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After a 35-20 win on the road against Honeoye Falls-Lima on Friday night, the Batavia Blue Devils, at 7-0, are a lock on first place in the Class B division of Section V football for 2022.

Late in the first quarter, HFL pulled within a touchdown of Batavia but the Blue Devils tacked on one last score at the close of the game on a 43-yard pass from Ja'vin McFollins to Cole Grazioplene.

The scoring started with McFollins dashing into the end zone on a 3-yard run. Batavia scored again on a McFollins pass of 64 yards to Vincent Arroyo, and then Aiden Anderson scored on a 2-yard run late in the second quarter for 21 unanswered posts at the half for the Blue Devils.

HFL scored twice in the third quarter, then Batavia increased its lead on a short run by Aiden Anderson.

McFollins was 6-8 passing or 95 yards and two TDs. Anderson rushed for 124 yards and two TDs on 29 carries. Grazioplene caught three passes, including the TD, for 61 yards.

Avion Bethel had seven tackles to lead the Batavia defense.

HFL is now 5-2 on the season.

To view or purchase photos, click here.

Photos by Steve Ognibene

Top photo by Joanne Meiser. Photos below by Jason Smith.

Photo by Chris Crocker.

Photo by Howard Owens

The lawn at 32 Kibbe Ave., in Batavia.

Photos submitted by Steve Dispenza.

Fall colors off Batavia Oakfield Townline Road and Maple Avenue in Batavia.

Photo by Lisa Ace.

A 39-year-old Oakfield man is facing 46 felony charges related to sex crimes over a period of years in the Oakfield and Elba areas.

Ricardo Castillo, Jr., of Maple Avenue, is charged with 13 counts of rape 1st, 10 counts of rape 2nd, 13 counts of criminal sexual act 1st, and 10 counts of criminal sexual act 2nd.

Castillo is accused of raping at least one person under the age of 15.

The rapes allegedly took place between November 2019 and August 2021.

Investigators Howard Carlson and Kevin Forsyth handled the case.

Castillo was arraigned in Town of Oakfield Court and released under supervision of Genesee Justice.

The Genesee Valley Wind Ensemble will perform its first concert of the season at 4 p.m. Nov. 19 at Oakfield-Alabama High School on Lewiston Road, Oakfield.

Founder and conductor Philip J. Briatico will lead the ensemble through a program that features:

• "Ride" - Samuel Hazo
• "The Lion King" - Arr. Calvin Custer
• "Foundry" - John Mackey
• "Chicago" - Arr. Ted Ricketts
• "Mama Mia" - Roy Phillipe
• "National Emblem" – E.E. Bagley
• "Toccata for Band" - Frank Erickson o Children’s March - Percy Grainger

Tickets are $10 adult, $8 seniors 55+ and veterans, $5 students with an ID, free for children 5 and younger. There is also a $25 Family Deal for immediate family members and children (mother, father, up to four children). For more information, go HERE.

File photo by Howard Owens from 2018.

The Oakfield-Alabama/Elba Titans hosted the Batavia Bulldawgs in three youth football games at O-A's field on Saturday, with a 7 p.m. start time on the third game, giving the JV squads an opportunity to play under the lights.

Scores: 

• Beginners, OAE over Batavia 31-0
• Minis, Batavia beat OAE 40-0
• JV, Batavia 14, OAE 6

Photos by Kristin Smith. For more photos, click here.

Indian Falls Lake. Photo by Joanne Meiser.

Herkimer Road, Darien Center. Photo by Jen Draves.

Brandi L. Reuben, 26, and Garrett S. Porter (no residences provided), are charged with arson 3rd, criminal mischief, and conspiracy 5th. Reuben and Porter are accused of starting a fire at a newly opened location of a smoke shop at 368 Martin Road, Alabama on Sept. 29 at 10:38 p.m. The pair was arrested following an investigation by Deputy David Moore.  Reuben and Porter were arraigned in Town of Alabama Court and are scheduled to appear again on Nov. 15 at 6 p.m. (Previously: Judge gives Tonawanda resident a chance to put his past behind him)

Gerald Kenneth Freeman, 70, of South Spruce Street, Batavia, is charged with grand larceny of a motor vehicle. Freeman is accused of stealing a Ford water truck from the Genesee County Fairgrounds on Oct. 4 at 7:43 p.m. Freeman was released on an appearance ticket.

Rufus Garrett Johnson, 29, of Park Way, Chili, is charged with burglary 3rd and petit larceny.  Johnson is accused of going to Walmart in Batavia after previously being banned from the property with the intention to shoplift and of stealing merchandise on Oct. 8 at 10:07 a.m. He was arraigned in Town of Batavia Court and ordered to return on Oct. 26.

