The Zamboni machine at the David M. McCarthy Memorial Ice Arena on Evans Street has a new name. But it’s not Zam-Pepsi or even Peps-oni.

“Just call it Skully McPepsi,” said Batavian Tom Fluker, new business manager for Pepsi’s Upstate New York market, as he – with help from a group of Mite level hockey players – unveiled the updated ice cleaning machine this afternoon.

The Zamboni’s facelift is a product of Fluker’s initial idea of an imposing skull in a hockey setting, the artistry of Janette Biehler of Beals Graphic Design of Rochester and the precision “wrapping” by Guy Laesser’s Unitech Application of Le Roy.

“This is something that we wanted to do as part of our relationship with Matt Gray, whose company is managing the rink and also through his Eli Fish and Alex’s Place restaurants,” said Fluker (pictured at top with youth hockey player Abram Lopez).

The Zamboni now sports space age colors of purple and blue, punctuated by the logos of Pepsi Zero, Gatorade, McCarthy Ice Arena, Batavia Notre Dame United and Ramparts youth hockey.

But the main attraction – depicted on the front and top of the Zamboni -- is the gold skull and cross sticks, featuring a flaming puck between its teeth.

“It really is a work of art,” Fluker said.

Gray thanked Pepsi for stepping forward to provide the Zamboni’s new look.

“This is a big part of the stuff that we've done -- the work that we've been doing to improve the arena,” said Gray, owner of Batavia Sports Facility Management. “Several businesses recently signed on as dasher board sponsors and all of that money specifically went to the lighting upgrades that we just installed last week.”

Companies that supported the lighting project included Arctic Refrigeration, Casella Waste Systems, Eli Fish Brewing Company, McAndrew Funeral Home, Max Pies Furniture, Batavia Muckdogs and Suburban Propane, Gray said.

From left, Tom Fluker, Pepsi sales manager; Ryan Webster and Jed Davis, Zamboni drivers/maintenance, and Kati Murray, general manager of Batavia Sports Facility Management.

These Mite hockey players were excited to see the new look Zamboni. From left, Levi Jafari, Luis Reyes, Connor Reidmiller, Jameson Smith, Liam Langiewicz and Joey Sacheli.

Photos by Mike Pettinella.

Greece Athena, a top-seeded Section V Class A team, was upset by Class B Batavia on Wednesday, 96-91.

It was only the third loss of the year for the Trojans and the Blue Devils improved to 14-4.

Scoring for Batavia:

• Ja'vin McFollins, 30 points, hitting eight three-point buckets
• Sawyer Siverling, 18 points, four three-pointers
• Carter McFollins 18 points
• Cam McClinic. 13 points and 8-8 from the foul line down the stretch
• Rashawd Christie, 12 points, with eight points in the final four minutes.

"I don’t think I’ve ever won a game where both teams scored in the 90s," said Coach Buddy Brasky. "They are a very talented offensive team   We matched them shot for shot   Ja'vin caught fire early, so they face-guarded him in the 2nd half. That opened up Carter’s penetration. He was able to get into the lane, finish, dump to Rashawd or pitch to Sawyer."

Girls Basketball:

• Alexander beat Oakfield-Alabama, 48-45. For the Trojans, Alyssa Kramer scored 16 points, Riely Powell, nine, and Emily Pietrzykowski, eight. For the Hornets, Emma Wray, 16, and MaKena Reding, 15.
• Byron-Bergen beat Wheatland, 58-25. MacKenzie Senf scored 11 points, Zoey Shepherd, 10, and Kendall Phillips, nine.
• Pavilion beat Cal-Mum 49-45. Karlee Zinkievich scored 34 points. Lauren Kingsley, seven.
• Pembroke beat Holley, 41-35. Elle Peterson scored 18 for Pembroke. Isabel Breeden scored eight.
• Le Roy lost to Geneseo, 42-41. Kenna MacKenzie scored 15 points. Abby Allen, 12, Corina Dunn, 10.
• Notre Dame beat Lyondonville, 65-39. Amelia McCulley scored 28 points, Avelin Tomidy, 19, and Emma Sisson, 10.

