Bergen

Tia E. Schmieder, 33, of Batavia, is charged with burglary 1st, attempted assault 1st, criminal possession of weapon 3rd, criminal mischief 4th, and menacing 2nd. Schmieder allegedly forced her way into a person's residence on State Street and slashed that person with a knife. She was arraigned and released.

Tyquan D. Bethel, 34, of Batavia, is charged with criminal contempt 1st, unlawful imprisonment 2nd, criminal mischief 4th, and harassment 2nd. Bethel was arrested on Nov. 20 following a report of a disturbance on Pearl Street, Batavia. He allegedly violated an order of protection by holding a person down and refusing to let the person leave. He is also accused of preventing the person to call 9-1-1 by taking away the person's phone. He was arraigned in City Court and jailed.

Quincy G. Styles, 26, of Batavia, is charged with robbery 3rd. Styles allegedly stole money from another person at the scene of a motor vehicle accident on Nov. 21 by threatening to punch the driver if he didn't give him money. Styles was arraigned in City Court and released.

Joshua D. Michel, 34, of Batavia, is charged with tampering with physical evidence, tampering with public records 2nd, falsely reporting an incident 3rd, and endangering the welfare of a disabled person. Michel was charged after an investigation into three separate incidents at the Developmental Disabilities Services Office on New York Place in Batavia, where he was employed. 

John P. Wittkopp, 41, of Batavia, is charged with assault 2nd. Wittkopp is accused of fighting with another person on Nov. 7 on Spencer Court and causing serious injury. He was arraigned in City Court and held.

Thomas J. Mitchell, 35, of Batavia, is charged with petit larceny and grand larceny. Mitchell is accused of stealing tools from a vehicle on Oct. 9. He was arrested on Nov. 8, arraigned in City Court and released.

Nicholas C. Kingdollar, 29, of Batavia, is charged with criminal contempt 2nd. Kingdollar is accused of sending a letter to a person he was ordered not to contact while incarcerated at the Genesee County Jail. He was arrested on Nov. 24.

Sean M. Conway, no age or residence provided, is charged with criminal possession of a controlled substance 7th. Conway was arrested on Nov. 22 on a warrant related to an incident reported on April 26 when he was allegedly found in possession of narcotics. He was arraigned and released.

Doreen M. Boop, 61, of Batavia, is charged with criminal possession of a controlled substance 7th. Boop was arrested on Nov. 22 on a warrant related to an incident reported on April 26 when she was allegedly found in possession of narcotics. She was arraigned and released.

Meaghan A. Conti, 37, of Batavia, is charged with criminal possession of a controlled substance 7th. Conti was arrested on Nov. 18. Conti was allegedly found in possession of narcotics during a welfare check on East Main Street, Batavia. She was issued an appearance check.

Warren T. Cotton, 47, of Batavia, is charged with two counts of criminal contempt 2nd. Cotton is accused of violating a stay-away order of protection. Cotton was arrested on Nov. 5 and on Nov. 18. He was arraigned in City Court and jailed.

Brandon M. Seppe, 40, of Batavia, is charged with criminal contempt 2nd and trespass 2nd. Seppe is accused of entering a residence on Ellicott Street in violation of protection. He was issued an appearance ticket.

William T. Hughes, 68, of Batavia, is charged with forcible touching. He was arrested on Nov. 11 in connection to an incident on East Main Street reported on Nov. 9. He was issued an appearance ticket.

Jose A. Rivera, 38, of Bergen, is charged with harassment 2nd. Rivera was charged following a report of a fight on Sept. 26 at The Harvester on Harvester Avenue on Sept. 26. He was released on an appearance ticket.

Alicia M. Lyons, 45, of Batavia, is charged with criminal contempt 2nd. Lyons allegedly contact a person on Nov. 10 in violation of a stay-away order of protection. She was issued an appearance ticket.

Scott J. Hinze, 38, of Batavia, is charged with criminal mischief 3rd, criminal contempt 2nd, criminal tampering 3rd, and petit larceny. Hinze was arrested on a warrant following an incident in July where he allegedly damaged and tampered with property belonging to another person in violation of an order of protection. He was arraigned and released.

Curtis McCall, 37, of Batavia, is charged with petit larceny. McCall is accused of stealing property from Family Dollar in Batavia. He was issued an appearance ticket.

Myrin D. Lumpkin, 46, of Batavia, was arrested on Nov. 27 on a warrant. Lumpkin allegedly failed to appear in court on a disorderly conduct charge stemming from a fight on West Main Street, Batavia, in August. He was arraigned in City Court and released.

Zachary R Eichenberger, 40, of Batavia, is charged with petit larceny. Eichenberger is accused of shoplifting from Aldi. He was issued an appearance ticket.

Lyndsay T. Young, 41, of Alexander, was arrested on a warrant on Nov. 26 charging her with criminal possession of a controlled substance. Her arrest stemmed from an investigation into an incident on July 26, where she was allegedly found in possession of crack cocaine. She was arraigned and released.

Francis A. Coombs, 57, of Batavia, was arrested on Dec. 3 on a warrant. Coombs allegedly failed to appear in court on a criminal mischief 4th charge from August. He was arraigned in City Court and jailed.

Joseph C Jeffords, 33, of Batavia, is charged with criminal possession of a controlled substance 7th and criminal use of drug paraphernalia 2nd. Jeffords was charged following a traffic stop on Nov. 26 on Kingsbury Avenue, Batavia, by a Batavia patrol officer.He was allegedly found in possession of drug paraphernalia and crack cocaine. He was issued an appearance ticket.

Sarah A. Malone, 42, of Batavia, was arrested on a warrant on Nov. 26 on charges of aggravated unlicensed operation 2nd and driving without an interlock device. The warrant stems from an incident on Aug. 30 in Batavia. Malone allegedly drove a vehicle on a suspended license and without an ignition interlock. She was arraigned and released.

Amanda S. Dombrowski, 41, of Batavia, was arrested on Nov. 26 on a warrant. She was charged with bail jumping after allegedly not appearing on prior charges. She was arrested on May 2, 2020, and charged with menacing 3rd and endangering the welfare of a child. She was arraigned in City Court and jailed.

Thomas E. Lowe, 65, of Batavia, is charged with criminal mischief 4th. Lowe is accused of damaging the interior of a store on East Main Street, Batavia, on Nov. 25.  He was issued an appearance ticket.

Nicholas M. Ricigliano, 40, of Batavia, was arrested on Nov. 30 on a warrant. Ricigliano is accused of failure to appear in court on a petit larceny charge from Aug. 21. He was arraigned and released.

Marissa B. Torres, 34, of Batavia, is charged with criminal contempt 2nd. Torres allegedly violated an order of protection on Nov. 12. She was arraigned and released.

Dontre R. Woods, 34, of Batavia, was arrested on Nov. 12 on a warrant. Woods allegedly failed to appear in court in August. Woods was arraigned and released.

Russell S. Neureuther, 26, of Byron, is charged with aggravated DWI. Neureuther was stopped on Nov. 2 by a Batavia patrol officer on Elm Street. He was issued traffic tickets and released.

Hillary D. Russell, 31, of Batavia, is charged with harassment 2nd. Russell is accused of throwing an item at another person on Nov. 7 during a fight on Hutchins Street, Batavia. Russell was arraigned in City Court and released.

Ian J. Stothers, 22, of Batavia, is charged with criminal mischief 2nd, reckless endangerment of property, and necessary noise. Stothers and two other people are accused of damaging a parking lot belonging to the city of Batavia on Nov. 9. Strothers was arraigned and released.

Angel R. Del Valle Castillo, 18, of Batavia, is charged with possession of a forged instrument 2nd and possession of a forged instrument 3rd. Castillo was charged following a traffic stop on Nov. 3. He is accused of driving a vehicle with a fictitious license plate and providing officers with a forged insurance card. He was arraigned and released.

Megan J. Courtney, 28, of Batavia, is charged with criminal possession of stolen property 5th and petit larceny. Courtney is accused of allegedly stealing merchandise from Dollar General on Dec. 1. Police officers were initially unable to determine her identification, but she returned to the store the next day attempting to return the stolen items.  Courtney was issued an appearance ticket.

Kody A Wenzel, 32, of Batavia, was arrested on a warrant on Dec. 8 and charged with criminal possession of controlled substance 7th. Wenzel was allegedly found in possession of methamphetamine on Aug. 4, 2023. Wenzel was arraigned and released.

