Press release:

For the sixth year, Batavia Middle School will be hosting its Spring Family Night from 5 to 6:30 p.m. on Tuesday, March 12.

Maureen Notaro, seventh and eighth grade assistant principal, said numerous activities planned for families to enjoy together throughout the evening. That school day will also include a special presentation for the students, with a visit from Corey the Dribbler, a former Harlem Globetrotter from Academic Entertainment.  Notaro said Corey has a positive message that he delivers to the students regarding perseverance, character traits and never giving up on your dreams.

In terms of the evening activities for families, there will be several community organizations, and local agencies present. Included in this list is Richmond Memorial Library, BMS parent-teacher group, Girl Scouts, Batavia Fire Department, GC Mental Health Services, Genesee County Business Education Alliance, Genesee County Youth Bureau, Genesee County Sheriff's Department, the Batavia Police Department, and Paul Kesler, high school principal, will be there to discuss class rank.

In addition, Fidelis Care will be present with the "Every Child Covered" campaign. They will speaking with families to ensure that they have health insurance for their children. The County Department of Social Services will be present seeking potential foster families. Harvester 56 Theater Dance Academy will be presenting Irish dance in the auditorium as entertainment for our families.

The goal for the evening is for our families to spend quality time together, from enjoying dinner and entertainment to persevering as a team to solve problems and complete tasks.

In the cafeteria, families can enjoy a Mexican-themed dinner of tacos and churros catered by Rancho Viejo.

Families will have an opportunity to visit rooms with activities and games, such as building a bridge to support a given object’s weight, playing bingo, and creating art work as a team. In addition, there will be a room for our students to decorate a bag and choose a few books to take home with them.

In the gym, we will host our basket raffle, featuring baskets prepared by our BMS staff, as well as a bike raffle which was made possible by the generous donation from the Police Benevolent Association and Batavia Firefighters Association.

Our hope is that as the evening ends with our basket raffle, our families will exit the building having had a positive night of community engagement.

Pre-need funeral accounts in New York State are considered assets of the individual, not the funeral home. Each year, those that have prepaid their funerals with a funeral home receive a tax document for the interest earned in the previous year. If you have an account with any of our funeral homes, and did not receive your statement, please call us. We'd be happy to assist you. Batavia Funeral Homes

The following people are wanted on warrants issued out of Batavia City Court. If you have any information on the whereabouts of these subjects, please contact the Batavia Police Department at (585) 345-6350.

Do not make any attempt to apprehend these individuals on your own.

If you have an active warrant and want to avoid ending up on a WANTED list like this, the Batavia Police Department would be more than happy to assist you on resolving the warrant.

Shane Zimblis, 48, of South Swan Street, Batavia, turned himself into the Batavia Police Department on March 9 on a warrant out of Batavia City Court. He is accused of damaging property belonging to another person and causing injury to another person by use of a baseball bat at 12:15 p.m. Feb. 19 on South Swan Street, Batavia. He is in GC Jail charged with: second-degree harassment; fourth-degree criminal mischief; second-degree assault -- injury with a weapon; and criminal possession of a weapon with intent to use. The case was handled by Batavia Police OfficerJason Ivison.

A 17-year-old male who lives on Ellicott Avenue in Batavia is charged with endangering the welfare of a child. He was arrested on March 9 for allegedly hitting an 11-year-old male with a piece of wood, causing physical injury. The incident occurred on Maltby Road in Oakfield at 3:20 p.m. on Feb. 28. He is due in Oakfield Town Court at 6 o'clock this evening (March 11). The case was investigated by Genesee County Sheriff's Deputy Mathew Clor.

Monica Jane White, 20, of Sunset Park, Oakfield, is charged with issuing a bad check. On March 8, following the investigation of a bad check, White was arrested, issued an appearance ticket, and is due in Town of Oakfield Court at 6 p.m. on March 25. The case was investigated by Genesee County Sheriff's Deputy Joshua Brabon, assisted by Sgt. John Baiocco.