To view or purchase photos, click here.

Photos by Steve Ognibene

Mancuso Bowling Center is hosting the annual “Super Bowl” Handicap Singles Tournament this Sunday with one qualifying squad set for noon.

First place in the event, which is sponsored by Red Bull, is $450 based on at least 32 bowlers. One in four bowlers will advance to the head-to-head final rounds.

Entry fee is $45. Handicap is 100 percent of the difference in the bowler’s average and 215 – using the 2021-22 highest United States Bowling Congress-certified average unless this season’s is 10 or more pins higher.

To enter, contact Mark Brown at 716-474-7960.

Other local tournaments during February are as follows:

• Feb. 17-18, “Strike Out for Crossroads House.”

The 27th Annual Betty Ellison Memorial "Strike Out for Crossroads House" No-Tap Tournament returns to Mancuso Bowling Center, with squads at 6 p.m. Feb. 17 and noon and 2:30 p.m. Feb. 18.

Registration fee for the four-person team event is $100. Entry forms are available at the bowling center or on the Crossroads House website – www.crossroadshouse.com.

For more information, contact Vicki Johnson at vickijohnson@crossroadshouse.com or at 585-343-3892.

• Feb. 18-19, Genesee Region USBC No-Tap Doubles.

Letchworth Pines in Portageville is hosting the 3^rd GRUSBC No-Tap Doubles event with squads at 1, 2:30 and 4:30 p.m. on both days.

Open to GRUSBC members, the entry fee is $60 per team. One in four teams will cash.

The maximum team average is 420 -- based on the bowlers' highest USBC book average in a league for at least 21 games over the past three seasons, unless this season's average is 10 or more pins higher (for at least 21 games).

To sign up, send an email to mikep@bowlgr.com or call 585-343-3736.

• Feb. 19, Tommy Kress 60-and-Over Tour.

Oak Orchard Bowl in Albion will be the site of the next Tommy Kress 60-and-Over Tour stop.

Check-in begins at 10 a.m. with competition getting started at 11 a.m.

The entry fee is $50. Walk-ins are welcome.

• Feb. 24-26, Ron Riggi Memorial 4-Person Handicap.

Legion Lanes in Le Roy will be conducting the 21^st annual Ron Riggi Memorial tournament in honor of the late well-known Le Roy native.

Squad times are 6:30 p.m. Feb. 24, noon and 4 p.m. Feb. 25 and 1 p.m. Feb. 26.

Entry fee is $100 per team and first place, based on 32 teams, is $800. One out of every five teams will cash.

An optional singles tournament will take place, with an entry fee of $5.

To enter, contact Mark Brown at 716-474-7960.

A creamy casserole resembling layered lasagna with a Peruvian twist, and a sweet finale of cinnamon-dusted milk custard, wedged between a tour of an arts facility and hands-on exercises of creative works.

Not too shabby of a school day for a group of 13 students visiting GO Art! Wednesday in Batavia.

The day was part of a Youth Bureau Genesee Youth Leadership program organized by Program Coordinator Chelsea Elliott. The program offers a different each month from October through May, and February is about Arts and Culture. Elliott worked with GO Art! staff for the artistic component, and staff, in turn, reached out to members of the Peruvian Outreach Project to provide the cultural aspect.

“And they did all the behind-the-scenes work. They are the ones that thought of who would cook the meal and what the culture would be. And I let them kind of run with it. Because I knew that they would have the best connections to make this day be the best for our kids,” Elliott said after the cooking demonstration. “So each month we focus on different topics. We begin at BOCES, that's our home base. And then we go out to the community for the rest of the day, basically, for them to learn more about their community. What happens behind the scenes … a lot of these kids don't even know anything about art until today. So it's opening their eyes to other things that go on in the community, other than just what goes on in their own little towns.

"We always hope that … they can go back to their schools and tell their peers, ‘there's this great program that's in the community, you know, we should get more involved,’" she said. "Because, again, if they don't know about it, they don't know about it.”

