batavia

An accident is reportedly blocking traffic and there are injuries at East Main and Summit streets in Batavia.

City fire and Mercy EMS responding.

UPDATE 6:24 p.m. It appears one vehicle rear-ended another on Summit. The damage to the vehicles was minimal.  

In order to comply with COVID-19 social distancing requirements, GCC held a drive-thru open house on Saturday for prospective students.

Officer Wesley Rissinger, Batavia PD, collects a bag of no-longer-needed medication from a Batavia resident yesterday during the semiannual Drug Take-Back Day, this time located in the city parking lot off of Alva Place. The Sheriff's Office and Le Roy PD also participated with their own locations.

Press release:

Congressman Chris Jacobs (NY-27) honored student artists and announced the winners of the NY-27 Congressional Art Competition at a reception this morning in Batavia.

“Students from around the district submitted pieces of artwork for this competition; we clearly have some incredibly talented young adults in Western New York,” Jacobs said.

“I want to thank all of our teachers and parents who helped our participants create and submit their work, and most importantly, I want to congratulate all of our contestants for their hard work, dedication, and impressive pieces. I look forward to this becoming a tradition we celebrate every year.”

The Congressional Art Competition was first created under a different name in 1982 and is sponsored by the Congressional Institute. In NY-27, three winners were selected, their pieces will be displayed as follows:

• The First Place piece will be hung in the U.S. Capitol for all representatives and staff, and the winner will also be flown down to Washington, D.C.
• The Second Place piece will be hung in Rep. Jacobs’ Washington, D.C., Office.
• The Third Place piece will be hung in Rep. Jacobs’ Clarence District Office.

Pieces are judged and given their awards by an independent panel of judges. The winners for the 2021 NY-27 Congressional Art Competition are:

• First Place: "A New Chapter" by Isabella Houseknecht from Batavia (colored pencil).
• Second Place: Self Portrait by Molly Regan from Holland (charcoal).
• Third Place: "Creation of Bee-dam" by Madison Dugan from Albion (acrylic paint).
• Honorable Mention: Self-Portrait by Amaya Cleveland from Medina (handpainted negative-digitalized and painted on photo paper).

“Congratulations to our winners. I look forward to hanging these pieces in each of my offices and having a constant reminder of the exceptional talent in our district,” Jacobs said.

Photos by Howard Owens.

Molly Regan, second place, with Jacobs. First-place winner Isabella Houseknecht and her family were unable to attend the event.

Isabella Houseknecht's first-place drawing.

Second Place

Third Place

Volunteers turned out in droves yesterday for two big Earth-Day-related cleanups of public spaces in Batavia.

First was an effort to pickup litter along the Ellicott Trail. Also, County Parks officials hosted an Earth Day event at DeWitt Recreation Area that included not just a cleanup but Scouts involved in projects and games and information booths about taking care of our planet.

An open burn, a violation of the municipal code, is reported in the city at the corner of Swan and Ellicott streets. City fire and police are responding.

In the area of Prospect Avenue and Oak Street in the city, a controlled burn is reported -- a violation of the municipal code. City fire is responding. The Department of Environmental Conservation will be notified.

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Call Chuck Flynn at Howard Hanna today or click here to view the listing.

Press release:

The Batavia Police Department is investigating a similar bail scam as referenced by the Sheriff's Office in their press release issued earlier today. The scam involves at least four people and is initiated with a phone call to the victim from a private number.

When the victim answers the phone, a distraught female begins the conversation by yelling “Grandma” or “Grandpa” and begins talking about how she was in a car accident, arrested, and needs bail. The female says that her phone broke during the accident and that’s why she’s calling on a private number. 

The female tells the victim she’s going to have her attorney call to arrange bail. A short time later a male scammer calls the victim saying he is the attorney and provides details about the case. The male says that he needs $10,000+ to get the granddaughter out of jail and that it must be cash only. The scammer instructs the victim to leave the cash on the porch for a courier to pick up. 

The courier arrives and takes the money from the porch. Once the scammers receive the money, they continue calling the victim attempting to get more money for various legal reasons.

The team of scammers is known to operate a white sedan, possibly a Kia, and a black sedan or SUV. The involved scammers in the Batavia incident include a female, a smaller build young-looking black male, a heavy-set white male, and a younger average-sized white male with dark hair.

The Batavia Police Department is seeking any leads which can be provided by the public. 

