batavia

      Andrew Said

A suspected shoplifter accused of leading police on a high-speed chase from Rochester to Batavia more than a year ago entered a guilty plea to attempted assault in the first degree in Genesee County Court on Wednesday afternoon in exchange for a guaranteed prison term of no more than 10 years.

Andrew A. Said, 49, and a native of Buffalo and a resident of Florida at the time of his arrest Aug. 3, 2018, entered his plea on an Alford basis. That means he would not admit in open court to the underlying events of the charge but acknowledged that if the case went to trial, he would likely be found guilty by a jury.

Said was indicted in May on counts of: attempted aggravated assault upon a police officer; first-degree attempted assault; first-degree reckless endangerment; third-degree criminal mischief; second-degree criminal mischief; unlawfully fleeing a police officer in a motor vehicle; driving while ability impaired by drugs; aggravated unlicensed operation in the third degree; reckless driving; operating an unregistered motor vehicle; operating a vehicle without insurance; and uninspected motor vehicle.

The plea satisfies all of the counts, including a count pending in Batavia City Court stemming from an incident in the jail.

In county court yesterday, Said he would only factually admit to being in Batavia and driving a vehicle in Batavia at the date and time specified in the indictment.

As for the rest of the facts of the case, as part of the Alford plea process, First Assistant District Attorney Melissa Cianfrini recited the narrative the prosecution would present to a jury at a trial.

She said Said is accused of driving a 1997 Mercedes into Genesee County sometimes at speeds in excess of 100 mph in a reckless manner that forced some other vehicles, including State Police patrol vehicles, off the roadway.

After Said's Mercedes exited the Thruway in Batavia, Cianfrini said State Police were able to execute a "box-in" maneuver at Exit 47, but Said threw his car into reverse, slamming into a patrol vehicle. Then the defendant is accused of putting the car in drive and accelerating quickly and driving straight toward a Trooper who had exited his vehicle. The action forced the trooper to dive out of the path of the car for his own safety.

Said then led troopers on a high-speed chase over city and town streets, again hitting speeds in excess of 100 mph at times, until he tried to ditch his car at a property on Kelsey Road in the Town of Batavia.

As part of the plea, Said was required to agree to pay restitution to the State of New York to damage to patrol vehicles, which exceeds $7,000. There may also be a claim for restitution from the property owner on Kelsey Road where Said and a passenger were apprehended.

City firefighters are called to investigate a possible controlled burn by the nature trail at DeWitt Recreation Area off Cedar Street.

UPDATE 12:47 a.m.: Firefighters are in the area investigating. The caller reported two bicycles in the vicinity of the blaze.

Kaleb J. Bobzien, 21, of Dellinger Avenue, Batavia, is charged with first-degree criminal contempt. He was arrested at Batavia City Court at 1:39 p.m. on Sept. 24 when he appeared for sentencing on an unrelated matter. Bobzien is accused of violating a stay away order of protection at 4:43 p.m. on Sept. 15 on Dellinger Avenue. He was processed and arraigned in city court then put in Genesee County Jail on $10,000 cash bail or bond. Bobzien is due to return to court on Oct. 4. The case was handled by Batavia Police Officer Wesley Rissinger, assisted by Officer Jason Ivison.

Andrew J. Rock, 33, of North Spruce Street, Batavia, is charged with second-degree criminal contempt. Rock was arrested following an alleged violation of an order of protection. The incident allegedly occurred at 9:59 p.m. on Sept. 4 while the defendant was an inmate at Genesee County Jail. He is currently incarcerated there. He is due in Batavia City Court on Oct. 1. The case was handled by Batavia Police Sgt. Matthew Lutey.

Austin M. Hejza, 24, of Argus Drive, Depew, is charged with: criminal possession of a controlled substance in the seventh degree; unlawful possession of marijuana; and running a red light. On Sept. 24, Hejza turned himself in the Batavia Police Department on an arrest warrant out of City of Batavia Court. He was processed at BPD and arraigned at 1:31 p.m. in city court before being released on his own recognizance. Hejza is due back in court on Oct. 8. The case was handled by Batavia Police Officer Wesley Rissigner, assisted by Officer Jason Ivison.

