batavia

The American Red Cross is closing its Downtown Batavia location Aug. 15.

The office was used primarily for storage and meetings, said Joseph Bonafede, chief communications officer for the ARC in WNY. It has been staffed exclusively by volunteers since November.

The Red Cross is working with other community groups to provide meeting space in the future, Bonafede said. He doesn't anticipate any reduction of service for the residents of Genesee County.

Volunteer response to fires, disasters and other emergencies along with health and safety training, services for military members and blood services have always been performed by volunteers in the field, with no need for a local office, Bonafede said.

Wyoming County hasn't had an office for years, Bonafede said, and, as an example for maintaining a high level of service to local residents, Bonafede used the recent flooding in Warsaw.

"Our volunteers were able to have a shelter ready shortly after being contacted by local emergency officials," Bonafede said. "While the shelter didn’t end up being necessary, our volunteers met with several families that were affected, providing temporary housing for one person and making sure others had the help they needed. They also distributed clean-up kits in the days immediately following the floods, helping neighbors in their recovery process."

The closure is part of a reorganization by American Red Cross in WNY that will help it better service its clients, Bonafede said.

"The reorganization allows us to provide additional services to the community by eliminating duplicate back-end functions and making more efficient use of our donor dollars," he said.

(Laurie Oltramari, Derick Kane, Stephanie Crean, and Corey Wolcott)

The Ellicottville Brewing Company accepted its Beertavia plaque for its famous Blueberry Wheat Beer at Angotti's Beers of the World this morning.

The brewing company's Blueberry Wheat Beer won "2015 Western New York's Brew of the Year" for the best brew at the Beertavia event held on May 16, hosted by the Batavia Business Improvement District.

"It's fantastic to be receiving the award today," said Stephanie Crean, brewery sales representative. "Ellicottville Brewing Company is celebrating its 20-year anniversary and we have been making the Blueberry Wheat Beer for 15 years. The beer is one of our customers' favorites."

Corey Wolcott, manager at Angotti's Beers of the World, said the Blueberry Wheat Beer is a crowd favorite among the locals as well and sells out fast.

According to Laurie Oltramari, the incoming executive director of the BID, Beertavia was a huge success and she plans to make it an annual event. More than 14 craft brewers attended the event and two breweries are looking at spaces Downtown.

Two teens were arrested after they allegedly went through vehicles in the T.F. Brown's parking lot and stole items including change. A 17-year-old male from Batavia is charged with petit larceny and conspiracy, 6th. A 16-year-old male from Oakfield is charged with petit larceny, obstruction of governmental administration and conspiracy, 6th. The 16-year-old male is accused of leading Batavia Police on a bicycle pursuit and a brief foot pursuit after being advised that he was under arrest and refusing to adhere to verbal commands. Both subjects were put in the Genesee County Jail on $1,000 bail.

Kishonti D. Williams, 23, of Rochester, is charged with criminal possession of a controlled substance, 7th, and criminally using drug paraphernalia, 2nd. Williams was allegedly found to be in possession of cocaine and drug paraphernalia during an investigation into an unrelated incident on Pearl Street in Batavia.

Frank L. Morrison, 33, of South Byron Road, Batavia, is charged with aggravated unlicensed operation, 3rd, and obstructed view following a traffic stop by officer Mitchell Cowen on Clinton Street in Batavia. Morrison was allegedly driving on a revoked non-driver ID with other active suspensions. He was held on bail in the Genesee County Jail.

Timothy A. Banks, 24, of Columbia Avenue, Batavia, is charged with an open container. Banks was allegedly found in possession of an open container of alcohol on Summit Street. An hour later, Banks was arrested again for allegedly having an open container on Columbia Avenue. He was released on his own recognizance.

Cynthia Abounader, 64, of Knapp Road, Akron, is charged with petit larceny. Abounader allegedly stole $318 worth of grocery items from Tops Market in Batavia.

James E. Wroten, 48, of Olyn Avenue, Batavia, is charged with criminal contempt, 2nd, and criminal mischief, 4th, following an alleged domestic incident.

More than 40 local businesses and 670 runners and walkers are already registered for the GLOW Corporate Cup on Aug. 6.

