The Empire State Antique Truck Association held its 36th Annual Truck Show on Saturday at Sunday at the Western NY Gas and Steam grounds in Alexander.
It was the first time for the show at the steam grounds after traditionally behind hosted at the Stafford Firemen's grounds.
What was the same was dozens of classic trucks and tractors on display along with a flea market. There was also a tractor pull on Saturday.
Photos by Howard Owens.
Protesters returned Sunday to Bank Street Road in Batavia, across from Cornerstone Church, to protest a planned event for this coming Friday and Saturday that one spokesperson said is giving fascists a platform.
"A lot of people have come together as a really big, again, like a mishmash of different efforts who are all people who want the same thing -- which is for the RAT (ReAwaken America Tour) to not be in Batavia and for places like churches not to support fascism," said Lauren Berger, a Mount Morris resident.
She said people who have been featured speakers at previous ReAwaken America events have supported fascist ideology and they should not be given a venue to spread that ideology.
She said that was the reason she and other members of Democratic Socialists of America opposed the same event being hosted in Rochester. Pressure on the owner of the Armory there is what led to the event being canceled, and it was then booked in Batavia when Pastor Paul Doyle agreed to host the event at his church.
"We had been telling the armory not to allow this type of event, not to give these people a platform for their hateful ideology," Berger said. "And not to elevate this as a valid viewpoint. And this isn't, this isn't, you know, conservative, low taxation. This is, you know, (saying) LGBTQ plus people and their allies should be executed for treason. They are peddling COVID conspiracies and election denials, and myths about George Soros, and just all kinds of things that are not a valid place for discourse in our society. This is not a valid viewpoint. This is not an equal and opposite side."
While Berger expects some sort of opposition event in Batavia during the Cornerstone event, she said she doubts it will take place on Bank Street Road, across from the giant white tent expected to hold 3,000 people. She cited the limited space along Bank Street Road and safety concerns for counter-protestors being in close proximity to people at the event, whom she views as a threat to engage in violence.
"The thing about fascism is, you know, everybody here resisting fascism would be content if the fascist went home, and just didn't do this event and kind of renounced those views," Berger said. "A fascist won't stop until those standing in their way are dead. So the safety risk is pretty profound."
In prior interviews with The Batavian, Paul Doyle, senior pastor of Cornerstone Church, has said the event is to be a Godly one, and not at all what protesters have claimed.
"We are fully behind this event, and resolved on our stance to host the ReAwaken America Tour," Doyle has said. "We see this as a Christian-based assembly addressing the many issues that face American people, offering a biblical perspective."
Tour organizers will be meeting with local law enforcement to discuss "security procedures" either Monday or Tuesday, Doyle said to The Batavian Sunday.
For previous coverage of the ReAwaken America Tour coming to Batavia, click here.
Photos and video by Alecia Kaus / Video News Service. Interview by Alecia Kaus / Video News Service.
News Editor Joanne Beck contributed to this story.
Driving back from Bethany late Saturday, I spotted this tractor in a meadow off Linden Road.
When a volunteer firefighter realized today that his home on Scribner Road in Pembroke was potentially falling into a sinkhole, he did what volunteer firefighters do -- he called one of his brothers.
In this case, Gene Nati called Alan Piasecki, assistant chief in Crittenden.
Piasecki showed up with a covered trailer and 30 firefighters to help the Nati family move all of their important belongings out of their house, which is only 10 years old.
Genesee County Emergency Management wanted the Natis to clear out within an hour once they assessed the situation.
Officials told Nati that they don't expect the house to still be standing by Monday morning.
Piasecki said the ground under the house appears to be collapsing fast.
"It's not real loud, but you can actually feel it in the ground and you can hear it, and if you get close enough to the house, you can actually hear it starting to crack," Piasecki said.
According to Piasecki, Nati first noticed a crack in the driveway at 6:30 a.m. He went to get some repair work done on his car and while he was out, his daughter called and said her window wouldn't close. He came home and found a crack in the foundation.
Residents in the area said they have heard blasting for the past eight days.
Nati said county officials suggested to him that the quarry may have drained the water table.
Nati is waiting for county engineers to let him know what is next. He said University at Buffalo geologists are going to respond to the location and extract core samples to determine whether it's a sinkhole.
The crack, he said, is getting worse and extends across Scribner Road and into the woods on the other side of the street.
Meanwhile, Nati and his family are staying with another family member just down the road.
