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Alabama-Basom Methodist Church, 1392 Lewiston Road, Alabama. Join us for worship at 10:30 a.m. on June 15. This week, our sermon title is " Change" By Celinda McQuistion CLM Scripture reading Romans 5:1-5 and John 3:1-17. Come join us for Worship and fellowship after the service!

Ascension Parish - Roman Catholic Church, 135 Swan St., Batavia. We are open for Mass in the Church on Sundays at noon. 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. Communion Sunday. Scripture Readings: John 16:12-15 and Proverbs 8:1-4, 22-31. Message: “Foundation of Hope”. Today we honor fathers and graduates!  We will take a moment to honor our young graduates. And there is a surprise for our guys as well as a special Father’s Day song! Don’t miss it 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 (CUPC) 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 our pastor, the Rev. Evan Wildhack. Our mission at CUPC is to connect with Christ, connect with others, and connect others with Christ. We offer children's Sunday School at 9:15am on Sunday mornings and youth group for 7-12th graders on the 2nd and 4th Sundays of the month from 6-8 p.m. The church also hosts the Corfu Food Pantry which is open on the third Saturday of the month from 9 - 10 a.m. For Lent this year, we are hosting a Lenten lunch on Wednesday, March 26 at 12 p.m. During Holy Week, we will be holding a special Holy Week service at 7 p.m. on Thursday, April 17. Easter worship will be at our regular worship time of 10:30am with a breakfast preceding at 9:30am. For more information about the church, feel free to contact the church office by phone at (585) 599-6414 or via email at office@corfuchurch.org. You can also visit us on Facebook at facebook.com/corfuchurch. CUPC is a congregation of the Presbyterian Church (U.S.A.) 

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),  Prayer requests to Jerry at: jeromedmorrison@yahoo.com.  This week, June 15, our sermon title is “ Wisdom, God’s First Creation” led by Rodney Stringham. (CLM). Scripture Readings will be from Proverbs 8:1-4, 22-31 and John 16:12-15. Come join us!

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. Join us for our Sunday service at 11 am or come earlier for bible study at 9:45 am.  Free coffee and fellowship!  Pastor Tom is continuing his preaching through the book of Acts.  Debbie Prosser is leading the choir in lifting up a joyful noise to the Lord every Sunday with practice on Thursdays.  We would love to hear your voice as well!  Particularly we need ladies who love to sing to join the choir!  Can't wait to meet you!

EverPresent Church, 4 Batavia City Centre, Batavia(off of Bank Street). Pastor Jason and Pastor Michelle Norton Welcome you! Our hours are Wednesdays 6 p.m. midweek service. Sundays 10:30 a.m. doors open 9:45 a.m. Children's church starts directly following worship. Children's church ages are 5 to 11. Counseling and other appointments are scheduled through the church via Office Scheduling. You can view some of our messages through Facebook or YouTube -EverPresent Church. Our phone number is 585-297-3155. Visit our Website for more information for up and upcoming events. Our beliefs, our vision and mission. www.everpresentchurch.com

Grace Baptist Church, 238 Vine St., Batavia. We offer two Sunday Morning Worship Services. Both services are live-streamed on our Facebook page, Grace Baptist or view it on the web at: www.gracebatavia.org. The first service is at 8:45 a.m. (children's classes available for Nursery - 1st grade). The second service is at 10:30 a.m. (children's classes available Nursery - 5th grade). KidZone for ages 4-5th grade and Grace Student Ministries (Grades 6-12) meet on Sunday Evenings at 6 - 7:30 p.m. 

Indian Falls Methodist Church, 7908 Alleghany Road, Corfu. We have our worship service at 10 a.m. on Sunday mornings, led by Rev. Karen L. McCaffery.  This week's message is "Be a Door-Keeper" led by Eric Klotzbach. To view our services online please go to our website https://indianfallsgmc.com/ for a link for Live Streaming. We offer FREE Respite Care on Wednesday, June 18 from 10 a.m. - 2 p.m.; register by emailing redlady5343@earthlink.net. Join us for our 81st Annual Strawberry Social on Wednesday, June 25 starting at 3:30pm with our Bake Sale, 4pm Chicken BBQ, and ending with our Auction at 6pm.

Morganville United Church of Christ, 8466 Morganville Rd, Stafford. Take your father on a Father’s Day drive this Sunday to our country church at 10 am as Reverend James Morasco shares his sermon, “Leaf Boat.” Our God is still speaking church. Friend us on Facebook! or better yet, visit us Sunday.

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. Life is made up of relationships — with our families, our friends, our spouses, and our kids. And while those connections can bring incredible joy, they can also come with challenges, heartaches, and questions we don’t always know how to answer. In our new series “This Is Us", we’re leaning in together to talk about navigating life’s most critical relationships — with honesty, grace, and a whole lot of love. Because God cares deeply about the people in our lives, and He offers wisdom and hope for every relationship we’re in. So wherever you are, whatever you’re walking through — this is us, and we’re in this together.

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 10:30 a.m.  With Praise & Worship Music by Keith Burroughs. The morning message by Pastor, Timothy Young;: “Guest Speaker Jon Andre. Our Adult Sunday School is at 9:30 a.m., along with “Sunday School through Age-16”.  There will be a Time of “Fellowship” following our Worship Service! 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. Our Lady of Mercy Mass times: Daily Mass, Monday -Friday at 7:30am, Saturday 9:00am. Weekend Masses: Saturday Vigil Mass 4:30pm, Sunday, 7:30am, 9:30am and 5:30pm. St. Brigid Mass times- Daily Mass Thursday at 8:30am & Saturday Vigil, 5:00pm. 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 7:30 a.m. and 10 a.m. Daily Mass, Monday - Friday at 8 a.m. Confessions are held at St. Joe's on Saturdays from 3 - 3:30 p.m. Vigil & Holy Days to be announced. Holy Name of Mary Site (East Pembroke) 8656 Church St., East Pembroke. Mass on Sundays 11 a.m. and Tuesdays at 8:30 a.m. St. Cecilia Site (Oakfield) 56 Maple Ave., Oakfield Mass is celebrated on Sundays at 9 a.m. and Wednesdays at 7 p.m.

