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Disorderly conduct

By Philip Anselmo

Batavia city police responded to a confrontation between neighbors on Highland Avenue Monday afternoon. Lydell Nauden, 44, of 14 Highland Ave. Apt: 6, was subsequently charged with disorderly conduct. Nauden was accused of throwing a hammer from his home into his neighbors yard and nearly hitting some people who were standing nearby.

Muckdogs Road Trip Review

By Mollie Radzinski

For the second Sunday in a row the Muckdogs were rained out, this time after not quite a full inning of play.  The game is re-scheduled for August 6th when Auburn comes back into town.

The Muckdogs were on the road this past Wednesday through Sunday for a three-game series against Staten Island and a game in Auburn.  They finished the trip 2-2.  Here is a quick recap of those games:

  • Wednesday, July 16: Staten Island 6, Batavia 5:  Ramon Delgado (1-1) got the start and the loss, going three and a third innings with eight hits and six runs (five earned). Jameson Maj had a strong performance, throwing the last four innings allowing only one hit with six strikeouts and no walks.  Offensively, Batavia had twelve hits to Staten Islands ten.  Colt Sedbrook went 2-for-5 with his first homerun of the season.  Jermaine Curtis and Domnit Bolivar went 4-for-5 and 2-for-4, respectively, each with a double.
  • Thursday, July 17: Batavia 4, Staten Island 2: Scott Gorgen started the game, going four innings with three hits, two runs, one walk and two strikeouts, but Miguel Tapia (3-2) scored the win.  Tapia pitched three and a third innings with three hits, two walks and three strikeouts.  Adam Reifer pitched a scoreless 9th with one strikeout for the save.  Sedbrook was big at the plate again, going 3-for-4 with a double and a stolen base.
  • Friday, July 18: Staten Island 3, Batavia 2:  The Yankees broke a 2-2 tie in the bottom of the 9th to win the rubber-match.  George Brown (0-1) suffered the loss in three innings, letting up five hits, three runs and one walk with three strikeouts.  Thomas Eager started the game, throwing five innings with two hits and three strikeouts.  Frederick Parejo went 2-for-4 with a homerun and Christian Rosa went 2-for-3 with a stolen base.
  • Saturday, July 19: Batavia 7, Auburn 5:  Josh Hester had a great start, pitching four and a third innings, allowing only one hit and five strikeouts.  Hector Cardenas (2-0) pitched three innings with a walk and two strikeouts for the win.  Reifer pitched another scoreless 9th with one strikeout for his eighth save.  At the plate, Sedbrook went 2-for-4 with a triple.  Shane Peterson went 2-for-4 with a double and two RBI, and Rosa went 2-for-5, also with a double and a RBI.

The Muckdogs (17-14) are now tied for second place in the Pinckney Division with Auburn, whom they play tonight.  They then come home for a three-game series against the Oneonta Tigers.  Tuesday and Wednesday's games start at 7:05 and Thursday has an early start of 11:05.

(A Nightmare) Christmas in July

By Philip Anselmo

Students in the Genesee Community College summer youth theatre workshop will present Tim Burton's The Nightmare Before Christmas, adapted by Maryanne Arena on Friday, July 25 at 7:00pm and Saturday, July 26 at 2:00pm at the Stuart Steiner Theatre.

This year's Performing Arts Experience at Genesee has attracted 36 youth ages 7-15 from all across Western New York. They have spent several weeks with the musical director and choreographer and have now begun full rehearsals.

Admission is free, though advanced reservations are encouraged as seats may fill up quickly. Call (585) 343-0055 ext.6814 or send an e-mail to boxoffice (at) genesee (dot) edu to reserve yours.

Photos from the Fair

By Philip Anselmo

Thanks to Steve Ognibene for sending us these photos from the final day at the Genesee County Fair Saturday. (The little lady on the "Scrambler" ride is his five-year-old daughter, Alyssa.) If you have any pictures or video or poetry or whatever about your time at the fair this past week, send it along, and we will put it right up on the site. Mail your submissions to: philip (at) thebatavian (dot) com.