Douglas Antwon Spencer IV, 37, of Park Road, Batavia, is charged with: driving while intoxicated with a BAC of .08 percent or more; DWI; open container; and unlicensed operation. Spencer was arrested on Park Road after being found sitting in his vehicle in the middle of the GC Sheriff's Office parking lot entrance with an open container, allegedly driving while intoxicated. The case was handled by Genesee County Sheriff's Deputy James Stack, assisted by Sgt. John Baiocco.

Woodrow C. Horseman, 42, of Porter Avenue, Batavia, is charged with petit larceny. On March 8, Batavia police responded to Tops Market in Batavia for a reported larceny. Responding patrols located the suspect on West Main Street and Woodrow Road. He allegedly stole three alcoholic drinks. Horseman was issued an appearance ticket and is due in Batavia City Court on March 12. The case was handled by Batavia Police Officer Arick Perkins, assisted by Officer Nicole McGinnis.

Benjamin Jacob Skubis, 24, of Colby Road, Darien, is charged with third-degree bail jumping. Skubis voluntarily turned himself into Alabama Town Court on March 7. He was due there for an unspecified incident on June 7. He was released on his own recognizance and is to reappear in Alabama Town Court at a later date. The case was handled by Genesee County Sheriff's Deputy Thomas Sanfratello.

Joseph W. Freeman, 34, no address noted, is charged with failure to appear. He was arrested Feb. 27 on a bench warrant issued Jan. 31 for an unspecified incident. Freeman was released on his own recognizance was due to return to Batavia City Court on March 5. The case was handled by Batavia Police Officer Stephen Cronmiller, assisted by Officer Frank Klimjack.

Press release from AAA:

Today’s national average price for a gallon of gasoline is $2.48, up 5 cents from last week. One year ago, the price was $2.52.

The New York State average is $2.59 – up 6 cents from last week. A year ago, the NYS average was $2.69.

AAA Western and Central New York (AAA WCNY) reports the following averages:

• Batavia -- $2.50 (up 2 cents since last week)
• Buffalo -- $2.51 (up 1 cent since last week)
• Ithaca -- $2.59 (up 11 cents since last week)
• Rochester -- $2.57 (up 9 cents since last week)
• Rome -- $2.59 (up 8 cents since last week)
• Syracuse -- $2.57 (up 10 cents since last week)
• Watertown -- $2.59 (up 8 cents since last week)

Pump prices have increased this week due to reduced gasoline stock levels and increased demand. In its latest weekly petroleum report, the Energy Information Administration (EIA) revealed that total gasoline stocks fell by 4.2 million bbl. They now sit at 250.7 million bbl, which is 300,000 bbl less than last year’s level at this time.

Meanwhile, EIA reported that demand for gasoline saw a slight uptick last week to 9.1 million b/d, growing by approximately 100,000 b/d from the previous week. As the nation begins to exit the winter driving season, motorists should expect pump prices to continue rising as demand increases and stocks of gasoline tighten.

A two-vehicle accident with injuries is reported at Route 20 and County Line Road, Darien.

At least one person was trapped inside, but a first responder was able to pop open a rear door and extricate the person. Darien Fire Department and its ambulance are on scene.

The accident is not blocking the roadway, but traffic control is needed. Genesee County Sheriff's deputies are also on scene.

UPDATE 9:28 a.m.: Darien medics are en route to UMMC with one patient.

Mancuso Bowling Center in Batavia is once again becoming a "house of high scores" – reviving the slogan that the East Main street establishment used back in the 1970s.

Two league bowlers reached perfection recently as Nathan Cordes of Batavia recorded his fourth 300 game this past Monday in the Mancuso Real Estate/No Finer Diner league and Jeremy Vallance of Warsaw posted his second USBC-certified 300 game on Feb. 28 in the Toyota of Batavia Thursday night league.

Cordes’ perfect game came on the heels of the 290 he rolled four nights earlier in the Toyota of Batavia league.

The 300 games by Vallance and Cordes increase the number of perfect games this season at Mancuso’s to 13 – the most at any center in the Genesee Region USBC.

On Wednesday in the County Line Stone league at Scopano’s Lanes in Oakfield, Genesee Region USBC Hall of Famer Fred Gravanda just missed another perfect game as he rolled a 299 and 751 series while filling in for the Turnbull Heating team.

For a list of high scores this past week, click on the Pin Points tab at the top of this page.

