Stories from

Press release:

• Genesee County reporting 33 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, 70s, 80s and 90s. 
  • Thirty-nine of the previous positive individuals have recovered and have been removed from the isolation list.  
  • Seven of the current positive individuals are hospitalized. 
• Orleans County reporting 16 new positive cases of COVID-19.  
  • The 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, 20s, 30s, 40s, 50s, 60s, 70s and 80s.
  • Twenty-four of the previous positive individuals have recovered and have been removed from the isolation list.
  • Nine of the new positive individuals were previously on quarantine prior to testing positive.
  • Three of the current positive individuals are hospitalized.
  • Five of the new positive individuals are inmates at the Albion Correctional Facility.

Press release:

The proper way to dispose of medications will be the focus of Thursday’s quarterly meeting of the GOW (Genesee-Orleans-Wyoming) Opioid Task Force.

The meeting will be livestreamed via Zoom, starting at 9:30 a.m. It is expected to last for an hour.

Scott Wilson, superintendent of the Orleans County Jail, has agreed to make a presentation on National Drug Take Back Day, which is scheduled for this Saturday, with locations in the three counties.

Wilson has worked closely with this event for the past few years. In his presentation, he will discuss the organization of these events, collection of medications and their proper disposal, and the impact this day has on our community.

This meeting is open to the public and the community is invited to join and share any questions they may have.

“With National Drug Take Back Day coming up on April 24th, we felt this would be a great topic to cover with the members of the Task Force and our community,” said Christen Ferraro, GOW Opioid Task Force coordinator.

Ferraro noted that prescription opioid misuse is an ongoing and escalating epidemic as 70 percent of opioid dependence, overdoses and deaths begin with leftover drugs in the medicine cabinet.

“It is important to help remove the risks that leftover medications pose to you, as well as your families and friends. With this meeting, we hope to increase awareness of safe disposal methods, as environmental studies have shown that flushed medications flow into our water supply and negatively impact the fish we eat and water we drink,” she added.

To access the meeting link, go to www.gowopioidtaskforce.org. Once registered, participants will receive a confirmation email with Zoom information and a link to join.

From Teresa Tamfer:

The Batavia Society of Artists is having a virtual hands-on watercolor art demonstration by artist Shauna Blake at 7 p.m. on Tuesday May 11th.

Members will get an email with sign-in info.

There is a $5 fee for nonmembers and they need to go to our Facebook page to sign up.

To participate in this hands-on demo on painting with watercolors you will need:

• Watercolors
• Watercolor brushes -- (Blake uses mostly rounds size 4, 6 & 8)
• Watercolor paper
• Board or plastic mat to tape watercolor paper down
• Masking tape
• Pencil

About Shauna Blake, Artist

She started painting in her early teens and has devoted her entire working life to her artwork. She has a love for nature and the outdoors and uses the inspiration and energy it provides to create her art.

She paints in a wide variety of mediums including, watercolors, acrylics, pen and ink, and silk dyes.

In 1994 she graduated from The Art Institute of Pittsburgh with a major in Graphic Design and Illustration.

She worked in the Graphic Design field for seven years before joining her husband, Brendan, in his glass art business in 2001. Here she expanded her art by studying and creating lampwork glass beads.

Shauna currently sells her hand painted silk scarves, silk ribbons and art prints worldwide on her website -- www.QuintessenceSilk.com -- and on the popular online Etsy handmade crafts site.

Top image, submitted by artist Shauna Blake, is her whimsical rendering of the early spring fuzzy catkins of the genus Salix, aka pussy willows.

Press release:

The healthcare community across the Finger Lakes Region has a new tool in its fight against the global pandemic: access to COVID-19 vaccination data for the growing number of people receiving injections.

This vital information is available through Rochester RHIO, the community health information exchange, which supports healthcare delivery for 1.5 million area residents in 14 counties.

Prior to this development, community public health officials and clinicians lacked the data needed to ensure that all the residents of our region have access to COVID-19 vaccination. With the change, RHIO authorized users such as doctors, nurses, long-term care providers and other clinical professionals can improve day-to-day care, being able to determine if their patients have been fully vaccinated or not.

The data will also allow a patient’s caregiver to view vaccine brand, timing and other dosing details to improve administration of second injections, which are required for certain approved protocols.