Matthew Jacob Zon, 41 of East Main Street, Byron, is charged with criminal contempt 1st.  Zon is accused of violating a full stay-away order of protection on Oct. 9 at 6:18 p.m. at a location on East Main Street, Byron.

Christina M. Sanchez-Anderson, 34, of Bergen, is charged with obstruction of governmental administration 2nd. Sanchez-Anderson is accused of leading police officers on a brief foot pursuit after being stopped on warrants on Oct. 4 at 3:36 p.m. on Main Street, Batavia. Sanchez-Anderson was released on an appearance ticket and held at the Genesee County Jail on her warrants.

Tammy L. Cicatello, 52, of Batavia, is charged with driving while ability impaired by drugs and uninspected motor vehicle. Cicatello was arrested on Oct. 1. She was stopped by a Batavia city patrol officer on July 30 at 5:34 p.m. on Mix Place, Batavia. She allegedly failed a field sobriety test. She was released on appearance tickets.

Marcia R. Goodenbery, 70, of Batavia, is accused of DWI and driving with a BAC of .08 or greater. Goodenbery was stopped on Sept. 28 at 7:57 p.m. on Court Street, Batavia, by a Batavia city patrol officer. She was allegedly observed appearing intoxicated at a local business and returning to her vehicle. She was issued an appearance ticket.

Fall's colors are coming out, including at Centennial Park in Batavia.

Reader submitted photo

The Oakfield-Alabama Aggies remain undefeated on the 2022 season after swamping Cal-Mum/Byron-Bergen 48-13 on Friday night.

It was senior night for the Aggies.

• Noah Currier had Carries, 131 yards, three Rushing TDs, a 32-yard reception TD, and 60-yard fumble recovery returned for a touchdown.
• Bodie Hyde, five carries, 121 yards, one TD, 2-4 passing, 59 Yards, two passing TDs, and on defense, eight tackles and a fumble recovery.
• Connor Scott, two carries, 43 yards, 5 Tackles, and a fumble recovery.
• Brayden Smith, 10 tackles
• Aiden Warner, 10 tackles
• TJ Andrews , nine tackles

"It's nice to get a win against a tough opponent like CMBB, but the story tonight was about how we need to continue to work towards cleaning up a few things if we are going to accomplish the goals we want to accomplish," said Head Coach Tyler Winter. "Luckily, true progress is not always linear.  We will enjoy the win tonight and look to our next opponent as an opportunity to take steps in the right direction for our team's journey."

Photos by Kristin Smith. For more photos, click here.

Drew Strollo helped Le Roy to four scores on four early possession on Friday night to help the Oatkan Knights to a 53-14 win over Vertus Charter.

Strollo scored hit Jack Tonzi on a 34-yard TD pass, ran four two yards to score, hit Tonzi again on a 33-yard pass, and ran for a three-yard touchdown.

The score was 27-8 at the half. 

In the second half, Tony Piazza scored on runs of 24 yards and one yard. Jackson Fix scored on a run of 30 yards and Simeon Fisher ran the ball in from 13-yards out.

Strollo was 2-5 passing for 67 yards.  He ran for 141 yards on 17 attempts. Jackson fixed gained 86 yards on ten carries and Piazza rushed for 66 yards on 10 carries.

Bryce Lathan had six tackles. Ryan Higgins had a QB sack and three tackles.

Photos by Ed Henry.  Top photo: Xavien Walker, Tony Piazza, and Jackson Fix halt the Vertus running back.

Cal Koukides (24) celebrates (33) Jack Tonzi’s touchdown reception.

Bryce Lathan (42) is a terror on the LeRoy kickoff team.

LeRoy’s Andrew Pocock (40) boots another successful PAT kick.

LeRoy’s Keegan Park drops the Vertus RB in the backfield.

 LeRoy’s Manny Fisher disrupts the Vertus pass attempt.

LeRoy’s Ayden Riggi provides a block for teammate Cal Koukides (24).

LeRoy’s Drew Strollo avoids a would-be tackler.

Drew Strollo (34) celebrates (5) Jackson Fix’s TD run. 

The Fighting Irish of Notre Dame were solid against Clyde Savannah on Saturday for a 20-6 win

Scoring:

• Notre Dame, Jay Antinore's pass complete to Jaden Sherwood for 27 yards.  PAT Brandon Carrick.
• Notre Dame, Jay Antinore connects with Jaden Sherwood for a 7-yard TD  PAT Brandon Carrick.
• Clyde Savannah, Zymere Smith runs for 17 yards. Two-point conversion attempt fails
• Nortre Dame, Jay Antinore runs for 16 yards.  

