batavia

Allister L. Gunter, 28, of Batavia, is charged with attempted assault 2nd, attempted robbery 3rd, four counts of unlawful imprisonment 2nd, two counts of criminal mischief 4th, three counts of endangering the welfare of a child, resisting arrest, two counts of obstructing governmental administration 2nd, and harassment 2nd. Gunter was charged following an incident reported on March 17 on Thomas Avenue. Patrol officers responded to a report of a disturbance. A victim reported a fight. Gunter is accused of barricading the door, requiring officers to make a forced entry into the residence. When officers attempted to take Gunter into custody, he allegedly resisted arrest and fought with officers. The victim alleges that Gunter attempted to assault her and would not allow her or her children to leave the residence. He allegedly prevented her from calling the police for help. He was arraigned and released under supervision.

Jorgia A. Fotiathis, 30, of Batavia, is charged with assault 1st and criminal possession of a weapon 4th. Fotiathis was arrested on March 19 following an investigation into an incident reported on March 4 on Hutchins Street.  Fotiathis is accused of stabbing another person. He was arraigned and jailed.

George J. Budzinack, 44, of Batavia, is charged with burglary 3rd and petit larceny. Budzinack is accused of entering Tops on March 29 after being barred from the property and stealing merchandise from the store on March 29. He was arraigned and jailed without bail.

Luc A Baillargeon, 42, of Batavia, is charged with menacing 2nd, criminal possession of a weapon 4th, and criminal contempt 2nd. Baillargeon is accused of throwing a knife at another person on March 27 during a fight on Prospect Avenue. He allegedly violated an order of protection by sending unauthorized text messages. he was arraigned in City Court and released.

James R Briggs, 48, of Walden Creek Drive, Batavia, is charged with criminal possession of a forged instrument 2nd and criminal possession of stolen property 5th. Briggs was arrested following a traffic stop on March 24. He was allegedly driving a vehicle with a stolen license plate and forged registration sticker. He was arraigned and released. Briggs is also charged with petit larceny. He is accused of shoplifting from Walmart at 7:34 p.m. on March 14. 

Mark L. Farley, 55, of Batavia, is charged with criminal contempt 1st and harassment 2nd. Farley allegedly threatened another person on March 23 in violation of an order of protection. He was arraigned and released. On March 25, he was charged with harassment 2nd in connection with an incident reported in February where he allegedly grabbed another person. He was issued an appearance ticket.

Miya R. Houseman, 23, of Batavia, was arrested on March 27 on a warrant. Houseman was initially arrested on a charge of DWI Nov. 21, 2021. A warrant was issued after she allegedly failed to appear in court. She was arraigned in  City Court and released. 

Martin J. Rodgers, 40, of Batavia, is charged with criminal contempt 1st. Rodgers is accused of violating a stay-away order of protection. He was arraigned in City Court and ordered jailed on $4,000 bail. 

Carl E. Canterbury, 53, of Batavia, was arrested on March 22 on a warrant. Canterbury was charged on Jan. 23 for allegedly operating a motor vehicle with a suspended registration. A warrant was issued after he allegedly failed to appear in court. Canterbury was arraigned and released. 

Joey A. Evans, 33, of Batavia, was cited for riding a bicycle on a sidewalk. Evans was charged after an accident on March 22. He allegedly struck a pedestrian while riding his bike. He was issued an appearance ticket.

Mark. A. Constable, 35, of Batavia, is charged with harassment 2nd. Constable is accused of grabbing another person by the arm during a dispute on Ganson Avenue on March 23. he was issued an appearance ticket.

Mark. A. Constable, 35, of Batavia, and Kayleen M. Laird, 28, of Batavia, are charged with theft of services. Constable and Laird are accused of leaving Gilliana's Diner on Jackson Street on March 19 without paying for their meals. They were issued appearance tickets.

Kenneth H. Avery, 53, of Byron, is charged with DWI. Avery was charged following a traffic stop on March 17 on Clinton Street by a Batavia patrol officer. He was issued an appearance ticket.

Ronald W. Lewis, 36, of Ogden, was arrested on March 20 on two warrants. The first warrant stems from a larceny complaint in July of 2023. Lewis allegedly stole merchandise from Tim Horton’s. The second is the result of a trespass charge in September of 2023 at UMMC. He was arraigned and released.

Canden J. Thomas, 29, of Albion, was arrested on March 20 on a warrant. Thomas was initially charged on Nov. 22 with aggravated unlicensed operation of a motor vehicle 3rd, leaving the scene of a property damage accident and other traffic violations after a motor vehicle crash on Bank Street. He was arraigned and released.

Nathan W. Campbell, 43, of Batavia, is charged with trespass. Campbell is accused of entering Save-a-Lot on March 28 after being barred from the property. He was issued an appearance ticket/

Lewis A. Morris, Jr., 69, of Batavia, is charged with criminal obstruction of breathing and harassment 2nd. Morris is accused of putting his hands around the neck of another person and of striking that person in the face during a disturbance on Brooklyn Avenue on March 15. He was arraigned and released.

Patricia M. Anderson, 39, of Batavia, was arrested on April 1  on two warrants on charges of criminal possession of a controlled substance 7th. The first warrant is related to an incident in August of 2023, where Anderson was allegedly found in possession of cocaine while being arrested on an unrelated warrant. The second warrant stems from an incident in October of 2023, where Anderson was allegedly found in possession of methamphetamine and fentanyl while again being arrested on another unrelated warrant. She was arraigned and released.

Douglas G. Bryant, 52, of Batavia, was arrested on a warrant on March 29 on a charge of criminal contempt 2nd. Bryant is accused of violating an order of protection by posting about the protected person on social media. He was arraigned in City Court and jailed.

Michael C. Smith, 32, of Batavia, is charged with petit larceny. Smith is accused of stealing merchandise from Tops on March 29. He allegedly fled the store. Store employees followed him to West Avenue and Union Street, where police took him into custody. He was issued an appearance ticket and turned over to the Sheriff's Office on a warrant.

