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The ribbon is cut and UR Medicine's new Batavia campus is ready to receive patients for care in a variety of specialties that officials say will save them a trip to Rochester.

"What I learned is that the patients won't get the care unless the health care providers come to them, at least in the beginning," said neurosurgeon Dr. Webster H. Pilcher during opening remarks.

The campus will serve patients from Genesee, Orleans, and Wyoming counties, and care will include adult and pediatric allergy/immunology, neurosurgery, oncology, otolaryngology and audiology, and urology, as well as providing primary care.

"Bringing specialty and primary care clinics under one roof allows for better care for our patients, as well as really helps us practice efficiently," said Kathleen Parrinello, COO of UR Medicine. "So there's a lot to be gained by having all of our clinicians together so that the people in this community can really appreciate the integrated Clinical Network at UR Medicine."

The new 24,455 square foot medical campus – located at 7995 Call Parkway – will centralize specialty clinics and primary care into one location, along with on-site lab services. 

UR Medicine Radiation Oncology will remain in its current Bank Street location.  Eric Wu, M.D., and the Batavia Ophthalmology practice are joining UR Medicine and will move to the Flaum Eye Institute’s location on Liberty Street on June 1, which will be expanded into space formerly occupied by primary care.

"We will continue our practice of staffing specialty clinics with providers who are either locally from here or are based consistently in Batavia in this community," Parrinello said. "Meaning that the people who receive care here will receive care from physicians, advanced practice providers, nurses, and staff who spend all of their work hours here."

“Almost 30 years ago, I started seeing patients out in Batavia and it has been an incredibly rewarding experience to serve the patients of that community,” Pilcher said. “It is often difficult for patients to negotiate a complex care system, especially if that means traveling to Rochester.  By bringing that care to them and simplifying the relationship between our patients and primary and specialized care, we can provide them with access to world-class care, right in their own community.”

Top photo: Ribbon cutting with Alexander K. Mandych, Dr. Webster H. Pilcher, Victoria Godwin Hines, COO and Vice President, Lily J. Snyder, faculty in the Department of Family Medicine.

Photos by Howard Owens

Check-out desks area for patients.

A nurse's workstation.

Lily Snyder in her office.

Joy Michaelides, assistant professor of clinical urology in a urology exam room.

Oncology center.

A 500-gallon propane tank has reportedly been run over at 7965 Caswell Road, Stafford, and is leaking.

Stafford Fire dispatched.

Town of Batavia Fire and South Byron Fire dispatched mutual aid.

The Genesee County Election Commission has released a new video in advance of the June gubernatorial primary.

Looks can be deceptive.  That's not a can of Budweiser in a firefighter's hand.  It's a cold drink of water courtesy of Anheuser-Busch.

Joshua Finn, president and a captain with Oakfield Volunteer Fire Department, heard about a program run by Anheuser-Busch to provide cans of drinking water to volunteer firefighting companies so he applied on the behalf of Oakfield Fire.

Then he forgot about the application.

On Tuesday, he was notified to expect a special delivery.  the next day, 98 cases of canned drinking water arrived at the department. 

"This water will be used for events and emergencies as well as shared with our neighboring departments," Finn said. 

Anheuser-Busch says that since the program began, the company has donated 4.8 million cans of emergency drinking water to more than 900 volunteer fire departments across 49 states.

Submitted photos.

A motor vehicle accident is reported at Route 237 and Warboys Road, Byron.

Injuries are "relatively minor" according to a chief on scene. 

Byron, South Byron fire departments responding along with Mercy EMS

Fire police requested to the scene for traffic control.

Arthur L. Golden, 63, of Batavia, is charged with petit larceny. Golden is accused of stealing a bicycle from a neighbor on East Main Street at 6:36 p.m., May 20. The bicycle was recovered and returned to its owner. Golden was issued an appearance ticket.

Arthur L. Golden, 63, of Batavia, is charged with assault 3rd. Golden is accused of attempting to assault one of his neighbors in an apartment complex at 4:15 a.m., May 26.  Golden was arraigned in City Court and released on his own recognizance. He was issued an order of protection and ordered to return to court on June 16.

