A two-car accident, unknown injuries, is reported at the intersection of Bank Street and Washington Avenue. It is not blocking traffic. City fire and Mercy medics responding.
UPDATE 7:12 p.m.: No one was injured in the collision, caused by one vehicle's brake failure.
Daphne's Restaurant & Lounge, at 341 S. Swan St., Batavia, has closed.
The restaurant opened in September 2010 at the former location of St. Nick's Social Club.
Charles H. Wroten, 53, of Buell Street, Batavia, is charged with criminal obstruction of breathing/blood circulation, second-degree robbery, and second-degree assault. Wroten was arrested on the charges following a domestic incident Aug. 4 on Hutchins Street. He is accused of slamming a person to the ground, causing injury, and taking the phone from the victim. He was jailed without bail. The case was investigated by Batavia PD officers Jason Ivison and James DeFreze.
Mark Walter Grabowski, 56, of Chestnut Street, Batavia, is charged with second-degree harassment following his arrest this afternoon for a monetary dispute that initially arose on July 10 on Margaret Place. He was issued an appearance ticket. The case was investigated by Batavia PD officers Peter Flanagan and Devon Pahuta.
Kelly J. Stone, 40, of Le Roy, no other address provided, was ticketed for failure to keep right following a one-vehicle accident in Warsaw on Aug. 3. State Police reported that the accident occurred at the CSX railroad crossing on Saltvale Road, just entering the Town of Middlebury. Stone was northbound on Saltvale when she allegedly failed to reduce her speed at the crossing in time to avoid entering the southbound lane. Then her vehicle struck a sign on the west shoulder before it came to a stop. Neither Stone nor her two passengers were injured in the collision. She is to return at a later date to the Middlebury Town Court.
Are you a maker? Perhaps you are, and don't even know it.
There's makers all over the country these days -- people who are inventive and like creating new and innovative things.
It's a whole culture.
And it's coming to Batavia, where business innovation has strong roots -- the Harvester Center.
Tom Mancuso and some of his friends have been talking for a year about creating a maker community locally. Last week, they put their plan into action, hosting a 3-D printing demonstration with local design and manufacturing expert James Dillon.
3-D printing is one of the widely used tools for creating in the maker community. The printer works much like any printer, except it doesn't use ink or paper. It uses plastics and other material to layer material into a computer generated form. It might be a cup, a model airplane or a part for a car, or just about anything the maker can imagine.
Makers also work with electronics, robotics, metalworking, woodworking, and traditional arts and crafts.
Mancuso said the plan is to create a space in the Harvester Center -- if there's enough interest in the community -- where makers can come and create and innovate together.
The space will be open (possibly with a fee like a health club) to artists, hobbyists, trainees and budding entrepreneurs.
Makers will have available a variety of tools, from welding equipment, vacuum forms, laser cutters and, of course, a 3-D printer. There will be big spaces, which the hobbyist doesn't necessarily have at home.
"Maybe you work at home, but you want to do a bigger project," Mancuso said. "Where do you go to do that? You're limited by your equipment, by your workspace. We're trying to help those start-up hobby guys maybe go to the next level."
A gear created by the 3-D printer.
James Dillon with one of his first 3-D printing projects, a model jet.
3-D printer on the right.
The Baby Cafe is a place of encouragement and support for breastfeeding mothers. UMMC opened the room at Cary Hall recently and held an open house yesterday.
Expectant mothers, breastfeeding mothers and mothers experienced with breast feeding are invited to the room every Tuesday from 11 a.m. to 1 p.m.
The Baby Cafe is supported by a national, nonprofit organization dedicated to helping mothers who are breastfeeding.
Cary Hall is located at 211 E. Main St., Batavia.
Amanda Earl submitted these photos of the band "It's My Party" performing Friday night at Jackson Square.
