A revised wastewater agreement between the town and city of Batavia may rectify a capacity issue between those two municipalities, however, it came too late for HP Hood’s $120 million expansion project, says Lynne Bohan, group vice president of Communications & Government Affairs for HP Hood LLC.
Buffalo Mayor Byron Brown can open doors, says Western Regional Off-Track Betting Corp. Chairman Dennis Bassett.
He can open doors in Albany. He can open doors with the office of Gov. Kathy Hochul.
"The OTB is looking to have good, solid representation in Albany," Bassett said. "We feel that what better individual is there who could help us open doors that we haven't been able to open before than a five-term mayor with a legislative background?"
A unanimous board vote on Sept. 5 authorized Bassett to open contract negotiations to hire Brown as OTB's new CEO and president. Bassett said the negotiations are ongoing. Brown has yet to officially accept the job offer.
The 65-year-old Brown became Buffalo's mayor in 2006. He served in the state Senate from 2001 to 2005. He was a member of the Buffalo Common Council from 1996 to 2001. He has a dual bachelor of arts degree in political science and journalism from Buffalo State College. He worked in sales for a year at Bristol-Myers before starting a legislative staff career.
OTB reportedly advertised the job as paying between $280,000 and $320,000 annually. Henry Wojtaszek, the outgoing CEO and president, makes $264,898.
"The key thing that we have to do is get someone that can open doors that we don't have open," Bassett said. "We're running a pretty well-oiled machine now. I think that what I have stressed consistently as board chair is that we may have some government obligations, but we have run Batavia Downs as a business. Mayor Brown assured us that his business hat would be on at all times and that he would be able to focus on how we can generate more revenue for the 17 municipalities."
For several years, Erie County Democrats, such as Sen. Tim Kennedy, Sen. Sean Ryan, and Comptroller Kevin Hardwick, have attacked the OTB and its leadership, making unsubstantiated corruption claims. Kennedy successfully pushed legislation that changed the OTB board's voting composition, giving Democrats a weighted vote majority even though Democrats represent fewer jurisdictions on the board than Republicans.
Genesee County is leading a legal challenge to the voting change.
"The ‘culture of corruption’ is actually the way that Erie County and the City of Buffalo have rigged the Western Regional OTB board," Borrello said.
Borrello praised Wojtaszek's work to increase revenue and profitability at Batavia Downs and expressed concern that the "winning team" was being replaced by political patronage jobs.
Throughout the search process, Bassett has vowed that politics would not play a part in selecting a new CEO. On Thursday, he told The Batavian that, indeed, politics was not a factor in the decision to hire Brown.
"The appointment was based upon a global search that narrowed down the best candidates based on the key focus areas that we were looking at -- C-suite experience -- government involvement, budget management, and public benefit corporation experience," Bassett said. "As a chairman of the search committee, politics never entered into our decision-making as we looked at the resumes and evaluated each of the resumes and the talent of the individuals. The press may have predicted who would be the next President and CEO but that did not influence our selection process."
So far, Republican members of the board -- who all supported the job offer to Brown -- have been mum about their decision. Asked if he had any insight into why Republicans backed Brown for the job, Bassett said it was because of the recommendation of the search committee.
"The reason they supported (the committee's recommendation) is because we stressed very seriously and very strongly that we are going to continue our focus on running Western Regional OTB as a solid business and that the outside world may play the politics game, but as long as we, the board, stay steadfast on the fact that we are trying to deliver as positive a results as we can to small municipalities who depend on OTB a lot more than some of the big Rochesters and Buffalos and Erie counties and Monroe counties, that we want to continue to give them the kind of revenue they can use to fill some of the gaps that they have."
He said that only happens if the organization is run like a business.
"Once again, the press and the outside world may continue to have us fall into this political game, but those individuals in those small municipalities bought off on the idea that we're not going to succumb to that," he said.
Bassett said Wojtaszek and Brown have a good relationship and he's expecting a smooth transition.
Wojtaszek is scheduled to leave the job on Dec. 31.
Bassett isn't expecting any issues for current employees.
"I think the employee base is very comfortable with me, and they're very comfortable with how our board is being run, and I think we'll have no problems with the leadership team and the board and the employees working at Batavia Downs," he said.
Bassett stressed that there are issues that need to be addressed in Albany that haven't been addressed until now, issues that must be addressed if Batavia Downs and the OTB are going to increase revenue and profits for the municipalities. Brown can open those doors, he said.
Batavia Downs has achieved record-breaking revenue two years running and 2024 is shaping up to be another record year, Bassett noted.
"We know that we can't grow this business and be successful if we don't look at how we can go into different ventures, and we can't do the same things we've been doing tomorrow that we're doing today and be successful," Bassett said.
He initially declined to address the specific issues Brown would be asked to tackle. When asked about harness racing, which might be considered a loss-leader for the corporation, Bassett said Brown might address it; he said that is one area to look at, but so are branch operations.
"We're putting together a strategic framework that looks at how we should be running this business five years from now," Bassett said.
Besides harness racing and branch operations, there is also sports betting.
"We need to look at sports betting. Sports betting is very important moving forward. We, the small racinos and casinos such as ours, don't have it. We have to fight for that in Albany, and hopefully, Mayor Brown can help us do that."
Batavia Downs has also been locked out of table games. Bassett said he's a blackjack player himself and would like to see Batavia Downs be able to offer poker and blackjack to customers.
"We're not going to leave any stone unturned for us to grow this business and look at how we can be competitive in the future," he said.
You might call it an open house -- those timeless school events that bring parents to the school to meet their children's teachers.
But in Pavilion, folks call it the Gopher Gathering.
On Thursday, Pavilion High School held its 5th annual Gopher Gathering.
The event is a chance for the school community to come together to enjoy good food, live music, and games and also learn about academic opportunities available at the school.
Besides learning about classes they might have overlooked, it's a chance for students and parents to learn about campus activities, including clubs students might join.
HomeCare & Hospice of Batavia received a $1,000 grant from The WalMart Pharmacy Batavia, 4133 Veterans Memorial Drive to continue helping families maintain independence at home, with compassion.
Melissa Sullivan, Chief Executive Officer of HomeCare &Hospice, stated, “It’s an incredible honor to be chosen for a SparkGood grant. HomeCare & Hospice depends greatly on donations, grants, and fundraisers to raise awareness of our services. Being selected from among the many nonprofits in Genesee County is truly humbling.”
