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Two Batavia figure skaters successfully compete in Spring Skate Festival in Cheektowaga

By Billie Owens

Press release:

Six area figure skaters who train at Lockport’s Cornerstone CFCU Arena competed May 16-17 at the Spring Skate Festival hosted by the Skating Club of Western New York at Holiday Twin Rinks in Cheektowaga. Angelina DiTullio, of Lockport, Michelle Dyer, of Batavia, Macy Midla, of Batavia, sisters Emily and Allison Milleville, of Lockport, and Kristin Riemer, of Royalton, together competed in 13 events over the course of the two-day competition. The skaters collected one gold medal, four bronze medals, and three fourth-place ribbons overall.

The Figure Skating program at Cornerstone CFCU Arena is growing under the coaching and direction of Figure Skating Director Dawn Ahlers.

On June 13, Cornerstone CFCU Arena’s Lockport Skating School will host its first Basic Skills competition involving competitors from its Figure Skating and Learn to Skate program as well as skaters from out of town. To date, applications have been received from as far away as Rochester and Ontario, Canada. Plans are to create a United States Figure Skating Association (USFSA) sanctioned club and host recurring events to draw skaters from across the region to Lockport.

The Cornerstone CFCU Arena features two NHL regulation-size rinks, a pro shop, a performance training center and seating for 630 spectators. The 93,500 square-foot facility at 34 Chestnut St. in Lockport opened its Figure Skating and Learn to Skate programs in October. More information about these and other programs may be found at www.cornerstoneicearena.com.

In photo, from left, Macy Midla, of Batavia, Michelle Dyer, of Batavia, and Kristin Riemer, of Royalton.

Volunteers sought for visitors booth

By Howard B. Owens

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Press release:

Here is a fun and interesting way that you can assist your community -- by volunteering a few hours at the Genesee County Visitor Information Center. If you love our surrounding communities, enjoy helping people, and feel that you could be great ambassador for Genesee County, the Genesee County Chamber of Commerce is looking you.

The Genesee County Chamber of Commerce will reopen the seasonal Visitor Information Center on Friday, June 5th. The center is located at 131 W. Main St. in Batavia and operates in the summer months to assist summer visitors.

The Chamber is currently looking for a few helpful residents to greet visitors and provide directions and area information to travelers at our visitor “booth,” which is located in the parking lot of the Holland Land Office Museum.  Our volunteers greet visitors, hand out maps, dining guides, provide directions, recommendations and more. 

Available shifts are:

  • Saturdays from 1 to 3 p.m. and 3 to 5 p.m.
  • Sundays: 10 a.m. to 1 p.m., as well as every other Sunday 3 to 5 p.m.

If you are interested in a two- or three-hour shift, weekly or biweekly, please call Kelly Rapone (585) 343-7440, ext. 23, at the Genesee County Chamber of Commerce.

Photo by Howard Owens.

The Holland Land Office Presents: Health Resorts in the 19th Century

By Lisa Ace

The Holland Land Office Presents: Health Resorts in the 19th Century
Friday June 12th, 6:30 pm – 7:30 pm Erica Wanecski
Light refreshments provided
For more information call the Holland Land Office 343‐4727, 131 W. Main St. Batavia, NY.

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Holland Land Office Presents: Why Do Wars Happen?

By Lisa Ace

Holland Land Office Presents: Why do wars happen?
Tuesday June 9th, 6 pm – 8 pm
Genesee County Historian Michael Eula
Topic: Why do wars happen?
Genesee County and the problems of human conflict 1775 – present
Light refreshments provided
For more information call the Holland Land Office 343‐4727, 131 W. Main St. Batavia, NY.

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Photo: Planting plants Downtown

By Howard B. Owens

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It's planter planting day in Downtown Batavia with volunteers from the Sun Catcher Garden Club of Batavia helping out. Above, Connie Moon and Barb Defazio take care of a planter at Main and Jackson.

Voters pass City Schools budget by wide margin

By Howard B. Owens

Results from Tuesday's vote in the Batavia City School District vote:

I.  Budget - $43,108,373 (increase of $122,011 or 0.28%: $0.00 increase in tax levy)
   Yes   - 426 (85.03%)
   No    - 75  (14.97%)

II.  Capital Reserve - $7,500,000, ten years
   Yes -  391  (81.12%)
   No -    91   (18.88%)

III.  Transportation Mileage Change - Grades 2-4 > 0.50 miles and Grades 9-12 >1.50 miles within the city limits (all outside city limits are eligible already)
  Yes -  405  (83.16%)
  No -   82   (16.84%)

Michael Napoleone Memorial Baseball Tournament

By Lisa Ace

The 2015 Michael Napoleone Memorial Baseball Tournament Friday, May 22 thru Sunday, May 24 in Batavia, NY.

