The anchor store of Valu Plaza on West Main Street Road in the Town of Batavia is closing with a liquidation sale set to start on Friday.

Valu Home Centers, based in Western New York with more than 16 stores in the region, is closing three underperforming stores. Besides Batavia, the other stores closing are Fredonia and Lakewood.

Photo by Howard Owens

Cassandra L. Elmore, 30, of Batavia, is charged with criminal possession of a weapon, obstruction of governmental administration, aggravated unlicensed operation 3rd, uninspected motor vehicle, and insufficient tail lamps. Elmore's vehicle was stopped on Aug. 30 at 2:37 p.m., on Ellicott Street, Batavia. Elmore was allegedly driving on a suspended license. During a search of the vehicle, Elmore was allegedly found in possession of two sets of metal knuckles as well as various items of drug equipment.  Elmore was processed at Batavia PD headquarters and released on an appearance ticket. Previously: Woman charged after dog treated repeatedly for narcotics overdose; Vet told police Oddey was showing signs of drug intoxication during emergency visit; Elmore asks for more time 

Devin W. Blackshear, 23, of Batavia, is charged with harassment 2nd. Blackshear is accused of pushing and hitting another person during an argument on Aug. 31 at 6:01 p.m. at a location on Oak Street, Batavia. He was issued an appearance ticket.

Alexander C. Colon-Colon, 28, of Batavia, is charged with criminal mischief. Colon-Colon is accused of pouring bleach on the property of another person during a dispute reported on Aug. 28 at 7:08 p.m. at a location on Central Avenue, Batavia. He was arraigned in City Court and released.

Tammy L. Cicatello, 52 of Batavia, is charged with criminal possession of a controlled substance 7th. Cicatello was allegedly found in possession of crack cocaine during a traffic stop on Aug. 26 at 8:52 p.m. on Pickthorn Drive, Batavia.  She was issued an appearance ticket.

Latoya D. Jackson, 36, of Batavia, is charged with harassment 2nd, endangering the welfare of a child, and criminal contempt 1st. On July 28 at 6:45 p.m. at a location on State Street, Jackson violated a stay-away order of protection and attempted to strike an individual with a closed visit while that person had a small child in his stroller that she was pushing.  Jackson was arrested on Aug. 26 and released on an appearance ticket.

McKayla J. Kosiorek, 27, of Oakfield, is charged with petit larceny. Kosiorek is accused of stealing cash from two different cash registers while working at the Days Inn in Batavia. She was issued an appearance ticket.

Jolene Y. Stevens, 33, of Batavia, is charged with criminal contempt 2nd. Stevens is accused of violating an order of protection on Aug. 26 at 6:21 p.m. at a location on Hutchins Street, Batavia. She was issued an appearance ticket.

Thomas F. Hofmeier, 21, no address provided, is charged with DWI and unlicensed driver.  Hofmeier was stopped on Sept. 2 at 1:07 a.m. on Alleghany Road, Darien by Deputy Jeremiah Gechell.  He was released on an appearance ticket.

Lucas Michael Countryman, 18, of Amherst Drive, Webster, is charged with DWI, driving with a BAC of .08 or greater, and failure to stop at a stop sign. Countryman was stopped on Aug. 25 at 10:55 p.m. on Clinton Street Road, Batavia, by Deputy Trevor Sherwood.

Courtney Lynn Hewitt, 41, of Webber Avenue, Oakfield, is charged with harassment 2nd. Hewitt is accused of striking a person in the head with a lamp on Sept. 4 at 1:30 a.m. at a location on Webber Avenue, Oakfield. She was issued an appearance ticket.

Jacob Jeter Bedard, 24, of West State Street, Albion, is charged with aggravated harassment 2nd. Bedard is accused of using electronic communications with another person for no legitimate purpose, causing alarm and annoyance, after being specifically instructed to cease all communication with the individual. Bedard was arraigned in Town of Batavia Court. An order of protection was issued. 

Jerry D. Walls, 58, of Albion, is charged with bail jumping 3rd.  Walls was arrested by State Police on Sept. 3 at 11:30 a.m. in the Town of Oakfield and ordered held on bail. No further details released.

Christopher S. Parker, 35, of Stafford, is charged with felony DWI, aggravated DWI with a child in a car, and endangering the welfare of a child. Parker was stopped on Sept. 3 at 1:22 p.m. in Pavilion by State Police and released on an appearance ticket. No further details released. 