HomeCare & Hospice is a multi-disciplinary approach to end-of-life care. It brings together a team of nurses, physicians, social workers, spiritual care providers, aide staff and volunteers to provide the care necessary to allow a patient to pass away, peacefully in a dignified manner in their own homes. This program provides quality pain and symptom management so that the patient's final days, weeks, months have as much quality of life as possible.
The ability to manage a patient's symptoms also reduces stress on caregivers, family, and friends. It also prevents unnecessary hospitalizations and emergency room visits. Hospice makes it possible for patients to pass in their own homes.
According to the SparkGood website, the grants are awarded to a variety of organizations, such as animal shelters, elder services, and community clean-up projects. In FY2023, their stores and Sam’s clubs provided more than $45 million in local grants.
Somnit Wilson, Walmart Pharmacy Manager, added, “Why did I choose HCH for this grant? End-of-life care is often overlooked in many communities, yet hospice offers invaluable support to families. It provides essential care that brings comfort and healing to those navigating the end-of-life journey.”
Being an emergency medical service provider in a rural, lower-income population certainly has its challenges, says Dane Sprague, president of Le Roy Ambulance Service, Inc. Board of Directors.
A good percentage of folks using the ambulance service are on Medicaid or Medicare and/or request not to be taken to a hospital, which either cannot be billed or reimbursed.
“I find a good portion of what we do goes unreimbursed in terms of Le Roy Ambulance Service. We go out on a call, and we may provide treatment to an individual that doesn't involve transportation. And we get no reimbursement from the government programs for Medicare or Medicaid for that type of treatment. And if it's a Medicaid patient, we can't even bill them for that,” Sprague said Wednesday to The Batavian. “I haven't seen the specifics of the legislation or what type of rate structure they're proposing, but anything at this point would be beneficial because, as I said, we provide so much unreimbursed care.
“In a typical month, this past month of August, I think we had 125 calls that we went out on. Only 87 of those were actually billable,” he said. “We’re providing a lot of unreimbursed care to people. If they don’t pay us we still can’t refuse service. If somebody needs care they’re going to get care regardless of their insurance status or how much they may owe us for past visits or whatever. If they’re a Medicaid patient, there’s no provision for that.”
He is hopeful that Gov. Kathy Hochul will sign a bill endorsed by the state Association of Counties this week that would allow EMS agencies and ambulance networks to be reimbursed for treating patients at the scene of the incident and/or transporting them to non-emergency room care facilities for treatment and triage.
The legislation has been in the works, and the association adopted a resolution during its annual fall meeting this week. Here is the full resolution awating Hochul's signature. The legislation is now on Hochul’s desk for approval. It is considered critical to ensure that EMS providers, including Le Roy Ambulance Service and Mercy EMS, two providers under contract for Genesee County, are financially stable and can properly operate and serve residents of New York State.
The EMS legislation only covers Medicaid Insurance, which has not been reimbursing providers, county Manager Matt Landers said, and does not cover Medicare or private insurance.
“I support this resolution as it compensates emergency responders for sevices provided and helps shore up the finances of our resource-strapped first responder agencies,” Landers said. “The current model of only reimbursing for transports to a hospital ignore the many instances where a patient receives costly treatment at the scene or when the ambulance transports the patient to a more ideal location for the specific situation, such as an urgent care facility or a mental health treatment facility.”
Genesee County has seen a gradual increase in the need for Medicaid, a joint federal and state program that provides health coverage for people with limited income and resources. It has grown from 13.3% a decade ago to about 20 percent in 2022, according to datausa.
About 70 percent of Le Roy Ambulance Service’s patients are covered by government programs such as Medicaid, Sprague said. And as a result, “we’re operating at a deficit because of poor reimbursement,” he said.
“A good portion of what we do goes unreimbursed. If we provide treatment to an individual but provide no transportation to a hospital, we receive no reimbursement. We cannot even bill them for that,” he said. “Anything at this point would be beneficial.”
“(Insurance/Medicare) only pay because of a transport to the hospital,” he said. “Anything that will enhance our ability … would be great. Hopefully Kathy Hochul will sign it.”
Under current law, EMS agencies are only reimbursed when transporting a patient to a hospital emergency room. This arrangement is not only financially challenging for EMS agencies, but it also contributes to patients being transported to healthcare settings when a hospital emergency room may not be the most appropriate setting to administer treatment.
Additionally, hospital emergency rooms across the state are already beyond capacity, county officials said, with extraordinary wait times for admission to a hospital bed and is often the most expensive care setting possible for the patient.
It’s not like there haven’t been exceptions in the past. During the COVID pandemic, the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services (CMS) allowed waivers for ambulance services to be reimbursed for treatment in place and transportation to an alternative provider, but those ended in May 2023. Data from these waivers indicates that reimbursing EMS for treatment in place and transportation to an alternate provider would save the federal government around $2 billion annually, and commensurate savings at the state level, according to a related press release.
Allowing EMS practitioners to treat patients at their homes or the scene of the incident and receive reimbursement for delivering those services enables EMS agencies to return to action immediately—rather than waiting for a hospital to admit their patient.
Another issue cited by officials is that many patients dial 9-1-1 to seek emergency medical treatment when they are experiencing a mental health crisis. Allowing EMS agencies to transport a patient immediately to a behavioral healthcare facility not only expedites the patient's mental health treatment but also relieves inpatient hospital mental health units from having to respond to every mental health incident.
Reducing those wait times is one important benefit of this legislation, said Scott Wooton, executive vice president of Mercy Flight Inc., while being able to bill for non transports would be another.
“Transporting to alternate destinations, as opposed to a hospital, as far as how that's going to impact EMS, it's not a huge difference. I mean, the time to transport somebody to an urgent care or a doctor's office as opposed to a hospital, is roughly about the same,” he said. “Where it could really have an impact is less critical patients going to an urgent care, as opposed to a hospital, is going to help reduce wait times at ERs. I think it's a good move in terms of utilizing the hospital and utilizing the health resources that are out there in a way that makes sense, where you're not sending patients to an ER that maybe have something that could be treated by an urgent care, because wait times in emergency rooms can be an issue.”
Providers will have to work through the logistics of finding urgent cares that will accept patients via ambulance, and that will get EMS providers back in service more quickly, he said, versus having to wait at the emergency room with a patient while he or she is getting admitted.
The other issue has been when providers complete an on-the-spot evaluation but the patient refuses transport to a hospital. Those cases have not been billable, and although this particular legislation isn’t going to change those scenarios involving private insurance and Medicare, it would ramp up payments from the Medicaid system that has not been reimbursing for such services.
“The fact that the state is now backing that, insurance will now be compelled to cover that we want to be reimbursed, that is smart legislation,” Wooton said.
