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Batavia Muckdogs fall to Lowell 5-2, but take series and remain in first place

By Billie Owens

Two Miami Marlins draft picks who are making an impact with the Batavia Muckdogs high-five after a diving catch by Milton Smith II, left, in center field head first toward the fence to end the inning, and Troy Johnston, who belted a home run and doubled Friday before 1,301 fans in Batavia.

Submitted photo and press release:

After taking the first two games of the series against the Boston Red Sox from club Lowell Spinners, the Batavia Muckdogs were in position to take over the best overall record in the New York-Penn League.

However, the Spinners showed why they are in the top spot by scoring two big runs in the ninth inning to hold off the Muckdogs 5-2 Friday night before 1,301 fans at Dwyer Stadium.

Batavia (17-10) is still in first place in the NYPL Pinckney Division and goes on the road for three games against the Vermont Lake Monster, the Oakland A's farm club.

Troy Johnston, a 17th-round draft pick of the parent club Miami Marlins in 2019 out of Gonzaga University in Spokane, Wa., went 2-for-3 with a 394-foot solo home run to right field that went 102 MPH off the bat. Johnston also hit a RBI double down the left field line in the first and is now hitting .357 on the season.

Sean Reynolds continued his three-game tear in his return to Batavia by going 2-for-4 with a double to increase his average to .545, as he hit two home runs then followed it up with four hits including the double.

Milton Smith II made one of the best catches of the season in center field, going on a dead sprint to center and diving head-first toward the fence, making a catch to end the fourth inning. Smith II then led off the bottom half of the inning with a single and scored.

Albert Guairamo, Nic Ready and Dalvy Rosario had hits for Batavia.

The pitching staff game up 13 hits but only five runs, as Andrew Miller took the loss, throwing 3.2 innings with three strikeouts. Edison Suriel (two strikeouts) threw 1.1 scoreless innings and Bryan Hoeing in his first appearance in Batavia threw a scoreless inning.

The Muckdogs return home on Wednesday, July 17 and Thursday, July 18 against the Auburn Doubledays then back home July 20, 21 and 22 against Mahoning Valley.

Tickets for these games and others are available at the Dwyer Stadium box office between 10 a.m. and 5 p.m. Monday to Friday, online at muckdogs.com or be calling 585-483-3647.

Poland now has its official stone marker from Batavia's International Peace Garden Foundation

By Virginia Kropf

Paula Savage, of Batavia, left, with Justyna Glusman, deputy mayor of Warsaw, Poland, after presenting an official Peace Garden stone marker.

Since Poland was chosen to receive a Peace Garden, Paula Savage, of Batavia, has wanted to return to Warsaw to present the country with an official stone marker.

Savage, a Batavia resident, founder and president of the International Peace Garden Foundation, has just returned from Poland, where she presented an official Peace Garden stone marker to Warsaw’s Deputy Mayor Justyna Glusman.

“It is has always been my desire to revisit those gardens and present the official stone that marks every other Peace Garden since 1995,” Savage said. “The stone, along with the official certificate, will not become part of Warsaw’s history.”

In 1992, Poland became the first country outside of North America to receive the prestigious honor of receiving a Peace Garden from the United States as a gesture of friendship. It also recognizes that Poland was the first country in Eastern Europe to achieve democracy, Savage said.

Savage traveled to Poland at that time, but the Peace Garden stone did not become part of the ceremonies until 1995.

During her recent visit, Savage was informed that over the past 25 years many changes have taken place in Warsaw, including redesigning of their parks. The original Peace Garden, located in Saski Park, will be moved to a new location, yet to be determined, Glusman said.

“This is an ideal time to incorporate the Peace Garden into these new plans that will be highly visible and easily accessible to visitors,” Glusman told Savage. 

Savage has been invited to return to Warsaw next spring for the rededication of the new Peace Garden there. 

There are 22 International Peace Gardens worldwide spanning five continents. Annually, a new country is chosen by the previous recipient country. Last fall, Savage traveled to South Korea for dedication of the International Peace Garden in Suncheon City. South Korea was nominated by Mexico.

Savage reminds residents that Batavia has its own Honorary International Peace Garden, identified by flags waving along Main Street beside the Holland Land Office Museum. The Batavia Peace Garden was dedicated in 2012 to commemorate the bicentennial of the War of 1812.

