batavia

You can get inked for charity from 10 a.m. to 10 p.m., Dec. 14, at High Voltage Tattoo and Piercing.

It's the third year the artists at High Voltage have donated their time to help raise money for worthy causes.

This year, the beneficiaries will be Don Carroll's Toys for Kids, Golisano Children’s Hospital and Crossroads House in Batavia.

You can choose from a select number (below) of tattoos for $30 each or receive a piercing for $15. All proceeds, along with all tips and purchases of aftercare products, will go to the three charities.

Last year, High Voltage raised more than $3,000 for the selected charities. Volunteers are sought to help with tasks around the shop during the event.

Pictured are the artists, Jeremy Fridman, Andrew London, Kenny McCarthy and owner Mark Farnara.

A water main break is reported on Center Street in front of the Center Street Smoke House Restaurant. "It's a geyser," says a dispatcher. Appropriate personnel are called to deal with the situation.

UPDATE 12:33 p.m.: A responder says "it's no longer a geyser," but it's still leaking. A public works crew is on its way.

UPDATE 12:42 p.m.: A police officers says Center Street will be shut down between Main and School streets so the work crew can repair the ruptured line.

UPDATE: Notice from the city: "Water service on Center Street will be interrupted on Monday Dec. 2 in the morning to allow a contractor to make a repair on a private water service."

Seven Five people were injured, including two pedestrians, in a two-car crash at Oak and Richmond today.

With some Mercy EMS ambulances already tied up on other calls, ambulances from Le Roy and Darien were called to the scene and two Mercy Flight medics also assisted with the treatment of patients.

Five Three patients were taken to UMMC and two were transported to Strong.

All patients were in stable condition at the time of transport, said Officer Kevin DeFelice.

The cause of the accident remains under investigation though DeFelice said it appears one vehicle failed to yield the right-of-way to another vehicle on a left-hand turn.

Two of those injured were pedestrians, though DeFelice said it's unclear at this point whether they were on the crosswalk or sidewalk and whether they were struck by a vehicle or by debris.

DeFelice said a press release with more details will be issued this afternoon. This story will be updated with additional details as they become available.

UPDATE: Officials have issued a press release stating it was actually five people who were injured in the accident. Here's the press release:

Five people were injured in the accident at Oak Street and Richmond Avenue today. Three were taken to UMMC, Two were taken to Strong. Investigation reveals that a northbound black Acura being driven by the defendant was attempting to make a left turn onto Richmond Avenue from Oak Street. The defendant failed to yield the right of way to a southbound red GMC Jimmy. The vehicles collided sending the GMC Jimmy into 2 pedestrians that were standing on the sidewalk on the southwest corner of the intersection. The defendant was issued a UTT and released. Additional charges may be pending. Assisting at the scene were Batavia City Fire, Mercy EMS, Darien Fire and Leroy Ambulance.

The only person identified in the release was one of the drivers, Michael I. Sanders, 45, of 22 Columbia Ave., Apt. #1, Batavia. He was cited for alleged failure to yield right of way.

(Initial Report)

A motor-vehicle accident is reported at Oak Street and Richmond Avenue in the city. Two pedestrians are involved, one is bleeding. Three medic units, including mutual aid from Le Roy and Alexander, are responding along with city fire and police. There is at least one back injury and a chest injury. "We're going to need traffic control here. It's a mess," says a responder.

UPDATE 11:15 a.m.: A police investigator with a camera is called to the scene and has an ETA of about 10 minutes. The city's third fire platoon is called to headquarters on Evans Street.

UPDATE 11:18 a.m.: Another ambulance is called in; mutual aid from Darien.

UPDATE 11:22 a.m.: Due to mechanical issues, a second Le Roy ambulance will not be able to assist. But another Mercy unit is now available and is responding, emergency mode.

UPDATE 11:28 a.m.: Alexander fire is told to stand by in its hall. The pedestrians were assisted at Lyon Street and Richmond. A Mercy medic calls UMMC to say four patients will be transported there, all with minor injuries: a 59-year-old woman with a leg injury who was side struck by a car while walking in the sidewalk; a 45-year-old male driver with mid-back pain; a person with a nose injury; and a person with a laceration over the left eye. Le Roy's unit, still in route, is told to go to UMMC. Mercy Flight pilots are at the scene assisting, although no air transport is required.

