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No Thanksgiving at community center, but water on the way, Bethany supervisor says

By Joanne Beck
Tanker at Bethany
A tanker filled with 6,700 gallons of water arrives early Wednesday morning in Bethany. 
Photo submitted by Carl Hyde

All things considered, Bethany Town Supervisor Carl Hyde was in fairly good spirits Tuesday evening after making phone calls to Bethany residents for three hours to, as he put it, serve as an early Grinch and rob them of their holiday. 

Those people had been planning on celebrating Thanksgiving at the town’s Community Center because they didn’t have water in their own homes. On Tuesday morning, the Community Center went dry as well. 

Bethany residents will have opportunity to fill water totes Saturday

By Joanne Beck

Bethany Town Supervisor Carl Hyde Jr. would like all town of Bethany residents to know that there will be a first come-first served opportunity for them to fill up their 250 and 500-gallon totes from 11 a.m. to 1 p.m. Saturday.

You are asked to only use the Bethany Center

Bethany town residents with dry wells asked to contact town hall

By Press Release

Press Release:

Today we received a tanker of water from the NY State Office of Emergency Management to temporarily provide water to our residents experiencing dry wells.

For those residents affected, please call 585-343-1399, Ext. 202, and leave your full name, address and phone number. You will then be contacted

Getting their fill: Few residents show to first-time call to fill water totes, more dates set

By Joanne Beck
bethany water tanker nov. 2023
Bethany Town Board member Timothy Embt helps out at the water tanker on Saturday at the town hall parking lot.
Photo by Howard Owens

Jerry Kujawski had no trouble with Saturday’s rule of first-come, first-served to fill up his 300-gallon water tote. In fact, he made a return trip to fill it up a second time to help out a neighbor, and he was only the third or fourth person who had been at Bethany Town Hall to do so for the two-hour fill-up period.

When it seemed as though there would have been dozens of people clamoring for a go at the pump connected to a tanker of water to shore up their dried-up wells, the parking lot was empty most of the time. 

Town Supervisor Carl Hyde Jr. had put out the notice that anyone with no water could get their totes filled between 11 a.m. and 1 p.m. Saturday at the town hall, and he and members of the Bethany town board and fire department stood at the tanker ready and waiting.

Paper plates and plasticware: modern day life without running water

By Joanne Beck

One’s lifestyle most definitely changes without running water, he said. You microwave your meals, eat on paper plates and use plastic cutlery. Showers are taken at obliging family members’ homes, and dirty clothes are taken care of at a laundromat.

There’s no turning on the tap, hopping in the shower or taking anything for granted when it comes to a steady stream of that liquid gold labeled H2O.

Presentation offers lessons, urges residents to test homes for radon

By Joanne Beck
Sherri Bensley and Allysa Pascoe
Sherri Bensley, left, and Allysa Pascoe, of Genesee and Orleans Health Department, give a presentation about radon during this week's City Council meeting at City Hall. Free test kits are available at the health department to find out your home's level for this odorless, tasteless radioactive gas.
Photo by Howard Owens.

If you were asked to name the number one cause of lung cancer among non-smokers, it may surprise you that the answer is not second hand smoke, often portrayed as perhaps the most dangerous substance to lungs for those exposed to the fumes of others.

Mrs. Marguerite James Breckenridge

By Joshua Smith
Breckenridge

Marguerite James Breckenridge, beloved mother, grandmother, great-grandmother, friend and neighbor passed from this life on Saturday, November 11, 2023 at the age of 97.

She was born on December 7, 1925 to the late Thomas S. James and Lucille James of Batavia.

Marguerite was married to Robert J. Breckenridge of Bethany, NY, where they had a dairy farm. After retirement, the couple moved to Sarasota, FL and raised beef cattle. Later they located to Wylie, TX and then Keller, TX, then finally relocated back to Bethany.

She is predeceased by her husband, Robert J, Breckenridge, sons, Thomas R. Breckenridge and Robert W. Breckenridge and a granddaughter, Heather D. Smith.

As always, Marguerite was a loving companion and devoted wife through their marriage of 63 years. She was a caring, guiding and adoring mother to Lynda (Mauro) Gaetano of Austin, TX and Stephen (Joanne) Breckenridge of Bethany. She leaves four granddaughters, Jennifer (Shawn) Covert of LeRoy,NY, Bernadette (Larry) DeLaGarza of Austin, TX, Kristen (Joseph) Magyar of Newburgh,NY, Kimberly (Timothy) D'Amico of Batavia, NY, and a step-grandson, David (Katrinia) Gaetano of Atlanta, GA. She is survived by nine great grandchildren, Michael and Matthew Covert, Santiago and Gabriella DeLaGarza, Isabella, Lukas and Vivian Magyar, Macey D'Amico and Adriana Gaetano, who all made her proud.

