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Le Roy stays on winning track in Little League postseason

By Howard B. Owens
le roy baseball

When you're playing in the postseason, good defense helps win games, and Le Roy's 12-U Little League team didn't commit a single error on its way to a 10-0 victory on Wednesday against ECLV.

Drew Beachel tossed a complete game shutout. He went five innings and struck out 15 hitters, allowing only one hit.

Le Roy opened with four runs in the first inning with hits from Sammy Bogue and Michael Warner. Ethan Rose had an RBI ground out as well.

Warner and Dalton Luke each went deep in the game.

Overall, Le Roy had eight hits. Warner and  Bogue had multi-hit games. Beachel, Eddie Lathan,  Luke and Ryan Crissy all chipped in with one hit a piece. RBIs were recorded by Rose, Luke, Warner, and Beachel (2). Runs scored were recorded by Matthew McCulley, Beachel, Warner (2), Ryker Vangalio, Rose, Lathan, Carson Wetsell, Luke, and Carter McClurg.

Le Roy plays for the district championship at 6 p.m. on Friday.

Submitted info and photo.

 

Shoplifting suspect flees Target on foot with more than $2,000 in merchandise

By Howard B. Owens

Police officers have been dispatched to Veterans Memorial Drive in order to locate a shoplifting suspect who is accused of stealing more than $2,000 in merchandise from Target, including a $500 scooter.

The suspect is on foot and described is wearing a black T-shirt, jeans, and a grey baseball cap.  He's headed toward the Thruway.

He was last seen behind Sally Beauty.

UPDATE 12:47 p.m.: The suspect apparently got into a Black SUV, silver trim, newer model, and the caller didn't see direction of travel, but a patrol officer reports, "We're lighting him up on Route 98 heading toward the hotels."

UPDATE 12:49 p.m.: The suspect will be in the passenger seat, a dispatcher informs the officer.

UPDATE 12:55 p.m.: The suspect apparently left the cart and merchandise in the parking lot. Target loss prevention has secured the shopping cart and will be awaiting law enforcement in the store.

UPS workers in Batavia demonstrate their willingness to strike in brief picket

By Howard B. Owens
ups strike batavia
Jeremy Pietrazykowski, VP of Teamsters Local 180, takes a photo of UPS employees outside the company's facility on Apollo Drive in Batavia as they hold signs signaling their willingness to strike if necessary.
Photo by Howard Owens.

UPS workers in Batavia gathered outside the company's Batavia location at 7 Apollo Drive on Thursday morning to demonstrate their willingness to go on strike if, in their view, working conditions don't improve.

Jeremy Pietrazykowski, VP of Teamsters Local 180, said the short picket this morning both served the purpose of sending a message to the leadership at the company and also preparing workers for picketing if a strike becomes necessary.

Wednesday, he said, talks between the union and UPS broke down.

"It's about the last 25 years in a nutshell," Pietrazykowski said. "It comes down to the excessive overtime, the forced working extra days. It's about how you're treated as an employee. It goes well above and beyond the monetary value at this point. It's your time away from work, the valuable time that we have. 

"In today's world is not just about working 20 hours a day. It's about coming to work, doing a great job, and then going home and spending time with the ones you love. So that's the most precious time. You can't put a price on your free time. And that's what the company doesn't understand. And they fail to understand that we're not just machines, or industrial athletes, as they call them. We're human beings with families that we want to spend time with."

This is not yet a work stoppage.  After the short picket, everybody returned to work to make sure customers get their packages on time.

"This is so that we get our act together," Pietrazykowski said, "so that when the time comes, if we are going to strike and make no mistake, everyone is prepared to strike. But we want to prepare our members what to expect on that first day. Right? So we just don't stand up here, and we don't know what we're doing."

Pietrazykowski once worked in the Batavia facility. He's from Batavia. He said he's known the workers in the local UPS crew for 30 years. This is his home, which is one reason he chose to do this first pre-strike picket in Batavia.  He was also traveling to Geneseo today for a similar practice, message-sending picket.

"I love all my members, but you know, I'm from Batavia. I worked here for a long time. I know everybody," Pietrazykowski said. "I always keep them involved."

Photos by Howard Owens.

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Muckdogs gain ground in the West with win over Jamestown

By Howard B. Owens

The Batavia Muckdogs continued their recent winning ways and padded their lead in the PGCBL Western Division by dominating their closest division rival, the Jamestown Tarp Skunks, for a 9-2 win at home on Wednesday.

