batavia

We got a bit of snow in Batavia tonight, and it looks like it will keep falling until early morning. Then it's just cold and dreary for the next few days.

A rollover accident is reported in the westbound lane of the Thruway in the area of mile marker 389.1

Unknown injuries. Not blocking.

Town of Batavia fire responding.

A chief responding reports the onramp is very slick.

UPDATE 10:21 p.m.: The rescue engine can remain in quarters.

With temperatures at or near freezing and the possibility of freezing rain or snow, the Genesee County Warming Shelter will be open tonight for women and children.

The shelter is located at the Methodist Church on Lewiston Road.

Batavia Cab Co. will be providing rides there from McDonald's on both East and West Main Street, from approximately 7:30 to 8 p.m.

Todd Allen Weigert, 20, of Helena Street, Perry, is charged with criminal possession of a controlled substance, 7th. Deputy Chris Erion and K-9 Destro responded to the 7-Eleven in Bergen at 12:16 p.m. Thursday following a complaint of people possibly using narcotics in the parking lot. An investigation led to an accusation that Weigert possessed a quantity of a suspected narcotic and paraphernalia.

Scott W. Froebel, 47, of Colby Road, Corfu, is charged with DWI, driving with a BAC of .08 or greater, inadequate stop lights and open container. Froebel was stopped at 9:26 p.m. Dec. 19 on Prospect Avenue, Batavia, by Officer Arick Perkins.

Joshua M. Pierce, 20, of Meadowbrook Terrace, Corfu, was arrested on a warrant for alleged failure to appear. Pierce allegedly failed to appear in City Court on a traffic violation and an unlawful possession of marijuana charge. 

Shane Zimblis, 44, of Hutchins Street, Batavia, is charged with criminal contempt, 2nd. Zimblis was arrested upon his release from the Wyoming County Jail, where he was held on unrelated charges. Zimblis is accused of contacting a protected individual in violation of an order of protection. He was jailed on $5,000 bail.

A 17-year-old resident of Fargo Road, Stafford, is charged with unlawful possession of marijuana. The youth was arrested following a search of his vehicle at 12:01 a.m. Thursday by Officer Mitchell Cowen.

Joshua Richard Nanni, 21, of Broadway Street, Oakfield, is charged with unlawful dealing with a minor, 1st. Nanni was charged following an investigation into a loud noise complaint at his residence at 6:08 p.m., Tuesday. He is accused of providing alcohol to persons under age 21. Also charged was Dylan Ricky LaFramboise, 21, of Broadway Street, Oakfield.

Duty Everett Casell, 24, of South Pearl Street, Oakfield, is charged with DWI, driving with a BAC of .18 or greater, no helmet, uninsured ATV. Caswell was arrested following the completion of an investigation into an accident at 7:55 p.m. Oct. 31 on South Main Street, Oakfield, involving an ATV. Caswell's ATV reportedly hit the rear end of a parked car. Caswell and his passenger were ejected from the ATV. Caswell allegedly fled the scene and located a short distance away. He was transported by an ambulance to an area hospital for medical treatment 

A box truck rollover accident is reported on the eastbound Thruway at mile marker 390. Unknown injuries. Town of Batavia Fire Department and Mercy medics are responding, Law enforcement is on scene.

UPDATE 8:39 a.m.: A medic reports to command that the box truck is not actually on the Thruway, but rather just west of the onramp to the eastbound Thruway.

UPDATE 8:45 a.m.: Command reports the cargo is food and that they are attempting to clear the debris out of the road.

UPDATE 9:02 a.m.: The town assignment is back in service.

An accident with injuries, possibly involving up to five vehicles, is reported at Batavia Elba Townline Road and Route 98. Town of Batavia Fire Department is responding, along with Mercy medics #4 and #1.

UPDATE 2:18 p.m.: A first responder on scene confirms five vehicles involved and they are heavily damaged.

UPDATE 2:38 p.m.: This was two separate accidents in close proximity. The first accident, at the top of this post, involved a pickup truck which allegedly failed to yield the right-of-way and was struck by a Jeep. They are still trying to determine how a third vehicle got mixed up in this. One person with minor injuries is likely to be transported to UMMC; two others are sign-offs. North of the first accident another accident occurred involving two vehicles -- on Route 98 near Edgerton Road, Elba. No injuries reported.

Merry Christmas from all of us at The Batavian.

