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Have you got what it takes to be a queen? GC Fair seeking contestants

By Press Release

Press release:

The Genesee County Fair Queen and Princess Pageant is looking for contestants ages 5 to 19. The Fair Queen and Princess Pageant is an opportunity for young women from across the county to come together for a fun and exciting experience. Contestants learn many valuable life skills by building courage by speaking publicly, showcasing their individual talents and become more confident in who they are as an individual. And most importantly, many of the ladies often walk away with new lifelong friends.

Throughout the program, all of our contestants have the chance to be part of special Fair events, including handing out awards to 4-H and Open Show Exhibitors and the annual Fair Parade. All of the newly crowned Fair Queen and her courts will represent the Genesee County Fair during our annual 8-day Fair!

This year's pageant will be held on two nights of Fair July 22nd at 6:00pm and July 24th at 1:00pm on the Entertainment Tent Stage. On July 22nd all contestants will do their public speaking and Talent. On Sunday, July 24th at 1 p.m. will be the crowning of the Contestants! 

For more information on the 2022 Genesee County Fair Queen Pageant, email geneseecountyfair.pageant.ny@gmail.com
 

Rock With Ricky fundraiser kicks off concert season at Batavia Downs

By Joanne Beck

Ricky Palermo, front center, talks about his Foundation during a "Rock With Ricky" fundraiser concert Friday at Batavia Downs Gaming in Batavia. Bruce in the USA, a tribute band to the boss and his E Street band, was the first concert of the season and the first time the Ricky Palermo Foundation partnered with Batavia Downs to further its cause of raising awareness and money for spinal cord research. Palermo's Foundation has raised and donated $1.7 million for the community and research at The Miami Project to Cure Paralysis.  Photo by Nick Serrata.

 

Comedian Nick Marra opens up before the main act, Bruce in the USA, Friday at Batavia Downs Gaming. Marra has also performed in Batavia previously, and all to support the Palermo Foundation's cause. Photo by Nick Serrata.

A commemorative T-shirt for the Ricky Palermo Foundation's "Rock with Ricky" concert Friday at Batavia Downs Gaming in Batavia. Photo by Nick Serrata.

 

Resident on Oak, Batavia, reportedly burning cardboard, causing a lot of smoke in the area

By Howard B. Owens

Dispatchers received a report of a large amount of smoke in the area of Oak and Richmond in Batavia.

A Batavia PD officer reported finding a resident on Oak burning a large amount of cardboard.

City Fire responded and a scene commander informed dispatchers, "approved containers. The homeowner was advised not to burn cardboard anymore."

City Fire is back in service.

Matty's Pizza comes full circle and lands at Eli Fish in Batavia

By Joanne Beck

Batavia native Matt Gray is making his way in the restaurant business, along with partners Matt Boyd and Jon Mager, and looks forward to circling back to serving a favorite dish from his childhood.

Matty’s Pizza, founded in 1997 and closing shop around 2008, is back in the restaurant scene, Gray says. It seemed to be a perfect fit for the empty Fresh Lab space in Eli Fish Brewing Company, he said.

“Pizza is very similar to pasta, where everyone has a favorite. And nobody's wrong. So, Matty’s has its own recipe, and we're very proud of it. It's unique, as they all are in Batavia,” he said during an interview Friday with The Batavian. What we do as far as making a pizza that we stress is that we make sure the toppings are plentiful, but also even and that everything is out to the crust.”

The thought of pizza rekindled a fond memory of going ice skating with his school friends and stopping by the former Pontillo’s to share a small pie and a dozen wings. He also absorbed some lessons from his Uncle Moose, who made pizzas alongside Sam Pontillo Sr., while his father helped out with deliveries. Gray liked to make his own pizzas and forged official territory when opening Matty’s in February 1997.

He left that business when he moved down south to Raleigh, NC, and open up the first of what is now five full restaurants under the name Buffalo Brothers Pizza and Wing Company. He and Boyd wanted to bring the authentic Buffalo-style chicken wings to the area, and they eventually caught on, Gray said.

