batavia

The runway at the Genesee County Airport will be able to accommodate larger planes once the center portion is replaced.

The runway hasn’t been resurfaced since 1978, according to Tim Hens, the highway superintendent.

“It’s basically original to when they built the airport,” Hens said. “It’s actually a limiting factor on the size of the airplanes that we can bring into the airport right now.”

After the reconstruction, Hens said a medium-sized business jet will be able to land on the runway.

The 3,000-foot stretch that will be reconstructed is in between the extension that occurred in 2005 and the restoration in 2007. The pavement depth varies from five to nine inches, Hens said.

The reconstruction will be covered under 95 percent federal and state aid.

“This is very similar to other airport projects we’ve done,” Hens said.

Northeast Paving, in Lancaster, was the lowest bidder for the project, at just over $3.1 million.

C&S engineers provided a construction inspection contract, at a little over than $305,000.

Both bids are contingent on receiving the grant, which will likely be given in August, Hens said.

“They usually expect us to turn it around in five days,” Hens said.

Hens said the construction will be phased so there will always be a portion of the runway open.

“We’ve limited the actual shutdown,” Hens said. “There will a one-week period of time where we have to shut down the entire runway, but that will be during the night only.”

There will still be 2,000 feet of the runway available for use when the construction is going on, Hens said.

“If they do it right, we’re hoping we can get another 40 years out of the pavement,” Hens said. “So we won’t have to do it again, at least not in my lifespan.”

Photo submitted

At 6 months old, Halani Rolle isn't through with chemotherapy, but her grandmother said she's doing well.

“She looks good considering she has leukemia,” said Marian Massaro, a Batavia resident.

Halani was diagnosed with acute myeloid leukemia (AML) on May 9. Massaro said it came as quite a shock, especially to Halani’s parents, with there being no history of leukemia in the family.

Massaro said Halani is in remission, but needs a second round of chemotherapy.

“She had the first round, which was 28 days,” Massaro said. “The doctors said she did all right first round.”

In addition to chemotherapy, Massaro said Halani needs shots in her legs due to a blood clot.

“Her immune system is shot,” Massaro said. “But she’s going to have to have another round of chemo.”

Her parents, Jason and Crystal Rolle, drive back and forth to Buffalo to see Halani, and take care of two other kids, Julian, 8, and Harlem, 5.

“It’s hard,” Massaro said. “They’ve missed a lot of school.”

Massaro said Jason and Crystal both had jobs, but are currently out of work, taking care of the children.

Their vehicle is unsafe to drive, Massaro said. They have been borrowing hers, in order to drive back and forth.

Massaro recently wrote to an area car dealership, with the hope of receiving a donation of a car.

“When you have no money coming in, no vehicle and a sick kid, there’s got to be somebody in this town that would help out and do something,” Massaro said.  

Those wishing to donate can do so on the current Go Fund Me page located here.

Massaro said she is not sure how to fundraise next.

"The problem is, fundraisers take a lot of work and a lot of people," Massaro said. "There just isn't a lot of people to do something like that."

Today was an exciting day for the Jackson Primary first-graders. It is moving up day. They received certificates of continuation from administrators during a ceremony in the Batavia High School auditorium in front of their fellow classmates and cheering families. The students will now move on to John Kennedy Intermediate School and graduate from high school in 2028.  

Think back to when you were in grade school. Would you have missed your principal if she retired? Would the thought of her leaving bring you to tears? Oh no, not to me. I would not have missed her at all.  But maybe that is because Diane Bonarigo was not my principal.

Some of the children of Jackson Primary did cry as they said goodbye to the only principal they have known. Principal Bonarigo is retiring after being a principal for 12 years.

The Children of Jackson primary chanted Principal Bonarigo’s name and sang a song in her honor at their last “Family” meeting of the year. The school staff also thanked Mrs Bonarigo in making Jackson Primary a special place and a family.

Judging by the reaction of the children she will surely be missed by those lucky enough to have been at her school.

Tesla Renee Plantiko, 25, of Seven Springs Road, Batavia, is charged with endangering the welfare of a child. It's alleged that on Feb. 1, at 9:50 a.m., at a location on West Main Street, Batavia, with an outside temperature in the low 20s, Plantiko allowed her two small children outside unsupervised with inadequate clothing. Plantiko was reportedly sleeping at the time.