News roundup: Scrap metal and heifers

By Philip Anselmo

There's little in the way of hard, breaking news in today's Daily News. The front page includes a profile of County Legislator Annie Lawrence, the next installment of Tom Rivers' farm labor series — Tom shows a heifer at the fair — and an article about scrap metal dealers picking at the carcasses of beat-up demolition derby cars.

By no way do we fault the paper for this dearth of big news. If you've already read the police blotter for the weekend, you'll see that it was mostly accidents, and the only way the sheriff's deputies were able to record numerous arrests was to go out and set up road blocks.

It seems a slow, newsless weekend was upon us. Maybe the heat — that putrid bog of stifling ozone and gnats — played a part. For sure it kept me locked in the bedroom with the air on full blast. How about you? Or maybe you disagree with me altogether, and you experienced a weekend overflowing with newsworthy happenings. If so, write about them. Or send them along and we'll write about them.

As always, we encourage you to get out and pick up a copy of the Daily News at local newststands. Or, better yet, subscribe at BataviaNews.com.

Police Blotter: July 18 through July 20

By Philip Anselmo

All of the following calls were reported by the City of Batavia Police Department. Listed offenses do not imply that charges were filed. Calls may result in no official action.

Friday:

  • 8:50am, 413 W. Main St., accident (car + bike)
  • 10:38am, 220 Richmond Ave., accident
  • 11:05am, 4 Lewis Ave., larceny
  • 12:00pm, Clinton Street, accident
  • 1:51pm, W. Main Street, accident
  • 2:25pm, W. Main Street, accident
  • 3:11pm, Court Street Plaza, accident
  • 4:05pm, 10 W. Main St., harassment

Saturday:

  • 12:01am, 332 W. Main St. (Apt: 2), larceny
  • 12:48am, 329 W. Main St., accident
  • 1:11am, 5 Thomas Ave. (Apt: Lower), aggravated harassment
  • 11:07am, 12 S. Main St., accident

Sunday:

  • 11:57am, Ellicott Street, accident
  • 8:42pm, 114 Liberty St., menacing

Note: We don't include noise complaints, domestic disputes and routine police business.

Voices Together: Improving the lives of veterans

By Philip Anselmo

Rochester-based Veterans Outreach Center will be hosting three summits "for improving out veterans' reintegration system" on September 19, 20 and 26 in Rochester, Canandaigua and Batavia (see below for details). From the release:

This is a first-of-its-kind summit that will bring veterans, family members of veterans, and service providers together. The mission: improve upon the health and quality of life for service-members and their families post-Operation Iraqi Freedom (OIF) and/or Operation Enduring Freedom (OEF). To accomplish this, we will explore what it is we need, in terms of services and resources, to create a better system of reintegration for all.

Service members and their families are invited to attend, along with providers such as social workers, Veterans Affairs nurses and doctors and clinicians. There does not seem to be any cost to attend, but the center urges folks to register early as space is limited.

For more information, contact Jocene Preston, Director of the center's Operation Welcome Home & Recovery. She can be reached at (585) 295-7854 or (866) 906-8387, or by e-mail at jocene (dot) preston (at) veteransoutreachcenter (dot) org.

Each session will run from 10:00am to 4:00pm at the following locations:

  • Crosswinds Wesleyan Church, Canandaigua, September 19.
  • Nazareth College, Rochester, September 20.
  • Genesee Community College, Batavia, September 26.

You can download the registration and information form: here.

Weekend Arrests: July 18 and July 19

By Philip Anselmo

A pair of road checks set up Friday night by Genesee County sheriff's deputies in Stafford and Bergen yielded 25 "uniform traffic tickets," the arrest of four illegal aliens, who were then given into the custody of the U.S. Border Patrol, and the following seven arrests:

  • Wesley E. Baun, 51, of Bergen, was charged with driving while intoxicated.
  • Steven P. Alvarez, 42, of Brockport, was charged with driving while intoxicated.
  • James C. Whitcroft, 18, of Webster, was charged with unlawful possession of marijuana, seventh-degree criminal possession of a controlled substance and fourth-degree criminal possession of a weapon.
  • Adam T. Shipwash, 28, of Greece, was charged with criminal possession of a controlled substance.
  • Michael R. Cole, 27, of Elba, was charged with unlawful possession of marijuana.
  • Markel L. Hill, 19, of Medina, was charged with unlawful possession of marijuana.
  • Anthony F. Leonardo III, 27, of Spencerport, was charged with unlawful possession of marijuana.