Robin F. Schmitt, 40, of Oakfield, is charged with petit larceny. Schmitt is accused of stealing merchandise from Dollar General on Dec. 3. He was issued an appearance ticket.

Lisa M. Fox, 53, of Albion, is charged with criminal possession of a controlled substance 7th, tampering with physical evidence, criminal use of drug paraphernalia 2nd, obstructing governmental administration 2nd, and traffic violations. Fox was stopped on Dec. 5 on Richmond avenue and allegedly found in possession of crack cocaine. She was issued an appearance ticket.

Dana L. Manes, 60, of Batavia, is charged with petit larceny and conspiracy 6th. Manes is accused of stealing merchandise from Tops on Dec. 10. Manes was issued an appearance ticket.

A residence at 8087 Parmelee Road in Le Roy was destroyed in an early morning fire, according to the Le Roy Fire Department.

Crews responded to the log cabin structure at 2:35 a.m. The first crews on scene reported heavy fire from the instruction.

The homeowner escaped the fire after being alerted by a smoke alarm inside the residence. 

Le Roy reports that there was limited access to the structure, so the scene commander requested UTVs and 4X4 trucks from mutual aid departments.

The UTVs and 4x4s were used to shuttle manpower and equipment to the scene.

Bergen Fire reported that "Crews faced steep challenges, including heavy fire and an icy, inaccessible driveway that required the use of four-wheel-drive vehicles and UTVs to reach the scene. With temperatures hovering around 5 degrees, the extreme cold pushed our firefighters and equipment to their limits. Gear froze stiff, and maintaining the functionality of hoses, tools, and vehicles demanded extraordinary effort."

Bergen said all firefighters returned home safely.

"This incident highlights the incredible resilience and dedication of our firefighters in Bergen and the surrounding towns," Bergen said in a statement.

Responding departments included Bergen Fire, Pavilion Fire, Stafford Fire, Cit yof Batavia, Caledonia Fire, Town of Batavia Fire, Scottsville Fire, Mumford Fire, and Brockport Fire. Scene supported included the Le Roy Highway Department, Le Roy PD, Sheriff's Office, Le Roy Ambulance, Le Roy Fire Auxiliary, and emergency dispatchers.

Photos via Bergen Fire Department.

Press Release:

Expansion projects in Bergen and LeRoy advanced Wednesday by the Genesee County Economic Development Center Board of Directors have an estimated $4 million positive fiscal impact for Genesee County.

The GCEDC board of directors advanced an initial resolution for Appletree Acres, LLC in the town of Bergen and approved a final resolution for 9 Lent Avenue, LLC (Rochester Davis Fetch Corp.) in the village of LeRoy at its December 18 meeting. 

Appletree Acres, LLC is proposing to add a 15,000 square-foot expansion to an existing 50,000 square-foot warehouse in the Apple Tree Acres corporate park. The $1.015 million investment would create four full-time equivalent positions with an estimated annual salary range between $45,000 and $65,000 plus benefits.

Appletree Acres, LLC is requesting a sales tax exemption estimated at $48,160 and a property tax abatement estimated at $142,785 based on the incremental increase in assessed value generated by the expansion. The project is estimated to generate $2.99 million in local fiscal impacts, including payroll and tax revenues, for an estimated $19 local benefit for every $1 of requested incentives.

A public hearing for the proposed project agreements will be scheduled in the town of Bergen. 

9 Lent Avenue, LLC is proposing to construct an 8,000 square-foot light manufacturing and storage facility in the village of LeRoy. The $265,000 project will be in addition to a current $3.8 million project renovating a separate facility on the property.  The expansion will create two additional full-time equivalent positions with an estimated annual salary range between $62,000 and $72,000 plus benefits. 

9 Lent Avenue, LLC has requested a sales tax exemption estimated at $13,200 and a property tax abatement estimated at $86,016 based on the incremental increase in assessed value generated by the expansion. The project is estimated to generate $1.49 million in local fiscal impacts, including payroll and tax revenues, for an estimated $17 local benefit for every $1 of requested incentives.

Doc and Mary Sardou bought the Rose Garden Restaurant -- 30 years in business at the time -- in 1954, added a bowling alley three years later and renamed it Viking Valhalla in 1966.

The business is now run by Tom Sardou and his wife, Chris, and this year, Viking Valhalla celebrated its 70th anniversary as a Sardou family business, which helped the restaurant earn a spot on the New York Historic Business Preservation Registry.

Assemblyman Steve Hawley presented Tom and Chris a certificate on Wednesday commemorating the honor.

"We have a great history here of businesses that have been successful," noted Hawley at the start of his remarks, adding, "The fact that you're still here means an awful lot to folks that are here."

Village of Bergen Mayor Joseph Chimino agreed.

"Viking Valhalla is a great asset to our community," he said. "It's a fine place for dining and entertainment, and to say it's been here 70 years is incredible. On behalf of the community, we want to thank you for all your services."

The HBPR was established in 1920. The registry highlights the legacy of local businesses that have significantly impacted their communities, offering them recognition and support to continue growing and serving the public.

Tom Sardou said inclusion in the registry was a great honor. Chris added that it was an exceptional award.

"We just celebrated our 70th anniversary, and now to be inducted into the state's historic registry, it means a lot."

Turning to Tom, she added, "I think your parents are looking down and saying, 'Great.'"

Previously (from 2010): Genesee County Business of the Year: Viking Valhalla Restaurant

Press Release:

Three Byron-Bergen seniors led a community service project to provide blankets to a local charitable organization. In September, Samantha Beale, Isabelle Best, and Shawna Spinks invited other Byron-Bergen Liberty Partnership members to help meet the goal of donating 25 fleece blankets. 

They brainstormed organizations to give the donation and on Tuesday, December 10, students visited the YWCA in Batavia to deliver 26 hand-made blankets. 

“A winter going without heat or blankets or a way to stay warm is really hard,” said Shawna. 

“It’s getting a lot colder out so there’s a lot more need,” said Isabelle. “We were looking for women’s shelters and we saw the fliers up for donations at the YWCA.” 

“We knew we could help people who don’t have a lot,” said Samantha. “We thought it would be a nice thing to do.”

The blanket kits were provided by Liberty Partnership, a state grant-funded program administered through Genesee Community College. Led by the seniors, twelve participants used study halls and extra time during the school day to complete the hand-tied blankets. They began the project in September and met their goal of 25 blankets just before the December drop-off date.

“Liberty Partners helps prepare students for success after high school,” said Byron-Bergen Liberty Partners Program Facilitator Diane Kindig-Grillo. “Through the program, the students collaborate with colleges, community organizations, and businesses as well as teachers, parents, and volunteers. I’m very proud that these students took the initiative to connect with the YWCA.”

Liberty Partnership serves students in Byron-Bergen as well as the Albion, Batavia, and Brockport School Districts.

Press Release:

Expansion projects by companies in Bergen and LeRoy submitted to the Genesee County Economic Development Center (GCEDC) are projected to generate over $4 million in local benefits. 

The GCEDC board of directors will consider an initial resolution for Appletree Acres, LLC in the town of Bergen and a final resolution for 9 Lent Avenue, LLC (Rochester Davis Fetch Corp.) in the town of LeRoy at its December 18 meeting.

Appletree Acres, LLC is proposing to add a 15,000 square-foot expansion to an existing 50,000 square-foot warehouse in the Apple Tree Acres corporate park. The $1.015 million investment would create four full-time equivalent positions with an estimated annual salary range between $45,000 and $65,000 plus benefits.

Appletree Acres, LLC is requesting a sales tax exemption estimated at $48,160 and a property tax abatement estimated at $142,785 based on the incremental increase in assessed value generated by the expansion. The project is estimated to generate $2.99 million in local fiscal impacts, including payroll and tax revenues, for an estimated $19 local benefit for every $1 of requested incentives.

The GCEDC Board of Directors also will consider a final resolution for 9 Lent Avenue, LLC for a proposed 8,000 square-foot light manufacturing and storage facility in the village of LeRoy. The proposed $265,000 project is in addition to an active $3.8 million project renovating a separate facility on the property. The expansion would create two additional full-time equivalent positions with an estimated annual salary range between $62,000 and $72,000 plus benefits.

9 Lent Avenue, LLC is requesting a sales tax exemption estimated at $13,200 and a property tax abatement estimated at $86,016 based on the incremental increase in assessed value generated by the expansion. The project is estimated to generate $1.49 million in local fiscal impacts, including payroll and tax revenues, for an estimated $17 local benefit for every $1 of requested incentives.

