Spotted in Byron.

More than 100 young soccer players turned out today for the annual clinic at the Batavia Sports Park hosted by Ricky Palermo and the Ricky Palermo Foundation.

The final day of the Crossroads House Garage Sale is tomorrow, from 9 a.m. to noon.

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Following an investigation at Six Flags Darien Lake, Cunningham was arrested at 6:40 p.m. on July 25 and arraigned in Darien Town Court. He is accused of touching the intimate parts of two individuals less than 14 years of age.

He was jailed in lieu of $2,500 cash bail and is due back in Darien Town Court at 3 p.m. on July 30. The case was investigated by Genesee County Sheriff's Deputy Kyle Krzemien.

Ricardo Sampel, 50, of Dellinger Avenue, Batavia, is charged with five counts of aggravated family offense -- more than one offense within five years. On July 17, the Genesee County Emergency Dispatch Center received the report of a violation of an order of protection by a third party. Following an investigation, Sampel was identified and is alleged to have committed the crime of second-degree criminal contempt. It is alleged that he knowingly violated an order of protection by contacting the protected party via phone on July 13. Due to his previous criminal history, including criminal contempt convictions, the charge against him was elevated to a Class E felony. The defendant is currently being held in GC Jail on a separate criminal contempt charge. He was arraigned in Batavia City Court and jailed without bail. The investigation was assisted by jail correctional officers, including Senior Correctional Officer J.M. Smart. The investigation was conducted by Genesee County Sheriff's Deputy Ryan DeLong.

Jennifer Jean Greene, 46, of Tennyson Terrace, Williamsville, is charged with second-degree criminal contempt. At 4:45 p.m. on July 7, deputies responded to Six Flags Darien Lake for the report of a violation of an order of protection. Following an investigation, Greene was arrested. It is alleged that she made physical contact with a person who had a stay away order of protection against Greene. The defendant was arraigned in Darien Town Court and released on her own recognizance. She is due back in Darien Town Court on July 30. The case was handled by Genesee County Sheriff's Deputy Erik Andre.

Community Action of Orleans & Genesee will host the sixth annual Community Action Angels Children's Carnival on Friday, Aug. 16, in Lambert Park in Batavia.

Time is 11 a.m. to 2 p.m.

There will be games, prizes, hot dogs and beverages.

Game tickets are five for $1.

Two bicycles will be raffled off, too, courtesy of Fidelis Care. Be there to win.

No rain date.

Lambert Park is located 100 Verona Ave. in the city.

Thanks to all participating agencies and businesses for their continued help and support.

Special thanks to carnival sponsors Fidelis Care, the YMCA, and Care A Van Ministries.

For more information, call 343-7798.

Press release:

The Batavia City School District Foundation Inc. is proud to announce their Engraved Brick Campaign at VanDetta Stadium at Woodward Field.

The bricks will be located in front of the weight room and will be a “River Red” color. Each brick is $100 (including engraving). All engravings will be approved by the BCSD Foundation Inc. 

Each brick will be 7¾ x 4 x 1¾ inch and on each brick there will be a maximum of 14 characters per line with a maximum of three lines. A character is any letter, space or punctuation mark.

Order forms are available on the BCSD Foundation Inc. website here or at the Batavia City School District’s Instructional Services’ office at 260 State St., Batavia.

Orders received by Sept. 1 will be installed in the Fall of 2019. All others will be installed the following years.  

If you have any questions, please contact the BCSD Foundation Inc. at:  foundation@ bataviacsd.org or Julia Rogers at 343-2480, ext. 1010.

Press release:

Representatives from Batavia Downs are pleased to announce they have received two Romero trophies during the closing ceremonies of the Casino Marketing and Technology Conference in Las Vegas.

The Romero Awards honor excellence in gaming marketing and are named for gaming marketing pioneer John Romero. Awards are given in two size categories (above or below 1000 gaming positions) in several different marketing categories. The winners are selected by an independent panel of expert judges.

Lindsay Matikosh, Batavia Downs’ Promotions Manager, was on hand to receive the trophies as they were awarded.

A Gold Trophy was received for Batavia's Fall Ball Promotion. An Honorable Mention trophy was won by the company’s “Best Seat in the House” promotion, whereby texters into the Batavia Downs Text Club could find themselves sitting on the Max Pies Furniture couch for a concert at last year’s summer concert series.

