Skip to main content

Two-car accident reported on Main Road, Stafford

By Billie Owens

A two-car accident with unknown injuries is reported at 6117 Main Road, Stafford. Fluids are leaking. Stafford Fire Department and Mercy medics are responding. A deputy on scene tells first responders to come in non-emergency mode. One person needs medical evaluation; "possibly a sign-off."

Photo: Traffic tie-up on Route 77 by Flying J

By Howard B. Owens

trailerblockingmay292016.jpg

A disabled tractor-trailer has partially blocked Route 77 by the Flying J.

Emergency responders are on scene.

UPDATE 8:45 p.m.: Roadway is clear.  

Submitted photo.

Members of local law enforcement compete in HERO workout

By Howard B. Owens

dsc_0130.jpg

dsc_0152.jpg

Members of the local law enforcement community completed a competition at Batavia Cross Training on Swan Street called the Memorial Day Murph.

The competition is held at cross-training facilities across the nation in honor of Navy Lt. Michael Murphy, who died in Afghanistan on June 28, 2005.

The event is a competition and a fundraiser. This year, participants raised $1,625 for the family of Deputy Frank Bordonaro, who died in 2014.

Officers invited to participate by training for two months for the HERO workout. This year, nine teams of four athletes each competed, working together to help motivate each other and push through their limits in a grueling workout.

The workout consists of a one-mile run, 100 pull ups, 200 push ups, 300 squats, and finishes with another one-mile run.

Batavia Cross Training is owned by Jessica Pratt.

dsc_0059.jpg

Batavia track brings home two sectional titles

By Steve Ognibene

098a7604.1bt.jpg

The boys and girls track teams from Batavia High School competed in the Class B Sectional Championships on Friday night, both earning hard fought victories.

The girls had an impressive 101 points, with Livonia coming in second place with 62. Kiaya Franklin had an unbelievable meet by winning the 100m in 12.51, the 400m in 57.69, and the 200m in 25.97. The girls 4x800 relay of Sophia Dinehart, Briana Bromley, Claire Zickl and Maddi Murray won with a time of 10:02.31. Rachel Denise won the pole vault with a jump of 9-0.

The boys had a much closer meet, scoring 124 points over defending indoor and outdoor champion Greece Olympia, which finished with 120. Anthony Ray continued his dominance in the throwing events by winning the shot with a throw of 49-3.25 and the discus with a throw of 146-8. Adonis Davis helped to seal the win two late victories in the high jump with a height of 6-4 and in the triple jump with a leap of 44-7.75. The boys meet was very competitive with the title still up for grabs with only a few events remaining.

Full results from the meet can be viewed at:

http://live.yentiming.com/#/results/meet/270

These sectional championships are the 25th team championships for Batavia track and field, both indoors and outdoors, since 2003. Both the boys and girls teams represented their school and community with a great deal of determination and poise throughout the competition. Congrats to the 2016 Track and Field Sectional Champions, the Batavia Blue Devils!

Story submitted by: Batavia Boys Head Coach Nicholas Burk, who is also pictured below receiving the boys Section V trophy from a track official.

Photos by: Steve Ognibene Photography

098a7596.1bt.jpg

098a7533.bt_.jpg

098a7417.bt_.jpg

098a7354.bt_.jpg

098a7456.bt_.jpg

Vehicle crashed into smoke shop on Bloomingdale Road

By Howard B. Owens

A vehicle has reportedly crashed into a building at 858 Bloomingdale Road, Tonawanda Indian Reservation, the Two Eagles Smokeshop & Gas Mart.

A person is reportedly trapped in the vehicle.

Alabama fire and Mercy EMS requested to the scene. Pembroke and Indian Falls requested mutual aid. Heavy rescue equipment requested to the scene.

UPDATE 9:37 a.m.: The woman who was in the car is conscious and alert and out of the vehicle. The vehicle is completely inside the building.

UPDATE 9:38 a.m.: Pembroke and Indian Falls asked to stage in quarters.

UPDATE 10:21 a.m.: Patient being transported to UMMC for evaluation.

