Oakfield

Press release:

Kids of all ages are invited to take a StoryWalk outside the Haxton Memorial Library along the sidewalk on Drake Street. A StoryWalk is an outdoor reading activity that allows children, families, and people of all ages to read a story placed on posts in a row, combining literacy and activity into one enjoyable experience. 

The story outside for the Fall season this year is Froggy’s Halloween by Jonathan London. The lovable and trouble-prone Froggy tries to find the right costume for Halloween. While his trick-or-treating does not go as he planned, he certainly enjoys himself anyway.

To make the experience even sweeter, children can stop inside the library after reading the story and answer a question about it for a special treat.

To read this fun tale and get a treat, stop by the Haxton Memorial Library at 3 North Pearl Street in Oakfield.

The Haxton Memorial Library provides residents a variety of programs, events and materials that are listed on the library’s website at www.HaxtonLibrary.org.

Submitted photo.

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CJ Rolle remembers when, as a youngster taking piano lessons, one professor knew he wasn’t living up to his potential.

The Rochester youngster had taught himself how to play by ear, and his mother insisted he'd learn to read music. Little did he know that he'd also learn about perseverance.

“One of the professors, he said that ‘God has given you a gift and you're not gonna waste your gift.’ And if I didn't practice, he would spank me. He actually did spank me,” Rolle said during an interview with The Batavian in Oakfield. “So every week after that, when he spanked me that first time, I said, ‘nope, you won't do it again.’ So I practiced every week until I got it right.”

While such discipline may be frowned upon today, a wiser 43-year-old Rolle believes it served him well. “It inspired me,” he said, reciting his portfolio that began at 12 as church organist for several churches, and going on to study and graduate at Eastman School of Music in Rochester, then becoming a music teacher and assistant principal at the Rochester City School District.

From listening to his life story, it seems apparent that Rolle has known how to take lemons and parlay them into some pretty sweet lemonade. While at the school district, he got injured trying to break up a fight. He took a leave with his newly broken arm and leg, and it was during that recovery that he heard about a vacancy at Renaissance Academy Charter School. He got the job and pretty much “runs the place” now as head administrator for the last six years.

He had served as a part-time pastor for a few other churches before hearing about the United Methodist Church of Oakfield. The church district superintendent recommended him, so Rolle and his wife Danielle decided to drive out and see it. Growing up in Rochester, Rolle had never heard of Oakfield, he said. But when he heard about the opening and was highly recommended, he decided to check it out.

“And so my wife and I Googled the church, we drove out here. And the day that we came out here, I didn't even tell them yet that I was potentially going to be their pastor. I just wanted to get a feel of how they were. And they were very welcoming. They didn't even know us, and they were very welcoming,” he said. “So once I figured that out, I said, I might as well tell them that I'm potentially going to be your pastor. Their eyes all just opened up real wide. So one of the trustees said well, if you're gonna be our pastor, let's give you a tour of the church.”

He loved the “beautiful edifice” and the roomy, three-floor building with classrooms on the floor below a stained-glass enshrouded sanctuary, plus a parish hall, kitchen and office.

After the tour, he was informed that the church at 2 South Main St. would be his new appointment. Rolle sees the job as more than just an employment and religious opportunity, but also a special moment in the church’s history.

Founded in the 1800s, the church has never had an African-American pastor, he said. And from the moment he met with parishioners and members of the Staff Relations Committee, he has felt comfortable in a mostly all-white church.

“They have really embraced us,” he said. “You know, they don't see me as the black pastor. Yeah, they see me as the pastor, and they have much respect, and I appreciate them for that. You're not going to find this every day. You know, a lot of my African-American colleagues, I don't think, would be able to do what I'm doing right now. I'm kind of different. I can fit into any crowd.”

He first had to attend a church camp for a jam-packed week of Bible-based lessons from sunup to sundown, he said. Just three weeks in, and Rolle has a list of goals already, from offering a Bible study and Sunday school to establishing a church website and boosting congregation numbers. He had been a pastor at a couple of Pentecostal churches previously, but left “because I wanted a little more structure,” he said.

“The United Methodist Church also offers retirement. For pastors in the Pentecostal church, you get to preach until you hit the grave. I didn't I didn't want to do that,” he said.

