batavia

Batavia’s Little Free Pantry on Washington Avenue is teaming up with Applebee’s on Wednesday, March 17^th to help support those in need. 

T.L. Cannon Applebee’s will donate 15 percent of your online order tomorrow to The Little Free Pantry when you order from www.applebees.com. You must register or have an account and enter the code DOINGOOD. This donation/promo code is for “carside to go” or “pick-up orders” only.

The mini pantry movement is a grassroots, crowdsourced solution to provide immediate and local aid to those with food insecurity. Whether you have a need for food or a need to give, mini pantries help neighbors feed neighbors and nourish the community as a whole. 

The pantry and fridge are located at 180 Washington Ave. in the City of Batavia and it is open 24 hours a day all year. Daily updates about food and other items that are available are updated to the Facebook page daily.

If you would like to donate, please leave donations on the porch at 124 State St., or in the donation bin next to the food pantry in front of the dentist’s office on Washington.

Photo by Jim Burns.

Frank Capuano shared his photo with us of this morning's sunrise.

Press release:

The Batavia Police Department has completed its investigation into the two-vehicle collision on West Main Street, that occurred on March 14th at 9:09 a.m. Constance Lamilia, 81, of Batavia, was operating a 2006 Saturn leaving Tops Market, preparing to turn left onto West Main Street.

Town of Batavia Fire Department Fire Chief, Daniel Coffey, 41, of Batavia, was traveling west on West Main Street, responding to an emergency call with lights and sirens activated, in a 2018 Chevrolet Tahoe owned by the Town of Batavia Fire Department. Lamilia failed to yield the right of way to Coffey while attempting her turn, causing her car to collide with the front right corner of the Chevrolet Tahoe.

Lamilia then continued east until her vehicle jumped the curb, struck a utility pole, and overturned, coming to a rest in the front yard of 389 West Main St. Lamilia was extricated by the City of Batavia Fire Department, and transported to ECMC (in Buffalo) for minor injuries.

Lamilia has since been released from the hospital. Coffey was not injured. No other vehicles were involved in the accident. West Main Street traffic was affected until approximately 7:30 p.m. The Batavia Police Department was assisted by the City of Batavia Fire Department, City of Batavia Public Works, National Grid, and Mercy EMS.

The Batavia Police Department would also like to thank all of the other motorists that assisted with the investigation by remaining in the area and speaking with officers. Constance Lamilia was issued a traffic ticket for failing to yield the right of way to an emergency vehicle. Lamilia is scheduled to appear in Batavia City Court on June 16th at 9 a.m. No further charges are pending.

Previously: Accident involving minivan, fire chief's car and utility pole under investigation

Shawn A. Peterkin, 43, no address provided (inset photo, right), was arrested at 4:45 p.m., March 2, and charged with: criminal possession of a controlled substance in the third degree -- a Class B felony; criminal possession of a controlled substance in the fourth degree -- a Class D felony; unlawful possession of marijuana in the second degree; second-degree menacing; and fourth-degree criminal mischief. It is alleged that Peterkin threatened another person with a knife at a residence on West Main Street in Batavia and damaged property inside. He is accused of leaving the scene. He was found in the backyard of a residence on Woodrow Road, where he allegedly damaged a fence. Peterkin was arrested and allegedly found to be in possession of a large amount of crack cocaine, fentanyl, prescription pills and marijuana. He was arraigned in Batavia City Court and put in jail without bail. He is due back in Batavia City Court on April 7.

Nina Esterbrook-Kelso, 36, no address provided, is charged with two counts of endangering the welfare of a child in the second degree. She was arrested at 5:06 p.m., March 1, on Columbia Avenue in the City of Batavia. It is alleged that she left THC-laced edible candies in a place where they were accessible to children. She was released on an appearance ticket and is due in Batavia City Court on May 12.

Aaron Zimblis, 57, no address provided, was arrested Feb. 27 on Vine Street in the City of Batavia after a physical altercation that occurred in an upper apartment at 3:40 that afternoon. He is charged with second-degree harassment and second-degree strangulation. After his arrest, he was issued appearance tickets to be in Batavia City Court on May 4.

