Skip to main content

Stories from

Five-car accident reported on Thruway in Pembroke

By Howard B. Owens

A five-car accident with injuries is reported on the Thruway in the area of mile marker 404.7, Pembroke in the westbound lane.

Pembroke and Indian Falls fire departments along with Mercy EMS dispatched.

There is a second call, a medical call, in the district at the same time and Le Roy Ambulance is requested to respond.

UPDATE 2:05 p.m.: One caller reports a person is trapped.  Mercy Flight out of Olean is on ground standby.

UPDATE 2:07 p.m.: Alabama requested to respond to the high school.

UPDATE 2:08 p.m.: Thruway westbound is totally stopped, according to a first responder.

UPDATE 2:09 p.m.: Alabama is setting up a landing zone.  A chief on scene now reports, however, that it's only a two-vehicle accident, three injuries, no entrapment.

UPDATE 2:14 p.m.: Mercy Flight was en route but is canceled.

Batavia Downs hosts fundraiser for Breast Cancer Coalition

By Howard B. Owens

bdownsbreastcancer2021.jpg

The Grandstands at Batavia Downs was a sellout Friday night in support of the Breast Cancer Coalition of Rochester with officials expecting the event to raise a record $20,000.

Melisande Bianchi, a board member with the coalition, said the coalition funds research, offers seminars, and offers services to breast cancer patients such as book clubs, yoga, and meditation.

"We just serve our community," Bianchi said.

Photos by Howard Owens.

bdownsbreastcancer2021-2.jpg

bdownsbreastcancer2021-3.jpg

bdownsbreastcancer2021-4.jpg

bdownsbreastcancer2021-5.jpg

bdownsbreastcancer2021-6.jpg

Le Roy comes back in fourth quarter, forces three OTs, wins 27-20

By Howard B. Owens

7727_24_-_calkoukides.jpg

On a night when a local football legend was honored, the Le Roy Oatkan Knights opened their home schedule for the 2022 season with a 27-20 in triple overtime.

Le Roy scored all of their points in the final seven minutes of regulation time and in overtime.

Down 14-0 entering the fourth quarter, Drew Strollo scored in a nine-yard run and then Adrian Stephens scored on an 11-yard run.

Attica struck first in OT, scoring on a Samuel Strezelec 10-yard run.  

The Knights tied the score on a Drew Strollo one-yard dive into the endzone and capped the scoring in the third overtime with Adrian Stephens scored from two yards out.

The game was dedicated to Robert F. 'Sully' Sullivan.

Offense:

  • Rushing: Drew Strollo 10 carries for 71 yards and two TDs, Adrian Stephens 17 carries for 71 yards and two TDs
  • Passing: Tommy Condidorio 4-5 for 63 yards, Adrian Stephens 3-11 for 78 yards
  • Receiving: Cal Koukides two receptions for 61 yards, Tony Piazza two receptions for 46 yards
Defense:
  • Jack Tonzi, nine tackles and two fumble recoveries
  • Tony Piazza, seven tackles
  • Jackson Fix, five tackles, a fumble recovery
  • Ryan Murphy, four tackles
  • Ryan Higgins, four tackles

Photos by Ed Henry.  Top photo: LeRoy WR Cal Koukides hauls in a long pass to spark the Knights early in the 4th quarter.

7817_3_-_adrianstephens.jpg

 LeRoy QB Adrian Stephens cuts toward the end zone to score a TD to get the Knights within one.

7840_40_-_andrewpocock.jpg

Le Roy's placekicker connects on the game-tying PAT kick to tie the contest at 14.

7955_58_-_higgins.jpg

Le Roy lineman Ryan Higgins (58) and teammates rejoice a turnover fumble by the Blue Devils in OT play. 

8015_33_-_jacktonzi.jpg

Le Roy TE Jack Tonzi extends for a near completion.

8029_24_-_calkoukides.jpg

Le Roy WR Cal Koukides collides with the Attica defensive player.

8235_x-man_jacksonfix.jpg

Xavien Waker (left arrow) and Jackson Fix (right arrow) knock away the last Attica pass attempt on 4th down to secure the win for the Knights.

8251_tonzi_brycelathan.jpg

Jack Tonzi, left, and Bryce Lathan bump up high to celebrate the Knights’ comeback win.

Head-on collision reported in Alabama

By Howard B. Owens

A head-on, two-vehicle collision, believed to be with injuries, is reported at Bloomingdale Road and Purdy Road, Alabama.

Alabama Fire and Mercy EMS dispatched.

