Press release:
The City of Batavia announces the appointment of Brett J. Frank, to the position of Director of Public Works for the City of Batavia by Manager Rachael J. Tabelski. Frank was selected following an extensive search for candidates and will start on Monday, March 28.
A lifelong resident of Genesee County, Frank holds a Bachelor of Science in Economics from SUNY Buffalo State. Frank has served in local government for the last seven years, including as the Deputy Director of Real Property for Genesee County and the Director of Economic Development for the Batavia Development Corporation, a position he currently holds.
Frank has an extensive background in government management, budgeting, land and parcel maps, easements, building construction, bidding, economic development, project oversite, as well as policy and program development.
“I am excited that Brett will take over the Department of Public Works and continue the tradition of operational excellence in the department. He will start right away leading multiple projects into construction including Jackson Square, Richmond Harvester Streets Project, City Center $1M DRI, and the new Police Facility. He is a hard worker, and in the short time he has been with the BDC he assisted six projects go out to bid and complete construction,” said Rachael Tabelski, City Manager, City of Batavia.
As Director of Public Works, Frank will oversee the Bureau of Water and Wastewater, the Bureau of Maintenance, the Inspection Bureau, and the Engineering Bureau of the City.
The Mission of the Public Works Department is to:
- Provide adequate, safe, and environmentally sound water supply, water distribution, wastewater collection, and wastewater treatment processes.
- Provide for a safe and efficient vehicular and pedestrian transportation of streets and sidewalks.
- Provide sufficient, safe parks and facilities for all citizens and visitors to the community.
- Provide basic building maintenance services to all City-owned facilities.
- Provide for the administration of the New York State Building Code, Zoning Laws, Building Permits, Planning, Zoning, Historic Preservation, and Property Maintenance Ordinances.
“I’m looking forward to my new role with the City of Batavia and cannot wait to get started. I’m humbled by and grateful for this opportunity that the City of Batavia has presented me with and I’m very excited to be given this opportunity to serve my community,” said Brett Frank.
Frank currently lives in the City of Batavia and volunteers for the United Way, Leadership Genesee, and the Batavia Downtown Improvement District.
The Batavia Blue Devils' post-season surge came to an end Wednesday night with a 55-46 loss to Palmyra-Macedon.
Batavia (9-14) entered sectionals an underdog as the #8 seed in Class B1 but kept their season alive with wins over Livonia (the #9 seed) and #1 seeded Northstar.
On Wednesday, Javin McFollins, Mikey McKenzie, and Tanner Mountain each scored nine points, and Cam McClinic scored eight.
Photos by Erin Staley.
AFL Batavia has announced its April flag football tournament to be held at a location in Batavia yet to be determined starting at 10 p.m., April 16.
There will be an awards ceremony following the championship game at Ri-Dans with food, music, and open bar for an hour.
The league says all teams from the last tournament are returning, including the defending champions, the Dream Killers. Organizers would like to had three to five more teams. If there are 10 teams the prize pool will grow.
The entry fee is $500 per team. All teams but be local teams but out-of-town players can be on the rosters of local teams.
There is a $2,500 cash prize for the champion.
All players receive a jersey and a team photo.
Fees must be paid by March 31.
The league is also looking for sponsorships from local businesses.
For more information, email Darazian Williams at darazianw@gmail.com.
Photo: Submitted photo.
It looked like the Batavia Players cast had quite a party as show Director Anthony Baldwin-Giambrone dropped empty beer bottles into a cooler near the stage Monday evening.
There was a party, he said, however, only as part of the 2022 Shakespeare in Springtime series. Beer-drinking during a yearly Shakespearean staple? Only when the setting has been switched up from the typical 16th Century scenario of kings, queens, and jesters, to a modern-day educational setting.
