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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.

Edwin W. Schoenthal

By Joshua Smith

Batavia - Edwin W. Schoenthal, 89 of Batavia passed away on Friday, (December 25, 2020) at Premier Genesee Center for Nursing and Rehabilitation in Batavia.

Mr. Schoenthal was born June 4, 1931 in Alabama, a son of the late Walter and Mabel (Scharlau) Schoenthal.

Edwin graduated from Medina High School in 1949 and worked for many years at the former Genesee County Farm in Bethany. Upon the farm's closure, he began working as a Drill Press Operator at Batavia Metal Products.  A fireman for nearly 70 years, Mr. Schoenthal joined the Bethany Fire Department in 1951 where he was a life member and past chief; he was a life member and past president of the Stafford Fire Department; and a life member, former board member, and past vice president of the Alabama Fire Department where he worked bingo weekly. He received numerous awards over 7 decades in fire service including the Genesee County Fireman of the Year Award in 1968.  He was a member and past president of the Genesee County Chiefs Association; a past member of both the NYS and WNY Volunteer Firemans Associations.

Surviving along with his wife, Sally (Meisner) Schoenthal whom he married March 3, 1955 are his daughter, Judy Sanders of Batavia; grandchildren, Jeremy, Todd, Andy, Jason, and Jessie; brothers, Alan (Leticia) Schoenthal of Texas, and Lester (Janet) Schoenthal of Ontario; a sister, Gloria Lewis of Maryland. Numerous great-grandchildren, along with several nieces and nephews also survive.

Ed is preceded in death by a daughter, Deborah Ann Long; and a grandson, Eric Fairbanks.

Family and friends are invited to call on Wednesday from 5 to 8 p.m. at the H.E. Turner & Co. Funeral Home, 403 East Main Street in Batavia. Edwin's Funeral Service will be held privately for his family, however will be live-streamed via the funeral home's website beginning at 8 p.m. Wednesday. Burial will be in Reed Cemetery in Oakfield.  In lieu of flowers, memorials may be made to the Alabama Fire Department, PO Box 798, Basom, NY 14013.

Due to the ongoing COVID-19 Pandemic, the funeral home will be limited to 25 people throughout the course of visitation. Please be prepared to wait outside. Face coverings and social distancing are required. We appreciate your cooperation and understanding.

Please leave a condolence, share a story, or light a candle at www.bataviafuneralhomes.com.

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.

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