Photo: Rainbow over GO ART!
Mother Nature got a little artistic this afternoon, putting a rainbow over Seymour Place, home of GO ART!, in Batavia.
Reader-submitted photo.
batavia
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Office Max in Batavia is closing
Signs reading “store closing” were posted out front of the office supply store on Veterans Memorial Drive for customers yesterday.
Parent company Office Depot has confirmed that amid declining sales the Batavia location will be closing along with around 300 other stores nationwide.
Via our news partner WBTA.
Photos: Open house at BHS
Thursday night was open house for Batavia High School, with teachers on hand to provide parents information on homework, assignments, chances for college credit, classroom expectations, and to answer questions and show off students' work.
JK principal is a jailbird for a day
The students at John Kennedy School raised $555 for new library books and Principal Paul Kessler paid the price.
As a "reward" for the students, Kessler spent the day in jail.
Students, such as third-grader Anthony Nesbitt, took turns as guards to ensure he didn't escape.
The pre-lunch crowd passing the jail was pretty merciless. "You stay locked up, Mr. Kessler," more than once said as they walked in their class lines.
"The kids are having fun with it," Kessler said. "So are some of the teachers."
Cuomo cancels appearance in Batavia
For a second time, Gov. Andrew Cuomo’s office has sent out invitations to members of the community for an announcement at City Hall only to cancel the same day.
Cuomo’s office sent out invitations this afternoon and before 5 p.m. canceled the appearance.
No reason was given for the cancellation.
BHS soccer teams celebrate seniors night
Write up and photos submitted by Carolyn DellaPenna.
Last night the Batavia Varsity girls and boys senior recognition game was held at Van Detta Stadium against Greece-Odyssey.
After double overtime, the girls game ended in a 2-2 tie with goals made by #6 Ari Brown & #13 Bri Bromley. All players stepped up their game and goalkeeper Bri Janes made multiple saves to hold Greece-Odyssey to just two goals.
Seniors Recognized included:
#2 Rachel DeNise
#3 Claire Zickl
#7 Alaina Bowman
#9 Sophie Dinehart
#11 Brigid McCormack
#14 Bri Janes
# 32 Kelsey Kasmarek
Last Varsity home games at Batavia High School are Monday, Oct. 2, against Wayland-Cohocton at 5 p.m. and Thursday, Oct. 5, against Honeoye Falls-Lima at 4:30 p.m.
The boys won 1-0 with a goal made by Andrés Mateos in the 18th minute of the game. Nathan Hamilton had four shots on goal. Due to a strong defense by seniors Brandon Bradley, Stephen Gilebarto, Kyler Preston, and Jake Stokes, Greece-Odyssey was held to no goals. This is the second shutout for goalkeeper Jake Stokes.
Seniors recognized included:
#1 Jake Stokes
#4 Nathan Hamilton
#7 Brandon Bradley
#8 Cameron Hardy
#9 Gordie Montgomery
#11 Peter Fallon
#12 Andrew Freeman
#13 Julio Vazquez
#14 Charlie Beaver
#17 Kyler Preston
#20 Stephen Gilebarto
Last Varsity home game at Batavia High School is Friday, Oct. 13, against Pembroke at 4:30 p.m.
Gov. Cuomo to make announcement in Batavia tomorrow
Gov. Andrew Cuomo's visit to Batavia has been rescheduled and he will be at City Hall at 1:40 p.m., tomorrow.
It's possible -- though no official will confirm it -- that Cuomo is here to announce Batavia is the winner in the Finger Lakes region of the $10 million Downtown Revitalization Initiative prize.
GCASA bids farewell to Dr. Magdi Credi
Press release:
Genesee/Orleans Council on Alcoholism and Substance Abuse is sad to say goodbye to Dr. Magdi Credi. Dr. Credi began working as the Medical Director at GCASA almost seven years ago. At that time, he was trained in addiction medicine by GCASA’s former Medical Director, Dr. Charles King.
Dr. Credi has been an integral part of GCASA’s medical team, providing healthcare services and medication-assisted treatment for many patients over the years. His kindness and compassion toward people suffering from substance use disorders have been greatly appreciated by patients and staff.
Executive Director John Bennett recalls why he wanted to recruit Dr. Credi to be GCASA’s Medical Director.
“Our conversation centered on Dr. Credi being a healer and that people with an addiction need compassionate medical care," Bennett said. "We have been blessed to have him as our Medical Director for many years and more recently as part of the medical team.”
Dr. Credi stated, “Working with our patients has been very eye-opening. I am very thankful to John Bennett for having the vision to provide methadone treatment.”
Dr. Credi worked his last day at GCASA today, Sept. 28th. He plans to enjoy his retirement by spending time traveling and enjoying his grandchildren.
