Skip to main content

Stories from

Central Avenue man nixes plea deal, opts for jury trial in second-degree assault case

By Billie Owens

A 38-year-old Central Avenue man charged with second-degree assault declined a plea offer this afternoon in Genesee County Court.

Jason E. Carpenter opted to take his case to trial, according to his attorney, Jerry Ader, and it was put on the court docket for the week of Nov. 13.

He was arrested in March following an investigation by City of Batavia Police Department into a fight involving multiple persons at the corner of Liberty and Sumner streets at 12:10 a.m. on Feb. 26. Carpenter is accused of punching another person in the eye, causing multiple facial fractures.

Carpenter is charged with second-degree assault, a Class D violent felony, and was subsequently indicted for the crime by the Grand Jury. The indictment alleges that with intent to cause serious physical injury to another person, he caused such injury to a person, on Feb. 26 on Liberty Street.

If found guilty on the charge, Carpenter faces up to seven years in state prison.

Under a plea deal offered by District Attorney Lawrence Friedman, the second-degree assault charge would be amended to attempted assault, a nonviolent Class E felony, with a prison sentence range of one-and-a-third to four years, which the judge would determine.

"He's not interested in the plea -- we'd like to schedule this for trial," Ader told Judge Charles Zambito.

Carpenter, a somewhat burly, bearded strawberry blonde who wore khakis, a plaid shirt in earth tones, and clutched a baseball cap in his left hand, did not speak in court.

Lawley recognized as Top 100 Property & Casualty Insurance Agency

By Billie Owens

Press release:

For the 13th consecutive year, Lawley was ranked by Insurance Journal as one of the Top 100 largest commercial lines agencies in the United States. The company continues to rise on the list, this year moving up two spots to number 43.

“We strive to build and maintain the trust of our clients by providing recommendations that protect them through property & casualty insurance, employee benefits, risk management solutions or personal insurance. To see those efforts contribute to our growth is quite rewarding and we’re very pleased to see the progress we make each year,” said Bill Lawley Jr., Managing Partner of Lawley.

The annual list is ranked by total commercial lines property/casualty revenue for 2016 and comprises only those agencies that are privately-owned firms whose business is primarily retail, not wholesale. All information in the report was garnered from voluntary online submissions from agencies and brokerages.

Lawley was also recently recognized by Business Insurance as the 54th largest insurance broker in the United States, based on 2016 brokerage revenues.

To read the full list of Property & Casualty Insurance Brokers, click here.

About Lawley

Lawley is a privately-owned, independent regional insurance firm specializing in property, casualty and personal insurance, employee benefits and risk management consulting and ranked among the 100 Largest Insurance Brokers in the United States, according to Business Insurance magazine. 

For over 60 years, Lawley’s team of more than 350 associates have developed customized property, casualty, surety and benefits insurance programs for businesses and municipalities of all sizes along with personalized protection for individuals and their families. Lawley is consistently recognized as one of the Best Places to Work by Buffalo Business First.

Headquartered in Buffalo, Lawley has branch offices across New York in Amherst, Batavia, Fredonia, Melville, Purchase, and Rochester along with Darien, Conn., and Florham Park, NJ. To find out more, visit lawleylnsurance.com.

Sportsmuffler silences rivals; Morrill wins five at Batavia Downs

By Billie Owens

Photo of Sportsmuffler with driver Jim Morrill Jr. in the forefront.

By Tim Bojarski, for Batavia Downs

Sportsmuffler has not missed the board in the weekly distaff pacing feature since the start of the meet and Wednesday (Aug. 23) was no exception as she scored her second win in the $9,000 Fillies and Mares Open pace at Batavia Downs.

Voltina (Kevin Cummings) and Exotic Beach (Larry Stalbaum) slugged it out for the lead through the first quarter mile with Voltina gaining the advantage at that station in :27.2. With Exotic Beach’s nose right on Cummings helmet and the rest of the field strung-out behind her, Voltina rolled to the half in :56.1 with no one looking to pull.

At the three-eighths pole Sarah Cola (Drew Monti) came first-up and advanced towards the leader with Sportsmuffler (Jim Morrill Jr.) on her tail. Cummings popped the plugs on Voltina as Sarah Cola sidled her and the two paced as one around the far turn. At the head of the stretch Sarah Cola took the lead as Voltina faded, but Sportsmuffler tipped three-deep around her and started driving down the lane. With heavy urging from Monti, Sarah Cola gave all she could but Sportsmuffler shuffled right on by to win by a length in 1:55.3.