“You know, we're really not in the business of just transporting patients from one place to another; we're in the business of being ready for emergencies. So anything that we can do to shorten the amount of time that it takes for us to get somebody where they need to go and get back and get ready again for the next one is exciting,” he said. “But then, in terms of the ability to bill for a treat and release, or for a patient refusal, it depends on how that actually works out.”
Given the bill’s freshness, he wasn’t familiar with how billing will work, though he pointed to Medicare as the largest payer for most emergency medical services, he said. Medicare is for people age 65 and older.
“I don’t know how the law will interact with this plan; it’s a little too early to tell the financial impact, but it’s a good thing for patients, and a good thing for people,” he said.
Wooton is happy about the other piece of legislation, the Direct Pay to Ambulance Service law, already passed and ready to take effect on Jan. 1, that will allow for direct payments from the insurance company to the provider rather than to the patient. When payments went to the patient, there would be a lag in the money being turned over to the EMS provider, Wooton said, and this measure will streamline that process and get payments where they belong more quickly.
“This will pay pay to the provider and bring insurance company to the table and are paying fairly and timely at a rate that allows us to be sustainable,” he said. “We need sustainable ambulance services, and the only way to do that is to make sure that they’re being reimbursed fairly.”
Arbor House, 350 Bank St., Batavia. We are a community of believers and disciples of Jesus Christ. Arbor House was founded to be a place of safety, refreshment, and renewal for all. Each week we gather to hear the spoken Word, eat from the Lord’s Table, and enjoy fellowship with all who come. If you have been hurt by a church before we want to be the place where you can find healing and hope. All are welcome! Service will be in person on Sunday morning at 10 a.m. and available live stream on Facebook. For more information about Arbor House visit arborhousefmc.com.
Alabama-Basom Methodist Church, 1392 Lewiston Road, Alabama. Join us for worship at 10:30 a.m. This week our sermon title is "Who is He?", led by Rodney Stringham (CLM). Scripture readings will be from James 3:1-12 and Mark 8:27-38. Thank you for supporting our Rummage Sale and Bake Sale at the Church last week.
Ascension Parish - Roman Catholic Church, 135 Swan St., Batavia. We are open for Mass in the Church on Saturdays at 4 p.m. and Sundays at 10:30 a.m. We hope to see you there!
Assemblies of God-New Covenant Chapel, 6690 Oak Orchard Rd., Elba.14058. We welcome all seeking a personal relationship with the Lord Jesus Christ through His finished work on The Cross with The Power of The Holy Spirit. John 3:16. “For God so loved the world, that he gave his only begotten Son, that whosoever believeth in him should not perish, but have everlasting life.” If you want a small, close-knit church family and a place to make a difference, please join us. Worship Service is Sunday at 10:30 a.m. Bible Study Sunday at 9:30 a.m. and Thursday at 7 p.m. Contact us at (585)-757-6651 (585)-969-1528 or visit us on Youtube.
Batavia Assembly of God, 24 North Spruce St, Batavia. Join us for coffee in our café before our Sunday morning service that begins at 10:30 a.m. We offer "Movement Kids" (age 4 - grade 5) at 10:30 a.m. and "MVMT YTH" (grades 6-12) meet on Sunday nights at 7 p.m.
Batavia First Baptist Church, 306 E. Main St., Pastor David Weidman, where "Christ the Center, Love for All" is very evident to all who enter. We invite you to our Full Gospel Sunday services at 10 a.m.; The Thrift Shoppe is open Monday-Friday from 11 a.m. - 1 p.m., come and browse in our beautifully renovated space. Donations are accepted during business hours. You can also enjoy a light lunch at Lydia's Kitchen while you shop. Questions? Email: firstbaptist2002@yahoo.com. Call us at (585)343-9002.
Batavia First Presbyterian Church, 300 E. Main St., Batavia, invites you to join us for in-person worship on Sundays at 9 a.m. (Arise-relaxed with band music) or 10:45 a.m. (Sanctuary -liturgical and organ) or on Livestream via Facebook Live for both times at: https://fpcbatavia.org/ or https://www.facebook.com/fpcbatavia/videos/.
Batavia First United Methodist Church, 8221 Lewiston Road, Batavia. Our mission & vision statement: “To be disciples, we must listen, learn, lead, and love our way to God.” Reverend Wayne Mort leads our worship service every Sunday morning at 10 a.m. in the church sanctuary. Childcare is offered for children birth-3 years old and Sunday school is offered for children ages 4-14 years old. You can also find the service on Facebook. We invite you to learn more about Batavia First UMC by visiting our website at www.BataviaFirstumc.com.
Byron Presbyterian Church, 6293 W. Main St., Byron. Pastor: Rev. Michael Fry. Musical Director: Laurence Tallman. Worship/Sunday School at 9:45 a.m. Scripture Reading: Mark 8:27-38. Message: “Sweeter Than Honey”. All are welcome!
Calvary Baptist Church of Le Roy, 8703 Lake Street Road, Le Roy. If you do not already have a church that you attend regularly, we would like to invite you to give Calvary Baptist Church a try. It would be a pleasure to have you join us for worship and fellowship on a Sunday morning or at one of our other mid-week events. As a multi-generational congregation that enjoys our time together, our Sunday worship service typically includes singing a mix of both traditional and contemporary songs and hymns, a children’s message, and a sermon from the Word of God. Our Sunday worship service begins at 10:15 a.m.
City Church, 210 E. Main St., Batavia, invites you for our Sunday morning services at 8:30 and 10 a.m. with Kids ministry at 10 a.m. and Thursday evenings at 7 p.m. Everyone is welcome to join us for worship and a message. We believe in doing life together and would love to do life with YOU! You can also connect with us online at www.thecitychurch.com, through our Facebook page, The City Church, or our YouTube channel. We do life together.
Corfu United Presbyterian Church 63 Alleghany Road, Corfu. Corfu United Presbyterian Church welcomes all visitors to come worship with us on Sunday mornings at 10:30 a.m. in person or via our Facebook live stream led by The Rev. Evan Wildhack. Our mission at CUPC is to connect with Christ, connect with others, and connect others with Christ. We offer weekly Bible study on Monday evenings at 6:30 p.m. in the Fellowship Hall. The Mission Committee will be hosting a Bingo Night on Saturday, June 8, at 6 p.m. to benefit St. Jude Children’s Hospital. There will be fun prizes to be won. You may also find our baked goods at the Corfu Farmer's Market for purchase. We look forward to seeing you there! CUPC's food pantry is open on the third Saturday of the month from 9 - 10 a.m. Contact the church office by phone at (585) 599-6414 or via email at office@corfuchurch.org Our office hours are Monday to Thursday, 10 a.m. to 2 p.m.