Luis Gilbert Torres, 42, of Gilbert Street, Le Roy, is charged with assault 2nd, menacing 2nd, and criminal possession of a weapon 3rd.  Torres was arrested on June 1 in the Village of Le Roy. Information on his alleged offense was not released. he was arraigned in Town of Le Roy Court and ordered jailed on $20,000, $40,000 bond, or $80,000 partially secured bond.  

Julious "Fatboy" Murphy, 69, of Jerome Place, Batavia, is charged with criminal sale of a controlled substance 3rd, and criminal possession of controlled substance 3rd. Murphy was arrested Sunday on a sealed Grand Jury indictment during a traffic stop by Batavia PD. Murphy is accused of selling crack cocaine to an agency of the Local Drug Task Force while in Batavia.  Murphy was arraigned in Genesee County Court and released under supervision.

Delonta Rashid Sharif Curry, 21, of Thomas Avenue, Batavia, is charged with DWI, driving with a BAC of .08 or greater, and speeding. Curry was stopped at 12:06 a.m., June 1, on Route 33 in Bergen, by Deputy Kenneth Quackenbush. He was released on appearance tickets.

Logan Michael Biedrzycki, 19, Sunridge Drive, Rochester, is charged with three counts of reckless endangerment 1st, unlawful fleeing a police officer, acting in a manner injurious to a child, criminal possession of a weapon, and reckless driving. Biedrzycki is accused of fleeing from Deputy Kenneth Quackenbush after the deputy attempted to make a traffic stop at 4:03 p.m., June 5, on Biedrzycki's vehicle. It's alleged there was a juvenile in the vehicle.  Biedrzycki was arraigned in Stafford Town Court and ordered to reappear on July 12.

Andrew Joseph Draper, 43, of Miller Avenue, Batavia, is charged with DWI, driving while impaired by drugs, aggravated unlicensed operation 3rd, unlicensed driver, and inadequate headlights.  Draper was stopped at 11:26 p.m., Dec. 21, on West Main Street, Batavia, by Deputy Morgan Ewert.  Draper was arrested on June 6.  He was arraigned in City Court and ordered to reappear on June 29.

Jacqueline Patrice Olsen, 60, no address released, Le Roy, is charged with DWI, driving with a BAC of .08 or greater, and speeding.  Olsen was stopped at 10:12 p.m., June 1, on Ellicott Street Road, Bethany, by Deputy Trevor Sherwood. Olsen was ordered to appear in court on July 27.

Tarrence Y. Williams, 22, of Porter Avenue, Batavia, is charged with two counts of criminal possession of a controlled substance 3rd and two counts of criminal sale of a controlled substance 3rd. Williams was arrested on June 9 as the result of an investigation by the Local Drug Task Force into the transportation, sale, and possession of crack cocaine in the City of Batavia. Williams was arraigned in Genesee County Court and released on his own recognizance. 

Kimberly Ann Brodsky, 30, of County Complex Drive, Canandaigua, is charged with petit larceny and conspiracy 6th.  Brodsky is accused of stealing, in conjunction with an unidentified white male, merchandise from Kohl's Department Store at 7:46 p.m., May 25.  Brodsky was arrested by Deputy Andrew Mullen.  Brodsky is scheduled to appear in Town of Batavia Court on July 5.

Nikita N. Shook, 36, of Perry, is charged with petit larceny. Shook was arrested on a warrant in Wyoming Couty by State Police. The warrant was issued after an investigation by Batavia PD into an alleged theft on April 23. Shook is accused of stealing property from another person. Shook was arraigned in City Court and released on her own recognizance.

Mary I. Flick, 51, of Batavia, is charged with DWI/drugs, unlicensed operation, and criminal possession of a controlled substance 7th. Flick was arrested on a warrant by Batavia in relation to an incident on June 2. She was arraigned in City Court and released under supervision.

Erica M. Raphael, 37, of Batavia, was arrested on a warrant.  Raphael was sentenced on the charges contained in the warrant. The charges were not specified in the release by Batavia. The sentence issued was not released by Batavia PD.