Thomas Joseph Mitchell, 34, of Chestnut Street, Batavia, is charged with criminal possession of a controlled substance 7th, aggravated unlicensed operation of a motor vehicle 3rd, unlicensed driver, and no inspection sticker. Mitchell was stopped at 3:50 a.m. on March 22 on Route 33 in Bergen by Deputy Jacob Kipler. He was issued an appearance ticket.

Jennifer Lynn McCoy, 46, of Main Street, Attica, is charged with grand larceny 4th, three counts of unlawful possession of personal identification information 3rd, and petit larceny. McCoy is accused of stealing $2,800.67 from a location on South Main Street, Oakfield, between Oct. 19 and Jan. 28. She is also accused of stealing a donated bicycle from a non-profit organization in Stafford on July 25. McCoy was issued an appearance ticket.

Joshua John King, 34, of Ross Street, Batavia, is charged with DWI and driving with a BAC of .18 or greater. King was stopped at 1:57 a.m. on March 24 on West Main Street Road, Batavia, by Deputy Jeremiah Gechell. He was processed at the Genesee County Jail and released.

Scott Robert Stine, 40, of Alleghany Road, Pembroke, is charged with DWI, reckless driving, open alcohol container in vehicle, speed unreasonable, and failure to keep right.  Stine was allegedly involved in a single-vehicle property damage accident at 9:22 p.m. on March 28 on North Lake Road, Pembroke. He was arrested by Deputy Ayron Blankenberg, processed at the Genesee County Jail, and released.

Michael Anthony Sweet, 38, of Raymond Avenue, Batavia, is charged with criminal possession of a controlled substance 7th. Sweet was stopped at 11:38 p.m. on March 26 on Clinton Street Road, Batavia, by Deputy Ryan Mullen. Sweet was allegedly found in possession of methamphetamine. He was released on an appearance ticket.

Jared Ryan Burns, 37, of Clinton Street Road, Batavia, is charged with falsely reporting 3rd. Burns is accused of calling emergency dispatch at 3:26 p.m. on March 31 to falsely report an incident that was "about to occur" at a location on Clinton Street Road. He was issued an appearance ticket.

James Thomas Cooke, 30, of Sandy Beach Road, Grand Island, is charged with DWI, driving with a BAC of .08 or greater, and unregistered motor vehicle. Cooke was stopped at 12:59 a.m. on March 30 on West Main Street, Batavia, by Deputy Jeremiah Gechell. Cooke was issued an appearance ticket.

Paul Lee, 52, of Helen Street, Rochester, is charged with criminal possession of a controlled substance 7th.  Following a complaint at 3:41 p.m. on April 2 on Buffalo Road in Bergen, deputies Mason Schultz and James Stack made contact with Lee. He was allegedly found in possession of narcotics. He was processed at the Genesee County Jail and released.

Matthew O'Neal Bader, 41, of Maple Street, Batavia, is charged with identity theft, 3rd, and criminal possession of stolen property, 4th. Bader is accused of stealing a credit card and using it to make purchases in the city of Batavia on March 15. Bader was processed at the Genesee County Jail and released.

Nickolas Adam Figlow, 22, of Oak Street, Batavia, is charged with making a threat of mass harm. Figlow is accused of making a threat of mass harm against a business on Lewiston Road, Batavia, on April 2. Figlow was processed at the Genesee County Jail and released.

Press Release:

The Genesee County Chamber of Commerce is excited to kick off GeneSEEtheEclipse weekend activities by inviting the community to a “meet the artist” event at our Visitor Center. 

Andy Reddout, illustrator of Genesee County’s commemorative poster and “Genny SEES The Eclipse” original children’s book will be at the Visitor Center on Friday, April 5 from 4:30 - 6:30 p.m. 

Guests can get a free signed poster, purchase a book for signing, or bring in their previously purchased book to have it signed. Genny the Cow will also be on hand for you to grab a photo with to commemorate our community’s once-in-a-lifetime event.

The Visitor Center will be open this weekend Saturday and Sunday, 9 a.m. - 4:30 p.m., and Monday 8:30 a.m. -noon for those looking to purchase a pair of Genesee County Commemorative ISO certified solar viewing glasses, while supplies last.

“We are excited to see our community’s collaboration and planning of the last year come together this weekend. Currently, there are over 60 various events and activities listed on our website calendar that organizations have put together to entertain residents and visitors. I’m extremely humbled by their participation and proud of our Chamber team’s dedicated effort to helping promote this once-in-a-lifetime event to our community”, says Brian Cousins, Genesee County Chamber of Commerce - President.

For the latest events and special promotions, as well as to see the events map, visit http://GeneSEEtheEclipse.com. 

The Visitor Center is located at 8276 Park Road in Batavia. ISO-Certified solar glasses are being sold for $2.50/each +tax, via credit or debit card only. 

Press Release:

The YWCA of Genesee County will honor four incredible local women at the 2024 Women of Inspiration Awards Luncheon on Sunday, April 28 from 12:30 - 3 p.m. at Batavia Downs. Come hear from Keynote Speaker Deanna Dewberry and celebrate our four outstanding, inspiring women!

Judy Fuller 

Judy is a dedicated volunteer, passionate about the YWCA and supporting this important cause. She volunteers many hours, coordinating and managing My Sisters Closet for the YWCA - a quality boutique that supports the YWCA Domestic Violence Program and provides clothing to the women in the program. She has taken this on as her own and is always trying to come up with new ideas to help the program grow and reach more people in the community. 

Judy is a first-rate mom who has two very successful daughters. She worked hard for everything that she had and passed those values onto her daughters; both who have now also made a huge impact on our community. Judy has helped many women and does it because it’s the right thing to do, not ever thinking she is deserving of recognition. 

“Judy is a hidden gem that sparkles even without the spotlight. Let’s put her in the spotlight to shine”, says nominator Susie Ott.

Sue Gagne

Sue has been a proactive human service advocate, volunteer and employee for decades. She has an extensive background in mental health, criminal justice and substance use disorders. 

Early in her career, Sue worked at ARC, and as an Assistant for the Genesee County Mental Health Association (GCMHA). She later became the Director of the GCMHA. Sue volunteered on the board of directors for NAMI NYS, The GOW Opioid Task Force and the Suicide Prevention Task Force for GOW. She was instrumental in the founding of the GCASA Recovery Station and worked as Coordinator of the Recovery Station through COVID.