Nati said he was grateful for the assistance of the Town of Pembroke supervisor, Tom Schneider, Highway Superintendent Scott Turner, the Pembroke fire chief, Jamie Waff, the code enforcement officer, James Wolbert, and the Sheriff's Office, and all the members of Crittenden Fire Department.
Piasecki isn't sure what they're going to do longer term.
"It's very unfortunate," Piasecki said. "I mean, he's got no place to go. I feel sorry for him. Where do you go from here? He has no clue and he's getting no help from his insurance. You would think that there would be some kind of emergency insurance service for him. It'll be okay. He's got a good family. And I think that he'll be okay. And then come Monday morning, hopefully, things will go better."
Photos by Alecia Kaus/Video News Service. Alecia Kaus contributed to this story.
The sixth-to-eighth graders who participated in the 2022 Camp Hard Hat at Genesee County Park & Forest this summer worked hard and exceeded expectations, said Karen Winters, director of the Business Education Alliance, which sponsored the camp.
"You guys are amazing," Winters said. "You really are. I sometimes, when I see how small you are, I kind of think, 'how are they going to be able to build something like (a pavilion)?' I question it, but then by the end of the week, you do something so incredible, and you blow everybody's mind so I can't say enough to you guys about how proud of you I am, as I'm sure your families are, as well."
This was the eighth Camp Hard Hat at the park in the past nine years and the largest number of participants yet.
This year, project leaders worked in some fun events, too, such as geocaching and kickball, which made the overall experience better for the kids, said Paul Osborn, director of Parks, Recreation & Forestry for Genesee County.
"It's been a great opportunity for us to showcase the park to the kids," Osborn said.
The Pavilion the students built replaces one built in the 1980s. The new one is larger, so it can accommodate larger gatherings and it will eventually have electrical outlets.
One of the goals of the program is to expose students to building trades and perhaps get them interested in a career working with their hands.
"One of the things that we always have a difficulty with is hiring trades individuals, kids out of college or out of high school, they don't always have the skills," said Osborn. "I think nowadays we're seeing that the trades are just as important as any colleges. In fact, most of the time the kids that go into the trades will do much better monetarily and but also produce something every day."
Karen Winters.
Winters with Lukas Volkmar (Churchville) and Jackson Ciravolo (Bergen), two students back for their third years at the camp, this time as leaders and counselors. This was the first year students returned in those roles.
Ribbon cutting.
Proud mom Missy Midkiff with her son Ayden, both of Batavia.
A two-car motor vehicle accident is reported in the area of 355 West Main Street, Batavia.
Blocking. Possible injuries.
The location is in front of Settlers.
City Fire and Mercy EMS responding.
UPDATE 1:09 p.m.: A first responder on location. Nothing showing. A caller reports a red Fusion involved possibly at 350 West Main. The location is West Main and Woodrow, according to a first responder.
Fall may be coming, but not before a plethora of events take place later this month.
Event applications are on City Council’s conference meeting agenda next week. It’s set for 7 p.m. Monday in Council Chambers, City Hall.
Take your pick: an Italian Fest, a bike rally, a rummage sale, an awareness event, a chicken barbecue, and backpack giveaway, or a block party (for neighbors in the block).
EverPresent Church has planned a rummage sale from 9 a.m. to 3 p.m. on Aug. 20 in the parking lot outside of its Batavia City Centre property. Look for the pop-up tents. A private neighborhood block party has also been set for noon to 3 p.m. on Aug. 20 on Fordham Drive.
Also on Aug. 20, across the street from the Centre, the vibe is to get European — specifically Italian — with a festival from 1 to 9 p.m. Music, food, games and crafts will be offered on Jackson, Center and School streets. Hosted by Batavia Business Improvement District, the event, it has been said, will bring a little bit of Italy to Downtown Batavia.
After all of those pizza slices and cannolis, you might want to check out the bike rally fundraiser for Batavia Notre Dame’s United youth hockey team. Bikers will take off for the 10K course at Batavia High School parking lot at 5 p.m. Aug. 21.
This is a first-time event to raise money and offset costs of travel and uniforms, Varsity Hockey Coach Marc Staley said. He would also like to donate some of the proceeds to the Genesee Amateur Hockey Association, he said.