“We took the entire show and set it at a college, with a fraternity house and a sorority house,” Baldwin-Giambrone said during rehearsals at the new venue inside City Centre. “We had this play ready to go in March 2020 … we have two-thirds of the original cast back. We had to recast eight people, and we bumped up an actor from a small role to a lead role.”\
The show didn’t go on then, as all things COVID-19 shut it down. Fast forward two years and construction of the new theater is still in progress as new and returning cast members rehearse in The Backstage space that accommodates 84 patrons. Known as “black box theater,” this space offers a close-up view of the action. It was a welcome sight for 34-year-old Justin Chortie, he said.
“It’s nice and intimate,” the North Tonawanda actor said. “I haven’t done black box since college.”
He plays Ferdinand the King, aka president of the fraternity. Thought to be sort of snobby, his character convinces his friends to give up girls for a while. Of course, this wouldn’t be a comical love story if the king actually followed his own advice, as Chortie said, and the king’s own words get him into hot water.
Chortie believes the two-hour round trip for rehearsals is worth it. He had but one word for why: passion.
“To hear the audience laugh, it’s adrenaline almost, it’s like a drug,” he said. “I mean, it's wild. You gotta go. You’ve got kings and princesses, but they're not really kings and princesses; they're fraternities and sororities. There's all kinds of fun.”
The show is Love’s Labour’s Lost, and it’s set for 7:30 p.m. Friday and Saturday and 2 p.m Sunday at The Backstage at Main St. 56 Theater, Batavia. For those unfamiliar with this new space at Batavia City Centre, the entrance is a purple door next to Batavia Family Dental.
Love's Labour's Lost is one of William Shakespeare's early comedies, believed to have been written in the mid-1590s for a performance before Queen Elizabeth I. The King of Navarre and his three companions attempt to swear off the company of women for three years in order to focus on study and fasting. They break their oath through a subsequent infatuation with the Princess of France and her ladies. The play closes with the death of the Princess's father, and all weddings are delayed for a year.
Although Baldwin-Giambrone is no stranger to the Players troop or the Shakespeare series, this is his first time directing this particular show. A resident of Kenmore, he is one of a big handful of actors and staff driving to and from rehearsals after a more typical day job.
For this director, he goes from being a special education high school math teacher by day to working with a cast of 18 people at night. Think Shakespeare is dull, dry, and a ho-hum display of antiquated dialect? Think again, he and his cast members said. This is a show they described as “fun and funny.”
What hasn’t been so funny is how that unyielding pandemic wiped out this show two years ago.
“We were two weeks away from opening. And then we were shut down before we opened. And then with COVID, we had to make sure we were wearing masks at all rehearsals,” he said. “And then I know my assistant director, Jane (Burk), she actually, after every single rehearsal, stayed after and wiped down all the surfaces and sprayed and cleaned everything.”
Pushing COVID repercussions aside, Baldwin-Giambrone ran with the comical theme of Love’s Labour’s Lost. He replaced the more regal characters of kings and queens with frat boys and sorority sisters and paired them by personality — over the top and very clear cut — such as the dumb blonds and the studious ones.
“And they’re funny because this is a comedy. So it’s very funny seeing them do their very stereotypical distinct personalities,” he said. “The biggest challenge, I would say, was rehearsing in a shorter time period … just being able to get in here and start working with people to begin scheduling and everything. It just was a lot more tight.”
Dorothy Gerhart of Alabama had to drop her former role of Holofernes for the sorority mom, Boyet. It wasn’t really a bigger role, she said, because she counted the lines, and they were about equal. However, the mom role provided opportunity for more fun, she said. Her outfits are wild and colorful, with leopard, tie-dye, and purple pok-a-dot patterns.
“I think she graduated from college but never really left,” Gerhart said. “She sees herself as one of the girls. She’s kind of the comedy relief, with a lot of funny lines.”
Aaron Klafehn is another newcomer to the Players, though not at all new to acting, he said. Working in quality control for HP Hood in Batavia, the 34-year-old discovered Batavia Players through his partner, the show's assistant costumer Marshall McCall. Klafehn has been interested in theater since elementary school. He plays the role of Costard, who he describes as a “chaos-causing math teacher.”
