batavia

Press release:

A public meeting to discuss concepts and findings of the Batavia Opportunity Area (BOA) project will be held at the Board Room at City Hall, One Batavia City Centre, at 7 p.m. Monday, July 29.

The purpose of the Batavia Opportunity Area project is to advance the redevelopment of underutilized, vacant, abandoned or contaminated commercial and industrial sites within the City.

The Batavia Opportunity Area Steering Committee focused on five strategic sites that, if redeveloped, will be catalysts for area wide redevelopment including:

• The Batavia City Centre site and adjacent Bank Street medical campus;
• The Harvester Center;
• The Della Penna site near Evans and Ellicott streets along with adjacent sites;
• Tonawanda Creekside redevelopment near downtown; and
• The Carr’s Warehouse Building (progress already under way)

In June, City Council approved the sale of the Carr’s Warehouse Building to the Batavia Development Corporation for disposal and redevelopment. Local developer Thompson Builds, Inc., is currently in the process of finalizing design and is expected to begin construction by the end of the summer, adding four new apartments to the second and third floors, and commercial/flex space to the first floor.

The steering committee has developed potential redevelopment scenarios for each of the other sites including plans and 3D visualizations that will be available at the meeting. Redevelopment scenarios proposed are based on an economic and market analysis prepared as part of the project. The committee also evaluated conditions of neighborhoods adjacent to the strategic sites.

Findings and concepts from the project will be used to facilitate future redevelopment at the sites and support requests for grants and financial assistance.

The steering committee members include: Edward Jones, City Planning Board, Jill Babinski, Genesee County Planning Dept., Lynn Freeman, Genesee County Chamber, Don Burkel, Business Improvement District, Julie Pacatte, Batavia Development Corporation and Jason Molino, City Manager.

For more information on the Batavia Opportunity Area project, visit the City’s website at www.batavianewyork.com.

Press release:

The City of Batavia Summer Recreation Program is well under way and entering the third week of the six-week program. Each year the program sponsors a Community Service Day for all of the children to volunteer and give something back to their community.

This year’s Community Service Project is scheduled for July 23 at all of the parks. There will be a community-wide can/bottle drive to raise money for youth programs at the Genesee ARC.

If you would like to contribute to this worthy cause, please feel free to deliver cans and bottles to any of the parks (Farrall, John Kennedy, Lambert, Williams, Woodward) on or before July 23 between 9 a.m. and 4 p.m., Monday through Friday.

Or you can take cans or bottles to the Batavia Youth Bureau located at 12 MacArthur Drive and program sponsors will make sure the donations are delivered to the parks.

Each park will also visit homes in their park’s neighborhoods on July 23 to solicit cans/bottles for the drive.

If you have any questions or would like to help in any way, please call the Youth Bureau at 345-6420. Thank you for your anticipated assistance and support!

Toni Funke

Program Coordinator

345-6421

Four black males in a 1999 Plymouth van with Maryland plates were reportedly involved in an altercation in the parking lot of the Best Western Crown Inn & Suites on Park Road in Batavia. Soon thereafter, the same people in the same van were reportedly involved in another altercation outside the Kwik Fill at the corner of Jackson and Ellicott streets in the city.

The van and its occupants have left the scene and law enforcement is trying to locate them.

Jeff Ficher, the new assistant director at the Holland Land Office Museum, leads children participating in HLOM's Summer Heroes program in singing a Civil War Era song.

The eight-day program is just wrapping up its first week with a focus on the Underground Railroad.

The program is being led by Anne Marie Starowitz.

Marcianna Szczepanski, 21, of Abbot Road, Bufallo, and Yvonne A. Frye, 23, of Abbot Road, Buffalo, are charged with petit larceny. Szczepanski and Frye are accused of filling a shopping cart with merchandise and walking out the store without paying for any of the items. The total value of the merchandise is $898.21.

Isaiah James Munroe, 23, of School Road, Stafford, is charged with criminal obstruction of breathing or blood circulation, endangering the welfare of a child and harassment, 2nd. The charges stem from an alleged domestic incident.

It's not often you see cactus growing in somebody's front yard in Western New York, but Ellicott Street resident Frank Belluuci has two potted beaver-tail cactus plants that are in bloom with gorgeous yellow flowers. 

The variety, he said, is known as "Yellow Rose of Texas." 

While Frank's cactus are potted and can be stored indoors during the winter -- I have seen, and he's seen, the same variety of cactus growing outside in WNY.