Sue is currently the Assistant Director of Adult Services at Wyoming County Mental Health and Suicide Prevention Coordinator for Genesee County. While working, she completed her degree in Nursing at GCC and received the Leadership Award. She is now furthering her education at SUNY Brockport.

Sue is a gifted and dedicated support for the many individuals who come to her for help. She is an excellent role model for all women. Sue’s many talents and gifts include being exceptionally strong in faith, her loyalty to others, especially those in need, her wonderful sense of humor and her ability to immediately make others feel at ease and comfortable. 

“Sue is an important attribute to the community and its well-being. She is a remarkable visionary and her spirit reflects that”, says nominator Cheryl Netter.

Susie Ott

Susie joined Lawley Insurance on December 1, 2008 with no insurance experience. She grew into her job quickly, starting as an account associate, then as Commercial and Personal Insurance Team Leader in 2017, and as Branch Manager for the Batavia office in 2022. In 2013 Susie earned the Certified Insurance Counselor Designation (CIC).

Susie is very active in her community, supporting many agencies and projects. She is currently the President of Batavia Rotary, Chair for the United Way Day of Caring, Treasurer for Batavia Job Development, Board Member for United Memorial Medical Center, and Committee Member for the Wings Over Batavia Air Show. 

She has received several awards for her volunteer work and community support, including, 2011 Leadership Genesee Outstanding Alumnus Award, 2007 and 2022 Rotary Club Paul Harris Award, 2015 Geneseean of the Year and 2017 United Way Barber Conable Award.

Over the past 15+ years Susie has grown into a position that is historically dominated by men. She has earned the respect and confidence of her clients, 21 associates (18 women and 3 men) and her community. 

“Susie makes the community a better place to live in and raise a family” says nominator Bill Fritts. 

Sandy Wojtaszczyk

Sandy began her career at Genesee County Department of Social Services in 1998. In 2009, she became a Department Supervisor and was charged with training new workers in her unit regarding child abuse and the safety of children in Genesee County. 

During her career, Sandy collaborated with many agencies, including the YWCA, CASA, Juvenile Justice, Genesee County Family Courts, Genesee County Schools, and law enforcement to ensure the safety of the children she served. They were her number one priority and because of that, she was often at work before anyone else and long after everyone left. 

Sandy witnessed very serious cases of abuse but always maintained her professionalism, compassion, and empathy for those she assisted. 

In 2013 Sandy received an award for her Outstanding Achievements in Law Enforcement. In 2021 she received the Leadership Genesee Outstanding Alumnus Award. When Sandy isn’t working she is spending time with her grandchildren or volunteering. She enjoys volunteering at Salvation Army, Elba Fire Department, and assisting with the United Way Day of Caring. She also helps deliver food to families in need through the City Church.

“Sandy has been an icon to women in this field, showing that with dedication and compassion – and a little bit of humor – you can positively impact thousands of people”, says nominator Mary Jacobs.

“So many incredible women were nominated this year it was hard for the committee to narrow it down to just four. However, the four women who were chosen are simply rock stars! They have done so much for our community and the people in it. Combined, these four women have impacted over 20 non-profit agencies just in Genesee County alone; this does not include the countless community events, committees, and civic organizations they have supported. Judy, Sue, Susie, and Sandy truly embody the mission of the YWCA and the spirit of our community”, says Executive Director Jamie Rada. 

Tickets for the Women of Inspiration Luncheon are $40 each. To purchase tickets visit www.ywcagenesee.org or mail a check to the YWCA of Genesee County, 301 North Street, Batavia Attn: Women of Inspiration.

Press Release: 

Join Richmond Memorial Library to celebrate National Poetry Month with an Open Mic poetry event on Thursday, April 18 at 6:30 p.m. Read a poem or simply come to listen and enjoy!

Read your own work or a poem of your choice with due credit to poet. No epic poems. Signups to read will begin at 6:15 p.m. on the night of the event and the time limit will depend on attendance. 

Reading is guaranteed to the first 15 who sign up the night of the event. The event will feature refreshments and door prizes! This program is intended for adults and mature teens.

Please visit batavialibrary.org/calendar to register! (This is just to indicate interest in attending; it does not guarantee reading the night of the event). This event is sponsored by the Friends of Richmond Memorial Library.

For questions, contact Samantha Basile, Community and Adult Services Librarian at sbasile@nioga.org

Press Release:

The Genesee Society of Model Engineers will host the 104th “Great Batavia Train Sale” along with the “Batavia Railroad Prototype Modelers Meet” on Sunday, April 14, 9:30 a.m. – 3:30 p.m., at the Richard C. Call Arena, Genesee Community College, 1 College Road, Batavia. Admission is $6 for adults, $3 for under 18 years old, and free for children under 13 years old.

The popular train show typically attracts 1,200 to 1,500 model railroad enthusiasts and railfans from across Western and Central NY, Northwestern Pennsylvania, and Southern Ontario. There are over 100 vendors occupying 250 tables offering merchandise ranging from antique railroad artifacts to the most modern digitally controlled model trains. This bi-annual show has steadily grown to become one of the premiere events of its kind in Western New York.

The train club hosts two shows each year, a Spring show, and a Fall show. A free Open House is held, typically, on the first Saturday of December at the Club’s facilities in Oakfield where club members maintain operating layouts in O Gauge (Lionel), HO & N scale.

The Genesee Society of Model Engineers is located at 50 Main Street (Rte. 63), Oakfield (above the M&T Bank), and is open Tuesdays from 7 - 9 p.m. Business meetings are held the last Tuesday of each month. Visit www.gsme.org. Like us on Facebook. Visitors are welcome (Stair access only).

Press Release:

Brian Cousins, president of the Genesee County Chamber of Commerce, introduced the Chamber stating their goal is to further the interests of the local business community in Genesee County, in turn creating a better community for all of us to live. 

The Chamber is a private, not-for-profit, membership-driven organization that brings together representatives throughout the county to promote a vibrant local economy. Brian stated many are in the planning loop for the anticipated Solar Eclipse Festival on Friday to Sunday, April 5-7, at the Genesee County Village & Museum.

