batavia

Logan R. Evans, 22, of East Main Street, Batavia, is charged with DWI, driving with a BAC of .08 or greater, unlawful possession of marijuana and moved from lane unsafely. Evans was arrested following an investigation by officers Stephen Cronmiller and Matthew Lutey into an accident at 1:06 a.m. Saturday in the area of 23 Jackson St., Batavia.

Jacob S. Martino, 29, of Drake Street, Oakfield, was arrested on a warrant for alleged parking on city streets between 2 a.m. and 6 a.m. Martino turned himself in on the warrant. He posted bail and was released.

Amanda Marie Bowles, 28, of Williams Street, Batavia, was arrested on a bench warrant. Bowles was arrested by Batavia PD and turned over to the Sheriff's Office. Bowles was jailed on $100,000 bail.

Batavia officially became a city on January 1, 1915 after having been an incorporated village since 1823. The transition involved a progression through several steps during 1914. During 2014, I will be recalling each of these events 100 years after their occurrence.

In the early 1900s, village leaders appointed a Charter Review Commission for the purpose of drawing up a city charter proposal. Despite several submissions to the State, the Commission’s proposal consistently failed to gain the necessary State approval. The matter came to a head early in 1914. On this day, 100 years ago, the Village of Batavia aldermen, the equivalent of today’s City Council, unhappy with the Commission’s work, offered a competing proposal.

One reason for the failure of the Commission’s proposal to receive State approval had been lobbying by certain Village aldermen against specific parts of the proposal that caused them displeasure. Those parts included the elimination of wards, the elimination of political parties, the election of councilmen solely at large, and the creation of a city manager position. Political pundits predicted that the Board of Aldermen’s proposal would have none of these features.

The pundits were right. The aldermen’s charter proposal, made public 100 years ago today, not only retained wards, but increased them from five to six. It retained political affiliations, featured a strong mayor, and doubled Batavia’s representation on the County’s Board of Supervisors. It also had a particularly novel feature. Under the aldermen’s proposal, if at least 25 percent of the voters petitioned for enactment of a particular ordinance, the Common Council had to either adopt the ordinance or submit it to a vote by city residents.

In a move surprising some, the aldermen promised to put their proposal to a straw vote of residents just six days hence. Next week, I will provide another news release, this time revealing the outcome of that vote.

Local Greek yogurt maker Alpina has entered the national television yogurt wars with a series of commercials meant to entertain and inspire.

While industry leaders Chobani and Dannon dish out big bucks to debut commercials during the Super Bowl (including a both praised and panned spot from Dannon for Oikos Greek yogurt featuring the former cast of Full House, and Chobani's ad with Bob Dylan and a bear), Alpina held of until today the release of its new ads.

Press release from Alpina:

The new campaign focuses on individuals facing their challenges head on, or as we like to say “climbing their mountains.” Maybe your mountain is to run a 10k or graduate from college. The point is we all have mountains to climb. So satisfy your taste for the top with Alpina Greek Yogurt, it's encouragement by the spoonful. Alpina. Climb Your Mountain.

The ads will run in select areas in the Northeast, including Western New York, and will feature digital and radio advertisements. Western NY can also look forward to seeing our ads on TV and area buses. To complement the campaign, Alpina is offering a free trial to those who share their mountain with us through a link in our digital ads.

An arrest has been made in what might be termed an 11-month cold case.

On snowy night last March, somebody broke into the Discovery Chapel, 315 W. Main St., Batavia, stayed for a while and left barefooted sometime later.

The police had shoes, socks, footprints in the snow and a little bit of blood.

The blood is what led to the arrest of Shannon G. Cook, 34, of 6269 Byron Elba Road, Byron.

Cook was identified as a suspect through a DNA match after he was required to submit a DNA sample following an unrelated criminal conviction.

Nothing was stolen from the church.

Cook is charged with criminal mischief, 3rd, and criminal trespass, 3rd.

Following ararignment in City Court, Cook was released under supervision of Genesee Justice.

Jenea M. MacLeod, 29, of Genesee Street, Corfu, is charged with petit larceny. MacLeod is accused of shoplifting from the Dollar General Store at 412 E. Main St., Batavia. She allegedly placed items in her purse and walked out of the store without paying for the items on Friday. Two days earlier, MacLeod also allegedly stole merchandise from Walmart. She was charged with petit larceny and trespass.

Kevin Leroy John Halbert, 27, of Ellicott Street, Batavia, is charged with peit larceny. Halbert is accused of shoplifting from Kmart.