Gregory Seppe, 59, of South Swan Street, Batavia, is charged with public intoxication. Seppe was charged after Officer Jason Davis responded to a complaint that Seppe was stumbling through yards and onto the street on South Swan at 2:40 p.m., Saturday. Davis reportedly observed Seppe stumbling through yards and bouncing off a telephone pole. Davis is a trained drug recognition expert and determined Seppe was allegedly impaired by drugs. Seppe was transported to UMMC and issued an appearance ticket on the charge.

Jamie L. Broadbent, 34, of East Main Street, Batavia, was arrested on a warrant. Broadbent was arrested following a crewfew check on her at her residence. She was jailed on $2,000 bail or $4,000 bond.

David T. Loucks, 37, of West Garden Road, Rochester, is charged with aggravated unlicensed operation, 2nd, speeding, unlicensed operation, reckless driving, and unlawful possession of marijuana. Loucks was stopped at 6:20 p.m. Friday on Pearl Street, Batavia, by Officer Mitchell Cowen.

Charles J. Rodriguez Sr., 40, of North Spruce Street, Batavia, is charged with petit larceny. Rodriquez is accused of stealing $44.95 worth of merchandise from Dollar General. Rodriquez was arrested on a warrant, pled guilty and was sentenced to jail concurrent with a guilty plea to an unrelated charge of endangering the welfare of a child.

Heidi L. Harder, 42, of Montclaire Avenue, Batavia, is charged with kidnapping, 2nd, endangering the welfare of a child, and unlawful imprisonment, Harder is accused of taking a child of a relative, locking herself and the child in her apartment and refusing to return the child. The child was returned to a caretaker unharmed.

Jordan S. Thomas, 18, of Elm Street, Batavia, is charged with assault, 3rd. Thomas allegedly injured another person during a fight on Vine Street at 8:30 p.m., June 11.

Deborah S. Rodriguez, 49, of Farnsworth Avenue, Oakfield, was arrested on a warrant out of Batavia City Court for alleged failure to appear on a traffic violation.

Micheal J. Vanbuskirk, 43, of Myrtle Street, Le Roy, is charged with felony DWI, felony driving with a BAC of .08 or greater, aggravated unlicensed operation, 1st, operating without an ignition interlock device, and on a suspended registration. Vanbuskirk was stopped at 8:16 p.m. June 13 on Vine Street, Batavia, by Officer Chad Richards.

At 5:55 pm the line to get into Dwyer Stadium was out to the street and down the block. The gates to the park opened at 6 pm for the Muckdogs season opener. The fans were excited for the game and festivities to begin. I am sure they were not disappointed. 

The Auburn Doubledays scored first with a single run in the third. The Muckdogs answered that run with 4 of their own in the bottom of the 3^rd and were in control for the rest for the game. It was an action packed game with some good hits, a squeeze play and some impressive field work from this young team. The final score was Auburn 2 Batavia 8

John Kennedy Intermediate School 3^rd and 4^th graders sung the national anthem before the game with the Viet Nam War Veterans Color Guard presenting the Flag.

Western NY Skydiving put on a show by dropping in with the game ball. 

The final field preparation and practice are underway as the Batavia Muckdogs prepare for their home opener tonight against the Auburn Doubledays.Gates open at 6 p.m., game starts at 7:05.The weather for the opener looks great with a predicted 75 degrees and light wind; no rain is in the forcast.This should allow for Western NY Skydiving to parachute in with the ball for the first pitch.

Press release:

Victor Roberts, veterans benefits advisor, NYS Division of Veterans' Affairs, will be at the Downtown Batavia Public Market this Friday from 10 a.m. until 2 p.m. to distribute NYS FreshConnect Checks to local veterans.

FreshConnect Veterans Checks are a component of Governor Cuomo's "New York Fresh Connect Farmers' Markets" (FreshConnect) program. The program is designed to assist New York farmers by increasing the sale of locally grown food in communities.

FreshConnect checks will be issued as a one-time annual benefit: 10 - $2 checks ($20) -- one packet per household, per season. Checks will be issued on a first-come, first-served basis to veterans and current members of the Armed Forces of the United States, members of their immediate families, including un-remarried surviving spouses of a veteran.