UPDATE 11:46 a.m.: A Mercy rig is taking one victim to Strong Memorial Hospital.

UPDATE 11:49 a.m.: A Darien ambulance is taking a victim to Strong.

UPDATE 11:51 a.m.: City command reports all patients have been transported for medical treatment. Alexander fire can stand down. The remaining responders are working to clean up the scene. Northbound traffic is moving. Southbound traffic will remain closed for awhile.

For the 13th straight year, City Church provided Thanksgiving meals to members of the community.

The annual event was first held at Miss Batavia restaurant when the church bought meals for everybody who wanted one between 11 a.m. and 2 p.m.

Now the church owns a building on Center Street, the Generations Center, with a kitchen and serves the community meal there.

The purpose of the free meal, said Pastor Marty Macdonald, is to ensure nobody need feel left out of the holiday.

"I grew up in home where it was very dysfunctional, very disjointed," Macdonald said. "Holiday times were the hardest because we had lost a sister, my brother, my dad by the time I was 13, so when holidays came it was hard on everybody. My heart was on humanity. I didn't want anybody to be alone."

Most of the volunteers are members of the church, but other community members volunteer and there were volunteers there today from Arcade and Syracuse.

"I think the people who serve get more out of it than those who are served," Macdonald said.

To purchase prints of photos, click here.

Barn on Lewiston Road at Batavia Oakfield Townline Road.

Happy Thanksgiving.

Brandon Betances pushes his 6-year-old daughter Laura down the hill at Centennial Park late this afternoon in the midst of a short lake effect snowfall.

Continued lake effect snow is in the forecast tonight through Friday.

The Grasshopper Lawn Care and Snow Removal is a growing professional snow removal business located in Batavia, NY, but we also serve the surrounding towns located within Genesee County.

We provide quality snow and ice removal services to both residential and commercial customers. We are a 24/7 snow removal business during the winter months, offering monthly and seasonal contracts. We plow at 3 inches of snow to make sure you are never late to work or appointments.

Get a 10-percent discount on seasonal contracts if you sign up before December 15th. Winter is just around the corner ... Don't get caught buried in the snow! Give us a call or text today at 993-7017.

A three-vehicle accident is reported on Veterans Memorial Drive, Batavia, across from Peeble's.

One occupant reportedly has minor injuries.

Traffic is blocked.

Town of Batavia fire and Mercy EMS responding.

UPDATE 5:40 p.m.: Town of Batavia fire back in service.

Mark Maltese Robert Grant

In a statement admitting to all three robberies in Batavia and Oakfield over the past week, suspect Mark J. Maltese said the $550 he said he got in the three heists all went to buy crack cocaine, which he said he smoked as soon as he bought it.

Maltese signed a sworn statement in which he he acknowledges his right to remain silent and consult an attorney before talking with police.

"I have been struggling with a major addiction to crack cocaine for about the past six or eight months," Maltese said. "This addiction has consumed me and the majority of my money goes to buy crack to feed by addiction. My crack use got way out of control and I didn't know how to stop or slow down with smoking it. I became desperate for money so that I could get more crack cocaine, so I turned to robbing places to get the money I needed for crack. Every bit of the proceeds from the three robberies went to buy crack for me to smoke. I was out of control with my addiction and didn't know where to turn."

Maltese was arrested early this morning after Batavia police, with back-up from Sheriff's deputies and state troopers, responded to a report of a break-in at the Rent-a-Center at 4152 W. Main St., Batavia.

A worker at a nearby business heard the glass break and called 9-1-1. He took a picture of the suspect's vehicle and was able to provide police with a direction of travel.

The suspect vehicle was located, according to police, at a location on Colonial Boulevard.

A person at that address told police that Maltese and Robert C. Grant carried a large-screen TV into the basement.

In a press conferance at Batavia PD headquarters this morning, Chief Deputy Jerome Brewster, Sheriff's Office, said a birthday party was being held at the residence on Colonial Boulevard.

Chief Shawn Heubusch
during press conference

During the subsequent investigation, law enforcement reportedly uncovered evidence that tied Maltese to three recent robberies early Thursday morning at the Best Western on Park Road, early Friday morning at the 7-Eleven in Oakfield, and early Sunday morning at the Days Inn on Noonan Drive, Batavia.

In the first two robberies the suspect displayed what appeared to be a semi-automatic handgun. At the robbery Sunday, the suspect threatened the Days Inn clerk with a shotgun.

