosperity.

He cited a recent study authored by MIT Economists Jonathan Gruber, Ph.D., and Simon Johnson in their book, "Jump-Starting America: How Breakthrough Science Can Revive Economic Growth and the American Dream," that concluded millions of new jobs could be created through a new federal effort to boost federal funding for the sciences.

They analyzed 102 regions to determine which are best poised to become new Tech-Economy hubs if provided federal scientific research & development investment and determined that Rochester ranked No. 1 as the nation's top region ripe for technological and economic growth. The authors argued for the creation of a bold new federal investment in science and technology, such as would be created now through the U.S. Innovation and Competition Act.

Additionally, Schumer highlighted the region’s STAMP business park (Science Technology & Advanced Manufacturing Park) as a site that can be positioned to attract new semiconductor supply chain or chip fab manufacturing facilities thanks to the U.S. Innovation and Competition Act.

In recent months he has personally urged the top brass at Samsung, Intel, and Micron to look to locate their next U.S. chip production facilities in New York, said the legislation’s provisions to provide $52 billion in emergency spending to implement Federal incentives to semiconductor companies in return for building new chip fabs in the United States is already a game-changer, creating new opportunities for places like STAMP to attract new semiconductor jobs and factories and for companies like Akoustis Technologies to expand. 

Schumer’s plan is in the process of debate on the floor of the Senate and includes his "Endless Frontier Act." The plan would invest in three main areas – domestic advanced manufacturing; research, development, entrepreneurship, and workforce training in strategically important technologies like semiconductors; and establishing regional technology hubs through federal investment in economic development across the country to be global tech centers.

Schumer is also proposing $52 billion in emergency supplemental appropriations to implement the bipartisan federal semiconductor manufacturing and R&D provisions he passed into law last year as part of the annual defense bill.

Details on the supplemental appropriations proposed by Senator Schumer appear below:

• $49.5 billion allocated over five years for a CHIPS for America Fund. Funding must be used to implement the Commerce Department semiconductor incentive and R&D programs authorized by the FY21 NDAA (Sec. 9902 & 9906). Within the fund, the following appropriations are available:

                -- Incentive Program: $39 billion appropriated upfront and allocated over five years to implement the programs authorized in Sec. 9902. $2 billion is provided to solely focus on legacy chip production to advance the economic and national security interests of the United States, including helping to address the chip shortage faced by the auto industry.

                              $19 billion in FY22, including the $2 billion legacy chip production funding;

                              $5 billion each year, FY23 through FY26

• Commerce R&D programs: $10.5 billion appropriated upfront and allocated over five years to implement programs authorized in Sec. 9906, including the National Semiconductor Technology Center (NSTC), National Advanced Packaging Manufacturing Program, and other R&D programs authorized in Sec. 9906.

                   -- $5 billion in FY22

                   -- $2.5 billion for advanced packaging

                   -- $2 billion for NSTC

                   -- $500 million for other related R&D programs

For use across the advanced packaging, NSTC, and other related R&D programs, the following would be provided:

                   -- $2 billion in FY23

                   -- $1.3 billion in FY24

                   -- $1.1 for FY25 and FY26

• $2 billion for a CHIPS for America Defense Fund: Funding is appropriated up front and $400 million is allocated each year, over five years for the purposes of implementing programs authorized in Sec. 9903(b), providing support for R&D, testing and evaluation, workforce development, and other related activities, in coordination with the private sector, universities, and other Federal agencies to support the needs of the Department of Defense and the intelligence community.
• $500 million for a CHIPS for America International Technology Security and Innovation Fund: Funding is appropriated upfront and $100 million each year, allocated over five years to the Department of State, in coordination with the U.S. Agency for International Development, the Export-Import Bank, and the U.S. International Development Finance Corporation, for the purposes of coordinating with foreign government partners to support international information and communications technology security and semiconductor supply chain activities, including supporting the development and adoption of secure and trusted telecommunications technologies, semiconductors, and other emerging technologies.

An additional $1.5 billion is provided for implementation of implement the USA Telecommunications Act that was also passed as part of last year’s NDAA to foster U.S. innovation in the race for 5G.

Details on the Endless Frontier Act

As reported by the Senate Commerce Committee, it seeks to maintain and build on U.S. science and technology leadership through investments in research and development and strengthening regional economic development, manufacturing, and supply chains. The legislation would authorize roughly $120 billion over five years for activities at the National Science Foundation (“NSF”), Department of Commerce (“DOC”), the Department of Energy (“DOE”), and the National Aeronautics and Space Administration (“NASA”).