Lisa Fox, 49, no address provided, is charged with: criminal possession of a hypodermic instrument; speeding; operating a vehicle while its registration is suspended; and operating a motor vehicle with no license plate displayed. She was arrested at 10:12 p.m. March 5 on Clinton Park in Batavia after allegedly being observed speeding on East Avenue. She was issued an appearance ticket to be in Batavia City Court on May 11.

Robert Gerety Jr., 47, no address provided, arrested at midnight on Jan. 26 and charged with first-degree criminal contempt. During an unrelated traffic stop on West Main Street in Batavia, he was found to have an active warrant for his arrest out of Batavia City Court. He was put in jail (bail status not provided) and is due back in court April 1.

Robert Gerety Jr., 47, no address provided, is charged with: second-degree criminal contempt; aggravated unlicensed operation in the second degree; operating a vehicle in violation of an ignition interlock device restriction; unlicensed operation of a motor vehicle; and uninspected motor vehicle. He was arrested at 9:48 p.m. on Feb. 28  on West Main Street at Dellinger Avenue in the City of Batavia after a traffic stop. It was discovered that he was in violation of an order of protection because he allegedly had the protected party in his vehicle at the time of the traffic stop. He was arraigned in Batavia City Court, then jailed without bail. He is due in city court again on April 1.

David Michael Weaver, 45, of Torrey Road, Bethany, is charged with second-degree harassment. He was arrested at 4:20  p.m. on March 13 on Torrey Road in the Town of Bethany. He was issued an appearance ticket to be in Town of Bethany Court on April 27. The case was handled by Genesee County Sheriff's Deputy Jonathan Dimmig, assisted by Deputy Kyle Tower.

Joseph Grant Blair III, 29, of West County House Road, Albion, is charged with: operating a motor vehicle while having a BAC of .08 percent or more; driving while intoxicated; moving from lane unsafely; and failure to dim head lamps. At 12:15 a.m. on March 13, Blair was arrested after a traffic stop on Akron Road in the Town of Pembroke. He was released with appearance tickets for Pembroke Town Court on April 14. The case was handled by Alejandro Jordan, assisted by Deputy David Moore.

Kristen Lazarony, 36, no address provided, was arrested after a traffic stop at 10:29 p.m. March 3 on West Main Street at Ellicott Street in the City of Batavia. She is charged with: driving while intoxicated; DWI with a BAC of .08 percent or more; failure to keep right; and failure to use designated lane. It is alleged she had a BAC of .16 percent at the time of her arrest. She was issued tickets then released from custody. Lazarony is due in Batavia City Court on June 8.

Julie Roesser, 31, no address provided, was arrested at 9:30 p.m. March 8 on West Main Street at Montclair Avenue in the City of Batavia after a traffic stop. She is charged with driving while intoxicated with a BAC of .08 percent or more, DWI, and having no head lamp or an inadequate head lamp. She was released with tickets to be in Batavia City Court on June 15.

Steven Gerard Conway, 60, of Circle Court, Williamsville, is charged with driving while intoxicated -- first offense; aggravated DWI; no seat belt; and impeding traffic. He was arrested at 7:20 p.m on Main Road in Pembroke and was released with an appearance ticket to be in Pembroke Town Court on April 29. The case was handled by Genesee County Sheriff's Deputy Kyle Krzemien, assisted by Deputy Kenneth Quackenbush.

Erica Lynn Lamkin, 31, of Warsaw Road, Pavilion, is charged with: driving while intoxicated; operating a motor vehicle while having a BAC of .08 percent or more; and speeding in excess of 55 mph. At 11:25 p.m. March 14, Lamkin was arrested on Main Road in Stafford. She was released with an appearance ticket for Stafford Town Court on April 15. The  case was handled by Genesee County Sheriff's Deputy David Moore, assisted by Deputy Nicholas Chamoun.

Shuvon Williams, 55, of East Avenue, Batavia, was arrested at 8:56 p.m. Jan. 30 after turning herself in on an arrest warrant out of Batavia City Court alleging custodial interference. She is accused of violating a custody agreement by not returning a child as specified in the agreement. Williams was issued an appearance ticket for June 8 in Batavia City Court.