Alicia M. Lyons, 42 of Batavia, is charged with trespass. Lyons is accused of entering a business she had previously been told not to enter at 12:46 p.m., May 28. Lyons was issued an appearance ticket.

Yasier A. Castro Rivera, 34, of Batavia, is charged with criminal possession of a controlled substance, criminal impersonation, unlicensed operation of a motor vehicle, speeding, and aggravated unlicensed operation 3rd.  Castro Rivera was stopped by a Batavia patrol officer at 9:48 p.m., May 25, on Oak Street. Castro Rivera was issued an appearance ticket.

Dajuandrick C. Gardner, 45, of Batavia, is charged with bail jumping 2nd. Gardner is accused of failing to appear in court.  He was jailed without bail and ordered to return to court on June 16.

Robert J. Ritchey, 58, of Oakfield, is charged with forcible touching, sex abuse of a victim less than 13 years old, and acting in a manner injurious to a child. The alleged incident was reported at 10:04 a.m., April 5. This is a pending investigation.  Ritchey was arrested by State Police on June 8. He was ordered held.  No further details were released.

Dustin M. Locicero, 37, of Boliver, is charged with burglary and petit larceny. Locicero was arrested by State Police in connection with an incident reported at 8:56 p.m., June 5, in the Town of Darien.  He is also charged with criminal possession of stolen property 5th and falsifying business records in connection with an incident reported at 11:47 a.m., June 6 at a location in the Town of Batavia. He was issued an appearance ticket.  No further information was released.

Joshua P. Martin, 38, of Basom, is charged with criminal mischief 3rd, two counts of criminal contempt 1st, and endangering the welfare of a child. Martin was arrested by State Police in connection with an incident reported at 7:27 p.m., June 8, in the Town of Batavia.  His release status is "cash bail."  No further details released.

Photo submitted by Sharon Cole.

Joanne Meiser submitted the photo of storm clouds rolling in near McAlpine Road in Indian Falls.

There is a strong thunderstorm alert for parts of Genesee County through 8:30 p.m.

Winds could exceed 35 mph and there may be pea-sized hail.

Areas affected could be Batavia, Darien Lakes State Park, Le Roy, Pembroke, Pavilion, Byron, Oakfield, Stafford, Alabama, Corfu, Elba, and Alexander.

A two-car motor vehicle accident is reported at Sumner Road and Fargo Road in Darien.

Injuries are reported.

A utility pole is damaged

Darien Fire and ambulance dispatched.

UPDATE 5:46 p.m.: Two minor injuries. Mercy EMS requested to the scene non-emergency.

Kevin H. Ayers is indicted on counts of criminal mischief in the third degree, criminal obstruction of breathing or blood circulation, menacing in the second degree, and harassment in the second degree. Ayers is accused of damaging a Ford F350 pickup belonging to another person on Oct. 8 in the town of Pembroke.  He is accused of damaging the rear driver-side tire, door, and fender. He is accused of choking the same victim on the same date at the same location. He is accused of displaying a knife in order to threaten that person. And with the intent to harass, annoy, or alarm, he is accused of having physical contact with that person.

Joshua L. Webster is indicted on two counts of criminal contempt in the first degree, one count of menacing in the second degree, one count of criminal possession of a weapon in the third degree, three counts of endangering the welfare of a child, and one count of criminal contempt in the second degree. Webster is accused of violating an order of protection on Dec. 31 at a location on West Main Street, Le Roy, by intentionally placing a protected person in reasonable fear of injury or death by displaying a deadly weapon. He is accused of displaying a knife with the intent of using it against another person while children were present. He is accused of violating a stay-away order of protection on March 28 at the same location, and again on May 1. 

Zachary P. Hursh is indicted on counts of criminal possession of stolen property in the third degree, obstructing governmental administration, unlawful fleeing a police officer, and reckless driving. Hursh is accused of knowingly driving a stolen 2017 Honda Civic on Dec. 1 in the Town of Stafford. He is accused of using physical force to prevent a public servant from performing his official duties. He is accused of fleeing from a police officer in a vehicle at speeds in excess of 25 mph above the posted speed limit. He is accused of driving in a manner that jeopardized public safety.

