batavia

The odor of smoke in the building is reported at Kohl's Department Store on Veterans Memorial Drive. Lights inside the store are flickering. Town of Batavia Fire Department is responding.

A two-vehicle accident with injuries, abd blocking traffic, is reported at the intersection of Galloway and Kelsey roads. Town of Batavia Fire Department is responding along with Mercy medics.

UPDATE 1:28 p.m.: Command reports that shovels and brooms will be needed to clean up the debris. No fluids are leaking.

Genesee Community College is pleased to announce Katherine (Kate) Trombley as the new director of the Adult Education Opportunity Center (AEOC).

Trombley joins GCC with a wealth of experience and is excited to work with and support adults in Allegany, Genesee, Livingston, Orleans and Wyoming counties as they begin, resume or continue their educational objectives, goals and dreams.

"I am extremely passionate about education and learning," Trombley said. "Through this position, I will be able to assist adults who would like to attend college, obtain vocational training or change careers through the support of the services that AEOC offers to the region.

"I am very excited to share the resources and opportunities with potential students from Genesee, Orleans, Wyoming, Cattaraugus, Allegheny and Livingston counties."

The AEOC at GCC strives to assist adult students in connection with the appropriate resources that will help them to meet their individual goals.

With locations in Batavia, Arcade, Albion, Geneseo, Warsaw, Belmont and Basom, adults receive assistance with the admissions and financial aid forms and processing, as well exploring academic and career options, scholarships, and sorting through different academic scheduling that can include evening, weekend and online learning opportunities.

Trombley's prior position was with Western New York Independent Living in Buffalo where she served as director of outreach and community engagement and as the director of the Medicaid Application Assistance Program since 2012. At Western New York Independent Living, she was responsible for community engagement, education and outreach efforts.

These included community presentations, training about Medicaid, and community events to broaden the general understanding about programs and services which assist individuals with disabilities to achieve goals surrounding education, employment, housing, or other personal and professional growth through the Independent Living Center.

Trombley also taught Business Technology as an adjunct instructor at Bryant and Stratton College from 2012 – 2015, and was an adult educator of Strategic Planning/Business/Marketing at ITT Technical Institute in 2010.

She earned a master's degree in Executive Leadership and Change from Daemen College, a master's degree in Adult and Continuing Education and a bachelor's degree in Public Communications from the University at Buffalo. She is a resident of Lockport.

For further information on the AEOC, including available resources, locations, and contact information, visit the Center's website at http://www.genesee.edu/home/resources/adult-educational-opportunity-center/ or contact Kate Trombley directly by calling 585-345-6836 or emailing kbtrombley@genesee.edu.

Batavia Downs was the luckiest place in town today. Against all odds and predictions, the weather was great for tonight’s  opening of a six-concert series “Rockin’ the Downs."

Four acts took the stage in a festival atmosphere in the center of the Batavia Downs track. The track estimated that more than 3,000 were in attendance. Food and beverage vendors lined the viewing area for those who came to see tonight's headliner, Lonestar.  

The band met with Batavia Downs VIP players backstage before the show and signed a guitar that was auctioned off after the concert. The proceeds of the guitar auction raised more than $600 for the Genesee County Animal Shelter.

Former Buffalo Bills running back Thurman Thomas, below, elected to the Pro Football Hall of Fame in 2007, made an appearance at the concert to speak to the crowd. Afterward, he hung around to see Lonestar and take pictures with some of his fans. 

Next up, on Friday, June 23rd, is Dennis DeYoung and the Music of Styx.

City police are responding to the VA Medical Center at 222 Richmond Ave. after the security police on site called about a raccoon that is "acting strange" near the ambulance entrance.

"Apparently it charged three people," says a dispatcher.

Submitted photos and press release:

The Paolo Busti Cultural Foundation’s Outstanding Italian American awards and scholarship event for Spring 2017 will be held at 6 p.m. Wednesday, June 14^th at Terry Hills Restaurant in Batavia.