“Last year we did a meat raffle, and it was successful. But, we're trying to think this year about things that we could do to involve more of the youth hockey players, and involve the community and have sort of a healthy thing,” Staley said to The Batavian Friday. “And so it's not a race or anything like that. We’re gonna ride together. I think we have over 50 people, and we’re hoping to get to 100.”
There will be a limited number of T-shirts, and anyone who registers by Tuesday is guaranteed one, he said. Organizers will take registrations right up to event day. The cost is $25 for kids and $40 for adults. The course is in the northeastern quadrant of the city, he said, similar to where local 5K races are.
“Then we're going to have a few fun things at the end of the rally, a little cookout, and we're going to raffle off a few things,” Staley said. “But really what it is, it's a bike ride. It's a bike ride for hockey players and for people in the community who support the program and want to do something healthy, and have fun and ride with the kids.”
This rally will also hopefully give United a little exposure, he said, while raising money for team uniforms and travel expenses, such a bus upgrade when the team goes to Albany for a couple of games with Albany Academy and Bethlehem.
During summer work-outs, Staley noticed a large number of kids in seventh and eighth grade joining in with the jayvee and Varsity players. He would like to organize a modified team with those younger players, which would happen in March after the other games have finished.
The bike rally is just another physical event to get people outside, he said, and early Sunday evening seemed like a good time when there might be less traffic and it still allows people to partake of other Sunday activities beforehand.
Click here for an application. Note that the deadline states Sunday; however, Staley said that it's by Tuesday for a guaranteed T-shirt.
Genesee-Orleans Council on Alcohol and Substance Abuse will be hosting an Overdose Awareness Day from 4 to 7 p.m. on Aug. 24 at Austin Park, Batavia. There are to be speakers, resource tables, and the band Groove, with danceable rock, in the pavilion. Although this event is geared toward substance abuse and overdose awareness, everyone is welcome to attend, GCASA staffer Sue Gagne said.
The event's debut was in 2019, and then it didn't return for two years due to the pandemic, Gagne said. Organizers are excited to bring it back as an educational tool and for some fun with the local band that includes Neil and Joe Gagne and Peter Gomez.
Also visiting Austin Park from 1 to 8 p.m. on Aug. 27, Just Kings will be hosting a backpack giveaway and chicken barbecue fundraiser.
Other event applications for the fall include Ascension Parish with an Oktoberfest fundraiser on October 1, and All Babies Cherished with a vendor fair on October 22.
File photos of a Just Kings chicken barbecue and GCASA's Overdose Awareness Day.
2018 File Photo: Eli Fish Brewing Company shows a definite sign during its initial phase of development, and now owners are planning a two-level back patio adjacent to Jackson Square. Photo by Howard Owens.
Recession? What recession?
Despite global doomsday predictions to go along with inflationary prices, there appear to be signs of definite life in downtown Batavia. Three Main Street businesses have each applied for a $20,000 grant for planned site expansions.
City Council is expected to discuss the applications during its conference meeting at 7 p.m. Monday in Council Chambers, City Hall.
Matt Gray, as AGRV Properties, Inc., is looking backward for his project — a patio adjacent to Jackson Square. With an investment of $140,000, the additional grant would support the cost of building an outdoor patio for Eli Fish Brewing Company at 109 Main St. Aid from grant funding will allow the applicant to replace the rear, exterior stairs and doors and assist in the cost of adding a large two-level patio attached to the rear of the building, according to the application to Batavia Development Corporation.
BDC’s board approved the request, according to a memo from Director Tammy Hathaway, and has forwarded it to council for final approval. The money is from BDC’s Revolving Loan Fund, which has a total of $120,097, Hathaway said. Specifically, the City of Batavia Revolving Loan Fund Grant Policy seeks to have private building owners make lasting building, public and/or façade improvements within the City.
Down the street are two more projects to be reviewed by council. Applicant Peter Casey, as 73 on rotary, LLC, has asked for $20,000 grants each, for 73 Main St., and an adjacent site at 79-81 Main St.
That block of the building apparently has some growing pains as well, with upgrades for YNGodess — by increasing usable space in the shop, and updating a breakroom and bathroom facility. An investment of $80,000 would be augmented with the grant money for the upgrades. The BDC Board approved the request and it now rests with the council for final approval.
Casey’s other project is to renovate the former Alberty’s Drug Store property at 79-81 and move the law office of DelPlato Casey into that space. Capital investment for this project is pegged at $820,000. Work includes handicap access to the firm's office and provides more room for the growing legal practice, according to the application.