Here are some pictures from yesterday evening of local Christmas lights, starting with the DiSalvos on Fargo Road, Stafford, followed by the Calls' place on Main Road, Stafford, a house on Naramore Drive, Batavia, Joe Gerace's place on Vine Street, Batavia, a house on Washington Avenue, two on Richmond Avenue, South Main Street, Batavia, then Elba, and finally, the window display for Charles Men's Shop, which won the BID window display contest.

(Submitted photo and story from Chapin Manufacturing, Inc.)

We do not often these days hear about lifelong employment and people who spend their entire career at one company. But, that very thing has happened here in Batavia at Chapin Manufacturing. Batavia native Ron Odessa joined Chapin in September 1965 and just celebrated his 50^th anniversary with the company.

Mr. Odessa’s anniversary celebration was capped off by a presentation of a solid gold “Chapin Chip” presented to him at the annual shareholders’ luncheon by Andris Chapin, chairman of the Board of Directors. He accepted the gift graciously, saying with a sly grin, “Things are going well here, I’m thinking about making a career of it.”

Upon close inspection, a visitor might notice the name Ronald Odessa on many of the patents hanging in the hallway at Chapin. These innovations were made possible by Ron’s imagination, creativity and pragmatism developed during a lifetime spent in Manufacturing, Engineering and Quality.   

In his spare time, Mr. Odessa, an eighth degree Black Belt, teaches martial arts at Borell’s Karate Academy in Batavia, and was once considered somewhat of a rock star having played in a well-known Batavia-based band in the 1950s.                  

Chapin International, Inc., is a manufacturer of compressed air sprayers and broadcast spreaders. Homeowners and commercial customers know the familiar red Chapin logo means quality, innovative engineering and quality.

The Kiwanis Club of Batavia, with the support of the Salvation Army, along with supporting volunteers handed out nearly 100 gift baskets to local families at the YWCA on Wednesday evening.

This is the first year local Kiwanians organized the holiday gift program for families identified through schools and social service agencies.

The holiday totes contained food, candy, toys, games and vouchers for a free turkey along with all the other fixings that go with a traditional Christmas Day dinner. The families also received a ready-made piecrust and the fillings for baking a pie. Children received winter gloves and a book donated by the Richmond Memorial Library. 

Santa visited and children could share their wishes for Christmas and the family will receive a free 8x10 print of the children with Santa.

Financial support game from numerous local businesses.

Pictured are some of the people who helped with the project. From left, front row, Jeanne Walton, Jacob Lewis, Pete Guppenberger, Patti Pacino, Mark Lewis; Middle row, Patricia Kurtz, Katie Landers, Santa Claus, Mrs. Claus, Kristi Tretter, Jim Pacino, Mike Rimmer; Back row: Matt Landers, Cindy Baldwin, Jonathan Tretter.

Debra M. McKnight, 56, of West Main Street, Le Roy, is charged with grand larceny, 4th. McKnight allegedly stole a wallet at Batavia Downs. McKnight was arraigned in City Court and ordered held without bail.

Matthew Williams, 27, no residence provided, is charged with petit larceny. Williams is accused of stealing an ATV from a location on South Main Street, Elba. State Police say Williams noticed an ATV on private property and pushed it down a trail, where he filled it with gas and drove it away.

Maria L. Martinez, 20, no residence provided, is charged with criminal possession of a controlled substance, 7th, unlawful possession of marijuana and controlled substance not in original container. Martinez was stopped by State Police on Route 237, Stafford, for allegedly speeding. Troopers say she was in possession of 32 diazepam pills in a plastic bag and nine grams of marijuana.

Michelle Blanche Alberico, 51, of Mapledale Acres, Barneveld, is charged with possession of 10,000 or more untaxed cigarettes, possession or transportation of untaxed cigarettes for sale, operator's view obstructed, and aggravated unlicensed operation, 3rd. Alberico was stopped at 1:47 a.m. on Route 77, Pembroke, by Deputy Andrew Hale. Alberico was allegedly in possession of 450 cartons of untaxed cigarettes.

Earle D. Webb Jr., 29, of Joseph Avenue, Rochester, is charged with criminal mischief, 4th, and criminal trespas,s 2nd. Webb allegedly broke the door and entered the residence of an acquaintance at 12:30 p.m. Friday at a location on Central Avenue, Batavia.

Mael L. Tomlin, 23, of Chase Parkway, Batavia, is charged with harassment, 2nd. Tomlin is accused of pulling a woman's hair during an argument.

Joseph Matthew Mika, 18, of Pine Hollow Drive, Batavia, is charged with aggravated harassment, 2nd. Mika is accused of sending harassing text messages to a female victim.

