batavia

A downed wire that was sparking has caused a grass fire at 8076 Batavia Stafford Town Line Road. Flames are showing. Town of Batavia Fire Department is responding. The location is between the dead end and College Village.

National Grid has been notified; no ETA.

Traffic will be stopped on the roadway in order to extinguish the blaze.

Ermonie R. Schichler, 18, of State Street, Batavia, was arrested at 10:40 a.m. on May 17 and charged with disseminating indecent material to a minor in the second degree and endangering the welfare of a minor. It is alleged that she sent sexually explicit photos to a minor over a period of time. She was arraigned via Skype in Batavia City Court, then released on her own recognizance. She is due back in court later this afternoon (May 24).

Daniel J. DiFransecso, 39, of Libarty Street, Batavia was arrested at 5:48 p.m. May 9 and charged with second-degree harassment. It is alleged that on that day he verbally threatened to kill a person while banging on their window with a hockey stick. He was issued an appearance ticket for May 18 in Batavia City Court.

Robert Wood, 30, was arrested by Batavia Police Officer Peter Post at 3:45 p.m. May 19 in the City of Batavia (no address provided) and charged with first-degree criminal contempt. It is alleged that he had contact with a female who has an active stay away order of protection against him. Wood was arraigned in Batavia City Court and jailed without bail. He was due to return May 20.

Darren Ayrhart, 52, of North Main Street, Albion, was arrested at 8:45 p.m. May 19 and charged with first-degree criminal contempt and second-degree burglary. It is alleged that he violated a stay away order of protection against him after a domestic incident on Dellinger Avenue in the City of Batavia. He was put in jail; no bail status provided. Ayrhart is due in city court on May 27.

Justin Thagard, 32, was arrested at 12:54 a.m. May 11 for violating a court order of protection by being in the presence of the protected party -- he was allegedy found inside their vehicle during a traffic stop in the City of Batavia. Thagard was arraigned in Batavia City Court then put in jail on $2,500 cash bail or $5,000 bond or $10,000 partially secured bond.

Eladio A. Wattles, 23, of Hutchins Street, Batavia, was arrested at 5:10 p.m. May 16 and charged with second-degree criminal contempt. It is alleged that he violated an order of protection by sitting inside a vehicle with the protected party. He was arraigned in Batavia City Court then released under supervision of Genesee Justice. He is due back in court June 24.

Adam T. Shipwash, 41, of West Main Street, Batavia, was arrested at on May 19 on a warrant out of Batavia City Court and charged with petit larceny. It is alleged that at 9 p.m. April 8 Shipwash stole money from a person on West Main Street. He was arraigned in Batavia City Court then released on his own recognizance. He is due to return to court June 17.

Michael L. Jackson Jr., 40, of East Main Street, Batavia, was arrested at 1:36 p.m. on East Main Street and charged with petit larceny. It is alleged that Jackson stole merchandise from a grocery store and was still present in the store's parking lot when a Batavia police officer arrived. He was taken into custody without incident then released on an appearance ticket for May 25 in Batavia City Court.

A two-car accident with no injuries that is blocking traffic is reported at Center and Main streets in Downtown Batavia. City fire and police are responding.

Photo and information from Jason Smith.

Congratulations to Beth Clark, Matthew Smith and Camden King, proudly representing Resurrection Parish in Batavia, who were confirmed Sunday morning at St Joseph’s Cathedral in Buffalo by Bishop Michael Fisher.

More than 35 vendors participated today in a Vendor Blender inside City Centre as a fundraiser for All Babies Cherished.

Yesterday, JoAnne Rock spotted a swarm of bees buzzing down North Spruce Street in Batavia before taking up temporary residence in a tree in front of her house. She said she was told the hive follows the queen and would likely move on soon.

Press release:

The Salvation Army in partnership with Northgate Free Methodist Church will be hosting a drive-through food distribution at 2 p.m. on Monday, May 24th.