The Chamber’s purpose is to promote and support local 500 business members and organizations, involving many others rather than the chamber running activities itself. There are 30 to 40 events scheduled in Genesee County around the eclipse. 

The Chamber has produced eclipse posters and a children’s book, which was favorably reviewed in Forbes, and has distributed over 20,000 pairs of glasses to safely observe it. He also noted that the Home Show is coming on April 12-14 and that Windy Brew will be hosting a business after-hours in Batavia on April 25.

The Batavia Lions Club meets at 6:30 p.m. on the second and fourth Monday of each month and everyone is welcome to visit the American Legion, 8960 Alexander Road, Batavia.

Kate Willson, owner of Meraki Beauty, has good news for those people disappointed by the closing of the downtown Batavia Artemis Spa and perhaps even better news for customers holding unredeemable gift cards for the now-defunct business that abruptly closed two weeks ago.

Willson has signed a lease for the property at 206 E. Main St. and plans to renovate the interior to correspond with a new look, feel and name of “a new spa and boutique,” she said.

“This was a way for us to kind of expand our services. So we're looking to remodel the Artemis space and give it a fresh face. We're doing a full remodel to the inside of it and rebranding it under a new name, which we aren't releasing yet,” Willson said to The Batavian Monday. “We’re hoping to open in mid-June, it could be as soon as two months. We’re taking it day by day. 

“We’re kind of giving it a facelift all throughout. So we will be enhancing the treatment rooms and really making them more state-of-the-art. I personally have a passion for the industry and have been to all the spas around, so I feel like I have some great new ideas that we're going to incorporate into the space.”

She said that hair services would remain at Meraki Beauty, which is at 108 W. Main St. That will allow for all other spa services and a front-end boutique at the new site.

“We’re actually going to transform the front of the space into a boutique, so something to kind of correlate with Charles Men’s Shop, but more for the women of the community,” she said. “So we’ll have clothing, small gifting items and we’ll also be featuring small local vendors.”

She plans to also offer an apothecary with Meraki’s own Sorella skincare line, candles, and similar items.

“We're definitely excited to be able to bring in the boutique end of it and more clothing,” she said. “I feel like a lot of our husbands and boyfriends support Charles Men’s Shop, and so we're excited to be able to bring something more local for easy shopping in our community and to kind of showcase those local vendors to show the talent of the community and give them a place to showcase that.”

She said the plan is to rotate three or four of those local vendors in and out so that the offerings will change from time to time. 

Willson has owned and operated Meraki Beauty just a half mile down on West Main Street for five years and has been in the beauty business for the last 13 years. After working in other salons, she decided to branch out to create “a more welcoming space” in a hair salon that treated customers with respect and provided a pampering haven, and Meraki Beauty was born. 

According to her website, meraki means “to put love, creativity and soul into everything you do.”

In the past five years, the business has gone from just Willson to a dozen employees, she said, serving as testimony to its resilience and success. 

Willson and Social Media Manager Brianna Dioguardi agreed that the salon and spa staff's current and future teams will work hard to create “amazing services and a friendly environment” for customers and have already established a solid presence in the hair business. 

They are excited to be jumping into the spa arena, they said.

A few Artemis stylists joined Willson before the spa closed, she said, and now she is excited to bring them back into what she believes is coming full circle with a full spa experience of massage, waxing, manicures, pedicures, and facials.

She is waiting for the legal process of setting up a new business to finish before officially announcing the new shop's name, which will provide “a retail and beautiful sanctuary spa” and boutique experience while hair services will remain at Meraki Beauty. 

“We are doing a full hiring process looking to keep on some of our existing staff and opening doors to new talent. There is a full array for us to expand our services. We’re excited for that for the fact that it is going to provide a lot of new jobs, because we are going to have a full reception team. So there will always be someone in the front of the house to be there for the retail end of things,” she said. “And I do think that is going to be something that helps us take the Artemis to the next level of the spa industry and really provide the best services we can.”

She expects to hire about 15 to 20 people to transform the place into “a spa versus a salon,” she said. A large part of her excitement is taking over the business due to the former site’s “long-lived legacy of 20 years of success in our area.”

“We are very open to finding the right talent and people willing to care for people and provide the right services. Everyone will have to be licensed,” she said of the search for talented massage therapists, estheticians and nail techs. “And we are looking to add to our reception team. And I know for me, I have such a great team around me, so I’m really excited for us to kind of take it and propel it forward and just give it that love that it’s always needed.” 

Services will be by appointment only from 10 a.m. to 7 p.m., Monday through Saturday. Speaking of services, those with unexpired gift cards from Artemis may use them for 50 percent of the value at Willson’s spa with proof of purchase or the physical gift card. 

“We want to do that as good faith, knowing that people have supported this business for so long,” Willson said. “Obviously, for me taking over the business, I haven't received any of that money, so it's definitely just something we want to do just to really pay tribute to the Artemis and what it's been and treat the consumers in our area who have really supported this and hopefully will continue to.”

For updates on the spa’s progress and/or to connect with Willson to apply for a position, go to merakibeauty.salon.

Press release:

Please be advised that construction on the Jackson Street Water project will resume on Monday, April 1st, with the installation of interconnections on Ellicott Street. Water loss should be expected from Main to Ellicott on Liberty Street and possibly the surrounding area, depending on valve closures needed. If discolored water occurs when water pressure is regained, please avoid doing laundry or cooking until the water runs clear.

 We apologize for any inconvenience, and the public’s patience is greatly appreciated.

When Michael DeAngelo was 5, he stole his brother’s bike and, while on his wild excursion of crime, was hit by a car, causing damage that resulted in terrible migraine-like headaches for the next several years.

“My parents finally, in my early teens, took me to a chiropractor, and my headaches got much better,” he says. “And I thought, well, I can do that. And that's how it all started.” 

Those treatments made enough of a lasting impression that the 1985 Oakfield-Alabama High School grad decided to go into the field of chiropractic care. He attended Palmer College of Chiropractic, the first of its kind of educational institution in the world, obtained his credentials and returned from the midwest to eventually set up a practice in Batavia. 

