Genesee County may be looking at hundreds of millions of dollars over the next 20-plus years as water project planning continues, its Legislature chair told Bergen officials.
Chairman Christian Yunker included an update on water at the recent joint meeting of the Village and Town boards. He said the
Firefighters said no one was hurt in a residence at Big Tree Glen apartments, 3727 W. Main Street Road, after an initial report of flame showing from an air duct.
Town of Batavia Deputy Fire Chief Clayton Gorski said sometimes, a home gets built-up soot in the furnace area. He said there was smoke coming from the furnace exhaust.
"We think that built up over time and eventually got some heat to it ..." he said. "We secured the furnace for them so everything's safe for them for now."
Gorski said the department always encourages residents to get their furnaces cleaned annually, so something like this doesn't happen.
"There was some mild flame. The resident said they saw it. We didn't see any on our arrival. We just secured the area and made sure everything was safe for them to go back in. They'll have to have maintenance come check everything out to clean everything up."
A firefighter was checking out the exhaust area on the outside of the unit.
"They just made sure nothing was going on deeper in that we couldn't see. We took off the exterior a little bit to check ... if there was any kind of extension of any issues. We didn't find anything," he said.
Firefighters got the call around 11:20 a.m.
"Nobody's hurt. Nobody will be displaced," he said. The department will install one detector and make sure the other detectors in the residence work, Gorski said.
The New York State Department of Public Service has opened an investigation into allegations in a complaint by more than 25 village of Bergen Electric Department customers. The complaint, filed May 21, alleges that the department is operating outside of its service territory, is not correctly applying the Power Purchase Adjustment Cost across the service classifications, is not properly allocating the New York Power Authority hydro resource across the service classifications, and needs to conduct a cost causation study to justify the increase in the cost of service.
At 6 p.m. Sept. 15, at Sage Pavilion in Hartland Park in Bergen, a public statement hearing will be held before Administrative Law Judge Henry James Joseph.
To develop the record for this investigation, interested entities may provide comments and additional information relevant to the Complaint by September 21, 2026.
MATTER 26-01096
The Village of Bergen Electric Department may provide a response to the Complaint by September 9, 2026. Comments should refer to “Matter 26-01096 – Village of Bergen Electric Department.” To submit comments electronically, please go to www.dps.ny.gov, click on “File Search” (located under the heading “Commission Files”), enter “26-01096” in the “Search by Case Number” field, and then click on the “Post Comments” box located at the top right of the page. Those who are unable to file comments electronically may mail their comments to the Hon. Michelle L. Phillips, Secretary, Public Service Commission, Three Empire State Plaza, Albany, New York, 12223-1350; however, electronic filing of comments is strongly encouraged. All comments submitted to the Secretary in accordance with this Notice will be posted on the Department of Public Service’s website. However, comments received after the September 21, 2026 deadline may not be considered.
Press Release
Concert Postponed - Tonight's Summer Sounds & Grooves concert in Jackson Square featuring Line Break has been postponed due to this evening's severe thunderstorm warning. Follow Eli Fish Brewing and Center Street Smokehouse on Facebook for updates as we work to reschedule this event in September. The Summer Sounds & Grooves concert series is presented on Saturdays in July and August in Jackson Square with support from GoArt and the NYS Council on the Arts.
One of those summer, straight-down rainstorms a few months ago in Batavia sparked an idea in the mind of singer-songwriter Gabrielle Lovelace while recording her pending new EP release at Old Bear Studios.
It started with just a phrase, "Batavian Rain."
That's a song title, she mused. She eventually finished writing the song at home, just outside Knoxville, Tenn. While the song hasn't been recorded yet, she performed it publicly for the first time on Friday night at the studio in Downtown Batavia during a record release party for her newest single, "Songs that Understand."
Lovelace shared about her love for God and passion for music and songwriting with The Batavian just before her eight-song set for a small but packed audience in the studio.
"Songs are nothing short of miraculous to me," Lovelace said. "They're threads of science, math and emotion all woven into sonic tapestries which have the power to change lives. Even hyper-specific songs have a way of resonating with us for various reasons. There's a universality in the specificity of lyrics and music, and tapping into the magic of that is what I'm deeply passionate about. For every unexpected experience I go through, I always thank God for songs that understand. Every now and then, when I can't find one — though I'm sure it exists — I simply write whatever it is I need to hear."
