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Nationally acclaimed balloon artist to appear at 175th Genesee County Fair

By Howard B. Owens

Press release:

Nationally award-winning balloon artist Janice Spagnola will be appearing this year at the Genesee County Fair, July 15th-19th. Janice transforms thousands of latex balloons into works of art. “I call what I do air sculpture” says Janice.

This year marks the Genesee County Fair’s 175th year, and in

'Don't do that to us.' Town resident wary of odor from proposed Ag Park waste digester

By Mike Pettinella

A Town of Batavia resident and business owner reiterated his objections Tuesday night to a proposed Genesee Biogas plant earmarked for the Genesee Valley Agri-Business Park but, once again, project developers attempted to alleviate his concerns over the smell of its emissions.

Speaking at the Batavia Town Planning Board meeting at the Town Hall on West Main Street Road, Eric Biscaro questioned Lauren Toretta, president of CH4 Biogas, and Sara Gilbert of Pinewood Engineering, about the extent of the odor from the facility, which is set to be constructed on Ag Park Drive, not far away from Ellicott Street Road.

“If you go by O-AT-KA (Milk Products Cooperative) on lots of given days, the odor there is enough to … it’s bad,” Biscaro said. “So, it’s seems that it would be more intense at your place if you’re going to bring it over  from O-AT-KA and (HP) Hood

Batavia dominates first half in Flag Football for Class B sectional semifinal win

By Howard B. Owens
Batavia's Jaimin Macdonald gets another incerception, Photo Steve Ognibene
Batavia's Jaimin Macdonald catches another interception to power Batavia's strong defense

Eastridge got on the board first, but it was all Batavia after that, as the Blue Devils went on to win a smoke-delayed, and then rain-delayed, Flag Football sectional semifinal playoff game on Friday at Van Detta Stadium.

The final: 27-6. 

Protecting birds and bees shouldn't have to cost farmers, consumers: local farmer speaks up

By Joanne Beck
seed maggot
Textbook photo of a seed corn maggot.

 

 

The Birds and Bees Protection Act is a seemingly simple enough and all-natural sounding title that most anyone would be for it, wouldn’t they?

Well, not everyone. Shelley Stein, CEO of Stein Farms in Le Roy, said she had to speak up as a farmer and "a person who understands the ramifications of policy on our farmers, and our consumers, and what this is going to mean to the economy of Genesee County."

Developer promises upscale, market-rate apartments for complex next to GCC

By Howard B. Owens
david mazur
Developer David Mazur fields questions from the Genesee County Planning Board about Countryside Apartments, the 80-unit complex he is proposing for the Medtech Park by GCC. 
Photo by Howard Owens

Developer David Mazur said he's been building apartment complexes and running the ones he builds for 18 years.  He has a formula. He knows it works. And he knows the type of tenants he expects to be attracted to his units.

With that experience, he's sure the 80-unit complex

GO ART! presents annual awards tonight, four are from Genesee County

By Billie Owens

Press release:

The Genesee-Orleans Regional Arts Council presents its 14th Annual Community Arts Awards Gala and Auction tonight. The event applauds the efforts of seven who have contributed significantly to art and culture in the Genesee-Orleans Region.

Nominations were sought from the public for individuals, organizations or businesses representing all

Making this year 'a remarkable journey' at BHS, new principal says

By Joanne Beck
BHS first day
Batavia High School Principal Jennifer Wesp greets students Wednesday morning for the first day of school.
Photo by Howard Owens.

Jennifer Wesp had about a month to prepare for her first big day in welcoming students onto Batavia High School’s State Street campus Wednesday.

And prepared she was, anxiously waiting to greet them at 7:20 a.m.

“It was so exciting to see the students today. Many teachers and support staff came in early in order to spend some connection time before the first bell,” the newly hired principal said after a full day of meet-and-greets and ensuring all went well on this day of return after summer. “The air was filled with chatter and laughter. I was able to get into many classrooms throughout the day. Teachers had planned many activities that revolved around building community and getting to know each other. Overall, it was an amazing start to the year.”