A vehicle has hit a garbage can behind the ball field at Williams Park and is leaking fluid.

No injuries.

City Fire dispatched.

Two motorcycles are reported down in the road at Liberty Street and Sumner Street, Batavia.

Unknown injuries.

City Fire and Mercy EMS dispatched.

UPDATE 8:15 p.m.: Two motorcyclists collided, no other vehicles involved. Both drivers were seen walking around the scene. Mercy EMS has left the scene without transporting anyone. The accident is under investigation and Batavia City Police will provide an update later.

UPDATE 10:30 p.m.: The investigation so far indicates that the two motorcycles were southbound on Liberty, speed unknown, when the front motorcycle slowed suddenly and the driver of the trailing bike (pictured above) did not see the front bike slowing in time to slow himself down and he rear-ended the first bike.  The first rider was transported by a private vehicle to an unknown hospital for treatment/evaluation. The second rider was uninjured. No citations were issued. Sgt. Mitchell Cowen said, perhaps coincidentally, he had been dispatched minutes before the crash was reported to East Main Street to investigate a complaint of two motorcycles driving at a high speed and recklessly on East Main Street.  A firefighter on scene had also said two motorcycles had been speeding on Evans Street shortly before the crash.  There is no evidence, however, that the two bikes involved in the crash were the same bikes reported elsewhere in the city earlier.

"Brad Pitt" (not his real name) has, in the space of a month, gone from a fearful, emaciated, feces-covered canine to a healthy, sweet-tempered, friendly, sweetheart of a dog while in the care of the county's Animal Control officers and Volunteers for Animals.

"Pitt" was seemingly abandoned by his owners in Apt. 60, 337 Bank St., Batavia. He was found on May 10 in a cage inside the apartment without food, covered in his own fecal matter, and skinny and weak.

A female Pitbull was found in the same apartment, also in a cage, also in poor health -- so poor that by the time a veterinarian determined what to do for her, the most humane option was to euthanize her.

The two people who allegedly abandoned the dogs are Andrew A. Searight, 35, and Jerrtonia A. Scarbrough, 24.  Both have been charged with felony aggravated cruelty to animals. 

According to court documents, a maintenance worker at Walden Estates was aware of the dogs and the owners and also believed the couple had stopped paying rent sometime prior to May.  He and a neighbor had observed the residents moving out of the apartment some days to a week or so prior to May 10.  On that date, the worker observed trash piled up outside the apartment.  He spoke to a neighbor who said he hadn't seen the occupants for a week or two.

The female dog had given birth some weeks prior, according to the neighbor, and he had witnessed, he said, the residents removing the puppies and a TV.

The worker asked if the adult dogs were still inside, and the neighbor said he believed they were still in the apartment.

The worker looked into the apartment and saw one of the dogs in a cage.

Concerned about the health and safety of the dogs, both the property manager and the neighbor entered the apartment through an unlocked door and found two Pitbulls locked in cages, unfed, and covered in "shit," as the neighbor said in his statements.

"The black dog looked terrified and almost dead," the neighbor wrote. "The other dog looked terrified, shocked, and couldn't even stand, so we had to pull him from the crate. He had no strength at all."

He contacted the property manager and asked her to call the police. Officer Peter Flannigan and Sarah Fountain, a county animal control officer, responded.

Fountain wrote that when she arrived she found the dogs in the condition described by the witnesses and that the black dog, the female dog, was cold to the touch. 

Both dogs were assisted to the animal control vehicle, with the female dog carried on a stretcher. 

A normal dog's temperature is between 100 and 102 degrees.  The female dog's temperature was 93.3, the veterinarian told Fountain.

The dog "had no reserves and, basically, her body was shutting down," Fountain reports the vet telling her.   She was down to 20.4 pounds and should have weighed at least 40 pounds.

The vet did not expect the female dog to recover so it was euthanized.

The male Pitbull -- who has acquired the nickname "Brad Pitt" while at the shelter -- has been put on a thrice-a-day feeding plan and was up to 45.9 pounds by the time Fountain wrote her report for investigators.  She could not discuss his current condition today since there is still a criminal case pending.