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 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 (June 15) we will celebrate The Holy Trinity.  The Sermon Theme: The Triune God Reveals Himself in Christ Jesus: “Truly, truly, I say to you, if anyone keeps my word, he will never see death.” (John 8:51) Our Sunday service begins at 10:15 a.m. and can be viewed 'live' on Facebook. Communion is part of every Sunday service. Men's Bible Study meets every first & third Wednesday at 6:30 p.m. VBS will run July 14-18, 1 - 3 p.m. Ages PreK - 6th grade are all welcome. This is a free event.
 

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.

West Middlebury Baptist Church, 4950 West Middlebury Rd. East Bethany, Sunday service is at 9 a.m. Kids Club meets on Sundays at 10:30 a.m. Youth Group (grades 7-12) meets on Sundays at 10:30 a.m. and Wednesdays at 6:30 p.m. For more information visit us online at westmiddlebury.org.

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"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.

If you have information to announce, please email: news@thebatavian.com

Editor's Note: An interview with Shelley Stein will run on Friday. 

As a newcomer to politics, Laurie Mancuso feels confident with endorsements from the Le Roy Town Board and the Conservative Party. She is supported by former candidate George Vito, who recently dropped out of the race for Genesee County legislator.

Mancuso is running for the town of Le Roy District 5 seat against incumbent Shelley Stein.

As a longtime “transplant” from Ohio who moved to this area while in high school, Mancuso's extensive years in manufacturing leadership have included parlaying 30 years into multiple careers at Eastman Kodak and helping to develop thread sutures of all sizes at Johnson & Johnson — all of which have equipped her to be responsible for meeting the needs of customers and taxpayers alike, she says.

“So, it was really an organization that I was responsible for that included the operations, staff, supervision, engineering, maintenance, etc.,” she said during an interview with The Batavian. “So I was responsible for making sure that we satisfied the needs of the customers that we were filling orders for.

“I’m very pragmatic. I like data to guide some decisions, most decisions, at least when I’m in the capacity of leadership that I’ve been in. Data speaks my language, so to speak,” she said. “But there’s also the people side of things: there’s also that empathetic side of me that relates to people, and how decisions that I make, that we make, affect people and organizations. Any type of leadership role that I was in always had to consider that aspect of things, which was different from some of my peers, but that’s what makes work interesting.”

She obtained her bachelor’s degree in math and sociology — combining data and people — and went on to earn her master’s degree in business administration from the University of Rochester while working at Kodak. There was work and family — her husband, Andrew Kalish, and a now-grown son and daughter — until she retired in 2021.

“I came into politics here locally just recently because I believe that’s where you start to make a difference in your community if you want to move things ahead and make things better in your community,” she said. “I’ve been on the sidelines my whole life. I've been working, raising a family and letting things within the community happen, and now, as I'm retired and can step back and really consider what part I can play to help make things better in our community, I saw an opportunity here where I think I can make a difference.”

Mancuso has been involved in the village’s Comprehensive Plan Steering Committee, the village board and Le Roy Republican Committee. She attended both the Le Roy and Genesee County Republican meetings when the current District 5 incumbent, Shelley Stein, did not get an endorsement.

“That was a big signal: there’s something wrong, there’s some discontent, not only locally, but also at a broader county level,” Mancuso said. “I don't know what those things are, but as I've been going around talking with people, as I've petitioned for signatures to get on the ballot, and now as I'm doing more campaigning, there's just a very, very clear disconnection with her and the community. I don't think they're feeling supported by her, and I realize that she's the chair of the committees.

“So her responsibilities would be different than mine going into a legislator role, because I obviously would not be the chair, and I'll be able to really focus on the needs of Le Roy District 5, perhaps more than she's been able to in the capacity that she's in now as a chair,” Mancuso said.  “I don't want to speak for Shelley. I just know that, if I were in her shoes, I can see where that that could be difficult to kind of balance the needs of all those responsibilities, but the bottom line is that the community is feeling that, and I'm directly hearing that and experiencing that, as I mentioned, at the committee meetings.”

If you were elected, what do you feel are the needs of Le Roy, and what would be your priorities?

• “I guess immediately, we need to close the gap with regard to communication and making sure that they in the community know me well, know what work I'm doing for them, what work the legislature’s doing overall, for the county. I just think there's a just a real need to make sure there's that connection. So that would be a big primary focus of mine.
• "The water project is one that is of interest to me as I'm learning more about Phase Three that we're just entering into now, and the timing of everything and considerations, perhaps to include more of the needs that we have within Le Roy for water on the south western side of this district," she said. "As I've been campaigning, I get an earful because they don't have water. And people have considered moving because they don't, and the issues that that brings, and the farmers also, as you can imagine, some challenges there. I will definitely want to understand more about what's happening and make sure the community knows what's happening around that.
• "The land bank is very interesting. I know that's one of Shelley's things that she wants to get done. I'm still learning about that. And my big thing is, I don't want to add more government to the current government, if it would mean adding a whole staff to do that. If the Economic Development Center can take it on, that might be the best place for it," she said. "If it's something that could fit into that type of organization, that would be something I would definitely support."
• "There's still some of the sales tax issue that happened five years ago. I think we're five years into a 40-year agreement now, yeah, the sales tax sharing, we don't want to repeat anything like that again," she said. "So I just want to be very clear that any decisions that we make as a legislature really gets back to our communities and that we understand what those implications are when we make those decisions." 

The sales tax agreement was signed in 2021 as a way for the county to pay its debt service for the new jail. A distribution to the city of Batavia and towns and villages in the county is capped at $10 million a year from the revenue of sales tax, and that is to allow for a debt service of $4 million to be paid off each year.

Why do you believe you're the right choice for legislator?
“I want to make sure that Le Roy District 5 is represented and that I understand the challenges that we have as a county. There’s a lot of things that come from Albany that we have no control over as a county,” she said. “We have to question and utilize the people that we have connected to us, like our assemblymen and state senators, to work with us to make sure that they’re fighting for us and helping make things better and easier for us at the county level.”

Early voting for this year's Primary begins at 9 a.m. Saturday at the Arc Community Center, 38 Woodrow Road, Batavia.

A cell phone found ringing in the center console of a truck helped investigators quickly connect Michael Poole's death to two familiar names.

In the second day of testimony in the murder trial of Edward A. Dunn, jurors heard from eight witnesses who detailed the discovery and investigation of the body of 59-year-old Michael Poole, found dead in the bed of his own truck on March 19, 2024.

