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Accident involving truck and car reported on Route 20, Bethany

By Howard B. Owens

An accident involving a semi-truck and car is reported in the area of 5901 Route 20, Bethany.

No word on injuries.

There's heavy front-end damage is reported to a vehicle. The tractor-trailer went down a culvert and is in water. It's 80,000 pounds loaded. A heavy wrecker will be needed

UMMC, Genesee County, team up again to provide park visitors with sunscreen

By Press Release
Video Sponsor
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Press release:

More than 4,000 New Yorkers are diagnosed with skin cancer a year.  United Memorial Medical Center and the Genesee County Parks Department are collaborating once again to

Charles L. Rieks

By Lisa Ace

Charles L. Rieks, 74, of Greeneville, TN and Orange Park, FL passed away Thursday, April 20, 2017.  He was born July 6, 1942 in Warsaw, NY to the late Harvey and Edith Brower Rieks.
Mr. Rieks graduated from Pavilion Central School.  He worked at Caledonia Bean Plant, Rochester Telephone Company and retired from Amtote International of Hunt Valley, MD.  He worked in Buffalo, Batavia and Canandaigua before transferring to Jacksonville/Orange Park, FL.
Charles was a life member of Pavilion Fire Department and was instrumental in helping to establish the Pavilion Rescue Squad.  He was also an American Legion member.  He was a veteran of the US Army having served from 1961-1967.
Mr. Rieks is survived by his wife of 54 years, Nancy (Smith) Rieks of Greeneville, TN; son Daniel (Lisa) Rieks of Batavia, NY; daughters, Roseann (Doug) Harris of Greeneville, TN, and Kelly (Daniel) Cordell of Stafford, NY; 6 grandchildren; 12 great-grandchildren; sister, Shirley Cotton of Greenville, TX; sisters-in-law, Lorraine (J.E.) Rieks of Silver Spring, MD, Judy (Nick) Cecci of Corning, NY and Patricia (Robert) Murphy of Wyoming, NY; brother-in-law, Gary Phillips of Attica, NY, step-brothers, Robert and Donald Hammond of Rochester, NY; many nieces and nephews; and a very special family friend, Brad Skwirsk.
In addition to his parents, he was preceded in death by a brother, John Edgar (Ed) Rieks.
Services will be held at a later date at East Bethany Rural Cemetery in East Bethany, NY. Memorial contributions can be made to Pavilion Fire Department, P.O. Box 156; Pavilion, New York 14525.
Condolences may be shared with the family online at www.doughty-stevens.com

Ethyl I. Sojda

By T.J. Woodward

Ethyl I. Sojda, age 84, of Creek Rd, Batavia, NY, passed away peacefully at home surrounded by family on April 8th, 2022. Ethyl was born in Batavia as the only daughter of the late Vincent N. and Ruth M. Kirch. She was a life-long resident of Alexander, NY.

After graduating from Alexander Central School, she held various jobs until she married her late husband, John F. Sojda, Jr. in 1961 and raised three children. As a dedicated mother she could be seen braving any weather to watch her children’s sporting events. She returned to work in 1977 and held a number of positions with local companies over the following thirty years. In her last role she was a Loose Ends hostess managing the GCC cafeteria where many folks came to enjoy her kind and pleasant personality and her dedicated work ethic.

Though a long-time crocheter, later in life she became a serious quilter and active in the Batavia Museum Quilt Guild. She produced a number of quilts for family and friends that are still enjoyed daily.

For a number of years, she was also a volunteer with All Babies Cherished. It was not uncommon to see her with her knitting material creating baby hats for the regional hospital system. For many years she was an assistant to John Sojda, Jr. in his role as Alexander Town Justice. Part of her charm and grace was how resiliently and quietly she met life’s challenges—both her own and those of others who knew her.

Ethyl is survived by her sons John and Steve (Barb), her daughter Ann, five grandchildren; Lily Whisman, Jacob (Paige), Stephanie (Patrick) Guarino, Michelle (Andrew) James , and Angela (Martin) Pohl, great-grandchildren; Ezekiel Guarino, Emily and Eli James, Alex, and Maria Pohl. She was preceded by her brother Merlin Kirch and has 4 surviving brothers (Ralph, Arnold, Harold, and Myron), and many nieces and nephews.

