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Press release:

Northgate Free Methodist Church will once again be hosting our annual VBS (Vacation Bible School) Base Camp between Aug.16th–20th with some exciting changes this year!

As we are growing rapidly our younger campers (ages 3–7) will enjoy a half day program at our North Campus (8160 Bank Street Road) from 9 a.m. – 1 p.m. while our older campers (ages 8-12) will participate from 9 a.m. – 5 p.m. at our South Campus (350 Bank St.)

This year’s theme is Space with OUT OF THIS WORLD activities, games, devotionals and special guests like Art of Mandy and the Seneca Zoo Mobile.

The older campers will also have the opportunity to engage in skill building and instructional exercises for their preferred sport to stay sharp over summer!

For costs and applications please visit northgatefmc.com and click on “Register” or call us at (585) 343-4011. Scholarships and family discounts are offered and always available as we want all students and families to be able to attend.

If you have any questions, please contact Pastor Daniel at daniel@northgatefmc.com or just give us a call! See you this summer!

We would like to share our vision for the old Valu/Country Max building just purchased. We would like to showcase vintage Ag machines, tools, toys, signs, memorabilia, etc. We also want to construct classrooms for 4-H, FFA, cooperative extension and the general Ag public to use.

We're super excited about this opportunity. Please contact Tim Call (Office: 585-343-1822 or Cell: 716-560-1822​) Timc@empiretractor.com with any questions or suggestions!

Submitted photo and press release:

Rochester Regional Health is expanding its partnership with Lake Erie College of Osteopathic Medicine (LECOM), the nation’s largest medical school.  Rochester Regional Health will become the medical school’s largest clinical campus.

This partnership will enable Rochester Regional to dramatically increase clinical rotations and feature locations in addition to United Memorial Medical Center in Batavia where its program began.

Now, as part of this 10-year agreement between Rochester Regional Health and LECOM, approximately 100 third- and fourth-year students will be on clinical rotation across the health system each month.

“This partnership will offer remarkable opportunities for LECOM students to gain exceptional, hands-on training in a variety of settings with a nationally recognized leader in integrated health care,” said John Ferretti, D.O., LECOM president and CEO.

“Further, with such a large number of our students entering Rochester Regional Health’s clinical rotation program at facilities across western New York, LECOM will be furthering its goal of improving healthcare for residents and communities in underserved areas.”

“LECOM is a great partner and we are honored to expand our partnership,” said Eric Bieber, M.D., president and CEO of Rochester Regional Health. “As an integrated health care delivery system, these students will gain invaluable experience from Rochester Regional Health’s clinical teams, as they move through different areas of medicine.

"This collaboration will strengthen our network of care and help Rochester Regional solidify its position as a leader in healthcare locally, regionally, and nationally.”

Medical school graduates often continue their post-graduate training and establish residency in the geographic area they trained. Rochester Regional Health currently offers 23 residency and fellowship programs for medical students post-graduation.

The health system is continuing to expand on those programs with multiple new residencies and fellowships under development.  

“There is a shortage of primary care physicians throughout the country and LECOM produces more primary care physicians than any other medical school in the country,” said Richard Alweis, M.D., associate chief medical officer of Education for Rochester Regional Health. “By expanding this partnership, we are investing in our community and its healthcare needs.”

“We are thrilled to partner with Rochester Regional Health to offer critical clinical education for our medical students,” said Richard Terry, D.O., associate dean of Academic Affairs, LECOM at Elmira.

“This collaborative agreement offers a unique opportunity for students from the Rochester area, the Southern Tier and Western New York to pursue their collegiate premedical training with local colleges and universities affiliated with LECOM, and then complete their clinical training with the Rochester Regional Health system.

"This agreement will also secure a steady, locally trained supply of future physicians for the greater Rochester region, as well as all of Upstate New York.”

For more on Rochester Regional Health’s residency programs visit Residency.RochesterRegional.org.

Top photo: The woman lying down is Tammy LeSane; on the right is Robert Russo, DPM, Podiatry specialist; and resident in the middle is Kristopher Zainer, DPM.

        Melvin Huntley

Melvin A. Huntley, 40, of Wilkinson Road, Batavia, is charged with: predatory sexual assault against a child; course of conduct against a child in the first degree; first-degree rape; first-degree sex abuse. Huntley was arrested after an investigation into him sexually assaulting a child/children over an extended period of time. He was arraigned July 8 in Town of Batavia Court and put in Genesee County Jail without bail. The investigation is ongoing and further charges are expected. No additional information will be released at this time. The case was investigated by Sheriff's Investigator Howard Carlson, assisted by Deputy Kevin Forsyth.

