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Genesee County residents who are curious about the new Genesee County Jail and would like to see it inside for themselves before it starts holding inmates will get their chance on Saturday.

Sheriff William Sheron has announced an open house that day from 9 a.m. to 1 p.m.

The new jail is located at 3839 West Main Street Road, Batavia -- basically to the east of and between the Animal Shelter County Building #2.

Previously:

• County dedicates new jail that officials expect to serve community for at least a century
• Photos: Tour of the new Genesee County Jail

Four juveniles from Buffalo are charged with criminal possession of stolen property in the third degree after they made an attempt to flee from a deputy in a Kia Forte at 12:37 a.m. on May 7.

The youths, who are not identified in the police report, were released to the custody of their parents or guardians.

Information on the incident was released on Monday.  It began early Tuesday morning at the Batavia Thruway entrance when Deputy Jeremiah Gechell attempted a traffic stop.

The Kia attempted to flee at a high rate of speed, according to the report. During the pursuit, deputies learned the Kia had been reported stolen in the town of Eden.

The black Kia continued east on the Thruway at a high rate of speed, attempted to exit in Le Roy, and then headed east on I-490.

Deputy Ryan Mullen deployed spike strips on the exit ramp, and three of the Kia's four tires hit the strip.

The driver and a passenger attempted to flee on foot east on the 490.

Following a foot pursuit, Gechell and Sgt. Mathew Clor apprehended a male and female from the vehicle. A female passenger ran into the woods near the Thruway and was ordered out and placed into custody. Le Roy Police Officer Selah Martek located another male passenger attempting to hide in a ditch near the Kia, and that subject was placed into custody.

The charge against them is a Class D felony. 

A rollover accident with a possible head injury is reported in the area of 1254 Sumner Road, Darien.

Darien Fire and Mercy EMS dispatched.

UPDATE 10:46 a.m.: The patient is out of the vehicle.

A residence at 4 Central Avenue, Batavia, is reportedly filling with smoke, no flames showing.

One person has exited the structure; another is refusing to leave.

City Fire dispatched.

UPDATE 9:42 p.m.: Engine 12 and Ladder 15 on the scene, two-story wood-frame structure, nothing showing at this time.

UPDATE 9:44 p.m.: It appears to be a grease fire on the stove. The fire is out. Ventilating. 

UPDATE 9:47 p.m.: The scene commander asks dispatchers to note that a resident is refusing to leave the structure.

A motor vehicle accident is reported in the area of 10738 Alexander Road, between Stroh Road and Main Street, Alexander.

Injuries are reported.

Unknown how many vehicles involved.

Alexander Fire and Mercy EMS dispatched.

UPDATE 9:27 p.m. Additional responders and proceed non-emergency.

Last month, Genesee County experienced a total solar eclipse, a once-in-a-lifetime event for many.

On Friday, Sheriff William Sheron said it was a once-in-a-lifetime event: the dedication of a new county jail.

The jail is expected to be the county's lone place of inmate incarceration for at least 10 decades.

"We'll never see one of these built again, nor do we want to," Sheron said.

The new jail's construction was a long journey, Sheron said, but a necessary one.  The new facility will serve the community better, providing greater opportunities to help offenders improve their lives and keep corrections officers safer.

"Today marks a significant milestone in our county's journey towards justice and rehabilitation," Sheron said. "It's with great pride and humility that we gather here to dedicate the new Genesee County Jail. This facility is not just a testament to our commitment to public safety but also a symbol of our unwavering dedication to accountability, rehabilitation and hope."

See also: Photos: Tour of the new Genesee County Jail

Sheron noted that incarceration is not the ultimate goal of local law enforcement. 

"Rather, it's a means to an end, an opportunity for individuals to reflect on their actions, take accountability for their actions and their mistakes and embark on a path towards positive change," Sheron said.

To that end, the new jail will offer better access to mental health assistance, educational opportunities, and access to counseling.  Inmates will have access to resources and programs aimed at addressing the root causes of their behavior with the hope of guiding them toward a more productive future.