“He purposely does things incorrectly, to try and get a rise out of someone else,” Klafehn said, adding that he had a hiatus from theater during the last couple of years. “I fell right back into it, and am making new connections. It’s much different than the day-to-day aspects of what I do. It’s fun to bring someone’s creation to life. I try and make sure that it's as organic to the character that I'm creating as possible, rather than trying to imitate or copy someone else's. I'm excited to be back performing again, and very excited to see the new performing space when it's finished.”
Tickets are $15 for adults, $13 for students and seniors. To purchase tickets, go to: showtix4u.com
Top photo: Shaun Coburn, Justin Chortie and James Barcomb run through a rehearsal Tuesday night of Batavia Players' upcoming Love's Labour's Lost, which is set for 7:30 p.m. Friday and Saturday and 2 p.m. Sunday at The Backstage at Main St. 56 Theater, Batavia City Centre. The actors are joined by Sam Bowman, shown in the fourth photo from the top, during mandatory masked rehearsals for the Shakespeare in Springtime Series comedy by Batavia Players. Photos by Howard Owens. Editor's Note: Due to scheduling conflicts, this rehearsal was not in costume.
The front display windows of Charles Men's Shop in Downtown Batavia are now draped and dabbed in blue and yellow, the colors of the Ukrainian flag.
Co-owner Don Brown said the display is about supporting freedom and backing the Ukrainian people. It's not necessarily about supporting the Ukrainian government, he said.
"We're on the side of those willing to fight for their freedom," Brown said.
Thank you for 10 YEARS. For supporting this small business and our families, for the stories and laughter, for the friendships, and for making a dream come true – The Yngodess Shop!
It was a bit FeBRRRary and a lot FeBREWary in Downtown Batavia on Saturday as throngs of beer lovers descended on local businesses to sample a variety of beers from regional breweries.
The LED lights that illuminate the Old Courthouse at Main and Ellicott in Batavia are now rotating in the hues of Ukraine, yellow and blue.
Those are the colors of the country's flag in honor of its blue skies and flaxen fields of wheat.
The color scheme was unanimously approved by the Genesee County Legislature.
Press release:
Dawn Puleo, 55 of Batavia pled guilty to a single count of petit larceny in Genesee County Court on February 24, 2022. Sentencing has been scheduled for April.
Puleo was originally charged with 4 counts of Offering a False Instrument for Filing and one count of Grand Larceny 3rd after an investigation by Genesee County Department of Social Services Investigator Robert Riggi found that Puleo failed to report that she was receiving child support payments on her applications. She received $4555.00 in SNAP benefits she was not entitled to.
Full restitution has been made to the Genesee County Department of Social Services, and Puleo will be disqualified from the SNAP program for a 12-month period.
Anyone wishing to report suspected cases of welfare fraud in Genesee County can contact the Genesee County Department of Social Services Fraud Unit at 585-344-2580, ext. 6417 or 6541.
Garlyn Maurice Gause, 42, of Brookhaven Terrace, Rochester, is charged with criminal possession of a controlled substance 7th, aggravated unlicensed operation, insufficient turn signal, and consumption of alcohol in a motor vehicle. Gause was stopped at 2:11 a.m., Feb. 12, on East Main Street, Batavia, by Deputy Nicholas Charmoun. During the stop, K-9 "Rayzor" (handler Deputy James Stack) alerted on the possible presence of narcotics inside the vehicle. It's alleged that Gause was in possession of narcotics. He was released on an appearance ticket.