Each time a new country is chosen, a new flag will go up in the Batavia Peace Garden, which is part of a 300-mile peace garden trail along the United States and Canadian border in New York State.

Details about the Peace Garden Trail are available at www.peacegardentrail.com.

Winners announced for Kendra Haacke Memorial Fishing Derby

By Billie Owens

Above, Julie Plath, of Batavia, was the 2019 winner in the girl category of the Kendra Haacke Memorial Fishing Derby. In this photo, she is not holding the winning 8" bass she caught.

Submitted photos and press release:

Free Fishing Day and the Kendra Haacke Memorial Fishing Derby took place at DeWitt Recreation Area on Saturday, June 29th.

As part of the NYSDEC’s Free Fishing Weekend, no fishing license was required to participate. Families from Genesee, Monroe, Wyoming and Erie counties all traveled to Batavia to join in the free outdoor fun.

Friendly fishing guides were on hand to assist newbies with baiting a hook, casting and learning how to fish.

Forty-five children ages 16 and under participated in the fishing derby, catching a variety of panfish and bass.

Prizes were awarded for the largest fish caught each by a boy and a girl. This was the sixth annual Kendra Haacke Memorial Fishing Derby held at DeWitt Recreation Area. Each year the derby is sponsored by the Oakfield Alabama Lions Club.

This event was the result of collaboration between Genesee County Parks, Recreation & Forestry, the Oakfield-Alabama Lions Club, and ACORNS.

Fishing bait was provided by a generous donation from Walmart Supercenter of Batavia. All participants had the chance to win fishing tackle door prizes, and each derby winner took home a new rod and reel provided through a grant by Cabela’s of Cheektowaga.

Congratulations to the 2019 Kendra Haacke Memorial Fishing Derby winners: Girls category winner Julia Plath, from Batavia, with her 8” bass catch; and a tie in the Boys category resulted in two winners, Luke Volkmar, from Bergen, with his 8 1⁄2” bass catch, and Michael Atkinson, from Alexander, with his 8 1⁄2” bass catch.

Special thanks to the Oakfield Alabama Lions Club, ACORNS, Walmart, and Cabela’s for making this event possible!

For more information visit our website at http://www.co.genesee.ny.us/departments/parks/, or contact Shannon Lyaski at Shannon.Lyaski@co.genesee.ny.us or (585) 344-1122.

Below, is Luke Volkmar, of Bergen, who tied for first-place boys, with his new rod and reel, courtesy of Cabela’s of Cheektowaga.

Below, is Michael Atkinson, of Alexander, who tied for first-place boys, with his new rod and reel, courtesy of Cabela’s of Cheektowaga.

Sponsored Post: The Genesee County Fair begins today! Drive your tractor to the fair day

By Lisa Ace


Saturday, July 13th – DRIVE YOUR TRACTOR TO THE FAIR DAY - Fair Opens @ 9 a.m.

  • 9 a.m. – 4-H Dog Show Demonstration (Horse Practice Arena)
  • 10 a.m. – Exhibition Halls & Buildings Open
  • 10 a.m. – 4-H Kennedy Building Exhibit Judging (Kennedy Building)
  • 11 a.m. – 4-H Livestock must be in place (Dairy Heifers/Calves, Dairy Steers, Beef Steers/Heifers, Sheep, Goats, Hogs, Poultry, Rabbits)
  • Noon – 4-H Market Auction Beef, Hog & Goat Final Weigh In
  • Noon – Midway Opens
  • Noon – Talent Show
  • 4 p.m. – 4-H Poultry Show (Merton Building)
  • 6 p.m. – 4-H Livestock Costume Contest (Main Show Ring)
  • 6 p.m. – Genesee Speedway Racing
  • 7 p.m. – Karaoke FINALS
  • 11 p.m. – Exhibit Halls & Buildings Close

Events & times subject to change. Follow us on Facebook to keep up-to-date with changes.

Three cases in County Court on Friday deal with stenographer errors

By Howard B. Owens

It's been a tough year for stenography in the Genesee County Court and today three cases came before Judge Charles Zambito dealing with stenography issues.

