Batavia Downs Gaming & Hotel has announced that tickets are on sale dates for two upcoming events taking place this August at Batavia Downs Gaming & Hotel’s Park Place Room.
A “Sock Hop” to benefit Mothers of Veteran Suicide will take place on Monday, August 7 from 2 - 6 p.m. Special musical guests Ruby Shooz will play from 3 - 5 p.m. and there will be 50/50 and Penny Raffles as well as Silent Auction Items. Attendees are encouraged to wear their best “Grease” outfit for the costume contest. Tickets are $15 and you get back $15 in Free Play. Those with Military ID will receive a complimentary ticket. See all details on BataviaConcerts.com.
Seltzers and Sulkies presented by White Claw Hard Seltzer and Bud Light Seltzer will be on Saturday, August 19. The cost is $40 and includes Seltzer Sampling, Grazing Stations, $20 in Free Play, and a $5 wager on Live Racing at Batavia Downs which is happening that night. The event will run from 4 to 6:30 p.m.
Tickets for these events will be available at www.BataviaConcerts.com beginning on Friday, July 14 at 5 p.m. Hotel Deals for these events will go live on Monday, July 17.
“As we say in our commercials, we love you right back,” said Henry Wojtaszek, President and CEO of Batavia Downs Gaming & Hotel. “We are honored to host Michelle and her Mother’s Veterans Group here for their fundraiser. As with all charities and groups that have events onsite, we’ll be doing our best to help them raise awareness and much-needed funds for their cause.”
The Marshall Tucker Band had its hits in the ‘70s. But when singer Doug Gray looks out at the audiences at the band’s shows, he doesn’t see a room full of those who grew up on the songs.
He sees a lot of people who weren’t born when “Can’t You See,” “Fire on the Mountain,” and “Heard It in a Love Song.” were all over the radio.
“We didn’t start out knowing these songs would be a hit, that these songs would be played 8 million times on the radio or somewhere,” Gray said in a phone interview from his Carolina home. “‘Heard It in a Love Song’ is catching up to ‘Can’t You See,’ and ‘Fire on the Mountain’ is in there, and they keep going up.
“It’s because of the young people and all the stuff that’s out there, in movies, on Netflix,” he said. “They hear a song, look up Marshall Tucker Band, they hit click, and they download that song. It’s made life simple for them, and it’s not hurting our pocketbook at all.”
It’s also because the MTB classics have become staples on the TV singing contest shows.
“I’m guilty of watching ‘The Voice.’ I’m guilty of watching ‘American Idol’,” Gray said. “I’m 75, but my girlfriend is 20 years younger. She’ll see me after watching and say, ‘You’ve got tears coming out of your eyes.’ It’s because I just heard about a 16-year-old girl who’s going to be a star. I can feel it right now, just like Elvis did. And she did one of our songs.
“When they do ‘Can’t You See’ in front of 8, 9 million people, I always reach out to them. I wish them good luck and all of that,” he said. “Not all of them win.”
Gray was one of six young guys who got together in Spartanburg, S.C., in 1972 and borrowed the name of a blind piano tuner for a band moniker.
Unintentionally, the band came up with a distinctive brand of music that got played on rock and progressive country stations.
“We did it without knowing there was any difference between country, rock ‘n’ roll, rhythm and blues or jazz,” said Gray. “We put all of those together without knowing what the heck we were doing. We even got invited to jazz festivals.
“Toy and Tommy (Caldwell) were the country influences in the group, Doug, that would be myself, and George (McCorkle) were the R&B players,” Gray said. “Jerry (Eubanks) was the flautist. He played sax in the high school band, too. You bring all that together, and it’s like the soup your mama made on Sundays when she cleaned out the refrigerator. You drop everything into the pot, and out comes the Marshall Tucker Band.”
Toy Caldwell was the band’s primary songwriter and lead guitarist. His brother played bass, McCorkle played rhythm guitar, Paul Riddle was the drummer, and Eubanks played everything else -- keyboards, saxophone and flute.
Signed to Capricorn Records in 1973, the band released its self-titled debut album, toured with labelmates The Allman Brothers Band, and put out the first of their three signature songs, “Can’t You See.” Two years later came “Fire on the Mountain,” and in 1977, “Heard It in a Love Song.”
The Marshall Tucker Band has, for four decades, continued to tour, with the new audience helping to keep them on the road for about 100 nights in a normal year. And the group isn’t too far off of reaching that level of activity this year, the 50th anniversary of the band’s debut album. Gray is happy to have shows to play.
“Here’s a band that hasn’t really done anything but play,” Gray said. “That’s what the Marshall Tucker Band is about. If you want to know what the band’s about in actuality, that’s it. Even from the beginning, we just wanted to go out and play. First, to buy beer, to be honest.”
Gray is the only remaining original member of The Marshall Tucker Band. Tommy Caldwell died in an auto accident in 1980. Four years later, Toy Caldwell, McCorkle and Riddle retired, leaving Eubanks and Gray running the band. Eubanks retired in 1996
“Tommy died in 1980 in a car wreck, but before that, in 1971, we had an attorney draw up an agreement; we all had first right of refusal about everything with the band. Everything was split equally by six,” Gray said. “Two or three shares I bought up when guys got tired of it and wanted to get off the road. That’s how I ended up with The Marshall Tucker Band.
“Luckily, I can still sing, and I have some other great players in the band. People will ask me how the new band is working out. They’ve been in the band for 25 years. The same band has been together for 25 years. The old band was together for eight years.”
The Marshall Tucker Band, of late, has regularly played the Grand Ole Opry, CMA Fan Fest and the Stagecoach Festival, the country version of the Coachella festival -- it only took 40 years for the country music industry to figure out that the band had country songs, all the way back to the first album.
The group these days typically plays clubs, theaters, and casinos -- venues that Gray said are perfect for his band, small enough that he’ll know just what the MTB is in for before he walks in the door.
“When the bus pulls up, I see how many pickups are in the parking lot. That way, I know we’re going to have a good time,” Gray said. “I don’t want to see too many vans. Those are the moms bringing the kids to see us for the first time. Our biggest, largest drawing audience is 18-37 now. We love playing for them. There’s nothing better for me than putting that microphone out in the audience and having them sing “Can’t You See” and “Fire on the Mountain’ or some of the more obscure songs.”