Michael E. Weichman, 24, of West Main Street Road, Batavia, is charged with: petit larceny; obstructing governmental administration in the second degree; and conspiracy in the sixth degree. He was arrested at 11:06 a.m. on Sept. 18 after allegedly shoplifting from Dollar General on East Main Street in Batavia and attempting to flee from police. Weichman is due in Batavia City Court on Oct. 1. The case was handled by Batavia Police Officer Jordan McGinnis, assisted by Officer Mitchell Cowen.

Steven M. Lindner, 46, of West Main Street, Batavia, is charged with petit larceny. He was arrested at 6:48 p.m. on Sept. 23 after allegedly shoplifting from a business on East Main Street in Batavia. He is due in Batavia City Court on Oct. 1. The case was handled by Batavia Police Officer Sean Wilson, assisted by Officer Stephen Cronmiller.

Press release:

The City of Batavia Fire Department’s origin and cause team under the command of Captain Martin Hinz has determined through a systematic process of comparison examination, reconstruction of the fire scene, witness statements and a detailed examination of fire debris the cause of the following incidents in 2019:

• July 4 -- 13 Hutchins St.: Under investigation
• Aug. 26 -- 337 Bank St.: Accidental, cooking related
• Aug. 31 -- 18 East Ave.: Accidental, electrical
• Sept. 17 -- 511 Ellicott St.: Accidental, cooking related
• Sept. 18 -- 11 Garfield Ave.: Accidental, mechanical failure
• Sept. 23 -- 1 City Center (Island Hawaiian Grill): Accidental, spontaneous combustion

Chief Stefano Napolitano commends Captain Hinz and the other members of the investigation team for their dedication and diligence in determining the origin and cause of these fires.

The process of investigating is never easy, however, it is imperative that a determination is made so as to bring closure as well as enhance the possibility of not repeating the cause if possible.

The City of Batavia Fire Department was assisted in part by City of Batavia Police and the New York State Office of Fire Prevention and Control.

The state Commissioner of Mental Health has determined that a 23-year-old Rochester man accused of setting his girlfriend and her apartment on Maple Street in Batavia on fire in June 2018 is mentally competent to stand trial.

The next step in Plush Dozier's case is a Huntley Hearing to determine evidence admissibility. This afternoon in Genesee County Court, Judge Charles Zambito set the hearing for 2 p.m. on Nov. 14.

Dozier (inset photo, right), who is charged with first-degree arson and attempted murder, was put into the custody of the Commissioner of Mental Health for treatment and reevaluation by Zambito in May after three psychiatrists examined the defendant.

Although two of the doctors found Dozier capable of understanding the charges against him and the court proceedings, all three agreed he suffers from schizoaffective disorder, oppositional defiant disorder, and is prone to paranoia and hallucinations.

"All three doctors who evaluated him said he could snap at any time," Zambito said in May.

Dozier is also accused of menacing a police officer after an alleged violent incident while in local custody two months after his arrest.

See previous coverage:

• Man accused of arson and attempted murder will receive mental health treatment before case proceeds
• Law and Order: Rochester man accused of menacing officer and damaging door of Sheriff's Office vehicle
• Grand Jury Report: Man accused of arson and attempted murder in Maple Street fire
• Arson and attempted murder charged in Maple Street fire

Visit our website for a schedule of all of our upcoming shows and special events. (www.BataviaPlayers.org)

Harvester 56 Theater, 56 Harvester Ave., Batavia

 

The mission of Batavia Players Inc. is to bring affordable theater to the community by making theater accessible to everyone with a variety of quality productions, to enhance artistic growth of participants and encourage audiences to think, feel and develop an appreciation for theater.