He and Mager celebrated the opening of Eli Fish in March 2018. The Main Street building also housed two incubator food shops, Eden Vegan Cafe & Bakeshop and Eatwell Grill. After Eatwell moved out to occupy another space, the Eli team got together to mull what to do with that vacant space.

“And it was pretty unanimous around the table that they all wanted Matty’s pizza back,” Gray said. “Pizza’s always been a love of mine. And I've now been back in Batavia since 2007. My children were born after I moved home. They've never had a pizza that I've made other than the ones I made at home. I’ve been making pizza … for a while I was doing it full-time, especially while we were trying to get the recipe exactly right where we were before. To be honest, it's fun. I really enjoy it.”

Think pizza is just a piece of dough and some toppings? Not for Gray, who tested out a number of different flours before settling on the right one for the consistency and texture he wanted. Ovens had to be set up correctly, he said, and there was a trial period of pizza specials served at Eli Fish. Now that most of the details have been more fine-tuned, he and his partners are ready for business.

Matty’s serves a 10-inch, which is slightly bigger than a personal-sized pie, and the 14-inch large, which is available for take-out.  There will be a pizza of the week, and Gray looks forward to slicing up the special combinations of a crab rangoon, reuben, Greek, and hot piggies version, which includes everything from seafood, a ricotta and olive oil base with three different kinds of olives and artichoke hearts to a triple whammy of pepperoni, bacon and ham, hot cherry and jalapeño peppers with a hot honey drizzle, breaded eggplant, pepperoni, feta and mozzarella with roasted peppers, and other upscale varieties.

Take the chicken and waffles pizza, which Gray wasn’t initially keen about but ended up loving, he said. That one has a spicy maple drizzle, he said with a hungry smile. He's been having fun trying out new recipes and getting back into the pizza business, he said.

“Yeah, it means a lot to me to have Matty's Pizza back in Batavia. That's where I got my start,” he said. “And I always joke around with my kids that, you know, everything that we provide to each other and for everyone else is all because of pizza. So it's really like bringing everything full circle back to where it all began.”

Matty’s is at 109 Main St., Batavia, and is open from 11 a.m. to 8 p.m. Tuesdays, Wednesdays, and Thursdays, and noon to 9 p.m. Fridays and Saturdays. It’s closed Sunday and Monday. Matty’s Pizza and Eli Fish Brewing Company will have food items for sale at the Eli Fish Carnival, from 4 to 10 p.m. Saturday at Jackson Square.

“We’re keeping it simple,” Gray said. “We’re really enjoying exploring what we can do with pizza,” he said. “There was a great response. I was pleasantly surprised at how many people remembered Matty’s in a positive way and expressed their excitement when they came in. It's been 14 years; that's a long time.”

Gray, who also owns Alex's Place, has scaled back his own hours in the pizza shop to a couple of shifts per week. He has hired a manager, Jeremy Totten of Elba, who is taking care of the day-to-day needs. Totten operated a casual dining restaurant for more than 10 years, Gray said, and had prior pizzeria experience as well. The shop is open for take-out and delivery, or patrons can order from the Eli Fish menu or through Door Dash.

For more information, go to mattyspizza.com or call (585) 345-9909.

Batavia native and business owner Matt Gray show off a freshly baked pizza with breaded eggplant and pepperoni at the new home of Matty's Pizza, 109 Main St., Batavia. Photos by Joanne Beck.

UR Medicine officially opens new Batavia campus on Call Parkway

By Howard B. Owens

The ribbon is cut and UR Medicine's new Batavia campus is ready to receive patients for care in a variety of specialties that officials say will save them a trip to Rochester.

"What I learned is that the patients won't get the care unless the health care providers come to them, at least in the beginning," said neurosurgeon Dr. Webster H. Pilcher during opening remarks.

The campus will serve patients from Genesee, Orleans, and Wyoming counties, and care will include adult and pediatric allergy/immunology, neurosurgery, oncology, otolaryngology and audiology, and urology, as well as providing primary care.

"Bringing specialty and primary care clinics under one roof allows for better care for our patients, as well as really helps us practice efficiently," said Kathleen Parrinello, COO of UR Medicine. "So there's a lot to be gained by having all of our clinicians together so that the people in this community can really appreciate the integrated Clinical Network at UR Medicine."