Grace Crystal Murray, 21, of Pratt Road, Batavia, is charged with third-degree criminal trespass. At 6:39 p.m. March 7, Murray was arrested after entering Walmart in Batavia and remaining inside unalwfully after previously being banned from the property. She is due in Town of Batavia Court on April 8. The case was handled by Genesee County Sheriff's Deputy Zachary Hoy, assisted by Deputy Travis DeMuth.

Nateeka Gibson, 31, no address provided, was arrested March 8 on a warrant out of Batavia City Court stemming from an petit larceny incident Jan. 4. It is alleged that she stole $20 from a person on Bank Street while she was a guest at their residence. Gibson was arraigned virtually in Batavia City Court while she was in Monroe County Jail on unrelated charges. She was held on one dollar cash bail and is due in city court April 14.

Police investigators have yet to determine what may have caused a driver of a minivan to accelerate -- if she did -- after the vehicle struck a Town of Batavia fire chief's car that was heading to a serious injury accident on Galloway Road.

The minivan appears to have been exiting the Tops Market parking lot shortly after 9 a.m. with the intention of turning left when it struck the emergency vehicle, which was in emergency mode, driven by Fire Chief Dan Coffey. Coffey's vehicle sustained damage on the passenger side front fender.

The older female driver, whose name is not being released at this time, then proceeded eastbound on West Main Street Road. The minivan appears to have accelerated after the initial collision, Sgt. Mitch Cowen confirmed, but what may have caused that apparent acceleration hasn't been determined.

The minivan headed toward the West Main intersection with River Street where both lanes were blocked by cars stopped at the red light. Lynn Mucica was driving one of those vehicles and said she saw a car coming up behind her fast and thought it was going to strike the car next to her and possibly involve her in an accident. The minivan then swerved and struck a utility pole with three transformers on it, snapping the pole off near the base. The minivan continued east and came to rest on its side in the yard of 389 W. Main St.  

City fire responded and extricated the driver from the vehicle.  

The driver is being treated at ECMC for minor injuries and has not yet been interviewed.  

A citation is possible, Cowen said.

Coffey was uninjured in the collision and did eventually make it to the accident scene on Galloway Road.

At this hour, West Main remains partially closed. National Grid crews are repairing the pole. At least one of the transformers leaked its oily liquid onto the roadway and National Grid has also dispatched an environmental cleanup team to deal with the spill. The work is expected to be completed shortly.

(Initial Report)

A driver told an investigator he fell asleep prior to a head-on collision on Galloway Road at 9 a.m. that sent both that driver and another driver to ECMC.

Rylend L. Callicutt, 18, of Batavia, was driving a white 2011 GMC SUV eastbound when it crossed the center line. The vehicle struck a 2011 Hyundai sedan driven by Danielle C. Neuhaus, 31, of Batavia.

Neuhaus was trapped in the vehicle and sustained serious injuries. She was transported by Mercy Flight to ECMC, where she is currently in the trauma ICU.

Callicutt was transported by Mercy EMS.

He was issued a citation for failure to remain in the right-hand lane.

The accident report was prepared by Deputy Travis Demuth. The Crash Management Team also responded to the scene.

(Initial Report)

Submitted photos and information from Jason Smith.

As part of the Faith Formation program at Resurrection Parish, grade 9 and 10 students were given a tour of St Mary’s Roman Catholic Church this morning. It is located at 18 Ellicott St. in the City of Batavia.

The tour included information about the stained-glass window panels, the altar and sacristy.

The students' teachers are Judy Clark and Ron Chrzanowski.

Newspaper clippings and old photos were displayed. One taken in the 1920s shows the altar in its original splendor with elaborate white steeples, which were later removed.

Another is of the church's once-trademark mural, an enormous painting done in four sections by Buffalo artist Alex O. Levy that was completed in 1940. It weighed 800 pounds and depicted incidents in the life of the Virgin Mary. The mural deteriorated and was subsequently covered with wallpaper.

Press release:

The City of Batavia Police Department announces the launch of CRIMEWATCH, a new website that gives people who use social networks and mobile devices an easier, more effective way to help fight crime and stay informed.

The new Batavia Police Department website was developed in partnership with CRIMEWATCH Technologies and is part of the CRIMEWATCH Network (crimewatch.net). The website is an online tool that gives the public direct access to crime and public safety-related information happening in their community. 

