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Future Farmers of America hosted two competitions at the Genesee County Fair on Wednesday, a tractor operations competition and a welding competition.

Photos by Debra Reilly.

Press Release:

U.S. Senate Majority Leader Charles E. Schumer today announced he will bring the Kids Online Safety Act (KOSA) and the Children and Teens’ Online Privacy Protection Act (COPPA 2.0) to the Senate floor for a vote. Schumer, who for months worked with families & advocates to garner support for this legislation, explained these bipartisan bills represent some of the most robust federal tech reforms for children in decades, and will institute a set of safeguards, accountability, and privacy measures that shield children in New York and across the country from the harms created by social media companies and other online platforms. You can watch Schumer’s remarks announcing this on the Senate floor here.

“Children and teens have been subjected to online harassment, bullying, and other harms for far too long. This legislation will require social media companies to design their products with the safety of kids and teens in mind, bans targeted advertising to kids, provides parents with tools to protect their kids and gives families more options for managing and disconnecting from these platforms,” said Senator Schumer. “Over the past few months, I’ve met with families from across New York and the country who have gone through the worst thing a parent could endure – losing a child. Rather than retreating into the darkness of their loss, these families lit a candle for others with their advocacy to better control social media and online excesses. I am proud to work side-by-side with them to better protect our children online and on social media.”

The Kids Online Safety Act (KOSA) will create more requirements for platforms to create a safe online environment for kids and teens. The bipartisan bill will:

1. Require platforms to give kids and teens the option to protect their data and opt out of algorithmic recommendations.
2. Allow parents to control how their kids’ information is used and require platforms to create a dedicated channel to report harmful behavior.
3. Obligate platforms to prevent and mitigate dangers to minors by limiting the promotion of harmful behavior such as suicide, eating disorders, substance abuse, and sexual exploitation.
4. Require independent audits to research how social media platforms impact kids’ and teens’ mental health and well-being.

The Children and Teens’ Online Privacy Protection Act (COPPA 2.0) strengthens online privacy protections for kids and teens. The bipartisan bill builds on the original Children and Teens’ Online Privacy Protection Act signed into law in 1998 which created protections for children under the age of 13, and will:

1. Prohibit internet companies from collecting data from users under the age of 17 without their consent, increasing the age from COPPA’s legislation.
2. Ban advertising that targets kids and teens.
3. Revise the requirement established in COPPA that obligates platforms to protect kids and teens if they have “actual knowledge” of their age, instead covering all platforms that are “reasonably likely to be used” by kids and teens.
4. Require companies to allow the deletion of data for kids and teens when possible.
5. Establish a “Digital Marketing Bill of Rights for Teens” that limits how data is collected from teens.
6. Create a Youth Marketing and Privacy Division at the Federal Trade Commission.

Schumer has been a leading advocate for kids’ online safety and for months worked to overcome issues, senators blocking the bill, and address unintended consequences of the bills. Now, Schumer is moving both bills forward in the Senate after working tirelessly to secure bipartisan support, with a vote possible as early as this week.

The U.S. Surgeon General last month released an advisory about the impact of social media on youth mental health. The advisory revealed that youth who spend more than three hours each day on social media are twice as likely to experience poor mental health outcomes such as depression and anxiety, which is concerning because a study from 2021 showed that 77% of high school students in NYC spend an average of three or more hours each day in front of screens on school days. 

According to the Surgeon General’s advisory, 46% of youth said that social media makes them feel worse and 95% of young people reported using a social media platform, with more than one-third saying they used social media constantly. In addition, the report said that social media use is related to poor sleep quality, body dissatisfaction, disordered eating behaviors, social comparison, and low self-esteem. A Pew Research study from March 2024 also showed that 44% of teens said that their smartphone made them feel anxious and only 30% of teens said it helped their peers develop social skills.

A Wall Street Journal investigation showed that TikTok was showing minors hundreds of videos about drug use, and at least 20 children died as a result of an online social media challenge between Spring 2021 and Fall 2022. These experiences demonstrate the harmful impacts of social media on kids and teens and highlight the need for stronger legislation like what is being brought to the floor this week.

Press Release:

The Western New York Chapter of the Alzheimer’s Association will hold a community forum and resource fair for Genesee County residents living with or caring for someone with Alzheimer’s disease or another form of dementia.

