batavia

Press release:

Have you ever wondered how Genesee County came to be? What was the Holland Land Purchase? What is a Gibbet? How did Batavia get its name? If any of these questions pique your curiosity among many others, then volunteering at the Holland Land Office might be perfect for you. The museum is reaching out to anyone with an interest in local history who would like to volunteer. Any amount of time that can be given is welcome, even an hour a week can make a great difference. Volunteers can work in many different areas, and interests and strengths will be used to the most optimum effect. Areas of need include cleaning, gift shop, docent/tour guide, documenting of artifacts, exhibits and displays, landscaping, etc. Volunteer hours would be during the normal hours of operation of the museum are Tuesday through Saturday, 10 am to 4 pm.

If you have an interest in volunteering with the Holland Land Office Museum, please contact Director Ryan Duffy at 585-343-4727 or hollandlandoffice@gmail.com. Information can also be found at the museum’s website at www.hollandlandoffice.com.

Brock Orion Doberstein, 28, of Cattaraugus, is charged with criminal mischief 2nd and petit larceny. Doberstein allegedly damaged a vehicle and stole its license plates on Aug. 14 while at Darien Lake. He was arraigned in Darien Town Court and released on his own recognizance.

Kyle Allen Hawley, 31, of East Main Street, Batavia, is charged with endangering the welfare of a child. At approximately 3:38 a.m., Aug. 26, while at a residence on Spring Street in Bergen, Hawley allegedly overdosed on a narcotic analgesic while in the presence of a child less than 17  years old.  Hawley was reportedly revived by medics with the use of Narcan and transported to a local hospital. He was released on an appearance ticket.

Batavia Town Supervisor Gregory Post this morning contacted The Batavian, stating that he misunderstood a question regarding the possibility of a Gabe's store coming into the former Kmart building at 8363 Lewiston Rd. and that he has not been contacted by any representatives of the West Virginia-based company.

"I want to clarify as I misunderstood the question and I take responsibility for not clearly understanding the question regarding potential for the development of a Gabe's store in Batavia," he said.

"Currently, there is no knowledge nor have we been contacted by any representatives of Gabe's or affiliates of Gabe's, and the only conversations have been between developers regarding future opportunities at the Kmart site, which has been an ongoing theme for several years, especially with the impact of the Park Road reconstruction on potential outbuilds and future uses for that property."

Post went on to say there is "no indication" that Gabe's is interested, and apologized "for not clearly understanding the question presented during a conversation last evening."

Without any information confirming that Gabe's has inquired about placing a store in the Town of Batavia at this time, The Batavian has retracted the previous story.

Emergency responders are on scene at Western New York Concrete, 638 East Main St., Batavia, for a man stuck in a stone bin.

City Fire, Mercy EMS and Batavia PD have responded.

Mercy Flight is on ground standby.

Batavia PD is investigating a three-car accident reported today at 1 p.m. on  East Main  Street in which one car rolled onto its side.

According to the preliminary investigation, a minivan was traveling north on Harvester Avenue while a small SUV was west on East Main Street.  The minivan failed to stop for the red light and t-boned the SUV, pushing the SUV to the northwest corner of the intersection, causing the SUV to tip on its side.  

After striking the SUV, the minivan rolled backward and struck a  third vehicle that was also westbound. 

East Main  Street was closed to traffic for a time due to the accident.

No serious injuries were reported. Occupants of the SUV and minivan were reportedly transported to a hospital by private vehicle. 

The driver of the minivan was issued tickets.

Any witnesses are asked to contact Batavia PD at (585) 345-6350 and ask for Officer Girvin.