Alan B. Costa, 64, of Rochester, was charged with driving while intoxicated, fourth-degree criminal possession of a weapon and unlawful possession of marijuana, deputies said. Costa was stopped by deputies early Saturday morning on Route 98 in Alexander. He was also ticketed with speeding, moving from the lane unsafely and refusal to submit to a breath screening device. Costa was sent to Genesee County Jail in lieu of $1,000.

Batavia city police reported the arrest of Mary F. Hicks, of 35 Clinton St., Batavia, who was charged with driving while intoxicated after Hicks drove into the rear of another vehicle that was stopped in traffic.

All of the above arrests were reported in published releases from the departments.

News Roundup: School Board meets tonight

By Philip Anselmo

Check out WBTA for these and other stories:

  • Batavia's city School Board will hold its meeting at 7:00pm tonight in the administration building on Washington Avenue.
  • Parent company of the Bank of Castile, Tompkins Financial, was recognized by a "national rating company" for "consistent performance."

Friends and The Batavian

By Jim & Fran Hodge

Hello to all our friends in New York, we just learned of the Batavian and thought it would be nice to hear from some old friends. So here we are if your interested. Nothing to tell you about florida except it is hot here but  the boating and fishing are great. Hope to hear from you-all soon                  

 

Video: What's up with New York's border?

By Philip Anselmo

Holland Land Office Museum Director Pat Weissend tells us why our forebears saw fit to end New York state at Lake Erie instead of just continuing on to the Mississippi... or on to the Pacific. Why not? Pat tells us. Also included in this third installment of our series on what's going on over at that museum is Pat's explanation of why Transit Road is called Transit Road. Really, this one's a gem, folks. Enjoy!

Entertainment at the Fair: Friday and Saturday

By Philip Anselmo

Here's a schedule of events for tonight at the Genesee County Fair:

Friday:

  • Chainsaw artist Rick Pratt shows off his skills at 5:00, 6:30, 8:00 and 9:30pm.
  • The MacMahon School of Irish Dance takes the stage from 5:30 to 7:30pm.
  • Country music fans can delight to the tunes of Prairie Reign from 8:00 to 11:00pm.
  • Motorcycle races will dominate the Grandstand starting at 7:00pm.
  • Middle-Eastern dancers Gems of the Nile groove from 7:30 to 8:00pm.
  • Don't forget the fireworks!

Visit the Fair's Web site for a full schedule of weekend events and other information.

Youth Football rejects school offer, opts for Lion's Park

By Philip Anselmo

Say hello to the new home of Batavia's Youth Football program: Lion's Park.

Youth Football President Dick Lexer told The Batavian today that the program has decided not to accept the offer from Batavia City Schools to relocate to the field at John Kennedy Elementary. Instead, it will move to Lion's Park on Edward Street in Batavia — at least, for now.

 "It has been two years of looking at places to play," said Lexer. "And every time you look at a place and talk to someone, there are good points and bad points. This has been a long time and a lot of negotiations."

Lexer would not comment on the good points about Lion's Park or the bad points about John Kennedy or anything about the many other locations that he and other program leaders considered for relocation. He said he couldn't get into details because there were just too many.

"Our decision was based on a lot of different things, too numerous to mention," he said. "Basically, there are fewer bad points about Lion's Park than anywhere else."

Lion's Park will not be the permanent home to the program that was told to vacate Dwyer Stadium due to the high costs of maintaining the outfield that gets chewed up by the football games — Council President Charlie Mallow cited figures of at least $10,000 per year in repairs. Lexer sounded regretful about losing the facilities at Dwyer where they played almost regularly for 32 years, he said.

It's only temporary, (he said of the move to Lion's Park). We have to find a better permanent home. We had everything we needed at Dwyer. We had everything. We're walking away from $75,000 in structures and facilities because we can't use the field any more. So we had to find a place for at least this year to play our games. But it's only temporary.