Bergen-based Liberty Pumps -- well, at least a binder with the company's logo on it -- had a cameo appearance in the final season of one of television's most highly regarded series in history -- "Better Call Saul." 

In the penultimate episode, the camera briefly captures a set of binders on a bookshelf with a framed copy of lizards and the word "friends" on the frame.

Everything in Better Call Saul, as with "Breaking Bad" before it, that appears on the screen, or is heard in the soundtrack, is symbolic. We will let regular viewers work out for themselves what this frame means in the context of the story.  No spoilers here except to say the scene involves a recurring character who has taken a job with a company that makes sprinkler heads in Florida.  The binder and lizards appear at a crucial turning point in the story.

Liberty Pumps CEO Robyn Brookhart said the binder scene hadn't gone unnoticed at the company. 

It was cool, she said. 

"What is really fantastic is the buzz and energy it created when we emailed the screenshot around to the entire company!  Totally unexpected, and a really fun surprise," she said.

Press Release

The Genesee Society of Model Engineers announces that their Fall 2022 edition of the GREAT BATAVIA TRAIN SHOW will be held at the Richard C. Call Arena in Batavia, NY. The large venue on the campus of Genesee Community College offers unmatched convenience for attendees and vendors. The show is scheduled for Sunday, October 16, 2022.

Details follow:
• Show Name: The Great Batavia Train Show
• Date: Sunday, October 16, 2022
• Location: Richard C. Call Arena at Genesee Community College, Batavia, NY
• Admission: $6 adults, $3 under 18, free for children under 13.
• Hours: 9:30 AM to 3:30 PM.
• Features: Model train vendors, free parking, snack bar

Additional Train Show Information:
For 50 years the Great Batavia Train Show has been one of the premier hobby events in Western New York. Our move to the Richard C. Call arena has allowed us to grow the event in a state-of-the-art facility. All forms of model railroad and train-related merchandise will be available. Items offered include all scales of model trains, historic railroad items, books, DVD’s and toys. Modeling demonstrations, and a limited number of portable layouts, will be part of the fun. Free parking.

About the organizing group:
The Genesee Society of Model Engineers Inc. was founded in Batavia NY, and actively promotes the hobby of model railroading in the Western New York area. We celebrated our 50th anniversary in 2019. This not-for-profit organization is headquartered at 50 Main St. in Oakfield, NY. In our facility above the M&T Bank, our membership maintains four operating model train displays. An open house is offered free to the public each December, and visitors are welcome on Tuesday evenings.

There are limited reservations available for anyone wanting to join the 50th Golden Anniversary Celebration for Genesee County Chamber of Commerce, organizers say. The event runs from 5 to 10 p.m. Sept. 17 and includes a cocktail hour, dinner and live music on the patio of Red Osier Landmark Restaurant in Stafford. Deadline for reservations is Friday.

For more information or to register, call 585-343-7440 or click HERE.

Dajuandrick C. Gardner is indicted on one count of bail jumping in the second degree. On Dec. 8, while involved in criminal legal proceedings, Gardner was released from custody either on bail or on his own recognizance upon the condition that he would appear personally in Batavia City Court at a later date to answer to a felony charge. He allegedly did not appear on the date required and did not turn himself in within 30 days. 

Michael L. Jackson, Jr. is indicted on one count of bail jumping in the second degree. On March 1, while involved in criminal legal proceedings, Jackson was released from custody either on bail or on his own recognizance upon the condition that he would appear personally in Batavia City Court at a later date to answer to a felony charge. He allegedly did not appear on the date required and did not turn himself in within 30 days. 

Curtis J. Johnstone is indicted on counts of felony DWI, felony driving with a BAC of .08 or greater, and felony aggravated unlicensed operation of a motor vehicle in the first degree. Johnstone is accused of driving drunk at April 12 in the Town of Pembroke.

A fully involved mobile home fire is reported at 6972 Swamp Road, Byron.

The caller doesn't believe anybody is at home.  No cars in the driveway.

Byron, South Byron dispatched.  

The chief has requested a second alarm.  

Bergen, Elba, Oakfield, Stafford, and City of Batavia's Fast Team dispatched for the second alarm.