The GCEDC board meeting will be Wednesday, December 18 at 4 p.m. at the MedTech Center’s Innovation Zone, 99 MedTech Drive, Batavia. 

Meeting materials and links to a live stream/on-demand recording of the meeting are available at www.gcedc.com.

Press Release:

The 1st quarter High Honor and Honor Rolls have been released for Byron-Bergen Jr./Sr. High School by Principal Paul Hazard. Hazard and the Byron-Bergen Central School District staff offer their congratulations to these students. 

GRADE 7:

HIGH HONOR ROLL – Jayda Amesbury, Zaria Aslam, Ian Bannister, Teagan Burch, Lillian Czachorowski, McKenna Diehl, Leonard Dykstra, Channel Edwards, Claire Fogg, Harlow Galves, Katelyn Gay, Nina Hammerl, Aaliyah Hawley, Hannah Hunt, Lacie Ivison, Jason Ivison, Jr., Grant Kuipers, Anastasia Kuszlyk, Brooklyn Louis, Ella Maher, Liam McAlister, Amelia Meier, Elizabeth Merrick, Lawrence Moore III, Christian Perkins, Jaelynn Reynolds, Hanna Richardson, Dylan Riedmiller, Jackson Senf, Lincoln Senf, Collin Starowitz, Emma Tanner, Ella Tatar, Brynn Weaver, Payton White

HONOR ROLL - Addison Alejandro, Amelia Baker, Anthony Chapman, Khloe Crocker, Diamond Dykstra-
Culver, Jason Easterly, Kyler Kavanagh, Frank Manchester, Jayden Muntz, Nashdiel Santiago Tirado, Devin Stranc-Holmwood, Kylee Tirrell, McKenzie Wride

GRADE 8:

HIGH HONOR ROLL - Faith Apley, Charlotte Bloom, Riley Boland, Evelyn Borycki, Alyssa Chupp, Emily Cubas Canizales, Tristen Davidson, Addyson Day, June Dorman, Katherine Erion, Olivia Galdun, Lydia Hammond, Connor Hoopengardner, Isabella Kessler, Delilah Malin, Sophia Matthews, Emmarose Michaels, Lia Ray, Ava Smith, Landon Starkweather, Gunner Starowitz, Contessa Vander Wyst, Benjamin Vargas, Kaylanah White, Teagan Williams

HONOR ROLL - Madison Carson, Ayden Day, Leland Fregoe, Hunter Jarosinski, Ce'Andre Johnson, Jack Miller, Maylee Moore, Riley Norman, Trevor O'Brien, Aleah Olander, Caleb Rassel, William Scharvogel, Miranda Stanton, Connar Tuerk, Sierra Vandenbosch, Dahlia Wolff, Logan Zaleski

GRADE 9:

HIGH HONOR ROLL - Evan Bannister, Eala Coniglio, Samantha Copani, Emily Diehl, William Duell, Zachary Gay, Cambria Goodenbery, Lila Graff, Ruth Kuipers, Alexander Kuszlyk, Isabella Lewis, Taylor Louis, Annabella Madera, Levi McGrath, Lillian Meier, Timothy Michaels Jr., Liliana Moore, Evan Phillips, Alexandra Pocock, Natalie Randall, Lucy Rea, Jenna Redick, Michael Rogoyski, Owen Sinclair, Genevieve Smith, Miley Stalica, Xavier Vargas, Jillian Weaver, Paige Winkler

HONOR ROLL - Peyton Alejandro, Stryker Emrich, Colton Erion, Mason Farner, Ainsley Kent, Parker Moore, Laney Niedzwiecki, Brook Pagels, Audrey Rimmerman, Lila Sharp-Robinson, Madeline Smith, Ava Strong

GRADE 10:

HIGH HONOR ROLL - Nataly Barrera Zuniga, Rylee Burch, Emalyn Canfield, Cody Carlson, Lauren Gartz, Brayden Gelsomino, Kai Gilbert, Gabriella Ivison, Taylor Lundfelt, Ian MacMillen, Logan Marou, Emma Matthews, Emma McJury, Lucia Mueller, Hannah Riedmiller, Theodore Schelemanow, Elliana Tanner, Bradley Tatar, Jack Walker, Rena Wilson

HONOR ROLL - Joseph Brumsted, Gianna Cicatelli, Tyler Dean, Isabella Gifford, Maddex Haymon, Michael Holley, Wyatt Lewis, Blake Liles, Leah Mielke, Seth Prefontaine, Brandon Schuck, Kyle Smith, Kylee Thurston, Caleb Zaleski 

GRADE 11:

HIGH HONOR ROLL - Katelyn Ball, Liam Boyle, Adam Cardenas, Skyler Carroll, Gianna Clark, Laura Curts, Justin Deleo, Cole DiQuattro, Grace DiQuattro, Gary Donofrio, Ava Goff, Gianna Graff, Mia Gray, Megan Jarkiewicz, Pearl Jolliff, Carter Kuipers, Malacai McGrath, Maryn Meier, Grace Mundell, Giovanny Navarro Cruz, Paige O'Brien, Bradley Pocock, Colin Rea, Katherine Rogoyski, Julia Sanso Maya, Simone Scharvogel, Rayne Sheard, Hayden Starkweather, Elizabeth Starowitz, Aubrey Stein, Aiden Vander Wyst, Emma Wolfe

HONOR ROLL - Sara Bishop, Omari Bryant, Connor Copani, Kayden Crocker, Addison Cummings, Estelle Dumuhosky, Nial Johnson, Amelia Kalmbacher, Evan Orto, Allison Rimmerman, Solomon Smith, Andre'a White, Evan Williams 

GRADE 12:

HIGH HONOR ROLL - Aiden Barberio, Ryan Benstead, Sarah Campbell, Jake Carlson, Deborah Catalino, Kendall Chase, Noah Clare, Abigail Cook, Isabella Davidson, Craig DiQuattro, Lea Donofrio, Annabelle Erion, Jack Farner, Chesney Fregoe, Logan Fregoe, Haylee Gartz, Peyton Goodenbery, Ava Gray, Rachel Hanel, Savannah Heick, Tatum Higby, Landon Kent, Eli Kupfer, Ella Lewis, Jackson Lundfelt, Martin MacConnell, Arianne McLaughlin, Anna McLaughlin, Connor Moran, Meghan Muscarella, Kasey Pagels, Adam Piper, Natalie Prinzi, Ian Pulcini, Rayden Robinson, Sydney Salmonds, Victoria Santiago, Ashley Schlenker-Stephens, Olivia Senf, Roman Smith, Shawna Spinks, Lily Stalica, James Starowitz, Rose Wilson, Hannah Wittman, Jade Wolff, Mikayla Yohon

HONOR ROLL - Isabelle Best, Samuel Hersom, Jeremiah Romero, Ruger Starowitz

Press Release:

U.S. News & World Report has named Byron-Bergen Junior High School as a 2025 Best Middle School, placing 316 out of 1389 schools in New York State. Ranked schools were scored on their pupils’ state assessment tests results in the context of socioeconomic demographics. 

The school exceeded state averages in math and English Language Arts (ELA), notably scoring 25% above the state average in ELA and 11% above the state average in math.

“Our junior high school ELA team is grinding every day for these kids,” said 6-12 ELA Content Leader Diana Walther. “We have benchmark tools to identify who needs extra support and use data-driven instruction to meet the kids where they are. We also focus on writing every day.” 

In New York State, 46% of students tested at or above the proficient level for reading, and 41% tested at or above that level for math. At Byron-Bergen Junior High School, 71% of students tested at or above the proficient level for reading, and 52% tested at or above that level for math.

“Math instruction at the junior high school is data driven,”  said 6th grade math teacher Nicole Utz. “Our team uses benchmark data to determine successes and gaps in learning and are able to target our instruction to help meet the needs of our students. In addition, 6th grade student schedules include a FLEX math class every other day which provides opportunities to stretch their learning or receive extra support. Math Lab is also available at the 7th and 8th grade level to provide additional support when necessary.” 

“Our students and staff are incredible, and this recognition highlights how the rigor of our teachers is matched by our hard-working students,” said Jr./Sr, High School Principal Paul Hazard. “I can’t emphasize enough the overall excellence of the entire staff working together to encourage thinking, caring, successful students. It took the help of the whole hive to achieve this recognition.” 

