A car vs. pedestrian accident occured at Main Street and Jackson Street downtown. Minor injuries. City fire and Mercy medics are on scene.
UPDATE 3:28 p.m.: This was a bicycle vs. car accident, not a pedestrian, and the bicyclist declined medical attention.
UPDATE: This is a photo of the actual truck.
Batavia farmer George Putt woke up this morning, early as usual, and found his 2014 blue Ford F250 super duty crew cab pickup truck had been stolen from Offhaus Farms sometime between 9 p.m. Thursday night and 5 a.m. today, June 2.
Offhaus Farms is located at 7892 Oak Orchard Road in the Town of Batavia.
It has a Dale Earnhardt Jr. license plate frame(s) and is desparately needed because it's the only transportation Putt has to take his sick girlfriend back and forth from regular, ongoing medical treatments at Rochester General Hospital.
The Genessee County Sheriff's Office confirmed this afternoon that the truck was stolen.
If you have seen this truck or have any information about it, please contact Deputy Andrew Hale at the Sheriff's Office by calling 343-5000.
The Batavia Jr. Blue Devil Summer Basketball Camp will be held from 9 a.m. to noon Aug. 14-18 at the John Kennedy School gymnasium.
The camp is open to boys and girls entering grades 3 through 8 in the fall. Cost is $65 and includes a camp T-shirt.
Campers are asked to bring their own basketball and put their name on it.
The camp will feature Coach Jim Fazio, the Batavia Jr. Blue Devil youth director, and youth coaches and current and former Blue Devil players.
The focus will be on the offensive fundamentals of the game, including shooting, passing, dribbling, and ball handling, with a major emphasis on shooting. There will be daily contests with full court and half court games.
Please note that Batavia City School District is not responsbile for any injury that may happen during camp.
Checks should be made payable to: Batavia Boys Basketball Boosters; mail to Jim Fazio, 5190 Ellicott Street Road, Batavia, NY 14020.
To contact Coach Fazio, call 356-0901 or email jfazio@gvboces.org
With payment, please provide the following information and include a parent's or guardian's signature:
John Kennedy School is located at 166 Vine St. in the City of Batavia.
Ian Jarreau Blake, 30, of Liberty Street, Batavia, is charged with criminal possession of marijuana in the fifth degree. Blake was stopped on Route 33 in Corfu at 10:31 p.m. on June 1 by the Corfu Police Department and allegedly found to possess a quantity of marijuana exceeding 25 grams. He was also found to a have an active bench warrant out of Family Court. He was released on appearance tickets for the marijuana charge and the matter of the Family Court bench warrant was transferred over to the GC Sheriff's Office for handling. The Corfu PD case was handled by Officer Lonnie Nati and Officer Richard Retzlaff.
Andrew Scott Bradstreet, of Telegraph Road, Holley, is charged with unlawful possession of marijuana and a vehicle registration plate violation. Bradstreet was stopped at 8:29 p.m. May 31 on Searls Road in Byron following the alleged observation of a vehicle and traffic violation. The defendant allegedly possessed a small quantity of marijuana. He was issued an appearance ticket for Town of Byron Court for June 7. The case was handled by Genesee County Sheriff's Deputy Ryan DeLong.
Press release:
The Genesee County Economic Development Center (GCEDC) accepted an application for assistance from the Savarino Companies for the redevelopment of Ellicott Station in Downtown Batavia at the agency’s June 1 board meeting.
The approximate 64,000-square-foot development will be a mix use of residential, office and retail spaces; a brewery; small beverage warehouse and hops processing facility; entertainment and event area; outside seating; and integration of the new Ellicott Trail pedestrian pathway.
The $17.6 million project is estimated to create up to 60 good-paying full-time jobs. For every dollar of public sector investment there is an anticipated private sector investment of approximately $25.
The project is being done through the “Batavia Pathway to Prosperity” (BP2) program which was created through an inter-municipal agreement between the City of Batavia, Genesee County, the Batavia City School District, the Batavia Development Corporation and the GCEDC.
