batavia

The Genesee Symphony Orchestra performs its annual Christmas concert tomorrow (Sunday) at 4 p.m. at St. Mary's Church in Batavia.

The program includes "Dance of the Tumblers" from Snow Maiden by Rimsky-Korsakov, Canadian Brass Christmas, "The Snowman," by Howard Blake and narrated by Laurence Tallman,  (top photo), Holiday Favorites with a special guest vocalist: "It's Beginning to Look a Lot Like Christmas," "(There’s no place like) Home for the Holidays," "White Christmas," "Santa Claus is Coming to Town," "Sleigh Ride," and "Christmas Festival."

Tickets will be available at the door.

Fifty children from Genesee County got a chance to buy presents for other family members today during "Shop with a Cop" at Walmart in Batavia.

Officers from Batavia PD, the Sheriff's Office, and State Police participated.

A grant from Walmart paid for $100 gift cards for 30 children and donations from the City of Batavia Police Benevolent Association, Genesee County Deputy Sheriff’s Association, City of Batavia CSEA members, the City’s “Jeans for Friday” program, Department of Public Works (AFSCME) Union, and H.E. Turner & Co. Inc. Funeral Home of Batavia & Bergen raised additional funds so another 20 children could participate. 

Once children completed their shopping, members of Batavia PD's Explorer program wrapped presents and the children got a chance to visit with Santa.

A caller reports seeing flames at the construction site at 4187 Veterans Memorial Drive, Batavia.

Town of Batavia fire dispatched to investigate.

UPDATE 5:39 p.m.: First responder: "Confirmed. Looks like a small fire."

UPDATE 5:40 p.m.: Fire must be out. Town assignment back in service.

UPDATE 9:45 p.m.: Another fire reported at the same location.

UPDATE 9:53 p.m.: Town of Batavia assignment back in service.

A motor-vehicle accident, believed to be with injuries, is reported on West Main Street Road, in front of Taco Bell.

City fire and Mercy EMS dispatched.

UPDATE 6:09 p.m.: Police believe the Nissan, which was eastbound, started a left-hand turn into the Tops parking lot and then the driver changed his or her mind but failed to negotiate fully back into its own lane of traffic. The Nissan struck a car, front left fender to front left fender, that was stopped to make a left-hand turn into the shopping center on the south side of West Main. The Nissan then careened into a third vehicle. Two people were transported to UMMC for evaluation.

Press release:

Renowned soprano Emily Hellenbrook, who is a native of Alexander, will be the featured soloist at the First Presbyterian Church of Batavia this Sunday, Dec. 10.

The service begins at 10:45 a.m. and will also feature the Women's Choir, congregational singing, and a message by Rev. Dr. Roula Alkhouri.

Join us at this special time of the year as we celebrate the advent of Christ's earthly ministry. We are located at 300 E. Main St. in the City of Batavia.

Isaac D. Abrams is indicted for the crime of making a terrorist threat, a Class D felony. It is alleged that on Sept. 30 in the Town of Alabama that he acted with "intent to intimidate or coerce a civilian population, influence the policy of a unit of government by intimidation or coercion, or affect the conduct of a unit of government by murder, assassination, kidnapping, threatened to commit or caused to be committed specified offenses": assault on a police officer, assault in the first degree, and/or murder in the second degree, and thereby caused a reasonable expectation or fear of the imminent commission of such offenses. Abrams allegedly threatened several NYS troopers and Genesee County Sheriff's deputies with deadly violence by means of a firearm. In count two, the defendant is accused of resisting arrest, a Class A misdemeanor. In count three, Abrams is accused of trespass, a violation, for entering or remaining unlawfully in The Rez Smoke Shop and Gas Mart on Bloomingdale Road.

Tony R. Graber is indicted on four counts of falsifying business records in the first degree, each a Class E felony. It is alleged that Graber, with intent to defraud, made or caused false entries in the business records of an enterprise in the Town of Batavia -- Pawn King -- regarding the ownership of items on four different dates in 2016: on March 23, a Husky Wrench Set; on March 25, a Husky Model 20-piece Combination Wrench Set; on March 29, Milwaukee Drill Bits/Blades; and on April 2, a Craftsman Tap and Die Set. In addition, Graber is indicted on four counts of criminal possession of stolen property in the fifth degree, Class A misdemeanors. On the misdemeanors, Graber is said to have allegedly knowlingly possessed stolen property (the items cited previously) with intent to benefit himself or a person other than the owner or to impede recovery of the items by the owner.

Destin D. Rouse is indicted for the crime of third-degree grand larceny, a Class D felony. It is alleged that on Jan. 10 in the Town of Batavia that Rouse stole property having a value in excess of $3,000. He is accused of stealing $4,209.76 worth of merchandise from Walmart.