Spike C. Pope, 18, of Haywards Heath, England, is charged with petit larceny and trespass. Pope is accused of stealing a U.S. flag from a residence on Bank Street.  State Police assisted in the investigation because of reports of other flags being stolen on Bank Street Road, Town of Batavia.  Last week, State Police announced the arrest of an unidentified 18-year-old on charges of petit larcenies.  Previously: Flag thefts, including assemblyman's, reported in Batavia

Niasia S. Jiggets, 30, of Batavia, is charged with two counts of criminal contempt 1st and endangering the welfare of a child. At 2 p.m., July 28, Jiggets allegedly violated an order of protection causing injury to the subject of the protective order, a child, during a visitation. Jiggets was previously convicted of violating an order of protection involving the same child. Jiggets was previously convicted of assaulting the child on multiple occasions and causing serious physical injury.  She is on probation as a result of the conviction. She was ordered held on $1,000 bail, $2,000 bond, or $4,000 partially secured bond.

Jonathon Allen Kent, 33, of East Main Street Road, Batavia, is charged with harassment 2nd. Kent is accused of pushing a person into a door frame.  He was arraigned in City Court and released on his own recognizance. 

Katie Marie Preedom, 33, of Roberts Road, Alabama, is charged with DWI, driving with a BAC of .08 or greater, speeding, and unlicensed operation. Preedom was stopped at 2:30 a.m., Sunday, on Clinton Street Road, Bergen, by Deputy Morgan Ewert.

Nichole Donna Hall, 32, of Marlow Avenue, Blasdell, is charged with criminal mischief 4th. Hall was arrested in connection with an incident reported on South Pearl Street in Oakfield at 6 p.m., Sept. 8. She was issued an appearance ticket and released.

Kay E. Dilker, 31, of Albion, is charged with harassment 2nd. Dilker was arrested on a warrant in connection with an incident reported in Batavia at 11:45 a.m., July 6,  arraigned in City Court, and released on her own recognizance with an order of protection issued.

Antonio Goodson, 31, of Batavia, is accused of failure to appear. He was arrested on a warrant and arraigned in City Court and released under supervision of Genesee Justice.

Loretta A Knapp, 46, of Batavia, was arrested for allegedly failure to appear in court. She was issued an appearance ticket.

Anthony Underwood, 21, of Buffalo, is charged with harassment 2nd. Underwood allegedly pushed another person during a dispute. He was arraigned in City  Court and released on his own recognizance.

Ray S. Saile, 19, of the Tonawanda Indian  Reservation, is charged with criminal contempt 2nd.  Saile allegedly violated a stay-away order of protection. After police responded to a local hotel, Saile was allegedly found in a  room with the protected party.  He was issued an appearance ticket.

Heather M. Davis, 44, of Batavia, is charged with trespass. Davis allegedly went to the residence of a person on Ellsworth Avenue and started a bonfire on the property without permission while waiting for the person.  She was issued an appearance ticket.

"I wonder what memories of yours will persist as you go on in life. My hunch is that the most important will have to do with feelings of loving and being loved, friends, family, teachers, shopkeepers, whoever's been close to you."  -- Fred Roger

I love Fred Roger's definition of memories.   It is like our heart is compartmentalized into sections that house our memories.  As I get older, they seem to have a much deeper meaning to me.

I was approached by a lovely woman asking if our house was the Peca Homestead. So, of course, I said yes and explained that my grandfather built the house in 1927. Then, she asked if I would be so kind as to speak to her 96-year-old mother.  She was sitting in the car and had many memories of our home.  She was a friend of my Aunt Florence and remembered everything from our pantry, the two-way stairs, and the infamous old laundry chute. I loved talking to her because I remember her family and the connection between the Pecas and the Cinquinos. It was such a lovely visit.

Recently, a high school reunion lunch at the Pok-A-Dot brought back memories from high school.

As a teacher for over 50 years, I have had the joy of seeing former students.  They remind me of what it was like to be their teacher and have them as one of mine!  If you are lucky to have that lifelong friend that has gone through the highs and lows of your life, consider yourself blessed. 

As the compartments of my heart are filling up, the memories of my marriage and being a mother overfill them.  The greatest of all is our daughters and now our grandchildren.  

