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

• The new positive cases reside in the:
  • West Region (Alabama, Darien, Pembroke)
  • Central Region (Alexander, Batavia, Bethany, Elba, Oakfield) 
  • East Region (Bergen, Byron, Le Roy, Pavilion, Stafford) 
• The individuals are in their 0-19s, 40s, 50s and 60s. 
• Thirteen of the previous positive individuals have recovered and have been removed from the isolation list.  
• Five of the current positive individuals are hospitalized.

 

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

• The new positive cases reside in the:
  • West Region (Yates, Ridgeway, Shelby)
  • Central Region (Carlton, Gaines, Albion, Barre)
• The individuals are in their 0-19s, 40s and 50s.
• Thirteen of the previous positive individuals have recovered and have been removed from the isolation list.
• Two of the current positive individuals are hospitalized.

Press release:

The New York State Office for the Aging (NYSOFA) today announced a partnership with The Association on Aging in New York (AgingNY) and GetSetUp to offer 50,000 classes, featuring more than 300 different course options developed by and for older adults.

The GetSetUp curriculum and community are designed to combat social isolation and promote independence through live, interactive classes and online connectivity with a community of more than 650,000 older adult learners from more than 160 countries around the globe.

Additionally, all guides and instructors are retired educators/professionals/technologists, promoting economic empowerment, healthy lifestyles, and a purpose driven life.

Instructors are trained to help older adults learn by doing, not just watching, and all learners are encouraged to become creators by leading their own interest groups.

GetSetUp classes are organized into four broad categories:

• Digital Divide/Connectivity (orientation to Zoom and how to use various devices)
• Physical Health (i.e. Tai Chi/Yoga/Healthy Cooking)
• Mental Health (i.e. Dementia/Coping with Stress/Meditation), and
• Social Health (i.e. Book Club/Gardening/Pets/Travel/Brain Games)

The GetSetUp platform offers more than 40 classes each weekday, and more than ten classes each weekend. They recently launched “GetSetUp TV” for hesitant older adults to get a flavor of the GetSetUp platform without having to fully participate. Classes are rotated regularly to offer the widest variety of programming for older adults in the four main categories.

Technology solutions have grown dramatically over the past year and platforms such as GetSetUp will be part of the new normal. Connecting older adults to an online forum of their peers empowers engagement, continual learning, and even access to employment opportunities outside of the traditional brick and mortar approach.

Director of the New York State Office for the Aging Greg Olsen said: “Social isolation was a public health problem prior to COVID-19, but the pandemic clearly made it worse. This partnership will expand our ability to reduce isolation, depression, and anxiety by significantly expanding virtual programming into the homes of isolated older adults to keep them connected.

"Furthermore, this partnership will allow us to build more programming and classes, taught by older adults, providing them with an economic opportunity to earn money through their skills. We are thrilled to partner with The Association on Aging in New York and GetSetUp to launch this project.”

Executive Director of the Association on Aging in New York Rebecca Preve said, “The Association on Aging in New York is thrilled to partner with GetSetUp, to bring interactive programming to older residents in their homes and communities. This opportunity will alleviate social isolation while providing enriched educational programs to thousands of older New Yorkers.

"As we continue to support older residents, programs like GetSetUp are vitally important to remain connected and engaged. We are grateful to GetSetUp, NYSOFA, and the 59 AAA’s that work every day to make New York a leader in aging services.”

 Cofounder of GetSetUp Lawrence Kosick said, “We are thrilled to partner with NYOSFA and The Association on Aging in New York to provide the state’s older adult population with a scalable way to support lifelong learning, health, and mental well-being.

"We could not be more excited to welcome New York’s older adults to the GetSetUp community, which has recorded more than four million minutes of learning and connection in the last three months, and half a million connections between learners. The power of the platform will continue to be amplified as the community of instructors and learners expands, and this partnership is another huge step in the right direction for our older adult population.”

About the New York State Office for the Aging and Health Across All Policies/Age-Friendly New York

The New York State Office for the Aging (NYSOFA) continuously works to help the state’s 4.3 million older adults be as independent as possible for as long as possible through advocacy, development, and delivery of person-centered, consumer-oriented, and cost-effective policies, programs, and services that support and empower older adults and their families, in partnership with the network of public and private organizations that serve them.

