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Michael F. Raczka

By Joshua Smith

Buffalo - Michael F. Raczka, 73 of Buffalo passed away on Wednesday, (March 31, 2021) at Orchard Rehab and Nursing Center in Medina.

Mr. Raczka was born December 8, 1947 in Buffalo, a son of the late Frank M. Raczka and Helen S. (Papaj) Raczka.

Michael served honorably with the Air Force. He was a lover of sports, especially baseball; and enjoyed umpiring for little league.

Michael is survived by his sister, Elaine Skotnicki (late Robert) of Wethersfield; brother, Clifford Raczka (Michelle) of Florida; a niece, Lisa Portelli (Michael) of New Hampshire; nephews, Harry, Thomas, and Jeffrey of Florida and several great-nephews, great-nieces, and cousins.

Michael 's Mass of Christian Burial will be held at 11:00 am on Wednesday, (April 7th, 2021) from St. Padre Pio Parish - St. Cecilia's Worship Site, 56 Maple Avenue in Oakfield.  Burial with military honors will be in Union Park Cemetery in Wethersfield Springs.  In lieu of flowers, memorials may be made to Northpointe Council, which provides high-quality, person-centered prevention, intervention, treatment, and recovery to those affected by alcoholism, substance use disorders, and other addictions. Their address is: 800 Main Street, Suite 2A, Niagara Falls, NY 14301.

Arrangements for Michael were entrusted to the H.E. Turner & Co. Funeral Home in Batavia. Please leave a condolence, share a story, or light a candle at www.bataviafuneralhomes.com.

Former Batavia resident who survived Katrina forced from home in LA by major wildfire

By Howard B. Owens
Danielle Lovell, Scot Walsh, Aidan Walsh
Danielle Lovell, Aidan Walsh, and Scot Walsh, 
Submitted photo

When the Sunset Fire started to bear down on her Hollywood neighborhood on Wednesday evening, and the order to evacuate came, Danielle Lovell reminded herself to breathe.

She'd been through this before. In 2005, she and her family evacuated their home as Hurricane Katrina struck New Orleans.

"I think the biggest takeaway (from Katrina) was -- and even last night -- just reminding myself to breathe and to stay calm," Lovell said to The Batavian on Thursday. "You do not want to panic because you are in such a hurry, but breathe and stay calm. Getting out is the most important thing. Everything else is replaceable, and it'll be okay. As long as you're alive, it'll be okay."

Poetry: 'In the Woods' by Oscar Wilde read by Stephen VanValkenburg

By Howard B. Owens
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April is National Poetry Month, and as we did last year, we've asked Batavia Players to read some poems for us. We start with 'In the Woods' by Oscar

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