batavia

The Batavian and WBTA, local news partners for Genesee County, are hosting a Christmas party Friday evening during Christmas in the City at WBTA's studios at Main and Center.

Stop by between 5 and 9 p.m. and you could get a chance to win $100. Show us The Batavian's mobile app on your smartphone or tablet and you will be eligible to enter the drawing (no purchase necessary).

We will provide snacks catered by the Dibble Family Center.

• To download The Batavian's app for iOS, click here.
• To download The Batavian's app for Android, click here.

Olympia Sports, a national retail chain with a location in the Tops Plaza, is closing its Batavia location.

YMCA OFFERS THE “GIFT OF GOOD HEALTH” THIS HOLIDAY SEASON! Looking for that last minute gift before Christmas is upon us? The Genesee County YMCA, located at 209 E. Main St. in Batavia, would like you to consider giving the “Gift of Good Health” this holiday season.

YMCA Gift Cards can be purchased now through Dec. 23rd, 2017 at the Genesee County YMCA, allowing people the opportunity to give a YMCA membership or program as a gift to loved ones or friends. A gift from the YMCA entitles a friend or family member to become part of an organization that believes in and promotes active and healthy lifestyles, progressive skills development, fair play, family, and character development.

The Genesee County YMCA offers a wide array of programs and services to meet the interests and needs of the entire family from memberships for youth, college students, families and seniors to swimming lessons, childcare, sports and summer camping, there is truly something for everyone at the Genesee County YMCA.

For more information on membership or programs offered at the Genesee County YMCA, please call (585-344-1664) or log on to our website at www.glowymca.org.

Davon St. John, 19, of Oak Street, Batavia, is charged with five counts of second-degree burglary. St. John is accused of five residential burglaries at five locations on Ellicott Avenue, Montclair Avenue, and Union Street, Batavia. One house was burglarized three times and the other two, once each. St. John was jailed on $50,000 bail, $100,000 bond. The burglaries were investigated by Det. Thad Mart, Det. Matt Wojtaszczyk, Det. Eric Hill, Det. Rich Schauff, Det. Kevin Czora, Officer Jason Davis, Officer Kevin DeFelice, Officer Mitchell Cowen.

Cody A. Eaton, 28, of Otis Street, Batavia, is charged with strangulation, 2nd. Eaton is accused of strangling another person at 4:23 a.m. Sunday at a location on Otis Street, Batavia. He was jailed without bail.

Natalie M. Cervone, 23, of Clinton Street, Batavia, is charged with unlawful possession of marijuana. Cervone was a passenger in a vehicle stopped for an alleged traffic violation at 8:30 p.m. Nov. 22 on Clinton Street by Officer Chad Richards.

Brandon J. Micucci, 18, of Main Street, Alexander, is charged with unlawful possession of marijuana. Micucci was allegedly found in possession of marijuana at 9:15 p.m. Nov. 20 at DeWitt Recreation Area by Officer Stephen Cronmiller.

D'andre J. Cramer, 18, of Maple Street, Batavia, is charged with unauthorized use of a vehicle, petit larceny, and criminal possession of stolen property, 5th. Cramer was arrested in connection with a report of a vehicle theft reported Sept. 4 from a location on Columbia Avenue. There was also an alleged theft from the vehicle. He was jailed on $1,000 bail.

Jason Scott Hall, 28, of Rochester Road, Gasport, is charged with DWI, driving while impaired by drugs, and unlawful possession of marijuana. Hall was arrested by Deputy Howard Wilson following a DEC license check on Feeder Road, Alabama, at 11 a.m. on Friday.

Jake T. Flick, 23, of Oakfield, is charged with unlawful imprisonment, 2nd, harassment 2nd, and acting in a manner injurious to a child under age 17. Flick was arrested in connection with an incident reported at 2:54 a.m. Saturday by State Police. No further information released.

Completely updated two-story home, features master suite on the first floor. There are four bedrooms and a full bathroom on the second floor.

Hardwood floors in the living/dining area. New tile in kitchen and sunroom and all new carpet on second floor. New hot water heater, furnace and electric panel. Roof-complete tear off about 5 years ago. There is a one-and-a-half car detached garage.

Call Michelle Dills, Howard Hanna at 585-343-6750 or click here for more information on this listing.​

These four baby fainting goats (myotonic goats) have been missing since yesterday from a residence on Kelsey Road, Batavia, near the church.