UPDATE 11:39 p.m.: Barre and Brockport were being dispatched to provide tankers but the chief on scene said the tankers can be canceled and requests a fill-in at the Byron Fire Hall.

UPDATE 12:05 a.m.: Stafford is filling in at Byron's hall.  Le Roy is going to fill in at South Byron's hall. The fire has been knocked down.  National Grid requested to the scene.

UPDATE 12:07 a.m.: A fire investigator requested to the scene.

Live music, food, vendors, kid's activities, and a car cruise have drawn people to Oakfield for Labor Daze this weekend.

On Monday, Oakfield will host its annual Labor Day Parade at 10 a.m.

Photos by Kristin Smith.  For more, click here.

The American Warrior Festival organization hosted a music night at Eli Fish Brewing Company to show appreciation for those currently serving in the military and for veterans of all eras. 

Performers included Joel Russlett (top photo), Billy Lambert, Travis Mackie, Rich Hancy, Josh Ketchum, and Monica Hall (bottom photo).

Photos by Howard Owens

When Jerry Smith Jr. moved to Batavia 32 years ago, he enjoyed the friendly, active vibe.

The then-8-year-old Smith would visit the Wing Ding with family and friends, eat good food, enjoy fun activities, and be part of a community spending time together.

He has missed those summer get-togethers of his younger days, he said and decided to do something about it.

Smith organized a block party in his South Swan Street neighborhood Saturday.

“Definitely, when COVID came, people were more separated. It’s the last weekend of the summer to get together,” he said while serving as DJ and selling commemorative T-shirts under a tent in front of his home. “Bringing people together is always my vision. I’ve always been doing this.”

Although the party was a first, Smith has walked his talk as a youth coach for groups such as Batavia Bulldawgs, organizing three-on-three basketball tournaments, “old school barbecues,” and other similar events, he said. When asked if he had family at the event, with outstretched arms, he said, “Pretty much everyone here,” he said. “They’re all family.”

“Hopefully we can make it a bigger event next year, on the last weekend of the summer,” he said.

He estimated about 100 people had attended the first portion of the event, and more were certain to show up later, when The Songbirds, Ray Williams and the All-Stars, and Tray da Don would take to the makeshift stage for live performances.

Smith’s mom, Willeen Woods, sat nearby under another tent as Michael Jackson and other energetic musical artists filled the air from nearby speakers.

“It’s a good day,” Woods said. “I think it’s a good thing.”

After polishing off a hotdog and other foods available by four or five vendors, 10-year-old Derrick Ponder agreed with Wood’s assessment.

“It’s good,” Derrick said, adding that he knows a lot of people at the party. “People are getting together.”

He would come again next year, he said, as he ran off to play with some other kids there.

Myrin and Dannielle Lumpkin live just around the corner, and they had a tent with some fried chicken, and are known for their barbecued, soul and Caribbean fare. The Lumpkins own Mama Dee’z, and have been happy with the interactions and feedback they’ve received at recent events, Myrin said.

“It’s a beautiful thing, this is a nice small town. It’s a beautiful thing when people come together,” he said. “I think it’s worth it. Everything they’re having, we’re going to be there.”

The catering company — soon to be a restaurant with dine-in and take-out available, he said — was at the Italian Festival and plans to pitch a tent at many more warm-weather events in the future.

“We’ll do this again,” he said. “We’re looking forward to the Italian Fest next year, we liked that.”

Any food that doesn’t get sold is given away, he said, to folks who may appreciate some good home cooking.

One attendee who asked to remain anonymous wasn’t quite as enthusiastic about the block party. The “community of Batavia is not getting together,” she said, pointing to what she felt was the lack of diversity at the event. Smith disagrees with that statement.

"I thought it went very well," he said Sunday. "And it was diverse."

Those that did attend seemed to be enjoying themselves, feasting on saucy chicken wings, grilled, barbecued and fried items, talking and joking around with each other and taking in the 80-plus sunny day.

Several years ago, a city initiative was to help organize block parties throughout Batavia. While some streets latched onto the idea of a neighborly gathering, others formed neighborhood cleanups. It didn't blossom universally in the city, but there have been sporadic events ever since, including a block party earlier this summer on the city's east side.

Hopefully, for Smith, his end-of-summer Swan (Street) song brought some of those fond memories back as a first step toward an annual tradition.

