batavia

A train heading through Batavia was purposely stopped near Cedar Street and the Sand Wash after a man was seen on the tracks threatening suicide.

Law enforcement located the man, who is unharmed, and is helping him. Mercy EMS is at the scene.

A 33-year-old Batavia resident with a lengthy criminal record who is accused of selling cocaine to an undercover agent is getting his life turned around, he told Judge Robert C. Noonan in County Court on Wednesday morning.

Juan Roman wants to continue on that path and was hoping Noonan wouldn't send him away for any length of time.

"I’m glad that it happened (getting arrested), because it made me a better person," Roman said. "I thank the court system because it saved my life."

Noonan said the progress Roman has made in drug treatment over the past 90 days counts significantly in his favor. But the judge said he couldn't overlook his prior felony convictions, his multiple stints in state prison and previous probation violations.

"You come here with a horrible criminal record," Noonan said.

One of Noonan's options, besides straight prison time, might have been local probation with intermittent incarceration at the Genesee County Jail.

When Roman entered his guilty plea to attempted possession of a controlled substance, 3rd, he agreed to a possible sentence of up to four years in prison.

Since his guilty plea, Roman has been through Hope Haven and other programs of his own choosing. He's also been working on getting back his asbestos removal license. He has only one more week of classes before he can test again.

"I know my record is not a good record," Roman said. "I just want to get my license back to help me further myself and my family and my future."

Roman said he has four children.

He said he accepted full responsibility for the position he found himself in.

Noonan took all that in, but said Roman needed to go away for 90 days to the Willard Drug Treatment Center.

"There are components of Willard that you are not going through right now," Noonan said. "I hope you benefit from them as much as you have from the drug treatment you have been through.

"If you play it right," Noonan added, "you won't be gone long. You will be able to get out and get back on track. I'm hopeful this sentence will continue your positive course."

If Roman doesn't say on the positive course, he will be required to serve four years in state prison.

If he completes Willard successfully, he will be on parole for the term of his sentence plus another three years of post-release supervision.

Republican Party members are at South Beach Restaurant tonight celebrating what they believe is a "clean sweep" of key Genesee County elections.

Based on polling data gathered by volunteers at each polling station, the GOP believes Frank Ferrando and Shelley Stein both won seats on the county legislature.

Their unofficial internal numbers also show Kris Doeringer, John Canale and Bob Bialkowski winning city council races.

According to the GOP numbers, Ferrando beats John Deleo 420 to 330.

GOP County Committee Treasurer Matt Landers said while they don't have the exact numbers, the information the GOP gathered at South Beach regarding Le Roy is that Stein has defeated Jackie Whiting and William Hogan.

In Batavia, Doeringer unofficially has 267 votes to 210 for Bill Cox. Canale has 173 votes compared to 134 for Katie Balbick Bellamy and 15 for Dan Jones. Bialkowski has 202 to 200 for Pierluigi Cipollone.

UPDATE 10:39 p.m.: The county has posted its election tally.

UPDATE 10:42 p.m.: The tally released by the county is confirming the GOP's numbers. In Le Roy, Stein won with 964 votes to 601 for Whiting and 218 for Hogan.

UPDATE 10:44 p.m.: WBTA is in the process of updating its table of election results, which is easier to read than the county's spreadsheet. Click here for total from races throughout the county.

UPDATE 11:43 p.m.: Photos added. Top four photos at South Beach while Republicans were still gathering data. Bottom pictures at Larry's Steakhouse, where the Democrats gathered before results were in.

Press release:

Batavia, NY --- Batavia Downs Casino is pleased to announce that it has reached an agreement with Thurman Thomas to bring the former running back and pro football hall of famer on board as Batavia Downs Casino’s new ambassador.

"I am very excited to be associated with Batavia Downs Casino, and look forward to my role as ambassador," Thurman said. "My wife’s family had a long and wonderful relationship with Batavia Downs Raceway and we are thrilled to be part of that again."

As the ambassador, Thomas will serve as the face of Batavia Downs Casino, promoting the company’s brand throughout communities across Upstate New York. Thomas will be used in conjunction with Batavia Downs Casino’s advertising campaigns and the anticipated future development of a Thurman Thomas Signature Sports Bar.

“Hall of Fame running back Thurman Thomas has provided great entertainment to sports fans in Western New York and he continues to give back to the community,” said Ryan Hasenauer, director of marketing for Batavia Downs Casino.