The free event will take place from 2 to 4:30 p.m. on Tuesday, August 20, at the Genesee County Office for the Aging, located at 2 Bank St. in Batavia.

“No individual or family should navigate the challenges of Alzheimer’s disease alone,” says Chelsea Torgalski, program manager for the WNY Chapter. “This forum is an opportunity to bring together community members affected by the disease and dedicated staff and volunteers to talk about the services available to them.”

A resource fair will feature information on the free resources available in Genesee County, including respite, safety services, education and support, and a dementia care specialist will be available to answer questions. Free safety items and light refreshments will be provided.

“We'll review the basics of Alzheimer’s, dementia and memory loss, the services offered by the Alzheimer's Association, and how we can expand the reach of local programs and services,” Torgalski says. “Bring a friend and share your thoughts on how the Alzheimer's Association can help more people in Genesee County.”

Interested individuals are encouraged to register as soon as possible at bit.ly/GenResourceFair24 or by calling 800.272.3900.

More than 200 people gathered on Tuesday evening for the annual Genesee County Fair parade, which drew people from all around Western New York.

To view or purchase photos, click here.

Press Release:

Bobby is Back! The Elba Betterment Committee is so looking forward to local musician Bobby and the Pedestrians back to the Village Park for our summer concert series on Thursday, July 25. The music starts at 6:30 p.m.

Bobby and the boys perform “high energy cosmic rock born around a fire that smelled faintly of onions”.

Starting at 5:30 p.m., you can enjoy food and beverages from Islands Hawaiian Grill, Agatina’s Italian Restaurant, Lizzies Ice Cream Truck and Circle B Winery. 

At the band’s request, we will be holding a 50/50 to benefit the PAWS Amimal Shelter in Albion. We continue to collect items for the Open Hearts Club Food Pantry at every concert.

All concerts are made possible with funds from the Statewide Community Regrant Program, a regrant program of the NYS Council on the Arts with the support of the Office of the Governor and the NYS Legislature and administered by GO Art. 

Be there or be out of the loop!

Press Release:

Norm Argulsky to be honored as RML Friend of the Year The Friends of the Richmond Memorial Library have named Norm Argulsky as the 2024 Friend of the Year.

Among many other volunteer roles in the community, Norm has served on the Richmond Memorial Library Board of Trustees for 12 years in the capacity of Trustee, Vice President and President, finishing his tenure in June of 2024.

Norm was nominated for this honor by library staff and Friends of the Library President Kathy Zipkin.

“Norm’s dedication to his community and outstanding leadership are unparalleled, and the library is so grateful for his years of service,” shares Assistant Library Director Samantha Stryker. “We’re so excited to honor him at the reception on August 3.”

Norm will be honored at a reception at the library on Saturday, August 3 at 11 a.m. All are welcome to join the Friends in honoring Norm. Light refreshments will be served.

The Richmond Memorial Library is located at 19 Ross Street, Batavia. Information about library services and programs may be found at batavialibrary.org.

Photos by Howard Owens

The Midway at the Genesee County Fair opened on Tuesday.

The schedule for the rest of the week:

• Wednesday, Noon to 9 p.m., kids 16 and under ride for $20/wristband from noon to 4 p.m.
• Thursday, 4 to 9 p.m.
• Friday, Noon to 9 p.m
• Saturday, Noon to 9 p.m., kids 16 and under ride for $20/wristband from noon to 4 p.m.

Photos by Howard Owens.

While waiting for the Genesee County Fair Parade to start on Tuesday evening, Genesee County Legislator Gordon Dibble recalled what he enjoyed as a kid while visiting the summer fair.

“The rides, ice cream cones, it’s really a great place to go,” he said, adding why he thinks it’s an important event for the community. “Because it has its roots in the community, in farming, and that’s what we’re about. You know, the animals and all the shows, and it has something for everybody, with a demolition derby … the numbers go up every year here in recent history. So somebody’s doing something right.”

After the parade, Dibble joined his fellow legislators at the fair’s staple eatery, the Chuck Wagon, slinging burgers, calling out orders, and cashing out hungry customers. The group has done this for several years in a row now as a way to give back to the yearly event, right after walking in the parade, tucked between the newly crowned queen and some well-groomed farm animals. 