Employees of New York State and veterans or service members with immediate family members employed by New York State are not eligible for FreshConnect checks.

"Recipients will not require ID," Roberts said, "but they will need to sign a form accepting the program's rules and regulations."

"The checks can be used to purchase fresh produce from participating vendors at the Market," said Market Manager Mike Bakos. "The Market is excited to be a distribution point for FreshConnect Veterans Checks and we thank all of our veterans for their service to our great country."

A 17-year-old resident of Maple Road, Basom, is charged with unlawful surveillance, 2nd. The youth is accused of placing a mobile phone with its video camera operating in a locker room at Oakfield-Alabama High School. He was arraigned and released under supervision of Genesee Justice.

Nathan Gerald Safford, 27, of Broughton Road, Silver Springs, is charged with unlawful fleeing of a police officer, reckless driving, speeding (over 55 mph), speeding (in a 40-mph zone), and failure to stop at red light. Safford was arrested once stopped at 8:25 p.m. Friday on Main Road, Corfu, by Deputy Jeremy McClellan. He was jailed on $25,000 bail or $100,000 bond.

Philip Michael Arcuri, 31, of Oak Street, Warsaw, is charged with criminal possession of a controlled substance, criminal possession of a hypodermic instrument, unlawfull possession of marijuana, moving from lane unsafely, and failure to use designated lane. Arcuri was arrested following an investigation into a property-damage accident at 4:40 p.m. Friday on Lake Road, Pavilion, by Deputy Micheal Lute. Arcuri was allegedly found in possession of heroin, a needle and marijuana.

Mark Anthony Constable, 28, of Meigs Street, Rochester, is charged with unlawful possession of marijuana, aggravated unlicensed operation, 3rd, and no front plate. Constable was stopped at 12:30 p.m. Friday on Route 33, Bergen, by Deputy Chris Erion.

Glenn Vincent Gerold, 27, of County Route 26, Carthage, is charged with DWI, driving with a BAC of .08 or greater, aggravated unlicensed operation, 1st, and inadequate headlights. Gerold was stopped at 9:37 p.m. Friday on West Main Street, Batavia, by Deputy Richard Schildwaster.

Joshua Adam Locurcio, 37, of Stenson Avenue, Rochester, three counts of criminal possession of a controlled substance, 7th, aggravated unlicensed operation, 3rd, driving on a suspended registration, unlawful possession of marijuana, operating an uninspected vehicle. Locurcio was stopped at 8:06 p.m. Sunday on Route 33, Bergen, by Deputy Ryan DeLong. 

Patrick Frances Donaldson, 47, of Harvard Street, Hamburg, is charged with DWI, driving with a BAC of .08 or greater, and failure to stop at stop sign. Donaldson was stopped at 10:33 p.m. Friday by Deputy Ryan DeLong.

Press release:

The Batavia Lions Club recently presented its annual scholarships and awards for the 2016-2017 school year. 

This spring,more than 20 graduating seniors at Batavia High School and Notre Dame High School applied for scholarships and were interviewed by a committee of Lions Club members; four were chosen to receive $1,000 each toward their college education. In addition, selected students from both schools were awarded the Art Roth Fine Arts Award and the Bill Cook Scholar Athlete Award. 

The final award is the Batavia Lions Club Award in Communications, which is presented to a Genesee Community College student in memory of two former Batavia Lions and local media legends – Paul Bostwick, the former managing editor of the Batavia Daily News, and James H. Gerrity, the former news director of WBTA.

During the high school football season each fall, members of the Lions Club man the food stand at Notre Dame Stadium to sell snacks during each home game. The proceeds are used exclusively for the scholarship and awards program at Notre Dame. The BHS Scholarships, Bill Cook and Art Roth Awards as well as the Bostwick/Gerrity Award are funded through money set aside by the Batavia Lions Club.