Top photo:  Organizer Jerry Smith Jr., aka Venue Entertainment, serves up some music at the first-ever Swan Street block party Saturday in Batavia. June June Woods and Carline Santiago keep busy at their food station; Hanna Woods checks out the commemorative Block Party T-shirts that state on the back: Southside Thang; Tyrone Woods enjoys some vendor street fare; and above, Terry Smith fries up some chicken.

When people leave Dwyer Stadium laughing and smiling, Robbie and Nellie Nichols know they've done the right thing, whether it's after a concert, a Halloween costume party, or a baseball game.

Special events at the stadium aren't about making money, Robbie said.  In fact, the two concerts the Nichols hosted this summer were costly and a lot of work, that's why there are only two of them. But they fulfill a mission and keep a promise, he said.

"For us, it's not about the money," Nichols said. "It's about us seeing people having a good time at the stadium and us keeping our word when we signed the lease for Dwyer, that you would see more than just baseball there."

On a golden summer evening on Saturday, Dwyer was filled with the happy vibe of Zac Brown fans there to see the Rochester-based Zac Brown Tribute Band.  Frowns were impossible to find on the infield grass or in the stands or in the concession area where Robbie Nichols himself was serving up cocktails in palm-tree-top plastic containers and tall cans of beer.

The good times had by all might also help fill up the stands during Muckdogs games, Nichols acknowledged.

"Maybe 50 percent of the people there had never been to Dwyer before," Nichols said. "A lot of people came from Buffalo and Rochester.  I just want people to get used to coming to the stadium. I had a couple of people say they didn't know the stadium was this nice and that they will definitely be back for a Muckdogs game."

Given the amount of work and expense that goes into putting on a concert, there won't be any more shows at Dwyer this year, but given the success of the two events this summer, Nichols plans on doing it again next summer once the baseball season is over.

"I think my wife and I like to see people happy and having a good time," Nichols said. "We like seeing smiles on their faces, and I think we accomplished that with these concerts."

The next events at Dwyer are a baseball camp hosted by GCC and Geneseo College playing a ball game against alumni, and then there is the Alzheimer's Walk on Oct. 1, followed by the Halloween bash, which was a big success last year, on Oct. 22.

Photos by Howard Owens

Robbie Nichols

A pair of run-down sheds on an old farm on Edgerton Road, Elba, yesterday evening.

Photo by Howard Owens.

The Pembroke Dragons were in total control in their eight-man match up Saturday against C.G. Finney/North Star, leading to a 55-22 victory at home to start their 2022 season.

The Dragons amassed 460 yards on offense with the line of Chase Guzdek, Jayden Mast, Ben Steinberg, and Jayden Bridge leading the way.

Cayden Pfazler carried the ball 10 times for 193 yards and was 3 for 3 passing for 33 yards.  He scored four times. 

Caleb Felski and Sean Pustkulla also scored touchdowns.

Tyson Totten rushed for 190 yards and two touchdowns on 9 carries.

On defense, Cayden Pfalzer led the way with 10 tackles while Totten had 8, Jacob Von Kramer, Jacob Dulski, Chase Guzdek, and Nate Duttweiler, had six each.

Dulski had four fumble recoveries and snagged the ball on three separate successful onside-kicks to open the game.

Photos by Elizabeth Gabby.  Game information provided by Brandon Ricci.

Sunset yesterday on Ledge Road at Route 77.

Photo by Joanne Meiser.

The Oakfield-Alabama/Elba Aggies started off the 2022 season with a convincing win over Cardinal O'Hara, 76-6.

Noah Currie had six carries for 114 yards and four touchdowns.  QB Bodie Hyde carried the ball three times for 78 yards and three TDs. 

Aiden Warner scored on a 66-yard run and on defense had four tackles and an interception that he returned for a 25-yard TD.

Connor Scott returned a kickoff 75 yards for a score and had five tackles and an interception on defense.

Jake Walczak also returned a kickoff 75 yards for a TD.

T.J. Andrews had six tackles and a sack and Brayden Smith had six tackles.

Head Coach Tyler Winter said:  "It's always good to start the season off with a win. It's even better when you can do it with this type of performance.  We had a high level of execution on all three sides of the ball, we came out healthy, and a lot of our guys got to eat today.  We'll take what we can from the film and look to get ready for the next opponent."