"Accountability is the heart of the justice system," Sheron said. "It's about holding individuals responsible for their actions and also providing them with the support and the tools they need to reintegrate into our society as productive and law-abiding citizens."

Allen Riley, chairman of the state's Commission of Corrections, which mandated that the county build a new jail to replace its deteriorating, aging facility Main Street in Batavia, which was becoming costly to maintain, he said, praised the new facility.

"It will provide greater space for enhanced educational opportunities for the incarcerated population, which will provide opportunities for advancement and a chance to become a productive member of society upon their release and reduce recidivism rates here in Genesee County," he said.

The 184-bed facility was built at a cost of $70 million. The jail is divided into four units. To start, only three units will house inmates: two males and one female. It's the first time Genesee County will house its own female inmates.

Assistant Jail Superintendent Jeff Searls told visitors during a guided tour that he anticipates opportunities to house inmates from other counties, especially for a couple of neighboring counties that are just starting the process of building new jails in their communities and providing custodial care for people being held for the U.S. Marshall's and Homeland Security. Holding inmates for other jurisdictions will generate revenue for the county, which will help offset the jail's cost.

County Manager Matt Landers noted that the jail was built during challenging times.  Project planning began in 2017 and by the time the county was ready to begin construction, the world was hit by a pandemic, then rising interest rates, followed by inflation, along with bail reform.

"At one point, I was wondering if we're building this jail too small," Landers said. "If you go back to 2019, we had 140 individuals in the care of Genesee County Sheriff's Office that would essentially be full today. Then, within one year, the numbers dropped from the pandemic and from the bail reform. And we weren't quite sure. So, we commissioned a second jail-needs study. And the results of that study were basically to keep the same number we had before. And now here we are today with, I would say, an appropriate size jail facility for the next 100 years."

As Chapin International prepares to celebrate its 140th year in business, it will do so with a new president and CEO in place, a Western New York native whose manufacturing career has taken him across the United States.

Chapin was founded in Oakfield and remains based in Batavia, with its headquarters on Ellicott Street. The company's growth has led to the opening or acquisition of plants in other states and parts of the world.

With all of that, and the challenging business climate in New York, Chapin remains committed to Batavia, said the new CEO, Tim Onello.

"I think that is where our priority is," Onello told The Batavian in an exclusive joint interview On Thursday with Jim Campbell, who is retiring as president and CEO. "I know the company is 100 percent committed to this area and to ensuring we're a good employer in the region. So, yes, our number one commitment is to stay here in Batavia."

Onello said he is looking forward to continuing the growth Chapin has enjoyed under Campbell's leadership. Campbell was Dave Ward's successor. After Ward, Campbell was the second non-family member to run Chapin. With 20 years in the CEO seat, Campell was the longest-serving person in that position.

Though Onello has been an executive with lawn and garden manufacturing companies throughout much of his business career, Chapin's line of sprayers and related products is a slightly new field to him. 

"I think what attracted me to the company was, first, all of the product range," Onello said. "Even though it's a little bit outside of my background, my background is hand tools and power tools, a lot of them are sold in the same channels as Chapin."

That mix of products at Chapin and its track record of growth is an opportunity and challenge, Onello suggested. 

"Where's that next growth coming from? So, I think part of where we'll dig in with the team is just to find out how can we grow the business and take it to the next level," Onello said. "Jim and team have done such a great job at growing this business over the past 20 years, and I think Jim took it four times where it used to be. It's my job, with all the marketing and product experience, to really look at adjacent areas for this company to manufacture new products and take it to that next level."

Onello was VP and general manager of ITW, a Fortune 200 company. While employed by ITW, he was based in San Luis Obispo, Calif.  Prior to joining ITW, he spent nearly 12 years with JPW Industries in Nashville, rising to the position of VP and general manager.

He has MBAs from Thunderbird School of Global Management and the University of Nevada-Las Vegas and a bachelor of science in marketing and psychology from Northern Michigan University.