With the availability of this vaccination data, in addition to COVID-19 test results, county public health departments can now access COVID-19 vaccination records to analyze community progress toward herd immunity. Public health researchers can also analyze vaccine reach into specific populations (e.g., by county), equitable distribution and the impact of education efforts, among other initiatives.

“We began efforts last summer to prepare our systems for vaccination data, with the hope that breakthroughs were on the horizon,” said Jill Eisenstein, CEO and president, Rochester RHIO.

“By putting this information in the hands of the healthcare community, there’s even more reason to believe that we can collectively change the course of COVID-19’s effects across the Greater Finger Lakes Region.”

Rochester RHIO is also a data resource for the Finger Lakes COVID-19 Vaccine Task Force.

Press release:

In their continued effort to make an impact in the community, the Batavia Muckdogs have teamed up with the Challenger Division Baseball League to host a game at Dwyer Stadium on Saturday, June 19th at 1 p.m.

Challenger Baseball is a community program sponsored by the YMCA and Arc of Genesee Orleans that provides children in the area with disabilities the opportunity to play organized baseball. With the generous support of volunteers trained in disability awareness and sensitivity, these athletes who range from ages 5-21 can have the unique opportunity to play the sports they love.

Players, coaches, and other Muckdog personnel will be on the field assisting the game that will be free to season ticket holders and other fans in attendance. Later in the afternoon, the Jamestown Tarp Skunks will come into town to play the Muckdogs, with the start time of the PGCBL show-down still to be determined.

The rest of the Challenger Divison Baseball League games will be played at nearby MacArthur Park and hosted by Batavia Youth Baseball. They are very excited to have such a special event held at Dwyer Stadium and hope to see the community out to support them.

Press release from AAA: 

Today’s national average price for a gallon of gasoline is $2.87, up 1 cent from last week. One year ago, the price was $1.82. The New York State average is $2.89 – no change from last week. A year ago, the NYS average was $2.23.

AAA Western and Central New York (AAA WCNY) reports the following averages:

• Batavia -- $2.85 (up 1 cent since last week)
• Buffalo -- $2.82 (no change since last week)
• Ithaca -- $2.86 (down 1 cent since last week)
• Rochester -- $2.87 (no change since last week)
• Rome -- $2.94 (up 1 cent since last week)
• Syracuse -- $2.85 (no change since last week)
• Watertown -- $2.95 (no change since last week)

The national average gas price is now $2.87 – up $1.05 from last year when most of the country was on lockdown. Current demand has tapered since Easter vacations are complete. Demand will likely increase as more communities open and students head back to in-person learning. Gasoline stocks recovered with an increase last week keeping gas prices flat. Typically gas prices reach their highest level of the year as Memorial Day approaches.

From GasBuddy:

"Gas prices have remained largely stable in the last week across much of the country with the exception of the West Coast, where prices in some areas continue to advance, mainly in California as summer gasoline and healthy demand have boosted prices, but for everyone else, we're far removed from the fast pace of increases we saw earlier this year," said Patrick De Haan, head of petroleum analysis for GasBuddy.

"Gasoline demand has given up ground for the second straight week, likely due to some areas seeing a rise in coronavirus cases, and as spring break plans conclude. The next trend in gas prices isn't evident just yet, we may see additional slight sideways moves in the weeks ahead, until either demand starts to increase notably again, or we see the opposite."

Press release from the Genesee Region USBC:

Left-hander Brian Cline of Middleport and righty Scott Culp of Honeoye Falls, two of the Genesee Region USBC's most accomplished tournament bowlers, added to their long list of league honor scores this week with 800 series at Medina Lanes and Livingston Lanes in Geneseo, respectively.

Cline rolled 278-278-277--833 in the Wednesday Community League for the association's second best series this season (behind Rich Wagner's 899, of course). On Feb. 10, Cline posted 266-267-279--812 in the same league.

Culp registered 279-268-279--826 in the Ontario-Livingston League for the GRUSBC's third highest series this season.

Elsewhere around the GRUSBC:

-- Ron Lawrence rolled a 300 game en route to a 672 series and Wagner rolled a 290 game to cap a 734 series in the Toyota of Batavia Thursday 5-Man at Mancuso Bowling Center. Lawrence has been hot of late as he recorded an 810 series last month in the GRUSBC Association Tournament.