Lovelace, the daughter of music industry parents, grew up in Brevard, N.C. Her father is a musician and songwriter; her mother, a former vocal major, works for a music label in Nashville. Lovelace said she was never pushed toward music — it was simply osmosis.
"I wrote songs in lieu of keeping a journal growing up," she said. She holds degrees in English and creative writing, and started writing songs in elementary school.
Over the past several years, Lovelace has also been recovering from Lyme disease, a stretch that kept her close to home and gave her long hours to write, reflect and dig into her faith. Songs like "Somewhere Between" and "It's Going to Be Yesterday" came out of that period — autobiographical, she said, but written so that listeners might feel heard rather than simply told a story.
That approach caught the attention of Old Bear Records, the Batavia-based label run by the brothers Anthony and Chris Hoisington, who record and perform, with childhood friend Jeremy Thompson, as Brothers McClurg. Lovelace and Anthony Hoisington met in Nashville in June 2025 at an industry gathering the label hosted. The connection ran through her mother, who shares a distribution company with Old Bear.
"I like the sound of her voice," Hoisington said. "The timbre of her voice is kind of low and unique." He said her deep knowledge of music theory and her creativity made her a strong fit for the label's roster. "She's very musical, very interesting — a lot of creativity."
Lovelace's first release with Old Bear came out that July, just weeks after they met. She came to Batavia last October to record an EP; "Songs That Understand" is the first single from that project. She came back to the city this week to record a Christmas EP.
Her first release with the label wasn't an original at all, but a cover — something she said she had never done before. She reimagined "Screen Door," a song by the late Christian singer-songwriter Rich Mullins, originally an a cappella track on his 1987 album "Pictures in the Sky." Lovelace grew up hearing it on her mother's favorite playlist, one of the only songs on her childhood iPod she recognized for years.
The choice wasn't random. Lovelace said her piano teacher went to college with Mullins, and when she first met the Hoisingtons, they realized how many threads tied them all back to Mullins and his circle. Danny O'Lannerty, a bassist who played with Mullins' Ragamuffin Band, played on two of her own songs, "Somewhere Between" and "You Can't Put God in a Box."
"The core of the message is just as relevant as when it was written," Lovelace said of "Screen Door." "The lyrics were inspired by James 2:26: 'For as the body without the spirit is dead, so faith without works is dead also.' This verse points to the idea that our actions reflect what we believe, and Rich found a really fun and catchy way to say that."
Recording it, she said, became a family affair.
"The producers, musicians and I gathered around a microphone and stomped and clapped together," she said. "I even got my mom to come in and snap, and my dad played Wurlitzer. I felt like a kid on a playground because we were having a blast, and it felt like such a full-circle moment. We were not only recording a song that has meant so much to me for a couple of decades now, but to play a small part in keeping Rich's legacy alive all these years later is even more special."
Lovelace describes herself as "a songwriter who is a Christian, not a Christian songwriter," a distinction she said shapes how her faith shows up in her music.
"In the same way that Jesus is the framework for everything that we do — you go get a cup of coffee in the morning, and the way you treat the barista is either Christ-like or it isn't," she said. "That's not you preaching. It's just you being. That's the goal: to be Christ-like through the music, but not in a way that feels forced or marketed, or like just the holy version of me. I'm trying to present the true version of me, which includes all the realness."
Her influences range well outside Christian music. She named Regina Spektor, Aimee Mann, Judy Collins and Dusty Springfield. She singled out Bob Dylan, whose songwriting she studied seriously for the first time in a poetry class at Liberty University.
Despite his Nobel Prize for Literature, Lovelace ranks Dylan as "underrated" as a poet. Her song "Bob Dylan Rhythm" pays tribute to him while tracing her own place in the world.
She's also a collector of physical media — vinyl, cassettes, CDs and DVDs — in an era of streaming, and said she can't hear a great film score without going home and figuring it out on the piano.
Asked what she wanted people to know about her that hadn't already come up, Lovelace paused. No one, she said, had asked her that before.
"Just that I love them," she said. "Whoever's listening or reading, I love you. I love you very much. I'm writing the songs that I wished I had heard, and I would encourage anyone — if they have a song in them — to let it out."
Metro Mattress is doing business at 4187 Veterans Memorial Drive in Batavia for the second time.
