batavia

Students of Batavia High School stepped outside and into the wind and the snow for 17 minutes today. They were there to express their concern for their safety and for a moment of silence for the 17 people that lost their lives in the mass shooting at Parkland HS in Florida.

The Batavia HS students all had slightly different views on how to stop mass school shootings including: gun control, more police, better mental health, less bullying, and students taking responsibility for their own safety. Certainly these feelings reflect the feelings of the rest of society.

Perhaps the wisdom of the crowd is pointing to the fact that not one single thing is responsible for these mass shootings and there are multiple causes that need to be addressed simultaneously.  

Along with the varied solutions, all but one of the students interviewed felt that our political system has failed them. To address this issue there is a push for voter registration along with the protest.

Sydney Atchinson one of the students who helped with the organization of the protest said, “We are fed up with talking and politics (nothing is getting solved). Students will change politics by voicing their opinions and with votes.”

Students with pro gun signs stood in solidarity next to students with #neveragain signs. Despite not all pushing for the same solution, the students stood united to end the extreme violence in schools. This is very much a grassroots movement; there is not a leader of this walk out, just a collective understanding something needs to be done.

The student government body did not officially sanction this event but there are members who actively participated.

Not all students were involved the in walk out. Some stayed inside because they disagree with Woman’s March organization, others said they just don’t care enough. For some, it was just too cold to go outside.

A student made a point to tell me that they do understand the importance of the Second Amendment. They also do believe in the students' right to “live without fear and without being shot and massacred.” Living without fear and persecution, isn’t that one of the main reasons the Constitution was written? 

Press release:

Jackson Primary’s Parents As Reading Partners (PARP) program was introduced with the traditional and always-entertaining play by staff for the students. This year’s theme is Wild About Reading and, in the opening performance, the students were confronted with a lot of confused behavior among the residents of Jackson Zoo.

With monkeys eating potato chips, giraffes roaring about their prowess at protecting the zoo while lions are playfully dancing nearby, and polar bears mistakenly caught in a warm exhibit area while elephants are freezing in theirs – there is a lot of craziness at the Zoo.

But there is hope! Between now and March 29, Jackson students can read with a partner at home for 15 minutes or more each day, and that will bring some facts – and order – back to the Zoo, helping the animals return to their proper foods, activities and habitats.

While this year’s goal is to restore order to the Zoo, the goal every year is to build excitement for and a love of reading that not only contributes to academic success but also enriches students’ (and their reading partners') lives immeasurably.

Students at Batavia High School will participate in a nationwide high school student protest tomorrow called March for Our Lives in response to mass shootings on school campuses, most notably the murder of 17 students Feb. 14 in Parkland, Fla.

Students will stand outside the school for 17 minutes starting at 10 a.m. in honor of the 17 students killed in Parkland.

The school district is allowing the protest to go forward and has requested Batavia PD station a police officer at the school to ensure the safety of the students, Chief Shawn Heubusch told WBTA this morning.

"We’re there to support the school district in any need that they have," Heubusch said. "They’ve given them (the students) a chance to participate in this national walkout and we support them in any way we can. As far as it being right or wrong, I don’t have an opinion on that. I just want to make sure that the children remain safe."

Senior Sydney Atchinson has taken a leadership role in organizing the local protest and invited local media to cover it.

Joan Elizabeth Seamans, who recently dropped out of the Democratic primary for the NY-27 race, also sent out a press release notifying area media that the protest would be taking place at several WNY high schools and that it will be coupled with a voter registration drive, encouraging students who will be 18 by Nov. 6 to register to vote.

“I am very proud of our youth here in WNY and throughout the country who are ready to use their voices to fight for change. They have demonstrated a fierceness we haven’t seen in decades" said Seamans, founder of YVYV NY (Your Voice Your Vote NY). "It will be interesting to see how this new and energized voting block uses their passion to influence legislation."

Seamans said the event has been organized by Women's March Youth EMPOWER, an affiliate of the Women’s March.

Heubusch also discussed the issue of school resource officers in Batavia City Schools.

The discussions, he said, have been ongoing for many years, not just since the Feb. 14 shooting.

"We certainly hope we will eventually be able to supply a school resource officer to the district," Heubusch said. "Currently we are prevented from doing that by some fiscal limitations for not only the city but as well as the school district. Part of that ongoing discussion is to develop ways to be able to pay for these positions if they do come to fruition.

"We support the idea of having a school resource officer in our district, if not more than one. It’s just a matter of getting down to the brass tacks of paying for that position and funding it long term."

Press release:

Tonight at the Richmond Memorial Library (19 Ross St., Batavia) from 7:30 to 8:30 "No Blarney" will be performing traditional Irish music with Rich Conroy and Don Bouchard.

This free program is sponsored by the library.