This honor is awarded to a man and/or woman who has given exemplary service to their community.

This year the awards are being presented to Rick Mancuso and Peppina (Peppi) Palmer. These honorees have left a special mark on their communities. Youth groups, veterans, seniors and those lonely, ill and nearing the end of their lives have experienced their love and thoughtfulness.

The Foundation is proud of these Italian American heroes for their representation of the Italian American community.

Tickets for the dinner are available from any board member, at Giambroni Appliance and the VJ Gautieri offices on Liberty Street.

About Rick Mancuso

Rick Mancuso was born in Batavia to Benjamin Jr. and Mercedes Mahoney Mancuso. He is graduate of Notre Dame High School and Niagara University.

Rick’s Nana and Nanu Mancuso immigrated to the United States from Vallelunga, Sicily, and Rick was raised living and working the “American Dream” alongside his grandfather. Upon graduation from Niagara University with a BS in Management, Rick returned to work full time at Batavia Plumbing Supply. Following the sale of that company he began at Mancuso Real Estate & Mancuso Restaurant.

In 1995, he opened T.F. Brown’s Restaurant along with continuing the Mancuso Bowling Center and he remains there as president/owner today, as well as the president/broker of Main and Ellicott Properties (Mancuso Real Estate). He has exemplified the morals and values of hard work, family first and supporting his community for all his adult years in the Batavia area.

Rick has served many community organizations over the years, including leadership roles in the Batavia Area Jaycees, Batavia Rotary Club, The Batavia Club, Children’s Home Association, Genesee County United Way, Batavia Improvement District, Batavia Area YMCA, and the Genesee County Planning Board. He has also held positions on the Advisory Board for Genesee County Stop DWI and as a Coalition Member for Drug Free Communities.

Through his strong faith, he is committed to his church and Catholic education. Rick was President of the Lady of Loretto Society for several years through St. Anthony’s Church (an Italian heritage organization), and was a long-standing member of the Board of Directors for Notre Dame High School. Rick is a member of Resurrection Parish and is often found at daily mass.

Locally and regionally, Rick has been well known as a coach of youth sports since his return to Batavia following college. Perhaps most noteworthy, for 20-plus years as a football coach at Notre Dame High School. Under his leadership as the ND Girls Varsity Softball coach, his teams­­­ also attended state playoffs for several years with Rick being honored as both the Section V Coach of the Year and the New York State Coach of the Year for Girls Softball.

Rick has been coaching the youth of Genesee County for over 36 years! He has coached a wide variety of sports including Batavia Minor & Little League Baseball, Batavia Youth Football (also serving on the board and as board president) Genesee Amateur Soccer and YMCA Youth Basketball.

Perhaps one of the most notable contributions Rick has made as a community volunteer is his continued support of the T.F. Brown’s Community Christmas Dinner. Along with the Lion’s Club, Rick and his family have hosted this event on Christmas Day for the past 25 years! His support can also be seen regularly throughout the community as Rick and T.F. Brown’s are frequent sponsors of sporting teams, and just about ANYTHING youth oriented.

Naturally, Rick Mancuso has been honored by several local organizations for his accomplishments. However, when asked, Rick shares enthusiastically that his greatest accomplishment is found in the five children he shares with his wife of 34 years, Julie:

Morgan (Doug) Sicheri, Alexandra (Don) DiLaura, Rick Jr., Patrick, Madelyn and his dearest pride and joy – grandsons Vincent and Benjamin DiLaura.

Rick is a proud Italian American who states that “I never really considered the affects of growing up in a family strongly rooted in Italian traditions. Knowing no differently, I just thought everyone went to mass on Sunday and then to Nana’s house, and holidays and specials occasions always involved too much amazing food, tons of family time and great memories. All of which I intend to continue for generations to come.”

About Peppina (Peppi) Palmer

Peppina (Peppi) Palmer will be honored this year with the Paolo Busti Award for positive achievements and contributions to her community.