There were about a dozen people attending when he began his new post.

“But now that I'm here, I at least counted maybe 50 people. And there's still more that haven't come yet. They're watching online,” he said. “But they're on the way. I saw that people came the other week that they haven't seen in 10 years. They came and they've been coming, you know, so that's a good thing.”

Committee chairman Jeff Schlagenhauf said it was a good decision based on Rolle’s traits and recommendations. It wasn’t about being black or white, but about the best fit, he said.

“He’s dynamic, and a great speaker,” Schlagenhauf said. “He’s more youthful than our past pastors, and he, his wife and daughter have jumped in. He has a passion, enthusiasm and a vision.”

Jeff has been a member for the last 25 years and attended the church five years before that. He has seen numbers dwindling over the years, maybe due to more activities on Sundays, and then COVID didn’t help.

Church members are on board with growing attendance and hosting a youth event in the near future, he said.

“We’re heading in the right direction,” Schlagenhauf said.

Rolle agreed. He predicted that within the next year, the congregation will grow. He and his family will remain in Rochester until his hours increase, and then he'll consider moving closer to Oakfield. Rolle said there’s a plan to canvass the neighborhood and encourage folks to give church a try.

“And start compelling, as the Bible says, compelling men and women to come. A lot of people don't go to church on Sundays,” Rolle said. “When I walked down the street here on Sunday, sometimes people are outside washing their cars and doing other things, right? But I have a vision to have a program here that will make you not want to wash your car on Sunday, and come into the house of God.”

Sunday service is at 10 a.m. For more information, call 585-948-5550.

Top Photo of Pastor CJ Rolle flanked by vocalists during Sunday service at United Methodist Church in Oakfield, with members of the congregation and his wife Danielle. Photos by Howard Owens. Photo above, CJ Rolle with his youngest daughter Camryn, 5. The Rolle's other children are C'earah, 21; CJ, 15; and Tia, 20. Photo by Joanne Beck. 

Things were spooky in Oakfield on Saturday evening with the Oakfield Betterment Committee opening up a haunted house.

Photos submitted by Jamie Lindsley

Press release:

Sign up for the Oakfield Betterment Halloween Decorating Contest! Deadline to sign up is October 17th. Decorations to be judged on October 18-21 by the community. 

Winners get a gift card to Oakfield or Alabama business of their choice: 

• First place: $100
• Second place: $50
• Third place: $25

Winners will be announced at our Halloween party on Oct. 22nd and on social media. The contest is open to the Oakfield Alabama School District residents. 

Sign up here.

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.

A benefit Oct. 19 at Alabama Hotel will benefit an Oakfield woman who has recently been diagnosed with a very rare form of intrahepatic cholangiocarcinoma and has masses on both lungs and her liver.

The family of Carrie Gilbert Desjardins, 46, is hoping all their friends and relatives in the area will come out and support a benefit in her honor.

“Carrie would never ask for anything,” said Judy Gilbert of Oakfield, who is planning the benefit. “But she will have extensive treatments moving forward and that means medical bills. Sadly, she has had to resign her job.”

Judy describes Carrie as “a wife, daughter, sister, a very proud aunt, a special niece and a friend to all.”

The benefit, from 4 to 8 p.m., will feature a basket raffle, a bake sale run by Bonnie, side raffles and 50/50 drawings.

The family, which includes a cousin, Denise Gilbert Bull of Wheatville, is also selling Oliver’s candy bars.

Judy said doctors have told Carrie the chemo is working and the cancer is not spreading. The family are firm believers in prayer and while they hope everyone will come and support the benefit, they ask those who cannot come to say a prayer for Carrie.

Photo: Submitted photo. Carrie Gilbert Desjardins of Oakfield, shown here with one of her favorite nieces, is battling a rare form of cancer. A benefit in her honor is scheduled Oct. 19 at Alabama Hotel.

Press release: 

Everyone is invited to a family-friendly performance featuring Defiant Monkey on Thursday, October 20 from 7 to 8 p.m. at the Haxton Memorial Library at 3 North Pearl Street in Oakfield. Defiant Monkey promises an improvisational evening of fun, laughter, and participation with the talented duo of Karen Eichler and Andrew Spragge.

These 2 Defiant Monkey performers are experienced improvisers, actors, professional development specialists, and teaching artists who love to have as much fun as possible.