Donald Ray Read Jr., 49, of Mill Pond Road, Byron, is charged with two counts of criminal possession of a weapon in the third degree -- with a previous conviction; and criminal possession of a weapon in the third degree -- an explosive. At 10:09 a.m. on July 6, following the investigation into the alleged possession of a pipe bomb, Read was arrested on the charges. It is alleged that he possessed a knife with metal knuckles on the handle and a separate set of metal knuckles. He was arraigned in Stafford Town Court for Byron Town Court and put in Genesee County Jail. Read is due in Byron Town Court this afternoon at 4 o'clock. Assisting with the investigation was the GC Sheriff's Office Criminal Investigation Division, the GC Drug Enforcement Task Force, the ATF, FBI, Erie County Sheriff's Office Bomb Squad, and the GC Probation Department.

        Brandon Dodd

Brandon Dodd, 34, is charged with second-degree burglary and petit larceny stemming from an investigation into a residential burglary at 8:22 a.m. June 28 on Swan Street, City of Batavia. Dodd is accused of entering another person's apartment and stealing property including an air conditioner and television. This burglary occurred about four hours after Dodd's arrest for stealing an air conditioner from another property on Jackson Street. Dodd was put in Genesee County Jail on $5,000 cash bail, $5,000 bond, or $10,000 partially secured bond.

Brandon Dodd, 34, is charged with petit larceny. It is alleged that at 6:39 p.m. June 29 that Dodd entered a business on East Main Street in Batavia and stole about $300 worth of cigarettes. He was issued an appearance ticket while incarcerated in GC Jail on unrelated charges. He is due in Batavia City Court on July 27 to answer this charge. The case was handled by Batavia Police Officer Kevin DeFelice.

Brandon Dodd, 34, is charged with criminal possession of a controlled substance in the seventh degree. At 4:42 a.m. June 28, Dodd was arrested on Ganson Avenue after an investigation into an allegation that he took an air conditioning unit out of a window on Jackson Street in the City of Batavia. While being searched by a Batavia Police officer, a crack pipe was allegedly found on Dodd's person.

Ernest J. Parry, 40, is charged with trespass. He is alleged to remained on the premises of a business of Park Road in Batavia at 10:20 a.m. July 2 after being told to leave by security staff several times during out outdoor concert. He was issued a ticket to be in Batavia City Court July 13, no time provided, then released.

Andrew Martin, 43, is charged with second-degree criminal contempt. He responded to BPD headquarters at 5:04 p.m. July 3 and was issued an appearance ticket after an alleged violation of an order of protection. He is due in city court on July 21.

Tierance Davis Sr., 34, is charged with second-degree criminal contempt. He was arrested on a warrant out of Batavia City Court stemming from an incident June 9 in which he was allegedly located at a residence of a person who had an order of protection against him. He was released under supervision of Genesee Justice and was due in court today (July 12); time not provided.

Michael Jackson Jr., 40, is charged with: second-degree assault; third-degree assault; second-degree strangulation; criminal obstruction of breathing; and unlawful imprisonment in the first degree. He was arrested July 2 in connection to an incident at 1:30 a.m. on June 10 on Hutchins Place. He was located by Greece PD with two warrants for his arrest out of Batavia City Court. He was arraigned in city court, held at GC Jail and is due to return to city court on July 29.

Robert Gerety, 48, is charged with aggravated family offense. He was arrested at 9:48 p.m. Feb. 28 on West Main Street, Batavia. He responded to Batavia PD headquarters on his own accord after allegedly violating a stay away order of protection while involved in a traffic stop. He was arraigned in Batavia City Court July 2 then released on his own recognizance.

Samantha Lawrence, 31, is charged with second-degree criminal contempt. She was arrested June 29 after an investigation into an incident at 10 a.m. June 27 in which she is accused of violating an order of protection. It is alleged that she showed up to a protected party's workplace and that she had contact with the protected person. She was issued an appearance ticket to be in Batavia City Court on an unspecified date.

Christopher J. Wiegman, 32, is charged with criminal possession of a controlled substance in the seventh degree -- criminal possession of a hypodermic needled. Wiegman was arrested July 3 at 10:12 a.m. in Bergen stemming from an incident May 10 on Raymond Avenue following the results of a drug report from the Monroe County Crime Laboratory. It is alleged that he possessed nine hypodermic needles and cocaine residue after a Genesee County Probation home search. Wiegman is due back in Batavia City Court on July 20.