Batavia Downs’ host supervisor, Mikala Phillips, was part of a group that won the Team Challenge Championship. As part of a five-person team, she and her teammates were presented with a problem that they needed to solve by working together in just a matter of hours. They then presented their solution to a panel of judges with over one hundred people in the audience.

"Everyone at our facility shares in these awards," said Ryan Hasenauer, director of Marketing at Batavia Downs Gaming. "All departments were involved in either the creation, promotion or the execution of our events.

"The trophies will be added to our display case near Player's Club for all to see. We are also proud of Mikala for winning an individual award. Staff is looking forward to her sharing all she learned at the conference with us."

Press release:

Congratulations to the Genesee County 4-H members who participated in the 4-H Livestock Shows at the 2019 Genesee County Fair.

4-H Beef Show

• Senior Showmanship – Caleb Carlson
• Junior Showmanship – Audrey Dorman
• Novice Showmanship – Thomas Keele
• Master Showman – Caleb Carlson
• Supreme Female – Makayla Sugg
• Reserve Supreme Female – Shianne Foss 
• Champion Beef Steer – Autumn Mathisen
• Reserve Champion Beef Steer – Shianne Foss
• Champion Dairy Steer – Maggie Winspear
• Reserve Champion Dairy Steer – Justin Deleo 

4-H Dairy Cattle Show

• Novice Showmanship – Colton Walczak
• Junior Showmanship – Jacob Beideck
• Intermediate Showmanship – Maggie Winspear
• Senior Showmanship – Amelia Brewer
• Master Showman – Amelia Brewer
• Champion Ayrshire – Amelia Brewer
• Champion Grade – Annalise Sybertz
• Champion Holstein – Bing Zuber
• Champion Brown Swiss – Bing Zuber
• Champion Jersey – Maggie Winspear
• Supreme Champion – Bing Zuber
• Reserve Supreme Champion – Bing Zuber
• Best Bred and Owned – Jillian Brewer

4-H Dairy & Meat Goat Show

• Novice Dairy Goat Showmanship – Levi Miller
• Junior Dairy Goat Showmanship – Jade Winn
• Senior Dairy Goat Showmanship – Gabe Winn
• Master Dairy Goat Showman—Jade Winn
• Best Udder—Gabe Winn
• Best in Show Dairy Doe—Shane Coast
• Novice Meat Goat Showmanship – Levi Miller
• Junior Meat Goat Showmanship – Campbell Riley
• Senior Meat Goat Showmanship – John Riley
• Master Meat Goat Showman—John Riley
• Champion Meat Goat Doe—Lily Haacke
• Champion Boer Doe—John Riley

4-H Sheep Show

• Senior Showmanship – Becky Kron
• Junior Showmanship – Hunter McCabe
• Novice Showmanship – Makayla Sugg
• Master Showman—Becky Kron
• Supreme Champion Ram – Becky Kron
• Supreme Champion Ewe – Brendan Pimm
• Champion Market Lamb – Makayla Sugg
• Reserve Champion Market Lamb – Ben Kron

4-H Hog Show

• Senior Showmanship – Dillon Weber
• Junior Showmanship – Brendan Pimm
• Novice Showmanship – Thomas Keele
• Master Showman – Dillon Weber
• Champion Market Hog – Makayla Sugg
• Reserve Champion Market Hog – Thomas Keele
• Supreme Champion Gilt – Thomas Keele
• Reserve Supreme Gilt – Jillian Weaver

4-H Market Animal Auction Poultry Show 

• Champion Pen of Chickens – Evan Winspear 
• Reserve Pen of Chickens – Jillian Brewer
• Master Showman – Teagan Mathes
• Champion Project Pen of Chickens – Teagan Mathes
• Reserve Project Pen of Chickens – Teagan Mathes

4-H Market Animal Auction Goat Show

• Champion Market Goat – John Riley
• Reserve Champion Market Goat – Riley Smith
• Master Showman – John Riley
• Champion Project Market Goat – Tyler Jirovec
• Reserve Project Market Goat – Clare Mathes

4-H Market Animal Auction Lamb Show

• Champion Market Lamb – Makayla Sugg
• Reserve Champion Market Lamb – Madelynn Pimm
• Master Showman – Brendan Pimm
• Champion Project Market Lamb – Makayla Sugg
• Reserve Project Market Lamb – Brendan Pimm

4-H Market Animal Auction Beef Show

• Champion Beef Steer – Cole Carlson
• Reserve Beef Steer – Caleb Carlson
• Master Showman – Cole Carlson
• Champion Project Beef Steer – Cole Carlson
• Reserve Project Beef Steer – Shianne Foss