I cherished growing up in a big family. I treasured those memories. One, in particular, came to mind. I was one of six siblings. One night my mom lined all of us up as we waited for my father to get home from working late.  As he opened and looked at us, a little startled, my mother proceeded to introduce us to our dad. I'll never forget the look on my dad's face. 

Another memory would be when he would take us to Boulder Park or the Pok-A-Dot on a Sunday; I think it was his way of giving my mother a well-deserved break. We loved to spin on those stools and fight over who would pay the $10 for our hot dogs, French fries, and root beer in the frosted mugs.

Holidays were epic in our house, the laughter, the stories, and of course, the children's table seating 12.  Our meals began with an antipasto, followed by Italian Wedding soup, Lasagna, meatballs, sausage, and then a full turkey dinner with all the trimmings.  The food was delicious, but the shared stories were priceless and seem to get better with age. 

Another person we all cherished was our Grandma Bellow.

She would visit us every Sunday after Mass and bring dessert.  On holidays she would make the main course. My happiest memories were going home with her and staying overnight, and sleeping on her pull-out bed in her living room. Our drive from Batavia to Leroy in her 1962 Chevy was always enjoyable.  We would say the Rosary together on our way.  Her dashboard reminded me of a small altar with many saints watching the road for us. She taught me to cook, bake, pray, and clean.  

For many years, I was the only girl with three brothers, and I loved it. I was quite the tomboy, and what I like the best was I could annoy my brothers, and they were never allowed to hit a girl. However, they did get back at me when one brother (Tony) would read my diary to a boyfriend or tape my phone conversations. Then, nine and ten years later, I was given the most extraordinary gifts of 2 sisters. 

So many from my generation have lost their parents, family members, and friends. There are no words to express that loss, but somehow the sadness over time is replaced with our memories and love for them.  Not a day goes by I don't wish I had one more conversation with them.  

So, readers, in the overwhelming days we are living in, take time to remember and cherish your memories.  My compartments are almost all filled, and I am anxiously waiting to see what memories will be added until my heart is whole!

Your family is your story; make it never-ending!

 

Ryan Pyatt is building his empire one business at a time.

The Batavia native and resident just purchased his third company, and he sees no end in sight with his life motto firmly in place.

“Leave a legacy. Life is what you make it,” he said during an interview Thursday. “Everybody has the opportunity to accomplish (their goals) if they’re motivated and disciplined. I really want this thing to blow up.”

This “thing” happens to be WNY Pressure Wash, in its fourth year and 800 customers strong. Pyatt bought out Batavia Exterior and Roof Clean and rolled it and a few hundred base customers into WNY Pressure Wash, at 8145 East Main St. He plans to reach out to those customers and notify them of the change in ownership. The 10-year-old company was competition for him, so buying it “was a big move for us,” Pyatt said.

“We definitely want to continue to grow,” the 28-year-old entrepreneur said. “Our goal is to be the largest exterior pressure washing company in this area. Growth is one of the major things … I just really want to be the premiere pressure washing company.”

Not exactly a newcomer to the pressure washing field, Pyatt worked for Sparkle Wash since he was 17, and then purchased the company four years ago. For three of those years, he went with the name RNP Services using his own initials. But the evolving student of marketing and branding decided it was time to name it what it was: a pressure washing company. That, and more extensive advertising on Facebook, Angie’s List, and other home services websites, gave him the boost he was looking for, he said.

Pyatt, a 2011 Batavia High School graduate, admits that his time spent in obtaining an associate’s degree in business at Southern New Hampshire University didn’t give him as much foundation as did practical, hands-on experience.

“People ask me what my hobby is, and I say ‘I like to acquire businesses,’” he said, adding that it’s not even so much about the money. “How can I take a failing business and continue to grow it.”

He and fiancée Natalie Cervone bought Great Kutz, in Valu Plaza, in November 2020. Cervone runs the salon while Pyatt concentrates on his other ventures. It hasn’t always been a smooth ride, he said, as there is a learning curve with business ownership.