It was the seventh win in 30 starts this year for Sportsmuffler ($5.10) and it raised her 2017 earnings to $38,244 for the Lav Racing Stable Inc. The 5-year-old daughter of Sportsmaster is trained by Steve Kiblin.

In the co-featured $8,000 Fillies and Mares Open II pace, Squeeze This (Jim Morrill Jr.) made quick and easy work of the field going from gate to wire while the competition scrambled behind her, winning by a length in 1:56.1. It was the fourth win of the year for Squeeze This ($5.10) but her first of the current Batavia meet. The winner is owned by Garth Bechtel and is trained by Jim Graham.

Jim Morrill Jr. did his best to tighten up the driving derby at the Downs by winning five races on the card Wednesday. He scored with Sportsmuffler (1:55.3, $5.10), Alexa’s Hope (1:58, $3.50), Squeeze This (1:56.1, $5.10), Roll With Sparky (1:57.3, $2.70) and Mystical Danica (1:58, $4.10).

Drew Monti also had a driving double while trainers Steve Kiblin scored three wins and Jim Graham captured two.

When the lights went down after Wednesday’s card, Drew Monti holds the dash driving lead for the meet with 33 wins, Ray Fisher Jr. is second with 29 and Jim Morrill Jr. is third with 25.

Live racing resumes at Batavia Downs on Friday (Aug. 25) with post time for the first race set a 6 p.m. 

New support network forming for those in Genesee County who have arthritis

By Billie Owens

A new support network for adults living with all types of arthritis and rheumatic diseases is launching in Batavia on Sept. 27.

The Arthritis Support Network in Western New York will hold its local debut event from 6 to 8 p.m. at the Richmond Memorial Library, located at 19 Ross St. in the City of Batavia.

It aims to help and support those with arthritis through connection, education and empowerment.

To RSVP or to get more information, contact Jim@Arthritisintrospective.org or go online to arthritisintrospective.org/local

Severe thunderstorm warning issued for Genesee County until 1:30 p.m.

By Billie Owens

A severe thunderstorm warning has been issued by the National Weather Service for Genesee County and several others in Western New York until 1:30 p.m.

At 12:34 p.m., severe thunderstorms were located along a line extending from near Batavia to near Varysburg, moving northeast at 55 mph. Hazardous 60-mph wind gusts are expected.

Also, expect wind damage to trees and power lines.

Specifically cited for hazardous driving conditions are Interstate 390 between exits 7 and 12. Interstate 90 between exits 48 and 44.

For your protection move to an interior room on the lowest floor of a building.

House fire reported on Hundredmark Road, Elba

By Billie Owens

A house fire is reported in Elba at 4827 Hundredmark Road. The structure is roughly 30 feet by 30 feet in dimension. It is near Spoil Bank Road. Mercy medics and Elba Fire Department are responding, along with mutual aid from Town of Batavia, Bergen, South Byron, Oakfield and Stafford.

UPDATE 1:15 a.m.: Attacking hot spots; mutual aid responders can return to service.

Some kind of injured hawk is reportedly perched on a fence at the Ontario Service Center

By Billie Owens

Some sort of injured hawk is reportedly perched on the fence at 8700 Vallance Road, Le Roy, at the Ontario Service Center. A Trooper is on scene and will handle, pending the response, in approximately an hour or so, of a representative from the State Department of Environmental Conservation.

Initially, the injured fowl was thought to be an eaglet or turkey vulture.

UPDATE 9:38 p.m.: A trooper says he's unable to locate the bird, which was reported from a passerby on the Thruway. 

Fireyourguns still undefeated at Batavia Downs

By Billie Owens

Photo of Fireyourguns with driver Mike Caprio.

By Tim Bojarski, for Batavia Downs

In a race that provided more moves than United Van Lines, Fireyourguns once again showed his local dominance as he won his third $10,000 Open Handicap victory at Batavia Downs on Saturday night (Aug. 19).

Fireyourguns (Mike Caprio) left and tucked in behind last week’s Open winner Believe This Bob (Drew Monti) by the eighth pole. But before they got to the quarter, Caprio decided to pull and take the lead himself and all that action only took :26.3 seconds. Despite the race proceeding at a crisp pace, the newly imported Australian Teo Enteo A (Larry Stalbaum) who had gotten away fourth, was already out and rolling at the three-eighths and grabbed the front by the half in :54.4.

