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Bethany issues State of Emergency for water shortage

By Joanne Beck

The Town of Bethany has declared a State of Emergency for water services during a year-end meeting on Thursday due to the town’s inability to provide water services to the affected parcels of approximately 100 residences and two dairy farms in the town.

The town’s Water District 5 had previously

Santa visits Bethany Friday morning, in the form of a water donation, as officials wait for word on district funding

By Joanne Beck
Water donation in Bethany
A donation of four pallets of drinking water by Eric Santos, second from left, of Casella Waste Systems, arrives at Bethany Town Hall Friday morning for residents who have been struggling without water.
Submitted Photo

As town officials and residents work through a water shortage brought on by drought, all of them have said it has been the worst they have ever seen since living in Bethany, many of them for decades. Fill dates are being scheduled week by week from a tanker that was provided by the state Office of Emergency Management.

Santa came early again for a visit Friday morning in the form of a donation of four pallets of bottled water all ready to be distributed to residents, Supervisor Carl Hyde Jr. said. Operations Manager Eric Santos of Casella Waste Systems had heard about Bethany's plight and showed up with his crew and the much-welcomed donation of water at town hall, Hyde said.

In the midst of drought, Bethany gets a splash of good news with $5M grant

By Joanne Beck
bethany water tanker nov. 2023
2023 File Photo of Bethany Town Supervisor Carl Hyde Jr. reviewing the town's water districts, including the latest Water District 5, which will be a go, thanks to the $5 million WIIA grant awarded to the town. 
Photo by Howard Owens

Tuesday afternoon was unexpectedly busy and gleeful for Bethany Town Supervisor Carl Hyde Jr.

And while still being embroiled in town residents’ plight of dry wells and being in need of daily water supplies, he found something to smile about, he says.

“We’re on the list,” he said about the town’s placement on the state’s Water Infrastructure Improvement Award approvals. “My phone’s been ringing off the hook. I heard from Steve Hawley and J.W. Cook from the governor’s office. He called to say congratulations, you got your grant. I’m very happy.”

A sad day in Bethany after passing of Supervisor Louis Gayton

By Howard B. Owens

People in Bethany are mourning tonight following the unexpected death of Town Supervisor Louis J. Gayton.

News of Gayton's death spread shortly after volunteer firefighters and medics were dispatched this morning to his home on a report of a 79-year-old unresponsive male.

Town Clerk Debbie Douglas heard the call on

Farm building in Bethany used for storage destroyed by fire

By Howard B. Owens

It was just a storage shed. Some straw. Some sawdust. Bedding for the animals on a farm started by Michael Adams and his family in 1979.

The family built that shed. The first one of the Adams Farm property. Talking to Michael Adams after fire reduced the structure to rubble

Environmental professor weighs in on Genesee County's 'most intense' drought conditions

By Joanne Beck
Stephen Shaw
Associate Professor Stephen Shaw
Photo from SUNY Environmental Science and Forestry website

With so much talk about global warming and climate change, that would seem to be the likely culprit for drought so extreme it has dried up dozens of wells in pockets of Genesee County.

However, Stephen Shaw, associate professor for environmental resources engineering at the State University of New York College of Environmental Science and Forestry, says it might be much more random than that.

Shaw has just completed a 20-year analysis and a report about dry wells across the entire northeast. He found that a drought in 2016 was “pretty intense,” especially across Western New York and Buffalo in particular. That didn’t match what these towns — the volume of households — in Genesee County have experienced, he said.

Baskin Livestock named Conservation Farm of the Year

By Howard B. Owens

Press release:

The Genesee County Soil and Water Conservation District Board of Directors has announced the selection of Baskin Livestock as the 2013 Genesee County Conservation Farm of the Year. Baskin Livestock will be the honored guests of the District at the Celebrate Agriculture Dinner on March  22th at the

Local volunteer fire departments hold Open Houses this weekend

By Billie Owens

Press release:

Genesee County volunteer fire departments will open their doors to residents this weekend so they can learn about what it takes to be a volunteer firefighter. This is part of the fourth annual RecruitNY statewide initiative of the Firemen's Association of the State of New York (FASNY).