The new 24,455 square foot medical campus – located at 7995 Call Parkway – will centralize specialty clinics and primary care into one location, along with on-site lab services. 

UR Medicine Radiation Oncology will remain in its current Bank Street location.  Eric Wu, M.D., and the Batavia Ophthalmology practice are joining UR Medicine and will move to the Flaum Eye Institute’s location on Liberty Street on June 1, which will be expanded into space formerly occupied by primary care.

"We will continue our practice of staffing specialty clinics with providers who are either locally from here or are based consistently in Batavia in this community," Parrinello said. "Meaning that the people who receive care here will receive care from physicians, advanced practice providers, nurses, and staff who spend all of their work hours here."

“Almost 30 years ago, I started seeing patients out in Batavia and it has been an incredibly rewarding experience to serve the patients of that community,” Pilcher said. “It is often difficult for patients to negotiate a complex care system, especially if that means traveling to Rochester.  By bringing that care to them and simplifying the relationship between our patients and primary and specialized care, we can provide them with access to world-class care, right in their own community.”

Top photo: Ribbon cutting with Alexander K. Mandych, Dr. Webster H. Pilcher, Victoria Godwin Hines, COO and Vice President, Lily J. Snyder, faculty in the Department of Family Medicine.

Photos by Howard Owens

Check-out desks area for patients.

A nurse's workstation.

Lily Snyder in her office.

Joy Michaelides, assistant professor of clinical urology in a urology exam room.

Oncology center.

Developer breaks ground on mixed-use project in Pembroke

By Press Release

Press release:

J&R Fancher Property Holdings LLC broke ground this afternoon on their 14,000 sq. ft. mixed-use development in the town of Pembroke at Buffalo East Technology Park. The 2-story mixed-use building will be built on 2.6 acres located less than a mile from Interstate 90.

The $1.7 million investment includes 6 market-rate 1-bedroom and 2-bedroom apartments on the second floor, and a 7,000 "vanilla" box interior space to attract commercial tenants.

“Genesee County continues to support housing growth and community investment and we are very excited to support their vision through our development,” said J&R Fancher Property Holdings LLC CEO Randy Fancher. “Our development is in a strategic location that we are confident can help attract prospective workers to one of the many businesses in the surrounding area, including the existing businesses in the technology park.”

Local officials praised J&R Fancher Property Holdings LLC’s investment, citing the opportunities revealed in various housing studies. The addition of market-rate housing for recent projects is a critical component to realizing the benefits of economic development in Genesee County, said GCEDC President and CEO Steve Hyde.

“We’re very excited to work with a local homegrown company that values our community and vision of the future,” said Hyde. “With J&R Fancher Property Holdings and other significant investments of late in our housing stock, we’re seeing investments that are essential to our growth and the increasing number of career opportunities at companies across the county.”

Photos by Alecia Kaus/Video News Service.

Artist Colette Savage to demonstrate painting and pastels on Tuesday at GO ART!

By Press Release

Press release:

The Batavia Society of Artists is hosting artist Colette Savage Tuesday, June 14th at 7 p.m. at Go-Art/Seymour Place, 201 E. Main St., Batavia.  Colette will be demonstrating painting with pastels.  Non-members are welcome for a $5 fee.

We will also have a very affordable Art Supply and Frame sale before the demo starting at 6:30 p.m., at the break, and after the demo.  The supplies and frames have been donated by the Virginia Carr-Mumford Family to help with the cost of artist demonstrations.

Award-winning artist, Colette Savage, is a native Rochesterian whose love of the area in which she grew up is reflected in the art she produces.  A life-long artist, Colette has painted en plein air for 18 years.  Most of her work is done in pastel, a medium with incredible versatility.  Colette feels that there is always something new and exciting to be discovered when painting with pastel.

Colette received her BA from SUNY College at Brockport but feels that her greatest education has come from frequently working on location where the challenge to produce a finished painting before the light has changed has taught her to work faster, more accurately, and efficiently.

Colette is a member of Suburban Rochester Art Group, the Greater Rochester Plein Air Painters and the Pastel Society of Western NY.