Woodrow C. Horseman, 37, of State Street, Batavia, is charged with petit larceny and trespass. Horseman was allegedly banned from Tops. He allegedly went into Tops at 4:08 p.m. Sunday and stole several cases of beer.

Jason H. Freeman, 32, of South Spruce Street, Batavia, is charged with petit larceny. Freeman is accused of stealing ice cream from Tops.

Terry Ann Espinosa, 43, of West Main Street Road, Batavia, is charged with falsely reporting an incident, 3rd. Espinosa is accused of falsely reporting a larceny to Batavia PD.

Gregory Seppe, 55, of Hyde Park, Batavia, is charged with disobeying a court order of protection and endangering the welfare of a child. Seppe is accused of entering a residence on Columbia Avenue at 10:17 a.m. Saturday and coming into contact with a person he is barred by court order from contacting. While in the residence Seppe allegedly acted inappropriately and endangered the safety and well being of several children in the residence.

Stephen W. Quigley, 59, no permanent address, is charged with petit larceny and trespass. Quigley allegedly slept overnight in a vehicle on the car lot of Time Buyer and stole change from an unsecured vehicle. Quigley was jailed on $5,000 bail.

David C. Truesdale, 24, of 18 Parsells Ave., Rochester, was arrested on a bench warrant. Truesdale was located reportedly hiding in a bathroom at 20 Tracy Ave., #1, Batavia, by Sgt. Chris Camp while Camp was attempting to serve a warrant on Truesdale. Truesdale is charged in the warrant with assault, 3rd, and strangulation, 2nd. He was also arrested on a City Court warrant for alleged failure to complete community service on an unreasonable noise complaint. At the time of his arrest, Truesdale was allegedly found in possession of marijuana. Truesdale was jailed without bail.

Duffy L. Starks Jr., 21, of Tracy Avenue, Batavia, is charged with unlawful possession of marijuana. Starks was allegedly found in possession of marijuana while Batavia PD was at 20 Tracy Ave., Batavia, to arrest another subject on a warrant. Starks was also arrested on a parole warrant. He is being held in the Genesee County Jail on the parole warrant.

Joshua T. Fullmer, 21, of 3124 W. Main Street Road, Batavia, was arrested on a bench warrant. Fullmer turned himself in to Batavia PD.

Amy R. Martin, 29, of Dewey Avenue, Batavia, turned herself in on a parking ticket warrant for allegedly parking on a city street between 2 a.m. and 6 a.m. Martin posted bail and was released.

Danny D. Williams Sr., 25, of 310 E. Main St., Batavia, was arrested on a bench warrant. Williams was located in Rochester and arrested on two bench warrants and one arrest warrant out of Batavia City Court. Williams was jailed without bail.

Leslie C. Jackson, 51, of Piffard, is charged with grand larceny, 4th, and and a Class E felony (the State Police blotter is unclear as to what it is). Jackson was arrested by state troopers in connection with an alleged incident reported at 3 p.m. Dec. 3 in the City of Batavia. No further details released.

A dryer fire is reported at 1 Shady Lane, Batavia.

Town of Batavia is responding.

UPDATE 10:18 a.m.: Fire is knocked down. Remaining units responding can respond non-emergency.

A car slammed into a tree, close to a house, at 8802 8807 Prole Road. One person, believed to be injured, is still in the vehicle. Several others -- from three to six subjects -- were seen running from the scene. The accident is just south of Route 5. Law enforcement and medics are responding.

UPDATE 11:13 p.m.: Stafford Volunteer Fire Department is on scene. "All units can back it down. One subject is in the vehicle and I've got him," says a deputy.

UPDATE 11:25 p.m.: Stafford fire is leaving the scene, in service. A tow truck is en route.

UPDATE 11:44 p.m.: Le Roy Ambulance is transporting the patient to Strong Memorial Hospital. The deputy is also going to Strong to follow up on the accident.

UPDATE 11:35 a.m. (by Howard Owens): The driver has been identified as Douglas J. Hanley, 23, of Batavia Stafford Townline Road, Batavia. Charges are pending. The accident was investigated by Deputy Frank Bordonaro.

Press release:

There is a water main break on Lyon Street between Richmond Avenue and Oak Street.  Crews will be making repairs, which may result in a water service interruption or discolored water on Lyon Street (Oak Street to Lacross Avenue) and Richmond Avenue (Lyon Street to Union Street).