Over

Possible fire in apartment above bakery and deli in Pavilion

By Billie Owens

A possible fire is reported at 6946 Ellicott Street Road in an apartment above the Heavenly Sweets Bakery & Deli. Pavilion Fire Department is responding along with mutual aid from Le Roy. The caller is a resident who came home and found the smell of something burning inside the building

Sponsored Post: Thank You Generous Sponsors!

By Lisa Ace
  • Abbott’s Frozen Custard
  • Adam’s Welding & Fabrication 
  • Alberty Drugs
  • Alpina Foods
  • Atherton Farms
  • Baskin Livestock, Inc.
  • Batavia Starter
  • Bauer Services
  • Belhaven Kennel
  • Big O Farms, Inc.
  • Big Pauly’s Pizza
  • Boyles Motor Sales, Inc.
  • B’s Pet Grooming
  • Cargill
  • Carolina Eastern Crocker
  • Castilone Chrysler, Dodge, Jeep & Ram
  • Corfu Machine Company
  • Corfu-Darien

Home of Frost Ridge Campground owners in Le Roy destroyed by fire

By Howard B. Owens

As he stood just 100 yards from his home destroyed by an early morning fire, David Luetticke-Archbell wanted a picture made -- one that would bring in all of the scene filled with dozens and dozens of volunteer firefighters.

"I want our daughters to see this so they know that so

Anne A. Ingalls

By LaVern Falcone

LeRoy ~ Anne A. Ingalls, age 87, passed away Wednesday evening (April 2, 2014) in the loving presence of her family at Unity Hospital after a long battle with ovarian cancer.

     Mrs. Ingalls was born May 24, 1927 in Rochester, N.Y., a daughter of the late Oliver and Alice Burns Cooper Sr.

     She will be remembered as a loving person who cared deeply for her family.  She loved to watch her grandchildren participate in sports.  She had a passion to watch football and enjoyed many activities which included crafts, crocheting and painting.

     Mrs. Ingalls is survived by her daughters, Karen (Alfred) Parks of LeRoy and Alice Ingalls of LeRoy, her grandchildren, Sandy Parks of LeRoy, Stephanie Parks of LeRoy and Brian (Julie) Ingalls of E. Bethany, great-grandchildren, Jeffrey James and Bethani James of LeRoy and Haley Ingalls and Kyle Ingalls of E. Bethany, a brother, Oliver (Grace) Cooper Jr. of LeRoy, a sister, Betty (Connie) Snyder of LeRoy, a sister-in-law, Janice Cooper of LeRoy, along with many nieces and nephews.  She was predeceased by her husband, Harley Ingalls, and her siblings, Harriett Huntley, Franklin Cooper, Stanley, Walter and John Unamen and a grandson, Brian Ingalls Jr.

     Family and friends may call on Saturday from 2 ~ 4 PM at the Falcone Family Funeral & Cremation Service Inc., 8700 Lake Road, LeRoy where her funeral service will be held at 4:00 P.M.  Reception will be held at the Stafford Fire Hall following the services. Interment will be in Machpelah Cemetery at the convenience of the family.

     In lieu of flowers, the family would like memorials directed to https://www.ovariancancer.org/donate/.     

     Your memories and condolences may be shared with Mrs. Ingalls' family at www.falconefuneralhome.com .

Hazel May Miller

By T.J. Woodward

Hazel May Miller, 92 of Batavia, formerly of Alexander and Attica, beloved wife, mother, grandmother, great-grandmother and great-great-grandmother died December 31, 2013 at Buffalo General Hospital. She was born February 4, 1921 in Alexander to the late Earle (Fannie Williams) Kelsey.

After graduating from Alexander High School, Hazel became a Rosie the Riveter at Curtis Wright in Buffalo during the war effort and later went on to earn her license as a cosmetologist, a profession which allowed her to work from home while raising her 8 young children. Later she went to work at Batavia Linen Systems and P. W. Minor and Sons in Batavia.  Hazel was a member of Bethany Center Baptist Church and volunteered for several years at the Genesee County Nursing Home. She was best known to family and friends as a woman who always offered an encouraging word and didn't have a mean bone in her body. She is preceded in death by her son Russ, granddaughters Rachel Miller and Meredith Schaefer; brothers Donald (infant) and Daniel Kelsey.   