Legislature Chair Shelley Stein was in charge of the fry station as she reminisced decades ago when she was growing up nearby.

“Probably when I came with my boyfriend back, you know, 40-some years ago to the Genesee County Fair. I grew up around fairs. My fair was Seneca County. So we always showed holsteins and were part of 4-H clubs,” she said, answering what most comes to mind when she thinks about those fairs. “The fact that we would go well prepared, and that our animals had good care at home, and they had a good time with us so that they led really well.

"I'm one of six. So we had to compete in an amongst us before we could even go to the fair, and compete against others,” Stein said. “So learning responsibility about caring for our animals and being responsible for yourself, those are really good character builders through 4-H. So those are my memories.”

And why do you think the fair is important for the community?
“This is a piece of our culture here. We are so rooted in our agricultural side of our county, and we really treasure and steward our land, our farmers, the career opportunities that that brings to our community,” Stein said. “You know, the Farm Bureau is important here, our Ag Society, the volunteers that work here tirelessly, all year long, everybody picks up their little piece. And this fair week offers opportunity to our 4-Hers, it is the culmination of their year here at the fair, and the fun that they have, but really learning about responsibility.”

Why does Genesee County’s fair seem to just keep growing when others have closed?
Stein’s answer is quick and to the point: The county’s Agricultural Society volunteers. 

“That’s our secret sauce,” she said. “These folks don’t just volunteer for that for one week out of the year. There are horse shows here, there are beef shows here, there are car shows here. They use this facility and this resource to really help to put money back into our buildings the the grounds itself,” she said. “They’ve tapped into soil and water so that we could improve the drainage here, and we could put stacking pads here for the manure. They’re business people that are really interested in having this fair continue past them. It’s not going to fail on their watch. And they’re really incredible volunteers.”

Legislator Brooks Hawley agreed with that sentiment — it’s “the people behind the scenes” that keeps the place afloat, he said. He likes that sense of “everybody coming together,” and it’s not just the farming population but people from throughout the region who appreciate what Genesee County has to offer,  he said.

“I’m also part of Cornell Cooperative Extension, which is a huge part of putting on this fair and helping it out with everything,” he said about the agency’s role in overseeing the 4-H program. “And being part of that committee, I learned everything behind the scenes and see how important this is. And it’s a great thing to see. I’m glad it’s very successful.”

Legislator Gregg Torrey, who grew up on a small dairy farm, remembers the fair as something his family always went to. His dad, having known everyone in the industry, could “always find a place for us to volunteer.”

“So that was always fun,” Torrey said. “My mom was the county Republican chairman, so we always volunteered to work the Republican booth. It’s always fun to come out and go on the rides as a kid and see everybody from the farming industry, cousins and neighbors and everybody you didn’t see here. So everybody seems to come out and have a good time.”

Visiting the fair, with its plethora of animal exhibits, gives Legislator Gary Maha more appreciation for farmers “and what they do with the food they grow for us,” he said. He did note a more recent trend of farmland being used for solar panels, and while “I understand the farmers’ point of view, you can’t tell them what to do with their land … personally, I hate to see all the solar farms going up on farmland.”

As for the fair itself, it’s more for the kids, he said. 

“You know, getting the young kids interested in agriculture and farming,” he said. “A lot of these farmers have a lot of young kids, and they enjoyed this week; they spend the entire week up here.”

Press Release:

The Genesee County Health Department receives funding from the New York State Department of Health (NYSDOH) to carry out the Healthy Neighborhoods Program (HNP). Residents in the Town and City of Batavia are eligible to participate. 

The program offers free home evaluations for asthma triggers, indoor air quality, lead-based paint hazards, fire risks, and other health hazards. At the home evaluations, residents are educated on asthma management, childhood lead poisoning prevention, carbon monoxide poisoning, radon gas, fire safety and prevention, and other home safety issues. Safety and cleaning supplies are also available to eligible participants.

Staff from the program are going door to door in the City of Batavia to raise awareness about the program and look for participants. At the homes we visit, we leave a door hanger or flyer with contact information for the Health Department. 