This year the Merrill Lynch team in Batavia, the premiere sponsor of the event, has been working hard to increase sponsorship and the number of runners. Joshua Dent, vice president and planning committee member, expects at least 100 more runners will sign up before the race. Businesses can form teams and register online for the race until the day of the Corporate Cup.

Runners will take their mark at 6 p.m. at Centennial Park to compete in the 5K race. The team with the lowest combined time will be awarded the GLOW Corporate Cup. First Niagara Bank's team won last year.

All the proceeds from the race go directly to GLOW YMCA, which serves the communities of Genesee, Livingston, Orleans and Wyoming counties. Last year, the Glow Corporate Cup raised $18,000 for the GLOW YMCA. The Merrill Lynch team hopes to exceed that amount this year.

"The GLOW YMCA was a natural fit to give back to because they provide fitness and health programs to the communities that we work and live in," Dent said.

The AfterGLOW, the county's largest office party, will immediately follow the race. To support runners, local businesses are invited to set up tents in the park and bring food to celebrate. The after-party is a social event where employees can mingle with other companies and enjoy music from a local band.

John Riter, senior financial advisor, first came up with the idea of hosting a Corporate Cup after attending the Corporate Challenge in Buffalo. Riter said he thought it would be a great way to build the community and introduced his vision to the team. The team has been working to plan and host the event ever since.

In the future, the team would like to encourage more local businesses from surrounding counties to participate in the Glow Corporate Cup. 

"The primary geographic location of the businesses participating right now is Genesee County," Dent said. "We really want to make it a regional event and we are working hard to promote it to surrounding counties."

Photo: Joshua Dent on Ellicott Avenue, at the point of the finish line for the GLOW Corporate Cup with the Cup. John Riter and Steve Tufts, co-organizers, were unavailable for a photo today. Photo by Howard Owens.

In addition to the dozens of women's shoes in Oakfield, shoes are nailed to utility poles on sections of Galloway Road and North Pembroke Road in Batavia. Much like the residents on Hutton Road, the Batavia residents said they have no idea where the shoes came from or what they mean. Whoever is responsible must have nailed all the shoes up around the same time because neighbors said they started noticing them about three weeks ago, too. I also found a sneaker and a slipper in Batavia that matched the ones in Oakfield.

Colin Hart, all of 1-and-a-half years old, experienced the Spray Park in Austin Park on this hot day for the first time. He was a little unsure of the whole splashing water thing. He was with mom Jill.

Today, off duty city firefighters, members of Local 896, are volunteering their time to help work on the Habitat for Humanity house on Oak Street.

A tractor-trailer's load of cargo became detached from the cab and is blocking the roadway and leaking hydraulic fluid at the Cargill plant, located at 8849 Wortendyke Road, Batavia. East Pembroke Fire Department is responding.

UPDATE 2:05 p.m.: A heavy wrecker is being called in to remove the vehicle.

UPDATE: There were no citations issued. The trailer came loose as a result of a mechanical failure, according to what we were told at the scene. A State Police commercial truck enforcement officer inspected and found no violations.

Robert B. Hansen III, 52, of Colby Road, Darien, is charged with grand larceny, 3rd. Hansen is accused of making debit card purchases and cash withdrawals totaling $17,753 drawn on his mother's checking account.The purchases and cash withdrawals were made in 2013 between February and November. The alleged purchases were not made for the benefit of his mother who is living in a Medina nursing home.

Matthew M. Maniace, 32, of Fargo Road, East Bethany, is charged with: aggravated DWI with a child in the vehicle; DWAI drugs; criminal contempt, 1st; criminal possession of a controlled substance, 7th; harassment, 2nd; endangering the welfare of a child; and unlawful imprisonment. The charges result from an investigation into an alleged domestic incident by Batavia Police. Maniace is accused of driving a motor vehicle in the City of Batavia while under the influence of drugs with a 5-year-old child in the vehicle. He was put in Genesee County Jail on $20,000 bail.

Richard G. Hafford, 37, of Maple Street, Batavia, is charged with harassment, 2nd, following a reported physical altercation that happened on Maple Street. Hafford was put in Genesee County Jail on $1,000 bail.

Bobby L. Mobley, 30, of Hutchins Street, Batavia, is charged with criminal possession of a weapon, 3rd, and menacing, 2nd, following an alleged disturbance that occurred on Hutchins Street on July 10. 