Motorcycle ride, 5K, Harvest Supper, disco party all on YWCA's calendar
Press release:
The countdown is on for several exciting happenings that will help to launch Domestic Violence Awareness Month at YWCA of Genesee County.
A motorcycle ride, 5K, Harvest Supper and disco party are events that begin this weekend and move through October.
“We’re thrilled to be able to highlight the heavy topic of domestic violence with some upbeat, family-friendly events that help to pull the community together for a great cause,” YWCA Executive Director Jeanne Walton said.
“We never want to lose sight of those affected by domestic violence, and these events complement the programs and services that we offer year-round.”
There are only four days until bikers of all kinds take to the road for a 90-mile Kickstands Up for Domestic Violence Awareness trip through Genesee, Wyoming and Livingston counties.
Riders pay $20 for the map and a chicken barbecue, and passengers pay just $5 more, meal included. There will be a silent auction with everything from a basket of edible treats and salon gift certificates to motorcycle-related goods.
Kickstands are up at 1 p.m. Saturday at YWCA, 301 North St., Batavia, for the start of this event.
In seven days, runners and walkers will take to the streets for the second annual Stiletto & Sneaker 5K. The USA Track and Field certified race will be followed with awards by age category, a purple celebration with a powder toss, lantern release, cotton candy and snow cones, a balloon artist and a brief message in support of victims and survivors of domestic violence.
The 5K takes off at 5:30 p.m. Thursday, Oct. 5, at YWCA. Registration is $30 for individuals and $40 for teams of up to 10 middle and high school students.
Meanwhile, for those looking for a hearty meal of local produce, the Harvest Supper will serve up an array of succulent dishes from 4 to 7 p.m. that same evening. Culled from local farms and agricultural producers, the menu includes bean and kale soup, beef stew, zucchini bread, roasted potatoes, sausage with peppers and onions, roast chicken, pumpkin bars, apple crisp with fresh whipped cream and hot mulled cider.
United Way kicks off annual campaign with $388K goal and plan for 'Teen City'
The United Way of Genesee County has set a fundraising goal for the next year of $388,000 to help support 25 programs run by 20 local agencies.
Director Eric Fix also announced this morning at the kickoff breakfast at the Dibble Family Center an ambitious plan to build "Teen City," a new center to provide activities for teens from throughout Genesee County.
Plans are still being developed, including finding a location for the center in the City of Batavia, but Fix said the goal is to open the doors by fall of 2018.
He's working with Jeff Townsend of the YMCA to develop the center.
"One of the things we've both been told throughout our careers is teen centers don't work," Fix said. "You can't do teens. It just won't work. I personally feel with funding from United Way and other sources, with our community support, and all the great people at the table at the same time coming up with this concept it definitely will work."
Fix also celebrated the events and accomplishments of the past year, which included raising $385,000 in last year's campaign, which was headed by Bill Fritts, who is directing the fundraising effort again this year.
The 10th Annual Day of Caring attracted more than 400 volunteers who worked at 35 sites.
"If you missed it, it's the highlight event Genesee County of all last year," Fix said. "Out of anything that happens in the whole entire county, it was hands down the best event. I think I've seen tie-dyed shirts in my sleep but it was the signature event of the year."
The backpack program starts back up next week and Fix said he's personally excited to get involved in that again, working with clients of ARC at the Salvation Army to fill backpacks with food to help children from needy families get through the weekends each week. There will be 180 to 200 backpacks packed each weekend.
There are two events left in the United Way's 5K series, the Acorn Run this weekend in the Genesee County Park & Forest, and the Stiletto & Sneaker 5K at the YWCA on Thursday.
Fix said all the agencies supported through the annual fundraising drive are making a big difference in our community.
"It's not easy," Fix said. "They can tell you that. I can tell you that from talking to them and working with them. And it's our United Way effort that helps support their organizations and helps them do the work that they do.
"I can't say that they wouldn't exist without it, but I know that their lives would be a heck of a lot harder if they didn't have that money. So we appreciate everybody who gives to the campaign."
Sponsored Post: Open House this Saturday - 48 N. Lyon Street
OPEN HOUSE: 12 to 2 p.m., SATURDAY SEPT. 30. Check out this great four bedroom, 1 bath, city colonial with natural woodwork throughout. Formal living room-dining room combo. Fourth bedroom is currently used as a large walk-in closet. First floor laundry with all appliances included. Detached 1.5 car garage with automatic garage door opener. Roof is less than 10 years old and most windows in the home have been replaced.
Call Mike Sisson, Mancuso Real Estate 585-409-4172 for more information or click here to view the full listing.
Sisters take a leap, opening up a salon in Batavia
Throughout the last month, two sisters from Oakfield have been planning, renovating and putting together a hair salon in Batavia.
Platinum Salon opened its doors at 6 S. Lyon St. on Tuesday for a soft opening.
