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Press Release:

The Holland Land Office Museum will be hosting a Military Encampment & Timeline event on Saturday, June 14, from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. The event will take place on the museum grounds and inside the museum located at 131 W. Main Street, Batavia.

The event will feature reenactors dressed in military gear from the Revolutionary War to the current era. The encampment will feature real uniformed reenactors, military weapons, gear, and vehicles. The event coincides with the regular exhibits at the museum, including military exhibits and a new featured exhibit, "World War II on the Homefront: Propaganda and Rationing."

The event is included with museum admission, which is $5 for adults, $3 for seniors, students, and veterans, $1 for children, and $10 for a family of four. The event will include both outdoor and indoor displays. 

Press Release:

Assemblyman Steve Hawley (R,C-Batavia) is congratulating his Chief of Staff, Eileen Banker, on her retirement after 19 years of serving the 139th Assembly District. Eileen began working with Hawley when he was first elected to the state Assembly in 2006 and has played an instrumental role in serving the community. Her deep roots in the community, along with her steadfast advocacy, exemplify the true meaning of public service. Hawley is grateful to have worked alongside Eileen for nearly two decades and proud to be able to congratulate her on her well-deserved retirement.

“Eileen Banker is a model of what public service should look like,” said Hawley. “From being my chief of staff, to serving as the mayor of Albion and a former village trustee, her dedication to this community is unmatched. I’m thankful for her years of service to this district and its constituents, and I offer her the utmost congratulations on her well-earned retirement.”

Hawley is also announcing several staffing changes taking place in his office, including former executive assistant Jayleen Carney as the new chief of staff and Jacki Tarricone being brought on as the new executive assistant.

“I couldn’t be prouder of my staff as they continue to serve the people of Western New York,” said Hawley. “Jayleen has been an amazing asset to our team, putting in countless hours to keep our office running in good shape and planning events such as our annual Patriot Trip. I’m also proud to bring Jacki Torricone on board to continue our mission of providing meaningful results for the residents of the 139th Assembly District. Our offices are open and available to hear your concerns and address your needs.”

Press Release:

The Pembroke Teachers' Federation and Pembroke School Related Professionals teamed up for a great cause. From February to May, PTF and SRP members, along with members of the Pembroke community, dropped off cans and bottles at CanJam Redemption in Corfu to raise funds for Mental Health Services in Genesee County. This year, $316.79 was collected, up from $205 last year!

Press Release:

Canning jams and jellies is an easy, fast, and fun way to preserve fruit.  During this workshop series, we’ll start with some of the basics of canning, including equipment and food safety, and then learn how to make jams and jellies. (A different one at each session.)  Recipes and handouts will be provided.

Strawberry Jam on June 19, 6 - 8 p.m. In this hands-on class, students will prepare a sugar/pectin jam from fresh strawberries. Instructions and recipes will be given for frozen strawberry jam and low/no-sugar jams. Registration & payment close June 13 for the Strawberry Jam class.

Fruit Jelly on July 17, 6 - 8 p.m. First, learn the process of preparing fruit into the juice needed to make jelly, then the steps of adding sugar, pectin, and any spices to process it into jelly.  This class will include a few special tastings of unusual flavors of jelly. Recipes will be provided. Registration & payment close July 11 for the Fruit Jelly class.

Hot Pepper Jam on September 11, 6 - 8 p.m. Learn how easy it is to process peppers into a special appetizer for your next event.  Hot pepper jam over cream cheese, Yum!  Wearing protective gloves is a must in this class. You will learn how to cut a variety of hot peppers and process it into a mouthwatering jam. Registration & payment close September 5 for the Hot Pepper Jam class.

Participants will have the opportunity to practice skills with hands-on demonstrations and will be able to take home some of the items they make.

Due to the hands-on nature of this topic, it will only be offered in person, and attendance will be limited to 12 adults in each session.

The instructor for this series is Catherine Johnston, a Master Food Preserver Volunteer at Genesee County Cornell Cooperative Extension.  She completed her Cornell Master Food Preserver training in 2019. She was also a Family and Consumer Science Educator for 38 years at the Pavilion Central School. Catherine has many years of experience teaching all ages about food and canning practices.

