batavia

Press release:

U.S. Attorney Trini E. Ross announced today that Matthew Barber, 53, of Batavia, NY, who was convicted of possession of child pornography and violating supervised release, was sentenced to serve 147 months in prison by Senior U.S. District Judge William M. Skretny. 

Assistant U.S. Attorneys Aaron J. Mango and Michael DiGiacomo, who handled the case, stated that in April 2007, Barber was convicted on a federal charge of possessing child pornography and sentenced to serve 74 months in prison and five years’ supervised release. Barber’s supervised release was revoked on July 5, 2017, after he was unsuccessfully discharged from sex offender treatment. As a result of this violation, Barber was sentenced to six months in prison and five years of supervised release.

On May 20, 2020, Barber was found in possession of and using a cell phone and a USB device to view child pornography. A forensic examination of the cell phone and USB device recovered over 1,000 images and 200 videos of child pornography on the two devices. Barber was subsequently charged and convicted of possession of child pornography. 

The sentencing is the result of an investigation by the Federal Bureau of Investigation, under the direction of Special Agent-in-Charge Stephen Belongia; the Cheektowaga Police Department, under the direction of Chief Brian Gould; the Batavia Police Department, under the direction of Chief Shawn Heubusch; and the New York State Department of Corrections and Community Supervision, under the direction of Acting Commissioner Anthony J. Annucci.

Devon Wright

Devon Wright, who entered a guilty plea to multiple charges during a trial on Nov. 16, is wanted by Batavia PD on two warrants and police are seeking the public's assistance in locating the fugitive.

Wright is accused of shoving two females on Nov. 27 while at a location on Central Avenue and of tampering with the property of one of the women by throwing it all over the residence.

He is also wanted for violating his terms of release following his guilty plea on counts of attempted criminal possession of a weapon 2nd, assault 3rd, attempted assault 1st, and criminal sexual act 4th.

The plea came during a rare two-defendant trial.  A jury would eventually find Wright's co-defendant, Jacob Sponaugle guilty of attempted murder, along with other changes, in connection with a shooting outside the Days Inn in Batavia in July 2020.

Anyone with information on Wright's whereabouts is asked to contact the Batavia Police Department at 585-345-6350, the confidential tip line at 585-345-6370.

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In 1926 a young woman purchased Batavia's Central Hotel.  She renamed it the Palace Hotel.  The red brick structure was located just south of the New York Central Railroad tracks.  The hotel consisted of three floors.  The main living space for the family was five rooms on the first floor, with nine bedrooms on the second floor and six unused bedrooms on the third floor.  The stately hotel would soon be known as Edna's or the 'house of ill repute.' No one knows how Edna got into prostitution, but there is mention that she was raped at a young age.  She was determined never to allow another woman to go through that violent, humiliating experience.

Edna Geyer was born on July 28, 1882, into a poor family in Buffalo, NY. By the age of 13, she began working in a barroom scrubbing floors. At the age of 15, Edna married Joseph Gruber and had a daughter, Florence in 1901.

In 1935 Edna's daughter Florence died in an accidental fire in Sandusky, Ohio. The death of her daughter was traumatic for Edna. Florence had two children, William and Edna, ages five and three. They moved into the Palace Hotel to live with their grandma, the infamous Edna, upon their mother's death. 

It was difficult for young Edna to lose her mother, move to Batavia and live with her grandmother.  When young Edna's father Charles returned to Batavia to find his wife and children, Grandma Edna took him to the cemetery and pointed to her daughter Florence's headstone.  When Charles wanted to take his children back with him, Edna had him beaten and implied that if he didn't leave town now, then he never would. 

Edna was a powerful woman.  She had connections and was not afraid to use them. As a result, Charles seldom saw his children, except when Edna went to prison for a year for "operating a disorderly house." At that time, Edna asked Charles to come to Batavia and run the Palace Hotel until she returned.

