batavia

Press release:

The Genesee County Democratic Committee invites the community to celebrate early voting and meet their local candidates. 

On Saturday, Oct. 26th, the Genesee County Democratic Committee invites the community to celebrate early voting and meet their local candidates. The event will take place from 11 a.m. to 1 p.m. at the War of 1812 Bicentennial Peace Garden. It is located at 117-123 W. Main St. in Batavia. 

“For the first time in history, voters in New York State have the opportunity to vote early, and it’s a really big deal,” said City of Batavia Democratic Chair, Erica Donnell. “Voting rights activists have been fighting for this for a very long time and now that we have a Democratic majority in Albany, we finally got the job done.

"The first day of early voting is October 26th so we felt that would be a great day for our candidates to get together with voters and celebrate this accomplishment.” 

For more information about early voting visit geneseedemocrats.net. 

Voters will also have the opportunity to meet some of the endorsed Democratic candidates running for office this year. 

Chair of the Genesee County Democrats and Darien Town Board Member Michael Plitt says, “National politics seem to suck all of the oxygen out of the room these days, but if you really want to participate in democracy, the local level is the place to do it.

"When I knock on doors I like talking to voters about the things in their community that matters to them and where their vote can really make a difference.”

Participating candidates include City Court Judge candidate Benjamin Bonarigo, Ward 3 City Council candidate Nick Russo, Ward 5 City Council candidate Sammy DiSalvo, Darien Town Board Member Plitt, and others. Light refreshments will be provided.

A driver told deputies his left arm went numb while driving on Lewiston Road at 11:56 a.m., Sunday, causing him to lose control of his pickup truck, leading to a collision with a Honda sedan.

Both Clayton Thomas Skye, of Westfane, the driver of a red 2003 Chevrolet pickup, and Donna M. Woodworth, 58, of Batavia Oakfield Townline Road, Batavia, were injured in the crash.

No citations were issued.

Skye's passenger, Lavern Aderman Jr., suffered minor injuries.

Skye was driving his pickup south on Lewiston Road between the Thruway overpass and Veterans Memorial Drive when it crossed the centerline into the northbound lane where it struck the driver-side fender of Woodworth's sedan.

The accident report says that Woodworth said she saw Skye's truck entering her lane of travel and tried to avoid a collision by entering the fog lane but she was unable to avoid the collision.

The accident report was prepared by Deputy Jordan Alejandro.

(Initial Report)

Plan lunch with us! We will have hamburgers, italian sausage and Gail’s famous stuffed pepper soup, along with bread pudding and pies for dessert.

Tickets for the special Mega Woody Pedal Car and the Buffalo Bills Turf are available before the raffle at Crossroads House, stop by anytime for tickets, 11 Liberty St., Batavia.

All baskets and mega raffles will be drawn starting at 3 p.m. the day of the event. See you at the ARC Community Center, 38 Woodrow Road, Batavia, on Oct. 26th!

Reader and photographer Frank Capuano sent us a picture he made this morning of the sky over Batavia.

The weather was beautiful today.

A three-car collision with injuries is reported at 8259 Lewiston Road. Town of Batavia Fire  Department and Mercy medics are responding.

UPDATE 12:02 p.m.: There is entrapment. The location is between Cheryl Lane and Veterans Memorial Drive.

UPDATE 12:05 p.m.: Oakfield Fire Police are asked to shut down traffic at Route 63 and Galloway Road.

UPDATE 1:17 p.m.: Genesee County Sheriff's Sgt. Ronald D. Meides said there were two vehicles involved in the accident, not three. Witnesses told officers that the red pickup truck was southbound on Lewiston Road when, for unknown reasons, it left its lane of travel and drifted into the opposite lane. A northbound blue sedan tried to veer onto the right shoulder to avoid a collision but could not as the truck continued on and struck the car. Meides said it was not a true head-on collision -- more of a "glancing front bumper to front bumper" crash. The sedan's female driver from Oakfield required extrication as did the male driver of the pickup truck. He had a male passenger; both men are from Lockport. All three were conscious and alert and able to answer questions when first responders arrived. The female was taken to ECMC; the men were taken to Strong Memorial Hospital. Meides said their injuries are serious but not life threatening. Drugs or alcohol are not factors, Meides said, adding that charges are pending.

Press release:

Independent Living of the Genesee Region (ILGR) is holding a free “Meet the Candidates” Day to enable local residents with disabilities -- or anyone from the community -- to hear and discuss issues with some on the ballot in the November General Election.

Our Chief Policy Officer Todd Vaarwerk points out that those who achieve local positions now may be the state and national leaders of tomorrow!  So, whatever your political views, this is your year to get involved!

The event takes place from 1 to 4 p.m. on Tuesday, Oct. 22nd, ILGR’s Main Office in the Crickler Executive Business Center, 319 W. Main St. in Batavia, in the Douglas J. Usiak Multipurpose Room.