The Marshall Tucker Band plays at Batavia Downs on Friday.
Ryan Duffy, Holland Land Office Museum director, and Sharon Burkel, president of the Batavia Cemetery Association at the HLOM display marking the association's 200th anniversary. Photo by Howard Owens
The 200-year history of the Historic Batavia Cemetery is on display at the Holland Land Office Museum in a show curated by HLOM Director Ryan Duffy and Cemetery Association President Sharon Burkel.
The display opened on Wednesday.
"All the people who founded this community are buried in there," Burkel said. "These people came from Connecticut, Massachusetts, in the late 1700s, early 1800s. They came in wagons, probably drawn by oxen and horses. I always ask people, would you do that? Would you leave your home in those areas and come this far, make your way through Indian Territory and everything else to establish a city? A lot of them were very influential nationally, like Dean Richmond. These people held a great deal of power. (The cemetery is) Also important when you look at all the streets in the city. All the names on the streets are all the people that are buried in that cemetery. And the reason that it's on the state national register -- because most of their homes and businesses are gone. And that was one of the main reasons we got designated."
Burkel said the city's first cemetery was on South Lyon Street, by the Tonawanda Creek, but when there were floods, bodies washed away, so they moved it over to what is now known as Harvester Avenue but was originally Cemetery Street. It was owned by the Presbyterian Church and the Episcopal Church.
In 1823, the Batavia Cemetery Association was formed and that not-for-profit organization took over ownership and still owns it today.
Duffy said HLOM had some artifacts related to the cemetery, but the association loaned to the museum much of what is on display.
"It was about creating a new space, but also shining light on another local hidden gem that people tend to forget about sometimes," Duffy said.
Preparing the display was an interesting task at times. He had to research what organizations some metal grave markers represented, and some of the artifacts the museum already had in its inventory hadn't necessarily been connected to the cemetery before.
"There was a little bit of detective work going into some of this, which always makes it a little more exciting," Duffy said. "Going through things that are here in the museum, we didn't necessarily know they were connected to people in the cemetery because we hadn't really taken a deep look into them. So it uncovered a lot of things that we didn't even know we had."
As long as anybody alive could remember, there was a Dead End sign in the cemetery that was actually at the start of a dead-end path. It disappeared during the pandemic. Sharon Burkel fears it was sold for scrap. At an art show in Rochester, Burkel spotted a photo of the sign and told the director there where the sign came from and what happened to it. The photographer, Daniel Hogan, showed up unexpectedly at the Holland Land Office Museum one day with a copy of the photo to donate to the association. Photo by Howard Owens
Photo by Howard Owens
Photo by Howard Owens
Metal grave markers, such as those often placed by veterans groups, some largely forgotten. The cemetery association now keeps them in storage because scrap scavengers have taken to stealing them. A few were brought out of storage to put on display. Photo by Howard Owens
The Inaugural Garth Swanson Memorial Scholarship was awarded Wednesday night to Dawson Young, a Batavia High School graduate now attending GCC. Also pictured are Ryan Duffy, director of the Holland Land Office Museum, and Amy Swanson. Photo by Howard Owens.
After a high-speed chase from Oakfield to Bergen, deputies say they recovered a loaded 9mm handgun with no identifying information on it from the vehicle two suspects ran from after it wouldn't go any further.
Taken into custody were Sylvan P. Grayson, 24, from Le Roy, and Luke A. Rose, 19, from Batavia. A juvenile backseat passenger did not flee from the vehicle and was detained at the scene without incident.
Grayson and Rose are accused of possessing a "ghost gun," which is an unserialized and untraceable firearm.
The case began at 2:38 a.m. on Thursday on Batav ia Oakfield Townline Road and Route 63 when Deputy Jacob Kipler attempted a traffic stop on a 2013 blue Dodge Avenger for an alleged headlight violation.
Luke A. Rose
The Avenger fled at speeds that reached 90 mph. The vehicle went off the road several times on Batavia Stafford Townline Road, and the Sheriff's Office reports that the Avenger "intentionally" drove through a crop field, causing extensive damage to the crops.
Spike strips were successfully deployed on Route 237 in the Town of Stafford, according to the report. The Avenger lost several tires but continued to drive on rims at high rates of speed.
The driver lost control of the vehicle in the area of Clinton Street Road and Apple Tree Avenue in Bergen. It went off the road, struck a street sign and crashed into an earthen embankment.
According to deputies, the driver and a front-seat passenger took off running, heading south toward businesses an Apple Tree. The passenger was apprehended without further incident after a short foot pursuit and was later identified as Luke A. Rose.
The other suspect, Sylvan P. Grayson, was located behind a business on Apple Tree about an hour later and taken into custody without further incident.
During an inventory of the contents of the vehicle, before it was impounded, deputies allegedly found a loaded 9mm handgun with no serial number, make or model identification.
Grayson is charged with:
Criminal possession of a weapon in the second degree, a Class C felony;
Criminal possession of a weapon in the third degree, a Class D felony;
Criminal possession of a firearm (a "ghost gun"), a Class E felony;
Criminal possession of a weapon in the fourth degree, a Class A misdemeanor;
Unlawful fleeing a police officer in a motor vehicle;
Obstructing governmental administration;
And 16 traffic tickets.
Rose is charged with:
Criminal possession of a weapon in the second degree, a Class C felony;
Criminal possession of a weapon in the fourth degree (a "ghost gun"), a Class A misdemeanor;
And criminal possession of a firearm, a Class E felony.
Both Grayson and Rose were arraigned and ordered held on bail.
The Sheriff's Office did not release whether there were charges against the juvenile in the backseat.
Brothers Paul and Bruce Wilcox, standing, shown with Paul's wife Elsa and Bruce's son Michael, seated, celebrate the dedication of the Gary and Eleanor Wilcox Research Library at Le Roy Historical Society Thursday in Le Roy. Photo by Joanne Beck.
