Stories from

"Coach Swaz." That’s how a lot of people know me, even in economic development circles.

A great team, like the Buffalo Bills and all of our partners at the Genesee County Economic Development Center, is built on talented players and motivated coaches. Building on our economic growth in Genesee County is achieved through teamwork.

For our youth, that coaching can build connections to careers that put them in a position where they can succeed quickly by tapping into their talents and passion. Through Genesee FAST (Food processing, Advanced manufacturing, Skilled trades, and Technician) we can mentor, educate and train our youth for career opportunities with companies across the GLOW region. This allows us to move fast in helping companies with the job demands in their respective workplaces.

I want to reference a couple of examples of how this is being demonstrated. Graham Corporation recently purchased and installed a new welding simulator for the Batavia Career and Technical Education Center’s Metal Trades Program at Genesee Valley BOCES. It is a great example of how our growing companies are building connections with students in preparing the next generation of skilled welders. I applaud Graham Corporation’s vision and support of Genesee Valley BOCES.

Andrew Geyer’s welding students at the Batavia CTE are currently training on real world scenarios and are encouraged to get even more involved with youth apprenticeships. By taking the appropriate courses, participating in relevant activities and focusing on developing their skills we are providing students the playbook for success.

In 2019, more than 1,000 students, educators and guests participated in a single-day event at the Genesee County Fairgrounds – GLOW With Your Hands. In my role as cochair of GLOW With Your Hands along with GLOW Workforce Development Board Executive Director Jay Lazarony, we knew our entire volunteer team had to make a dramatic pivot for 2020 because of the pandemic. And we achieved success by going virtual.

Providing students with hands-on opportunities at the GLOW With Your Hands event last year was extremely impactful. Providing that same experience this year seemed like a monumental task, but we are reaching even more kids than last year making deeper connections with the launch of www.GLOWWithYourHandsVirtual.com

Karyn Winters, the director of the Genesee County Business Education Alliance, and Angela Grouse, director of education to employment initiatives for the Livingston County Area Chamber of Commerce, are leading all of our volunteers across the GLOW region in this effort. They once again enlisted companies to turn a hands-on event into an on-demand platform for our students to pursue great career opportunities.

GLOW With Your Hands Virtual demonstrates the career pathways that our students can take in securing family sustaining jobs and, more importantly, remaining part of our community by staying here and raising their own families.

I encourage everyone who wants to see Genesee County continue to grow and prosper by putting our kids in a position to win, to please visit the GLOW With Your Hands Virtual website and start discussing these careers with our youth. You can be a great coach.

Coach Swaz’s Career of the Month: Welding

There are dozens of careers that we are encouraging parents to share with kids in middle school and high school using the GLOW With Your Hands Virtual website. This month, I recommend warming up with the welding profile and seeing how welder-fabricators succeed.

Below is a YouTube video about welders and welding at Oxbo International Corp. in Byron, courtesy of the GCEDC.

Submitted photo and press release:

The Genesee County 4-H Mystic Riders Horse Club donated nonperishable food items to 40 families in the Le Roy Central School District.  

For more information about the Genesee County 4-H Program, please contact the 4-H Office at genesee4h@cornell.edu or (585) 343-3040, ext. 131. 

Photo: 4H Mystic Riders Community Service – 4-H Mystic Riders Horse Club members with the nonperishable items they collected for Le Roy families. Back row, from left: Jennifer Ewert, Alianna Baris, Katherine Ewert; front row, from left: Jillian Weaver, Jameson Smith, Riley Smith.

Press release:

Ifrah Armstrong, 42, of Batavia, pled guilty to one count of attempted grand larceny in the fourth degree, a Class A misdemeanor, in Batavia Town Court on Dec. 1. Sentencing has been scheduled for February.

Armstrong was originally charged with four counts of offering a false instrument for filing in the first degree, grand larceny in the third degree, all felonies. An investigation by Genesee County Social Services Investigator Dakota Nicholson revealed that Armstrong failed to report income she was earning. 

She subsequently received $5,208 in SNAP benefits she was not entitled to.

Armstrong has made full restitution of $5,208. She will also be disqualified from receiving SNAP benefits for one year.

Heidi Connolly, 45, of Batavia, pled guilty to one count of petit Larceny in Genesee County Court on Oct. 28. Sentencing has been set for January.