Rae Cook, 32, is charged with second-degree harassment. She was arrested at 1:55 p.m. July 6 on North Lyons Street in the City of Batavia following an unspecified incident. Cook is due on July 27 in city court.

Crystal Marsceill, 40, is charged with petit larceny. Marsceill was arrested at 4:22 a.m. June 28 following an incident outside a Batavia residence on Jackson Street. The defendant was issued an appearance ticket and is due in Batavia City Court on July 13.

Jose Castro, 36, is charged with unlawful possession of fireworks.He was arrested at 8:30 p.m. on June 29 on Willow Street in the City of Batavia after allegedly setting off fireworks. Castro was issued an appearance ticket  for a later date, unspecified, in city court.

Matthew Zakrewski, no age provided, is charged with obstruction of governmental administration. Zakrewski was arrested on a warrant stemming from an incident at 9:26 p.m. June 28, 2019, on Osterhout Avenue in the City of Batavia. The original charge is based on an incident where the defendant allegedly fled from officers in an attempt to avoid arrest. He was scheduled to appear in Batavia City Court on July 6.

Jon Charles Brooks, 51, of Vroom Road, Spencerport, is charged with: aggravated DWI: per se -- with a BAC of .18 percent or more -- no priors; driving while intoxicated -- first offense; and failure to keep right on a two-lane road. At 3:18 p.m. on July 10 on Clinton Street Road in Bergen, Brooks was arrested after a traffic stop for a vehicle and traffic law violation. He is due in Town of Bergen Court on Aug. 4. The case was handled by Genesee County Sheriff's Deputy Kenneth Quackenbush, assisted by Sgt. Andrew Hale.

Gregory Solomonidis, no age provided, is charged with driving while intoxicated. He is accused of driving while having a BAC of .08 percent or more at 5:02 a.m. July 3 on East Main Street in Batavia. During the investigation, it was allegedly revealed that he was involved in an altercation and that he was intoxicated. Solomonidis was arrested, then issued traffic tickets and released.

John Wesley Harding, 64, of West Bank Street, Albion, is charged with petit larceny. Harding was arrested at 3:40 p.m. July 9 at Walmart in Batavia after deputies responded there for a reported larceny complaint of $27.72 in merchandise. He was issued an appearance ticket and is due in Town of Batavia Court on July 26. The case was handled by Genesee County Sheriff's Deputy Erik Andre.

When I began this article, I wanted to write about my second retirement from teaching. I was going to share my beautiful memories of the 1,000 students I have taught.

I wanted to talk about the fantastic field trips, classroom drama productions, learning about local history, and using the Holland Land Office Museum as a textbook. I was about to begin to expound on those treasured memories when my train of thought took me to what it was like to be a teacher for over five decades. 

It was 1972; I was a lucky college graduate to have a teaching job. I was a young unmarried woman and my maiden name was Anne Marie Peca. It was a time of miniskirts, long hair, and the Viet Nam War. You just left your college and were entering your classroom with so many new things to learn.

You had to hand in a lesson plan in advance for the administration to review, learn how to set up your classroom, learn your students' names, spell them, and locate the faculty bathroom. In your first year of teaching, you learned right along with your students.  

Everything was new, and it was so exciting and overwhelming.

You had to know where to find films for your filmstrip projector and how to thread a 16 mm movie. If you needed copies for your students, you made and ran off a ditto on a ditto machine.

You never slept the night before the first day of school, no matter how many years you taught.

My first job was at Wolcott Street School in LeRoy (in 1972, inset photos above and below). I have so many treasured memories from my five years of being on their faculty.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

My next teaching adventure was being a nursery school teacher at the YWCA. This allowed me, now Mrs. Starowitz, to teach but also be home with our daughters.

In 1985, I was hired to be on the faculty of the Batavia City school system. I spent the next 34 years on their faculty as a teacher and then as a substitute teacher.

I ended my career this year as a teacher at St. Joseph Regional School, where I graduated from eighth grade in 1964.

Over the years, teachers were required to change with the times. Many innovations such as teaching strategies, behavioral plans, grade-level subject changes would be introduced, and as a teacher, you were mandated to add them to your curriculum. 

As far as technology, a teacher could now have a cassette tape player instead of a record player, and possibly one computer in the classroom using floppy discs.

