Skip to main content

Batavia Daily News Friday: Sam Pontillo tells his side

By Brian Hillabush

 In Friday's edition of The Daily News, Sam Pontillo gave reporter Joanne Beck his side of the story, and it is kind of confusing.

The Batavian broke the story about Pontillo's restaurant owing about $112,000 in back taxes on Wednesday after a story in the paper about it being closed for renovations.

Pontillo told Beck that he does not own the Batavia branch, but does own the Le Roy one. He says that the Batavia restaurant is still in his mother's name and the estate is being settled, blaming his brother John for the financial situation.

John claims that Sam and another brother, Paul, are at fault for the situation. It sounds pretty messy.

Sam Pontillo also says the Batavia restaurant will reopen in a few weeks with renovations that "won't be an obvious change that patrons will notice".

We encourage you to pick up a copy of the Daily News at your local newsstand. Or, better yet, subscribe at BataviaNews.com.

Howard B. Owens

Now my journalism professor taught me that when another news organization breaks a story, you should credit that news organization when you publish your follow. I take it the Daily didn't credit The Batavian?

You'll note, we always credit the daily for all of the stories they have that we write about.

Nov 7, 2008, 5:45pm Permalink
Kelly Hansen

Will they credit <i>The Batavian</i> for breaking the story on Victorian Manor when/if it ever is investigated? Oh, never mind. I forgot - there is no story. Right Mrs. Noonan?

Nov 7, 2008, 5:57pm Permalink
Howard B. Owens

Kelly, you've been doing a great job of following this story. Just saw your new comment.

I would encourage you to do a blog post kind of wrapping up everything you know about the situation. A good overview could be very useful.

And maybe force the hand of the Daily to take notice. Not that they will credit you or The Batavian, but we care more about the transparent sharing of information than who gets credit (though it's fun to tweak the Daily when they're less than transparent).

Nov 7, 2008, 6:29pm Permalink
Gabor Deutsch

I gotta say something or I will explode !
Howard is totally right.
I was percieved as a trouble maker by asking so many questions about thebatavian and thebataviadailynewspaper.
I still read the bataviadailynewspaper.
I prefer thebatavian.com for my "interactive" news.
I know who runs it and how much more fun it is now that there are so many great members posting their news and opinions, pics, etc.
All that without ink on your fingers, and its fast and free ?

Nov 8, 2008, 3:35pm Permalink

Authentically Local