batavia

The region's most dedicated basketball players are in the midst of a six-week basketball camp conducted by Batavia's Head Coach Buddy Brasky and his staff. Today, varsity level players were working at Batavia Middle School and the JV players were at Batavia High School.

There are players participating from every high school in Genesee County, as well as players from Wyoming County and Buffalo.

Press release:

Come on down to the Batavia Muckdogs game and enjoy a safe summer night with us! STOP-DWI Night at the Ballpark is happening on Friday, Aug. 4, gates opening at 6 p.m. The Batavia Muckdogs are playing the Williamsport Crosscutters. Genesee County STOP-DWI and the Genesee County Youth Bureau are hosting this family event.

The first 300 youth under the age of 16 get in free and there are Muck Bucks given to the first 200 youth to use toward items in the ballpark. There are an additional 500 giveaways and prizes for everyone. Fun and interactive education booths and displays will be on hand. Participating agencies include the Sheriff’s Office, City Police, Le Roy Police, Probation, the Genesee County Youth Bureau and Genesee County STOP-DWI.

A grand prize giveaway, a youth bike, sponsored by Adam Miller Toy and Bicycle will be on display and drawn that evening. So join us for a great night at the ballpark and the Friday night fireworks!

Sponsors that are helping make this event possible include: Genesee County Sheriff’s Department Assoc., NYS Assoc. of Chiefs of Police, UMMC, Batavia Police Benevolent Assoc., Le Roy Moose Family Center, Batavia Lions Club, Western NY Assoc. of Chiefs of Police, GCASA Prevention, Red Osier Landmark Restaurant, Polish Falcons Nest, Gerace Realty LLC and Tops Friendly Markets.

Pictured above: Matt Landers, STOP-DWI coordinator; ; John Roche, owner of Adam Miller Toy and Bicycle; and Jocelyn Sikorski, STOP-DWI Board chair, and Chelsea Green with the Genesee County Youth Bureau.

Farmers Market Coupons are still being distributed at the Genesee County Office for the Aging, 2 Bank St. in Batavia. Please have ID as proof of age must be provided; family members CANNOT pick up coupons for you.

Booklets are available to adults age 60 years and older who are income-eligible. 

Income guidelines for 2017 are: household of one $1,860 per month; household of two $2,504 per month; and, household of three $3,149 per month.

Maureen Estabrooks, Office for the Aging’s coordinator for the program, noted that, “It still remains, that anyone 60 or older in a household may receive a coupon booklet as long as they are income eligible. This means that in a qualifying household, multiple individuals may receive booklets. This program is a wonderful way to help older adults with limited income to purchase healthy fresh produce from our local farmers.”

They can be used at the Downtown Public Market in Batavia and at the Le Roy Farmers' Market.

Questions may be directed to the Genesee County Office for the Aging at 585-343-1611. 

Golf Against Cancer Golf & Bocce Tournament will be held at the Batavia Country Club on Friday August 18th, 2017. An 18-hole course has a links type flavor to it with it's wide fairways and large, undulating greens.

The watered fairways provide an even test of golf for all levels of skill. You'll love the scenic panoramic views you will be afforded during your round, especially on the back nine where you can enjoy a breathtaking vista of the entire course.

For the golf tournament: this is a 4-person scramble tournament. Hole-in-One prizes on all par 3 holes. Putting contest. Mulligans (can be used anywhere EXCEPT Par 3 holes) and Skins available for purchase at event.

While foursome registrations are encouraged, individual registrations are permitted. Entry fees ($95/Golfer) includes: Greens fees, cart, lunch, dinner, prizes, and loads of fun!

For the bocce tournament: Entry fees ($50/player) includes: bocce, lunch, dinner, prizes and a ton of fun!

Sponsorship Opportunities: If you, or your business would be interested in sponsoring this event, please contact the GCA office at (585) 345-0417. For more information, visit our site

The History Heroes program at the Holland Land Office Museum held its annual penny carnival on Thursday. Children participating in the summer program were able to set up their own carnival attractions and then play the games together.