This is the first year that the Junior High School has achieved a U.S. News & World Report rank. The Senior High School has been recognized on the list annually since 2019. For more information on U.S. News & World Report rankings visit https://www.usnews.com/education/k12/new-york/byron-bergen-junior-senior-high-school-13565.

Peter S. Celentano, Jr., 35, of Bergen, is charged with eight counts of criminal possession of a weapon 3rd, two counts of criminal possession of a firearm, and two counts of criminal possession of a weapon 4th. On Sept. 29 and 30, officers executed search warrants on the residence of Celetano in village of Bergen as part of a multi-agency investigation into the manufacture and possession of illegal firearms. Evidence was located at the residence as well as locations in Orleans County. The Sheriff's Office arrested Celetano on Dec. 4. He is accused of possessing large-capacity ammunition feeding devices, short-barreled shotguns, and 3D-printed firearm frames without serial numbers. Celentano was arraigned in Town of Bergen Court and ordered held on $10,000 bail or $20,000 bond. Celentano is being held on federal charges stemming from an arrest in October. He is accused of possessing AR-style receivers qualified as machine guns. He is also facing criminal charges in Orleans County following an arrest in November by State Police.

Tyler J. Bull, 22, of Medina, faces multiple unspecified charges following an incident reported at Alexander Central School on Dec. 4. Deputies responded to a 9-1-1 call at 6:02 p.m. The call reported a male assaulting a female in the parking lot. When school officials attempted to intervene, the male pulled out what appeared to be a handgun and menaced staff. When deputies arrived on scene, the male was taken into custody without incident.  The female was known to the male. Deputies recovered a C02 air pistol. Bull was jailed pending arraignment. 

Megan June Courtney, 28, of West Main Street Road, Batavia, is charged with grand larceny 4th. Courtney is accused of withdrawing funds from another person's credit card without permission on Nov. 30 at a location on Park Road, Batavia. She was issued an appearance ticket. Courtney was also arrested on Dec. 1 and charged with grand larceny 4th, unauthorized use of a motor vehicle, and petit larceny. Courtney is accused of stealing a credit card, money, and a vehicle in connection to a dispute with another person. She was held pending arraignment.

Timothy Gage Rathke, 24, of Lakeview Park, Rochester, is charged with criminal possession of a controlled substance, DWI, driving with a BAC of .08 or greater and drinking alcohol or using cannabis in a motor vehicle. Rathke was reportedly found by Deputy Jacob Kipler sitting in a parked car on the shoulder of Route 33 in Stafford at 12:57 a.m. on Dec. 2. Following an investigation, he was issued an appearance ticket.

Brennan Pearce Blowers, 36, of East Avenue, Batavia, is charged with DWI, driving with a BAC of .08 or greater, and failure to keep right. Sgt. Mathew Clor stopped Blowers at 12:44 a.m. on Dec. 2 on Genesee Street, Pembroke. Blowers was released on traffic tickets.

Zachary Ryan Eichenberger, 40, of West Main Street, Batavia, is charged with aggravated unlicensed operation 2nd and inadequate plate lamp. Eichenberger was arrested on Dec. 2 on a warrant issued by the Town of Bergen Court stemming from an incident on July 20, 2021. He was held pending arraignment.

Marshawn Jamal Singletary, 42, of Maple Street, Batavia, is charged with criminal possession of a controlled substance 3rd, criminal possession of a controlled substance 4th, and obstruction of governmental administration 2nd.  Singletary was arrested on Nov. 29 a warrant issued by Genesee County Court. He was held pending arraignment.

Robert L. Drennen, 42, of Park Road, Batavia, is charged with petit larceny. Drennen is accused of attempting to steal a case of beer. He was released on an appearance ticket.

Veronica Garcia, 44, of Buell Street, Batavia, is charged with felony DWI, felony driving with a BAC .18 or greater, circumventing an interlock device, drinking alcohol or using cannabis in a motor vehicle, moving from lane unsafely. Garcia was stopped at 12:32 a.m. on Dec. 4 on East Main Street by Deputy Jacob Kipler. She was released on an appearance ticket.

Myejay Nasir Braction, 20, of Wyoming Street, Buffalo, is charged with criminal mischief 4th. Braction is accused of shattering the window of a cell door in the Genesee County Jail at 12:45 a.m. on Oct. 16. He was arrested on Dec. 4. He was arraigned on the charge in Town of Batavia Court.

James Carl Malone, 27, of Hopkins Street, Mount Morris, is charged with aggravated criminal contempt, endangering the welfare of a child, and harassment 2nd. Malone is accused of violating an order of protection during a disturbance reported at 9:22 p.m. on Dec. 7 at a location on Ellicott Street Road, Bethany. He is accused of slapping another person three times in front of three children. He was held pending arraignment. 

Terrance Lee Falk, 26, of Rochester, is charged with criminal mischief 4th. Falk is accused of intentionally damaging the window of the Genesee County Jail at 3:15 p.m. on Nov. 30. He was issued an appearance ticket.

Brandon Ryan Fogg, 38, of Lyman Road, Byron, is charged with criminal possession of a weapon 3rd, menacing 1st, criminal possession of a weapon 4th, and obstruction of governmental administration 2nd. Fogg was arrested on a warrant issued in County Court stemming from an incident reported on Dec. 3 at a location on West Main Street, Batavia. Fogg was jailed and held.

Casey Thomas Vaughn, no age provided, of Prestige Xing, Batavia, is charged with aggravated criminal contempt, aggravated family offense, unlawful imprisonment 2nd, assault 3rd, and criminal contempt 2nd. At 11 p.m. on Dec. 3, deputies responded to a residence on Prestige Xing, Batavia, to check on the welfare of a female who was subject to a stay-away order of protection. Following an investigation, Vaughn was arrested and held pending arraignment.

Brandi Rose Hough, 29, of Park Road, Batavia, is charged with aggravated unlicensed operation 3rd, unlicensed operation, deposited refuse on highway, and uncovered cargo. Hough was arrested on a warrant issued by town of Stafford Court stemming from an incident reported at 6:03 p.m. on July 2 on Route 63, Stafford. Hough was held pending arraignment.

David Henry Kendall, 40, of Sierk Road, Attica, is charged with assault 3rd. Kendall is accused of punching the driver of a vehicle in the face at 9 p.m. on Dec. 10 at a location on Veterans Memorial Drive, Batavia, which resulted in a motor vehicle collision. Kendall was held pending arraignment.

Matthew J. Sanchez-Sanquiche, 28, of West Main Street, Batavia, is charged with assault 2nd. Sanchez-Sanquiche is accused of assaulting another inmate in the Genesee County Jail at 3:16 p.m. on Nov. 30.

Douglas G. Goodwin, of Basom, is charged with criminal trespass 3rd, criminal nuisance 2nd, stalking 4th, unlawful fleeing a police officer 3rd, aggravated harassment 2nd, menacing 2nd, burglary 2nd, speeding, failure to obey traffic control devices, failure to stop at a stop sign, speed not reasonable prudent, failure to signal, driving an unregistered vehicle, reckless driving, and aggravated unlicensed operation 1st. Basom was arrested by the Sheriff's Office in Corfu on Nov. 27 following an investigation by the Attica Police Department.  Attica PD reports that in the evening hours of Sept. 16, officers responded to the parking area of Sokol Drive in the village to investigate a report of a suspicious and dangerous person. State troopers and Wyoming County deputies assisted in the response. When patrols arrived, the subject of the call fled on a performance-style motorcycle at a high rate of speed. The driver reportedly failed to respond to commands from police to stop and continued in a reckless and unsafe manner, almost striking a police vehicle. After a short chase the pursuit was terminated to protect the safety of residents.  Through an investigation, Goodwin was identified as the suspect. An arrest warrant was obtained based on witness statements and a victim statement. He reportedly has 14 license suspensions. Goodwin was arraigned in Attica Village Court and ordered held on $20,000 bail, $40,000 bond, or $80,000 unsecured bond. Chief Dean Hendershot stated, "I appreciate the dedication, effort and assistance of all involved, including the Wyoming County, NY Sheriff’s Office, New York State Police and the Genesee County, NY Sheriff’s Office. The residents of the Village of Attica can continue to live peacefully in a safe community they each deserve.”