-- Kevin Gray Sr. of Honeoye Falls rolled 299 in a 740 series in the Thursday Owls League at Rose Garden Bowl in Bergen.

For a list of high scores, click on the Pin Points tab at the top of this page.

From the City of Batavia Police Department:

Batavia police are looking for assistance identifying a DoorDash delivery driver involved in an accident that occurred on Wednesday, March 17 at about 8:30 p.m. on Norris Avenue in the City of Batavia.

(Norris is east of State Street and runs north and south between Hart Street and Fairmont Avenue.)

The operator was driving a dark-colored, older-model compact truck.

Anyone with information, please email Officer Perkins at:  aperkins@batavianewyork.com, or contact the Batavia Police Department at (585) 345-6444. 

Press release:

• Genesee County reporting 17 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 19-20s, 20s, 30s, 40s, 50s, 60s and 80s. 
  • Nineteen of the previous positive individuals have recovered and have been removed from the isolation list.  
  • Three of the current positive individuals are hospitalized. 
  • One of the new positive individuals is a resident of The Grand Rehabilitation and Nursing.
  • We are saddened to report the loss of one community resident. The individual was over 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.

NOTE: There are 86 active cases in Genesee County and there have now been 121 deaths.

• Orleans County reporting 16 new positive cases of COVID-19.  
  • The 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, 20s, 30s, 40s, 50s and 60s.
  • Nine of the previous positive individuals have recovered and have been removed from the isolation list.
  • Three of the current positive individuals are hospitalized.
  • Two of the new positive individuals are inmates at the Albion Correctional Facility.
  • One of the new positive individuals is a resident of Orchard Rehabilitation & Nursing Center.
  • We removed one of yesterday’s positive individuals as they are not a resident of Orleans County.

Press release:

For the second year in a row, the Richmond Memorial Library has prepared a budget that will require no increase in the tax levy.

Prior to the 2020-21 fiscal year, tax levy increases had been kept under 2-percent annually (well under the allowable Tax Cap and national rate of inflation) despite 7-percent increases to the minimum wage, fluctuating health insurance costs, and a greater share of New York’s pension liability. 

Because there is no tax levy increase to vote upon, there will be no budget vote – only the Trustee Election for one vacant seat on the Richmond Memorial Library board. The two candidates for this seat are Odilia Coffta and Catrina “Cat” Lasher.

Meet the Candidates!

Odilia Coffta -- I am the data administrator for the New York State Migrant Education Program. As the mother of two young girls, ages 5 and 10 weeks, I often visit the library and take advantage of all the great books, materials, and activities available in the children’s department. I am originally from Guatemala and have a master's in Public Administration from the University of Pittsburgh. I want to join the Board because I believe libraries are a great resource for the community. I love the library and want to serve and support it as best as I can. (submitted bio)

Catrina “Cat” Lasher -- I grew up in Northern California and moved to New York eight years ago. I am a mother to two children ages 7 and 4 who keep me busy with running them to hockey, dance, and piano, in addition to volunteering at their schools. I’m a returning adult student at SUNY Empire College in the Community and Human Services department. I am the Birthday Party & Special Event coordinator at the Batavia YMCA, in addition to other roles I perform there. In the past, I coordinated a Free Forest School chapter in Genesee County and managed Batavia’s Buy Nothing group. Since childhood, libraries have been an important resource for me. These days I use the library to support my reading habit. My children and I ride our bikes to the library on a weekly basis in the summer. I’m very grateful to have such a wonderful place in our community. Some of my favorite things about our library are the craft programs and the Seed Library. I would like to become a library trustee because I believe that libraries support strong communities. As a library trustee, one of my top priorities would be to support access and inclusivity for all community members regardless of race, gender, orientation, age, socioeconomic status, or ability. (submitted bio)

The Trustee Election to fill one vacant seat on the Richmond Memorial Library Board of Trustees will take place on Thursday, May 6 at Richmond Memorial Library from 9 a.m. – 9 p.m. It is located at 19 Ross St. in the City of Batavia.

Applications for absentee ballots are available at Richmond Memorial Library. If the ballot is to be mailed to the voter, the application must be received at the Richmond Memorial Library by 5 o’clock on April 27th. If the ballot is to be delivered personally to the voter, the application may be received up to 5 p.m. on May 3rd.

Residents of Batavia City School District who are citizens of the United States, 18 years or older, and are registered voters may vote on this year’s Trustee Election.

