Stories from

For the second year, Tri-County Youth Flag Football is offering boys and girls ages 5 to 14 the chance to play NFL-Flag Non-Contact Football.

Games are 5 on 5, fun and filled with a ton of action. Everyone will get to play and learn good sportsmanship and teamwork. Players can sharpen their football skills and learn new ones.

Practices will be one hour on Wednesday nights, with games of two 15-minute halves played on Sunday morning.

Register as an individual or with a friend.

Volunteer parents are requested for youth ages.

Teams consist of five to eight co-ed players. Age groups are: 5 to 7 / 8 & 9 / 10 &11 / 12 to 14.

You must register in person. Cost is $65.

Registration will be at T.F. Brown's restaurant in Batavia (214 E. Main St.) on the dates and times below:

• 11 a.m. to 3 p.m. -- May 25 AND June 1
• 9 a.m. to 3 p.m. -- June 22 AND June 29

For questions and more information, please contact Otis Thomas at (585) 993-0244 or Kevin Rogers at (716) 860-4551.

Ayala is charged with: first-degree burglary; two counts of second-degree burglary; three counts of third-degree grand larceny; and two counts of fourth-degree grand larceny.

He was arraigned in Town of Batavia Court and released on his own recognizance on all charges.

He remains in the custody of the Genesee County Jail on unrelated charges.

Laqueasha M. Taylor, 25, of Bank Street, Batavia, is charged with: criminal obstruction of breathing; endangering the walfare of a child; and second-degree harassment. She was arrested on May 19. She was allegedly involved in a fight with another person at 5:39 p.m. on May 18 on Bank Street at Northside Meadows apartments. Taylor was issued an appearance ticket and is due in Batavia City Court on May 28. The case was handled by Batavia Police Officer Christopher Lindsay, assisted by Sgt. Matthew Lutey.

Robert Oliver Taft, 45, of State Street, Batavia, is charged with criminally using drug paraphernalia in the second degree. At 2:39 p.m. on May 15, Taft was taken into custody on a sealed indictment warrant returnable to Genesee County Court. He was allegedly found in possession of drug paraphernalia during the course of his arrest Taft was arraigned in Batavia City Court and released on his own recognizance. He is still currently being held in jail without bail on the charges in the sealed indictment. The case was handled by Deputy Ryan DeLong.

Kaleb James Bobzien, 21, of Dellinger Avenue, Batavia, is charged with second-degree coercion, criminal obstruction of breathing, and second-degree harassment following the investigation of a domestic dispute on Dellinger Avenue at 10 a.m. on May 17. He was arraigned in Batavia City Court and jailed in lieu of $5,000 cash bail or bond. He was due back in city court on May 21. The case was handled by Batavia Police Officer Peter Post, assisted by Officer Kevin DeFelice.

Tiesha D. Smith, 32, of Prune Street, Batavia, is charged with petit larceny. She was arrested at 1 p.m. on May 19 after allegedly shoplifting from the 7-Eleven convenience store on East Main Street in Batavia. She was issued an appearance ticket and is due in Batavia City Court on May 28. The case was handled by Batavia Police Officer Stephen Cronmiller.

Mark B. Skeet, 65, of Batavia Oakfield Townline Road, Batavia, is charged with aggravated unlicensed operation in the second degree -- mandatory suspension. On May 20, Skeet was arrested for allegedly driving outside of the parameters of his driver's license at 2:06 p.m. on May 17 on Evans Street in Batavia. He was arraigned in Batavia City Court and released under supervision. He was due back in court on May 20. The case was handled by Batavia Police Officer Miah Stevens, assisted by Officer Jason Davis.

Press release:

To highlight the importance of crosswalk safety and the proper use of a crosswalk, not only for pedestrians but motorists as well, there will be a Crosswalk Day on Wednesday, May 29, at the Bank Street crosswalk in front of the Office for the Aging and YMCA.

The event is sponsored by the City of Batavia in conjunction with the City of Batavia Police Department, City of Batavia Fire Department, City of Batavia Youth Bureau, Genesee County, Genesee County Office for the Aging, Genesee County Youth Bureau, Batavia YMCA, Boys Scouts of America, Rochester Regional Health (UMMC) and GO ART!