I worked for a guy who was an associate in Cheektowaga for six months and decided it was time for me to get out on my own. And I figured where else am I gonna go, I'm a local guy. And I'm like, well, you know what, I'm just going to start in Batavia with small aspirations, just get a small practice going.,” he said. “And it's turned into a lot more than I thought it would. If you told me where I'd be right now, I would have laughed at you back then because I never thought we'd get this busy.”

About a month ago, he heard about Dr. Ryan Funke becoming a chiropractor because his wife Kayla is friends with DeAngelo’s daughter Christina. It turns out that DeAngelo adjusted (a chiropractic term) Kayla years ago as a kid. 

“And then here she is growing up and marrying a chiropractor, and I find out he's working as an associate … we started going out to lunch and talking about things. And a lot of what I was looking for in an associate, he was checking all the boxes and saying all the right things,” DeAngelo said. “And I thought this is good because I had been looking for an associate, you know, flirting with the idea of bringing somebody on. And I had talked to two other doctors, and I just didn't think they'd be a good fit. And then when I met Dr. Funke, I'm like, This guy's gonna work out.”

From October 1992 until now, Dr. DeAngelo has been soaring, estimating that he has seen more than 25,000 people in the past 32 years, he said. 

If you’re thinking this is a setup for a retirement story, it is far from that, he says. Instead, DeAngelo has been looking for an associate who can work alongside him to ease the burden of a thriving business and maybe even help him slow down a little bit.

“It was strange. COVID came along, and the world shut down, but the practice really didn’t. And I wasn’t very worried about COVID; I was more worried about trying to see patients. My staff all went home, and for about four months, when it first hit, it was just my wife and my daughter helping me out. And I thought I’d be dead in the water with nothing to do. But the phone kept ringing,” he said. “I’m even busy here. I worked harder by myself, with just my wife and my daughter helping me out. I didn’t even cut down 50 percent during COVID. And then that summer, the first summer of COVID, I ended up hiring a couple extra staff members … Once I got new staff, the numbers just kept getting bigger and bigger. 

“The last three years, I’ve been hitting it pretty hard and working harder than I have ever worked,” he said. “And I thought this is a sign I’ve gotta start slowing down and taking it easier and get an associate because if it keeps going the way it is, there’s more than what I want to deal with.”

He currently has four part-time staff members and plans to hire another part-time person to help out in the office. His leisure time priorities are to travel, spend time with his and wife Heidi’s four grandchildren, and rest and relax for a change. 

So what’s the plan?

Ryan Funke, a well-known native of Batavia and a 2011 BHS graduate, joined the practice this past month.

His path wasn’t quite so clear, as Funke first opted to go to St. John Fisher College to major in biology and pursue something in health sciences, he said. He graduated in 2015 and took a hiatus from that career path to work in a lumber yard, where he experienced a lot of “back-breaking” physical labor, at least figuratively, he said. 

He knew he didn’t want to pursue a traditional health track and also ruled out his initial thoughts of orthopedics or pharmacy. Admittedly, was was “very bad with blood,” he said.

“Both of those didn't really fit; it's not really what I wanted to do. I wanted to work more with my body, I wanted to be more active, and I wanted to give back,” Funke said.

So he was playing rugby at St. John Fisher, and someone who was going to a chiropractic school piqued his interest and told him he would make a great chiropractor and be a good fit for the profession. So he visited the New York Chiropractic College. 

“And then I went to visit and fell in love with the profession,” he said. “I got adjusted for the first time at the school, and it made a world of difference for me, not only physically but mentally and emotionally as well.”

He pursued his degree and “saw a lot of great things,” such as how chiropractic treatments helped a young woman suffering from migraines and made her “quality of life so much better.”

Describing his own motto for the practice, Funke said, “People move better and live better through less pain, better range of motion and just overall better health.”

That’s what I want to do: increase the quality of life, helping people move better, live better, and have overall better health,” he said. 

Funke graduated in 2019 and worked in Buffalo and Ohio for a few years before he realized the distance to Batavia was too much.

“I was homesick, and I wanted to be closer to family and to provide services for the community I grew up in,” he said. 

He knew DeAngelo and his wife Kayla had told him when the longtime doctor was looking for an associate. They then got together for a few business lunches, and “every lunch meeting we had, I thought, ‘this is good, this looks more and more favorable,’” DeAngelo said.

Funke added that the two have “a very similar philosophy … what we think chiropractic can give back to patients.”

One misnomer about the profession is that “we get labeled as back doctors,” DeAngelo said when they work with patients to either treat what’s going on, whether it’s colic in a baby or aches in a 90-year-old or evaluate the situation and refer them to an appropriate physician who can help treat an issue not within their professional protocols. That has included aneurysms, tumors and hips in need of surgery.

DeAngelo’s tagline has been “When in pain, think of chiropractic first,” he said. 

“Usually when we get a patient, they usually fall into two categories: either it's somebody that's a family member or friend that told him to come here, or it's somebody brand new to chiropractic and scared to death. And you think they're about ready to get up and leave because they're so nervous about being here. But those are the best patients; those are the ones that are great because you open up a whole new world to them, and adjust them and get them doing better. And you walk them through the whole procedure of how it's going to go. And then 99 percent of the time, they’re so pleasantly surprised that it was easy, painless,” he said. “And they're usually here because they're at their wit's end, they've been everywhere else, and they don't know what else to do. They've tried a physical therapist, they've tried the medications, they've talked to a surgeon, they're scared of surgery, their back’s against the wall, I don't know what else to do.”

Funke further elaborated on how the practice works.

“There are so many things that can happen that create pressure in the spine and the nervous system. And usually, when you start to adjust the patient, they get better, and as Dr. DeAngelo said, it’s two to three visits,” Funke said. “And if their symptoms are getting progressively worse, that's when we need to explore other options, imaging, etc.

“And I don't want to speak for Dr. DeAngelo, but he is extremely proficient at diagnosing those things on imaging, just having a gut instinct … tumors, cancer,” he said. “The weirdest thing that I've seen, I had a patient that had a mass in her uterus that was putting pressure on her spine, cervical nerves, stuff like that, that we just had to refer out. And she was so happy that we were able to get her to the right person. So for us to be a portal of entry doctors is awesome because we can actually refer them to the right person for them.”