According to Genesee County Sheriff’s Investigator Kevin Forsyth, surveillance footage from a March 17 laundromat burglary in Barker showed Dunn and Katherine Henry, both known to have ties to Poole, exiting Poole’s black Chevrolet Silverado at the crime scene. Investigators later matched cell phone data to that location and time, confirming that Poole’s phone was present during the burglary and later remained stationary in Alabama until it was recovered alongside Poole’s body two days later.

The footage and cell phone data formed an early link between Poole, Dunn, and Henry, Forsyth testified. He said this evidence helped investigators begin narrowing down suspects just one day after the vehicle was discovered.

Poole’s body was found in Alabama, Genesee County. According to Forsyth, when he arrived at the snowy scene, the truck was facing north and was covered by a tarp. 

“The body was still buried under a good amount of stuff,” he said, “and it was frozen there, so it took a good amount of effort to get it off the bed of the truck.”

Forsyth testified that he found Poole’s phone in the center console after only ten minutes of being at the scene. 

“As I was taking photos of the vehicle, I heard the cell phone ringing,” he said. 

He also located Poole’s driver’s license inside a wallet found in his back pocket.

The case was initially referred to Genesee County by Niagara County authorities after a missing person report and investigation filed by Poole’s father, Gerald Poole, became a murder investigation. Forsyth said he was dispatched by then–Chief Deputy Joseph Graff and was the first Genesee County investigator to arrive on scene.

Investigators later traveled to Niagara County to learn more about Poole, who was from Olcott, and began canvassing the area to gather information from anyone who knew him. 

“We were starting from zero,” Forsyth said. “We wanted to get as much information about him as possible.” 

Interviews pointed repeatedly to Dunn and Henry, with Forsyth noting, “He would give Katherine Henry more rides than most people.”

A search warrant was later executed at a residence on Rochester Road in Middleport, where Dunn and Henry had been staying. Inside, officers found Norman Dubois, who was brought to the Orleans County Sheriff’s Office for questioning.

Henry was arrested earlier on March 19 at Lockport Hospital after overdosing. Investigator Forsyth testified that they feared she might overdose again before more evidence could be obtained, and opted to bring her into custody early.

The day the body was discovered, Niagara County Sheriff’s Captain Tracy Steen arrived at the scene after a vehicle linked to the missing person case pinged nearby. She described seeing blood in the front seat and a cluttered truck bed. About 20 minutes into the search, she received a call alerting her to the discovery of the body, which led to the case being handed off to Genesee County as a homicide.

Karen Lang, a certified legal medical investigator and coroner for Genesee County, testified that Poole’s body was mostly covered when she arrived. It had already been partially uncovered by a colleague, Don Newton Jr., but Lang helped remove the frozen body from the truck bed and turned it over to the Monroe County Medical Examiner.

Once the vehicle was towed to the Genesee County Sheriff’s garage, forensic analysis began. New York State Police Investigator Kyle Folts described using luminol to test the interior and exterior of the truck for traces of blood. The chemical glows blue when it reacts with hemoglobin.

“The glowing is presumptive evidence of blood,” Folts said during his testimony.

The chemical revealed glowing areas around the steering wheel, the driver’s seat, the bed liner, bed rail, and the fender, as well as in the bolts holding  Folts noted that the chemical can react to all blood, not just human, and admitted he was unaware of whether any confirmatory tests were later performed. No blood was detected on the roof, doors, or windows.

Back at the garage, Investigator Howard Carlson of the Genesee County Sheriff’s Office assisted in the vehicle inventory. He testified that the truck was filled with more items than any vehicle he had previously processed.

“This is the one that has had the most property I’ve seen inside a vehicle,” Carlson said.

He explained that the rear seat area was so densely packed it had to be divided and processed in two sections—unlike typical cases where it could be inventoried as a single unit. Carlson followed the vehicle as it was transported on a flatbed and later assisted in moving items while another officer took photographs. According to Carlson, he had seen a Wegmans gift card holder wedged between the driver’s seat and the center console; when he picked it up, a shell casing fell out. No removable items were swabbed for DNA or fingerprint analysis.

Press Release:

Assemblyman Steve Hawley (R, C-Batavia) supported a bipartisan press conference to advocate for Assembly Bill A.8540, also known as the “Fentanyl Fathers and Mothers Act.” This proposal will require New York State to develop and adopt a comprehensive Fentanyl Education, Awareness, and Recognition Program for all public, charter, and private schools to implement for their students.

Hawley hosted a group of students from the Oakfield-Alabama School District who gave a presentation on this issue. The group gave a detailed synopsis on the rising number of mental health issues across the state and their relationship to drug and alcohol abuse. The students also presented several policy proposals, including increasing the salaries of the state’s mental health professionals and providing increased access to emotional support and recovery services.

In a time where parents statewide are losing their children and teens at alarming rates due to illegal use of fentanyl and similar synthetic opioids and counterfeit pills, Hawley believes this initiative will provide a comprehensive educational requirement for youth to learn about the potentially fatal consequences of such substances, thus saving the lives of countless New Yorkers.

“Protecting our young people from the dangers of drug abuse is one of the most important tasks we have as state legislators,” said Hawley. “I’ve met countless individuals across my district, and almost every single one has a story of someone they know who has been affected by the opioid crisis. Thousands of New Yorkers have died as a result of a Fentanyl overdose, and we cannot continue to allow this trend to continue as long as we have the power to do something about it. I’m proud to be able to support this initiative, and I encourage my colleagues on both sides of the aisle to take a stand as we work to end this crisis once and for all.”

Press Release:

The countdown is on! In just 12 days, the inaugural HomeCare & Hospice Golf Classic tees off at Terry Hills Golf Course in Batavia on Tuesday, June 24. Golfers from across the region will come together for a fun, meaningful day on the greens—all in support of compassionate end-of-life care in our communities.

 

With 16 foursomes already signed up and just a few team slots left to fill, now’s the time to join in. Registration is $100 per golfer or $400 per foursome and includes:

• Greens fees & cart
• Lunch out on the course
• Dinner at the awards ceremony
• Swag bag
• Contests, surprises & prizes

This isn’t just a day of golf—it’s a chance to support critical hospice services in Allegany, Cattaraugus, Wyoming, and Genesee Counties. 

“We’re so excited to bring this tournament to Batavia and strengthen our support in the northern counties,” said Melissa Sullivan, CEO of HomeCare & Hospice. “It’s meaningful fun—with a mission behind every swing.”

Terry Hills, home to the Jim Kelly Celebrity Classic and ranked WNY’s #1 Public Golf Course, offers 27 pristine holes, a top-notch experience, and a beautiful setting for a day of giving back. 

