batavia

After a dominant performance last night, the Batavia basketball team was on cloud nine. The Blue Devils really weren't tested and destroyed Section 6 Class A champion McKinley 54-40 at Brockport, earning a trip to the state final four.

I had a chance to talk with Joe Schlossel (game-high 17 points), Marcus Hoy (15 assists) and coach Buddy Brasky after the game.

Joe Schlossel

On how it feels to go to states

"It feels unbelievable. I mean, people didn't even think we could compete because of our size and we are going to the state semifinals. It is an amazing feeling."

Talking about breaking the McKinley press

"In practice we played against seven guys so in the game it wouldn't seem that bad. We were able to break that easy. After playing teams like Freddie Thomas and Marshall, it was great preparation for us in this game."

Explains his huge second half (13 points)

"I wanted to make up for some missed shots I had in the first half. I knew I had to do it to help us get to the next game. We all did our part and played a great game."

Marcus Hoy

Talks about breaking the press

"I knew that was the main goal. We worked on it all week, going 5-on-8 in practice. I knew that's what I had to do. Early on I struggled but I got it together in the second half and was able to handle it."

On if the team gained confidence as the game went on

"We know we are a good shooting team. When shots aren't falling early, we know they are going to fall late. And our defense kept us in the game early. We knew that if we kept it up we were going to win."

On how exciting it is to go to states

"It's amazing. I didn't expect to be here so it's awesome. This is one of the wildest dreams. This is awesome."

Coach Buddy Brasky

Talking about the win

"I am so proud of the players. They fought that lack of size adversity all year long. Everybody kept telling them they weren't that good. They refused to believe them and kept working hard all year long. They worked tremendously hard in the offseason and that pays off. Good things happen to good people and I have a team that's a bunch of good people."

On Marcus' day

"He has to be (in control). He was uncharacteristically tentative in the first half and had five turnovers. It isn't like him. We told him at halftime that he's the leader and he's done it for us all year. He was too tentative to start the second half and we told him to just beat them with his right hand. It's his strong hand. He just had to beat them and start making plays."

Talks about returning to states and comparing this year's team to 2005

"We still have one great scorer in Andrew (Hoy) and a bunch of role players. We had Michael (Chmielowiec) and a bunch of role players and now we have Andrew and a bunch of role players. We are just going to ride the wave as long as we can."

 715 p.m. - The Batavia basketball team is off to a nice start in the first quarter of the Far West Regionals at Brockport.

The Blue Devils have a solid 9-2 lead and have done so in a fast-paced period against a far more athletic team. McKinley has given Batavia opportunities with missed shots, many of which were bad attempts. 

It looked like the Macks were going to just be too much physically at the start, but the poor shooting opened the door for Batavia.

The first basket came 1:45 into the first when Joe Schlossel scored two of his four points. Andrew Hoy missed all three of his 3-point attempts but did score a basket.

Batavia's lead wound up being eight points because Adam Pettinella hit a 3-pointer with 1:11 left in the period.

The only McKinley basket came from Mansa Habeeb.

 7:33 p.m. - Batavia leads 22-15 after an ugly first half of play.

It is difficult to comprehend after watching McKinley shoot in the first half that they are the best team Section 6 has to offer for Class A. Again, the Macks would force shot after shot and that doesn't work if they don't go in.

Batavia expanded the lead to 12-2 when Marcus Hoy hit a pair of free throws to start the period, but McKinley looked like a competitive time for the only time in the first half over the next two minutes.

Terri Lowe scored and Kevin Chillis followed with a steal and basket. Chillis then drained a 3-pointer to cut the lead to 11-9.

Batavia answered right back with Andrew Hoy hitting his first 3-pointer of the game - and only one of the half - and Robert Hoy adding a trey and a layup, giving the Blue Devils an 18-9 lead.

Curtis Gardner hit three foul shots and Chillis had a 3-pointer to end the half for McKinley.

7:56  p.m. - This thing is pretty close to over. It is obvious that Batavia is the better team in all aspects. 