Timothy M. Weinstein is indicted for the crime of aggravated family offense, a Class E felony. It is alleged that on April 7 in the City of Batavia that the defendant commited or attempted to commit second-degree criminal contempt against a person of the same family or household as the defendant: By being in the presence of the victim in violation of an order of protection. In counts two and three, he is accused of the same crime twice on April 29. In counts four and five, Weinstein is accused of the same crime on May 1 and May 2, respectively. In Special Information filed by the District Attorney, Weinstein is accused of having been convicted of third-degree assault, a Class A misdemeanor, on March 23 and this was against a member of the same family or household as the defendant and this was within five years previous to the crimes alleged in the indictment.

A larceny has been reported in the area of Burger King in Batavia.

The suspect took the caller's phone and ran.

Last seen at 23 Oak St., Batavia.

Maybe running toward Burger King.

The suspect is a black male wearing a black hoodie and sweatpants.

UPDATE 11:18 a.m.: A police officer is following possible tracks on Holland Avenue.

H.E. Turner Funeral Homes hosted its annual service of remembrance for local residents who lost a loved one during the past year last night at Grace Baptist Church in Batavia.

Rev. Bill Hockey, above, delivered the message for the service, and Pastor Jeffrey Bartz, below, read Bible passages of the Christmas Story.

Clean Cut Barbershop in the City of Batavia is offering $5 off a haircut from Dec. 12-16 IF you donate a new, unwrapped toy or gift suitable for a child age 6 months to 16 years old.

The donations received will benefit the nonprofit Hillside Children's Center in Batavia (located at 50 City Centre).

Bring your donation to the city's newest barbershop at 466 Ellicott St.

Co-owner Joey Williams says the guys there are "always looking to spread love in the city and do positive things for kids."

The event that starts next Tuesday will add to their list of good deeds, which also includes giving away back-to-school supplies, breast cancer awareness month events, customer appreciation days and more.

"We want to make this event as big and impactful as possible," Williams says.

Braelynn Cook, 4, received a free scarf from Leanne Mullen, owner of Tahoe Pines Custom Sewing and Design, yesterday during the St. Nick’s Christmas Bazaar at the Manor House.

This was the first year the Manor House hosted the bazaar and Braelynn was there with her mother, another vendor, and Mullen thought she deserved a scarf​ for being a good girl during the event.

The bazaar was open to the community as well as Manor House residents to help with Christmas shopping.

Zoe A. McClure, 48, of Bank Street, Batavia, is charged with identity theft, 2nd. McClure is accused of opening a credit card account in the name of another person and using that card to charge more than $500. McClure was arraigned in City Court and released under supervision of Genesee Justice.

William Gordon Schultz Sr., 43, no permanent address, is charged with petit larceny. Schultz is accused of shoplifting from Walmart at 3:20 a.m. Wednesday. He was jailed on $250 bail, $2,000 bond. Schultz was also arrested on a warrant for an unspecified violation of a family court act. He was jailed on $250 bail, $2,000 bond on this charge.

Samuel R. Thompson, 62, of York Street, Rochester, is charged with criminal mischief, 4th. Thompson is accused of writing on the outside of the building of Kwik Fill, 99 Jackson St., Batavia, at 3:38 p.m., Dec. 1, in permanent marker. He was jailed on $1,500 bond.

Christopher J. Campbell, 39, of Batavia, is charged with false personation. Campbell was arrested by State Police in relation to an incident reported at 5:15 p.m., Tuesday. No further details released.

A van crashed into a pole on West Main Street near Settler's Restaurant in Batavia. Driver is unconscious. Law enforcement is called in emergency mode. City fire and Mercy medics are responding. The address is 350 W. Main St.

UPDATE 5:15 a.m.: National Grid will be notified that the pole is damaged.

UPDATE 5:43 a.m.: One person was transported to UMMC. National Grid has a 10-15 minute ETA.

Brandon Seppe, who had pled guilty to a burglary reported in July, was sentenced today to one-and-a-half to three years in state prison under what is known as a "Willard" sentence, giving him a chance to complete a drug treatment program.

The 33-year-old Batavia resident was also involved in an accident in June on Veterans Memorial Drive where he was found to be driving while impaired by drugs.

Under today's sentence in County Court on the burglary guilty plea, the Department of Corrections will send Seppe to a Willard drug treatment program and if he completes it successfully, he will be released on parole.

In The Batavian's attempt to interview Ben Hayes, president of the New York-Penn League, we reached out to Minor League Baseball.

A communications official with Minor League Baseball was able to get in touch with Hayes and we've just been informed that Hayes will not agree to an interview.

He said he would not comment further on the future of the team (he has made no comment to date), according to the Minor League Baseball spokesman. 