Niasia S. Jiggetts, 28, of Thomas Avenue, Batavia, is charged with two counts of second-degree assault -- both victims less than 7 years old. The crime is a Class D felony.

Jiggetts was arrested on Tuesday (Sept. 24) and arraigned at 10 a.m. in Town of Batavia Court following an investigation into allegations that she intentionally struck a 5-year-old with an object, causing injury to the child.

The incident allegedly took place on Thomas Avenue at noon on June 30.

The case was investigated by Genesee County Sheriff's Investigator Howard Carlson.

Subsequently, at 10:15 a.m. yesterday she was arraigned in Town of Batavia Court on the other count of second-degree assault.

That case stems from an investigation into an incident on Sept. 21 at the Batavia Meadows apartment complex in which Jiggetts allegedly intentionally struck a 3-year-old with an object, causing injury to the child.

She is due back in Batavia Town Court on Oct. 21.

The case was investigated by Genesee County Sheriff's Investigator Howard Carlson, assisted by Investigator/Youth Officer Timothy Westcott.

Press release:

The "All Weather Gang" founded by Batavians -- the late John Hodgins and Don Grieger -- originally known as "The Group of Two"
has grown to 12 members.

For nearly 40 years the AWG has wandered the back roads of Western New York, painting the unnoticed, the ignored and the unappreciated.

Their show titled, "CAUTION! -- Men Working -- paintings by the All Weather Gang," will be held at the Richmond Memorial Library during the month of October.

A reception will be held from 6 to 8 p.m., Monday, Oct. 7.

Batavian Kevin Feary and former Batavian Bill Mancuso are also "Gang" members participating in the show. A book entitled "The All Weather Gang" written by Mancuso is in the library's collection.

The library is located at 19 Ross St. in the City of Batavia.

By Samantha Stryker, Community & Adult Services Librarian

The fall series of Books Sandwiched In will begin on Wednesday, Oct. 2 at Richmond Memorial Library and will run each Wednesday through Oct. 30.

All sessions begin at 12:10 and run until 1 p.m. Attendees are encouraged to bring their lunch; coffee and cookies will be served.

You do not need to read the book to attend these sessions! A gift card to a local lunch establishment will be given at each session as a door prize!

A longstanding program at the library, Books Sandwiched In invites community members to share reviews of books, often works of nonfiction. As always, this fall’s series will present a wide array of topics from presenters with a variety of backgrounds. 

First up on Oct. 2, Millie Tomidy-Pepper will present Melinda Gates’ "The Moment of Lift: How Empowering Women Changes the World" (2019). Tomidy-Pepper is the executive director of the YWCA of Genesee County and was previously the executive director for the Mental Health Association in Genesee County.

Gates’ debut work rests on the theory that, “if you want to lift a society up, invest in women,” and has been called “a timely and necessary call to action for women's empowerment.”

On Wednesday, Oct. 9, Scott Herring will discuss "The Pioneers: The Heroic Story of the Settlers Who Brought the American Ideal West" by David McCullough (2019). A native of Otego, Herring worked with the Farm Credit System throughout the Northeast until his retirement in 2015.

The newest book from popular historian McCullough uses the experience of five pioneers to explore the settlement of the Northwest Territories of the United States.

Greg Van Dussen, Ph.D., will join us on Wednesday, Oct. 6 to review "Digital Minimalism: Choosing a Focused Life in a Noisy World" by Cal Newport (2019). Van Dussen is a resident of Batavia and an adjunct professor at Northeastern Seminary in Rochester, having also retired from the United Methodist Church as a pastor.

In Digital Minimalism, Newport applies the theory of minimalism (“the art of knowing how much is just enough”) to our use of technology. Van Dussen says that Newport “sees clearly the price our society is paying for constant connectedness and offers a workable plan for using technology wisely.”

On Wednesday, Oct. 23, Peggy Grayson will examine Jeff Dondero’s "Throwaway Nation: The Ugly Truth about American Garbage" (2019). A resident of Stafford, Grayson is the recycling administrator for GLOW Region Solid Waste Management Committee.