“A partnership seemed natural considering that Batavia Downs Casino and its parent company, Western Regional OTB, have been providing entertainment and giving millions back to the area communities for decades. Thurman Thomas is one of the greatest running backs in Buffalo history and is the perfect athlete to help promote Batavia Downs Casino’s new expansion.”

Batavia Downs in owned and operated by Western Regional Off-Track Betting, a public benefit corporation. The track is also home to Batavia Downs Casino, featuring more than 600 video slot machines. Batavia Downs Casino is located less than one mile from Thruway Exit 48 and is open daily from 9 a.m. to 4 a.m. Admission and parking are always free.

Press release:

Your votes mean $50,000 for Batavia! St. Paul Lutheran School at 31 Washington Ave. is in the running for a $50,000 Pepsi Refresh grant to add a library and media center to the school.

The school's project is online at www.refresheverything.com/stpaul. Votes may be cast online and by texting 109949 to Pepsi (73774). Each person can submit three votes per day now through Nov. 30. The school is currently ranked #28 and needs to be in the top 10 to be funded.

St. Paul educates children of all faiths from 3-year-old preschoolers through 5th grade and currently serves 54 children. Adding a library and media center is part of Phase Two of St. Paul's building campaign. For Phase Two, the current porch area will be enclosed to house the library and media center. The total cost of Phase Two is estimated at $100,000.

The St. Paul congregation has already raised $30,000 for the library and media center. The Pepsi Refresh grant would cover half the cost of the project and allow the library and media center to open for the 2012-13 school year.

Officials have yet to locate a pair of ATV riders whom a deputy tried to stop for questioning on Sunday in the area of Seven Springs Road, Batavia.

One of the riders reportedly tried to run down Deputy Brian Thompson.

Thompson said this afternoon that he was on Prole Road Extension investigating a reported larceny when he saw the two individuals on the four-wheel ATVs.  

When he tried to approach them, the riders started to leave. One ATV headed in his direction and started to slow as if he was going to stop and then gunned the engine and headed straight at Thompson.

Thompson had to jump out of the way.

He described the rider as a young white male wearing a black or dark blue Carhartt jacket. The ATV he was on was all or mostly black (perhaps some white or silver trim). It was a racing-style ATV, Thompson said, with flared back fenders.

The second ATV was green.

The NYS plates on both ATVs were obstructed.

"At this point I just want to talk to them," Thompson said.

He thinks they were headed to either Elba or Byron after leaving the scene.

Thompson is hoping that the description of the subjects might lead to somebody calling in a tip that will help the Sheriff's Office locate the riders.

To pass along any tips, call (585) 343-5000.

Two men from Batavia who are accused of stealing 10 windows with casings and a screen door from a residence on Clinton Street Road, Bergen, on July 26 entered not guilty pleas in county court on Monday morning.

Jamie Scott Scholonski, 39, of Vine Street, and Joseph Allen Hogan, 42, of Bank Street, appeared separately before Judge Robert C. Noonan.

Both men were indicted by the Grand Jury last week on counts of grand larceny in the fourth degree and criminal mischief in the third degree.

Following motions, both are scheduled to reappear in court in mid-January.

Previously: Police Beat: Two Batavia men accused of overnight burglary in Bergen

We've asked each of the candidates in the city council and county legislature races to answer a couple of questions regarding why they're running and what they hope to accomplish if elected. Election Day is Tuesday.

I am running for election to the Genesee County Legislature for District 8, which includes Wards 2 and 3 in the City of Batavia. I am asking the citizens of Batavia to support my candidacy because I am committed to being a strong advocate for the city at the county level. My experience on city council, and especially my time as council president, has given me insight into the issues that affect the people of Batavia.  

During my time on council, I have advocated for conservative budgeting and an increase in government efficiency. We have planned for the future by establishing reserve funds as well as focusing on infrastructure improvements. I will continue to advocate for those priorities at the county level. I will also work with the members of the legislature to lobby for fair policies that do not place undue burdens on municipalities. We must fight for mandate relief.

A key issue that I will address is that of economic development. I was appointed this year to the governor’s Economic Development Council for the Finger Lakes Region. The city council was also successful in establishing a partnership with the EDC to secure an economic development coordinator for the City of Batavia. I support a cooperative effort to bring the resources of the GCEDC together with that of the city economic development coordinator to develop projects which broaden the county’s tax base and create jobs inside the City of Batavia.