You can see Colette’s extensive body of pastel paintings on the internet.  Colette maintains several websites: www.colettesavage.blogspot.com and www.colettesavage.weebly.com.  You can learn about Colette’s plein air process at www.pastelsenpleinair.blogspot.com/.  She has recently posted several videos on You Tube, demonstrating several pastel painting tutorials.   These can be viewed at (3) Colette Savage - YouTube

In addition to doing demonstrations and workshops, Colette teaches classes in pastel painting, drawing and plein air painting at the Art Stop and through Irondequoit Community Education.  Original paintings and prints can be purchased on her Etsy store at www.etsy.com/shop/ColetteSavage.

When not focusing on art, Colette works at Monroe 2 – Orleans BOCES as a Student Behavioral Assistant and job coach, working with young adults with developmental disabilities at the University of Rochester Medical Center.

 

Community Action receives 2,680 pound food donation from USPS

By Press Release

Press release:

Community Action of Orleans and Genesee received a delivery of 2,680 pounds of food from the United States Postal Service on Monday, May 16.  Local letter carriers collected the non-perishable food as part of their national Stamp Out Hunger food drive, which is held every second Saturday in May.  Community Action will use the donation to stock their emergency food pantry, where it will be distributed to families in need.  

Thank you to the United States Postal Service, the National Association of Letter Carriers, local staff, volunteers, and community members who took part in this event. Your kind and generous donation will help us fill hundreds of plates across the county.  

Community Action of Orleans and Genesee can be reached at (585) 589-5605 and is located Albion at 409 E. State St. in Albion.  Walk-ins are welcome, but a call ahead is encouraged to ensure the fastest service.  

Genesee Cancer Assistance announces 27th tournament for July 30

By Press Release

Press release:

Genesee Cancer Assistance will hold its’ 27th Annual Golf Tournament Saturday, July 30th at Terry Hills Golf Course in Batavia. Join us for an 18 hole scramble, shotgun start at 1pm. $120 per golfer includes a cart, lunch, registration gift, dinner with awards, door prizes and raffles following golf! Registration deadline is July 22nd. We are already more than halfway full so don’t wait to register @ www.geneseecancerassistance.org/golf-tournament or call (585)345-0417

Genesee Cancer Assistance has assisted in helping hundreds of patients each year since its founding, offering services free of charge for those living in Genesee County. GCA relies on successful fundraisers like our annual golf tournament, donations and community support to continue their mission. Genesee Cancer Assistance offers each cancer patient $600 of financial assistance to help lessen the burden that comes with a cancer diagnosis.

For more information on this event and/or to sign up online at www.geneseecancerassistance.org/golf-tournament or call the office (585)345-0417 

Photo: File Photo from the 2016 tournament by Howard Owens.

Alexander HS sweeps top three spots in Junior Achieve stock market tournament

By Press Release

Press release:

During the month of April, 598 WNY students participated in a lively, month-long competition of trading through their participation in the Junior Achievement Virtual Stock Market Challenge. Students represented twenty schools from across WNY and competed to take top prize  

Prior to the JA Stock Market Challenge, JA provides their JA Take Stock in Your Future curriculum to introduce students to basic concepts about how the market works and the impact of current events. The curriculum also includes a series of self-guided extension activities for students to engage in deeper learning about the stock market and investing.  

Wells Fargo is the Presenting sponsor of this unique and interactive JA learning experience, with one competition held earlier this school year and another session during this spring semester. 

The competition was held online and allows students to experience the real-life stock market in a simulated environment. Students chose to compete as individuals or as teams. Participants began with a $25,000 starting portfolio and were encouraged to make transactions throughout the month. Leaderboards were dynamic and shared weekly using the hashtag #JAWNYStockMarketChallenge. 

At the close of the competition, Junior Achievement (JAWNY) is pleased to recognize our top three winners, all from Alexander High School. Taking 1st place was Donald Donnelly, 2nd place Ian Edmonds and 3rd place Natalie Whitmore.  

Donald Donnelly said, “Due to the economy during this time the stock market was really tricky to deal with… Luck turned in my favor and I ended up winning, great experience!” Ian Edmonds said of the experience, “I learned to have a keen eye for news that hits the airwaves during after-hours. Because that information is almost certainly going to drive a stock one way or another."  