In other words, there was “a lot of trial and error,” he said.

“We made mistakes, that’s inevitable,” he said. “Finding out why those mistakes happen, and if you can learn and grow from them, that’s the name of the game.”

It was while providing services to home and commercial property owners that prompted Pyatt to pursue other career avenues. During those services, he’d hear people say that they wanted to sell their places but didn’t have a real estate agent. So Pyatt became an agent at Keller Williams in Batavia. Pressure washing and property sales seemed a natural fit to him.

“I’m getting your property ready, so I might as well finish it for you,” he said.

WNY Pressure Wash offers an array of services, from washing building exteriors, sidewalks, and driveways to back decks, roofs, garden pavers, and gutters. There are soft washes for roofs and other more delicate materials, and pressure washes that spit out 5-1/2 gallons per minute. He couldn’t come up with a most difficult job to date but named the oddest request so far: tombstones.

Pyatt has become a bit of a gunk connoisseur — blogging on the site about the benefits of pressure washing and potential damage that can result from leaving roof algae and artillery fungus alone. Artillery fungus comes out as tiny black dots near the bottom of siding; it’s a wood-decaying fungus that, like algae, can cause long-term damage to your home’s exterior, his blog states.

As he has become more versed in the entrepreneurial world, Pyatt came across a belief that there are three levels a business owner should reach for 30 feet is completely hands-on, when Pyatt was actually out there pressure washing people’s homes; 300 feet is about being in the office maintaining the day-to-day needs; and 3,000 feet is overseeing the business as a whole, taking care of the financial end of matters and customer acquisition. He alternates between 300 and 3,000 feet, he said, as profits have been continuously reinvested for the business with eight staff, four vans, two trailers, seven washing units, a building with a full bay for repairs, two offices, and an employee break room.

The keys to success are providing a quality job, good customer service, and communication, he said.

“That’s what we pride ourselves on -- quality,” he said.

He is offering 10 percent off gutter and roof cleaning services for new customers, valid until Oct. 31. For more information, go to wnypressurewash.com or call 585-888-WASH (9274).

Photo by James Burns. Ryan Pyatt checks out a pressure washer at his site on East Main Street, Batavia.

To honor first responders on the 20th anniversary of 9-11 yesterday, Lilah Guarino and her friends set up a lemonade stand and gave free lemonade to police officers and firefighters.

Her father, Mike Guarino, who submitted the photos, said, "They ended up having some visitors from the city police and fire department.  It was awesome.  The kids were very thankful and excited."

 

Dean M. Conboy, Sr., is indicted on two counts of attempted aggravated assault upon a police officer, two counts of menacing a police officer, attempted assault in the second degree, unlawful imprisonment in the first degree, two counts of criminal possession of a weapon in the fourth degree, resisting arrest, and menacing in the second degree.  On June 11, 2021, Conboy allegedly threatened police officers and intended to cause serious injury to police officers using a dangerous instrument. He also allegedly restained another person and exposed that person to the risk of serious physical injury. He allegedly possessed a knife during these incidents.

Andrew C. Aldrow is indicted on counts of felony DWI, refusal to submit to a breath test, consumption of alcoholic beverages in a motor vehicle, and moving from lane unsafely. Aldrow was stopped on Feb. 26 in  the Town of Le Roy.

Stephen L. Hegel is indicted on two counts of grand larceny in the third degree and one count of grand larceny in the fourth degree. On Oct. 8, in the City of Batavia, Hegel allegedly stole property with more than $3,000.  On Oct. 22,  he allegedly stole property with a value of more than $1,000. On Oct. 14, he allegedly stole property valued at more than $3,000.

Businesses, agencies, organizations, and families are invited to participate in the Downtown Business Improvement District's annual Scarecrow Contest.

Prizes will be awarded for first, second, and third place.

All participants will be provided with straw, twine and an assigned pole in  Downtown Batavia where the entrants can mount their scarecrows.