Karen is a graduate of The Second City Toronto, she has performed on stages across the United States including DC's Improv, the Ivar Theater in Hollywood, Newmark theater in Portland, and Steppenwolf in Chicago. Andy has been acting since 1984, and was a member of Improv Buffet and ComedySportz.

What to expect at a show with Defiant Monkey? “Laughs and participation,” says Kim Gibson, Library Director. “Defiant Monkey works with the folks in an audience during their interactive hour long show that features games and music. Kids and adults may just be asked to volunteer to help them out, but everyone will enjoy the show.”

To register for this fun evening with Defiant Monkey showing off their antics stop by the Haxton Memorial Library circulation desk or call (585) 948-9900.

This performance is made possible with funds from the Statewide Community Regent Program, a regrant program of the New York State Council on the Arts with the support of the office of the Governor and the New York State legislature and administered by Go Art!         

The Haxton Memorial Library provides residents a variety of programs, services, events, and materials that can be found on the library’s website at www.HaxtonLibrary.org.

Submitted photo: The improvisational duo of Andrew Spragge and Karen Eichler, known as Defiant Monkey, will be performing at the Haxton Memorial Library on Thursday, October 20 from 7pm to 8pm. 

Daniel Goodell

Daniel Lee Goodell, 41, of South Volutia Street, Wichita, Kan., is charged with sex abuse 1st. Goodell was arrested by the Sherriff's Office on a warrant in Kansas and returned to New York. He is accused of sexually abusing children less than 11 years old in 2009 and 2010 in Alexander.  He was arraigned in Town of Alexander Court and ordered held without bail. Goodell was also arrested by State Police and charged with 12 counts of Sexual Abuse 1st, 12 counts of endangering the welfare of a child, and one count of sexual conduct with a child. The State Police alleged that between 2019 and 2021, Goodell abused children less than 14 years old on multiple occasions. Goodell moved from New York before the criminal investigation was opened, according to State Police. Goodell was extradited from Kansas on Sept. 30.  On the State Police charges, he was arraigned in Town of Alexander Court and ordered held on $30,000 bail or $60,000 bond.

Delonta R. Curry, 21, of Batavia, is charged with criminal possession of a weapon on school grounds and criminal possession of a weapon. Curry is accused of possessing a weapon on school grounds on Feb. 13 at 8:26 p.m. on Washington Avenue. He was arrested on a warrant on Sept. 24, arraigned in City Court, and ordered held on bail.

Shawn R. Wisniewski, 33, of Medina, is charged with petit larceny. Wisniewski is accused of stealing from a business on Jackson Street on Sept. 20 at 10:36 a.m. He was released on an appearance ticket.

Chazmar T. Walters, 29, of Le Roy, was arrested on a warrant on Aug. 15. The nature of the warrant was not released. Walters was released and ordered to appear in City Court at a later date.

Daniel T. Henning, 42, of Batavia, is charged with criminal possession of stolen property 5th. Henning is accused of possessing stolen property while on Veterans Memorial Drive, Batavia, on March 28 at 2:55 p.m. He was arraigned in Town of Batavia Court and released on his own recognizance.

Jolene Y. Stevens, 33, no permanent address, is charged with failure to appear. Stevens was arrested on multiple warrants. She was arraigned in City Court and ordered held on $500 bail, $1,000 bond, or $5,000 partially secured bond.

Phillip P. Heale, 44, of Batavia, is charged with criminal trespass 3rd. Heale is accused of being on property he was previously banned from being on. He was released on an appearance ticket.

Evan F. Maynard, 21, of Batavia, is charged with assault 3rd. Maynard is accused of being involved in a disturbance on Sept. 24 at 8:24 p.m. at a location on East Main Street, Batavia. He was issued an appearance ticket.

Justin T. Calmes, 44, of Batavia, is charged with criminal contempt 2nd. Calmes is accused of violating an order of protection on Aug. 29 at midnight. He was released on an appearance ticket.

Jennifer L. Cudney, 41, of Batavia, is charged with DWI, driving with a BAC of .08 or greater, and operating a vehicle with a suspended registration. Cudney was stopped on Sept. 18 at 7:31 p.m. on Bank Street by a Batavia patrol officer. She was released on an appearance ticket.