Cornerstone Church of East Pembroke, part of American Baptist Churches USA, 2583 Main Road, East Pembroke. Our Sunday service is at 10:30 a.m. with Pastor Glenn Bloom preaching. Bible Study is every Wednesday at 10 a.m. We are a small church and welcome new members. (585) 762-8721
Darien Disciples Church, 1951 Broadway (Route 20), worship at 9 a.m. on Sundays. Prayer requests to Jerry at: jeromedmorrison@yahoo.com.
Discovery Chapel, 315 West Main Street, Batavia. Pastor Ingrim Green's services are on Sundays at 10 a.m. "Let's Talk Real Talk the Gospel For Real Life." Visit our website letstalkrealtalk.org for more information.
East Bethany Presbyterian Church, 5735 Ellicott Street Road, East Bethany. Our Sunday morning worship service is held at 10:30 a.m. and is led by Rev. Dr. Shiela McCullough. Visitors are always welcome. You can find out more information on our Facebook page or by emailing us at ebpresbyterian@gmail.com.
Elba First Baptist Church, 31 S. Main St., Elba, is open for the main service in person at 10:45 a.m. on Sundays. For more information about our church go to www.fbcelba.net. The pastor is Michael Davis. Email: office@fbcelba.net / Phone (585) 757-2722
Emmanuel Baptist Church, 190 Oak St., Batavia. We would love to have you join us for our regular Sunday worship at 11 a.m. this weekend! We are trekking through the book of Acts and learning Don't Lie to God. There is also a bible study at 9:45 a.m. with free coffee and cookies. Unfortunately, if you still wanted a spot in the Community Garden and didn't call or email the church, they are all taken!
EverPresent Church, 4 Batavia City Centre, Batavia(off of Bank Street). We welcome you to come to experience the Holy Spirit in a fresh way. Jesus wants to set you free from your bondages. Wednesday Service at 6 p.m. & Sunday Service at 10:30 a.m., Toddlers dismissed at 10:15 a.m., Children's Church dismissed after 2nd Worship Song. For more info visit www.everpresentchurch.com.
Grace Baptist Church, 238 Vine St., Batavia. Sunday Morning Worship begins at 9:30 a.m. Grace Kids for ages nursery – 5th grade meets during the 9:30 hour. The service is live-streamed at www.gracebatavia.org. or view it on our Facebook page: Grace Baptist. Kid Zone & Grace Student Ministries meet on Sunday evenings from 6-7:30 p.m. Visit our website or our Facebook page for other events happening throughout the year.
Indian Falls Methodist Church, 7908 Alleghany Road, Corfu. We have our worship service at 10:00am on Sunday mornings, led by Rev. Karen L. McCaffery. This week's message is "Two Questions", led by Rev. Steven Taylor, GMC Pro Tem. To view our services online please go to our website https://indianfallsgmc.com/ for a link for Live Streaming. Join us on Sunday, September 15 for our worship service, & celebration as a Global Methodist Church; 10 a.m. worship service followed by a catered luncheon under the pavilion & tents with special music from the Alexander Fireman's Band followed by coffee fellowship. We are an open and accepting church of all people.
Morganville United Church of Christ, 8466 Morganville Rd, Stafford. The arrival of fall and another beautiful season here in the country. We’d love you to join us and our "God is still speaking" church, at 10 a.m. Sunday as Reverend James Morasco shares his sermon “Going the Extra Mile.” Coffee hour and fellowship will follow our service. Friend us on Facebook! or better yet, visit us Sunday – we’ll feed your soul and body!
North Darien Bible Church, 9768 Simonds Road, Corfu. We are open! Sunday worship service begins at 10 a.m. Children's Church classes are available for children ages birth through sixth grade, including a classroom for children with special needs. For more information, visit our website. You can also watch LIVE on our Facebook or YouTube channel. Join us from 9 a.m. to noon on the first Saturday of every month for our free community closet, full of clothing, coats, and shoes for all. (585) 547-9646.
Northgate Free Methodist Church, 8160 Bank Street Road (North Campus), Batavia. Would you like to hear some good news? We're going to hear a lot about the good news that God has for us in our next series based on the books of 1st and 2nd Timothy. We hope you'll join us for a series we're calling "No matter what: remaining true to the Gospel." Join us on Saturdays at 6 p.m., and Sunday mornings at 9:30 and 11 a.m. For more information about Northgate Free Methodist Church and to watch our services online go to northgatefmc.com or facebook.com/northgatefmc.
Oakfield-Alabama Baptist Church, 2210 Judge Road., Oakfield. Join us for Sunday School for all ages at 9:45 a.m., followed by our worship service at 11 a.m. every Sunday! Visit our website (www.oabchurch.com) for additional information about our church, our beliefs, upcoming activities, and past messages. Men’s and Ladies’ Bible studies also meet on Thursdays at 6:30 p.m. on the church grounds. We look forward to worshiping and fellowshipping with you! Questions? Email Pastor Matt Ervin at mervin@tyndale.edu.
Oakfield Community Bible Church, 82 North Main St. Oakfield. This Weeks “Oakfield Community Bible Church”, Weekend Worship Service is at 11:15 a.m. With Praise & Worship Music by Keith Burroughs & Andrew Lacey. With the morning message by Pastor, Timothy Young; entitled: “The Church And Politics”. Scripture: “Romans 13:1” (CJB). Our Adult Sunday School is at 10 a.m., along with “Sunday School through Age-16”. There will be a Time of “Fellowship” following our Worship Service! Come out and Join Us. ALL ARE WELCOME!
Our Lady of Mercy (44 Lake St. LeRoy) & St. Brigid (18 Gibson St. Bergen) parishes; Parish Office - 44 Lake Street, Le Roy. Weekend Masses Saturday at 4:30 p.m. (livestreamed); Sunday at 7:15 a.m., 10:45 a.m. (livestreamed), and 5:30 p.m. at Our Lady of Mercy. Also, Sunday at 9 a.m. at St. Brigid. Daily Masses Monday-Friday at 7:30 a.m. (livestreamed) and Saturday at 9 a.m. at Our Lady of Mercy and Tuesday and Thursday at 8:30 a.m. at St. Brigid. View on YouTube and Facebook. Please visit the parish website (https://www.ourladyofmercyleroy.org/).