Two giant cranes lifted away the deck of the River Street Bridge tonight as part of a reconstruction project for the bridge spanning the Tonawanda Creek. 

Unfortunately, during the time the cranes were doing the work, I couldn't stop because I had else I needed to be and by the time I got back, the work was done.  If anybody took any good pictures, please send them to howard@thebatavian.com and I'll add them to this post.

At the new Dunkin' Donuts on West Main Street, Batavia, you can get a free charge, if you have an electric car, to go with your morning jolt of coffee.

This is apparently a trend for Dunkin' Donuts with a few popping up around the country.

The charging station is listed on PlugShare -- a listing that might encourage drivers of electric cars to exit the Thruway in Batavia if they're a little low on energy.

Batavia Downs opened its 71st season Wednesday night with a big crowd and record purses for drivers.

Todd Haight, director of living racing, said the Downs has been able to boost the purses because increased revenue from the gaming floor and the concert series this summer helped bring more people to Batavia Downs, and also generated revenue that could add to the purse pool.

The bigger purses mean more big name drivers. This season, Ake Svanstedt, from Sweden, and Jason Bartlett joined the field.

The track also moved up start times this season. Haight said the new start time is closer to the final race time for the thoroughbreds at other tracks, so OTB betters around the state are more likely to stick around for harness racing. That means bigger prize pools for wagers, Haight said.

This is also the first full season the Batavia Downs Hotel has been open, and on opening night for the race season, all the rooms were booked, Haight said.

He also highlighted the food service at the gaming facility and the special promotions that will be taking place throughout the year.

“We really think it’s going to be another good year,” Haight said.

Ake Svanstedt won the fourth race driving Natalie Hanover.

Biting into a fresh and juicy peach is a reminder that, regardless of gray skies and rain, summer is definitely upon us. This week there is a large selection of fruits and veggies that are just coming into season: field-grown tomatoes, sweet corn, eggplant, sweet and hot peppers, and plums. This is also prime time for pickling cucumbers.   Peaches are available, too, but freestone peaches (for canning, where the pit is easily removed) will be ready around Aug. 10th. 

We are all familiar with advertisements from stores announcing the “last chance” to buy something at a low price. My phone has been ringing with the same prerecorded call for the last three years, notifying me of my “last chance” to lower the interest rate on my credit card. I don’t believe it. But here in New York, our time to buy fresh, local food really is limited. Nature doesn’t let us grow berries in January. Now is the time to slice a red (or yellow, or purple) ripe tomato onto your salad this summer. Don’t miss the opportunity. 

Last summer, our local farmers were affected by the drought. But today it’s raining, again. At the Genesee Country Farmer’s Market, I asked Sharon from Schwab Farms in Gasport how the rain has been affecting their crops.

“We prefer it a little drier…but everything looks beautiful,” Sharon said with a smile. 

The Genesee Country Farmer’s Market is located at the corner of Bank Street and Alva Place (near JCPenney) in Downtown Batavia, from 9 a.m. to 4 p.m. Tuesdays, Thursdays and Fridays. Fresh produce and baked goods are available every market day, but Friday has a larger variety of vendors and more craft and specialty items. 

Reasons to hire an attorney for a workers’ compensation claim: 

• 1. The workers’ compensation system is complex, confusing, and often difficult to navigate. 2. We will look out for your best interests, fight on your behalf against the insurance carrier to maximize your benefits, and make sure your questions are answered. 
• 3. In some cases, you may be entitled to a financial award, even if you did not miss any time from work as a result of your work-related injury. 4. The insurance carrier will have a team of attorneys working on their behalf, having an attorney fighting on your behalf helps to level the playing field. 

Please call Kristin Allen at 585-815-9003 for any of your workers’ compensation needs. 

It's time once again for the big annual garage sale benefiting the Crossroads House. As always, there will be a large selection of items under the tents off of School Street. The sale begins tomorrow and runs through Saturday.