“This new website is the perfect entry point for establishing better police and public relationships. CRIMEWATCH gives us the opportunity to communicate with the public and gives residents the anonymity to report neighborhood issues. Several police departments throughout the Northeast region are having great success using this technology”, said Chief Heubusch, City of Batavia Police chief.  

The City of Batavia Police Department is the first New York-based police department to go live on the CRIMEWATCH Network; a communications platform developed specifically for law enforcement agencies that allow for geographically targeted information sharing and intelligence gathering.

This resource allows residents to do the following:

• Sign up for a free account to receive e-mail alerts;, 
• Submit a tip to the Batavia Police Department; 
• View recent arrests and “most wanted” lists;
• Get info on local sex offenders; 
• Share information with others through social media; and 
• Get connected with resources and services.

A motor-vehicle accident with entrapment is reported at River Street and West Main Street, Batavia.

City fire and Mercy EMS responding.

UPDATE 9:14 a.m.: Possible transformer on fire in the area.

UPDATE(S) (By Billie) (9:34 a.m.): A vehicle is on its side in front of 389 W. Main St. A utility pole is sheared off that has three transformers on it. The city's second and fourth platoons are called to stand by in quarters. A woman named Lynn Mucica says she was in her vehicle eastbound on West Main Street at the stop light at River Street and there was another car next to her's, when a car approached at a high rate of speed. She feared it would hit the vehicle next to hers. But it swerved instead and struck the pole, then came to rest on its side.

UPDATE 9:44 a.m.: There is a lot of debris in the roadway on West Main Street and some spilled fluids; it appears the accident at West Main and River may have started at the light in front of Top's Market as the car now on its side turned left from the parking lot onto West Main Street.

UPDATE 9:54 a.m.: City command calls for clean up of the spilled fluids, some of which is said to be oil from a transformer.

UPDATE 10:16 a.m.: A rep from National Grid is on scene and awaiting a bucket truck. Command requests that Five Star Bank personnel be contacted and informed that power is partially out to the bank building.

UPDATE 12:21 p.m. The following closures and detours remain in effect, per City Fire.

CLOSED: River Street between West Main Street and South Main Street
CLOSED: Five Star Bank - No power, No ATM
NO LEFT TURN: From Redfield Parkway to West Main Street
NO LEFT TURN: From West Main Street to Redfield Parkway
OPEN: West Main Street 1 lane both east and west bound.
OPEN: Dunkin’ Donuts!
EXPECT RESTRICTIONS & POWER OUTAGES FOR APPROXIMATELY THE NEXT 8 HOURS

A motor-vehicle accident with people trapped in a vehicle reported in the area of 2905 Galloway Road, Batavia.

Town of Batavia fire and Mercy EMS dispatched.

Mercy Flight being placed on ground standyby.

UPDATE 9:11 a.m.: One person trapped, a lengthy extrication expected, Mercy Flight requested to the scene.

UPDATE(S) (By Billie) 9:30 a.m.: Galloway Road is being shut down at Downey Road. Mercy Flight is en route and will land in a church parking lot.

UPDATE 9:37 a.m.: The entrapped person has been extricated.

UPDATE 9:52 a.m.: Mercy Flight is airborne with one patient, en route to ECMC.

UPDATE 10:11 a.m.: The accident involved a white GMC SUV and a black sedan. The white GMC crossed the center line and struck the sedan head on. A second patient was also taken to ECMC, via ground ambulance.

UPDATE 10:15 a.m.: The Town of Batavia fire assignment is back in service.

UPDATE 10:21 a.m.: A press release will be issued later and photos from the scene will be posted at that time.

Open House Alert - 55 Ellicott St., Batavia. Sunday 11 a.m. - 1 p.m. Welcome to this charming home on one of Batavia's most loved streets! Vinyl siding, new roof 2019, large kitchen, formal dining room, family room, very large living room with built in bookcase.

The three-season room overlooks the deep lot and carriage house. Call Michelle Dills at Howard Hanna (585) 314-7269 or click here to view this listing.