Two stemmed from a previously reported stenographer's mistake while transcribing grand jury proceedings -- that stenographer inappropriately taped the proceedings.

Another defendant appeared before Zambito today because an appeals court overturned his conviction on a burglary charge because a part of the transcription of his jury trial was not preserved for review.

In the People vs. Victor J. Grimes, Grimes was convicted at a jury trial in August 2016 and subsequently sentenced to seven years in prison.

He's served 44 months of that sentence. 

Last week, a state appeals court ordered a new trial -- even while finding evidence was sufficient for conviction -- because a stenographer's error on the final day of the trial meant relevant notes in the case were not preserved. Since the court then didn't have the final day's transcription, the court couldn't review the proceedings to ensure the trial court complied with specific procedures. 

In the trial, Grimes was represented by retained counsel. He's now represented by Lisa Kroemer of the Public Defender's Office. Kroemer asked for time to review the case and speak with District Attorney Lawrence Friedman before a new date for the trial is set. 

Judge Zambito ordered Grimes held on $25,000 bail or $50,000 bond pending his possible trial.

The other two stenographer-related cases heard today were People vs. Antwan Odom and People vs. Richard Hanes.

Odom is accused of knifing Ray Leach. Hanes is charged with murder in the beating death of Ray Morgan. 

Friedman asked the cases be placed on the docket because he wanted to get on record what the defense attorneys intend to do regarding the mistaken recording by the stenographer of grand jury proceedings in those cases.

The attorneys for Odom and Hanes took decidedly different approaches.

Odom is represented by Buffalo attorney Frank Housh. Housh with his own unique sartorial style at every court appearance, walked into court today in seersucker slacks and robin's-egg blue sports jacket. And when pressed about how he intended to proceed, raised his prior complaint that Friedman is conducting a dual prosecution, one against his client and one against him.

In May, Housh made statements to local media that Friedman considered a violation of professional standards and risked tainting the jury pool. Friedman asked for a gag order and Zambito issued a temporary gag order but lifted it last week, citing an objection on free press grounds by "the media" (in this case, The Batavian). 

Zambito did rule against Housh's motion to have Friedman removed from the case because of this alleged "dual prosecution."

Besides the request for a gag order, Housh said Friedman has also filed a grievance complaint with the state bar against Housh. 

Housh contends -- without presenting proof -- that everything Housh says or does in the case is forwarded by Friedman to the state bar.

For that reason, Housh said he has not made the trip to the District Attorney's Office to review the case file on the stenography issue because, he said, he would need to bring his attorney with him.

Housh has repeatedly threatened to withdraw from the case because of this "dual prosecution" but so far has not withdrawn.

Today he asked Zambito for a summary judgment dismissing the case against Odom because, he said, in a prior answering brief, Friedman stated the grand jury process was legally constituted when in fact Friedman, he said, new about the inappropriate recording of the proceedings.

After more discussion, Zambito agreed to meet with the attorneys in his chambers for an on-the-record but closed-door discussion about the issue.

Out of that meeting, it was agreed, as stated in court later, that Housh would file a motion and there would be a hearing Aug. 5 (instead of the trial starting on that day) on the defense motion.

In contrast to the approach of Housh, Fred Rarick, representing Hanes, was willing to stipulate in court that prior hearings on this topic -- including one in the Jennifer Serrano case -- established the facts of the incident and those same facts could be entered into the Hanes case and Zambito could issue a ruling based on the facts and evidence already presented.

On previous cases, including Serrano, Zambito ruled that stenography issue did not invalidate the grand jury proceedings.

Outside of court, Rarick said he saw no point in going through another hearing where the same facts and evidence would be presented that are already on the record knowing that Zambito is unlikely to rule any differently than he has previously.

By getting the prior hearings submitted as evidence in the Hanes case, without objection from Friedman, he has preserved any possible appeal over the issue for his client should Hanes be convicted at jury trial.

Woman who handed gun to teen in Central Avenue incident given agreed-upon two-year prison term

By Howard B. Owens
Jennifer K. Urvizu-  Hanlon

A local former businesswoman who admitted to giving a loaded firearm to a 17-year-old boy, who then shot and wounded a man who had just stabbed and killed another man on Central Avenue on May 17, 2018, told Judge Charles Zambito today that she's not a threat to the community. 