The group of 13 students represented grades nine through 12 in five different school districts of Batavia, Byron-Bergen, Le Roy, Alexander and Oakfield. GO Art! Executive Director Gregory Hallock gave them a tour of the East Main Street facility, and Christian Houlihan of the Peruvian Outreach Project talked about his experience as an orphan who was adopted and brought to the United States and now travels back to Peru to assist his native homeland.

The students were then seated next to the kitchen while Veronica Collantes demonstrated how to assemble the authentic causa rellena dish of layered potatoes with lemon oil, chicken salad, and avocados. A dish piled high and a bright yellow, it was then served for lunch as Latin-themed music played in the background.

The kids were also given a cup of inca kola, a sugary yellow Peruvian drink, and topped off their meals with leche asada, a creamy milk custard. Elliott described it as similar to a rice pudding. No one left much on their plates or in the dessert glasses.

“It’s good, I never had anything like it,” 15-year-old Mary Engelhardt said.

Mary has known for a while now that she wants to go into law enforcement and become a deputy, so when Elliott recommended that she apply for the leadership program, that’s just what the Le Roy 10th-grader did. Other program topics include criminal justice, community service, and agriculture. It wasn’t too difficult to figure out Mary’s favorite outing so far: criminal justice, which included a visit to the jail.

“I’ve been before, but I liked it. It’s just what I want to do,” she said. “Today has been very interesting. I’m not interested in art, but it’s interesting.”

Neither Mary nor Elijah Loysen, a ninth-grader from Oakfield, had ever been to the GO Art! building. Elijah enjoyed the visit, he said.

“I think the art and ambiance of the building and the colors are aesthetically pleasing,” he said.

Kathy Houlihan wanted to educate the kids about Peru and the outreach project, while also potentially recruiting a few volunteers for future events, including a dinner and basket raffle in March at GO Art!.

“If anyone likes chopping vegetables, we could use the help,” she said. 

After lunch, the students were going to meet up with artists Susan Ferrari Rowley and Gaitrie Subryan for some hands-on experience. This type of visit from the Youth Bureau only happens once a year, Education Director/SCR Coordinator Mary Jo Whitman said.

“It's very exciting. A lot of people don't realize that our building is open to the public. So having them come in and realizing, okay, well, this is actually a really cool building,” Whitman said. “There's a lot of artwork, and we have a ton of programming, a lot of stuff that might be actually interesting to them.”

Top Photo of Veronica Collantes demonstrating how to make causa rellena; Kathy Houlihan serving leche asada; students enjoying lunch at GO Art!; and watching the demonstration in between a tour and hands-on art project. Photos by Joanne Beck.

The Peruvian Outreach Project is a nonprofit organization that assists orphaned children in Peru with donations of clothing, essential supplies, special celebrations for Christmas, and educational opportunities for young women at an outreach-leased residence so that they can pursue the field of nursing and have hope for the future.

The residence, known as the Hogar Hermelinda Home for Young Women, is full, with six young women who are studying nursing and volunteering at the Aldea Orphanage.

There will be a dinner and basket raffle fundraiser to help with expenses for outreach efforts. Doors open at 6:30 p.m., and dinner is at 7 p.m. on March 25 at GO Art!, 201 East Main St., Batavia. Organizer Kathy Houlihan hopes to have at least 20 baskets for the event, and winning tickets will be drawn at 8:30 p.m.

A Peruvian meal of papas a la huancaina (potatoes with Huancaina sauce), arroz con pollo (chicken with rice), leche asada (milk custard), and inca cola (a sweet beverage) will be served. There will also be a cash bar and door prizes.

The Peruvian Outreach Project has already made a big difference in the lives of vulnerable children and young people the last few years with your help, Houlihan said. The organization’s mission is “hope and compassion through work that enhances the lives of others.”

Outreach members are also striving to spread the word of the project and share the culture with others while garnering support for the work, she said.