Batavia High School's Tee Sean Ayala, one of the Blue Devils' stars on the court, posted some big games in the national AAU D1 championships in Florida this week.

Playing in the senior division, though he's coming into his junior year, Ayala scored in double digits in four of the six games he played in as his team, the Rap Stars, went 4-3, made the Elight Eight, and finished sixth in the tournament.

(Ayala, back row, far right, in uniform.)

Sasha, the Crossroads House dog, was test driving one of the peddle cars we will be selling at The Annual Crossroads House Garage Sale this weekend. This year features more than 6,000 square feet of covered tent and garage space loaded with merchandise.

We have furniture for every budget and taste. Housewares galore, collectibles, glassware, antiques, small appliances, brand new items and more. Items will be replenished throughout the sale so plan to come each day on School Street behind Ficarella's Pizzeria. We will have a preview day again this year on Wednesday July 26th from 9am to noon. There is a $10 admission for that day only and prices will be firm.

New this year will be expanded, later hours on Thursday and Friday where we will be open from 9 a.m. to 6 p.m. Saturday we will have special one price bag and box sales from 9 a.m. to noon.

As always, hot dogs and drinks will be available for purchase Thursday and Friday, courtesy of the First Baptist Church There are bargains and buys for everyone and 100 percent of the proceeds will help us continue to be a gift TO the community made possible BY the community. For more information on the sale, please click here to visit us online.

A motor-vehicle accident is reported at the intersection of Ellicott Street and Liberty Street, Batavia.

One person has a complaint of chest pain.

City fire and Mercy EMS dispatched.

Photo By Howard Owens. 

Lights along Park Road: The white light in the top of the frame is in the Town of Batavia and one of the new LED lights installed by National Grid. The two yellow streetlights in the background are in the City of Batavia.

Press release:

National Grid has converted 72 streetlights to LEDs in the Town of Batavia, which should reap the rewards of long-term cost and energy savings. The streetlight changeover represents the largest such LED streetlight conversion completed by National Grid in Western New York.

The streetlights were retrofitted as part of National Grid’s Outdoor Street Lighting Conversion Program, which enables communities to switch from high-pressure sodium lights to high-efficiency LED (Light Emitting Diode) lighting. The conversion was completed in May.

The Outdoor Street Lighting Conversion Program is open to all of National Grid’s Upstate New York municipal and governmental streetlighting customers with roadway style fixtures and promotes the adoption of energy-efficient LED technology through the transition of company-owned streetlights.

“We converted the streetlights for long-term cost savings for our residents, which could total around $2,000 annually,” said Town of Batavia highway superintendent Tom Lichtenthal.

“Working with National Grid, there was a little bit of a learning curve in the beginning of this process. But in the end, everything went very smoothly and the installation procedures were completed quickly.”

In the Town of Batavia, the streetlights were converted at a cost of $9 per month over a 10- year period. An incentive that the town received from New York State Energy and Research Development Authority (NYSERDA) was built into the streetlighting program that translates to energy savings over time.

LEDs have no filament, produce less heat, and should require less maintenance over time. They require no warmup period to reach full brightness and make it easier for motorists and pedestrians to recognize objects.

“Visually, LEDs produce a distinctly whiter, brighter light compared to the yellow hue cast by traditional high-pressure sodium lights,” said National Grid regional manager Ken Kujawa.

“When working with us, municipalities often consider this difference when specifying which lights to convert, particularly in situations where LED and high-pressure sodium streetlights may be on the same street or in close proximity.”

For LED conversion, NYSERDA offers grant incentives to local governments through its Clean Energy Communities program. More information is available at www.nyserda.ny.gov.

National Grid encourages customers considering LED streetlight conversion to seek additional information from knowledgeable lighting professionals in order to make fully informed decisions. 

A second arrest has been made in the case of a man who was hospitalized with serious injuries after being knifed and beaten in the area of 318 E. Main St., Batavia, at about 1 a.m. on July 18.