This distribution will begin at 2 p.m. at Northgate Church’s north campus, 8160 Bank Street Road in Batavia.

The FDA food boxes will contain milk, produce and frozen meat. We don’t know exactly what will be in the boxes until we get them.

This will be a no contact distribution. Be sure your trunk/hatch are cleared out so the volunteers can place the boxes in your vehicle. Please present a photo ID for each household you will be picking up for.

As COVID-19 restrictions ease, more and more local venues are hiring, once again, musicians to perform live for patrons.

Thursday, the Sky Cats performed an outdoor show at Dave's Ice Cream.

VENUE OWNERS: If you are scheduling live music, send the time, date, location, and name of the music act to howard@thebatavian.com and we'll include the date on our calendar. If we get enough participation, we'll post upcoming shows on a weekly basis on Thursdays.

Emily Underhill-Carlson, a graduate of Alexander High School and lifelong Batavia resident, was honored by Consulting Magazine on Thursday, May 20 as an award winner for Women in Technology, Excellence in Innovation.

Underhill-Carlson serves as the VP of Technology for Divurgent, a healthcare consulting firm based in Virginia Beach, Va.

In response to the COVID-19 crisis, she led the creation of TOBIAS, Divurgent’s first AI chatbot.

It enables real-time chat, screen sharing, and video support, which helped clients respond to the coronavirus pandemic in an efficient, economical way, often leading to a 30- to 50-percent reduction in response costs.

As the world has responded to the COVID-19 crisis, the use of technology has been and will continue to be a lifeline for clinicians.

Telehealth has grown rapidly out of necessity and has changed the way healthcare is delivered. 

A two-vehicle accident is reported at 385 W. Main St. in the city. It is blocking traffic. City fire, Mercy medics and police are responding.

The caller is a driver with a possible head injury.

It's in front of Falcone Electric.

Empire Hemp, which has operated a CDB processing facility in Batavia off of Swan Street for two years, held a grand opening and ribbon-cutting ceremony yesterday at its new retail store at 204 E. Main St., Batavia.

The store sells a variety of products containing CDB extracted from locally grown cannabis.  

Owners Chris VanDusen and Shelly Wolanske said they don't know yet whether they will get into the business of processing and/or selling recreational marijuana, now that it's legal in New York. They're waiting to see what requirements and guidelines are issued by the state before deciding.

The video also includes a tour of their production facility.

Dear Batavia,

Bourbon and Burger here, this Saturday, May 22nd is our 10-year anniversary. We wanted to take this time to thank some people. 

Thank you to our parents, who without them, this would never have been possible; thank you for believing in us. Thank you to our staff members over the past ten years and especially this most recent year, without you there is no Bourbon & Burger. Your hard work and dedication never goes unnoticed.

Thank you to our friends who came in everyday for a year to make sure we made it. Thank you to all of you, the community of Batavia and surrounding neighbors. Thank you for all of the support you’ve given us over the years. Thank you for making us a part of your lives, from first dates to engagements, from births to losses. You’ve come here to celebrate and to commiserate.

Thank you for allowing us to be there for you just as much as you’ve been there for us. At some point it becomes more than a restaurant, it’s a safe place, a livelihood, a hangout, a home. Thank you for helping us turn hamburgers into something so much more. BourbonAndBurger.com

A motorcycle accident is reported in the area of 8937 Creek Road, Batavia.

A first responder reported a victim down in the road.

Dispatchers checked on the availability of Mercy Flight but a subsequent update said there would be no need for Mercy Flight.

Town of Batavia and Mercy EMS dispatched.

UPDATE 9:36 p.m.: Appears to be minor injury.

New York State Police Troop A held their annual Law Enforcement Memorial Service today at the Troop A Barracks in Batavia.

This was Troop's first service since 2019 after last year's service was canceled because of the coronavirus pandemic.

The service honors troopers who have died in the line of duty.

New York State Police Acting Superintendent Kevin P. Bruen attended the event.

A Batavia Police officer is tasked with trying to corral a brood of ducklings found by the jail at 14 W. Main St. 