Growth is expected immediately, with the addition of one staff member and the potential for two more hired soon afterward.
Council is also expected to discuss funding for the purchase of a new fire engine. A final funding pack includes a 20-year loan for $665,000 at 2.5 percent, and a $100,000 U.S. Department of Agriculture Rural Development grant, with an upfront contribution of $36,681 from the city’s fire reserves.
This fire engine is to replace Engine 12, which, at 20 years old, is showing signs of “extreme corrosion,” City Manager Rachael Tabelski said in a memo to council. The new vehicle would include a custom cab with seating for six fire personnel, a 1,500 per minute fire pump with foam capacity, a 750-gallon water tank, latest safety features, and full LED emergency and scene lights for maximum safety for personnel, and she recommends the purchase.
A suggestion from City Planning and Development Committee members may have seemed like a good idea for better controlling farm animals, but it’s on a proposed chopping block for City Council’s Monday meeting.
The planning committee was tasked last month to review city code for the keeping of farm animals within city property and make some recommendations for how to deal with specific issues on a city-wide scale.
Neighbor complaints about goats running loose on Burke Drive were, in large part, what drove council to take another look at the animal ordinance. The group wanted the planning committee also to review it since committee members -- including Code Enforcement Officer Doug Randall -- were more versed with city code details.
The committee recommended a limit of six chickens on any one property, and implementing a system — to create a paper trail and more tracking — to document what types of animal species, how many, and where they are located, for city residents.
It seemed like a good idea, and one that would let city officials know who had what at their properties, committee members had agreed.
However, after reviewing the recommendations with city staff and the attorney, “we respectfully disagree with the addition of section E,” City Manager Rachael Tabelski said in a memo to council.
“The intent of the new law was to restrict animal and fowl in the city and provide code enforcement clear and concise guidelines for citing violations,” Tabelski said. “The city does not have the staff or resources to create an animal registry, to tag, and track pre-existing animals. Therefore, and with respect to the PDC’s deliberation, I recommend that the City Council strike section E from the proposed code revision.”
If approved by council, the code revisions will revert back to City Council for consideration and to set a public heading to receive public feedback before considering a local law adoption.
That public hearing is to be set for 7 p.m. Sept. 12. Council's conference session is at 7 p.m. Monday in Council Chambers, City Hall.
File photo of Jill Turner of Batavia with some of her goats at a summer event. Neighbors have complained about the goats getting loose, and the smell of goats and chickens, prompting a City Council review of a farm animal ordinance in the city code. Photo by Joanne Beck.
On Thursday, August 25, 2022, the Batavia City School District will host the official dedication ceremony for the Frank E. Owen Auditorium at Batavia High School.
The ceremony will begin at 7:00 pm in the auditorium and will include an official ribbon cutting, and performances by Batavia High School music students, alumni, staff, and community members.
The evening will feature remarks from Superintendent Jason Smith, Batavia High School Principal Paul Kesler, and Batavia High School Music Department Chair Jane Haggett. The ceremony will also include an appearance by Frank E. Owen’s son, Jim Owen.
On May 5, 2022, the Batavia City School District Board of Education officially approved the renaming of the Batavia High School auditorium to the “Frank E. Owen Auditorium.”
Frank E. Owen started his career with the Batavia City School District in 1927, where he directed the orchestra and was appointed the head of the music department. Owen was responsible for many musical “firsts” across the district: the first BCSD band was formed in 1930, and he founded the Batavia High School Choristers in 1935. He directed the first school musical in 1937 and formed the first jazz/swing choir in the 1960s. Owen retired in 1964, completing a career that spanned 37 years of dedication to the students of Batavia. He passed away on July 9, 1978, in Batavia, and shortly after, a scholarship was set up in his name and is awarded each year to a student pursuing a career in music education.
For anyone who is interested in joining the performance in celebration of Frank E. Owen, more information can be found here.
Admission to the event is free. The Frank E. Auditorium is located at Batavia High School, 260 State Street, Batavia, New York.
Photo submitted by Mike Pettinella
Press release:
The Genesee County Health Department will be hosting a FREE drive-thru anti-rabies immunization clinic on Thursday, August 11th from 4:00 p.m. to 7:00 p.m. at the Genesee County Fairgrounds (5056 East Main Street, Batavia).