Jason H. Freeman, 41, of Batavia, is charged with petit larceny. Freeman is accused of stealing beer from a business on Jackson Street on Sept. 18 at 9 a.m. He was issued an appearance ticket.

Jeffrey A. Hewitt, 43 of Le Roy, is charged with driving while ability impaired by drugs, failure to properly signal, driver's view obstructed, unlicensed driver, and aggravated unlicensed operation 1st. Hewitt was stopped by a Batavia patrol office on Sept. 25 at 10:37 a.m. on Summit Street. He was issued an appearance ticket.

Laura B. Beatty, 44, of Batavia, is charged with unlawful dealing with a child 1st. Beatty is accused of providing alcohol to a juvenile at her residence on Oak Street on Sept. 24 at 10:05 p.m. She was issued an appearance ticket.

Brian M. Raphael, 34, of Batavia, and Michelle L. Misiak, 57, of Batavia are charged with petit larceny. Raphael and Misiak are accused of stealing groceries on Sept. 27 from a store on East Main Street, Batavia. Both were issued appearance tickets.

Karrie A. Morrow, 39, of Batavia, was arrested on two bench warrants. The nature of the warrants was not released. She was released under supervision. Morrow was also arrested by State Police on a petit larceny charge. Morrow is accused of stealing merchandise valued at $17.98 from 48 Express Deli on Park Road on Sept. 29. She was issued an appearance ticket.

Renee Lynn Coughlin, 32, of Park Avenue, Oakfield, is charged with falsely reporting an incident 3rd.  Coughlin is accused of falling reporting an incident to police on Sept. 21 at 7:30 p.m. on Park Avenue in Oakfield. She was issued an appearance ticket.

Jamie Lee Broadbent, 39, of Federal Drive, Batavia, is charged with petit larceny. Broadbent is accused of entering an unsecured storage room and a vacant room at a hotel at 4371 Federal Drive, Batavia, and stealing items belonging to the hotel. He was released on an appearance ticket.

Hunter Joseph Stetz, 19, of Zimmerman Road, Hamburg, is charged with possession of a forged instrument. Stetz is accused of being in possession of a forged NYS driver's license on Aug. 25 at 8:15 p.m. while at Darien Lake. He was issued an appearance ticket.

Dale W. Gress, 54, of Elba, is charged with DWI and driving with a BAC of .08 or greater. Gress was stopped by State Police on Oct. 5 at 12:13 a.m. in the Town of Batavia. He was issued an appearance ticket.

Press release:

Community members are invited to vote for their preference between three slogans for the Haxton Memorial Library on a special ballot that is available at the library and online at www.HaxtonLibrary.org/slogan.

The library’s new logo and the three slogans being voted on are inspired by the library’s windows. They are a prominent feature of the building that was built in 1967 by the Buffalo architectural firm of Rogers & Smith with funds from the Haxton Fund Inc., a charitable foundation set up by G. Sherwin Haxton, a prominent local businessman.  

“The 9 windows on the front of the building provide wonderful natural lighting for the inside of the library,” says Kim Gibson, Library Director. “They also are very distinctive, and we used their design when creating our logo.”

The slogan choices are Windows of Opportunity, Windows to Discovery, or Your Windows to the World. The ballot to vote for the library’s new slogan are online and they can be cast until October 31. Residents who vote can enter to win a $50 gift card that will be randomly drawn from the list of voters. The gift card will be awarded at an unveiling event to be held at the library at a future date to be announced.

“The Haxton Memorial Library is a community center for all our patrons, children and adults. Libraries today are not just books. In this digital age we have so much more to offer,” says Carol D’Alba, President of the Board of Directors.

“I am proud to a part of our library. It gives me the opportunity to communicate with so many interesting people about the many programs and services that are free for everyone in the community to use,” she adds.

“We will be using our new slogan on our website, our Facebook Page and on all of our materials,” says, Kim Gibson, Library Director. “The Haxton Memorial Library is a busy place, and we hope that as many community members as possible will choose the slogan they think best suits the library.” 

To vote residents can stop by the Haxton Memorial Library circulation desk or vote online at www.HaxtonLibrary.org/slogan.