The business, closed last year while the current Metro Mattress was open across the street. It reopened in April. There had been a Metro Mattress at 4187 Veterans Memorial before it closed in the fall.
"We have the Metro Mattress name, but we're not affiliated with the original Metro Mattress, which went out of business," Store Manager Xoum Thiphavong said. "It still looks the same as it did before. It's just a different layout as far as how we have the mattresses set up."
After the store had a soft opening in May, it celebrated a ribbon-cutting Friday afternoon. James Trent is the majority owner and John Brown is executive vice president.
"We're doing things differently as far as trying to be more in the community. John approached me about joining the Chamber of Commerce as a way to network and get the Metro Mattress name back into the community," Thiphavong said.
Brown said Metro Mattress will have 11 stores operating.
"We started with six in December and we're opening up our 11th in Vestal Sept. 1. We want to get to about 15 to 20 ... then hold tight," Brown said.
The Veterans Memorial Drive store is the only one in Genesee County. Dom Genova owns the property.
"When I reached out to Dom and said, 'Hey, is that spot still open?' he said, 'Yeah, we'd love to have you,'" Brown said.
The Metro Mattress owner said the previous Metro Mattress at 4187 Veterans Memorial closed in September or October of last year.
"They filed for bankruptcy in September 2024. By the next year, most of the stores were done. We knew it wasn't going to come out of bankruptcy," he said. Metro Mattress leases the building from Genova.
Why did the new Metro Mattress not have a ribbon-cutting until three months after the soft opening?
"We wanted to get all the product in," he said, adding, "The people I had initially weren't former Metro folks, so I was just a little nervous. It's a struggle. You've got to really know this industry to do a good job."
Overall, this year is the half-century mark for business for Metro Mattress.
"It was originally opened - one store in Syracuse, N.Y., in 1976. Through many iterations, this is the 50th year," he said. "We're having a party in September in Syracuse," he said. "I've got the older folks coming that used to work, that built it. I've got all the current folks. We're having a little 'Thank you' celebration."
The 4187 Veterans Memorial Drive store has been a great location for the company, he said.
"I love the community here. I come to lunch with Dom almost every month. We get together at Alex's (Place), Brown said. "I get to know this area. Joining the chamber was the next step. These stores are community stores. We need to be involved in the communities we're in."
Press release:
The Town of Batavia Highway Department will apply a preventative maintenance treatment to Hopkins Road and Galloway Road on Aug. 27, causing minor delays and short-term closures while crews work.
Work is scheduled from 7 a.m. to 4 p.m. on Hopkins Road, between Route 5 and Route 33, and on Galloway Road, between Downey Road and Slusser/Macomber Road, according to the Highway Department.
The treatment, known as Fiber Mat, applies a fiber-reinforced liquid asphalt membrane that reinforces the existing road surface, retarding cracking and potholes while providing some water resistance. A thin coating of stone is then applied, allowing traffic to use the road soon after application and leaving a new wear surface. The Highway Department said the process provides a cost-effective extension of the road surface's life of up to five years.
The stone will be allowed to set for at least two days, and crews will sweep any loose stone, preferably while wet or raining, to minimize dust. Drivers are asked to moderate their speed while loose stone is present.
Emergency services will be permitted through the work zones. All other through traffic on Hopkins Road and Galloway Road should seek alternate routes.
Residents and businesses on the affected roads will be permitted access to their properties but may experience minor delays.
The work is weather-dependent. If it is delayed because pavement is too wet or cold, it will be rescheduled to the next available day.
For questions about the work, contact the Town of Batavia Highway Department at 585-343-1729, ext. 218.
Richmond Memorial Library will host its fall Books Sandwiched In series each Wednesday in September at 12:10 p.m. in the Gallery Room, with this year's programs centered on the theme "Important Women in American History."
The series kicks off Sept. 2, when library Director Samantha Stryker will review "We the Women: The Hidden Heroes Who Shaped America" by Norah O'Donnell, which examines women who helped shape the nation's democracy but are largely absent from standard history curricula.
Sara Kohl will review "A Midwife's Tale: The Life of Martha Ballard, Based on Her Diary 1785-1812" by Laurel Thatcher Ulrich on Sept. 9. The book recounts the life of an early American midwife whose story inspired "Frozen River."