New York State Public Health Law requires all dogs, cats and domestic ferrets to be vaccinated against rabies after they reach the age of 4 months. Animals must also remain up-to-date on rabies vaccinations and owners can be fined up to $200 if they fail to get their pets vaccinated and keep them up to date.
“Animal rabies continues to be a serious public health problem in Genesee County,” stated Paul Pettit, Public Health Director for Genesee and Orleans County Health Departments (GO Health). “We remind all residents to make sure that their animals are immunized against rabies and that their vaccinations are kept up to date.”
Vaccinations are free for dogs, cats, and ferrets, but voluntary donations are accepted. Animals must be at least 3 months old. Each animal must be leashed or crated and accompanied by an adult who can control the animal. Limit 4 pets per car maximum.
To save you time, please click here to fill out your registration form in advance. Be sure to print out two copies for each pet to be vaccinated and bring them with you to the clinic.
The next anti-rabies immunization clinics are as follows:
- Genesee County Clinics at the Genesee County Fairgrounds (5056 East Main Street, Batavia, NY)
- Thursday, September 15th, 2022 from 4:00 p.m. to 7:00 p.m.
- Thursday, October 13th, 2022 from 4:00 p.m. to 6:00 p.m.
- Orleans County Clinics at the Orleans County Fairgrounds (12690 Rt. 31, Albion, NY)
- Saturday, August 13th, 2022 from 9:00 a.m. to 11:30 a.m.
- Saturday, October 15th, 2022 from 9:00 a.m. to 11:30 a.m.
For more information on Health Department services, visit GOHealthNY.org or call 589-3278 for Orleans County or 585-344-2580 ext. 5555 for Genesee County.
Sunset from Maltby Road, Oakfield, on Thursday evening.
Photo by Joanne Meiser.
It might be difficult to be a fan of Batavia City Centre, which has struggled with an image problem, about a third of it being unoccupied and with vacant properties and foreclosures that are costing city taxpayers $45,000 a year in mall user fees.
The city pays those user fees to the City Centre Fund, not counting City Hall, which is assessed at $1.45 million and costs $23,000 a year in user fees.
The foreclosed properties and their assessed values are:
Batavia Players has a lease deal with the city to rent out parcels 2, 35 and 39 for a total of $45,768, City Manager Rachael Tabelski said.
That total assessed value of $342,540 has a zero property tax while in foreclosure.
Parcel 2, formerly Sunny’s restaurant, has been served a petition and notice of foreclosure, Tabelski said. The total assessed value will then be $440,543.
Mall merchants Bob Chiarmonte and Craig Jackson recently said they believed the city wasn’t working to fill those vacant spots and wished that more would be done to get new businesses in there. The Batavian reached out to Tabelski and Batavia Development Corporation Director Tammy Hathaway to find out what they were doing to market the vacancies.
“The city supports putting these parcels into productive use, and they may become more attractive to businesses as improvements are made in City Centre, including the roof, silos, and lighting,” Tabelski said.
Chiarmonte and Jackson hope that’s true. An entire roof replacement has been completed over the concourse, and the silos (entryways) are in the design phase to improve the look and practicality of the vertical tunnels at each entrance.
“I think upgrading the interior would make a difference; it’s more important than the exterior,” Chiarmonte said.
Case in point: the entryway next to the former Sunny’s. Just look up, and it becomes obvious how much wear and tear the structures have taken with rain and melting snow. Jackson pointed out that, when installed, the silo roof was tucked in lower within the structure, which doesn’t seem to allow an easy escape for water. Stains are easily visible and run down the length of the silo from the roof.
Other improvements, more cosmetic in nature, are to include painting the walls and floors. Ceiling tiles — which were black and haphazardly missing throughout the concourse — have begun to be taken down for a modern, industrial appearance.
There are 34 business-related sites, according to a listed address within the concourse. A total assessed value, excluding foreclosed and other city properties, and a nonprofit organization, is more than $2.2 million. That’s more than $2 million worth of property taxes going into city revenues.
It seems a given that the mall-turned-City Centre’s reputation needs a major overhaul after all of these years of legal turmoil and struggle to retain newer businesses. But then some retailers have made a go of it over the long haul — Jackson and business partner Loretta DelPriore have thrived with Batavia Stagecoach Florist for more than two decades, Chiarmonte’s Classic Optical has been there 38 years, and Erika Siverling’s LeBeau Salon for more than 10 years, plus medical and dental providers with long-term track records.