Then on Thursday the duo performs again at the Holland Land Office (131 W. Main St., Batavia) from 7-9 p.m.; cost is $5.

Head Coach Jim Fazio (far left) with Assistant Coach Mark Janes (far right) along with members of Batavia High School Girls Softball Team receive a check for $1,000 from owner Kathy Ferrara yesterday afternoon at Batavia's Original Pizzeria, Batavia. 

The girls did a great job promoting this event and in honor of International Womans Day on March 8th, Ferrara said she decided to match their fundraising efforts.

"I believe empowering women is important in our community and these young ladies represent a strong future, so I wanted to help them raise funds towards their trip," she said.

The team has been fundaising since December when they saw an opportunity to play ball in Myrtle Beach, S.C., and add games to their schedule in warmer weather.  

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Hurry in before March Madness ends and join the YMCA team on the road to success! Stop in the Y and sign up for a membership. The faster you do the more you save!

The countdown is on for the biggest savings: If you come in Thursday-Saturday we will waive the entire joining fee for you. Every day after that you will receive a percentage off of the joining fee.

• Thursday, March 15th -- 100% Joining fee waived
• Friday, March 16th -- 100% Joining fee waived
• Saturday, March 17th -- 100% Joining fee waived
• Sunday, March 18th -- 50% Joining fee waived
• Monday, March 19th --  25% Joining fee waived 

Save more with a teammate, bring someone into the Y with you and if they sign up for a new membership* we will waive their joining fee (based on day). Complete our membership referral form and you can receive one free month of membership! Stop in before the buzzer sounds to score on savings! (*Excludes membership upgrades)

Keith E. Legge, 46, of South Main Street, Warsaw, aggravated harassment, 2nd. Legge is accused of sending numerous threats to multiple individuals via Facebook Messenger. He was arrested by deputies in Wyoming County on an arrest warrant and turned over to Batavia PD following an investigation. He was arraigned in City Court and jailed on bail.

Cynthia Lynne Wiseley, 55, of South Main Street, Batavia, is charged with harassment, 2nd. Wiseley was charged after allegedly pushing a coworker at their place of employment on Barrville Road, Elba.

Scott David Beswick, 44, of Pratt Road, Batavia, is charged with DWI, driving with a BAC of .08 or greater, and failure to stop at stop sign. Beswick was stopped at 4:33 a.m. Sunday on Ellicott Street Road, Bethany, by Deputy James Stack.

Maurice Darnell Powell Jr., 22, of Roslyn Street, Buffalo, is charged with burglary, 2nd. Powell allegedly entered a residence at College Village and stole property.

Mary Susan Bryant, 54, of Letchworth Avenue, Greece, is charged with DWI, driving with a BAC of .08 or greater, speeding, and failure to notify DMV of address change. Bryant was stopped at 1:25 a.m. Sunday on Route 33, Stafford, by Deputy Mathew Clor.

Richard Dean McKague Jr., 27, of Main Street, Batavia, is charged with criminal contempt, 2nd. McKague is accused of violating a court order by being the presence of the protected party.

Katty L. Jackson, 21, of Summer Street, Buffalo, is charged with harassment, 2nd, and obstructing governmental administration. Jackson is accused of striking a person during a disturbance on Central Avenue, Batavia, at 11:38 p.m. Thursday and then striking a police officer.

Abdikadir U. Sabtow, 28, of Buffalo, is charged with rape, 3rd. Sabtow is accused of raping a person who was unable to consent. The alleged crime was reported at 11:01 p.m. Tuesday in the Town of Batavia and was investigated by State Police. No further details released.

Police are in active pursuit of a vehicle in the City of Batavia.

The vehicle's last reported position was north on Route 98.

The car traveled down East Avenue. It was also pursued on North Avenue and Washington Avenue.

We do not have information on how the chase started.

UPDATE 5:02 p.m.: Sheriff's deputies have joined the pursuit. The car is now southbound on Ellicott Street and allegedly running red lights. State police are now involved.

UPDATE 5:07 p.m.: A roadblock is being established.

UPDATE 5:09 p.m.: The chase started with investigation of harassment charge. The driver of a pickup is in contact with the person that was allegedly harassed and said he was going to crash the truck.

UPDATE 5:11 p.m.: A subject has barricaded himself in home in Batavia Stafford. Police are talking to man through a locked door.

UPDATE 5:28 p.m.: The man who led the police on a high-speed chase up and down and around central Batavia is now in custody. Police have requested a medical transport so the man can be taken in to the hospital for mental evaluation.

Bill Fox, chairman of the Gensesee County Chapter of Scope (https://scopeny.org), and Daniel Crane, a self-identified American patriot, organized a “Peaceful Rally” outside of Batavia City Hall to educate people about Federal Bill HR 5087 and other issues pertaining to their perceived “chipping away” at the Second Amendment.