Connolly was originally charged with seven counts of offering a false instrument for filing in the first degree and third-degree grand larceny, all felonies. An investigation by Genesee County Social Services Investigator Robert Riggi revealed that Connolly failed to report income being earned by herself and her adult son, who was residing in the home.

Connolly subsequently received $3,631 in SNAP benefits she was not entitled to.

Connolly has made restitution of $3,000 thus far. She will also be disqualified from receiving SNAP benefits for one year.

Brenda Gursslin, 47, of Batavia, was sentenced to a one-year conditional discharge in Batavia Town Court on Dec. 1 after she pled guilty to one count of petit larceny.

Gursslin was originally charged with one count of offering a false instrument for filing in the first degree and grand larceny in the fourth degree 4^th, both felonies. An investigation by Genesee County Social Services Investigator Dakota Nicholson revealed that Gursslin failed to report income she was earning.

She subsequently received $1,775 in SNAP benefits she was not entitled to.

Gursslin has made full restitution of $1,775. She will also be disqualified from receiving SNAP benefits for one year.

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

Emergency Services Dispatcher Exam

The open competitive Genesee County Civil Service Exam for the position of Emergency Services Dispatcher is being given Jan. 16.

Please visit the Genesee County website for a full job description, minimum qualifications, and instructions on how to submit your application by the deadline of Dec. 9.

Press release:

After successfully securing in July an amendment to the Senate’s Fiscal Year 2021 National Defense Authorization Act (NDAA), which expanded the list of diseases associated with Agent Orange exposure, U.S. Senator Charles E. Schumer today (Dec. 4) announced that the final version of the FY2021 NDAA will include his amendment.

It authorizes $8 billion in new benefits for vets suffering from Agent Orange-linked illnesses.

Schumer explained that upon the president’s signature, nearly 240,000 veterans around the state who might be suffering from bladder cancer, hypothyroidism and Parkinsonism will be able to access healthcare and benefits, numbers that have expanded because of the senator’s amendment associating additional diseases with exposure to Agent Orange. Schumer originally launched this push from Rochester.

“After years and years of suffering and fighting, I proudly stood shoulder to shoulder with our Finger Lakes Vietnam vets who were exposed to Agent Orange to get Congress to take a major step forward and grant our heroes access to the medical care they need and have earned,” Senator Schumer said.

“It’s taken far too long, and we still need to see this change signed into law, but veterans across the country can celebrate today as a victory. We will work together to get this across the finish line in the very near future so those who put their lives on the line for our freedom can get the healthcare they deserve.

“I’m especially proud today to have expanded access to this incoming influx of benefits by securing an amendment that adds bladder cancer, hypothyroidism, and Parkinsonism to the list of diseases associated with Agent Orange. Our veterans, like those in the Finger Lakes, did not hesitate in the face of danger to fight for our country, and we must not nickel and dime them as they fight for their health now.”

The senator has fought for years to not only secure funding for Agent Orange-affected veterans’ health benefits, but also to increase the number of veterans who have access to those benefits.

Earlier this year, Schumer was in the Finger Lakes to unveil his plan to add an expansion of the illnesses associated with exposure to "Agent Orange" to the NDAA. The senator has also visited Staten Island, Long Island, Utica, Dunkirk, Wallkill and Albany to meet with Vietnam vets and advocate for an expansion of the associated illnesses list.

Schumer said that the nation’s Vietnam veterans – over 240,000 of which are in New York – who were exposed to "Agent Orange," have been calling on the feds to expand the list of diseases associated with the herbicide exposure.

“I am proud to have helped our Vietnam vets cut through bureaucratic red-tape and with only the president’s signature needed, New York’s vets are closer than ever to getting the medial access they deserve,” Schumer said.

He emphasized the importance of adding added bladder cancer, hypothyroidism and Parkinsonism to the list of diseases associated with "Agent Orange" exposure, and reiterated just how long this fight has been waged.

Last year, the Senator secured a provision in the budget deal requiring OMB and the VA to issue a detailed report to Congress on the delay in adding these conditions to the presumptive conditions list, BUT the report was woefully insufficient and Schumer said those agencies failed to properly explain why they were denying veterans.