Standing in the hallway leading into Le Roy Historical Society’s newly named and dedicated Research Library, Bruce Wilcox recalled the shambles of a place the former academic building was back when his father Gary led the way to turning it into something magical around 1991.
“He and about a half a dozen other local men who were about the same age spent a good five years remodeling this building. It had been when I was growing up, it was just a shack, it was a wreck, with boarded up windows and storage, and turned it into this beautiful museum over the course of about five years,” Bruce said during a dedication gathering Thursday at the Le Roy site. “So it seemed a natural. And so I reached out to the board here at the Historical Society and just said we're interested, and they’ve been great. And they came up with this whole idea of a research library, which, given both of our parents’ involvement with education and history, seemed like a perfect fit.”
As Society member Carol Wolfe phrased it in no uncertain terms, the late Gary Wilcox, a former Le Roy educator and integral community member, invested “a lot of back-breaking labor and everything else in the 80s” to create the Jell-O museum, offices and a transportation museum space out of what others may have deemed unsalvageable.
And in turn, Bruce and his brothers Paul and Jeffrey decided to donate money to carve out an additional amenity of the research library. Folks will be able to use the space to trace their ancestry and other types of research, and new technology equipment has been purchased for that purpose.
“We’ve got another floor that's just loaded full of archival, you know, newspapers and articles and books and things. And a lot of the things are, they're quite valuable historically,” Wolfe said. “We do have a microfilm machine, but we want to get things digitized. That's where some of that money is going.”
Society members have also hired a Web designer to update their websites, worked with Ed Henry for his expertise on how to save archive photos, purchased new computer equipment and updated others, purchased a sturdy workstation for computers, and a newer version of Past Perfect, plus a new carpet.
There’s much more to do, members said, with organizing and digitizing the aging photo stock collections, and they are busy with that mission.
And doing an important job, Bruce said.
“This part of the country has such a rich, rich, deep history,” he said. “And they had so many great historical records here, but it takes a lot of effort and money to be able to organize and present them well. So they've done a phenomenal job here.”
His brother Paul agreed. They both flew in from California for the occasion, while brother Jeffrey, who lives in northern Virginia, couldn’t make it out for the event.
“My mother, Eleanor, was a docent here and a research person. If she saw this, she would right now be in heaven. This is exactly what she would, she would be living in this area if she were here today,” Paul said. “So yeah, it's completely fitting. I'm amazed at the job they've done. It's incredibly impressive. The boards work so hard, and all of the folks here, we’re speechless about how much work they've done and what a great honor it is for my parents.”
Society Vice President Anne Frew thanked the Wilcox family for its donation and dedication to giving back through the library and to the many volunteers that helped with the conversion of the space.
“We have turned this room into a place where our members and our community will feel comfortable and welcome,” Frew said. “I would like to thank all of those who have helped us with this vast undertaking, most especially … Bruce, Jeffrey and Paul. Without your help, we would not have been able to accomplish all of this.”
Gary Wilcox died Oct. 19,2017, after an active life as an all-state third baseman, first trumpet in the Army band at West Point, playing for President Eisenhower’s inauguration parade and for Queen Elizabeth, impacting countless lives through his dedication to his students and community at the Le Roy school district from 1962 until his retirement in 1991 as a music teacher, band director, high school principal and capping it off with the role of superintendent for those final six years.
Eleanor died on March 20, 2022; also one said to have richly contributed to her community, Eleanor volunteered with the Le Roy Historical Society, Jaycees, First Baptist Church, Meals-on-Wheels, Le Roy Ambulance Service and the Fresh Air Fund.
Not surprisingly for two people with passions for education and learning, their names will now adorn the door of the research library as a new chapter begins in the memories of Gary and Eleanor, who also had a love of reading and a deep sense of curiosity and engagement with the world.
Deputy James Stack with K-9 Rayzor, Deputy Andrew Mullen with K-9 Frankie, and Officer Stephen Quider with K-9 Batu. Photo by Howard Owens.
Press release:
On Thursday, a ceremony was held in the lobby at Batavia Downs Gaming as Batavia Downs presented both local K-9 Units with a check from money that went unclaimed at Batavia Downs.
When the money went unclaimed, Batavia Downs decided to sponsor the Department’s K-9 Unit as they have done in the past. Both the Genesee County Sheriff’s Department and the Batavia Police Department’s K-9 Units received $2,000 each.
“We’re happy to once again support the local K-9 Units,” said Henry Wojtaszek, President and CEO of Batavia Downs. “Now more than ever, it’s important for our local law enforcement to have the resources they need to keep local residents safe. These officers do so much for the community, and we’re glad to do our part to help.”
“We appreciate the support from local businesses like Batavia Downs, “said Genesee County Sheriff William Sheron, Jr. “These funds will help cover the K-9 unit’s expenses like food, training and equipment.”
“Public support and donations play an integral role in supporting our K-9 program,“ said Batavia Police Chief Shawn Heubusch. “These funds will be used to offset the cost of food, veterinary services, training, equipment and other K-9-related expenses.”
Henry Wojtaszek, CEO of Batavia Downs. Photo by Howard Owens.
Swimmers enjoy the Le Roy Municipal Pool File Photo 2013 by Howard Owens.
While hot humid weather may be a factor in people’s own rising temperatures regarding the Town of Le Roy’s recreation pool policy, Town Supervisor Jim Farnholz suspects there may be something else contributing to several online complaints.
“To be frank, I think social media certainly has a play in it. You know, irrelevant comments from people who live out of state or internet trolls, there's a portion of that,” he said during an interview with The Batavian Thursday. “I think the fact that we open all of our programs, except the pool, to any community member … we have multiple camps, and they have online signups. It doesn't matter where you're from; once the signup is full, it's full, regardless. So that's open to everyone. The pool is not, because there's a very strict limitation on the number of kids that can be in the pool. It's paid for by the town and village residents.”
About a week ago, the Le Roy Rec Facebook site began to draw comments from people complaining about the policy requiring that only town and village residents could use the pool. A recreation staff member then posted that “due to the dishonesty” of some, all would be required to show proof of residence with identification upon entering the premises.
Posts such as this one from Michaela Rose Leach encouraged others to “boycott this pool because every surrounding town that has pools or splash pads allows other surrounding residents to enjoy.”