On Sept. 16, Rachel Bellis of the Holland Land Office Museum will discuss "The Age of Homespun: Objects and Stories in the Creation of an American Myth," also by Ulrich, which examines cloth production in early America and its meaning in the young nation's development.
Emily Conable will review "Free Thinker: Sex, Suffrage, and the Extraordinary Life of Helen Hamilton Gardener" by Kimberly A. Hamlin on Sept. 23. The book traces the life of Alice Chenoweth, who was publicly disgraced, changed her name to Helen Hamilton Gardener, and went on to become what the book describes as "the most potent factor" in the passage of the 19th Amendment.
The series wraps up Sept. 30 with Barb Biljan of Genesee Community College reviewing "A Woman of No Importance: The Untold Story of the American Spy Who Helped Win World War II" by Sonia Purnell. The book tells the story of Virginia Hall, known as "the Madonna of the Resistance," who coordinated a spy network that helped secure an Allied victory in World War II.
Attendees don't need to have read the books to participate. Light refreshments will be served, and a door prize will be drawn each week.
The series is sponsored by the Friends of the Richmond Memorial Library, with additional support from the library's Books Sandwiched In committee.
Press release:
Genesee County has begun a restoration project at the historic Holland Land Office facility in Batavia. The work will help maintain and preserve the county-owned building while addressing several exterior, interior and building-system needs.
The project includes:
- Masonry and stone veneer repair, repointing and restoration
- Restoration of the roof, exterior trim, portico, fascia and columns
- Repairs to windows, doors and other exterior building components
- Interior finish work, including plaster repair and painting
- Updates to HVAC, restrooms and life-safety systems
Construction is underway and will be completed in phases through fall 2026 and spring 2027.
The Holland Land Office Museum operates from the historic facility and will continue to provide updates as work progresses. Intermittent building closures may be necessary during portions of construction, and information about any impacts to public access will be shared as needed.
Press release:
The Batavia Cemetery Association is excited to announce that, due to popular demand, the annual Halloween Candlelight Ghostwalk will again be conducted on two nights, Oct. 17 and 24. Join us for spooky fun on a ghost walk through the Historic Batavia Cemetery on Harvester Avenue to meet the famous and infamous movers and shakers who shaped not only Batavia, but the United States and the world.
The guided tour on candlelit paths will bring guests to hear men and women who, for various reasons, held great power and exerted great influence in their day, were victims of tragic events, or both. As part of America's 250th celebration, Revolutionary War veteran Captain John Burnham will recall his experiences during the war for independence and many later adventures that led him to Batavia.
Confederate Major Philemon Tracy, one of the few Confederate officers buried in the North; surveyor and land developer of western New York Joseph Ellicott, a man of great power and great flaws; and William Morgan, who disappeared and was allegedly murdered before he could reveal the secrets of the Masons, will tell their stories.
Listen to the Rev. John Yates, the author of many hymns, and Dr. Martha Morgan, a compassionate doctor who spent most of her professional life working at the State Lunatic Hospital in Harrisburg, Pennsylvania. The Brisbane brothers, George, a businessman, and Albert, a radical social philosopher, will divulge the reasons for their well-known, tense relationship.
Meet maltster and brewer Eli Fish. Shipping and railroad magnate Dean Richmond and his wife, Mary, will greet guests in their beautiful Gothic mausoleum on the last stop of the tour.
Tours begin at 7 p.m. and run every 15 minutes until 8:30 p.m. Admission is $20 plus fees. Reservations are required. No rain date. Proceeds benefit the upkeep and restoration of the cemetery. Tickets are selling fast. For more information or to reserve, visit Events at bataviacemetery.org or Eventbrite.com.
New York State recently released results for schools’ performance on the Algebra II Regents exams, showing a wide gap in Genesee County districts, from Elba’s #1 ranking to Batavia City Schools at #477.
According to state data, 98 districts had 100% of students test proficient during the 2024-25 school year, and another 97 districts reached 95% or higher. Statewide, 75% of students were proficient on the exams, and Batavia came in just over that with 77%.
Syracuse City School District ranked at the bottom, 571st in the state, with 50% of students proficient on the algebra exams.
Remaining Genesee County districts are further down in this article, but first, The Batavian reached out to BCSD Superintendent Jason Smith for his response to the results of the county's largest district and budget.
