The Le Roy Police Department arrested a 47-year-old parolee who is thought to be responsible for the rash of larcenies from vehicles over the past few months.

Andrew L. Kosiorek, of 61 Myrtle St., Le Roy, (inset photo left) was arrested Wednesday, July 3, at about 11 p.m. after he was seen by an alert citizen allegedly prowling the North Street area of the village, attempting to enter numerous vehicles and actually entering at least two vehicles stealing items from within.

The alert citizen called 9-1-1 and directed the responding patrols to an area of South Street where Kosiorek had walked. Kosiorek was detained and then arrested by the patrols and allegedly found in possession of property recently stolen from vehicles on Church Street and North Street. Kosiorek was also allegedly found to be in possession of a crack cocaine pipe.

Based on other information gathered throughout this investigation, the Le Roy Police Department believes that Kosiorek is the person responsible for the rash of larcenies which has been steadily increasing since May 4.

Kosiorek was charged with two counts of misdemeanor criminal possession of stolen property, three counts of misdemeanor attempted petit larceny and one count of misdemeanor criminal possession of controlled substance for the crack pipe.

Kosiorek was arraigned in Le Roy Town Court and put in Genesee County Jail in lieu of $3,500 cash bail.

The Le Roy Police Department wishes to thank the Genesee County Sheriff's Office, the New York State Police and the citizens of Le Roy who constantly partner with the Le Roy Police Department to help add extra eyes and ears to help protect our community.

Press release:

The City of Batavia’s Youth Bureau is open at 12 MacArthur Drive through Aug. 16^th, Monday through Friday from 1 – 6 p.m.

The Youth Center is a free service available to youth ages 10-18 who reside in Batavia.]

Free nutritious lunches are available to all participants now through Aug. 9 during a designated time daily. Snacks are also provided daily.

The Youth Center offers outside activities, computer use, crafts, games, Wednesday movie days, and monthly scheduled events. Registration is simple, just stop in!

Upcoming events at the Youth Center include:

• Every Wednesday is movie day, popcorn included;
• Today is the July 5^th summer cookout;
• July 8^th -- video game tournament;
• July 12^th Jell-O Day complete with Jell-O races (safe for all ages);
• July 16^th National Mac and Cheese Day;
• July 18^th make your own hotdog pretzels;
• July 22^nd National Ice Cream Day;
• July 23^rd Bingo;
• July 29^th National Chicken Wing Day with wing dip!;
• July 31^st Harry Potter Day.

The Summer Safe Carnival is July 25^th starting at 10 a.m. at the Falleti Ice Rink. Guaranteed fun for all ages. Any questions, call the Batavia Youth Bureau at 345-6420.

The popularity of videos from The Batavian increased in June, when we published 47 videos.

Video viewership was up 39 percent, to 31,200 total views in June, and total minutes viewed was up 106 percent, which means more people are watching our videos and for a longer amount of time.

Last month, I wanted to share the message that we're working hard to produce quality videos that are worth your time to watch. It looks like a lot of people tuned in and found out that is true.

Our average views per video increased from 497 to 663.

Our five most viewed videos:

David Bellavia Hall of Heros Induction Ceremony

Stabbing on Ross Street Batavia         

Recalling Michael Paladino         

Press conference with David Bellavia Medal of Honor nominee   

Over the Border Mexican Food Truck opens in Batavia

Here are four of my personal favorites:

LOCAL BUSINESS OWNERS: You can sponsor our videos. To find out more contact our sales rep Zach Lee at zach@thebatavian.com

A two-vehicle accident is reported at Main Road and Alleghany Road, Pembroke.

There are potentially as many as five patients and there is entrapment. 

Corfu fire and Mercy EMS dispatched.

UPDATE 12:38 p.m.: Pembroke fire and Indian Falls fire also responding. The intersection is blocked.

UPDATE 12:43 p.m.: Injuries to the person trapped in the vehicle do not appear to be serious, according to a first responder on scene.

UPDATE 12:44 p.m.: Darien's ambulance requested to the scene.

UPDATE 12:46 p.m.: A young child has bruises, abrasions and cuts.

UPDATE 12:58 p.m.: The patient has been extricated.

UPDATE 1:13 p.m.: The road has reopened.

Press release:

The Genesee County STOP-DWI and Youth Bureau are having their Annual Night at the Ballpark on Wednesday, July 17th at Dwyer Stadium. The first 200 youth under 16 can get in free to the event. You can redeem your free ticket at the box office that night!

