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Submitted photo and press release:

The Jerome Foundation is pleased to announce that the recipient of the 36^th Annual Health and Humanitarian Award is Dr. Matthew Landfried, who will be recognized at a luncheon next month at Terry Hills Restaurant.

The award is presented by the Foundation to recognize volunteer men and women of Genesee County who have helped promote the emotional, physical and spiritual well-being of the area’s residents. Nominees reflect “ordinary people who reach far beyond themselves to the lives of those in need bringing hope, care, and friendship and helping build a stronger, healthier community."

Dr. Landfried is currently the medical director of Surgical Services and chairman of the Department of Surgery at UMMC, as well as serving on multiple committees at UMMC and its partner Rochester Regional Health. He is an adjunct professor at the Lake Erie College of Osteopathic Medicine and D’Youville College and mentors Physician Assistant students, medical students and residents.

Professionally, Dr. Landfried is well respected in his field and has been published in multiple medical journals. Among other professional honors, Dr. Landfried has been named a “Top Doctor” by U.S. News & World Report.

As a member of the Trauma and Critical Care response team of National Disaster Medical System of the U.S. Department of Health & Human Services, he has volunteered in Haiti, Texas, and other disaster sites supporting the critical medical needs of the communities struck by disasters such as earthquakes and hurricanes. He assisted at an orphanage in Haiti and remains in contact with them and provides financial help as well.

Dr. Landfried is the medical lead for several area sports programs including Batavia and Notre Dame high schools, as well as assisting with various sports medicine needs at Genesee Community College. You see him on the sidelines at many youth sporting events where he donates his time and often medical assistance outside the office to student athletes in need.

He and his wife Kerry have opened their home to many Muckdog baseball players as well as exchange students.

Batavia has its own version of the Blindside movie, played by Dr. Matt Landfried and his wife. They brought into their home a high school football player who experienced a very troubled homelife. With the Landfried’s caring support and encouragement, the young man graduated from Batavia High School and completed a successful undergraduate and graduate college program and is now an educational professional in Boston.

His compassion is demonstrated in a variety of ways that are often outside of medical care. He has gone to nursing homes or made a home visit to talk with family members about a loved one’s condition or to assist in special treatment. There was a time when a patient with multiple complications needed to be transferred to a Rochester hospital. Because of the complexity of the case, there were many instructions that had to be relayed and special care provided during the transfer. In order to make sure things were done appropriately, Dr. Landfried rode in the ambulance to assure the proper care was provided and treatment would be continued suitably.

Throughout their 28 years in our community, Dr. and Mrs. Landfried have financially supported too many causes to mention. Our community is infinitely enriched by the presence of Dr. Matthew Landfried and The Jerome Foundation is pleased to honor him with the 2018 Health and Humanitarian Award.

Dr. Landfried will be honored by The Jerome Foundation at a luncheon on Friday, Nov. 30, at noon at Terry Hills Restaurant.

The cost of the event is $20 a person and is open to the public.

Reservations are now being accepted by:

• Mailing a check to The Jerome Foundation, P.O. Box 249, Batavia, NY 14021
• Or by emailing thejeromefoundation@gmail.com
• Or online at www.thejeromefoundation.org

For questions or reservations, please call Chris Fix at 585-356-3419.

Levi Spikes Jr. is indicted for the crime of failure to register a change of address as a sex offender, a Class E felony. It is alleged that between November 2017 and January 2018, Spikes failed to register a change of address with the NYS Division of Criminal Justice Services within 10 calendar days after moving from 3 Lewis Place in the City of Batavia. In count two, he is accused of offering a false instrument for filing in the first degree, a Class E felony. It is alleged in count two, that Spikes knew a written instrument -- a NYS Sex Offender Change of Address Form dated May 8, 2018 -- contained false information. The form contained a statement that the defendant had not moved from 3 Lewis Place, Batavia, until May 8, 2018. He then offered the form to public authorities to be filed for official records. In count three, Spikes is accused of the same crime alleged in count two. In count three, he is accused of knowing the same type of form, dated May 11, 2018, also contained the same false information and yet he offered it to public authorities to be filed for official records. In count four, the defendant is accused of another count of failure to register a change of address as a sex offender. It is alleged in count four that he failed to give the NYS Division of Criminal Justice Services a change of address within 10 calendar days when he moved from 421 Ellicott St. in the City of Batavia.