For the 2024-25 school year, Batavia had a total budget of $55,682,334 and an average of 2,200 students, resulting in a per-pupil cost of $25,310.15. There is no city school district in the county to compare, so The Batavian used the #1-ranked Elba Central School, which has a much smaller population of 425 students and a correspondingly smaller budget of $10,763,233, but still has nearly the same per-pupil cost of $25,325.25.
Elba’s proficiency rating was 100% versus Batavia’s at 77%.
Q: How do you explain Batavia's poor performance?
A: “Given the comparison The Batavian provided between Batavia City School District and Elba Central School District, it is important to provide additional context. In the 2024-2025 rankings, Elba only had nine students tested, while Batavia had 56 students tested, which is a substantial difference in sample size,” Smith said. “A fair comparison must account for factors such as sample size, prior student performance, disability status, socioeconomic conditions, attendance, and course enrollment patterns.
“It is also important to compare Batavia with districts that have similar demographics and characteristics. When compared to other small city school districts across New York State, Batavia’s performance is much more consistent,” he said. “For example, some comparable districts reported passing rates as low as 16%, while none achieved a 100% passing rate.
“That said, our goal is always for every student to be successful. Batavia High School and the Batavia City School District remain committed to continuous improvement and increasing student achievement. We also believe strongly in providing equitable access to rigorous coursework,” he said. “At Batavia, students are encouraged to enroll in advanced and higher-level courses, and we do not impose prerequisite barriers that limit those opportunities.”
Q: Do you feel that BCSD has hired the correct teacher-to-student ratio for the academic needs there?
A: “Yes. BCSD believes we have appropriately staffed this course to meet student needs. The district did not create an additional position for this subject, as one teacher has been sufficient to teach the course based on enrollment and scheduling needs,” Smith said. “As with all programs, staffing is reviewed regularly to ensure students receive the support needed for success.”
Q: Is it possible that there's too much emphasis on SEL versus academic focus?
A: “No, social-emotional learning (SEL) and academic achievement are not mutually exclusive. The district’s SEL initiatives are separate from academic interventions and are designed to support a positive learning environment rather than replace academic instruction,” he said. “At Batavia High School, SEL efforts have contributed to a reduction in student conflict, helping to create a safer and more supportive school climate. A safe, welcoming environment is an important foundation for learning, as students are able to focus on academics when they feel secure, supported, and connected to their school community. BCSD remains committed to maintaining strong academic focus while also supporting students’ social-emotional well-being.”
Q: Is there a plan for corrective action?
A: “Yes, Batavia High School has already implemented several corrective actions and continuous improvement measures to support student achievement,” he said. “One significant change has been the introduction of WIN (What I Need Now), an embedded intervention and enrichment period during the school day that provides students with additional academic support based on their individual needs.
“All students participate in WIN. It is important to note that this program was not in place during the 2024-2025 school year, when the referenced assessment data was collected,” he said. “In addition, the district regularly reviews staffing and teacher assignments to ensure that educators’ strengths, certifications, and expertise align with the course content and student needs.”
Other actions that have been implemented and will continue to be implemented include:
Establishing interim benchmark goals throughout the school year to monitor student progress and inform instructional decisions.
Identifying specific learning standards and skill areas where students demonstrate the greatest need for additional support.
Providing additional instructional time and targeted academic support when warranted by student performance data.
Expanding intervention and tutoring opportunities for students who are performing below standard.
Aligning professional development opportunities with identified areas of instructional need and student performance trends.
Implementing a structured process for reviewing student achievement data every four to six weeks to monitor progress and adjust strategies as needed.
Q: Since taxpayers have been asked to pay increases, how can they be assured that students are receiving a good education?
A: “Batavia understands the concern regarding Algebra II performance. The district is not satisfied with those results and recognizes that improvement is necessary. Rather than accepting the status quo, BCSD has taken deliberate steps to strengthen mathematics instruction and improve student outcomes,” Smith said. “This year, the district implemented several targeted initiatives, including a true small-class model for Algebra and Algebra/Geometry courses, the creation of a Math Skills Clinic to address foundational skill gaps, the addition of a math instructional coach, and continued investment in the Professional Learning Community (PLC) process to improve instructional quality and consistency.