This book examines the problem of waste in the United States, examining the environmental impact and “not just how we got here and where we're headed, but ways in which we might be able to curb the tide.”

Lastly, on Wednesday, Oct. 30, Jim Lewis will present "More Deadly Than the Male: Masterpieces from the Queens of Horror" (2019), our only fiction selection for this series.

Edited by Graeme Davis, this anthology of classic and “unexpected” horror stories includes tales from authors such as Louisa May Alcott and Harriet Beecher Stowe.

A Navy veteran and retired Batavia City Schools Social Studies teacher, Lewis is active in the community with organizations such as the Friends of Richmond Memorial Library and the Batavia Players.

For more information about the Books Sandwiched In titles and presenters, visit our website at batavialibary.org/events. 

For more information about these or other events, visit us online at batavialibrary.org, at the library, or call the library at 585-343-9550.

Richmond Memorial Library, located at 19 Ross St. in the City of Batavia, continually provides access to physical and virtual resources and services that meet the educational, informational and recreational needs of its diverse community in a safe and comfortable environment.

Todd Jantzi took these photos this morning at the corner of Pike Road and Beaver Road in Alexander.

Business Insurance (0:30) from Tompkins Insurance on Vimeo.

The Batavia Blue Devils Football Team invites the entire community to Recognition Night on Friday at the new Daniel A. Van Detta Stadium to honor first responders and the military.

Game time is 7 p.m. -- Batavia High School vs. Geneva.

"All men and women in uniform past, present and future" will be honored -- the military, law enforcement, firefighters and medics.

They will get free admission with ID, plus a free hot dog and drink.

Admission otherwise is $2 for adults; seniors 62 and older free; children 11 and under free; and $1 for students in grades seven through 12.

"We will have a color guard carrying flags of all branches of the military and a bugler will be playing Taps," says Sharon Briggs.

The admission gate at Van Detta Stadium is located at 198 Richmond Ave. in the City of Batavia.

An alarm of fire at the Islands Hawaiian Grill at 11:55 p.m., Monday night, turned out to be a real fire.

Fire Chief Stefano Napolitano says fire crews arrived on scene at 11:58 p.m. to finda working fire in the kitchen of the restaurant, which is located at 60 Main St., Batavia.

The restaurant opened about a month ago.

The sprinkler system had been activated by the time crews arrived. That helped contain the fire, Napolitano said. Crews attacked the fire and it was contained to the kitchen area but the restaurant experienced smoke and water damage.

The cause and origin of the fire are under investigation. 

City fire was assisted by Batavia PD, DPW, and Emergency Dispatch.

UPDATE 10:41 a.m.: Cait Kunichika, who operates the restaurant with her partner, Kourtney, said they anticipate being able to reopen by this weekend. They are waiting to speak with their insurance company. Cait said it was a small kitchen fire and the sprinkler system helped contain it. The restaurant was closed when the blaze began and investigators don't know the cause yet, she said.

One of the secrets to identifying a good business opportunity is to figure out what nobody else is doing and start doing it.

Scott Wakefield loves things with two wheels and motors and getting on those bikes and going to interesting places. He noticed a lot of other people like doing the same thing but nobody was really helping them learn more about the local motorcycle culture so he decided to start his own magazine.

Four issues into the enterprise, it looks like he's found a niche.

"The motorcycle culture, I think is kind of tight-knit but you've got all these disparate groups," Wakefield said. "There are sportbikes, you've got the cruisers, you've got the restoration folks and vintage folks, and I think they may get along really well but there's no direct communication. Buffalo has a magazine but Rochester didn't..."

The idea of Motoclectic Magazine was just a dream until Wakefield met Dan Hosek -- a designer, artist, and comic book creator -- at the Richmond Memorial Library when Hosek gave a talk publishing comics.