If you locate them, call Kim Schildwaster at (585) 813-3935.

UPDATE 1:53 p.m.: The goats are found and are safe.

Great opportunity to own one of the most admired homes in the Village of Oakfield! Professional landscaping accents the amazing front porch.

The original front door has been beautifully preserved as well as original hardwood floors in dining room and living room. Gourmet kitchen (2012), butler pantry, huge first-floor laundry, full bathroom on first floor, an exercise room that could be a bedroom and a mudroom added in 2012. Second floor has five bedrooms and a full bathroom. 200 AMP service 2012, new roof (2011), tankless hot water heater (2012).

There is a deck (2014) overlooking the spacious back yard. The front porch has a new floor, soffit, ceiling, new lights, new steps and new screen door. Must see!

Call Michelle Dills, Howard Hanna at 585-343-6750 or click here for more information on this listing.

Kathy Ferrara, with her husband, Dan, children Marygrace, Daniel, Ashley, and grandson Brently, celebrated her purchase of Batavia's Original earlier this week.

After thanking the community, employees, and her family for their support, there was a ribbon cutting outside.

Previously: Batavia's Original, formerly Pontillo's, returns to local ownership

Note about the ribbon-cutting pictures. I messed up and forgot to change my camera settings when we shifted from inside to outside, so my ribbon-cutting photo was overexposed. Below there is a picture from the Kelly Birmingham of the Chamber of Commerce, and my photo in black and white.

Sue Schultz checks out, with the help of Michael Mugler, her purchases at Adam Miller Toy and Bicycle this afternoon on Shop Small Saturday, a day promoted nationally to encourage shopping at locally owned businesses.

Locally owned retail businesses are critical to healthy local communities. Small business owners provide the support communities need to thrive and more of the money spent at a locally owned business stays in the local community to help the local economy grow.

For more:

• Grow Your Own (PDF) by the Kansas City Federal Reserve (A guide for local communities on promoting support for small, local businesses)
• The Shop Local Ripple Effect, by the Institute for Local Self-Reliance

For a directory of locally owned businesses, visit ShopLocal.TheBatavian.com.

Andrea Karas and Kasey Woodhouse shopping at Pollyanna and Dot and The Hidden Door.

Gerald Diskin shopping for shoes at Batavia Bootery with Kevin Stone.

Reasons to hire an attorney for a workers’ compensation claim:

• 1. The workers’ compensation system is complex, confusing, and often difficult to navigate.
• 2. We will look out for your best interests, fight on your behalf against the insurance carrier to maximize your benefits, and make sure your questions are answered.
• 3. In some cases, you may be entitled to a financial award, even if you did not miss any time from work as a result of your work-related injury.
• 4. The insurance carrier will have a team of attorneys working on their behalf, having an attorney fighting on your behalf helps to level the playing field.

Please call Kristin Allen at Dolce Panepinto 585-815-9003 for any of your workers’ compensation needs.

A bicyclist suffered minor injuries about 1:30 p.m. today after being struck by a pickup truck at the intersection of Main and Bank streets, Batavia.

The rider had a complaint of ankle pain and was transported to UMMC for evaluation.

Photo: Courtesy our news partner, WBTA.

A 19-year-old Batavia woman died this morning after her 2004 Dodge Neon struck a tractor-trailer on Pearl Street Road at Wilkinson Road, Batavia.

Tori Nigro was pronounced dead at the scene by Coroner Karen Lang.

Investigators believe Nigro, who was northbound on Wilkinson Road, failed to stop at the stop sign at the intersection.

Her car struck the truck's passenger-side wheels. Her vehicle came to rest in the eastbound lane of Route 33 and the truck came to a controlled stop just east of the intersection.

No charges have been filed.

An investigation by the Crash Management Team is ongoing. Assisting in the investigation are Deputies Kevin McCarthy, Andrew Hale, Eric Andre, and Investigator Chris Parker. 

Assisting at the scene were the East Pembroke Fire Department, Corfu fire, Town of Batavia fire, and the Fire Coordinator's Office.

(Initial Report)

An accident with injuries and possible shots fired reported on Galloway Road, between Downey Road and Kelsey Road, Batavia.

The report is that a driver swerved to miss a deer and a hunter fired at the deer.

Town of Batavia fire dispatched but to stage at Fire Hall.

Mercy EMS dispatched.

Deputies are responding.

UPDATE 11:05 a.m.: Per a deputy on scene, Town of Batavia fire assignment is back in service.