The classes will be held at the Stafford Methodist Church, 6134 Main St., Stafford, from 6 to 8 p.m. Pre-registration is required as class size is limited to 12. No walk-in participants. The cost for each class is $25 per person. Sign up for all three at once for $65. Registration and payment are due prior to each class. Contact Elizabeth at 585-343-3040, ext. 101 or stop by our office to register and pay by cash or check. You can register and pay online by going to our event page at https://genesee.cce.cornell.edu/events. We cannot issue refunds after the registration deadline for each class.

Press Release:

The Genesee County Youth Bureau is now accepting applications for Genesee Youth Lead. This eight-month program focuses on developing leadership skills through thoughtful sessions and hands-on experiences. Each session is focused on a specific topic, which varies year to year depending on the interest of the youth.

Topics include:

• Agriculture
• Arts and Culture
• Business
• Community Service
• Emergency Preparedness
• Government
• Health and Human Services
• Job Readiness Training
• Law Enforcement
• Leadership Opportunities
• Team Building
• Tourism

The Youth Lead program begins in October 2025 and ends in May 2026. Sessions are held the second Wednesday of each month from 9 a.m. to 2:30 p.m. at GVEP (BOCES), except for in March. Session dates are October 8, November 12, December 10, January 14, February 11, March 16, April 8, and May 13.

Eligibility Criteria:

• Must be in grades 9-12 during the 2025-2026 academic school year
• Must attend school in Genesee County
• Must complete an application, provide supplemental letters, and complete an interview with Youth Bureau staff
• Must be able to make up any and all missed schoolwork

Applications are due to the Youth Bureau no later than Wednesday, September 1. Please email completed applications and letters to Genesee.youthbureau@dfa.state.ny.us or mail documents to Genesee County Youth Bureau, 5130 East Main Street Batavia.

Additional information can be found at https://shorturl.at/DLLnA. Please feel free to reach out with any questions or comments.

Press Release:

As the summer season approaches, the Batavia Police Department would like to remind everyone to prioritize safety and take necessary precautions to ensure a fun and enjoyable summer for all. 

Heat Safety 

• Stay hydrated by drinking plenty of water and avoiding strenuous activities during the hottest part of the day (11am-3pm).
• Check on vulnerable individuals, such as the elderly and young children, to ensure they are staying cool and safe.
• Avoid leaving children or pets unattended in vehicles, as temperatures can quickly rise to dangerous levels. 

Water Safety 

• Always supervise children when they are swimming or playing near water.
• Learn basic water rescue techniques and CPR.
• Swim at designated areas with lifeguards on duty. 

Bicycle Safety 

• Wear a properly fitted helmet and follow traffic laws.
• Be visible by wearing bright clothing and using reflective gear.
• Stay alert and avoid distractions while riding. 

Fireworks Safety 

• Only use fireworks in designated areas and follow local regulations.
• Keep a fire extinguisher or water source nearby.
• Supervise children when using fireworks and sparklers. 

By following these simple safety tips, you can help ensure a safe and enjoyable summer for yourself and those around you.

Remember, safety is everyone's responsibility! If you have any questions or concerns, please don't hesitate to reach out to the Batavia Police Department. Stay safe, Batavia!

Press release:

Written by Mike Pettinella for the Genesee County Spartans

The Genesee County Spartans lost to the Buffalo Stampede, 18-17, on Saturday in a Northeastern Football Alliance AA Division season opener at Mulray Park in South Buffalo.

Stampede backup quarterback Anthony Davis found Kendrick Benson from 10 yards out with 54 seconds remaining to complete the host squad’s comeback from a 17-6 deficit.

The winning play was set up by a fumble recovery at the Spartans’ 20-yard line by Tyler Wilson with about three minutes to play.

After falling behind, the Spartans drove down to about the Stampede’s 30-yard line before a deep pass down the sideline was intercepted by Marcelus Tolivar to seal Buffalo’s victory.

Julia Petry’s 30-yard field goal had given the Spartans a 17-6 lead in the third quarter before Buffalo rallied.