One of the biggest pieces of advice Wakefield said he got when planning his magazine was to find a graphic designer. Even though Hosek had little prior experience with motorcycles, he got excited about designing a new magazine from blank page to finished product.

"I'm starting to get more into it but as someone from the outside, I kind of wanted to make a magazine that also I thought would appeal to any person who picked it up," Hosek said. "So, like in the first issue, we had a story that was more of a history piece about the Dansville Castle, the Jackson Sanatorium; adding stuff like that so that someone could pick it up, a wife or husband who isn't a rider but they could look at it and see it's a cool story."

The magazine, published from offices in the Harvester Center, is intended to break the mold of typical motorcycle magazines that emphasize machinery and feature plenty of photos of scantily clad women.

It's about motorcycle culture not motorcycles, as Wakefield and Hosek describe it; what you can do with a bike, like take long rides, go out and meet good people and see interesting things.

"I say the motorcycle culture because it's not just about motorcycles, it's about anything that goes along with it -- rides, destinations, bikes, new bike, gear, accessories, and just the camaraderie that comes with motorcycles," Wakefield said.

The magazine's coverage area starts in Batavia and spreads eastward into Monroe and Livingston counties, and if successful, Wakefield and Hosek hope to expand as far east as Albany.

They leave Batavia heading westward to Buffalo to an already established motorcycle magazine, Hardtails, whose publisher helped advise Wakefield on his startup.

Wakefield said there is a whole culture of motorcycle enthusiasts who often get overlooked, if not overshadowed; people who just love a wide variety of machines on two wheels (and sometimes, even three wheels). They don't just ride Harleys and wear leather vests. They love their BMWs or Suzukis and they show up at rallies and venues that welcome recreational riders. And in most places, the wide spectrum of riders, including those on hogs, are one big family.

"The motosocials in the Rochester area is a community that is very welcoming," Hosek said. "Everyone at those motosocials, like the Harley guys and or on any other sort of bike, they'll be there and just be talking with each other about their bikes. It's pretty cool."

Wakefield agreed, observing that in Rochester motorcycle culture everybody just gets along, so he figured he could create a magazine with a cross-brand appeal.

"I think Rochester, for some reason, has that culture that's pretty well like 'hey, we're all on two wheels, let's get along.' "

To help tap into that wide range of tastes, Hosek said he knew he needed to create a design that was simple and communicated distinction and sophistication -- after all, people who love motorcycles are people with good taste.

"We basically wanted to keep it as clean as possible because it's about motorcycles but we didn't want it to scream 'biker magazine,' " Hosek said. "We wanted something that had motorcycles but didn't feel like a biker magazine. We wanted a lot of white space, leaving it clean."

A less cluttered look actually makes the pictures of motorbikes appear more like artwork rather than garage wall posters, giving the designs of gorgeous bikes room to breathe.

"If I said, 'design a motorcycle event poster for me,' you know, it's probably going to be black and orange and silver, and it's going to have flames and skulls and either a woman or an outline of a woman," Wakefield said. "That's what they look like always. We don't want that. We want what we do to be family-friendly."

In an era of social media and dying newspapers, it might seem counterintuitive for two young guys to start a print publication, but Hosek said putting out a magazine that looks like something substantial is really tapping into another impulse of people who grew up on digital media -- they want to hold something substantial. That's why Target, for example, has started selling vinyl records again.

"People have been approaching us because they want all the issues -- like they think of it as something that is collectible, like they want to keep it stored somewhere, which is cool," Hosek said.

You can view a digital copy of the first issue by clicking here. Locally, one place the print edition is available is at The YNGodess Shop on Main Street in Batavia.

Batavia City Manager Martin Moore’s recommendation to City Council to allocate $175,000 into the Facility Reserve fund tonight has put the municipality’s intention to construct a new police station back into the public eye.

Moore, reporting at Council’s Business Meeting at City Hall, presented his proposal on where to distribute $1.3 million in unassigned fund balance, targeting eight different general reserve funds – Police Equipment, Fire Equipment, Public Works, Sidewalk, Compensated Absences, Parking Lot, Administrative and Facility.