Sara E. Schimley, 24, a Le Roy native now living in Buffalo without a permanent address, was arrested July 28 by Le Roy police on a bench warrant out of Le Roy Town Court for failure to appear on two charges: first-degree felony burglary; and criminal possession of a weapon, 3rd. In addition, Le Roy police charged her with bail jumping, 2nd, a Class E felony, for allegedly failing to appear in court within 30 days of her last scheduled appearance on the original burglary and weapons charges. Buffalo PD located her and turned her over to Le Roy PD. She was jailed in lieu of $5,000 bail. Le Roy PD officer John Condidorio handled the case.
Nicole Lyn Kulzer, 33, of Swamp Road, Byron, is charged with endangering the welfare of a child and second-degree harassment. On July, 30, Kulzer was arrested following an investigation into an incident wherein she allegedly disciplined a child by striking the child with a plastic golf club, causing swelling and redness in the area where hit. The case was investigated by Sheriff's deputy Joseph Graff.
Jennifer Ann Stiles, 31, of Sheppard Road, Pavilion, is charged with reckless endangerment, 1st, menacing, 2nd, and conspiracy, 5th, following an incident July 25 in Byron. It is alleged that she was involved in a dispute and discharged a firearm during the conflict. The case was investigated by Sheriff's deputy Joseph Corona.
Brandon Marshall Weig, 26, of West Main Street, Batavia, is charged with first-degree criminal contempt, with a prior conviction within the previous five years. He allegedly violated a court order barring him from having any contact whatsoever with the protected party. Weig is currently in county jail on a similar offense and was issued an appearance ticket on the new charge. He is scheduled to appear in City Court on Aug. 5. The case was investigated by officer Chad Richards.
Nicholas Alexander Verhoef, 18, of Spencer Road, Rochester, is charged with unlawful possession of marijuana and unlawful possession of alcohol by a person under age 21. Sheriff's deputies made the arrest after he was stopped for alleged violations of vehicle and traffic law. Verhauf was also alleged to have been drinking alcohol inside his vehicle when he was stopped. The case was investigated by Sheriff's deputy Joseph Corona.
Joseph William McNamara, 19, of Sand Pebble Drive, Rochester, is charged with criminal impersonation, 2nd, and unlawful possession of alcohol by a person under age 21. It is alleged that on Aug. 2 in Pavilion he used the NY ID of another person to unlawfully buy alcohol and to possess it while being under age. Also, McNamara was cited for no front license place and open alcoholic beverage inside a motor vehicle. The case was investigated by Sheriff's deputy Joseph Corona.
Amanda Marie Webb, 25, of Colby Road, Darien, is charged with unlawful possession of marijuana, aggravated unlicensed operation, 3rd, and failure to stop at stop sign. It is alleged that on July 29 she failed to stop at a stop sign and a traffic stop was made, whereupon a Sheriff's deputy allegedly found her in possession of marijuana and a suspended driver's license. The case was investigated by deputy Joseph Corona.
Thomas J. Mitchell, 25, of West Center Street, Medina, is charged with petit larceny and criminal mischief, 4th. He was arrested in Erie County by Batavia PD on warrants issued by City Court. He was jailed in lieu of $250 bail. He is set to appear back in court Aug. 7. The case was investigated by officer Jason Davis.
Scott Alexander Lawrence, 23, of Griswold Road, Darien, is charged with unlawful possession of marijuana. Lawrence was a passenger in a vehicle on July 29 when the vehicle was stopped by Sheriff's deputies for vehicle and traffic violations and at that time he allegedly possessed marijuana. The case was investigated by Joseph Corona.
The attorney for DaShawn Butler -- the Batavia resident accused of firing gunshots at a person on State Street last September -- has filed a motion to have the charges against Butler dismissed because, he said, his client's rights have been violated.
Attorney Thomas Burns argued in court this morning that information about two witnesses wasn't available to him before a grand jury hearing on the case, and that the lack of information under those circumstances is so egregious that the case should be dimissed "in the interest of justice."
District Attorney Lawrence Friedman countered that the information was available in the City Court case file and that even if the witness had been made available to testify, their testimony would not have helped Butler's defense.