Senior guard Ryann Stefaniak, left, and Head Coach Marty Hein share a moment together after today's Batavia High girls' basketball program banquet at T.F. Brown's.

Stefaniak scored 1,357 points during her BHS career and was named Player of the Year in Monroe County Division 4 this season. Hein was selected Class B1 Coach of the Year after leading his team to a 17-2 regular season.

The Lady Blue Devils won two Section 5 Class B1 contests before losing to Midlakes in the title game.

Three members of the Lady Devils were named to the Monroe County Division 4 all-star team, with Mackenzie Reigle, left, and Bryn Wormley, right, making the First Team and Emma Krolczyk making the Second Team. All three will return next year.

Photos by Mike Pettinella.

Here are three upcoming programs offered at Genesee County Park & Forest:

Bluebird Nest Box Monitoring

How can you help baby birds? Join us at Genesee County Park & Forest for Bluebird Nest Box Monitoring from 1 to 3 p.m. on Saturday March 23rd.

Come discover NestWatch -- a nationwide nest monitoring program that helps scientists track wild bird populations. Help bluebirds at the park and learn how to keep them healthy in your own backyard!

Dress for the weather and meet at the Interpretive Nature Center at the Genesee County Park & Forest. Learn about the secret life of the Eastern Bluebird, then head outside to prepare next boxes for nesting season 2019. This event will go on, rain or shine.

This program is FREE. Please preregister by calling 585-344-1122.

Call (585) 344-1122 to register. For more information visit our website here, or contact Shannon Lyaski at Shannon.Lyaski@co.genesee.ny.us or (585) 344-1122.

Amphibian Adventure

Listen to the chorus of spring and get to know your small, slimy singing neighbors with Amphibian Adventure at the Genesee County Park & Forest from 7:30 to 9 p.m. on Saturday April 13th.

Meet us at the Interpretive Nature Center to learn how to identify our pest-eating pals. Then we will venture into the wetlands and forest at night to search for amphibians in their habitat! Hear their many calls as they welcome spring and find out what you can do to help your tiny big-eyed friends.

Dress for the weather, amphibians love rainy nights and this program will go rain or shine! Cost is $5/person, $10/family. Preregistration is required, call 585-344-1122 to reserve your spot.

Summertime Environmental Science Camp for Seventh- through 10th-graders

After falling behind in the first half, Oakfield-Alabama made a run of it in the third quarter against Maple Grove in the Class C Far West Regional Championship game at Buffalo State College and looked like they might pull it out but a six-point fourth quarter doomed the effort.

The Hornets lost 44-38.

Brianna Smith scored 14 points for O-A. Tori Mandel added nine and Kelsey Schlagenhauf and Danica Porter added five apiece.​

Photos by Thomas Ognibene from Steve Ognibene Photography.

To view or purchase photos, click here.

Danielle Haskell, still a junior, proved Saturday why she's going to a Division I university after she graduates in leading her team, Franklinville, to a 49-32 victory over the Elba Lancers in the Class D Far West Regional Championship.

Haskell scored 33 points, despite being held to one for 11 from the three-point line. No other player for Franklin even got close to double digits in scoring, with Abby Burrell and Abby McCoy scoring five points each.

Elba jumped out to an early lead but couldn't hold it and after the third quarter where the Lancers scored only three points, it was hard for the team to get back in the game.

Leah Bezon scored 11 points, Brynn Walczak, nine, Lauryn Engle, six, and Taylor Augello, four. Maddie Muehlig had five assists.

Photos by Thomas Ognibene from Steve Ognibene Photography.

To view or purchase photos, click here.

The mother of Ashley McCormack, the 18-year-old wheelchair-bound Darien resident whose dream is to have an Action Trackchair to increase her mobility, says they now have 15 raffle tickets for $15 (for the bunch) on sale.

Drawings will be held at the Sunday March 31 fundraiser for Ashley at Darien Fire Hall. All prizes in the raffle each have a value of more than $100, Susan Pfalzer said.

You do not have to be present to win.

"We also have (presale) admission tickets for sale, too, $10 gets you in for food, entertainment and Chinese auction," Pfalzer said.

Admission tickets at the door are $15. Time is 1 to 6 p.m.