I am excited to have the opportunity to serve on the Genesee County Legislature. I promise to continue to work hard and to thoughtfully consider each decision with the people of Batavia in mind. Thank you all for your support and encouragement. Your vote is important. Please vote on Election Day!

A lifelong Batavia resident, who was at a house on Central Avenue in March when a search by law enforcement allegedly found a quantity of cocaine and drug paraphernalia, entered a guilty plea to a drug charge Monday morning.

Eric P. Williams was among three people arrested at 29 Central Ave., Batavia, on March 12.

The 45-year-old Williams, who was born in Batavia, admitted to attempted possession of a controlled substance, 3rd, telling Noonan that he knew he illegally possessed cocaine with an aggregate weight of 1.5 ounces or more.

He faces a sentence of two to eight years in state prison.

Sentencing is scheduled for 9:30 a.m., Jan. 3.

Williams is currently in custody at the Genesee County Jail.

Arrested with Williams were Derek Leach, 31, of 29 Central Ave. and Randy G. Leach II, 24, of 58 S. Main St. The status of their cases is not immediately available.

It was a weekend of wins and records for student athletes in Genesee County, with Le Roy Girls Volleyball and three cross-country runners picking up sectional titles.

In volleyball, Le Roy girls won their second straight Section V title with a 3-0 win over Williamson Central. Kaitlyn Tyler had 16 kills and Montana Vestovi added 24 assists for Le Roy (15-4). Le Roy will face Waterloo Tuesday in the Class C regional qualifier at Cal-Mum.

With a time of 16:02 Jeffrey Antolos of Notre Dame claimed a Class D cross-country title. Anna Warner took a girls Class DD title with a time of 19:47. Pavilion's  Liz Valento took a Class D title with a time of 19:02.

Notre Dame won the Class DD team championship with 71 points.

Other top finishers in their classes include: Pembroke’s Randi Rudnik (17:47) in ninth; Andrew Fischer, Notre Dame, fifth (17:12); Oakfield-Alabama's Connor George (17:16), sixth; and teammate Gabe Bender, seventh (17:18).

In swimming, Batavia's Catherine McAllister, Sarah DiBacco, Helen Zickl and Alayna Mlodozeniec set a Batavia school record in the 200 freestyle relay with a time of 1:47.30, which placed them in fifth in their sectional meet.

In other sectional action, Pavilion Girls Volleyball lost to Cal-Mum in a Class CC final match. BHS Girls Volleyball dropped a Class B final to Wayne Central, 4-1. Notre Dame's girls dropped a qualifer match to Harley-Allendale-Columbia, 3-2.

Photos submitted by Bare Antolos. Top photo: Coach Eric Geitner displays the Section V Class DD Coach of the Year award along with his own champions, junior Jeffrey Antolos and freshman Anna Warner. The two of them will be joined at the XC State Championships next Saturday at Verona High School, with senior Andrew Fischer who is holding the ND Boys Section V Class DD Championship trophy.

Six weeks since opening, Krista Maniscalco, left, says business is good at her new deli on Oak Street, even without much promotion.

Gigi's is in the former location of Salome's and features subs, hot sandwiches and pizza, all made from fresh ingredients and cooked to order.

Maniscalco, pictured with her mother Linda Sprung, said opening in Batavia -- her husband, Charles, owns Scooter's in Le Roy -- means she has to emphasize quality.

"Here you have competition everywhere, so you've got to be a cut above," Maniscalco said.

She then added, "faith and family is a big part of what we do."

An ATV rider on an newer model green four-wheeler reportedly tried to run down a deputy somewhere on the east side of Batavia near Route 5.

We're not sure where or how the initial call started, but there were two four-wheelers in the area and when approached by a deputy, they took off in opposite directions.

One reportedly headed straight toward a deputy.

The ATV was last seen on Seven Springs Road doing donuts.

State Police offered to send in a helicopter to assist in the search, but a deputy said, "they're long gone."

The ATV has green and black, with flared mud flaps. The rider is wearing black. Both riders were white and wearing helmets.

The riders were apparently in a wooded area on foot, before hopping on their ATVs and riding off.

We've asked each of the candidates in the city council and county legislature races to answer a couple of questions regarding why they're running and what they hope to accomplish if elected. Election Day is Tuesday.

Here is the response from Bob Bialkowski, candidate for city council, 4th Ward.

The primary reason why I should receive your vote is:

I have worked very hard during my first term on city council to represent the citizens of the 4th Ward. My track record is a 100-percent attendance rate at council meetings. I have demonstrated how I respond to all my constituent concerns and have made myself totally available to all the residents of the ward.