Presale tickets are $30 and may be purchased via PayPal or Venmo at Peruvian Outreach Project, or by mail at: P.O. Box 234, East Pembroke, NY, 14056.

A pedestrian has reportedly been stuck in the area of 2719 Pearl Street Road, Batavia,

East Pembroke Fire and Mercy EMS dispatched.

UPDATE 6:36 p.m.: The patient is a child. She is apparently speaking with a first responder and provided her name.

Via Batavia City School District:

BCSD has a surplus of pianos!

We didn't receive any bids on our lot of pianos at a recent auction, so we're offering the pianos to individuals and organizations in the community who may want one free of charge.

The pianos are available on a first-come-first-served basis, and they will need to be picked up by the interested party (we will assist with removal from our facility). Their condition is as-is with no expressed, written, or implied warranty. BCSD is not responsible for providing personnel, tools, or heavy equipment to aid in removal.

If you're interested, please contact Jim Jacobs via email (jjacobs@bataviacsd.org) by Friday, February 17. All pianos must be picked up by March 1.

Photos courtesy Batavia City School District.

Press Release:

The GCC Forum Players are excited to present Moliere's "Tartuffe," translated into English verse by Richard Wilbur. Performances will be held February 9-11 at 7:30 p.m. in the Stuart Steiner Theatre at Genesee Community College, 1 College Road, Batavia.

The show follows the chaos surrounding the titular character who completely entrances Orgon, a wealthy patriarch, into giving away his fortune, his family and even some dangerous secrets. Will the family reveal Tartuffe for the scoundrel he is or will Tartuffe take hold of the estate and ruin this family forever?

Originally written in the 1600's, "Tartuffe" was condemned for its unflinching takedown of religious hypocrisy and the odd behaviors of the upper classes. This production, set among Miami's elite of the 1980s, takes a skewer to televangelist con artists, clueless yuppies, corporate greed, and unending consumption, all to the sounds of new-wave synth-pop.

GCC Forum Players "Tartuffe" Cast List:

• Kassi Carlson as Orgon
• Claudette Hill as Elmire
• Cameron Liedmann as Cleante
• Cass Dzielski as Dorine
• Marc Sapareto as Damis
• Jocelyn Coburn as Mariane
• Gyandro Marselia as Valere
• Anthony Haitz as Tartuffe
• Lauren Ruch as Mme. Pernelle
• Bella Wheeler as Flipote
• Chris Hansgen as Laurent
• Ophelia Walton as M. Loyal
• Jeriko Suzette as Officer
• Production Directed and Designed by Brodie McPherson
• Producer: Maryanne Arena
• Box Office Assistant: Jessica Skehan
• Dance Captain: Tiffany Smith

Tickets are available at the door and online. The Genesee Center for the Arts Box Office accepts cash, checks and card payments. Seating is first-come, first-served and there is no assigned seating when purchasing tickets. Ticket prices are as follows:

$10 General Admission
$5 for GCC faculty/staff, seniors 55+ and non-GCC students
Admission is free for GCC students with student ID

The play features comedic violence, sexual situations, and illicit substance use. Tartuffe is not appropriate for children under 16.

Photos courtesy of Genesee Community College.

Arthur Brown

Sentencing has been set for 2 p.m. April 3 in Genesee County Court for a repeat violent felony offender who accepted a plea agreement this afternoon with a sentence agreement of no fewer than seven years and a maximum of 10 years.

Arthur J. Brown, 45, of Le Roy, pled guilty to three felony charges, paving the way for County Court Judge Melissa Lightcap Cianfrini to sign off on the prison term parameters agreed to by Assistant District Attorney Joseph Robinson and defense attorney Joseph A. Lobosco of Rochester.

By accepting the plea deal, Brown avoids a lengthy sentence on a charge of second-degree attempted criminal possession of a weapon, a Class D violent offense, in connection with an incident on Clinton Street Road (Route 33) in the Town of Stafford in September 2021.  That incident led to a massive manhunt after a wildlife scare cannon was mistaken for gunshots while Brown was hiding in a cornfield.