Born on Dec. 16, 1949, she was named Peppina in honor of her recently deceased paternal grandmother, Giuseppina Palmer. Her name was not Americanized to be Josephine. She was and always will be Peppi, someone who has demonstrated in her life, in her work and in her faith all that it means to be an outstanding Italian American.

Her parents, John Palmer and Anna Tresco Palmer, were born and raised in Batavia, first generation Italian Americans. Her maternal grandfather, Joseph Tresco, like many Italian immigrants, worked for the New York Central Railroad. Her paternal grandfather founded and was the proprietor of a successful Italian restaurant located on Ellicott Street in the heart of the Southside, mainly Italian district, of Batavia.

Peppi attended St. Mary’s School through eighth grade and then attended Batavia High School.

During her high school years Peppi became interested in nursing. She decided to enroll in the BHS BOCES course in nursing assistance. Upon graduating from BHS in 1968, she secured a nursing assistance position at the Veterans Hospital.

Devotion to her family was matched only by her devotion to “her” vets. “It’s not a job,” she would say. “It is a privilege to be in the company of heroes every day.” In addition to providing nursing assistance, she enjoyed socializing with the vets. She prepared the food, hosted and served an annual spaghetti supper for them. On Sundays she could be found transporting patients back and forth to the chapel so they could attend Mass. It was a much-anticipated event at the hospital when Peppi would bring in her therapy shih tzus, "Lottie," "Jelly Bean" and "Tinkie." The patients greatly enjoyed holding and petting the sweet, tiny dogs. Even after her retirement in 2014 she spent time at the hospital visiting patients and volunteering in the physical therapy department.

In 2006, she was recognized for her service to patients. Planetree, the nonprofit patient-centered care organization, honored her with a Designation Award. The award is given annually to those persons within the healthcare system who demonstrate the highest level of patient/person centered care based on evidence and standards.

Her volunteer work did not end at the NYS Veterans Hospital. She has volunteered for almost 20 years at Crossroads House; for 10 years with the Michael Napoleon Foundation; for the Ricky Palermo Golf Tournament and with the Batavia Peace Garden. For the past seven years she has been active in Our Lady of Mercy parish in Le Roy. She is a Eucharistic Minister, participates in the Parish Outreach program and leads the efforts of the parish to provide Mercy Meals for bereaved families.

Her life will always be centered on the three Fs of Italian heritage – Faith, Family and Food.

Peppi wants it to be known, in accepting this award with deepest gratitude and humility, that none of her accomplishments, whether personal or professional, would be possible without the love and encouragement she receives from her daughters, Andrea Schoenberger Casey and Sarah Schoenberger; daughter-in-law, Colleen Schoenberger; son-in-law, Ryan Casey; grandsons Luke, Caleb and Brooks Casey; and her many friends.

Peppi will forever be indebted to her mother, Anna, who was the best role model for what it means to be an outstanding Italian American.

A two-car accident with unknown injuries is reported at Ellicott Street and Jackson Street, Batavia.

City fire and Mercy EMS responding.

UPDATE: No injuries. Both City fire and Mercy EMS are back in service.

Genesee Cancer Assistance held its annual Festival of Hope today at Batavia Downs, which included a crossing-training competition as well as basket raffles, music, a live broadcast by WBTA, and other events.

Volunteers from Volunteers for Animals were at the Animal Shelter today collecting donated scrap metal as a fundraiser for the shelter and the support provided by Volunteers for Animals.

Members of the Batavia City Firefighters, IAFF Local 896, were on Ellicott Street and Main Street in Batavia today for their annual Fill the Boot campaign to benefit MDA.

UPDATE: The firefighters raised $10,651.52.

Photos by Frank Capuano.

The third- and fourth-grade students at St. Joe's got to make butter today.

Then they got to eat the butter they made on graham crackers.

Anne Marie Starowitz, representing the Holland Land Office Museum, visited the classroom today, bringing an 1800-era butter churn as well as other artifacts from the museum and talked with the students about what life was like in early Genesee County. 

