batavia

One vehicle T-boned another at the intersection of Main Street and Center Street at about 10:30 a.m.

People in both vehicles were being treated at the scene. There was airbag deployment in one vehicle. 

The accident is under investigation and no further information was available at the scene.

Eastbound traffic was blocked until the accident was cleared.

Submitted photos and press release:

Musicians of Note, a wall of fame to honor past Batavia High School graduates in music, will showcase the 2020 honorees in a ceremony at 7 p.m. Thursday, May 20, at the high school.

The selection committee for Musicians of Note received numerous outstanding nominations in January 2020 prior to the COVID-19 outbreak. Rather than have a virtual ceremony in 2020, the Musicians of Note committee decided to postpone the celebration until they were able to properly honor the 2020 recipients.

They are now able to hold the event live by following CDC guidelines and with limited seating. Honorees will be recognized with a video presentation.

The BHS Concert Band, Jazz Ensemble, Beauty Shop Ensemble, and the BHS String Ensemble will perform for the first time since December 2019.

A plaque featuring the honorees' accomplishments will be displayed on the new Musicians of Note wall at the High School.

The 2020/2021 recipients for the Musician of Note Award are: Ken Hay, Melinda Hay, Joseph Robusto, Harold McJury, Marc Schumann Ferrari, Patrick Jee and Alexander Davis.

Kenneth Hay (1982-2003) -- Former BHS Band Director:

●  Genesee-Wyoming Music Educators President;

●  Conducted All-County Bands in Genesee and Orleans County;

●  Pit Orchestra Conductor for 18 Batavia Rotary Club Productions;

●  Named a Paul Harris Fellow by the Rotary Club of Batavia;

●  Presented with the GO ART! Genesee-Orleans Community Arts Award 2003.

Melinda Hay (1983-2003) -- Former Elementary Band Director:

● Helped to organize the First Elementary All-County Festival in Genesee County;

 

 

●  Conducted an Elementary All-County Band;

●  Enjoyed starting many young musicians on their first Band instrument;

●  Created “Tour Day” for the Batavia Advanced Band;

●  Was honored to “pin” a flower on each graduating senior at the Batavia Pageant of Bands.

Joseph Robusto -- Class of ‘65:

●  Exemplified his Batavia High Yearbook designations of “Friendliest” and “Best Smile”;

●  Talented classical accordionist and disciplined competitor who attained the Alternate National Accordion Championship title as the youngest recipient at age 16;

●  Competed and adjudicated nationally and internationally;

●  Outstanding musician and dedicated instructor, a loving and supportive family man, a well-known local business owner and community supporter, and a friend to everyone he became acquainted with;

●  Amazing accordion and piano performer whose fine tuned technique and interpretative skills would captivate you by drawing you into the moving story he was telling through his music.

 

 

Herald McJury -- Class of ‘68 (inset photo, right):

• Guest Soloist with Genesee Symphony Orchestra;
• Batavia Youth Bureau Adult Volunteer of the Year;
• Drum Corp International Volunteer of the Year 1995;
• Buglers Hall of Fame 2016;
• Navy submarine service during the Vietnam War.

 

Marc Schumann Ferrari -- Class of ‘80 (inset photo left):

●  Salutatorian BHS Class of 1980;

●  Member of major label recording artists Keel and Cold Sweat;

●  Guitarist in the hit movies "Wayne's World" and "Wayne's World 2";

●  Two-time published author -- "Rock Star 101" and "Don't Dilly Dally Silly Sally";

●  Father of the most awesome daughter Sierra.

 

 

David J. Reschke, no age or address provided, was arrested after an investigation by the Genesee County Sheriff's Office into a reported burglary Feb. 12 at a detached garage on Transit Road in the Town of Stafford. He is charged with two counts of second-degree forgery and one count of criminal possession of stolen property. It is also alleged that the stolen property from the burglary was sold at a business in the Town of Batavia under a false name and that an additional sales transaction was made on a separate date at a business in the Town of Batavia by Reschke under a false name. He was arraigned virtually in Genesee County Court and released on his own recognizance because the charges against him do not qualify for bail under the NYS bail reform law. Reschke is due in Town of Batavia Court at a later, unspecified date.

Aaron Michael Raegan Hatt, 25, of Broadway Road, Alexander, is charged with second-degree burglary and first-degree criminal contempt. Hatt was arrested following a complaint on Broadway Road, Alexander at 4:30 a.m. April 28. It is alleged that the defendant entered a residence of protected persons, who have a full stay away order of protection against him, ultimately resulting in subjecting them to physical contact. Hatt was arraigned in Genesee County Court and put in jail on $1,000 cash bail, $2,500 bond or $5,000 partially secured bond. He is due for a call appearance in Town of Alexander Court on May 25. The case was handled by Genesee County Sheriff's Deputy Howard Wilson, assisted by Deputy Rachel Diehl.