On Friday, while a deputy was pulled over to the side of the road in the area of the bridge over the Tonawanda Creek in Bushville, a person on a bicycle approached and said, "Look what I found," according to Brewster.

It was a silver BB gun and upon comparison with the gun seen in the video of the 7-Eleven heist, investigators determined it was a likely match.

In his statement to Investigator Ron Welker, Maltese admits to using a silver BB gun in the first two robberies. He said he disposed of the gun after the Oakfield robbery in the area of the bridge on Route 5 near the Willow Bend Inn.

Maltese, 43, of 29 Dellinger Ave., Batavia, was charged in City of Batavia, in the Town of Oakfield and the Town of Batavia with robbery in the second degree.

Both Maltese and Grant, 52, of 2444 Angling Road, Pembroke, were charged with burglary, 2nd, in connection with the alleged break-in at Rent-a-Center, where they allegedly tried to make off with a two large screen TVs and a fake fireplace.

Justice Tom Williams set bail in the Town of Batavia case for Maltese at $25,000 cash or $50,000 bond. 

According to Maltese's statement, he drove his girlfriend's green Toyota Camry to the Best Western on Park Road and entered wearing jeans, a black hoodie with "Army" on it, black gloves, a black knit cap, black and red Nike sneakers and a red bandana covering his face. 

He said he walked up to the clerk and pulled out his BB gun and said, "Gimme all your money."

The clerk said, "are you kidding me?" and repeated the question several times. Maltese said he told her he was serious. "This is a robbery."

In her statement to police, the clerk said the suspect told her, "I will shoot you if you don't give me all the money."

The clerk retrieved the money from the cash drawer, he said, and gave it to him and he fled the hotel returning to his residence on Dellinger.

He said he "went up into the attic to figure out what I was going to do next. I then took the money that I got from the robbery which was around $300 and went and spent the entire amount on crack cocaine, and smoked all of it that same night."

Sheriff Gary Maha
during press conference

For the 7-Eleven robbery, Maltese said he wore jeans, a brown hoodie "with some design on it," black gloves, a knit hat, black and red Nike sneakers and a purple bandana covering his face.

He demanded the money in the drawer, got it and left.

He said he spent the entire $50 take on crack cocaine and smoked it all that night.

After the robbery he disposed of the BB gun.

For the Days Inn job, Maltese said he wore jeans, a black hoodie with "New York" on it, black gloves, a knit Sabres hat, black and red Nike sneakers and a black bandana covering his face.

He said he pointed a loaded shotgun at the clerk.

In a statement, the Days Inn clerk said he was frightened during the robbery.

"He said if I pushed any buttons or called anybody, he would shoot me," the clerk said. "I gave him the two drawers. A cash drawer and the change drawer. He pulled the money out the drawers and took the coin holder, too. He then left. He told me as he was backing out the door, that if I called anybody he would come back and shoot me. What scared me was that I actually looked at him."

Maltese said he got away with about $200 and immediately purchased crack cocaine and smoked it all that night.

In his statement, he said Investigator Welker showed him the Nike sneakers, the silver BB gun and a metal coin tray, all of which Maltese said he identified as associated with his robberies.

He said he destroyed the rest of the clothes he wore on those three nights.

Sheriff Gary Maha said the arrest of Maltese demonstrates how closely local law enforcement agencies work together to solve crimes and credited both the investigation that had taken place prior to this morning's Rent-a-Center break-in and the willingness of a witness to contact police and provide detailed information.

Brewster also praised this morning's witness.

"That witness was crucial in identify that vehicle and leading to the arrest of these suspects," Brewster said.

The use of fire arms in robberies create all kinds of dangers for victims, police officers and suspects, Brewster said. A police officer who sees a suspect with a BB gun is likely to believe it's a loaded handgun, he noted.

"We think the danger factor was very high in this case," Brewster said.

The admission by Maltese that his alleged robbery spree was driven by a need to feed a crack cocaine habit and that he had moved up, in a manner of speaking, from using a BB gun to a shotgun, tends to make his timely capture all that more critical, Chief Shawn Heubusch said.

"Any time you have somebody who is addicted to narcotics or doing these types of crimes to feed a habit, it tends to escalate," Heubusch said. "There is a pattern of starting with smaller crimes and getting more serious. It's very concerning. Of course, I can't predict what he would have done next."