The Haxton Memorial Library located at 3 North Pearl Street in Oakfield provides residents a variety of programs, events and materials that are listed on the library’s website at www.HaxtonLibrary.org.

Members of the Genesee Symphony Orchestra were in Oakfield on Thursday evening to talk with children about the instruments they play and how music is made.

The orchestra members, along with conductor and music director Shade Zajac, explained their instruments, the sounds they made, playing examples, and how the instruments are played and how they might fit into a piece of music.

Participating were Holly Hudson, Nicole Zajac (top photo), Shade Zajac, and Claudia Deibold.

The event was sponsored by the Haxton Memorial Library and held at the Oakfield Government and Community Center.

Oakfield-Alabama High School hosted its annual Dash in the Dark on Friday evening.

Photos by Laura Luft.

File Photo of Conductor Shade Zajac during a rehearsal with Genesee Symphony Orchestra.

There will be no shushing at Haxton Memorial Library next week when members of Genesee Symphony Orchestra, including Conductor Shade Zajac, provide demonstrations for families, Roxie Choate says.

Funded by GO Art! Reach grant money, the library will be hosting musicians from 7 to 8 p.m. Thursday at the Oakfield Government and Community Center, 3219 Drake St., Oakfield.

Orchestra members will be showing and talking about their instruments individually, and also playing together for this special hour, said Choate, the orchestra manager. They will introduce strings, woodwinds and brass instruments.

“In hopes of creating increased knowledge and understanding of the importance of bringing orchestra music alive within our young people’s lives,” she said to The Batavian.

This event is open to all children ages 7 and older, and their parents. Attendees are asked to arrive by 6:50 p.m. in preparation for the program, she said.

Genesee Symphony Orchestra is in residence at Genesee Community College, and has a tradition of having “a very strong educational mission in giving experiences in learning about orchestra music,” Choate said.

Consider this a warm-up for the group’s first of a five-concert season. The first concert will feature “a beautiful harp concerto,” Choate said, and is set for 4 p.m. Oct. 9 at Stuart Steiner Theater at GCC, 1 College Rd., Batavia.

Registration is encouraged and appreciated. Call 585-948-9900.

Nicholas Maher

Nicholas Maher is being sent to state prison for 23 years for killing his father Martin Maher in their Oakfield home on Oct. 18.

The picture painted on Nick Maher in Genesee County Court today was of a 37-year-old man who struggled for years with mental health issues and gave into his delusions when he stabbed his 69-year-old father to death.

"Nick believed that his father was responsible for poisoning the air," District Attorney Kevin Finnell said. "He said he grabbed a knife to scare him but his father was flippant and arrogant and denied involvement in poisoning the air.

"Of course he denied it. It's ridiculous. It was a product of his mental health issues that he refused to address, he didn't want to address," Finnell said.

"Nick Maher is a college-educated person," Finnell continued. "He's smart enough to know that he needs to get mental health treatment and that he needs to take his medication, even if it doesn't make him feel real good. But he chose not to do that. So he responded, in his words, by 'losing it on his father,' a man who just denied poisoning the air, and killed him. In so doing, he took away the only person that was left in the world who cared about him."

Nick's siblings, Megan and Matt, spoke to the court and shared how much the death of their father hurt them.

Megan said Martin Maher put Nick first over his own happiness, putting off his own retirement to care for his son. She said Nick refused treatment and accused anybody who tried to help him of trying to harm him. 

"I think you simply made him the bad guy because he was there for you," Megan said. "What if mom hadn't passed a few years earlier? Would she have been caught up in your alternate reality and have been the bad guy, too? What if I spent more time around the house? Would I have been in the crossfire? I don't know. But these things have crossed my mind this year."

Megan said cleaning up her father's house, and going through old family photos was the hardest time of her life.

"I was constantly reminded of what you did," she said. "I no longer felt happy and safe in that house. All of the wonderful memories of our childhood were overshadowed by what you did."

Near the end of her remarks, she said, "You took a dad away from your siblings, and a grandpa away from his grandchildren. "Life has been hard enough after mom passed but not having my dad has been even more difficult than I think you'll ever be able to comprehend."

Matt said he will never forget the day he went to his father's home after not being able to reach him on the phone, worried something terrible had happened, and finding him dead on the floor.