Anyone that was in the area of Ellicott Street and Williams Street on April 20 at approximately 12 p.m., and April 21 at approximately 11 a.m. and 2 p.m., and observed the above individuals or their vehicles are asked to contact Detective Jason Ivison at (585) 345-6312 or the Batavia Police Department at (585) 345-6350, the confidential tip line at (585) 345-6370.

Previously: Sheriff's Office warns of local bail scam targeting older residents

A two-car accident with minor injuries is reported at Dellinger Avenue and West Main Street, Batavia.

One person has a complaint of back pain.

City fire and Mercy EMS dispatched. Law enforcement on scene.

Edward G. Ruckdeschel, 58, of Marcy, Oneida County, is charged with: third-degree burglary and four counts of third-degree grand larceny, all Class D felonies; and three counts of fourth-degree grand larceny, a Class E felony.

His arrest was announced today after an investigation that began last July into stolen vehicles in Genesee County.

Ruckdeschel is currently incarcerated in a NYS prison, following his conviction in previous stolen vehicle cases in Genesee County and his sentencing for the crimes on Aug. 10.

Following his conviction last summer, Ruckdeschel was arrested on suspicion of stealing two more vehicles on Aug. 10 and Aug. 11 and those two grand larceny charges remain pending in Genesee County Court.

Altogether there are ongoing investigations concerning seven stolen vehicles. Ruckduschel was arraigned in town courts in Batavia, Pembroke, Stafford, Le Roy and Bergen. He is due to appear in county court on all charges May 4.

The case was investigated by Genesee County Sheriff's Office investigators Joseph D. Loftus and Kevin P. Forsyth.

Paul K. Kellner Jr., 53, of Wescott Avenue, Alden, is charged with: driving while intoxicated; operating a motor vehicle while having a BAC of .08 percent or more; moving from lane unsafely; speed not reasonable and prudent; and consumption of alcohol in a motor vehicle. Kellner was arrested after a motor-vehicle collision at 9:59 p.m. April 21 on Genesee Street in Darien. He was released on an appearance ticket and is due in Town of Darien Court on June 1. The case was handled by Genesee County Sheriff's Deputy Kyle Tower, assisted by Deputy Kyle Krzemien.

Rosemary Renee Waters, 35, of East Main Street, Batavia, is charged with: four counts of criminal possession of a controlled substance in the seventh degree; and third-degree aggravated unlicensed operation. Waters was arrested at 1:39 a.m. today, April 23, following a traffic stop for an alleged traffic violation on Vine Street in Batavia. During the investigation it was allegedly found that Waters was operating the vehicle while her driver's license was suspended. She is accused of having four different types of controlled substances in her possession at the time. She was issued appearance tickets, then released from custody. She is due in Batavia City Court on May 11. The case was handled by Genesee County Sheriff's Deputy Jacob Gauthier, assisted by Deputy Nicholas Chamoun.

Press release:

Planned Parenthood of Central and Western New York is recruiting volunteers to serve as escorts at our Batavia health center.

It is located at 222 W. Main St. in the City of Batavia.

Volunteers will greet and provide comfort to patients upon their arrival to the health center and upon their departure.

Candidates must be calm, friendly and comfortable ignoring protestor activity.

A commitment of two hours per week, primarily during daytime hours is required.

Thorough interview and screening required and training will be provided. For more information call (585) 546-2771, ext. 338., or email volunteer@ppcwny.org.

Planned Parenthood of Central and Western New York provides high quality, nonjudgmental reproductive health care; promotes responsible and healthy sexuality; advocates for access to comprehensive health care; and supports those affected by sexual violence. Each year, PPCWNY serves more than 31,000 adults and teens throughout Central and Western New York.

Celebrate Earth Day and help keep the park beautiful and the habitat safe and healthy for wildlife!

Buffalo developer Sam Savarino, who has been working for years to close financing on Ellicott Station (former Soccio & Della Penna and Santy's Tire properties), met via Zoom this morning with the Batavia Development Corp. Board of Directors and gave the members an update on the progress of the project, which should start with site cleanup soon.

With the help of Kiwanis members in the region, the Kiwanis Club of Batavia has put together 40 care packages for veterans in our community. 

Members of the Kiwanis Club dropped off the "Kare Packages" at the Veterans Services Office yesterday.

Key contributions came from Kiwanis members Joe Van Cura, owner of Mission Coffee in Rochester, and Dave DiFranco, director of VPAC (Veterans-Plus Assistance Corp.).

Photo: Heather Henders, Lt. Gov. of the Genesee Division of Kiwanis, Bill Joyce, veterans services officer, Stefano Napolitano, VP of Batavia Kiwanis, and Peter Guppenberger, Kiwanis past president.