Iszon C. Richardson, 18, of Lewis Place, Batavia is charged with: criminal contempt in the first degree -- with physical contact; criminal obstruction of breathing / blood circulation; burglary in the second degree -- illegal entry of a dwelling; resisting arrest; and fourth-degree criminal mischief. Richardson was arrested following an investigation into a domestic violence incidence that was conducted by Officer Lawrence. The defendant is accused of illegally entering the residence of a protected person on Jackson Street in Batavia at 12:34 p.m. on Oct. 14. The victim has a stay-away order of protection against Richardson, who is accused of choking that person and damaging property. Richardson was located in the area by Officer Ivison and Officer DeFelice. Richardson resisted arrest and fled on foot before being apprehended a short time later. The case was handled by Batavia Police Officer Jason Ivison, assisted by Officer Catherine Mucha.

Michael Lettice, 71, of Lehigh Station Road, Henrietta, is charged with grand larceny, second-degree forgery, and issuing a bad check. On Oct. 12, Lettice was arrested for allegedly fraudulently endorsing two checks on May 21. He was arraigned and put in Genesee County Jail without bail. He was due in City Court on Monday (Oct. 15). The case was investigated by Batavia Police Officer Catherine Mucha.

Mitchell Merrill, 33, and Haley Merrill, 26, both of East Main Street, Batavia, are charged with: five counts each of criminal possession of stolen property in the fourth degree; and four counts each of criminal possession of stolen property in the fifth degree. They were arrested following an investigation by the Genesee County Sheriff's Office following a report of larceny to a vehicle at 12:40 a.m. on Oct. 14 in the Village of Alexander. They were allegedly found in possession of stolen property consisting of five credit cards and other personal property taken from multiple vehicles throughout the village. Mitchell is being held in GC Jail without bail; Haley is held on $5,000 cash bail or $10,000 secured bond. Both were due back in Alexander Town Court this afternoon (Oct. 16). The investigating officers were: Sgt. John Baiocco, Deputy James Stack and Deputy Andrew Mullen.

Carlos Edward Guevara, 45, of Highland Parkway, Batavia, is charged with third-degree assault. It is alleged that at 9:38 p.m. on Oct. 6 that Guevara became combative and began attacking an Emergency Medical Technician who was rendering aid to Guevara. The defendant had been found unresponsive, lying on the sidewalk on Hutchins Street. He is due in City Court on Oct. 23 to answer the charge. The case was handled by Batavia Police Officer Chad Richards, assisted by Officer Christopher Camp.

Isaiah J.A. Munroe, 28, and Chercal A. Smith, 23, both of Batavia, were arrested on Oct. 13 on Bank Road in the Town of Middlebury in Wyoming County. Wyoming County Sheriff's deputies stopped to check on a vehicle parked in a parking area off of Bank Road. Munroe was the male driver of a 2014 Hyundai Sonata that was found parked with the engine running; Smith of the front-seat passenger. The odor of marijuana was allegedly detected by the deputies as they approached the vehicle. A subsequent search of the vehicle led to the discovery of three OxyContin pills; one tramadol pill, and concentrated cannabis -- all controlled substances. Smith was also allegedly found to have concealed two pill bottles in her bra containing marijuana and marijuana blunts. Both occupants of the vehicle were arrested and the Sonata was towed. They are charged with three counts each of criminal possession of a controlled substance in the seventh degree. Smith was additionally charged with unlawful possession of marijuana. They were arraigned in Village of Warsaw Court and both were jailed with bail set at $500 cash or $2,500 bond apiece. They are due in Town of Middlebury Court on Oct. 22. Wyoming County Sheriff's Sgt. Colin Reagan handled the case.

Luis A. Ramos-Mercado, 34, of South Main Street, Batavia, was arrested Oct. 16 at 9 a.m. on a bench warrant out of city court. It was issued after he failed to appear for: having a suspended vehicle registration; operating a motor vehicle while his registration was suspended; and having an unregistered motor vehicle. He was arraigned and jailed on $1,000 bail. He had a second bench warrant, also out of city court, for failure in appear on a charge of second-degree criminal trespass. His bail on that was set at $2,500. Ramos-Mercado had a third bench warrant out of city court and it was for failing to appear on a charge of using drug paraphernalia in the second degree. Bail for this was also set at $2,500. The defendant is due in city court on Oct. 18 on all three cases. Batavia Police Officer Arick Perkins handled the cases.

Daniel B. Cochran, 63, of East Bethany, was arrested at 11:38 p.m. on Oct. 9 for: DWI; aggravated DWI; moving from lane unsafely; refusal to take a breath test; and unlawful possession of marijuana. Troopers in Wyoming County arrested him after a traffic stop on Route 20A in the Town of Orangeville. He allegedly failed to maintain his designated lane while driving, prompting the traffic stop. He failed multiple standard field sobriety tests and was transported to State Police Barracks in Warsaw for processing, where he allegedly had a BAC of .18 percent. Cochran was issued traffic tickets for the Town of Orangeville Court and is due there on Oct. 24.