Jennifer K. Urvizu-Hanlon, 48, mentioned the letters Zambito had received supportering her, her involvement in her church, her steady employment and her lack of criminal record.

Zambito saw something else.

"I do think you are minimizing what happened," Zambito said. "You're minimizing your involvement. Samuel Blackshear would not be in prison and Nathanial Wilson would not have been shot had you not handed your loaded firearm to a 17-year-old boy. That young man is in prison now because of you. And after that happened, after a man was killed and another wounded, you went home.

"I do consider you a risk to the community but under the circumstances, I'm prepared to accept the plea offer and go along with the sentence. You're being treated entirely fairly here. I don't think it's right for you to even suggest otherwise."

Urvizu-Hanlon, the former owner of a small Mexican grocery store on West Main Street in Batavia, accepted a plea deal in May that capped her prison term to two years on an attempted criminal possession of a weapon conviction.

More than a dozen people in the gallery, friends, and family, were there, it appeared, to support Urvizu-Hanlon, which Zambito also acknowledged.

Zambito said he seriously considered rejecting the plea arrangement because she should perhaps get at least three and a half years in prison, which is the term Blackshear received.

"You got a significant break here," Zambito said. "Perhaps that is because of your minimal involvement in the incident and your clean record."

On Thursday evening in May, Nathaniel Wilson stabbed and killed Terry Toote at Central and Pringle. As the stabbing was taking place, Urvizu-Hanlon arrived in her car and Blackshear approached the car and she gave her handgun, which she was licensed to carry, to Blackshear, who immediately fired at Wilson, hitting him in the leg.

Blackshear's attorney argued at his sentencing that he was acting to protect himself and others from a killer. Zambito rejected that contention, accusing Blackshear of exercising "street justice" before denying him youthful offender status and sending him to prison.

That defense isn't available to Urvizu-Hanlon under the current statute for attempted criminal possession of a weapon but her attorney, Christian Kenndey, said the Legislature is considering a change, and that it could be said Urvizu-Hanlon was justified in giving Blackshear the gun so he could protect others from a killer.

Wilson was later sentenced to 25-years-to-life in prison for the murder of Toote.

As in the Blackshear case, Zambito said he was fully aware of the May 17 incident. He had seen all the video recordings, read the witness statements, and felt he had a complete picture of what happened that evening.

He said there was nothing spontaneous about events on Central Avenue as the incident went down. The confrontation, the expectation of violence, was all premeditated.

"You knew what was going to happen," Zambito said. "I don't think you thought Terry Toote was going to get murdered but you went there under the impression there was going to be confrontation and you were ready to take action."

Once the sentence was pronounced and the paperwork complete, a deputy stepped behind Urvizu-Hanlon -- dressed in a gray blouse covered by a black windbreaker, a long skirt, and flip-flops -- and asked her to place her hands behind her back. For a moment, the only sound in the courtroom was the metallic zip of the cuffs closing around her wrists. As she was led away, somebody at the back of the room yelled, "Love you, Jen."

Arby's robber gets little sympathy from judge, given 10 years in prison

By Howard B. Owens
    Michael J. Piasta

Before sending him to prison for 10 years, Judge Charles Zambito reminded Michael J. Piasta Jr., that in 2010 he promised Judge Robert Noonan that he was going to straighten out his life and that he would never appear in County Court again.

Piasta was out of prison barely two years before he robbed, at fake gunpoint, the Arby's, taking from $6,000 to $10,000 on March 25, 2018.

"I'm going to give you a very long time to think about what you did," Zambito said.

The 10-year sentence, followed by 10 years on parole, was on Piasta's jury-trial conviction for robbery in the second degree. On his convictions for grand larceny and criminal possession of a weapon, Zambito gave him three and a half to seven years on each count, to be served concurrently with the robbery sentence.

In 2010, Noonan heard from Piasta's attorney at the time, William Teford, about Piasta's hard life -- a father who died of an overdose, a mother with a drug problem, domestic abuse, a learning disability, and the lack of a meaningful childhood.