Shawn P. O'Connor, 35, no residence provided, is charged with criminal mischief 2nd, unlawful fleeing 3rd, and reckless endangerment 2nd. O'Connor was arrested on Nov. 24. He allegedly fled from deputies attempting a traffic stop on Route 63 north into the village of Oakfield, where he crashed his vehicle after hitting a Sheriff's patrol vehicle in the parking lot of the Oakfield-Alabama Central School. He was taken into custody without incident. Multiple objects in the parking lot were reportedly struck by O'Connor's vehicle. He was issued 17 traffic tickets and held pending arraignment. Additional charges are pending.

Nyejay Nasir Braction, 20, of Wyoming Street, Buffalo, is charged with assault 2nd. Braction is accused of attacking a corrections officer at the Genesee County Jail at 6:50 p.m. on Oct. 15 and breaking the guard's finger. He was arrested on Nov. 15. He was arraigned and held.

Carl E. Canterbury, 54, of South Main Street, Batavia, is charged with two counts of criminal sale of a controlled substance 3rd and two counts of criminal possession of a controlled substance 3rd. Canterbury was arrested on Nov. 14 on a sealed indictment following an investigation by the Local Drug Task Force into the possession, transportation, and sale of crack cocaine in the city of Batavia. Canterbury is accused of selling crack cocaine to an agent of the task force on two occasions while in the city of Batavia. He was arraigned in County Court and jailed.

Jerad Michael Stalker, 40, of Indian Falls Road, Corfu, is charged with falsifying business records 1st and criminal possession of stolen property 5th. Stalker is accused of selling stolen merchandise to Pawn King on Veterans Memorial Drive on Aug. 26 and signing a form stating he was the rightful owner. He allegedly stole the merchandise from a vehicle on West Main Street, Batavia. He was arrested Nov. 19 and processed at the Genesee County Jail.

Reanne Pauline Reed, 30, of Ellicott Street, Batavia, is charged with harassment 2nd. Reed was allegedly involved in a scuffle at Batavia Downs at 9:14 p.m. on Nov. 20. Reed was taken to the Sheriff's Office and issued an appearance ticket.

Ryan Michael Bobzin, 35, of West Bergen Road, Bergen, is charged with aggravated unlicensed operation 1st, driving while impaired by drugs, and unlicensed driver. Bobzin was stopped at 4:28 p.m. on Oct. 2 on Townline Road Bergen by Deputy Zachary Hoy. He was arrested on Nov. 20. He was issued traffic tickets and released.

Ryan Philip Harrison Clarke, 35, of North Street, Le Roy, is charged with criminal contempt 2nd and harassment 2nd. Clarke allegedly violated a "refrain from" order of protection by yelling in a person's face at 4:20 p.m. on Nov. 21 at a location on East Main Street, Corfu. He was held pending arraignment.

Zachary N. Knapp, 27, of East Avenue, Batavia, is charged with felony driving with a BAC of .18 or greater, felony driving with a BAC of .08 or greater, and driving a vehicle on a highway. Knapp was stopped at 2:29 p.m. on Nov. 23 of Veterans Memorial Drive in connection with an investigation into a larceny in the area by Deputy Ryan Mullen. Knapp was released on an appearance ticket.

Mossy Earl Jones, 21, of Bloomingdale Road, Tonawanda Indian Reservation, is charged with DWI and moving from lane unsafely. Jones was stopped at 2:04 a.m. on Nov. 23 on Bloomingdale Road, Alabama, by Deputy Nicholas Jennings. He was released on appearance tickets.

Matthew Ryan Clarke, 32, of Middleport, is charged with DWI, driving with a BAC of .18 or greater, dazzling headlights, speeding, and moving from lane unsafely. Clarke was stopped at 1:31 a.m. on Nov. 24 on Route 77 in Pembroke by Deputy Jeremiah Gechell. He was issued on traffic tickets.

Sarah Ann Malone, 42, of Graham Street, Batavia, is charged with criminal obstruction of breathing/blood circulation, endangering the welfare of a child, and harassment 2nd. Malone was arrested on a warrant issued by the Town of Bethany Court on Nov. 26 and held pending arraignment.

Nichole Marie Boldt, 25, of Route 237 Byron, is charged with DWI, driving with a BAC of .08 or greater, moving from lane unsafely, and inadequate lights. Boldt was stopped at 6:02 p.m. on Nov. 27 on Clinton Street Road, Stafford, by Deputy Zachary Hoy. She was issued traffic tickets and released.

For the last decade, Lisa Wittmeyer has come to know Sacred Heart and Ascension Parish as her home church, and she is not about to give it up easily, she says.

Although the Catholic Diocese of Buffalo had issued orders to close the parish in November, Friends of Ascension filed an appeal -- and are "packing the mass" --to stall that measure in an effort to remain open permanently. 

“We had written the first appeal, and the time expired for the bishop to answer, and we have 10 to 15 days for the next appeal … we are to file that next week.  We are still packing the mass; there’s one mass at noon on Sunday, the worst possible time, but there’s 200 in attendance; it’s been standing room only,” Wittmeyer said Thursday to The Batavian. “We’re still supporting the church, we just had a bake sale, we’re still hosting Bingo. We do have a lot of revenue, we were very fiscally responsible with our money. Right now we are kind of in a wait-and-pray; they can’t close us while we’re in appeal. We’re doing what we can to ‘Pack the Mass. We’re wearing the buttons.”

Almost immediately, the Friends of Ascension was formed after the Diocese began announcing local closures, which originally did not include Sacred Heart. Once that Southside parish was placed on the chopping block, members rallied to form the group and began to file paperwork for a nonprofit organization.

They wanted to ensure that mass and church events were continued to be supported, which has included faith formation for kids and adults, although it has mostly been kids in attendance, getting them ready for their sacraments, Wittmeyer said. 

“We’re still doing holy communion, baptisms, weddings, funerals, all of that is till going on,” she said. 

Confirmation class is part of church school for grades two through 11, and includes penance, communion and confirmation, so nothing is getting lost in the shuffle of the Diocese and appeal actions, she said. 

As a child, Wittmeyer attended St. Joseph’s School and Church. After graduating from high school, she eventually moved to her father’s home parish, St. Anthony’s. It was there that she got married and had her boys baptized, so she has already experienced the closure of a church that meant something to her and many other members. 

Wittmeyer then discovered Sacred Heart and doesn’t want to see this gem close or go back to St. Joe’s, she said. 

“As long as we are in the appeal, they cannot close us. The surprising part was, we were not on the chopping block, that’s the surprising part, it wasn’t part of the original plan … (and later) they said then why not close Ascension, and we can go to Resurrection, which is St. Joe’s. But we’re two very different churches. St. Joe’s doesn’t have a church hall. I think the difference in our churches is that we’re smaller, we’re very welcoming, we’re very homey, we are like a church family,” she said. “At St. Joe’s, the acoustics are horrible, it’s hard to hear in there. It’s not aesthetically pleasing … it’s not as personable as Ascension. There’s no hall to fellowship in. I don’t want to lose another church. There is room for two Catholic churches. We used to have four, so I think we can definitely have two.” 

The Diocese had given reasons of lack of financial means and participants as potential reasons for closure, both of which are not true at Ascension Parish, she said. The 4 p.m. Saturday mass was taken away, and it was “very popular,” leaving only the one Sunday mass, which people have steadfastly attended, even having to set up chairs in front when the pews fill up, she said. 

“We are using the church, supporting the church, hosting activities. We are still fighting the fight,” she said. “I have hosted for the past three years the lenten soup supper on Wednesdays. It’s open to the public, and it’s very popular. We donate the funds to different charities. I hope to do it again, and I’m sure we’ll be open through then.”

A cocoa and caroling event scheduled for Thursday was canceled due to the snow that blew in Wednesday night. Members hope to reschedule it. 

In the meantime, the second step in the appeal process is to send it on to the Holy See, which has 90 days to respond. Suppose Ascension receives a denial or no response. In that case, it can appeal to the Church's Supreme Court, the Apostolic Signatura, which follows its own regulations “in a different process that requires appellants to hire an advocate in Rome approved by the Signatura.” That means use of funds likely for an attorney to represent Friends of Ascension. There is no strict timeline or constraint for the response, and the Signatura may give extensions during this process. 

Ascension Parish is not alone with its appeal to the Diocese. St. Brigid’s in Bergen has also filed an appeal, which has kept its doors open to date. Church member John Cummings didn’t want to comment too much about that process, other than it could take a year, and that it “has to really be fought for.”

He has been more immersed in a project to bring solace to the congregation and world at large with a musical production inspired by his son Ryan, who came up with the idea in time for Christmas. 