Burns also requested a hearing on the timeliness of Butler's arrest in December. Burns contends that the police had ample opportunity to locate and arrest Butler after he was named as a suspect in the shooting because Butler never left town.
The lack of due diligence, Burns told Judge Robert C. Noonan, means there was a violation of his client's right to a speedy trial.
Noonan scheduled the hearing for 3 p.m., Aug. 27. He is reserving his decision on dismissal motions by Burns.
According to Burns, there are three witnesses he didn't know about before the grand jury presentation. Two, he said, initially said the shooter the night of Sept. 27 was white and a third said the alleged victim was the shooter.
Burns said there was only an incomplete report in the City Court file prior to the hearing, which is why didn't know about these witnesses.
He questioned why the police waited weeks to interview the witnesses.
Friedman called the initial statements attributed to the witnesses "double hearsay." He said the investigators were simply doing what good cops do, an investigation when they went out to find the witnesses and try to find out what they actually saw.
Once they were actually interviewed -- rather than the police just getting information from intermediaries -- they described the shooter as black and the other did not name the victim as the shooter.
He said the information was in the City Court file prior to the grand jury hearing.
In June, Butler entered a not guilty plea to counts of criminal use of a firearm, 2nd, a Class C violent felony, criminal possession of a weapon, 2nd, a Class C violent felony, and attempted assault, 1st, also a Class C violent felony.
He is out of jail on $25,000 bail.
Local artist Brandi Bruggman has been comissioned by Vibrant Batavia to paint two of the fire hydrants downtown. Here she paints the one at Main and Bank, in front of Seymour Place (GO ART!). She said this hydrant will have a colorful paisley design on it. Her other hydrant will be painted like a lighthouse.
Below, a hydrant on Center Street completed by another artist.
UPDATE: Amanda Earl submitted these photos of Brandi's hydrants from later in the day.
Children participating in the summer program at John Kennedy School were at the City of Batavia Fire Hall this morning to learn about fire safety. Among the activities, putting on a firefighter's jacket and spraying water from a fire hose.
Town of Batavia fire is on scene at 9 Valley Drive, Batavia, for a car that has reportedly hit a tree.
Possible injuries and the car is said to be smoking.
The driver apparently called in the accident and said he hit a water slick and went off the road and hit the tree.
Batavia Police were called to 610 Ellicott St. about 2 p.m. this afternoon for a male screaming for help covered in blood.
When emergency crews and police showed up on scene they found a male in his thirties down in the front lawn covered in blood.
Police say the victim was in the rear apartment when he was stabbed. He then ran outside looking for help.
The victim was not a resident of the apartment. He was visiting the female resident there.
The victim and the suspects are believed to be acquaintances.
The suspects fled the scene in a maroon minivan or SUV. According to police, the vehicle was occupied by a male and a female.
The victim was transported to Strong Hospital by ground ambulance with a stab wound to the lower part of his body.
According to Sgt. Dan Coffey, the victim's wounds are not life-threatening.
City of Batavia Police continue to investigate the incident.
Anyone with information can call the tipline at 585-345-6370
Genesee County Emergency Management Services was conducting water pump operations training for new recruits this afternoon at DeWitt Recreation Area, with assistance from Le Roy fire and Byron fire departments.
The goal while I was there was to get the flow up to 1,500 gallons per minute. Town of Batavia's Ladder 25 is capable of flowing 2,000 gallons a minute.
If you want to do fun stuff like this, become a volunteer firefighter in your community. Visit Ready Genesee for more information.
A Security Roofing pickup truck was traveling north on Bank Street at about 8 a.m. when it swerved to miss a dog in the road, hit the curb and then a guy wire of a utility pole, causing it to roll onto its side.
The location was just north of Washington Avenue.
The driver of the pickup, a male in his 30s, was transported to UMMC to be checked out.
The truck's load of scaffolding spilled onto Bank Street.
National Grid called to the scene to fix the guy wire.
City fire also on location for leaking fluids from the truck.
Photos and reporting by Alecia Kaus / Video News Service.
