The fifth-grade students at Batavia Middle School presented their human rights projects today in the school auditorium, including Tiara Banks and Jayden Dersham, above, who portrayed Madam C.J. Walker.

Born in 1867, Walker (born Sarah Breedlove) was the first child in her family born into freedom. She eventually found a cosmetic and hair-care product company, making her the first self-made female African-American millionaire in the nation and the prominent female entrepreneurs of her era. She was also a philanthropist. 

Below, Cruise Rapone and Brendon Peterson, both as Milton Hershey, founder of the chocolate company and founder of charitable foundations.

The students also made portraits of the historical figures they studied. They also recorded their presentations (bottom photo, a recording of a student as Helen Keller on an iPad). The recordings were made in front of a green screen so historical photos could be used as a backdrop.

The projects work in several Common Core requirements for fifth-graders, including making a public presentation.

Several parents attended today's presentations.

• Camper's name
• Grade camper is entering
• Emergency contact name and phone number
• T-shirt size (register by June 30th to guarantee correct size) 

Kerri Richardson, Agri-Business Academy Instructor, left, congratulates Melissa Keller, right, Agri-Business Academy student, at a recent Board of Education ceremony.

Submitted photo and press release:

Thirteen Batavia Career and Technical Education (CTE) Center students represented the Western Region at the New York State FFA Convention in Leadership Development Events in May at the State University of New York at Morrisville.

Melissa Keller (Pembroke) placed second in the Employment Skills event and will represent New York State at the Big E Fair next fall in Massachusetts. This event is the Eastern States Exposition Fair where students from throughout the Northeastern United States come to compete.

Kerri Richardson is the Agri-Business Academy instructor and FFA co-advisor. She explained how well Melissa fared in this event.

“This is one of the most competitive competitions at the convention. Melissa had to prepare a resume, cover letter and job application along with a phone and in-person interview,” Richardson said.

Melissa earned a $1,500 national FFA scholarship called the America’s Farms Grow Ag Leaders/Monsanto Fund.

The team of Melissa Keller, Cole Hudson (Notre Dame) and Cherie Glosser (Warsaw), placed third in the Marketing Plan event. Four students, Rebecca Semmel (Warsaw), Stella Glosser (Warsaw), Sarah Lippert (Attica), and Elizabeth Jurs (Elba), competed as the Food Science team and placed ninth out of 27 teams.

Allison Pajda (Attica) placed sixth in the People in Agriculture event.

The Batavia CTE Center FFA program focuses on leadership, personal growth and career success. The co-advisors are Richardson and Holly Partridge, Animal Science instructor.

If you know of a current junior or underclassman who is interested in business or agriculture, or is unsure of a career path, applications are now being accepted for the Agri-Business Academy at the Genesee Valley Educational Partnership. The Agri-Business Academy is a one-year partnership program between the Partnership and Genesee Community College. This college prep program is geared toward highly motivated high school seniors interested in investigating careers in the agribusiness field.

Through the Agri-Business Academy, students explore the many career opportunities available to them — locally, internationally or often it is a dynamic blend of both. Students can also earn 15 college credits through the ACE program at Genesee Community College.

Applications are available at http://www.genesee.edu/home/ace/career-pathways/agri-business-academy/. Any questions can be directed to Richardson at (585) 344-7783 or kirchardson3@gvboces.org.

The Batavia Career and Technical Education Center is a program of the Genesee Valley Educational Partnership. The Partnership operates as a Board of Cooperative Educational Services offering shared programs and services to 22 component school districts located in Genesee, Wyoming, Livingston and Steuben counties in New York State.

Submitted photo and press release:

Longtime Batavia High School Baseball Coach, Pep Johnson is being inducted into the Section V Baseball Hall of Fame on Sunday, June 25.

The ceremony will take place prior to the Rochester Red Wings game that begins at 1:35 p.m.. The on-field ceremony will take place at 1:10.

Pep is a 1959 graduate of BHS and was inducted into the Batavia Blue Devil Hall of Fame in 2004.

Pep Johnson  ---Coaching statistics -----Batavia High School

• Coached baseball from 1966 to 1998 (32 years, 26 years at the Varsity level)
• Complied 364 wins in those 26 seasons
• Received the Tri County Umpires Bob Flick Sportsmanship Award in 1986
• 1973 – League Champs
• 1975 -- League Champs and County Champs (Only year there was an East – West Playoff)
• 1979 -- League Champs
• 1980 -- League and Sectional Champs
• 1983 – Sectional Finals
• 1987 -- League Champs
• 1988 -- Sectional Finals
• 1991 -- Sectional Champs
• 1994 -- Sectional Champs
• 1998 -- Sectional Champs

The following people were arrested by the Genesee County Sheriff’s Office during the Chance the Rapper concert at Darien Lake Performing Arts Center on Wednesday:

Brandon T. Sanzo, 20, of Favara Circle, East Rochester, is charged with criminal trespass, 3rd, after allegedly climbing on top of a concert venue building.