Hayes referred all questions to Brian Paris, president of the Genesee County Baseball Club, owners of the Muckdogs franchise.

The phone line for the NYPL office in St. Petersburg, Fla., will now accept phone messages so we left Hayes a message explaining that only he can state why the league won't work with the Rochester Red Wings as operators of the franchise and share his ideas for the future of the team in Batavia or elsewhere.

Last week, The Batavian broke the news that the NYPL had blocked the Red Wings from a contract extension to continue operating the team. The extension was needed because the original 10-year deal expired Oct. 31.

Meanwhile, the Muckdogs are on the 2018 NYPL schedule but there's no clear indication from the league how the team will operate in 2018.

We couldn't reach Paris tonight. 

Last week, Paris said he is working with Hayes regarding the future of the team and the 2018 season and said he had a good working relationship with Hayes but didn't have a definitive answer on the NYPL's plans.

The YMCA received a new electric "stim" bike for people with limited mobility to use to get some exercise.

The bike allows a person in a wheelchair to roll up to the bike, put their feet on the pedals and pedal just like any other stationary bike.

The units cost $13,500 and the new unit at the Y was paid for through funds from the Ricky Palermo Foundation and an anonymous donor.

The Y already had one similar bike in its wellness center, but CEO Rob Walker said the demand for use during peak hours has been greater than the availability. The new bike will help solve this problem.

Batavia is the first Y in the nation to get this particular model.

"The feedback I got yesterday is that there are four benefits," Walker said. "It helps vascular health, which we all know is important. It reduces muscle spasms, which helps them sleeps. It helps with joint flexibility and it helps with muscle tone.

"The indirect benefit, to be honest, is getting them out," Walker said. "Watching them use it, for lack of a better word, it helps with their state of mind."

Photos submitted by Rob Walker.

Press release: 

On Dec. 9th, members of the Batavia Police Department, the Genesee County Sheriff’s Office, and New York State Police Troop A, will be participating in the third annual “Shop with a Cop” event at Walmart on Veterans Memorial Drive. 

Grant money from Walmart, designated specifically for this event was distributed equally to all three organizations. The schools within Genesee County assisted in choosing the children. 

The City of Batavia Police Benevolent Association, Genesee County Deputy Sheriff’s Association, City of Batavia CSEA members, the City’s “Jeans for Friday” program, Department of Public Works (AFSCME) Union, and H.E. Turner & Co. Inc. Funeral Home of Batavia & Bergen raised additional funds which enabled 20 extra children to participate. 

A total of 50 children were invited to participate in this year’s event. Once at Walmart, the children will take photographs with Santa Claus and meet with their individual "Cop."

Walmart graciously hosts the event, allocates employees specifically for the event, and also donates gift wrapping materials. Gift wrapping will be completed by the Young Adults Group from Batavia City Church, members of the Batavia Police Explorer’s Post and family members from Batavia Police Department and Genesee County Sheriff’s Office.

The Batavia Police Department, Genesee County Sheriff’s Office, and the New York State Police Troop A, would like to thank Walmart for their generosity and assistance to make this a great event. We would also like to wish everyone a safe and happy holiday season.

Photo: File photo.

Press release:

According to the findings of a new poll commissioned by Batavia Downs Gaming, Western New Yorkers overwhelming believe that all gaming facilities in Western New York should be taxed at the same level. Sixty-nine percent of Western New Yorkers support changing the tax code to ensure tax fairness. In addition, twice as many respondents see Batavia Downs as a benefit to the local community.

“As the only municipally owned gaming facility in New York State, Batavia Downs Gaming is not only a strong economic driver for Western New York, but it provides critical funding for community development which creates jobs, keeps Western New York families safe and helps to offset tax increases for residents,” said Michael Nolan, chief operation officer of Batavia Downs Gaming WROTB.

“Unfortunately, Batavia Downs Gaming is losing critically needed revenue because we pay the highest tax rate of any Western New York gaming facility. As this survey demonstrates, Western New Yorkers understand the positive impact we have on the community and want to see a change in the tax code to ensure tax fairness.”

This survey was conducted Dec. 2-3, with a margin of error of +/- 2.12 percent, with a 95 percent level of confidence. 2,133 likely 2018 general election voters who live in the 15 Western New York counties that own and operate Batavia Downs Gaming participated in the survey.

The full survey, complete with crosstabs and methodology, can be viewed here.

BACKGROUND ON TAX FAIRNESS:

Buffalo News: OTB chief: Higher tax at Batavia Downs means lower payments to local WNY governments
Niagara Gazette: OTB officials make case for lower tax rate
Buffalo News Column: Another Voice: Publicly owned gaming facility is taxed unfairly