Calling the practice of funding reserves “a critical part of sound financial and project planning,” Moore centered his reasoning on a simple premise – “the more money we have on hand, the less we have to borrow.”

In the case of the Facility Reserve fund, he called for $175,000 to be added to the current balance of $123,400 in anticipation of a new police facility at a cost of $6 to $8 million, to be paid for with a mix of reserves and municipal bonding.

“There are a number of steps involved … expenses leading up to construction,” he said.

Following the meeting, City Council President Eugene Jankowski was asked to provide an update on the status of the new police station. While not identifying the property specifically, he said Council is looking a parcel in the center of the City that already is owned by the City.

A reliable source indicated that the property is the city-owned parking lot bordering Alva Place and Bank Street, the current site of the Downtown Batavia Public Market.

Back in June 2015, the parking lot was the second choice of a task force of several City residents charged with exploring sites for the new police station; a privately owned parcel at 35 Swan St. was the first choice. Task force members, at the time, said that businesses in the vicinity of the Alva Place lot opposed the idea of putting police headquarters there.

Jankowski said Council is "working to make sure that property is going to fit our needs and not affect other properties in the area, so we’re doing a study on that – an internal study."

He added that the City’s debt situation is a major factor in the timeline.

“We’ve done research on our debt and we know that a lot of our debt is going to come free – we’re going to be paying off the City Hall, we’re going to be paying off the stadium, Muckdogs (Dwyer) Stadium,” he said.

“All those things are going to be off debt and that will allow us now to take on the new debt of the police department. So, as debt comes off, the police department will go on, and we’ll have pretty much an even balance. We’re not going to borrow more money while we still owe money.”

Jankowski said the process will take about two years.

“About that time when we’re able to borrow that money, we’ll be ready to go, (and) we can start that construction,” he said. “It’s going to take another 18 months to actually build the building, so we’re talking a minimum of maybe two to two and a half years from today before we start seeing an actual building in place – hopefully.”

He said he didn’t want to disclose the site because “it would probably get people concerned that don’t need to be because we don’t know if we’re even going to do that yet. But we have a good idea where we’d like to build.”

In the meantime, Moore said that part of the Facility Reserve money would be used to repair heating, wiring, plumbing and structural work at the current police station in the old City Hall to keep the current building usable for the next five years.

“We’re planning for the worse-case scenario,” Moore said.

Summarizing his recommendations for the other reserve funds:

-- Police Equipment: Add $20,000 to the balance of $12,761 for aid in the purchase and equipping of an armored vehicle for the emergency response team (to replace its current non-armored vehicle).

-- Fire Equipment: Add $35,000 to the balance of $190,180 to support the department’s fire apparatus replacement plan (which can cost up to $1 million).

-- Public Works: Add $220,000 to the balance of $194,013 to fund a $300,000 purchase for a heavy-duty snowplow and pickup truck with a plow and spreader.

-- Sidewalk: Add $50,000 to the balance of $1,869 to facilitate replacement of more than 500 linear feet of broken sidewalk during the 2020-21 fiscal year. Moore said City crews installed 24,000 feet of sidewalk this past year.

-- Compensated Absences: Add $400,000 to the balance of $18,567 due to an expected cost of $306,000 to compensate a large number of planned retirements this fiscal year and five more who become eligible through 2023.

-- Parking Lot: Add $100,000 to the balance of $46,721.97 as the City plans to spend $135,000 on parking lot improvements from 2020-22.

-- Administrative: Add $300,000 to the balance of $4,136 to address upgrades of the City’s information technology, telephone system, computer network distribution system and cyber security needs as well as management of the City’s software conversion and repayment of a short-term bond anticipation note (BAN).

Moore also said the City plans to increase its Workers’ Compensation self-insurance fund, with a goal of in excess of $1 million due to a deductible of $750,000 per incident.