The 7-point halftime lead quickly became a 10-point Batavia advantage when Dakota Irvin scored and Andrew Hoy had a 3-pointer with a McKinley basket in between.

Joe Schlossel blew up in the third quarter for the Blue Devils, scoring six points and again taking on players bigger than he is. Andrew Hoy finished with six in the frame and Batavia has a whopping 38-24 lead.

 8:19 p.m. - Batavia wins 54-40.

The game was really decided after the third quarter and fourth was a formality that allowed Batavia coach Buddy Brasky to clear his bench by the end of the frame and the large BHS cheer section an opportunity to storm the floor and celebrate with their team.

Schlossel had the biggest fourth quarter for Batavia with seven points.

He finished the game with a game-high 17 points with seven rebounds. Andrew Hoy scored 13 points and Marcus Hoy dished out a 15 assists.

Batavia's defense held McKinley star Mansa Habeeb to just two points in the game.

The Blue Devils will be playing in the New York State Public High School Athletic Association final four next weekend in Glens Falls.

The Used Bowl and a Few Scraps

It was an interesting night out recentlyon the Care-A-Van Bus. God took us to one of the local trailer parks. Paul Ohlson, the Director and Founder of the bus was busy serving chili. As God and I got done with ministering with some of the families, Paul offered me a bowl of his and Bridget’s homemade chili. He joked that he would serve me out of a used bowl, as seen in the photo above.

The used bowl joke made me think about how some of feel in our walks of life. Have you ever thought that you were all “used up” and that there was no hope for you in life? Do you find yourself questioning where is my life going? What can God do with me? I am a nobody, I am just like a used Styrofoam bowl all flimsy and no stability. Your mind is telling you a lie. You and I are all worthy. Just like all the folks that God led to the bus tonight. There are people within this city with hurting souls. They do not understand why they lost their job, why their hours were cut. They are hurting. They are sitting with worry and frustration because of the situations that they find themselves in.

God does tell us in the book of Colossians 2:2 My purpose is that they may be encouraged in heart and united in love, so that they may have the full riches of complete understanding, in order that they may know the mystery of God, namely, Christ.

During these tough times when we sometimes feel like a used bowl, God wants us to understand and to be encouraged and love each other. We are finding that during these tough times there are many people that do not know and understand the true mysteries of God and how he will provide for them. He truly does have a purpose for all of us.

A beautiful young 8 year old girl came out to the bus. She was so excited to have found a used bible out on one of the tables. She was standing at the front of the bus with an armload of clothes. She shared with us that she really needed some play clothes. She had left and took her treasures home with her. Next thing we knew, she showed back up on the bus with her step sister who was in first grade. They wanted to know if we had another bible that her sister could have. We looked through the books that were on the tables and found one for her as well. On the bus, we also have the Hope books, which are the New Testament. These books were donated by the Assembly of God.  Each girl was sent home with God’s word in hand.

We had some gentlemen from the Church of Rock in Attica come out and volunteer with us. God even uses the scraps of animal horns for his glory. Kerwin can make beautiful sound on his Shofar – a musical instrument made from one of these animal horns.

Pastor Eric and Joe were a blessing to the bus this evening. They really helped with setting up the tables, knocking on doors and even delivering groceries to one of the homes.

So you see, no matter where you may be in life, there is hope. God went to the streets tonight to love upon those that feel useless, that feel like they are just a minute scrap in life and feel like they are all used up. With knowing Jesus, we all know we are made new and a great life awaits us.

Thank you to all who continue to make it possible for Care-A-Van Ministries to go out and show that burning bright light of hope and love and the true mysteries of God.

Robin Walters

Public Relations Director

Care-A-Van Ministries

PS I had other pics, but I sure am not a technical guru, I could not get them to upload..

Although there has been a decrease in teenage pregnancy rates from 1991-2004 new data shows teenage pregnancy is now rising.

Each year almost 750,000 teenage women aged 15-19 become pregnant. Fifty percent or more of teenage pregnancies end in abortion in New York State, according to the National and Statewide statistics.