Lost dog found on Pike Road

By Howard B. Owens

A lost dog has been found on Pike Road by an area resident.

The dog was pulling 50 feet of cable.

A deputy is responding.

Micheal Napoleone's love of baseball honored at annual tournament

By Howard B. Owens

napfoundationmay2016.jpg

The Swanson family was honored today by the Michael Napoleone Memorial Foundation at the foundation's annual Memorial Day Weekend tournament at MacArthur Park in Batavia.

In 2007, Anders Swanson -- in the blue shirt above with mother Amy, father Garth and brothers Beckett and Cooper -- was diagnosed with cancer deep in his brain when he was 18 months old.

"(The doctors were) brutally honest," Amy said. "This kind of cancer is rare, it’s aggressive and it doesn’t have a good outcome. Kids with this kind of cancer don’t survive."

He immediately underwent surgery, and then a long ordeal of treatment that included four rounds of chemo, 31 days of radiation, two high-dosage chemo treatments, two stem-cell transplants, and countless blood transfusions, spinal taps and CAT scans. He underwent a second major brain surgery in which 90 percent of the cancer was removed. Now considered cancer free, Amy said he still undergoes numerous regular tests and the fight isn't over, yet Anders remains positive and a team player.

"He has to work much harder, but he greets everything with a can-do attitude," Amy said.

The tournament, she said, was a great way to honor Micheal's memory, because his love of baseball is evident by every smile on the field.

"We know how important baseball is," Amy said. "It’s about accountability, character, courage, confidence, commitment, determination, ethics, honor, humility and humor, integrity, loyalty, leadership, obedience, self-discipline, sportsmanship and teamwork. These truly are the key components of baseball. Baseball is unique in that it can often mirror life itself. The great length of a baseball season, and the fact that failure is an innate part of the game, offers players, coaches and parents the opportunities to teach many more of life’s truths and skills."

The foundation regularly provides financial support to families with children battling cancer, and Laurie Napoleone presented the Swanson's with a $1,000 check, but the Swanson's asked that the money be donated to other charities.

Since Micheal's death, the foundation has provided more than $230,000 to 300 families in the region, donated more than $56,000 to pediatric cancer research, and assisted youth sports with $38,000 in donations, and provided another $50,000 to the Golisano Children's Hospital in Rochester.

napfoundationmay2016-2.jpg

The Spirit of Michael Napoleone Award went to Ryan Carroll and Jacob Smith.

napfoundationmay2016-3.jpg

napfoundationmay2016-4.jpg

napfoundationmay2016-5.jpg

napfoundationmay2016-6.jpg

napfoundationmay2016-7.jpg

Kickball for a Kaus helps Batavia resident with medical costs

By Howard B. Owens

kauskickballmay2016.jpg

Members of the Genesee Kickball League came together today to help raise funds to defray medical costs for Zachary Kaus.

Kaus was diagnosed with acute aplastic leukemia in September. Both of his sisters were perfect matches for a bone marrow donation, and on Dec. 22, he received a bone marrow transplant from his oldest sister.

"It took perfectly, everything is good and I’m leukemia free now," said Kaus, pictured above.

Kaus was a member of the kickball league, but he's still amazed that so many people turned out to Batavia Sports Park today.

"It’s crazy," he said. "I didn’t think there would be this many people, this big a turnout. But they love playing for a cause, obviously. It means a lot for sure. I want to thank everybody for coming out. It’s a little overwhelming, but it’s awesome to watch."

kauskickballmay2016-2.jpg

kauskickballmay2016-3.jpg

kauskickballmay2016-4.jpg

kauskickballmay2016-5.jpg

Schedule of ceremonies and parades for Monday, May 30: Memorial Day 2016

By Billie Owens

David Zuppelli, of Batavia, submitted this photo of his father, Chester Zuppelli, playing Taps on Memorial Day 1944 in New Caledonia, South Pacific.