Rounding out the Top 10 rankings are:  

  • 4th place: Ethan Foose-Furnik - St. Francis High School 
  • 5th place: Kyle Porter, Oakfield-Alabama High School 
  • 6th place: Alicia McCarthy-Alexander High School 
  • 7th place: Mohamed Hussein-Lafayette International High School 
  • 8th place: Bryce Roberts- St. Francis High School 
  • 9th place: Dylan Kaczmarksi- St. Francis High School 
  • 10th place: Kylee Williamson- Jamestown High School  

Students who placed in the top ten all received prizes, including iPad Air donated by HSBC Bank, Visa gift cards courtesy of West Herr, Tops Friendly Markets gift card, Six Flags Darien Lake passes and Perry’s Ice Cream prize packs. 

Participating Schools: 

Erie County: Academy School- BPS #131, Alden High School, Amherst High School, Clarence High School, East Aurora High School, Emerson High School, Hamburg High School, Kenmore East High School, Lafayette International High School, Pioneer High School, St. Francis High School, Grand Island High School. 

Niagara County: Lockport High School, Niagara Falls High School. 

Genesee County: Alexander High School, Batavia High School, LeRoy High School, Oakfield-Alabama High School. 

Chautauqua County: Jamestown High School. 

Wyoming County: Attica High School. 

Underground propane tank run over in Stafford, leaking

By Howard B. Owens

A 500-gallon propane tank has reportedly been run over at 7965 Caswell Road, Stafford, and is leaking.

Stafford Fire dispatched.

Town of Batavia Fire and South Byron Fire dispatched mutual aid.

Oakfield Fire receives 98 cases of canned water donated by Anheuser-Busch

By Howard B. Owens

Looks can be deceptive.  That's not a can of Budweiser in a firefighter's hand.  It's a cold drink of water courtesy of Anheuser-Busch.

Joshua Finn, president and a captain with Oakfield Volunteer Fire Department, heard about a program run by Anheuser-Busch to provide cans of drinking water to volunteer firefighting companies so he applied on the behalf of Oakfield Fire.

Then he forgot about the application.

On Tuesday, he was notified to expect a special delivery.  the next day, 98 cases of canned drinking water arrived at the department. 

"This water will be used for events and emergencies as well as shared with our neighboring departments," Finn said. 

Anheuser-Busch says that since the program began, the company has donated 4.8 million cans of emergency drinking water to more than 900 volunteer fire departments across 49 states.

Submitted photos.

Pair of BOCES students win $10k scholarships in auto tech competition

By Press Release

Press release:

Two Batavia Career and Technical Education (CTE) Center Auto Tech students brought home a very BIG trophy on May 21!

Conner Gale from Byron-Bergen Central Schools, and Noah Burke from Batavia City Schools, took first place in the Ron Smith Memorial Automotive Competition that was held at Erie Community College and sponsored by Niagara Frontier Automotive Dealer Association (NFADA).

Each student won a $10,000 college scholarship, as well as, a $5,000 tool scholarship.

Charlie Pfeil and Tom Hermann, representatives from NFADA, recently paid a visit to the Batavia CTE Center to recognize these two students and also present them with their scholarship certificates.

Hermann explained how noteworthy it was for these two high school seniors to win this competition.

“This is a very big deal for you to win the competition. In the past, the winners of the competition have been people who have graduated from high school and are employed at dealerships,” Hermann said.  “This is a great accomplishment to put on your resume. The future is yours.”

When asked about the competition both Connor and Noah said that they were apprehensive.

“It was nerve-racking,” Noah said.  “We knew the tasks that we had to complete but we weren’t sure of the specific issues we had to fix. But we worked together as a team.” (One of the tasks included diagnosing and repairing an issue with a vehicle that had been purposely bugged.)

Overall, both students felt prepared for the competition.  “We spent time after school preparing and also spent a week working at Basil Ford in Buffalo so we could work on newer model vehicles,” Connor said.  “The extra time that we spent preparing really paid off. Mr. Yates really helped us to understand how to problem solve,” Noah said.