Tomorrow, take the opportunity to tour some of the finest gardens and homes in Batavia.
The Landmark Society of Genesee County is once again hosting the annual House and Garden Tour, this time in cooperation with Vibrant Batavia.
The tour runs from noon to 4:30 p.m. and tickets are $20 per person. Proceeds will go to the Batavia Cemetery Association to assist with efforts to restore the Richmond Mausoleum.
Above, Jim and Kathy Owen of 2 Redfield Parkway in a portion of their garden. The first three photos below are from their garden.
David Gann outside his home on East Avenue. David said the credit for the garden's beauty goes entirely to his wife, Marcia. "I'm just the guy who cuts the lawn," he said. Unfortunately, Marcia wasn't home when The Batavian dropped in unannounced for a picture.
The home and yard of Judith Hale, 14 Jackson Ave.
These pictures are of Lou and Millie Moretto's yard, 65 Edgewood Drive. Millie said the yard is entirely Lou's handy work. Note the fairy garden below.
Lucine Kauffman added this reminder in comments:
Tickets will be available the day of the tour (Saturday) at the Batavia Cemetery starting at 11:30 a.m.
Full press release about the event after the jump:
The Landmark Society of Genesee County will hold its 4th Annual House and Garden Tour on Saturday, August 2, from 12 to 4:30 p.m. Each year the Landmark Society donates proceeds from the tour to support a local preservation effort. This year the proceeds will go to the Batavia Cemetery Association to assist with its efforts to restore the Richmond Mausoleum. Specifically, the stained glass window in the mausoleum is in need of extensive repairs. The Historic Batavia Cemetery on Harvester Avenue will be one of the stops on the tour, and stationed at the mausoleum, Connie Boyd will portray Mary Richmond.
The tour will showcase notable homes and gardens in the City of Batavia. Vibrant Batavia has collaborated with the Landmark Society to organize and plan the event. The Sun Catchers Garden Club has pitched in to help staff the cemetery tour stop and decorate the Richmond Mausoleum exterior with flower pots that its members design. The Youth Bureau Community Garden and the Peace Garden will also be open and staffed with volunteers to provide information and answer questions.
House and Garden Tour Chairperson Marcia Gann’s home will be one of the stops on the tour “The Landmark Society is so pleased to have partnered with Vibrant Batavia this year. Leanna Di Risio has worked with our committee and given us the benefit of her enthusiasm, event planning experience, and contacts in the city. She’s gone above and beyond by opening her beautiful home for one of the tour stops, too. We have an interesting mixture of old and new homes; public and private gardens; and both new and established gardens. We even have a Fairy Garden on the tour this year!”
The private homes on the tour are:
• RaeAnn Engler and Richard Beatty* (home also open for tour)
• 123 Summit St.
• C. 1870 National/Vernacular Style
• When RaeAnn and Richard moved into 123 Summit in 2000, they gutted the interior down to the old studs. Over the next few years virtually everything was replaced except for the framing and oak wood floors. Remarkably, RaeAnn and Richard are only the second family to live here. In 2005 they were named Homeowners of the Year by the City of Batavia. In the gardens they salvaged peonies, tulips, some raspberries, and perennial springtime star flowers. Over the years a variety of perennials and more raspberries have been added. This year the raised vegetable beds were revamped.
• Georgene and Rocco Della Penna
• 19 Richmond Ave.
• C. 1930 Colonial Revival Style
• “I started buying bulbs and progressed to perennial flowers. Two of my favorites are Chinese Tree Peony and Lime Light Hydrangea. I have been gardening for 25 years; it is my favorite pastime. The garden looks the best in June, but we enjoy it throughout the growing season.”
• Dave and Marcia Gann* (home open for tour)
• 268 East Ave.
• C. 1935 Cape Cod
• Dave and Marcia have resided in their Cape Cod home with Arts and Crafts influences for 25 years. The gardens encircling the house were designed and landscaped by Tim Richley and Holly Dougherty. The gardens feature several varieties of hydrangea.