BP2 was conceived to pool resources in order to invest in distressed areas in the City of Batavia. The BP2 program will be implemented though PILOT increment financing (PIF), referred to as the “BP2 fund,” which is the first of its kind in New York State where all local taxing jurisdictions are participating.
Supported by the redirection of 50% of new project PILOT payments, the BP2 fund will play a critical role in generating development within the Batavia Brownfield Opportunity Area (BOA), a 366-acre area within the City of Batavia containing five strategic redevelopment sites.
”The collaboration among various government jurisdictions is simply smart economic development,” said Paul Battaglia, GCEDC Board chairman. “The BP2 program is an opportunity to attract development and jobs to the urban core of Genesee County and just as important, create vibrant neighborhoods in economically disadvantaged areas of the city.”
UPDATE 4:09 p.m.: The shuttle times have been changed slightly, see information in bold below. Also everyone will be allowed to bring lawn chairs, both VIP ticket holders and General Admission.
Press release:
Batavia Downs Gaming & Hotel has announced facility details for all those attending this Sunday’s Lonestar concert being held onsite.
Some area intersections could be under the direction of local law enforcement. If that is the case, please use caution and pay attention to directions given by police. Please allow for extra travel time due to increased traffic volume.
Please note that anyone visiting Batavia Downs after 3 p.m. on Sunday will see parking lot attendants in our main lot directing you on where to park your car. Please follow their directions as the facility attempts to streamline the parking process with the anticipation of increased car volume. The valet will be open as per usual so those who do wish to valet their cars do have that option.
Two shuttles run by Regional Transit Service will be operating from 3 to 8 p.m. 3:30 to 7:30 p.m. and then again from 9 p.m. until midnight 9:30 to 11:30 p.m. to and from all local chain hotels to Batavia Downs. If you are staying or parking at any of these local chain hotels, we ask that you do take the shuttles to help reduce traffic congestion.
Once onsite, there is no tailgating or drinking of alcoholic beverages in the parking lot. This will be enforced by our staff.
Inside the venue, lawn chairs ARE permitted for everyone -- General Admission area only and VIP ticket holders.
Concert will take place rain or shine so ponchos and umbrellas are permitted as well. Please note that no coolers, outside food and beverages, weapons or firearms are permitted onsite or at the venue. All bags and purses will be subject to search.
Doors open at 3 p.m. with the first musical act starting at 4 p.m. If possible, arrive early to avoid traffic. Tickets can be purchased online at BataviaConcerts.com or in person at our Made in America store in the Batavia Downs Lobby.
Press release from Dave Olsen, GCLP chairman:
The Genesee County Libertarian Party will hold its 2017 convention on Monday June 5, beginning 6:30 p.m. at T.F. Brown's Restaurant in Batavia.
Organizers expect to introduce three candidates for the Batavia City Council At Large positions.
Each will have a few remarks to make, along with Dr. Mark Glogowski, LPNY State chairman, Larry Sharpe, LP candidate for NY Governor next year, and possibly Austin Petersen, 2016 Presidential contender via video chat.
The public is cordially invited to attend and ask questions.
T.F. Brown's is located at 214 E. Main St. in Downtown Batavia.
A westbound tractor-trailer is disabled on Main Street in front of the Holland Land Office Museum in the city and traffic is reduced to one lane, causing congestion.
Fire from a stove (possibly in a wall behind it) reportedly started a working structure fire at an apartment complex at 4112 W. Main Street Road, Batavia. It's originating from unit B9. Town of Batavia Fire Department is responding. A first responder on scene reports smoke showing. The fire has gone to a second alarm. Alexander's Fast Team is called for mutual aid along with Darien, Elba and East Pembroke. Stafford is called to stand by at Batavia's station #2.
UPDATE 9:29 a.m.: This is the Batavia Meadows apartment complex.
UPDATE 9:32 a.m.: National Grid was called in and has a one-minute ETA. Command requests law enforcement to the scene to help evacuate the complex. He says they are having difficulty evacuating it and several apartments are "charged with smoke."
UPDATE 9:37 a.m.: Elba is asked to stand by at Batavia's station #1.
UPDATE 9:39 a.m.: An engine from the city is requested to the scene. Elba is now requested to the scene.