In addition to the failure to include bladder cancer, hypothyroidism and Parkinsonism on the Agent Orange presumptive conditions list, the VA has never acted on a 2018 National Academies report that found sufficient evidence of association between exposure to herbicides and hypertension.

Schumer also explained that per the Agent Orange Act of 1991, the VA automatically accepts that if a Vietnam Veteran physically served in Vietnam between January 1962 and May 1975, it is probable that the veteran was exposed to an herbicide agent like Agent Orange.

Furthermore, the Act established a list of “presumed” diseases that the VA stipulates are caused by Agent Orange exposure. Therefore, if a veteran served in Vietnam at any time between 1962-1975 and is diagnosed with one or more of the diseases VA recognizes as service connected, the VA will compensate the veteran and his or her family.

However, even though there has been scientific evidence linking Parkinsonism, bladder cancer and hypothyroidism to Agent Orange exposure, they are not currently on the VA’s list of recognized presumptive conditions.

Schumer said if an Agent Orange-related condition isn’t specifically listed on the presumptive conditions list then the VA forces the suffering veterans and their families to argue their claim in a lengthy, bureaucratic appeals process that can last years and often end in a denial. In many cases the veteran will die before the process is even concluded.

Schumer said veterans shouldn’t have to wage their own war to gather the scientific facts and medical opinions about hypothyroidism in order to receive the care and benefits needed to treat the illnesses they contracted because they served our nation.

Schumer said that is absolutely crucial that thousands of Vietnam-era veterans in New York State receive the healthcare benefits they need and deserve, and final passage of his amendment in the NDAA will allow that to happen.

Press release:

The Genesee County Health Department has received multiple positive COVID-19 test results from individuals who were at Eli Fish Brewing Co. in Batavia on:

• Wednesday, Nov. 25^th from 6 - 8:45 p.m.

Contact tracing is in progress; however unidentified individuals may have unknowingly been in contact with the positive cases.

We advise all individuals who were at Eli Fish on the stated dates and times to monitor their symptoms for 14 days. If symptoms of COVID-19 develop, contact your primary care provider to seek testing immediately and self-isolate until you receive your test results.

Symptoms of COVID-19 include but are not limited to: fever or chills, cough, shortness of breath or difficulty breathing, fatigue, muscle or body aches, headache, new loss of taste or smell, sore throat, congestion or runny nose, nausea or vomiting, diarrhea.

For more information please visit: https://coronavirus.health.ny.gov/home.

Press release:

Don't forget that tomorrow night a flute quartet from the Genesee Symphony Orchestra will be at the Holland Land Office Museum to help celebrate Wonderland of Trees.

The concert will begin at 7 p.m. and will be two 20 minute sessions. We are having a limited audience available to attend, which will be limited to 12 people. If you would like to attend please call the museum at (585) 343-4727 to register. There are still some spots available.

The museum is located at 131 W. Main St. in the City of Batavia.

For those of you not in attendance, the concert will be livestreamed and recorded by Paul Figlow of Figlow Productions. Please stay tuned for those links.

Press release:

We can’t stress enough the importance to limit time with non-household members. Continue to do your best to limit the spread of COVID-19 and the flu by frequently washing/sanitizing your hands, wear a mask/face-covering over your mouth and nose when out in public and keep at least 6 feet from non-household members. If you are not feeling well, please stay home and contact your primary care provider for guidance.

As of 4 p.m. Dec. 3

Genesee County received 32 new positive cases of COVID-19.

• The new positive cases reside in Alabama, Alexander, Batavia, Bethany, Elba, Le Roy, Oakfield, Pavilion, Pembroke and Stafford.
• The individuals are in their 0-19s, 20s, 30s, 40s, 50s, 60s, and 70s.
• Thirty-two of the previous positive individuals have recovered and have been removed from the isolation list.
• Sixteen of the positive individuals are hospitalized.
• One of the new positive individuals is a resident at The Grand Rehabilitation and Nursing at Batavia.
• One of the previously reported individuals at the VA Medical center is not a current patient and has been removed from the facility count.
• We received notification of the death of a resident at The Grand Rehabilitation and Nursing at Batavia. The resident is over the age of 65. To protect the individual and their family we will not be releasing any further information. We express our deepest condolences to the family and friends of this community member during this very difficult time.