This year’s winners are (from left):

Kelvin LaPierre – Paul Bostwick/James Gerrity Award and is currently attending Genesee Community College. Serena Strollo-DiCenso – BHS Scholarship, will be attending the University of Buffalo to begin her path to law school. Hannah Bowen – ND Scholarship, will attend Clarkson University to study Psychology.  Angelina Miconi – BHS Scholarship, will attend Genesee Community College to begin her program in Art Education. McKenna Dziezmian – BHS Art Roth Fine Arts Award, will attend the University of Rochester to study Biomedical Engineering. Campbell Anderson – BHS Bill Cook Scholar Athlete Award, will attend the Air Force Academy. Jacob Weatherwax -- ND Scholarship, will attend Alfred State to study Welding Technology and Business. Christopher Lemley – ND Bill Cook Scholar Athlete Award, will attend Case Western University to study Civil Engineering. Keara Zerillo – ND Art Roth Fine Arts Award, will attend the State University of New York at Fredonia to study Music Education.

The Lions Club congratulates all of this year’s winners and wishes them success in all of their future endeavors.

The Ramble Music & Arts Festival will be held on July 1 this year on Center Street, with music, vendors and activities.

The Ramble is an annual reunion of musicians and artists that at one time or another, called Batavia or the nearby areas, their home. The event includes craft vendors, food vendors, a designated kid zone with rides and activities, and music.

This year, there will be 33 bands and performers at the Jackson Square and Center Street Stage.

Paul Draper III, the event coordinator, said there will be a larger, second stage to look forward to.

“There have also been major expansions for vendors this year,” Draper said. “There’s a duck pond and a dedicated kid zone. It is very family oriented.”

The performers include Audibull, Bad Luck, Batavia All Stars, Bluesway, Dave Holnbeck, Driven, Eagle Creek, Genesee Ted, Ghost Riders, Kevin Moyles, KoKo & The Moon Crickets, Kruppner Brothers, Loosely Tight, Mark Grover, Me & Red, Mitty & The followers, Nichols Brothers Band, Noah's Reign, Steve Kruppner, Paul Almeter, PD3 & Co., Red Creek, Rhythm Collision, Rich Lullo Band, Rock Soulgers, Ryan & Scott, Ryan Consiglio, Savage Cabbage, Sierra, Soul Craft, TONK!, Trolls, Unruly, and Zero.

Draper said they are still accepting vendors and sponsorship opportunities. If anyone is interested, contact thebataviaramble@gmail.com

A microwave caused a two alarm fire on 20 Swan St about 9:30 am.There was the smell of smoke but no visable flames.Two children were sent for observation for smoke inhalation. No other injuries were reported. All units are back in service. 

A resident on Slusser Road, between Pratt and Killian roads, reports his neighbor's dog took off last night around 8:30. He answers to "Ruben." If you have information about the dog, call Amy at (716) 998-1860 or Tom at (585) 993-2163.

UPDATE: Ruben is home safe.

Yesterday, we reported that State Police had opened an investigation into a pickup truck that had been stolen earlier in morning from MY-T Acres Farm in Batavia.

The truck was returned at 4:20 a.m. today. It was undamaged with all the property still in the vehicle.

The owner credits publication of the theft on The Batavian with the return of the vehicle.

To open the YWCA's Third Annual Women of Distinction Awards ceremony at Genesee Community College yesterday afternoon, Lt. Gov. Kathleen Hochul shared how the issue of domestic violence and public service through the Y helped shape her life.

Hochul's grandmother was a victim of domestic violence, and Hochul's mother was an advocate for changing laws and changing attitudes around domestic violence, even testifying for the Legislature in Albany. She helped change the way police officers respond to domestic violence cases.

"She testified in hearings trying to get law enforcement to treat is as the crime it is," Hochul said. "At the time when someone would call for help, someone would call and the police would show up at the door and the husband responded and said, 'Oh, don't worry, we're OK here.' They had no obligation. They could leave. That went on for far too long." 

When her mother turned 70, she said she wanted to do something in her mother's name, so they established the Kathleen Mary House, a safe place for women who have been victimized.

Before Hochul ever ran for public office, she thought she might like to get involved in politics, perhaps as a campaign manager, so she took classes are her local YWCA to learn how to be a campaign manager. That, it turned out, inspired her to run for a seat on the Town of Hamburg Board.

Hochul noted that women are taking a bigger and bigger role in public life, but that there is more progress to be made.

"To the young women in the audience, have confidence in yourselves, know that you, too, have a role to play in changing the world," Hochul said. "There is no time like the present. You don't have to wait until middle age to be engaged. Step up. We need you. Your society needs you. Your country needs you. And your community here in Genesee County needs you."