The Awareness Ceremony which will be at the Little League Field at 1:00 Saturday

Baseball Games, Food, Kids activities, Free Cancer Eye screening by the Lions Club Saturday at The Main Tent on State Street.


First game starts Friday at 2:30, 4:30, 6:30 at Little League & Minor League

Saturday 9:00, 11:00, 2:30, 4:30 Minor League & Little League

Sunday Little League and Minor League

Event Date and Time
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Michael Napoleone Memorial Baseball Tournament

By Lisa Ace

The 2015 Michael Napoleone Memorial Baseball Tournament Friday, May 22 thru Sunday, May 24 in Batavia, NY.

The Awareness Ceremony which will be at the Little League Field at 1:00 Saturday

Baseball Games, Food, Kids activities, Free Cancer Eye screening by the Lions Club Saturday at The Main Tent on State Street.


First game starts Friday at 2:30, 4:30, 6:30 at Little League & Minor League

Saturday 9:00, 11:00, 2:30, 4:30 Minor League & Little League

Sunday Little League and Minor League

Event Date and Time
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Michael Napoleone Memorial Baseball Tournament

By Lisa Ace

The 2015 Michael Napoleone Memorial Baseball Tournament Friday, May 22 thru Sunday, May 24 in Batavia, NY.

The Awareness Ceremony which will be at the Little League Field at 1:00 Saturday

Baseball Games, Food, Kids activities, Free Cancer Eye screening by the Lions Club Saturday at The Main Tent on State Street.


First game starts Friday at 2:30, 4:30, 6:30 at Little League & Minor League

Saturday 9:00, 11:00, 2:30, 4:30 Minor League & Little League

Sunday Little League and Minor League

Event Date and Time
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Batavia City Schools budget vote today

By Howard B. Owens

It's budget vote day in the Batavia City School District.

Polls open at 7 a.m. and close at 9 p.m.

Besides the proposed 2015-16 budget, residents are asked to vote on establishing a capital reserve fund, a mileage change in transportation, and three board of education seats.

A summary of the public proposal is available on the district Web site, as well as all the budget documents.

If you live north of Route 5/Main Street, vote at Robert Morris. If you live south of Route 5/Main Street, vote at Batavia High School.

Sponsored Post: Charting a Course to Prosperity!

By Lisa Ace

Charting a Course to Prosperity! GCC’s The BEST Center and City of Batavia Offering Small Business Ownership Series.
 
Calling all aspiring entrepreneurs. Here’s your chance to find out if you have what it takes to achieve small business success. The BEST Center at Genesee Community College is partnering with the City of Batavia and the Batavia Development Corporation (BDC) to offer a three-part “Owning Your Own Business” program designed to inspire creativity, fine­ tune skills, and chart a true course to prosperity. Those interested will be able to explore, experience, and connect with resources that can help turn a dream into a reality. 
 
The program, “Get Underway: Small Business Ownership Series, begins with a series of one hour workshops where participants will explore business opportunities, assessing their personal readiness to own and operate a new business. Each session will run from noon ­1 p.m. in the second floor community room at Batavia City Hall. The following four sessions are planned and participants are encouraged to attend each one: 
  • April 22 -- Do I have what it takes to own a small business?

  • April 29 -- Can I earn a living through my passion? Maybe I should buy a business?
  • 
May 6 -- Why didn’t I think of THAT business?
  • 
May 13 -- The Sniff Test, assessing your business idea!
The sessions are $5 each for those who pre­-register online at http://www.genesee.edu/best/, or $10 each at the door.
 
The second part of the program goes beyond the basics to help participants fully develop a business concept and transition into becoming a business manager. These five weekly Wednesday evening sessions are mandatory if participants want to access grant resources available through the City of Batavia Microenterprise Grant Program. The sessions run from 6 to 9 p.m. in Room T121 of the Conable Technology Building on GCC’s Batavia campus. They include: 
  • May 27 -
- Trials, tribulations & skills of a successful business leader
  • June 3 -
-  Marketing strategies to increase sales

  • June 10 -
- Using financial information to guide my business
  • June 17 --  Learning to “manage” a business
  • June 24 -- Business plan presentation and networking 
The five­-week course costs $125 and students will receive a certificate upon successful completion. Registration for this course is also available online at http://www.genesee.edu/best/
 
The Small Business Ownership series is funded in part by the New York State Office of Community Renewal Community Development Block Grant. 
 