The Cummings family formed a namesake band with family and friends 10 years ago, performing barbershop type and 50s-60s melodies, and this year Ryan suggested a more universally comforting number to embrace all that’s going on in the world today: “Let There be Peace on Earth.”

A video was recorded at St. Brigid’s with the Cummings family, including son Johnny on piano, community members, Byron-Bergen Central School music teacher Joe Paris conducting the group, and school students and alums.

“It’s just a conglomeration of people in general in the Byron-Bergen community,” the elder John said. “It’s just for everything in the world, life in general. Ryan just thought it would be a great song to do right now. They used the church to do it; it gave a beautiful background.”

The Cummings Family and Friends band performs annually and invites the community to attend, whether it’s at their home or at the Bergen park.

Press Release:

Natalie Malick’s 3rd through 5th-grade students have relaunched the Byron-Bergen Elementary School beverage service. Formally known as the Coffee Cart, the students renamed the program Busy Bee Cafe and created a new logo, menu, and loyalty program cards.

“The idea for the rebrand really started with the students,” said Malick, a 12:1:1 Teacher at Byron-Bergen Elementary School.

Busy Bee Cafe is more than a beverage service. Students learn small business skills such as money management, inventory, ordering, and comparison shopping.

“I like the money part,” said a participating student. “They give me one dollar, and I give them fifty cents back.”

“One of the great aspects of this project is that the kids work toward short-term and long-term goals,” said Malick. “They need to get the service ready for Friday, but they also need to plan for every additional Friday this year.”

Busy Bee Cafe is a stationary self-serve beverage counter outside of Malick’s classroom. Previously a morning service, the cafe now opens at 11 a.m. every Friday and offers a wider variety of beverages including sparkling flavored waters.

“Mrs. Malick and Mrs. Ladley do a great job working with students to put all of this together,” said Byron-Bergen Elementary Principal Kristin Loftus. “It is a wonderful lesson in all the pieces that are necessary for starting and running a business! What better way to help students understand why learning math, reading, and problem-solving in school is so important.”

All proceeds from Busy Bee Cafe are put toward the continuation of the program.

As a nurse in long-term and outpatient family care, Joy Hammond has seen the need for more options when it comes to caring for terminally ill people, she says.

“I would say, in general, the staff in hospitals and staff in long-term care do the best that they can. But the reality is, there's just not enough of them. It is simply the fact of the matter. And you can have the biggest heart for the patient, or the resident in that case, who is dying, but you cannot be at their bedside 24/7, which is not possible. And so to be able to have that option to have a comfort care situation where you can have a volunteer or paid staff be there and be focused on that patient, be focused on their family, that is a wonderful, wonderful thing,” Hammond said during a meeting Monday night at Stone Church in Bergen. “Life care is something I have experienced with my nursing career through the years. And so I'm very, very excited about the possibility of bringing comfort care, bringing a comfort care option here to this part of the county, because there really isn't anything here.”

She was one of about 30 people who attended an initial Genesee Valley Regional Community Cares meeting about establishing a comfort care home on the east end of Genesee County. An effort that began in 2019 and was stalled by Covid. It has now surged forward with the Rev. Robert “Mike” Stuart, Louie Crocker, Keven Kent, Clerk of Session Deb Godllove, of Stone Church Presbyterian, professional organizer Frank Strock, who has volunteered to lead the way, and others, including independent end-of-life doula Ashley Manuel. 

For anyone unfamiliar with comfort care homes, such as Crossroads House in Batavia, they are two-bed facilities for people diagnosed with three months or less to live. Unlike the typical hospital or nursing home, however, comfort care homes are actually more like one’s home — with no restrictions on visiting hours or what foods and drinks one may have, and individual customized attention to fit that person’s needs and personality. There are nurses on staff and/or on-call and round-the-clock volunteers to be there for companionship, to fix meals, bake cookies, fetch a beer, tell a joke, share some tears, and anything in between. 

As Hammond said, from her personal and professional experience, “It just makes the end of life so much … better.”

You know, an all-around experience, it can be truly a beautiful thing, which is kind of crazy in our Western culture; we don’t look at death as beautiful, but it really can be a beautiful thing in the correct environment that supports the family and the person who’s passing,” she said. “So I really am very supportive. I hope that we can make it work.”

She said she's a resident of Bergen and willing to volunteer for this effort once it gets going. 

Stuart, a Marine veteran who later entered the seminary, has been so committed to the effort that he donated his salary while working a stint at Stone Church and shared his humble beginnings during an internship at Memorial Sloan Kettering Cancer Center in New York City.  He was a chaplain during the beginning of the AIDS epidemic, and the blood supply in the city was infected.

"So I was a chaplain for a lot of those kids that were hemophiliacs that died from the blood supply. They were infected, but they had the best treatment they could ever get. So since then, I felt a calling to end-of-life care and served many years in that capacity,” he said, quoting Dr. Emily Smith about loving your neighbor. “It’s about inner work that requires us to ask hard questions and allow that way of being to become part of us, and it requires courage, and means that our lives might look different from how we thought they would. But trust me, friends, if we center on the wrong things to just be good enough type of people, you may be afraid we may be set up for time because I don’t think we’ll ever be who we were meant to be. We can’t redo the past, but we can reimagine the future. That’s what we’re doing now tonight.” 

To do that, he said, “We must ask the right questions.” Asking “who” is my neighbor is the wrong one. The right one is “Am I a neighbor?”

Former Crossroads board member and longtime volunteer Jamie Charters explained how these homes work and what goes into running them: at least 60 volunteers in shifts 24/7, 365 days a year; a few paid staff members of an executive director and director of residential services and perhaps someone for marketing; and a nonprofit that operates on donations. 

When his father-in-law was at Crossroads House, family was there two days prior making and eating pizzas, drinking some wine, telling stories, reminiscing and spending quality final moments with their loved one, he said. 

“I could see the smile on his face,” Charters said. “None of this nursing home (stuff).”

There’s no charge to the resident who spends those final days at the comfort care home, and there are no insurance payments, Medicaid, or Medicare, he said. 

“It simply lives on donations, grants, a lot of fundraising,” he said. “But for some reason for this correct business model is incredibly successful. It really takes everybody.”

One attendee asked if organizers have a piece of property for this comfort care home. No, not yet, and organizers are seeking a donation of land, ideally in the Bergen area. They checked out the schoolhouse next to the church but discovered that there was no septic system, and the health department ruled it out as a potential site, Godlove said.

Strock emphasized that “you are the resource” for the effort, as it will take many people to help, from board members to volunteers with ideas and healthcare, design, construction, clerical, technical and bookkeeping experience. He cited a facility in Ogden that has been operating through the efforts of one woman’s inspiration for the last 13 years. 

Allen Edwards of Brockport was ready to be a resource. He was familiar with this area, he said, because his late wife was a bereavement counselor and coordinator for lifetime care for the last 20 years of her career and then was also in at-home hospice before she died. And Edwards has his own experience.

“As she used to always say, ‘as a veterinarian, you've been doing hospice longer than I have, because, unfortunately, animals die more frequently than people.’ So it's something that I'm just curious about; I'm certainly interested in being a volunteer. I don't know what else I do, but I have a varied skill set, so we'll see," he said. "I'm not a Genesee County resident, but that doesn't matter. It's been said that if there's a need and you don't help them, what are you doing? You're wasting your time on earth.”

Strock was pleased with this first showing of support and curiosity. Bart Dentino, an advocate of comfort care homes, even performed a musical number after sharing that both of his parents were residents of Crossroads House. Jim Morasco of United Church of Christ in Morganville discussed volunteering at Crossroads House. 

“It's an inspiration that people came out because people want to know what's happening with a concept like this, and they want to know where we're at with it. So, that communication, which we're both involved in, is basic; I think we have to find out where we're all at in this project. Many people, including the fellows who are up there now who were invited to see me, are giving testimonials. Bart is giving a testimonial … the same thing with Jim. So it's just that constant inspiration that came through the group,” Strock said. “Sure, we would have liked to have had more people. I'm hoping that I can get the presbytery of Genesee Valley behind this project. Yes, they definitely believe in the concept, but with our new leadership, it's going to take a little bit of development. 

“So, yes, I believe it's a good beginning. It's a good start. You can see the questions and ideas that came out of it, and I think in a group like that, I think it's always people who are a little hesitant. But I think now that people are on a personal basis, I think they'll relate a little better … and then I think that's how our communities meet here,” he said. “I think that's how I found it back when I first came here in 1964. That's how it started, and that's how it continues to this day. We'll take all the resources we have from people who came. We'll be in touch with them.”