During the summer we are focusing on Ward 3 (north of Main Street from Oak Street to State Street) and Ward 4 (the western edge of the city to Oak Street north of West Main Street and to Pearl Street south of West Main Street). We will be covering other areas of the City later in the year. Information on the streets we are visiting each week will be posted on the Health Department’s Facebook and Instagram account under GOHealthNY.

Go to https://bit.ly/HealthyNeighbors to request a home visit from the Healthy Neighborhoods Program for yourself or to refer someone to the program. Once the Health Department receives the request, a staff member will reach out to schedule a home evaluation. For more information, call Healthy Neighborhoods Program staff at 585-344-2580 ext. 5555 or visit www.GOHealthNY.org.

Press Release:

Supervisor Hensel has called a special meeting for the sole purpose of conducting an inspection of the condition of the highways and restoration of the areas which were disturbed during the construction of the water system. The Board will not take any action this meeting. 

The meeting is July 24 at 1 p.m. (arrive by 12:45 p.m. if possible) at Byron Town Hall. 7028 Byron Holley Rd. 

The Members of the Byron Town Board will be meeting at the Byron Town Hall to conduct a site inspection of Town of Byron Water Improvement Benefit Area #1. This Inspection is for informational purposes only. 

Representatives for the contractors, engineers, County and State highways, have, along with local officials, been invited to participate.

Some of the financial burden has been taken off of city leaders’ and local taxpayers’ shoulders with the announcement of a $1.2 million state grant that will be used for the ice chiller at the McCarthy Ice Rink in Batavia.

The funds are part of $7.3 million pool for climate-smart communities projects across New York State, and Batavia was chosen as one of several municipalities to receive financial assistance for a project that city and Genesee County officials have deemed worthy of the “Climate Smart Communities” initiative.

County Manager Matt Landers appreciated the opportunity to support the state Department of Environmental Conservation in making the announcement, he said Tuesday at the Evans Street ice arena, considering that it’s for “vital funding for new climate projects.”

“This support underscores our commitment to sustainability and highlights the innovative efforts of our local communities in addressing climate change,” he said. “We look forward to seeing these projects have a positive impact on Batavia and beyond.”

City Council President Eugene Jankowski Jr. also lauded the funding that city leaders had applied for in December 2023 as part of budget discussions and future planning for how to pay for the chiller, expected to cost upwards of $4 million.

“The Ice Arena and the programs provided year-round make it a unique gathering place for all our residents to enjoy. It's much more than just a place for people to ice skate and play hockey; it’s also used for many different events throughout the year. Monday, August 5, in a few weeks, the arena will be hosting the Batavia Police Department's Community Night. It's an annual event that strengthens the community police partnerships and promotes safe neighborhoods,” Jankowski said. 

Jankowski said city leadership, including the City Council and City Manager Rachael Tabelski and her team are pleased with the growth of the ice arena as a community hub since operations were award to local businessman Matt Gray.

"Matt is a distinguished member of our community and serves on various boards and organizations. He's very committed to the ongoing revitalization of our downtown," Jankowski said. "His successful venture at Eli Fish Brewing Company in the heart of our downtown demonstrates his keen business knowledge which will be a valuable resource in operating the ice arena. 

“That's why the award we're announcing today through the New York State Climate Smart Communities program is so important to the future and success of our ice arena,” he said. “The grant will enhance the operations of the arena as a result of various energy efficiencies. The modern equipment that's being installed will not only reduce operational costs, but will also reduce emissions and lessen the arena’s environmental footprint.” 

The ice chiller caused considerable conversation during city budget talks after the council approved inevitable knee-jerk responses to keep the rink going with a failing chiller system two years ago. A council meeting in June 2023 brought out new operating manager Matt Gray and hockey league members to speak to the rink’s importance and reasons why the council should move forward with the big-ticket purchase.

A rapidly failing ice chiller wasn’t likely to survive another full season, and without a working chiller, of course, there would be no ice, no hockey program, and no evolving 12-month facility that had just celebrated “a great first year,” Gray said at the time.

Investing more and more money into the refrigerant necessary to keep the chiller going was a losing strategy, he and Tabelski said. 

She presented two options for purchasing a new chiller, and the less expensive one included this potential grant that just came through. In July 2023, the council approved a $2.5 million capital project to purchase a new chiller and evaporator system for the rink and to apply for this grant funding.