New York is nationally recognized for being the first age-friendly state in the nation. Using the state’s Prevention Agenda as the overarching framework, in 2017, Governor Andrew M. Cuomo launched a Health Across All Policiesapproach, where public and private partners work together to positively impact population health by marrying health care, preventive health, and community design, in concert with addressing social determinants of health, to improve the lives of all New Yorkers, young and old.

Stay connected—download the NYSOFA mobile app for iOS or Android; visit the NYSOFA Facebook page; follow @NYSAGING on Twitter and NYSAging on Instagram; or visit aging.ny.gov.

About the Association on Aging in New York

The Association on Aging in New York supports and advocates for New York’s mostly county-based Area Agencies on Aging (AAAs) and works collaboratively with a network of organizations that exist to promote independence, preserve dignity, and provide support for residents of New York State as they age. For more information, follow us on Facebook, visit www.agingny.org or call 518-449-7080. 

About GetSetUp

GetSetUp is an online community of people who want to learn new skills, connect with others, and unlock new life experiences. Their safe, social, and interactive learning environment has been specifically designed for older adults. Classes are taught by older adults and kept small to ensure everyone can actively participate. The platform helps older adults stay mentally and physically fit, creates economic opportunities through jobs and reskilling, and provides a community where people find meaning and purpose by helping each other and forming new connections. Founded in 2019, GetSetUp is headquartered in California. Learn more at https://www.getsetup.io/.

Press release:

The Genesee County Department of Parks, Recreation & Forestry and Rotary Club of Batavia invite you to a ribbon-cutting ceremony at the DeWitt Recreation Area at 11 a.m. on Friday, May 7^th.

It's for the new launch dock installed on the ADA floating fishing pier at the DeWitt Recreation Area and the kayaks that will be available to all recreational programs throughout the City of Batavia and the surrounding towns and villages. The dock is a stabilizing device that makes it safer to enter and exit your kayak. The launch dock is free to use.

Please feel free to stop by and share in the moment and even try out one of the 10 kayaks purchased.

This activity is a culmination of efforts of the Rotary Club of Batavia, City of Batavia Youth Bureau, Genesee County Youth Bureau, City of Batavia, Genesee County Legislature and County Parks to bring kayaks and an accessible kayak launch site to Genesee County Parks.

The donation was made possible by Rotary Club International/ Regional grant program, which provided funding to the Rotary Club of Batavia.

DeWitt Recreation Area is located at 115 Cedar St. in the City of Batavia.

Press release:

Jeff Nichols, host of the “History Comes Alive” podcast and member of Webster Bible Church, will speak for the Reformation Society of Western New York on May 13 at Bergen Evangelical Presbyterian Church at 38 S. Lake Ave. in Bergen.

The event, which begins at 10 a.m., is free and open to the public.

Nichols will present a paper entitled: "A Brief History of Some of the Popular Evangelical Presuppositions and Why They Matter." 

The Reformation Society of Western New York is in partnership with the Alliance of Confessing Evangelicals (alliancenet.org). For more information, visit https://www.facebook.com/RefSocWNY/.

It will featuring original poetry written and read by Jacqueline Fields.

Submitted photos and press release:

Between 2013-2019, Mr. Batavia has raised more than $25,000 for local charities. It's a fun way for the students to help give back to the community. 

This year, we are going to hold the Mr. Batavia contest virtually.

The students are recording parts of the show on their own and we will be providing a link next week for the public to watch it live.

There is also a GoFundMe link here so that people can donate since we won't be having a live show. The link to the show will be available next week and will be linked to the go fund me and advertised on the schools social media. 

Here are the contestants and their chosen charitable organizations:

Contestant #1 - Ryan Bowen -- Crossroads House
Contestant #2 - Jaziel Childs -- Golisano Children's Hospital
Contestant #3 - Chase Pangrazio -- Batavia VA
Contestant #4 - Zach Gilebarto -- Genesee Cancer Assistance
Contestant #5 - Luke Rogers -- Gateway House in Attica
Contestant #6 - Alex Hale -- Ricky Palermo Foundation
Contestant #7 - Sean Pies -- Dave McCarthy Foundation
Contestant #8 - Jonah Epps -- Michael Napoleon Foundation
Contestant #9 - Faraz Idrees -- Anna’s Wish

Photos at top -- Top row, left to right, Hale, Gilebarto, Rogers; middle row, left to right, Idrees, Epps, Pies; bottom row, left to right, Childs, Pangrazio, Bowen.