My voting record is very conservative with taxpayer’s interest always in mind.

In response to your request of what key issue would be priority and how it would “be tackled."

This is a bit more difficult as city council has numerous priority-one issues to deal with.

The key major issues that are of concern to me are:

• Economic and business development and retention to include employment
• Downtown improvement
• Infrastructure
• Neighborhood improvement
• Crime prevention

We on city council have addressed these issues by:

• Hiring an economic development director
• Forming a strategic plan for the city
• Initiating an infrastructure plan
• Expanding and staffing our code department

I intend to follow these plans closely and ensure that we adhere to our goals.
With the present economy, we are tasked with some great economic challenges in the near future.

I am strongly against the typical government attitude of trying to fix problems by throwing the taxpayers' hard earned money at them. 

Most importantly, I strongly oppose tax increases that are unjustified.

In conclusion, I am a strong advocate for my constituents and for the citizens of the City of Batavia. I am honored to serve this wonderful city and look forward to Batavia’s best days to come.

Please vote for me on Election Day so that I may continue to represent you for the next four years.

Thank you for allowing me to comment on this forum.

This weekend, the First Presbyterian Church on East Main Street, Batavia, is hosting a Fine Arts Festival. The annual festival has traditionally featured arts and crafts from world cultures, but this year the organizers included local artists. Church choirs will provide a concert at 3 p.m., Sunday.

This week workers have been repairing the corner of the facade of the building at Main and Jackson streets. The century-old facade of the former Bank of Genesee had expanded away from the brick and masons restored it to its former look. The building is owned by Ken Mistler.

City police are being sent to the parking lot of the old market on the corner of Ellicott and Jackson to talk to a person in a beige car about an animal complaint. The person wants to report seeing a black and white "terrier-style" dog walking on the roof.

The site has been for the birds for quite some time. Has it now gone to the dogs, too?

The United Way Backpack Program received a donation today from the Batavia Bulldawgs Youth Football Program today. The Bulldawgs played Le Roy in a special fundraiser game this past weekend and collected nonperishable food donations and cash donations for the program. It provides a backpack filled with food to underprivileged children each Friday. The backpack is designed to provide meals and snacks for the family over the weekend. Pictured are John Reigle, left, Matt Dellapenna, Lori Stupp, Paul Grazioplene and Ken Proefrock. Stupp is the United Way's backpack volunteer coordinator.

A two-car accident has been reported on West Main Street Road in the area of WNY Fireplace Outlet.

Minor injuries are reported.

One person is out of her car and walking around.

The accident is blocking West Main Street Road.

Town of Batavia Fire Department and Mercy EMS responding.

We've asked each of the candidates in the city council and county legislature races to answer a couple of questions regarding why they're running and what they hope to accomplish if elected. Election Day is Tuesday.

Below is the response from Katie Balbick Bellamy, candidate for Ward 3, Batavia City Council:

Q. What is the primary reason you should get our vote?

I was born and raised in Batavia and have lived here for most of my life. I believe in this city and want to help to proactively solve problems, create new business opportunities and good-paying jobs and overall make Batavia a safe and excellent place to live and raise a family.

I am concerned, willing to work, positive, open-minded and a team player who works together toward a common goal. My education and college degree is in the business area where I have worked since graduation and I know my background will help me on council.

Most of all, I love Batavia and the surrounding area and have a stake in this community. My family and I chose Batavia as the place where we wanted to live. That choice alone is the best reason to demonstrate my resolve and commitment to fulfill the promises I have made to this community if I am elected to serve on city council.

Q. What is the key issue you wish to tackle during your term in office, and how will you go about it?

My top priority for 2012 would be to ensure Batavia remains a great community and place to live. I would fight to keep taxes low and work hard for sidewalks on all city streets, fixing of deteriorated potholes, alcohol and tobacco free parks, promote business opportunities, create good-paying jobs and make sure there are opportunities and incentives for our young people to stay in this community.

I would like to ask you to support me in the upcoming election on November 8th. As a mother with a young family, I believe in our city and want to help make Batavia a better place to live. I would like to make sure the dollars we pay in taxes are spent in a worthwhile and careful manner by city council. I want to live in a safe city and encourage job development. I want to be a part of the process of exploring how the city and town can share resources and consolidate areas where possible to the benefit of both.

If I am elected, I will do my utmost to serve the residents of the 3rd Ward as your city council representative.