Chapin was founded in 1884 in the back of a hardware store in Oakfield, where R.E. Chapin made oil storage containers for oil lamps.  In the early 1900s, the company moved to Batavia and started manufacturing garden sprayers. 

Today, the company has six major product lines with more than 650 different items for sale to retail and business customers.

Campbell is proud of the company's accomplishments during his tenure. 

"If you're not growing, you shrink," he said, which is why the company works through five-year strategic growth plans. The most recent plan expires as he exits. 

"This will be the first year that we didn't quite meet the strat plan," Campbell said. "That's because in the strat plan was another acquisition for about $40 million. We didn't do another acquisition. That's the only part of the five-year plan we didn't meet. All the organic growth we did meet, and (the company) is still growing. We should be able to make another $50 million to $60 million in three or four years."

That's gross revenue.

Chapin isn't a publicly traded company, so it generally does not disclose revenue and profits, but publicly traded companies, such as another big manufacturer in Batavia, Graham Corp., are required to release financial reports, and so Campbell offered this comparison: "We do more dollars than Graham." 

Graham's reported revenue for 2023 was $147.1 million.

Campbell's role in helping the board of directors select a new CEO focused primarily on ensuring the board understood the complexities of the job. He put together a job description that filled a three-ring binder with 150 pages.

He said job candidates also agreed to a psychological profile, which is common in the business world these days, especially for executive positions. 

Onello was attracted to the job not only because of the product line but also because it offered him a chance to move back home to raise his three teenage daughters close to family in Western New York.

"I grew up in Cheektowaga and went to schools in West Seneca," Onello said. "I have a ton of family in Buffalo and was bringing my family back here three times a year to visit the area, so when the opportunity came up to return to Western New York, to be able to jump into an adjacent industry, to be back with family and friends, it was just ideal."

Onello said he was impressed with Chapin's culture and praised Campbell's ability to maintain a loyal workforce.

"One of the biggest things, it's always about the people, right?" Onello said. "I think Jim's built an incredible culture here where you have long, tenured, loyal workers who really care about the brand and care about the company. There's a lot of pride in the company. Many employees have 30 years or 40 years of tenure, and that just doesn't happen in so many other areas. That loyalty to the brand, to the company, is really exciting."

Campbell's plans in retirement — he's rooted in Western New York with a residence just inside of Erie County from Pembroke — and a plot of land in Pembroke with an orchard and elderberries and a big barn, don’t include moving elsewhere.

He said he plans to spend more time with his wife Caite.  They also have a cottage in Canada.

"We're a real outdoor, hunting and fishing kind of family," Campbell said.

He also enjoys blacksmithing, primarily making knives.

As for Onello, he doesn't have time for many hobbies.  His daughters are 13 and 15.

"When I'm not working, I'm usually chasing them around, taking them to their events and sports," Onello said. "Of course, naturally, I look forward to being able to go to  a few Bills and Sabres games now that I'm back in the region."

An aurora borealis, or northern lights, was visible in Genesee County on Friday night.

The event, created by a solar storm, will return on Saturday evening; however, the forecast for partially cloudy skies could hinder visibility.

When there is a solar storm, some of the energy and small particles travel down the magnetic field at the north and south poles into the earth's atmosphere. The particles interact with gases in the atmosphere, creating a stunning light show.

Thank you to all the readers who submitted photos.

A 62-year-old resident of Le Roy, Vincent J. "Vinny" Giammarva, was killed on Thursday while working on the Thruway in Chili after being struck by a tractor-trailer.

According to the Thruway Authority, Giammarva was inside a work zone when he was struck. His co-worker, Mark Vara, 58, of Scottsville, was seriously injured when the eastbound tractor-trailer entered the work zone just before 12:30 p.m.

The accident occurred near mile marker 368, between Exit 47 in Le Roy and Exit 46 in Henrietta.

Giammarva was pronounced dead at the scene. Vara is listed in critical condition at Strong Memorial Hospital.

