City firefighters are called to investigate a possible controlled burn by the nature trail at DeWitt Recreation Area off Cedar Street.
UPDATE 12:47 a.m.: Firefighters are in the area investigating. The caller reported two bicycles in the vicinity of the blaze.
Reel Discussion at Richmond Memorial Library -- Thursday, Oct. 10th at 6 p.m.
Come view the movie and join us for a group discussion afterward.
On Thursday, Oct. 10th, at 6 p.m., we will be showing the movie is “The Ghost and Mrs. Muir.”
Submitted photo and press release:
Bergen -- On Saturday, Sept. 21, student athletes from Byron-Bergen and Caledonia-Mumford joined more than 400 other participants on the Walk to End Alzheimer’s in Batavia.
This year, the Byron-Bergen Varsity Football Team was joined by members of the Byron-Bergen Girls Varsity Soccer Team.
The football and soccer players’ combined efforts raised more than $900 for the Alzheimer's Association, Western New York Chapter.
Byron-Bergen’s participation in this annual event began three years ago when the combined Caledonia-Mumford/Byron-Bergen Varsity Football Team decided to take part.
“In the past, the team used to do a cancer walk, but our soccer teams do a cancer fundraiser, so we thought itwould be good to give to a different organization,” said Byron-Bergen senior and varsity football co-captain Bryce Yockel.
The team raised money, but they also raised awareness.
“We made posters in honor of different community members affected by the disease that we posted around the area," said Byron-Bergen senior and varsity football player Alex Dean. "We made one for my grandfather who has Alzheimer’s.”
“I’m proud to walk with members of our football and soccer teams,” said Byron-Bergen High School Principal Pat McGee. “They’re great kids supporting a great cause.”
“It’s really about the feel good part,” Yockel said. “It’s helping people who are struggling and can’t do anything about it. A lot of the people who are in the walk are older, a lot of them are walking for themselves, so it feels good to support them.”
All together, the day’s event raised more than $40,000 for the Alzheimer’s Association and 441 people participated.
Photo: Members of the Caledonia-Mumford/Byron-Bergen Raiders Varsity Football Team with Byron-Bergen High School Principal Pat McGee (bottom left).
Kaleb J. Bobzien, 21, of Dellinger Avenue, Batavia, is charged with first-degree criminal contempt. He was arrested at Batavia City Court at 1:39 p.m. on Sept. 24 when he appeared for sentencing on an unrelated matter. Bobzien is accused of violating a stay away order of protection at 4:43 p.m. on Sept. 15 on Dellinger Avenue. He was processed and arraigned in city court then put in Genesee County Jail on $10,000 cash bail or bond. Bobzien is due to return to court on Oct. 4. The case was handled by Batavia Police Officer Wesley Rissinger, assisted by Officer Jason Ivison.
Andrew J. Rock, 33, of North Spruce Street, Batavia, is charged with second-degree criminal contempt. Rock was arrested following an alleged violation of an order of protection. The incident allegedly occurred at 9:59 p.m. on Sept. 4 while the defendant was an inmate at Genesee County Jail. He is currently incarcerated there. He is due in Batavia City Court on Oct. 1. The case was handled by Batavia Police Sgt. Matthew Lutey.
Austin M. Hejza, 24, of Argus Drive, Depew, is charged with: criminal possession of a controlled substance in the seventh degree; unlawful possession of marijuana; and running a red light. On Sept. 24, Hejza turned himself in the Batavia Police Department on an arrest warrant out of City of Batavia Court. He was processed at BPD and arraigned at 1:31 p.m. in city court before being released on his own recognizance. Hejza is due back in court on Oct. 8. The case was handled by Batavia Police Officer Wesley Rissigner, assisted by Officer Jason Ivison.
Michael E. Weichman, 24, of West Main Street Road, Batavia, is charged with: petit larceny; obstructing governmental administration in the second degree; and conspiracy in the sixth degree. He was arrested at 11:06 a.m. on Sept. 18 after allegedly shoplifting from Dollar General on East Main Street in Batavia and attempting to flee from police. Weichman is due in Batavia City Court on Oct. 1. The case was handled by Batavia Police Officer Jordan McGinnis, assisted by Officer Mitchell Cowen.
Steven M. Lindner, 46, of West Main Street, Batavia, is charged with petit larceny. He was arrested at 6:48 p.m. on Sept. 23 after allegedly shoplifting from a business on East Main Street in Batavia. He is due in Batavia City Court on Oct. 1. The case was handled by Batavia Police Officer Sean Wilson, assisted by Officer Stephen Cronmiller.