Press release:

Yesterday, Tops was excited to award $10,000 in Food & Fuel Stimulus as part of its Tops Monopoly Rip it and Win It Game to MaryAnne D., of Batavia.

Tops kicked off its 12^thseason of Monopoly^® Rip It & Win It Game on March 7. This year you’ll not only have a chance to win one of 50 Grand Prizes of $10,000 like the lucky individual noted above, in Food & Fuel Stimulus, but millions of other prizes and great money saving offers!

MaryAnne was lucky winner number 15 of a potential 50!

• Her initial reaction when the realized they won – "Not real, someone added an extra 0 at the end of the grand total. Starting to sink in but I won’t really believe it until I get the gift cards in my hand. People were so excited at the store when I showed them the ticket – it was like a party going on."
• Where were they when they realized they won – "I was home and alone. ... usually thrown them in my purse and don’t bother with them right away. Wasn’t even supposed to shop that day. I had to pick up some items for a gathering so I stopped in. Another unusual thing happened is that I changed lanes to the one next to me and I never do that. My daughter had a bunch of tickets and opened all of them right away, but wasn’t as lucky."
• Who did they tell first (if they weren't around anyone when they realized) – "Went to my daughter’s that day and showed her the ticket.  She was very excited."
• Are they regular players of the game/how long – "Retired and used to play the board game, but she likes the Rip It & Win much better."
• What do they think they will buy first – "Don’t know, don’t spend a lot on groceries or gas, I will probably give away as gifts."

Also when you play online select game tickets will award Magic Tokens, new in 2021. Magic Tokens can be saved in the player’s online game account and may be redeemed to receive an eCoupon for that week’s Weekly Lucky Token special which is loaded into their BonusPlus Card.  This way you never have to miss out on a great deal just because you don’t have that week’s Lucky Token!

And what’s more-one lucky winner will be guaranteed to win our Second Chance Sweepstakes of $20,000 Food & Fuel Stimulus Prize!

For more details on this year’s game, visit www.topsmarkets.com today!

Press release:

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

• The new positive cases reside in the:
  • West Region (Alabama, Darien, Pembroke)
  • Central Region (Alexander, Batavia, Bethany, Elba, Oakfield) 
  • East Region (Bergen, Byron, Le Roy, Pavilion, Stafford) 
• The individuals are in their 0-19s, 30s, 40s, 50s, 60s and 70s. 
• Nine of the previous positive individuals have recovered and have been removed from the isolation list.  
• Five of the current positive individuals are hospitalized.

Orleans County reporting 12 new positive cases of COVID-19.  

• The new positive cases reside in the:
  • West Region (Yates, Ridgeway, Shelby)
  • Central Region (Carlton, Gaines, Albion, Barre)
• The individuals are in their 0-19s, 20s, 30s, 40s, 50s, 60s and 70s.
• Ten of the previous positive individuals have recovered and have been removed from the isolation list.
• Two of the current positive individuals are hospitalized.

Press release:

GLOW Women Rise is currently seeking nominations for their 2021 GRIT Award.

The GRIT Award is given to women in our community that exhibit tenacity, fearlessness, and spirit in advocating for an underrepresented group in the GLOW region. There are no age requirements for nominees.

This year’s award winners will be honored during the second annual Empowerment Forum, which will be held virtually on June 5th. Tamara L. McMillan, author and an award-winning lecturer, will be the keynote speaker. The forum will also honor women that our community has lost over the past year. 

GLOW Women Rise is a volunteer-based, not-for-profit organization that works to connect women and resources throughout the region while providing support and advocacy.

To nominate or to memorialize someone special, please visit us at GlowWomenRise.org or go to bit.ly/GWRNoms

Deadline for nominations is Friday May 14th.

The Holland Land Office Museum will be hosting its next edition of History Trivia Night @ the Museum.