To date, we have confirmations from Batavia City Court Judge candidates Durin B. Rogers (R, C, I) and Benjamin J. Bonarigo (D, WOR, GRE); and Batavia City Council Ward 3, Deborah Kerr Rosenbeck (LBT).

We have also invited those who are not running unopposed in the following positions, although not all will attend: Genesee County Legislators District 8; Batavia City Council wards 3 and 5; various local positions: Alexander Town Clerk; Bergen Town Clerk; Bethany Town Council; Byron Town Supervisor and Town Council; Darien Town Supervisor, Town Justice and Town Council; Pavilion Highway Superintendent; and Pembroke Town Justice.

They will address their constituents and take questions.

(The party abbreviations (in alphabetical order): C – Conservative, D – Democrat, GRE – Green, I – Independence, LIB - Libertarian, R – Republican, WOR – Working Families.)

If an attendee wishes to be familiar with the “hot” disability issues, sheets of suggested questions will be provided; but participants are encouraged to ask about public concerns that are close to them. The building is fully disability accessible.

To RSVP or get additional information call Donna at (585) 815-8501, ext. 411.

Independent Living of the Genesee Region (ILGR) is a member of the Western New York Independent Living Inc. family of agencies that offers an expanding array of services to aid individuals with disabilities to take control of their own lives.

The Breast Cancer Coalition will present a talk on the long-term effects of radiation beginning at 6 p.m. Tuesday, Oct. 22, at Richmond Memorial Library in Batavia.

This event is cosponsored by Assemblyman Steve Hawley and Senator Michael Ranzenhofer.

It is free and open to the public. No reservations necessary. The library is located at 19 Ross St. in the City of Batavia.

Dr. Kevin J. Mudd, of the UR Medicine Wilmot Cancer Institute, will be the speaker.

Radiation treatment for breast cancer is known to reduce recurrence and increase survival rates for the disease.

• But are there risks associated with this form of treatment?
• What long-term effects may be attributed to radiation therapy?
• Do the therapeutiv benefits outweigh the potential risks?
• Are there ways to prvent or minimizue long-term effects?
• What should a patient be aware of in the weeks, months and years following radiation treatment?

To contact the Breast Cancer Coalition, phone (585) 473-8177, email:   infor@bccr.org or visit their website.

Gary Wayne Hensley, 44, of Burke Hill Road, Warsaw, is charged with second-degree burglary -- illegal entry of a dwelling, and fourth-degree grand larceny -- theft of a firearm. He was arrested Oct. 16 and arraigned in Alexander Town Court. He is being held in jail without bail due to prior felony arrests. It is alleged that on Sept. 7 at about 10:45 a.m. he entered a residence on Gilhooly Road in Alexander and stole a handgun and jewelry. He is due to appear in Alexander Town Court on Nov. 12. The case was handled by Genesee County Sheriff's Deputy Joseph Loftus.

Gregory James Baker, 39, of Pratt Road, Batavia, is charged with three counts of second-degree criminal contempt for disobeying a mandated court order at 4:57 a.m. on Oct. 4. Baker was arrested Oct. 15 following an investigation.He was arraigned in Batavia Town Court and released under supervision of Genesee Justice. The case was handled by Genesee County Sheriff's Deputy David Moore.

Gregory James Baker, 39, of Pratt Road, Batavia, is charged with second-degree criminal contempt. Baker was arrested Oct. 15 following an investigation of a mental health call from a location on Pratt Road to dispatch at 7:30 a.m. on Oct. 4. He was arraigned in Batavia Town Court and released under supervision of Genesee Justice. The case was handled by Genesee County Sheriff's Deputy Jared Swimline, assisted by Deputy Andrew Mullen.

Click here to get your tickets today.

A car has reportedly hit a tree while exiting the Thruway from the eastbound lane in Batavia.

Unknown injuries.

Town of Batavia fire and Mercy EMS dispatched.

UPDATE 12:01 p.m.: A Batavia chief on scene says all Batavia equipment can standby in quarters.

Tim Martin, born and raised in Batavia and a 2014 graduate of Batavia High School, is now in the Marine Corps and a tool he invented to assist in maintenance on the brakes of MV-22 Ospreys is getting the attention of even some of the highest-ranking generals in the Corps, thanks to its ability to reduce maintenance time and save money.

Martin's tool is now patent-pending and being deployed throughout the Corps for use on Ospreys, a type of multi-use aircraft that can take off and land both vertically (like a helicopter) and then fly like a fixed-wing plane.

After graduation from BHS, where he took several advanced-placement classes, Martin started college in an engineering program but decided he didn't like college life much so he joined the Marine Corps. He's now an aviation mechanic. 

In his email to us, Martin said, "I have loved my time in the Corps since the day I joined, and wish for everyone to seek out what they are truly called to do. I never thought in my life that I would drop out of college as an engineering student and go on to be patent-pending on a tool I invented a few years later. The opportunities in life are endless. Once you find your calling everything else falls into place."