Julian Pichardo, a University of Fort Lauderdale senior and in his third year with the Muckdogs, notched his 100 career strikeout in the game. 

Pichardo got the win (3-0, 1.73) by going 6 2/3 innings, allowing only one run.  

He now has K'd 103 batters in his PGCBL career.

It was also a big night for Josh Leadem. The U of R senior scored his 50th career run in the PGCBL, and with three runs scored in the game, now has 53.  He was 2-4 with two doubles and two stolen bases.

Leadem is hitting .238 on the season but has drawn 11 walks. He has 21 stolen bases, 18 runs scored, 15 hits, seven RBIs, and one of the team's two home runs.

Adam Agresti went 2-3 with a run scored, a double, and two RBIs, along with a walk. Henry Daniels went 2-2 with an RBI.

The Muckdogs are now 17-8 on the season, and the Tarp Skunks fall to 13-8.

The attendance on Wednesday was 1,844.

Tonight (Thursday), the Muckdogs travel to Geneva to face the Red Wings.  They're back home on Friday for a non-league game against Syracuse. Game time is 6:35 p.m.  On Saturday, they face Elmira at home. Game time is 6:35 p.m.

Dog that attacked people in South Main Street residence surrendered, euthanized

By Howard B. Owens
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Steve, a pit bull mix, being removed on June 22 from a residence on South Main Street after the dog attacked two people. 
Photo by Howard Owens.

The owners of a dog that bit two people on June 22 at a residence on South Main Street in Batavia was surrendered by the owners to the Genesee County Animal Shelter, and it has been euthanized.

The attack on a home health care aide and one of its owners was unprovoked, said City Police Chief Shawn Heubusch of the Batavia Police Department.

A mail carrier walking her route that afternoon heard screams from inside the house and intervened. 

"The incident could have been much worse if not for the actions of an uninvolved postal worker that came running to help," said Heubusch in response to an inquiry about the case from The Batavian on Wednesday. "The postal worker heard screaming coming from the residence and ran over to see what was happening and witnessed the dog attacking. The postal worker was able to spray a chemical deterrent on the dog, forcing it to release its bite."

Heubusch said that both victims were treated for their injuries and released. He said both injuries were severe, but he didn't have exact details.

"The healthcare worker had been to the residence once before and, during the previous visit, had not encountered the dog," Heubusch said. "It is the policy of the healthcare worker’s company that any dog be placed into a secure area while the visit is taking place, and this was relayed to the homeowner before the healthcare worker entered the residence. The homeowner acknowledged this regulation but failed to secure the dog."

The chief said there were no prior reports of the dog, named Steve, displaying aggressive behavior.  The owners said Steve, a pitbull mix, was six years old, and they told police of no prior issues. 

"The attack was completely unprovoked as the dog immediately attacked the healthcare worker upon her entering the residence," Heubusch said. "The family did surrender the dog to the Genesee County Animal Shelter with the expectation that it would be euthanized."

Undersheriff Brad Mazur confirmed on Wednesday that the dog was euthanized.

Previously: Mail carrier hailed as hero after stopping vicious dog attack in home on South Main, Batavia

Oakfield man killed in ATV accident on Monday

By Howard B. Owens

A 60-year-old Oakfield resident died in an ATV accident reported at 6:28 p.m. on Monday, according to State Police.

According to troopers, Michael D. Borkholder was driving a 2008 Cam-Am Outlander Max XT southbound on Maple Road, Town of Alabama, and failed to stop and struck the rear end of another ATV, a 2021 CF Moto ZForcce 950, that was slowing to make a turn into a driveway. 

Borkholder was ejected from his ATV. 

He was transported by Mercy Flight to Erie County Medical Center with severe injuries. He succumbed later that night.

Muckdogs stay hot with road win over Niagara on Independence Day

By Howard B. Owens

The Batavia Muckdogs picked up their 16th win of the 2023 season on Tuesday in an Independence Day match-up in Niagara against the Power.

Tyrone Woods went 6 2/3 innings to pick up the win in the Muckdogs' 3-2 victory.  He struck out four.  The Alexander resident and GCC student is 2-1 on the season with a 2.91 ERA.

Rijnaldo Euson, who also has two wins on the season, picked up the save, his second.

The Muckdogs' offense:

  • Lucas Lopez went 2-4. 
  • Adam Agresti went 2-3 with a double, a walk, a run, and a stolen base
  • Giuseppe Arcuri went 2-4 with two RBIs, a run scored, and a double.