City Council agreed to move Moore’s proposal to its Business Meeting on Oct. 15, where a vote on the resolution is expected.

The board also advanced to the Business Meeting the following resolutions:

-- Acceptance of a pair of grants to the fire department – one for $4,762 to purchase outside noise-cancelling wireless communication headsets and the other for $3,200 to support the child safety seat program.

-- Permanently keeping four 400-watt light fixtures, at an annual cost of $700, on Central Avenue, Watson Avenue and State Street – lights that originally were rated at 100 watts. DPW Director Matt Worth said that National Grid requires City Council action to make this happen, noting that the wattage was increased to deter criminal activity and with the safety of officers in mind.

-- Authorizing an easement for Charter/Time Warner to install underground communication cable in the Court Street parking lot, along the property line of businesses on Main Street that currently do not have high-speed communication access.

-- Amending the zoning code to include self-storage facilities in I-1 and I-2 zones and setting a public hearing for Nov. 12. This became an issue about eight months ago when Peter Yasses (54 Cedar St. LLC) requested to erect a self-storage business on Cedar Street, across from the DeWitt Recreation Area.

The City Planning & Development Committee and Genesee County Planning Department reviewed the request and recommend permitting public storage units/building in the Industrial zones with the issuance of a special use permit.

-- Authorization of a lease agreement with Batavia Players theatrical troupe for three parcels at the City Centre, an agreement that calls for the nonprofit organization to pay rent on a scale ranging from $1 per square foot to $4 per square foot over the life of the (renewable) five-year contract.

Batavia Players is looking to lease 11,000 square feet downtown, fulfilling plans outlined in the City’s 2012 Community Improvement Plan and 2017 Comprehensive Plan and, more recently, as part of the Downtown Revitalization Initiative award.

Council Member Robert Bialkowski said that the City would receive $187,884 in rent over the five years, but would lose $77,364 in mall merchant fees that would be passed on to taxpayers. The net amount coming into City coffers would be $110,520.

The lease calls for Batavia Players to pay for any improvements and utility bills and to purchase liability insurance.

Jankowski said he understood Bialkowski’s concerns over the loss of mall merchant fees but was in favor of the deal.

“As long as we are breaking above even,” he said. “In five years, we can always re-evaluate it.”

Council Member John Canale said he heard that Batavia Players may be interested in buying the property, a move that would be welcomed by City Council.

Photo at top: Council Member Robert Bialkowski reads a proclamation for Fire Prevention Week (Oct. 6-12) as members of the City Fire Department look on. Chief Stefano Napolitano, in white shirt at left, said he is "blessed to have an amazing group of people" in the department and thanked the City water, police, and building codes employees for the work they do in supporting the firefighters. Photo by Mike Pettinella.

From the Paolo Busti Cultural Foundation:

The Paolo Busti Cultural Foundation Fall Awards Dinner will be held at 6 p.m. on Thursday Oct. 24th, at Terry Hills Restaurant in Batavia.

The Foundation welcomes two recipients this season, Anita Dziekan and Bruno DeFazio. 

We will also have our 20/20 Raffle, which supports our Senior Scholarships for high school students.

Tickets event are available from the Foundation board members and VJ Gautieri Constructors Inc., located at 45 Liberty St. in Batavia, and Ben's Appliance, Kitchens and Bath, which is at 634 E. Main St., Batavia.

About Anita Dziekan

Anita Dziekan is the daughter of James R. Mocciaro and Louisa Scammaca from Sicily, who settled in Batavia and had 14 children.

Anita married Richard Dziekan; they had three children Christina, Kathy and Thomas. Anita and her late husband love their grandchildren, Casey, Karlie, Ryan (deceased), Mason and Carson.

A graduate of Batavia High School, she worked at the Surprise Store and the Hiding Place.

But Anita is best known for working at John Kennedy School, where she baked for three Batavia elementary schools. She was the onsite manager at Robert Morris School, Anita worked 26 years for the Batavia School District.

