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Out of options, Bethany Town Board seeking bids for demolition of old town hall

By Howard B. Owens
old bethany town hall
The Old Bethany Town Hall, built in 1832, is fated for demolition.
Photo by Howard Owens

Even many of Bethany's oldest residents, said Town Supervisor Carl Hyde, have come to accept the unpleasant but unavoidable and undeniable reality of the situation. The old Town Hall, built in 1832, must come down.

The town is currently accepting bids from demolition contractors.

Paul Strogen

By Joshua Smith
Pic

Paul D. Strogen 81, of Daly City, California and formerly of Batavia, passed away January 29, 2023 at his home.

Mr. Strogen was born May 17, 1941 in Batavia, the son of the late Joseph P. Strogen and Elva Hyde Strogen.

Surviving are his son James Wohlford (Sherri) of Bloomsburg,PA, brother James A. Strogen (Virginia) of Sunrise Beach, MO and sister Mylynne Austgen (Wayne) of Elizabeth,CO.

Mr. Strogen was a graduate of Batavia High School where he played drums in the band and ochestra. He also was a member of the Saint Joseph Drum and Bugle Corps.

Paul served his country honorably in the United States Navy, serving on the USS Dewey and later as an electronics instructor at the Treasure Island facility of the US Navy at San Francisco.He served during the Vietnam years on a special warfare intelligence aircraft.

He was a member of the Batavia VFW as well as in San Francisco.

In later years he worked as an electrical engineer for various firms.

Mr. Strogen travelled extensively all over the world.  He especially loved to sail his own sailboat  with friends.

Special destinations for him were the Hawaiian Islands, Australia , Europe and especially Slovakia where he visited Strogen family relatives.

Mr. Strogen was a patron of the San Francisco Symphony and the San Francisco Opera and participated in folk dance in Europe and Cape Breton, Nova Scotia.  His motto was: "Music feeds my soul-Dance is my lifeblood"

He will be missed by family and a large number of friends all over the world.

Mr. Strogen's Navy Honors Memorial Service we be held at the West Bethany cemetery at 1:00 pm on Saturday June 17th, 2023.

In lieu of flowers donations may be made to the United States Navy Memorial, 701 Pennsylvania Ave. Ste 123, Washington,DC, 20004-2608.

Mr. LaVerne E. "Turk" Francis

By Joshua Smith

Batavia - LaVerne E. "Turk" Francis, age 87, of Batavia, passed away Sunday, February 9, 2020.

Turk was born May 8, 1932, in Cuba, son of the late Norman Francis, Sr. and the late Marjorie Banker Francis.

A member of the Genesee Country Church, Turk faithfully served as a greeter of the church and as head usher for over 30 years. He enjoyed traveling with Nancy, was proud of his antique tractor collection and loved to wash and detail his car. He proudly served his country with the United States Army during the Korean War.

He is survived by his wife, Nancy Manhardt Francis. The two were married August 23, 1952. Also surviving are his daughter, Lynda (Daniel) Lyons of Oakfield; three grandchildren, Jessica (late Derrick) Baity of New York City, Colleen (Paul) Kowtun of North Tonawanda and Kyle Lyons of Oakfield; three great-grandchildren, Elijiah Jones, Mason Baity and Parker Kowtun; three sisters-in-law, Elaine Francis of South Carolina, Irene Francis of Texas and Barb (late Dave) Conn of East Bethany along with several nieces and nephews.

He is predeceased by his daughter, Sharon L. Francis who passed away on August 31, 2009 and his brothers, Herbert Francis, Norman Francis, Jr., Walter Francis and Melvin Francis.

Friends may call from 2:00 p.m. - 4:00 p.m. on Wednesday at the Genesee Country Church, 3268 Drake Street Road, Oakfield, where funeral services will immediately follow visitation at 4 p.m. In lieu of flowers, please consider memorials in Turk's name to the Al Sigl Foundation, Inc., 1000 Elmwood Avenue, Suite 300, Rochester, New York 14620 or Shriners Hospitals for Children, Attn: Office of Development, 2900 North Rocky Point Drive, Tampa, Florida 33607. He will be laid to rest in Calvary Cemetery, Batavia. To leave a condolence, share a story or light a candle, please visit www.bataviafuneralhomes.com.

Arrangements were entrusted to the Bohm-Calarco-Smith Funeral Home, Batavia.

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