“This is clearly discrimination against certain groups of individuals,” Leach said.
JoAnne Vernaccini, in an online post, said that these kids belong to the Le Roy School district and that she could understand if the pool was free, but “they are paying for a pass.”
“I pay Le Roy taxes. Let some kids go off my taxes,” she said.
Amy Elizabeth asked if Le Roy’s splash pad was also only for town and village residents.
No, it’s not, Farnholz said. And for good reason, he added. The pool’s capacity is 230 people. As it is, with the policy that’s been in place for five years, he said, there are waiting lines of town and village residents wanting to use the pool that’s been paid for with their taxes.
“You get a hot day, there’s a waiting line, absolutely,” he said.
“I would suggest people take a peek at the Stafford Park policy, and I'm not faulting Stafford at all. But, this isn't something that's unique to Le Roy,” he said. “You know, the other part of it is that running that pool in our recreation program is, with the exception of the highway department, one of our largest expenditures. The town of Le Roy spends approximately, I just did the numbers this morning, approximately $150,000 a year on the pool and rec program. And based on the agreement when the pool reopened in 2008, because it had been closed for two years, the village kind of backed out, or didn't want to operate it anymore.
“The village only contributes $11,000 a year. So the bulk of that financial burden falls to the taxpayers of the town. And that's another reason, that it's town and village taxes that pay for it.”
The rec program employs a staff of 40 people, including five lifeguards, for the pool and two parks. They try to open up by the last week of June and remain open through Labor Day, but it’s heavily dependent on staff schedules, he said.
Apparently, some people had signed into the rec facility using Le Roy Central School as their address, and once it was discovered that they didn’t live in the town or village, their membership fees were refunded, and they could no longer use the pool.
Farnholz admitted that “we’ve had a few” nasty comments online, which more recently prompted his own response:
“Yesterday, there were many people commenting on the policy for pool usage on this site. This site was meant to be informational not for what it turned into yesterday. We try to teach young people about cyber bullying but clearly that message has fallen on some deaf adult ears. To the point at which one of our staff was sworn at and spit at by an adult. Please understand this kind of behavior will not be tolerated. Future incidents of this nature will be handled by the LeRoy PD. If you have issues with Town policy, the Town Board meets on the second and fourth Thursday of every month. If you have an immediate concern call the town hall and I will be happy to discuss it with you. In the future we will close the comment portion of this page as the comments from people who don't live in LeRoy or Stafford or even in NY state will no longer be tolerated. This program is run and paid for by your Town Taxes. School taxes have no bearing in this discussion. In the future please address your concerns to myself and the Town Board.”
Jim Farnholz, Supervisor, Town of LeRoy
“The school taxes have absolutely nothing to do with it, which seems to kind of confuse people a little bit. But the ire and the manner in which these people were expressing themselves just got to a point where it needed to be addressed,” he said. “And I did so; it was just unacceptable for people seeking conflict, showing up at the pool.”
At least one person took him up on the offer and asked to be put on the board’s agenda for Thursday’s meeting. Farnholz didn’t foresee anything changing with policy, but he reiterated that “people are welcome to come in and express their concerns.”
Not everyone online was against the town’s policy, including Di Dillon.
“When I was growing up in LeRoy, where I lived all my life, when the pool opened up, it was just for the LeRoyans. We all paid to get in. That’s when the town owned it,” Di said. “Now someone else owns it, and it’s up to them to set the rules. They offered other towns nearby to help with the reopening costs and management fee, and they declined. now they want to come and use it. I think they should stand their ground.”
There are valid reasons for keeping a lid on the 230 limit, Farnholz said. He recalled, about “four or five years ago when we first started taking a look at some of the numbers.”
“We had one weekend where we had over 800 kids in the pool between Friday and Sunday. So, that gives you the idea of, did we have extra lifeguards on? And that's really the issue. It’s paid for by the community, and we can't really fit anybody. It just doesn't work that way,” he said. “I was, like, horrified, and I worry about those things.”
File photo of Empire Hemp co-founders Shelly Wolanske and Chris Van Dusen showing the book of state regulations they must abide by when doing business in the cannabis industry, Photo by Joanne Beck.
City officials turned their thoughts to cannabis for a few moments this week as City Manager Rachael Tabelski described the plight of legal cultivators, locally Empire Hemp, which had originally been scheduled on City Council’s meeting agenda.
Company co-founders Chris Van Dusen and Shelly Wolanske were going to talk about an initiative to sell cannabis products at farmers markets, a concept being drafted in the Empire State for the summer season. However, Gov. Kathy Hochul recently squashed that move, which added yet another hindrance to a market that’s already suffered a slow roll-out of avenues to distribute and sell their products.
“(They) have been producing products in the legal market. Prior to cannabis being authorized by New York State was one that was authorized, they shifted to that market for cultivation. And they ramped up, and right now, they're sitting on over $300,000 worth of product and had to lay off four staff members because the Office of Cannabis Management cannot get retail licenses out quick enough. So there's over, I think it was 80, brands of cannabis that are certified by New York State, all sitting in warehouses full of cannabis, but only 10 legal retail outlets right now,” Tabelski said during this week’s council meeting. “And to get your product into the legal retail outlets, the majority being in New York City, you almost have to live in New York City or have a salesperson present down there. So anyone in the sales market knows you have to apply to those retail outlets to move your product.
“So I want you to be aware of the emerging market. This is a business that has typically enjoyed the support of the city. They've stayed in the city, and they've purchased or leased more space to produce their products. And right now, they're very much hamstrung. So I just wanted to bring that to everyone's attention.”
Council President Eugene Jankowski Jr. said that he’s heard about the illegal retail sites “that keep popping up in the city, and people think they have a license” when they actually do not.
File photo of Chris Van Dusen showing an example of a cannabis product that was sold by an unlicensed retail store in Batavia. Photo by Joanne Beck.
“So you’re telling me no one in Genesee County, no one in this area, has a legal distribution license itself?” he said.
That’s right, Tabelski said, “except if you’re on sovereign land.”