With the win, the Muckdogs put another game between them and third-place Niagara (11-8) and remain a game ahead of second-place Jamestown (13-7), which is tonight's (Wednesday) opponent at Dwyer Stadium.  Game time is 6:35 p.m.

The Muckdogs are 8-1 over their last nine official league games and 10-1 overall during that span.

Muckdogs win on Independence celebration game 8-7

By Howard B. Owens
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With flags flying and fans anticipating a post-game fireworks show, the Batavia Muckdogs took to the field Monday night for a non-league game against Erie-Buffalo and won 8-7.

Giuseppe Archuri was named Player of the Game, going 3-3 and scoring two runs.

No box score is available for the game.

Arcuri, from Allentown, N.J., has become one of the team's most productive hitters, with 21 hits, an Avg. of .309, and 13 RBI.

Adam Agresti leads the team with an average of .375. He also has 21 hits to go along with 11 RBIs.  He's eighth in the league in average. 

Matt DeStefano, of Westbury, is hitting .333 (12 hits) with seven walks. 

James Aselta is hitting .365 but doesn't have enough at-bats (22) to qualify among league leaders. Anthony Calabro has drawn 14 walks to go along with 11 RBIs with an average of .238. Infielder Lucas Lopez is hitting .300.

The next home game is Wednesday at 6:35 p.m. against the Jamestown Tarp Skunks.

Photos by Nick Serrata.

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Car reportedly hits house on Bank Street Road, Elba

By Howard B. Owens

A car has reportedly hit a house at 7610 Bank Street Road, Elba.

Unknown injuries.

Elba Fire and Mercy EMS dispatched.

UPDATE 12:50 P.m.: This is now reported as a two-vehicle accident with rollover and entrapment. Town of Batavia Fire requested to the scene.

UPDATE 12:59 a.m.: Mercy Flight unavailable due to weather.

After thunder roars, Ramble rolls on with bands schedule to hit two stages into evening

By Howard B. Owens
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Paul Draper, with his band Shotgun Pauly, gets the Ramble going again after a rain delay on Saturday.
Photo by Howard Owens.

An unexpected thunderstorm at about 1 p.m. on Saturday couldn't keep the Batavia Ramble and Arts Fest from rolling on, though it did put the music on pause for about an hour.

Paul Draper, one of the festival's organizers, said the music will continue throughout the day, pausing only for more thunder if it comes back.

Bands will continue to take the stage as scheduled, Draper said, just before his band, Shotgun Pauly, started its 2:20 p.m. scheduled set about 10 minutes late, giving him and his guys only 10 minutes to perform.

"We just keep an eye on it," Draper said. "We'll pause and pick up as the weather dictates.  We can only plan so much, but at the end of the day, it all comes down to the weather."

He said plenty of people were sticking around, and the sun had come back out, so, he said, "I still think it's going to be a good day."

Photos by Howard Owens.

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No more nose-to-nose cars on South Lyon Street as new bridge opens to the public

By Howard B. Owens
lyons street bridge 2023
City and county officials, along with contractors, cut the ribbon on the new South Lyon Street Bridge in Batavia, in the same location as a ribbon-cutting in 1957 (photo below).
Photo by Howard Owens.

The new bridge over Tonawanda Creek on South Lyon Street in Batavia looks beautiful, and it feels sturdy, but the thing motorists will like the most, perhaps, is that it accommodates two-way traffic.

"I want to remind people that it is, in fact, two lanes," said County Highway Superintendent Tim Hens. "You don't have to wait for a left turn left at the bridge. You don't have to wait for an oncoming car, nose and nose like used to happen on the old bridge. It's two lanes. It's just normal. Just go normal."

The new $2.9 million bridge, 95 percent funded by state and federal aid, replaces a bridge that had gotten so old it was no longer serviceable. That bridge was dedicated in 1957.  There were substantial repairs in 1971, a deck replacement in 1980, a superstructure/truss replacement in 1986, and a decision to seek a replacement in 2007.

Now, in 2023, that old bridge is gone and completely replaced by a bridge that, as Hens noted, maintains the historical character of bridges that have been at the same location going back to 1910.

"I think the cool thing about this bridge is that we kind of recreated what was here with the truss," Hens said. "There was always a truss bridge here. I think everyone's pretty familiar with, obviously, making it two lanes is cool, but having the same character with the same-looking bridges, I also think is kind of neat."