Investigators are still trying to determine if Grant or maybe even another person was involved in the robberies, Maha said.

It's possible, according to investigators, the robbery suspect did not drive himself to and from the commission of the crimes.

The investigation is ongoing and additional charges are possible.

Top Photo: Maltese following arraignment in Town of Batavia Court.

Below are photos submitted by Joanne Shriver, owner of Expert Mitigation Services, the company called in to board up the broken window at Rent-a-Center this morning.

A burglary at the Batavia Rent-a-Center overnight led police to a suspect in a string of recent robberies in Batavia and Oakfield.

Taken into custody and charged in the robberies was Mark J. Maltese, 44, of 29 Dellinger Ave., Batavia. Maltese and Robert C. Grant, 52, of 2444 Angling Road, Pembroke, are accused of breaking into the Rent-A-Center this morning.

A witness spotted the alleged Rent-A-Center burglary and provided detailed descriptions of the vehicle and followed the vehicle to a residence on Colonial Boulevard where the suspects reportedly joined a birthday party in progress.

The vehicle reportedly matches the description of a vehicle seen leaving the scene of the Days Inn robbery on Sunday morning.

Police said items were recovered this morning tying Maltese to the burglaries at the 7-Eleven, the Best Western and the Days Inn. At this time, Grant is not a suspect in those robberies and there are no other named suspects, but police said the investigation remains open.

The suspects were taken into custody without incident.

UPDATE: For follow-up story, click here.

As predicted, Batavia was hit with at least six inches of snow overnight. It made for a busy night for emergency dispatchers with several downed power lines and some motor-vehicle accidents.

Above, Wendy Fisher shovels snow from the driveway of her Richmond Avenue home.

Monet Thomas walking her dogs on North Street.

Dave Meyer blowing snow on Ross Street.

Kindergarteners at Jackson School got firsthand experience at a Thanksgiving feast today with all the trimmings. The students filed into the auditorium, some of them dressed as Native Americans and others arrived as Pilgrims on the Mayflower. Teachers then served them a lunch of turkey, stuffing, potatoes, corn and apple sauce.

Above, Colin gets his meal, and below are Julia and Cameron.

By the end of the year, city residents can expect to interact with their local government in an easier to navigate site with more information at their fingertips, the City Council was told Monday night.

Council members got a sneak peek at the new site Monday from Lt. Robert Fix, City fire, and Officer Eric Hill, Batavia PD, who helped guide implementation of the new site.

The duo demonstrated new features, which include site search, service requests forms, surveys, news, announcements, press releases, E-news subscriptions, urgent alerts, job openings, a City calendar, a FAQs page, along with a link where residents can report suspicious drug or criminal activity.

"The new site is meant to improve communication, increase public safety, environmental sustainability and healthy and involved community members,” Fix said.

At Monday's City Council meeting at City Hall, officials previewed Batavia's new Web site, which was built by community representatives from various departments.  

The Web address is www.batavianewyork.com, but the current site will be visible at that location until the new one is launched.

A motor-vehicle accident with injuries is reported at West Main and Oak streets. City fire, Mercy medics and police are responding.

UPDATE 5:01 p.m.: A second police unit is responding for traffic control. Two flatbed tow trucks are needed.

UPDATE 5:24 p.m.: City fire is back in service.

The 2012-13 season was a banner campaign for the Lady Devils. They won the school's first league title in girls basketball and made it to sectional finals for the first time.

But there's also some unfinished business from that championship run, according to first-year Head Coach Marty Hein.

The loss to Waterloo was ugly.

"The girls poured their hearts out in the semifinals two days before," said Hein, who was assistant coach to Bill Wade last year. "They just didn't have it in their eye that night and they know that. The girls know we didn't give 100-percent effort against Waterloo that night and that's the lesson that I hoped they learned -- give 100-percent effort all the time."

With Batavia HS moving to Class A1 and Waterloo staying in Class B, there's no hope for a rematch.

"I'm hoping to line up a scrimmage with Waterloo," Hein said. "I'd like to play Waterloo again because I don't like the taste in my mouth of how we lost in the finals."

Hein thinks with the players returning, the core of that league-leading team will be back on the court this season and they should be able to hold their own at least through the Monroe County schedule and into A2 sectionals.

The attitude is there, he said.

"They've come back with that buring desire to want to focus a little more, work a little bit harder and get back to that same spot and hopefully a little bit better," Hein said.