For more information, contact Julie Pacatte, Batavia Development Corporation at 585-345-6380 or via email: jpacatte@bataviadevelopmentcorp.org​

Law and Order: Fire response leads to discovery of allegedly mistreated dogs

By Howard B. Owens

Ashley Marie Fladie, 24, of Pearl Street Road, Batavia, is charged with two counts of cruelty to animals. Fladie is accused of possessing two dogs that were deprived of proper care and, as a result, suffered from numerous medical conditions that authorities say could have been avoided with proper care. The dogs were examined by a veterinarian, who allegedly determined the dogs were in unsatisfactory condition due to improper care. Animal Control assisted in the investigation. The dogs were discovered during a response to a fire at 2720 Pearl Street Road the evening of March 11.

Ashley M. Kreutz, 27 of Batavia, is charged with petit larceny. Kreutz is accused of stealing a gift card from her employer, Kohl's, worth $37. The alleged theft was detected on surveillance video.

Jordan C. Dunham, 42, of Batavia, is charged with three counts of criminal possession of a controlled substance, 7th, controlled substance in non-original container and no license plate lamp, and Nicole P. Gonzalez, 32, of Batavia, is charged with criminal possession of a controlled substance, 7th, and controlled substance in non-original container. State Police stopped Dunham's Chevrolet Cobalt on Route 33, Bergen, for an alleged license plate lamp out. During the interview, Dunham reportedly said he didn't have a license. A trooper reportedly observed his hands shaking and he appeared nervous.  The trooper allegedly spotted five glassine bags of heroin on the back seat floor. During the subsequent search, a trooper allegedly found two plastic baggies containing cocaine and a large glassine bag containing suboxone sublingual strips.

Merlin L. Brainerd, 34, of Silver Springs, is charged with unlawful possession of marijuana. Brainerd was stopped by State Police on Route 63, Batavia, for alleged tinted windows. A trooper detected the alleged odor of marijuana. Further investigation turned up a baggie allegedly containing two grams of marijuana and a glass smoking pipe with marijuana residue.

Alexis A. Camilo, 19, of Buffalo, is charged with unlawful possession of marijuana. Camilo was stopped in Corfu by Village police for allegedly driving 48 in a 35 mph zone on Route 77.

Craig M. Stevens, 54, of North Spruce Street, Batavia, is charged with harassment, 2nd. Steven allegedly slapped a woman at 1:30 p.m. Wednesday at a location on North Spruce Street.

Yolanda E. Johnson, 28, of West Main Street, Batavia, was arrested on a warrant related to an aggravated unlicensed operation, 3rd, charge. Johnson was arrested, arraigned and released on her own recognizance.

A 17-year-old resident of Batavia is charged with criminal mischief, 4th. The youth allegedly punched a hole in a wall at an undisclosed location at 9:30 pm. on May 12. Batavia PD withheld the name of the suspect.

Francisco Martinez Jr., 42, no permanent residence, was arrested on a warrant related to an endangering the welfare of a child charge. Martinez was arraigned, had a DNA sample collected at the jail, and was released.

A 17-year-old resident of Batavia is charged with endangering the welfare of a minor and menacing, 2nd. The youth allegedly threatened his 13-year-old brother with a knife at 6:30 p.m., May 5, at an undisclosed location. The name of the suspect withheld by Batavia PD.

Carlos Samol, 50, of Liberty Street, Batavia, is charged with harassment, 2nd, and endangering the welfare of a child. Samol allegedly struck two people, including a juvenile, in an alleged incident reported at 2:38 p.m., Wednesday.

Sarah Mae Wilson, 32, of Hutchins Street, Batavia, is charged with disobeying an order of protection. Wilson was allegedly located by police officers hiding in the closet of a protected party. Wilson was jailed on $5,000 bail or $10,000 bond.

Karen D. Bannister, 74, of South Main Street, Batavia, was arrested on a warrant for alleged failure to appear on a harassment charge. Bannister was arraigned and released on her own recognizance.

Daniel L. Dioguardi, 34, of Summit Street, Batavia, is charged with obstructing governmental administration. Dioguardi allegedly ran from police when they attempted to detain him for questioning during a burglary investigation at 5:17 p.m., Friday. Dioguardi was jailed on $3,000 bail or $6,000 bond.