The South Lyon Street Bridge opened this morning following a ribbon-cutting attended by both county and city officials.

The only real challenge in bridge construction, Hens said, was concern that crews might find historical artifacts, either Native American or related to the War of 1812.

"When Buffalo was burned to the ground by the British, a lot of the refugees and people that got displaced by (the fires) came to Batavia," Hens said. "There was like, I think, a typhoid outbreak, and they buried people in the creek bank, which is kind of an odd place to bury people. You're gonna contaminate the water, but that was years ago, and maybe they didn't know any better, but (the burial site is) somewhere here in the area of this bridge. We didn't find anything, so must not be that close."

Such a discovery could have greatly slowed the construction process.

This project was originally submitted for federal aid in 2007. The project was removed from the funding list in 2011, put back on in 2014 and delayed due to lack of funding until 2020. 

The county awarded a contract for design during COVID and then had struggles with utility relocations, property acquisitions, DEC easements along the creek bank and other minor hurdles, according to a fact sheet released by the county. 

The old bridge closed in 2021 after a DOT inspection. Construction started last fall and went through the winter, with the truss being set in late February.

Union Concrete out of West Seneca was the contractor, and Fisher Associates out of Rochester provided engineering and construction inspection.

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A ribbon-cutting at the South Lyon Street Bridge in Batavia in 1957.
Photo courtesy of the Genesee County History Department.
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Photo by Howard Owens.
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Photo by Howard Owens.
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Photo by Howard Owens.
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Photo by Howard Owens.
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Photo by Howard Owens.
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Photo by Howard Owens.

Police seek assistance in locating missing teen

By Howard B. Owens

Press release:

jesus reyes
Police-provided
photo

The Batavia Police Department is seeking public assistance in locating a runaway 16-year-old boy. 

Jesus Reyes was last seen on June 28 at approximately 3:00 a.m. in Batavia. He was last wearing a white Batavia Track t-shirt and matching shorts. 

Jesus is about 5'4" and 175 lbs with black hair and black eyes. 

It's possible that he is in the Miami, Fla. area. 

Anyone with information on his whereabouts is asked to call the Batavia Police Department at 585-345-6350 or the NYS Missing Persons Clearinghouse at 1-800-346-3543.

Muckdogs pick up pair of walk-off wins to extend streak to seven games

By Howard B. Owens
batavia muckdogs june 29 2023

The Batavia Muckdogs ran their win streak to seven games on Thursday in an unusual fashion: A walk-off interference call.

With the score tied 3-3 in the 10th inning against Niagara Power, an umpire ruled Power's third baseman Andrew Fairbrother interfered with the Muckdog's runner, Anthony Calabro, while Calabro was advancing to third on a wild pitch. Calabro was awarded home plate and the winning run.

Garrett Beaver, who pitched the final two frames and didn't give up a hit or a run while striking out two, got the win.  Starter Julian Pichardo went six innings, giving up four hits, two runs (one earned) and striking out six.

Earlier in the evening, the Muckdogs picked up a win against Niagara by completing a game the two teams started on Tuesday, which was suspended in the bottom of the ninth.

At the time of the suspension, the Muckdogs trailed 5-4 with one out and Caleb Rodriguez at the plate on a 3-2 count. Matt DeStefano was on third base.

When the game resumed, Rodriquez singled, driving in DeStefano. 

Rashad Robinson then reached on an error, putting runners at first and second.  Rodriguez then scored the winning run on a single by Lucas Lopez.

Garrett Beaver got the win in relief. Adam Agresti went 3-3.

The Muckdogs are now 15-7 on the season and a game ahead of Jamestown (12-6) in the Western Division and two games ahead of Elmira (11-7).

Tonight (Friday), the Muckdogs are on the road for a game against Niagara Power. They return to Dwyer on Saturday to start a three-game homestand. First up, Queen City at 6:35 p.m. On Sunday, the game time is 4:05 p.m. against Elimra, and on Monday, with a 4th of July Fireworks celebration to follow, the Muckdogs play Erie Buffalo at 6:35 p.m.

At the game on Monday, be sure to visit The Batavian's booth.

Photos by Nick Serrata.

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Village of Corfu unveils new welcome signs created by Pembroke students

By Howard B. Owens
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Ileana Draper and Mayor Tom Sargent with one of the new Village of Corfu entryway signs that she and her classmates at Pembroke High School created for the village.
Photo by Howard Owens.

The welcome mat, in the form of entry signs into the village, will be a little brighter in Corfu beginning this summer.