Note: Information excerpted from the Richmond Memorial Library 2021-2022 Budget Newsletter, which can be found in full on the library's website or at the library. 

The library is now open regular hours for limited services, including browsing and checking out materials, limited computer use, photocopying, faxing and placing holds on materials. Please observe all signage and policies when you enter the library! Information about upcoming programs can be found on our website at batavialibrary.org.

Richmond Memorial Library continually provides access to physical and virtual resources and services that meet the educational, informational and recreational needs of its diverse community in a safe and comfortable environment.

A statement from Kevin MacDonald, search consultant and GV BOCES district superintendent, regarding the Alexander CSD superintendent search:

"The recent Alexander Central School District Superintendent Search was a confidential search, and therefore, the names of the semifinalists were not released.

"Stakeholders provided input as to the qualifications, characteristics and qualities that they thought the next Superintendent should possess. These stakeholder input sessions were held virtually via Zoom.

"The Board of Education evaluated all of the search applicants, interviewed the semifinalists, and made the final candidate decision based up the input provided by the stakeholders.

"For clarification, the stakeholders were not involved in the interview process. We apologize for any confusion."

Previously: Jared Taft named Alexander superintendent

Press release:

Aurelio Aragon-Figueroa, 42, of Byron, was sentenced to three years probation in Genesee County Court on April 15.

In addition, he paid full restitution of $9,321 to the Genesee County Department of Social Services and will be disqualified from receiving Food Stamp (SNAP) benefits for a period of one year.

The sentence was a result of his guilty plea in February to: 11 counts of first degree offering a false instrument for filing; two counts of falsifying business records; and one count of third-degree grand larceny.

The charges were filed after a Social Services investigation revealed Aragon-Figueroa had submitted several documents that were altered to conceal household income.

Anyone wishing to report suspected cases of welfare fraud in Genesee County can contact the Genesee County Department of Social Services Fraud Investigation Unit at (585) 344-2580, ext. 6417 or 6541. All calls are confidential.

Press release:

This year's Earth Day Weekend cleanup project will focus on the new Ellicott Trail and the City of Batavia, Genesee County, and Town of Batavia are looking for volunteers to pitch in. 

Volunteers and municipal staff will join together to collect trash and debris along the Ellicott Trail on Saturday, April 24.

Assemble at 9 a.m. in the parking lot behind the City of Batavia Fire Station on Evans Street (behind 18 Evans St.).

Social distancing and COVID-19 protocols will be followed.

Gloves, trash bags, and a trail assignment will be given out to complete the five miles of Ellicott Trail. The disposal of all trash collected will be handled by City of Batavia Bureau of Maintenance.

Earth Day Cleanup is a coordinated volunteer event, providing opportunities for individuals and organizations to make positive, tangible impacts on our environment and to keep the Ellicott Trail clean.

“The City of Batavia thanks all those community members who are volunteering to cleanup and keep Ellicott Trail looking good this Earth Day Cleanup Weekend. Your help to keep our City clean and safe is much appreciated,” said Eugene Jankowski Jr., City Council president.

Vice Chairwoman of the Genesee County Legislature and City resident, Marianne Clattenburg, said, “by joining together and assisting in the cleanup effort we can give residents and visitors a better experience on the Ellicott Trail. I am excited to participate and hope community members and service groups will join us.”

“Ellicott Trail was built as a collaborative partnership between the City, Town and County and we will continue to maintain the Trail for public use and enjoyment," said Chad Zambito, Batavia Town Board member. "While this is the inaugural cleanup, there will be many more opportunities to volunteer and keep our collective community beautiful.” 

If you would like to volunteer but cannot attend the Earth Day Cleanup – Ellicott Trail, please sign up through “Friends of Ellicott Trail” with John Roche from Adam Miller Toy and Bicycle at: adammiller2@verizon.net or go to their website.

If you have any questions regarding this event, please contact Lisa Casey, confidential secretary with the City of Batavia (585) 345-6333.

Press release:

Residents of the Pavilion Central School District are invited to attend either one of two information sessions to be held at the Hollwedel Memorial Library on its decision to pursue becoming a school district public library.

The one-on-one meetings will take place on Saturday, April 24 from 10 a.m. to 12 p.m. and on Monday, April 26 from 6 to 8 p.m. at the library, located at 5 Woodrow Drive in Pavilion. 