Piasta acknowledged his wrongdoing and told Noonan, "At this point, I just want to say I don’t feel that I’m hopeless," Piasta said. "Regardless of what happens today, I think I can make things better."

Piasta already had a lengthy criminal record when Noonan sent him to prison in 2010.

Today, attorney Brian Degnan also reminded Zambito of Piasta's troubled past. 

"Mr. Piasta, with his upbringing, with his adult life, he's certainly been dealt a very bad hand here," Degnan said.

He acknowledged a prison term was inevitable but asked Zambito to consider Piasta's circumstances and expressed hope that Piasta could get the help he needs while in prison.

Piasta's own statement was short, asking Zambito to take into consideration Degnan's arguments on his behalf.

While Piasta was convicted by a unanimous verdict of a jury, Piasta, Degnan noted, has continued to maintain his innocence.  

Zambito agreed to hold a hearing on the issue of restitution. Degnan contends that there was contradictory testimony at the trial, with a contention that $5,000 was stolen from Arby's, and a claim of $10,000 stolen. Arby's has filed a claim for $6,000.

Batavia gynecologist Ashok Naik has retired

By Billie Owens

Ashok A. Naik, M.D., retired from the practice of gynecology in Batavia as of July 1.

Patients are advised to see Dr. John Jaeger (585-343-6206).

Records are available at his office.

Dr. Suwarna Naik will continue her practice of medicine at 4156 W. Main Street Road, Batavia.

Crossroads House overwhelmed by garage sale donations -- can't accept any more

By Billie Owens

Submitted photo and press release:

Regarding Crossroads House Garage Sale donations...

A very generous community has packed our storage containers to our limit.

As a result, we cannot accept additional donations for the upcoming sale later this month.

You folks have filled three tractor-trailers, two shipping containers, a barn and our garage!

We are so fortunate to serve in a community of givers. We look forward to seeing everyone at the sale.

For more information on dates and times, click here.

Two GCC students awarded scholarships from GC Interagency Council

By Billie Owens

Pictured from left are members of the scholarship committee and the 2019 recipients: Karen Hall, Hannah Kujawski, Peg Patterson-Case, Melissa Vinyard, Chelsea Elliott, Todd Rapp, Amy Swanson, Kari Heidemann and Melinda Rodriguez.

Submitted photo and press release:

The Genesee County Interagency Council awarded two $1,000 scholarships at their annual picnic last month at the DeWitt Recreation Area.

This year’s recipients are Melinda Rogriguez and Melissa Vinyard.

Special Thanks to the Red Osier Landmark Restaurant in Stafford for catering such a wonderful meal for our council, scholarship recipients and their guests.

The goal of the scholarship is to support students who have a strong drive to contribute to the field of Human Services. The Council was seeking applicants who were pursing their education in a Human Services major.

The mission of the Genesee County Interagency Council is to create fellowship and understanding among community human services agencies. The council helps to identify community issues and encourages development of resolutions.

The Council is happy to have been able to award such deserving candidates and wishes them nothing but success for their future!

About the Scholarship Winners

  • Melinda Rodriguez, of Bergen, is a mom of five kids, a full-time student at Genesee Community College and a dean's list honoree. Her goals are to earn a degree in Social Work with a focus in the medical field. We look forward to seeing her develop her skills in the Human Services fields and joining our council in the future as a colleague.
  • Melissa Vinyard, of Batavia, is a second semester student at Genesee Community College majoring in Human Services with a focus on alcohol and substance abuse. Her goals are to help those in sobriety find support by being a counselor. We look forward to her joining the Interagency council some day at a colleague.

GCASA shifts focus to former Bohn's Restaurant for sober place for fun and socializing

By Howard B. Owens

After encountering community resistance for a planned recreation center for people in drug and alcohol recovery on South Swan Street in Batavia, GCASA has turned its attention to a former restaurant location on Clinton Street Road in the Town of Batavia.

And the Town officials have been more than encouraging and supportive, said John Bennett, executive director of GCASA, following a County Planning Board meeting Thursday evening where the board recommended approval of a special use permit for 5258 Clinton Street Road -- site of the former Bohn's Restaurant.

GCASA is in the process of acquiring the property.