The fire hall is located at 10537 Alleghany Road, Darien Center.

The Action Trackchair -- an all-terrain wheelchair -- is highly customizable. Insurance won't cover the cost of it and it retails for more than $11,000.

Organizers, friends and family are seeking cash donations, checks, gift certificates, gift baskets and auction items.

Cash donations and checks can be made out to:   Ashley's Action Trackchair. Send them to:  Susan Pfalzer, 1792 Sumner Road, Darien, NY 14040.

Group donations are encouraged.

For corporations and organizations, there is an EIN number available for your donations.

For presale tickets, donations or other information about this benefit, call: Cheryl Medina at (716) 863-0388; or (Nana) Annette Pfalzer at 547-9342; or (Mom) Sue Pfalzer at (585) 300-9508.

There is also a GoFundMe account set up. Visit here.

For previous coverage, click here.

Karaya D. Cummings, age 29, Black female 5’4” 130 lbs., black hair brown eyes, LKA Griffith Street Rochester, NY

Bench warrant for criminal possession of a controlled substance 5^th PL 220.06-1 (Felony)  Genesee County Court DOW 10/3/18

Antonio J. Goodson, age 28, Black male, 6’2” 155 lbs., black hair brown eyes, LKA Wood Street Batavia, NY

Bench warrant for criminal contempt 1^st  PL 215.50-3 (Felony) Genesee County Court DOW 2/15/19

Robert J. Moulthrop, age 51, White male, 5’11” 170 lbs, bald with hazel eyes, LKA Alexander Street, Rochester, NY

Bench warrant for DWI/Drove W/.08% BAC or more VTL 1192-2,3 (Misdemeanor) Byron Town Court DOW 2/12/18

Donald H. Piechocki, age 54, White male, 5’11” 150 lbs., brown hair blue eyes, LKA Cattle Drive Kissimmee, FL

Arrest warrant for DWI/Drove W/.08% BAC or more VTL 1192-2,3 (misdemeanor) Alexander Town Court DOW 10/11/05

Ramon A. Quinones  AKA Casilla R. Quinones, age 24 Hispanic male, 5’6” 150 lbs., black hair brown eyes, LKA 8170 Batavia-Stafford TL Road Batavia, NY

Bench warrant for petit larceny PL 155.25 (misdemeanor) Batavia Town Court DOW 2/9/16

Arrest warrant for bail jumping 3^rd PL 215.55 (misdemeanor) Batavia Town Court DOW 10/26/17

Scott E. Staubitz,  age 37, White male blond hair, hazel eyes, 5’10” 170 lbs., LKA Union Road, Cheektowaga, NY

Bench warrant for criminal possession of a controlled substance 7^th PL 220.03 (Misdemeanor) Darien Town Court DOW 10/18/18

Arrest warrant for bail jumping 3^rd PL 215.55 (misdemeanor) Darien Town Court DOW 12/4/18

If you are able to assist the Sheriff's Office in locating these people, the Sheriff's Office asks that you do not approach these people and that you call (585) 343-5000 with information that may assist in locating the suspects.

A 35-year-old male with a possible broken leg is in a wooded area off Transit Road in Bethany that is not accessible to regular vehicles. The address is 10650 Transit Road just north of Spark Road. It was called in by a neighbor.

Bethany Fire Department is responding along with Mercy medics. Alexander's UTV is called in along with Le Roy's UTV "in case we need to carry some people in there." The location "pretty far behind the residence."

UPDATE 11:58 a.m.: A first responder at the scene asks that incoming help follow his footsteps into the woods and puts Mercy Flight #5 out of Batavia on a ground standby.

UPDATE 12:14 p.m.: The patient is being collared and boarded and will be brought out of the woods shortly. Mercy Flight remains on ground standby for now.

About a year ago, Dale Vargason, from Wayland, purchased a cache of documents from the late 18th, early 19th centuries and when he got them home, he found a surprise -- a deed to a piece of property in what is now Ontario County signed by Joseph Ellicott.

Yesterday, he dropped the deed, framed, at Bontrager's Auction on Wortendyke Road, Batavia, where Todd Jantzi said he will present it in a consignment auction featuring antiques and historical documents. A date for the auction has not yet been announced.