Stephanie Loranty, nurse at Batavia High School, said last year there were ten students who were pregnant. Four dropped out, one graduated, and five are still continuing on. Currently, two students are pregnant at the high school and one at the middle school.

27 percent of ninth graders in New York are sexually experienced and 17.4 percent are sexually active.  As seniors 62.6 percent are sexually experienced and 49.1 percent are sexually active.

“It’s scary,” said Loranty on the statistics of sexually active teens, “It’s hard because you are around the kids every day and you know their emotional and insecure at times and you know the choices they make can have consequences on their whole life.”

7.1 percent of ninth graders had four or more partners in New York and 20.1 percent of seniors had four or more partners.

Loranty said she feels students do not understand the seriousness of STDs and there are not many educational opportunities for students besides what they learn in their health class.

When asked about how safe sex is promoted or talked about she said it really isn’t, mostly abstinence is.

 Loranty said she wants to see more programs informing students of the risks of unprotected sex, and the importance of abstinence and safe sex, but it is a sensitive topic. She said this is where it gets hard because the line can easily be crossed with parents.

Loranty thinks a way to help teenagers make the right choice would be to start the health class at the freshman level.

She hopes one day the school budget will be able to afford electronic computer babies (mimics all the behaviors of a real life baby), instead of using flour babies.

Loranty nodded her head and sighed as she said, “It is not effective for them at all, and it just teaches them to be responsible for carrying an extra item around.”
Although these electronic babies would be much more effective, they are too costly.

“They are somewhere around $10, 000,” said Loranty.

Teenage pregnancy is also costly, from a press release teen childbearing in
New York cost taxpayers (federal, state, and local) at least $421 million in 2004.

Loranty’s advice for students who are pressured to be sexually active is, “Talk to someone and really think about your decisions.”

Her advice for parents, “Be involved, there are so many kids out there who don’t have any support.” She said even the little things matter. Just talking to them can create change. She hopes to see more programs implemented into the curriculum that are self-sufficient and involve parents. 

The Batavia basketball team made the New York State Public High School Athletic Association semifinals in 2005, losing a close game to Mexico.

This year's squad is just one win away from that same level after the Blue Devils handled Pittsford Sutherland 56-46 in the Class A state qualifier Wednesday at the Blue Cross Arena.

A huge run in the third quarter ends up being the key to the game. Andrew Hoy hit two straight 3-pointers and Josh Budlong followed by doing the same thing, giving Batavia 12-straight points and an 11-point lead. The Blue Devils led 37-26 at the end of the third quarter.

But after holding Sutherland's top scoring option, Patrick O'Keefe, in check for the first three quarter, he got his team back into the game with seven points in the first half of the final period.

A 3-pointer by Dan O'Keefe cut the lead to just a point, but Joe Schlossel scored to put Batavia back up four points with two minutes left.

The Knights turned the ball over on the next trip down the floor and the Blue Devils connected on free throws down the stretch to ice the game.

For the Batavia players that were on the sectional finals losing team last year, this was some sweet revenge against a team that capped off a Blue Devil collapse with a buzzer-beater.

Batavia hit 7-of-12 3-point attempts and was again led by sophomore Andrew Hoy, who scored a game-high 17 points. Robert Hoy and Dakota Irvin had 10 points each for the Blue Devils, with Marcus Hoy finishing up with nine.

Patrick O'Keefe had 15 points for Sutherland (18-6).

Batavia (21-3) will be playing Section 6 champion Buffalo McKinley in the Far West Regionals on Saturday at Brockport.

On August 3, 1994 Batavia witnessed one enormous accident.

Amtrak train 49 was traveling nearly 80 miles per hour when it derailed just outside of Batavia, injuring 108 passengers and 10 crew members. The train was traveling from New York, N.Y. to Chicago, Ill when the accident happened.

These videos taken of the crash take some time to watch, but the accident was very well documented. It is just amazing that there we no fatal injuries.

Notre Dame guard Kevin Francis and Oakfield-Alabama forward/center Noah Seward were regarded as the top players in each division of the Genesee Region League this season.