4-H Market Animal Auction Dairy Steer Show

• Champion Dairy Steer – Bing Zuber
• Reserve Dairy Steer – Chase Zuber
• Master Showman – Carolyn Sybertz
• Champion Project Dairy Steer – Bing Zuber
• Reserve Project Dairy Steer – Chase Zuber

4-H Market Animal Auction Hog Show

• Champion Market Hog – Becky Kron
• Reserve Market Hog – Cody Carlson
• Master Showman – Becky Kron
• Champion Project Market Hog – Cody Carlson
• Reserve Project Market Hog – Thomas Keele

For more information about the Genesee County 4-H Program, contact the 4-H Office at genesee4h@cornell.edu or 585-343-3040, ext. 131. 

Important Notice
 

From the county Highway Department:

Batavia Police Department detectives' court testimony on Thursday attempted to connect the bludgeoning death of 47-year-old Raymond L. Morgan to Richard D. Hanes, the man accused of murdering Morgan in his Liberty Street residence last July.  

District Attorney Lawrence Friedman called detectives Eric Hill and Thad Mart to testify about their recollections of the events surrounding the July 24, 2018, murder. 

The investigators said lab tests detected Hanes’s DNA on a baseball cap found below Morgan’s bedroom window. Detectives reportedly also found a green shirt and gray pants — similar to descriptions of the unknown perpetrator’s clothes — in Hanes’s blood-covered closet at his former Thorpe Street, Batavia, home. 

The detectives explained to jurors that Morgan’s DNA began to be collected throughout the city following his death. Batavia PD found Morgan’s blood on both the exterior of his bedroom window and the house siding below the room in the hours after the attack. 

Morgan’s DNA was also swabbed from a handlebar grip of Hanes’s bicycle and a hammer on the roof of an Ellicott Street house. Detectives suspect Hanes may have thrown the alleged murder weapon before pedaling back to Thorpe Street. 

Jurors listened as Hill reassembled a text conversation between Morgan and Hanes from the fatal night last July. Although Morgan’s contact information and the text messages did not appear on Hanes’s phone, they were later found in a phone records search by police. 

Hanes apparently texted Morgan “I owe you $395. Imma pay you” around 10:50 p.m. and “Here” at 11:09 p.m, minutes before Batavia PD was called to 111 Liberty St.

Mart told the jury that he had heard loud sirens from emergency responders as he was driving on Main Street before being dispatched to the scene of Morgan's death.

Mart questioned why Hanes said in a July 26, 2018, interview that he did not hear or see responders while traveling on his bicycle in the vicinity of the crime scene. 

“For him to be in the area where he said he was, I find it hard to believe that he would not at least hear the sirens,” Mart said.

Hanes faces life in prison if convicted of second-degree murder. Defense attorney Frederick Rarick will have the opportunity to cross-examine Mart when the trial continues at 2 p.m. today in Genesee County Court.

Updated, neutral and clean with awesome attic and basement space – if you really want to expand your space!

This home is great and definitely should be seen. Easy to get into at anytime, just call Lynn Bezon at 585-344-4663 today or click here fo rmore information on this listing.

David Bellavia visited the Holland Land Office Museum on Wednesday at the request of The Batavian for an exclusive interview to discuss his experience in Washington the week he received the Medal of Honor on June 25 in a ceremony at the White House and was inducted into the Hall of Heroes at the Pentagon.

In the interview, we discuss not only his Medal of Honor, but the Medal of Honor received by Charles F. Rand, a Batavia resident often credited with being the first to enlist in the Army as a volunteer at the start of the Civil War. We discussed the "bubble" Bellavia was in during his time in Washington; the time he spent with the men he went to war with in Iraq;the men who didn't come home, most notably Capt. Sean Sims; what it was like on stage in the East Room during the Medal of Honor ceremony; the rush of people around him during the reception after the ceremony; what it means to represent the Army as a Medal of Honor recipient; and why he wanted to be sure to include in the events his friends from Western New York, especially the GLOW counties. Now that he's personally met President Donald Trump, we also asked for his measure of the man. And finally, we discussed his childrens' reaction, especially his sons, to the award.