Bennett said the community center will have a community garden, a basketball court, TVs for viewing sports, a pool table, space for other recreational activities. And, of course, since there's no place for a tavern in a building dedicated to recovery, the former bar area is likely to become a coffee and sandwich shop.

"We went into Rochester and went to this place called out Coffee Connections and it's a roasting business, a coffee-roasting business, run by recovering women," Bennett said. They run two coffeehouses and they serve lunches and breakfasts and we were kind of scoping that out, seeing how they did that. We're seeing if we can partner with somebody who might want to run a small little coffee shop."

People in recovery want to lead normal lives -- watch big sporting events together, play pool, eat some wings and pizza, socialize, but in an environment without drugs or alcohol, Bennett said.

"This is the new norm in urban areas," Bennett said. "It's what they call sober bars. And that's exactly what they are. They actually have mixology stuff but it's all alcohol-free and it's very much like going to any other bar that you would go to where they're having either karaoke or live music or dancing or whatever it is. I think just people in recovery are looking to be normal without having to worry about drugs and alcohol."

The most notable downside of opening up a social center for people in recovery on the outskirts of the City is that it won't be in walking distance for most people, like the originally proposed South Swan location. The upside is the square footage of the Clinton Street Road property is twice as much as the South Swan location. 

The asking price for the property, being sold by Mike Bohn after buying back the property in a foreclosure auction, is $250,000. Bennett said he can't disclose the actual sale price since the deal hasn't closed yet and the price is still being negotiated.

A presale building inspection was completed two days ago.

Much of the floor plan of the former restaurant will remain the same, Bennett said, but the interior, which probably hasn't been updated since the 1970s or early '80s, will be modernized.

There is also some equipment, furnishing, games and TVs to buy.

Bennett said GCASA has a modest $75,000 budget for the upgrades.

The property will be open to the community -- if there is a coffee shop, that will be open to everybody. If a community member isn't in recovery but wants to host an event -- say a birthday party -- for a friend or relative who is in recovery -- or isn't but perhaps should be -- the facility will be available for those reservations as well.

And there will be events for people in recovery, whether it be an open mic night or for big sporting events.

"Let's just say we're going to do a March Madness night or a week of March Madness basketball and we're gonna show games -- it's just a sober place to come down and watch basketball," Bennett said. "We'll have a little sports area and you can watch the Super Bowl or watch the World Series, things like that."

Bennett is a little exasperated by the community outcry over the proposed South Swan location but he said he understands it.

"It's really too bad that the South Side saw this as something that would threaten the community instead of benefit it because if you check out ROCovery in Rochester," Bennett said, " ... there's a whole thing around fitness and recovery. I went up and I met with them and they were amazing people and the community now has just enveloped them.

"Their community gardens are open to everybody in the community. Everybody gets to come down and pick some tomatoes or some peppers or lettuce or whatever they need. And everybody is also allowed to use the recovery center.

"So so I think that's where we want to head to. We want to say, 'hey this is open to you, too. You just have to be willing to be drug-free while you're here.'

"I think they were shortsighted but I understand that people have fears and the work we do is stigmatized."

Sponsored Post: The Genesee County Fair kicks off tomorrow - PREVIEW NIGHT TONIGHT

By Lisa Ace


Friday, July 12th – PREVIEW NIGHT • Free Parking

  • 4 p.m. – Midway OPEN
  • 7 p.m. – Karaoke Qualifier

Daily at the Genesee County Fair:

  • Mechanical Bull Riding – try your hand at bull riding on the mechanical bull
  • Balloon Display and Demonstrations
  • Pig Racing
  • Entertainer – Wade Henry

Events & times subject to change. Follow us on Facebook to keep up-to-date with changes.

Batavia PD looking for people who may have information about damage to mall skylights

By Howard B. Owens

Press release:

The Batavia Police Department is investigating damage to the City Center, which occurred between 06/29/2019 and 07/01/2019. The suspects did not gain entry to the building but did damage the skylights in the mall concourse, after getting onto the roof.

The attached photos are individuals who may have information in regards to the investigation.

Anyone with information in reference to the case or who can identify the persons in the photos may contact Detective Eric Hill at 585-345-6373 or the Batavia Police Department at 585-345-6350, the confidential tip line at 585-345-6370.

