batavia

A car has struck a utility pole in the area of 43 Clinton St., Batavia.

There is air bag deployment.

Unknown injuries.

City Fire and Mercy EMS responding

UPDATE 12:40 a.m.: A Batavia patrol officer on scene reports no injuries.

City Fire is being dispatched to State and Willow streets for a report of a large fire in the back yard of a residence in the area.

The fire was reportedly discovered by a Batavia patrol officer who first reported a large amount of smoke in the area.

He informed the dispatcher that the fire is a dresser on a fire pit.

UPDATE 9:27 p.m.: City command reports, "Fire in the fire pit. City assignment back in service."

Press Release:

The Chamber’s Annual Awards Committee has announced the “2023” Annual Award Ceremony will be held on Saturday, March 2, 2024, at Batavia Downs Gaming, Park Road, Batavia. This is the County’s premier event that honors businesses and individuals for their achievements in business, community service, and volunteerism.

Please note that a brief write-up will qualify your nominee for consideration. Nominations are now being accepted for Business of the Year, Entrepreneurial Business of the Year, Agricultural Business of the Year, Innovative Enterprise of the Year, Special Service Recognition & Geneseeans of the Year. 

Business Nominees must be a Chamber Member (If unsure of your nominee, call the Chamber to verify). 

Nomination forms are available at the Chamber of Commerce office, 8276 Park Road, Batavia, and can also be downloaded from the Chamber Website at www.geneseeny.com.

Nominations MUST BE RECEIVED BY December 29 to be eligible for consideration. 

If you would like more information, feel free to call or email Kelly J. Bermingham, Director of Member Relations & Special Events at the Chamber office, 343-7440, ext. 1026, kbermingham@geneseeny.com.

Press Release:

On October 28, St. James Episcopal Church will be hosting “Ah, Sweet Music!”, a concert and dessert tasting in Memory of David Lange. Sponsored in part by the Buffalo Chapter, American Guild of Organists. The evening will feature delicious desserts and a variety of music at St. James Church, Batavia. For more information, call 585-343-6802.

Press Release:

The Batavia City School District is proud to announce that Batavia High School has earned high national and metro-area rankings on the 2023-2024 Best High Schools list from U.S. News and World Report.

Batavia High School earned a national ranking in the top 40% of U.S.-based public high schools out of nearly 18,000 schools. A top statistic included in the ranking was Batavia High School’s impressive 98% graduation rate, which is “well above state median.” 

“We are elated and deeply honored once again to receive this recognition from U.S. News and World Report. Earning a place in the top 40% of high schools nationally is a testament to the dedication, hard work, and commitment to excellence that our teachers, students, staff, and community collectively contribute to at Batavia High School. Keep up the great work!” Said Superintendent Jason Smith. 

“I knew when I accepted the principal position at Batavia High School, I was stepping into a remarkable community, and this recognition from U.S. News and World Report is an excellent reminder,” said Principal Jenni Wesp. 

“This achievement also highlights our unwavering focus on academic excellence and our drive to provide a nurturing yet challenging environment that prepares our students for the world beyond Batavia. This award is not a final destination but a milestone on our ongoing journey of educational innovation and continuous improvement.”

Batavia High School previously received this honor in 2022 and 2014.

According to U.S. News and World Report, “The 2023-2024 edition of Best High Schools includes a numerical ranking of nearly all public high schools nationwide. There are rankings within each state and within each census-designated metropolitan area that has three or more high schools, as well as the Best STEM Schools ranking and comprehensive Best Charter Schools and Best Magnet Schools rankings. Also published are rankings of high schools within each school district that has three or more high schools.”

Press Release:

This year's GLOW Cup t-shirt contest winner was, first time recipient, Genesee Dental. They won with a shirt designed by Brian Kemp at T-Shirts Etc. Genesee Dental's charity of choice was Young Life, a ministry camp focused on helping adolescents grow in their faith.

“Young Life is a Christian outreach to middle and high school students as well as teen moms. The organization partners with adults and teens, building friendships and walking alongside kids through their teen years” said Max Herbert of Young Life.

“Genesee Dental chose this charity after Office Manager, Abby Zawistowski’s husband, Chad, passed away in November 2021 after a courageous battle with Leukemia. Young Life played an important role in Chad’s childhood as he benefited from donations so that he could attend their camp.” said Ashley Diehl, Abby’s coworker and best friend.

The Genesee County Planning Board unanimously approved two variances for the proposed Burger King drive-through at 301-305 West  Main St., Batavia during its Thursday evening meeting.

The applicant, Carrols LLC, represented by site engineer Peter Sorgi, requested two variances to allow for 26 parking spaces versus the required minimum of 32 spaces, and for a building height of 18.66 feet, which would be .66 8 inches more than the maximum allowable 18 feet.