Resurrection Parish (St. Joseph church in Batavia). St. Joseph’s Church masses are on Saturdays at 4 p.m. and Sundays at noon. Confessions are held at St. Joe's on Saturdays from 3 - 3:30 p.m. Vigil & Holy Days to be announced.
St. James Episcopal Church, 405 E. Main St., Batavia. Join us on Sundays at 9 a.m. on zoom, 10 a.m. in the church building, and on Facebook Live. Links and the bulletin can be found on our website: https://www.sjecbataviany.org/
St. Mark’s Episcopal Church, 1 E. Main St., Le Roy, is open for in-person services at 10:30 a.m. on Sundays. Communion will be offered to people in their seats and will only include bread. We welcome you to join us -- either in person or online. For more information, visit our website.
St. Maximilian Kolbe Parish, 18 W. Main St., Corfu. Weekend Masses are celebrated: Saturday at 5:30 p.m. at the Corfu Church Site; and at 9 a.m. Sunday at the East Pembroke Church site, 8656 Church St., East Pembroke. Weekday Masses are celebrated on: Tuesday at 8:30 a.m. in East Pembroke and Wednesday at 7 p.m. in Corfu followed by Adoration. Corfu Masses are also available for viewing on our YouTube channel. All information is on the church website and on Facebook. Email: stmaxkolbe09@gmail.com (585)-599-4833.
St. Padre Pio Parish, St. Cecilia, 56 Maple Ave., Oakfield Mass is celebrated on Sundays at 10 a.m. and Wednesdays at 7 p.m. OR Our Lady of Fatima Church, 65 S. Main St., Elba, Mass is celebrated on Saturdays at 5:45 p.m. and Tuesdays at 7 p.m.
St Paul’s Episcopal Church, 6188 Main Road, Stafford. In-person service, including Holy Communion, is at 9 a.m. Sunday mornings. All Are Welcome.
St. Paul Lutheran Church, Batavia, 31 Washington Ave, Batavia. This coming Sunday (August 25) we will celebrate The Seventeenth Sunday After Pentecost. The sermon theme: “Jesus has compassion on us and helps us, so that we are not destroyed but cleansed from every evil and raised up from death to life". (Mark 9:22–27) Our service now begins at 10:15 a.m. or can be viewed 'live' on Facebook. Our Adult Bible Study and Children's Sunday School is every Sunday, 9-9:45 a.m. Communion is part of every service. Our Youth Class is on Sunday's 5-7 p.m. Quilters group is on Tuesday's 9 - 11 a.m.
The Church In Alexander, 10540 Main St., Alexander. Join us for Sunday Worship at 10 a.m. weekly. For more information please visit our website at www.thechurchinalexander.com. We offer a Free Food Pantry for people in our community, please call ahead if you need items from our pantry. For more information on Programs and services please contact us at (585)591-1765 or by email at thechurchinalexander@gmail.com. Church office hours are Monday, Wednesday, and Friday from 8:15 - 11:15 a.m.
Trinity United Methodist Church, 75 Main St. in Attica, worships together at 10:45 a.m. on Sundays. All are welcome! Contact Frank White at uncleferter@msn.com for a ZOOM link or for prayer requests.
"Spiritual Connections" --The Batavian will post updates to connect people with their places of worship, religious services, fellowship opportunities, and/or spiritual advisors, etc. There is no charge for this service.
The Local Drug Task Forced announced on Tuesday the arrest of four people in connection with an investigation into the possession, transport, and sale of crack cocaine in the city of Batavia.
Taken into custody were:
Norman P. Michael, Jr., 39, of Bank Street, Batavia. He is charged with two counts of criminal sale of a controlled substance in the third degree and two counts of criminal possession of a controlled substance in the third degree. Michael was arrested on Aug. 26 on a warrant stemming from a sealed indictment while in custody on unrelated matters. He is accused of selling crack cocaine to an agent of the task force while in Batavia.
Shannon Armstead
Chales Macey
Paul "Twin" Lee, 52, of Helena Street, Rochester. He is charged with two counts of criminal sale of a controlled substance in the third degree and two counts of criminal possession of a controlled substance in the third degree. He was arrested on Aug. 19 on a sealed indictment by Batavia Police NET officers. Lee is accused of selling crack cocaine to an agent of the task force on two occasions in Batavia.
Shannon M. Armstead, 31, of North Spruce Street, Batavia. She is charged with two counts of criminal sale of a controlled substance in the third degree and two counts of criminal possession of a controlled substance in the third degree. Armstead was arrested on a sealed indicment on Aug. 20 by Batavia Police NET officers. She is accused of selling crack cocaine to an agent of the task force on two occasions in Batavia.
Paul Lee
Charles D. Macey, 44, of State Street, Batavia, is charged with one count of criminal sale of a controlled substance in the third degree and criminal sale of a controlled substance in the third degree. Macy was arrested on a sealed indictment on Aug. 22 by Batavia Police NET Officers. Macey is accused of selling crack cocaine to an agency to the task force in Batavia.
Michael and Lee were arraigned in County Court and ordered held. Armstead was arraigned and released on her own recognizance. Macy was arraigned and released under supervision.
As cold and flu season coincides with children returning to school, Rochester Regional Health (RRH) is prepared to meet the rising demand for urgent care services. Healthcare providers often see an increase in ear infections, bronchitis, strep throat, colds, and the flu during this time of year.
Additionally, sports-related injuries such as sprains, fractures, and strains tend to spike as student-athletes hit the field. RRH provides three convenient urgent care options to ensure families can get the care they need, whenever and wherever they need it.
In-Person Urgent Care: RRH’s in-person urgent care centers are available any day of the week to treat a wide variety of illnesses and injuries, including seasonal colds, flu, ear infections, bronchitis, and more. They are also equipped for vaccinations, X-rays, and physical exams. Patients can visit the RRH Urgent Care website to find a location close to home and check wait times at each site.
Virtual Urgent Care: For those who prefer not to leave home, RRH Same-Day Virtual Urgent Care has expanded its hours to provide even more flexibility. Available seven days a week, Virtual Urgent Care connects patients with expert providers through a smartphone or computer. With an average wait time of just 15 minutes, it’s a convenient option for handling cold and flu symptoms, infections, and minor injuries without ever stepping out the door.
Dedicated Orthopedic Urgent Care: With student-athletes returning to sports, RRH has two dedicated Orthopedic Urgent Care centers located in Victor and Henrietta. These specialized centers offer walk-in, no-appointment-needed care for orthopedic injuries like sprains, fractures, and muscle strains. Patients can access expert orthopedic care quickly and efficiently, avoiding long waits at emergency rooms.