There will be a morning session taking place from 8:30 to 11:30 a.m. and an afternoon session taking place from 3 to 5 p.m.

There will be volunteers from the YMCA, Rochester Regional Health (UMMC), Boy Scouts of America and Office for the Aging assisting throughout the day.

GO ART! is providing the sidewalk chalk art for the event. The new signs and striping have been provided by City of Batavia Public Works and Genesee County. Also, City of Batavia Police and Fire Department will be assisting with the event.

Press release:

The Batavia Girls Fastpitch Softball organization, with sponsorship from the Batavia Lions Club, is hosting a 12U six-team Memorial Day Weekend Tournament this Saturday, May 25.

Teams include Batavia Stingers Black, Batavia Stingers Yellow, Le Roy, Lyndonville, Perry and Oakfield-Alabama.

Games will take place at fields at John Kennedy School, Batavia Middle School, and Lions Park.

Start time for the first round of games is 8:45 a.m., with the second set of games getting underway at 11 a.m.

Semifinal action begins at 2 p.m. with the Championship game being played at 5:15 p.m. at Lions Park. It is located at 11 Wallace St. in Batavia.

The City of Batavia Fire Department, sponsor of Stingers Softball 12U Yellow team, will be at John Kennedy field presenting our nation’s flag during the playing of the National Anthem prior to the start of the first round of games.

The Batavia Stingers 10U Yellow team will also be on hand to show support for the older age division.

Rain date will be this Sunday (May 26) in the event that games must be suspended on Saturday.

The Batavia Girls Fastpitch Softball, a 501(c)(3) organization founded in 2017, would to thank the Batavia Lions Club for their generous support of this event.

A statement from Assemblyman Steve Hawley:

"Today, I join millions of Americans who honor the sacrifice paid by fallen soldiers and their families. Generation after generation, beginning with the American Revolution, soldiers have stood ready to defend their country, freedoms and civil liberties with their lives.

"As a result of that sacrifice, our nation has been free, prosperous and the envy of the world throughout its history.

“Americans owe a special debt of gratitude to our fallen soldiers and gold star families. I am especially grateful that my colleagues in the state Assembly finally joined an effort I have long championed to grant the dependants of fallen soldiers free college tuition.

"I am also proud to continue the tradition of Patriot trips to Washington, D.C., the annual trip I take with veterans and their families to visit the Capitol of our country, which they fought so hard to protect. 

“As the son of a World War II veteran and a veteran of the military myself, standing up for veterans is a duty I will never overlook. That is why I cherish my position on the Veterans’ Affairs Committee in the Assembly.

"In the coming weeks, I look forward to continuing my fight for legislation to exempt honorably discharged veterans from Thruway tolls, veterans over 85 years old from paying state income tax, and extending state benefits to promote veteran-owned businesses.

“Nevertheless, on this Memorial Day I want to extend a special salute to our fallen soldiers and all of our nation’s Gold Star families. As a nation, we must never forget their extraordinary service and patriotism.”

A head-on collision between a pickup truck and car is reported at 2447 W. Main Street Road, East Pembroke. East Pembroke Fire Department and Mercy medics are responding.

UPDATE 12:40 p.m.: Mercy Flight is called to the scene. The location is near Ron and Newt's auto repair business.

UPDATE 12:50 p.m.: One person was transported by Mercy Flight to ECMC; the patient was conscious and alert.

UPDATE 1:13 p.m.: A white sedan was eastbound on West Main Street Road when the driver crossed the center line of the roadway and struck a westbound work truck head on. The driver of the sedan was airlifted to ECMC; the driver of the work truck was taken by ground ambulance to UMMC.

This colorful cutie landed on the person of reader Karen Laney while she was outside gardening today.

She lives on State Street Road in Batavia. Laney said the friendly avian is "very obviously a hand-raised bird."

She would very much like to find the owner of this affectionate pet and hopes the owner will contact her via email and make arrangements to reunite with it.

Her email is nclaneys@gmail.com

UPDATE 12:04 p.m., Friday, May 24: Karen Laney, whom the bird landed on, sent us this good news a minute ago: "A person who knew the owner saw the post about the bird in the Batavian and bird and owner have been reunited! Thanks so much for getting the word out!" You are welcome. We are glad!