"My dad loved my brother and it broke his heart that his love was not reciprocated, but that there was anger and blame towards him," Matt said.

Finnell told the court that the Sheriff's Office conducted a thorough investigation of the case and there is no doubt in his mind, that the evidence supported a murder conviction but it was also clear from psychological exams that if Nick Maher's case had gone to trial, his extreme emotional disturbance would have to lead the jury toward a manslaughter conviction rather than murder.   That is what lead to a plea deal that allowed Maher to admit to the murder with a possible sentencing range of 20 to 25 years in prison.

But Maher's mental health issues don't excuse him from the choices he made, Finnell argued.  Maher refused treatment and refused to take his prescribed medication.  Those choices ultimately led to Maher taking his father's life.

The chance to plead to manslaughter is the only consideration the defendant should get, Finnell told Judge Michael Mohun. Finnell said Maher should get the full 25 years in prison allowed by statute.

Public Defender Jerry Ader took exception to the suggestion that Maher was completely responsible for his own choices in dealing with his mental illness.

"I sincerely believe that our community, our country, has a difficult time dealing with mental illness, especially when it comes to mental illness in the criminal justice system," Ader said near the beginning of his remarks.

Later he said, "some of the speakers here, the children of Mr. Maher, they use of words, that he chose to do these things, and that he could have done something else. And I'm just not quite sure that's true. And I don't think anyone can know for sure if that's true, it's easy to say because we don't understand mental illness. But in my experience, when someone is placed in a psychiatric hospital, it could take years in order to get a patient, an inmate, to understand, to have the insight as to their illness, why they need help and why they need medication."

Ader said after nearly a year in jail, his client is just starting to take his medication and come to terms with his mental illness.

Ader argued that Mohun should consider something less than the maximum 25-year term on the manslaughter conviction because the Legislature when it wrote the law, allowed for a sentencing range of 5 to 25 years. Clearly, the Legislature understood, Ader argued, that each individual, each case, is different because mental health is involved, therefore, a judge has latitude to weigh all the factors.

In this case, the plea agreement meant that Maher must receive a sentence of at least 20 years but there was no reason, considering the factors of his mental health issues, to sentence him to the maximum of 25 years.

After giving Nick Maher an opportunity to address the court, which he declined, Mohun spoke directly to the family.

"I don't want you to dwell on Oct. 18 of 2021. The day your dad died. What I want you to think of are the days he lived. He almost lived until his 70th birthday which would have been in July of this year. Think of all those things that you had with your dad and that you celebrated together and that he was there to give you guidance and support. And think of the man who put his life on hold during his retirement years to take care of your brother."

He added, "Your brother has admitted, he's acknowledged., he has pled guilty to manslaughter in the first degree. What he has done by this act, you've lost two family members. On Oct. 18, you lost your father and you lost your brother. That is a devastating event which it will resonate through generations of Maher family celebrations of birthdays and holidays. But don't let this crime define the family. Remember your dad as he would want to be remembered, as a good dad, as a dad who stepped up and took care of your sick brother. Your father's devotion to duty was extraordinary."

Mohun said the killing of Martin Maher was without justification, without reason. 

"It was a heinous crime to which an appropriate sentence must be imposed," Mohun said.

The 23 years will be followed by five years of post-release supervision.  

Nick Maher is barred by court order from having any contact with his siblings until Sept. 9, 2053.

Press release:

Six members of the Genesee Symphony Orchestra will be presenting a special program on Sept. 15 from 7  to 8 p.m. at the Oakfield Government and Community Center.

Music lovers are invited to come to listen to and learn from these talented musicians as they perform some selected pieces and showcase each of their instruments. Each of the six musicians from the orchestra will explain how their specific instrument works and how it is unique. The audience will experience the six instruments played alone and played together as part of a six-piece ensemble.

“This program is a great way for children and adults to learn about the special qualities of the musical instruments that will be showcased,” says Kim Gibson, Library Director at the Haxton Memorial Library. “Everyone will enjoy this presentation.”

The Genesee Symphony Orchestra is a regional orchestra that presents concerts for the enrichment of our community through high-quality performances, educational opportunities, guest artists, and partnerships. It is one of the oldest civic orchestras in New York state.

The special presentation takes place at 7 p.m. at the Oakfield Government and Community Center, 3219 Drake Street in Oakfield.