Chance Luke Flanagan, 19, of West Main Street, Corfu, is charged with: third-degree burglary; third-degree grand larceny; second-degree criminal mischief; fourth-degree grand larceny; and fifth-degree conspiracy. Flanagan was arrested after an investigation into a burglary that occurred on East Main Street in the Village of Corfu between June 1 and June 2. He was arraigned virtually March 11 in Batavia City Court and released on his own recognizance. He is due in Corfu Village Court May 12. The investigation was conducted by Corfu Village Police Officer David Krzemien and the Criminal Investigation Division of the Genesee County Sheriff's Office, including investigators Kevin Forsyth and Howard Carlson.

Thomas Franklin Hofmeier, 19, of Harlem Road, West Seneca, is charged with: third-degree burglary; third-degree grand larceny; second-degree criminal mischief; fourth-degree grand larceny; and fourth-degree conspiracy. Flanagan was arrested after an investigation into a burglary that occurred on East Main Street in the Village of Corfu between June 1 and June 2. He was arraigned virtually March 10 in Batavia City Court and released on his own recognizance. He is due in Corfu Village Court April 5. The investigation was conducted by Corfu Village Police Officer David Krzemien and the Criminal Investigation Division of the Genesee County Sheriff's Office, including investigators Kevin Forsyth and Howard Carlson.

Michael A. Sweet, 35, of Varysburg, and Rachel A. Baehr, 34, of Batavia (no addresses provided), were arrested March 11 after a traffic stop on Route 98 in the Town of Sheldon. Sweet was pulled over after being observed driving a 2004 Subaru Forrester, and was known by law enforcement to have a suspended driver's license. A metal cylinder with 2.19 grams of methamphetamine was allegedly found in the front seat of the vehicle. Multiple pieces of meth paraphernalia were also allegedly seized. An investigation allegedly found the passenger, Baehr, had another bag and glass vial containing 1.97 grams of meth, both concealed on her person. She turned the items over to deputies at the scene. Both suspects were taken to Wyoming County Sheriff's Office for processing. Sweet is charged with: criminal possession of a controlled substance in the seventh degree; aggravated unlicensed operation in the third degree; unlicensed operation; and visibility distorted by broken glass. Baehr is charged with criminal possession of a controlled substance in the seventh degree and criminally using drug paraphernalia in the second degree. They were issued appearance tickets to answer the charges in the Town of Sheldon Court March 29, then processed and released from custody. The case was handled by Wyoming Coiunty Sheriff Sgt. Colin Reagan and Deputy Justin Bliss.

Christina Maria Sanchez-Anderson, 32, of Park Road, Batavia, was arrested after turning herself in at the Genesee County Jail March 9. Her arrest stems from an incident Feb. 24 on Union Street in Batavia during which she was allegedly found to be in possession of a quantity of cocaine. She was the passenger in a vehicle stopped for a vehicle and traffic violation. The odor of marijuana was allegedly emanating from inside the vehicle. A search of the vehicle and its occupants allegedly yielded the evidence in this case, which was subsequently examined and tested. Sanchez-Anderson was issued an appearance ticket to be in Batavia City Court on March 25. The case was handled by Genesee County Sheriff's Deputy Andrew Mullen, assisted by Deputy Ryan DeLong.

Ronnie J. Sumeriski II, 38, of Batavia (no address provided) was arrested March 10 on a warrant out of Town of Java Court following a traffic stop in Genesee County. On Feb. 9, Wyoming County Sheriff's deputies received a report of a possible violation of an order of protection in the Town of Java. After an investigation, it was allegedly determined that Sumeriski violated a complete stay away order of proection issued Dec. 3 in Wyoming County Court by attempting to hack into the protected party's social media account and communicate via text message. He was previously arrested Dec. 3 for third-degree menacing and aggravated harassment in the second degree after a domestic incident. An arrest warrant was issued. After being taken into custody in Genesee County, the defendant was turned over to Wyoming County Sheriff's deputies and charged with second-degree criminal contempt. After his arraignment, he was released on his own recognizance and is due in Java Town Court at a later date. The case was handled by Wyoming County Sheriff's Deputy Austin Harding.

Bruce D. Smith is indicted for the crime of second-degree larceny. It is alleged that between about April 2018 through March 2019 in the Town of Bergen that Smith stole property having a value of more than $50,000. In count two, he is accused of falsifying business records in the first degree, a Class E felony. It is alleged in count two that in October 2018 that he acted with intent to defraud and falsified an entry into a business's financial records for the period of July 2018 through January 2019.