By Tim Bojarski, for Batavia Downs
Frequent flyer miles between the Red Mile, Plainridge Park and Batavia Downs have certainly kept driver Drew Monti sharp as a tack. Currently sitting sixth, fourth and eighth in the driver standings at those respective tracks, Monti has been on a tear since returning to Batavia and over the last five days has posted a Universal Driver Rating (UDR) of .440.
On Wednesday (Sept. 25) Monti added to those numbers by winning five races on the card including the weekly distaff feature with the red hot HP Sissy.
HP Sissy’s initials may very well stand for “high powered” because she certainly has a huge engine and showed it off for the second week in a row by dominating the best mares on the grounds while winning the $12,500 Open I Handicap for distaff pacers at Batavia Downs on Wednesday evening.
HP Sissy (Drew Monti) was deliberate off the gate, going three-deep to the quarter to out-leave Little Joke (Billy Davis Jr.) and Sarah Cola (Mike Caprio). After seating at the first split in :27.2, Monti reined-in the leader and backed off the half to :56.3.
The race proceeded on the second circuit and HP Sissy continued to pace under a strong hold with Little Joke tracking from second. After hitting three-quarters in 1:25 Monti let his mare out a notch and HP Sissy switched into glide and opened up a two length advantage while scooting home in :28.4 to win in 1:53.4.
Notching her 11th win of the year, HP Sissy ($3.70) has now earned $91,343 for owner Finocchario’s Dream Stable and trainer Mike Ohol.
Monti completed his piloting pentafecta by winning with Rock N Roll Rosie (1:56.3, $6), Media Queen N (1:54.2, $5), Cracked Glass (1:58.1, $7.70) and Snapshot Springs (1:58.2, $2.40). Adding in a second and two thirds, Monti’s UDR for the night was .479.
The $11,000 Open II pace for fillies and mares went to Badlands Delight (Ray Fisher Jr.) who took the lead by the quarter, cut quick fractions of :28.1, :57.3 and 1:26.1 before holding off a late closing Carly Girl (Drew Monti) to win by two-lengths in 1:54.4. Badlands Delight ($9.60) is owned by Sam Smith and is trained by Gerry Sarama.
Driver Dave McNeight III had a good night as well, winning three races on Wednesday.
Live racing resumes at Batavia Downs on Friday (Sept. 27) with post time set at 6 p.m.
The next step in Plush Dozier's case is a Huntley Hearing to determine evidence admissibility. This afternoon in Genesee County Court, Judge Charles Zambito set the hearing for 2 p.m. on Nov. 14.
Dozier (inset photo, right), who is charged with first-degree arson and attempted murder, was put into the custody of the Commissioner of Mental Health for treatment and reevaluation by Zambito in May after three psychiatrists examined the defendant.
Although two of the doctors found Dozier capable of understanding the charges against him and the court proceedings, all three agreed he suffers from schizoaffective disorder, oppositional defiant disorder, and is prone to paranoia and hallucinations.
"All three doctors who evaluated him said he could snap at any time," Zambito said in May.
Dozier is also accused of menacing a police officer after an alleged violent incident while in local custody two months after his arrest.
See previous coverage:
Canisius College embarked on its 150th year of educational excellence by welcoming 660 new students to campus (560 first-year students; 100 transfer students) for the 2019-20 academic year.
The incoming class represents 224 high schools from 25 states and five countries. The following local students are enrolled at Canisius College:
Consistently ranked among the top regional institutions in the Northeast, Canisius is a master's-level, comprehensive university offering undergraduate, graduate and professional programs that are distinguished by close student-faculty collaboration and experiential learning opportunities that transform the mind and spirit.
The premier private university in Western New York, Canisius is one of 27 Jesuit, Catholic colleges in the nation.
Jiggetts was arrested on Tuesday (Sept. 24) and arraigned at 10 a.m. in Town of Batavia Court following an investigation into allegations that she intentionally struck a 5-year-old with an object, causing injury to the child.
The incident allegedly took place on Thomas Avenue at noon on June 30.
The case was investigated by Genesee County Sheriff's Investigator Howard Carlson.
Subsequently, at 10:15 a.m. yesterday she was arraigned in Town of Batavia Court on the other count of second-degree assault.
That case stems from an investigation into an incident on Sept. 21 at the Batavia Meadows apartment complex in which Jiggetts allegedly intentionally struck a 3-year-old with an object, causing injury to the child.
She is due back in Batavia Town Court on Oct. 21.
The case was investigated by Genesee County Sheriff's Investigator Howard Carlson, assisted by Investigator/Youth Officer Timothy Westcott.