“We are doing it together,” said Nicole Toal, the business manager.
Toal and her sister, Alicia Desjardins, grew up in Oakfield. Toal still lives in Oakfield, while Desjardins resides in Batavia.
Desjardins has been in the cosmetology business for more than 20 years and has always wanted to open up her own salon.
“She finally went ahead and took that leap,” Toal said. “I’m more of the business side. I’m on board to help her get things going.”
Platinum Salon offers a variety of services, including haircuts for each member of the family, coloring, microblading, and eyelash extensions.
“She does a lot of the beauty trends that are out there now that a lot of other places don’t offer,” Toal said. “Those are the big things that a lot of people have to go to the city to get, but now they can stay local and get those treatments done.”
Before opening the salon, Toal was a graphic designer, and Desjardins worked at another salon.
“It was sad to let it go,” Toal said. “But I’m excited to do this together. We’re sisters. We’ve been best friends since we were kids, so it’ll be a lot of fun.”
A month ago, Desjardins began putting her dream into plans and found a location for the salon.
“As soon as she started to look, she found this place a few days later and we jumped right in, doing it as quick as we could.”
The previous renters also owned a salon, Toal said.
“She closed her doors for whatever reason, and the space sat empty for a couple years,” Toal said. “We came in, remodeled the place, cleaned it up, fixed it up and put our own little touch on it.”
Their father and Toal's husband did the renovations that were needed for the space.
“They’re both carpenters, so they’re real handy with that stuff,” Toal said. “It’s definitely a family kind of thing that’s being going on.”
Toal said they are planning on doing a grand opening on Saturday.
The salon is currently open Tuesday through Friday 10 a.m. until 9 p.m., and Saturday 10 a.m. until 5 p.m. Those interested can book appointments through their website, located here.
Submitted photos.
Six inductees selected for Blue Devils Hall of Fame, dinner this Saturday
The 16th annual Batavia Blue Devil Athletic Hall of Fame Dinner is this Saturday at Terry Hills.
Social hour begins at 5 p.m. Dinner is at 6 p.m. Tickets are $30 per person.
Landmark Award 2017: 27 Summit Street, Batavia
By Lucine Kauffman:
Ashley and David Bateman purchased their 1862 home at 27 Summit Street, Batavia in 2014.
They obtained an early photo of the house and set out to restore the exterior as closely as possible to the original design.
As you can see, their house closely resembles another house in Batavia built at the same time. This home at 314 East Main Street still has the original Second Empire style mansard roof. The windows and the layout are matches.
Lovell Gibbs, son of Mormon pioneer Horace Gibbs, built this house at 27 Summit Street. At one point, Joseph Barnes of JC Barnes Clothing Store owned this house.
And now, the owner of a present day clothing store, Pollyanna and Dot, owns this house.
When the Batemans bought the house, it was clad in yellow aluminum siding and the original windows had been replaced with vinyl.
The original hitching post and carriage block survived and are currently located in the parkway between the street and sidewalk.
The crew that performed the recent street reconstruction reset the hitching post and carriage block when the project was completed.
The Batemans removed the aluminum siding during the start of their second year in the house. Dave did much of the work on the house himself. They chose a seven color historic paint scheme.
The side porch was an addition sometime after 1902. Dave resided the side porch with wood siding after using the original clapboard to replace an area next to the front porch that had rotted.
They discovered that some of the architectural details were taken off when the siding was put on. The exterior has been almost completely restored to the original design with the exception of a small balcony above the side porch that will be recreated eventually.
Each peak has its own details. The two side peaks feature different sunburst patterns. The front peak features an original stained glass window. The far back peak, only visible from across the street had been cut into for a vent and was recreated using shadow lines.
The house was built with Second Empire style features, and later was “modernized” with late Victorian features such as fish scale siding and a leaded glass window.
The trim on this peak was reconstructed and painted in a coral shade to pop out.
The original rope trim and scrollwork around the windows remains intact. &
The leaded glass window next to the front porch was added after 1902 when the front living room was widened.
The porch was enclosed with storm windows cobbled together. Dave removed the windows and will eventually build screens.
The scrollwork on the front porch gable was missing, but Dave was able to replicate it using a shadow, or stain, on the house.
The front doors are massive and ornate. The beveled glass and panels make an elegant entrance. &
The transom window brings light to the foyer.
A curved stairway hugging a curved wall graces the foyer. The Drews (previous owners) stripped and refinished the front doors, treads and bannister which were all painted.
So many details make this house special.
The Batemans had the English oak wood floors refinished.
When the Batemans took up the wall to wall carpeting they found that the floors were in pretty good shape but the wood floor grates had been cut through. Gene McMaster rebuilt the registers and refinished the floors.