Mass at St. Mary's in Batavia at 9:30am Saturday June 25th followed by a graveside service at West Bethany Cemetery. Lunch to follow at her home at

9926 Creek Rd.

In lieu of flowers, donations can be made to the Alexander Rescue Squad PO Box 336 Alexander, NY 14005 or Homecare & Hospice 29 Liberty St. Suite 6 Batavia, NY 14020. For more information please call (585) 591-1212 or to leave a message of condolence visit www.marleyfuneralhome.com. Arrangements completed by Marley Funeral Home, LLC, 135 Main Street, Attica, NY 14011

John D. "Jack" McCarthy

By T.J. Woodward

  John D. “Jack” McCarthy, 86, of Alexander passed away peacefully on Friday April 21, 2017 at the United Memorial Medical Center in Batavia. He was born in Dansville on January 29, 1931 to the late John M. and Ethel (Blausius) McCarthy. In addition to his parents, Jack is predeceased by his brother William Schaff and grandson David McCarthy.

Jack was a United States Army Veteran. He was employed with the New York State Department of corrections working at The Attica Correctional Facility for many years and then at Albion from where he retired. After retirement he moved with his wife to Orlando and worked with the Orange County Sheriff's Department for 10 more years. Jack loved to fish and hunt and spent many happy hours in those pursuits. More than these though he loved his family. He married the love of his life in September 1955 and they spent 62 years together. He was so proud of his children and grandchildren. Jack was a great storyteller and enjoyed when the family would gather together and he kept them laughing with his stories. In his later years he loved to hold his great-grandchildren and there were many people, both family and friends who called him “Grandpa Jack”.  Jack was a lifetime member of the Alexander Fire Department, a member of the VFW Joseph Collins post 6239 and the American Legion in Attica.

He is survived by his loving wife; Mary Ellen McCarthy; children Michael (Mary) McCarthy of Batavia, Marlene (Stefan) Worthington of Alexander, Lorrie (Jim) Gammack of Darien Center, Noreen (Mike) Gaiser of E. Bethany and Amy (Mike) Shaw of Alexander; 27 grandchildren and 24 great grandchildren.  

Family and friends are invited to call on Tuesday April 25, 2017 from 4:00-8:00PM at Marley Funeral Home, LLC. 135 Main Street Attica, New York 14011. A 10:00AM Memorial Service will be held on Wednesday the 26th at the Alexander United Methodist Church 10540 Main St. Alexander, NY 14005. Jack will be laid to rest in Ossian Center Cemetery.

In lieu of flowers, memorials may be made to the NYS Veterans Home @ Batavia Activities Fund 220 Richmond Ave. Batavia, NY 14020 or the Alexander Fire Dept. ambulance fund P.O. Box 336 Alexander NY 14005 or the Alexander United Methodist Church at the address listed above. For more information please call (585) 591-1212 or to sign a message of condolence please visit www.marleyfuneralhome.com. Arrangements completed by Marley Funeral Home, LLC. 135 Main Street Attica, New York 14011.

Ray Cianfrini, local law enforcement honored at annual Kiwanis Law Day dinner

By Howard B. Owens

Ray Cianfrini, recipient of Distinguished Service Award from the Genesee County Bar Association.

Press release:

Kiwanis Club President Jocelyn Sikorski and Genesee County Bar Association President Peter Casey announced the awards during an annual dinner held at Batavia Country Club on Thursday, April 27. The speaker at the dinner was Lewis R

Three Pavilion alumni inducted into school's Hall of Fame

By Press Release

The Pavilion Hall of Fame inducted three new members on Friday: Jack McGee, a veteran of WWII, Diane Davis Torcello, a banker and community activist, and TJ Majors, a NASCAR spotter.

The family of McGee received a U.S. flag, which had been flown over the Pentagon. Torcello shared stories of her work and volunteer contributions. 

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