The flowers should produce an edible fruit, but the growing season here isn't long enough.

This sign is in the door of the former Salsa & Curry location on Jackson Street, Batavia.

The owners are not ready to discuss their plans, but as you can see, they're getting ready to open a frozen yogurt bar, hopefully by the end of the month. Workers were busy today installing the counter. 

You can follow the progress on the new shop's Facebook page.

One of Batavia's most accomplished boxers from the 1930s passed away last week -- Salvatore V. “Sam” Cintorino, who won five Golden Glove titles as a lightweight fighting as Sammy Devine.

Cintorino was the brother of Joseph Cintorino, who fought as Mickey Devine when he turned professional and became one of the biggest names in boxing to come out of Batavia.

The brothers were part of a vibrant boxing scene in Batavia in the 1930s when some 40 to 60 young men trained locally and fought all over WNY, even nationwide.

The 96-year-old Sam Cintorino was born Nov. 8, 1916 in Brooklyn to parents who immigrated from Italy. Soon after, the family moved to Batavia.

As Sammy Devine, Cintorino is a member of the Rochester Boxing Hall of Fame.

For his full obituary, click here.

An employee of Sherwin-Williams is accused of participating in a June 1 burglary of the paint store at 16 Liberty St., Batavia.

Rebecca G. Morse, 21, of 130 Bank St., Batavia, is accused of supplying a key to others and receiving some of the stolen cash in return.

Morse is charged with burglary, 3rd.

Whomever actually broke into the store, smashed the front door with a rock. A safe was opened and money was stolen.

The investigation is ongoing and no other arrests have been announced.

The investigation was conduced by Officer Kevin DeFelice and Det. Charles Dudek.

Morse, who no longer works for Sherwin-Williams, was arraigned and released on her own recognizance.

Richard T. Fleig, 33, of West Main Street Road, Batavia, is charged with reckless endangerment, 2nd. While a friend was setting up a target at a location on North Road, Le Roy, Fleig allegedly fired a pellet pistol down range. A pellet struck the friend's hand causing an injury.

Emily T. Cockman, 17, of East Main Road, Attica, is charged with petit larceny. Cockman and a 14-year-old are accused of stealing $35.07 in merchandise from Walmart.

A one-car accident is reported at South Spruce and Main streets in the city of Batavia. The vehicle struck a tree and is within 15 feet of a residence. City firefighters are responding along with Mercy medics. Batavia PD are on scene to help with traffic control.

UPDATE 11:20 p.m. (by Howard): Police say the driver of the car was eastbound on East Main Street when for an unknown reason, her car left the roadway and struck the curb and then drove across the front lawn of 534 E. Main St., and through the side yard on the east side of the house. The car went through the back yard and then turned northbound in the side yard on the South Spruce-side of the house. It then struck a tree and caught on fire. Both occupants were out of the car when police arrived. The driver was transported to UMMC with complaints of neck and back pain. The male passenger was unhurt. Nobody else was hurt. Police say the investigation is continuing and it's unknown if drugs or alcohol were a factor.

Top photo: Sparks and water fly as city firefighters use a radial saw to cut the hood off the car.  Second photo: Firefighters inspect the engine compartment after removing the hood. Third photo: A bike with a bent front tire that police said was ejected from the trunk of the car when the car struck the tree.

A disabled container truck is completely blocking the northbound lane of Oak Street south of Richmond Avenue. It is also straddling the center line and partially blocking the southbound lane. Batavia PD is responding.

Press release:

A water main break occurred on Elm Street near Chase Park at approximately 7:30 a.m.  Crews are on site to begin repairs, and water service has been interrupted on Elm Street between East Avenue and Chase Park, and on Chase Park between Elm Street and Vine Street.

Residents in the immediate area may experience periods of discolored water as a result of this break, and should avoid activities such as laundry until water clarity returns to normal.

UPDATE 12:23 p.m.: Break repaired. Service restored.

Martha D. Duke, 63, of Mt. Hope Avenue, Rochester, is charged with driving while ability impaired by drugs. Duke was allegedly observed by witnesses driving westbound in the eastbound lane of the I-490. She was also allegedly observed driving on the shoulder of Route 33, westbound toward Batavia, at 25 mph. Deputy Chris Parker stopped her vehicle in the City of Batavia. The investigation is ongoing and additional charges are possible in Genesee and Monroe counties.