“Batavia has also redesigned its schedule for the upcoming school year to provide students with greater access to academic support and programming opportunities,” he said. “The Math Skills Clinic was specifically designed to provide both scheduled and flexible support for students who need additional assistance in mathematics. Its purpose is to build foundational skills through sustained intervention and support, recognizing that lasting improvement requires more than additional assistance.
“BCSD agrees that performance needs to improve in Algebra II. The district is not satisfied with where it is and is not making excuses,” he said. “Instead, it is taking a data-driven approach, implementing changes, monitoring their effectiveness, and adjusting strategies as needed to ensure continuous support.
“A key component of this work is the district’s investment in the Professional Learning Community process. Improving academic achievement is a long-term effort that requires educators to work collaboratively, analyze student data, identify learning gaps, establish common expectations, and implement effective instructional practices,” Smith said. “This ongoing commitment to strengthening teaching and learning reflects the district’s dedication to providing students with a high-quality educational experience and being responsible stewards of taxpayer resources.”
The following results include another #1-ranked district, Pavilion Central, and #477, Le Roy Central. Pavilion’s per-pupil rate is higher than Batavia or Elba, at $27,696.21, and Le Roy’s is lower, at $23,217.75.
Results for other public school districts in Genesee County include:
A new program called the Finger Lakes Procurement Initiative wants to give small businesses in Genesee County and western Monroe County the tools and knowledge they need to pursue larger customers and contracts.
The eight-week procurement readiness program is designed to help small businesses in Genesee County and western Monroe County become supplier-ready and learn how to scale and sell into larger corporations, government entities and institutions like universities and hospital systems, according to the Small Business Development Center website at SUNY Brockport. Companies may apply at https://www.sbdcbrockport.org/flx-procurement-initiative.html
The program kicks off Sept 16 at the Genesee County Economic Development Center (GCEDC) in the MedTech building, 99 MedTech Drive in Batavia.
"We have applications open for the program through Aug. 30. We're encouraging all small businesses in western Monroe and Genesee County to apply," Finger Lakes Procurement Initiative Program Consultant Kayte Malik said. "We will be looking to take 10-15 companies through the program. The companies we're looking for, they need to be in business for at least a year. They need to have viable customers, and they're looking to expand and grow."
Malik, Finger Lakes Small Business Development Center Director Lindsay Ward and Craft Cannery CEO Paul Guglielmo talked Friday about the program during a media day event at Craft Cannery, located in Apple Tree Acres in Bergen.
The businesses applying don't have to have a certain number of employees.
"We could take a sole entrepreneur that is growing their business, that could be a service provider or consultancy, or could be an asphalt company that is doing residential and looking to get into the commercial space," Malik said.
Small businesses in the program will be introduced to other entrepreneurs with small businesses.
"They will also be introduced to procurement opportunities across the region, but then also taught financial planning as it relates to their business - projections, marketing, marketing to corporations and then negotiation skills, amongst other things," Malik said.
She said the initiative is soliciting small businesses to join the program and is working with larger companies in Genesee County and western Monroe to support it.
Ward said the center came together and found, through its data, that small businesses lacked resources and education to get in front of a large customer base and build the connections to understand what that base wants from a supplier.
"We came together. We met with the Ralph C. Wilson Jr. Foundation, who also funded this whole project and became the Finger Lakes Procurement Initiative," Ward said. "That's where we are hitting our rural communities, western Monroe County, and giving a whole eight-week course offering to small business owners in those communities ... have the education, be able to compete, having the resources."
The initiative looks at where small businesses are today and gets them prepared to compete in the future.
"We're doing some larger marketing initiatives, but we're so thankful for the media and the exposure we're getting on this to help share this offering to small business owners across the region," Ward said.
Malik said Guglielmo is in a unique situation.
"He's starting to be in a position where he can source locally as well. Through their procurement team, we've already learned, through some of the relationships they have in Western New York and Central New York suppliers," she said.
Guglielmo said Craft Cannery has been growing, but it isn't really good at managing that growth.
The CEO said Craft Cannery is in a really good niche.
"We do these 100-gallon kettles, which basically lets us make sauce the exact same way you would make it at home," he said. "It's not thousand-gallon kettles. It's not tubing tube processing. This sauce is made the way homemade sauces are made, which is why they end up tasting so good. Tomato, same deal - we put fresh tomatoes in there.
"We need to learn a couple of things about how to grow. Where are we sourcing from? How do we get introduced to bigger customers? How do we get to the next level as a company?" he said.