Teo Enteo A continued to motor along up the backside when Believe This Bob popped out from third and tried to push the issue. He got up to second on the outside and eventually drew even with the leader at the top of the stretch. But as those two continued to battle, Teo Enteo A tired and started to drift allowing the pocket-sitting Fireyourguns a clear path to the wire. Caprio raised the lines and drove hard and Fireyourguns did the rest, winning by a neck in 1:53.1.

It was the fifth win in 11 starts this year for Fireyourguns ($3) and third win in as many starts at Batavia Downs. Now boasting $376,456 in lifetime earnings, Fireyourguns is owned by Jennifer and Robert Lowe and Terrence McClory, who also trains the winner.

In the co-featured $9,000 Open II pace, Shady City (Larry Stalbaum) who hasn’t left in the last four weeks, shot off the gate and took the lead then never looked back; winning by two-lengths in 1:54. Shady City ($7.80) captured his ninth win of the year for owner/trainer Larry Stalbaum.

Driver Ray Fisher Jr. had three wins on the night.

The guaranteed $5,000 USTA Strategic Wagering Pick-5 pool produced a $3,308.50 payout for the 4-1-6-4-7 combination.

Live racing resumed at Batavia Downs this afternoon (Aug. 20) with a post time of at 1:15.

Edom Up Blue Boy rings the bell at Batavia Downs

By Billie Owens

Photo of Edom Up Blue Boy with driver Rock C. Vinci.

By Tim Bojarski, for Batavia Downs

On a night when overlooked horses took the spotlight, Edom Up Blue Boy ground-out a hard earned, first-over victory in the $10,500 Open Handicap trot at Batavia Downs on Friday (Aug. 18) despite being dismissed by the betting public at 37-1.

Osprey Vision (Dave McNeight III) played give-and-go with the always front running Lutetium (Drew Monti) and seated the latter for the first time since March. Osprey Vision then marched out quarters of :28.2 and :59.1 before Edom Up Blue Boy (Rock C. Vinci) pulled first off the stodgy second quarter. Edom Up Blue Boy eventually pulled alongside Osprey Vision past three-quarters and the two then matched strides from there until the wire.

Osprey Vision held a short advantage over Edom Up Blue Boy all the way down the stretch while BZ Glide (Mike Caprio) and Empire Earl N (Larry Stalbaum) were surging and gaining three and four wide. As the wall of horseflesh hit the wire, Edom Up Blue Boy snuck ahead of Osprey Vision while turning away the late closer’s best his efforts to win in 1:59.1.

It was the fifth win of the year for Edom Up Blue Boy ($57.50) and second Open trot victory at Batavia Downs in the past month. Driver Rock C. Vinci also owns and trains the winner.

In the co-featured $8,000 Open II trot, Corleone Hall (Mike Caprio) pulled from fourth at three-quarters to overtake the front-running Winky’s Pride (Drew Monti) and win by one-half length in 1:59.3. The winning time was a seasonal mark as it was the first win of the year for Corleone Hall ($16.00) who is owned and trained by Perry Wilson.

Mike Caprio and Drew Monti both scored driving doubles on the card.

Racing resumes at Batavia Downs tonight (Aug. 19) with a $5,000 guaranteed early Pick-5 pool as part of the USTA Strategic Wagering program. The early Pick-5 starts with the first race and runs through race five.

Post time for the first race is 6 p.m.

Muckdogs-Scrappers game postponed due to rain

By Billie Owens
Thursday’s game between the Batavia Muckdogs and Mahoning Valley Scrappers was postponed due rain and unsafe field conditions. The game will be made up as part of a double-header on Monday, Aug. 28th.
 
The Muckdogs will play two seven-inning games, with the first game starting at 5:05 p.m. Gates will open at 4 p.m. Any person with tickets to the Aug.17 game can exchange their tickets for any other regular season game, subject to availability.

Unknown type fire reported at Barbary Coast Mobile Home Park, Bergen

By Billie Owens

An unknown type of fire is reported behind a residence in the Barbary Coast Mobile Home Park, located at 7862 Clinton Street Road. Byron and South Byron fire departments are called to respond, mutual aid to the Bergen call.

UPDATE 1:37 p.m.: The Bergen chief on scene says South Byron can stand down; the other unit can continue in non-emergency mode.

UPDATE 1:39 p.m.: The chief puts the assignment back in service.

Two in a row for All Charged Up at Batavia Downs

By Billie Owens

All Charged Up with driver John MacDonald.