NOTE AND POSSIBLE CORRECTION:  We have been referring to David Bellavia and Charles Rand, including in this video, as the only two Batavia residents to receive the Medal of Honor. We knew about James E. Cross but the history on Cross, as passed along to us, has been that he was born in Darien and enlisted in Batavia. County Clerk Michael Cianfrini wrote yesterday to suggest that Cross was a resident of Batavia. This morning I did a quick search on ancestry.com and it appears Cross was a resident of Batavia during the 1860 and 1870 censuses. It appears that he enlisted in Elmira. He was discharged with a disability in 1862 and was awarded the Medal of Honor in 1898. We'll see if we can find out more.

Press release:

The race for first-place in the Pinckey Division of the New York-Penn League got interesting on Thursday night as West Virginia scored two runs in the bottom of the ninth to down the Batavia Muckdogs, 4-3.

Batavia is now in first place at 24-16 and West Virginia is 21-17, taking 2-of-3 from the Muckdogs.

Batavia returns home for three games Friday, Saturday and Sunday against Williamsport.

A bright spot for the Muckdogs was the pitching of Julio Frias, who pitched six strong innings, striking out six, five of them in the first three innings. He gave up four hits, one run and walked two.

Frias, 21, was signed out of Boca Chica, Dominican Republic, by the Miami Marlins. The Marlins were patient with the young 6-foot-2 lefty, giving him two years with the Dominican Summer League Marlins and two years with the Gulf Coast League Marlins.

During that time, Frias, who started his career at 16, went 3-15 with an ERA close to five.

However, this season with Batavia, Frias is 3-1 with a 1.73 ERA and he has struck out 50 in 41.2 innings with 12 walks and 25 hits.

Batavia took a 1-0 lead in the second when Milton Smith II scored on a mild pitch with two outs, then West Virginia tied the game at 1-1 in the third.

In the top of the fifth, Nic Ready, crushed his 21st double of the season to left scoring J.D. Orr then Smith II then singled to left scoring Ready for a 3-1 lead.

In the bottom of the ninth, a sacrifice fly tied the game and a single by Nick Patten to score Matthew Fraizer won the game for West Virginia.

Orr forced two balks of West Virginia pitchers while he was on the bases with his unique leading style. He had the hit and walked three times and it now hitting .375 on the season. He also stole his 20th base of the season

Smith II had two hits a RBI (his 15th) and a run. Ready's RBI was his 23rd on the season.

Andrew Turner had two hits for the Muckdogs while Dalvy Roasario and Jack Strunc also had hits.

M.D. Johnson had his fourth hold on the season, going 0.2 innings and Geremy Galindez had his first hold pitching 1.1 innings of perfect baseball with one strikeout. Evan Brabrand took the loss, he is now 2-1 on the season.

Tonight the Muckdogs host Williamsport; it is Flash Back Friday, there will be Crafty Hour as Eli Fish craft beers are $3 for an hour before the game. Fans can get a bag of tennis balls after the game and take the chance on throwing one into a hula hoop to win two round-trip airline tickets courtesy of Allegiant Air. There are other hoops to win other prizes.

On Saturday (also a 7:05 p.m. start), the Muckdogs not only have fireworks after the game, but Tompkins Bank of Castile bought all the general admission seats and are giving them away to fans. There are still a few available at the box office.

Sunday is a 5:05 p.m. start and it's O'Lacy's Irish Day. O'Lacy's has specials and tickets, you can visit the restaurant or follow them on Facebook.

It is also free admission for MuckPups and kids can run the bases. Before the game, next to the souvenir stand, it is Autograph Alley as eight players will sign autographs, pose for photos and selfies with fans.

Submitted photo: The patience the Miami Marlins have shown with lefty Julio Frias is paying off. He threw six strong innings Thursday and left with his team ahead, 3-1. The Muckdogs fell, 4-3. Batavia Muckdogs remain in first place despite last-inning victory by West Virginia.

Reader Ross Kenyon sent us this picture of his spectacular daylily garden on the grounds of his home at 580 Cohocton Road in Corfu.

He says the posies are in the peak of bloom right now and "quite a great sight."

The garden shown here is one of five on his property.

Daylillies are Eurasian perennial herbs (genus Hemerocallis) of the lily family that have short-lived flowers resembling lilies and are widespread in cultivation and landscaping.

Submitted photos and press release:

Congratulations to the Genesee County 4-H members who competed in the 4-H Master Showman Contests at the 2019 Genesee County Fair.