Jerry Tyrone Saddler, 45, of State Street, Batavia, is charged with criminal possession of a controlled substance 4th, tampering with physical evidence, criminal possession of a controlled substance, and obstructing governmental administration 2nd. Saddler was arrested in connection with a traffic stop at 2:12 a.m., Feb. 12, by Deputy Nicholas Charmoun, on East Main Street, Batavia. Saddler was a passenger in the vehicle. During the stop, K-9 "Rayzor" (handler Deputy James Stack) alerted on the possible presence of narcotics inside the vehicle. Saddler was allegedly attempted to conceal his possession of narcotics while being booked into the Genesee County Jail. He was arraigned in City Court and ordered held without bail.
Victoria L. Jacques, 52, of Batavia, is charged with endangering the welfare of a child and assault 3rd. Jacques was arrested in connection with an incident on Elm Street reported at 8:35 p.m., Feb. 20. Jacques was arraigned in City Court and released under supervision.
Jeremiah D. Williams, 30, of Batavia, is charged with two counts of criminal possession of a weapon 3rd. Williams is accused of possession of a fully automatic handgun on Aug. 17 at a location on Oak Street, Batavia, and of possessing a weapon with a prior felony conviction. He was jailed without bail.
Loretta L. Baer, 50, of Batavia, is charged with harassment 2nd. Baer is accused of charging a person and placing her hands around that person's neck while at UMMC at 3:36 a.m., Feb. 18. Baer was issued an appearance ticket.
Jeremiah T. Jones, 48, of Batavia, is charged with tampering with a witness 4th. Jones is accused of threatening a person who was testifying in a court proceeding. The alleged threat was reported at 1:40 p.m., Feb. 6. Jones was released on his own recognizance.
Janell M. Sauer, 46, of Batavia, was arrested on a bench warrant. Sauer is accused of petit larceny on Jan. 16. Sauer was arraigned in City Court and released under supervision.
Melody J. McMaster, 51, of Batavia, is charged with criminal tampering 3rd. McMaster is accused of removing fire extinguishers from their designated locations at a business on State Street, Batavia, at 7:19 a.m., Feb. 17. McMaster was arraigned in City Court and released on her own recognizance.
Lyndsay T. Young, 38, of Batavia, is charged with conspiracy 6th. Young was arrested by State Police in connection with an incident reported at 6:11 p.m., Nov. 10, in the Town of Batavia. She was released on an appearance ticket. No further details released.
The Batavia Blue Devils, who entered sectional play as the #8 seed, with a losing record (7-13), upset #1 ranked Northstar Christian in the Class B1 quarterfinal at Northstar.
Batavia won 81-71.
Carter McFollins was on fire, scoring 34 points. Javin McFollins scored 20 points, hitting six three-pointers, and Sawyer Siverling scored 10.
The Blue Devils, now 9-13, will face #4 seed Palmyra-Macedon (15-7) on March 2 at a time and site to be determined.
A two-vehicle accident is reported at East Main Street and Bank Street, Batavia.
Traffic is blocked.
Unknown injuries.
City Fire and Mercy EMS dispatched.
UPDATE 5:03 p.m.: No injuries.
Press release:
Batavia Community Schools, in partnership with the YWCA of Genesee County and the Richmond Memorial Library, is hosting four nights of one-hour discussions of Michelle Obama’s best-selling autobiography, BECOMING.
The program is being offered to both high school students and adults, with each session focusing on a different aspect of the book examining Obama’s personal and public life as a woman, lawyer, wife, mother, First Lady, and private citizen.
The following are the dates and times for each discussion:
Wednesday, March 2, 2022
Wednesday, March 16, 2022
Wednesday, March 30, 2022
Wednesday, April 6, 20229-12th Grade Group
3:30pm-4:30pmAdult Group
5:15pm-6:15pmRichmond Memorial Library - Gallery Room
“We’re thrilled to be partnering with the YWCA and the Richmond Memorial Library on this program. I’m especially excited to see our community have an opportunity to study and discuss such an influential and inspiring person like Michelle Obama,” said Julia Rogers, Batavia CSD Coordinator of Community Schools
Two community members will join each session as moderators, including Millie Tomidy Pepper, Executive Director, YWCA of Genesee County; Julia Rogers, Batavia CSD Coordinator of Community Schools; Felicia Cecere, Teen Services Librarian at the Richmond Memorial Library; Alayna Tatarka and Lindsey Reed from the YWCA; Shevonne Wroten from ESL; Yasmeen Hunter from the US Postal Service; Sarah Sanchez-Anderson from Navient; and Tracy Lin, a recent UB graduate.