There will likely be a traditional graduation ceremony for the seniors of Batavia High School but it will comply with the state's COVID-19 guidelines, according to Superintendent Anibal Soler.

The plans for the ceremony are in development in cooperation with students and families, Soler said.

The June 26 ceremony will be held at Van Detta Stadium and each graduate will be allowed four guests. Because of state guidelines for events attended by more than 200 people, attendees will be required to show proof of vaccination or a negative COVID-19 test.

Students and families that opt out of the requirements will be able to participate in what Soler called a "micro-ceremony."  

"Every student will get their moment of getting their diploma," Soler told the school board on Monday evening.

Plans are also being finalized for a senior prom with attendance limited to less than 200 people and held outdoors. Under state guidelines, that event won't require proof of vaccination or a negative test.

Nicole Mayers, a Batavia Middle School counselor, has been selected by the NYS School Counselor Association as the state's Counselor of the Year.

Mayers has been a school counselor for 16 years and worked at BMS for eight years.  

Currently, her focus is on school attendance, academic achievement, and providing social-emotional skills to students.

She was instrumental, according to information released by the school district, in implementing a daily social-emotional learning program for middle school students. Students are given daily SEL prompts that officials say have been beneficial during the coronavirus pandemic.

She is a certified trauma illness and grief responder.

From the Batavia Police Department:

The Batavia Police Department has recently been investigating a plethora of larcenies from vehicles in the city. These larcenies have been occurring mainly in the overnight hours, and from (unfortunately) unlocked motor vehicles.

Patrols remain vigilant in the overnight hours, and we are asking for assistance from the public in reducing the amount of these incidents.

Please remember: ALWAYS lock your car doors. Leave exterior lighting on if possible.

ALWAYS lock your car doors. Remove valuables from your vehicle.

ALWAYS lock your car doors. Theft prevention starts with you, and it starts before you even leave your vehicle.

As always, if you notice anything suspicious around your property, please do not hesitate to the contact the police department.

Presented by Batavia City Schools

Sixth Ward Councilwoman Rose Mary Christian spoke up Monday at the city schools board of trustees meeting on behalf, she said, of her constituents, decrying the high cost of education in an age of tighter household budgets.

"I really don't have any solution," Christian said near the end of her remarks. "I'm asking you to seriously think about the people who live in this community and are having a hard time right now."

She noted that assessments have gone up throughout the city and that is putting more of a squeeze on some households.

She asked if the board considered reducing salaries for teachers and other staff members.

"Everything is escalating and it's hurting everyone, even you," she said.

She also asked that Sacred Heart once again be used as a polling station in school district elections.

On May 8, voters will chose among four candidates for three positions on the school board and whether to approve a $661 spending plan for the district for 2021-22, an increase of $625,935 from the current year.

The proposed tax levy (the aggregated of all property taxes collected in the school tax) is $19,493,958, exactly as it is in the current year.  

State and federal aid covers most of the rest of the district's spending.

Photo: Still from video of Monday's meeting.

Press release:

The City Water Department has to do an emergency water shut-off on Wednesday, May 12.

The water will be shut on Ellicott Street from Liberty to Swan, Hutchins from Ellicott to Sumner, Goade, and Hyde Park. This will start at 7:30 a.m. and water will be off until 12 p.m.

We appreciate the patience of the citizens involved.

Submitted photos and press release:

Is your vehicle ready for a bath? Might we suggest the best wash in town? Thank you so much to Ellen Greene-Gruttadauria of Classy Chassy Car Wash, and Kim Pangrazio, for planning a car wash fundraiser to support Crossroads House!

This will be in memory of Kim's mother, Carol, who was our resident back in 2018. Carol was a local gal and made her way deep into the heart of our community. The event will take place Tuesday, May 11^th at the 4120 Veterans Memorial Drive location ONLY (across from Walmart).

Now until 8 p.m., you pay only $5 per Eco Tunnel Wash, which the Classy Chassy is donating back, along with their generous match of $5, to bless us with $10 per car! This is their best wash, the Eco Tunnel Bath, an $18 value for only $5!

Show your car some LOVE on today and thank you for supporting Crossroads House!

Below, Kim Pangrazio, left, and her late mother, Carol.