The award recipients were:

• Rev. Roula Alkhouri, the Racial Justice Award
• WNY Tech Academy, the Economic Empowerment Award
• Dee Quinn Miller, the Military/Veteran Award
• Zonta Club of Batavia-Genesee County, the Peace Award
• Krysten Schmidt, owner of Ladies First, the Advocacy/Civic Engagement Award
• Lewis Tree Service, the Corporate Social Responsibility Award
• Georgann Corrubba, TenCar Inc., the Exceptional Entrepreneur Award

For more on the winners, click here.

Georgann Corrubba

Rev. Roula Alkhouri

Dee Quinn Miller

Gail Fenton and Ruth Riner, of Zonta Club.

Michlen Robinson, representing Lewis Tree Service.

Press release:

GO ART! presents an exhibit by Stacy Kirby “A Nice View “-- A Collection of En Plein Aire Paintings and Illustrations.”

After a couple decades of drawing, first in crayon then in pencil, Stacey Kirby picked up a paint brush, pursuing an education in illustration at Montserrat College of Art. After graduating she applied her illustration skills to mural painting, creating large scale art works for private homes, businesses, and public spaces.

Her passion is forming concept and idea into impactful paintings, whether the theme is historic, or of the natural world.

Kirby, a native of Albion, has been contributing murals to the Orleans and Monroe counties for a number of years.

"As a muralist, it's my goal to create artwork that is accessible to everyone, to encourage appreciation for art and the deeply rooted communities that we're a part of," Kirby said. "Public murals are a great opportunity to expose numbers of people to the arts, while sharing something important about that community with the world.”

In her free time she enjoys painting "en plein aire." She is working with “Traveling Towpath Troubadours" -- a music performance group whose summer concerts are part of the Bicentennial Celebration of the Erie Canal in Orleans County -- on a commemorative painting capturing the idea behind their 2017 endeavor.

"A Nice View" opens July 11 and runs through Sept. 10 at GO ART!, located inside historic Seymour Plac,e 201 E. Main St., Batavia.

Gallery hours: Thursday and Friday 11 a.m. - 7 p.m., Saturday 11 a.m. - 4 p.m., and on the second Sunday of the month, 11 a.m. - 2 p.m.

There will be a closing reception, with light fare, on Sept. 7 from 6 to 8 p.m.,  featuring “Traveling Towpath Troubadours” as entertainment and the unveiling of the commemorative painting.

Angela Marie Bodekor, 30, of South Lake Road, Corfu, is charged with: aggravated DWI -- a BAC of .18 percent or higher; DWI; refusal to take a prescreen breath test -- roadside; open container of alcohol in vehicle; leaving the scene of a property damage accident; and unreasonable speed. On June 15, following the investigation of a motor-vehicle accident at 950 Sliker Road in the Town of Pembroke, Bodekor was arrested on the charges listed. She was issued an appearance ticket for Pembroke Town Court and is due there on Aug. 1. The case was handled by Genesee County Sheriff's Deputy Jeremy McClellan, assisted by Sgt. Jason Saile.

Amy L. Wolfe, 42, of Auburn Ave., Rochester, is charged with criminal possession of a controlled substance and possession of a hypodermic needle. She wass arrested on Federal Drive in Batavia at 7:28 a.m. on June 16 following a complaint at a local hotel. She was allegedly found to be in possession of several hypodermic needles and what appeared to be heroin. She was issued appearance tickets to appear in Town of Batavia Court on July 27. The case was handled by Genesee County Sheriff's Deputy Andrew Hale, assisted by Deputy Lonnie Nati.

Jason W. Whitehead Jr., 19, of Skyline Drive, Penn Yan, is charged with endangering the welfare of a minor, a Class A misdemeanor, and unlawful possession of marijuana. Whitehead was arrested on Thursday afternoon, June 15, by members of the Genesee County Drug Enforcement Task Force following an investigation in the area of 4 MacArthur Drive in the City of Batavia. He was allegedly found to be in possession of marijuana and further investigation allegedly revealed that he provided marijuana to a person less than 17 years old. The defendant was issued an appearance ticket for June 27 in Batavia City Court.