Bob Yates, Auto Technology Instructor, said, "Conner and Noah represented Genesee Valley BOCES and my Automotive Technology class in the most professional manner. These two students were so dedicated and spent many hours preparing for the competition,” Yates said.  “This preparedness proved their success, and I’m so proud of Connor and Noah.”

Both Noah and Conner plan to pursue their education.  Conner is currently employed at Livingston Associates and plans to go to college for automotive technology.  Noah plans to attend the State University of New York at Morrisville to study Automotive Management.

Vincent Dickinson, a junior from Batavia City Schools, placed second in the Ron Smith Memorial Automotive Competition Tire Rodeo.  This event is a timed event test of how a student to properly mounts, balances and, installs a tire.

Congratulations to Conner Gale, Noah Burke, and Vincent Dickinson.

 

Top photo: Margaret Poray, Executive Principal GV BOCES Batavia Campus; Bob Yates, Auto Technology Instructor; Noah Burke, Conner Gale, Charlie Pfeil and Tom Hermann, representatives from NFADA.

Submitted photos.

 Vincent Dickinson and Bob Yates with Vincent’s award for placing second in the Ron Smith Memorial Automotive Competition Tire Rodeo.

‘Wings Over Batavia’ air show slated for return in September 2023

By Press Release

Press release:

Genesee County officials and business leaders are joining forces to once again fill the Batavia skies with the one-of-a-kind excitement generated by a professional air show.

The “Wings Over Batavia” festival -- a family-oriented event that is looking to feature awe-inspiring aerobatic jet teams such as the Blue Angels, Thunderbirds or Snowbirds and patriotic displays of F16 and F22 fighter jets -- tentatively has been scheduled for Sept. 15-17, 2023, at the Genesee County Airport on Saile Drive.

“We are in the process of putting committees together to handle the various aspects of conducting a show of this magnitude,” said County Highway Superintendent Tim Hens, who also oversees operations at the airport. “We haven’t had an air show since 1998, and it’s long overdue.”

Hens has presided over two meetings attended by county emergency services department staff members as well as municipal and agency representatives. Plans are to offer “a successful and safe event,” he said, adding that the group has enlisted the services of Doreen Hillard of Fort Worth, Texas, who has years of experience in the air show industry throughout the United States.

Batavia entrepreneur Peter Zeliff has been selected to serve as the festival’s general chair, with assistance from Hillard.

At Wednesday’s meeting at the county Fire Training Center on State Street Road, Zeliff said the committee is pursuing an agreement with Dennis Dunbar of Berlin, Wis., director of Air Show Operations for EAA AirVenture and president of Dunbar Airshows, to be the show’s promoter.

“With Doreen and Dennis on board, we know that our show will be first-rate,” Zeliff said. “And with the community’s support, we believe this is something that can take place on an annual basis.”

Zeliff said he already has been in contact with leading aviation industry operations and Genesee County business owners regarding sponsorship of the show.

“It is going to take a lot of financial and volunteer support to make this happen, and we’re counting on the people of the GLOW region to come through,” Zeliff added.

Photo: file photo of Whiskey 7 by Howard Owens

The air festival is scheduled to take place in conjunction with the renewal of the Wing Ding event on Sept. 16 in the City of Batavia.

Residents interested in volunteering in the planning and on-site operations of the air show are asked to contact Hens at tim.hens@co.genesee.ny.us.

Special Olympics celebrated with annual Law Enforcement Torch Run to ARC location in Batavia

By Press Release

Press release:

Law Officers ran for a cause Thursday to support Special Olympics!  The Law Enforcement Torch Run, organized by Genesee County Sheriff’s Department Investigator Chad Minuto, is a 5k route from the Sheriff’s office on Park Road to Arc GLOW’s GO TO Hub location on Walnut Street.  The event brings awareness to Special Olympics and athletes with disabilities.

Scott, an individual in Arc GLOW’s AIM Day Habilitation program helped carry the torch over the finish line, and then everyone was treated to a picnic lunch and had an opportunity to visit with the officers.