Town of Oakfield Highway Superintendent Alan R. Dennis is retiring! To thank him for his public service and wish him well, an Open House will be held in his honor on Thursday, Oct. 3.
It will take place from 3 to 6 p.m. at the Oakfield Community and Government Center, 3219 Drake St., Oakfield.
Light refreshments/snacks will be available.
The "All Weather Gang" founded by Batavians -- the late John Hodgins and Don Grieger -- originally known as "The Group of Two"
has grown to 12 members.
For nearly 40 years the AWG has wandered the back roads of Western New York, painting the unnoticed, the ignored and the unappreciated.
Their show titled, "CAUTION! -- Men Working -- paintings by the All Weather Gang," will be held at the Richmond Memorial Library during the month of October.
A reception will be held from 6 to 8 p.m., Monday, Oct. 7.
Press release:
The "All Weather Gang" founded by Batavians -- the late John Hodgins and Don Grieger -- originally known as "The Group of Two"
has grown to 12 members.
For nearly 40 years the AWG has wandered the back roads of Western New York, painting the unnoticed, the ignored and the unappreciated.
Their show titled, "CAUTION! -- Men Working -- paintings by the All Weather Gang," will be held at the Richmond Memorial Library during the month of October.
A reception will be held from 6 to 8 p.m., Monday, Oct. 7.
Batavian Kevin Feary and former Batavian Bill Mancuso are also "Gang" members participating in the show. A book entitled "The All Weather Gang" written by Mancuso is in the library's collection.
The library is located at 19 Ross St. in the City of Batavia.
By Samantha Stryker, Community & Adult Services Librarian
The fall series of Books Sandwiched In will begin on Wednesday, Oct. 2 at Richmond Memorial Library and will run each Wednesday through Oct. 30.
All sessions begin at 12:10 and run until 1 p.m. Attendees are encouraged to bring their lunch; coffee and cookies will be served.
You do not need to read the book to attend these sessions! A gift card to a local lunch establishment will be given at each session as a door prize!
A longstanding program at the library, Books Sandwiched In invites community members to share reviews of books, often works of nonfiction. As always, this fall’s series will present a wide array of topics from presenters with a variety of backgrounds.
First up on Oct. 2, Millie Tomidy-Pepper will present Melinda Gates’ "The Moment of Lift: How Empowering Women Changes the World" (2019). Tomidy-Pepper is the executive director of the YWCA of Genesee County and was previously the executive director for the Mental Health Association in Genesee County.
Gates’ debut work rests on the theory that, “if you want to lift a society up, invest in women,” and has been called “a timely and necessary call to action for women's empowerment.”
On Wednesday, Oct. 9, Scott Herring will discuss "The Pioneers: The Heroic Story of the Settlers Who Brought the American Ideal West" by David McCullough (2019). A native of Otego, Herring worked with the Farm Credit System throughout the Northeast until his retirement in 2015.
The newest book from popular historian McCullough uses the experience of five pioneers to explore the settlement of the Northwest Territories of the United States.
Greg Van Dussen, Ph.D., will join us on Wednesday, Oct. 6 to review "Digital Minimalism: Choosing a Focused Life in a Noisy World" by Cal Newport (2019). Van Dussen is a resident of Batavia and an adjunct professor at Northeastern Seminary in Rochester, having also retired from the United Methodist Church as a pastor.
In Digital Minimalism, Newport applies the theory of minimalism (“the art of knowing how much is just enough”) to our use of technology. Van Dussen says that Newport “sees clearly the price our society is paying for constant connectedness and offers a workable plan for using technology wisely.”
On Wednesday, Oct. 23, Peggy Grayson will examine Jeff Dondero’s "Throwaway Nation: The Ugly Truth about American Garbage" (2019). A resident of Stafford, Grayson is the recycling administrator for GLOW Region Solid Waste Management Committee.
This book examines the problem of waste in the United States, examining the environmental impact and “not just how we got here and where we're headed, but ways in which we might be able to curb the tide.”
Lastly, on Wednesday, Oct. 30, Jim Lewis will present "More Deadly Than the Male: Masterpieces from the Queens of Horror" (2019), our only fiction selection for this series.
Edited by Graeme Davis, this anthology of classic and “unexpected” horror stories includes tales from authors such as Louisa May Alcott and Harriet Beecher Stowe.
A Navy veteran and retired Batavia City Schools Social Studies teacher, Lewis is active in the community with organizations such as the Friends of Richmond Memorial Library and the Batavia Players.
For more information about the Books Sandwiched In titles and presenters, visit our website at batavialibary.org/events.