There will also be free Muckbucks or T-shirts to the first 200 youth, and more than 500 prizes and giveaways on hand. A chance to win a bike from Adam Miller Toy and Bicycle will be given away this night.

A variety of educational booths will be on hand, including one with the Genesee County Sheriff’s Office with child ID kits. In addition to the ballgame, a magician will entertain from 6-8 p.m.

Sarah Palermo from GCASA’s Victim Impact Panel will be throwing out the first pitch!

All of this is made possible from our wonderful sponsors and contributors: GCASA, Genesee County Interagency, Genesee County Sheriff’s Association, Kiwanis Club of Batavia, United Memorial Medical Center, United States Gypsum Co, The Original Red Osier Landmark Restaurant, Western New York Association of Chiefs of Police, Salmon Orthodontics, Gerace Realty, Polish Falcons, Loyal Order of the Moose, Tops Friendly Markets, and Adam Miller Toy and Bicycle.

Gates open at 6 p.m. and the game starts at 7:05.

Photo: Undersheriff Brad Mazur, Asst. County Manager/STOP DWI Coordinator Matt Landers, Asst. Police Chief Todd Crossett, Chelsea Green, John Roche, owner of Adam Miller Toy and Bicycle, Joanne Amon, Sheriff William Sheron Jr.

The National Weather Service has issued a heat advisory for this morning through early evening with a heat index into the upper 90s.

The combination of high temperatures and high humidity will combine to create a situation in which heat-releated illnesses are possible, the weather service warns.

The weather service advises: drink plenty of fluids; stay in air-conditioned rooms; avoid extended time in the sun; and check on relatives and neighbors.

The Batavian Sessions: Delano Steele November Ends recorded April 29 2019 at the historic Newberry's Building/Eli Fish Brewing Co. on the third floor.

Some sights and sounds from GO ART's annual Picnic in the Park today in Centennial Park.

Press release:

The Batavia Muckdogs stayed half-game ahead of State College with a 3-2 win over the Auburn Doubledays Thursday night.

After a double-steal by Harrison Dinicola and Albert Guaimaro in the top of the sixth, Jack Strunc’s RBI ground out to first broke a 2-2 tie and was the run Batavia (12-7) needed for the win.

Batavia manager Tom Lawless is facing seven games on the road in six days, and he used five pitchers to get the win.

Julio Frias picked up his first win of the season, throwing five innings and striking out six. He has now struck out 26 in 19 innings. The Miami Marlins are seeing immediate returns on 2019 draft picks. Tyler Kolek (two strikeouts in an inning), Josh Simpson (two strikeouts, one inning) and Joey Steele (one strikeout) were all credited with a hold and combined to shut out Auburn.

Evan Brabrand came on in the ninth, gave up a hit and struck out the side for the save, his third of the season.

The first two Batavia runs came in the third. Michael Hernandez led off with a solo home run to left, his first with the team, then Dalvy Rosario tripled in Milton Smith II who had singled.

Auburn falls to 9-9 while Batavia stays half-game ahead of State College (12-8) and one-and-a-half games ahead of Mahoning Valley (11-9). Batavia and Auburn play again Friday and two on Saturday, while State College and Mahoning Valley face off again Friday.

The team will play five more games in six days at Auburn and State College before returning home to play Lowell on Wednesday, July 10 as part of a three-game homestand (July 10, 11 and 12).

Hot dogs are just $1 on Wednesday and all Labatt's products are $2. Friday is Crafty Hour, all craft beers are $3.

All three games start at 7:05 p.m. and tickets are available at the Dwyer Stadium box office between 10 a.m. and 5 p.m. Monday to Friday, online at muckdogs.com or call 585-483-3647.

Submitted photo: Batavia Manager Tom Lawless gives a fist bump to Albert Guaimaro.

Batavia PD and state investigators were working with City Fire investigators this morning to help gather evidence for further examination at the scene of an early morning fire on Hutchins Street that sent one person to Strong Memorial Hospital with serious injuries.

Fire Chief Stefano Napolitano said two dogs from the NYS Office of Fire Prevention and Control participated in the investigation this morning, including one K-9 that is trained in accelerant detection.

It will take two or three days for the evidence to be analyzed before investigators can start to draw any conclusions about the cause and origin of the fire.

Two people were taken to area hospitals this morning after the fire was reported at 2:59 a.m. Flames were showing from the attic and when the first City fire crews arrived on scene, two people were trapped on the second floor with their heads out of windows. Before crews could get ladders in place one person jumped from the second floor and suffered multiple injuries.