Orleans County received 21 new positive cases of COVID-19.

• The new positive cases reside in Albion, Barre, Gaines, Murray, Yates, Ridgeway and Shelby.
• The individuals are in their 0-19s, 20s, 30s, 40s, 50s, 60s, 70s, 80s and 90s.
• None of the individuals were on mandatory quarantine prior to testing positive.
• Two of the previous positive individuals have recovered and have been removed from the isolation list.
• Six of the current positive individuals are hospitalized.
• Two of the new positive individuals are residents of Orchard Rehabilitation & Nursing Center.

Press release:

Mothers welcoming a newborn into the family during the COVID-19 pandemic often face added challenges. This includes a growing trend of diaper need -- the lack of a sufficient supply of diapers to keep an infant or toddler clean, dry, and healthy.

Nearly one in three families nationwide struggle to afford diapers for their babies. The COVID-19 pandemic has made the problem worse, with diapers sometimes out of stock in stores.

Project Stork Inc., an Oakfield nonprofit serving 200 low-income mothers in Genesee and Orleans counties, has received a grant from the East Hill Foundation, to continue providing free monthly diaper and baby care packages.

“We want to make sure families are healthy,” said Jenny Staebell, Project Stork’s director. “Our partnership with the East Hill Foundation assures that we can support moms and babies in need. Without diapers and baby products, parents often stretch the time between diaper changes to make their resources last.”

Access to diapers has been an under-recognized need. There is no federal assistance for diapers. SNAP and WIC benefits can not be used to purchase diapers. While diapers can be bought with Temporary Assistance for Needy Families (TANF) cash assistance, less than a quarter of families living below the Federal Poverty Level actually receive TANF.

Diaper need impacts a mother’s stress level and coping.

“Mothers share that they worry about not being able to change their baby’s diaper often enough,” Staebell said. “We are not only providing supports and resources, but education as well. There is a direct correlation between a mothers maternal well being when their child has their basic needs met. Simply put, diapers and other needed infant and toddler care supply can create positivity within a household.”

Project Stork appreciates donations as well as drop offs of diapers, baby wipes, baby soap and lotion. For more information, go to www.projectstorkinc.org or call Project Stork at (585) 590 – 6626. Follow on Facebook.

Agency: 57 N. Main St., Oakfield, NY 14125

Mailing Address: 20 Webber Ave., Oakfield, NY 14125

Press release:

The Genesee County 4-H Program is now accepting registrations for the 2021 4-H Tractor Safety Program. The program is open to youth age 14 and over and covers farm safety, tractor safety, tractor operation and other related topics.  

The National Safe Tractor and Machinery Operation Program is a certification program that allows youth age 14 and 15 to be certified to legally operate farm equipment for hire. After completing the training course, youth will need to pass a written knowledge test and driving test to receive the certification.

The program is scheduled to run Saturdays, 8 a.m. to 12 p.m., January through April at farm machinery dealerships throughout Genesee County. All New York health and safety guidelines that are in place at the time of the program will be followed.

The fee for the program is $10 and youth must also be currently enrolled 4-H members. Registrations are due Jan. 30. To register for the program or receive more information, please contact the Genesee County 4-H Office at genesee4h@cornell.edu or (585) 343-3040, ext. 131.

Press release:

Dec. 2, 4 p.m.

We can’t stress enough the importance to limit time with non-household members. Continue to do your best to limit the spread of COVID-19 and the flu by frequently washing/sanitizing your hands, wear a mask/face-covering over your mouth and nose when out in public and keep at least 6 feet from non-household members. If you are not feeling well, please stay home and contact your primary care provider for guidance.

Genesee County received 44 new positive cases of COVID-19.

• The new positive cases reside in Alexander, Batavia, Byron, Le Roy, Oakfield and Pembroke. 
• The individuals are in their 0-19s, 20s, 30s, 40s, 50s, 60s 70s, 80s and 90s.
• Fifty-seven of the previous positive individuals have recovered and have been removed from the isolation list.
• Thirteen of the positive individuals are hospitalized.
• Sixteen of the new positive individuals are residents at The Grand Rehabilitation and Nursing at Batavia.
• We received notification of the death of a Genesee County resident. The resident is under 65. To protect the individual and their family we will not be releasing any further information. We express our deepest condolences to the family and friends of this community member during this very difficult time.

