batavia
Class of 2020 Honored
At 8:20 p.m. (20:20 on a 24-hour clock) Batavia High School faculty and coaches lined Richmond Avenue next to a lit up Van Detta Stadium to honor students of the Class of 2020.
They were also there to honor all the athletes who did not finish, or never played spring sports this truncated school year.
The scoreboard was lit up with a score of 20-20, 20 min. 20 sec. with the message “Batavia High School Celebrates the Class of 2020."
Students and their families were asked to drive by to see the scoreboard lit up in their honor.
Photos: UMMC staff treated to free meals courtesy Casella Waste
On three different dates this week, employees of UMMC are being treated to meals from Over the Border Taco Truck, courtesy of Casella Waste.
Casella General Manager Jeff Pero said the company wanted to provide meals to all shifts at the hospital so they served lunch yesterday and today and are set up on Bank Street on Saturday.
GC DMV remains closed until further notice, not included in tomorrow's Phase 1 reopening
From Genesee County Clerk Michael T. Cianfrini:
In light of the recent announcement that Genesee County has been included in the Governor’s Phase I plan to begin lifting restrictions in the Finger Lakes Region, I would like to clarify that unfortunately this does not apply to the Genesee County DMV.
Pursuant to the Executive Orders issued by the Governor in March, every DMV in the state was closed to the public and thus far none have been cleared to reopen.
In recent days we have fielded hundreds of calls from individuals inquiring as to whether we will be reopening to the public on May 18th, so I would like to clarify and state that unfortunately the Phase I plan does not include the DMV.
Therefore, until the state lifts the closure, we must remain closed to the public until further notice.
However, while we are prohibited from opening our doors to the public at this time, we remain committed to serving the public to the extent possible.
Our office continues to handle a wide range of transactions submitted through the mail or deposited in one of our drop boxes. If you need to do any of the following transactions, please feel free to submit your paperwork either through the mail or preferably through one of our DMV drop boxes located on Court Street in Batavia or Main Street in Le Roy:
- Registration renewals
- Transferring plates from one vehicle to another vehicle owned by the same individual
- License plate surrenders
- Driver’s license renewals, provided an electronic eye test has been submitted, or a form MV-619 Vision test is included.
If you drop off or mail any of these transactions to us, please remember to include your full name, physical address and a phone number in case we need to reach you.
Also, please rest assured that if your driver’s license or registration expired in March they are still valid and you cannot be ticketed for the expiration.
Governor Cuomo, through executive order extended all of those expiration dates “until further notice."
I, along with other County Clerks, have advocated to him and our state Commissioner of Motor Vehicles to continue extending those expirations so that when we do reopen, we can do so in a measured, controlled manner. Otherwise, a situation may be created where maintaining order and social distancing in our office would be extremely difficult with the surge of customers.
Once we are cleared to reopen the DMV to the public, we are putting measures in place to help ensure the safety of both the staff and our customers through limiting the number of customers in the office, identifying safe distancing locations for those in line, and requiring the wearing of masks to enter the building and our office.
Further, we are restricting entrance to only the door on the west side of building, between County Building #1 and the Old Courthouse. The exit will be on the east side of the building on Court Street. This will minimize the risk of contact between people passing in the hallways.
We appreciate everyone’s patience through this difficult time, and I remain confident that we can get through this together until some semblance of normalcy returns. If you have any questions, please feel free to send us an email at: county.clerk@co.genesee.ny.us
Young driver tells deputy he struck a deer prior to accident, deputy reports he didn't
An 18-year-old driver at first claimed he swerved to avoid a deer prior to a two-vehicle accident at 11:20 p.m., Tuesday, on Route 5 in Batavia that injured him and the driver of a box truck.
Then the driver told a deputy he struck the deer and it shattered his windshield.
Deputy Ryan Young, who prepared the accident report, wrote in the report, "There was no evidence on vehicle 1 to indicate that a deer was struck by any portion of the vehicle."
Charges may be pending against Dante D. Mancuso, of West Main Street, Batavia. He was driving a 2006 BMW SUV. He was transported to UMMC for evaluation following the accident.
Joseph Ruhland Jr., 53, of Old Dominion Way, Thomasville, was transported to Strong Memorial Hospital for treatment.
Mancuso was westbound on Route 5 in the area of 3975 W. Main Street Road when his vehicle crossed the center line and clipped a Ruhland's box truck, causing Ruhland to lose control and the truck jackknifed. It crossed into the westbound lane and overturned, coming to rest against a stone wall after the rear trailer detached from the truck.
Volunteer firefighters extricated Ruhland from the truck.