She’s referring to Tonawanda Indian Reservation, which does not have to abide by the same state regulations as other dispensaries. Van Dusen checked that site to see about the possibility of selling some product, but shop owners on tribal land wouldn’t pay what Empire Hemp, which deals with state taxes, charges, Van Dusen said.
He and Wolanske said they are disappointed with how things have happened with licensing — they were led to believe that some 30 dispensaries were to open in March — and with the prospective farmers market, however, they’re confidently looking forward.
"Mainly down in New York City, there are only 10 dispensaries. And there's 80 brands that are trying to get on the shelves in these 10 dispensaries. So it's very challenging to maintain, and we're currently in half of those dispensaries. But there needs to be more to make this a successful program, especially in our area," Van Dusen said. "And we were held up with that court-ordered injunction with a lawsuit that just finally opened up, you know, in the Finger Lakes region in Western New York a little while ago. So now we're about six months behind New York City, and getting dispensaries opened up here. So the first one to open next week in Buffalo. And we will be in that one. We're really excited about that. Dang 716."
Another one, MJ Dispensary, is to open in Henrietta in about a month, with a few more following in the Buffalo area. It takes time to open a site and includes a final walk-through by the Office of Cannabis Management, “so once they get their license, you're looking at a good three to five months,” Wolanske said.”
One element of the industry affects another — it’s a trickle-down effect, she said — from the grower to processors and end product. Empire Hemp still has goods from 2022 “because there’s no outlets for these grow cultivators to sell at, there’s not enough dispensaries,” he said. “So the cultivators are really hurting because it’s harder for them to get it to go to the dispensaries and get on the shelves because it’s so competitive to get on the shelf space.”
“So if they had 50 dispensaries open, well then, it would change, the demand would be in our favor, we wouldn’t be selling out of everything, it wouldn’t even be a question,” he said.
Tabelski ventured to guess what part of the problem is.
“I dare say that they're in over their head with the Office of Cannabis Management and the rollout of this program,” she said. Jankowski agreed, adding that, for what he understands the board makes — “in excess of hundreds of thousands of dollars in salaries” — they’re not doing their jobs.
The City of Batavia is far from alone in its assessment of the state agency’s efficiency. Rev. Kirsten John Foy, a spokesman for the Coalition for Access to Regulated & Safe Cannabis, called the OCM “ineffective at every turn.”
“Growers, CAURD (conditional adult-use retail dispensaries) licensees, disabled veterans, workers, consumers, medical cannabis patients and individuals harmed by cannabis prohibition are paying the price for its ineptitude — all while the illicit market booms,” Foy said in a New York Post article.
Similarly to what Jankowski and Van Dusen have noted locally, albeit on a lower scale, New York City Mayor Eric Adams has been tallying the number of illegal pot shops sprouting up in the absence of licensed dispensaries and manpower to close them down. In NYC, Adams’ count is 1,500, while Hochul’s office puts that number at 2,500, and law enforcement doubles that to 5,000 and estimates that illegal smoke shops are making $2,000 to $3,000 profits a day. While sites in smaller cities such as Batavia aren’t likely to claim such boons, is it a wonder why they’re popping up?
Empire Hemp will continue to operate by the book, as it has since the beginning, Van Dusen and Wolanske said. Their downtown retail store, which sells hemp products, is doing well and is self-sustaining, Wolanske said. In fact, “we’re doing better than last year,” she said. “We have a lot of faithful followers.”
And they look forward to finally seeing those promised 30 dispensaries, now to arrive in October, as they ride out a bumpy state cannabis program.
“So when that happens in this area, we will be set. So all that inventory is still good. It's not gone bad. So we could still sell that. And it's just a matter of getting these locations open,” Van Dusen said. “We’ve always done everything by the book, so we feel that it’ll be good that we did that. That will benefit us in the long run, because there will be less competition. Right now, we’re dealing with the illicit market. It’s really hard, especially when people are used to going into these smoke shops and paying a certain price.”
Jose Luis Agosto Santiago, 39, of Ravine Avenue, Rochester, is charged with grand larceny 4th. Santiago is accused of stealing $1,384.90 in merchandise from Target in Batavia at 12:41 p.m. on July 6. He was issued an appearance ticket. Previously: Shoplifting suspect flees Target on foot with more than $2,000 in merchandise
David Lofton, Jr., 28, of Locust Street, Rochester, is charged with assault 2nd. Loften was arrested in connection with an incident reported at 1:28 p.m. on July 8, in the Genesee County Jail. He was arraigned and returned to jail.
Jocolby S. Wallace, 34, of Bryan Street, Rochester, is charged with driving while ability impaired by drugs, aggravated unlicensed operation 3rd, smoking cannabis while driving, and obstructed view. Wallace was stopped on Feb. 14 at an undisclosed location in the City of Batavia by Officer Wesley Rissinger. Following an investigation, he was arrested on July 4. He was arraigned and released under supervision.
Dominic J. Taylor, 20, of State Street, Batavia, is charged with menacing 2nd and criminal possession of a weapon 4th. Taylor is accused of displaying a knife during an incident on Grandview Terrace on July 3. He was arraigned and ordered to appear in City Court at a later date.
Tonya M. Weber, 39, of Highland Park, Batavia, is charged with criminal possession of a controlled substance 3rd, criminal possession of a controlled substance 7th and criminal use of drug paraphernalia 2nd. Weber was arrested on a warrant on July 1 and allegedly found in possession of narcotics and drug paraphernalia. She was arraigned and ordered held in the Genesee County Jail.
Victor A. Rivera-Cotto, 55, no known address, is charged with aggravated DWI. Rivera-Cotto was arrested following a civilian traffic complaint on East Main Street in the City of Batavia. During the investigation, Officers Andrew Mruczek and Megan Crossett located a suspect vehicle and determined that Rivera-Cotto was allegedly operating the vehicle while intoxicated by alcohol. Rivera-Cotto was processed and released on appearance tickets.
Heidi L. Klein, 48, of South Spruce Street, Batavia, is charged with petit larceny. Klein is accused of stealing from a business (Batavia PD did not release the name of the business) on June 22. She was issued an appearance ticket. UPDATE: The business was 7-Eleven on East Main Street, Batavia.