Isaac C. King (inset photo right), 34, no address provided, was arrested at 12:19 a.m. on May 1 following a domestic incident on Walnut Street in Batavia. He allegedly unlawfully entered a residence where a woman and child lived. While inside, King is accused of choking the woman while the child was present. King then left the residence. When located by Batavia police, King allegedly resisted arrest, fell to the ground and feigned a medical issue. "King continued to be passive resistant and threw a hissy fit, crying and screaming, refusing to get in the back of a patrol car on his own accord." King is charged with: second-degree burglary -- entering a dwelling unlawfully; third-degree robbery; endangering the welfare of a child; criminal obstruction of breathing/blood circulation; and resisting arrest.

James J. Santiago Jr. (inset photo left), 41, no address provided, allegedly refused to leave the porch of an address on Washington Avenue in the City of Batavia and a physical altercation with the resident ensued. Santiago was arrested at 10:39 p.m. May 3 and and arraigned in Batavia City Court. He is charged with: third-degree assault; trespassing; second-degree menacing and criminal possession of a weapon in the third degree. He was subsequently put in Genesee County Jail without bail. In addition, he is a registered Level 2 sex offender who had an arrest warrant out of city court for failure to sign an address verification form, first offense, and failure to notify authorities of a change of address within 10 days, first offense. Santiago is scheduled to appear in Batavia City Court on June 2.

Aaron Michael Pawikowski, 60, of Sumner Road, Darien, is charged with failure to verify address withon 90 days -- with prior offense(s). At 1:20 p.m. on April 29, Pawlikowski -- a registered Level 3 sex offender with three prior felony convictions -- was arrested for failure to verify his address, which he is required to do every 90 days. He was taken to Genesee County Jail for fingerprints, arraigned in county court and put in jail due to his prior felony convictions. He is due back in county court on May 26. The case was handled by Genesee County Sheriff's Deputy Zachary Hoy, assisted by Deputy Travis DeMuth.

William Richard Kapelke, 39, of Main Street, Batavia, is charged with second-degree contempt. The defendant was arrested at 11:28 a.m. on West Main Street Road, Batavia, for allegedly violating an order of protection by being at the residence of the protected party. He was issued an appearance ticket for Town of Batavia Court and is due there on May 27. The case was handled by Genesee County Sheriff's Deputy Kevin McCarthy.

John Edward Sackett, 54, of County Line Road, Hamlin, is charged with: driving while intoxicated -- first offense; refusal to take a breath test; and moving from lane unsafely. At 10:45 p.m. on May 8, deputies responded to Route 19 in Bergen for a motorcycle crash with injuries. It is alleged that Sackett was northbound and went off the east shoulder of the roadway, striking a road sign. Sackett was treated for his injuries at a hospital and released with appearance tickets. He is due in Bergen Town Court June 2. The case was handled by Genesee County Sheriff's Deputy Kenneth Quackenbush, assisted by Deputy Nicholas Chamoun.

Cheryl Figoura, 41, no address provided, was arrested at 12:30 p.m. May 1 and charged with petit larceny for allegedly stealing $800 from a coworker at a restaurant on East Main Street in Batavia where they worked. Figoura was issued an appearance ticket and released.

Zachary Russell Reed, 30, of West Main Street Road, Batavia, is charged with second-degree harassment. Reed was arrested at 12:20 p.m. on April 26 on West Main Street Road for allegedly being involved in a physical altercation with another person. He was due in Town of Batavia Court on May 6. The case was handled by Genesee County Sheriff's Deputy Kevin McCarthy, assisted by Sgt. John Baiocco.

Roger Kevin Brinkman, 57, of Main Road, Stafford, is charged with second-degree menacing. It is alleged that at 1 p.m. on May 6 Brinkman was involved in a property dispute about an air conditioner and during an altercation he displayed a knife and menaced the other parties involved. He is due in Oakfield Town Court on June 7. The case was handled by Genesee County Sheriff's Sgt. John Baiocco, assisted by Trooper Brackett Valleha Franz.

Andre Roberts, 28, no address provided, was arrested at 9:35 p.m. May 4 on three bench warrants and an arrest warrant -- all out of City of Batavia Court. He was taken into custody by the Rochester Police Department after being located by them during an unrelated matter. After arraignment in City of Batavia Court, Roberts was jailed on $20,000 bail, $40,000 bond, or $80,000 partially secured bond. He is due back in city court on May 20.

Photo above, Libby Schultz, a nurse at United Memorial Medical Center, spends her free time as a flight instructor at Akron Airport. 