The defendant also plead guilty to third-degree attempted criminal possession of a narcotic drug with intent to sell, a Class B felony, in connection with an arrest in January of this year in the City of Batavia, and to one count of violating the Sex Offender Registration Act, a Class E felony, for failing to register as a sex offender upon a change of address.

On Monday of this week, the county DA’s office extended a plea agreement of seven to eight years to satisfy the aforementioned offenses and others stemming from the September 2021 incident. It was changed to seven to 10 years today in consideration of a handful of other drug-related charges.

Brown also was informed that he would be forfeiting $2,405 that was seized during an investigation into the intent to sell offenses.

While Lobosco argued for Brown’s release upon his own recognizance or into the hands of Genesee Justice while awaiting the sentencing date, Robinson asked the judge to revoke bail in light of the defendant’s criminal record.

Lightcap Cianfrini decided to set bail at $30,000 (cash), $60,000 (bond) and $90,000 (partially secured) while placing strict conditions on that action.  She advised Brown that if he was to post bail or cash and that he did not appear at the sentencing hearing or if he violated any of the conditions imposed upon him, then he would lose the sentence cap.

Brown, per the plea deal, waived his right to a trial, his right to an appeal and his right to vote while incarcerated, the judge said.

The judge also outlined the sentences that Brown could have faced if he would have lost at trial – at least seven years in state prison, five years of post-release supervision and up to a $5,000 fine on the weapons charge; 12 years plus three years of post-release supervision and up to a $30,000 fine on the drug possession charge, and 1 1/3 to 4 years and a $5,000 fine on the SORA violation.

Previously:

• County ADA offers seven-to-eight-year sentencing deal to LeRoyan facing numerous felony charges
• Criminal cases against Le Roy man, including 'shots fired' case, hinge on missing video evidence
• BREAKING NEWS: Shots fired after vehicle stopped on Route 33, near Mill Road

During a break from Tuesday’s budget workshop, city leaders discussed various topics, including one City Councilman’s unusual visit last Friday.

While working at his kitchen table, two women had appeared on his doorstep, and, moments later, went around to his garage door, apparently shivering from the sub-zero windy temperature and begging to come inside. Their vehicle had broken down, and they needed a place to stay while they awaited a ride.

“One of the girls was screaming and crying, her hands were purple,” Councilman John Canale said. “I was trying to be a good Christian.”

Yes, perhaps hindsight has served him up a different answer for next time, but, especially on the heels of December’s massive blizzard and the need to shelter so many people in need, Canale did what he thought was the right thing by allowing the young women to warm up in his home.

Once inside, they asked to borrow a coat, and then went back outside to smoke a cigarette, he said. They came back inside before Canale noticed a sheriff’s, city police and unmarked vehicle each parked on the street. The ladies took off, and he called the police to ask, “are you chasing two girls?” Yes, they were.

What he didn’t realize was that their vehicle hadn’t broken down. The Rochester residents had apparently instead recently been at Pawn King in Batavia, which had filed a complaint of theft, prompting the Genesee County Sheriff’s Office to respond. The women allegedly fled the scene in a U-haul van and ended up at a cul-de-sac on Pickthorn Drive, where they abandoned the van, Batavia Police Chief Shawn Heubusch said.

The Sheriff’s Office and Batavia Police Department responded to the general area in the city and conducted a manhunt, Heubusch said, also using the tracking abilities of the K-9 unit.

“It took approximately an hour to locate the women from the time they fled their vehicle on foot,” Heubusch said. “K-9 Batu was utilized to track the individuals, successfully locating them inside an outbuilding after tracking them through several backyards.”

Breanna Brummond Brittany Hollaert

Breanna Brummond, 31, and Brittany Hollaert, 26, both of Rochester, are each charged with petit larceny, a class A misdemeanor, attempted grand larceny 4th degree, a class A misdemeanor and criminal trespass 3rd degree, a class B misdemeanor. Both women were issued appearance tickets, Heubusch said.

Hollaert was also charged with several traffic offenses “as she was identified as the driver of the van,” the Sheriff’s Office said.