Notre Dame beats Cuba-Rushford 26-7

By Howard B. Owens

Notre Dame's offense more than doubled the total offensive yards of Cuba-Rushford for a Friday-night road win, 26-7.

James Fanara scored on runs of 10 yards and 9 yards in first half and closed out the scoring in the fourth quarter with a two-yard touchdown.  He carried the ball 13 times for 98 yards.

Fanara was 6-12 passing for 102 yards.

Hayden Groff rushed for 82 yards on 18 carries and scored a touchdown.

Jay Antinore and Ryan Fitzpatrick each had two receptions for 37 and 32 yards respectively.  Jaden Sherwood had a 30-yard reception.

On defense, Hayden Groff had four tackles.  Bryceton Berry had 3.5 tackles and a sack. 

Pembroke beats Myderse 60-0

By Howard B. Owens

img-8486pembrokegamesept19.jpg

The Pembroke Dragons beat Mynderse Academy 60-0 in eight-man football.

Pembroke amassed more than 500 yards total offense behind the blocking of Chase Guzdek, Nate Duttweiler, Jayden Mast, Ben Steinberg and Jayden Bridge. 

Tyson Totten rushed 14 times for 186 yards and 3 touchdowns. He also had two receptions for 50 yards and another TD. He has 463 yards in total offense on the season after 3 games.

Cayden Pfalzer added 75 yards rushing on six carries with 81 yards and two touchdowns through the air, one to Totten and one to tight end Chase Guzdek.

Sean Pustkulla was 4-4 on extra point attempts while freshman Madden Perry added the last score.

Defensively, Jacob Dulski had two fumble recoveries and one interception with Jayden Bridge blocking a punt.  Nate Duttweiler, Octavius Martin, Vijay Dhanda and Tyson Totten each had five or more tackles. 

The Dragons play next Friday at 7 p.m. home vs two-time defending Section V champions Red Jacket.

Submitted photos.

CORRECTION: The photos that were originally posted with this story were from a previous game.

img-8492pembrokegamesept19.jpg

img-8485pembrokegamesept19.jpg

pembrokegamesept19.png

 

 

 

 

 

Children in Oakfield learn about making music from members of GSO

By Howard B. Owens

img_2859gso.jpg

Members of the Genesee Symphony Orchestra were in Oakfield on Thursday evening to talk with children about the instruments they play and how music is made.

The orchestra members, along with conductor and music director Shade Zajac, explained their instruments, the sounds they made, playing examples, and how the instruments are played and how they might fit into a piece of music.

Participating were Holly Hudson, Nicole Zajac (top photo), Shade Zajac, and Claudia Deibold.

The event was sponsored by the Haxton Memorial Library and held at the Oakfield Government and Community Center.

img_2857gso.jpg

img_2866gso.jpg

Video: Meet and Greet with Sen. George Borrello

By Howard B. Owens
Video Sponsor
.pane-node-body img {background: none !important; border: 0 !important; margin: 0 !important; padding: unset !important; padding-left: 1px !important } broadstreet.zone(69076)

State Sen. George Borello is a small business owner from Chautauqua County. He has represented the 57th State Senate district for three years.  In 2023, the 57th District will include Genesee County.  On Wednesday, Charles Men's Shop hosted a meet and greet for Borello and he spoke for a few minutes with The Batavian.

Photo: Lost dog on Wortendyke Road

By Howard B. Owens

img_3758lostdog.jpg

This dog is apparently lost in the area of Route 33, near the corner of Wortendyke Road, Batavia.

The reader who submitted the picture said Sheriff's deputies were unable to catch it last night and it's still loose in the area this morning. 

At 90, Oliver's Candies remains a 'sweet business' that continues to expand

By Howard B. Owens

img_2509ollies.jpg

img_2726joeoliver.jpg
Joe Oliver in 1939

If not for the Great Depression, Joseph Boyd Oliver may never have left his home in Pennsylvania for Rochester, and then wander into Batavia looking for work and finding instead an opportunity in the small town. 

The opportunity: Turn a family tradition of making blanched peanuts into a business.

To blanch a peanut, you start with raw peanuts -- which Oliver obtained in Buffalo -- boil them in water for three minutes, then dip them in cold water before removing the red skin.  It's time-consuming, tedious work.

Batavians really went for the stark white peanuts, and Joseph and Edna Oliver found that they had started a real business with growth potential. So they looked for other ways to please the locals' unabated craving for snacks, adding peanut clusters to their repertoire and making their concoctions in their Montclair Avenue home.