The accident remains under investigation.
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Batavia Rotarians spruce up Rotary Park
Photos and information courtesy of Bob Knipe:
Today, on what was to have been this year's United Way Day of Caring, Batavia Rotarians Krysia Mager and kids, Doug Forsyth and Ray Chaya did a bit of socially distanced sprucing up of Rotary Park -- complete with sidewalk chalk art!
First responders salute healthcare workers
The Batavia Fire Department, Mercy EMS, Batavia Police, State Police and Genesee County Sheriff's Office, took a few parade laps around United Memorial Medical Center to thank healthcare workers for taking care of all of us during the COVID-19 crisis.
Healthcare workers came outside to see the tribute and express gratitude for the salute and also to thank first responders for supporting their community.
Batavia Business Improvement District Day of Caring
Today was supposed to be United Way of Genesee County's annual Day of Caring, which was cancelled due to COVID-19.
It nonetheless prompted the Business Improvement District businesses and supporters to draw chalk messages of support and shout-outs for local business during the pandemic.
Chalk was handed out on Main Street for anyone who wanted to participate. Social distancing was practiced by those involved in this event.
Semi on its side, driver unable to exit on West Main Street Road, Batavia
A box-style semitruck is on its side at 3977 W. Main Street Road in Batavia and the driver unable to exit the vehicle, according to a caller to dispatch. Law enforcement and Mercy medics are responding along with Town of Batavia Fire Department.
UPDATE 11:57 p.m.: The driver is conscious; a heavy-duty tow truck is needed to upright the vehicle. It's estimated weight is 73,000 pounds, unknown cargo in rear trailer.
Tumbling tumbleweed! A 'light rolling mass' of a cat is missing from Pearl Street
Photos and information from reader Carrie Farley.
Carrie Farley's friend, Melinda Fenton, is worried about her kitty who has never once stepped foot outside then, you guessed it, up and decided to explore the vast unknown.
That was around 10:30 Sunday night. The female feline lives on Pearl Street "right on the roundabout" in the city.
Farley advises that the pet "may be very skittish and will run from trucks." Who wouldn't, right?
Fenton had an epiphany when it came to naming her cat. Apparently being one who favors understatement, she imaginatively selected "Fluffy" as befitting.
Fluffy. If you sheared this cat in August to help keep it cool, you could make enough yarn to crochet a baby blanket, at least; maybe an autumn poncho.
If you catch a glimpse of this hairball, an unlikely candidate for fleet-footedness, do phone. She needs her brushy-brush and is doubtless missing snacks and nourishment.
Melinda Fenton's number is (585) 831-0401.
Below, Fluffy on her backside, looking nonchalant as she double dares anyone to try and groom her.
Below, Fluffy lounging in a torpor of resigned feline fatalism, courtesy of the pandemic.
Arc Transfer Station & Redemption Center expands hours of operation, adds Fridays back into schedule
Submitted photo and press release:
The Arc Transfer Station & Redemption Center, a NYS essential service located at 3785 W. Main Street Road, Batavia, is now open more hours to meet the needs of the community.
Since mid-March the transfer station had been on a three-day schedule, but this week Fridays were added back into the mix and later hours on Wednesdays.
The new hours are Monday, Friday and Saturday, 8 a.m. – 2 p.m.; Wednesdays 8 a.m. until 6 p.m.
According to Director of Business Services, Paul Saskowski, the enhanced schedule was necessary.
“We initially went to a three-day schedule in order to limit our (COVID-19) exposure to both our customers and employees," Saskowski said. "The wait times were getting too long so we are opening on Fridays from 8 to 2 and staying open on Wednesdays until 6 p.m.
"We really appreciate the cooperation and continued patronage we have been getting from customers."
For everyone’s protection, Arc asks that customers please remain in their car or truck onsite. Team members will remove trash and recycling from vehicles.
More information is available at www.arcgo.org (business services), or you may call (585) 343-4203.
Law and Order: Maple Street man accused of criminal sex acts with child under age 13
Marshawn J. Singletary, 38, of Liberty Street, Batavia, is charged with second-degree reckless endangerment. He was arrested following the investigation into an incident that occurred in March. It is alleged that at 11 p.m. on March 24, Singletary dragged a female with his car while backing out of her driveway on Osterhout Avenue. He was arraigned in jail via virtual conferencing with Batavia City Court, then released on his own recognizance. He is due in city court on June 10 to answer the charge. The case was handled by Batavia Police Officer Alec Roberts, assisted by Officer Miah Stevens.