For more information about these or other events, visit us online at batavialibrary.org, at the library, or call the library at 585-343-9550.
Richmond Memorial Library, located at 19 Ross St. in the City of Batavia, continually provides access to physical and virtual resources and services that meet the educational, informational and recreational needs of its diverse community in a safe and comfortable environment.
Editor's Note: This post was updated Sept. 26 to include more information about Genesee County, see below ***.
From the NYS Association of Counties:
Across New York State, local governments are enacting local laws, adopting energy-saving initiatives, taking steps toward climate resiliency, and collaborating to develop programs for supporting more resilient communities.
“As we celebrate Climate Week, it must be noted counties across New York are investing in hundreds of initiatives to combat climate change and promote more climate resilient communities,” said Erie County Executive Mark Poloncarz.
Through state programs such as Climate Smart Communities and Clean Energy Communities, counties are acting to both mitigate their environmental impact and save taxpayer dollars in the process.
Counties will also be key partners with the state in meeting the goals established by the recently-enacted New York State Climate Leadership and Community Protection Act. This legislation set the most aggressive greenhouse gas emission (GHG) reduction goals of any major economy and will put New York State on a path to carbon neutrality.
“Our county leaders are in a unique position to work with state, federal, and local agencies on environmental issues, and to develop partnerships to mitigate and prepare for the impact of climate change on our communities,” said NYSAC Executive Director Stephen Acquario. “During this Climate Week, we are highlighting the programs underway in our communities.”
________________________________
***Genesee County received a Smart Growth grant from the NYS Department of State for climate resiliency planning:
When the grant was announced last September, Genesee County Legislature Chairman Robert Bausch said, "The Smart Growth grant program has provided some of our State's most vulnerable counties with the resources they need to ensure they are prepared for the next severe weather event.
"We can never be sure when the next disastrous storm will hit. With this funding to build more resilient communities and fight against the devastating effects, Governor Cuomo is creating a more sustainable New York for all."
Genesee County was among five Upstate counties chosen to divvy up a total of $1 million to develop resiliency plans and identify projects while incorporating the principles of smart, sustainable growth and development.
The plans funded through the grant will address:
For the first phase, they mapped the whole county and worked closely with four municipalities (see below). Now, for Phase 2, they're hoping to work with as many communities as possible.
The person overseeing the local Smart Growth planning and projects is county Planning Director Felipe Oltramari (Felipe.Oltramari@co.genesee.ny.us).
The Green Geneese/Smart Genesee plan is available online here.
________________________________
To learn more about the climate actions counties have undertaken, check out the NYS Energy Research & Development Authority's Clean Energy Communities map here.
Village of Bergen (2010 Census population: 1,176)
Clean Energy Community -- designated
Town of Batavia -- (2010 Census population: 6,809)
Clean Energy Community -- designated
Village of Corfu (2010 Census population: 709)
Clean Energy Community -- participating
Town of Pembroke (2010 Census population: 4,292)
Clean Energy Community -- participating
On Saturday, Oct. 5th, the annual Sportsman Raffle will be held to benefit the Byron Fire Department at the Byron Fire Hall on Route 262. Doors open at 4 p.m., raffle starts at 5 p.m.
Tickets are $20 each; ticket price includes meal and beverages.
Many prizes will be awarded to lucky ticket holders, including guns, cash, a lifetime hunting license, a chartered fishing trip, and special packages for hunting, camping and fishing. There will also be side raffles for other items.
Proceeds help the Byron Fire Department buy new gear and equipment.
A car is on fire and flames are shooting out from under the hood after a car vs. deer accident in Byron. The location is 6609 Byron Road, between Warboys and Tower Hill roads. Byron and South Byron fire departments are responding.
UPDATE 8:55 p.m.: Elba Fire Department is called to the scene for mutual aid. Route 237 is to be shut down at Tower Hill and Warboys roads.
By Tim Bojarski, for Batavia Downs
On Wednesday (Sept. 25) the Pick-5 pool at Batavia Downs Gaming and Hotel will be guaranteed at $2,500.
The Pick-5 wager begins in race one and runs through race five. It is a 50-cent base wager and if all five winners aren’t selected, the carryover amount moves to the Friday program.
Wednesday’s guaranteed pool is part of the United States Trotting Association’s (USTA) Strategic Wagering Program and as such, free program pages are available courtesy of Trackmaster on the USTA’s website.
By Tim Bojarski, for Batavia Downs
Batavia Downs has a long history of lady drivers competing at the track going back to the 1950’s. Names like Edith Mouw, Mary Ann Sarama, Cindy Stark, Laurie Stark, Anne Wheeler, Jeanette Byer and Myrtle Patistas were regulars at the Downs for decades. But it has been a fairly male-dominated track when the gate has swung open in recent years.
