batavia

A lot is at stake this November for workers all across the state. New Yorkers will have the opportunity to vote on hosting a constitutional convention. The purpose of this convention is to write a new state constitution or revise the existing one. However, if this happens it could lead to many problems for workers and their families. Labor regulations are already under attack in Congress, and it is crucial that we keep state protections for workers. Currently our state constitution gives workers the right to fair compensation and the right to unionize. We need to ensure these rights stay ours and VOTE NO in November.

These are just some of the groups who will be voting against the convention:

• Environmental Advocates of New York
• Equality New York
• New York State AFL-CIO
• New York State Alliance for Retired Americans
• New York State Professional Fire Fighters
• New York State Rifle and Pistol Association
• Strong Economy for All Coalition
• Working Families Party
• NYSUT
• NYS Public Employees Federation (PEF)
• Western New York Area Labor Federation
• New York Professional Nurses Union (NYPNU)
• Buffalo AFL-CIO

If you have any questions or concerns about the upcoming vote please call Dolce Panepinto at 585-815-9003. We are here to fight for workers’ rights.

The 21st annual John Gardner Society gathering at the Pok-A-Dot to remember Batavia's most famous novelist at his favorite local restaurant brought people in from some distance this year. There were two people who drove in from Pennsylvania, two from Indiana, and one of Gardner's best friends, who drove up from Binghamton (playwright Jan Quackenbush). Among the travelers, a former student and a former dorm mate of Gardner's. First-timers to the reading also included a couple from Buffalo.

Reading in the top photo, Beth Buechler, who was one of Gardner's students in Binghamton and traveled to Batavia from Indiana.

Tracy Ford

Bill Kauffman

Terry Abrams, of Basom, reading, as he does every year, from "On Becoming a Novelist."

Norm Morford, a dormmate's of Gardner's while in college.

Helen Maier

Other readers included Byron Hoot, from Pennsylvania, Lucine Kauffman, Steve Lewandowski, JoNelle Toriseva, and John Maier.

Dan Eberly and his wife, Sarah, hosted a carnival in their backyard yesterday for the children living on and around Thorpe Street in Batavia.

"This is a busy neighborhood and there are lots of kids and we just wanted to get to know them," Dan Eberly said.

The carnival had various games that allowed the children to earn tickets that could be redeemed for prizes. There were also hotdogs, snacks and drinks.

It was all free.

Most of the year Eberly, who is originally from Baltimore, works overseas but with an extended stay at his home in Batavia, he thought it was a good time to do something for the neighborhood kids.

"I had carnivals in my neighborhood when I was growing up and they were the highlight of my fall," he said.

The Eberlys also host Nerf gun games every Wednesday evening in their backyard. If kids show up and don't have their own Nerf guns, the Eberlys supply them.

Eberly is also mindful that Thorpe has a reputation for being a troubled neighborhood.

"We had the shooting — it was literally out my front window -- a couple of weeks ago, and we just figure this would be a good way to start changing the community by getting to know everybody," Eberly said.

Jenn Boyki will move into her new home on Bloomingdale Road in Basom with a new sense of opportunity and freedom thanks to Habitat for Humanity.

Volunteers started working on the house, built in 1900, before a potential Habitat owner had been identified, so by the time Boyki applied and was approved, there wasn't much time for her to complete the required 300 hours of "sweat equity" to qualify for the purchase of the property.

But she got it done, all while raising two young children and working as a supervisor at Tim Horton's in Batavia.

"This speaks to her dedication and determination to provide a safe and stable home for her family," said Lauren Casey, CEO of Habitat in Genesee County.

The work was worth it, Boyki said.

"I loved it," she said. "I absolutely loved it. It gives you more enjoyment of being a homeowner versus just moving into a house."

With a piece of property out of the city she thinks she and her kids will have more freedom for themselves.

'It's an opportunity," she said. "The kids love animals, so we will be able to own some animals. I don't have to worry about a landlord and if something breaks, them fixing it on their own time."

Mary Case presented Boyki with a quilt she made to add comfort to the new home during the dedication ceremony.

Marie Scofield presented a symbolic loaf of bread.

The 4^th ranked Batavia Blue Devils took on the number 2 ranked Hornell Red Raiders on a rain soaked gridiron for the Sec V Class B semi-final.

As they normally do, the Blue Devils set the tone of the first half by scoring first on an across field drive.

A couple of possessions later the Red Raiders answered with a touchdown of their own and tied the game 7 to 7.

Good defensive plays and the rain ruled the rest first half. Neither offense could capitalize on good field position and passing was all but nonexistent because of the rain. At then end of the half, the score remained tied.