Aaron Lee Klein, 47, of State Street, Batavia, was arrested at 1:40 a.m. on Oct. 15 on Monclair Avenue, Batavia City police responded there for a report of a disturbance and arrested Klein after it was discovered that an order of protection was in place, requiring that Klein stay away from the address. He was arraigned and jailed on $5,000 cash bail or bond and is due in city court on Oct. 18. The case was handled by Batavia Police Officer Arick Perkins, assisted by Officer Darryle Streeter. He is also charged with criminal use of drug paraphernalia in the second degree and endangering the welfare of a child less than 17, stemming from an incident on Sept. 9, and that case was handled by Batavia Police Officer Jason Ivison.

Marissa S. Adams, 19, of West Main Street Road, Batavia, is charged with fourth-degree criminal mischief. She was arrested at 2:50 p.m. on Oct. 15 on State Street in Batavia after she allegedly took a phone out of the hand of a person attempting to contact police and threw it on the ground, causing it to break. She was issued an appearance ticket and is due in city court on Oct. 23. The case was handled by Batavia Police Officer Jamie Givens.

Steven David Smires, 23, of Clay Street, Le Roy, is charged with trespass. At 2:07 p.m. on Oct. 10, Genesee County Sheriff's deputies responded to Route 19 in the Town of Le Roy for a trespass complaint. After an investigation, Smires was arrested. He allegedly entered a house on Warsaw Road in Le Roy and remained unlawfully in the backyard of a residence. He was issued an appearance ticket and is due in Le Roy Town Court on Nov. 5. The case was handled by Genesee County Sheriff's Deputy Erik Andre.

Tiesha Deon Doward, 32, of Pearl Street, Batavia, is charged with petit larceny. She was arrested at 4:01 p.m. on Oct. 10 on East Main Street in Batavia following an incident at Dollar General. It is alleged that Doward entered the store, selected two items from shelves in the store then proceeded to the cash register, where she indicated the intent to return those items using a receipt from several days prior. She was issued an appearance ticket by city police and is due in coity court on Oct. 23. The case was handled by Batavia City Police Officer Chad Richards.

Justin T. Gladney, 29, of North Spruce Street, Batavia, was arrested on a bench warrant on Oct. 11 for failing to appear in court. He was arraigned and jailed in lieu of $1,000 bail. Gladney was due back in city court on Oct. 15. The case was handled by Batavia Police Sgt. Dan Coffey, assisted by Officer Jamie Givens.

Mark J. Spath, 48, of Rochester, was arrested by Troopers out of SP Batavia Barracks at 11:55 a.m. on Oct. 10 for criminal possession of marijuana in the fourth degree, no seat belt, and uninspected motor vehicle. Troopers stopped Spath on State Route 19 in the Town of Bergen for no seat belt. While speaking to Spath, the operator, Troopers allegedly detected the odor of marijuana emanating from the vehicle. Spath was placed under arrest after Troopers searched the vehicle and allegedly found Spath to be in possession of approximately 7.76 ounces of marijuana. Spath was transported to SP Batavia where he was issued an appearance ticket for the Town of Bergen Court later this month.

Travis L. Bartz, 23, of Buell St., Batavia, is charged with unlawful possession of marijuana. At 8:58 p.m. on Oct. 12 on Trumbull Parkway in Batavia, Bartz was arrested for allegedly possessing marijuana. He is due in Batavia City Court on Nov. 6 to answer the charge. Also on Oct. 12, Bartz was arrested on an outstanding bench warrant for failure to appear in city court on a charge of unlawful possession of marijuana stemming from August. He was released on his own recognizance until his next court appearance Nov. 6. The cases were handled by Batavia Police Officer Catherine Mucha, assisted by Officer Christopher Lindsay.

Press release:

The City of Batavia Fire Department will be flushing hydrants from about 9 a.m. to 3 p.m. on Thursday, Oct. 18, in the area north of Main Street and east of Bank Street.

Homes and businesses will be affected. These test may result in temporary discoloration of water in the area.

Please do not attempt to wash any clothing if your water is discolored. If you experience a discoloration of your water, run cold water for five minutes or until clear.

Denielle Mancuso, who lives on West Main Street Road, will serve three years probation, to run concurrently, on two misdemeanor counts of criminal possession of a controlled substance in the seventh degree.

Before sentencing, Mancuso's lawyer, public defender Lisa Kroemer, asked to read the judge's copy of the presentencing report, which she apparently had not seen yet.