Anita’s ambition for volunteering came from her parents who taught her and other siblings the importance of family values and hard work. She grew up learning to help one another, to love, be respectful of her family and friends, and be proud of her heritage. She is passing this Italian mindset to all who know her.

Anita’s volunteer accomplishments are many. She volunteers at St. Jerome Gift Shop, the United Memorial Medical Center waiting room and she distributes menus to patients. She also assists in the visitor’s booth at the Chamber of Commerce, and for the MOPS -- Mothers of Preschoolers -- at Northgate Free Methodist Church.

In addition, she lends a hand at the Annual Mammoth Sale at St. Joseph Regional School. She's a Counter and Sacristan at Resurrection Parish, helps at the Crossroads House Annual Garage Sale, and donates her time to the American Red Cross blood drive and for Catholic Charities.

Anita is currently a member of OFA Advisory Board, Sodality at Resurrection Parish, St. Jerome Guild, UMMC League, and RSVP for the county Office for the Aging. She serves as an inspector for Genesee County Board of Elections and belongs to the Suncatcher Garden Club.

She participates in planting for Business Improvement District on Main Street downtown and assists in maintaining flowers at the Richmond Monument at the Harvester Cementary.

The spice of Italian life is essentially Anita Dziekan. Her family life, upbringing, culture and care are quintessentially Italian and completely deserving of this Paolo Busti Italian American Award.

About Bruno DeFazio

Bruno DeFazio was born in Teglio, Italy in 1952. He lived there for seven years.

In April 1959 with the help of Catholic Charities he was adopted by Alphonso and Genevieve (Caccamise) DeFazio.

He attended St. Joseph’s School and graduated in 1970 from Notre Dame High School. He graduated with an Associate of Applied Science degree from Genesee Community College in 1972.

In 1973 he married Elizabeth (Lee) Costa and together they raised two beautiful daughters, Christina (Tim) Carvel and Stacy (Jason) Wentworth.

His family is the most important part of his life. He is always there for them and now can spread the love and support with his six grandchildren as well: Brayden, Nolan, Matthew, Addison, Tyler and Dominic.

Bruno is an active member of Our Lady of Mercy Parish in Le Roy.

He retired from Le Roy Central School District in 2017 where he was a maintenance mechanic.

Living in Le Roy for 46 years, he has been active in many organizations and sports programs. He was one of the first coaches for Le Roy Youth Soccer, and he also coached Le Roy Youth Football and Le Roy Little League. He was supportive of his daughters during their involvement in sports and continues to cheer the local teams.

He has served on several boards including: Le Roy Jaycees; Knights of Columbus Edward Powers Council 2936; the Le Roy Historical Society -- where he currently oversees all building maintenance; the Le Roy Christian Community Project; Oatka Festival Committee; and as councilman for the Town of Le Roy, where was once was deputy supervisor. He currently serves on the Genesee County Parks and Water Commission.

Just last week, the Botts-Fiorito Post #576, American Legion, Le Roy, announced De Fazio is this year's “LeRoyan of the Year."

His community involvement is a tribute to his Italian-American heritage, good work ethics, and strong family foundation instilled by his family. If you live in a community be a part of it. It’s the right thing to do! The Paolo Busti Italian American Award is being proudly presented to him.

(Photo of DeFazio, courtesy of Joan Fernaays.)

Photos and information provided by Sarah Gahagan:

As part of the ongoing kindness project at Batavia Middle School (hashtag #makeKINDNESSloud), Kim Argenta, owner of Art Ah La Carte, followed suit with a random act of kindness.

Argenta volunteered her time and passion for art to help produce a set of wings that will be used as a display in the sixth-grade hallway of BMS.

The BMS kindness group wanted to create a set of wings to remind students to "lift each other up."

The girls' next step is to find inspirational quotes that fit this theme to be used with the wings as a photo background for students/teachers/support staff who participate in random acts of kindness to be displayed in the building proudly.