Ward said some of the program's partners are proud to partner with the GCEDC. The GCEDC has provided space in the MedTech Cente.
"OneROC Rochester Community Foundation ... is working with us to provide a lot of data in looking at where our rural communities really need the most help," she added.
For the six consecutive year, the Rochester Technology and Manufacturing Association hosted the Genesee Valley Pre-Apprenticeship Boot Camp. It was a six-week training program in which GLOW region and Monroe County students attended class in the morning and worked afternoons at local manufacturers, from whom they receive paid on-the-job training.
Since 2021, the Genesee Valley Pre-Apprenticeship Boot Camp has grown to connect 50-plus students to in-demand careers with local employers including Oxbo International, Upstate Niagara Cooperative Dairy, Tambe Electric among others.
The program is sponsored by the Rochester Technology Manufacturing Association, Finger Lakes Youth Apprenticeship Program, Genesee Valley BOCES, GLOW Workforce Development Board, the Genesee County Economic Development Center, SUNY Genesee Community College and the American Apprenticeship Institute of WNY.
Next Thursday's unveiling of a highway sign along Route 19 honoring Gary A. Scott will be brief and there won't be room for very many people to attend, Le Roy's historian says. The dedication will continue at Trigon Park, however, where the community can gather to honor the Le Roy native and Army officer, who lost his life in service during the Vietnam War.
The ceremony will begin with the unveiling of a commemorative sign, honoring Scott, along Route 19, just past Fort Hill Farm and across from Parmelee Road. Additional dedication programs will immediately follow at the Veterans Memorial in Trigon Park on East Main Street in Le Roy.
"The unveiling is at 4 o'clock, but because of the high traffic, that will just be an unveiling with a small group of people that are being shuttled there (to the sign location)," said Historian Lynne Belluscio. "We're encouraging everybody to come to Trigon Park. There'll be several tributes. The Honor Guard will be able to be there. Lots of parking there, both at Main Street and across the street. There'll be a couple of pop-up tents."
There will be speakers at the Trigon Park ceremony and Bruce Bratton, the man Scott sacrificed his life to save during an attack in March 1968.
"There'll be over 250 American flags, each one with the name of a Vietnam veteran who has a connection with Le Roy. We're going to put those out," Belluscio said. "A special tribute will be at the black granite bench that is in front of the Soldiers' Monument. It is made of the same black granite as the Vietnam veterans' wall in Washington D.C. The 250 flags will be grouped around that."
The Women's Auxiliary of the Legion post has a reception planned at the Botts Fiorito American Legion Post 576, 53 W. Main Street, she said.
Assemblyman Steve Hawley will join local officials, community members and the family and friends of Scott on Thursday.
Scott gave his life in service to his country during the Vietnam War. The sign will serve as a lasting tribute to his courage, service and sacrifice and ensure that his legacy continues to be remembered by future generations, Hawley said in a press release.
"Lieutenant Gary A. Scott made the ultimate sacrifice for our country, and it is important that we continue to honor his memory and the service he gave to our nation,” said Hawley. “This sign is a fitting tribute to his courage and dedication, and I am honored to join his family, friends and members of the community in remembering his legacy."
Press release
The Genesee County Career Center will host a Job Fair on Sept. 1 from 10 a.m. to noon at the Career Center, 587 East Main St., Batavia, NY.
The event will bring together local and regional employers seeking qualified candidates for a variety of career opportunities.
"We are excited to provide job seekers with an opportunity to meet employers face-to-face, learn about available positions, and explore career paths in our community," Teresa Van Son, director of the Career Center, said.
The Job Fair is also a great opportunity for recent high school graduates who are not attending college, are considering their options, or simply aren't sure what they want to do next. Whether you are looking for your first job, interested in learning a trade, exploring a career, or ready to start working, this is a chance to meet employers, ask questions, and discover what opportunities are available. Not sure where to start? Let us help you get started.
Participating employers represent a broad range of industries, including healthcare, human services, manufacturing, public service, education, transportation, retail, hospitality and professional services.
Job seekers of all experience levels are encouraged to attend, connect with hiring representatives, learn about current openings, and explore opportunities throughout Genesee County and the surrounding area.
For additional information, contact the Genesee County Career Center at 585-344-2042.