Edna, as the grandmother, was obsessively clean and neat.  She maintained an immaculate house, scrubbing the kitchen floor and bleaching the sidewalk every single day.  She was not your stereotypical madam or your demonstrative loving grandma.  She was an alcoholic and would be drunk for days on end.  As a petite woman of 5 feet stature, she raised her grandchildren with very high morals.  Her grandchildren were completely separate from Edna's prostitution business. Her grandchildren said, "She tried very hard to save us from hurt. She didn't care if people respected her, but they had to respect her grandchildren." The children were never told what went on at the Palace Hotel.

It was challenging to grow up in the Palace Hotel.  Other children ostracized young Edna. If Edna thought her granddaughter was being shunned by her classmates, she had no trouble calling the family and asking the parents if their child had a problem walking to school with her granddaughter.  Just hearing the threat in her voice was enough to instill fear in her granddaughter's classmates.  Ultimately, Edna wanted to save young Edna and Bill from hurt.

Edna was a shrewd businesswoman.  When the earnings from the Palace were divided, she took fifty percent of the profits for herself, and 50 percent went to the girls to be shared with their pimps.

Young Edna and her brother, Bill's lives, were a contradiction.  On the one hand, Grandma Edna was very generous with gifts, but on the other hand, she had young Edna work on the muck to earn money for school clothes.

The Edna the public knew was different from the madam. Edna's generosity to children in the area was legendary.   In the 20s, Edna noticed three young girls living near the New York Central railroad in squalor.  She took the girls home, cleaned them up, fed them, found homes for the older children, and adopted the youngest.

Rather than Edna the madam from Jackson Street, you heard stories about Edna taking care of the less fortunate.  At Christmastime, she would spend hundreds of dollars on toys for children at the Children's Home, the local orphanage in Batavia.  She was known for purchasing communion dresses and suits for needy children of the neighborhood. She told sales clerks at Thomas and Dwyer to be on the lookout for children walking to school barefoot.  She would ask that they be fitted for shoes, and then she would pay the bill.  Edna would send men into McAlpine and Barton in need of a warm suit, and again, the clerks would fit that person and send the invoice to Edna.  She also bought uniforms for the police and fire departments.

Yes, Edna had politicians in her back pocket and probably was connected to the Mafia. She knew how to outsmart the local police and could be very strict and often cold. However, most stories about her described her generosity. She believed that you did not hurt someone who was already down but rather should help them. 

Edna died in 1953. Her granddaughter, young Edna, found her in their living room slumped over a chair.  The Palace Hotel was left to Edna and her brother Bill.  Today the building has been sided and made into apartments.  If only the walls could talk!

Photographs are courtesy of Edna's Gruber's Family and the Holland Land Office Museum.

Press Release:

Notre Dame High School is having a virtual fundraiser, the second Ca$h for Christmas Reverse Raffle, with a chance to win up to $10,000! This fundraiser was very successful and popular last year so we are doing it again. 

Notre Dame Events Coordinator, Kathy Antinore, says “ticket sales are going well as everyone could use $10,000 right before Christmas.”

The Notre Dame Foundation raises funds to use for financial aid and scholarships for students. Those needs are greater now than ever. The object of a “Reverse” raffle is to be the last number drawn. That lucky person wins $10,000. Between the immense need and the great cash prize, the school is hoping to sell 1,000 tickets.

Tickets are $25 each and there are 20 chances to win at least your money back plus two $1,000 prizes. The drawing for the last 5 numbers will be “Live” on the Notre Dame Facebook page on Thursday, December 16th .

More information can be found on the school’s Facebook page and website www.ndhsbatavia.com.

Interested in purchasing tickets, please contact Notre Dame at (585)343-2783 or email Events Coordinator, Kathy Antinore, at kathy.antinore@ndhsbatavia.com.

Press Relase:

The Genesee County Economic Development Center (GCEDC) Board of Directors will consider a final resolution for a proposed $4.5 million financial investment by Valiant Real Estate USA Inc. for a bus operations facility in the town of Batavia at its board meeting on Thursday, December 2, 2021.

The 20,000 sq. ft. facility would include office space, training space, repair areas and storage in order to support school districts and school bus operators across Genesee County. The project would include infrastructure to support future utilization of electric/clean energy vehicles and related initiatives.

The facility would be located on Saile Drive in the town of Batavia. Over the next three years Valiant Real Estate USA Inc. plans to create up to 19 new jobs and 12 part-time jobs. 