Orleans County received nine new positive cases of COVID-19.

• The new positive cases reside Albion, Barre, Carlton, Kendall, Murray and Shelby.
• The individuals are in their 30s, 40s, 50s, 60s, 70s, 80s and 90s.
• None of the individuals were on mandatory quarantine prior to testing positive.
• Three of the previous positive individuals have recovered and have been removed from the isolation list.
• Five of the current positive individuals are hospitalized.
• We received notification of the death of an Orleans County resident. The resident is over 65. To protect the individual and their family we will not be releasing any further information. We express our deepest condolences to the family and friends of this community member during this very difficult time.

Press release:

The Genesee Chorale invites you to join them for a unique holiday virtual performance at 7 p.m. on Saturday, Dec. 19th.

The performance, titled "And on Earth, Peace" is meant to evoke a sense of calm, hope and peace; in this time of uncertainty and fear, our music is meant to be a welcome balm to our community, glad tidings and heartfelt goodwill from Batavia's own Genesee Chorale.

Selections will feature the entire Genesee Chorale as well as select ensembles of its members, culminating in a full choir performance of "Let There Be Peace on Earth."

Tickets for this 30-minute virtual performance are $5 and are available here.

Your "ticket" purchase provides you access to the private premiere virtual concert. You will receive the link to the concert via email on Dec. 19th at 6 p.m. The concert goes "live" at 7 p.m. The link will be available beyond that time. So, if you would like to see the performance but are unable to be there at 7 p.m. on the 19th, you can still watch and enjoy the concert with the same link!

For more information, please visit our website at GeneseeChorale.com or email:   info@geneseechorale.com.

Please join us, and let the Genesee Chorale help you usher in the holiday season!

Press release:

The City of Batavia and the Batavia Police Department are asking city residents to participate in an online survey the results of which will be used in formulating the department’s response to Governor Andrew Cuomo’s Executive Order 203, which requires police departments across New York State to submit reform plans to the state by April 1.

The online survey can be accessed here. It is anticipated that filling out the survey will take approximately five minutes.

The survey is just one component of the various outreach and engagement efforts being conducted by the Batavia Police Advisory Collaboration Stakeholder Group. The Stakeholder Group has met several times with the next meeting scheduled for Dec. 10^th at a venue still to be determined because of concerns about the increasing COVID-19 infection rates.  

“Community feedback and input is a critical component of our efforts in developing our plan,” said City of Batavia Police Chief Shawn Heubusch. “We realize that not every resident has reliable online access so various members of the stakeholder group are going to assist residents to fill out the survey.”

The survey asks residents to answer various questions, including: the nature of their last interaction with the police department and how they would rate that experience; a series of questions based on a 1-5 rating as to whether they strongly agree or strongly disagree with various statements about the police department; a list of options as far as what the police department should be prioritizing; whether or not assigning non-law-enforcement professionals should respond to certain 9-1-1 calls; and, various demographic information among others.

From the Twenty-five Neediest Children's Fund Committee:

With the chill in the air and the hours of sunlight diminishing each day, it is a reminder that the days of winter and the Holiday Season are nearly here. But this is a far different year in so many ways. And no doubt, but that for many of us 2020 is a year far different from any that we have ever experienced. With these thoughts in mind the Twenty-five Neediest Children’s Fund Inc. makes its annual appeal to the many good people in our community and beyond.

The Twenty-five Neediest Children’s Fund Inc. came into existence during another very difficult time -- the days of the Great Depression, about 1933. It was then when Batavia City School District physician, Dr. Dexter Pierce, saw a need that was the inspiration to the founding of the Twenty-five Neediest Children’s Fund Inc. The intent of the fund was to help the 25 most needy children in the Batavia City School District.

At that time, the cost of having tonsils removed involved an overnight stay, which cost families $7.50. The physicians graciously waived their fee but the cost of the overnight stay still proved too much for some families. It was then that the Twenty-five Neediest Children’s Fund Inc. came into existence.

While the original intent of the Twenty-five Neediest Children’s Fund was to help the 25 “most needy” students, over the past 80-plus years we have always helped as many as possible. There are no efforts made to apportion the funds equally among the schools. We simply help when a child’s need exists.