Go HERE for prior coverage and how to donate.  

When Ashley Manuel’s grandmother, Norma, was at the end of her life, instead of focusing on death, she was able to truly to live out her remaining days with joy and peace — and her daily red lipstick — thanks to a comfort care home atmosphere, Manuel says.

By comparison, her other two grandparents went into a hospital, where it was drastically different, with a sterile environment that was “scary,” uninviting and cold for visiting family.

That contrast has made Manuel, an independent end-of-life doula who trained with Crossroads House founder Kathy Panepento, a firm believer in comfort care homes. She will be a speaker for an upcoming Genesee Valley Regional Community Cares meeting about an initiative to get a second comfort care home into Genesee County.

The meeting is set for 7 p.m. Monday at Stone Presbyterian Church, 7549 South Lake Road, Bergen. 

“So, in my experience in end-of-life care, and mostly with families and people who are dying, they don't feel like they have a lot of choices anymore. I watched them, the family, struggle with what do we do next. How do we handle this? And by having comfort-care homes and someone to come into your own home, or wherever you are at the time, a hospital, nursing home, and say, ‘listen, there's so much more we can do, and you can be an advocate in your own death.’ And I don't think even society knows that,” Manuel said to The Batavian. “I watched people who came through Crossroads House when they kind of would say, well, what is an end-of-life doula, you know, and what can you do that hospice can't or what can you do? And what I want people to understand is dying starts with the mental, so you start to process your death way before the body even feels it.

“As soon as someone gets a prognosis, that's where it starts. Whether you're in pain or your disease has pain, or you're just dying of old age, that's where an end-of-life doula, and that's where comfort care steps in,” she said. “I’ve done legacy projects. And life review and guided imagery. I mean, it's so beneficial. And when I first stepped into it, I was even skeptical of how much this could help someone. Because you can't fix it, right? Yeah, this is going to happen. But the more I worked with people and sat with them and got to know them and created a bond with them, I've done guided imagery and people's last breaths, and within minutes after I was finished, they were gone.”

That happened because the person became relaxed enough to do what’s necessary to die in peace, she said: let go. Her passion, coupled with a belief in the practice and philosophy of facilitating that for people, motivates Manuel to be part of this second comfort care home in some way, she said.

“I really believe that death isn't a medical event; it’s a social event. It's a communal event. We did it for years and years and years before there were hospitals before people started taking their loved ones to the hospital. When they were dying, they kept them at home. But because the medical industry has bloomed, I guess you would say, around the 60s and 70s … We now have organ transplants and medicines and curative treatments and such. And that's all wonderful and great, and it has saved many lives or extended life,” she said. “But there does have to become a conversation of, okay, that's not a possibility any more, where do we go from here? And that's where I think comfort care homes and people who are trained really well in end-of-life care can pick that up and say, ‘this is what we can do.’ And it's not just for the person dying, it's for the family around them.”

Genesee Valley Community is a group of local people, led by Stone Presbyterian Church in Bergen, with a desire to create a comfort care home to serve those suffering with end-of-life issues. 

This project was first explored in 2019 by the Rev. Robert “Mike” Stuart, Louie Crocker, Keven Kent and the small but dedicated membership of Stone Church. Then Covid came along, plus other obstacles, and the project was put on hold. The church has now partnered with Genesee Valley Regional Community Cares, a newly incorporated not-for-profit dedicated to the creation of comfort care facilities. 

Frank Strock, a local who had married Diane Howe in Byron, experienced his own hospice type situation after his wife was diagnosed with ovarian cancer in 2019. Home care and Hospice was taking care of her at the family homestead, and after she died in May, a counselor remarked that the property would make a great comfort care home in his wife’s name. 

“And I said, ‘you know, my father-in-law built this home in the 50s. We have 15 acres. I know Kathy Panapento, she's a wonderful person, and she could guide us in the right direction. I'd love to do that,” Strock said. “Well, as it turned out, in the interim, I met an elder from the Stone Church and he said they had been working on this program since 2019, and would I like to get on board with Mike and a fellow named Keven Kent who's an elder at Stone Church? I said sure.”

A professional organizer versed in working with unions in New York City, Strock suggested that they file for a not-for-profit and begin to raise money. The 200-year-old church will not only have a mission, he said, but a legacy to revitalize what’s left for the 14 remaining members. 

He is grateful that Stuart, who was a minister at Stone Church, donated his salary to the nonprofit to get this initiative going, and that has meant an $18,000 boost to the coffers.

“He felt so much behind this comfort care program. He had a history of over 10 years working with home hospice out of the Buffalo area, and then he went over and did an interim position at Stone Church, and he said, ‘I’m going to donate my salary to the future of a comfort care home in Stone Church.’ So you can imagine, when I heard these things, I said, you know, something's happening here, and I just have to help them,” Strock said. “And with the church as small as 14 members, even though it's been there for 200 years, and knowing that the people may not have the energy to do this work, we feel that as we grow as an organization, Genesee Valley Regional Comfort Cares, that we will find the resources.”

Father Scott, based out of Our Lady of Mercy in Le Roy, and who works with some nine or so different Catholic churches, has shared the effort with his congregations, and “there’s so many members that have a history of working in healthcare that they would be wanting to be on board as volunteers,” Strock said, and it seems to be good timing with Crossroads founder Kathy Panepento retiring.

“It’s almost like, with all her life that she’s given to Crossroads, it’s now time for others to help pick up the ball and try something new,” he said. 

The objective is to establish a two-resident home “filled with love and support,” and to provide “individualized care for those who have been medically determined to be in the last three months of their life,” similar to Crossroads House in Batavia. 

Staff would include doctors, registered and licensed practical nurses, aides and specially trained volunteers. Preference would be given to those residing in the Genesee Valley and admission granted regardless of religion, race, age, sex, or other distinctions. 

Referrals can come from physicians, social workers, discharge planners, healthcare agencies, clergy, individuals or other sources that provide care for individuals approaching the end of life.

Organizers are hoping that members from the community and at least some of the 55 Presbytery churches attend this first meeting and become an active participant. They’re looking for people to join the association board and/or volunteer for one of the many facets of the comfort care home needs by providing ideas, healthcare, design, construction, clerical, tech support, bookkeeping or well-intentioned prayer. 

“In particular, we ask for your prayers that a donor will come forward with a donation of a lot upon which we can build our facility,” Strock said. “We welcome all. Your heart and soul will be the foundation for this cornerstone of service.”

Tax-deductible donations may be made to GVRCC Inc., 6613 North Bergen Road, Byron, NY, 14422.  

Peter Celentano, of Bergen, was charged in U.S. District Court on Tuesday with illegal possession of machine guns.

Authorities searched his residence on Rochester Street and property associated with him in Lyndonville and Medina.

The Medina search also involved a dive team recovering from the bottom of the Erie Canel a box with 10 AR-style receivers, an unmarked gun, magazines, and other firearm parts.

According to U.S. Attorney Jeffrey E. Intravatola, the searchers on Sept. 29 in Bergen recovered two 3D-printed pistol frames, firearm parts and accessories, ammunition reloading equipment, an AR 80% style Jig and drill, a drill press, and various other tools related to firearm manufacturing. 

Investigators also searched two properties in Lyndonville and an apartment on East Avenue in Medina, recovering numerous AR-style lower receivers, 3D-printed handguns, and additional firearm parts and accessories. Approximately 59 of the AR-style receivers contained a “third pinhole,” qualifying them as machine guns, according to Intravatola.

The search warrants were executed by the State Police, Genesee County Sheriff's Office, and ATF. 

If convicted, Celentano faces a maximum penalty of 10 years in prison and a $250,000 fine.

Photos and story by Jennifer DiQuattro

The Bergen Triangle Club held an open house on Saturday to celebrate its 115th year anniversary.  

The Triangle Club is a women's organization founded in Bergen in 1909.  The objective of the club is social, civic and intellectual improvement.  And, the ladies of the club also really enjoy a cup of hot tea together.

Some past initiatives of the Club include: In the 1960's, Triangle Club petitioned for the creation of the Byron-Bergen Public Library.  And, members donated books to seed its opening.  Triangle Club also participated in the building of the veteran's memorial in Hickory Park.  And, more recently, Christmas decorations and the hometown hero banners initiative in the Village.  