Youth Football begins its season September 6.

The Hiscock Site: Number 20 in "What Made Genesee County Famous"

By Philip Anselmo

From muck to dirt, the countdown of the "Twenty-Five Things That Made Genesee County Famous" rolls right along.

Number 20 was announced this afternoon as the Hiscock Site in Byron. Holland Land Office Museum Director Pat Weissend explains:

Known locally as the Byron Dig, the site is an ongoing archeology dig in the Town of Byron. In 1959, landowner Charles Hiscock was digging a pond on his property when his backhoe pulled up a mastodon tusk. ... To date, less than one-quarter of the 52-acre Buffalo Museum of Science-owned property has been explored.

Visit the Holland Land Office Museum Web site for more information on the Hiscock Site and the other things that made Genesee County Famous.

News roundup: Meat auction pulls in the big bucks

By Philip Anselmo

Genesee County's 4-H'ers logged record sales of more than $100,000 at the 38th annual meat auction at the Fair yesterday, according to the Daily News. Unfortunately, the ever-increasing costs of feed, straw and fuel mean that the higher sales prices were barely enough to break even in many instances. Check out the article by Tom Rivers for more details.

Animal shelters in Genesee and Wyoming counties are "inundated" with cats this summer. PAWS Animal Shelter in Albion is already "at capacity" with 190 cats — and more getting dumped in the donation slot regularly.

News of the potential relocation of Youth Football to John Kennedy that is noted on today's front page appeared on The Batavian yesterday.

Batavia sluggers will travel to Oakfield tonight for the District 3 youth baseball championship. Batavia's pitchers threw two no-hitters in the past two matches (versus LeRoy and Oakfield). If they win tonight, they clinch the championship and travel to Elmira for the sectionals. If Oakfield wins, the two square off Monday for a tie-break match. Tonight's game is at 6:00pm.

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

Wires down on Route 98

By Philip Anselmo

1:15pm:

Reports have come in of a truck that crashed into a pole on Route 98 north of Peaviner Road. Genesee County sheriff's deputies have confirmed that wires are down across the road on Route 98 in that area. Motorists are advised to find an alternate route or expect delays.

Police Blotter: July 16 and July 17

By Philip Anselmo

All of the following calls were reported by the City of Batavia Police Department. Listed offenses do not imply that charges were filed. Calls may result in no official action.

Wednesday:

  • 1:59am, 105 Washington Ave. (Apt: Side), trespass
  • 5:35am, 96 Ross St., criminal mischief
  • 6:40am, 64 Walnut St., criminal mischief
  • 12:31pm, Main Street, accident
  • 6:16pm, 141 Cedar St., trespass
  • 11:10pm, 17 Walnut St. (Apt: Side), harassment

Thursday:

  • 11:56am, 101 Bank St. (Apt: Lower), larceny
  • 2:10pm, 505 E. Main St., accident
  • 2:29pm, 136 W. Main St., accident
  • 3:23pm, 17 Thorpe St., menacing
  • 3:27pm, 419 W. Main St., fraud
  • 9:39pm, 151 W. Main St., accident (car + pedestrian)

Note: We don't include noise complaints, domestic disputes and routine police business.

Video: Scholarship winner strives to help other women in need

By Philip Anselmo

Cheryl Lewis of Bliss was recently awarded the Jeanette Rankin Foundation Scholarship of $2,000, which will permit her to switch from part-time to full-time studies to obtain a degree in paralegal studies at Genesee Community College. The Batavian sat down with Cheryl earlier this week to talk about her studies, her struggle to escape an abusive relationship and her plans to give back. Cheryl was kind enough to put that experience in her own words in a follow-up letter, and since I can do no better at expressing her intentions, I've included that complete letter (see below).

"My name is Cheryl. It’s been more than twenty years since I graduated from high school. I would never have dreamed that I’d be in college today. At one time, I was filled with such dreams, such goals. I wanted to make a difference; I wanted to be successful; I wanted to be rich… I wanted it all.