(Name redacted), 16, of Harwood Avenue, Hamburg, is charged with unlawful possession of marijuana after allegedly being found in possession of a quantity of marijuana.

(Name redacted), 16, of Chatham Woods, Pittsford, is charged with unlawful possession of marijuana after allegedly being found in possession of a quantity of marijuana.

Adam N. Dudek, 18, of Helmsford Way, Penfield, is charged with unlawful possession of marijuana after allegedly being found in possession of a quantity of marijuana.

Daniel V. Avetisyan, 19, of Simone Terrace, Webster, is charged with unlawful possession of marijuana after allegedly being found in possession of a quantity of marijuana.

Sophia I. Ricco, 20, of Westminster Circle, New Hartford, is charged with unlawful possession of marijuana after allegedly being found in possession of a quantity of marijuana.

David M. Koeppel, 21, of Flohr Avenue, West Seneca, is charged with unlawful possession of marijuana after allegedly being found in possession of a quantity of marijuana.

Drake A. Franciosa, 19, of Cooper Street, Rochester, is charged with unlawful possession of marijuana after allegedly being found in possession of a quantity of marijuana.

Johnathan R. Kyte, 19, of Spencer Road, Hilton, is charged with unlawful possession of marijuana after allegedly being found in possession of a quantity of marijuana.

Joseph R. P. Aronson, 32, of Starboard Lane, Rochester, is charged with unlawful possession of marijuana after allegedly being found in possession of a quantity of marijuana.

(Name redacted), 18, of East Park Road, Pittsford, is charged with criminal trespass, 3rd, and unlawful possession of marijuana after allegedly jumping a fence into the concert venue after being ejected and told not to return, and being found in possession of a quantity of marijuana.

(Name redacted), 17, of Hollingson Road, Clarence, is charged with criminal trespass, 3rd, and criminal impersonation, 2nd, after allegedly being found inside the backstage area of the concert venue after being ejected and told not to return and then provided another person’s identity.

(Name redacted), 17, of Heise Road, Clarence, is charged with criminal trespass, 3rd, and criminal Impersonation, 2nd, after allegedly being found inside the backstage area of the concert venue after being ejected and told not to return and then provided another person’s identity.

Kevin M. OBrien, 20, of Valais Court, Fairport, is charged with criminal trespass, 3rd, after allegedly jumping over a fence to enter the concert venue.

Anthony T. Sanzo, 22, of Lauren Court, Webster, is charged with criminal trespass, 3rd, and harassment, 2nd (two counts), after allegedly being found inside the concert venue after having been ejected and told not to return, and he also allegedly punched and kicked two Live Nation employees.

(Name redacted), 19, of Pinegrove Avenue, Irondequoit, is charged with grand larceny, 4th, criminal mischief, 4th, and harassment, 2nd, after allegedly stealing a wallet and damaging another person’s property after elbowing them in the face.

Robert M. Helbringer, 18, of Clarence Center Road, Clarence, is charged with trespass after allegedly attempting to re-enter the concert venue after having been ejected and told not to return.

Maria M. Mankowski, 19, of Sunset Drive, Grand Island, is charged with trespass after allegedly attempting to re-enter the concert venue after having been ejected and told not to return.

The Apple Maps camera car has been in Batavia for at least two days. The Apple website says Genesee County is part of Apple's mapping project through June 4. Apple says the project will help the company improve the quality of its maps worldwide. It's possible that Apple is in the process of creating a feature for its maps similar to Street View available with Google Maps.

The Le Roy Junior/Senior High School hosted its annual fine arts festival on Wednesday, showcasing students' artwork inside and holding a musical performance outside.

Senior Kearyn Sczudlo displayed her art and said each piece took her anywhere from one week to four months to complete. She will study Art at Alfred University this fall. 

The American Warrior Concert, a music festival with more than 60 acts performing, opens tomorrow at noon tomorrow at The Ridge in Le Roy.

The festival is a celebration of our troops, veterans, and the American way of life, according to event organizers. There is one main stage, plus a side stage, an acoustic stage, VIP tent, music lesson tent, open jam tent, camping, craft beer, BBQ, and vendor booths. Proceeds benefit Warrior House of WNY Inc. 