“Rochester Regional Health offers patients easy and convenient access to care where and when they need it most. We understand that many patients prefer to avoid busy hospital emergency rooms, which can involve long wait times. That’s why we continue to expand our urgent care options to serve the community close to where they live, work, and play,” said Mary Parlet, Rochester Regional Health Chief Ambulatory and Clinical Services Officer.
RRH offers Urgent Care locations throughout the region, including Batavia, Brighton, Canton, Chili, Geneseo, Greece, Henrietta, Penfield, Potsdam, and Webster. In the City of Rochester, patients can visit our centers at St. Mary’s Campus and the Wilson Multicultural Medical Campus. For specialized orthopedic care, walk-in services are available at our dedicated Orthopedic Urgent Care locations in Henrietta and Victor.
Batavia Downs Gaming President and CEO Henry Wojtaszek presented representatives from the Make a Difference (M.A.D) Rescue with a check for $4,200 to help support their efforts in rescuing abandoned street dogs in Puerto Rico.
Unclaimed Funds, alongside donations and the sale of bottle openers, helped raise the money.
“We are appreciative to Cindy DeCarlo and the whole team at Batavia Downs, “said Jennifer Stilwell, President of M.A.D. “These funds are so important for us to continue our work of rescuing and rehabilitating the street dogs of Puerto Rico. With these funds, we can continue to find them their forever homes here in Western New York and Beyond.
“There are lots of animal lovers, both here amongst our staff and our guests, “said Henry Wojtaszek, President and CEO of Batavia Downs. “As a dog owner myself, I know the joy a dog can bring to a family. We are happy to help Jennifer and her team in their efforts to make life better for these dogs as they find new owners.”
Congresswoman Claudia Tenney (NY-24) alongside Congresswoman Deborah Ross (NC-02), introduced the People and Animals Well-being (PAW) Act to expand eligibility to include veterinary care expenses under tax-advantaged health care spending accounts, specifically Health Savings Accounts (HSAs) and Flexible Spending Accounts (FSAs) by amending Internal Revenue Code Section 213(d).
The PAW Act would allow pet owners to use their HSA or FSA accounts to pay for up to $1,000 for veterinary care or a pet health insurance plan, while permitting an unlimited amount of these funds for service animals. It aims to assist veterans with PTSD and individuals with disabilities by ensuring the IRS relies on an up-to-date Federal definition of “service animal,” which includes animals trained to assist with both physical and mental disabilities. Additionally, the bill maintains current HSA and FSA contribution limits, ensuring that there will be little to no impact on federal expenditures.
"Our pets and service animals are cherished members of our families, and it's essential that owners have the ability to pay for quality care. The PAW Act offers greater flexibility to pet owners by allowing them to use HSAs and FSAs for pet care expenses. This legislation will help veterans, and all pet owners afford veterinary care for their beloved pets and service animals," said Congresswoman Tenney.
“Pets are more than just animals – they’re beloved members of families who bring joy, comfort, and even health benefits into our lives. However, rising veterinary costs often make it challenging for families and veterans to provide care for their pets or service animals. As a dog owner, I’m proud to introduce the bipartisan PAW Act that would include veterinary care and pet insurance as eligible expenses under HSAs and FSAs to help ensure every animal lover can afford care for their pet. I’m grateful for the partnership of Congresswoman Tenney and will keep working to see this bill signed into law," said Congresswoman Ross
“MetLife strongly supports the PAW Act, which helps pet parents address unexpected veterinary expenses resulting from a pet’s illness or accident. This bill is a critical step towards promoting the health and well-being of pets by helping pet parents access the care their pets need while protecting their financial wellness. We are proud to support a bill that aligns with MetLife’s purpose of helping people care for their loved ones, both human and animal,” said Brian Jorgensen, Head of Pet Insurance, MetLife.
“The AVMA-endorsed People and Animals Well-being (PAW) Act helps maintain animal and human health, promotes and emphasizes the health benefits of pet ownership, and allows more people to become pet owners,” said Dr. Sandra Faeh, President of the American Veterinary Medical Association. “Ensuring veterinary care and pet health insurance are eligible expenses under Health Savings and Flexible Spending Accounts means more affordable care for pets, greater access to care for service animals, and an enhanced ability to detect and prevent zoonotic diseases. We thank Reps. Tenney and Ross for their leadership on this issue and urge Congress to promptly pass the PAW Act," said the American Veterinary Medical Association (AVMA).
“We salute Representatives Claudia Tenney and Deborah Ross for their leadership in introducing common-sense legislation to make veterinary care more affordable for millions of pet owners. Representatives Tenney and Ross are champions of the human-animal bond, recognizing that pets and service animals positively contribute to the health and wellbeing of American families," said Steven Feldman, president of the Human Animal Bond Research Institute.
After working as a massage therapist for several years, Marjorie Fein grew bored with bones and muscles, and pondered which way she wanted to go next with her wellness learning journey.
As it happens, she took a continuing education course and absorbed the principles so deeply that she became a teacher herself.
The course she took introduced Fein to the teachings of Eden Energy Medicine founder Donna Eden. According to Eden's website, the teachings are based on a transformational healing modality that empowers the individual with tools to improve mind, body and spirit using one’s own body energies to lead a more vibrant life.
That attracted Fein, who said she wanted to work with a broader range of people as she tried to figure out whether to study nutrition or acupunction. Then she took a course Omega Institute here in Rhinebeck.
"Literally, the only reason I took on this course is that it was the only class that gave me continuing ed credits for my license," Fein said during a phone interview from her home in Woodstock. "I had no idea who she was or what she did, and I really fell in love with it for a couple of reasons. One is that there's absolutely no dogma about it. People get into this work from being teachers, therapists, physical therapists, massage therapists, doctors, and acupuncturists, and Donna's whole thing is to take this work and make it and use it in whatever way works for you. The other thing is that we use something called kinesiology or muscle testing.
“So, for example, if I have ten clients who all have irritable bowel syndrome, we are all completely unique people, and so there's no cookie-cutter formula. We use the muscle testing. We call it energy testing, to assess the energy systems so that each individual gets a completely individualized treatment,” she said. “So I love that because it means that anything I do, it's because your body told me it needs that, not because I had an idea that I thought was brilliant.”
Fein will be in Batavia to teach two Eden Energy classes on Sept 28 at Batavia First Presbyterian Church, 300 E. Main St., Batavia.
“I met Donna in 2002, and I was already a massage therapist. I started blending this into my work. I've been doing this full-time as an energy healer, probably since 2003, so it's been pretty much my main modality for the last almost 22 years."