City officials have shared plans to expand the scope and improve the appearance of the Centre, and tearing it down has been ruled out. That leaves a hint of promise that the bemoaned downtown landmark might just get a revival, and all involved hope that cynics might just become fans.
Top photo: Some of the properties in foreclosure at Batavia City Centre, photo from City of Batavia; City Manager Rachael Tabelsk, photo by Howard Owens; and a silo at the Centre, photo by Joanne Beck.
Press release:
Assemblyman Steve Hawley (R, C, I-Batavia) is urging lawmakers to consider options to reduce state spending following a report by the Division of Budget predicting the state will face projected budget gaps totaling $13.7 billion over the next five years.
Additionally, the assemblyman is imploring action to be taken to ensure the state’s small business owners are not made to bear the burden of the Legislative Majority’s fiscal irresponsibility. To this end, he is sponsoring a bill (A.7211) that would suspend employer contributions to the interest assessment surcharge fund through 2023, a fund created to help the state repay money borrowed from the federal government to pay unemployment benefits during the COVID-19 pandemic that business owners have been required to contribute to regularly.
This change in the Division of Budget’s economic forecast was spurred by an expected decline in tax revenue caused by recent downturns in the stock market and economy as a whole. For years, Hawley has criticized the Majority for their egregious spending, pointing to the fact that several of the state’s recent budgets have been larger than those of Texas and Florida combined, with this year’s record-breaking budget amounting to $220 billion in total spending.
“Just as millions of Americans are preparing to do in these next few months, it is high time our state tighten its belt and take a hard look at how we can cut waste while still taking care of our residents’ basic needs,” said Hawley. “Whether you look at red states like Texas or blue states like California, they spend far less per capita in their budgets, and I’m certain we could provide a similar value to our taxpayers. In any case, we must work to ensure that our state’s already-strained small business owners are not left to pick up the bill that’s accumulated after years of overspending by the Legislative Majority.”
Assemblyman Hawley represents the 139th District, which consists of Genesee, Orleans and parts of Monroe County. For more information, please visit Assemblyman Hawley’s Official Website.
Signs of summer are everywhere: lots of flowers, hot temperatures, outdoor enthusiasts, and plenty of construction.
Work along Richmond Avenue, from Oak to State streets, is progressing, said Brett Frank, director of Public Works. Due to construction work, the area had an emergency 12-inch water main repair that began last month between Oak and Buxton. The water portion of the project “has been wrapped up,” Frank said.
“Zoladz Construction is now working on necessary sidewalk replacement, and will be working on the milling and paving of Richmond as well,” he said Thursday. “Right now there are no traffic concerns or reminders that need to take place.”
Earlier this week, that wasn’t the case, as flagmen were on site to control a one-way lane on the street. Piles of dirt have been toppled onto residents’ front lawns, which seems the price for improved infrastructure.
Work continues despite the heat and humidity, which DPW staff have countered with “lots of water and Gatorade!” Frank said.
City Council approved the project bid of $2,658,297.17 from Zoladz Construction of Alden in May. Scope of work includes a portion of Harvester Avenue from state Routes 5 and 33 to state Route 63. It will be paid for with 80 percent federal funds and 20 percent non-federal.
Another ongoing city construction is also happening at the south side’s Ellicott Station on Ellicott Street, in the heart of downtown with the new Healthy Living campus between Wiard and Bank streets, along Park Road, and a new Rochester Regional Health medical facility on Route 98 in the Town of Batavia.
Photos: Work along Richmond Avenue in Batavia this week has meant slowed one-lane traffic, hot days in the sun for workers a repaired water main and the beginning of improved sidewalks and the road. Photos by Howard Owens.
Press release:
Calling all 8-11th graders, the Genesee County Youth Court is recruiting new members! Youth Court is a voluntary alternative for young people who face disciplinary action through school or law enforcement. Youth who are referred admit to the charge and appear before a court of their peers. Three youth judges listen to both sides of the issue and determine an appropriate disposition. The goal of youth court is to improve youth citizenship skills and decrease problematic behavior.
Youth Court members learn about the judicial process & law enforcement; develop group decision-making, leadership and public speaking skills; participate in all roles of the courtroom: judge, prosecution, defense, and bailiff.
Genesee County 8-11th graders who are interested can go online to download an application from the website https://www.co.genesee.ny.us/departments/youthbureau/youthcourt.php . Applications are due by August 12th. Interviews of potential candidates will take place in August and September with the training to begin in October.