The meetings were announced in a mailing sent to Pavilion Central School District residents earlier this month.

They will be hosted by the Board President Joan Gray and Board Vice President Stephen Gould.

As a school district public library, the library would have a service area that aligns with the boundaries of the Pavilion Central School District.

The library’s budget and the board of trustees would be determined by a public vote. The library itself would remain housed in the same building and be staffed by the same professionals.

The school district would collect tax money for the library and turn the funds over to the Library Board. The school district would have no direct control over the operations of the library.

All recommended COVID-19 safety protocols will be followed for the meetings at the library. Please wear a mask for your visit.

Residents can find more information on the library’s website; ask questions via email at:  hollwedellibrary@gmail.com, or contact the library by phone at (585) 584-8843. 

Current library hours are: Monday and Wednesday 2 to 7 p.m. / Friday 1 to 5 p.m. / Saturday 10 a.m. to noon / Closed Tuesdays, Thursdays and Sundays.

Press release:

It is with a sense of regret, again, that the Board of Trustees of the Stafford Historical Society announces their decision to put on hold their fundraiser/community event: The 2021 Taste of Stafford, for yet another season.

Citing the uncertainties of COVID-19 guidelines, opening to capacity for public events, the need for additional planning, and the difficult economic year for our sponsors, we sadly have come to this decision.

The Taste of Stafford, started in 2005, was usually held in Ilette Park in July. We usually worry about the weather, but now we have more to consider in light of the coronavirus pandemic.

Respectfully, 

Linda Call

Chairwoman, Taste of Stafford

Stafford Historical Society

The mission of the Stafford Historical Society is to document, preserve and present the history of the Town of Stafford through collections, exhibitions, research and educational programs.

Press release from the Genesee County Sheriff's Office:

On Saturday, April 24, from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m., Genesee County law enforcement agencies and the Drug Enforcement Administration will give the public an opportunity to prevent pill abuse and theft by ridding their homes of potentially dangerous expired, unused, and unwanted prescription drugs.  

This service is free and anonymous; no questions asked.

Collection sites will follow local COVID-19 guidelines and regulations, which includes masks for citizens dropping off medication.

Bring your medications for disposal to:

• Pembroke Town Hall, Route 5 at Route 77, Pembroke, to be received by GC Sheriff's deputies;
• Alva Place parking lot, Batavia (across the street from Batavia Showtime movie theater located in the Genesee Country Mall). Sharps will also be accepted at this location only. Batavia police officers will collect the items;
• Le Roy Police Department Headquarters, 3 W. Main St., Le Roy, to be received by Le Roy police officers.

Only pills, tablets, capsules, patches and other solids will be accepted at the collection sites—liquids and needles or other sharps will not be unless noted. Vaping devices and cartridges will be accepted provided lithium batteries are removed.

According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, the United States has seen an increase in overdose deaths during the COVID-19 pandemic, with 83,544 Americans overdosing during the 12-month period ending July 1, 2020, the most ever recorded in a 12-month period.

The increase in drug overdose deaths appeared to begin prior to the COVID-19 health emergency, but accelerated significantly during the first months of the coronavirus pandemic. 

This initiative addresses a vital public safety and public health issue. Medicines that languish in home cabinets are highly susceptible to diversion, misuse, and abuse. Rates of prescription drug abuse in the United States are alarmingly high, as are the number of accidental poisonings and overdoses due to these drugs.

Press release:

Sunday, April 25, is Neighborhood Mission Day and two local groups invite you to help people being released from the Buffalo Federal Detention Center in Batavia as they try to find their way back to their families.

At 12:30 p.m. that day, “Los Samaritanos” and the Country Neighbors churches of the Presbytery of Genesee Valley will be at the North Bergen Presbyterian Church to assemble bags of basic necessities and other useful items for newly released former detainees.

The church is located at 7068 N. Bergen Road in Bergen. The assembly event will be outdoors and COVID-19 safety protocols will be followed.

​"We normally give them a dignity bag, a meal, a coat, sometimes a phone card, and sometimes a place to stay for the night if their bus ticket is not till the following day," says Pastor Roula Alkhouri of the Batavia First Presbyterian Church, noting that she belongs to Los Samaritanos.