The baseboards and doorway trim are elaborate. The Batemans had a local mill cut custom knives to match the baseboards and trim so they could repair the areas where it was missing.
A previous owner removed the pocket doors in between the living and dining rooms. The Batemans found this “fretwork” in the attic, probably from the 1880s/1890s and re-installed it in the opening.
Dave re-framed the leaded glass window in the front living room where water damage had rotted it.
Handsome French doors lead out onto the side porch.
The fireplace in the living room was added by a previous owner sometime after 1920.
The house’s interior walls were completely covered with wallpaper. Removing it and painting proved to be an arduous task but gives the house a fresh look.
The brass, dragon-themed gas fireplace in the dining room dates to 1886 but is no longer functional.
An Eastlake rocker has been passed down through several owners of the house.
A large beveled glass French door leads into the kitchen.
The kitchen is housed in an addition. The Batemans gutted the room to build their dream kitchen. They installed new, red tiger wood floors.
An island serves as a practical work and dining space.
It also serves as an architecturally interesting focal point. Dave installed the white subway tile himself.
Brass accented lighting warms the kitchen area. The Batemans chose an imported Italian marble countertop. The Statuarietto marble arrived in one large piece.
They had the mill create new baseboards to match the rest of the house.
The reproduction brass drawer pulls and glass knobs lend warmth to the white cupboards.
The original glass doorknobs dress up the solid wood doors throughout the house.
The Batemans inherited an assortment of skeleton keys which they use on the still functional locks throughout the house.
Some of the 19th century lighting fixtures remain in place.
Some, but not all, of the original slate sidewalks were salvaged from the recent street and sidewalk reconstruction and installed in the walkway up to the house.
The Landmark Society of Genesee County is pleased to honor Ashley and David Bateman for their loving renovation of their home at 27 Summit Street.
Plea deal in the works for Batavia woman accused of distributing cocaine
A 39-year-old Batavia woman accused of distributing cocaine is likely to avoid a trial and prison time, though some time in jail is still a possibility.
Denielle Mancuso, of West Main Street Road, appeared in County Court this morning on her plea-cut-off day (the last day a defendant has to accept a plea deal before the case goes to trial).
Assistant District Attorney Kevin Finnell said the plea offer of criminal possession of a controlled substance in the fifth degree with a "shock-cap" probation (which means six months in jail or four months of intermittent incarceration followed by five years of probation).
Her attorney asked that she be evaluated for judicial diversion, which Judge Charles Zambito granted. That means she will be evaluated for the program and if accepted would be instructed in conduct and procedures she would have to follow for a set period of time.
Mancuso was arrested in June following an investigation by the Local Drug Task Force and charged with two counts of criminal sale of a controlled substance, 3rd, criminal possession of a controlled substance, 3rd, and one count of criminal nuisance, 1st.
She is accused of providing cocaine (not necessarily a sale) to an agent of the task force.
She's next due in court Oct. 16. If the judicial division program isn't approved and she doesn't accept the plea offer, a trial is set for Dec. 4.
Law and Order: Akron man accused of taking vehicle, selling tools without permission
Jeri Carlton Lobur, 51, of Hoag Avenue, Akron, is charged with unauthorized use of a vehicle and petit larceny. Lobur is accused of using another person's vehicle in Pembroke without permission and then selling power tools that were stored in the vehicle without the owner's permission.
Dominic Daniel Czerniak, 18, of Wyvil Avenue, Scottsville, is charged with criminal possession of a marijuana, 4th, and speeding. Czerniak was stopped at 6:18 p.m., Monday, on Main Street, Corfu, for an alleged traffic violation by Officer Richard Retzlaff. Czerniak was allegedly found in possession of more than two ounces of marijuana.
Aaron D. Swimline, 31, of Alabama, is charged with felony DWI, speeding and unlawful possession of marijuana. Swimline was stopped at 10:44 p.m. Sunday on Route 63 in the Town of Shelby by State Police.
Semi-truck and car involved in accident at Oak and Richmond
A car vs. semi-truck accident is reported at Oak and Richmond, Batavia.
Unknown injuries.
City fire and Mercy EMS dispatched.
The roadway is blocked.
UPDATE 10:30 p.m.: A male ran from the accident heading west on Richmond Avenue. No description available.
UPDATE 10:33 p.m.: The person who fled is described as a white male with dark hair and dark clothing in his mid to late 20s.
UPDATE 11:16 p.m.: Police believe the sedan was westbound on Richmond Avenue and that it failed to yield for a red light. It struck the cab of the truck and spun so that the rear of the car struck the trailer. Sgt. Chris Camp said the driver is adamant that he was alone in the car. Witnesses told police he was the driver, but that somebody did run from the car. The driver was evaluated at the scene. He was not seriously hurt. The roadway was reopened at about 11 p.m.