And now the two will get a chance to play on the same squad in the Ronald McDonald Greater Rochester All-Star Game on March 28 at Rochester Institute of Technology.

Seward and Francis will be playing on the Gold team and are joined by one tremendous lineup, including Rush-Henrietta's Dane Miller.

That team will be coached by Prattsburgh legend Jim Burke, who announced his retirement after the Vikings lost in the sectional finals on Saturday.

The Genesee Region League representatives in the girls game are on opposite teams as Alexander's Anni Lehtola will be on the Red team and Notre Dame's Jill Marshall is on the Gold squad.

Notre Dame cheerleading coach Lindsay Warner will be coaching the cheerleaders. She will be joined by Holley cheerleader Nikkie Butler.

The complete rosters for the game can be found here.

Jeanine D. Fuller, 22, of Batavia, is being held on $10,000 bail after an arrest for first degree contempt. Fuller is charged with violating a "stay away" order of protection.  She was previously convicted of second degree criminal contempt.  She was taken into custody Tuesday morning at her Oak Street residence.

Toni M. White, 28, and Shuvon J. Williams, 33, both of Batavia, were taken into custody Tuesday afternoon after allegedly getting into a fight in the Wal-Mart parking lot. Both were charged with disorderly conduct and given appearance tickets.

Taxes are going up, and salaries are doing the same for non-union and part-time city employees, as reported by Daily News reporter Joanne Beck.

City Council approved the budget 2009-2010 by a slim 5-4 vote.

Councilmen Tim Buckley, Marianne Clattenburg, Kathy Briggs, Frank Ferrando and Charlie Mallow voted yes for both resolutions. Councilmen Bill Cox, Bob Bialkowski, Sam Barone and Rose Mary Christian voted no to both.

Taxes will be raised by 2.17 percent, with $216,733 coming from the increase. $5,264,769 of the $23.3 million budget will be raised by taxes.

 The Batavia boys basketball team dropped both regular season games against Pittsford Sutherland this year, ending a seven year stretch of winning the Monroe County League Division III title.

But the third time was the charm for the Blue Devils, who beat the Knights 55-52 in the consolation game of the Monroe County League tournament.

While sectionals are over and Batavia won its third sectional title under coach Buddy Brasky on Saturday, the team is going to try and keep going. And getting Sutherland in the Class A state qualifier is just what the team wants.

The Knights took advantage of a Batavia collapse last year to win the Class A title and that loss was a heartbreaker. The Blue Devils couldn't hit a free throw and the tears were flowing when Sutherland hoisted the championship trophy.

When the classifications came out this year, Sutherland was in A1 while Batavia was in A2, so the only way the two could meet was if they both won titles.

Andrew Hoy had 20 points in the loss at Sutherland and just 11 in the home loss, then scored 21 in the win. The sophomore was the team's leading scorer during the season and has been fantastic in the playoffs, scoring 27 and 21 points. His 21 point effort was on seven 3-pointers, all in the second half in a win over Freddie Thomas to win the title.

Andrew's brothers are also going to need good games. Class A2 MVP Marcus is one of the best point guards Batavia has had in recent years, and the program has had some very good players at the position. He will score when needed but excels at driving and getting the ball to the shooters.

Robert scores, gets rebounds and often most dangerous when teams go box-and-1 on Andrew. 

A big reason why the Blue Devils won the title and are still playing is because of big man Joe Schlossel. He is just 6-foot-2 and undersized in almost every game, but he battles in the paint, where he is usually in the right place at the right time. He has been the second scoring option.

Dakota Irivin, Josh Budlong, Adam Pettinella and Mike Lee have all found their roles for Batavia (20-3). 

Sutherland (18-5) is led by A1 MVP Dan Waldbillig and point guard Dylan Sherwood. The game is at 5:45 p.m. Wednesday at the Blue Cross Arena. The winner moves on to face the Section 6 champion on Saturday.

Laura A. Olcott, 19, of Batavia was arrested for allegedly hosting an under-age drinking party Sunday at 3:46 a.m.  Olcott was charged with second degree criminal negligence and unlawful possession of alcohol. Police responded to the residence after a noise complaint.