By Tim Bojarski, for Batavia Downs

The Canadian owned, central New York based All Charged Up has been plying her trade in Western New York for three-weeks now and on Wednesday evening (Aug. 16), she just captured her second straight $9,000 Mares Open Handicap pacing feature at Batavia Downs.

All Charged Up (John MacDonald) left, but yielded to Little Santamonica (Larry Stalbaum) who wanted the front and got her way. From there she did all the heavy lifting, setting fractions of :27.2, :56.2 and 1:25.1. At that station MacDonald started to roll All Charged Up to the outside and the mare paced right around the leader. She had command before they hit the stretch and then paced away to an easy five-length victory in 1:53.1, which was only one-fifth of a second off the track record for aged pacing mares (Xenia Hanover 1:53, 2013).

It was the 25th lifetime win for All Charged Up ($4.40) and it pushed her career earnings total to $236,532 for owner J P Stables. The 6-year-old daughter of Ponder is trained by “The Prime Minister” John MacDonald.

MacDonald doubled his fun by winning the co-featured $8,000 Mares Open II pace with Drea’s Good Powow. Getting a similar two-hole trip, Drea’s Good Powow sat behind Voltina (Kevin Cummings) until the top of the stretch when he pulled her and paced right by to win by a length in 1:55.2.  

It was the second win in three starts for Drea’s Good Powow ($3.80) and the second win of the night for owner J P Stables and trainer/driver MacDonald.

The biggest win mutual of the meet so far was realized in the eighth race on the card. Ray Fisher Jr. took advantage of a fast :55.3 half and swooped the field from worst to first with Canthelpbutwin at 54-1. When the dust had settled from the tote board being blown up, the win price displayed was $101.50 for a $2 wager. That prompted a $2 “7-2” Exacta that paid $1,129, a $2 “7-2-all” Trifecta that paid $1,646 and a $1 “7-2-all-all” Superfecta that returned $464.50.

John MacDonald wasn’t the only horseman to capture two driving and training wins on the night. Shawn McDonough and Larry Stalbaum also attained the same achievement.   

Racing resumes at Batavia Downs on Friday with post time at 6 p.m. The early Pick-5 on Friday starts with a $1,500 pool and goes as races one through five.

Artists with disabilities showcase work in 'Faces and Places' exhibit at ILGR starting Sept. 5

By Billie Owens

Press release:

The second ARTiculations Ability Exhibition -- a forum for artists with disabilities in Genesee, Wyoming and Orleans counties to display their work publicly -- will open at Independent Living of the Genesee Region (ILGR) in Batavia on Sept. 5th.

Titled “Faces and Places,” it features the work of two artists: Gary Appis, whose paintings depict rural landscapes and farm scenes; and Timothy Logston, whose detailed graphite portraits feature celebrities as well as the artist’s family members.

A product of a partnership between ILGR and the University Heights Arts Association (UHAA), the Exhibit will be on display through Dec. 3rd.

The opening reception is on Friday, Sept. 8th from 5:30 to 7 p.m. at ILGR’s office, 113 Main St., Suite 5, in Batavia.

Other artists with disabilities residing in the Genesee, Orleans and Wyoming County areas are encouraged to submit their work to this juried competition, as there will be additional ARTiculations planned quarterly exhibits in the future.

For more than a year, ILGR has been “art partnering” for people with disabilities with the UHAA, a group of artists in North Buffalo with a commitment to community that places art in businesses and nonprofits through an established ARTpartnering program.

The organizers are pleased to note that the ARTiculations Ability Exhibitions has “mapped” into UHAA’s system by placing a plaque with a Quick Response (QR) code scatter bar graph that can bring up information about it when scanned by your smart phone.

For questions on the event, please call Emily Dale at (585) 815-8501, ext. 400.

Independent Living of the Genesee Region (ILGR) is a member of the Western New York Independent Living, Inc. family of agencies that offers an expanding array of services to aid individuals with disabilities to take control of their own lives.

'Accordions 'round the World' to perform outside at Le Roy Country Club Friday evening

By Billie Owens

Submitted photo of musicians Marta Driscoll and John Ryan performing.

Press release:

GLOW Traditions at GO ART! presents "Accordions ‘round the World" -- the melodious sounds of accordions and concertinas from diverse musical traditions found in Western New York. It will take place under the tent at Le Roy Country Club starting at 7 p.m. this Friday, Aug. 18. A $5 donation is suggested.