National Nurses Week is celebrated every May 6-12 throughout the country, and at United Memorial Medical Center in Batavia, three nurses with unique hobbies are being highlighted.

Shanda Williams, of Stafford, Libby Schultz, of Akron, and Jennifer Leffler, of Varysburg, all combine their hobbies with their love of nursing.

Williams, an ER nurse who is in her 21^st year at UMMC, makes shadow boxes; Schultz is a pilot and flight instructor at Akron Airport; and Leffler makes maple syrup.

Williams has always liked to do creative things. She initially went to school for fashion merchandising, but realized she couldn’t make a living in Genesee County doing that, so she decided to study nursing. When COVID-19 shut everything down, she was looking for something to do.

“I’ve always loved the old vintage things you don’t see anymore,” Williams said. “And I like to go to estate sales.”

She describes her creations as mixed media. Interesting graphics, old book pages, rhinestones, old flowers, junk beads and vintage frames all end up as one of her works of art.

“If something is not the right color, I paint it, maybe gold or silver,” she said. “If it’s missing chunks, that’s even better. It adds to the aesthetics.”

All her subject matters have angel wings incorporated, she said. She makes her own.

Much of her work she gives away, but she’d like to find a shop where she could display her creations for sale.

Schultz at 38 has only been a nurse for two years, but she has had an illustrious career as a pilot. 

“I get to do my two loves – flying and caring for people,” Schultz said. 

After high school, Schultz attended Delta State University in Mississippi, where she got her bachelor’s degree in Commercial Aviation. She has always loved airplanes and got her private pilot’s license in 2001 at the age of 20.

Flying was in her blood and in her family. Her father was in the Air Force, but not as a pilot. He served in security and the family lived on Air Force bases, including Japan. It was there that a friend of a neighbor, whose dad was a pilot, took her for a plane ride, and she loved it instantly.

“I loved fighter planes, and I still go to every airshow I can,” she said.

Schultz was accepted into the Air Force Academy at Colorado Springs with hopes of becoming a fighter pilot, but issues with her eyesight put an end to that. When she graduated from Delta, she had her flight instructor’s instrument rating and multi-engine and commercial ratings. Then she moved to Memphis, Tenn.,where she began instructing.

“After a while, I needed to do something else, and wanted to fly big planes,” she said. “I got a job flying Lear jets for a construction company from Canada, based in Buffalo. I came to Western New York for that job and flew for them for six years.”

Schultz also has her airline transport certification and flew in that capacity until the company shut down. Then she went to the airlines but soon realized being gone all the time and traveling was not for her now that she had gotten married.

She said she had registered for nursing school after leaving the Air Force Academy, but switched to aviation after seeing the pilots and planes.

She got her bachelor of science in Nursing in 2019 from the University of Buffalo School of Nursing. She said she graduated just as the coronavirus pandemic was picking up.

“Right now, I prioritize nursing, ” she said.

But she works the night shift at United Memorial so she can fly during the day. Her goal still is to own her own airplane and have a grass strip.

Leffler can stake claim to the sweetest hobby. She and her husband, Zebulun, have their own sugar shack and make maple syrup.

Leffler has worked in the ER at United Memorial for 12 years. She grew up helping her dad collect sap on their farm.

They boiled it down on an old wood-fired evaporator. Most of it was for their family, but some they sold at a stand in their yard.

“That was my first job,” Leffler said. “That was how I earned my allowance growing up.”

She said when she married Zebulun, he had an engineering mind and used his knowledge to install a high-vacuum pump on their lines in the woods.

The woods operation uses wet-dry lines for both main and secondary lines with a modern dry running vacuum pump operating at up to 27-inch mercury.

“Our woods are on a hill and the sap runs by the vacuum pump, which pulls the sap from the trees,” Leffler said. “That gives you a higher production.”

The Lefflers have 4,400 taps.

Their sugarhouse also has a reverse-osmosis machine to take water out. This ultra-high-efficiency evaporator cuts down on the time needed to boil down the sap, she said.

They use UV lights for treating the incoming sap. It is pumped underground 2,400 feet to the sugarhouse from the collection shed at the bottom of the woods.

During Maple Weekends in March, they serve waffles with maple syrup as well as giving tours of the sugarhouse. 

Leffler said their Varysburg farm is a good area for maple syrup. She said weather and soil all affect the taste and syrup from one area can taste different from another.

“When I’m not at the hospital, I’m helping my husband,” she said. “In the fall, we check the lines for damage done by deer or squirrels, and in January we start tapping the trees and preparing to collect the sap until March. Then I run the evaporator.”