Federal Bill HR 5087 proposes the ban of assault weapons as well as many different types of other rifles, pistols and shotguns that are semiautomatic.

Bill Fox contends that the government is going about protecting people the wrong way, that the real problem is the government missed all the red flags of Nicolas Cruz in the Parkland, Fla., high school shooting. The real cause of the shooting, according to Fox, as he repeated a few times is “our morality and our ethical way of living.”

Photos from last evening's 27th annual Pasta Night fundraiser at John Kennedy Intermediate School, Batavia. Many local businesses contributed to raffles, door prizes and fun for all who attended. 

Principal Amanda Cook thanked all the supporters including teachers, parent volunteers, Batavia Middle School eighth-grade mentors and scouts from Troop 6006.

Press release:

St. Joseph School, located at 2 Summit St., Batavia, will be hosting their annual Penny Carnival tomorrow from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. inside the cafeteria. 

Come for a day full of affordable family fun including games, inflatables, waffles, basket raffles, a $1,000 giveaway, a Chinese auction and a bake sale.

Press release:

The play "Six Characters in Search of an Author" opens tonight at Harvester 56 Theater.

Here's the synposis of it: “Six individuals come to a stage where a company of actors has assembled for a rehearsal. They are claiming to be the incomplete, unused creations of an author’s imagination. They demand lines for a story that will explain the details of their lives. In ensuing scenes, these 'real life characters' -- all professing to be part of an extended family -- produce a drama with disagreements, interruptions and arguments.” 

Directed by Anthony Baldwin-Giambrone 
Assistant Director: Michele Stamp
Rehearsal Assistant: Jane Burk

Two evening shows, tonight and Saturday at 7:30 and a Sunday matinee at 2 o'clock.
Tickets available online or at the box office. Adults -- $13, students and seniors $10, or to purchase online click here.

Come out and watch this fantastic depiction of the “theater of the theater” by some of our WONDERFUL actors this weekend at the Harvester 56 Theater!

A jury of 12 has found 26-year-old Anthony Spencer Jr. of Batavia guilty on all counts.

Spencer who goes by the nickname “Trouble” was on trial for the July 18th assault on East Main Street in Batavia that left the victim clinging to life, bleeding uncontrollably from his arm.

The jury reached their verdict at around 9:30 this morning after beginning deliberations at approximately 3 o’clock yesterday. Spencer was found guilty on count #1 of gang assault in the first degree and on count # 2 of assault in the first degree.

Co-defendant JW Hardy III, also known as “Dub” or “Dubs,” accepted a plea deal in December regarding the incident. He was ultimately sentenced to 10 years in prison.

Spencer’s trial began at the beginning of this week with jury deliberations extending to this morning.

District Attorney Lawrence Friedman called an 18-year-old witness to testify as a witness of the assault who identified Spencer as one of the attackers.

She testified that the suspects were getting into a verbal altercation with the victim, threatening him to make a payment or something would happen to him or his friend.

She said the victim went inside his residence and came out wielding a knife, then threatened other people in the area including her briefly.

A group of around 15 people gathered in the area.

Somehow co-defendant JW “Dubs” Hardy allegedly obtained the knife from the victim and soon the group turned the tables on the victim and began chasing and beating him up and down the street.

The witness said that Spencer hit the victim in the head with a cooking pot with full force several times.

A dented cooking pot with a broken handle was submitted as evidence that the item was used with great force. The cooking pot was located at the scene and the handle was found on Swan Street in between the scene and where Spencer was picked up at 218 Ellicott St.

There was black and white surveillance video submitted into evidence in which Spencer is identified by the witness.

Defense Attorney Frederick Rarick argued that the testimony of the witness was suspect because she had only just met the suspect earlier that evening and that she was protecting other members of her group that he alleged were involved in the assault.

He questioned her ability to accurately recall the event because she admitted to drinking and smoking pot the night of the assault.

Rarick also noted in cross-examination of both Genesee County Sheriff’s Deputy Kevin Forsyth and Batavia Police Detective Thaddeus Mart that they observed no blood on Spencer’s clothing when he was taken into custody the night of the assault.

DA Friedman argued the lack of blood on Spencer’s clothing proved nothing.

Spencer is scheduled for sentencing on April 6th at 9:15 a.m. and following a request by the DA, was ordered to be held without bail pending sentencing.

The investigation into the incident still continues as there were other alleged suspects involved who fled the scene.

Via our news partner, WBTA

Press release:

Yesterday, Sen. John Bonacic (R-Mount Hope), the head of the New York Senate Racing, Gaming and Wagering Committee introduced legislation that would pave the way for sports betting, should the Supreme Court knock down the federal prohibition. 