This year’s event includes popular challenges like longest drive, closest to the line, and mulligans, plus two unique features:

Putting Contest – $5 for one ball or $10 for three. Sink a hole-in-one for your shot at $500 in cash and prizes, courtesy of Both, Branch & Hendrix of Olean.

Air Cannon Shot – Launch your ball like never before—$10 per shot!

Sponsors are helping bring the day to life. Recent additions include:

• Ontario Shore Federal Credit Union – Cocktail Hour Sponsor
• Ellicott Development – Tee Box Sponsor
• Turbo Machining & Howard Hanna Professionals – Hole Sponsors

They join ten other organizations already committed as sponsors, showing widespread community support for hospice care across all four counties.

While HomeCare & Hospice has hosted tournaments in the past, this year’s event is part of a new rotation that alternates fundraising locations between the north and south. Batavia is about a 90-minute drive from Olean and Wellsville—and golfers from the Southern Tier are encouraged to make the trip, tee off for a cause, and enjoy the fun.

“Hospice care touches every corner of our region,” said Sullivan. “This event reflects that—uniting people across county lines to make a difference.” 

Spots are limited! The event committee is aiming for 20 total foursomes, with just four left to go. Sponsorship opportunities are still available, including lunch, hole, swag, and specialty signage. 

To register or learn more, call 716-372-2106 or visit homecare-hospice.org. 

Swing big. Give back. Make a difference.

Press Release:

Iroquois National Wildlife Refuge will offer for bid 85 acres of grassland hay in two fields, each 50 and 35 acres. The Refuge annually provides approximately 1100 acres of grassland habitat for migratory birds and resident wildlife. Active management of these grasslands is necessary to provide the highest quality nesting and migration habitat. 

The Refuge haying program helps in this management process by reducing encroachment of broadleaf weeds and shrubs.

Hay will be allocated on a first-come, first-served basis, with the highest bid per field. Sealed bids will be accepted until close of business (COB) on Thursday, July 3. 

An official Bid Sheet, available from the Refuge headquarters, is required to make a bid. Completed Bid Sheets can be mailed to the Refuge headquarters at 1101 Casey Road, Basom, and must contain all the information requested.

If you have any questions about the haying program or would like to see the fields, please call Paul Hess at 585-948-5445 ext. 7032.

Iroquois National Wildlife Refuge is located midway between Rochester and Buffalo, and is managed by the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service.

Press Release:

Rochester Regional Health (RRH) teamed up with Batavia-area Girl Scouts to offer a Fun Patch educational event at United Memorial Medical Center (UMMC). Over a dozen Girl Scouts ages 6–12 earned the RRH Stroke Superstar patch by learning what to watch for when it comes to strokes and how to call for help. 

The girls received a behind-the-scenes tour of UMMC, had an up-close look at state-of-the-art medical equipment and the inside of an ambulance, and met real-life healthcare heroes. The girls also donated blankets they made to the Lipson Cancer Center to be given to cancer patients and family members.

Every 40 seconds, someone in the United States suffers a stroke. Since 1990, incidences of stroke in people aged 49 and under have steadily increased. Healthcare workers noted that children were often present when a caregiver experienced a stroke, making it essential for all ages to recognize the signs and know how to engage Emergency Medical Services quickly.

Rochester Regional Health remained committed to the well-being of the community. Educating the public on life-saving health knowledge, such as recognizing the signs of stroke, was one of many ways RRH partnered with the community to promote better health outcomes.

Submitted photos.

Press Release:

This fall, Genesee Community College's Business and Employee Skills Training (BEST) Center will offer hands-on training in two in-demand skilled trades: Welding and Plumbing. Evening classes begin on Sept. 2 and are designed to accommodate the schedules of working adults.

 

"Students will be awarded an industry-recognized credential upon completion of the training," according to Jennifer Wakefield, executive director of Workforce Development at The BEST Center. "We are proud to offer these short-term programs that open doors to long-term career opportunities."

The Welding Fundamentals Program equips students with essential skills for immediate entry into the workforce. The curriculum encompasses a wide range of techniques, including basic gas and arc welding, gas metal arc welding (MIG), shielded metal arc welding (SMAW/stick), gas tungsten arc welding (TIG), and flux-cored arc welding (FCAW). Students will also learn the principles of industrial safety, equipment setup and operation, as well as shop safety protocols.

Welding instruction will be led by Sal Bonafide, a GCC instructor with over 15 years of experience in the industry. Bonafide is eager to begin working with a new cohort of welding students: "Being able to work with students across different generations and disciplines is something I've always worked hard at; I can't wait to share my knowledge and experience with a new generation of welders."

The Plumbing Certificate Program prepares students for entry-level employment in the residential plumbing trade. The training includes a strong foundation in plumbing theory and hands-on instruction in areas such as safety procedures, tool and material use, pipe fitting, fixture installation, and system maintenance. Students will also complete the OSHA 10-Hour Construction Safety training.

Instruction is provided by Walter Szczesny, a lifelong Batavia resident and Master Plumber who has owned and operated WTS Plumbing since 1993. Szczesny brings a lifetime of experience to share with his students: "I am excited to take my 45 years of knowledge and experience in the plumbing industry and pass it on to the next generation of plumbers with the skills needed to succeed in the field."

The BEST Center at Genesee Community College is the recognized regional leader in workforce development, offering targeted seminars, workshops, and training programs to strengthen both individuals and businesses throughout the GLOW region. To learn more about the BEST Center's offerings, please visit our Technical Programs page.

Press Release:

Assemblyman Steve Hawley (R, C-Batavia) is holding his Annual New York State Assembly Summer Reading Challenge to help encourage good reading habits and continued learning this summer. This year's theme is “Color Our World,” in cooperation with Summer Reading at New York Libraries. All students in grades K through 7 living in the 139th Assembly District during the 2024-2025 school year are eligible.

Students who pledge and complete reading for at least 15 minutes each day for at least 40 days during the months of July and August will be presented a New York State Excellence in Reading Certificate from Hawley.

“I’m excited to announce this challenge for the kids in our communities,” Hawley said, “Reading is an incredibly important part of any child’s education, and I hope this challenge will instill the value of learning in them. I know this is a great opportunity for our kids, and it will be a great way to kick off the summer!”

Any parents and guardians who would like to enroll their child in the 2025 Summer Reading Challenge may fill out the following registration form: https://forms.gle/1zttcs7m6Y8ioGS57.