After doing bones and muscles for as long as she did, she was looking for a new approach to help people heal.
"One thing is that we really teach people self-care," Fein said. "We teach them how to do techniques on themselves so that they get the power. I mean, this is kind of my mission statement, giving people power and authority over their own life experience, physically, emotionally and spiritually."
Eden's work about energetic modalities, which is called an energy system, she said.
"Just like we have a physical body that has, I think it's nine organ systems, a respiratory system, a cardiovascular system, a digestive system, each of those systems has a completely different form and function, and all of those have to work together to create a healthy whole,” she said. “We also have energy systems. So, for example, Chinese medicine acupuncture uses an energetic system called the meridian system, and they stick needles in points along the meridians. If you go to someone who practices Ayurveda, they work with the energy system called the chakras, and they move and work in a completely different way.
“What I love about Donna's work is that we work with nine different systems, and we work with them simultaneously,” she said. “So that way, for one person, if you have an irritable bowel, the core issue might be in the meridian, for someone else in the chakra, or for someone else in the aura. So understanding those nine systems and having the muscle testing to let the body tell us where the core issue is, it allows us to track the human in front of us, rather than use a cookie cutter protocol for any one ailment.”
The basic premise of energetic healing, she said, is that anything that is happening physically or emotionally within someone’s body has an energetic core to it, and the body and emotions express what is happening energetically.
“Like Einstein, we believe that energy creates matter, so we work with this creative force of the body, the energies and then the body and the emotions express differently,” she said. “So, whereas Western medicine is usually what I would call reactive medicine, you have an imbalance, there’s something wrong, and then you treat the symptom, but you’re not treating, in most cases, what actually created the problem in the first place.”
During each class, Fein will provide some education about the subject matter and then allow attendees to approach her one at a time so that she can work with them to get a sense of what’s going on with their particular energy system.
These last several years have meant an uptick in cases of increased stress due to the pandemic, political turmoil, climate change and overall negative undercurrent, she said. And when you are under stress, your body goes into “fight or flight” mode, which is a primitive response that can then trigger physical, emotional and/or spiritual responses and symptoms, she said.
That, in turn, can lead to poor digestion and healing. While the stress can serve a purpose and is meant to be short-term, when it continues and is ongoing, “it takes a toll,” she said.
All of your resources are going to the stress. However, if people can build up resilience, “you are reclaiming those resources,” she said.
Fein is an advanced practitioner and a founding member of Eden’s faculty since it began in 2005. She has developed a full-time practice with Eden Energy and works with clients, teaches workshops and writes about the topic.
There are two classes available and they are interactive with group attendees, she said. If you are someone that feels like no matter where you go you’re a target, and you experience physical or emotional symptoms; you feel bloated every time after eating or gain weight no matter how much you diet, it may very well be related to stress and your energy, which are examples of something Fein can test for, she said.
Classes are:
Class 1 - Easy Does It will deal with emotional distress, and focus on stress, anxiety and depression, which she believes Western medicine has little to offer beyond medication. Energy medicine gives the tools to build resilience to life’s stressors as well as how to calm upsets when they bubble up.
“When we are at ease emotionally, every aspect of our lives is improved,” she said. “We heal better when we feel better.”
The workshop session will include practical skills of easy-to-apply techniques that one can use in every day situations to calm the mind and boost stress resistance; emotional relief techniques to reduce the way your distress expresses itself; self empowerment to gain tools and take control of your emotional state any time and anywhere; and help for loved ones that may be suffering.
Class 2 - Make Friends With Your Food will involve energy medicine for healthy digestion. This workshop includes practical techniques to support and strengthen the organs of the digestive system, and lifestyle guidelines that promote healthy and happy mealtimes.
Cost is $75 per class or $125 for both. Registration deadline is Sept. 26. For more information or to register, go HERE.
It's just a typical Prohibition-era night at Ruth's Speakeasy, where you can find the best moonshine and jazz singers in town before one of the patrons is murdered.
To solve this crime, the cast of Batavia Players needs your help.
"Murder at the Speakeasy" is an immersive and interactive murder mystery and scavenger hunt.
Audiences are encouraged to register in teams of up to four people each and dress in period-correct costumes.
Ruth's is a place with simple rules -- no business and no guns. It is the haunt of gangsters, crooked cops, businessmen, and rising stars. The perfect environment for betrayal, vengeance, greed, and, ultimately, murder.
Who done it: the crooked police chief? The sultry jazz singer? A scorned woman?
You and your companions will have to figure it out.
You will be provided clue questions to ask the possible suspects and a map of all the local places the suspects hang out so you can track them down and find the clues.
The adventure begins at check-in. Audience members will receive the secret password to gain entry to the Speakeasy. Upon entry, they will meet the host of characters, and that's when the game begins. Sleuths must keep their eyes and ears open for any hints that might be dropped.
The scene will unfold, the murder will happen, and then the questioning begins. Then the audience is released to follow the leads and track down the clues scattered throughout Batavia's local business community. When the audience returns, the members will cast ballots for who they suspect is the likely killer before reentering the Speakeasy to see if they got the details right.
There are prizes supplied by local businesses.
Batavia Players encourage audience members to take pictures and post to social media but they ask, "please, however, at no time share the solution so the other groups can have the pleasure of solving the crime on their own."
The show is Saturday at 11 a.m. and 5 p.m. at Main St. 56 Theater in Downtown Batavia.
Tickets are $30 per person or $100 for a team of four people. For tickets, click here.
2023 File Photo of HP Hood in Batavia. Photo by Howard Owens
The city and town of Batavia have potentially come to an agreement about wastewater capacity, and HP Hood will be able to proceed with its $120 million expansion project that’s been halted since March, City Manager Rachael Tabelski says.
Hood’s project was, which involved a state environmental review, temporarily stalled when the city discovered that the town was in violation of a contracted wastewater capacity limit and had also taken on the lead agency role for the proposed expansion of process lines with no word to the city.
At that point, the city said the project cannot proceed, and it has been halted ever since. When asked about the project since then, Tabelski has said that “we are in active negotiations with the towns regarding a new purchase capacity agreement” and an agreement has now been reached.
“We will lift the SEQR challenge to the HP Hood project,” Tabelski said to The Batavian Monday evening, though the agreement still has to go through the official process of votes by the town board and City Council.
Tabelski reviewed the new purchasing terms during Monday’s conference session. The town’s total wastewater flows average 1.4 million gallons per day at four total pump stations, which exceeds the town’s current contractual limit, Tabelski said. The current sewer capacity limit of the town is 850,000 GPD as established in the wastewater facility agreement of Feb. 23, 2015 between the city and town of Batavia.