Join us on Thursday, May 13 at 7 p.m. to test your knowledge of the holiday known as May Day.

May Day is an ancient pagan festival representing the coming of spring, and its modern form is a worker's holiday.

The presentation will be available both in person and via Zoom. A small group of 12 people will be allowed to attend in person.

Please contact the museum to preregister if you wish to attend. Masks and social distancing protocols are required.

The trivia night will also be available via Zoom. The links to join by Zoom are available on the museum’s Facebook page and website, http://www.hollandlandoffice.com.

The Holland Land Office Museum is proud to welcome on Thursday, May 20^th at 7 p.m., Douglas Strong, Ph.D., of Seattle Pacific University for the next edition of its Guest Speaker Series. The topic will be one of his major works "Perfectionist Politics: Abolitionism & Religious Tensions of American Democracy."

The work covers the antebellum movements of radical religious to battle with the conflict of slavery. Strong is the dean of Theology at SPU, but is a former resident of Western New York.

The presentation will be available both in person and via Zoom. A small group of 12 people will be allowed to attend in person to watch Strong as he joins virtually. If you would like to attend in person please contact the museum to preregister. Masks and social distancing protocols are required.

The links to join by Zoom are available on the museum’s Facebook page and website, http://www.hollandlandoffice.com.

Submitted image by Batavia artist Jill Pettigrew and press release:

Tops Friendly Markets and the Taste of Buffalo are pleased to announce that Jill Pettigrew, a talented artist from Batavia, is the Grand Prize Winner of the 2021 Taste of Buffalo Tops Poster Art contest.

Pettigrew was the winner for artists in the 18+ year old age group. Her artwork will be featured on the festival poster and in the event’s marketing materials. In addition, she will receive a $1,000 prize.

Anna Valece Bauer, a 17-year old resident of Williamsville, was the winner in the 13-17-year-old age group and will be presented with $500.

The prizes are courtesy of Tops Friendly Markets and The Taste of Buffalo.

“As is always the case, we were incredibly impressed with the talent of Western New York’s many artists who sent in entries for our poster contest,” said Amber Hartman, 2021 Taste of Buffalo chair.

“The Taste of Buffalo presented by Tops looks forward to sharing this year’s winning poster inside all of our participating restaurants and on the cover of our digital festival guide, which will be available on TasteofBuffalo.com.”

This year’s festival taking place July 10-11, will be back as a live event and is planned to take place in Niagara Square and on a portion of Delaware Avenue. This year’s festival will be modified to comply with any COVID-19 restrictions that may still be in place in July. 

About Taste of Buffalo presented by Tops

It is the nation's largest two-day food festival. The 38th annual Taste in 2021 will take place on July 10 and 11. The Taste is a not-for-profit organization with more than 1,000 volunteers helping to put on the annual event.

Approximately $541,000 has been raised at the festival for local charities including three $1,000 scholarships awarded last year to local high school seniors pursuing a culinary or hospitality-related degree. For more information, visit tasteofbuffalo.com, and find us @tasteofbuffalo on Facebook, Twitter and Instagram.

Submitted photo and press release:

The Byron-BergenCentral School District’s Board of Education (BOE) has agreed in principle to name Patrick McGee as the next Superintendent of Schools. Formal approval by the BOE is expected at the May 11 BOE meeting. 

School Board President Debra List said McGee possesses the key qualities that the Board is seeking in a Superintendent. 

“As a visible and engaged leader, we are confident that Patrick McGee is the best choice for our district," List said. "We look forward to working with Patrick as we deliver the best education possible for our students."

“I am honored and grateful to the Board of Education for extending me the opportunity to serve as Byron-Bergen’s next Superintendent," McGee said. "In my 14 years with the district, I have been privileged to wear many different hats as a teacher, a coach, the Junior/Senior High School Assistant Principal, and, for the last five years, the Junior/Senior High School Principal.

"I look forward to continuing Byron-Bergen’s long tradition of community connection while focusing efforts on the job at hand: helping our students grow into the best students, citizens, and human beings they can be. While we are certainly navigating through unprecedented and challenging times, I have every intention of living and breathing our district’s mission ‘to inspire, prepare, and support using the values of compassion, humility, kindness, and persistence with a vision to change the world.’ ”

McGee has spent his entire career serving the Byron-Bergen Central School District. While the focus of his experience is teaching and as an administrator, he also serves as the Byron-Bergen Administration Union/Unit President and he has coached junior/senior high school sports.