That all changes on Wednesday (Sept. 25) when one of the top distaff sulky stars in North America ships into Batavia to take on the local driving colony.
Jennifer Lappe got into harness racing in 1993 when she bought a trotter off an Amish truck. That horse eventually won three races for her but defined what she has described herself as being in a 2018 interview -- “a salvager."
Lappe sees value and potential in horses many others may not and isn't afraid to take on the challenge of an older horse or a horse with issues and has capitalized on that over time.
Lappe’s career training numbers are excellent: 4,990 starts with 858 wins, 771 seconds and 690 thirds, which means she’s hit the board 46 percent of the time and has earnings of $5,678,220 to show for it.
She started her driving career in the Midwest on county fair circuits in Illinois and Iowa before moving on to pari-mutuel racing at Balmoral Park in Crete, Ill., after that. In 2007 Lappe made the move to New York and is now based out of Campbell Hall, which is not far from Goshen.
From 2008 until 2018 Lappe used primarily catch drivers to capitalize on the healthy purses in New York. But she returned to the bike full time last year and has really put up some impressive driving numbers in a very short amount of time.
Over the past two years Lappe’s driving has yielded 73 wins out of 653 starts with 111 seconds and 108 thirds. That’s 45 percent in the money with $429,693 in earnings.
Currently in 2019, Lappe has the best Universal Driver Rating (.267), second highest earnings ($194,562) and third highest amount of wins (34) among all female drivers in North America with 300 or more starts this year.
For the better part of this season Lappe has raced at Vernon Downs, but has also shipped horses to Monticello Raceway, The Downs at Mohegan Sun Pocono and now Batavia. Lappe also had a successful stint at The Meadowlands during the winter of 2018.
Lappe's regular starts in Central New York have given her an outstanding meet at Vernon where she currently sits fourth in the overall trainer standings with 27 wins; only nine behind the leading Marissa Chadbourne (36). She is also eighth among all drivers for wins.
Earlier this year Lappe made history at Vernon when she drove her top class Open pacer Bettor’s Edge to a 1:50 win in June, which was the fastest win time ever recorded by a female driver at that track. And that win time was only 2/5ths of a second off the world record of 1:49.3 set by Stacy Chiodo and Mighty Young Joe at the Meadowlands in 2014.
With her operation still spread over multiple tracks, Lappe will test the waters in Genesee County where she will ship four of her stablemates this week. Dreamlands Art (Artsplace-Dreamlands Delilah) 1:49.3 ($751,244), Beyonces Rockn (Rock N Roll Heaven-I’m Betting On you) 1:51 ($278,850), Lucky Man (Camluck-Under Her Spell) 1;49.1 ($1,268,345) and Electrofire (Electric Stena-Temples May Day) 1:50 ($608,812) will all be competing at Batavia Downs on Wednesday evening.
Post time for the first race is 5 p.m.
(Photo of Jennifer Lappe courtesy of Lisa Photo and Frances Blazer.)
Batavia Reads Garnder -- the 23rd edition!
Join everyone at the Pok-A-Dot on Saturday, Oct. 26, for a reading of the works of Batavia's most famous author, John Gardner.
Readings, food and camaraderie for all in celebration of this author, teacher and Batavian.
Have your picture taken on the John Gardner Memorial Bench.
The Pok-A-Dot diner is located at 229 Ellicott Ave. in the City of Batavia.
For more information or to be added to the list of readers, call Bill Kauffman at (585) 757-2455 or email him at: bkbatavia@yahoo.com
From 4 to 9 p.m. today -- Tuesday, Sept. 24 -- 30 percent of all dinner sale proceeds at Miss Batavia Diner will be given to the Alzheimer's Association of Western New York.
The diner is located 566 E. Main St. in the City of Batavia.
"Easy as pie! You get to enjoy a delightful dinner without all the cleanup and the money supports Alzheimer's education programs, support services, and other resources for care partners and those living with dementia," say the hosts Danielle and Lance Engels.
From 4 to 9 p.m. today -- Tuesday, Sept. 24 -- 30 percent of all dinner sale proceeds at Miss Batavia Diner will be given to the Alzheimer's Association of Western New York.
The diner is located 566 E. Main St. in the City of Batavia.
"Easy as pie! You get to enjoy a delightful dinner without all the cleanup and the money supports Alzheimer's education programs, support services, and other resources for care partners and those living with dementia," say the hosts Danielle and Lance Engels.
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