Sponsors include Red Osier Landmark Restaurant.

For the past four years the event was held in Southern California, but going into its fifth year Strength In Numbers Entertainment owner Dan Clor insisted on going back to his roots and producing the festival in his hometown.​

The American Warrior Concert headliner is Weapon-X, frontman Dan Clor's military-inspired heavy band. Other acts scheduled to date include D-ZL, Audibull, Diana Zinni, James D Jackson, Jason Wallace, Ryan Whyman, Black Valentine, Invictra, Kenny Drury, Johnny Bauer, The Dirty Bourbon Blues Band, Delano Steele, 1916, Danny B, Le Roy High Marching Band/Chorus, Dave Riccione Blues Trio, Shawn T, Greg Chako Jazz Trio, Woody Dodge, Ball Cheeze Psychotics and Justin Williams. 

To purchase concert tickets click here.

To rent a campsite click here.

Press release:

Great Tabernacle Ministries announces the second annual “Here and Now Festival” to be held Aug. 25-26 at Austin Park in Downtown Batavia.

This year has grown to include more than 55 vendors and 12 food trucks from the surrounding region, and more than 14 artists and activities for children including face painting, balloon animals, cotton candy, Kona ice, and more!

Music genres vary from '70s rock and folk to rap and hard rock. Friday night features Elevation Worship with an expected draw of people from as far as Ohio, Pennsylvania, New York, New Jersey, Vermont, and Ontario, Calif. There could be up to 4,ooo people visiting Batavia from all around because of this event.

Saturday will start at 11 a.m. running all day till 10 p.m. with a number of artist and speakers, ending with runner-up from last year’s hit TV show “The Voice,” Christian Cuevas.

Great Tabernacle Ministries would like to thank the Genesee area Businesses, churches, and ministries for all of their support in sponsoring this great event! Without you this event wouldn’t be possible and FREE to our community! That’s right admission is free so mark your calendars now.

For a full list of Artists, vendors and food trucks etc., please visit www.greattabernacle.org. If you would like to sponsor this event and advertise your business with us please call 585-297-3155 

Photo: File photo. For more photos from last year's event, click here.

City police are responding to the parking lot of Oliver's Candies after dispatch received a report of two males on top of "the horse," the big, colorfully painted statue of a horse that is on permanent display there.

Press release:

In his ongoing fight to update the state’s charitable gaming laws which have prohibited events such as the Stafford Fire Department’s annual car raffle, Assemblyman Steve Hawley (R,C,I-Batavia) has introduced legislation to allow charitable organizations to accept credits cards as a form of payment for Internet sales of games of chance.

Hawley was successful in working with Gov. Cuomo to update several facets of the state’s gaming laws in this year’s budget, including expanding the definition of an “authorized organization” to include volunteer ambulance workers and organizations that have been in existence for one year, allowing television and Internet advertising of raffles and allowing personal checks to be acceptable payments for games of chance.

“While many of the state’s archaic gaming laws were updated in this year’s budget, there is still much more work to be done to protect the livelihood of our thousands of charitable organizations, churches, fire departments and non-profits across the state,” Hawley said.

“This bill would allow these groups to accept credit cards as a form of payment for raffles, resulting in higher revenues raised for these great organizations and the ability for them to sell tickets outside of the region in which the raffle is taking place. I am hopeful that we can get this passed by the end of session and I look forward to working with my colleagues in the Assembly to make that a reality moving forward.”

Cassy L. Drury is indicted for the crime of third-degree rape, a Class E felony. It is alleged that on Jan. 23 in the Town of Le Roy that Drury, who is a female over the age of 21, engaged in sexual intercourse with another person less than 17 years old. In counts two and three, she is accused of committing the same crime on Jan. 30 and  31, respectively, also in the Town of Le Roy. In count four, Drury is accused of third-degree stalking, a Class A misdemeanor. It is alleged in count four, that Drury -- with intent to harass, annoy or alarm a specific person -- intentionally engaged in a course of conduct directed at that person. This alleged course of conduct was likely to cause such person to reasonably fear physical injury, serious physical injury, the commission of a sex offense against, or the kidnapping, unlawful imprisonment or death of this person or a member the person's immediate family.

Charles Schilling, who has already had to change attorneys once, had several requests for County Court Judge Charles Zambito today: he wants a new attorney; he wants a change of venue; he wants a copy of the Grand Jury transcripts; he wants a copy of any of the discovery gathered in his case; he wants tapes or transcripts of calls he believes were recorded. 

He was very polite to Zambito while reading the statement he prepared and in responding to Zambito's questions or statements, but much of what he asked for, he isn't getting.