"Our Maintenance employees embody the heart and soul of this organization. Roadside workers risk their lives daily to ensure the safety of all drivers on the road," The Thruway Authority released in an unattributed statement. "The entire Thruway family is in mourning, and our thoughts, prayers and deepest sympathies go out to the families and friends of everyone involved."

Giammarva was a heavy construction equipment operator for the Thruway Authority. 

In a statement, the Thruway Authority also said, "Vinny was a dedicated public servant who worked in the Thruway's Henrietta Maintenance Section for nearly 20 years. Vinny’s unwavering dedication embodied the very essence of this organization, which is now left with an unimaginable void and a long grieving process ahead."

The 64-year-old truck driver from Oswego has not otherwise been identified. State Police investigators said they don't believe drugs or alcohol played a role in the crash. There have been no charges filed but the investigation is ongoing.

Mavrik Hall, a senior at Notre Dame High School, broke a school record in shot put at the Batavia Track & Field Invitational on Saturday that has stood for 48 years.

Hall threw 51 feet, one inch, breaking Mike Cordes's 1976 record of 50 feet, eight inches.

According to Mike Rapone, Notre Dame's principal and athletic director, Hall is a five-sport athlete who excels in football, basketball, indoor track, golf and outdoor track. 

He is the defending Section V B5 champion in both the shot put and the discus. 

Loni Hall, Mavrik's proud mother, said her son hasn't had a shot put coach at Notre Dame and that he is self-coached.

She said Mavrik intends to attend Columbia College in South Carolina for business, where he will also throw shot put.

Submitted photos.

Batavia PD has a timely reminder for city residents: Never approach a bear.

The warning comes after a Ring camera on a residence on Vine Street recorded a bear walking through backyard.

Other safety tips:

• Secure food, garbage and recycling;
• Do not leave pet food outside;
• Remove bird feeders if you spot bears in your yard;

More tips regarding being bear-wise can be found on the DEC website.

Some in the community may want Michael J. Elmore, accused of causing the death of Sgt. Thomas Sanfratello on March 10 at Batavia Downs, to face a murder charge, but District Attorney Kevin Finnell said he believes a Genesee County Grand Jury reached the correct decision when it delivered an aggravated manslaughter count against Elmore.

Finnell said that, as a legal matter, he couldn't reveal whether the Grand Jury even considered a murder charge or if he sought murder as a possible count against Elmore, but he did say the Grand Jury reached its conclusion for the counts against Elmore based on evidence.

"As you know, I can’t discuss what transpired with or in the grand jury, so I can only say that the charges that were filed with the indictment were supported by the evidence," Finnell said. "As for the original charging decisions, I would advise that my office and the Batavia City Police Department had discussions regarding the charges that would be filed by BPD, and those that were filed were the most appropriate given the information that was available at the time."

Elmore is accused of fighting with Sanfratello when the 32-year veteran of the Sheriff's Office tried to eject Elmore and Lyndsey J. Wilccox from a bar at the casino.

According to charging documents filed immediately after Elmore's arrest, Elmore left the facility and returned with a heavy metal chain in his hands. The chain was apparently jewelry he was wearing at the time. Elmore is accused of hitting Sanfratello with his fists and with the chains and, at one point, getting Sanfratello in a chokehold.

A source connected to the investigation has told The Batavian that Elmore wrapped the chain around his fist and hit Sanfratello with it wrapped around his fist. Finnell said he couldn't discuss exactly how the defendant may have deployed the chain.

"The information we have about the incident involving the chain specifically is that Mr. Elmore removed it from his neck and held it in his hand as he fought with Sgt. Sanfratello and Batavia Downs Security," Finnell said. "Mr. Elmore threw punches with the chain in his possession. I can’t comment further on the manner in which the chain was utilized."

Elmore's social media posts indicate that he has, on occasion, worn heavy metal chain necklaces. 