UPDATE 9:42 a.m.: The city's third platoon is called to headquarters on Evans Street.
UPDATE 9:47 a.m. A Town of Batavia code enforcement officer is called to the scene. Firefighters are asked to go in apartments and open doors and checks walls for heat/fire. The fire was first called in as a fire in a wall, then a stove fire, now they are reporting it stems from an electrical problem in a wall.
UPDATE 9:54 a.m.: A woman's small dog is hiding under a bed and refuses to come out, and there are a couple of stubborn cats in other apartments, but command says there's not enough smoke wafting in the air to put them in jeopardy so they are letting them stay put for now. A rep from the American Red Cross is called to the scene.
UPDATE 10:11 a.m.: Byron firefighters were called to stand by in their own quarters.
UPDATE 10:23 a.m.: Firefighters are ventilating the structure. Stafford is returning to service.
Paige’s Bounce Houses, a family owned party rental business for Western New York, recently custom built a trackless train, “The Peyton Express,” for customers to rent.
Kevin Sikorski, the owner, said the new trackless train is a “fully loaded Cadillac.”
The trackless train has one engine and four cars, with each car holding six kids or four adults, or a combination. It includes LED headlights, tail lights, LED underglow, a stereo system, public address system, a 10-inch chrome bell and an authentic train whistle.
“We started Paige’s Bounce Houses six years ago and we keep expanding every year,” Sikorski said. “As far as I know, there is only one other (trackless) train in all of Western New York.”
Sikorski said the train can run on any hard, flat surface, such as grass, dirt and blacktop.
While Paige’s Bounce Houses is named after Sikorski’s oldest daughter, Paige, the new trackless train is named after his youngest daughter, Peyton.
Sikorski said the trackless train is perfect for birthday parties, church events, corporate events, festivals, fairs and parades.
“Whatever you think you can use it for, you can rent it by the hour,” Sikorski said.
The train will also come with a staff engineer, so those who rent don’t have to worry about running the train, Sikorski said.
The trackless train will be transporting the grand marshal of the Attica Founders Day Parade on June 3, then will be giving rides at the Attica Memorial Park.
Pricing for renting the train and more information can be found by clicking here.
Press release:
John Kennedy Intermediate School has received a $5,000 Lowe’s Toolbox for Education grant to purchase "Math and Movement" materials for The JK STEAM Program.
“We had the Math and Movement day with Suzy Koontz in April and can now purchase mats of our own to have here at John Kennedy thanks to Lowes,” said Melissa Calandra, who spearheaded John Kennedy’s STEAM (Science, Technology, Engineering, Art, Math) Program for fourth-graders this year and will take charge of the STEAM lab for all JK students, grades 2-4, next year.
During the Math and Movement day, students moved to the mathematics lessons – emphasizing patterns, stepping out calculations, and working out concepts on large mats. They were able to practice addition, subtraction, telling time, multiplication, division, fractions, place value, and geometry – and with physical movement incorporated into the brain work, the information was a lot of fun – and better retained.
Lowe’s, which seeks to approve grants that improve learning communities, noted that, “These materials will allow for a kinesthetic, multisensory approach to teaching math that incorporates physical exercise, stretching, and cross-body movements. Using the mats, students are ‘moving to the numbers.’ ” The mats will be ordered by the end of this school year to arrive in time for use next year in the STEAM lab.
All K-12 public schools in the United States are eligible for the Toolbox for Education program. More information is available at www.ToolboxforEducation.com.
The fifth-grade students at Batavia Middle School presented their human rights projects today in the school auditorium, including Tiara Banks and Jayden Dersham, above, who portrayed Madam C.J. Walker.
Born in 1867, Walker (born Sarah Breedlove) was the first child in her family born into freedom. She eventually found a cosmetic and hair-care product company, making her the first self-made female African-American millionaire in the nation and the prominent female entrepreneurs of her era. She was also a philanthropist.
Below, Cruise Rapone and Brendon Peterson, both as Milton Hershey, founder of the chocolate company and founder of charitable foundations.
The students also made portraits of the historical figures they studied. They also recorded their presentations (bottom photo, a recording of a student as Helen Keller on an iPad). The recordings were made in front of a green screen so historical photos could be used as a backdrop.