‘There were several items recovered in the van which we suspect are stolen property and are working on identifying,” said Chief Deputy Joseph Graff, of the Sheriff's Office. “We are still investigating this incident and may have some further charges.”

The women had attempted to take the coat and a car key fob from Canale’s home during the incident, he said.

Heubusch cautions residents against letting strangers inside their homes.

“I know it is difficult to ignore people who may be in need of assistance, but I would advise residents to contact 911,” he said. “A patrol will be dispatched and assist the person if they are truly in need.”

It’s a lesson learned, Canale said. From now on, he will make sure to get proper identification before ever allowing a stranger into his home, he said.

An accident involving a semi-truck and a passenger vehicle is reported at Ellicott Street Road and Transit in Stafford.

Unknown injuries.

Stafford Fire and Bethany Fire dispatched along with Mercy EMS.

UPDATE 5:01 p.m.: The passenger vehicle involved is reportedly a sedan.  Minor injuries reported.

UPDATE 5:04 p.m.: Debris in the roadway. No travel lanes are blocked.  Fire police are being asked to flag for one lane of traffic with firefighters are on scene.

Press release:

Congresswoman Claudia Tenney (NY-24) tonight issued the following statement in response to President Biden’s State of the Union Address.

“Tonight, President Biden once again tried to take a victory lap despite the endless crises caused by his administration,” said Congresswoman Tenney. “From the economy to national security, the President has continued to fail this country. The list is endless, but to start, inflation has risen over 13%, 4.5 million illegal aliens have flooded across our Southern Border, and homicides are up 13% since Joe Biden took office. 

“Despite Biden’s disastrous presidency, our Republican House Majority is committed to delivering real results for the American people. In the first month that Republicans have been in the Majority, we have fully reopened the Capitol to the American People, voted to defund Biden’s 87,000 new IRS Agents, established a bipartisan Select Committee to hold the Chinese Communist Party Accountable, stood up for the right to life and voted to end unconstitutional and overreaching vaccine mandates.

“Republicans will continue fighting to preserve our self-governing Constitutional Republic and defend our individual rights. We will keep our communities safe, make life more affordable, and make the government more transparent. And we will always hold Joe Biden and the federal bureaucracy accountable to the American people.”

Press release:

The Blessing box is “blessed” to celebrate two years of serving the community of Batavia. Many thanks to the volunteers who shop and stock the Blessing Box, our food drives, and the generous donations from churches, and the community.

Huge thanks to The Red Osier Restaurant for the Christmas food drive again this year and to Tompkins Bank for their generous donation. And to The Batavian for their e-news support.

Submitted photo.

Press release:

The track surrounding the playing field at Notre Dame High School’s Bill Sutherland Field has been completely redone through the efforts of long-time Notre Dame PE Teacher/Coach Eric Geitner and Barre Stone Products.  The condition of the track had deteriorated due to a variety of issues, including COVID-19 and a canceled Eagle Scout project.  Athletic Director Mike Rapone asked Coach Geitner to head the restoration project with the goal of having the track available for the Spring Track & Field season. Using his expertise as well as help from Barre Stone Products, Coach Geitner exceeded expectations providing our athletes with a practice facility that will help them maximize their talents for many years to come.

Thank you and God Bless all associated with this project. 

Press release:

The Genesee County Sheriff’s Office would like to take this opportunity to remind everyone to remain vigilant so as not to fall victim to many prevalent scams.  As a general rule, it is a best practice to never provide personal or financial information to anyone who calls you over the phone or contacts you via e-mail or text message.  Scammers may purport themselves to be a relative, representative from Law Enforcement, the Federal Government, a Bank/Financial Institution, a utility company, or other consumer business. 

• Scammers will often contact you pretending to be from a known organization such as the Sheriff’s Office, IRS, FBI, Microsoft, Pay Pal, Amazon, or countless other businesses/government entities.  The scammer may indicate that you have a problem with your account or there is a virus on your computer, and they need to assist you in rectifying the issue. 