At the opening of the second half Hornell scored quickly changing the momentum of the game. Batavia played catch up for the entire second half. The Red Raiders consistently had better drives and good defense forcing a couple of turnovers to stop the Blue Devils.

Ray Leach only touched the ball once in the second half due to a leg injury. Perhaps the same leg injury that stopped the game last week so he could be helped off the field.

Hornell scored another touchdown and again failed to convert on the extra point.

The final score was Batavia 7 Hornell 26.

Congratulations Batavia Blue Devils on yet another winning season!

More than 100 people stopped by the prescription drug drop off location at Batavia PD today, filling up five large boxes with prescription medications that will be safely destroyed by the Drug Enforcement Administration.

The annual program invites residents to drop by designation locations -- today at Batavia PD, Le Roy PD, and Pembroke Town Hall (where deputies collected medications).

There are also permanent, year-round drop-off boxes at Batavia PD, Le Roy PD, the Sheriff's Office on Park Road and the State Police Barracks on West Saile Drive.

Properly disposing of unneeded medications helps keep them out of the waste streams, waterways, or from being abused.

The children who were winners in the fire prevention poster contest sponsored by City of Batavia firefighters were invited to the station today for a pizza party and a tour of the fire hall.

For a list of winners, click here.

A motorcycle accident is reported at 3246 Galloway Road, Batavia. "It appears the motorcyclist spun out, lost control, went off the roadway." Town of Batavia Fire Department and Mercy medics are responding. The motorcyclist is down. The location is east of Downey Road. Law enforcement is on scene. Mercy Flight is called to the scene; weather being checked to determine availability.

UPDATE 12:15 p.m.: Mercy Flight will be able to go to the accident; then will only be able to fly eastward to Rochester due to weather.

UPDATE 12:24 p.m.: The helicopter will be landing in an uncut hay field adjacent to the scene.

UPDATE 12:27 p.m.: Mercy Flight has landed.

UPDATE 12:35 p.m.: Mercy Flight #5 is airborne and heading to Rochester.

UPDATE 12:48 p.m.: The Galloway Road assignment is back in service.

UPDATE 12:51 p.m.: The motorcyclist was a female whose bike hit a wet, slick spot in the pavement, sending the bike fishtailing out of control. She suffered a leg injury and possibly other non-life-threatening injuries. She will be further evaluated at Strong Memorial Hospital. The witness to the accident was her husband, who was following her in his truck.

UMMC and the Cancer Services Program of Genesee & Orleans hosted their annual Pink Hatters Night Out at Batavia Downs on Thursday.

The event supports those battling cancer, admires survivors and honors those who have passed.  

The guest speaker was Dr. Jeffrey Goldstein, who is a gastroenterologist, followed by a presentation of the Pink Hat awards and guest speaker Michael Tenebruso, stage four colorectal cancer patient. 

There was also a survivor recognition and fashion show. 

Gail Fenton, co-owner of Fenton’s Produce, emceed the program.

Photos submitted by UMMC.

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It was an emotional moment when Jodie Hebdon radioed dispatch to sign off, signaling his last shift as a deputy with the Genesee County Sheriff's Office after 35 years of service.

Hebdon spent the past 16 as resource officer at the BOCES campus on State Street in Batavia. And it's leaving that job that is particularly difficult he said.

"I'm going to miss these kids," Hebdon said. "You know, there are some kids here that have been through horrible lives, horrible living conditions. Trauma, PTSD, whatever you want to call it. The ability to at least interact with them and make something happen for them is good."

Hebdon started his law enforcement career in the Army and when he came home after a hitch in Germany, he enrolled at Genesee Community College. After a stint as a corrections officer, Hebdon was transferred to road patrol before being asked to apply for the resource officer position at BOCES.

The majority of the students at BOCES don't have issues, Hebdon said, but it's dealing with the at-risk kids and helping them is what made the job worthwhile.

"I was the one person they interviewed (for the job)," Hebdon said. "Why I gravitated to the job is I like helping at-risk kids. Today I had six girls at different times who came up to me who were victims of severe abuse, sex abuse, rape. They see me as a safe adult, a safe male. They have the ability to speak in a good way to a man without being extorted or taken advantage of. They gave me some long embraces. They don't want me to go."

When it was time for Hebdon to leave, his coworkers both within the ranks of the Sheriff's Office, other local law enforcement officers and staff at BOCES formed two lines outside the BOCES entrances and saluted and applauded Hebdon.

Then it was time to sign out.

"This is hard," Hebdon said, brushing back a tear before informing dispatchers he was saying goodbye.

Press release:

City of Batavia firefighters are proud to announce the winners of their 5th Annual Fire Prevention Contest.

Press release:

The Genesee County Office of Emergency Management is pleased to announce the appointment of Christina Marinaccio as County Fire Instructor for Genesee County effective October 2017.