Schilling, a resident of Akron, but currently being held in the Livingston County Jail, was indicted on counts of second-degree burglary and second-degree criminal trespass a year ago. The charges stem from an apparent dispute with a woman in Pembroke. On Thanksgiving Day, Schilling was reportedly shot in the leg by the woman's father after he allegedly broke into their home.

Public Defender Jerry Ader became Schilling's attorney suddenly a couple of weeks ago after the private attorney who had been handling the case quit. Apparently, there were phone conversations between Schilling and the attorney that prompted the attorney to quit the case.

Schilling said he was just trying to ensure he was getting good representation because his parents laid out $15,000 for his defense. He wanted tapes of the conversations he had with his attorney because he believes the recordings, which he believes exist, would exonerate him of the accusation of speaking inappropriately to the attorney.

Zambito told him he has a new attorney, he's keeping his new attorney because he failed to show adequate cause for new appointed counsel, and any issue with his prior attorney was settled, as far as the court is concerned, once the attorney was removed from the case.

Schilling said he doesn't believe he can get a fair trial in Genesee County because he believes his troubles in the Genesee County Jail -- the reason he's being held in Livingston County -- will spill over into his trial.

Zambito denied his request for a change of venue.

Assistant Public Defender Robert Zickl said Schilling isn't entitled to copies of the Grand Jury transcripts, by statute, until his case goes to trial, and he shouldn't have them until then, and Zambito agreed.

Schilling also claimed that a person involved in the case was involved in making a pornographic video that can be found online and he wanted information on the investigation into the video.

Zickl said there is no such video; there is no investigation and there won't be an investigation.

As for other discovery, Ader is in the process of obtaining those documents and statements and asked for another 30 days to obtain and review the material.

A head-on collision has been reported in the area of 409 Bloomingdale Road, Basom.

Unknown injuries at this time.

Alabama fire and Mercy EMS dispatched.

UPDATE 4:55 p.m.: Chief on scene reports one possible minor injury, one possible sign off. One ambulance responding is fine.

UPDATE 5 p.m.: A second ambulance requested to the scene.

Customers who shop at West Main Wine & Spirits on 341 W. Main St. in Batavia will have the opportunity to shop with an app, thanks to a company called More On Tap.

More On Tap is a company based out of Massachusetts with an interactive application for liquor stores and their customers. Their application can be viewed on a store kiosk, computer, tablet, mobile phone and the store’s website.

Chris Blossom, the owner (pictured), said he was contacted by Robert Pais, from More On Tap, with the idea of using a mobile app for West Main Wine & Spirits.

“When we first got coordinated with them, we were the third store in New York State to [have an app],” Blossom said.

Through the app, users can browse products, view drink recipes, food and wine pairings, current specials and staff picks. If the user is in the store, items can also be scanned to view product information.

Originally, there was going to be a kiosk put in the store, but Blossom liked the mobile app instead.

“More people are tech-savvy now,” Blossom said. “A lot of people are on their (smart) phones.”

Customers can sign up on the email club and Blossom will send special promotions through the app every few weeks.

“Before you come to the store, you can look up the wine you want,” Blossom said. “If you’re drinking a liquor and you want to make a drink, you can look up everything before you get to the store.”

Blossom said a challenged he faced was not having all of the New York State wines on the app.

“The biggest thing was trying to get our inventory coordinated,” Blossom said. “As far as the liquor and spirits, it’s the same mainly everywhere.”

The app is compatible with all smartphones. If customers don’t want to download the app, Blossom said there will be an iPad in the store to join the email club.

Through the app, customers can sign up for an email newsletter.

“I wanted something where people can figure out what they want before they get here,” Blossom said. “People are busy in life.”

On the web: westmainwineandspirits.com

Nancy Bailey, the manager of the Byron-Bergen Public Library, said when she walked in the building every morning, the parking lot was boring and uninviting.

The parking lot was remodeled about a year ago and there was a big empty space on the wall. She said it was the perfect space for a mural. 

She applied for a Decentralization Grant from New York State through the Council on the Arts. Once the grant was approved, local artist Dave Burke got to work designing a mural that would reflect the community.

“The board members said we definitely needed a train because it was a big part of Bergen,” Burke said. “It also has farmland, birds and a swamp, and will have a part of the trail.”

Burke has been an artist all his life, but this is the first mural he has done. He usually paints on canvas or boards using watercolor or acrylics.

“The last couple years, I just started painting all the time,” Burke said. “Work and other things just got in the way. I wish I had done this 30 years ago and totally concentrated on painting.”