The Planning Board deemed the variances as posing “no significant county-wide or inter-community impact.” 

The project has appeared on the table of the city’s Planning and Development Committee at least three times, each time returning with requested revisions to the design, including the addition of more green space in correlation to adjusting the size of the driveway and number of parking spots. The plan has also gone to the city's Zoning Board of Appeals. 

Although the County Planning Board approved this latest modification, Sorgi is expected to return to the group at least once more with a full site plan in October, Planning Board Director Felipe Oltramari said.

The project is also on the agenda for the next City Planning & Development Committee meeting on Tuesday to discuss the two variance issues of off-street parking and building height. It’s likely the committee will recommend that the applicant return to the ZBA again for review, according to the agenda. 

This Burger King will replace the current site on the opposite side of Main Street and will be at the corner of West Main and North Lyon streets.

Town of Batavia responded this evening to a fully involved tractor-trailer fire on the Thruway in the area of Genesee Community College.

Photo by Steve Ognibene.

An "adorable kitten" showed up at the doorstep of Bob and Jane Balbick on the northwest side of Batavia Tuesday, hungry and wet.  

"He is very friendly and obviously came from a home where he was well taken care of," the couple said in an email. 

If this looks like your cat, please contact them at 585-343-5078.

Press Release:

The main number to the Genesee County Jail  -- 585-343-0838 -- is back in service. We apologize for any inconveniences this may have caused.

Press Release: 

Thursday, September 28, in the Stuart Steiner Theatre from 6 - 7 p.m. Musician and Educator Haley Moore will present a lecture and play Appalachian music from the 1920s. The presentation and performance are based on Jeannette Walls novel "Hang the Moon." 

Listen to music that was popular during the time and hear all about the story of an indomitable young woman in prohibition-era Virginia. The presentation will be both educational and entertaining and is free and open to the public.

Richmond Reads is a community one-book program designed for the Richmond Memorial Library community. Each year, a committee selects a book and builds programs around the selection, culminating with a visit from the author. The 2023 selection is "Hang the Moon," the latest publication from New York Times bestselling author Jeannette Walls. This year's events include historical programs, book discussions, a film screening, and more. 

The library is excited to partner with Genesee Community College and Batavia High School as they incorporate "Hang the Moon" into their curriculum and participate in a student book review contest. Richmond Reads is generously sponsored by The Friends of Richmond Memorial Library. 

To learn more about attending events or supporting the Richmond Reads program, visit the library or batavialibrary.org/richmond-reads. Live Stream link: https://vimeo.com/event/3701652. For more information please contact: Kathleen Klaiber at kmklaiber@genesee.edu.

Submitted information and photo.

The Batavia Boys Varsity Soccer team won its second game of the season on Tuesday evening against Greece Odyssey, 6-3.  

It was an outstanding effort by all players in a contentious game, said Head Coach Graham Halpin.

Rylan Bohn (#9) had four goals, and Owen Halpin (#11) had two goals and oneassist. Finn Halpin (#2) recorded two assists. There were also assists by Patrick Suozzi (#5), Will Fulton (#24), and Devin Hughes (#20). 

Ben Stone (#19) made many excellent saves in goal while the defensive line worked tirelessly to contain Odyssey's attack. 

Press Release:

Cindy Sherman: Works from the Gerald Mead Collection, will be on display at GO ART!, 201 E. Main Street in Batavia, October 4 – November 5th. A free, public reception will be held Oct 19, from 5 p.m. to 8 p.m.

Cindy Sherman is an internationally renowned artist whose ground-breaking photographs have examined themes around representation and identity in contemporary media for over four decades. Widely seen as one of the most important and influential artists in contemporary art, she gained recognition in the art world with her series of black-and-white photographs, “Untitled Film Stills” (1977–80). 

A Buffalo State College alumnus, she played a crucial role in the formation of Hallwalls Contemporary Arts Center and CEPA Gallery during her time in Buffalo. Her work can be seen in collections at the Tate Gallery, London; the Museum of Modern Art; and the Metropolitan Museum of Art, among others.

The work will be on loan from the Gerald Mead Collection. Dr. Gerald Mead, a noted independent curator, artist, and emeriti art educator based in Buffalo, has been collecting and exhibiting work by artists associated with WNY for over 35 years. This exhibition, Cindy Sherman: Works from the Gerald Mead Collection, consists of a brief survey of Cindy Sherman’s works dating from 1978 to 2017 from his collection. Included are works from several significant series of her career such as Untitled Film Stills, Fairy Tales, History Portraits, and Instagram.