After 15 years, the entry signs along the main thoroughfares into Corfu have become a bit faded, so the village board invited art students at Pembroke High School to design and paint new signs.

They wanted color, flowers, especially tulips, and a welcoming message.

That's what they got, and students involved in the project said they got to work on an exciting, meaningful project.

"It was a cool experience because we could kind of shape how things in our community look," said Kayla Reynolds, who just finished her senior year and is heading off in the fall to Roberts Wesleyan. "It was a fun project. We could be creative and try to represent our town in the best way possible."

Junior Sophie Crandall is thinking about making a career in art so the project was especially fascinating to her, she said.

"I just think it was really interesting getting to do such a big project with very little restriction," she said. "We kind of got to do whatever we wanted with those designs."

Fifteen years ago, a group of Pembroke students designed the outgoing signs, and when the village's maintenance supervisor Norm Waff noticed the signs were showing their age, he approached the village board about designing and painting a new set of signs.

Waff said he thinks the students are really talented and did a wonderful job.

"I think that it really gives the students an opportunity to get involved in activities of the village around Pembroke," Waff said.

Deputy Mayor Michael Doktor said the students were given only a little direction -- incorporate village history, which means flowers.

"Other than that, it was just really leaving it up to the kids' imagination and their creativity," Doktor said.

About tulips: In the late 19th and early 20th centuries, there were five greenhouses in Corfu. The florists mainly grew tulips and the tiny village was one of the largest exporters of tulips in the nation. Changing tastes and the Great Depression led to the eventual demise of the tulip, but a couple of the greenhouses survived until just the past decade or so (both were heavily damaged by the 2009 tornado that blew through town) by growing mums.

Mayor Tom Sargent said the project both helps beautify the community as well as builds community spirit.

"This is something that keeps the kids involved in our community," Sargent said. "It's a way for them to give back. Now every time that they come into the village, even 10 years from now, the signs will still be here. They can say, 'I did that sign.'"

The fact that the students knew everybody entering the village over the next 10 or 15 years would see the signs really motivated them to do their best work, Reynolds said. 

"We really wanted it to be the best quality possible because people are gonna see it for -- we don't really know how many years -- and everyone that drives into Corfu is going to see these signs. We wanted them to be as finished and as professional looking as possible."

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Kayla Reynolds with the sign she was most involved with creating.
Photo by Howard Owens.
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Sophie Crandall with the sign she was most involved with creating.
Photo by Howard Owens.
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Photo by Howard Owens
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Jonah Martin and Lily Martin with Mayor Tom Sargent.

Motorcycle reportedly off the road in Corfu

By Howard B. Owens

A motorcycle is reportedly off the road with injury at Route 33 at Snipery Road, Corfu.

Corfu Fire and Mercy EMS dispatched.

UPDATE 11:24 p.m.: Apparently, only cuts and scrapes, according to a first responder.

Air quality advisory remains in effect for Genesee County

By Howard B. Owens
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It was another grey, smoky day in Genesee County on Thursday, including along Route 20 in Bethany, as weather patterns again pushed smoke from wildfires in Canada into New York.

An air quality advisory is in place and is expected to remain in effect until midnight on Friday. 

The projected air quality index could reach 151 for fine particulates.

The National Weather Service states, "The higher the AQI value, the greater the health concern. When pollution levels are elevated, the New York State Department of Health recommends that individuals consider limiting strenuous outdoor physical activity to reduce the risk of adverse health effects. People who may be especially sensitive to the effects of elevated levels of pollutants include the very young and those with pre-existing respiratory problems such as asthma or heart disease."

Photo by Nick Serrata.

 

Photo: Still waters

By Howard B. Owens
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Still waters on Thursday afternoon at DeWitt Recreation Area. 

Photo by Nick Serrata.

Photo: Smoke 'n' meat

By Howard B. Owens
smoke 'n' beef

Photo by Alison Lang, on Goodman Road, Alexander, who noticed the juxtaposition of dense smoke hanging over Genesee County from Canadian wildfires and beef cattle in a field.

A car off the road into the woods on Kelsey Road

By Howard B. Owens

A car has gone off the road and into the woods in the area of 7887 Kelsey Road, Batavia.

The road was recently stoned, and responders are advised to approach with caution.

There are injuries but unknown extent.

Town of Batavia Fire and Mercy EMS dispatched.

UPDATE 3:12 p.m.: Two occupants, one minor injury.

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