You can watch Assemblyman Hawley’s full video announcement here.

Press Release:

Go Art is thrilled to announce the opening of three captivating new exhibitions, featuring the diverse talents of the Genesee region BOCES Graphic Arts students, Matthew Fox, and one of GO Art’s staff members, Jodi Fisher. Join us at GO Art for the opening reception on June 19, from 6 to 8 p.m.

On display in our Oliver’s Gallery is the exhibit "Through a Lens,&" featuring the work of photographer and poet Jodi Fisher, a collection of nature photography showcasing some of her recent work.

Jodi invites the public to see her raw, unaltered photographs, which bring into focus how random things can be intensely interesting, especially when light, shadows, and angles come into play. Everyone who views this body of work will agree that Jodi successfully achieved her intention to transform the simple and sometimes mundane subject matter into an art piece.

Jodi says, “Each photograph captures not only what I see at any given moment, but it also tells a story about how simply looking at something from a different angle changes the whole feeling and mood of the piece”.

Contemporary painter Matthew Fox's collection offers the public a contemplative introspection in his exhibition, so aptly titled “Beyond Boundaries: Form and Fantasy.” 

Matt says, “In my work, I explore the convergence of the visceral and the ethereal through bold color relationships and symbolic imagery. My paintings oscillate between representational and abstract forms, creating visual narratives that examine our relationship with both the microscopic world within us and the vast cosmos beyond."

Matt Fox (b. 1985) is a contemporary painter based in Batavia, New York. Working primarily in acrylics, Fox creates vibrant, symbolically rich compositions that bridge the gap between scientific understanding and emotional experience.

Featured in the Rotary Gallery are over 50 art pieces created by Genesee Valley BOCES Graphic Arts Students. Their work explores the impact of color use in art and its effect on our emotions. The public will see diverse interpretations of this subject through the eyes of our young graphic artists.

GO Art! invites the public to immerse themselves in these three new exhibitions and support our talented artists.

Both Matt and Jodi will give brief artists’ talks at 6:30 p.m. during the reception. Justin Reynolds will provide live music. 

As always, all exhibition receptions are FREE to the public, but the experience is invaluable. For more information, please contact GO ART! at 585-343-9313.

Submitted photos.

Press Release:

On Tuesday, June 3, the Batavia City School District proudly hosted its 2025 Athletic Awards and Senior Signing Event at the Frank E. Owen Auditorium at Batavia High School. For the first time, the District combined its annual athletic awards with its senior college signing ceremony, bringing families, coaches, and the community together for a powerful evening of student-athlete recognition.

Led by Director of Health, Physical Education, and Interscholastic Sports, Joel Reed, the event honored dozens of Batavia student-athletes for their exceptional dedication, performance, leadership, and sportsmanship throughout the school year.

Award Recipients:

Batavia Coaches Association Outstanding Achievement Award - Ava Anderson, Mason Bellamy, Mallory Boyce, Grant Gahagan, Cameron Garofalo, Zailen Griffin, Jenna Higgins, Nate Kinsey, Cooper Konieczny, Sofia Lawrence, Jaimin Macdonald, Campbell Riley, Ella Shamp, Sheldon Siverling, Madeline Smith, Neveah Thomas, Amelia Tripp, Ava Wierda, E'Nhazje Carter, Karizma Wescott, Adyson O'Donnell, Keagan Calmes, Anna DiRisio, London Graham, Jamari Irvin, Karvel Martino, Ja'Lon Richardson, Isaac Varland

Awards of Excellence - Ava Anderson, Cooper Banser, Joshua Barone, Madeline Bellamy, Kylee Brennan, Jeremiah Childs, Greyson Fix, William Fulton, Grant Gahagan, Cameron Garofalo, London Graham, Zailen Griffin, Hassan Harris, Jamari Irvin, Cooper Konieczny, Jaimin Macdonald, Jameson Motyka, Campbell Riley, Jon Smith Jr., Justin Smith, Ashlyn Spring-Nicometo, Trevor Tryon

Varsity Club Award - Abigail Bestine, Zailen Griffin, Talyn Kennedy, Kelsey Kirkwood, Jon Smith Jr., Justin Smith, Lillian Emerson, Cooper Banser, Gavynn Trippany, Trevor Tryon

Outstanding Physical Education Student Award - Austin Costrino Jr., Ashlyn Spring-Nicometo

Maddie Bartz Cheer Memorial Award - Payton Vickery

Dr. Pierce Sportsmanship Award - Ava Wierda, Dillon Hale (accepted posthumously by Dillon’s parents, Diane and Larry Hale)

Burk Family Scholarship for Excellence in Track & Community Service - Cameron Garofalo

Burk Family Scholarship for Excellence in Football & Community Service - Greyson Fix

Thomas Ricci Memorial Scholarship - Grant Gahagan

Jason Gioia Memorial Scholarship - Brady Mazur

Project Play WNY Multisport Athletic Award - Madden Legler, Alyssa Turner

Daniel Van Detta Memorial Scholarship - Bronx Buchholz

United States Air Force Scholar Athlete - Jakob Hutchins, Kylee Brennan

United States Army Reserve National Scholar Athlete - William Fulton, Madeline Bellamy

United States Navy Outstanding Athlete Award - Cooper Konieczny, Nicole Doeringer

United States Marine Corps Distinguished Athlete Award - Samuel Pies, Roan Finn

1947 Club Athletics Award - Carter Mullen, Jaimin Macdonald

Batavia Lions Club Athletic Award - Cameron Garofalo

Batavia Coaches Association Scholar Athlete Award - Jeremiah Childs, Ava Anderson

Batavia Coaches Association Athlete of the Year - Jameson Motyka, Campbell Riley

Senior College Athletic Signings:

• Bronx Buchholz: Monroe Community College (Baseball)
• Nicole Doeringer: St. John Fisher University (Women’s Ice Hockey)
• Greyson Fix: Alfred State (Football)
• Grant Gahagan: SUNY Geneseo (Men’s Indoor/Outdoor Track & Field)
• Cameron Garofalo: SUNY Geneseo (Men’s Indoor/Outdoor Track & Field, Cross Country)
• Brady Mazur: SUNY Broome Community College (Baseball)
• Carter Mullen: Alfred University (Football)
• Sheldon Siverling: Clemson University (Men’s Indoor/Outdoor Track & Field)
• Alyssa Turner: Alfred State (Women’s Soccer)
• Ava Wierda: Roberts Wesleyan University (Women’s Indoor/Outdoor Track & Field)

Submitted photos.