Kristine M. Smart, 39, of Dellinger Avenue, Batavia, is charged with petit larceny. Smart allegedly stole $135 worth of merchandise from Kohl's Department Store in Batavia.

A caller reports that there is something vibrating her apartment building. She cannot find the source.

A police officer is dispatched.

City crews are just finishing up water main repair work on Union Street. The leak location was just yards from a leak that occurred during the winter.

Water service was restored to the area about 2 p.m.

Union Avenue should reopen shortly.

Spike is missing.

The tortoise belongs to a local family who's owned him for 16 years. He escaped from their yard around 2 p.m., Friday. A neighbor on Summit Street, trying to be helpful, thought Spike was a turtle and took him to the Tonawanda Creek behind the courthouse and released him. It's possible two kids who were there fishing took him home.

Family friend Mike Hilchey is fielding tips on Spike's whereabouts. He can be reached at (585) 344-0931.

Press release:

There is a water main break on Union Street in front of Notre Dame High School, and a Water Department crew has responded to begin repairs. Water service on Union Street will be affected in this area, and water discoloration may be noticed in the surrounding areas. Union Street will be closed to traffic between Richmond Avenue and Soccio Street until repairs are complete.

An inexperienced jumpmaster has been blamed by Army investigators for the death of Sgt. Shaina Schmigel, the former Batavia resident who died in a training accident at Ft. Bragg in North Carolina on May 30, 2014.

The Army Times reports that the jumpmaster was performing his duties for the first time and was not current on his training.

The Times reports:

Schmigel’s equipment was misrouted so that, when exiting the plane, she became a “towed jumper.” While be being towed, the subsequent jumper exited the plane and Schmigel became entangled in his T-11 parachute. Schmigel reportedly died from fatal lacerations to the throat and a broken neck. The entire incident lasted three to four seconds, according to the report.

After Schmigel was hit by the second jumper, her body continued its decent with the parachute deployed properly. Nobody noticed anything was wrong until she was found unresponsive on the ground.

The information about the accident was obtained from the government through a Freedom of Information Request.

The jumpmaster, who was recommended for reassignment, also reportedly failed to attend a pre-jump briefing.

The investigators, however, found no criminal wrongdoing. The report contains a number of recommendations for improving paratrooper safety.

Thomas M. Russell, 44, of Seven Springs Road, Batavia, is charged with strangulation, 2nd, following an alleged domestic incident on Harvester Avenue. Russell was put in the Genesee County Jail on $5,000 bail.

Beth G. DeLaVergne, 22, of Kendall Road, Pavilion, is charged with endangering the welfare of a child following an investigation when the parents of a 1-year-old child allegedly found reddish handprints on both shoulder blades after the child returned home from a daycare center in the village. After an investigation, Le Roy Police found DeLaVergne allegedly acted in a manner likely to be injurious to the child and while caring for the child grabbed the child under both arms excessively hard creating the red marks. 

Dortha L. Penders, 37, of Bank Street, Batavia, is charged with endangering the welfare of a child. Penders allegedly left her 10-year-old child and 3-year-old child at home without supervision and didn't have an adequate emergency plan in place while she went to work in an adjoining county. 

Rodney A. Gregory, 50, from Kent, is charged with criminal possession of stolen property, 5th, possession of burglar's tools and trespassing. Gregory allegedly entered onto the property of Hanson Aggregates in Le Roy without authorization on July 9. He is also accused of having tools used to commit forcible entry and property belonging to Hanson Aggregates in his vehicle. A staff member was routinely checking the property and noticed various thefts of scrap-type materials in Gregory's vehicle.

Edward C. Suhr Jr., 57, of Murray Street, Rochester, and Bruce J. Washington, 56, of Grand Avenue, Rochester, are charged with petit larceny. Suhr and Washington are accused of stealing approximately $421 worth of merchandise from Tops Market in Batavia. They were put in the Genesee County Jail on $5,000 bail.