Burke mixes his own colors with acrylic paint and will seal the mural with clear varnish when it is completed.

The mural is dedicated to Eileen Almquist, the director of the Byron-Bergen Public Library, before she retired in 1983. Her picture is also painted on the mural, surrounded by children and books.

“Somebody suggested to put her up there,” Bailey said. “It looks really neat with her up there.”

Bailey said once the mural is completed, she would like to put park benches and chairs behind the library.

“It seems like a pleasant place to sit,” Bailey said. “It gets enough shade here in the late afternoon and some early morning sunshine.”

Bailey said there will be an unveiling when the mural is completed. 

Serial sexual predator Marlek Holmes will be locked away in state prison for 15 years, with more local charges pending, after his sentencing in Genesee County Court today.

The 43-year-old Holmes, who has already spent 14 years of his adult life in prison and is a registered Level 3 sex offender, read a lengthy statement to Judge Charles Zambito before his sentencing in which he declaimed all responsibility for the sexual assault on his underage victim except that he should have been the one protecting her from another, unnamed, assailant. 

"If I had not been in prison, I would have been there to protect her from the person who sexually abused her," he said.

His victim also spoke in court -- a slight girl, barely in her teens, whose pink pants fit loosely on her thin frame -- and cried throughout most of her statement, which both described the horror she knows she will always live with and the pain of the physical assaults.

"I'm scared to even look at you," she said.

She said she can forgive but never forget.

"I wish you the best," she said. "I know you're not going to make it, but God bless."

Holmes, wiry and muscular, sat casually at the defense table, dressed in an orange jail jumpsuit, with his hands cuffed to his waist, and never looking at the girl.

District Attorney Lawrence Friedman said Holmes caught quite a break in getting a plea agreement the day his trial was supposed to start May 4. Holmes was originally charged, in this case, with Class A felonies of predatory sexual assault and predatory sexual assault against a child. A conviction in a jury trial may have meant a life sentence.

Friedman said he believes a life sentence would be appropriate, but the deal -- saving the girl, who said she also favored Holmes getting life in prison, the necessity of testifying -- allowed Holmes to plead guilty to a Class C violent felony, attempted criminal sexual act in the first degree.

After going through Holmes' lengthy criminal record, which includes prior sexual assaults, two prison terms, two periods on parole, and still 27 counts of other criminal charges, Friedman said Holmes deserved no more consideration in his sentence than what he's already received.

"He is a sexual predator," Friedman said. "He has always been a sexual predator. He will always be a sexual predator."

Zambito noted the contradiction between the statement provided by Holmes and the clear, emotional statement by his victim naming him as the abuser. Holmes, he said, did get a substantial break with the plea deal.

"I can't conceive of any legitimate reason to give anything other than the maximum sentence this plea allows," Zambito said.

A trial date for the other charges against Holmes was set for Aug. 28, but both Fred Rarick, representing Holmes, and Friedman, said they would discuss a possible plea deal to settle those charges as well.

As anticipated, Buffalo-based Savarino Companies has applied for financial assistance from the Genesee County Economic Development Center to help offset the costs of environmental cleanup and redevelopment of the long-vacant Della Penna property on Ellicott Street in the City of Batavia.

The GCEDC board will consider the application for the $17.6 million rehabilitation project at its meeting tomorrow.

Savarino is planning to replace most of the structures on the property and replace them with a 64,000-square-foot development that will include apartments, office space and a brewery and restaurant.

Once completed, there will be 47 market-rate apartments on the border of Downtown Batavia and businesses employing at least 60 full-time workers.

The terms of the application were negotiated by the city and GCEDC during the process of attracting a developer for the brownfield project and include $897,293 in sales tax abatement on materials during construction, relief on $128,232 in mortgage taxes and $537,398 in property taxes.

Savarino has already announced an anchor tenant for the Ellicott Station project, Resurgence Brewing Company of Buffalo, which plans to use the facility to increase production of a new product, a sour beer, as well as serve on tap its full line of beers that have proven popular in Buffalo.

The project is part of the Batavia Pathway to Prosperity (BP2) initiative, which is a cooperative endeavor between the city, GCEDC, Batavia Development Corp., City Schools and Genesee County.

BP2 was created to offer a tax abatement known as a PIF (PILOT (payment in lieu of taxes incremental financing), which is the first of its kind in New York. Half of the PIF payments will be used to help fund future brownfield redevelopment in Batavia, with the other half being returned to the original taxing jurisdictions.

The Batavia Opportunity Area (the brownfield redevelopment area) covers 366 acres in the city's core and contains five strategic redevelopment sites.