People would be surprised at how adept chiropractors are at reading MRIs and diagnostic tests, DeAngelo said. He feels good knowing that there are now two of them at his practice able to provide feedback to patients and offer appointments Monday through Saturday, oftentimes the same day upon request. 

He has also come to know how popular Funke is — most everyone seems to either know Ryan or a family member, including his mom Toni, dad Ron and Uncle Dick on Channel 10. He and Funke agree that it’s  the right fit for what DeAngelo describes as a “family practice for sure.”

“I’m happy to be home. I was an athlete growing up, I can be a familiar face, a trusted individual. All I want is the best for patients and the community,” he said. “I’ve just been around athletics for a while; I’m a huge Bills fan, so that's where I devote a lot of my time, and my research is to sports and athletics. I hope to coach one day, and hopefully, that coaching platform can give me an opportunity to help with any sports injuries that we encounter every day and just be that kind of person to educate and give back and help those individuals out because a lot of the times surgery is not the first option for them. It's good to get checked out by more conservative care and, if need be, get to the next level of care if that is warranted.”

DeAngelo’s office is at 154 Pearl St., Batavia. For more information, call 585-343-4862.

Lester Gill, a U.S. Navy veteran who, as a teenager, used to race motocross and later enjoyed building intricate Lego models, was a dog lover — adopting Shiba Inu Max as a faithful companion for him — and was a meat cutter at Tops Friendly Market in Warsaw while living in Batavia.

After he was diagnosed with cancer about a year ago, Gill also brought a tank full of tropical freshwater fish into his life as a source of peace and comfort while battling his illness with chemo and radiation treatments.

When it seemed imminent that the 52-year-old was going to lose that battle, he checked into Crossroads House in Batavia. The nonprofit’s founder, Kathy Panepento, said that one of his biggest concerns was not about himself, she said. 

He was worried about his fish and the tank.

“He said ‘it brought me peace, it brought me comfort, and I don’t know what to do with it,’” she said Thursday at the house on Liberty Street. 

Panepento, with the help of four people from a local pet store, was able to arrange for Gill’s fish tank to be relocated to Crossroads. She pointed out the location where it would be, and Gill gave her “a little smirk” of satisfaction, she said. He died March 25. 

A small marble table was moved aside and the empty space seemed to be waiting to perfectly accommodate the 55-gallon tank. But not before some maneuvering, lugging and hauling of water.

“It took 10 buckets of water,” James McLaughlin said of the emptying and refilling process. He and his team of colleagues carefully preserved the fish in separate containers, and then carried the tank, he estimated to be about 150 pounds, down a flight of narrow stairs from Gill’s Batavia apartment. 

They drove it over to Crossroads and set it all up, complete with the featured fish: Perry the pleco (Plecostomus), a black highly visible character with a very prominent oval-shaped mouth, suitable for scraping food such as algae off the tank walls. He’s a very good poser and not at all camera shy.

Once in place, the tank emitted a soft fountain-like bubble sound that everyone agreed seemed soothing.

“It will bring a lot of joy to a lot of people,” new house Executive Director Tracy Ford said. 

Gill’s parents, John and Joyce, had driven from Florida three weeks ago to be with him, and they and two of his siblings were with him when he died. 

“Those people who came into our lives are saviors,” Mrs. Gill said. “This is beautiful. I helped at a Hospice, that was not a bit like this. This is fabulous. Everybody was so friendly, and they were so friendly to him. He didn’t want us to come, but we did. ”

It took some coaxing to get them to describe the real Lester — exuding a tough exterior and perhaps a bit of rough and tumble bravado on the outside, he was actually nothing like that, his dad said.

“And anybody that I’ve talked to up here who knows him, even the people at the laundromat this morning said he was the most gentle and kind person,” Mr. Gill said. “Anybody we talked to said the same thing, and that makes me proud.” 

Panepento added that, despite being in pain during his time at Crossroads, Lester, a native of Carthage, “was so kind to the volunteers and nurses.”

After his diagnosis, Lester had two surgeries for his cancer, which affected half of his lower face and traveled down his neck and shoulder. He brought his dog Max with him to treatments and Max was with him when he rang the bell known for when a patient is thought to be “cancer free,” Mrs. Gill said.

His dog found a new home with a registered nurse when Lester’s treatments got to be too much for him to walk and care for his beloved pooch. He checked into Crossroads six days before he succumbed to his illness. Before then, however, he was able to communicate his wishes for those fish to be well taken care of. 

McLaughlin was happy to oblige. He and his team, including Shawn Gibson, Arianna McGurn and Victoria Safford volunteered their time to go over to Gill's apartment and retrieve the tank and fish and carefully relocate them to Liberty Street.

"I'm proud of the whole team," McLaughlin said. "It's an extension of Lester's dying wishes."

Lester's mom said they were so thankful to have gotten the assistance and for the fish tank to find a new home. They have been gradually clearing out his apartment and didn't really know what they'd do with all of the tropical fish and accessories. 

"The tank was the last of it, and that was good," his dad said.

They were both pleased, as well as other family members, that Lester found Crossroads House for his final days, Mrs. Gill said. 

"There’s a special place in heaven for people like this," she said.

Lester John Gill is survived by a son, Tyler Gill of Tennessee, three grandchildren, and five siblings: Christine and Michael Tundo of Brownville, New York; James and Darlene Gill of Hayesville, North Carolina; David Gill of Watertown, New York; Deborah Aubin of Utah; and Herbert and Rebecca DesRosiers of Tampa, Florida.

He is pre-deceased by his mother, Norma Hague, and two siblings, Donna Frye and Danielle DesRosiers.

Arrangements are entrusted to the Bruce Funeral Home, Black River. In accordance with his wishes, Lester will be cremated, with burial to follow in Maple Hill Cemetery in Watertown.

Donations in his memory of Lester may be made to Crossroads House, 11 Liberty St., Batavia, NY, 14020.

Online condolences can be shared at www.brucefh.com
 

Press Release:

Notre Dame High School, a Private Catholic Co-Educational High School located in Batavia is seeking a Principal.