The incident that led up to Sanfratello's death began at 12:43 a.m. on March 10, a Sunday morning following a pair of events at Batavia Downs on Saturday night, when Sanfratello and Batavia Downs security responded to the Rush 34 bar for a disturbance. There, Sanfratello confronted Wilcox, 39, of Batavia and ordered Wilcox to leave the building. While being escorted out, she allegedly became combative with Sanfratello. She is accused of hitting Sanfratello several times with the intent to injure him. 

As Wilcox was being arrested, Elmore became involved and was also ordered to leave. He reportedly walked out of the building and came back in with a chain in his hand (a chain he was apparently wearing that night).

During the struggle, which included assistance from Batavia Downs security, Sanfratello reportedly tried to deploy his taser in an attempt to subdue the person attacking him.

According to initial reports, Sanfratello suffered a medical emergency during the struggle and became unresponsive. There was extensive effort, according to witnesses, to revive him with CPR. He was later pronounced dead by a county coroner.

Elmore was indicted by the Grand Jury on counts of:

• Aggravated manslaughter in the first degree, a Class B felony. He is accused of intending to cause serious physical injury to a police officer and, as result, causing the death of a police officer;
• Aggravated criminally negligent homicide, a Class C violent felony. He is accused of causing the death of Sanfratello with criminal negligence;
• Assault in the first degree, a Class B violent felony. Elmore is accused of causing the death of Sanfratello while in the commission of another crime, burglary in the second degree;
• Burglary in the second degree, a Class C violent felony. He is accused of knowingly entering a building unlawfully with the intent to commit a crime in the building and threatening to use or did use a dangerous instrument.

Elmore and co-defendant Wilcox are indicted on counts of:

• Burglary in the second degree, a Class C violent felony. Elmore and Wilcox are accused of remaining unlawfully in a building with the intent to commit a crime in the building and, while in the building, causing serious physical injury to another person;
• Assault in the second degree, a Class D violent felony. Elmore and Wilcox are accused of causing physical injury to a police officer who was in the act of performing his official duties;
• Obstruction of governmental administration in the second degree, a Class A misdemeanor. The pair is accused of trying to intentionally prevent a police officer from performing his official duty by means of intimidation, physical force, or interference.

Wilcox is separately charged with resisting arrest, a Class A Misdemeanor. She is accused of intentionally trying to prevent her legal arrest.

Elmore and Wilcox will be arraigned in County Court on the counts in the indictment on May 20. 

For previous coverage of the death of Sgt. Sanfratello, click here.

Many of the honors on Saturday night during the Pembroke Fire District Awards and Installation Dinner at the Fire Hall in Pembroke went to those men and women who showed up for more than 100 calls during 2023 and to those who have put in at least 50 years.

But the Firefighter of the Year Award went to somebody who didn't go on the most calls and hasn't yet made it to 50 years but, despite battling an illness, has still made his presence felt.

"I usually run it past all my chiefs to see if we have a general consensus of who is deserving (of Firefighter of the Year)," said Chief Jamie Waff. "This year, it was a dictatorship of one. I just basically said. "No." Usually, we base it on call volume and training. You know, leadership. Well, this person didn't have the most calls. But he's shown everyone here how strong he is, the courage he has, that dedication that he has to this fire company. When he got sick, he was worried about not being able to make his 10% (of calls) to stay active. But he's still here for maintenance. He's still here for the calls he can make." 

Raymond Mault is Pembroke's 2023 Firefighter of the Year.

Sen. George Borrello and Assemblyman Steve Hawley were on hand, in part, to honor the four people with 50-plus years of service to the Pembroke Fire District (Both the Pembroke Volunteer Fire Department and the Indian Falls Volunteer Fire Department are part of the district).

Both Borrello and Hawley highlighted the importance of volunteer fire services.

"You know, it's funny," said Borrello, "when you gave out awards for one year (of service), there were a few giggles in the room. But I've got news for you. Most of the people out there have zero years, and they're gonna continue to zero years. You're the folks that are stepping up to do the things that other people won't do."

Borello said there are 80,000 volunteer firefighters in New York, and their volunteer fire service saves state taxpayers more than $4.7 billion in public safety expenses.