Scammers may ask:

• You to click on a provided link
• For personal and banking information
• For remote access to your computer to assist in correcting the fictitious problem 

Also:

• Scammers may tell you that your daughter, son, husband, wife, grandchild, a close friend or someone you know is in trouble with law enforcement and needs money for bail.
• Scammers may say that they are a lawyer and that there has been a terrible accident involving your relative, and they need money for legal fees or medical expenses     
• Scammers may indicate that you have won a sweepstakes and that they will be sending you a check to cash and then ask that a portion of the proceeds are sent back to them. 
• Scammers may ask for payment in the form of gift cards, or electronic payments or ask that you send cash in the mail to a specified address.  Scammers may also indicate that they will send a courier to your residence to retrieve your payment. 

These perpetrators of scams will attempt to pressure you to act quickly by threatening that the problem will only get worse if you don’t act now or that you will be arrested if the issue is not immediately addressed.  Scammers will mask their actual identity, often using surreptitious phone numbers, which may appear to be from a local area code or use an e-mail address that is very similar to someone’s that you may know.  Always pay close attention to details as it may save you from falling victim.      

Please be suspicious concerning anyone asking for personal or financial information.  If you suspect something may not be legitimate, tell someone you trust what the situation is before you act and potentially suffer a financial loss that may not be recoverable or disclose personally identifying information. 

If you fall victim to a scam, please report it to your local law enforcement agency.

Oakfield-Alabama is 16-2 on the season after beating Alexander on Tuesday in Boys Basketball, 75-53.

Scoring for the Hornets:

• Kyle Porter, 33 points, 4 rebounds 
• Noah Currier, 10 points
• Aiden Warner, 6 rebounds, 3 assists, 3 steals
• Brayden Smith, 4 rebounds, 10 assists, 5 steals
• Colton Yasses, 5 rebounds, 2 steals

For Alexander:

• Dylan Pohl, 16 points
• Trent Woods, 14 points

"We started the game off slow," said Coach Ryan Stehlar. "Alexander did a good job of making early shots and coming out with good energy. Our defense picked up in the second quarter and into the second half. Our bench helped spark us, too, when we needed it the most."

In Boys Basketball:

• Pembroke is 17-1 after beating Holley 108-32. Tyson Totten, 29, Cayden Pfalzer, 23, Owen Hootman, 14, Avery Ferreira, 10, Chase Guzdek, 10. Jon Suro,10 assists
• Pavilion beat Cal-Mum, 60-53.
• Notre Dame beat Lyndonville, 86-43
• No game report for Le Roy vs. Geneseo.

In Girls Basketball:

• Mendon beat Batavia, 61-28

Photos by Kristin Smith

During Police Chief Shawn Heubusch’s review of his department’s budget Tuesday evening, he was asked how often the shared heavy-duty MRAP vehicle is used.

The city and county share the maintenance costs of this six-figure vehicle; it is often purchased and deployed for military use. The acronym stands for Mine-Resistant Ambush Protected.

And while it could be likened to that pricey classic Mustang that sits in the garage year after year collecting dust and costing a small fortune of insurance and maintenance costs, but impresses during the high school reunion, the MRAP does more than ensure a good impression.

“It goes out on every single call. And during the blizzard of 2022, it went out and saved lives, so it did exactly what it was meant to do,” Heubusch said during City Council’s workshop at City Hall. “We really thought it would be used for a flood, and it was a blizzard, but it worked perfectly.”

You may recall the stories about those hundreds of motorists — even including some fire trucks and ambulances — stuck and stranded in the drifting hills of snow throughout the western end of Genesee County in late December. That MRAP ate through it all to get to people and extract them from the life-threatening elements.

Transportation-related costs include fuel at $57,000, repairs at $11,000, tires for $8,800, towing, at $1,000 and rust undercoating at $2,500 for a total of $80,300 in this next year’s budget, he said.  Salaries and benefits expenses absorbed the biggest amount of the budget, with a $2,674,860 for regular and $220,000 going towards overtime costs, plus holiday, longevity and shift differential pay for a total $3,038,830 for police personnel expenses.