The Principal serves as the academic leader of the school and is responsible for ensuring a vibrant curriculum for the students, as well as professional leadership and development for the faculty and staff. The Principal reports directly to the Board of Trustees. 

The candidate promotes the essential characteristics and fundamental values of a Catholic school, possesses a Master’s degree (preferably in Administration), CAS or SAS Administrative certification and has a teaching and administrative background.

Submit a letter of interest and resume via email to trustees@ndhsbatavia.com or mail to Notre Dame High School, Attn: James Sutherland, 73 Union Street, Batavia by April 3. Notre Dame High School is an equal opportunity employer.

Business owner and artist Brian Kemp invites the public to a first-time event that involves five art galleries in downtown Batavia this weekend. Batavia Art Stroll will run from 11 a.m. to 3 p.m. Saturday at Eden Cafe & Bake Shop, Iburi Photography, T-Shirts Etc., Eli Fish Brewing Co. and GO Art!

"This grassroots initiative, spearheaded by Judy from Eden, Akari from Iburi Photography, and yours truly, aims to celebrate our local artists and their incredible talent," Kemp said to The Batavian Friday. "We're transforming Batavia into a haven for art enthusiasts and culture aficionados alike. Our lineup of locations is nothing short of spectacular, featuring some of the most eclectic spots in town. Each venue promises a unique and immersive experience, showcasing the diverse array of artistic expressions our community has to offer."

Whether you're a seasoned art connoisseur or simply looking for a fun-filled day out, Kemp promises that the Batavia Art Stroll has something for everyone. 

"Expect to be dazzled by captivating exhibits, demonstrations, and perhaps even a few surprise performances along the way," he said.

The galleries are at Eden, 242 Ellicott St., Iburi, 35 Jackson St., T-Shirts Etc., 37 Center St., Eli Fish, 109 Main St., and GO Art!, 201 E. Main St.

Young people today might not relate to the notion of a woman wearing a decorative bonnet that could have a bird perched in a nest atop the hat. 

A hat was a must to complete a woman's attire; every hat was unique. Especially at Easter, the beautiful and unusual head adornment could be seen at every church in Genesee County. The idea of having a unique Easter bonnet spread through America in the later part of the 19th century when the New York Easter parade became a big deal in the 1880s. Wearing a freshly trimmed bonnet to church on Easter was nothing new. Now, calling it an "Easter bonnet" started to catch on.

Although early in the 1900s, most hats were enormous and adorned with flowers, feathers, ribbons, and tulle, by the 1920s, women's hair had become much shorter with the shingle cut, and the cloche (a fitted, bell-shaped hat for women invented by milliner Caroline Reboux in 1908) became especially popular. It hugged the head like a helmet with a petite brim. 

According to an article in The Daily News, the ladies of Batavia looked forward to a spring opening at the millinery store of L.J. Tompkins. Tompkins' establishment had the reputation of being the largest millinery house in the county. The store was stocked with hat creations and employed the best-skilled milliner.

The favorite hat trimmings of that time were chiffons, malines (very fine silk net of gauze-like texture), liberty chiffons, Tucson braids, flowers, buckles, and ribbons. These trimmings were placed upon some of the hats on display. It was not unusual to see various hats marked "sold," proving that L.J. Tompkins' shop was trendy. 

An example of a one-of-a-kind hat for sale would have been a white chip hat with a liberty scarf and a gray bird for trimming. Another example was a hat with a pastel blue brim, made of tucked liberty chiffon with point lace over Tucson crown, finished with a bunch of foliage in pastel shades.

Millinery store display windows were show places, admired by all. The store carried appropriate morning apparel and the best productions of the world's markets. Paris and New York City styles and patterns were shown, and one case of trimmings was entirely of imported goods. Special attention was also given to the sale of hair goods.

In 1931, The Bon Ton Millinery Shop, located at 92 Main St., became incorporated by the Batavia Millinery Corporation. Three businessmen owned the business in Buffalo, NY.

Another millinery business was owned and operated by Miss Harriet L. Holter at 20 Bank St. She had conducted an exclusive millinery shop in Batavia for over 25 years, catering to the most discriminating. Miss Holter's shop was on the corner of Bank and Main streets for many years. Her window displays were so unusual that many tourists stopped to inspect her innovative millinery line.

Miss Holter always carried exclusive lines of millinery, particularly the famous Gage and Knox hats (brand names). In her shop's last few years, she added the well-known Dobbs and Stetson brands. Miss Holter moved her millinery business to 20 Bank St., an ideal location to serve the people of Batavia and surrounding towns.

Mr. and Mrs. Goldstein, in 1940, operated the Bon Ton Hat Shop at 92 Main St. In 1955, Dominic Mancuso bought the shop for his wife, Mary. Also involved with the newly-acquired Bon Ton were daughters-in-law, Mrs. Nathan Mancuso and Mrs. Vincent Mancuso. Mary Mancuso was the principal owner. 

Mrs. Sybil Porter, Mrs. Publia Polito, and Mrs. Emma Pontius were among the employees who worked at the store for many years. The oldest daughter, Sharon, recalls buying trips to Buffalo for hats: "Not a very exciting way for a teenager to spend a Sunday." Somebody must have noticed because this specialty store also started carrying other items. By 1968, Mary Mancuso's daughter, Mary Lou, accompanied her mother on buying trips to the Big Apple. One patron remembers buying a one-of-a-kind two-piece bathing suit, her favorite to this day, at the shop and hiding it from her father. 

Mrs. Mary Mancuso, who lived at 39 Ross St., operated the store for 14 years. In 1969, Donald W. Grefrath purchased the Bon Ton Millinery. The new ownership would remodel and also carry wigs. 

Today, you rarely see a woman wearing a hat unless she attends a function requiring a hat, such as the Kentucky Derby or a royal wedding in England. 

Happy Easter to all my readers! Remember when mom made you wear your new Easter Hat to church on Easter Sunday.

Genesee Community College's Child Care Center hosted a "Bunny Hop" for the program's children on Thursday in the GCC Forum.

The children got to visit the Easter Bunny and enjoy activities such as face painting and an Easter Egg Hunt.

Photos courtesy Genesee Community College.