The projects work in several Common Core requirements for fifth-graders, including making a public presentation.
Several parents attended today's presentations.
Press release from the city's Department of Public Works:
Lehigh Avenue at Creek Road will be closed to all traffic beginning Wednesday June 7th for replacement of a culvert pipe. A detour route using Shepherd Road and East Road will be posted to assist motorists.
It is expected that this work will take seven to 10 days for completion, before the road will be reopened to all traffic.
The Apple Maps camera car has been in Batavia for at least two days. The Apple website says Genesee County is part of Apple's mapping project through June 4. Apple says the project will help the company improve the quality of its maps worldwide. It's possible that Apple is in the process of creating a feature for its maps similar to Street View available with Google Maps.
Press release:
Great Tabernacle Ministries announces the second annual “Here and Now Festival” to be held Aug. 25-26 at Austin Park in Downtown Batavia.
This year has grown to include more than 55 vendors and 12 food trucks from the surrounding region, and more than 14 artists and activities for children including face painting, balloon animals, cotton candy, Kona ice, and more!
Music genres vary from '70s rock and folk to rap and hard rock. Friday night features Elevation Worship with an expected draw of people from as far as Ohio, Pennsylvania, New York, New Jersey, Vermont, and Ontario, Calif. There could be up to 4,ooo people visiting Batavia from all around because of this event.
Saturday will start at 11 a.m. running all day till 10 p.m. with a number of artist and speakers, ending with runner-up from last year’s hit TV show “The Voice,” Christian Cuevas.
Great Tabernacle Ministries would like to thank the Genesee area Businesses, churches, and ministries for all of their support in sponsoring this great event! Without you this event wouldn’t be possible and FREE to our community! That’s right admission is free so mark your calendars now.
For a full list of Artists, vendors and food trucks etc., please visit www.greattabernacle.org. If you would like to sponsor this event and advertise your business with us please call 585-297-3155
Photo: File photo. For more photos from last year's event, click here.
City police are responding to the parking lot of Oliver's Candies after dispatch received a report of two males on top of "the horse," the big, colorfully painted statue of a horse that is on permanent display there.
Press release from the city's Department of Public Works:
Construction is scheduled to begin this week for replacement of water lines and sewer mains in the Vine Street, Chase Park, Elm Street and East Avenue area of the City.
Be advised that the construction will result in travel restrictions and disruptions in this area, and it is recommended that unnecessary travel down these streets be avoided.
Customers who shop at West Main Wine & Spirits on 341 W. Main St. in Batavia will have the opportunity to shop with an app, thanks to a company called More On Tap.
More On Tap is a company based out of Massachusetts with an interactive application for liquor stores and their customers. Their application can be viewed on a store kiosk, computer, tablet, mobile phone and the store’s website.
Chris Blossom, the owner (pictured), said he was contacted by Robert Pais, from More On Tap, with the idea of using a mobile app for West Main Wine & Spirits.
“When we first got coordinated with them, we were the third store in New York State to [have an app],” Blossom said.
Through the app, users can browse products, view drink recipes, food and wine pairings, current specials and staff picks. If the user is in the store, items can also be scanned to view product information.
Originally, there was going to be a kiosk put in the store, but Blossom liked the mobile app instead.
“More people are tech-savvy now,” Blossom said. “A lot of people are on their (smart) phones.”
Customers can sign up on the email club and Blossom will send special promotions through the app every few weeks.
“Before you come to the store, you can look up the wine you want,” Blossom said. “If you’re drinking a liquor and you want to make a drink, you can look up everything before you get to the store.”
Blossom said a challenged he faced was not having all of the New York State wines on the app.
“The biggest thing was trying to get our inventory coordinated,” Blossom said. “As far as the liquor and spirits, it’s the same mainly everywhere.”
The app is compatible with all smartphones. If customers don’t want to download the app, Blossom said there will be an iPad in the store to join the email club.
Through the app, customers can sign up for an email newsletter.
“I wanted something where people can figure out what they want before they get here,” Blossom said. “People are busy in life.”
On the web: westmainwineandspirits.com
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