The following participated in the event: Investigator Chad Minuto, Investigator Kevin Forsyth, Deputy Rachel Diehl, Deputy Jordan Alejandro, Deputy Trevor Sherwood, Undersheriff Brad Mazur, Batavia Police Officer Wesley Rissinger, Batavia Police Detective Steve Cronmiller, Genesee County Corrections Officer Austin Davis, Genesee County Corrections Officer Tyler Stewart and Retired Gates Police Officer Daniel Perl. Assisting with traffic were Genesee County Sheriff’s Department Sergeant Kyle Krzemien and Batavia Police Officer Adam Tucker.

The Law Enforcement Torch Run is an annual event that has been held at the Arc Chapter’s Genesee County location since 2005.  “Everyone looks forward to this day, to support the officers as they raise awareness for Special Olympics,” Arc’s Community Relations Coordinator Sandy Konfederath said.  “The rain certainly didn’t dampen their enthusiasm,” she added.

Accident with minor injuries reported at Warboys and 237, Byron

By Howard B. Owens

A motor vehicle accident is reported at Route 237 and Warboys Road, Byron.

Injuries are "relatively minor" according to a chief on scene. 

Byron, South Byron fire departments responding along with Mercy EMS

Fire police requested to the scene for traffic control.

Law and Order: Batavia man accused of assaulting neighbor, stealing neighbor's bike

By Howard B. Owens

Arthur L. Golden, 63, of Batavia, is charged with petit larceny. Golden is accused of stealing a bicycle from a neighbor on East Main Street at 6:36 p.m., May 20. The bicycle was recovered and returned to its owner. Golden was issued an appearance ticket.

Arthur L. Golden, 63, of Batavia, is charged with assault 3rd. Golden is accused of attempting to assault one of his neighbors in an apartment complex at 4:15 a.m., May 26.  Golden was arraigned in City Court and released on his own recognizance. He was issued an order of protection and ordered to return to court on June 16.

Luis Gilbert Torres, 42, of Gilbert Street, Le Roy, is charged with assault 2nd, menacing 2nd, and criminal possession of a weapon 3rd.  Torres was arrested on June 1 in the Village of Le Roy. Information on his alleged offense was not released. he was arraigned in Town of Le Roy Court and ordered jailed on $20,000, $40,000 bond, or $80,000 partially secured bond.  

Julious "Fatboy" Murphy, 69, of Jerome Place, Batavia, is charged with criminal sale of a controlled substance 3rd, and criminal possession of controlled substance 3rd. Murphy was arrested Sunday on a sealed Grand Jury indictment during a traffic stop by Batavia PD. Murphy is accused of selling crack cocaine to an agency of the Local Drug Task Force while in Batavia.  Murphy was arraigned in Genesee County Court and released under supervision.

Delonta Rashid Sharif Curry, 21, of Thomas Avenue, Batavia, is charged with DWI, driving with a BAC of .08 or greater, and speeding. Curry was stopped at 12:06 a.m., June 1, on Route 33 in Bergen, by Deputy Kenneth Quackenbush. He was released on appearance tickets.

Logan Michael Biedrzycki, 19, Sunridge Drive, Rochester, is charged with three counts of reckless endangerment 1st, unlawful fleeing a police officer, acting in a manner injurious to a child, criminal possession of a weapon, and reckless driving. Biedrzycki is accused of fleeing from Deputy Kenneth Quackenbush after the deputy attempted to make a traffic stop at 4:03 p.m., June 5, on Biedrzycki's vehicle. It's alleged there was a juvenile in the vehicle.  Biedrzycki was arraigned in Stafford Town Court and ordered to reappear on July 12.

Andrew Joseph Draper, 43, of Miller Avenue, Batavia, is charged with DWI, driving while impaired by drugs, aggravated unlicensed operation 3rd, unlicensed driver, and inadequate headlights.  Draper was stopped at 11:26 p.m., Dec. 21, on West Main Street, Batavia, by Deputy Morgan Ewert.  Draper was arrested on June 6.  He was arraigned in City Court and ordered to reappear on June 29.

Jacqueline Patrice Olsen, 60, no address released, Le Roy, is charged with DWI, driving with a BAC of .08 or greater, and speeding.  Olsen was stopped at 10:12 p.m., June 1, on Ellicott Street Road, Bethany, by Deputy Trevor Sherwood. Olsen was ordered to appear in court on July 27.