Leanne M. Wood, 21, of Batavia, is also accused of hosting an under-age drinking party. Wood was arrested after police responded to a noise complaint. She is charged with second degree criminal nuisance and unnecessary noise.

Jeffery Cole, 43, of Batavia, was arrested Sunday after allegedly grabbing two steaks from Tops Market and fleeing the store.

Elizabeth Roman, 37, of Rochester, is facing a grand larceny charge after allegedly renting items from Rent-A-Center and then selling the items to acquaintances. She is being held without bail.

Julio C. Morales, Jr., 23, of Batavia was charged with unlawful possession of marijuana. Morales was allegedly involved in a motor vehicle accident Saturday. He reportedly left the scene, came back, and was found to have a pipe in his pocket with marijuana residue as well as marijuana.

John N. Robinson, 24, of Batavia is charged with DWI after being stopped Sunday for allegedly speeding on Route 20 in Alexander.  Robinson is accused of having a BAT of .08 or more.

Daniel J. Schepperley, 23, of Tonawanda, is charged with DWI after being stopped in Batavia for alleged erratic driving.

Kimberley A. Showler, 43, of Batavia, is accused of shoplifting at Target. She is charged with petty larceny and possession of burglar tools.

Amber N. Wallace, 19, of Batavia, was arrested for allegedly violating a standing order baring her from Wal-Mart. Wallace is charged with second degree criminal attempt. She was released on her own recognance

The "micropolitian" area of Batavia is one of the nation's fastest growing regions according to Site Selection Magazine.

This is the fifth straight year Batavia has received the designation.

On its Web site, Site Selection describes itself this way:

Site Selection's editorial mission is to publish information for expansion planning decision-makers -- CEOs, corporate real estate executives and facility planners, human resource managers and consultants to corporations. Our goal is to help the expansion planner do a better job.

Here's the full press release from the Genesee County Economic Develoment Committee

Batavia, NY…Genesee County and the Batavia Micropolitan Area has been named one of the country’s 10 fastest growing regions by Site Selection Magazine for a fifth consecutive year.  A Micropolitan Area is a census definition that describes a city of less than 50,000 people that serves as the seat of a larger geographical area like Genesee County.  There are roughly 600 Micropolitans nationwide.

The Batavia Micropolitan was first recognized in 2004 and ranked 7th in the nation.  In 2005, the region was named the 3rd fastest growing Micropolitan in the nation and the number 1 location in the Northeast.  Batavia made the list again in 2006 and 2007.  In 2008 the Batavia Micropolitan ranked fourth nationwide. 

Statesville-Mooresville, North Carolina was tops in the category, participating in 17 qualifying projects.  Daphne-Fairhope, Alaska tied with Tupelo, Mississippi for second with both completing 12 projects.  Batavia participated in 11 qualifying projects tying with Ottawa-Streator, Illinois for fourth.  The results were published in Site Selection’s March issue.

“Despite a changing economic and political climate in the state and nationwide, we were able to participate in 11 qualifying projects and again earn honors as a Top Micropolitan.” said CEO Steve Hyde.  “It’s an accomplishment we are extremely proud of and over the years the recognition has brought us national exposure and helped us increase our project volume.  It is an honor that we share with the entire community, including our local and regional partners and elected officials.”

The economic downfall continues to leave Margaret Puzio, Superintendent of Schools, and the School Board of Education studying their options carefully as they create a spending plan.

According to the New York State Executive Budget  the Executive Budget will provide $20.7 billion for School Aid in 2009-10. It is a decrease of 3.3 percent from last year.  The site says without this budget cut the Executive Budget proposal for 2009-2010 would have been $2.5 billion higher than what was originally proposed.

Margaret Puzio, Superintendent of Schools stated in the A+ Batavia Communicator, “The Board of Education has asked the district to keep expenditures well below the contingent budget cap of 4%.”