Anthony Spencer Jr., 26, of Columbia Avenue, Batavia, is charged with gang assault and first-degree assault. He was arraigned in Batavia City Court on July 20 and then jailed without bail. He is due in City Court on Tuesday (July 25). A photo is not yet available from the Batavia Police Department of the suspect.

Batavia PD investigators took less than a day to identify the first suspect arrested in the case -- 30-year-old JW Hardy III, of 216 Liberty St., Batavia. He was jailed without bail and is charged with assault in the first degree and gang assault, 1st.

Under NYS Penal Code, the charge of gang assault does not mean that the person charged is a member of an organized, ongoing, criminal enterprise. It does mean that the police suspect was aided by two or more other people in perpetrating an attack that caused serious physical injury.

Anyone with information regarding this incident is asked to contact the Batavia Police Department Detective Bureau at (585) 345-6350 or the Confidential Tip Line at (585) 345-6370.

For previous coverage, see: Arrest made in knifing on East Main Street, Batavia

Joseph Michael Franchi-Platten, 33, of Dellinger Avenue, is charged with: criminal possession of a controlled substance, 7th; criminal use of drug paraphernalia, 2nd; possession of burglar tools; and tampering with physical evidence. He was arrested on July 19 following an investigation into a trespass at a local business at 2:20 a.m. that morning on Lehigh Avenue in Batavia. There was a brief vehicle pursuit. He was arrested and jailed on $20,000 cash or $40,000 bond and was due in City Court on July 20. The case was handled by Batavia Police Offficer Peter Flanagan, assisted by Officer Darryle Streeter.

A 15-year-old was petitioned to Family Court for "unlawful possession of a weapon -- person under 16 years of age" in response to an altercation which occurred on Holland Avenue on June 9. On that date, at about 4:37 p.m., Batavia Police were called to Holland Avenue and Olyn Avenue for a report of several people fighting in the street. Upon arrival, police learned that at least one subject had been shot with a BB gun. While police were on scene, another fight broke out. Lionel J. Anderson Sr., 45, of Oak Street, Batavia, was arrested for disorderly conduct for allegedly fighting. Jaequele M. Tomlin, 22, of East Main Street, Batavia, was arrested for disorderly conduct, second-degree attempted assault, second-degree obstruction of governmental justice, and resisting arrest for allegedly fighting in the street and then fighting with officers. A 16-year-old was arrested for criminally using drug paraphernalia, 2nd. Anderson Sr. and the 16-year-old were released with appearance tickets for Batavia City Court on June 13. Tomlin was jailed without bail and was to appear in City Court on June 12. The individual who shot the BB gun was a juvenile and there was at least one injury resulting from the shots. The victim was treated and released from UMMC. This information was provided by Det. Eric Hill of the Batavia Police Department.

Nickolas Lewis Ives, 31, of Wendel Avenue, Tonawanda, is charged with fourth-degree criminal mischief. At 1:15 p.m. on July 22, Ives allegedly broke the window of a camper owned by Darien Lake Theme Park. It was in the campground on Alleghany Road. He was issued an appearance ticket and is due in Darien Town Court on Aug. 1. On the same date as this alleged incident, Ives was also charged with: criminal contempt in the second degree; fourth-degree criminal mischief; disorderly conduct; and second-degree harassment. It is alleged that he violated a duly served order of protection by "threatening, swearing at, and damaging the property of the protected party." He was subsequently jailed on $7,500 cash or $15,000 bond. Both cases were handled by Genesee County Sheriff's Deputy James Stack.

David Lavelle Andrews, 29, of State Street, Batavia, is charged with: second-degree obstruction of governmental administration; failure to keep right; operating a moving vehicle while using a portable electronic device; and aggravated unlicensed operation in the second degree. Andrews was arrested following a traffic stop on East Main Street in Batavia at 10:28 p.m. on July 19. He was stopped for allegedly failing to stay right and using a mobile device while driving. During the traffic stop, he fled on foot and was apprehended a few minutes later by Batavia Police and Genesee County Sheriff's deputies. Andrews had a warrant out of City Court for traffic offenses and was also operating on a suspended driver's license. He was arraigned in City Court then released on his own recognizance. He was jailed on $2,500 cash or bond and is due in City Court on July 27. The case was handled by Batavia Police Officer Arick Perkins, assisted by Officer Stephen Cronmiller.