"No, I had never made any candy before," Oliver said in a 1939 interview. "I learned it all the hard way. There were so many headaches with it, I couldn't begin to tell you what they were.  We just kept going, trying until we got what we wanted."

Blanched peanuts and peanut clusters were the beginning of Oliver's Candies, now in its 90th year. Oliver's will be having a birthday celebration Saturday at the store at 211 West Main St., Batavia.

Joe and Edna moved their business to that location in 1937, renting a house from Sheriff Forest Brown. They sold candy in the parlor and lived upstairs. Eventually, they bought the house and expanded the business until it took over the entire residence.

By the 1950s, Oliver's was selling candy in all 48 states.

Harold Oskamp acquired the business in 1960.  In 1977, he sold it to Dick Call, Bob Call, and Alvin Scroger, then owners of Genesee Farms. 

That ownership group sold Oliver's in 1998 to John Quincey, father of Jeremy Liles, the current owner.

When his parents asked Liles, whose background was in digital publishing, to get involved in the business, how could he say no? Of course, he couldn't.

"I mean, it's candy, it's retail, it's sweet business, really, you have no better words to pick there," Liles said.

Oliver's still makes candy the way Joe Oliver insisted it be made, Liles said -- real ingredients, the original recipes, no cutting corners, and as a result, the business has continued to grow.

Online ordering has given Oliver's a global reach. Liles has been able to expand the wholesale business since opening a plant in Elba, and that northern location also gives Oliver's a second storefront in the county.

It's no wonder that a business born in the Depression has weathered all kinds of economic storms, a world war, and even a pandemic.

"We're doing just fine. It's not like you don't have the generic brands of candy out there, Walmart, Tops, whatever. People's tastes have honed down. People want specialty coffees. They want specialty desserts. People are going to different places looking for these things," Liles said. "I think that's what's helping us tremendously because we are a specialty. We provide unique flavors. We make it fresh. It's made with butter and cream. We're not adding preservatives. It's not being shipped off to some warehouse and then sitting on a shelf forever. It comes from Elba, our factory six minutes up the road, and it's on our shelf ready for the customer."

One of the secrets of the success of Oliver's is employee loyalty.  From the time of Joe and Edna, employees have tended to stay with the company not just for years, but for decades. 

Bill Betteridge started with the business in its early days and made candy for 52 years. Ronald Drock, one of the former master candy makers, worked for Oliver's from the 1950s into the 1990s. The current master candy maker, Doug Pastecki, has been with Oliver's for 26 years.

In the top photo are long-time employees:

  • Diana Cutitta (started 1983) - store associate/cashier
  • Doug Pastecki (started 1995) - master candymaker
  • Anna Liles (started 1999) - giftware associate
  • Jeremy Liles (started 2001) - owner
  • Julie Heale (started 2002) - packing line worker
  • Mary Graham (started 2004) - enrober line worker
  • Megan Palone (started 2006) - general manager
  • Alec Frick (started 2014) - assistant candymaker

Not pictured is Beth Diegelman, hand dipper/decorator who started in1980).

"I guess, for the most part, my family, the families before us, we try to take care of the people who work for us. We're all a family. We try to treat everybody as a family. We're not a big corporate-backed store. We're just a locally owned business and, like anybody else, trying to survive each day," Liles said. "We had some great years of growth and we tried to take care of our employees during those times, and in turn, our employees take care of the business during tougher times, so it really becomes a complete family. Obviously, I couldn't do any of this without them. They are the backbone of this business."

Liles said he's proud to be at the helm of Oliver's as it marks 90 years in business, both for the stability such longevity represents, and the strength of the company to adapt to changing times.

"I love doing this," Liles said. "It's exciting. It doesn't get boring. That's the cool part about it. There are always changes and obviously, in the environment around us, there are changes. Social media, for example, has really been a change. You have gotta be so careful with it. It can help you or it can tear you apart. But that's where, if we keep striving for customer service, then the reviews online will stay five stars, and that's the way we want it to be. I mean, it's all about quality products and quality service. That's why I don't want to outgrow our britches, per se. We need to keep it real."

New music video from Claudia Hoyser with Genesee County color

By Howard B. Owens

Claudia Hoyser, who has made a couple of appearances in Genesee County, has a new video out that was partially filmed in Genesee County, in a field of crimson clover owned by CY Farms.

For record collectors, they will also recognize the Record Archive in Rochester as one of the video's settings.

Previously: 

Train strikes unoccupied car in Alexander

By Howard B. Owens

dsc_5582.jpg

A train struck a vehicle parked parallel to train tracks, between the tracks, near Spring Road in Alexander this evening.