It advances priorities including to reduce undue geographic concentration of R&D funding, encourage broader participation of populations underrepresented in STEM, and increase collaboration across federal agencies and with nongovernmental partners on innovation. Crucially, the Endless Frontier Act helps to bridge the gap of innovative technological breakthroughs happening at America’s premier research institutions by bringing those breakthrough to the applied science and commercialization space to benefit our countries growing innovative advancements.

Notable Provisions

Technology Directorate: The Endless Frontier Act would create a new Directorate of Technology and Innovation at the NSF to support research and technology development in key technology focus areas, such as artificial intelligence and quantum science, in order to strengthen the global leadership of the United States in innovation. Major activities would include funding research and development at collaborative institutes, supporting academic technology transfer and intellectual property protection, establishing technology testbeds, and awarding scholarships and fellowships to build the relevant workforce. The Directorate would be authorized at $29 billion over fiscal years 2022 to 2026, including a transfer of $2.9B to existing NSF divisions to support basic research collaboration.

NSF Research and Development Programs: The Endless Frontier Act would authorize $52 billion over fiscal years 2022 to 2026 for existing NSF activities, representing a 7-percent increase each year. The legislation would also create a Chief Diversity Officer at NSF and increase STEM education to enhance the domestic STEM workforce. The legislation also incorporates a series of new programs, including programs for precision agriculture, rural STEM education, quantum information science, skilled technical education, critical minerals, and bioeconomy R&D.

Regional Technology Hubs: The Endless Frontier Act creates a regional technology hub program at DOC to support regional economic development in innovation. Technology hubs would carry out workforce development activities, business and entrepreneur development activities, technology maturation activities, and infrastructure activities related to the technology development. The technology hubs program would be authorized at $10 billion over fiscal years 2022 to 2026.

Manufacturing: The Endless Frontier Act would authorize close to a quadrupling of the DOC Manufacturing Extension Partnership and create a new track within the program for public benefit activities like workforce development and cybersecurity services. The Manufacturing Extension Partnership would be funded at $2.4B over fiscal years 2022 to 2026. The substitute would also authorize the Manufacturing USA program, at $1.2B over fiscal years 2022 to 2026, and add workforce and coordination provisions.

Supply Chain Resiliency: The Endless Frontier Act would establish a supply chain resiliency program at the Department of Commerce to work with the private sector, for the purpose of identifying and recommending opportunities to mitigate or address supply chain vulnerabilities in the United States and in allied and partner countries. It would also amend the recently enacted CHIPS Act to provide $2 billion in incentives for domestic production of mature semiconductor technologies, such as for the automotive industry.

Schumer’s plan also includes $52 billion in emergency supplemental appropriations to implement the bipartisan federal semiconductor manufacturing and R&D provisions he passed into law last year as part of the annual defense bill. An additional $1.5 billion is provided for implementation of implement the USA Telecommunications Act that was also passed as part of last year’s NDAA to foster U.S. innovation in the race for 5G.

Steve Hyde, president & CEO, Genesee County Economic Development Center, said “Senate Majority Leader Schumer has long-championed Upstate New York as the ideal region for critical growth of the domestic semiconductor manufacturing and R&D investments due to our university research and talent, our established and ever-growing semiconductor supply chain, along with our considerable capacity of renewable, reliable, and competitively priced electricity. We applaud Senator Schumer for his leadership, and agree that passage of the U.S. Innovation and Competition Act would be catalytic in growing the high-tech economy at the Western New York Science & Technology Advanced Manufacturing Park (STAMP) and all across Upstate New York."

Schumer added, “These investments are key to preserving America’s position on the world stage as a current and future technological leader. In the coming days, I will push for final Senate passage of this legislation to ensure that the U.S.’ hand at home and abroad is as strong as possible as we compete with China on all fronts.”

Press release:

Girl Scouts of Western New York (GSWNY) is proud to announce 56 Girl Scouts as the 2021 recipients of the Girl Scout Gold Award, and 33 Girl Scouts as 2021 GSWNY scholarship recipients.

These exceptional change-makers took action to improve their local, national, and global communities while earning Girl Scouts’ most prestigious award in the world for girls.

In Genesee County, the sole awardee is Ava Flores, of Troop #42141, Oakfield, whose project was called "Feed the Need."