She then synopsized the document by saying it states that Mancuso successfully completed a yearlong "judicial diversion program" and "did everything that was expected of her" during the interim probationary period.

So much so in fact that Kroemer said her client was a "nonsubject of discussion" during staff updates. When her name came up, it was "next" -- let's move on -- because Mancuso's reports were "stellar."

Before sentencing, Judge Charles Zambito said he'd read the presentencing report with its laudable notations and said Mancuso had earned the benefit of her good behavior with a judicial diversion contract that, with its successful completion, reduced four felonies to the pair of misdemeanors cited above.

In addition, she would get one year shaved off probation immediately for time already served in the diversion program. And if she continues on the positive path she's on and comes back in a year and asks the judge to terminate her probation, he will most likely grant her wish, Zambito said. Thus, supervision by the Probation Department could potentially end a year from now. Otherwise, Mancuso's probation is set to expire Oct. 16, 2020.

Kroemer asked for a waiver of a six-month suspension of Mancuso's driver's license, per the presentencing recommendations. The attorney said her client doesn't have anyone to chauffeur her around, and she's self-employed and needs to help her husband with his business, which requires her to buy vehicles and go to the DMV Office regularly. Also, she has a son to shuttle to various sports and activities.

Assistant District Attorney Kevin Finnell offered no resistance to the request for a waiver, and Judge Zambito agreed to it.

Next, Kroemer asked for new language in the defendant's sentencing paperwork that states she is to stay away from places where alcohol is served; language should be added to that stipulation "unless otherwise approved by the Probation Officer." That's because, Kroemer said, Mancuso sometimes goes to places like a racetrack for her son's sporting events and alcohol is served there.

Again, the judge agreed to accommodate Mancuso's attorney's request and add the language.

The judge imposed standard fees: $50 for the DNA database; $175 for the misdemeanor convictions; and $25 for the crime victims' assistance fund.

Zambito asked the chestnut-haired Mancuso, dressed in black slacks and a fitted black blazer over a maroon knit top, if she would like to say anything to the court and she quietly declined.

A Grand Jury indictment was originally issued in this case in June 2017. Mancuso faced four felony counts: two counts of criminal sale of a controlled substance, 3rd; one count of criminal possession of a controlled substance, 3rd; and one count of first-degree criminal nuisance. She was jailed on $25,000 bail or $50,000 bond. 

In September of last year, the people offered a plea deal for one count of criminal possession of a controlled substance, fifth, with "shock-cap" probation -- six months in jail or four months of intermittent incarceration, followed by five years of probation.

Mancuso's attorney countered by asking that the defendant be evaluated for judicial diversion, which Judge Zambito granted.

Now with Mancuso's judicial diversion contract completed triumphantly, Zambito said he agreed she had done well and he congratulated her for it.

* "Supplying" not necessarily selling.

Arc of Genesee Orleans annual Chili & Chowder Fest & Bake Sale will be held from 10 a.m. to 1:30 p.m. on Saturday, Nov. 17, at the Arc Community Center.

It is located at 38 Woodrow Road in Batavia.

There will also be grilled cheese sandwiches for purchase in addtion to the hearty, homemade chili and chowder. Take-outs available.

Early tickets will be available only from 4:30 to 6:30 p.m. on Friday, Nov. 16.

Tickets, both presale Friday and day-of-the-event Saturday, are available only at the Arc Community Center on Woodrow Road.

All proceeds benefit people with disabilities.

There will be 100 theme baskets raffled off. Need not be present to win. Drawings will be at 1:30 p.m. on Nov. 17.

Want to donate a basket or get more information? Call Arc of Genesee Orleans at 343-4203.

Press release:

In conjunction with Halloween festivities, local law enforcement will participate in a special enforcement effort to crackdown on impaired driving from Oct. 30 until Nov. 4.*

Genesee County STOP-DWI coordinator Matt Landers announced today that the Genesee County Sheriff’s Office, the City of Batavia Police Department and the Village of Le Roy Police Department will participate in the crackdown.

Halloween is meant to be scary, but not when it comes to driving. When it comes to drunk driving Halloween can turn the roads into a horror fest. While we spend time trick or treating and hosting parties with our loved ones, law enforcement officers across New York State will take to the roads in an effort to stop impaired driving, prevent injuries and save lives.

New York State Police, County Sheriff and municipal law enforcement agencies across the state will be out in force.

Research shows that high-visibility enforcement can reduce impaired driving fatalities by as much as 20 percent. Sobriety checkpoints play a key part in raising awareness about the problem. 