Morgan L. Cox Sr., 49, of Dellinger Avenue, Batavia, is charged with criminal mischief in the fourth degree -- intentionally damaging property. Cox Sr. was arrested at 6:53 p.m. on July 22 after officers were dispatched to Dellinger Avenue for a male subject who was banging on a door with a cane. Officers identified the suspect as Cox Sr. and he was arrested and arraigned in Town of Batavia Court. He was put in jail. He is due in City Court on July 25. The case was handled by Batavia Police Officer Nicole Salamone, assisted by Officer Matthew Lutey.

Morgan L. Cox Jr., 25, of Xavier Street, Clarence, was arrested on July 23 on a bench warrant out of Batavia City Court. It was issued after Cox allegedly violated the terms of his release. He was jailed on $2,500 cash or bond and is due in City Court on July 27. The case was handled by Batavia Police Officer Christopher Lindsay.

Patricia Christina Pozotempan, 36, of Masse Place, Batavia, is charged with petit larceny and endangering the welfare of a child. She was arrested at 12:20 p.m. on July 19 on West Main Street in Batavia following a shoplifting complaint and a subsequent investigation at Tops Market. She was issued an appearance ticket for July 25 in City Court. The case was handled by Batavia Police Officer Kevin DeFelice, assisted by Sgt. Dan Coffey.

Donnie D. Armstrong Jr., 20, of North Spruce Street, Batavia, is charged with petit larceny and criminal possession of stolen property in the fifth degree. On the morning of July 19 at the Richmond Memorial Library on Ross Street, Armstrong Jr. allegedly stole a bicycle that belonged to another person, from the bike rack in front of the library. He was later located by police in alleged possession of the stolen bike. He was issued an appearance ticket for City Court on July 25 to answer the charges. The case was handled by Batavia Police Officer Frank Klimjack, assisted by Officer Jason Davis.

Meghann Barrett Williams, 38, of Abbott Road, Orchard Park, is charged with trespass. Williams was arrested following a brief investigation into an incident occurred at 4:55 p.m. on Bethany Center Road in the Town of Bethany. She was allegedly trespassing on property without the owner's consent. She is due in Bethany Town Court on Aug. 22. The case was handled by Genesee County Sheriff's Deputy Michael Lute.

Ira James Blackey, 67, of Broadway Street, Lancaster, is charged with: operating a motor vehicle with a BAC of .08 percent or higher; DWI; driving left of pavement markings; and following too closely. Blackey was arrested at 6:34 p.m. on July 23 on Broadway Road in Alexander following a traffic stop. The defendant was released with appearance tickets and directed to appear in Alexander Town Court on Aug. 29. The case was handled by Genesee County Sheriff's Deputy Kevin Forsyth.

Clifford F. Schultz, 51, of Bank Street, Batavia, is charged with second-degree harassment. It is alleged that he threatened another person at 12:18 a.m. on Bank Street in Batavia. He was issued an appearance ticket and is due in City Court on July 25. The case was handled by Batavia Police Officer Eric Bolles, assisted by Officer Stephen Cronmiller.

Juan Antonio Roman, 39, of Bergen Road, Bergen, is charged with promoting prison contraband. He was arrested at 11:05 a.m. on July 21 after entering the Genesee County Jail. It is alleged that he possessed contraband/drugs after entering a secure facility. He was held and taken to Batavia City Courts "for arraignment on unrelated charges," according to the Sheriff's report. Genesee County Sheriff's Deputy Andrew Hale handled the case.

Nicholas C. Doell, 26, no permanent address, was arrested at 7:22 a.m. on July 19 after an investigation into a trespass in progress at a business on Jackson Street. He was issued an appearance ticket for City Court on July 25. The case was handled by Batavia Police Officer Frank Klimjack handled the case, assisted by Officer Kevin DeFelice.