In addition to pure maple syrup, they make granulated maple sugar, including maple sugar shapes, and maple cream in a commercial kitchen at their Over the Hill Maple farm at 2089 Maxon Road.

“I don’t ever plan to give up nursing or making maple syrup,” Leffler said. “They are a good balance.”

Williams added that the hospital has planned activities for the nurses every day during Nurses’ Week.

“Rochester Regional Health celebrates their nurses in a big way,” she said.

On Friday, the administration cooked breakfast for the nurses. One day they received a bag of cookies from Deb's Bakery inside Harrington’s Produce and Market Cafe on Clinton Street Road in Batavia. And on other days a basket raffle is planned and a food truck will be on site at UMMC.

Wednesday, May 12 is International Nurses Day.

Submitted photos top and bottom; inset photos of farm sign and maple syrup bottle courtesy of Wyoming County Chamber & Tourism.

Below, Shanda Williams, of Stafford, with a couple of her shadow box creations, and more of her art work.

A two-vehicle accident with airbag deployment and injuries is reported at Oak Street and Richmond Avenue in the city. Mercy medics and city fire are responding. Police are on scene.

UPDATE: Reader-submitted photos added.

Yesterday, the graduating seniors of Batavia High School visited Jackson, John Kennedy, and Batavia Middle School, both to celebrate their accomplishment and set an example for the younger students of success in school.

Jeremy Sinclair Logan, 44, of Meadville Road, Tonawanda Indian Reservation, is charged with second-degree assault and third-degree assault, which are, respectively, a Class D felony and a Class A misdemeanor. He was arrested at 8:50 p.m. May 4 at the Flying J Travel Center on Alleghany Road in Pembroke after he allegedly struck two victims in the face and head multiple times, causing injuries to both victims, for not wearing face coverings inside the store. Logan was arraigned in Pembroke Town Court then released on his own recognizance because the crimes he's accused of committing are not qualifying offenses for bail. The case was handled by Genesee County Sheriff's Deputy James Stack, assisted by Sgt. Jason Saile.

Connor Lee Andrews, 21, of Bacon Street, Le Roy, is charged with: operating a motor vehicle while impaired by drugs -- first offense; criminal possession of a controlled substance; vehicle operator leaving the scene of a property damage accident; and failure to keep right on a two-lane road. At 8:27 p.m. on May 3, a Genesee County Sheriff's deputy responded to Route 19 in the Town of Le Roy for a report of a hit-and-run accident. The vehicle was found on Bacon Street in the Village of Le Roy. Andrews allegedly possessed methamphetamine and cocaine at the time of his arrest. He was released with appearance tickets returnable to Le Roy Town Court on June 1. The case was handled by Deputy Kenneth Quackenbush.

John Willie Fore, 49, of Batavia (no address provided), was arrested at 9:28 p.m. on May 3 on Alexander Road in the Town of Batavia. It is alleged that he was driving while intoxicated -- first offense -- while having a BAC of .08 percent or more. He was arraigned in Batavia Town Court and is due to return there on May 13. The case was handled by Genesee County Sheriff's Deputy Austin Heberlein, assisted by Deputy Kyle Krzemien.

As part of its ongoing 70th Anniversary Celebration, Notre Dame High School today commemorated the laying of the school's cornerstone with a reenactment by Principal Wade Bianco.

The school opened in 1951 as one of 18 high schools in the Catholic Diocese of Buffalo. Today, Notre Dame is one of eight remaining Catholic high schools in the region.

Photo: Deacon Walt Szczesny, Kate Edwards (Director of Advancement), senior Ben Skalney ‘21, Mike Rapone (Vice Principal and AD), Joe Teresi (Board President), Kristen Gomez (Director of Academic Advisement), Wade Bianco (Principal), Tom Rapone (Business Manager), John Dwyer, Jennifer Tomm Petosa ‘82, Jim Fix ‘69 

Maria Prattico lays a wreath on the head of Mary during morning Mass at Notre Dame in an annual tradition, the crowning of Mary, at the school. Deacon Walter Szczesny looks on.

Bontrager's Spring Consignment Auction • Internet Bidding Only • Auction: Monday, May 3 - Tuesday, May 11
Live Preview: Saturday, May 8th: 9-11 a.m.
Location: 9921 Hickox Road., Alexander, NY 14005 (Some items are located in other places, please read descriptions carefully.)

Auction includes equipment, machinery, tractors, vehicles, tools, hardware and more. Successful bidders will pick up their purchases May 13th-15th by appointment. Click here for more information.