The 4-H Overall Livestock Master Showman Contest was held on Friday, July 19^th, at the Genesee County Fair. The winners of the master showmanship classes in dairy cattle, beef cattle, sheep, goats, hogs, poultry, cavies and rabbits qualified to compete in the contest.

At the contest, Maggie Winspear was named the 2019 Overall 4-H Livestock Master Showman. 

The 4-H Livestock Master Showman class winners were:

• Cavy Master Showman – Maggie Winspear
• Beef Cattle Master Showman – Caleb Carlson
• Dairy Cattle Master Showman – Amelia Brewer
• Meat & Dairy Goat Master Showman – Clare Mathes
• Poultry Master Showman – Teagan Mathes
• Rabbit Master Showman – Amelia Brewer
• Sheep Master Showman – Becky Kron
• Swine Master Showman – Dillon Weber

On Saturday, July 20^th, the 4-H Market Animal Auction Master Showman Contest was held at the Genesee County Fair.

The master showmanship class winners of the Market Animal Auction Lamb, Goat, Hog, Poultry, Beef Steer and Dairy Steer Shows competed in the contest.

Becky Kron was named the 2019 4-H Market Animal Auction Master Showman.

The 4-H market animal auction master showman class winners were:

• Beef Steer Master Showman – Cole Carlson
• Dairy Steer Master Showman – Carolyn Sybertz
• Market Goat Master Showman – Clare Mathes
• Market Hog Master Showman – Becky Kron
• Market Lamb Master Showman – Brendan Pimm
• Market Poultry Master Showman – Teagan Mathes

For more information about the Genesee County 4-H Program, contact the 4-H Office at genesee4h@cornell.edu or 585-343-3040, ext. 131. 

Above, a trio from Le Roy High School Class of '55.

Story by Pat Iamon. Photos courtesy of Agnes Snyder.

LE ROY -- This year marked the 22^nd Annual Alumni Banquet and the committee decided to bring it back home to Le Roy. In fact, it was held on Friday, July 12 in the old Holy Family School gym; currently the Our Lady of Mercy gym.

More than 150 alumni and guests were in attendance on that beautiful afternoon. The oldest class, the Class of 1944, had four members celebrating their 75^th-reunion year. The largest class represented was 16 from the Class of 1958. 

Folks came from far and near and exchanged warm greetings, hugs and kisses.

Joe Riggi from the Class of 1960 emceed the afternoon’s event. He began by asking everyone to stand and say the Pledge of Allegiance, he then requested a moment of silence to honor deceased alumni. Riggi, an Air Force veteran, then asked that all veterans remain standing while everyone else was seated so that the veterans could be recognized for their service with an enthusiastic round of applause.

Don Antinore from the Class of 1958 gave a blessing and a delicious buffet was served up.

Following dinner Riggi introduced Luetta Boothe McColl from the Class of 1950. McColl talked briefly praising the hard work of the founding committee members who were responsible for establishing the Alumni Banquet some 22 years ago: Germaine Lauwereins Bostwick, Class of 1946; Lois Stevens Stella and Margurite Rogers Green, Class of 1947, were recognized for their hard work and dedication over the years. She also thanked the current committee for their work putting this year’s banquet together.

Throughout the afternoon, folks were encouraged to visit the Chinese Auction table which had a variety of baskets donated by many of the classes in attendance and also many gift cards and certificates from local restaurants and businesses. There was also a 50/25/25 raffle. The proceeds of both will go toward next year’s reunion.

(Above are seven members of the Iannello family who attended the reunion.)

Riggi announced that there were seven members of the Iannello family present, he asked that they stand and be recognized. For the Iannello family it was a family reunion, too!

Riggi’s program included a selection of photos of the students over the years in clubs, sporting events, scouts and in class. He also spoke of the history and construction of the Le Roy Post Office and the bridge over the Oatka Creek. Photos of both as well as photos of Downtown Le Roy’s storefronts brought enthusiastic comments from the room.

Toward the end of the event, four large beautifully decorated sheet cakes were served and winners of the raffles were announced.

The event ended around 4 p.m. and folks began to head out, but many of them exited at the back door and took some time to watch the ongoing construction of the apartment buildings below on Mill Street. Someone yelled out for them to turn around for a photo of the old (folks) and new (construction). That brought a chuckle to everyone which was a nice end to an even nicer day!

These ladies took care of registration at the 22^nd Annual Alumni Banquet of Le Roy High School.

High school sweethearts Rose and Dick Scott, seated, Class of '58, are still an item.