She then filed two canning jars with heavy cream and had the students pass them around the room, with each student giving the canning jars 10 hard shakes before passing it to the next student. 

Before long, they had butter.

Next week the students will tour the historic Batavia Cemetery.

One of the most memorable days of sixth grade at Batavia Middle School is the day students recreate the Silk Road, says Social Studies teacher Stephanie D’Alba.

Many of the children dress in costumes of the nations along the world's first stable trading route that connected China with Rome and started the process of global trade.

The Silk Road recreation gives students a chance to learn about history, geography, climate, culture, civilization and, of course, trade. The Silk Road put the world on the path of global trade.  

"Today kids just get on the Internet and they think it’s so easy," D'Alba said. "This shows them the very first way that things traveled from one side of the world to the other."

The name for the trade route comes from China's chief export, silk, which wasn't available in Europe before Genghis Khan established law and order and safe passage for travelers and traders along the routes the comprised the Silk Road. China managed to keep the production method secret for centuries and Rome, with only gold to trade, found its reserves becoming depleted. The Silk Road also introduced Europe to new foods and spices (though, contrary to myth, Marco Polo did not bring back pasta to Italy).

The BMS "Silk Road" covers two floors in the school, with selected classrooms acting as countries along the trade route and the hallways marked with posters and pictures simulating deserts, seas, water stops, and areas that might be filled with bandits.

"It kind of shows you how to make a bargain and see what other people have to trade in their land and see their creativity," said Aidan Anders.

"It's pretty fun," said Cody Harloff. "It's fun trading to get other stuff and we get to see how the conditions were."

The Holland Land Office is proud to present the Rochester area historian Rose O'Keefe. At noon on Saturday, June 24, she will be speaking on the life and times of Frederick Douglass and his family while living in Rochester.

This is a free event and the public is invited.

O'Keefe is a well-known authority on many of Rochester's more famous citizen and is responsible for many of the tours of Mt. Hope Cemetery in the city.

Frederick Douglass — famed author, orator and former slave — spent 25 years with his family in Rochester, beginning in 1848. Despite living through one of our nation’s most bitter and terrifying times, Frederick and his wife, Anna, raised five children in a loving home with flower, fruit and vegetable gardens.

While Frederick traveled widely, fighting for the freedom and rights of his brethren, Anna cared for their home and their family and extended circle. Their house was open to fugitives on the Underground Railroad, visiting abolitionists and houseguests who stayed for weeks, months and years at a time.

Local author O’Keefe weaves together the story of the Douglass’ experience in Rochester and the indelible mark they left on the Flower City.

Those interested can RSVP if they wish by calling the museum at 585-343-4727, emailing at hollandlandoffice@gmail.com, or by coming to the museum at 131 W. Main St., Batavia.

"Find out just what any people will quietly submit to and you have the exact measure of the injustice and wrong which will be imposed on them."

-- Frederick Douglass

A car vs. pedestrian accident occured at Main Street and Jackson Street downtown. Minor injuries. City fire and Mercy medics are on scene.

UPDATE 3:28 p.m.: This was a bicycle vs. car accident, not a pedestrian, and the bicyclist declined medical attention.

UPDATE: This is a photo of the actual truck.

Batavia farmer George Putt woke up this morning, early as usual, and found his 2014 blue Ford F250 super duty crew cab pickup truck had been stolen from Offhaus Farms sometime between 9 p.m. Thursday night and 5 a.m. today, June 2.

Offhaus Farms is located at 7892 Oak Orchard Road in the Town of Batavia.

It has a Dale Earnhardt Jr. license plate frame(s) and is desparately needed because it's the only transportation Putt has to take his sick girlfriend back and forth from regular, ongoing medical treatments at Rochester General Hospital.

The Genessee County Sheriff's Office confirmed this afternoon that the truck was stolen.

If you have seen this truck or have any information about it, please contact Deputy Andrew Hale at the Sheriff's Office by calling 343-5000. 