Traditionally our fund has assisted with medical and dental care, eye exams and glasses, prescription drugs, clothing, shoes and sneakers, counseling, and other educational needs. However, this year has challenged the fund to stretch ourselves beyond our usual assistance and we have additionally helped with food, air mattresses, beds, and educational toys to help children who are in need throughout this coronavirus pandemic. The purpose of this fund remains to provide for the needs of children in the Batavia City School District when no other means are available.

As students’ needs are identified by teachers, their school nurse, or Julie Wasilewski, the district’s social worker, the concerns are conveyed to Mrs. Nancy Haitz, R.N., C.P.N.P., Batavia City School District’s Office of the Coordinator of Health Services. Mrs. Haitz contacts the child’s parents and if it is determined that they aren’t able to provide what it is that their child needs and if the family does not qualify for any special services or assistance that is available, the Twenty-five Neediest Children’s Fund Inc. steps in to help.

The parents then select what care is to be provided, and by whom, in order to provide a remedy. Bills are then submitted to the Twenty-five Neediest Fund for payment. There is no red tape, no publicity, and there are no strings attached, as the only purpose is to serve the child in need. No one helped by this fund is ever identified by name, it is strictly confidential, and the name of the child receiving services is not known by the Twenty-five Neediest Children's Fund.

This fund has been dubbed “the Quiet Fund” as we only make one annual appeal at the Holiday Season and it seeks no public acknowledgment or fanfare for the work which is done for the children of the Batavia Public School system. The Quiet Fund is a true charity in every sense of the word. There are no administrative costs! 100 percent of the donations received are used for the benefit of children in need.

We are fortunate that this good community continues to remember the Quiet Fund during the season of giving, and some kindly remember us throughout the year. Every gift is a gift of love and is an affirmation that no child should go without.

Anyone interested in contributing to the Quiet Fund may make their check payable to the Twenty-five Neediest Children’s Fund Inc. to be sent to:

Nann K. Zorn, 12 River St., Batavia, NY 14020

To assist a child, and their parent, in this way is a wonderful and immeasurable gift. On behalf of the children, and their parents, helped by your generosity and gifts of love, we extend to you a most sincere thank you and warm holiday wishes, and blessings to you and yours in the hope of a better 2021! Stay Safe and Stay Strong!

Twenty-five Neediest Children's Fund Committee,

Sara Zorn Schroeder, Chairperson,

Nancy Arras,

Benjamin J. Bonarigo, Esq.,

Nancy Haitz,

Virginia Tiede,

Nann K. Zorn

Press release:

We can’t stress enough the importance to limit time with non-household members. Continue to do your best to limit the spread of COVID-19 and the flu by frequently washing/sanitizing your hands, wear a mask/face-covering over your mouth and nose when out in public and keep at least 6 feet from non-household members. If you are not feeling well, please stay home and contact your primary care provider for guidance.

Total Positives – are 1,041 (for Genesee County) through 12 p.m. today, however, due to the complexity of the case investigation / contact tracing the 960 reported below for Genesee County, and the charts represent the total cases investigated as of this report.

In order to provide accurate numbers, case investigations include contacting the individuals, of which some are not county residents...this will show discrepancies between the local numbers and the state numbers. The numbers reported are those cases we have accurate data and have had contact with the individual and all their subsequent contacts.

To review the raw positive data for each of the counties click this link.  

Our goal is to make sure the data provided to our communities is as accurate as possible.

• Genesee County received eight new positive cases of COVID-19.
  • The new positive cases reside in Alabama, Alexander, Batavia, Bergen, Bethany, Byron, Darien, Elba, Le Roy, Oakfield, Pavilion, Pembroke and Stafford.
  • The individuals are in their 0-19s, 20s, 30s, 40s, 50s, 60s 70s, and 80s.
  • One hundred and twenty six 126 of the previous positive individuals have recovered and have been removed from the isolation list.
  • Twelve of the positive individuals are hospitalized.
  • One of the individuals identified at The Grand Rehabilitation and Nursing at Batavia and one of the individuals identified at the Batavia VA Medical Center have been identified as out-of-county residents and have been removed from our facility and total count.
• Orleans County received nine new positive cases of COVID-19.
  • The new positive cases reside Barre, Clarendon, Murray, Ridgeway and Shelby.
  • The individuals are in their 0-19s, 30s, 40s, 50s, and 60s.
  • One of the individuals were on mandatory quarantine prior to testing positive.
  • Eleven of the previous positive individuals have recovered and have been removed from the isolation list.
  • One of the new positive cases was recovered prior to the health department receiving the test results and are included in the recovered data.
  • Six of the current positive individuals are hospitalized.