• Paula Miller* (home open for tour)
• 15 Pearl St.
• C. 1927 Folk Victorian Style
• Paula has used Small Space Gardening techniques to create an outdoor living and entertaining room. Her newly planted garden features annuals, perennials, and vegetables arranged around a large backyard patio.
• Debbie and Mike Barone
• 3919 W. Main Street Road
• C. 1948 Ranch Style
• “I love to add unique things to my gardens such as antique pieces. We supplement the perennial selection with annuals to add further color and appeal. The arbor covered with climbing clematis serves as the gateway from our sunroom to our peaceful backyard.”
• Leanna and Dan Di Risio* (home open for tour)
• 60 Edgewood Drive
• C. 2012 Craftsman Style
• “Our simple landscape blooms from spring to fall, and during the summer months we display flower planters to add bursts of color throughout the front and back yard. We recently installed a back patio to give us additional entertaining space to be enjoyed by family and friends!”
• Lou and Millie Moretto
• 65 Edgewood Drive
• C. 2010 Ranch Style
• Several specimen plants make Lou’s yard unique. In only four years, a vacant field has been transformed into a beautiful landscape with the help of Tony and Michele Moretto Slominski (LANDVISION). Lou’s young garden is designed to have something in bloom throughout the season. Be sure to see the “Fairy Garden.”
• Rose Mary Christian
• 29 Williams St.
• C. 1958 Ranch Style
• “I have lived here for over 12 years and my flower bed garden just keeps on growing! My favorite two flowers are from Poland and I will tell you about them when you visit on the tour.”
• Tim and Lisa Stoddard
• 20 Ellicott Ave.
• C. 1880 Queen Anne Style
• Victorian gardens featuring period plants complement this fairy tale home with a large circular front porch and ornate decorative trim. The Stoddards are Landmark Society of Genesee County Preservation Award recipients for their historically appropriate, meticulous restoration of this Batavia gem.
• Jim and Kathy Owen
• 2 Redfield Parkway
• C. 1930 Colonial Revival Style
• A long-established garden hidden from the bustle of Main Street in a park-like setting. This yard features a variety of hosta plants, an informal perennial garden, and a small pond.
• Judith Hale
• 14 Jackson Ave.
• C. 1951 Cape Cod Style
• Showcasing a beautiful collection of hosta plant varieties, Judith’s gardens flow from the front to the back of the property. Each flower bed is painstakingly cared for.
Refreshments will be served at each tour stop.
Door prize drawings will be held at the Historic Batavia Cemetery at 4:30. Completed tour surveys will serve as the door prize entries. You must be present to win. Prizes were generously donated by: Delre’s Greenhouse and Garden Center; Floral Fantasies; Harvester 56 Theatre; Pudgie’s Lawn & Garden; The Landmark Society of Genesee County; and Vibrant Batavia.
Tickets are $20 per person and are available for presale at Harrington’s Produce (Batavia), GOART!, and Valle Jewelers. Tickets will also be available the day of the tour at the Batavia Cemetery starting at 11:30 a.m.
Reed Eye Associates held an open house and their official ribbon cutting today at their new location in Batavia on Washington Avenue (the former school administration building).
From left, Dr. Ronald Reed, Chamber President Tom Turnbull, Assemblyman Steve Hawley and Dr. Alan Bloom.
Previously: New home of Reed Eye built with historic preservation and customer care in mind
Press release:
On July 31st the City of Batavia Police Department joined by the Genesee County Drug Task Force (The Genesee Drug Task Force is comprised of personnel from Batavia PD, Le Roy PD and the Genesee County Sheriff’s Office.), Genesee County Sheriff’s Office and Genesee County Probation participated in the second neighborhood enforcement detail this summer. The purpose of these details was to systematically approach known problem areas within the City and target criminal activity.