The country club, which is cosponsoring the event, is located at 7759 E. Main Road, Le Roy. Bring your blankets and lawn chairs! A full menu is available in the Club or on the deck, so guests are invited to come early and enjoy a dinner, or snacks throughout the concert.

SUNY Geneseo Professor of Music Jim Kimball is the concertmaster.

As an ethnomusicologist focusing on traditional music of our region, Kimball has documented numerous old time and ethnic musical cultures in which the accordion takes a lead role. These include Irish, Italian, Danish, Polish, German, and old-time square dance music.

The concert will feature musicians from these communities: Ted McGraw, Marta Driscoll and John Ryan (Irish), Alex Alexandrov (Bulgarian and Eastern European), Ken Machelski and Casey Kliszak (Polish), and Frank Reino (Italian).

Each of the musicians have perfected their craft primarily in the context of their particular community: trading tunes at weekly Irish music sessions in and around Rochester; serving as concertmaster for the National Accordion Orchestra of Bulgaria; playing in nationally recognized Polish polka bands from Buffalo; or learning the accordion at a young age from an Italian uncle.

The performers collectively illustrate the breadth of experience found in traditional expressive culture in our region. They each perform on their own finely crafted and often unique instruments.

The accordion is a reed instrument developed in Germany in the 1820s. After traveling around Europe, it became popular in New York by the 1840s. As it moved through Europe, its form and sound changed in response to different musical cultures.

Accordions use a “free reed” system to produce their sound, similar in concept to the metal reeds in a harmonica, where the player blows air across the reed to produce musical notes. The accordion was the technical marvel of its day, and its portability enabled many an immigrant to carry his music along with him to New York, Louisiana, Argentina, Mexico, Asia and the Middle East—virtually everywhere.

Rose Caccamise at Roxy’s Music in the City of Batavia has provided additional promotion. Founded in 1934 by Roxy and Nellie Caccamise, accordion virtuosi in their own rights, Roxy’s Music has promoted the instrument throughout the region for more than 80 years, and remains a hub for accordion sales, repairs, information, players and enthusiasts.

The event is made possible by the New York State Council on the Arts with the support of Governor Andrew Cuomo and the NYS Legislature.

GC Master Gardeners host annual Fall Garden Gala at Cornell Extension Sept. 16

By Billie Owens

Press release:

Save the date! Saturday, Sept.16, from 10 a.m. to 1 p.m. the Genesee County Master Gardeners will be hosting their annual Fall Garden Gala at the Cornell Cooperative Extension of Genesee County, 420 E. Main St. in Batavia.

The plant sale features hardy perennials, most which are grown by Master Gardeners, as well as house plants. A selection of locally, field-grown mums will also be for sale. Fall is a good time to plant many perennials as they will have time to grow a strong root system before winter.

Stop inside to check out the Chance Basket Auction and Silent Auction. You never know what treasures may appear, including unique garden art. The Master Gardener Helpline will also be open to answer your gardening questions. Not sure what your garden pH is? Bring in a soil sample for free soil pH testing.

Learn how to artfully arrange fresh flowers at the “Flower Arrangements from the Garden” demonstration at 11 a.m. A variety of fresh flower arrangements and bouquets, created by Master Gardeners, will also be for sale.

Don’t miss your chance to pick up some great plants and treasures for your garden! Plant sale starts promptly at 10 a.m. No early birds please. The Chance Basket Auction drawing will begin at 12:30 p.m.

For more information contact Brandie Schultz at CCE of Genesee County, (585) 343-3040, ext. 101, stop by the Extension office at 420 E. Main St. in Batavia, or visit our new CCE website http://genesee.cce.cornell.edu/gardening or Facebook page https://www.facebook.com/CCEofGenesee.

'Accordions 'round the World' -- concert on lawn of Le Roy Country Club is Aug. 18

By Billie Owens

Presented by GLOW Traditions at GO ART!

"Accordions 'round the World"  -- (Irish, Italian, Polish and Bulgarian music) featuring Alex Alexandrov, Marta Driscoll, Casey Kliszak, Ken Machelski, Ted McGraw, Frank Reino, John Ryan with Jim Campbell, MC.

SUNY Geneseo Professor of Music Jim Kimball is concertmaster.

7 p.m., Friday, Aug. 18
 
Le Roy Country Club  7759 E. Main Road,  Le Roy
 
$5 donation suggested.
 
Bring your own lawn chairs, blankets.
 
More information: www.goart.org  585-343-9313
Subscribe to Stories from

Authentically Local