This family-friendly project is made possible with funds from the Statewide Community Regent Program, a regrant program of the New York State Council on the Arts with the support of the office of the Governor and the New York State legislature and administered by Go Art!         

The Haxton Memorial Library located at 3 North Pearl Street in Oakfield provides residents with a variety of programs, events and materials that are listed on the library’s website at www.HaxtonLibrary.org.

Photo: File photo by Howard Owens.

Cassandra L. Elmore, 30, of Batavia, is charged with criminal possession of a weapon, obstruction of governmental administration, aggravated unlicensed operation 3rd, uninspected motor vehicle, and insufficient tail lamps. Elmore's vehicle was stopped on Aug. 30 at 2:37 p.m., on Ellicott Street, Batavia. Elmore was allegedly driving on a suspended license. During a search of the vehicle, Elmore was allegedly found in possession of two sets of metal knuckles as well as various items of drug equipment.  Elmore was processed at Batavia PD headquarters and released on an appearance ticket. Previously: Woman charged after dog treated repeatedly for narcotics overdose; Vet told police Oddey was showing signs of drug intoxication during emergency visit; Elmore asks for more time 

Devin W. Blackshear, 23, of Batavia, is charged with harassment 2nd. Blackshear is accused of pushing and hitting another person during an argument on Aug. 31 at 6:01 p.m. at a location on Oak Street, Batavia. He was issued an appearance ticket.

Alexander C. Colon-Colon, 28, of Batavia, is charged with criminal mischief. Colon-Colon is accused of pouring bleach on the property of another person during a dispute reported on Aug. 28 at 7:08 p.m. at a location on Central Avenue, Batavia. He was arraigned in City Court and released.

Tammy L. Cicatello, 52 of Batavia, is charged with criminal possession of a controlled substance 7th. Cicatello was allegedly found in possession of crack cocaine during a traffic stop on Aug. 26 at 8:52 p.m. on Pickthorn Drive, Batavia.  She was issued an appearance ticket.

Latoya D. Jackson, 36, of Batavia, is charged with harassment 2nd, endangering the welfare of a child, and criminal contempt 1st. On July 28 at 6:45 p.m. at a location on State Street, Jackson violated a stay-away order of protection and attempted to strike an individual with a closed visit while that person had a small child in his stroller that she was pushing.  Jackson was arrested on Aug. 26 and released on an appearance ticket.

McKayla J. Kosiorek, 27, of Oakfield, is charged with petit larceny. Kosiorek is accused of stealing cash from two different cash registers while working at the Days Inn in Batavia. She was issued an appearance ticket.

Jolene Y. Stevens, 33, of Batavia, is charged with criminal contempt 2nd. Stevens is accused of violating an order of protection on Aug. 26 at 6:21 p.m. at a location on Hutchins Street, Batavia. She was issued an appearance ticket.

Thomas F. Hofmeier, 21, no address provided, is charged with DWI and unlicensed driver.  Hofmeier was stopped on Sept. 2 at 1:07 a.m. on Alleghany Road, Darien by Deputy Jeremiah Gechell.  He was released on an appearance ticket.

Lucas Michael Countryman, 18, of Amherst Drive, Webster, is charged with DWI, driving with a BAC of .08 or greater, and failure to stop at a stop sign. Countryman was stopped on Aug. 25 at 10:55 p.m. on Clinton Street Road, Batavia, by Deputy Trevor Sherwood.

Courtney Lynn Hewitt, 41, of Webber Avenue, Oakfield, is charged with harassment 2nd. Hewitt is accused of striking a person in the head with a lamp on Sept. 4 at 1:30 a.m. at a location on Webber Avenue, Oakfield. She was issued an appearance ticket.

Jacob Jeter Bedard, 24, of West State Street, Albion, is charged with aggravated harassment 2nd. Bedard is accused of using electronic communications with another person for no legitimate purpose, causing alarm and annoyance, after being specifically instructed to cease all communication with the individual. Bedard was arraigned in Town of Batavia Court. An order of protection was issued. 

Jerry D. Walls, 58, of Albion, is charged with bail jumping 3rd.  Walls was arrested by State Police on Sept. 3 at 11:30 a.m. in the Town of Oakfield and ordered held on bail. No further details released.