Puzio writes the budget deficit has caused a pause in all state aid, along with a further reduction in a form of a Deficit Reduction Assesment.(DRA).

The board is waiting to make a final budget, hoping to receiving aid from the Federal Government.

“Right now, we do not know the impact the Federal Economic Stimulus Bill may have on education aid,” writes Puzio in the newsletter, “And so we prepare a budget that protects our programs both curricular and extra-curricular and remains mindful of the community’s needs.”

The board plans to adopt a tentative budget at the Board of Education meeting March 16, 7 p.m. at the Administration building.

I unfortunately didn't make the game today because I'm not feeling well, but Batavia just beat Freddie Thomas 65-45 to win the Section 5 Class A2 title.

The Blue Devils had a lot of haters this season as people didn't think Batavia had enough size, but this is the first sectional championship team for the program since Michael Chmielowiec's senior year.

Andrew Hoy was shut down in the first half, but blew up for 21 points in the second half. He scored all of his points from beyond the 3-point line. This follows his 27 point performance against Geneva. He's having an amazing post season.

Marcus Hoy had 15 points and did a great job of leading the team on the floor and Dakota Irvin pitched in 11 points. 

The sectional title is the potential tip of the iceberg as the Blue Devils play either Newark or Sutherland in the crossover game before the Far West Regionals. Hopefully I'll be over this bug and be at that game. 

Chmielowiec led his team to the state semifinals and now this team can look to get to that point or beyond.

Irvin and Andrew Hoy made the all-tournament team with Marcus Hoy winning the MVP. 

Part 2 of the Daily's FAQ on ambulance service is up.

I'm posing about it only because I get a little bugged when I see people not answering questions.  In this case, it's Greg Ireland:

To fire department union President Greg Ireland, would the union renegotiate its current contract to lessen the cost to the city?

Mallow and the union signed a contract on Sept. 4, 2007, that ran through March 2010, Ireland said, noting that at the time, Mallow was quoted as saying "every single thing that was brought up previously by council, we addressed with them."

"We have an agreement with the city to establish a labor-management committee to discuss concerns ... and the city has not approached the union to discuss any concerns they have with our current contract," Ireland said.

Notice that Ireland doesn't answer a very simple yes or no question. He obfuscates by pushing it back on the city, saying the city never asked.  But the question wasn't, "Did the city ask you?" It was, "would you?"

There's logical question back for Charlie Mallow: If the union were willing to renegotiate, would the city reconsider its position?

And is it simply too late to even consider such questions?

One person reported chest pains following a two-vehicle collision at the intersection of routes 33 and  in Stafford at about 2:30 p.m.

A state trooper on scene said the investigation was not yet completed and would not release the names of the drivers. He said a Chevy SUV was west bound on 33 when a pick up truck traveling on Route 327 apparently failed to stop.

We'll provide more details later as we're able to get them.

The Daily News has posted the first of a two-part FAQ on the ambulance service controversy.

It's well done and should be pretty informative to anybody (is there anybody?) who hasn't been following the issue.

There's been much discussion on The Batavian over an allegation that the city transferred money from ambulance funds to the city treasury. City Manager addresses the question:

In past years, money has been transferred from the ambulance fund to meet personnel costs associated with running the city ambulance service. Eliminating the ambulance service allows the city to cut those positions, which will end the city's need to take money from another fund.

On the issue of "scare tactics," as City Council President Charlie Mallow has characterized the union's lobbying effort, Mallow and union president Greg Ireland each get their say.

Mallow:

"The union's literature, signs and words imply that the city will somehow not have ambulance service after Sept. 1 and that no one will come to help when you call 911," Mallow said. "The county has made it clear that they have a process in place ... there is no reason to believe the hysteria being asserted by the union that there will be no one to provide ambulance service after Sept. 1."

Ireland:

"Our campaign is in NO way negative," Ireland said. "We simply want the public to be aware of the decision that council has made to eliminate their ambulance service, and City Council has no definitive plan for the future needs of their citizens. Passing the buck to someone else is not a responsible way to govern the people that elected you, and I am one of them."

Read the whole thing.