Information provided by GLOW OUT! and GO ART!

A long "weekend" of events celebrating LGTBQ+ Pride Month is planned for Batavia June 10 - 13, hosted by GLOW OUT! and GO ART!

"We are the only large-scale festival happening (here) this year and we want to make sure that as many people know about it as possible," wrote GLOW OUT Board Member Jacqueline McLean in an email to The Batavian.

Kicking things off at 6:30 p.m. Thursday, June 10 is a Pride Color Run 5K that starts and ends at Centennial Park. Rainbow colors will be thrown at the end of the 5K and there will be a DJ in the park.

Volunteers are needed to: put up 1K, 2K, 3K and 4K markers/signs; hand out swag bags and check people in; cheer along the route/redirect traffic; hand out water at the halfway point; and put out and take down traffic blockers/sawhorses; as well as time the race.

On Friday, June 11 from 6 to 8:30 p.m. at the Batavia First Presbyterian Church (300 E. Main St.), there will be a Game Night and Royal Court Competition, for all ages. There will be food (individually wrapped), outdoor games and board games. The Royal Court Competition begins at 7:30 p.m. and is open to all genders and ages. It is judged on best costume and dance moves. The theme is DISCO. All are invited to attend. Masks are required. Regulations are subject to change.

Also on June 11 from 8 p.m. to 2 a.m. at GO ART! (201 E. Main St., Batavia) there will be a Disco Open Mic and Piano Bar hosted by the incomparable Drag Queen -- Ms. Figgy Pudding. This event will be for ages 21+.

GO ART! is opening Tavern 2.o.1, for the first time since the coronavirus shutdown in March of 2020, for the LGBTQ+ community. Come read your favorite poem, try your skills at stand-up and disco, or sing your favorite Broadway tune (bring your own music our look through our extensive collection). GO ART!'s own Theresa Kehl will be at the piano.

There is no door fee, but tipping your entertainers is encouraged. Masks are required at this event. Regulations are subject to change.

On Saturday, June 12 we will have our annual Pride Parade, starting at 10 a.m. at GO ART! If marching, lineup will be at 9 a.m. We proceed from GO ART's historic Seymour Place building to Dwyer Stadium (at Denio and Bank) where the Pride Festival will be held.

This will feature a cornhole tournament hosted by Pride Sports USA (volunteers needed to assist), and be full of amazing Drag Queen performances, including our headliner, Mrs. Kasha Davis from "RuPaul’s Drag Race"! Also entertaining will be the Buffalo Gay Men's Chorus, the Fortunatones, and more! Vivian Darling & DeeDee Dubois will be emceeing.

The festival at the stadium runs from 11 a.m. - 4 p.m. and is the only event city requiring a ticket. Food and alcohol concessions will be offered for purchase by Dwyer Stadium.

On June 12 there will also be a concert at Jam at the Ridge in Le Roy starting at 4 p.m. The headline performer will be Ddendyl Hoyt, of Western New York, who is best known for her appearance on Season 6 of NBC’s “The Voice.” Tickets are $10 for lawn seats; $20 for VIP seating.

On Sunday, June 13 we will be offering a Drag Queen Story Hour at GO-ART! at 10 a.m. and again at 1 p.m. hosted by Ms. Figgy Pudding. In addition, there will also be Drag Queen Bingo at 11 a.m. and 2 p.m.

Two years ago, Batavia Pride had its inaugural year* that was so well received in the community! After a year off, we are excited to come back bigger than ever with more events and opportunities for our community to show their PRIDE!

You can sign up for all events here.

Disclaimer

Due to COVID-19 regulations, masks will be required and different events will have different policies and rules. Please check out our website for COVID-19 regulations for each individual event!

*Video below is from the first Pride Parade in 2019.

An accident, believed to be with minor injuries, is reported at Lewiston Road and Galloway Road, Town of Batavia.

Town of Batavia fire and Mercy EMS responding.