“I'm excited to be working in partnership with Julia from Batavia Community Schools and Felicia from the Richmond Memorial Library to bring this in-depth book review opportunity to both youth and adults in our community,” said Millie Tomidy Pepper, Executive Director, YWCA of Genesee County. “It is important to highlight this book for a multitude of reasons. It addresses her oppression as a woman of color but more importantly her ability and determination to rise above it and succeed at the highest level.”
Refreshments will be served. There are limited spots available for each session. Attendees are encouraged to register here: https://rb.gy/kbnflm
Participants can pick up the book in advance at the Richmond Memorial Library in hardcover, larger print, ebook, or audiobook.
Covid protocols will be in effect for these events as well as social distancing.
Frank Baumgardner, 40, of Laurel Oak Way, Batavia, is charged with issuing a bad check. Baumgardner is accused of issuing a bad check at about noon, Jan. 5, at a location on Myrtle Street, Le Roy. The case was investigated by Le Roy Officer Stephen Cappotelli.
Johnny Gene Jenison, 51, of Clinton Street, Cowlesville, is charged with forcible touching. Jenison was wanted on a warrant issued out of Town of Batavia Court in relation to an incident reported on 10:09 p.m., July 22, at Fairbridge Inn & Suites, 4371 Federal Drive, Batavia. He was also charged with failure to report change of address. Jenison was arraigned in Town of Batavia Court and released under supervision.
Klarissa Carol Price, 43, of Halstead Road, Batavia, is charged with trespass. Price was arrested on a warrant out of Town of Batavia Court in relation to an incident reported at 4 p.m., Sept. 28, at a location on West Main Street, Batavia. Price was released on her own recognizance.
Chris John Bannister, 57, of Route 98, Attica, is charged with DWI, speeding, and criminal possession of a controlled substance 7th. Bannister was stopped at 1:57 a.m., Feb. 22, on Clinton Street Road, Stafford, by Sgt. Mathew Clor. Release status unknown.
Patricia A. Gibson, 32, of Pearl Street, Batavia, is charged with petit larceny. Gibson is accused of shoplifting from Walmart at 2:17 p.m., Feb. 22. She was issued an appearance ticket.
Article by Sharon Burkel
Batavia Cemetery Association
Many famous and influential citizens are buried in the Historic Batavia Cemetery on Harvester Avenue, and their stories are familiar to many. The founding families of Batavia: the Ellicotts, the Richmonds, the Brisbanes, and the Carys; the Confederate soldier Philemon Tracy and his uncle, Judge Phineas Tracy, who brought Philemon’s body back over enemy lines for burial; and the infamous William Morgan, the man who threatened to reveal Masonic secrets, was kidnapped and disappeared. But every stone in a cemetery represents the story of a person who played a part not only in the lives of their friends and family but also in building the fabric of the community. Sometimes their stories get lost in time, especially when there is no gravestone.
Such is the case of Watson Bullock, a Black entrepreneur, businessman, and activist who lived in LeRoy and Batavia in the late nineteenth and early twentieth centuries. Russell Nephew, a Batavia resident who collects Batavia artifacts, contacted the Batavia Cemetery Association after he received a request from Glenn Hinson, Associate Professor of Folklore and Anthropology at the University of North Carolina, Chapel Hill. Professor Hinson is doing research on the Bullock family and inquired if Watson is buried in the Historic Batavia Cemetery on Harvester Avenue. The cemetery’s old records show that Watson, his wife Martha, and four of his children rest in the northeast corner of the cemetery. Mr. Nephew and this writer walked the cemetery to find their graves, and discovered they are all unmarked.