Western Regional Off Track Betting and Batavia Downs Gaming are perfectly positioned with existing infrastructure to deliver a sports betting platform to our customers in our 15 counties including the cities of Buffalo and Rochester.

As the only municipally owned gaming facility in the state, Batavia Downs Gaming is not only a strong economic driver for Central and Western New York, but it provides critical funding for community development which creates jobs, keeps families safe and helps to offset tax increases for residents.

Since its inception, Batavia Downs Gaming has generated more than $226 million to 17 municipalities and bringing sports betting to our locations will significantly increase these important contributions.

“If we are able to offer sports betting to our customers, we would see more resources flowing directly to our bosses – the millions of New Yorkers who live in the Western Region Off Track Betting counties,” said Henry F. Wojtaszek, president/CEO of Batavia Downs Gaming WROTB. “We’d be able to deliver critical funds to help local law enforcement, first-responders, and help in the fight to keep property tax hikes at bay.

"We want to thank Sen. John Bonacic for his leadership on this important issue. Our delegation in Albany and Governor Cuomo has always stood by our side to get our fair share out of Albany, and we hope it’s no different with sports betting."

Michael Nolan Chief Operating Officer Batavia Downs Gaming/WROTB said: “Operationally with our brick and mortar locations, Batavia Downs Gaming and WROTBC is a natural affiliate to deliver sports wagering to residents of Western and Central New York as we have delivered parimutuel wagering since 1974."

OPEN HOUSE - SATURDAY March 10th! Whether you’re newly retired, considering retiring or just looking for maintenance free living, then Clinton Crossing is the place for you.

Our new homes let you continue living independently with no steps or stairs to climb, plus it’s a relaxing community with friendly neighbors.

All of our 1,200-square-foot homes come complete with two bedroom, one and a half baths, fully equipped kitchen, full size washer and dryer, attached garage, beautiful vinyl deck, ceramic tile and elegant carpets in the living room and bedrooms.

Join us for the open house and see for yourself, all that Clinton Crossings has to offer.

John Kennedy Intermediate School Pasta Fundraiser Community Dinner is ready to go tommorrow night. It will be held at 166 Vine St., Batavia. 

Many local businesses contribute with raffle prizes towards this event including teacher basket themes, too. Each year the chorus group sings songs during each dinner and fun for all ages. All proceeds help defray costs for field trips and other activites.

This is the 27th annual dinner that was started by former retired principal John Murray in January of 1992 after taking over for Angelo Branciforte.

Tickets are available at the door for $7 for adults, $5 students ages 5-12, children 4 and under no charge. Presale savings of $1 if purchased before 3 p.m. tomorrow (Friday) at the main office at the school. There are two seatings at 5 and at 6:30 p.m.  

Pictured from left is teacher Wendy Federico, parent group leader Jana Kesler, and chairperson Christopher Sputore.

Amy M. Page, 32, of North Road, Scottsville, is charged with felony DWI and three counts of endangering the welfare of a child. Page was stopped by Le Roy PD on March 4 after a caller, who followed a vehicle on Route 5 from Stafford, reported a vehicle almost hit two vehicles, drove in the wrong lane and went off the road numerous times. Page is accused of driving with a BAC of .18 or greater with three children in the vehicle. She was jailed on $2,500 bail and issued a full stay away order of protection for the children.

Jeffrey Ellinwood, 58, of East Main Road, Le Roy, is charged with DWI and other traffic offenses. Ellinwood was stopped Feb. 26 in the Village of Le Roy by Le Roy PD. He is accused of driving with BAC of .18 or greater.

Danielle Derenzo, 53, of Hartshorn Road, Corfu, is charged with aggravated unlicensed operation, suspended registration, and driving without insurance. Derenzo was stopped Feb. 27 in the Village of Le Roy by Le Roy PD.

Chad Giesler, 34, of Barks Road, Caledonia, is charged with DWI, and other traffic offenses. Giesler was stopped March 1 in the Village of Le Roy by Le Roy PD.

Phoenix Webb, 18, of County Route 37, Central Square, is charged with misdemeanor criminal possession of marijuana, 4th. During a traffic stop in the the Village of Le Roy on March 3 a police officer smelled the odor of burnt marijuana. During a subsequent search of the vehicle, Webb was found in possession of more than two ounces of marijuana. He was jailed on $500 bail.

Felix Cabreralopez, 65, of Emerson Street, Rochester, is charged with aggravated unlicensed operation, 1st, and uninspected vehicle. Cabreralopez was stopped at 8:51 p.m. Tuesday on South Lake Avenue, Bergen, by Deputy James Stack. He allegedly had his privileges revoked or suspended 10 times on 10 different dates. He was released under supervision of Genesee Justice.

Danielle Renee Tooley, 33, of South Main Street, Batavia, is charged with bail jumping, 3rd. Tooley is accused of missing a scheduled court appearance.