Later on, there were groups of computers in a classroom, and today most children have a Chromebook as their personal computer.

There was a new classroom configuration called the multiage classroom, where you would have two classes in the same room. There was also looping where you take your class from one grade level to the next. 

The Education teacher needs has also changed over the years. There is so much a young teacher needs to do before they have a classroom.  

There were so many beautiful memories as a teacher, but there were also tragic memories. The saddest memory was losing a student and attending the funeral. There are never any words for those tragedies.

On Jan. 28, 1986 my fourth-grade class watched Christa McAuliffe, a teacher, go into space to die in an explosion on the NASA space shuttle "Challenger."

I taught through the Viet Nam War, Persian Gulf War, Iraq War, war in Afghanistan, and the 9/11 terrorism attacks. I taught children how to behave in a fire drill, evacuate a building, and practice a lockdown drill. This past year, I taught 18 students sitting 6 feet apart wearing a mask — socially distanced learning during the coronavirus pandemic -- so many changes.  

The one thing that is a constant is how many hats that a teacher wears. Yes, you have a curriculum of what to teach, but you have to earn your student's respect before you can teach.

They are so intuitive; they know if you care about them. At times you are a parent, a nurse, and a therapist. We wear these hats proudly, and today my hat is off to all the excellent teachers I have had the pleasure of working with over the years. They indeed are heroes. I love this saying, "If you can read, thank a teacher!"

I can't end this without mentioning all the beautiful children I have taught over the last five decades. Those 1,000 students have left an imprint on my heart. To those students, thank you for giving me a lifetime of cherished memories. It has been an incredible ride.

"The greatest sign of success for a teacher...is to be able to say, 'The children are now working as if I did not exist.' "

-- Maria Montessori

Two inset black and white images above are from O-At-Kan LeRoy Yearbook 1972.

Photo below, Mrs. Starowitz's last class -- from St. Joseph Regional School​ -- in a teaching career spanning more than five decades.

OPEN HOUSE - Sunday July 11th - 13 N. Lyon St. in Batavia. This house is the Mary Poppins of Batavia real estate...It’s perfect in every way! Beautifully updated, you will love the bonus room and the large second-story open porch. Three beds and two baths along with a finished third floor.

Come visit the open house Sunday between noon and 2 p.m. See you then! Click here to view my listings!

Ten fire companies, including Town of Batavia and City of Batavia, were called out to Summit Lubricants, 4080 Pearl Street Road, Batavia, for a fire of unknown original late Friday afternoon. It was difficult to suppress because of the industrial setting.

A possible structure fire is reported at 4080 Pearl Street Road, Batavia.

Town of Batavia dispatched and there is a second alarm called for East Pembroke, Darien, and Oakfield to stand by.

Submitted photos and press release:

Join Genesee County STOP-DWI and the Genesee County Youth Bureau for a night of family fun as they team up to host the STOP-DWI Night at the Ballpark on Thursday, July 15, gates open at 6 p.m.

The Batavia Muckdogs will take on the Jamestown Tarp Skunks.    

The first 100 youths will receive a T-shirt or Muck Bucks for purchases in the ballpark. An additional 500 giveaways and prizes will be given throughout the night.

The grand prize of a youth bike from Adam Miller Toy and Bicycle.

Fun and interactive educational booths and displays will be available for families and children to visit.

Help us cheer on Detective Matthew Wojtaszczyk (inset photo, right) as he throws the first pitch of the game. Having served with the Batavia Police Department since 2014, Detective Wojtaszczyk has provided extraordinary service to this community in his efforts to help educate the public on the effects of impaired driving and to help protect our streets from the dangers of impaired drivers.

While assigned to patrol division, he was very active in DWI enforcement, and awarded the Genesee County STOP-DWI “Top Cop Award” in 2016. In 2017, Detective Wojtaszczyk became a drug recognition expert (DRE), tasked with assisting fellow officers who are investigating individuals suspected of driving while impaired.

Detective Wojtaszczyk remains active in community outreach events, including the STOP-DWI Night at the Ballpark.

Event sponsors and contributors: GCASA, Gerace Realty, Kiwanis Club of Batavia, Marchese Computers, Police Benevolent Association, United States Gypsum Co., Batavia Lions Club, The Original Red Osier Landmark Restaurant, Western New York Association of Chiefs of Police, Polish Falcons, Adam Miller Toy and Bicycle, and Walmart.