Antinore was 13-19 passing for 258 yards.  He also threw three interceptions. Antinore ran for 67 yards and a TD.

Ryan Fitzpatrick and James Fanara each had four receptions, for 140 and 51 yards respectively.

Jaden Sherwood and Ryan Fitzpatrick led the team in tackles with five apiece.

Alexander scored the first six times the Trojans touched the football on Friday against Cuba-Rushford leading to a 41-7 win.

Scores:

• A 25-yard pass play from Trent Woods to Kaden Lyons. 
• Woods, 25-yards, to Benny Merrill in back left corner of the endzone.   
• Woods again connected with Lyons and after breaking two tackles Kaden crossed the goal line from 15-yards out. 
• One minute later Tyler Marino had a pick-six from 50 yards out
• With 2 minutes to go in the half, 2-yard run by RB Ricky Townley. 
• In the third quarter, the Trojans moved the ball down the field and Trenton Woods finished the drive with an 8-yard keeper

Cuba-Rushford scored on the final play of the game.

Townley ran eight times for 65 yards and one TD. Woods had six carries for 64 yards and one TD  and was 4-6 passing for 64 yards and three touchdowns. Kaden Lyons had two carries for 23 yards and two receptions for 40 yards and 2 TDs.

Defensively Mason Bump and Kaden Lyons along with Ricky Townley each had seven tackles. 

From the start, the Batavia Blue Devils easily handled another opponent, cruising to a 41-20 win over Dansville/Wayland-Cohocton on Friday night.

Carter McFollins opened the scoring with a 90-yard kickoff return.

Batavia scored again on the first quarter on a 19-yard pass from Ja'vin McFollins to Cole Grazioplene.

In the second quarter,  Aiden Anderson on runs of 3 yards and 8 yards. 

In the second half, Mekhi Fortes scored on an 8-yard run, and Zay Griffin scored on a 65-yard run.

Wayland scored three times in the second-half.

For Batavia, Julia Petry connected on five of six point-after attempts.

For the game, Anderson ran for 109 yards on 14 attempts and Griffin 82 yards on three attempts.

Ja'vin McFollins was 7-11 passing for 121 yards.

Carter McFollins had two receptions for 55 yards.

On defense, Garret Schmidt had 10 tackles.

Press Release:

The Genesee County Economic Development Center (GCEDC) board has accepted an initial resolution for a proposed $12 million investment by 8250 Park Road, LLC for extensive renovations to the Quality Inn & Suites and Palm Island Indoor Water Park in the town of Batavia at its board meeting on Thursday, October 6, 2022.

8250 Park Road, LLC will renovate the four-season tourism and hospitality facility’s hotel rooms, lobby, event spaces, water park, and restaurant.  The re-development proposes to create 38 new full-time jobs. The project is estimated to generate $32 of economic activity for every $1 of local public benefits.

“This investment will have a major impact on our tourism and hospitality sectors. These types of facilities will attract residents throughout the Western New York Region,” said Steve Hyde, Genesee County Economic Development Center president and CEO. “The facility is in a premier location in Genesee County centrally located to attractions such as Darien Lake, and the facility’s water park is a four-season attraction as well.”

8250 Park Road, LLC is requesting sales tax exemptions estimated at $458,400, a property tax abatement of approximately $659,521, and a mortgage tax exemption estimated at $80,000.

A public hearing for the initial application will be scheduled in the town of Batavia.

Press release:

The Genesee County Health Department will be hosting their last FREE drive-thru anti-rabies immunization clinic of 2022. The clinic will be held on Thursday, Oct. 13 from 4:00 p.m. to 6:00 p.m. at the Genesee County Fairgrounds (5056 East Main Street, Batavia).

“Rabies is a fatal, but preventable viral disease that can spread to people from pets if they are bitten and scratched by an infected animal with rabies,” stated Paul Pettit, Public Health Director for Genesee and Orleans County Health Departments (GO Health). “We encourage residents to take advantage of our last anti-rabies immunization clinic of 2022 and ensure their pets are protected against rabies.”

Vaccinations are free for dogs, cats and ferrets, but voluntary donations are accepted. Animals must be at least 3 months old. Each animal must be leashed or crated and accompanied by an adult who can control the animal. Limit 4 pets per car maximum.

To save you time, please click here to fill out your registration form in advance. Be sure to print out two copies for each pet to be vaccinated and bring them with you to the clinic.

For more information on Health Department services, visit GOHealthNY.org or call 585-344-2580 ext.5555.

The Batavian newsroom will be out of town today through Wednesday for personal time.

We will travel with laptops, of course, and post the news we can remotely.  There will naturally be things we can't cover in person during that time but will strive to get assistance on those stories where we can.