Survivors  include her husband of 67 years, Edward A. Miller;  seven children, Maggie (Marsha) Miller of Batavia, Roger (Judy) Miller of Spring Grove, VA., Greg (Ann) Miller of  East Bethany, Jeff Miller of Port Charlotte, FL., Paul (Sheri) Miller of Alexander, Paula Miller-Schaefer (George) of Norfolk, VA. and Vicki (Jeff) Wolak of East Bethany; Daughter-in-law Belinda Miller (Rick) Cox,  19 grandchildren,  28 great grandchildren and 9 great, great grandchildren; three brothers William (Janet) Kelsey, Robert (Peggy) Kelsey, and Gordon “Gub” (Gaylene) Kelsey, nieces and nephews.  Also, family member  Julie Pearce of Sebring, FL.

Friends are invited to call on Friday January 3, 2014 from 3 to 7 PM at Gilmartin Funeral Home & Cremation Company, Inc., 329-333 West Main Street, Batavia. A celebration of Hazel’s life will be held at 11AM Saturday January 4, 2013 at Bethany Center Baptist Church, 10420 Bethany Center Road, E. Bethany, NY 14054. A private interment will take place at a later date.

Memorials in her name may be made to Bethany Center Baptist Church, 10420 Bethany Center Road, E. Bethany, NY 14054 or to Maple Lawn Cemetery Association, 10720 Bethany Center Road, E. Bethany, NY 14054. To sign the online guest registry please visit www.gilmartinfuneralhome.com or for more information call (585) 343-8260. Arrangements completed by Gilmartin Funeral Home & Cremation Company, Inc. 329-333 West Main Street Batavia, New York 14020.

Maggie (Marsha) L. Miller

By T.J. Woodward

Maggie  (Marsha) L. Miller, 65, of Batavia passed away on Sunday June 8, 2014 at Strong Memorial Hospital. She was born on August 29, 1948 in Batavia to Edward A. Miller of Batavia and the late Hazel May (Kelsey) Miller. She is preceded in death by her brother Russ Miller.

Maggie, a gypsy woman who wore that badge with honor, marching through life to the beat of several different drums. The one with the deepest, truest tone was the one that held her love and pride of family. Starting with her parents that she came home to care for.  The siblings that she admired for who they were, and the many nieces and nephews that she would cheer on, through their accomplishments, even if it was just through her Facebook page. Then there were her girls, that’s what she called us, her girls, no matter what we did. It took a long time to travel back down that road, but her girls were who she loved and admired most. With them came the next generations of love, trust and acceptance. Her love did not end with people, it reached out further and deeper. When you’re a woman of such insight, strength, and knowledge how can it be contained? It showed in her love for animals, especially horses, dogs and cats. Her love of nature and the peace that flowed just by being still, but also in the thunder that rolled when passions flew when she faced down adversity, in defense of a belief or someone she loved. She stood for her convictions and made no apologies for them, always holding true to herself. There will always be coffee ready for you. We love you Mom.

Maggie is survived by her daughters Cerrie (Anthony) LaPlante of VA,  Amy Connolly of East Bethany, S. Michelle (Doug) Connolly-Kelly of VA, Tammy (Kevin) Sandeen of MI; former husband twice over Bruce S. Connolly of LeRoy; best friend for over two decades Walter “Skeeter” Blatt of Batavia; brothers Roger (Judy) Miller of VA, Greg (Ann) Miller of East Bethany, Jeff Miller of FL, Paul (Sherri) Miller of Alexander and sisters Paula (George) Miller-Schaefer of VA, Vicki (Jeff) Wolak of East Bethany,  Belinda (Rick) Miller-Cox of East Bethany; 20 grandchildren, 9 ½ great grandchildren, along with many nieces and nephews.  

There will be no prior calling hours. A memorial barbeque will be held on July 12, 2014.  Location and time are to be determined at a later date.

In lieu of flowers memorials may be made to the family to be distributed to various charities. To leave a message of condolence please visit www.gilmartinfuneralhome.com or for more information call (585) 343-8260. Arrangements completed by Gilmartin Funeral Home & Cremation Company, Inc. 329-333 West Main Street Batavia, New York 14020.

 

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