Searight was originally scheduled for an appearance in City Court yesterday, but the case has been moved to 1:30 p.m. June 21.

Legally, Searight and Scarbrough still own the dog. Typically in animal abuse cases, the defendants are asked during the proceedings to surrender the dogs to Animal Control, at which point, the animal can be put up for adoption.

Fountain also reported finding a cockatiel in the apartment. She couldn't assess its health condition and The Batavian doesn't have information on its status.

There are four vehicles involved in an accident at West Main Street and River Street, Batavia.

All occupants are out of the vehicles and walking around, according to a first responder.

City Fire and Mercy EMS dispatched.

UPDATE 5:45 p.m.: Two more ambulances requested to the scene to evaluate patients.

Batavia PD is looking for a person of interest in association with the theft of benches from a local business.

The name of the business nor location were released by the department.

The person of interest and vehicle associated with that person are shown in the photos.

The bottom photo is of a bench identical to the ones that were stolen.

Anyone with information is asked to contact Officer Nicole McGinnis at (585) 345-6350 or the Batavia Police Department's confidential tip line at 585-345-6370.

A 37-year-old Batavia woman admitted in Federal Court today to wire fraud in a case that involves her possession of unemployment benefit cards in the names of other people.

Danielle Tooley faces up to 30 years in Federal prison and a $1 million fine when she is sentenced in August.

A state trooper uncovered the fraud during a routine traffic stop in Bergen on Nov. 24 in which he first discovered evidence of crack cocaine and then during a search of the vehicle found six NYS unemployment benefit cards in the vehicle's center console. 

According to the trooper, he observed a crack pipe with white residue in the vehicle.  Tooley admitted at the time that she had crack cocaine in the vehicle's center console.  As he prepared the vehicle to be towed, he recovered the cards made out to individuals other than Tooley.  He turned the cards over to the U.S. Department of Labor.

Federal authorities investigated and found that Tooley had withdrawn money from bank accounts associated with the benefit cards.

Prosecutors say that Tooley used the COVID-19 relief program to perpetuate her fraud.

The plea is the result of an investigation by the U.S. Department of Labor, Office of Inspector General, Office of Investigations – Labor Racketeering and Fraud, New York Region, under the direction of Special Agent-in-Charge Jonathan Mellone; the Department of Homeland Security, Office of Inspector General, under the direction of Acting Special Agent-in-Charge Todd Allen; the U.S. Secret Service, under the direction of Special Agent-in-Charge Jeffrey Burr; the Social Security Administration, Office of Inspector General, under the direction of Special Agent-in-Charge Sharon B. MacDermott; and the New York State Police, under the direction of Major Barry Chase. 

Sentencing is scheduled for August 17, 2022, at 3:30 p.m. before Judge Wolford.

In Genesee County Court today, Matthew T. Zakrzewski faced the metaphorical equivalent of Door 1, Door 2, or Door 3.

Only Door 1 was already open.  It contained a maximum prison term on his arson charges of 10 years.

Behind Door 2 is the possibility of 20 years in prison, and behind Door 3 is a jury trial and a possible 40-year prison term if convicted.

Zakrzewski rejected Door 1 because he had done his own research and apparently believes he can beat the five possible felony charges pending against him.

While Zakrzewski's case has not yet been presented to a Grand Jury, he is currently charged with:

• Arson 2nd, intentional with a person present, a Class B felony, arrested on Jan. 16
• Arson 3rd, intentional damage to property, a Class C felony, arrested Jan.17
• Criminal mischief 4th, an A misdemeanor, arrested Jan. 16
• Burglary 2nd, a Class C felony, arrested Jan. 16
• Criminal mischief 3rd, a Class E felony, arrested Jan. 17
• Arson 5th, intentionally damaging property, an A misdemeanor, arrested Jan. 18
• Criminal mischief 3rd, a Class E felony, arrested Jan. 18

District Attorney Kevin Finnell communicated to Zakrzewski's attorney, Fred Rarick, a plea offer that would have Zakrzewski admit to two arson felonies in exchange for a sentence cap of 10 years in prison.