Ruth McAvoy writes in her book The History of Batavia, “One family that contributed to the local area was that of the Watson Bullocks who for many years lived at 113 Liberty Street. The Bullocks moved to Batavia from LeRoy about 1880. For years, the Bullocks ran a drycleaning establishment and manufactured and sold bluing (which adds a trace amount of blue dye to white fabric during laundering to improve its appearance) in bottles that still turn up in local dumps. A manuscript history of the Free Methodist Church identifies Watson Bullock as the man who preserved the $50 from the sale by the church of the Holland Land Office and made sure that the money would be available when the Methodist Society was ready to purchase a new place of worship. He was also one of the founders of the Emancipation Celebration Society.”
Mr. Bullock was born in North Carolina sometime in 1844 and moved to LeRoy after the Civil War with his family, who were reported to be ex-slaves. In 1871, a newspaper ad in The LeRoy Gazette shows he was cleaning and repairing clothes in LeRoy, which continued until he married the widow, Martha Butler, on May 6, 1878. She was a hairdresser in LeRoy. Business ads in The Daily Morning News indicate that in October 1878, they moved to Batavia to establish a dyeing and cleaning business at 104 Main Street; that in April 1880 they moved their home and business to the southwest corner of East Main and Cemetery Streets (now Harvester Avenue), and again in June 1880 to 6 State Street. The Batavia Daily News ads show they moved in July 1881 to 25 Jackson Street, in 1889 to 30 Liberty Street, in 1891 to 9 South Liberty Street, and in 1902 to 113 South Liberty Street, where they remained until Watson’s death on March 21, 1918. During these years the Watsons manufactured and sold liquid bluing, five different colors of ink for dyeing, created the “London Carpet Renovator” to clean carpets in place, repaired and cleaned clothes, and sold second-hand household items and clothes, books, notions, and patent medicines.
The Bullocks’ life was not easy. Professor Hinson relates that they lost seven of their eight children by 1890 and wrote, “That’s a long hard list…and with none living more than ten years.” Three of the children buried in the Batavia Cemetery died within four months in 1890 of consumption (pulmonary tuberculosis): Hattie, on July 19th, aged 1 year, 3 months; Edmund, on September 2nd, aged 6 years; and Watson, on November 15th, aged 1 year, 7 months. The fourth child, Eva Estelle, died on August 4, 1871, aged 9 years.
An article by Alice Zillman Chapin in The Batavia Daily News dated Saturday, April 8, 1961, entitled “There is Civil War Issue Behind Church’s Centennial,” tells that a “mystery book,” which had been discovered in the attic of the Cattaraugus Free Methodist parsonage in 1959, revealed that the Batavia Free Methodist congregation in Batavia had been founded in April of 1861, not 1878 as they had previously thought. The Free Methodists were staunch abolitionists and had broken with the Methodist Episcopal Church throughout the United States.
Chapin writes, “It was an ex-slave from North Carolina, Watson Bullock, who was responsible for keeping the newborn Batavia Free Methodist Church on its feet. Under his leadership, meetings were held in two rooms of the house at the west corner of East Main and Harvester Avenue. Strangely enough, by 1880, the Holland Land Office entered the picture. The building was purchased by the Free Methodists from Ruth Bryan whose mother had conducted the Bryan Young Ladies’ Seminary there. Church meetings were held on one side of the building, which was, according to records, divided by a long hall. Apartments made up the other side.”