The new chiller will use less electricity and less water in the chilling process and allow rink operators to recapture and retire the 22 refrigerant, “which desperately needs to get out of our community,” Gray said. 

“And it will do it all in a manner that is safer for the users. At the end of the day, we are in the ice business. The ice is what pays the bills and allows us to do all the great things that the McCarthy does for our community,” he said. “On behalf of our largest grant users, the Batavia Ramparts, BND United, adult hockey, along with the David McCarthy Foundation, and the community as a whole, I would like to thank the city of Batavia for taking the leadership role in this, and the DEC for your commitment and funding to get this done.”

Tabelski was happy to see the ice arena, which she believes is “a true community asset,” become the benefactor of the Climate Smart Community Grant Program.

“To enhance the operations of the arena as well as provide cost savings while significantly reducing greenhouse gas emissions, which are key to New York State’s climate goals,” she said. 

She was not available for additional comments later Tuesday. 

Established in 2009, the interagency Climate Smart Communities program provides guidance and technical support to local governments to take locally-driven climate action. The first step to becoming a Climate Smart Community is to register by pledging to reduce emissions and adapt to climate change. To date, 425 local governments representing nearly 9.6 million New Yorkers, or approximately 50 percent of the State’s population, have adopted the Climate Smart Communities pledge.

Genesee County Legislative Chair Rochelle Stein said that the county was also “very excited” about the support provided by the state’s Energy Research and Development Authority (NYSERDA) to the ice rink.

“The rink is a center of healthy physical activity and quality of life for our residents,” Stein said. “Investments that extend the life of our local infrastructure with resiliency in practice are most welcome.”

The 4-H club held its goat show on Tuesday.

Photos by Debra Reilly.

The Genesee County Fair midway opened on Tuesday at 4 p.m.

The schedule for the rest of the week:

• Wednesday, Noon to 9 p.m., kids 16 and under ride for $20/wristband from noon to 4 p.m.
• Thursday, 4 to 9 p.m.
• Friday, Noon to 9 p.m
• Saturday, Noon to 9 p.m., kids 16 and under ride for $20/wristband from noon to 4 p.m.

The Genesee County Fair Parade is at 6:30 p.m. on Tuesday.

Photos by Howard Owens

The 4-H Market Hog Show at the Genesee County Fair was Monday.

Grand Champion Hog award went to Cody Carlson, and Reserve Grand was Jillian Weaver, both of Byron.

Photos by Laura Luft.  

The Batavian staff is at the fair all week, so stop by and say hello, enter our eagle-drawing contest and sign up to get all of the best Genesee County community news with The Batavian newsletter. 

Press Release:

“We’ve Only Just Begun” Sr. Luncheon is Tuesday, August 20 from 11:30 a.m. - 1:30 p.m. at the South Alabama Firehall on Route 63 located at 2230 Judge Road, Oakfield. We are open to the public and welcome all!

This month our returning special guest will be  “Daniel Viola, Standup Comedian”. Dan is 57 years old, a husband, father of 7, and a teacher in the Brockport school system.

Dan connects with any audience. Drawing on his background as a game show host, parent teacher, coach and salesman, he delivers energetic and relevant entertainment. His credits include comedy clubs, casinos, cruises, colleges and corporate events, as well as appearances on The Nashville Network and in TV commercials. You won’t want to miss Dan performing at our August Luncheon!

Bring your favorite dish-to-pass OR make a donation at the door! Come and enjoy lunch and an afternoon of fun with old and new friends.

Co-chairpersons: Michael Hamm and LaNora Thompson. Contact person LaNora Thompson (630) 888-8966.

With 28 singers and a large audience, the Genesee County Fair Karaoke Contest, hosted by Karaoke Club NY, on Monday evening, was a big hit.

The youth winners:

• 1st Jesse Reagan
• 2nd Hannah Beach
• 3rd Elle Williams 

The adult winners:

• 1st James Weston
• 2nd Seth Kibler
• 3rd Laura Guiste 

Food, fun and lots to do and see at the Genesee County Fair on Monday.  

The Midway opens Tuesday afternoon at 4 p.m. and the annual Genesee County Fair Parade starts at 6:30 p.m.

On Monday at the Genesee County Fair, 4-H members showed off their prize lambs in the Market Lamb Show.

Photos by Debra Reilly.