Submitted photos and press release:

Boy Scouts from Troop 6069 with the help of some of the Cub Scouts from Pack 6069, placed flags in front of the headstones of veterans at the Batavia Cemetery on Wednesday, May 22nd.

There were 16 scouts and eight leaders in attendance. The Troop has been working with the Historic Batavia Cemetery Association for the past several years on this project. It is a pleasure for the Scout Troop to provide this service to their community.

This was the first time that the Cub Scouts have been invited by Troop 6069 to help them with this community service project.

Assistant Scoutmaster Brown made sure to take the Cub Scouts to the grave site of Samuel Wood who is buried there. Wood is the namesake of Iroquois Trail Council's Cub Scout Resident Camp located in Pike. He was the first Eagle Scout recorded in Genesee County.

Boy Scout Troop 6069 is chartered through the First Presbyterian Church in Batavia, and it meets at Jackson Primary School.

  

Press release:

Iroquois National Wildlife Refuge (NWR) is hosting the 28th annual Youth Fishing Derby from 8 to 11 a.m. on Saturday, June 1.

The derby is held during National Fishing and Boating Week at Ringneck Marsh on Iroquois NWR. Registration will begin at 7:30 a.m.

Rods and reels will be available for children to borrow if needed and worms will be provided as bait.

The event is sponsored by the Friends of Iroquois National Wildlife Refuge Inc., which will be providing door prizes and trophies for the anglers with the three biggest fish in each age group (under 7, 8-12, and 13-17).

NEW THIS YEAR: there will also be trophies and prizes for the most persistent angler (total length of all fishes caught in any age group) and the angler who catches the most species (any age group).

It’s sure to be a fun fishy day! The fishing derby and all activities are free to the public.

Please contact Refuge staff at 585.948.5445, ext. 7037, or visit our website here for further information.

Iroquois NWR is located midway between Buffalo and Rochester and is managed by the U.S. Fish & Wildlife Service.

To get to Ringneck Marsh, take Route 63 over the county line into Orleans County, Town of Shelby, and turn east onto Oak Orchard Ridge Road. In less than 0.5 miles, you may park in the Ringneck Marsh Overlook Parking Lot.

Individuals with disabilities and any other person who may need special assistance to participate in this program should contact the Refuge at (585) 948-5445 or at the Federal Relay No. 1-800-877-8339.

The mission of the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service is working with others to conserve, protect and enhance fish, wildlife, plants and their habitats for the continuing benefit of the American people. We are both a leader and trusted partner in fish and wildlife conservation, known for our scientific excellence, stewardship of lands and natural resources, dedicated professionals and commitment to public service. For more information on our work and the people who make it happen, visit www.fws.gov.

Press release:

Stressing his superior skills and experience, current Genesee Justice coordinator Catherine Uhly and her predecessor Ed Minardo have added their names to the impressive and growing list of officials who have endorsed part-time City Court Judge Durin Rogers in his effort to become Batavia’s next full-time Judge.

Genesee Justice is the arm of Genesee County government that works with our local courts, police and others, providing programs serving victims as well as defendants in criminal cases throughout the County.  

“Judge Rogers is a fair, balanced and unbiased judge with high ethical standards” Uhly said. "He has a proven track record of holding offenders accountable through the use of alternative-to-incarceration programs as Community Service or our Release Under Supervision (RUS) pretrial release program…while also displaying sound judgment if a defendant’s risk assessments are too high to warrant release from custody.” 

Commenting on Judge Rogers’ work helping to establish the Genesee County Youth Court, Minardo said, “Judge Rogers has been a strong advocate for youth participation in the legal system.” Minardo noted Rogers’ focus on defendant accountability when he said “Judge Rogers sought accountability by including expectations that individuals address their personal shortcomings to avert continued harmful behavior.”

As to Rogers’ unique experience working with families in distress, Minardo stated “Judge Rogers’ 20-plus years as a juvenile prosecutor…has provided him with a unique perspective on the impact that child abuse, sexual assault and domestic violence has on individuals and families…He will be an excellent judicial steward if elected."

For further information, please contact the Committee to Elect Judge Rogers by email at electjuderogers@gmail.com