Matthew J. Pasternak, 25, from Amherst is charged with DWI, DWI with a BAC of .08 percent or greater, moving from a lane unsafely and resisting arrest following a property damage accident on Main Street in Le Roy. Pasternak is accused of hitting a fire hydrant after getting in an argument with the passengers in his vehicle over his ability to drive in a safe manner. When officers attempted to take him into custody, he allegedly became abusive. He was put in the Genesee County Jail on $1,500 bail.

Tyanna D. Green, 20, of Pearl Street, Batavia, is charged with criminal possession of a controlled substance, 7th, and criminally using drug paraphernalia, 2nd. Green is accused of possessing cocaine and drug paraphernalia during an investigation into an unrelated incident.

William J. Reschke, 20, and David J. Reschke, 24, both of Transit Road, Stafford, are charged with giving or selling alcohol to minors following a report of an alleged underage drinking party at their residence. Both subjects are accused of providing alcohol to minors and a place to consume it. Nickolas B. Taylor, 20, from Orange, Va., is charged with unlawful possession of alcohol by a person under 21. Taylor allegedly possessed and consumed alcohol.

Dustin J. Wilmet, 26, of West Main Street, Batavia, is charged with burglary, 2nd, and petit larceny. Wilmet allegedly burglarized a residence on Bank Street and stole items in December 2014.

Robert W.  Devos, 27, of Lake Street, Le Roy, is charged with DWI and operating a motor vehicle with a BAC of .08 percent or greater. The incident happened at Batavia City Centre. Devos was put in the Genesee County Jail on $1,000 bail.

Leslie-Anne Irwin, 46, of Florence Avenue, Batavia, is charged with DWI, aggravated DWI with a BAC of .18 percent or greater, and aggravated unlicensed operation. Deputy Christopher Lindsay responded to Florence Avenue after receiving a complaint from a citizen about an erratic driver.

Christine M. Hendershott, 34, of Judge Road, Alabama, is charged with operation of a motor vehicle with a BAC of .08 percent or greater, DWI, following too closely, moving from a lane unsafely and driver's view obstructed. Hendershott was pulled over on East Main Street in Batavia by Deputy Joseph Corona for alleged traffic violations when he found her to be in an intoxicated condition.

Michael L. Jackson, 60, of Willow Street, Batavia, is charged with failure to use a sidewalk following a disturbance at Austin Park. Jackson allegedly failed to use the sidewalk and went out into the roadway.

Dana M. McGill, 55, of Maple Street, Batavia, is charged with petit larceny. McGill allegedly stole groceries from a local business. The incident happened on Ellicott Street in Batavia.

Joseph W. Freeman, 31, of East Main Street, Batavia, was arrested on two bench warrants issued out of Batavia City Court. Freeman allegedly failed to appear for a harassment charge and failed to comply with an agreement from Genesee Justice. He was put in Genesee County Jail.

Noel M. Wentworth, 46, of Myrtle Street, Le Roy, was arrested on a warrant out of Batavia City Court for allegedly failing to appear for an aggravated unlicensed operation, 2nd, charge. Wentworth was put in Genesee County Jail on $250 bail. 

Lonnie Ford Jr., 69, of West Main Street, Batavia, was arrested on a bench warrant issued out of Batavia City Court. Ford allegedly failed to pay a fine. He was processed and released after posting bail.

Anthony M. Paladino, 20, Aaron C. Lyons, 19, and Nathan E. Orlando, 19, are charged with unlawful possession of marijuana following a traffic stop on Summit Street in Le Roy. All three subjects were issued appearance tickets.

A dog is reportedly locked inside a white Chevy Impala in front of the Tonawanda Valley Federal Credit Union in Jefferson Square. An animal control officer is responding. It's hot and muggy today -- 83 degrees, with 49 percent humidity, according to the National Weather Service in Buffalo.

Deputies have responded to Walmart to look for a shoplifting suspect who drives a black hatchback but may be hiding in the woods nearby the store.

The subject was reportedly trying to steal an air conditioner, and has been attempting the same heist several times this week, according to a dispatcher.

Doug Smith, of Batavia, won the Harley Raffle hosted by the Town of Batavia Volunteer Fire Department. The photo above is of one of the $500 drawings.

The $500 winners: Eric Bruggman, Attica; Bill Lickfield, Hamburg; Chris Rockerfeller, Batavia; Kristina Lobello, Batavia.

To purchase prints, click here.