"As soon as I saw the Joseph Ellicott I dropped everything else and said, ‘oh, my gosh’ and I started researching it," Vargason said. "I knew who he was but I wanted to figure out how much was this worth but I couldn’t find any comparables so I decided, ‘we’ll see’ and I thought I would hang onto it. When I mentioned it to Todd, his eyes lit up."

Jantzi said it's a fairly rare document and should go for $600 to $800. The deed is from 1813.  

Ellicott was an agent for the Holland Land Company from 1800 to 1821. He laid out the first plans for the Village of Batavia and the Village of Buffalo. He signed many land deeds during those years.

Documents of this much historic value don't come into the auction house often, according to Jantzi.

"We might see it maybe once every three to five years," Jantzi said.

The keynote speaker today at the Genesee County Economic Development Center's annual meeting at Batavia Downs was Jeremy Bout, founder and CEO of Edge Factor.

It's an education resource company that makes video and training materials to help attract students to STEM -- Science, Technology, Engineering and Math -- fields and then guide them through a career path.

Bout said his life was changed as a teen when he was given access to advanced manufacturing tools that were really beyond what most 18-year-olds get access to while in training. That eventually led him to seek ways to make STEM careers more attractive for students and help bridge the gap between what today's employers need to hire and what careers young people are choosing.

"I realize I was one of the lucky ones," Bout said. "I was the one that came out of high school that didn't get lost in the shuffle. I found meaningful work and meaningful employment.

"I went on to study many different things but it was that opportunity with the real-world intersecting my education that gave me that gateway into my passion." 

Bout and his team make videos that tell the stories of how technology impacts lives. They also make highly engaging training videos that help young people prepare to enter the workforce.

"We want to use media and technology because there are new methods for a new generation," Bout said.

The Genesee Valley Education Partnership received GCEDC's Economic Development Partner of the Year Award.

GCEDC works with GVEP on workforce development in 22 school districts in the region, serving 24,000 students.

"For those of you who are here today, whether you're an educator, a legislator, or a business owner, business developer, or a board member, or whomever or whatever you represent, I think we all have one collective goal," said Kevin McDonald, district superintendent.

"And that is to make Genesee County and our region a great place to live, work and play. We hope our contributions will only provide opportunity and encouragement for our younger generations to make the choice to live, work and play in our community."

Assemblyman Steve Hawley spoke of the regulatory and tax challenges businesses and taxpayers face in New York but said in Western New York, we continue to have a positive outlook.

He also said not all of his colleagues in Albany obstruct business development. He noted that when Amazon decided to pull out of a planned second headquarters in Queens, he immediately put out a press release, and sent a letter to Jeff Bezos inviting Amazon to STAMP -- Science, Technology and Advanced Manufacturing Park -- in Alabama.

That action, he said, received some notable support in Albany, particularly from Crystal Peoples Stokes, the current majority leader.

"She went out of her way and walked up to me and said, 'I don't know if you saw it or not, but I put out a statement supporting you and supporting STAMP for Amazon to locate here in Western New York,' Hawley said. "That's a huge thing.

"So we're not giving up. We're going to tell people around this country and around the world that we're open for business."

State Sen. Mike Ranzenhofer said there is a new wind blowing through Albany, one that is much more focused on social issues and much less focused on taking care of business in New York.

One big example, he said, is the shuttled Amazon deal in Queens. Another is the push to extend prevailing wage provisions to private-sector economic development.

There's also more focus on things like voting rights and abortion. Albany is dealing with these issues at this point in the legislative session rather than what in past years has been the top focus -- the state budget.

"These are the things that are out there," Ranzenhofer said. "They were never really a concern. They were never going to happen. But they are happening each and every week in Albany and they are directly impacting this community. My message to you is that you have to, and we all collectively have to, be vigilant more so than in the past."

Steve Hyde touched on several activities of GCEDC during his remarks but especially STAMP -- noting the continued progress to make the site shovel ready for large, high-tech manufacturers and the state's continued support of the project.

"I never knew when I started this journey, actually in the fall of 2005 were the first steps, when I kind of started on this vision of trying to create a big, huge high-tech mega site to create better opportunities for kids," Hyde said. "I never knew that that was going to be a career-defining project."