Dennis A. Edson, 49, of 17 Porter Ave., Batavia, is charged with aggravated harassment (physical contact due to race/religion). Edson is accused threatened a passing male using racial slurs. The alleged incident was reported at 12:10 p.m. Tuesday.

Gloria S. Moretti, 36, of Batavia, is charged with criminal contempt. Moretti was arrested by State Police in the Town of Pembroke. No further details released.

Chase M. Knight, 23, of Tonawanda, is charged DWI and driving with a BAC of .08 or greater. Knight was stopped by State Police in the Town of Pembroke at 11:57 p.m. Sunday.

Two people were killed and three seriously injured in Wheatland today when the SUV they were in collided with a tractor-trailer at North Road and Riga Mumford Road.

The five people were returning home in a 1995 Jeep Wrangler after working as volunteers at a camp in Batavia for children with special needs.

The two people who died are identified by the Monroe County Sheriff's Office as Taylor Binnert, 21, and Christopher Peterson, 20.

The three rear seat passengers were seriously injured and transported to Strong. They are Emily Peterson, 17, Michaela Murphy, 17, and Joanne Krutchen, 20.

For more on this developing story, visit WHAM13.com.

CORRECTION: The information provided by the Monroe County Sheriff's Office was incorrect in one regard. The individuals involved were volunteers at a BOCES summer school program, not a camp.

Three golf carts at Meadow Brook Golf Course, 4022 S. Main Street Road, Batavia, along with a portion of the golf course were damaged sometime around 3 a.m., July 10 and the Sheriff's Office is looking for leads that might help identify the culprits.

Two golf carts were driven into ponds and one was overturned on the course.

There was damage caused to the course by the reckless operation of the carts.

If you have information to share about the incident, contact John Dehm at the Sheriff's Office, 345-3000, ext. 3575.

Photo and infomration submitted by Jim Fazio:

The Batavia 16-year-old Sr. League baseball team defeated Dansville in a double-header by scores of 10-5 and 10-0 to capture the District 3 championship and will face the District 2 champion this Saturday in Cuba , NY, at 3 p.m. The winner of this round will advance to Long Island the following weekend.

Team members include front row: James Fazio, Luke McComb, Tommy Demmer, Tyler Hale, Cameron Slaven, and Manager Jim Fazio.

Second row: Coach Dan McComb, Zeke Lynn, Joe Saraceni, Frank Bellucci, and Ryan Mullen. Back row Coach Dave Demmer, Zach Gayton, and Jacob Hale. Missing from photo is Nate Cornell.

SCHEDULE OF EVENTS
Tuesday 7/16

• 9am - 4-H Swine Show
• 12 pm -  4-H Goat Show
• 2:30 pm - 4-H Sheep Show
• 6 pm - 4-H Beef Show
• 6:30 pm - "Genesee's Got Talent" -Talent Show

• 4 - 8pm -  Mr. Scribbles and various children events
• 5 - 10pm - Rides by Mainevent Amusements
• 5 pm - Classic car show
• 6:30 pm - Grand Parade in the fairgrounds
• 7 pm - Karaoke
• 8 - 11pm - Barnstorm Band

• 5 - 10pm - Rides by Mainevent Amusements
• 6 pm - Raceway 5 Stock Car Racing
• 7 pm - 4-H Livestock Auction
• 8 pm - Patrick Johnson - Elvis impersonator
• 8 pm - Karaoke Finals

• 5 - 10pm - Rides by Mainevent Amusements
• 7 pm - Genesee County Fair Queen and Princess Pageant
• 7 pm - Demolition Derby
• 8 pm - Julie Dunlap Band

• 11 am - Farm Stock Tractor Pull - Bring your tractor
• 1 pm - 10pm Rides by Mainevent Amusements
• 4 pm - WNY Garden Tractor Pull
• 6 pm - WNY Pro Farm Tractor and Truck Pull
• 8 pm - Monster Johnson Band

For more information, please visit us online at: http://gcfair.com

About 20 minutes ago, an elderly female driving a black sedan was reported to be headed eastbound on westbound I-490 around the time she passed the Bergen exit. Genesee County Emergency Dispatch Center notified Monroe County law enforcement. Then it was reported that she turned around and starting heading in the correct direction, exited and got on Route 33.

A caller reported that this car was going slow -- 25 mph -- and was partially driving on the shoulder and was otherwise "all over the roadway." Sheriff's deputies located her and are speaking with her now.