For more information on the Genesee County Youth Court, please contact Chelsea Elliott at the Genesee County Youth Bureau, 344-3960.
Press release:
Senator Rath is calling for action on legislation he sponsors in the Senate that would work to increase the transparency of our state government.
“Creating more transparency around our state government and its processes is extremely important. Assuring that residents have faith and understanding of our government is essential. Unfortunately, Albany has a reputation for its closed doors, corruption, and cover-ups, I am fighting to change that,” said Senator Ed Rath.
The legislation that Senator Rath sponsors is a package (S.6931, S.6932, S.6933, S.6943, S.6935, S.8588) which includes: initiatives to expand political contribution reporting requirements, restrict certain contributions from public officials and restrict certain contribution time periods. All bills were active in the 2021-2022 legislative session.
“Recently we have seen questions surrounding the Governor’s donors being awarded state contracts, this needs to end. The continuous pay-to-play culture of Albany is unacceptable. I believe this legislation is a step in the right direction,” said Senator Ed Rath.
For a full listing of the bills and their explanations, visit https://www.nysenate.gov/legislation.
Press release:
The Richmond Memorial Library will host a Garden Dedication and Friend of the Year Reception on Saturday, August 13, beginning at 10:00 am near the garden by the Ross Street entrance. Nancy Mortellaro and Anne Iannello will be honored in separate ceremonies for their contributions to the library.
Beginning at 10 am, the Richmond Memorial Library Board of Trustees will dedicate the Lisianthus flower garden to longtime volunteer and library supporter Nancy Mortellaro.
"Nancy's dedication to the library has taken numerous forms over the decades, but most recently and most visibly she's been purchasing, planting and caring for the beautiful Lisianthus flower garden near the Ross Street entrance of our driveway, or coordinating the efforts of volunteers who plant for her,” shared Gregg McAllister, President of the library’s Board of Trustees. “The library board is grateful for her generosity and efforts, and wanted to find a way to thank her."
Immediately following the garden dedication, the Friends of the Richmond Memorial Library will host a reception in the Gallery Room to honor 2022 Friend of the Year Anne Iannello. Each year, the Friends honor a volunteer who has gone above and beyond in their service to the library. Anne is a volunteer with Library Visits, a “ask Marshall” program that brings library services and materials to homebound individuals in Genesee County. She delivers materials to several patrons in addition to making quarterly phone calls to patrons as a form of connection and to check on what they need from the program.
Library Visits coordinator Lucine Kauffman suggested Anne for the award, sharing that “Anne is the kind of volunteer every program hopes for. She has brought so much to our Library Visits patrons and I’m so happy the Friends have chosen to honor her with this award.”
All are welcome to attend these ceremonies. To attend one or both of these events, RSVP by calling the library at 343-9550 x2 or stop by the circulation desk to sign up. For more information about the library or other events, visit batavialibrary.org.
Press release:
This past week, the governing Board of the Independent Living of the Genesee Region (ILGR) has released an anti-hate and racism statement, in reaction to recent violent events in Western New York and across the country.
Director Rae Frank said “The Governing Council of ILGR felt that it was time to stand up and make it known that the people with disabilities will stand by our friends and neighbors who find themselves marginalized in our society regardless of their religion, color, sexual identity, and other characteristics. They have, and always will have, a friend and a partner at ILGR.”
ILGR has adopted the following Equity Statement in response to the aforementioned recent violent racist acts in Buffalo and around the Country.
“Independent Living of the Genesee Region unequivocally believes all forms of hate and violence directed against people based on their race, ethnicity, gender identity, sexual orientation, disability, religion, age, size, immigration, economic, or housing status has no place in our community. We are in opposition to all discrimination and racism. We stand with all members in unity for our community. Independent Living of the Genesee Region will always be committed to stand with our community and will fight prejudice, discrimination, racism, and bigotry as we continue to advocate for tolerance, inclusion and understanding.”
ILGR believes that this statement is particularly applicable to the recent announcement of Clay Clark’s “ReAwaken America Tour” coming to Cornerstone Church in Batavia.
ILGR joins other concerned citizens in asking for this event to be cancelled in respect for the pain and suffering of many Americans in recent weeks. There is an online petition on the AVAAZ.org website which can be accessed at this URL: https://tinyurl.com/OpposeReAwakenTourBatavia. Interested persons can make their own decisions on whether to join us in asking for this event to bypass our community.
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