File under "Christmas Spirit Fail." A complainant at Top's Market told a dispatcher she was the victim of a road rage incident. The male driver of a blue Dodge Magnum (which reportedly has a broken or inoperable tail light) exchanged words with her, then he spit in her face before driving off in an unknown direction. Law enforcement is responding to the harassment complaint.

T.J Woodward, owner, with Matt Meyer and Timothy D. Woodward of Gilmartin Funeral Home & Cremation Company, Inc., load up not even two-thirds of the boxes containing donations for Stockings for Soldiers.

Eaton-Watson Funeral Home, LLC, of Perry, and Marley Funeral Home, LLC, of Attica, also participated in the second annual Stockings for Soldiers.  

This year's contributions well surpassed last year’s contributions, with enough donations for more than 600 stockings, along with donations toward the cost of the shipment coming into the company's three locations.  

Stockings will be shipped to three different locations where U.S. troops are currently stationed.

Woodward would like to give a special thanks to Mr & Mrs. Tim Landers and Mr & Mrs. Jim Palermo for their donations toward shipping.

Photo and info submitted by T.J. Woodward.

A motor-vehicle accident with minor head injuries is reported on the Thruway, in the westbound lane at mile marker 395.7.

That's about a mile east of the Slusser Road overpass.

East Pembroke fire and Mercy EMS dispatched.

Press release:

City Manager Jason Molino today announced the immediate appointment of Capt. Dan Herberger to the position of Interim Fire Chief.

“Captain Herberger is well respected at all levels within our fire department and also in the local emergency services community,” Molino said. “I am grateful that Dan has accepted this important transitional responsibility and look forward to working with him.”

Capt. Herberger has served as a member of the City of Batavia Fire Department since 2002 and was appointed to his current position of Fourth Platoon Captain in September 2013.

“I am honored and humbled to serve the people of the City of Batavia in this capacity,” Herberger said. “I look forward to working with the talented and dedicated men and women of this department and appreciate the expressions of support and confidence as we move forward through this transition.”

Capt. Herberger will serve as Interim Chief until a permanent Chief is appointed, which Molino estimates will be sometime mid-Spring. 

The Batavian broke the news of Jim Maxwell's sudden retirement on Saturday.

Driving around this time of year you can always find some wonderful displays of Christmas lights and figurines. Since the inception in 2011, Dean Brooks pictured above (family dog "Princess," daughter Mickayla, wife Jennifer and son Spencer) have made this a family activity that has grown over time.

The display at his home at starts getting assembled right after Thanksgiving and usually takes about a week or so depending on weather and family schedules.

"I first started with about 3,000 bulbs, a couple figurines but it has grown to over 7,000 lights and we have been transitioning to a LED display only," Dean said. "The LED lights are brighter, more brilliant of a color, more energy efficient and I can differentiate between those and the incandescent lights.

"The possibilities are huge because the LEDs can be changed to multiple colors."

A new item this year is “talking Rudolph” in the front of the house. The show runs on over an hour then loops back to the beginning through a computer-generated software program and FM transmitter that you can tune into 91.7 when you are in front of his home that the lights and music are synced to.

The plan next year is to expand the megatron tree to have words flashing across it plus much more. The viewing schedule can be found at his Web site http://www.brooksfamilylights.com/

The family's address is 5671 E. Main Street Road, Batavia

Also a Facebook page here: Brooks Family Lights

A 62-year-old Batavia woman who served on a grand jury in a murder case has been charged with unlawful grand jury disclosure, a Class E felony.

She is accused of disclosing to an acquaintance the decision of the grand jury to indict a person in a homicide case before the indictment was officially filed and became a matter of public record.

Janice L. Mortellaro, of Buell Street, was on a grand jury that was seated Dec. 8.

The Sheriff's Office, which handled the arrest of Mortellaro, is not disclosing which case she allegedly shared information about.

The District Attorney's Office is currently handling two homicide cases, the Dec. 1 death of Norman D. "Don" Bell in Le Roy and the discovery of a dead infant in a home on Liberty Street in August.

In the death of Bell, a neighbor, Kyle G. Johnson was arraigned on a second-degree murder indictment Dec. 15. In the case of the infant's death, the baby's mother, Christina M. Colantonio, was originally arrested on a murder charge, but she was released from jail after an autopsy could not prove a live birth. A second autopsy was ordered and no indictment has been announced in that case. It's uncertain if that case has even been presented to a grand jury at this point.

Mortellaro was arraigned in City Court and issued an appearance ticket for 9 a.m., Jan. 5, to answer to the charge.