The vehicle was unoccupied.

An investigation is ongoing as to why the vehicle was parked at that location.

Photos by Philip Casper.

dsc_5583.jpg

dsc_5583.jpg

 

dsc_5580.jpg

Woman in dog OD case who skipped court appearances, arrested on warrant, held on bail

By Howard B. Owens

2022cassandraelmore_mug.jpg

A property dispute at 316 E. Main St., Batavia, helped Batavia PD locate Cassandra Elmore, a Batavia resident accused of letting her dog overdose on narcotics but has missed court appearances on the case.

She was wanted on an arrest warrant as well as two bench warrants for her failure to appear in court.

She was located on Sept. 10. 

According to Batavia PD, when Elmore was advised of the warrants, she attempted to stop officers from arresting her by closing a door and then actively resisting attempts by officers to place her in handcuffs.

In addition to the pending charges, Elmore is now charged with obstructing governmental administration 2nd

Elmore was arraigned in City Court and jailed on $5,000 bail.

She is scheduled to appear in City Court at 1:30 p.m., Thursday.

Elmore was arrested in July after showing up on emergency visits at veterinarians with her dog, Oddey, showing signs of a drug overdose.  Two of the veterinarians said Oddey consumed cocaine, apparently found on the floor of Elmore's residence, which was then on River Street, and the third said an unspecified narcotic.

Elmore was arrested on three counts of injuring an animal under New York Ag and Markets Law Section 353.

At her first court appearance after her arrest, she asked for time to hire an attorney

She failed to appear in court on Aug. 11 when a friend called the court to say she was in the hospital, a claim that was never substantiated in court.

She next failed to appear on Sept. 8 when a man claiming to be an attorney from Pennsylvania called and said Elmore had been unable to contact her public defender, a claim disputed by the public defender handling her case. 

While Elmore's case is pending, Oddey remains at the Genesee County Animal Shelter, unavailable for adoption. 

Elmore was also arrested on Aug. 30 following a traffic stop and charged with criminal possession of a weapon, obstruction of governmental administration, aggravated unlicensed operation 3rd, uninspected motor vehicle, and insufficient tail lamps.

See also: OPINION: Due process often neglects animal victims

Four people arrested after caller reports people inside Ken Barrett's in the middle of the night

By Howard B. Owens
mug2022lynch.jpg
Kanyia Coleman Craig Lynch
mug2022braction.jpg
Nyejay Braction Darnell Cleveland

A passerby spotted people inside Ken Barrett's Chevrolet at 229 West Main St., Batavia, on Monday at 11:50 p.m. and called 9-1-1.

When Batavia patrol officers arrived on scene, four people attempted to flee from the back of the car dealership.  Two people were taken into custody immediately and two others were located near the scene a short time later.

The four suspects, all from Buffalo, are Darnell Cleveland, 26, Kanyia Coleman, 18, Craig Lynch, Jr. 21, and Nyejay Braction, 18.

Cleveland allegedly provided a false name in an attempt to prevent officers from arresting him on several outstanding warrants, including a parole warrant.

Lynch is accused of struggling with officers while being detained. There were no injuries.

Cleveland was charged with burglary 3rd and criminal impersonation 2nd. Lynch was charged with burglary 3rd, obstructing governmental administration 2nd, and resisting arrest. Braction and Coleman were charged with Burglary 3rd.

All four suspects were arraigned in City Court.

In accordance with New York's bail statute, Cleveland and Lynch were released under the supervision of Genesee Justice. Cleveland was then remanded to the Genesee County Jail on his outstanding parole warrant. Braction and Coleman were released under their own recognizance. 

In a statement, Batavia PD says, "The Batavia Police Department would like to thank the observant citizen, the Genesee County Sheriff’s Office, and the New York State Parole for their assistance."

Law and Order: Batavia man accused of breaking into apartment, assaulting resident

By Howard B. Owens
adam_m._kreutz.jpg
Adam Kreutz

Adam M. Kreutz, 33, of Batavia, is charged with assault 3rd, burglary 1st, and coercion 1st. Kreutz is accused of burglarizing an apartment on Ellicott Street and assaulting the person inside that apartment on Sept. 5 at 11:40 p.m. Kreutz was arraigned in City Court and ordered held in the Genesee County Jail without bail.