Tarrence Y. Williams, 22, of Porter Avenue, Batavia, is charged with two counts of criminal possession of a controlled substance 3rd and two counts of criminal sale of a controlled substance 3rd. Williams was arrested on June 9 as the result of an investigation by the Local Drug Task Force into the transportation, sale, and possession of crack cocaine in the City of Batavia. Williams was arraigned in Genesee County Court and released on his own recognizance. 

Kimberly Ann Brodsky, 30, of County Complex Drive, Canandaigua, is charged with petit larceny and conspiracy 6th.  Brodsky is accused of stealing, in conjunction with an unidentified white male, merchandise from Kohl's Department Store at 7:46 p.m., May 25.  Brodsky was arrested by Deputy Andrew Mullen.  Brodsky is scheduled to appear in Town of Batavia Court on July 5.

Nikita N. Shook, 36, of Perry, is charged with petit larceny. Shook was arrested on a warrant in Wyoming Couty by State Police. The warrant was issued after an investigation by Batavia PD into an alleged theft on April 23. Shook is accused of stealing property from another person. Shook was arraigned in City Court and released on her own recognizance.

Mary I. Flick, 51, of Batavia, is charged with DWI/drugs, unlicensed operation, and criminal possession of a controlled substance 7th. Flick was arrested on a warrant by Batavia in relation to an incident on June 2. She was arraigned in City Court and released under supervision.

Erica M. Raphael, 37, of Batavia, was arrested on a warrant.  Raphael was sentenced on the charges contained in the warrant. The charges were not specified in the release by Batavia. The sentence issued was not released by Batavia PD.

Alicia M. Lyons, 42 of Batavia, is charged with trespass. Lyons is accused of entering a business she had previously been told not to enter at 12:46 p.m., May 28. Lyons was issued an appearance ticket.

Yasier A. Castro Rivera, 34, of Batavia, is charged with criminal possession of a controlled substance, criminal impersonation, unlicensed operation of a motor vehicle, speeding, and aggravated unlicensed operation 3rd.  Castro Rivera was stopped by a Batavia patrol officer at 9:48 p.m., May 25, on Oak Street. Castro Rivera was issued an appearance ticket.

Dajuandrick C. Gardner, 45, of Batavia, is charged with bail jumping 2nd. Gardner is accused of failing to appear in court.  He was jailed without bail and ordered to return to court on June 16.

Robert J. Ritchey, 58, of Oakfield, is charged with forcible touching, sex abuse of a victim less than 13 years old, and acting in a manner injurious to a child. The alleged incident was reported at 10:04 a.m., April 5. This is a pending investigation.  Ritchey was arrested by State Police on June 8. He was ordered held.  No further details were released.

Dustin M. Locicero, 37, of Boliver, is charged with burglary and petit larceny. Locicero was arrested by State Police in connection with an incident reported at 8:56 p.m., June 5, in the Town of Darien.  He is also charged with criminal possession of stolen property 5th and falsifying business records in connection with an incident reported at 11:47 a.m., June 6 at a location in the Town of Batavia. He was issued an appearance ticket.  No further information was released.

Joshua P. Martin, 38, of Basom, is charged with criminal mischief 3rd, two counts of criminal contempt 1st, and endangering the welfare of a child. Martin was arrested by State Police in connection with an incident reported at 7:27 p.m., June 8, in the Town of Batavia.  His release status is "cash bail."  No further details released.

Traffic delays expected on Columbia, Seneca, Miller avenues Friday

By Joanne Beck

Press Release

All motorists please be aware that Columbia Avenue, Seneca Avenue, and Miller Avenue will experience traffic delays on Friday, June 10th from 7AM to 3PM for cold milling operations.

While work is being performed in this area, the roadway will be closed to all through traffic. Local traffic will be permitted to and from their residence/property but should plan accordingly for delays.

All residents/businesses within the work area are asked not to park on the roadway during the operation.

This is weather dependent work; if work is postponed it shall progress the next workday.

Please contact the Bureau of Maintenance at 585-345-6400, Option 1 if there are any questions.

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