In her younger years, she was employed by the First National Bank in Batavia, CL Carr's, Chapin Manufacturing and a Nurse's Aide at St. Jerome's Hospital following World War II as a Gray Lady, which was an extension of the American Red Cross. She was active in the Batavia Business & Professional Women's Club, and an active member for many years in the Cerebral Palsy of NYS organization as well as Home Bureau. She also was a member of the First Baptist Church of Batavia.

Marguerite was a strong, resilient and thoughtful person who was a talented homemaker, cook and baker. As the wife of a farmer, she would attend cattle auctions and purchase cows for the dairy herd, help with milking or delivering calves later in the day. During the Blizzard of '77 she opened her home providing meals and lodging to stranded motorists on Route 20.

Marguerite leaves a great void in the hearts of those close to her. She will be dearly missed though memories and the love she shared will live on among family, friends and those whose life she touched. Her family would like to extend a sincere thank you to her nurse, Patti Cunningham, and health care aides, Shirley Farley, Mary Merle, and Linda Jackett, as well as friends, Diane Hall, Darleen Peters, Linda Sanders, Kris Kujawski, and Sunshine.

At Marguerite's request, there will be no calling hours. Private services will be held at the convenience of the family. She will be laid to rest in West Bethany Cemetery. In lieu of flowers, please consider memorials in her name to West Bethany Baptist Church, 10333 West Bethany Road, East Bethany, New York 14054 or Bethany Volunteer Fire Department, 5253 Old Telephone Road, East Bethany, New York 14054. To leave a condolence, share a story or light a candle in her memory, please visit www.bataviafuneralhomes.com.

Arrangements have been entrusted to the H.E. Turner & Co. Funeral Home, 403 East Main Street, Batavia.

Mrs. Marguerie James Breckenridge

By Joshua Smith
Breckenridge

Marguerite James Breckenridge, beloved mother, grandmother, great-grandmother, friend and neighbor passed from this life on Saturday, November 11, 2023 at the age of 97.

She was born on December 7, 1925 to the late Thomas S. James and Lucille James of Batavia.

Marguerite was married to Robert J. Breckenridge

James H. Hutchison

By Joshua Smith
Hutchison

Byron - James H. Hutchison, 81 of Byron passed away on Wednesday, (November 6, 2024) at United Memorial Medical Center in Batavia.

Mr. Hutchison was born May 29, 1943 in Buffalo, a son of the late James W. and Ella C. (Walters) Hutchison.

Jim grew up in Orchard Park and was a member of the Boy Scouts Troop #288, where he attained the rank of Eagle Scout. He was the owner and operator of Hutchison Trucking in Byron and drove several million miles across the country. Upon his retirement in 2009, Jim enjoyed traveling and making his yard a show place. Jim was a dedicated member of the Byron Fire Department for over 50 years. He found great enjoyment in working on his computer ordering gadgets from Amazon and connecting his home to his best friend, Alexa.

He is survived by his wife, Mary (Blaisdell) Michels Hutchison of Byron; daughters, Dawn (Chris) Chugg of Batavia, Jamie (Robert) King of Hammodsport, and Melody (Albert) Ghiloni of Mason, Ohio; step-children, Deborah (Walter Bennett) Yeomans of Savannah, New York, Cynthia (Douglas) Rotondo of Port Byron, and Douglas (Bonnie Dudley) Yeomans of East Bethany; sister, Deborah (late Richard) Ford of Florida. 10 grandchildren, and 12 great-grandchildren also survive.

Family and friends are invited to attend Jim's memorial service on Saturday (November 9, 2024) at 1:00 p.m. at the First Presbyterian Church of Byron, 6293 West Main Street in Byron. Following the service, all are invited to join in a luncheon in the church hall. Please come with your favorite stories and memories of Jim. In lieu of flowers, memorials may be made to the church.

Arrangements for Jim were entrusted to the care and direction of H.E. Turner & Co. Funeral Home, 51 Lake Avenue in Bergen. Please leave a condolence, share a story, or light a candle at www.bataviafuneralhomes.com.

Law and Order: Batavia man accused of threatening two people with a knife

By Howard B. Owens
falk mug
Terrance L. Falk

Terrance L. Falk, 25, of Batavia, is charged with criminal possession of a weapon 3rd and menacing 2nd. Falk is accused of threatening two people with a knife during an altercation on Washington Avenue at an undisclosed time on Oct. 24. He was arraigned and ordered back to court at a later date.