The second person was rescued by a firefighter on a ladder. That person was treated and released at UMMC.

The four-unit apartment building at 13 Hutchins St. was constructed in 1920 with a remodeling in 1970. It's a brick building with vinyl siding, which Capt. Bob Fix said this morning complicated the initial attack of the fire and allowed the heat to be trapped in the building.

Some firefighters required treatment for heat-related difficulties.

The 1,932-habitable-space complex is owned by Richard Siebert. The assessed value is $62,000.

Five residents were displaced and are being assisted by The Salvation Army.

Video from this morning's coverage:

More than 200 participants walked or ran in the Batavia Kiwanis Club's annual 5K race on Independence Day, a 10-percent increase over last year, said race director David Chua.

It started at the top of Centennial Park on Richmond Avenue and went north by Dwyer Stadium to East Avenue. The runners end just off Washington Avenue at the bottom of the park on Ellicott Avenue. 

Chua said this year’s proceeds were broken into thirds: the organization for autism research; Batavia City Schools District Foundation; and the last third is distributed by the Kiwanis Club to local children’s organizations.

First Place and top male finisher was William Buckenmeyer from Batavia, time 18:25. Top female finisher was Kimberly Mills from Oakfield time 20:50; she finished 11^th overall.

Press release:

The Batavia Muckdogs remain in first place despite dropping the final game of a three-game series with the State College Spikes, 6-4 on Wednesday.

The paid crowd was 2,314, the largest crowd to see a game in two years.

The Muckdogs came from behind to win in extra innings on Monday, won a 1-0 thriller Tuesday, but fell short Wednesday with the winning run at the plate to win the series, 2-1.

Batavia (11-7) maintains a half-game lead over Mahoning Valley and State College.

The Muckdogs managed five hits, as New York-Penn League batting leader Milton Smith II had hit, two RBIs and a run while Dustin Skelton, Nic Ready (RBI double), Albert Guaimaro (RBI) and Andrew Turner had hits.

Jackson Rose started for the Muckdogs striking out five in four-and two-thirds innings without giving up an earned run. Edison Suriel finished the fifth without giving up a run and Eli Villalobos took the loss, throwing four innings striking out two.

For State College, Jacob Schlesener was the winning pitcher with a dominant performance, striking out 12 in six innings. Logan Gragg picked up the save. 

David Pinsky had a big night at the plate for State College going 3-for-5 with a home run, double and three RBIs.

The team will play seven games in six days at Auburn and State College before returning home to play Lowell on Wednesday, July 10 as part of a three-game homestand (July 10, 11 and 12).

Hot dogs are just $1 on Wednesday and all Labatt's products are $2. Friday is Crafty Hour, all craft beers are $3.

All three games start at 7:05 p.m. and tickets are available at the Dwyer Stadium box office between 10 a.m. and 5 p.m. Monday to Friday, online at muckdogs.com or call 585-483-3647.

A dog has reportedly been locked inside a brown Ford F-350 pickup truck for 45 minutes outside the restaurant at the Flying J Travel Plaza in Pembroke.

The plaza is located at 8484 Alleghany Road. An animal control officer is responding. It's 85 degrees outside.

There's a house fire at 13 Hutchins St. and city fire crews are on scene. Oakfield Fire Department is en route to fill in at city fire headquarters.

UPDATE 4:30 a.m.: The fire is out. The second floor is gutted and one side of the structure was heavily damaged by smoke and flames, but it's still standing.

UPDATE 5:40 a.m. (by Howard): When firefighters arrived on scene, two people were trapped on the second floor. As crews were getting out of their trucks, one person jumped from the second-floor window and was seriously injured. The other person was rescued using a ladder. Both patients were transported to UMMC; the second person for evaluation of possible smoke inhalation. The Salvation Army has been requested to the scene to assist with the displacement of four households, five people total.

At age 11, Karissa Kendall does something not many girls can claim -- she is a successful pitcher in both baseball and softball.

Press release:

Press release:

Genesee County STOP DWI Coordinator Matt Landers announced today that the Genesee County Sheriff’s Office, City of Batavia Police Department and the Village of Le Roy Police Department will participate in a special enforcement effort to crackdown on impaired driving.

The statewide STOP-DWI Crackdown efforts start today, July 3^rd and will end on Sunday, July 7^th.