UPDATE 4:06 p.m.: Per the Chief Deputy Gordon Dibble, reports of hunters firing rounds in the area were not substantiated. Initial investigation indicates a driver was eastbound on Galloway Road when two deer ran in front of the vehicle from the north, causing the driver to swerve. The driver struck a fire hydrant, shearing it off, in the area of 3321 Galloway. There were no injuries.

Janet L. Gatley, 48, of Niagara Falls Boulevard, North Tonawanda, is charged with falsifying business records, 1st, criminal possession of a controlled substance, 7th, petit larceny, and violation of public health. Gatley is accused of stealing numerous controlled substances from UMMC, where she was employed. The alleged thefts were investigated by Batavia PD and the State Attorney General's Office.

Jordan J. Schunk, 18, of Alexander Road, of Alexander, is charged with unlawful possession of marijuana. Schunk was allegedly found in possession of marijuana while in DeWitt Recreation Area after hours, at 8:58 p.m. Monday.

Jammie Lee Brown, 26, of Gates-Greece Townline Road, Rochester, is charged with harassment, 2nd. Brown is accused of grabbing and pushing another person while at a gas station on Route 19, Town of Le Roy, at 4:31 p.m. Thursday. Brown was jailed on $250 bail.

Kenneth Carl Niles, 26, of Route 88 North, Newark, is charged with petit larceny. Niles is accused of shoplifting from Walmart. Also charged, Scott James Gunkel, 38, of North Main Street, Newark.

Collin Wickings, 24, of Bergen, is charged with first-degree sex abuse. Wickings is accused of sexual contact with a child less than 11 years old. Wickings was arrested as a result of an investigation by State Police. No further information released. The investigation is pending.

A few hundred people came out this morning getting their excercise in before today's Thanksgiving holiday sponsored by The Kiwanis Club of Batavia. This has been a great tradition enjoyed by many people.

Today, Vic Marchese, owner of Main St. Pizza Company, presented a $3,309 donation to Genesee Cancer Assistance. The funds were raised in October through the sale of large pizzas -- delivered in a pink pizza box -- with $1 from each large pizza sold going to the charity.

Pictured, Fred Hamilton, Lori Kurek, Sue Underwood, Nickie Fazio, and Vic Marchese.

Batavia High School's Drama Club performs "Sally Cotter and the Censored Stone," a parody by Dean O'Carroll, next weekend.

Showtimes are 7:30 p.m., Dec. 1 and 2, and 2 p.m. on Dec. 3.

Tickets are $8 for adults, $6 for students and seniors. Tickets are available at the door.

The cast:

• Sally Cotter, Eryn Dunn
• Sally's Mother, Tanner Kolb
• Reubenon Ryebread, Cameron Bontrager
• 1st Censor, Madeline Keenan
• 2nd Censor, Alicia Scroger
• Dave, Pierce Corbelli
• Harmonica, Elise Hoerbelt
• Ursa Malaise, Parise Ricks
• Ed Molar, James Weatherbee
• Professor Athena McDonaldsa, Tanner Kolb
• Professor Shiftia Shape, Aubrey Towner
• Professor Albatross Underdrawers, Evan Bellavia
• Aaron A. Ardvarkovich, Gavin Tucker
• Shea'mon Canavan, AT Thatcher
• Navel Longfellow, Samuel Rigerman
• Polly Pixie, Emily Kilner
• Poppy Pixie, Riley MacDonough
• London Liverwurst, Lillian Whiting
• Val Crabby, Courtney Lougheed
• Gerry Boyle, Oliver Havens
• Freesia Chestnut, Jordyn Mott
• Kitty Ball, Macayla Burke
• Chloe Crane, Claire Griffith-Sarkis
• Patty Petronia, Laura Lepkowski
• Hedgerow the Owl, Phoebe Fryer

       Joseph James

Joseph B. James, 36, of Central Avenue, Batavia, is charged with two counts of criminal sale of a controlled substance, 3rd, and two counts of criminal possession of a controlled substance, 3rd.

James is accused of selling crack cocaine to an agent of the Local Drug Task Force on two occasions last month. 

Task Force members arrested James at the County Courts Facility while he was being sentenced in an unrelated case.

He was jailed without bail.

His arrest comes following an investigation into the sale, transportation and possession of crack cocaine in the City of Batavia.

The District Attorney's Office assisted in the investigation.