Adam B. Thomas, 34, of South Main Street, Batavia, is charged with criminal Contempt 2nd. On July 11, Thomas was allegedly driving a vehicle on July 11 on North Street with a passenger in the vehicle who is protected by an order of protection. He was issued an appearance ticket.
Mark S. Lucas, 41, of Gregory Street, Rochester, was taken into custody on an arrest warrant on June 29. Lucas was charged on April 8 with aggravated unlicensed operation 3rd, driving with a suspended registration and operating with an expired inspection during a traffic stop on Main Street in Batavia. Lucas was issued several traffic tickets and released. The warrant was issued on June 14 after Lucas allegedly failed to appear in court. Lucas was arraigned and released on his own recognizance. The arrest was handled by Officer Stephen Quider.
Kimberly L. Blue, 34, of Hutchins Street, Batavia, was taken into custody on a bench warrant. Blue was initially arrested on Nov. 27, 2021, after she allegedly left four children under the age of 10 unsupervised for several hours. The warrant was issued on June 9, 2002, after Blue allegedly failed to appear in court. She was arraigned and ordered to appear in court again at a later date.
Shelby L. Fryer, 27, of Prune Street, Batavia, was taken into custody on two warrants. The first is a bench warrant that stems from a traffic stop on East Main Street on Jan. 2. Fryer was charged with aggravated unlicensed operation 2nd. A warrant was issued for Fryer on April 5 after she allegedly failed to appear in court. She was arrested on that warrant on April 21. She was arraigned and released. The current warrant was issued on May 3 after Fryer allegedly failed to appear in court again. The second warrant stems from an incident on April 21. Fryer allegedly lied to police about her identity in order to avoid being arrested on the previous warrant. She was charged with criminal impersonation 2nd. She was issued an appearance ticket and released. An arrest warrant was issued on May 3 after she allegedly failed to appear in court. Fryer was arrested on June 20 when she was located during a traffic stop on Washington Avenue in Batavia. She was arraigned and remanded to the Genesee County Jail on $500 cash bail, a $1,000 bond, or a $5,000 partially secured bond.
Christopher Joseph Tunney, 48, of Pierpoint Street, Rochester, is charged with criminal possession of a controlled substance 7th. Tunney is accused of possessing cocaine at the time of his arrest on a warrant out of Ontario County on July 7 at 10 p.m. at a location on Veterans Memorial Drive, Batavia. He was issued an appearance ticket.
Cologeno Anthony Gallo, 19, of Calpin Parkway, Clarence, is charged with grand larceny 4th. Gallo is accused of stealing a backpack with contents valued at more than $1,000 while at Darien Lake Theme Park on July 4 at 9 p.m.
Rebeca Rochelle Fugate, 22, of Lewiston Road, Batavia, is charged with harassment 2nd. Fugate is accused of striking another person in the person's back with a bare hand at 6 p.m. on July 9 at a location on Lewiston Road, Batavia.
Maurice Richard McCoy, 70, of North Street, Batavia, is charged with DWI and driving with a BAC of .08 or greater. McCoy was stopped at 6:13 p.m. on July 2 on Veterans Memorial Drive by Deputy Alexander Hadsall.
Josephine Barreto, 52, of Batavia, is charged with petit larceny. Barreto is accused of stealing something from an undisclosed location in the Town of Batavia on July 6 at 9:25 a.m. The State Police did not release further information. She was released on an appearance ticket.
Zachary D. Leitten is indicted on three counts of aggravated DWI, a Class E felony, DWI, a Class E felony, DWI, as a misdemeanor, and driving with a BAC of .08 or greater, a misdemeanor. Leitten is accused of driving drunk with children less than 15 years old in the car on Jan. 17 in the Village of Corfu. His BAC at the time of his arrest was allegedly .08.
Kent L. Handy, Jr., is indicted on a count of DWI, a Class E felony. Handy is accused of driving drunk on Jan. 28 in the Town of Stafford while on the Thruway. The indictment alleges that Handy was previously convicted of DWI on Sept. 8, 2015, in the City of Rochester.
Ryan J. Wanike is indicted on counts of DWI, a Class D felony, and driving with a BAC of .08 or greater, a Class D felony. Wanike is accused of driving drunk on Nov. 28 on Clinton Street Road in the Town of Stafford. His BAC was allegedly .08. The indictment alleges that he had a prior DWI conviction on Sept. 24, 2015, in the Town of Gates.
Sarah L. Elmore is indicted on counts of aggravated DWI, a Class E felony, and driving with a BAC of .08 or greater, a Class E. felony. Elmore is accused of driving with a BAC 0f .08 or greater with a child less than 15 years old in the vehicle on Sept. 10 in the Town of Bethany on Molasses Hill Road.
Joseph C. Jeffords is indicted on counts of falsifying business records in the first degree, a Class E felony, and petit larceny, a Class A misdemeanor. Jeffords is accused of falsifying a bill of sale at Pawn King on Dec. 10 in order to conceal a theft from Dick's Sporting Goods.
Parker E. Payton is indicted on counts of aggravated unlicensed operation in the first degree, a Class E felony, DWI, a Class E felony, and driving with a BAC of .08 or greater, a Class E felony. Payton is accused of driving drunk while on a revoked license on Dec. 31 on South Street in the Village of Le Roy.
Dale W. Skaters, Jr., is indicted on one count of grand larceny in the fourth degree. Skates is accused of stealing property valued at more than $1,000 while at The Home Depot on Nov. 16.
Chad W. Main is indicted on counts of driving while ability impaired by drugs, a Class E felony, aggravated unlicensed operation in the first degree, a Class E felony, criminal possession of a controlled substance in the fifth degree, a Class D felony, and criminal possession of a controlled substance in the seventh degree, a Class A misdemeanor. Main is accused of driving while impaired by drugs on Parmalee Road in the Town of Le Roy on Dec. 2 while his license was revoked. He is accused of possessing more than 500 milligrams of cocaine and of possessing methamphetamine. The indictment alleges that Main had his driving privileges revoked on April 27, 2017.