Chapin continues, “With finances somewhat shaky, the little band of Free Methodist pioneers sold their historical Land Office church to Kate and Edna Clapsaddle Lawrence…. With much foresight, the ex-slave, Watson Bullock, held the money from the Land Office sale in trust, feeling certain that somehow, someway, the Batavia group would be able once again to purchase their own church building. Church records show, interestingly enough, that there was some dispute as to how the funds should be spent, but Mr. Bullock staunchly guarded the money for four years. By 1893, with funds from the Bullock account, the half-completed property at Ellicott St. and Linwood Avenue was purchased. The Batavia Methodist Episcopal Church had abandoned plans for the building and put the unfinished structure up for sale. Originally the Free Methodists planned it as a mission to the foreign-born of the city but it later became their church home.”
Although they suffered unimaginable grief in the loss of their children, Watson and Martha were always concerned about their community and fellow man and faithful to their church. Articles in The Daily News reported they collected clothing for the “…suffering colored refugees of Southern Kansas…” after a nine-month drought in 1880-81, allowed their business at 9 South Liberty Street to be used as a District 6 polling place in 1891, and held Free Methodist prayer and home missionary society meetings at their different homes. In 1900, Watson was sworn in as an officer (Orderly) of the Salvation Army. He had a float in the 4th of July parade in 1907 and was elected as an alternate delegate for District No. 5 to the Prohibition County Convention in 1910. He donated 10% of his sales in December 1914 to the Belgian Relief Fund as the German-occupied country was suffering great food shortages in World War I. In 1917, Watson was elected chairman of the new Emancipation Celebration Society.
The Daily News reported Watson’s death on March 21, 1918:
Well-Known Resident Died Following Stroke of Apoplexy
“Watson Bullock died about 6 o’clock this morning at his home, Number 113 South Liberty Street. He had been confined to his bed about ten days and it was believed that he suffered a stroke of apoplexy (cerebral hemorrhage).
Mr. Bullock was 73 years old and had resided in Batavia about 50 years, being well-known and respected. He was a trustee of the Free Methodist Church of Ellicott Street and was an active supporter of the Salvation Army. For several years he manufactured and sold blueing in wholesale and retail quantities and in recent years he had conducted a secondhand store. Besides his wife he is survived by son, John Bullock, a daughter, Miss Adeline Bullock, both of whom reside at home, and a stepson, George Butler of Beaver Falls, Pennsylvania.
Mr. Bullock came north with his parents from North Carolina, where the family was in slavery before the Civil War. The family lived in Leroy for a short time, before coming to Batavia.”
Alice Chapin also wrote about Bullock’s passing, “Watson Bullock was widely loved and respected by townspeople of all faiths in Batavia. Readings in the ‘mystery’ record book tell that in 1918, when he died, the Free Methodist Church that he so dearly loved, was crowded with prominent people who came to honor him for his faithfulness to his God, his church and his community.”
On April 6, 1918, The Daily News reported the value of Watson’s estate as “…$4,650, of which $450 is in personal property.” ($85,650 today!) It was left to Martha as executrix and would go to the children at her death. Sadly, Martha Bullock died May 2, 1936, at the age of 89 at the Genesee County Poor Farm in Bethany.
The Free Methodists sold their building on Ellicott Street to Mt. Zion Baptist Church and built a new church on Bank Street in 1968, which is now Arbor House, part of Northgate Free Methodist Church. When the new church was dedicated, Dorothy Parker wrote in The Daily News on April 27, 1968, that according to a history written by longtime parishioner Mrs. Erwin Worthington, “Watson Bullock, an ex-slave who had operated a large dry cleaning business in Le Roy and Thomas Hill, body servant to a Confederate officer, were members of this early church.” She also recounts that the Holland Land Office building was sold for $500, not $50 as McEvoy said and that the money was ‘…banked by Watson Bullock, rather than returned to the church conference as was customary. Mr. Bullock was determined to re-activate the church in Batavia.’”
For many years, it was thought that the only person of color buried in the Historic Batavia Cemetery was a woman named Addy. The inscription on her stone reads, “For 46 years the faithful colored servant of the Reverend Lucius Smith and family. Died January 28, 1857, aged 50 years.”