There are three vacancies, including one position that’s “frozen,” Heubusch said. The department will be recruiting for those other two positions, and to fill two retirements that are forthcoming later this year, he said. Finding candidates continues to be a tough job in itself, he said.

“It’s disheartening,” he said. “The number of people taking Civil Service tests is dwindling very, very rapidly.”

His review of the $4,323,847 budget also included repair and maintenance costs of the current police station — an expense he hopes will be the last “at 10 West Main St.,” he said, referring to the reality of a new station being built in the next year; and training as a way to stay up to date with “the latest and greatest,” including a two-week sniper course. Community policing and events have a cost of $12,440, associated mostly with overtime due to these events meaning overtime for after-hours events, he said.

And then there’s the category that seems to make everyone smile: the K9 unit, for $950, and the officer handler’s costs within the personnel category. The dog and handler spend their time together, and attend monthly training so as to maintain what they’ve learned, Heubusch said.

“The handler is compensated for caring for the dog,” he said. “He’s a working dog, so he’s always working.”

Council President Eugene Jankowski Jr., who was on the police force for several years, said the job takes someone who loves canines. No matter how special the K-9 four-legged is, it can still get messy, and needs to be tended to, he said.

“He does wonderful things,” Jankowski said. “But he’s a dog.”

No one on council had any amendments to make for the budget, which, as it stands, is headed to exceed the tax cap with a total of $6.6 million to be raised by taxes. The tax rate is to remain unchanged at $8.54 per $1,000 assessed value.

The city does not have plans to raise assessments again this year, City Manager Rachael Tabelski said. Assessments for many properties in the city were hiked for the last two years in a row, which made property owners’ tax bills increase even when the tax rate itself did not go up.

So if your assessment went up from $90,000 to $100,000, and the tax rate is a flat $8.54 per $1,000, that will mean an increase of $85.40 per year.

A public hearing about the budget has been set for 7 p.m. on Feb. 27 at City Hall.

File Photos of Police Chief Shawn Heubusch, from the City of Batavia; the MRAP, by Howard Owens, and K9 dog Batu and Handler Stephen Quider receiving a donation on behalf of Batavia Police Department in February 2022, by Howard Owens.

A two-vehicle accident is reported in the area of 6506 East Bethany Le Roy Road, Stafford.

Injuries are reported. 

Stafford Fire and Mercy EMS dispatched.

UPDATE 7:44 a.m.: A second ambulance requested to the scene. Bethany Fire's ambulance dispatched.

UPDATE 7:49 a.m.: Traffic is blocked.  Extrication required.

UPDATE 8:03 a.m.: One person transported to Strong Memorial Hospital.

UPDATE 8:21 a.m.: Road re-opened. Stafford back in service.

Frank P. Falleti is indicted on one count of criminal possession of a forged instrument in the second degree, a Class D Felony, and one count of falsifying a business record in the first degree, a Class E felony. Falleti is accused of possessing on Aug. 9 a forged NYS registration document with the intent to defraud, deceive or injure another person.  He is accused of knowingly not entering a 2019 Mazda into the NYS online registry, Verify, with intent to defraud that included the intent to commit another crime or aid or conceal another crime.

Chad S. Williams is indicted on one count of criminal possession of stolen property in the fourth degree, a Class E felony, criminal possession of a forged instrument in the second degree, a Class D felony, criminally using drug paraphernalia in the second degree, a Class A misdemeanor, and criminal impersonation in the second degree, a Class A misdemeanor. Williams allegedly found in possession of a 2008 Honda Civic on Nov. 8, along with a forged Texas motor vehicle registration. He is accused of knowingly possessing narcotics packaging. He is also accused of assuming the identity of another person.

Joseph T. Martino is indicted on one count of burglary in the third degree, a Class D felony, and grand larceny in the fourth degree. Martino is accused of entering a building on East Main Street, Batavia, and stealing property with a value in excess of $1,000.