Wide receiver Deyonci Farley scored both of the Spartans’ touchdowns on passes from QB Corey Turpin – the first capping a 60-yard opening drive and the second late in the first quarter. Julia Petry was successful on both extra point attempts.

Spartans’ Head Coach Harry Rascoe said the loss was a case of “taking our foot off the gas and committing a couple of costly turnovers.”

“We played probably our best first half ever and dominated the statistics,” he said. “We just didn’t finish it off.”

Rascoe said that tight end Logan Pike had a big day, with seven catches for 150-plus yards, while running back Will LaMar carried for about 70 yards.

On defense, Cody Wenner had an interception while defensive end Gunner Rapone, free safety Takhi West and linebackers Marley English and Martin Krayna each had multiple tackles.

The Spartans limited the Stampede to about 230 yards of total offense.

For the Stampede, Davis completed eight of 11 passes for 120 yards and two touchdowns – the first was a 15-yarder to Kaleb Walker – while running back Auston Neal tallied the team’s other TD. Defensively, Amir Dubose led the way with five tackles and forced the fumble late in the game.

The Spartans’ home opener is set for 7 p.m. next Saturday (June 7th) at Van Detta Stadium in Batavia against the Watertown Red & Black.

The team’s schedule is as follows (game times to be determined):

• June 7 – Watertown Red & Black (Van Detta Stadium, Batavia), 7 p.m.
• June 14 – at Ithaca Warriors, 5 p.m.
• June 21 – Upstate Predators (Pembroke Town Park), 5 p.m.
• June 28 – at Lockport Wildcats (Outwater Park), 7 p.m.
• July 12 – Southern Tier Stallions (Pembroke Town Park), 5 p.m.
• July 19 – Lake Erie Power Pines (Pembroke Town Park), 5 p.m.
• Aug. 2 – TBA.

Genesee Spartans’ roster (uniform number, name, position):

0    Gunner Rapone       DE

1    Jzhon Henderson     DB

2    Alex Rood           LB
3    Jzon Richardson     WR
4    Kareem Pryor        RB
5    Deyonci Farley      WR
6    Nick Santos         WR
7    Brandon Robinson    LB
8    Ryley Elliott       DL
9    Marley English      LB
10   Corey Turpin        QB
11   Malkolm Taylor      LB/DB
13   Ben McMindes        WR
14   Aiden Pitts         WR
16   Martin Krayna       LB
17   Takhi West          FS
18   Devan Flanagan      WR
19   Jalen White         DL
20   Will Lamar          RB
21   Delonta Curry       LB
22   Cody Wenner         DB
23   Caleb Cudzillo      DB
24   Eric Snell          LB
25   Dontre Woods        DB
26   Emmanuel Fisher     RB
27   Jaysen Wylie        DB
28   Keith Neureuter     DB
32   Jayden Osborne      LB/DL
33   Robert Thurston Jr. TE
40   Julia Petry         K
51   Mekhi Rivera        LB/DL
54   Nick Mitchell       DL
55   Aaron Treleaven     G
60   Thomas Richmond     G
61   Alex Merica         C
70   Timothy King        T
78   Baylee Vercruysse   T
80   Tai Reffell         WR
89   Logan Pike          TE
97   Jack Fox-Salah      DL
99   Franklon Rice       DL

Press Release:

All motorists please be aware the following streets listed in the predicted order (subject to change) will experience traffic delays from Monday through Wednesday between the hours of 6 a.m. – 4 p.m. for resurfacing operations:

Monday, June 2nd
Grandview Terrace

Tuesday, June 3rd
Elm Street
Ellsworth Avenue

Wednesday, June 4th
Ellsworth Avenue

While work is being performed in these areas, local traffic will be permitted to and from their residence/property but should plan accordingly for delays.

All residents/businesses within the work area are asked not to park on the roadway during the operation. All motorists that regularly use these streets are asked to seek alternate routes while the delays are in place.

These same streets are scheduled for paving operations on Monday, June 16th, Tuesday, June 17th, and Wednesday, June 18th if weather cooperates. This is weather dependent work and will continue on the next business day if necessary.