Initially, Zakrzewski accepted the plea offer but after "doing his own research," Rarick told Judge Melissa Cianfrini, Zakrzewski decided there were defenses available to him that might help him beat the charges at trial.

For example, Rarick said Zakrzewski believes he can claim he was drunk at the time of at least one of the crimes and use that as a valid defense.

Rarick said he regrets that there is no way, while Zakrzewski is in the Genesee County Jail, that the attorney could show him video the prosecution could present that purportedly shows Zakrzewski in the act of committing a crime. In his professional opinion, Rarick said, it would be hard to convince a jury, based on that evidence, that Zakrzewski was intoxicated.  He isn't stumbling around or displaying other signs of clear inebriation. 

In court on Tuesday, Finnell said that if Zakrzewski did not accept the pending plea offer by the end of the hearing, it would be withdrawn, and the cases against him would be presented to a Grand Jury. If indicted, the best plea offer Zakrzewski could hope for was a 20-year prison term.  If that was rejected, Finnell noted, and Zakrzewski was convicted at trial, he would face a maximum prison term of 40 years.

Zakrzewski told Cianfrini that he understood the offer and the consequences of rejecting it.

He also said that, based on Rarick's apparent belief that Zakrzewski would be convicted of the charges, he wanted a new attorney.

Cianfrini explained to Zakrzewski in multiple ways that the court had no authority to force the D.A. to reinstate a rejected plea offer, and that once it was withdrawn, it was entirely at the descretion of the District Attorney to decide what, if any, other plea offer might be made.

"It will be out of the court's hands," Cianfrini said. "It is on the District Attorney's authority.  The court cannot compel the District Attorney to make a plea offer."

Zakrzewski said he understood that.

She also explained that Rarick had a law degree and passed the bar.

"He has many years of criminal defense experience," Cianfrini said. "His job is to make an assessment of the case based on his training and experience and offer you advice."

"Do you have a law degree?" she asked Zakrzewski.

"No," he said.

Cianfrini told the defendant, "You don't have the background or the training and experience, but it is absolutely your decision."  She wasn't trying to influence his decision, she said, but wanted only to make it clear the limits of the court's authority and that once the decision was made, it couldn't be undone.

"His job is to look at the evidence and advise you," she said. "When he tells you things, he's not working against you. He's telling you based on his experience and training, this is what he thinks."

Rarick said that while in his professional opinion Zakrzewski should accept the plea offer, he was ready and willing to assist Zakrzewski in pursuing his right to challenge evidence, make motions, and mount a defense.

After the discussion, Zakrzewski agreed, at least for the time being, to keep Rarick as his attorney.

The 42-year-old Zakrzewski is accused of setting a chair on fire at Washington Towers in mid-January. Later in January, he was accused of starting a fire at a residence on Bank Street earlier in the month. He was later arrested in connection with a reported mid-January fire, also on Bank Street.

A Batavia man facing a manslaughter charge for allegedly letting the mother of his children die of a drug overdose entered a not-guilty plea in County Court on Monday.

Makeen Ithna-Asheri, 61, is accused of buying drugs for Anda Ithna-Asheri, 61, and then when she overdosed, he allegedly failed to provide aid.

Police were called to the Ithna-Asheri residence at Northside Meadows at 9:32 p.m., Dec. 31, to investigate a report that two adults had overdosed in the presence of their children.

When patrols arrived, Anda Ithna-Asheri was already dead.  Emergency responders administered several doses of Narcan to revive Makeen Ithna-Asheri, according to police.

The children were reported to be aged seven and 10.

Last week, Ithna-Asheri was indicated by a Genesee County Grand Jury on counts of manslaughter in the second degree, two counts of endangering the welfare of a child, and criminal possession of a controlled substance 7th.

Ithna-Asheri entered a not-guilty plea to all charges.

Motions in the case are set to be argued at 1:45 p.m. Aug. 9 in Genesee County Court.

Judge Melissa Cianfrini continued Ithna-Asheri's confinement status at $50k bail, $100k bond, and $150k partially secured bond. Still in jail on the same bail.