Jarrod K. Fotiathis, 27, of Le Roy, and Julie R. Richardson, 31, of Le Roy are charged with criminal possession of stolen property 4th, unlawful possession of personal identification 3rd, attempted petit larceny, and resisting arrest. They are accused of working together to steal a person's wallet  to purchase items at a local business on Sept. 3 at 9:01 a.m. on Ellicott Street. Fotiathis and Richardson are accused of fleeing from police on foot leading to a chase through the city. Fotiathis later turned himself. Richardson was stopped by a citizen who reportedly witnessed the incident. Both Fotiathis and Richardson were issued appearance tickets.

Christian I. Andrzejek, 26, no permanent address, is charged with burglary 3rd, petit larceny, and criminal possession of a controlled substance 7th. Andrzejek is accused of entering a building on Sept. 6 at 8:57 a.m. on Washington Avenue, Batavia, and stealing items from inside. Andrzejek was arraigned in City Court following his arrest and released under supervision.

Feyza Gabrielle Osmancikli, 28, of South Main Street, Batavia, is charged with criminal possession of a controlled substance 7th. Osmancikli is accused of possessing crack cocaine, discovered by Deputy Kenneth Quackenbush during a traffic stop on Sept. 6 at 3:35 p.m. on Liberty Street in Batavia. Osmancikli was processed at the Genesee County Jail and released on an appearance ticket.

Joshua Michael Ruffin, 27, of Main Street, Alexander, and Haley Maye Larnder, 23, of Tracy Avenue, Batavia, are charged with criminal possession of a controlled substance 7th.  Ruffin and Larnder are accused of possessing crack cocaine at a location on Veterans Memorial Drive, Batavia on Aug. 23 at 3:36 p.m. Both were arrested by Deputy Jacob Kipler, processed at the Genesee County Jail, and released on appearance tickets.

David W. Fielding, 33, of Bigelow Drive, Stafford, is charged with falsifying business records and grand larceny 4th. Fielding is accused of stealing tools from his employer on Godfreys Pond Road, Stafford, and pawing them for money between July 19 and Aug. 25. Fielding was arrested on Sept. 9 by Deputy Jacob Kipler, transported to the Genesee County Jail for processing, and released on appearance tickets.

Deontay Jahmani Sprattley, 21, of Green Avenue, Brooklyn, is charged with petit larceny. Sprattley is accused of skip-scanning multiple items at Walmart on Sept. 10 at 2:38 p.m. and stealing the items. He was arrested by Deputy Alexander Hadsall, processed at the Genesee County Jail, and released.

Jalen Corey Fields, 18, no street address provided, Brooklyn, is charged with petit larceny. Fields is accused of shoplifting at Walmart on Sept. 10 at 3:15 p.m. He was arrested by Deputy Ryan Mullen and issued an appearance ticket.

Matthew R. Taylor, 39, of Batavia, is charged with trespass. Taylor is accused of entering a business on Oak Street he had been banned from on Sept. 4 at 10:01 p.m. Taylor was issued an appearance ticket. He also allegedly trespassed on the same day at 4:49 p.m.

Jeffery T. Dutton, 31, of Batavia, is charged with obstruction of governmental administration and littering. Dutton is accused of throwing garbage on city-owned property on West Main Street on Sept. 5 at 3:44 p.m. He was released on an appearance ticket.

James D. Hooten, 33, of Batavia, is charged with criminal possession of a controlled substance 7th. Hooten was located by Batavia patrol officers and taken into custody on warrants held by the Sheriff's Office and State Police and allegedly found in possession of crack cocaine at the time of his arrest on Sept. 3 at 3:56 p.m. on Summit Street, Batavia. He was issued an appearance ticket and turned over to the Sheriff's Office.

Jolene Y. Stevens, 33, no permanent address, was arrested on a bench warrant stemming from an incident reported on March 4 at 1:48 p.m. on East Main Street, Batavia. Stevens is charged with resisting arrest, obstructing governmental administration, and harassment. At the instruction of Judge Durin Rogers, Stevens was issued an appearance ticket and released.

David M. Camelio, 40, of Batavia, is charged with harassment 2nd. Camelio allegedly struck another person in the face during a confrontation reported on Aug. 28 at 4:18 p.m. at a location on East Main Street, Batavia. He was issued an appearance ticket.

Colin A. McCulley, 18, of Le Roy, is charged with DWI, driving with a BAC of .08 or greater, and consuming alcohol under age 21. McCulley was stopped by a Batavia patrol officer on Sept. 5 at 1:07 a.m. on East Main Street, Batavia.  He was issued an appearance ticket.

Photo: Methodist steeple in Le Roy

By Howard B. Owens

methodiststeeplelr2022.jpg

The steeple on the Methodist Church in Le Roy in the late afternoon sun on Tuesday.

Photo by Howard Owens.

 

Authentically Local