Press Release:

On Pentecost Sunday (June 8) Buffalo Catholic Diocese Bishop Michael Fisher bestowed the gifts of the Holy Spirit upon Confirmation candidates from Resurrection (Batavia and Oakfield,) Ascension (Batavia) and Our Lady of Mercy, St. Brigid (Le Roy and Bergen) Parishes at St. Joseph's Cathedral in Buffalo, completing their full initiation into the Catholic Church.

Congratulations and God bless!

Submitted photos.

Press Release:

The Statewide Community Regrant Program (SCR) is a regrant program of the New York State Council on the Arts (NYSCA), developed in 1977 to ensure that the state’s cultural funding reaches every part of New York State. The cornerstone of SCR is its focus on local decision making through a transparent and competitive Peer Review Panel Process. 

Through SCR, it is possible for GO ART! to support local artists and organizations that are seeking to creatively engage their communities through art-related projects and programming in Genesee and Orleans Counties.

GO ART! will regrant $385,000 through SCR to artists and nonprofit organizations for projects and programming taking place in 2025. Statewide Community Regrant Program grantees are selected from two rounds of applications. The first round concluded in November with a second round open now and closing June 20.

The Peer Review Panel recommended funding for forty-six applications in the first round. Applicants were eligible to apply for up to a total of $5,000 in the categories of Community Arts (Reach) and Arts Education (Spark), and $3,000 for Individual Artist Commissions (Ripple). The categories and recipients are as follows:

REACH: The GO ART! Community Arts Grants (Reach Grants) provide seed grants to individual artists, collectives and arts organizations for projects and activities that enable Genesee and Orleans County communities to experience and engage with the performing, literary, media, and visual arts. Each year the program supports arts projects, including concerts, performances, public art, exhibitions, screenings, festivals, workshops, readings, and more.

RIPPLE: The GO ART! Individual Artist Commission (Ripple Grant) supports local, artist-initiated activity and highlights the role of artists as important members of the community. The Commission is for artistic projects with outstanding artistic merit that work within a community setting.

SPARK: The Arts Education Program (Spark Grant) supports arts education projects for youth and/or senior learners. Emphasis is placed on the depth and quality of the creative process through which participants learn through or about the arts. Projects must focus on the exploration of art and the artistic process.

Artists, nonprofits, and municipalities seeking funding for arts-related projects, programming, and events in Genesee and Orleans Counties are encouraged to apply to the second round of Statewide Community Regrant Program (SCR) funding through GO ART!. 

For more information on applying for the Statewide Community Regrant Program visit: goart.org/grants or contact Jodi Fisher at jfisher@goart.org. 

These grants are made possible by the New York State Council on the Arts with the support of the Office of the Governor and the New York State Legislature.

Press Release:

The Genesee and Orleans County Health Departments (GO Health) are alerting the public to a noticeable increase in bat encounters. As the weather gets warmer, bats become more active and may occasionally find their way into homes, particularly in older homes that are not properly sealed.

“If you find a bat in your home, safely capture it and immediately contact the health department,” advised Darren Brodie, Environmental Health Director for GO Health. “We can assess whether there was potential exposure and if the bat needs to be tested. If you are unable to safely capture the bat, call the health department for guidance on the next steps to take.”

In certain situations, a bat bite may go unnoticed. For example, if you wake up and find a bat in your room, discover a bat in a child’s bedroom, or see one near someone who is under the influence or otherwise impaired, it’s important to seek medical advice and have the bat tested for rabies.

To safely capture a bat:

• Turn on all the lights and close all the windows.
• Close the room and closet doors.
• Wait for the bat to land.
• While wearing thick leather-like gloves, place a coffee can, pail or similar container over the bat (Never handle a bat with your bare hands).
• Carefully slide a piece of cardboard under the container to trap the bat.
• Hold the cardboard firmly against the container, turn it right side up and tape the cardboard tightly to the container.

To watch a short video on how to safely capture a bat, check out this GO Health Minute.

If you do not feel comfortable capturing the bat or cannot do it safely, contact your local health department during regular business hours.

• Genesee County: 585-344-2580 x5555
• Orleans County: 585-589-3278

If it is after regular business hours, contact your county dispatch.

• Genesee County: 585-343-5000
• Orleans County: 585-589-5527

The Genesee County Sheriff’s Office is investigating a fatal single-vehicle crash involving a tractor-trailer that occurred Wednesday morning on Arnold Road in the Town of Elba.

According to a news release from the Sheriff’s Office, the county’s Emergency Dispatch Center received a 9-1-1 call at 11:18 a.m. reporting a tractor-trailer rollover. Responding patrols found the vehicle overturned in a ditch, with the driver trapped inside.

Multiple fire departments, Genesee County Emergency Management, Mercy EMS, and the Batavia Police Department assisted at the scene.

A preliminary investigation determined that a 2015 Freightliner hauling liquid manure was traveling southbound on Arnold Road, negotiating a left curve, when it began to roll and ultimately came to rest on its roof. 

The driver, identified as Joseph Merica, 62, of Le Roy, was pronounced dead at the scene by Coroners Karen Lang and Don Newton.

The primary cause of the collision remains under investigation. Anyone who witnessed the crash is asked to contact Deputy Jon Dimmig at the Genesee County Sheriff’s Office at (585) 345-3000 ext. 3243.

The Strawberry Moon gets its name from the ripening of strawberries during this time of year, as well as other spring harvests and animal behavior.

This year's Strawberry Moon was significantly lower in the sky than usual due to a major lunar standstill. 

This standstill is a period when the moon's orbit reaches an extreme tilt relative to Earth's equator, causing it to rise and set at more extreme points on the horizon.  

Photo taken at 345am by Steve Ognibene

The murder of Michael Poole, a 59-year-old Olcott resident, was calculated and driven by paranoia, District Attorney Kevin Finnell told jurors on Tuesday during opening statements in the trial of Edward A. "Eddie" Dunn, the man accused of killing Poole and leaving his body in bed of a pickup truck in the town of Alabama.

Dunn has denied the charges against him.

According to Finnell's account of events, Dunn shot Poole in the head after suspecting him of knowing too much about a string of burglaries allegedly committed by Dunn and his friend, Katherine “Kat” Henry. 