Senior Liz Myers and sophomores Tiara Filbert and Madison McCulley are third-year varsity players and anchor the starting line-up. Sophomore Sam Cecere, at 5' 9" tall, has made great progress playing post, Hein said.

Hein is going to be looking for a stronger defense from the girls this year.

"I want a lot more communication out of our defense this year," Hein said. "We're turning the pressure up a little bit on defense. Even if we stumble a little on offense, if we can hold our opponents to a lower number then we should still come out victorious in the end."

There will be a few changes in the team from the Wade era, but Hein has a lot of admiration for the local coaching legend.

"When the job came open (four years ago), I applied," Hein said. "Bromley (BHS athletic director) gave me a few clues about who else applied for it, and I told Mike at that point to take my name out of the hat. It was a good learning experience to be sitting behind Bill for the four years. I learned a lot."

To purchase prints of photos, click here.

Workers are expected to complete the installation today of a solar panel array atop the westside roof of Stan's Harley Davidson on West Saile Drive.

The total cost of the project, which covers more than 10,000 square feet of roof, is $574,000 with the cost partially financed by state and federal tax credits.

The panels will product enough electricity to run all of Stan's operations. The power generated from the panels is first shipped to National Grid. NG then sells the power back to Stan's at a reduced rate.

That should mean about a 50-percent cost savings each month for the Harley dealership.

"We won't know, probably, until the first of the year and it's up and going what it's actually doing," said owner Darryl Horzempa.

Horzempa decided to pursue the project after attending a Solarize Genesee County workshop in January hosted by the Genesee County Economic Development Center (though GCEDC was not involved in the project otherwise).

"I'm interested in recycling and things like that, so it was a natural thing to me to help take care of the environment," Horzempa said.

Rochester-based Arista Power won the contract for the solar panel installation.

Thank you from Baskin Livestock

We would like to express our heartfelt thanks for the efforts of our employees, friends and neighbors during and after the fire at our animal feed mill on the night of November 7th, 2013. Although the final fire inspector determination has not been 100% established, they feel that a compactor motor inside a steel compactor box under the metal cyclone was the source of the fire. It appears that the fire started inside the compactor and could not be observed until it was well established and moved up into the cyclone. 

Many thanks for all the food, drinks, help and well wishes from friends, including St. Joseph’s School (Karen Green, Principal), Bob Evans Restaurants, Attica Package Company, the Sojda’s, Mary and Scott Case, Sandy Marky and Harry Flatt, Hans and Leslie Kunze, Howard Owens, Jason Saile, Danielle Bell and Jeff Lang, Dan Kelley and crew, Jeff Kingdom and crew, Nancy Gilmartin at Coastal Staffing, Laurie Mastin and all Bill’s friends at BMHL. And our thanks to the brave men and women who volunteer at all the responding fire companies including: Genesee County/ Alexander, Bethany, Pavilion, LeRoy, Stafford, Byron, Bergen, East Pembroke, Elba, South Byron, Oakfield, Darien, the Town of Batavia and the City of Batavia, Wyoming County/Wyoming, Warsaw, Attica, Varysburg, Bennington, Sheldon, Cowlesville, Gainesville, Perry, Perry Center York, Wyoming Correctons and Livingston County/Caledonia, Cuylersvelle and Mt. Morris. 

Thanks also to the fire companies who were called to stand by and fill in for areas which had sent their people and equipment to fight the fire at the farm. If we have missed anyone, please know that we and our employees are extremely thankful.

Baskin Livestock
9778 Creek Road | 
Batavia NY 14020 | (585) 344-4452

Local law enforcement is asking for the public's assistance in identifying the person or persons responsible for a string of armed robberies over the past five days.

The description of the suspect in all three robberies varies only slightly in each case. He is a white male, either 5'2" to 5'6" or 5'7" and is either of slight build or weighs 200 pounds. The robber has worn a bandana in all three robberies.

In two robberies, the suspect displayed a handgun. In the third, a shotgun. In all three, the employees behind the counter were threatened.

The first was Thursday morning at the Best Western, the second Friday morning at the 7-Eleven in Oakfield, and the third, Sunday morning at the Days Inn in Batavia.

Batavia PD and the Genesee County Sheriff's Office are cooperating in the investigation.

Chief Shawn Heubusch stressed that members of the public should not try to take matters into their own hands, but either call 9-1-1 or (585) 343-5000.