Christopher C. Good is indicted for the crime of first-degree burglary, a Class B violent felony. It is alleged that on Oct. 20 on Liberty Street in Batavia that Good knowingly entered and remained unlawfully in a dwelling with the intent to commit a crime and caused physical injury to a victim inside. In count two, he is accused of second-degree assault, a Class D violent felony, for intentionally causing serious physical injury to the victim. In count three, Good is accused of third-degree menacing, a Class B misdemeanor, for intentionally placing or attempting to place the victim in fear of death, imminent serious physical injury, or physical injury. In count four, Good is accused of second-degree aggravated harassment, a Class A misdemeanor, for communicating with a person with the intent to harass, annoy, threaten or alarm that person by making a threat to cause physical harm, thereby causing the victim to reasonably fear harm for their safety or their property, or that of their family or household.

Daniel E. King is indicted for the crime of aggravated unlicensed operation in the first degree, a Class E felony. It is alleged that on Oct. 9 in the Village of Corfu that King drove a 2006 Suzuki on Route 33 while his driver's license was suspended or revoked by authorities and while he was under the influence of alcohol or a drug. In count two, he is accused of DWI, also as a Class E felony, for allegedly driving while intoxicated that day. In count three, King is accused of refusing to submit to a breath test. In count four, he is accused of aggravated unlicensed operation of a motor vehicle in the first degree, another Class E felony, for allegedly driving on Phelps Road in the Town of Pembroke on Nov. 12 while under the influence of alcohol or a drug while his license was suspended or revoked by authorities. In count five, King is accused of DWI for allegedly driving on Phelps Road in the Town of Pembroke while intoxicated on Nov. 12. In count six, he is accused of refusing to submit to a breath test Nov. 12 on Phelps Road in the Town of Pembroke. In Special Information filed by District Attorney Lawrence Friedman, he is accused of having been convicted of DWI as a misdemeanor on Aug. 6, 2012, in Greene County Court, and that conviction forms the basis for the suspension or revocation referred to in counts one and four of the current indictment.

Lisa A. Way is indicted for the crime of driving while intoxicated, as a Class E felony. It is alleged that on Dec. 5 in the City of Batavia that Way drove a 2011 Chevolet on Ellicott Street (Route 63) and on the driveway/parking lot at an address on that street while intoxicated. In count two, Way is accused of refusing to submit to a breath test. In Special Information filed by District Attorney Lawrence Friedman, she is accused of having been conviction of DWI as a misdemeanor on Nov. 8 in Town of Newstead Court in Erie County and that conviction was within 10 years of the crime alleged in count one of the current indictment.

The Genesee County Highway Department has created a website to help the public informed during the reconstruction of the South Lyon Street Bridge.

To visit the website, click here. 

This is a $3 million project with 80 percent covered by federal grants.

Construction is expected to begin in spring 2022.

Considering the importance of this bridge to the traveling public in our community, a website was created to keep residents and businesses apprised of the project's progress," said Laura Wadhams, assistant county engineer. "Please check the website for updates as the design process continues, and through construction for progress photos."

A grass fire has reportedly spread to a porch at the back of 30 Vine St., Batavia.

The upstairs apartment may be occupied.

City fire responding.

UPDATE 2:15 p.m.: A quick response by City fire appears to have gotten the fire knocked down before there was any serious structural damage. All occupants exited the apartments safely and no pets were hurt or lost. The fire is under investigation and more information will be released later.

UPDATE 3 p.m.: City fire is back in service.

Firefighters with the City Fire Department are taking advantage of the ice still floating atop DeWitt Pond in Batavia for cold-water rescue training.

Roxy's Music Store, owned by the Rose Caccamise family, has been a well-known establishment in Batavia for many decades. The store and its merchandise is currently being liquidated by online auction.

The auction will include many accordions from Rose's personal collection, as well as stock from the store: instruments, accessories, audio equipment, sheet music, store hardware, and more.

The online auction is underway and ends March 16th. It can be found at bontragerauction.com. Successful bidders will be picking up their purchases on March 18th and 19th.