"Whether it's one year, 30 years, or 50 years, God bless what you do," Borrello said.

Hawley said volunteering is part of the fabric of America.

"The most positive thing that we can do is volunteer, and that's what you do each and every day," Hawley said.

More than 50 fourth and fifth graders at Pavilion Central School are getting their first exposure to musical theater with a production of Peter Pan Jr., and show director Rebecca Marczyk said the students have been doing a great job getting ready for Thursday's debut.

Tryouts were in January, with much of the preparation and rehearsal until recently in classrooms.

"I find they have improved a lot from where we first started," Marczyk said. "I've seen them grow a lot. They've never been on stage before. And we've only been on the stage here for a month."

It's a full production, too, with costumes, stage props (including a big ship), and all the singing and dancing a young troupe of performers might want.

"It's just fun. There are like fun dances that are in the musical," said fourth grader Essie Michau, who plays Tigerlilly.  

"I just thought it would be fun because I've never acted before," Essie said. "I thought it would be fun to try something new. And it's like, I knew a bunch of my friends were doing it, so it'd be like a chance to hang out with them."

She said he was already a dancer and she loves singing.

Singing and dancing is fun, but it's better doing it with friends, many of the performers said.

"I love the movie Peter Pan," said fifth-grader Adelaide Noble. "This is fun, and I love being with my friends and doing stuff with them."

Eleanor Logsdon, who plays Wendy said her favorite part of the production is, "I get to hang out with all my friends."

Connor Smart, who plays Peter Pan, said, "I like getting all the lines and saying a lot."  

He said he plans on continuing with musicals through school because "I just like musical stuff. I like music."

Brooklynn Bannister, who plays Capt. Hook, thinks she has a special role.

"I find it really fun because I've never like really thought of me as a villain," Brooklynn said. "But now that I'm doing it, it's like really fun. And I just like the costume and stuff. And I enjoy being a leader of some people."

Student involvement extends beyond the cast. There are student members of the stage crew and two sixth graders who were in last year's musical and are helping out this year as assistant directors.

They are Emma Tillotson and Leah Banister.

They have different views of how the production is going so far this year.

"It's a lot different than last year," Emma said. "They're definitely a little bit behind. But I think that it will be a really good one."

Leah said last year's Frozen cast had less time to practice.

"With more time practicing, I honestly think it's better," Leah said. "And I think it's perfect. I think it helps to have us around."

Getting a lot of kids involved is important to Marczyk.  Staging a musical is about more than singing and dancing.

"It teaches them responsibility," Marczyk said. "That's a big thing. It also teaches them good character. We respect each other and are kind to each other because they don't always know how to do that. They get mad at each other. And they have to take ownership. They have to take ownership for their parts. We talked about being a family. Being a family is just like being on a team for softball or soccer. We all have to work together to have a wonderful production."

Showtimes are at 1:45 p.m. and 6:30 p.m. Thursday.

Volunteers from Habitat for Humanity loaned their construction expertise to the Batavia Girls Fast Pitch Softball League on Saturday at Lions Park on Edwards Street to build a new equipment shed for the Stingers.

The league supplied the building material and the Batavia Business and Professional Women's Club provided lunch for the volunteers.

Photos by Howard Owens.

Music Director Ric Jones promises no clouds will obscure the beauty of Genesee Chorale's spring program -- Eclipse.

The 12-song concert takes its theme from the recent total solar eclipse that passed over the United States, including Western New York, opening with "Measure Me, Sky." 

Other titles in the show include "Canticle of the Sun," "Song to the Moon," "Light Beyond Shadow, "Day of Fire and Sun," "Capture the Sun," and "You Are the New Day."

Three songs are performed in total darkness to help the concert mimic the experience of a total eclipse.

Eclipse opened Friday evening in the auditorium at Pavilion High School. Its second performance is scheduled for 2 p.m. on Sunday at St. James Episcopal Church, 405 East Main St., Batavia.

Photos by Howard Owens