UPDATE: The break was reported to be repaired about 1:30 a.m.

Join us on February 8, 2014 for Notre Dame's 22nd Annual Trip Night at the Clarion Hotel. The 2014 trips include Hawaii, Key West, Cape Cod, Buffalo A night a Salvatore's Grand Manor & Dinner at Russell's, Erie Splash Lagoon, Sunny Hill Golf Resort, Beaver River Lodge and many more. There will also be a special Veterans vacation giveaway for a lucky veteran and their family.

Tickets are $40 per person or two for $75 which includes dinner and drinks. We're offering a free ticket to any servicemen - retired, reserve or active duty, with the purchase of a regular priced ticket. Reduced room rates are available for the night, live entertainment throughout the eveing with comedian Hiram Kasten & Biggs Sound & Entertainment. Must be 21 or older to be admitted. 

Giveaways will include 50/50's, 60/40's, 70/30's, wagon of wine, dessert raffle, fruit bouquets, lottery giveaway, Muckdog tickets, Darien Lake tickets, Bison game box seats, bus getaways, reverse raffle and more!

For tickets and more information or to make a donation of any kind, contact Notre Dame High School Advancement Office at (585) 343-2783 Ext. 144 or visit us online at: www.ndhsbatavia.com. or contact Anita Strollo at (585) 813-5371 or at mommneetz@yahoo.com.

Workers at Petco are busy cleaning up the store and restocking shelves -- some stock had to be replaced -- following the fire at Bed, Bath & Beyond last Monday.

One thing General Manager Carol Hershberger is eager for local residents to know is that all of the animals that were in the store are safe.

They were initially taken to the Genesee County Animal Shelter and, contrary to a prior report, never returned to the store, she said. The animals have all been relocated to other Petco stores.

There's a lot of work, but staff is working hard, she said, to get the store reopened Monday.

Meanwhile, investigators have yet to determine the case of the fire, which started in the bedding department of Bed, Bath & Beyond and caused to smoke to fill both stores (not as heavily, in Petco).

UPDATE 3:57 p.m.: Hershberger called back to say after a long way of work today, she doesn't believe the store will be ready to open Monday. She said she's hesitant to predict when the store will open. "As soon as possible," she said.

Press release:

The City Water Department will be making a water main repair in front of John Kennedy School today. This may result in a water service interruption on Vine Street (between North Street and Bank Street) and Evergreen Drive (between Vine Street and North Spruce Street). Water will not be turned off before John Kennedy School dismissal at 11:30 a.m. so school will not be affected.

UPDATE 2:38 p.m.: The main has been repaired.

The Manor House held a party yesterday celebrating all the birthdays for the year of residents who turn 90 years old or older.

Bottom photo, Angie Ilasi cuts the cake. Ilasi turns 100 this year.

(File Photo)

A Buffalo judge ruled this morning that the city must issue a rooming house permit to local rental property owner Terry Platt for a 12-room rooming house at 316 E. Main St., Batavia.

The city's planning board turned town Platt's application in May following strenuous objects from neighboring property owners and other residents, so Platt filed an Article 78 action asking the court to step in and review the case.

Judge John Curran found that Platt's plan did not violate the city's master plan, as the city maintained in its argument against granting the permit.

The city didn't contest, according to Platt's attorney Michael Perley, any other aspect of Platt's application.

Curran found, Perley said, that the city's master plan allows mixed use on East Main Street, and the rooming house fits within permitted uses.

But even if the master plan didn't allow for mixed use in that area of the city, Perley said Curran indicated he would have ruled in Platt's favor because he would have found the city's plan flawed.

"My client is pleased and I'm pleased for my client," Perley said. "We thought all along it was a proper and appropriate project. Mr. Platt has always run these dwellings in the city and he has run them well. We believe it will be an asset to the city and the city will be pleased with the rooming house and how Mr. Platt operates it."

Previously:

• Terry Platt says he's done investing in Genesee County after city denies rooming house application
• Judge will consider whether to overturn denial of permit for rooming house on East Main

Dustin Michael Locicero, 29, of Gibson Street, Bergen, is charged with seven counts of criminal possession of a forged instrument, 2nd, grand larceny, 3rd, and criminal contempt, 2nd. Locicero is accused of stealing jewelry, collectable coins and personal checks from a home in South Byron and of stealing personal checks from homes in Bergen and Rochester. Locicero allegedly cashed the checks at banks in Batavia, Elba and Le Roy. The coins and jewelry were valued at $7,000 and Locicero allegedly sold these items at different unknown locations. Locicero has a pending second-degree forgery charge in the City of Batavia. In 2011, Locicero was charged with identity theft (we don't have information on the disposition of that case). Locicero was taken into custody Tuesday. He was reportedly found hiding in a mobile home in the Town of Batavia and was arrested on a City of Batavia bench warrant. Locicero was arraigned in city court and jailed without bail. The investigation was conducted by Deputy Brian Thompson, Deputy John Duyssen and Investigator Timothy Weis.