The contest runs from Sept. 27 to Oct. 31.

Register online at www.downttownbataviany.com or email director@downtownbataviany.com.  There is a $20 entry fee.

Photo: File photo from 2020

181 Vine Street, Batavia. Here’s one you shouldn’t overlook! Solid well kept and upgraded, this 2 bedroom, 2 full bath Cape is literally turn key! Home has been freshly painted and downstairs, newly carpeted. The living room is super spacious with gas fireplace and lots of natural lighting. There is first floor bedroom, bath and laundry and a kitchen that is loaded with cupboards and storage! Upstairs is like your own private suite with small sitting area large bedroom and another full bath-this home packs a lot in! When you walk outside from kitchen you will fall in love with this pretty and super private backyard! Not only is it surprisingly large there is a shed AND an awesome large outbuilding that was used as a workshop but would make an awesome man cave/she shed or super cool play house- it has electric and heat!! Hidden gem of a home -super affordable and turn key for you to move right in!!

60 River Street, Batavia. Here’s one to not look past! Solid 3 bedroom, 2 FULL bath home in great location. Close to all amenities and conveniently located to all major routes and minutes from thruway for quick access to Buffalo/Rochester! Everything in this homes has been modernized throughout the years with the addition of a first floor bedroom and bath with great closet space! This room has French doors leading to great large private deck! What you don’t see from the road is a super deep and awesome private back yard-it feels like your own private escape from everything! Sit on your back deck or there’s a large above ground pool where you can enjoy with no one to see!! Upstairs of this home has two additional good size bedrooms and an additional full bath. This home definitely is bigger AND cozier than it appears from the road! Utilities are inexpensive and there is large basement that is great storage or perfect for the person looking for extra space for workshop! This home is perfect whether you are starting out or ending-everything is well laid out and ready for someone to move in and make it their own!!

Call Reliant Real Estate today, call 585-344-HOME (4663).

Press release:

The Holland Land Office Museum is proud to announce its first West Side Ghost Stories program on Friday, October 8th at 7 p.m. Join us as Connie Boyd shares the spooky, sinister, and weird documented stories from the West Side of Batavia's past. Come and listen to tales of murder, ghosts, body snatching hangings, and abandoned cemeteries. This presentation is the same as our Ghost Walk, perfect for those who are not able to go on our guided Ghost Walks. Tickets are $3/$2 for museum members. The program will also be available via Zoom. You can find the link on our Facebook page or website, www.hollandlandoffice.com.

Back after a year hiatus and expanded by popular demand, please join the Holland Land Office Museum for a West Side Ghost Walk on three Fridays in October. The walks led by Connie Boyd will take place on October 15, 22, and 29 at 7 pm. Take a walk on the west side and hear tales of murders, hangings, grave robbing, ghosts and other eerie happenings from Batavia's past. Hear stories of Joseph Ellicott, E. N. Rowell and other famous and infamous Batavians. Be sure to also check out the Old Batavia Cemetery's Walk on Saturday, October 23. Admission is $10.00 and reservations are required with purchase. Tours are limited to 20 people each. The tour begins and ends at the museum and is approximately 1 1/2 to two hours in length. For tickets or more information, please call (585) 343-4727, email at hollandlandoffice@gmail.com, or stop by at 131 W. Main St. Batavia.

Press release:

On August 28, 2021, at approximately 1:45 a.m. officers from the City of Batavia Police Department were dispatched to a residential location on South Main Street for the report of potential gunfire.   Officers arrived on scene and found that shots were fired at a residence and that no one was hurt.  Officers believe that the victim was the target of the crime, and this was not a random act. The attached photos are persons of interest. Anyone with any information is asked to contact Detective Sergeant Matt Lutey at 585-345-6311.

Press release:

The Batavia Police Department is looking for assistance from the public with identifying the male in the photo. If anyone has information, or is able to identify the male, please contact Officer Lindsay at (585) 345-6350. A tip can also be submitted online via this site.