The Albion Police Department is tracking leads regarding a missing 21-year-old man with ties to Batavia. They believe he may be in the town of Dennis in Massachusetts.

Cooper Karas, a resident of Greece, hasn't been seen by family members since Monday.

Officer Christopher J. Glogowski, Albion PD, said on Thursday that Karas's silver VW Jetta was observed by a plate reader near Clifton Springs, heading eastbound on I-90.

He previously held a job in Dennis.

"A previous employer stated that he was seen at his business in the Town of Dennis, Mass., around 9:30 a.m. today,"  Glogowski said. "Local law enforcement in the town of Dennis has been notified and is attempting to locate Cooper as well."

Cooper Karas was last seen wearing black sweatpants, a black hoodie, and a black NF jacket.  

At 7:30 p.m. on Monday, he drove his 2013 silver VW Jetta to his grandmother's house in Albion and left his dog in the fenced yard (the dog is fine) and left.

He is 5 feet 8 inches tall and 180 pounds with brown hair and brown eyes.

He attended Batavia High School for a time a few years ago and has family in Batavia.

"As of right now, there have not been any new leads, but we are staying in contact with law enforcement in that general area," Glogowski said. 

Press Release:

Currently, the drug drop boxes located at the City of Batavia Police Department, 10 West Main Street, Batavia, are out of service as we work to upgrade and relocate them. 

Anyone looking to dispose of unwanted or outdated prescription medications can take them to any pharmacy that participates in a disposal program, the Genesee County Sheriff's Office located at 165 Park Road, or New York State Police Troop A Headquarters located on Saile Drive in the Town of Batavia.

Batavia City School’s board met earlier this week and discussed the latest proposed budget, which includes a 2.26 percent tax rate increase, the use of a mental health grant for five positions, and the prospective use of additional state aid for more personnel and/or to reduce the amount of reserves being used to offset expenses. 

To summarize the budget as of Monday evening, the board is expected to vote on a proposed $60,373,861 plan during its meeting on April 22. That’s a 2.38 percent increase, or about $1.4 million more than this year’s budget. This spending plan would include a tax levy of $20,339,336 for a tax rate increase of 39 cents per $1,000 assessed value. That would be an extra $48.75 a year on a home assessed at $125,000.

The Batavian reached out to Superintendent Jason Smith with some questions about the newly introduced mental health grant and other items, and here are his answers:

1. The five positions being added with the mental health grant: that remaining $1.1 million is expected to retain those positions for how long? Will the funding go toward salary, benefits and teacher retirement? What's the plan once that funding runs out? 

Answer: The District will plan to allocate as much of the funds as possible to cover all costs with these positions.  

Not all of them are “new” positions, however, as three of them are instructional coaches who currently provide valuable support to our students and teachers—these positions are, in essence, being retained. The remaining two new positions will provide Social and Emotional Learning (SEL) programming to our students across the District.

Once the funding runs out, we can either pursue a new grant, consider placing some or all of these positions in the general fund, or combine the two. Another option would be to eliminate the positions upon the grant's expiration.

2. Can I please get a list of the types/locations of positions that aren't being retained at the district (similar, I believe, to what John Reigle requested), including the seven full-time that were COVID grant-funded, five reduced due to enrollment and four retirement/resigned positions?

Answer: Yes. That list is being developed and finalized as I write. Once I share it with the Board per their request and they have had time to review it, I will provide you with this information (likely next week).

3. If the district receives more state aid, and it's $300,000, how many teachers would that add, and how do you account for future expenses? Do you calculate cost per position for a year plus benefits and then hope to acquire more funding the next year, or calculate it for a few years out? 

Answer: Should this come to fruition, we could conceivably restore 2-3 teaching positions back into the budget. We estimate the costs per position and will need to plan accordingly in future budgets with respect to state aid projections, use of reserves, tax levies, or some combination thereof.

4. With decreasing enrollment projections and class sizes remaining at or around 20 according to staff and a board member's statements, why the need for more teachers? Are other types of staff needed according to the district?

Answer: To be clear, the request is not to add “more” teachers but rather to try to keep our existing staff as close to current levels as possible.  

While we are proud of our academic achievements, student needs continue to rise. As I have stated in previous articles, public schools currently provide a wealth of essential resources and services to our families across the community.

5. Do you feel the district has adequate staff coverage with the budget as it is?

Answer: I have been a Superintendent since 2012 and have consistently presented a budget to each Board with adequate staff coverage, which is fundamental to providing students with the quality education they deserve. Creating the district's budget is a comprehensive and collaborative effort involving close coordination between the District administration and the Board of Education. Our approach is holistic, aiming to balance the essential elements of student needs, staff levels, infrastructure maintenance, and innovative educational programming.

The current level of staffing was in part driven by COVID grant funding, which was designed to be used to close learning loss gaps through additional instructional support as well as to reduce class size.

We strive to make decisions that are not only educationally sound but also fiscally responsible to our tax-paying community. This necessitates a delicate balancing act, as our resources must be allocated in a way that maximizes educational outcomes while being mindful of our fiscal constraints.

The Board of Education ultimately has the responsibility of approving the budget, but this is done through discussions and a shared commitment to meeting our community's educational aspirations within our financial means. The question of staff coverage is not about adequacy in isolation but is one piece of a larger puzzle we diligently work to solve each year, aiming to strike a balance that serves the best interests of our students, staff, and community.

It's time once again for Batavia resident Angelina Pellegrino's annual yard sale to benefit a Habitat for Humanity homeowner, she says. Before that can happen, Pellegrino will be collecting items beginning now through the sale in May.

She has appreciated the contributions in past years, she said, and hopes that people will be as generous and anxious to do some spring cleaning to clear out their homes of treasures for someone else to use.

This year's yard sale will take place from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. on May 17 and 18 at 150 State St., Batavia. 

"They may drop off, or we can also do pick-ups," Pellegrino said about donations. "People can also reach out to me directly at 585-356-4867 or email at angelinapellegrino@ymail.com. We accept most items except for large furniture, such as couches, hutches, etc. As always, any and all proceeds go directly to the next Habitat homeowner."

Pellegrino has been holding this yard sale as a way to pay it forward since she was a recipient of the Habitat home ownership program.