Stanley D. Wilson, 54, of Bank Street, Batavia, is charged with petit larceny. Wilson is accused of stealing beer from the Red Apple at 99 Jackson St., Batavia.

Michael A. Galas, 24, of Woodcrest Boulevard, Tonawanda, is charged with trespass. Galas was allegedly trespassing at Rolling Hills Asylum, Bethany. Also charged, Nicholas J. Hora, 24, of Old Farm Court, Cheektowaga, Rebecca M. Klein, 24, of Knowlton Road, Kenmore, and Jessica M. Cichocki, of Elm Place, Lancaster. The four people were allegedly caught on the property at 6:54 p.m., Sunday.

Daniel Thomas McPhee III, 48, of Losson Road, Cheektowaga, is charged with possession or transport of unstamped cigarettes, motor vehicle lights not meeting safety standards and running a red light. McPhee was stopped at 8:53 p.m. Sunday on Route 77, Pembroke, by Deputy Joseph Corona.

Christina Aminta Soler, 37, of Phelps Road, Pembroke, is charged with criminal contempt, 2nd. Soler allegedly violated an order of protection by contacting the protected party.

Jacob John Stone, 39, of West Main Street, Batavia, is charged with criminal mischief. Stone allegedly kicked and damaged a door during an argument.

Honour Haley Myers, 26, of Hamm Road, Lockport, is charged with unlawful possession of marijuana and failure to stop at stop sign. Myers was stopped at 6:33 p.m. Saturday on Route 33, Stafford, by Deputy Joseph Corona.

Eric Charles Zglinicki, 53, of Alleghany Road, Darien, is charged with criminal possession of weapon, 4th. Zglinicki was allegedly found in possession of firearms despite his prior felony conviction. The weapons were confiscated.

Patricia Leslie Brown, 61, of Park Avenue, Whitesboro, is charged with possession of more than 400 untaxed cigarattes. Brown was stopped at 9:56 a.m. Sunday on Route 77, Pembroke, by Deputy Richard Schildwaster.

Kathleen Marie Szkotak, 46, of Park Avenue, Whitesboro, is charged with possession of more than 400 untaxed cigarettes and driving with dark-tinted windows. Szkotak was stopped at 9:56 a.m. Sunday on Route 77, Pembroke, by Deputy Richard Schildwaster.

Robert James Lefrois, 30, of Down Street, Rochester, is charged with unlawful possession of marijuana, unlicensed operator, possession / display of a forged inspection certificate and inadequate muffler. Lefrois was stopped at 12:52 p.m. Sunday on Route 77, Pembroke, by Deputy Richard Schildwaster.

Harvey Arthur McMurray Jr., 47, of Bennett Avenue, Oakfield, is charged with driving while ability impaired by alcohol, speeding, unlicensed driver and unregistered motor vehicle. McMurray was stopped at 2 a.m. May 8 on Lewiston Road, Oakfield, by Deputy Joseph Corona.

Wendy S. Dempsey, 44, of Sunset Parkway, Oakfield, is charged with trespassing. Dempsey allegedly entered a business in Oakfield where she had been previously told not to enter.

State Street Animal Hospital Open House!

By Lisa Ace

Join us on June 13 from 10am-3pm for a tour of the hospital and to meet our staff. We’ll also have some of some of our vendors here to meet as well. Come and have some ice cream and see the baby farm animals. There will be lots of information about our products and services, you’ll be able to see the surgery suite, watch a live ultrasound, look at some interesting X-Rays and much more! It’s a fun way to learn more about Veterinary Medicine and State Street Animal Hospital. Gift bags, door prizes and more! We look forward to seeing you there!

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Photo: Sweeping along Route 5

By Howard B. Owens

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Until yesterday, I'd never seen a street sweeper quite like this one. I spotted David Musser on Route 5 in Batavia and when we spoke he said people around here often comment that they've never seen anybody propelling themselves down the street on a skateboard with a stick. Musser recently moved here from Chicago and said the sport seems more common there. Primarily, he said, it's good cross-training for stand-up paddle boarding on the lakes.

Photos: Spring Vendor Blender ar Fair Grounds

By Howard B. Owens

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The Spring Vendor Blender at the Fairgrounds on Sunday looked like another success. I walked away with coffee, honey and organic salad dressing. There were certainly lots of interesting vendors to visit.

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