Law and Order: man accused of stabbing

By Howard B. Owens
daquan_butler
Daquan Butler

Daquan J. Butler, 28, of Brooklyn, is charged with assault 1st, burglary 1st, criminal possession of a weapon 3rd, and endangering the welfare of a child. Butler is accused of illegally entering a residence on Liberty Street, Batavia, on Aug. 25, 2023, and stabbing an adult male inside the residence. A child was in the house at the time. Butler was located in New York City by U.S. Marshals and returned to Batavia. He was arranged in County Court and jailed.

Mr. Anthony Mudrzynski

By Joshua Smith
Tony

Oakfield - Anthony Mudrzynski, 90, passed away on Wednesday, October 30, 2024 at United Memorial Medical Center.

He was born on February 13, 1934, in Oakfield, a son of the late Anthony and Mary Horzempa Mudrzynski.

Tony was a devout family man. He looked after his children, grandchildren, and great grandchildren. He seemed to always know what they needed and was the first one in line to take care of it. From Christmas presents, to transportation, to advice, and times the strong dose of reality. He was never afraid to tell the truth. Tony always came to every family party and celebration, and treated everyone to something special on the holidays. He would never come empty-handed and will always be remembered for his many homemade pies and fruit with a little Jell-O in it.

Tony was deeply involved in his local fire department. He joined the Town of Alabama Fire Department in February 1952, only five years after the original department started. He was a role model and leader in the department, serving in every single capacity of the department except secretary and chief during his 72.5 year reign. It was very rare throughout this time that he would ever miss any fundraiser, work detail, or bingo night.

Tony helped build the recreation hall in 1967 and he helped reconstruct the recreation hall in 2012. In 2017 he was on the roof putting down shingles.  Less than eight weeks ago he was taking down chairs and setting up the hall for bingo, just as he did every single week. To top it all off this year, Tony was selected to be firefighter of the year. This award was given to his family last week at the annual installation banquet.

In addition to the fire department, Tony was very involved in his town leadership serving for 22 years as town supervisor and actively participated on several councils and boards.

He is predeceased by his wife Helen E. Peters Mudrzynski who passed away on June 12, 2007.

He is survived by his son, Clayton (Diane) Fry of Alabama; daughter, Patricia (Ronald) Thompson of Basom; grandchildren, Melissa (Tim) Lindke of Gasport, Terry (Wendy) Thompson of Basom, Todd (Alison) Thompson of Oakfield and Tonya (J.P.) Phillips of Pensacola, Florida; great-grandchildren, Noelle (Kyle) Bowser, Elisabeth Lindke, Rachel (Brandon) Valerio, Ryan (Ashley) Thompson, Tucker (Susanna) Allen, Kristopher (Bethany) Thompson, Brad (Claudia) Thompson, Becky (Danny) Avila, Kasey (Fiancé Jerrod Smigelski) Thompson, Leah (Fiancé Casey Arnold) Thompson, Bryce Thompson, Arielle (Casey) McVay, Justin (Anais Sanchez) Smith and Mark (Brianna) Smith; great-great-grandchildren, Amelia and Evelyn Allen, Linken Thompson, Kori and Kinzi Smigelski, Ellie Arnold, MayBelle Smith and Bentley Smith; his brother, Henry (Janet) Mudrzynski of Oakfield along with several nieces, nephews, great-nieces and great-nephews.

He is the father of the late Harold Fry; grandfather of the late Dana Fry and brother of the late Josephine Mudrzynski, Amelia Koziol Brown, Bernice Marble, Helen Bauer and Walter Mudrzynski.

Friends and family may call on Friday from 4 pm to 7 pm at the Burdett & Sanford Funeral Home, 11 Maple Avenue, Oakfield. Members of the Alabama Fire Department will gather at 6:30 pm on Friday at the funeral home to honor Tony for his exemplary service to the fire department. His Mass of Christian Burial will be celebrated on Saturday at 11 am at St. Padre Pio Parish-St. Cecilia’s Worship Site, 56 Maple Avenue, Oakfield. He will be laid to rest in St. Cecilia’s Cemetery. Please consider memorials to the Alabama Fire Department, P.O. Box 798, Basom, New York 14013 or to St. Padre Pio Parish, 56 Maple Avenue, Oakfield, New York 14125. To leave a condolence, share a story or light a candle in his memory, please visit www.burdettandsanford.com.

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