In total 12 law enforcement personnel from four different agencies were partnered in focused enforcement details in seven separate locations. NET patrols included State Street, Bank Street, Tracy Avenue, Dellinger Avenue, Holland Avenue, and the Ellicott Street Corridor. The following are results of this year’s second detail:
45 data runs
24 vehicle/traffic stops
14 Traffic tickets issued
4 Vehicles Searched
3 Penal Law Arrests
12 probation checks
3 probation violations
Batavia Police Chief Shawn Heubusch said “The City Police will continue to make a concentrated effort in those areas that need the most enforcement. We are lucky to have the assistance of the other agencies in providing the support to these very productive details. Many major crimes have been solved by starting small; officers know that the simple traffic stop or street encounter has the possibility to turn into a major arrest. These details have a proven track record of producing tangible results and therefore we look forward to implementing them as the year progresses.”
Genesee County Chief Deputy of Investigations Jerome Brewster added “The NET details provide local law enforcement with the resources necessary to address 'quality of life' issues for our citizens. Through the shared efforts of the Batavia Police, Sheriff's Office, Probation and Parole, we can have an immediate impact on drug dealing, drug-related activity, probation and parole violations, as well as related unlawful behaviors in areas previously noted for this type of behavior. Input from our citizens is critical so that our resources can be directed to areas where the enjoyment of property and neighborhoods have been compromised by the actions of others.”
Neighborhood Enforcement Team (NET) details were outlined in the City’s Strategic Plan as part of the City’s Neighborhood Revitalization efforts. They include dedicated patrols for targeted enforcement with the goal of intercepting and interrupting the flow of illegal drugs, weapons and other contraband as well as locating and arresting wanted persons. All agencies involved expect to continue joint law enforcement efforts in the future. These details are not advertised prior to taking place and locations are selected based on criminal data, the presence of nuisance and illegal behavior and ongoing investigations.
If you see criminal activity or know about a crime that has occurred please contact the Batavia Police Department at (585) 345-6350 or the confidential tip line at (585) 345-6370.
Press release:
St. Joseph School of Batavia has been chosen by the Diocese of Buffalo as one of 10 diocesan‑schools to pilot their enhanced STEM program. STEM within the educational community has come to refer to enriched programming emphasizing Science, Technology, Engineering and Mathematics.
The Diocese’s enhanced program adds Religion and the Arts to create the STREAM initiative. The STREAM program consists of two facets: “STREAM teaching” and “STREAM Academy.” STREAM teaching is deliberate subject integration. For example, students might be studying ancient Greece in their Social Studies class, column design in Art class and participate in an Olympics-based unit in their Physical Education class.
Stream-teaching is not a new curriculum, but instead a framework for teaching that formalizes what great teachers are inclined to do naturally, integrate across the curriculum. STREAM Academy is the adding of supplemental, project-based courses to the curriculum.
One day a week, during the final period of the day, the entire school (K-8) will participate in various grade-appropriate STREAM project-based courses from robotics to future-city-competition.
“We are completely thrilled that the Diocese chose St. Joseph School to pilot this program,” said Principal Karen Green. “We have worked diligently over the last several years to update our technology and improve our facilities in anticipation of offering new and exciting programming.
"Our goal remains to prepare our students to excel as they grow from their high schools to colleges and eventual careers.”
St. Joseph School currently serves 280 students from 14 school districts within three counties.
Applications for the upcoming school year are still being accepted. Interested families may call 585‑343‑6154 or visit www.sjsbatavia.org
It took a Genesee County jury all of 95 minutes to conclude that Sean Vickers did in fact molest five boys in Batavia over the several years prior to 2013.
The guilty verdict on five counts concludes a three-day trial in County Court.
Vickers, 45, will be sentenced at 10:30 a.m., Aug. 28 29.
The defendant stood motionless in a pressed black suit as the jury foreman was asked to recite the verdict on each of the five counts against Vickers.
Sodomy in the first degree: Guilty.
Sodomy in the first degree: Guilty.
Criminal sexual act in the first degree: Guilty.
Criminal sexual act in the first degree: Guilty.
Sexual abuse in the first degree: Guilty.
Previous coverage:
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