Documents say Savarino defaulted on financial agreements, GCEDC and city work on 'next steps'

By Joanne Beck
ellicott station savarino business closed
File photo by Howard Owens.

The next steps are yet to be determined.

That seems to be the ongoing response from city and county officials in the aftermath of an announcement by CEO Samuel Savarino that his company will be ceasing operations and laying off its employees.

Savarino is the developer of Ellicott Station, the four-story apartment complex touted as an economic lifesaver for downtown Batavia and for working individuals and families in need of an affordable, quality and safe place to live.

That economic vision was blurred earlier this year when the online rental application indicated income requirements of very low to low ranges, seemingly squelching the notion that the units would indeed be for workforce individuals. The Batavian had reached out to Savarino requesting details about a lottery that awarded rentals to 55 tenants. He wasn’t privy to such information, he had said at the time.

The Batavian was the first and only news source to report on the apparent requirements and changes in income at Ellicott Station. You can help community-minded local reporting continue by joining Early Access Pass.

Proposed assistant city manager gets some council support in budget talks

By Howard B. Owens

Free Wi-Fi and free electricity for electric cars were all but shot down Monday night during a budget work session at City Hall.

Meanwhile, Council members remain divided on whether to hire a new assistant city manager.

The argument for: There are too many tasks on City Manager Jason Molino's

Le Roy celebrates phases and changes of the Class of 2023

By Howard B. Owens
le roy HS grad 2023
Near the start of the graduation ceremony in Le Roy, seniors delivered carnations to family members in the audience, which included the Keys family -- Terry, Jennifer, and Noah.
Photo by Howard Owens.

When the Class of 2023 began its public education journey, Taylor Swift had just released her first #1 album, "Fearless," which would go on to win a Grammy in 2010.

Principal David Russell mentioned Swift during his opening remarks, also noting that when the Class of 2023 began classes at Wolcott Street School, it was the year the Saints won the Super Bowl, Spain won the World Cup, and "Kings Speech" was named best picture.

Now Taylor Swift is as big as ever, celebrating her success on her Eras Tour, and the Class of 2023 has been through some eras, as speakers in Le Roy at the high school graduation noted on Saturday.

Fair Housing Act a step forward in human rights celebrated in April

By Joanne Beck

fair_housing_week.jpg

Hard as it may be to imagine, it was only 55 years ago that a law preventing discrimination against who can live where was officially recognized with the Fair Housing Act. It was established in April 1968.

Genesee County Legislator John Deleo, speaking on behalf of the Legislature to celebrate

11th Annual Family Game Night

By Lu Ann Henry

Sponsored by the Genesee County Youth Bureau.  April 30th from 5:30 - 7:30 pm @ 2 Bank Street, Batavia.  Turn off the TV/ internet and spend quality time together.  Learn about our County Departments, enjoy a light dinner, play a board game and leave with a board game of your own to start your Family Game Night tradition.  $3 per person or $10 for a family of four.  Hope to see you there!

Event Date and Time
2014-04-30T17:30:00 - 2014-04-30T19:30:00

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Independent Living hires Luis Pacheco as Medicaid facilitator

By Press Release

Press release:

Independent Living of the Genesee Region (ILGR) is pleased that Luis Pacheco has joined their team in the role of Medicaid Facilitated Enroller.  In this position, he will assist individuals who are aged (over 65 years), legally blind or disabled to acquire health insurance.

Mr. Pacheco comes to ILGR with a breadth of experience

Sponsored Post: Insource conducting free seminar on the Affordable Care Act

By Howard B. Owens

Insource Urgent Care Center of Batavia is offering a free seminar for the greater Genesee County Business and Professional Community:

The following topics will be discussed in an Open Community / Town Hall Forum:

  • The impact of the Affordable Care Act on Employers and Patients
  • Telemedicine and Telehealth improving Access and Quality

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