Nicholas D. Martino, 36, of Main Street, Alexander, is charged with failure to appear. Martino turned himself in on an active bench warrant out of City Court for allegedly not appearing for a scheduled court date for an unspecified matter on Feb. 8. He posted bail and is due in City Court on July 25. The case was handled by Batavia Police Officer Chad Richards, assisted by Officer Christopher Camp.

   Jeremy Armstrong

A trial date has been set for Jeremy R. "Boog" Armstrong, 26, of Batavia, who faces six felony counts, including attempted murder, for an alleged assault on a person on Jackson Street in December.

Armstrong is accused of shooting the victim.

The defendant, who is being held without bail, will have until Aug. 21 to decide whether to accept a plea deal rather than go to trial on Nov. 13.

District Attorney Lawrence Friedman has not publicly disclosed any potential plea offer.

Under a separate indictment, Armstrong is also facing drug charges. Unless there is a plea, Armstrong could go to trial on those charges Nov. 27.

In the attempted murder case, also faces accounts of assault in the first degree, criminal use of a firearm in the first degree, criminal use of a firearm in the third degree and two counts of criminal possession of a weapon in the second degree.

Armstrong and the victim reportedly knew each other.

According to sources, the victim suffered shoulder and chest wounds. He was treated first at UMMC and then transferred to ECMC.

After the incident, Armstrong allegedly fled the area and was located in March in East Hartford, Conn., and taken into custody without incident by East Hartford police.

Press release:

State-of-the-art production equipment from the former Muller/Quaker Dairy greek yogurt plant in Batavia, New York, will be offered at auction Sept. 13 by Harry Davis & Company.

Dairy Farmers of America (DFA) this week announced the facility — originally constructed by Muller-Quaker to process yogurt via a joint venture formed in 2011 between PepsiCo’s Quaker Oats Co. unit and Germany’s Theo Müller Group — has been purchased by HP Hood LLC. HP Hood will invest more than $200 million over several years to repurpose the 363,000-square-foot, currently idle processing facility to produce extended shelf-life beverages.

Meanwhile, the remaining state-of-the-art production equipment is being offered at auction by Harry Davis & Company.

Leonard Davis, president and senior appraiser for Harry Davis & Company, says this is a rare opportunity for processors to purchase equipment from 2012 or newer that was used for only 18 months of production time.

“This is a virtual showroom of equipment,” he says. “It’s a tremendous opportunity for the dairy world to purchase this equipment.”

He notes in particular the equipment available for production of Greek yogurt, which has soared in popularity at retail.

In addition to getting ultra-modern equipment at significant savings, Davis says it’s a rare opportunity to get equipment of this quality so quickly.

“Typically, if you wanted to get one of these filling machines, you’re looking at 18-24 months of lead time,” he says. “This is an opportunity to acquire like-new equipment well below new cost and have it installed and running in a matter of weeks.”

Some of the featured equipment, valued at $200 million, includes: • Aseptic S/S Silos & Tanks
• Pasteurization, Homogenization & Culture Injection
• Finnah Horizontal Form, Fill & Seal Packaging Lines
• Hamba/Oystar A+F Filling Line
• Kasag Fruit Batch Cooking Plant.

Since the former yogurt plant added fruit to some of its varieties, state-of-the-art fruit processing equipment also is available, including a fruit receiving, sorting and cutting system, Davis notes.

“There’s a complete fruit production sub-facility within this plant,” he says. “It’s highly desirable not only for other yogurt manufacturers, but also those involved in jam and other fruit manufacturing.”

Additional general plant and spare parts also are available.

Harry Davis & Company is seeking buyers from North America, South America and Europe. Interested parties can access the auction online at http://bit.ly/MullerHDC. The auction will be held at 9:30 a.m. Eastern Time Sept. 13. 

Photos provided. (click here for more photos)