Join us for a great night at the ballpark and remember impaired driving is completely preventable. All it takes is a little planning.

Gates open at 6 p.m. and the game starts at 7:05 p.m.

Top photo, from left: Le Roy Police Chief Greg Kellogg; Genesee County Undersheriff Bradley Mazur; Genesee County Sheriff William Sheron; Chelsea Green, with the Genesee County Youth Bureau; Tammi Ferringer, STOP-DWI coordinator; Chelsea Elliott, with the Genesee County Youth Bureau; John Roche, owner of Adam Miller Toy and Bicycle; Officer Felicia DeGroot, of the Batavia Police Department; and Batavia Police Chief Shawn Heubusch.

A car has struck a parked car on Harvester Avenue, just south of Colorado Avenue. City police are on scene with city fire.

Mercy medic #3 is told to respond in nonemergency mode. "It'll probably be a sign-off," says command.

Two flatbed tows are needed.

Police are out with the driver now.

UPDATE 12:58 a.m.: Mercy medic #3 is on scene.

UPDATE 1:02 a.m.: Command asks dispatch to change the address to 130 1/2 Harvester Ave.

From the National Weather Service office in Buffalo:

A severe thunderstorm warning remains in effect until 5:15 p.m. EDT for Southeastern Orleans and Central Genesee counties.

At 4:30 p.m. EDT, a severe thunderstorm was located over Oakfield, or near Batavia, moving east at 35 mph.

Up to 70 mph wind gusts pose a hazard, according to radar. Expect considerable tree damage. Damage is likely to mobile homes, roofs, and outbuildings. Locations impacted also includes Darien Lakes State Park, Attica, Corfu, Elba, Alexander, East Bethany, and Interstate 90 near exit 48.

For your protection move to an interior room on the lowest floor of a building. Torrential rainfall is occurring with this storm, and may lead to flash flooding. Do not drive your vehicle through flooded roadways.

UPDATE 4:54 p.m.: A low-hanging cable wire and possibly a tree are reported down in the roadway in Elba in the area of 4119 Lockport Road. A first responder says the roadway is partially blocked. The roadway will be shut down at Route 98 and Lockport Road. Spectrum is notified; no ETA.

UPDATE 5 p.m.: The Elba chief says the cable line has been cleared; now removing other debris before reopening roadway.

Glenn Adams shared these photos of yesterday's concert in Centennial Park by the Batavia Concert Band.

Batavia resident David Austin, who sent in the photos, noticed yesterday that somebody left household furniture up and down State Street.

"This table was in my yard," he said. "The chair is across the street. And down further towards BOCES, there is more. Very strange indeed. Funny thing is, it's not junk. The table isn't in terrible shape."

Press release:

Summer Rec at Farrall, John Kennedy, Lambert and Williams parks will be canceled today, Thursday, July 8th due to severe thunderstorm bands expected to hit late morning through the remainder of the afternoon. Summer rec anticipates being open Friday, July 9th unless otherwise communicated to families.

Summer Rec will avoid canceling in advance unless absolutely sure of unsafe weather conditions (flooding, safety threat, heat-index risk or thunder/lightening storms)

For further questions regarding Summer Rec, please contact the GLOW YMCA (585) 344-1664.

Kathy Owen dedicated a portion of the last years of her life to ensuring the stone pillars that act as markers to the opening of Redfield Parkway in Batavia were saved and restored.

It was a lot of work convincing city officials that it was actually the city that owned the pillars, that the city had a responsibility to maintain the pillars, and to finally invest in restoring the pillars.

It took eight years.

More than a year ago, Owen died.  

Yesterday evening, more than 50 Redfield Parkway residents, along with other community members, gathered in the driveway of her brother, Jim Owen, to dedicate a marker commemorating Kathy Owen and her tireless efforts on behalf of the Redfield Parkway community.

Owen was known as the "Queen of Redfield Parkway" (Jim is the "Mayor of Redfield Parkway"), and was responsible for carrying on the Redfield traditions of flags, flowers, and Christmas trees but even in her absence, her spirit remains as her friends and neighbors keep these traditions alive.

"The plaque says Kathy was an advocate of Redfield Parkway," said City Council President Eugene Jankowski. "All of you are advocates of Redfield Parkway and you make the City look even better.”

Jim got a bit emotional when thanking all who turned out to remember his sister.

"She would be very proud," Owen said. "As you know, it is her birthday today and she’s looking down saying, ‘Thank you. Thank you very much.’ ”