"I thought I had met the man of my dreams, but I was so very wrong. I chose to be with him rather than go to college. The day I made that decision was the day I lost me. I just didn’t know it yet. I am a survivor of domestic violence. After suffering years of emotional and physical abuse I was finally able to escape. I still have the scars, but I also have my freedom.

"My daughter and I had to live in a shelter for battered women and children for a while, but it was there that I suddenly realized that I still do have dreams. Gone was the feeling in the pit of my stomach, the kind that makes you want to cry in self-pity. I looked around me and I saw other women with not only bruises on their bodies, but also on their souls. I knew at that moment that I wanted to make a difference in the lives of these women and others like them.

"Going through the court system with all the legal formalities, I was scared and very confused. There was a lot that had to be done to obtain a restraining order. I knew others had to be just as afraid. Thus, it was my ordeal through the system that gave me the idea to attend college for the purpose of becoming a paralegal. Then I will have the resources to offer assistance to other abused women.

"My ultimate goal is to someday reopen a shelter for domestic violence victims in Wyoming County that was closed due to lack of funds. Within this shelter women and their children will be provided with a safe environment in which they can try to piece together their shattered lives. I hope to provide legal assistance, counseling, resources for finding a new place to live, and a second chance at happiness.

"Over the past two years, I have gone through a tremendous transformation. I no longer feel I am worthless and I am so very proud of getting myself and my daughter out of a dangerous situation. And I do make a difference – in the life of my child. I have an awesome responsibility in making decisions that will shape the life of a precious individual. And I am rich – in love and family. I do have it all. Or at least all I need to have.

"There have been many wonderful people who have helped me along the way. I wouldn’t be where I am now without them. Those individuals have inspired me greatly and I want to emulate them and hopefully make a difference even to just one person."

HERE ARE SOME FACTS AND STATISTICS ABOUT DOMESTIC VIOLENCE:

The most common response to domestic violence – “Why doesn’t she just leave?”

Answer: Shelters are often full, and family, friends, and workplace are frequently less than supportive. Faced with rent and utility deposits, day care, health insurance, and other basic expenses, the woman may feel that she cannot support herself and her children. Moreover, in some instances, the woman may be increasing the chance of physical harm or even death if she leaves an abusive spouse.

A few statistics:
• 85-95% of all domestic violence victims are female.
• Over 500,000 women are stalked by an intimate partner each year.
• 1,232 women are killed each year by an intimate partner.

Domestic violence is the leading cause of injury to women. What can each of us do?
• Call the police if you see or hear evidence of domestic violence.
• Speak out publicly against domestic violence.
• Take action personally when a neighbor, co-worker, a friend, or a family member is involved or being abused.
• Reach out to support someone whom you believe is a victim of domestic violence.
• Help others become informed, by inviting speakers to your church, professional organization, civic group, or workplace.
• Support domestic violence counseling programs and shelters.

If you or someone you know needs help: National Domestic Violence Hotline 1-800-799-SAFE

All of the above information and statistics were provided by Cheryl Lewis.

News roundup: Oatka Creek death termed 'accidental'

By Philip Anselmo

Check out WBTA for these and other stories:

  • LeRoy village police have determined that the death of 41-year-old Glen Kanaley, whose body was found in Oatka Creek earlier this week, was accidental. They say that he likely fell from a railroad trestle. The autopsy performed in Monroe County showed that Kanaley died of massive internal injuries.
  • It's true — the 1,200-pound "show steer" that escaped from the Genesee County Fairgrounds Monday is still on the lam. Dan Fischer relates the latest run-in with the elusive bovine: Last night, Dr. Cricket Johnson and about 50 others located the steer in some fields, popped it with a tranquilizer, but then lost it in some "thick growth." When it "resurfaced" later in the night, the tranquilizer had worn off. Fire crews even brought out heat-seeking search devices. But to no avail. We're told that it was last spotted hanging in an old railroad bed east of the fairgrounds. (I don't know about anybody else, but I find this the most interesting story I've tracked in the past two months. Many kudos to Dan Fischer for making it so much fun.)
  • No cause has yet been determined in the fire that destroyed part of Cristina's Restaurant almost a week ago.