The GCEDC Board also will hear an initial resolution to consider the purchase of a vacant 142,000 sq. ft building in the city of Batavia by Mega Properties Inc., which plans to develop the building into a warehouse distribution facility. 

The potential $8.5 million financial investment by Mega Properties Inc. would retain nine full-time employees and the creation of up to 11 new jobs. The project would receive approximately $600,000 in property, sales, and mortgage tax exemptions. 

“There is a huge demand in the marketplace for operations and warehouse space not only regionally but across the nation,” said GCEDC President and CEO Steve Hyde. “The dynamics of supply chain economics is impacting every industry sector and the need for more storage and distribution space is vital to future economic development.”

A public hearing regarding the Mega Properties Inc. plan will be held at 4 p.m., December 2 at the Town of Pembroke offices on 1145 Main Road in Pembroke.

The December 2, 2021, GCEDC Board meeting will take place at 4 p.m. at 99 Med-Tech Drive.

A livestream and on-demand recording of the meeting also will be available at www.gcedc.com.

The BHS Drama Club presents three performances this weekend of The Adventures of Sherlock Holmes.

The play is a mystery adapted by Jon Jory.

Performances are at 7 p.m., Friday, 7 p.m., Saturday, and 2 p.m. on Sunday.

Tickets are $9 in advance or $10 at the door. For advance tickets visit  https://www.showtix4u.com/event-details/58348 (advance sales close one hour before the event).

The play is presented in the round on the stage of the Batavia HS auditorium.

Devon A. Wright, 20, of Batavia, is charged with resisting arrest and obstructing governmental administration.  Wright is accused of resisting arrest during an attempt by police officers to execute a bench warrant at 4:29 a.m., Nov. 16. (Later that day he entered a guilty plea to felony charges to avoid further proceedings in a criminal trial). Wright was issued an appearance ticket.

Arron J. McFollins, 42, of Batavia, is charged with criminal contempt 2nd. McFollins is accused of twice violating a court order at 12:48 p.m., Oct. 27.  He was released on an appearance ticket.

Anthony S. Brooks, 31, of Batavia, is charged with harassment 2nd. Brooks is accused of throwing a thermos at another person during an argument at a location on East Main Street, Batavia.  He was issued an appearance ticket.

Ricky Albanese, 54, of Hunt, is charged with grand larceny 3rd. Albanese is accused of working as an Amish furniture salesman while collecting Genesee County Mental Health disability payments.  During the time he was working in sales, he allegedly collected $38,684.18 in payments.  He was arrested on a warrant on Nov. 12 by Sheriff's Investigator Joseph Loftus. He was arraigned in City Court and released on his own recognizance.

Tyler Even Ryan Deleys, 28, of West Main Street Road, Batavia, is charged with DWI, driving with a BAC of .08 or greater, speeding, plate display violation, failure to obey traffic control device. Deleys was stopped at 1:18 a.m., Sunday, on West Main Street Road, Batavia, by Deputy Austin Herbelein.

Scott Patrick Simmons, 25, of Brewster Street, Depew, is charged with burglary 3rd, criminal trespass 3rd, petit larceny, and false personation.  Simmons is accused of stealing merchandise from Walmart at 4:07 p.m., Saturday.

Matthew M. Vanvorce, 33, of Vestal, is charged with DWI and driving with a BAC of .08 or greater. Vanvorce was stopped at 6:04 p.m. in the Town of Batavia by a State Police trooper.  He was issued an appearance ticket.

Press Release:

Batavia First United Methodist Church will hold its annual Cookie Walk & Vendor / Craft Sale on Saturday, December 11, 2021 from 10:00 am – 2:00pm.  The event will feature a large variety of homemade Christmas cookies for sale by the pound along with 35+ vendors and crafters with many interesting items for you or that special someone on your Christmas gift list.  There will be free pictures of the kids with Santa and the Kozy Korners Thrift Shop will be open.  Lunch will be available for takeout.  The church is located at 8221 Lewiston Road in Batavia.  For further information, call the church office at 585-343-4708.  Pictured are The Rev. Wayne A. Mort as Santa along with Children & Youth Coordinator Sandy Trimmer and Office Manager Anita Giles.