Theodore R. Johnson Jr., 46, of Maple Street, Batavia, is charged with DWI, driving with a BAC of .08 or greater, speed not reasonable or prudent and leaving the scene of a property damage accident. Johnson's vehicle allegedly struck a building at 102 Evans St., Batavia, 4:48 p.m., Sunday. Johnson's vehicle was located stuck in a snow bank with a portion still in the roadway.

Dylan C. McKenzie, 19, of Batavia Stafford Townline Road, Batavia, is charged with unlawful possession of marijuana, failure to use headlights and operation by an unlicensed driver. McKenzie was stopped at 2:01 a.m. Wednesday on East Main Street, Batavia, by Officer Thad Mart.

Clenton J. Reese, 50, of Ellsworth Avenue, Batavia, is charged with criminal contempt, 2nd, and harassment, 2nd, Reese was allegedly involved in a disturbance and upon investigation was allegedly found in the presence of a protected person.

Catherine A. Lewis, 50, of Cone Street, Batavia, is charged with harassment ,2nd. Lewis is accused of pushing and threatening another person.

Robert K. Geandreau, 41, of Elm Street, Batavia, is charged with DWI, driving with a BAC of .08 or greater, open container and inadequate tail lamp. Geandreau was stopped at 11:42 p.m. Friday on East Main Street, Batavia, by Officer Stephen Cronmiller.

City fire hosted a demonstration today at Dewitt Recreation Area of a rescue vehicle designed to handle snow, ice and open water to rescue people who might be stranded in dangerous conditions.

The vehicle is made of a snowmobile and a foam-filled platform that can keep it floating on water. Propulsion is created by the snowmobile's chain drive.

"It gives stability and a safety factor to firefighters that simply doesn't exist in any other vehicle," said Roger Bailey, CEO of WISE Technology, which is based in New Hampshire. 

This was the first demonstration of the vehicle in WNY.

The demonstration was set up by Bob Valvo of LVA Sales, a manufacturers' rep company with offices on Harverster Avenue.

The city has no immediate plans to purchase the vehicle.

Le Roy fire was also on hand for the demo.

Video by Alecia Kaus, Video News Service.

Investigators are still trying determine what caused a fire that started in the bedding department of Bed, Bath & Beyond late Monday afternoon.

The fire caused extensive damage to the fixtures and inventory in the northeast corner of the store.

Flames reached floor to ceiling.

The Sheriff's Office is in charge of the investigation.

Chief Deputy Jerome Brewster said investigators have interviewed employees and customers.

Physical material in the store has also been examined for any clues as to the cause of the fire.

Previously: Firefighters battle flames and cold during fire at Bed, Bath & Beyond

Two accidents (possibly even one and the same) are reported in the area of 9600 Alexander Road. A vehicle is well off the road into a field. A gold van is parked at the side of the road to try and point responders to the damaged vehicle. Alexander fire is responding along with medics.

UPDATE 3:07 p.m.: It's on Route 98 north of Pike Road. A responder on scene says the driver is out of the vehicle and appears not to be injured. They are checking the vicinity to make sure there are no other accidents.

Alex Roberts was walking with her son Taariq, 3, this morning down Vine Street after dropping her daughter off at school.

Today is our eighth-straight day of lows in single digits, but a warming trend starts tomorrow with a predicted low of 23 degrees. Highs in the low 30s are predicted for Friday and Saturday.

There's also snow in the forecast.

A wind chill advisory remains in effect until 3 p.m.

A small fire, possibly caused by a cigarette, is reported on the porch of a residence on South Main Street.

Batavia fire is responding.

UPDATE 8:25 p.m.: The fire is out. Light smoke in the house.

A water flow alarm has sounded at Bed Bath & Beyond on Veterans Memorial Drive in the Town of Batavia. In addition, the smoke detector and "fire pump alarm" are also reported to be going off. Town of Batavia Fire Department is responding. Yesterday a blaze tore through the store's bedding department.