Contact the Bureau of Maintenance at 585-345-6400, Option 1 if you have any questions or concerns. Thank you for your cooperation.

Press release:

The Batavia Girls scored an incredible 267.5 points to run away with the Class B2 team title.  

The second-place finisher was Honeoye Falls/Lima with 138.5 points, and Wayne placed third with 71 points.

Team results:

• Karizma Wescott won three individual events, the 100m (12.4), 200m (25.6), 400m (57.89)
• Ella Shamp won two individual events, High Jump (5-0) and Long Jump (17-6.25)
• Campbell Riley won two individual events, 2000m steeple (7:04.86), and 800m (2:24.73)
• Mady Smith won the 100 hurdles(14.88s)
• Ava Anderson won the 400 hurdles (66.0s)
• Mallory Boyce won the 1500m (4:58.0)
• Ava Wierda won the discus (111' 3")
• Jaimin MacDonald won the shot put (34'4")
• Anna DiRisio won the pentathlon, scoring 2175 points

Batavia also won the 4x400m relay (4:11.46), consisting of Ava Anderson, Mallory Boyce, Campbell Riley, and Karizma Wescott.

Press Release:

Have you changed the batteries in your smoke detectors? Do you know how old your fire extinguisher is? Have you tested your home for radon gas? Does someone in your home have asthma?

The Genesee County Health Department’s Healthy Neighborhoods Program (HNP) may be able to help. This program is for people who live in the City and Town of Batavia. 

HNP has four main goals:

1. Help people with asthma - This program gives tips and supplies to help manage asthma and avoid trips to the hospital. Participants are encouraged to talk with their healthcare provider to create a written plan to follow during an attack. If you qualify, we can give you asthma-safe cleaning products.
2. Prevent lead poisoning in children - We partner with our Lead Poisoning Prevention Program to check your home for lead paint and teach you how to keep your family safe from lead.
3. Make the air in your home cleaner - We provide education on carbon monoxide poisoning, radon gas, smoking cessation, and pest management. Eligible participants may receive a carbon monoxide detector or radon test kit.
4. Prevent fires and accidents at the home - During visits, staff test smoke detectors and encourage participants to practice fire escape routes. Free smoke detectors, small fire extinguishers, and replacement batteries are available to eligible participants.

Staff will be going door to door in the City of Batavia to tell people about this program. If no one is home, we leave a door hanger with contact information. Information on what streets we are visiting each week is posted on the Health Department’s Facebook and Instagram accounts @GOHealthNY.

For more information on the program, call the Genesee County Health Department at 585-344-2580 x5555 or visit www.GOHealthNY.org.

Press Release:

Registration has opened for volunteers to help guide 1,200 students from Genesee, Livingston, Orleans, and Wyoming counties through an impactful day of hands-on career exploration at the Sept. 30 GLOW With Your Hands: Manufacturing event.

The annual fall manufacturing event and spring healthcare event have reached over 5,000 students since 2019. It’s an accomplishment GLOW With Your Hands organizers credit to the volunteers who take on opportunities before, during, and after the events

“Our students, our businesses, and our communities all benefit from the efforts of our local volunteers,” said Karyn Winters, GLOW With Your Hands Co-Chair. “Volunteers truly give students the best hands-on experience in dozens of modern careers available in the GLOW Region’s manufacturing, agricultural, skilled trades, and food manufacturing businesses.”

Registration is available at glowwithyourhands.com/manufacturingvolunteers.

Opportunities for volunteers include assembly of student hard hats in the weeks leading up to the event, event set-up and clean-up the week of the event, and event-day roles at the Genesee County Fairgrounds as tour guides for school groups. Registration has also opened for sponsors and exhibitors.

“There are so many ways to contribute to GLOW With Your Hands: Manufacturing,” Winters said. “We are excited to work with you to help make this our biggest and most successful GLOW With Your Hands.”

For more information, visit glowwithyourhands.com

Press Release:

Independent Living of the Genesee Region (ILGR) is hosting a group for women (18-24 years old) to discuss mental health and self-care options. Meetings will take place every Friday in June from 3:30 to 5 p.m. at 319 W. Main Street, Batavia, at the Independent Living Center. (Look for the left rear door with the green awning, in the Crickler Executive Business Center.)