A new agreement means the town can purchase an additional 350,000 GPD of treatment capacity for a total of 1.2 million for $1,382,500. If the town goes past the 1.2 million, a higher rate of purchase kicks in — the penalty rate — which serves as incentive for the town to remain at that 1.2 million output, Tabelski said.
“We’re trying to incentivize them. We know they’re at 1.4, but we’re trying to get it down to 1.2,” Council President Eugene Jankowski Jr. said.
Councilman Rich Richmond said that he was looking at the overage rates and believes “that’s a pretty good incentive.”
“So I want to thank you for doing this because I know, I heard how long it took, you had infinite patience, and you negotiated very well for the city,” he said.
Jankowski asked if City Attorney George Van Nest reviewed the deal. He looked at it and worked with the city manager and assistant manager to ensure the numbers covered the city’s thresholds, he said.
“I'm very concerned about making sure that we're within our operating limits, that we’re not pushing it too far, or as much as I love to help out, we only have so much capacity,” Jankowski said.
Jankowski preferred to move the vote to a future meeting so the council could get more public input rather than vote immediately, he said. The town of Batavia is expected to discuss the agreement at its next meeting on Sept. 18.
At this time and until this agreement amendment is revisited, the town's total threshold will be 1,650,000 gallons per day max discharge. The city and town agree to meet every six months to review town flows to ensure that the town stays below the 1.65 GPD max discharge. If it is determined that the town has exceeded that amount, the city reserves all rights and remedies to protect the wastewater treatment facility permit.
Does the city have enough capacity to maintain this additional amount for the town long-term? Is there a future solution?
“Town and city (of Batavia) have plans to move forward with a wastewater treatment plant growth study to support future development,” Tabelski said. “There is remaining capacity reserved for O-AT-KA, other city industries, and housing in the city of Batavia.”
Given the uncertainty regarding the wastewater treatment plant draft permit limits, the town will be solely responsible for funding an expansion study, which will be initiated as soon as practically possible. The city will act as project manager of the expansion study with a professional engineering firm of its selection and will bill the town as invoices are received.
In 1983, the city and town entered into a wastewater facility agreement that outlined the ownership and operation of the new treatment plant. In February 2015, they entered into a wastewater facility agreement and a wastewater metering agreement. The city currently owns 84.55% of the total plant capacity, and the town owns 15.45%.
Due to ongoing development in the town, including the Genesee Valley Agri-Business Park, the town’s sanitary sewer flows are exceeding the contractual limit of .85 million gallons per day (MGD) or 15.45% of the total capacity, Tableksi said.
Each city and town resolution in May 2023 identified the parties’ mutual concerns about potential increased flow resulting from the Kings Plaza pump station project, and the average sewer flow was 1.2 MGD. In fall 2023, the town advised the city that HP Hood was expanding but that it was only the warehouse and would not create additional demand for water or sewer capacity. Hood already discharges 1.1 to 1.2 MGD. By the end of 2023, the town’s average sewer flow had increased to 1.33 MGD, Tabelski said.
“This is well in excess of the town’s contractual limit of .85 MGD,” she said. “Consequently, the town has no capacity to allocate to expansion of HP Hood or any other facility at this time.”
The city also cannot permit increased sewer flows from the town of Batavia until the wastewater treatment plan expansion study is complete, she said.
“The city and town still need to enter into a proposed wastewater agreement that was circulated in January 2024. However, this agreement will still not allow for increased discharge beyond 1.2 MGD. This pending agreement will be the town’s limit for wastewater discharge.”
As for its objection to the town being lead agency for the Hood project, Tabelski said that “the town has failed to accurately and timely inform the city about the expansion of wastewater capacity demand at the Ag Park.”
“In addition, the town is in breach of the wastewater agreement with the city by discharging in excess of .85 MGD,” she said. “A lead agent under SEQR is responsible for thoroughly and accurately evaluating the potential environmental impacts prior to making a determination of significance on the action.
“The town’s excess wastewater discharge beyond contract limits threatens the city’s discharge limits and has the potential to exceed the city’s (State Pollutant Discharge Elimination System) permit,” she said. “As a result, the city objects to the town’s lead agency designation for this action under SEQR.”
This has been a good week for Hood, which was named Dairy Plant of the Year. The Hood expansion is to be 32,500 square feet and pledges to create 48 new jobs while retaining 455 full-time equivalent jobs at the Genesee Valley Agri-Business Park. This project accommodates its automatic storage and retrieval system refrigerated warehouse. It will also include new batching and processing systems and other upgrades, which will allow the company to increase capacity and begin a new production line.
For prior coverage about this issue, go to wastewater.
Our Faith Formation programs at Ascension Roman Catholic Community and Resurrection RC Parish kicked off on Sunday, September 8 with Mass, a family lunch, meetings, and fun games!
The Batavia Society of Artists is hosting artist Mary Jo Whitman on Tuesday, September 10 at Go-Art/Seymour Place, 201 E. Main St., Batavia At 7 p.m.
Mary Jo plans to give an overview of the grant process for artists, including where to find grant opportunities, tips on writing project narratives, formulating budgets, and providing quality support materials.
This info will be bennificial to many artist who never thought they could get grant money for projects! This event is open to non-member for a $5 fee. Light refreshments will be served. The 2.o.1. Tavern will be open for cash purchases.
Genesee County Republican Committee Chairman Scott D. German is happy to announce the committee will be holding its Grand Opening of the Genesee County Republican Headquarters located at 244 West Main Street in Batavia (formerly Time Buyers Auto) across from CVS at noon on Saturday, September 14.
Congresswoman Claudia Tenney, Senator George Borrello, Assemblyman Steve Hawley, Sheriff Candidate Joe Graff and County Treasurer Candidate Kevin Andrews are all expected to be in attendance.
Anyone wishing to pick up free signs for Trump, Tenney, Borrello, Hawley, Graff or Andrews are more than welcome to stop by and pick them up on Saturday.
A tornado warning has been issued for southwestern Genesee County.
At 8:33 p.m., a thunderstorm capable of producing a tornado was located over Pembroke, seven miles north of Darien Lake State Park. It is moving southeast at 15 mph.
The warning is in effect until 9 p.m.
According to the National Weather Service, there is the potential for flying debris that is dangerous to those without shelter. Mobile homes could be damaged or destroyed. There could be damage to roofs, windows, and vehicles. Tree damage is likely.