These items are needed:

• Backpacks
• Warm clothes
• Snacks
• Travel-size toiletries, including hand sanitizer
• Flashlights
• Water bottles
• Large envelopes or folders
• Multiples of $20 in cash ($20 per person)

Questions? Contact Pastor Jim Renfrew at (585) 548-2800 or Pastor Roula Alkhouri at (585) 343-0505.

Press release:

The Batavia Police Department is seeking public assistance in locating a missing 14-year-old girl. Elizabeth Jones was last seen on Wednesday, April 14 in Batavia. She may be in the Buffalo or Rochester area and is believed to be with a male.

She was last seen wearing a red and black hooded sweatshirt, sweatpants and carrying a blue and black duffle bag. Elizabeth is approximately 5' 04", 130 lbs., has piercings on both sides of her nose, and has blond hair.

Anyone with information on her whereabouts is asked to call the Batavia Police Department at (585) 345-6350 or the NYS Missing Persons Clearinghouse at 1-800-346-3543.

UPDATE 2:50 p.m.: From BPD -- "Elizabeth Jones has been located and is safe. The Batavia Police Department would like to thank the citizens for all the tips that helped lead to her safe return."

               Jake Taft

Press release:

The Alexander Central School District’s Board of Education has selected Jared ("Jake") D. Taft as the district’s next Superintendent of Schools. He expected to begin pending successful contract negotiations.

“Coming to Alexander Central as the Elementary Principal and then interim Superintendent has a great deal of nostalgia for me," Taft said. "This school district feels like home. Our school colors are the same as my childhood elementary school where my mom was also a teacher. My first childhood school experiences were in a school nearly identical to Alexander Elementary School.

“I am profoundly grateful, honored, and excited to serve as Alexander’s next Superintendent of Schools. I’m confident that we can tackle the important work ahead of us as we continue to navigate the new normal stemming from the pandemic. But I am sure Alexander has all of the sweat equity, grace and toughness to be successful, strong and even better than before."

“The Board of Education would like to thank the other finalists for their interest shown in this position," said Brian Paris, Alexander Central School District’s Board President. "This was an extremely difficult decision as all of the candidates are highly qualified individuals.

"We truly value the input received from the various stakeholders who met with the candidates to help us make a final decision. The board is confident that Jake Taft will lead our district through the issues we face in our region. With his leadership, we will work together to continue to deliver the best education possible for our students.” 

Taft currently serves as the interim superintendent of Alexander Central Schools, a role he has held since September 2020. Previously, from 2019-2020, he served as principal of Alexander Elementary School.

Taft began his career in education in 2000 as a teacher at Roy H. Mann Intermediate School in Brooklyn. He has served in principal roles at the Royalton-Hartland, Lackawanna, and Lewiston-Porter Central School Districts.

In each of these districts, he focused on developing positive, collaborative, and productive relationships to cultivate a culture of teaching, learning and caring for all.

Some of his 20-year career highlights include: evaluating and implementing the annual School Improvement Plan at Royalton-Hartland Middle School; supervising and coordinating the P-Tech Grant Program at Lackawanna High School; and providing instructional leadership to Professional Learning Communities to advance student learning at Lewiston-Porter High School. In 2015, Taft was awarded the Trocaire College Reflections Award for P-Tech. 

Taft earned a Bachelor of Science in Criminology and Criminal Justice, and a Master of Science in Elementary Education from Niagara University. He also earned a Master of Science in School Administration and Supervision from Touro College. He is completing coursework for his Doctorate of Education.

He holds New York State permanent certifications in Elementary Education, and Special Education, and as a School District Administrator and Supervisor.

Kevin MacDonald, District Superintendent of the Genesee Valley BOCES, acted as the search consultant and noted that the search process was a true collaboration between the Board of Education and stakeholders.*

**************************************************************

*Clarification statement by Kevin MacDonald stating that stakeholders were not involved in the superintendent search interview process.

Press release:

• Genesee County reporting 10 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 19-20s, 20s, 30s and 40s. 
  • Eight of the previous positive individuals have recovered and have been removed from the isolation list.  
  • Three of the current positive individuals are hospitalized.

 

• Orleans County reporting 14 new positive cases of COVID-19.  
  • The 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.
  • Nine of the previous positive individuals have recovered and have been removed from the isolation list.
  • One of the new positive individuals was on mandatory quarantine prior to testing positive.
  • Three of the current positive individuals are hospitalized.