Isaac D. Abrams is indicted on one count of robbery in the second degree, a Class C violent felony. Abrams is accused of using force on March 10 to steal money and a safe from a dispensary on Poodry Road in the Town of Alabama.
Matthew M. Keiffer is indicted on counts of burglary in the third degree, a Class D felony, two counts of grand larceny in the fourth degree, a Class E felony, and criminal mischief in the third degree, a Class E felony. Kieffer is accused of breaking into a business in the Town of Pembroke on March 16, causing damage to the building, with the intent to commit a crime, and of stealing two credit cards.
Anthony F. Armstrong, Jr., is indicted on counts of burglary in the first degree, a Class B violent felony, unlawful imprisonment in the first degree, criminal possession of a weapon in the third degree, a Class D felony, menacing in the second degree, a Class A misdemeanor, and three counts of criminal mischief in the fourth degree, a Class A misdemeanor. Armstrong is accused of entering an apartment on Walnut Street, City of Batavia, on March 20, with the intent to commit a crime within, and of using a serrated blade knife to threaten another person and of unlawfully restraining that person. He is also accused of causing physical damage to the property.
Genesee County STOP-DWI and the Genesee County Youth Bureau are joining forces with the Batavia Muckdogs to host the annual STOP-DWI Night at the Ballpark on Tuesday, July 25 at Dwyer Stadium.
The Genesee County Youth Bureau has a limited supply of complimentary tickets available for youth and their families. Get your tickets by calling 585-344-3960. Throughout the night, families can take part in a variety of fun and interactive booths, receive numerous giveaways, and have a chance to win a bike from Adam Miller Toy & Bicycle.
Deputy Sheriff Investigator David Moore
STOP-DWI is looking for everyone’s help cheering on 2022 TOP COP Awardees, Genesee County’s Deputy Sheriff Investigator David Moore and LeRoy Police Department’s Officer Jordan Wolcott, as they kick off the night by throwing out the first pitches of the game. Investigator Moore and Officer Wolcott are both multi-year recipients of the program’s TOP COP award and play an essential role in protecting the roadways in Genesee County.
Gates open at 5:35 p.m. and the game starts at 6:35 p.m.
Officer Jordan Wolcott
Event sponsors and contributors helping make this event possible include: Batavia Police Benevolent Association, GCASA, Leroy Moose Family Center, Salmon Orthodontics, The Red Osier landmark, WNY Association of Chiefs of Police, Batavia Lions Club, Chapin Manufacturing, Graham Corporation, Kiwanis of Batavia, Polish Falcons Nest #493, O-A Lions Club, Genesee County Deputy Sheriff’s Association, Gerace Realty, Parise’s Auto & Towing and Adam Miller Toy & Bicycle.
Batavia Downs Gaming & Hotel announced today that due to circumstances beyond their control, the concert on July 14 will no longer feature Skid Row. Great White will perform at Pepsi’s Rockin’ The Downs Summer Concert Series.
Great White has an arsenal of songs that include the Grammy nominated Best Hard Rock Performance hit, “Once Bitten, Twice Shy,” Great White has sold over 10 million albums worldwide, has six Top 100 Billboard hits, nine Top 200 Billboard albums, two platinum albums, and clocked the top of MTV four times.
Please note that tickets purchased for the Skid Row concert will still be honored on that date. Those wishing for a refund may do so through their point of purchase. Info can be found inside of your ticket confirmation email. Tickets purchased at the Lucky Treasures gift shop may be refunded during normal gift shop hours.
Tickets are available for Great White right now on BataviaConcerts.com
If you are 45 years old or older or have a family history of colorectal cancer, now is the time to talk with your primary care provider about what screening option is right for you. According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), colorectal cancer is the fourth most common cancer in men and women.
It is the fourth leading cause of cancer-related deaths in the United States. The CDC also notes that in New York State among all races and ethnicities, the age-adjusted rate of colon and rectum cancer was 32.8 per 100,000 people in 2020. (https://gis.cdc.gov/Cancer/USCS/#/AtAGlance/).
Colorectal (or colon) cancer is a disease where the cells in the colon or rectum grow out of control. The colon is the large intestine. The rectum is the passageway that connects the colon to the anus. When screening for colorectal cancer, providers are looking for abnormal growths called polyps, which may turn into cancer over time. Removing any polyps early on may decrease the risk of cancer.
For some people, there are no symptoms of colorectal cancer at first. Most colorectal cancers begin as precancerous polyps in the colon or rectum. “The only way to determine if a person has polyps or colorectal cancer is through regular screening,” stated Paul Pettit, Public Health Director for Genesee and Orleans County Health Departments (GO Health).
“There are several types of screening (stool tests, flexible sigmoidoscopy, colonoscopy, and CT colonography) and you should talk with your healthcare provider to determine which is best for you. Early detection is key in preventing colorectal cancer and also helps to reduce a person’s risk.”
Choosing to eat healthier has shown to reduce the risk of colorectal cancer as well as other chronic diseases such as coronary heart disease and diabetes. People are also encouraged to increase physical activity, keep a healthy weight, limit alcohol consumption and avoid the use of tobacco/nicotine. Talk with your healthcare provider about how you can reduce your risk and when you should start screening for colorectal cancer.
For more information on Health Department programs and services, visit GOHealthNY.org or call your respective health department at:
Jason Norton, Michelle Norton, and their daughter Camilla. Photo by Howard Owens
When pastors Jason and Michelle Norton began their church at the local YMCA with one other attendee, they had no idea their church would grow.
“It wasn’t really a church plant,” Jason described. “It was more like a church seedling.”
The church grew slowly.
Jason recounts some of his stressors were if anyone would show up for that week. Soon one attendee turned into five. From there, the couple moved to the YMCA’s workout room in which they would set up and transform the ordinary gym to a place of worship every Sunday. For three years, the Norton’s called the YMCA their home church.
Now, some 60 members later and growing, the church is in its permanent home in Batavia. But it wasn’t easy. The Nortons needed to buy the building in order to honor their mortgage plan. The pair decided to launch a building campaign in which locals and others could donate to their cause and help them buy the building. The goal was to raise a whopping $50,000 in two years.