Poole’s body was discovered on March 19, 2024, in Alabama in the bed of his own pickup truck, abandoned and buried under a pile of debris and towels. 

“Michael deserved to die. Why? Because he was a man who knew too much,” Finnell said to the jury in his opening remarks. 

He described the killing as an execution, saying Dunn, armed with a .22 caliber rifle, shot Poole multiple times before attempting to cover up the crime. 

The prosecution highlighted the timeline of events leading to Poole’s death, claiming that Dunn and Henry had been staying with Norman "Bud" Dubois in Middleport while committing burglaries across the region. 

On March 17, 2024, Henry allegedly called Poole for a ride for her and Dunn. They had known each other in the past. When they returned from scouting out a laundromat, the prosecution says, Dunn fatally shot Poole from the back seat of Poole’s truck. 

Evidence recovered includes shell casings, the murder weapon found in a crawlspace at Dubois’ home, and a fingerprint linking Dunn to the rifle. The truck was located on March 18, and Poole’s body was later found inside. 

The defense, led by attorney Casey Spencer, urged jurors to question the credibility of key witnesses, particularly Henry and Dubois, who she says are both unreliable due to their criminal histories and drug use. 

“You will not find physical evidence to support the narrative that’s been presented,” Spencer said. 

She stressed that Henry’s story changed only after she had been charged with second-degree murder. She also suggested that the evidence could have been tampered with in the three days that Henry and Dubois were alone in that house before a search warrant was issued. 

The defense also cast doubt on the forensic value of the fingerprint that was found on the rifle, arguing that it cannot be said that was the last time that Dunn handled the weapon. 

The case will resume Wednesday at 9:15 a.m., with further testimony from law enforcement, forensic experts, and key witnesses, including Henry and Dubois. 

The trial is anticipated to last until June 20.

Press Release:

Rochester Regional Health (RRH) is proud to announce that The Wound Care Center at United Memorial Medical Center (UMMC) has achieved clinical and operational recognition from Healogics, the nation’s largest provider of advanced wound care services.

UMMC Wound Care & Hyperbaric Medicine Center earned the most prestigious Healogics’ award, the President’s Circle Designation, and was the only center in New York State to achieve this esteemed honor.

The Center also earned designation as a Center of Excellence and Center of Distinction for 2024. These national awards recognize Wound Care Centers that consistently demonstrate high performance in several key areas including patient satisfaction, wound healing rates and overall clinical outcomes. This recognition verifies that the wound care team at UMMC achieved outstanding clinical outcomes for 12 consecutive months, including a patient satisfaction rate higher than 92 percent. This is the 9th year in a row UMMC has received the Center of Distinction recognition and the 2nd year as a Center of Excellence.

“We are incredibly proud of the team at United Memorial Medical Center Wound Care & Hyperbaric Medicine for once again being recognized by Healogics for their exceptional commitment to patient care,” said Daniel P. Ireland, EVP, Chief Nursing Executive and Patient Care Officer for Rochester Regional Health. “Earning these prestigious designations for nearly a decade reflects the unwavering dedication of our clinicians, nurses, and support staff to providing advanced, evidence-based wound care. Their work not only improves healing outcomes but truly transforms lives in our community.”

United Memorial Wound Care & Hyperbaric Medicine uses an interdisciplinary approach that includes specialized practitioners together with the latest advances in wound care management and technologies to assure quality outcomes. The team specializes in the treatment of chronic wounds including diabetic foot ulcers, pressure ulcers, infections, and other wounds that have not healed in a reasonable amount of time. Many patients who find relief at UMMC Wound Care have been suffering after months or years of other treatments have been unsuccessful.

As a hospital-based outpatient service, the center uses the most up-to-date approaches to wound healing including use of hyperbaric oxygen therapy and remains current in the latest scientific advances in wound care.

After Erik Fix became assistant city manager in July 2022, his kids asked him all the time when he would get his next job, he had said. 

After all, he had only been president of the Genesee County Chamber of Commerce for 15 months, and was at the United Way a few years before that. 

After landing the city of Batavia job, he said to The Batavian he had no plans to leave any time soon, however, his time has now come.

Fix will be leaving to become chief executive officer for GLOW YMCA, a role left vacant by Rob Walker earlier this year.

City Manager Rachael Tabelski announced his impending departure during Monday’s City Council meeting, after realizing that he will have one more meeting to go before leaving.

 "I just want to wish you all the best … so I’m a little premature, but I anticipate we’ll continue to work together frequently in these capacities,” she said. “You’ve led with integrity, compassion and vision, qualities that have not only strengthened our operations but also inspired the staff.”

YMCA facilities are familiar stomping grounds for Fix, a resident of Le Roy. He previously held several positions with the Genesee Family YMCA, including serving as Genesee YMCA branch manager and director of camping services at Camp Hough in Perry. 

He began his employment with the YMCA after graduating from Roberts Wesleyan College with a bachelor of science degree in organization management.

The Oakfield-Alabama Central School District is facing a unique challenge—convincing voters to pass a 2025-26 school budget that requires a tax cap override. 

District officials say a tax cap override, without difficult spending cuts, is unavoidable due to the ongoing economic development in the community.

To avoid a tax cap override, the district would need to reduce the tax levy under the state’s tax complicated cap formula, which requires school districts to account for Payments in Lieu of Taxes (PILOTs) from new business projects under development in the community. 

The tax cap levy mark under the formula for the district this budget year is -2.61%.

The proposed budget is $25,555,345, representing a $533,000 increase from the current year’s adopted budget. The proposed levy is $5,839,050, or $142,416 over the current levy.

The budget vote on May 21 failed, and board members shared during Monday night’s budget hearing that feedback from district voters indicated there was confusion over spending, the need for the override, school bus expenses, and capital project spending.

The district is presenting the same budget proposal to voters, which some residents find confusing, according to a couple of speakers. 

There were about 20 residents, plus board members, in the audience for the hearing, which Board President Justin Staebell said was the biggest turnout he's seen for a school district budget meeting.

Laura Kowalczyk, business administrator, explained the board’s reasoning, “There was a lot of communication between the residents, between the board, and between the staff, to answer a lot of questions and discuss these things. And the conclusion was that we should, with additional information and having answered questions, we should present the same budget to the voters the second time, with clarifications being made.”

The budget includes the purchase of three diesel buses—a full-size bus, a small bus with a wheelchair lift, and another small bus—following the district’s replacement cycle. 