Marinaccio is an active member of the Le Roy Fire Department and the Genesee County Emergency Support Unit. She is currently employed as a City of Batavia firefighter.

Her responsibilities as County Fire Instructor include conducting fire training and instruction in fire prevention and control in accordance with the New York State Fire Training Program.

Press release:

The Batavia Police Department will be participating in the DEA’s 2017 National Prescription Drug Take-Back initiative on Saturday, Oct. 28.

The event will be held in the rear parking lot of the Batavia Police Department (10 W. Main St.) between 10 a.m. and 2 p.m. Citizens can turn in their unwanted, unneeded, or expired prescription drugs for safe disposal.

The National Prescription Drug Take-Back addresses a vital public safety and public health issue. Many Americans are not aware that medicines that languish in home cabinets are highly susceptible to diversion, misuse, and abuse. Rates of prescription drug abuse in the United States are at alarming rates, as are the number of accidental poisonings and overdoses due to these drugs.

Studies show that many abused prescription drugs are obtained from family and friends, including from the home medicine cabinet. In addition, many Americans do not know how to properly dispose of their unused medicine, often flushing them down the toilet or throwing them away – both potential safety and health hazards.

Two other disposal sites are in Genesee County, and these also have collection hours between 10 a.m. and 2 p.m. tomorrow.

• Sheriff's deputies will staff collection at Pembroke Town Highway Barns, routes 5 & 77, East Pembroke
• Le Roy Police at Village Hall, 3 W. Main St., Village of Le Roy (near routes 5 & 19)

(For previously posted press release on how this initiative helps the Great Lakes and New York waterways, click here.)

A man suspected of the murder and rape of a toddler, whom authorities thought might head to Western New York, was arrested early this morning in Franklin Park, Pa., according to the Pittsburgh Post-Gazette.

Yesterday, State Police and Sheriff's deputies conducted a search of an area along the north side of the Thruway in Batavia after callers reported seeing a man who matched the description of the suspect, 37-year-old Joshua Gurto. Two K-9s were unable to detect fresh human scent anywhere in the area and the search was called off after about an hour.

Franklin Park is a three-hour, 37-minute drive from Batavia.

It's unknown at this point, of course, if Gurto ever was in Batavia.

The Kiwanis Club of Batavia will host its 60th annual Pancake Days on Saturday, Nov. 4, from 7 a.m. to 2 p.m. at St. Joseph School in Batavia.

Tickets are $6 for an adult and $4 for children and seniors.

This fundraiser helps the Kiwanis Club support local youth organizations and helps events such as the Easter Egg Hunt at Centennial Park, the Thanksgiving morning skate at Falleti Ice Arena and the Holiday Tote Project. 

Pictured: Ben Landers, bottom left, Riley Yunker, Summer Campopiano, Kaitlyn Landers, Sofia Falleti, Mary Case, Matt Landers, Jeannie Walton, Gary Maha and Susan Maha. The St. Joe's students are members of K-Kids.

Police have been dispatched Vine Street, Batavia, for a chicken crossing the road.

No word on why the chicken is crossing the road.

UPDATE 6:40 p.m.: Responding officer: "Do we know why it's crossing?" Dispatcher: "I guess to get to the other side." The location is 116 Vine St.

While law enforcement searched for somebody identified as a possible warrant suspect this afternoon in the area north of the Thruway near Route 98 in Batavia, this dog was hanging out in a farm field in the search area. 

There's no indication the dog was associated with the subject of the search. It was just laying there, a couple hundred yards from Route 98, watching, until it wandered off in an unknown direction.

(Police mug shot of Joshua Gurto.)

State trooopers and Sheriff's deputies, and a canine unit from each agency, are scouring the area around exit 48 on the Thruway for a man a caller described as looking somewhat like the suspect wanted in Ohio for raping and murdering a 13-month-old girl on Oct. 7.

They have been on scene around the Batavia exit for about an hour.

The man is said to be bearded and wearing a hoodie and he's on foot, having been spotted north of the exit 48 overpass, then crossing where there's a strip of concrete median and heading west.

It's unknown if he is actually the suspect, who is Joshua Gurto, a 37-year-old from Conneaut, Ohio.

UPDATE 2:48 p.m.: BOCES was put on lockdown during the manhunt, but that has now been lifted. The search is expected to terminate soon.

UPDATE 2:50 p.m.: Gurto is described as a 5-foot-10, 145-pound male with a deformed right ear, misaligned jaw and tattoos on his right forearm. The person spotted earlier this afternoon in Batavia so far has not been located.

UPDATE 3:03 p.m.: Law enforcement is preparing to leave. The pedestrian was not found.