Christopher S. Parker, 35, of Stafford, is charged with felony DWI, aggravated DWI with a child in a car, and endangering the welfare of a child. Parker was stopped on Sept. 3 at 1:22 p.m. in Pavilion by State Police and released on an appearance ticket. No further details released. 

Live music, food, vendors, kid's activities, and a car cruise have drawn people to Oakfield for Labor Daze this weekend.

On Monday, Oakfield will host its annual Labor Day Parade at 10 a.m.

Photos by Kristin Smith.  For more, click here.

When Corey Brown and Dean Brewer started working together in the kitchen at Sport of Kings they immediately struck up a friendship.

They both liked to cook and had aspirations to stretch their culinary skills.

Brown was born in New Orleans, where he came up through the ranks of some top Bourbon Street-area restaurants and Brewer started 25 years ago as a dishwasher at Sportos and kept looking for ways to learn new things and improve his skills.

Brown moved to Genesee County after meeting a girl from the area who convinced him there was a need for real Cajun dishes in Upstate New York.

Recently, they took over management of a restaurant located in Oakfield -- the former Oak Grill and Cafe -- running it for Kim Turner, Brewer's sister, who leased the location with the specific intention of letting Brown and Brewer put their culinary skills to work.

"Before we started, I had to do a lot of cooking in my house so she can taste it and she can say, 'Okay, I'm not gonna put my money behind it," Brown said.

Much of the menu of the old Oak Grill remains in place while Brown and Brewer introduce Cajun specialties, but some of the items diners might experience at the new Straight Out The Boot include jambalaya, crawfish etouffee, boudin balls, dirty rice, fried chicken, blackened catfish topped with crab meat,  and trinity and crawfish.

"Like I say, what we got now, a majority of the stuff still will be on there," Brown said. "But a couple of the things we'll be taking off and we'll be doing more Louisiana-style cooking."

Staying are hamburgers, which Brown said Brewer can grill better than anybody else he knows.  

"Dean does his burgers like, man, he makes some mean burger," Brown said. "I don't know. I'll put a burger on the grill they may not come out as juicy and tender as the way he does it."

Cooking came naturally to Brewer, he said.  It was the way he was raised.

"I'm a hillbilly from New York," Brewer said. "I was raised on the Southern Tier and the entire family can cook. They just can. I was always in the kitchen. It was just a natural thing. My grandfather told me once, 'The key is to be in the kitchen because that's where the coffee is and where the women usually work.'" 

Brown didn't set out to become a cook but once he started working in restaurants and seeing how the people who made the food got the praise for making customers happy, that appealed to him.

His biggest information came from a chef named Greg Craig.

"What he was doing was making big portions like he was a production cook," Brown said. "He did 50 gallons of gumbo, 50 gallons of crawfish one burst. I hear people talk about how good it is, even the workers, the other chefs, the owners, and I'm like, you know, I like that, you know, I like to hear the compliments. So I went over to him one day, I'm like, 'Man, I want to help out, you know, I want to cook  like you.' He said he needed an extra chef. 'I need the help.'"

Brown went on to work at Arnauds, off of Bourbon Street, and another restaurant on Bourbon Street and other restaurants, picking up tricks of the trade all along the way, including learning to cook Italian, and learning Greek cuisine when he moved to Batavia.

The name of the restaurant -- Straight Out the Boot -- is a play on the way Louisiana looks on a map.  The state is shaped like a boot, and Brown and Brewer want the restaurant to become known for providing really good Louisiana-style meals.

"Straight up, the boot is slang for everything we cooking," Brown said.

So far, Brown said, the Louisiana fare is going over well with diners.

"We've been getting a lot of good feedback off the jambalaya," Brown said. "We get a lot of feedback off the crawfish etouffee. Dean came out with a spicy chicken sandwich with the boom sauce, which is chicken topped with his creative barbecue spices, barbecue sauce. We've been getting good feedback from people."

Straight Out The Boot is located at 7062 Lewiston Road, Oakfield. Hours: 8 a.m. to 8 p.m. Monday through Saturday; and 8 a.m. to 3 p.m. Sunday. This weekend during Labor Daze, the restaurant is featuring fried chicken.

Photo by Howard Owens. Corey Brown, left, and Dean Brewer