“These are all diesel buses, and these will be aided at 90% over the next five years,” Kowalczyk said.

The district is also preparing for the state’s coming electric bus mandate.

Alabama resident Jessica Gang had several questions during the meeting. She wanted to understand better what was driving the board's decision to come back with essentially the same budget as the one that had been voted down.

"I do want my kids to have a wonderful education, but I don't understand how we got here," Gang said. "It felt like you guys said you're going to have to keep increasing taxes for the foreseeable future, so I guess I just wanted to know there are some changes on the horizon," Gang said.

Board member Malorie Benjamin empathized with Gang.

“I agree. I don’t want my taxes to go up. I don’t want to pay anymore, but at the end of the day, I also like all the options our kids are afforded here as a community, we have a lot of things that most rural school districts don’t have and a lot of opportunities for kids to be involved, and I don’t want to see any of those go away,” Benjamin said.

At the heart of the district's tax levy challenge is the influx of projects coming into WNY STAMP, particularly this year's projects, such as Edward's Vacuum, and how these projects complicate the state’s tax cap formula. 

“The reason that our tax cap is negative this going into next school year is that we have a PILOT payment from them that is coming on our rolls," said Superintendent John Fisgus. "So if you have that tax formula, you know formula here, you’ll see that the prior year tax levy number is always the first number that goes into this formula, and then there’s a growth factor that’s set. And then the next number is you add on the prior year's PILOT payments. So that’s what we have this year.”

Fisgus also addressed alternatives to PILOTs, such as educational contribution agreements (ECAs), which provide revenue that does not count against the tax levy and offer more flexibility in budgeting.

“One of the things, too, that school districts are getting into are these ECAs, these educational contribution agreements, instead of PILOT payments," he said. "When PILOT payments come on for school districts, it does have a negative tax impact on your tax levy. So, receiving that money really gives us more freedom to use it for what we need it for."

The district aims to negotiate Economic Development Agreements (ECAs) with companies relocating to the area, such as a proposed data center for WNY STAMP in the town of Alabama.

If the budget does not receive at least 60 percent approval, the district must adopt a contingency budget. Kowalczyk said,

“If this proposed budget doesn’t pass, the board will adopt a contingent budget, and there are parameters that go into what contingent expenses are and are not. So, all non-contingent expenses will have to be removed from this budget. So that includes equipment, our bus purchases, our transfer to capital, and our capital outlay expense. The district can also not allow the free use of facilities, so we cannot incur any costs for outside organizations to use the facilities.”

Fisgus said the district is proud to provide its facilities for community groups to use during non-school hours, and that use has increased over the years. If that budget fails, there will be a radical change for the community.

“It seems like this place is now open -- we’re getting 24/7 coverage, which includes 12–14 hours on a Saturday and 12–14 hours on a Sunday," Fisgus said. Obviously, we need to staff, to have people here. We just can’t incur those costs when you know our custodial or maintenance crew are working overtime and those additional hours.”

Community groups would likely be required, in that case, to pay a user fee, Fisgus said.

"We will have to go back and review our facilities use fee. I want to say they’re $50 an hour," Fisgus said. "We’re going to have to go back and make sure that we are not incurring any costs moving forward when an outside organization uses our facilities.”

Salaries and benefits account for approximately 63 percent of the budget, with other categories including debt service, BOCES, shared services, and capital outlay. The district plans to use $738,000 of appropriated fund balance and $470,470 of reserves.

Fisgus emphasized that there is no relationship at all between the proposed budget and the capital improvement project approved by voters last year,  except for the planned transfer to capital.

“This capital project is already taken care of. It’s already been approved," Fisgus said. "But this work is going to continue and be completed by the end of next fall. Whether this budget is approved or not. It’s really two separate buckets. People get confused a little bit about this project being in the budget.” 

In order to avoid spending peaks and valleys, Fisgus said it is important to keep finances level year to year, especially as it relates to debt service.

“As far as the funding goes, we have debt service falling off from the last project, and we have this transfer to capital coming on with this project, which is part of our budget," Fisgus said. "What we’re doing is we’re keeping it a flat line. So, you don’t want to see the ups and downs, the ebbs and flows, of debt service falling off and new expenses. So it’s very systematic in that we keep everything at a level pace.”

The district’s history shows that proposed tax levy increases have typically stayed below the tax cap calculation in recent years. The board emphasized the importance of maintaining the budget to ensure long-term sustainability and avoid future financial issues.

“So cutting that stuff out gets you through this year, keeps you at zero percent, but next year you’re going to have to deal with it—you can’t just keep pushing off the buses," Staebell said. "Eventually, you’ve got to replace them. If you don’t start to get the additional revenue, then you have to make more of the long-term cuts to make the budget work. That’s where we’re looking at the long term—what can we do to trim and make those lasting cuts that are sustainable in the district? The additional revenue in this budget is what helps keep things going as we continue to work through and figure out what we can cut long term.”

Benjamin said the board received a good deal of useful feedback from community members in a survey the district took after the budget vote failed, and that factored into how the board approached representing the budget to voters.

“I think the reason for part of why we made that decision collectively was related to the fact that we heard the feedback we took into account," Benjamin said. "It’s not perfect, right? Because we didn’t hear from every single voter in the community, but it was some level of information. What we found was that there was a lot of misinformation about this particular budget. So I think what we were trying to focus on was whether it was an educational failure on our part to give people the information so that they can make an informed decision."

The survey will help inform the board going forward, she said.

"I think there’s a lot in that survey that we learned that we’re trying to make action on at this point in time, but none of that was things we could do in a week’s time to actually make an impact the longer term things that we need to address, and I think we’re all committed to actively taking action on those things,” Benjamin said.

Board member Maria Thompson said the board has put a lot of time and thought into the budget, and the community has been in constant communication, providing them with feedback to consider.

“We have put in a considerable amount of time here and on the weekends," Thompson said. "I was at a tournament in Olean, coaching my daughter’s softball team. I’m on third base coaching, and I’m texting people. They’re asking questions. So I mean, again, maybe it’s just, you know, lip service at this point, but I promise you, we have heard and we it’s not going to stop on June 17, at 8:01 p.m., this is something that we are going to be working diligently towards, not just for this budget, but for future budgets as well. We’ve got a lot of feedback, and we appreciate the community for coming forward and doing that.”

The budget revote is scheduled for Tuesday, June 17, from 11 a.m. to 8 p.m. in the Middle High Community Room.