Rajea Shaiek Thomas Sr., 31, of Averill Avenue, Rochester, is charged with: criminal contempt in the first degree, criminal obstruction of breathing, and fourth-degree criminal mischief. At 2:19 a.m. on April 30, police responded to an apartment on Thomas Avenue in Batavia for a domestic incident. Thomas was arrested and issued an appearance ticket to be in Batavia City Court on June 16. The case was handled by Batavia Police Officer Arick Perkins, assisted by Officer Jordan McGinnis.
Amanda S. Dombrowski, of Versailles Road, North Evans, is charged with third-degree manacing and endangering the welfare of a child. She was arrested following the investigation into a domestic incident that occurred at 7:09 p.m. on Kibbe Avenue in Batavia. She was arraigned in Batavia City Court and released on her own recognizance. She is due in city court June 18. The case was handled by Batavia Police Officer Peter Flanagan, assisted by Officer Adam Tucker.
James J. Sears, 51, of Trumbull Parkway, Batavia, is charged with: driving while intoxicated -- with a previous conviction; refusal to submit to a breath test; failure to keep right; and moving from lane unsafely. He was arrested after a property damage accident that occurred at 10:07 p.m. on Prospect Avenue in Batavia. He allegedly struck a parked car. He was arraigned in Batavia City Court and is due back there June 3. The case was handled by Batavia Police Officer Adam Tucker, assisted by Officer Peter Flanagan.
Amanda S. McDonald, 37, of Ellsworth Avenue, Batavia, is charged with making unnecessary noise. She was arrested at 12:33 a.m. on April 26 after a complaint of an alleged city code violation of the noise ordinance. McDonald was released on an appearance ticket and is due in Batavia City Court on June 16. The case was handled by Batavia Police Officer Sean Wilson, assisted by Officer Jordan McGinnis.
Niasia Shakema Jiggetts, 28, of Thomas Avenue, Batavia, is charged with two counts of criminal contempt. At 2:45 a.m. on April 30, Jiggetts was arrested following an incident that occurred at a residence on Thomas Avenue. She was issued an appearance ticket and is due in Batavia City Court on June 16. The case was handled by Batavia Police Officer Jordan McGinnis, assisted by Officer Arick Perkins.
GWMEA celebrates previous scholarship winner
Press release:
Primary Instrument: Voice -- studying with Robert Strauss at SUNY Fredonia Secondary Instruments: Ukulele, Piano, and Flute
When asked what her favorite High School and College memories are Andrea Responded: My favorite high school experience is playing Mary Poppins in "Mary Poppins the musical." My favorite college musical experience was when I was in Chamber Choir under the direction of Dr. Vernon Huff. I think a close second was playing one of the stepsisters in the Hillman Opera's production of "Cendrillon" by Massenet, the French opera of the "Cinderella" story.
When asked where is your favorite performance venue you have performed at Andrea responded:
My favorite venue was when the Chamber Choir went to Churchville Chili High School to be a part of a promotional tour. We performed four songs that evening, and closed out the concert. The auditorium was huge and had plenty of space for our sound to resonate in. My favorite song we performed that night was "All My Trials" and "Rockin' Jerusalem," both arranged by Stacey Gibbs.
In addition to teaching, Andrea aspires to be a part of the Buffalo Philharmonic Orchestra Chorus one day. She also aspires to be in more operas down the line.
When asked who her main influences are Andrea responded: My main musical influences are Joyce Didonato, Billy Joel and Luciano Pavarotti. I have tickets to see Billy Joel in concert, and cannot wait to see him live!
Andreas ultimate music goal is to be able to teach middle school general music and choral music while still having time to participate in an opera or a musical theater performance.
Andrea loves playing ukulele! She finds chords to pop songs she loves, and plays along to recordings.
We would like to congratulate Andrea on all of her accomplishments up to this point! We wish you much luck as you start your career as a music educator!
Summer in the '60s: kids created their own fun outside until the streets lights came on
Story and photos courtesy of Anne Marie Starowitz.
In touring the Holland Land Office Museum a visitor can be taken back to the time when Joseph Ellicott surveyed the land with the help of our Native Americans. They can imagine what it was like to cook on the hearth of a fireplace.
The numerous artifacts illustrate our early history. Every decade has its own memories and artifacts. Fast forwarding to the 1960s, people in their 60s might have shared some of these childhood memories with their children.
It always seems an exaggeration, the “hardships” our parents endured, until parents in their 60s are telling similar stories to their children.
In the ‘60s, your summer would include playing outside. What that really meant was you would create your own fun and the word “bored” was not part of your vocabulary.