Wegmans pharmacists will be at the Batavia YMCA from 9 to 11 a.m. tomorrow, Oct. 18, to provide flu shots. Pneumonia shots will also be available to eligible individuals.

The flu shots are also available for children ages 3 and up; they must be accompanied by a parent or guardian.

Your insurance provider will be billed; bring your prescription insurance card.

The retail price for the flu shot -- "Afluria Quad" -- is $39.99.

The Batavia YMCA is located at 209 E. Main St. in Downtown Batavia.

A slightly revised lease for property owned by the City of Batavia in the mall for Batavia Players got a renewed objection by Councilman Bob Bialkowski and as was the case in February of 2018, Bialkowski was the lone dissenting vote to approve the lease.

Bialkowski objected to the lease at Tuesday night's council meeting, he said, because it didn't address issues he said were typically in commercial leases -- such as provision for a dumpster, snow removal, parking, after-hour usage, and utilities.

He said the lack of clarity on these issues could lead to a lawsuit against the city and that since it is the first of what may be more leases of city property in the mall, the right precedent needs to be set.

"In my opinion, a good lease makes for good business," Bialkowski said.

He made a motion to rewrite the lease but it failed for lack of a second.

City Attorney George Van Ness said the only change in the lease was an extension of the term in order to meet state requirements for Downtown Revitalization Funds.

The proposal by Batavia Players to move the Harvester 56 Theater on Harvester Avenue to 35 City Centre -- the former Dent Neurological Clinic office, between Genesee Dental and The Insurance Center -- at a total cost of $901,750, was approved by the governor's office as part of the $10 million DRI award to the City of Batavia last year. The state grant will cover $701,750 of the construction costs.

Van Ness said if the city renegotiated the lease to the degree Bialkowski proposed, the past year's worth of work with the state to get final approval for the project would be lost and the process would start from the beginning.

"This is a standard commercial lease," Van Ness said. "It's been used in the past for other properties. It's been approved by Dent counsel. It's been reviewed and approved by counsel for Batavia Players as well as the Department of State.

"So respectfully, it's a standard lease in terms and received prior approval by the council on February 12th, 2018. Many of these same questions were asked and answered at that point in time. They were addressed and council voted at that point seven to one in favor of the lease."

Councilman Paul Viele, a contractor and commercial property owner, told his fellow council members that the lease is a standard "triple net."

A triple net lease means the tenant assumes responsibility for not just the rent, but also all other property expenses such as property tax, insurance, maintenance and utilities.

"I don't think anyone understands that they (Batavia Players) are responsible for most of everything that Bob raises as an issue," Viele said.

The council approved the lease on a 7-1 vote, with Councilwoman Rose Mary Christian absent.

There's been enough talk about the deer problem in Batavia, Councilman John Canale said during Tuesday's Batavia City Council meeting after a local resident said he's been chased by a buck in his own yard during public comments.

"Forming another committee isn't going to do anything," Canale said. "We've done this before. We form a committee and the committee studies the issue and makes a recommendation and then there's no action."

It's time for action, he said.

Councilman Paul Viele's suggestion: A controlled kill. It's time, he said, to start thinning the herds that encroach on the city.

Russell Nephew, a Bank Street resident, said there's a large herd that hangs out at that end of town, in the farm fields between Genesee Community College and the city line and enter on residential property, destroying landscaping and leaving their droppings in local yards, and perhaps carrying tics that are a danger to dogs and humans.

"Those things are disheartening and I’ve put up with them but now I’ve got chased through my backyard by a deer," Nephew said. "It reared up and I got away from it luckily. A couple of days later, my 70-year-old neighbor got ran into her apartment from a parking lot. At any one time, there can be from six to 10 deer that run through there."

A resident from Avon spoke up during the council discussion and said that in Avon they've instituted a bait-and-shoot program that has rules, is regulated, and is helping reduce the herd size.

Council President Eugene Jankowski pointed out that any deer killed would have the meat from the animal donated to a food pantry in the region to help feed low-income residents.

He also blamed the growing herd sizes on fewer hunters in New York. He said more people are giving up hunting as a protest against New York's increasingly restrictive gun laws.

While council members seemed to favor some culling effort, no specific plan was approved at Tuesday's meeting.

It's Make a Difference Day for Batavia High School seniors with students and teachers taking on several community projects, including cleanup at the Peace Garden despite the rain.

Top photo: Leah Wroten. Second photo, Wroten along with Carolena Williams, Gabrielle Lawrence, Andrea Kraus, Katie Metzler and Ethan DiLaura.

At the Batavia Agri-Business Child Development Center on Brooklyn Avenue, Ron Williams, Alesia Schmidt and Sherry Crumity.

Marcello Harris, Jacob Bondaruk and Joshua Wasiulewski clean toys at the Batavia Agri-Business Child Development Center.

Jacob Crimes cleaning a display case at the Holland Land Office Museum.

Charlie Burton and Ayden Dowd-Devay paint a door at HLOM, while in the background Eddie Goodenough vacuums.