McGee is a graduate of the Leadership Genesee Class of 2017 and received the GCASA Award in 2019. This award which is presented by Genesee/Orleans Council on Alcoholism and Substance Abuse (GCASA) recognizes outstanding advocacy of GCASA and its programs in schools.

He is currently the Principal of Byron-Bergen Junior/Senior High School, a position he has held since 2015. From 2013 until 2015, he served as the Assistant Principal of Byron-Bergen Junior/Senior High School. Before that, McGee was the Dean of Students from 2012 until 2013.

He began his career in education in 2007 as a fifth-grade teacher at Byron-Bergen Middle School and served in this role until 2012. Throughout his career at Byron-Bergen CS, he has served in many leadership capacities including overseeing and supporting the growth of a Video Coaching Model to assist teachers with professional development, increasing the number of Advanced Placement courses offered and implementing an agriculture program, and revitalizing an FFA Chapter. Under McGee’s tenure, Byron-Bergen High School was named U.S. News Best High Schools for 2018, 2019 and 2020.

He holds a Bachelor of Science from St. John Fisher College in Elementary and Special Education, and a master’s degree in Education, Curriculum and Instruction from the Buffalo State College. McGee earned a Certificate of Advanced Study in Educational Leadership from the University of Rochester and also holds New York State certifications as a School Building and District Leader, as well as Childhood Education and Students with Disabilities. 

McGee is expected to begin on or before July 1, pending successful contract negotiations.

Kevin MacDonald, district superintendent of Genesee Valley BOCES, acted as the search consultant and noted that the search process was a true collaboration between the Board of Education, district staff and community.

Press release:

• Genesee County reporting 16 new positive cases of COVID-19. 
  • The new positive cases reside in the:
    • West Region (Alabama, Darien, Pembroke)
    • Central Region (Alexander, Batavia, Bethany, Elba, Oakfield) 
    • East Region (Bergen, Byron, Le Roy, Pavilion, Stafford) 
  • The individuals are in their 0-19s, 20s, 30s, 40s, 50s, 60s and 70s. 
  • Twenty of the previous positive individuals have recovered and have been removed from the isolation list.  
  • Five of the current positive individuals are hospitalized.
• Orleans County reporting 12 new positive cases of COVID-19.  
  • The new positive cases reside in the:
    • West Region (Yates, Ridgeway, Shelby)
    • Central Region (Carlton, Gaines, Albion, Barre)
    • East Region (Kendall, Murray, Clarendon)
  • The individuals are in their 0-19s, 30s, 40s, 50s and 60s.
  • Eight of the previous positive individuals have recovered and have been removed from the isolation list.
  • Two of the current positive individuals are hospitalized.

           Joe Battaglia             Andrew Parr             Abner Benitez

Press release:

With opening day exactly a month away as the Muckdogs travel to play the Elmira Pioneers on June 3rd, three additional players to the Muckdogs 2021 roster! They are freshman OF Abner Benitez, RHP Charles “Andrew” Parr, and sophomore Catcher Joe Battaglia.

Benitez is a true freshman outfielder at NCAA Divison 1 Alabama State and has immediately made an impact for the Hornets. Listed at 5’10” 185 lbs the Miami native played his high school ball at Miami Christian, where he was a four-year starter. Benitez has started 21 games for Alabama St. in his freshman campaign, hitting a respectable .267 batting average with 12 RBIs. His first career three-hit game was on March 10th against Samford, the same game that he hit his first collegiate home run. He is tied for the highest fielding percentage on the team (1.000 on 47 of 47 putouts) and top 10 in doubles, runs scored, and total walks. Alabama State currently is on a seven-game win streak, boosting their overall record to 19-17.