Press release:
Save the date. Saturday, Sept. 19, from 10 a.m. to 1 p.m., the Genesee County Master Gardeners will be hosting their annual Fall Garden Gala and Plant Sale at Cornell Cooperative Extension of Genesee County, 420 East Main St. in Batavia.
This plant sale features hardy garden perennials, most of which are grown by Master Gardeners. Fall is a good time to plant many perennials as there is still time for them to grow a strong root system before winter. A wide variety of house plants will also be available for sale.
Learn how to artfully arrange flowers fresh from the garden, as talented Master Gardeners create arrangements and bouquets right before your eyes. These beautiful flower arrangements will be available for sale.
We will also be selling gently used garden/horticulture related books. All books will be 50% off their marked price. The Master Gardener Helpline will be open to answer your gardening questions.
Don't forget to stop inside for the Basket Auction. You never know what treasures may appear. Ticket sales will be from 10 a.m. to 12:15 p.m. Winners will be notified on Monday, Sept. 21, after 9 a.m. Winners will be able to pick up their baskets during CCE office hours Sept. 21-25.
Don't miss your chance to pick up some great plants at great prices. Arrive at 10 a.m. for the best plant selection. No early birds, please.
All proceeds benefit the educational outreach of the Genesee County Master Gardener Program.
For more information contact Jan Beglinger at Cornell Cooperative Extension of Genesee County, 585-343-3040, ext. 132, or stop by the Extension office at 420 East Main St. in Batavia. Visit our website at http://genesee.cce.cornell.edu/events for more information. Like us on our Facebook page for Gala and other Master Gardener program updates: https://www.facebook.com/CCEofGenesee.
The Village of Corfu will host a free community ice cream social from 1 to 5 p.m. Sunday, Aug. 30, at Corfu Homestead Park at the Corfu Village Commons, 81 East Main Street, Corfu.
The event is part of the village's celebration of America's 250th anniversary, organizers said.
The social will include free ice cream, live music, activities for children and a chance for residents to meet their neighbors. Local organizations will sell food and beverages.
The event is free and open to everyone, organizers said. Corfu Community Heart & Soul sponsors the event.
Press release:
Fall fun is popping up all over Downtown Batavia, and the Batavia Business Improvement District is kicking off the 2026 Downtown Scarecrow Contest.
Businesses, agencies, organizations, families and creative scarecrow-makers of all kinds are invited to join the fun, show off their creativity and add some extra personality to Main Street this fall.
Whether your scarecrow is funny, spooky, clever, cute, completely over the top or a little bit of everything, we want to see what you come up with.
It's a great way to get involved, have some fun and help make Downtown Batavia festive and colorful for the fall season.
Ready to join the fun?
Please see the attached registration form for all contest information, important dates and details on how to participate.
Grab your ideas, gather your crew and start planning your scarecrow — we can't wait to see Downtown Batavia come to life.
Let's fill downtown with scarecrows.
The YWCA of Genesee County will host a silent disco fundraiser from 7 to 10 p.m. Friday, Aug. 28, at Batavia Downs Gaming.
The event will raise money for YWCA programs and the organization's upcoming move, according to organizers.
The evening will also feature the YWCA's third annual Tailgate Raffle, with a YETI cooler packed for tailgating as the prize.
Tickets for the silent disco and raffle are available online now, or attendees can purchase raffle tickets in person at the event.
Silent disco tickets: https://www.zeffy.com/en-US/ticketing/ywca-silent-disco
Tailgate raffle tickets: https://www.zeffy.com/en-US/ticketing/3rd-annual-tailgate-raffle
Organizers of the Bergen Makes Art Show have extended the deadline for artist submissions to Sept. 14, giving artists more time to enter the community exhibition planned in honor of the late Bergen designer Vickie Almquist.
About 17 pieces have been submitted so far, and organizers said there is room for more.
The show, first detailed in a May story on The Batavian, is set for Nov. 7 at the Sage Pavilion in Bergen. Almquist, a Bergen native who spent nearly four decades working in fashion and graphic design in New York City, died in August 2025 after battling cancer. Friends and fellow artists organized the show to realize an exhibition she had long dreamed of but never saw come to fruition.
Organizers said the show is open to all local artists, not just those who live in Bergen.
Previously: Bergen community art show planned to honor late designer Vickie Almquist's lifelong dream
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