Photos by Kristin Smith.  For more photos, click here.

In its season opener, Attica hosted Notre Dame and won the game Friday evening 28-14.

The Batavian has not received stats for the game.

In other games:

• Batavia beat Wayne Central, 27-7
• Oakfield-Alabama/Elba beat Cardinal O'Hara 76-6 (click here for the game story).
• Pembroke (eight-man) beat C.G. Finney/Northstar 55-22
• Alexander beat Avon 33-15. The Trojans racked up 407 yards of total offense.

Notre Dame game photos by Pete Welker.

When Corey Brown and Dean Brewer started working together in the kitchen at Sport of Kings they immediately struck up a friendship.

They both liked to cook and had aspirations to stretch their culinary skills.

Brown was born in New Orleans, where he came up through the ranks of some top Bourbon Street-area restaurants and Brewer started 25 years ago as a dishwasher at Sportos and kept looking for ways to learn new things and improve his skills.

Brown moved to Genesee County after meeting a girl from the area who convinced him there was a need for real Cajun dishes in Upstate New York.

Recently, they took over management of a restaurant located in Oakfield -- the former Oak Grill and Cafe -- running it for Kim Turner, Brewer's sister, who leased the location with the specific intention of letting Brown and Brewer put their culinary skills to work.

"Before we started, I had to do a lot of cooking in my house so she can taste it and she can say, 'Okay, I'm not gonna put my money behind it," Brown said.

Much of the menu of the old Oak Grill remains in place while Brown and Brewer introduce Cajun specialties, but some of the items diners might experience at the new Straight Out The Boot include jambalaya, crawfish etouffee, boudin balls, dirty rice, fried chicken, blackened catfish topped with crab meat,  and trinity and crawfish.

"Like I say, what we got now, a majority of the stuff still will be on there," Brown said. "But a couple of the things we'll be taking off and we'll be doing more Louisiana-style cooking."

Staying are hamburgers, which Brown said Brewer can grill better than anybody else he knows.  

"Dean does his burgers like, man, he makes some mean burger," Brown said. "I don't know. I'll put a burger on the grill they may not come out as juicy and tender as the way he does it."

Cooking came naturally to Brewer, he said.  It was the way he was raised.

"I'm a hillbilly from New York," Brewer said. "I was raised on the Southern Tier and the entire family can cook. They just can. I was always in the kitchen. It was just a natural thing. My grandfather told me once, 'The key is to be in the kitchen because that's where the coffee is and where the women usually work.'" 

Brown didn't set out to become a cook but once he started working in restaurants and seeing how the people who made the food got the praise for making customers happy, that appealed to him.

His biggest information came from a chef named Greg Craig.

"What he was doing was making big portions like he was a production cook," Brown said. "He did 50 gallons of gumbo, 50 gallons of crawfish one burst. I hear people talk about how good it is, even the workers, the other chefs, the owners, and I'm like, you know, I like that, you know, I like to hear the compliments. So I went over to him one day, I'm like, 'Man, I want to help out, you know, I want to cook  like you.' He said he needed an extra chef. 'I need the help.'"

Brown went on to work at Arnauds, off of Bourbon Street, and another restaurant on Bourbon Street and other restaurants, picking up tricks of the trade all along the way, including learning to cook Italian, and learning Greek cuisine when he moved to Batavia.

The name of the restaurant -- Straight Out the Boot -- is a play on the way Louisiana looks on a map.  The state is shaped like a boot, and Brown and Brewer want the restaurant to become known for providing really good Louisiana-style meals.

"Straight up, the boot is slang for everything we cooking," Brown said.

So far, Brown said, the Louisiana fare is going over well with diners.

"We've been getting a lot of good feedback off the jambalaya," Brown said. "We get a lot of feedback off the crawfish etouffee. Dean came out with a spicy chicken sandwich with the boom sauce, which is chicken topped with his creative barbecue spices, barbecue sauce. We've been getting good feedback from people."

Straight Out The Boot is located at 7062 Lewiston Road, Oakfield. Hours: 8 a.m. to 8 p.m. Monday through Saturday; and 8 a.m. to 3 p.m. Sunday. This weekend during Labor Daze, the restaurant is featuring fried chicken.

Photo by Howard Owens. Corey Brown, left, and Dean Brewer