The Association thanks Professor Hinson and Russell Nephew for bringing to light the story of the Bullock family and their contributions to the Batavia community. Every soul in a cemetery has a story, and they all deserve to be remembered.
Previously: In 1921, Matthew Bullock fled to Batavia on his way to Canada to escape lynching
Batavia started off the post-season with a win, beating Livonia 62-47 at home on Wednesday.
Carter McFollins scored 24 points and Javin McFollins added 17 to help lead the Blue Devils to victory in the Class B1 sectional playoff game.
The Blue Devils -- ranked #8 in the bracket and now 8-13 -- will take on #1 ranked Northstar Christian (15-3) at 4 p.m. Saturday at Northstar.
To view or purchase photos, click here.
Photos by Steve Ognibene
Press release:
The City of Batavia Water Department will be repairing a water main break in the area of 3 Ross Street. There is the potential that the water may need to be shut off on Ross Street, from Main Street to Washington Avenue.
The length of time the water will be off is unknown.
Traffic will also be closed in the area of Ross Street, from Main Street to Washington Avenue while the repairs are being made.
As always, when the water is restored it may be discolored. Please refrain from doing any laundry until the water runs clear.
We apologize for any inconvenience and the public’s patience is greatly appreciated.
A two-car accident is reported at Central Avenue and Jackson, Batavia.
Traffic is blocked.
A possible neck injury reported.
City Fire and Mercy EMS responding.
UPDATE 5:41 p.m.: Four people involved, all expected to be signoffs. Minor damage to vehicles.
There’s a well-known tenet of business that you have to spend money to make money.
However, when a pandemic hits and stalls theater renovations and the ability to make money with shows, only half that rule is visible, says Pat Burk of Batavia Players.
“We already paid for a number of shows for this year’s season. When you buy the rights and royalties to a show, you’re never going to get that money back,” Burk said during an interview with The Batavian. “COVID slowed down the demolition. We were supposed to be in there; COVID stalled that for 20 months. We had to start spending money and create a season for 2022, without a home to do it in.”
Not to worry, he said. The theater group is gradually getting back on track with its new Main Street 56 Theater space at City Centre. Well-equipped with grants of $400,000 and just shy of $700,000 for construction, Batavia Players encountered that tired old COVID script of encountering supply chain issues — material shortages — coupled with the need to haul out several containers of equipment, medical records, conduit, and electrical supplies from a defunct medical office.
“They just walked out and left it all there,” he said. “We did nothing else but two weeks of electrical demolition.”
Some actors have left during the lull, and new ones have joined the theater, he said. Those purchases of show rights have left a dent in the theater’s piggy bank, and therefore Burk is appealing to the community for help. He sent out an email asking that individuals, groups, and businesses consider buying a program ad.
“Recent events have led us to have to raise $17,000 to $20,000 in order for us to continue our season in 2022, and to make our goals for our construction of the Main St. 56 Theater,” he said. “By placing a sponsorship ad in our program all year, you will be a huge help in making sure that the Batavia Players’ 90th year of performing continues.”
He is happy to announce a seven-show season that kicks off with Love’s Labour’s Lost March 4, 5, and 6 for a perennial Shakespeare in Springtime series. Six new actors have joined the cast, and “our actors, technicians, and Board of Directors are working hard” for a successful year of classics to full stage musicals, he said.
Other shows from April to December include The Springtime Music Spectacular, Back on the Boards Again: The Best of Broadway, The Importance of Being Earnest, Peter Pan (Summer Youth Theater), Godspell, Uncle Vanya and Miracle on 34th Street, the Musical.
Deadline for program ads is March 1. For more information, go to: www.bataviaplayers.org
Top photo: Main St. 56 Theater's shop has been ready for patrons with lots of theater trinkets and memorabilia at the new City Centre location. Batavia Players is set to begin its 2022 season with Love's Labour's Lost the first weekend in March. Photo by Howard Owens.
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