Through the donations of the local Batavian community and businesses, they were able to raise $20,000 in-house alone. Then, an unexpected donor came up with the balance -- Pastor Greg Locke of Global Vision Bible Church in Mt. Juliette, Tenn.
Locke is known for helping build and donate to Christian churches around the country. He heard about EverPresent’s need for their building and wrote a check for $31,000.
“At this point now, the church technically has no debt. We own our own space.” Jason said.
To celebrate the church’s tenure, EverPresent Church is planning on throwing a celebration on Sunday. All in the community are welcome. Attendees can expect a regular service with guest worship leader Greg Skolaski, a dedication of various ministry leaders followed by hors d'oeuvres.
“A huge thank you,” the Nortons said to those who would be unable to attend. “The businesses of Batavia over the years, prior to paying off the mortgage, have been very generous. We do basket raffles and fundraisers; they’ve always been super generous with supporting anything that we do. A super huge thank you to every business and all those who live in Batavia and all those who have done what they could to help us be successful.”
Sarah Fedus shares the story of her daughter, Madeline Bartz, who, at age 14, took her own life in 2022. Fedus has founded a non-profit to help support programs that assist youth in crisis. Fedus spoke at Batavia Downs as part of a suicide prevention program sponsored by Strenght in Numbers. Photos by Howard Owens.
At a Strength in Numbers suicide prevention workshop on Sunday at Batavia Downs, Sarah Fedus recalled her late daughter found -- her love of animals, her entrepreneurship, and her passion for cheerleading, modeling, and music.
"She had a zest for life, and she lit up the room when she walked in," said Fedus, a Batavia resident.
Fedus was one of the featured speakers at the event, which was organized by Dan Clor and Sara Betz, local residents who lead Strength in Numbers, a veterans outreach program.
Betz said that because both she and Dan have been touched by losing people close to them to suicide, they wanted to use the organization to help raise awareness about suicide prevention.
"Strength In Numbers and American Warrior has built youth mentorship programs and veteran-related programs to keep not only our youth but military veterans in a healthy headspace day after day through an array of fitness and entrainment programs," Betz said. "Dan is a Marine veteran, is the catalyst and personal connection to such a movement. We, in turn, allow veterans to become coaches within these avenues to train our youth as a way to give back to re-spark one's sense of purpose. It is equally as important for Strength In Numbers to make an impact on our Youth as a whole for a brighter future through these same wellness avenues."
Fedus recalled that In 2019, her daughter was diagnosed with anxiety and started medication and counseling, but it wasn't enough. She started hurting herself, and then in February 2020, she tried to commit suicide.
Madeline Bartz was only 12 years old.
During an admissions interview at the hospital, Fedus learned something shocking: from the age of six until she was 10, her abuser was a close contact who wasn't much older than her.
"I want to share information about childhood trauma and abuse because it is not usually the creepy person down the street that is the abuser," Fedus said. "It’s usually someone you know. Someone you wouldn’t ever imagine. According to a 2003 National Institute of Justice report, three out of four adolescents who have been sexually assaulted were victimized by someone they knew well."
Madeline apparently wasn't believed by the first adult she told -- Fedus didn't say who that was -- and that left her doubly traumatized.
As a result, Madeline was dealing with multiple mental health issues.
As a result of what she went through with her daughter, Fedus started Madeline Bartz Mission, Inc., a non-profit with a mission of bringing support, compassion and resources to those affected by childhood trauma and the mental illnesses they cause.
At Sunday's event, Fedus was talking publicly for the first time about what she went through with her daughter.
"When Dan and Sara first reached out to me about being a part of this event and supporting the Strength in Numbers Organization and their cause, I had no hesitation in doing so, Fedus said. "While I do not have firsthand experience with their organization, after looking into it and seeing the great work that they do with veterans and now youth, I knew it was important to bring this to light and support them, especially in our local area.
Betz said Strength in Numbers is partnering with suicide awareness organizations to connect with the parents of kids who need healthy outlets and offer programs to assist them as a way to explore their individuality.
"Strength In Numbers is also a proud partner of Action For A Better Community in Rochester, attending elementary schools and offering our services at their summer camps," Betz said. "We host public events, offer luxury suite programs at live sporting and entertainment events, network to local businesses selling our branded chocolate and coffee packaged by Oliver's Candies in Batavia, and much more."
Patrick Dadey also spoke about the suicide of his daughter, Makenna, who was only 13 and an 8th grader at Gates Chili Middle School, when she took her own life.
Dadey opened by playing a performance of Kenna, at age 11, singing and playing on guitar "Decline" by Miley Cyrus.
"Did you kind of see her mental illness? Most of the time, you cannot tell by looking at someone that they have a mental illness," Dadey said. "You can see a broken leg or a broken arm because that person has a cast. We need to start treating mental health like physical health and go and seek help."
Dadey said two days after Christmas in 2016, he found Kenna after a suicide attempt and had to perform CPR. First responders were there in minutes. She was transported to Strong Memorial Hospital and admitted to the Pediatric ICU.
Two weeks later, she died.
She was 13.
"There is not a worst failing as a parent than losing a child," Dadey said.
He founded Kenna's Fight, a non-profit that supports youth behavioral health programs.
He told the story of an event the organization founded that featured a speaker who is only one of 35 people who has survived, of 1,800, a jump off the Golden Gate Bridge.
A short time later, he got a call from a mother who said, "You saved my son's life."
A group of the boys' friends had been at the talk, and later that night, talking with their friend, they realized something wasn't right. Armed with information about intervention, the boys "took action," as Dadey put it. The boy received the help he needed.
"At Kenna's benefit in 2019, he gave me $300 he raised from mowing lawns," Dadey said.
Photo by Howard Owens.
Sarah Fedus Photo by Howard Owens.
Patrick Dadey when a video couldn't be played properly on the AV system, Patrick Dadey held a mic to his smartphone and played a recording of his daughter, Makenna, at age 11, singing and playing "Decline" by Miley Cyrus. "Did you kind of see her mental illness? Most of the time, you cannot tell by looking at someone that they have a mental illness," Dadey said. "You can see a broken leg or a broken arm because that person has a cast. We need to start treating mental health like physical health and go and seek help." Photo by Howard Owens.