Children still love to play kickball today, but kickball in the ‘60s was a game that could be played for hours. Where it was played was quite an adventure. If your front yard was big enough, that was where the bases would be put. The bases would be very creative depending on what you could find for the day.
Sandlot baseball games could be found in almost any vacant lot.
If you had a piece of cardboard from Max Pies Furniture Store you could be seen sliding down the side of the South Jackson Street overpass.
Other games included hopscotch and 7UP (not the game played in school today but one that involved a ball and a slanted roof). The players had to catch, bounce, and throw a ball in seven different ways. The one who completed the seven steps was the winner.
The skater needed to have a pair of shoes that had leather soles.
The skates were clamped on the shoes with a skate key.
They were quite heavy but if you were lucky enough to have a pair you learned how to maneuver them.
Misplacing the key was the biggest problem with these skates, so the skater would wear the key on a string around his or her neck.
Many children frequented the two wading pools in the city. In the winter the wading pools were transformed into ice rinks.
Young people also could ice-skate on the tennis courts at MacArthur Park with music playing and hot chocolate to warm them up.
On any given winter day there would be a line of children waiting to slide down the State Street Hill, today known as Centennial Park.
Backyard pools were very rare, but there was the Community Pool or as it was called by kids of the ‘60s, the New Pool. Most of the young people were very coordinated, probably because everything they did was outside, running, walking, hopping, riding a bike.
There were many versions of playing tag and there was a game called Spud (Scroll down the link's list of 30 classic children's games to find Spud).
There was also the saying that “when the street lights come on, you are to come home.”
A highlight of the summer was the Parks Program. A young person would be waiting at the park for the park supervisor to open the door to the day’s activity.
When a child would bring home a plaster of paris mold of "The Last Supper," the mom would say how much she loved it and would wonder what she was going to do with another mold from the park. It weighed a few pounds and was painted in multicolors and had a little hook attached to the back to hang it. Somehow next summer "The Last Supper” would be gone but another plaster of paris craft would soon be brought home to be admired by the parents.
Many dads were proud owners of rattlesnake ashtrays.
There were many activities that involved movement. There was the (pre-skateboard era) bongo board, a pogo stick, and tetherball (plus, jump rope and hand-clapping games*). Youngsters could also play baseball, ride bicycles or just plain walk.
Parks would play other parks in baseball and started preparing for the annual Parks Parade on the first day the parks opened.
One year the theme was "I Never Saw a Thing Like that!" Farrall Park created a "Zelepea," which had the head of an elephant, body of a zebra, and the tail of a peacock. The head moved and water squirted out of the nose.
Every park entered a float, scrapbook and crafts to be judged on the final day of the parks program.
Popular music included The Beatles, The Beach Boys, and Franki Valli & the Four Seasons to only name a few.
As far as a telephone, the phone was attached to the wall and if you were lucky it had a long cord you could stretch to another room or a closet for a little privacy.
Today a child learns at an early age, not only the rules of a fire drill, but how to react to an active shooter or a bomb threat.
People in their 60s remember the bomb drills that included hiding under their desks with their arms over their heads.
Young people today will someday have to share with their children what it was like to live in their decade. One cannot imagine using the story the people in their 60s heard when they were young -- “I had to walk to and from school in blizzards, rainstorms and extreme heat uphill both ways.”
Today, there is still the Parks Program. It has changed but then everything changes over time. Unfortunately, due to the COVID-19 there will not be a parks program this year.
These are only a few memories of growing up in the 1960s, unforgettable to those who lived them.
*(Watch an updated epic patty-cake demo.).
Batavia company sold and installed its labeling equipment for bottles of hand sanitizer to fight COVID-19
Press release:
Batavia-based Marktec Products Inc. recently sold and installed labeling equipment at the NYS Great Meadows Correctional Facility in Comstock to label hand sanitizer being produced there.
This hand sanitizer is supplied to high-risk communities and governmental entities in New York State through County Health Departments.
At the New York State Great Meadow Correctional Facility in Comstock, where hand sanitizer is produced, bottled, labeled and shipped, inmates previously applied labels by hand, which was a slow process and resulted in some labels being applied unevenly.
The containers are now labeled by inmates using three Advent Model 300 one-gallon labelers and one Advent Model 310 small-container labeler, resulting in labeling speeds of up to 20 containers per minute per machine.
Each labeling machine has a small digital ink-jet printer attached to it, to print the batch number and the date on each label.
Marktec Products Inc. is located at 8785 Ag Park Drive. Former Batavia City Councilman William E. Cox is president of the company, which makes automated systems for marking, labeling and packaging.