In addition to the Girl Scout Gold Award, Ava is one of the recipients to also be awarded a scholarship, in her case, $1,000 from Hans and Charlene Schoenenberger.

The Girl Scout Gold Award acknowledges the power behind each recipient’s dedication to not only empowering and bettering herself, but also to making the world a better place for others.

The Gold Award project is the culmination of all the work a girl puts into “going for the Gold.”

The project should fulfill a need within a girl’s community (whether local or global) and create change that has the potential to be ongoing or sustainable.

Approximately 80 hours of community service are involved in the project.

Completion of the Gold Award also qualifies the Girl Scout for special scholarship opportunities and she can enlist in the military at a higher starting pay grade.

For more information on the Girl Scout Gold Award, visit gswny.org.

Press release:

Press release:

Sheriff William A. Sheron Jr. announced this afternoon that he is reinstating in-person inmate visitation at the Genesee County Jail effective Saturday, June 12 beginning at 12 p.m.

The Genesee County Jail will be adhering to the following guidelines to prevent the risk of exposure to the novel coronavirus (COVID-19) to employees, inmates and families:

• Only inmates not on a COVID-19-related quarantine or isolation will be able to receive visitors;
• Visitors are required to bring their own mask and must wear the mask during the entire visitation;
• Visitors will be screened upon entering the facility (temperature check, series of questions, etc.);
• The maximum amount of visitors per inmate is (2) two;
• The maximum number of inmates receiving visitors at one time is (2) two;
• All visitors must provide acceptable picture identification.

The visitation schedule is as follows:

Monday – Thursday / 12 - 7 p.m.

Friday / NO VISITS

Saturday / 12 - 7 p.m.

Sunday / 12 - 2 p.m. and 4 - 7 p.m.

Visits are on a first-come, first-served basis every hour during the times listed above.

Appointments are highly recommended and can be made in advance by calling the Genesee County Jail at 343-0838. Additions to a visit must be made 24 hours prior to the time of the scheduled visit.

All visitors must sign in separately and fully list all information requested on the visitor sign in form. Visitors under 18 years of age must be accompanied by parent or legal guardian with acceptable photo ID.

Press release:

A Basketball Training Camp for the experienced and serious player only will be offered to boys in grades seven through 12 in Batavia city schools, and college.

Press release:

St. Paul Lutheran School in Batavia will be holding an Amazing Race type of fundraiser called the "Amazing Grace Race" at 10 a.m. on Saturday, June 5.

For $20 per vehicle you can travel to five different locations to complete a family friendly task. 

The top finishers will be recognized at the finish line and can try and win a prize.

All vehicles registered for the race will meet at St. Paul School, 31 Washington Ave., Batavia to get their race directions and first location to begin the race promptly at 10 a.m.

Once all vehicles have finished the race and the tasks we will meet back at St. Paul School.

Some of our sponsored locations include Terry Hills, Oles Family Farm, and the Geico Batavia Office.

If you are interested in participating, call the St. Paul Lutheran School office at 343-0488 or email stpaulbataviaprincipal@gmail.com.

Press release:

Day of Tractor Pulling June 19th, Saturday of Fathers Day Weekend, will be held at WNY Gas & Steam Show Association grounds, 10294 Gillate Road, Alexander.

Pulling starts at 9 a.m. with deadweight classes 4500#, 5500# and 6500#.

Stock Pull starts at noon. Stock Classes 5500-8500# and 9500-14,500#. Continuing with Enhanced Classes of 5500-8500# and 9500-14,500#.

In addition there will be 4-wheel drive trucks.

Bring Dad and enjoy the day together.

Admission: $10 adult; children 5-12 $5; 4 and under free.

We welcome you to bring your tractor to pull. If you have questions call Frank (716) 474-4492. General questions call Bill (716) 380-7061.

Food and beverages will be available for purchase. All COVID-19 guidelines will be followed. Please join us!

Press release:

The executive director of Genesee/Orleans Council on Alcoholism and Substance Abuse said he feels fortunate that the agency’s detoxification building project on its campus at 430 E. Main St. has yet to hit any major supply delays and he's excited about the prospect of opening the 20-bed facility ahead of schedule.

“It’s an 8,600-square-foot building that will house four people on the first floor and 16 on the second floor (two per unit) for short-term detox – five to seven days,” John Bennett said. “It will be connected to the back of the Atwater Home and, when finished, will continue the look of that structure.”