$2K reward offered for arrest and conviction of Route 98 kitten killer

By Howard B. Owens

Pledges from Volunteers for Animals and animal lovers in the community have led to at least a $2,000 reward being offered for the arrest and conviction of the person responsible for tossing an eight-week-old kitten from the window of a red car on Route 98 near West Saile Drive on Saturday night.

The kitten had to be euthanized because of its extensive injuries. 

The Sheriff's Office announced the award this evening.

Anyone with information about the incident is asked to call the Sheriff's Office at (585) 343-5000.

Economic development leaders call on governor to help get funding approval or Ellicott Station

By Howard B. Owens

Open Letter:

In Batavia, we are proud to call ourselves New Yorkers.  Our residents’ band together in shared experiences and pride for our City and the great state of New York. Our city, the crossroads of Western New York, rose as thousands traveled through our downtown and neighborhoods toward destinations of employment and prosperity.  Many found Batavia and stayed to create an amazing life for their families.

Imagine the energy that 1,300 workers at Massey Harris generated as they built modern tractors and equipment from a 1 million Sq. Ft. of manufacturing operation in the heart of the City.  Batavia hummed with production and vibrancy, good wages, and happy families.  Their hard work and sweat allowed rural families across the world to give their children opportunities beyond back-breaking labor, and the food that fed millions.

Finishing their shifts, workers congregated downtown supporting merchants, professionals, and even a cluster of breweries that welcomed their neighbors.  The smell of freshly baked breads, the sight of produce and meat hanging in the window, the sound of the train rolling through, and the excitement of a vibrant downtown permeated the senses.

That era fell away with Urban Renewal and an economic decline that lasted decades.  Children walking to school saw vacant sites decaying and open lots.  The blight of hollowed, crumbling brownfields like Ellicott Station cannot support their ambitions, does not give them sense of purpose, and will not bring opportunities to advance personal prosperity.

As partners in the Batavia Pathway to Prosperity (BP2), the City of Batavia, the Batavia City School District, and Genesee County forgo immediate funding to pledge investments in distressed brownfield areas.  The BP2 was created to catalyze growth in Batavia’s main corridors and foster quality of life of our neighbors. 

Far too many families continue to experience and walk past blighted brownfield properties with decaying buildings and broken windows in Upstate New York, including the Ellicott Station site. This site is not only an environmental hazard and an eyesore; it represents the delicate balance between poverty and the hope for a successful future.

The BP2 initiative was born out of the City’s Brownfield Opportunity Area (BOA) and was a major driver in attracting Savarino Companies as the developer to the Ellicott Station Brownfield.  Other economic development partners and state agencies have come to the table to assist the project, understanding the importance of getting Batavia’s first brownfield rehabilitated. 

Leveraging millions of dollars of investments to transform Ellicott Station will bring up to 60 good-paying, full-time jobs and reconnect our community along the path of the Ellicott Trail.  Cleaning up the Ellicott Station site enables a vision to add downtown apartments sought by Millennials, retirees, and the professionals connected to Rochester and Buffalo.  The project has materialized slowly and only recently when Governor Cuomo announced Batavia as a Downtown Revitalization Initiative (DRI) winner did hope rise that the necessary funding support would come together to finalize the project and construction could begin. 

Advancing the largest investment in decades in downtown Batavia gives momentum to over a dozen more local DRI projects identified as community priorities and supported by Governor Cuomo and leaders at the Department of State, Empire State Development and the Department of Housing and Community Renewal.

The BP2 partners have been working since 2016 to get this project off the ground and we cannot turn away from the challenges we have overcome and opportunities we can achieve with a project of this size and scale. 

The time has come for the community and our economic development partners including all the engaged state and local agencies to join together to resolve the final pieces necessary to move this project forward.  With the Governor’s leadership at this important moment, we will make it a reality.

Eugene Jankowski, Jr., President, Batavia City Council
Robert Bausch, Chairman, Genesee County Legislature
Patrick Burk, President, Batavia City School District Board of Education
Paul Battaglia, Chairman, Genesee County Economic Development Center
Pierluigi Cipollone, President, Batavia Development Corporation

Law and Order: Ross Street man accused of third-degree assault and threatening woman with fake gun

By Billie Owens

Salvatore M. Tornabene, 26, of Ross Street, Batavia, (inset photo right) is charged with third-degree assault. He was arrested following a domestic incident on Ross Street at 11:30 p.m. on July 1. He was arraigned in Batavia City Court and jailed without bail. Tornabene was due back in city court July 8. 