This is a peer-led group, and discussion topics will include emotional awareness, mental health basics, boundaries, filling your cup with self-care, confidence, connection, and growth. Each participant will receive items for mental health, well-being, and self-care.

Pre-Registration is required, and space is limited. Please contact Emma Pratt, Youth Specialist at 585-815-8501, Ext. 404 or epratt@wnyil.org. Assistance with transportation may be available. This program is available to residents of Genesee, Orleans, and Wyoming Counties, thanks to the generous support from the Greater Rochester Health Foundation.

Independent Living of the Genesee Region (ILGR) is a member of Western New York Independent Living, Inc. family of agencies, offering an expanding array of services to aid people with disabilities to take control of their own lives.

Press Release:

United Way of Greater Rochester and the Finger Lakes is investing $45,500 to support two summer programs in Genesee County.

United Way is the second-largest funder for summer programming and is supporting more programs and youth than 2024. United Way is one of nine funders contributing to summer programs. For ease of applicants and to enhance funder collaboration, applicants were able to complete a common application with the nine funders.  

“When our youth have the opportunities to thrive, we thrive as a community,” said Robert De Leon, director of community impact at United Way. “We are deeply committed to ensuring youth have access to safe, enriching, and inclusive programming during the summer months. These programs are crucial for youth development, fostering social and emotional growth and combatting summer learning loss.”  

Programs were selected based on their demonstrated excellence in academic enrichment, social-emotional learning, arts and recreation, trauma-informed care, inclusivity, safety protocols, and outcomes-based evaluation.  

United Way’s Community Impact Fund, which supports a broad portfolio of nonprofit services and resources that strengthen our region year-round, funds these summer programs.  

2025 United Way Genesee County Summer Program Grant Recipients  

• Gillam Grant Community Center- Summer Day Camp
• Genesee-Orleans Regional Arts Council- Explore Art! for Kids

United Way’s annual campaign makes the work of the Community Impact Fund and these grant opportunities possible. To learn more and donate, visit unitedwayrocflx.org.  
 

Press Release:

The Holland Land Office is proud to announce the next presenter in its Guest Speaker Series on Wednesday, June 11, at 7 p.m. Hofstra Law Professor Stefan Krieger shares the story of his great-grandfather's murder in Batavia in 1915. Yomtov (Jacob) Schoenberg was viciously murdered in his sleep while at home at 138 Liberty Street by an intruder who bludgeoned his head with a piece of scrap iron. Mr. Krieger decided to delve deeper into the case and has written a piece about it. Admission is $5 or $3 for museum members. Please contact the museum at 585-343-4727 or hollandlandoffice@gmail.com.

Join us at the Holland Land Office Museum for our monthly Trivia Night on Thursday, June 12, at 7 p.m. Get your disco balls ready and leisure suits on and test your knowledge of the 1970s. We promise it is more than just disco. Admission is $5 or $3 for museum members. Contact the museum at 585-343-4727 or hollandlandoffice@gmail.com if you plan to attend.

The Holland Land Office Museum is proud to announce the next act in our Concert Series on Friday, June 20, at 7 p.m. Don Dwyer will be returning to play his compilation of songs in honor of the bicentennial of the Erie Canal. Come and listen as Don plays and tells "The Songs and Stories of the Erie Canal." Admission is $5/$4 for museum members. Please contact the museum at 585-343-4727 or hollandlandoffice@gmail.com if you plan to attend.

Join us at the Holland Land Office Museum for the next presentation in our Java with Joe E. series on Thursday, June 26 at 9 a.m. Local author and former Air Force Sentry Dog Handler, Russ Benzin, will be sharing his recently published book, "The Amazing Skipper." Russ details his life through the dogs he called best friends throughout his life, including with his veterinarian wife Dr. Mary. The main focus though is his time with Skipper, who was his partner during Vietnam while he served as a dog handler in the Air Force. Admission is free with coffee and donuts. Thank you to Tim Horton's of Batavia for sponsoring Java with Joe E. for 2025.