Javen Construction, of Penfield, is the general contractor for the venture, which broke ground in January.

Bennett said the detox center originally was scheduled to open in December, but could be moved up a couple months.

Amber Gorzynski, a construction field representative with the Dormitory Association of the State of New York’s Buffalo office, said lag time to get materials hasn’t been an issue.

“So far the lead times have been similar to we had before COVID,” she said. “We’re scheduled for December but we’re hoping to beat that.”

Gorzynski said she is looking forward to turning the building over to GCASA.

“It’s needed and I just appreciate that I am part of this,” she said.

Tim Ryan, superintendent for Javen Construction, said the outside walls are finished and inside insulation has been installed, setting the stage for fire inspection in the coming days.

Subcontracting work is being done by local companies, such as Turnbull Heating & Air and Genesee Plumbing.

The facility will be open to Western New York and Finger Lakes Region residents.

Photo at top: The front of the detoxification center under construction at Genesee/Orleans Council on Alcoholism and Substance Abuse campus on East Main Street. Photos at bottom: The connection of the new building with the existing Atwater residential facility; the area where the first-floor dining room will be located.

Press release:

Assemblyman Steve Hawley is joining his colleagues in the Assembly Minority in calling for the passage of a legislative package known as the “Restore Order” initiative, which would restore elements of judicial discretion eliminated by the “bail reform” law passed in 2019 by the Assembly Majority (A.5265).

The package would also increase the penalties for particularly hateful and violent crimes, such as shooting into a crowd (A.4259), among other measures. 

These bills were drafted in response to a widespread spike in violent crime that has persisted for months throughout the state, which Hawley and others attribute to limitations placed on the ability of local judges to exercise their judicial discretion by previously passed “bail reform” laws.

“We elect our judges for a reason, and it’s because they know us and they know the communities we live in,” Hawley said. “Bail reform has restricted judges from making decisions they know are most sensible for both the defendants before them and the collective well-being of the people and families that live in the surrounding area.

"The consequences of this law have been fatal for far too many New Yorkers who have senselessly lost their lives to increased acts of violence in our towns and cities. The bloodshed in our streets has gone on far too long, and it’s time we recognize bail reform as the dangerous failed experiment it really is.”

Press release:

Data Update – Covering May 28 through June 1:

Genesee County reporting three new positive cases of COVID-19.

• The individuals are in their 20s, 30s and 40s.
• Four of the current positive individuals are hospitalized.
• Eighteen of the previous positive individuals have completed their 10-day isolation and have been removed from mandatory isolation.
• We are saddened to report the loss of one community resident. The individual was under 65. We do not provide any further information to protect the privacy of the individuals and their families. Our deepest condolences to the families and friends during this very difficult time.

Orleans County reporting two new positive cases of COVID-19.

• One of the current positive individuals is hospitalized.
• Due to technology issues, we are unable to report ages and the number of people removed from mandatory isolation. This information will be updated in the June 4th briefing.

Press release:

RESTORE Sexual Assault Services, a program of Planned Parenthood of Central and Western New York, is recruiting volunteers for an upcoming training cycle in July. There is an urgent need for volunteers in Monroe, Genesee, Livingston, Orleans and Wyoming counties. 

Volunteer Advocates are responsible for taking crisis phone calls from their home and providing information and advocacy to sexual assault survivors at a hospital or police station. Volunteers offer support, information and resources to survivors of sexual violence and their loved ones. The time commitment is flexible, and at the volunteer’s discretion.

All applicants will be screened and must complete 32 hours of training prior to beginning their volunteer commitment. 

The training will take place in a virtual setting. All RESTORE services are dynamically responding to the changing Covid-19 protocols and using a variety of communication methods, depending on the needs and comfort level of the survivor. 

Those interested in volunteering for RESTORE must be at least 20 years of age, have reliable transportation, and be comfortable working with those in a crisis situation. 

For further information about volunteering with RESTORE, email:  restore@ppcwny.org

RESTORE leads the community response to sexual violence through advocacy and education, by providing the safety, support and validation that changes the lives of all those affected.  

RESTORE 24-hour hotline:

1-800-527-1757 (Livingston, Wyoming, Orleans and Genesee counties)

Planned Parenthood of Central and Western New York provides high quality, nonjudgmental reproductive health care; promotes responsible and healthy sexuality; advocates for access to comprehensive health care; and supports those affected by sexual violence.