Marian Partridge is the club's longest-serving member.  She joined in 1957 and has been actively participating for 67 years.  

Triangle meets every other month on the third Saturday at 2 p.m. 

The meetings are typically held in the Community Room at the Byron-Bergen Public Library.  New members are always welcome.  The next scheduled meeting is Saturday, Nov. 16.

A homegrown company is growing again.

On Wednesday, Oxbo International hosted a ceremonial groundbreaking at its future 195,000-square-foot manufacturing facility at 7101 South Lake Road, Bergen.

The new factory, situated on 49.7 acres, will replace the existing plant at 7275 Byron Road, Byron.

"We outgrew our facility back in the late 90s. So, 25 years later, we finally thought we should do something about it," said Joe Perzia, president of Oxbo. "We're a little slow on the uptake. Over the years, we've prided ourselves on lean manufacturing principles and tried to get as much production through a tiny space as possible. But being resourceful, some say frugal, has its limitations. This is no longer suitable for going company, so with the full support and encouragement of our shareholders, we are moving forward in this new chapter."

The new location is part of the GCEDC-created industrial park, Apple Tree Acres, which already includes Liberty Pumps, Craft Cannery ), All Season Party Tent Rentals, GE Renewable Energy, Insurance Auto Auctions, and Leonard Bus Sales.

The $43 million project is expected to create 140 jobs initially with plans to add 60 more.

Financial assistance for the project has come from Genesee County Economic Development Center and Empire State Development.

GCEDC's assistance is in the form of sales tax exemptions estimated at approximately $1.75 million, a property tax abatement of approximately $2.15 million via payment in lieu of taxes (PILOT), and a mortgage tax exemption of $366,000.

Additionally, ESD award Apple Tree Acres a $1.26 million grant that supports needed electrical infrastructure upgrades, including improvements to the electrical substation and distribution lines, increasing the capacity to serve anticipated load growth. The upgrades are expected to assist not just the new facility, but the rest of the industrial park.

Assemblyman Steve Hawley praised Oxbo as a local success story.

"Oxbo is a shining example of the entrepreneurial spirit being alive and well in Western New York, and I couldn't be more thrilled with the work they'll be doing following this groundbreaking. We've got more jobs on the horizon, more focus on the importance of the agriculture industry in this state and across the world, and more faith in our farmers with these continued investments in farming technology."

Oxbo began in Byron as a pallet repair business and then became Byron Equipment after filing for a patent on a corn head -- a mechanism to attach to the front of a combine that picks ears of corn off of stalks, leaving the stock behind. 

The company then grew through mergers and acquisitions.

In 1998, Byon Equipment acquired a competitor in Wisconsin, and the new management team settled on the name Oxbo, after an oxbow that yolks and ox team together, to symbolize the concept of the new two integrated teams pulling together.

Both plants stayed in production.

In 2003, Oxbo acquired a pea-picking combine company in Illinois and moved that manufacturing operation to Byron.  Oxbo is the only manufacturer of a pea-picking combine in the U.S.  

In 2004, Oxbo acquired a fruit company in Washington state, and this past June, the company acquired another company in Wisconsin.

However, one of the biggest mergers occurred in 2009, when Oxbo merged with its largest customer in Europe and moved its headquarters to the Netherlands.

The company also operates plants in Brazil, the United Kingdom, and France.

Oxbo employs about 1,200 people in total, 700 in the U.S. The company's gross annual revenue exceeds $400 million.

Shelley Stein, chairwoman of the County Legislature, noted how the grit and determination of a local farmer, Richard 'Lefty' Glazer, to take an entrepreneurial leap and create a copay that now serves a worldwide agricultural industry.

"Homegrown talent and skills joined up with innovation then and now have created the need to continue that growth in supporting agribusiness in our county, our region and our world," Stein said. "Genesee County commends Oxbo for their continued growth and expansion."

Marlarie Joanne Smart, 37, of Pembroke, and Melani Lynn Maloney, 43, of Pembroke, are both charged with petit larceny and conspiracy 6th. Smart and Maloney, sisters, are accused of working together to steal $112.90 in merchandise from Walmart by "skip scanning" while checking out.  Both were issued appearance tickets.

Joni Marie Johnson, 49, of Millicent Avenue, Buffalo, is charged with resisting arrest and petit larceny. Johnson is accused of stealing merchandise from Dick's Sporting Goods at 6:20 p.m. on Oct. 4. She was held pending arraignment.

Timothy Dennis Clark, 54, of Charwood Circle, Rochester, is charged with petit larceny and conspiracy 6th. Clark is accused of working with another person to steal merchandise from Dollar General on Townline Road, Byron at 9:26 p.m. on Sept. 30. Also charged, Ryan Michael Bobzin, 35, of West Bergen Road, Bergen.

Oliver Thomas, 33, of Elba, is charged with DWI, driving on a restricted license, following too close, and consumption of alcohol in motor vehicle. Thomas was stopped at 12:01 a.m. on Oct. 2 on Route 63 in Batavia by Deputy Jeremiah Gechell. 

Edward Micahel Gorski, 42, of Genesee Street, Pembroke, is charged with criminal contempt 2nd. Gorski is accused of violating a stay-away order by going to the protected party's residence in Pembroke at 6:21 p.m. on Oct. 3.

John Robert Kormos, 55, of Parma, Ohio, is charged with DWI, drinking alcohol in a motor vehicle, and moving from lane unsafely.  Kormos was stopped at 9:24 p.m. on Oct. 5 on Oak Orchard Road, Elba, by Deputy Zachary Hoy.

Morris Marquis Taylor, 34, West Barre Road, Albion, is charged with felony DWI, speeding, and drinking alcohol or using cannabis in a motor vehicle. Taylor was topped at 2:34 a.m. on Oct. 6 on West Main Street, Batavia, by Deputy Jacob Kipler. He was held pending arraignment.

A Bergen-based project already given the go-ahead by Genesee County Economic Development Center and pending additional financial incentives got the good news this week that a state grant will be coming its way.

Empire State Development announced Tuesday that of the nearly $25 million in awards for the Focused Attraction of Shovel-Ready Tracts New York grant program, $1.26 million has been slated for the village of Bergen. GE Bergen Owner LLC has a $43.6 million project in the works at Apple Tree Acres Corporate Park.

This project will support electrical infrastructure upgrades, including improvements to the electrical substation and distribution lines, which will increase capacity to serve anticipated load growth, according to the news release. These upgrades will allow Apple Tree Acres Corporate Park to further develop an additional 47 shovel ready acres intended for future manufacturing.

In June, the GCEDC granted GE Bergen Owner LLC’s proposed 196,000-square-foot facility in the town of Bergen, including approximately $1.75 million in sales tax exemptions, a property tax abatement of about $2.15 million as a payment in lieu of taxes (PILOT) and a mortgage tax exemption of $366,000.

The facility would be leased to an end user and is to create 60 new full-time jobs and generate $38 million in wages and benefits as well as revenues for local governments over the course of 10 years according to the deal. 

The project was pending, subject to receiving incentives from Empire State Development Corp.

The state shovel-ready program, first announced in February 2022, is designed to prepare and develop sites across the state to further New York’s shovel-readiness and increase its attractiveness to large employers and high-tech manufacturing companies.

This program is intended to help diversify New York State’s economy while generating new investments for businesses, communities and job creation. To date, FAST NY has awarded $200 million to 25 sites, with locations in every region across Upstate New York.

Bergen was the only municipality in Genesee County to receive a grant award in this round.

 "Through the FAST NY program, our strategic investments are helping communities across Upstate New York develop shovel-ready sites to attract new and expanding businesses in key industries,” ESD President, CEO and Commissioner Hope Knight said in the news release. “These awards will support the development of five sites across Upstate New York, with the potential to attract businesses and manufacturers looking to establish or grow a footprint here, creating jobs and generating regional economic growth."

This year, Governor Kathy Hochul secured an additional $100 million in funding for the FAST NY program through the FY25 state budget. 

FAST NY grants are awarded for pre-development activities and infrastructure investments to develop sites that will attract many eligible industries —including high-tech manufacturing, semiconductors, clean-tech renewable energy, life sciences, agribusiness, optics, transportation equipment, materials processing, industrial machinery manufacturing and other advanced manufacturing. These sites can also be used for interstate distribution and logistics.

For more information, or to apply for a FAST NY grant, visit esd.ny.gov/fast-ny.