The Batavia Jr. Blue Devil Summer Basketball Camp will be held from 9 a.m. to noon Aug. 14-18 at the John Kennedy School gymnasium.

The camp is open to boys and girls entering grades 3 through 8 in the fall. Cost is $65 and includes a camp T-shirt.

Campers are asked to bring their own basketball and put their name on it.

The camp will feature Coach Jim Fazio, the Batavia Jr. Blue Devil youth director, and youth coaches and current and former Blue Devil players.

The focus will be on the offensive fundamentals of the game, including shooting, passing, dribbling, and ball handling, with a major emphasis on shooting. There will be daily contests with full court and half court games.

Please note that Batavia City School District is not responsbile for any injury that may happen during camp.

Checks should be made payable to:  Batavia Boys Basketball Boosters; mail to Jim Fazio, 5190 Ellicott Street Road, Batavia, NY 14020.

To contact Coach Fazio, call 356-0901 or email  jfazio@gvboces.org

With payment, please provide the following information and include a parent's or guardian's signature:

• Camper's name
• Address
• City
• Age
• Grade child will enter in the fall
• School
• Phone number
• Medical concerns
• T-shirt size (specify youth -- small through extra large, or adult -- small through extra large)

John Kennedy School is located at 166 Vine St. in the City of Batavia.

Ian Jarreau Blake, 30, of Liberty Street, Batavia, is charged with criminal possession of marijuana in the fifth degree. Blake was stopped on Route 33 in Corfu at 10:31 p.m. on June 1 by the Corfu Police Department and allegedly found to possess a quantity of marijuana exceeding 25 grams. He was also found to a have an active bench warrant out of Family Court. He was released on appearance tickets for the marijuana charge and the matter of the Family Court bench warrant was transferred over to the GC Sheriff's Office for handling. The Corfu PD case was handled by Officer Lonnie Nati and Officer Richard Retzlaff.

Andrew Scott Bradstreet, of Telegraph Road, Holley, is charged with unlawful possession of marijuana and a vehicle registration plate violation. Bradstreet was stopped at 8:29 p.m. May 31 on Searls Road in Byron following the alleged observation of a vehicle and traffic violation. The defendant allegedly possessed a small quantity of marijuana. He was issued an appearance ticket for Town of Byron Court for June 7. The case was handled by Genesee County Sheriff's Deputy Ryan DeLong.

Press release:

The Genesee County Economic Development Center (GCEDC) accepted an application for assistance from the Savarino Companies for the redevelopment of Ellicott Station in Downtown Batavia at the agency’s June 1 board meeting.

The approximate 64,000-square-foot development will be a mix use of residential, office and retail spaces; a brewery; small beverage warehouse and hops processing facility; entertainment and event area; outside seating; and integration of the new Ellicott Trail pedestrian pathway.

The $17.6 million project is estimated to create up to 60 good-paying full-time jobs. For every dollar of public sector investment there is an anticipated private sector investment of approximately $25.

The project is being done through the “Batavia Pathway to Prosperity” (BP2) program which was created through an inter-municipal agreement between the City of Batavia, Genesee County, the Batavia City School District, the Batavia Development Corporation and the GCEDC. 

BP2 was conceived to pool resources in order to invest in distressed areas in the City of Batavia. The BP2 program will be implemented though PILOT increment financing (PIF), referred to as the “BP2 fund,” which is the first of its kind in New York State where all local taxing jurisdictions are participating.

Supported by the redirection of 50% of new project PILOT payments, the BP2 fund will play a critical role in generating development within the Batavia Brownfield Opportunity Area (BOA), a 366-acre area within the City of Batavia containing five strategic redevelopment sites.  

”The collaboration among various government jurisdictions is simply smart economic development,” said Paul Battaglia, GCEDC Board chairman. “The BP2 program is an opportunity to attract development and jobs to the urban core of Genesee County and just as important, create vibrant neighborhoods in economically disadvantaged areas of the city.”