Submitted images and information.

The Batavia Society of Artist is hosting a Virtual Art Demonstration at 7 p.m. on Tuesday Dec. 8th.

Adrian Morris is an Irish artist from Ireland. He has lived in Batavia for 12 years. He was a pencil artist for many years before becoming a full-time painter. He will be demonstrating acrylic portrait painting via a virtual Zoom meeting.

Tickets are available on the BataviaSocietyofArtists facebook page for $5 for non-members.

For more info check out our facebook page or call Karen Crittenden, the facilitator of the Zoom meeting, at (585) 584-3296.

Submitted photo and information.

Press release:

The City Council is seeking to fill a part-time City Court Judge position. This position is appointed by City Council to serve a six (6) year term and will be effective Jan. 1. Minimum qualifications require candidates to be an attorney admitted to practice law in the State of New York for at least five years as of the date he or she commences the duties of the office and must be a resident of the City of Batavia. 

All interested candidates please submit a letter of interest and resume to: 

City Court Judge

Attn: City Council President Eugene Jankowski Jr.

One Batavia City Centre

Batavia, NY 14020

Resumes and letters of interest are due by 4:30 p.m. on Dec. 9. Please provide 10 hard copies of your materials directly to the City Manager’s office as well as an electronic copy.

If there are any questions, please contact:

Office of the City Manager

One Batavia City Centre

Batavia, NY 14020

Phone: (585) 345-6330

Fax: (585) 343-8182

E-mail: rtabelski@batavianewyork.com

Press release:

New Positives – Includes partial data from after 2 p.m. Wednesday, Nov. 25, and partial data from Sunday. Due to the high number of cases from the long weekend, we are finalizing the data and will have it updated along with the charts tomorrow.

• Genesee County received 127 new positive cases of COVID-19. Complete details of the new cases will be included in tomorrow’s press briefing.
  • Fifteen of the new positive individuals are residents at The Grand Rehabilitation and Nursing at Batavia and seven of the new positive individuals are from the Batavia VA Medical Center.
  • Twelve of the current positive individuals are hospitalized.
• Genesee County is saddened to report a community member who was positive for COVID-19 passed away. The individual was over the age of 65. To protect the individual’s privacy we will not be reporting any further information. Our deepest condolences to this person’s family and friends on their loss during this very difficult time.

• Orleans County received 36 new positive cases of COVID-19.

• The new positive cases reside Albion, Barre, Gaines, Clarendon, Kendall Murray, Ridgeway and Shelby.
• The individuals are in their 0-19s, 20s, 30s, 40s, 50s, 60s, 70s and 80s.
• Three of the individuals were on mandatory quarantine prior to testing positive.
• Thirty-seven of the previous positive individuals have recovered and have been removed from the isolation list.
• Three of the new positive cases were recovered prior to the health department receiving the test results and are included in the recovered data.
• One of the new positive cases is an inmate at the Albion Correctional Facility.

Due to the backlog of positive cases we will add the updated charts to the Tuesday, Dec. 1^st briefing.  

A reminder the numbers listed as positive/active are current community cases. The recovered numbers are only for community cases and do not include non-county-regulated facilities. The total positive cases includes community active/positive, community recovered and all those from non-county-regulated facilities.

Business Reminder: It is important to periodically review your Business Safety Plan that was developed earlier on in the pandemic. As part of the plan businesses were encouraged to develop contact sheets for all patrons to assist with contact tracing in the event of a potential COVID-19 exposure. This will help in investigations and will limit the necessity of press releases which will help limit potential spread.

We can’t stress enough the importance to limit time with non-household members. Continue to do your best to limit the spread of COVID-19 and the flu by frequently washing/sanitizing your hands, wear a mask/face-covering over your mouth and nose when out in public and keep at least 6 feet from non-household members. If you are not feeling well, please stay home and contact your primary care provider for guidance.