The STOP-DWI Halloween Weekend Crackdown is one of many statewide enforcement initiatives promoted by STOP-DWI NY and the Governor’s Traffic Safety Committee. Throughout the remainder of the year the Statewide STOP-DWI Crackdown Campaign will also target Thanksgiving and the national Holiday Season in December.

While STOP-DWI efforts across New York have led to significant reductions in the numbers of alcohol- and drug-related fatalities, still too many lives are being lost because of crashes caused by drunk or impaired drivers. Highly visible, highly publicized efforts like the STOP-DWI Crackdown Campaign aim to further reduce the incidence of drunk and impaired driving.  

You can help to make a difference by Having a Sober Plan! Download our mobile app – “Have a Plan” and you will always be able to find a safe ride home: www.stopdwi.org/mobileapp

Impaired driving is completely preventable. All it takes is a little planning. Have a safe and happy Halloween Weekend!

*Editor's Note: The dates have been corrected. The original press release contained the wrong dates. The above information is correct.

Press release:

Travel advisory in the City of Batavia for Oct. 17-26

Clinton Street/ Route 33 – Between East Main Street and the City line (north), will undergo road work to include the milling of the road surface, pavement repairs, traffic signal loops, pavement markings and signage over the next week to two weeks.

Traffic delays are to be expected -- plan accordingly.

Traffic will be controlled around operations using flaggers. All motorists should expect delays. 

Press release:

The City of Batavia Fire Department will be flushing fire hydrants on Tuesday, Oct. 16, and Wednesday, Oct. 17, from approximately 9 a.m. to 3 p.m. in the areas south of Main Street and east of Jackson Street.

Homes and businesses will be affected. These tests may result in temporary discoloration of water in the area. Please do not attempt to wash any clothing if your water is discolored. If you experience a discoloration of your water, run cold water for about five minutes or until clear. 

The Kmart on Lewiston Road in Batavia is one of 142 stores owned by Sears Holdings Corp. to be shuttered by year's end. Liquidation sales are expected to begin soon.

The manager of the Batavia store, located at 8363 Lewiston Road, referred us to a corporate spokesman but we have been unsuccessful in contacting him to find out how many local employees will be out of a job.

There are about 700 stores currently open, down from 3,453 stores in 2005 when Kmart Holding Co. bought and merged with Sears Roebuck & Co. in a cash and stock deal then valued at $11 billion. The new entity became Sears Holdings Corp.

Sears Holdings has filed for bankruptcy and plans to reorganize its massive debt and reemerge on more solid ground. It reported liabilities of $11.3 billion and assets of $7 billion. A $134 million debt payment was due that it could not make at the time of filing.

Under the safety net of Chapter 11, Sears Holdings will be able to remain open through the holidays while striving to square away its finances.

But retail business analysts say returning to a position of strength and relevance will be difficult to do. Since the hoopla surrounding the merger in 2005, the parent company has struggled with anemic sales, crippling debt and shifts in consumer spending, especially the juggernaut of e-commerce. 

One advantage e-commerce formerly enjoyed was not having to collect sales tax. But over the years, most U.S. states passed online shopping sales tax laws. Even so, about half of all Amazon.com purchases, for example, are sold on its Amazon Marketplace through third-party vendors, and these purchases remain tax free (with the exception of Washington state).

More to the point, critics say Sears Holdings Corp. is not faring well because it has not reinvested in decaying stores; and it sold off iconic brands like Craftsman tools without giving consumers new brands and incentives to buy. The down slide has been going on for so long, they say, the retailer has become irrelevant and consumers are moving on.

Sears Roebuck & Co. started in 1886 and was able to grow by leaps and bounds thanks to its the proliferation of its mail-order catalog business, using the U.S. Postal Service to deliver goods from its Chicago warehouse to growing suburbs and the hinterlands beyond them. For generations of American families, stores coast to coast sold everything to everybody -- studio portraits and Goodyear tires, Kenmore stoves and Craftsman tools, home goods and engagement rings.

And the "Blue Light Specials" of its once-feisty rival Kmart are pure Americana. A store associate would announce a hot deal over the loudspeaker by saying: "Attention Kmart shoppers..." and the blue lightbulb would flash and for the next 30 minutes, say, there would be a deal in the Shoe Department on bags of tube socks.

"It's always sad to see a local business close," Genesee County Chamber of Commerce President Tom Turnbull told our news partner WBTA late this afternoon, adding that Kmart has been in Batavia a long time and he remembers when it was at the other end of town.

"But that's the circle of life," Turnbull said. "Others will step up and take its place."

A male was tased about 10 minutes ago after a foot pursuit by police in the area of State Street and Lewis Place. We didn't hear what prompted the chase. After being tased, he ran into a residence on Lewis Place.

Deputies were also called to the scene.