Photo provided by Diana German

Press Release:

H.E. Turner & Co., Bohm-Calarco-Smith, and Burdett & Sanford Funeral Homes proudly present their 25th Annual Service of Prayer & Remembrance at 7 pm on Wednesday, December 8 at the First Presbyterian Church of Batavia, 300 East Main Street.

For those who wish to participate from home, the service will live streamed as well via the funeral home's website.

“We hear from families how the service helps them through their grief, especially during this time of year," said Joshua Smith, of H.E. Turner & Co. Funeral Home. "For some of these families it will be their first year participating in the service, which means it is their first Christmas without their loved one, and for others, they come back year after year.” 

A candle in memory of your loved one will be lit prior to the start of the service and remain that way throughout.

As always, one candle will be provided per deceased loved one and will be given to attendees at the service. Those that choose not to attend but would still like a candle to participate from home, please call the funeral home to arrange pick-up.

Call (585) 344-4295 to reserve your candle by Friday, December 3. There is no cost for a candle and all who experienced the pain of loss are welcome to participate regardless of who took care of your loved one and arranged their funeral service.

The ecumenical service will combine music, prayer, Scripture reading, reading of the names of your loved ones & tolling of the bell in remembrance, and a message of hope by Reverend Dr. Roula Alkhouri.

To register the name or names for your candle please call H.E. Turner & Co. Funeral Home at (585) 344-4295 or register online at www.bataviafuneralhomes.com by Dec. 3.

Press release:

The Batavia Police Department is investigating a disturbance that occurred at Tops Markets this morning at approximately 10:55 a.m.

Batavia Police are attempting to locate and identify any witnesses to the disturbance that occurred inside of the store involving two or three adult males.

If you were inside and witnessed the altercation, please contact Officer Girvin at (585) 345-6350, or submit a tip through this site.

Derek Hagen

A 29-year-old resident of Batavia, and teacher in WNY, has been accused by Federal authorities of producing and distributing child pornography.

Derek Hagen faces from five to 30 years in Federal prison if convicted.

Assistant U.S. Attorney Kyle P. Rossi, who is handling the case, stated that according to the complaint, in September 2020, Snapchat sent a cyber tip to the National Center for Missing and Exploited Children (NCMEC) regarding a user that had uploaded images of child pornography to a group chat. After tracing the user to Western New York, NCMEC alerted the New York State Police, who subsequently identified the defendant.

On July 20, investigators confiscated two computers and a cell phone from an apartment Hagen kept in Mount Morris.

A forensic analysis uncovered a pattern of child exploitation activity on the devices with the defendant actively producing and distributing child pornography in online chats.

During the chats, Hagen and the other individuals traded child pornography and discussed specific children that they had sexually abused or wanted to sexually abuse. To date, analysts have allegedly recovered approximately 50,000 images and videos of child pornography on Hagen’s devices.    

The complaint further states that the defendant worked in several teaching, substitute teaching, and child-care positions in the Western District of New York, including at the Brockport Childhood Development Center, the Batavia City School District, the Pembroke Central School District, and most recently with the Dansville Central School District.

Members of the public who have information related to this case are asked to contact Homeland Security Investigations at (716) 464-6070 or hsibuffalotips@ice.dhs.gov.

The criminal complaint is the result of an investigation by the New York State Police, under the direction of Major Barry Chase, Homeland Security Investigations, under the direction of Acting Special Agent-in-Charge Matthew Scarpino, and the National Center for Missing and Exploited Children.           

Photos by Philip Casper.

 

Press release:

Join us Fridays at the Holland Land Office Museum during our 20th Annual Wonderland of Trees, sponsored in part by Tompkins Bank of Castile and WBTA, to be serenaded by groups of musicians from the Genesee Symphony Orchestra. On Friday, November 26th, December 10th, and December 17th from 6-8:30 various members of the GSO will bring the holiday spirit to the Holland Land Office Museum. November 26th will feature a brass quartet; December 10th a cello and French Horn duet; December 17th a flute quartet. Tickets to the concerts are $5 or $4 for museum members. Tickets are limited to 20 people due to space. Masks are required.