GO ART! Gallery Hours: Wednesday: 11 a.m. - 4 p.m., Thursday & Friday: 11 a.m. - 9 p.m., Saturday 9 a.m. - 12 p.m. For more information contact Mary Jo Whitman at mjwhitman@goart.org

A 17-year-old from Aberdeen, Scotland, was seriously injured after being struck by a vehicle in the area of 5186 Clinton Street Road, Batavia, shortly before 1:30 a.m.

Ethan R. Walker is believed to be a student at Genesee Community College.

According to the Sheriff's Office, he was apparently a passenger in a 2007 Chevy Suburban that was eastbound on Route 33.  For some reason, Walker got out of the vehicle, crossed the roadway on foot and entered the westbound lane.

He was struck by a grey 2008 Toyota RAV4 driven by Garrett R. Mercurio, 18, of Batavia.

Mercurio and witnesses called 9-1-1.

Town of Batavia Fire and Mercy EMS arrived on scene and provided Walker with medical care. Walker was transported by ground ambulance from the scene and later flown by Mercy EMS to ECMC, where he is currently in the trauma unit.

The incident is being investigated by the Sheriff's Office, including members of the Crash Management Team.

(Initial Report)

There are “several interested developers” working with Sam Savarino, president of the now-defunct Savarino Companies, after he announced closing about a month ago, City Manager Rachael Tabelski says.

In response to a request for an update, Tabelski said Tuesday that Savarino and banking institutions have been involved in talks with those developers, though she did not have or divulge anything “official.” 

“As of last week, the construction leading bank confirmed there were no liens on the project, meaning (subcontractors) were paid up to that point,” she said.  

When asked about the role of the state Office of Homes and Community Renewal, the agency that granted Savarino $5.7 million of low-income housing tax credits for the project, Tabelski said that “HCR is actively working with any/all developers interested in the project and has promised flexibility in their approach with AMI’s, etc.”

The city had hoped to negotiate the current AMI — area median income level — that had been set at a low to very low versus a higher workforce level, and it appears that it will fall to the next developer to take on that task.

Areas of concern for any construction project would include preserving the structural integrity so that nothing deteriorates or is damaged during the pause in work, and Tabelski said that “the City would like to see the investment winterized first and foremost and remain secured while the project is unwound.”

Savarino Companies celebrated a groundbreaking last year, and chose tenants for the 50 Ellicott St. site in May. It was to open up 55 homes between December of this year and February 2024.

Later this year, Savarino announced financial difficulties stemming from a deal gone wrong at Alfred State College, and shut down operations of his Savarino Companies, with the stipulation that Savarino Management would remain open. He did not contact city officials about the announcement or provide details about what that would mean for Ellicott Station, Tabelski said. Since then, the construction trailer was seen getting hauled off the property. 

Since the project is not merely a privately funded one, and involves county and state funding, the process will likely start over with a new developer, which will also likely delay the entire timeline. It’s not up to the city as to who and how it proceeds from here.

“We do not have a say as to who the developer will be to take on the project; it’s a private transaction,” Tabelski said. “This is a complex project and complex situation, and whoever takes on the project will need to be a seasoned and skilled developer who can make the project and finances work. The City remains encouraged by the interest.”

There's a $50 reward for the safe return of this very sweet cat named Princess, an 11-year-old who went missing recently from her family's Raymond Avenue area home in Batavia.

Princess was adopted from a family member about a month ago and is not very familiar with the area, and does not like dogs or unfamiliar cats. She is fixed and is not wearing a collar. She began missing last Thursday night.

If you see her or know anything about her whereabouts, please call 585-297-9080.

For the second time on Monday, Bob Bialkowski took the opportunity to not only acknowledge the sacrifices of others given on Sept. 11 22 years ago, but to also pray that those first responders “inspire us to live bravely and courageously and to selflessly protect others in need.”

The City Councilman-at-large gave the opening prayer for the group’s monthly conference session Monday at City Hall. It was the only acknowledgment of 9/11 during the brief meeting, though it was followed by the pledge of allegiance, a longstanding city tradition. 

A veteran having served in the U.S. Army Aviation Reserves for 30 years, Bialkowski also spoke during a remembrance ceremony at the VA Medical Center in Batavia earlier Monday. 

He and other speakers emphasized the need for such memorials as key to preserving the history of 9/11 and the bravery displayed by countless first responders, fire and police personnel, military members, and ordinary citizens who rallied on an airplane to help divert further disaster. 

As a prelude to the council meeting, Bialkowski’s words seemed contradictory to a time when many questioned the presence of outsiders on American soil.

“May we look to those who opened up their homes to the stranded and displaced that day to stir us to be more hospitable,” he said. “Having seen the face of evil and darkness, may we be steadfast and faithful, pursuing you as our perpetual light.”