Charles “Andrew” Parr is also a true freshman playing at Andrews College, a JUCO located in Cuthbert, Ga. Parr is from Opelika, Ala., and went to Opelika HS before committing to Andrews. The right-handed pitcher has made 12 appearances in his first season with the Tigers, posting a 3-2 record. His first win came on February 17th against Enterprise State Community College, hurling four innings, allowing four hits, and no earned runs. As the season has progressed, Parr has been coming out of the bullpen as a reliever and now has 16.2 innings pitched in 2021 with 13 Ks. Andrews College is currently sitting at 31-22-1 with a 16-14 record in conference play, securing the three-seed in the Georgia Collegiate Athletic Association. The Tigers will square off on May 7th against Southern Georgia St. with the winner playing Gordon State on May 9th.

Battaglia is a sophomore at nearby Niagara County Community College after spending his first two collegiate seasons at Niagara University. The 6’0” 185 lbs catcher from Williamsville had an impressive high school career at Williamsville North before deciding to attend Niagara, where his older brother, Pete, was the first baseman. As a Freshman in 2019, Battaglia started nine games for the Purple Eagles, recording seven hits and three RBIs. After seeing limited action in the shortened 2020 season, Joey decided to transfer and play for the Thunderwolves, a respected JUCO in the area. NCCC has a 25-8 record with an 11-1 conference record, with their opponent Region III Sub-Regionals still to be determined. Battaglia has played 17 games behind the plate for the Thunderwolves, posting a near .200 batting average with 10 runs scored, four RBIs, and two stolen bases.

The Muckdogs are coming home to Dwyer Stadium on June 4th for their home opener after opening the season on the road in Elmira on June 3rd, which you can catch on YouTube Live on the Muckdogs YouTube page! Make sure to call (607) 734-7825 and get your season tickets now before the 2021 season kicks off on June 4th. Be sure to like our Facebook page and subscribe to our Youtube channel, “Batavia Muckdogs Baseball.”

Welcome Abner, Andrew and Joey, Go Dogs!

Submitted photos and press release:

On May 5, 1984, President Ronald Reagan proclaimed the first full week of May would be observed as National Correctional Officers’ Week in recognition of the important role these officers play in our criminal justice system.

The position of Correctional Officer, once considered merely that of a “guard,” has become increasingly more complex and demanding, involving simultaneously custodial, supervisory, rehabilitation, and counseling roles, and that complexity continues to grow. In the year 2021, Correctional Officers continue to play that vital role, but in an ever more stressful environment due to the continuing pandemic sweeping our nation and the world. 

The lights on the Old County Courthouse cupola will be changed to red, white and blue to acknowledge this week. Also, the Genesee County Legislature issued a proclamation at last week’s April 28 meeting recognizing May 2 – 8 as National Correctional Officers’ Week.  

“The important and difficult role Correctional Officers fulfill is not always recognized or realized by the general public,” said William A. Sheron Jr.  “If you know a Correctional Officer, please join me in thanking these men and women for the exceptional service they provide every day.”

 

 

Photos and information from Tracey Dahlhaus, Agriculture Science instructor -- Elba Central School District, and Elba FAA chapter advisor.

Amelia Brewer and Maggie Winspear will both be representing the Elba Future Farmers of America chapter at the upcoming New York State FFA convention.

Both young ladies placed in the top two spots in their substate contests to qualify and compete at the state competition.

Amelia (inset photo right) will be participating in the Senior Prepared Public Speaking event.

Amelia will be presenting her speech on the "Misconceptions in the Dairy Industry."

Maggie (inset photo left) will compete in the Junior Prepared Public Speaking Event. 

Maggie will be presenting her speech on "Why We Should Bring Whole Milk Back Into Schools."

Elba FFA advisor Tracey Dahlhaus, says she "is very excited to have Elba FFA represented at this level and at the NY State FFA Convention.

"What an awesome opportunity for both these young ladies. I am very proud of their accomplishments!"

The Alexander Fire Department is hosting a drive-thru only Mother's Day Chicken BBQ on Sunday, May 9th, from 12-1:30 p.m.

Meal includes half chicken, mac salad, salt potatoes, roll and cookie all for $12/meal.

Don't make Mom cook on her day! Preorder your meals by calling (585) 356-3301 or (585) 507-9930.

Barbara Eddy wrote an email today to The Batavian saying: We have about 100 meals left. We really need to sell out. Thank you again, as always."