Youth Football could have a home at John Kennedy

By Philip Anselmo

Batavia Youth Football has been offered the field at John Kennedy Elementary School for at least the 2008 season. In a memo to City Manager Jason Molino, Superintendent Margaret Puzio writes:

We welcome the opportunity to work with the City of Batavia in support of Batavia Youth Football. We hope that the field at John Kennedy Elementary meets the needs of the organization and the city.

Puzio then lists the associated costs and "stipulations" the school district would require "if the field at John Kennedy were chosen as the venue for Batavia Youth Football." They include:

  • Labor charges for painting the field — $35 per hour and $30 per field marking.
  • Facility costs of $105 per game.
  • Bleachers (must be provided by the city).
  • Concessions requirements: Health permit and trash containers.

The city still has yet to accept the offer.

The Batavian left a message with Puzio this afternoon. She was in a meeting at the time, and we were told that she may not be able to return the message until tomorrow morning. We also left messages for Molino and Youth Football representative Ben Bonarigo, neither of whom were available for comment.

Top Items on Batavia's List

Town Court Clerk Below are two lists: one details the myriad responsibilities that fall within the purview of the court clerk; the other summarizes the knowledge and abilities that court clerks possess or acquire through training. These lists are provided so that a judge and municipality can intelligently discuss the benefits that a court clerk can provide. The items below can also form the basis for a list of job duties should a municipality need to fill a vacancy in a court clerk position. Primary Responsibilities A. Maintain confidentiality of records and information when required to do so B. Prepare court calendar C. Collect monies, reconcile daily receipts, deposit receipts, prepare reports for monthly disbursements, reconcile bank accounts, and prepare administrative reports D. Enter convictions on drivers' licenses and prepare conviction reports electronically transmitted to the Department of Motor Vehicles E. Enter criminal conviction on NCIC reports and electronically send same to Division of Criminal Justice Services F. Respond to inquiries-in person, by phone, by e-mail and by mail-and provide assistance to lawyers, litigants, media, and members of the public G. Prepare monthly reports that are electronically sent to the Office of the State Comptroller H. Prepare orders, summonses, warrants and other court forms i. Communicate with outside agencies in order to coordinate the Court's activities and provide services to litigants. Such agencies include: ii. Law enforcement agencies, such as local police departments, New York State Police, Sheriffs office, FBI and CIA, US Armed Forces, and the Office of the District Attorney; I. Other courts, including superior courts and other local town and village courts; and i. Miscellaneous county agencies, such as Community Service, Community Dispute Resolution Center, Pre-trial Release, Probation, Stop DWI program, Victim Impact Panel, and Youth Court. ii. State agencies that require periodic reporting, including the New York State Unified Court System, the Department of Motor Vehicles, the Office of the State Comptroller, the Division of Criminal Justice Services, and the Office of Court Record Retention. J. Examine court documents to ensure their accuracy and completeness K. Receive and file summonses, traffic tickets and other documents for court proceedings i. Assist the Justice at the bench during all Court proceedings Knowledge of: 1. The functions and organization of the Unified Court System ii. Basic legal terminology, codes and abbreviations iii. Court forms, practices and procedures, including those set forth in the Uniform Justice Court Act and the Uniform Civil Rules for the Justice Courts (22 NYCRR Part 214) 2. Ability to: i. Prepare judicial orders and decisions ii. Effectively communicate information orally and in writing iii. File and retrieve materials, extract data from various sources for entry onto court form iv. Research and interpret laws outlined in court documents and litigants' motions and other papers v. Perform mathematical tasks in order to compile court activity reports, total receipts, accept payments, and verify bills vi. Refer to appropriate documents, statutes, citations or other sources in order to respond to specific questions from attorneys, litigants and members of the general public vii. Interpret policies, statutes, rules and regulations and apply them in specific contexts viii. Establish work priorities ix. Constructively manage conflict with court users Qualifications: Highschool diploma recognized by the NYS Dept of Education or appropriate equivalent. Along with 4 years of college, specialization in criminal justice, law, business administration or related field. -OR- 2 years college with specialization in Business Administration or related field. Please email your resume to abrownell@townofbatavia.com no later than 12/16/2024. Pay is based on experience.
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