A man has been reportedly struck by a vehicle on Clinton Street Road near Pine Hollow Drive. 

Possible serious injuries. 

Checking on the availability of Mercy Flight. 

Town of Batavia Fire and Mercy EMS responding. 

While many people went about their usual routines Monday, there were events happening across the country, including in Genesee County, to acknowledge and memorialize the date of Sept. 11 that has become so sacred to Americans.

And veteran John McCune attended one such ceremony, believing it is something to appreciate.

“There's nothing more important and special than the ceremonies that should take place across the country for each and every school child coming up so that they can remember and absolutely understand the impact that it had on our nation,” McCune said while at the Batavia VA Medical Center flagpole during a 9/11 ceremony. “How we were all, as Americans, were drawn together based on the fact that it was a need, and they followed up with that need for those heroes that lost their lives in those buildings, attempting to save those from the building fires and eventually lost their lives by the buildings toppling down on them.”

McCune was a staff sergeant in the U.S. Army, having served eight years. He believes that participating in such events is a “must-do” every year, “especially for our younger generation that’s up and coming so that they too will know and have the knowledge of the events that took more than 3,000 lives in New York City.”

The driveway into the VA was lined with people for the ceremony, and the front lawn was adorned with U.S. flags to represent the shape of the Twin Towers. 

Lest anyone forget, from 911memorial.org: on Sept. 11, 2001, 19 terrorists associated with al-Qaeda, an Islamist extremist group, hijacked four commercial airplanes scheduled to fly from the East Coast to California.

In a coordinated attack that turned the planes into weapons, the terrorists intentionally flew two of the planes into the Twin Towers of the World Trade Center, a global business complex in New York City, causing the towers to collapse. They also flew a third plane into the Pentagon, the headquarters of the U.S. Department of Defense, in Arlington, Va.

Passengers and crew members on the fourth plane launched a counterattack, forcing the hijacker pilot—who was flying the airplane toward Washington, D.C.—to crash the plane into a field in Somerset County, Pennsylvania, near the town of Shanksville.

The 9/11 attacks killed 2,977 people. This was the single largest loss of life resulting from a foreign attack on American soil. The attacks caused the deaths of 441 first responders, the greatest loss of emergency responders on a single day in American history.

McCune commended state Senator George Borrello, who represents the 57th senate district, for also being at the ceremony, and for being “genuine” with his heartfelt remarks. 

The Batavia VA federal facility was first on his to-do list for the day, Borrello said. 

“It ties everything together — the sacrifices that had been made, literally for centuries by our military, with the attack on our nation, and the sacrifices that were made that day by people who just were going to work and not realizing that they were going to be part of what would be the war on terror,” he said. 

So for him, it just seemed like the ideal opportunity to remind everyone of that sacrifice, he said, while at the VA, where veterans who served their country reside and receive services and treatment. 

Those veterans, and Sept. 11, truly changed this nation, Borrello said.

“My fear is that our children are understanding that and understanding that the threat is still there, but the diligence is still required. And I have a lot of concerns about how the narrative has been twisted against our law enforcement,  first responders and military, that they are no longer the heroes, the ones that are on the watch, guarding us, but they have somehow been, it has been twisted to them being the enemy,” he said. “And that’s what I spoke about today, because I look at someone who might be 25 - 30 years old who may have no memory of 9/11, but is now being told that somehow the police are racist, and this and that, and all these other negative things that are said about law enforcement, when the fact is, that it didn’t matter: race, creed, color, we were united, that the politics stopped at the water’s edge, that we all bleed the same color. 

And that is what makes America great, is that diversity and the unity in that diversity.”

As a representative of the City of Batavia, Councilman-at-Large Bob Bialkowski praised the VA Medical Center, staffed by a “superb group of dedicated professionals and caring volunteers.” 

The U.S. Army Aviation Reserves veteran turned to that fateful day, when a “vile act of terror was a stain on the heart to all of us.”

“Our country is hated by half of the world because we are free people. Freedom is the enemy of evil. And the evil people of the world will always be plotting against us to enslave us to their will. We are Americans, and history shows that we're the greatest protectors of freedom in the world,” Bialkowski said. “Today, let us remember all those brave and heroic Americans who lost their lives on 9/11, 2001. Service members, police, firefighters, medical and ordinary citizens. All Americans, first and foremost.

“In closing, the entrance to the main entrance going up the stairs, there's a garden, and there's figurines representing each member of each armed force. They’re all standing there saluting. They're looking down at the grass, and I'll picture 3,000 people on the lawn, where each flag is, picture a person standing there,” he said. “So on the way out, please remember this. We will never forget, and must always remain vigilant and fight evil. We are all Americans.”

To view or purchase photos, click here.

Photos by Steve Ognibene