Salvatore M. Tornabene, 26, of Ross Street, Batavia, is charged with criminal possession of a weapon in the third degree, and second-degree menacing. At 11:05 p.m. on July 6, Batavia police responded to Ross Street for a report of subjects fighting, possibly with weapons. He was arrested after he allegedly threatened a woman with an imitation pistol. He was arraigned in Batavia City Court and jailed without bail. Tornabene was due back in city court July 8. The case was handled by Batavia Police Officer Arick Perkins, assisted by Officer Mitchell Cowen.

Kyle Allan Hawley, 29, of South Lake Avenue, Bergen, is charged with: two counts of criminal possession of a controlled substance in the seventh degree; possession of a hypodermic instrument; and criminal use of drug paraphernalia in the second degree. At 8:10 a.m. on July 10, the GC Emergency Dispatch Center received a report of a larceny that just occurred at a business on West Main Street in the City of Batavia. The suspect vehicle was located entering the Thruway at the Exit 48 interchange. Hawley was identified as a passenger in the vehicle. Following a search of the vehicle, and after allegedly observing stolen property in plain view, Hawley was found to allegedly possession two different kinds of controlled substances and drug paraphernalia. He was arrested, arraigned in Batavia Town Court and processed, then released on appearance tickets. He is due back in town court on July 25. The investigation was assisted by members of the NYS Troopers and City of Batavia Police Department. The case was handled by Genesee County Sheriff's Deputy Ryan DeLong.

Mitchell Edward Bryan, 27, East Bethany -- Le Roy Road, Stafford, is charged with: aggravated driving while intoxicated; DWI; driving left of pavement markings; moving from unsafely; and failure to keep right. At 12:12 a.m. on July 11, the Genesee County Sheriff's Office investigated a one-car accident on Bernd Road in the Town of Le Roy. The driver and sole occupant, Bryan, was arrested on the charges listed. He was driving northbound on Bernd Road when he cross over into the southbound lane and continued off the west shoulder, striking a tree. Further investigation allegedly revealed he had a BAC of .18 percent or higher. He was released on an appearance ticket and is due in the Town of Le Roy Court on Aug. 6. The case was handled by Genesee County Sheriff's Deputy David Moore.

David M. Raines, 37, of Bank Street, Batavia, is charged with second-degree harassment. He was arrested at 7 p.m. on July 5 after an incident on Bank Street. He was issued an appearance ticket and is due in Batavia City Court on July 16 to answer the charge. The case was handled by Batavia Police Officer Stephen Quider, assisted by Officer Peter Post.

Speak Up Toastmasters induct new officers for 2019-20 fiscal year

By Billie Owens

Submitted photo and press release:

The energetic and motivational club, Speak Up Toastmasters, met at a special place and time on Tuesday to induct new officers for the 2019-2020 fiscal year.

Janice Brooks (Area Director), members, and guests welcomed Sarah Kohl (Sergeant at Arms), Judy Britton (Secretary), Leslie Marino (VP Public Relations), Denise Hull ( VP Education), and Patrick Olson (President & Treasurer) in their new roles. Not pictured, Brenda Serena (VP Membership).

Our speaker for the evening, newly appointed President & Treasurer Olson, presented a research project on Team Work. The speech was his third educational award giving him the distinction of earning the District's Triple Crown Award.

"The nice thing about the new educational manuals is that they are all online now so they can be accessed anywhere you have an Internet connection. And it's the club experience that teaches you the most," Marino said.

There are more than 345,000 registered members in Toastmasters. Interested in becoming a better communicator and leader? Visit a club meeting for FREE!

Meetings are on the second and fourth Tuesday at 7 p.m., 190 Oak St., Batavia. www.SpeakUpToastmasters.org, text or call 585-993-0515 or email LeslieAGMarino@Yahoo.com to save a seat.

Sponsored Post: Open House this Sunday - 5 Allanview Drive, Batavia

By Lisa Ace


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