The Fourth of July extended weekend is historically a deadly period for impaired driving. This year the 4^th of July falls on a Thursday so we expect heavy traveling to begin on Wednesday, July 3^rd and festivities to begin on July 4^th and run through Sunday, July 7^th.

Americans love to celebrate the Fourth of July with family, friends, food and fireworks, but all too often the festivities turn tragic on the nation's roads. The fact is this iconic American holiday is also one of the deadliest holidays of the year due to drunk-driving crashes.

Research shows that high-visibility enforcement can reduce drunk driving fatalities by as much as 20 percent. Sobriety checkpoints play a key part in raising awareness about the problem. The New York State Police, County Sheriff and municipal law enforcement agencies will collaborate across the state and will be out in force in this coordinated effort to aggressively target those who put lives in danger.

The Fourth Weekend Crackdown is one of many statewide enforcement initiatives promoted by the New York State STOP-DWI Association. The Statewide STOP-DWI Crackdown Campaign also targets Labor Day Weekend, Halloween and the national Holiday Season in December.

While STOP-DWI efforts across New York have led to significant reductions in the numbers of alcohol and drug related fatalities, still too many lives are being lost because of crashes caused by drunk or impaired drivers. Highly visible, highly publicized efforts like the STOP-DWI Crackdown Campaign aim to further reduce the incidence of drunk and impaired driving.

You can help to make a difference by Having a Sober Plan! Download our mobile app – “Have a Plan” and you will always be able to find a safe ride home www.stopdwi.org/mobileapp

Impaired driving is completely preventable. All it takes is a little planning.

Press release:

The United Way of Genesee County announces its 2019 campaign total as $351,676. Through these donations, subsidies have been granted to 27 programs within Genesee County; to include numerous additional agencies who will receive funding via donor designations.

During the 2019 campaign celebration breakfast on June 28^th, the following were honored for their dedication to the United Way:

• Top Hat Award (for the highest workplace campaign) -- O-AT-KA Milk Products
• Agency of the Year (for being the phoenix of agencies) – YWCA
• Barber Conable Award (for exemplary commitment to the community) -- Genesee County Employees and Government
• Volunteer of the Year (for her 13 years of unfaltering loyalty) -- Theresa DeMars

Acts of Valor awards were given to these Knights in Shining Armor, as they came to the aid of the United Way to find a solution for an immediate need that had been brought to the United Way’s attention:

• Julie Gill from Home Depot
• Gregory and Joan Post from Greg Post General Services
• Jaylene Smith-Kilner from Habitat for Humanity
• Tim Adams and Steven Foster from the Red Osier Landmark Restaurant

Liberty Pumps and the employees of Genesee County were the second and third highest workplace campaigns this year. Whereas, the late Rick Ensman and Bill and Barb Schreiber were the highest individual contributors.

The United Way of Genesee County is extremely grateful to all who participated in this year’s campaign. The lengthy list of workplace and individual donors is heartwarming and proves that so many are invested in the wellness of our community.

A Statement from Assemblyman Steve Hawley (R,C,I-Batavia) on the  Fouth of July holiday:

“The Fourth of July, our nation’s birthday, is a crucial reminder of the day our founders declared us free from British rule and thus an independent and self-governing nation. Although a bold and unprecedented move by American colonialists, it paved the way for springs of freedom and self-determination to erupt all over the globe – ushering in a wave of democracy.

“Our founding fathers, the patriots who forged our nation through a crucible of revolution, knew that the will of men and women to live free, govern themselves and choose their own destiny was undeniable and worth any sacrifice they may endure.

“Contemporarily, Independence Day is a time when citizens come together unified as Americans to celebrate their freedom and enjoy the privileges that come under our nation’s governance. We spend time with friends and family, enjoy barbeques, fly our flags and, of course, watch fireworks. 

“Throughout this weekend’s celebrations let us not take for granted the tremendous sacrifices paid by our veterans to preserve America’s freedom and the countless service members deployed across the globe who will not be with their families this holiday. Please take time to thank a veteran or service member in your life this weekend for their role in protecting our nation.

“The fight for liberty and justice is never complete; and as Americans it is our duty to remember and cherish our independence. It is a day to celebrate our freedom, our country, our triumphs and to remember all those men and women who have served our nation and who have made the ultimate sacrifice in pursuit of those ideals. 

“Although this holiday is a joyous occasion, I encourage everyone to stay safe and to celebrate responsibly with family and friends. Happy Independence Day!”