Here's a schedule for Memorial Day Ceremonies and the Batavia parade:

7 a.m. -- Genesee County Park (11095 Bethany Center Road, East Bethany) -- Vietnam Veterans Memorial (VVA #193)

8 a.m. -- Williams Park, City of Batavia-- WW I Memorial (wreath laying, rifle salute & Taps)

8:30 a.m. -- Batavia VA Medical Center

8:45 a.m. -- NYS Veterans Home

9:30 a.m. -- Upton Monument (routes 5 and 63) (wreath laying, rifle salute & Taps)

9:45 a.m. -- Batavia Cemetery, Harvester Avenue, City of Batavia (wreath laying, rifle salute & Taps)

10 a.m. -- Elmwood Cemetery, off Harvester Avenue and Webster Street in the city (AL #332)

10 a.m. -- CITY PARADE -- Begins at the Eastown Plaza traveling west along Main Street and ending at Jerome Center on Bank Street at 10:45 a.m.

10:45 a.m. -- UMMC -- Jerome Center:

  • Memorial Day ceremonies: Invocation; National Anthem with Batavia Concert Band; G.A.R. Order of the Day; Veterans Service Organizations Commemorations; wreath laying with Gold Star Mothers; Honor Roll with drum roll; rifle salute; Taps; Benediction; "God Bless America."

Noon -- Hansen Brothers Grave -- Grandview Cemetery on Clinton Street Road, Batavia (MCL #951)

Participating organizations:

Hansen Borthers Marine Corps League Detachment #951

Glenn S. Loomis American Legion Post #332

Veness-Strollo Veterans of Foreign Wars Post #1602

Disabled American Veterans Chapter #166

Vietnam Veterans of American Chapter #193

Sons of Union Veterans Abraham Lincoln Camp #6

 

Here are more local Memorial Day ceremonies/parades:

  • ALEXANDER: Parade begins at 10:30 a.m. at the Alexander High School and travels to the cemetery on Railroad Avenue with a ceremony to take place at the cemetery following the parade.

  • BERGEN: Parade at 9 a.m. beginning at the Fire Hall (Route 19 & Hunter Street), traveling south on Route 19 to Hickory Park with ceremony to take place at the park immediately following the parade.
  •  
  • BYRON: Parade at 11 a.m. from Terry Street to Swamp Road with a ceremony immediately following at Byron Cemetery.
  • CORFU: Parade at noon from Corfu Fire hall on Route 33 to the Intermediate School on Route 77. Ceremony immediately following the parade.

  • ELBA: Ceremony at Maple Lawn Cemetery at 10 a.m. No parade. The Elba Historical Society Museum will be open for tours after the ceremony.
  •  
  • LEROY: Parade at 10:30 a.m. from the American Legion to Trigon Park with a ceremony at Trigon Park at 11 a.m. following the parade.
  • OAKFIELD: Parade at 11 a.m. from the Oakfield Fire Dept. to Triangle Park with ceremony to be held at Triangle Park.

  • PAVILION: Ceremony at 10 a.m. at the Town Park at intersection of routes 63 and 19. No parade.

No parades/ceremonies for the following:

  • Alabama

  • Bethany

  • Darien

  • Pembroke

  • Stafford

GC Master Gardeners free lunchtime monthly series 'Garden Talk' to begin June 7

By Billie Owens

Press release:

This summer join the Genesee County Master Gardeners for our monthly series, “Garden Talk."

Taught by Master Gardeners, the programs will be held once month, during the “lunch hour” from 12:15 to 12:45 p.m. Bring your lunch to the CCE office (420 E. Main St, Batavia) and join us to learn more about gardening! This series is free and open to the public. Registration is not required.

The next program will be held June 7 with the topic, “Introduction to Beneficial Insects." Most of the insects that live in your garden or landscape are beneficial. They do little or no harm to you or your plants. Some of these good guys even provide free pest control for you. So who are these allies? Come find out at our June session.

On July 12 learn about propagating perennials from cuttings. If you are looking for an easy way to create more plants for your garden, we’ll offer you some tips during this program.

Join us on Aug. 2 for a demonstration on using flowers from your garden to make beautiful arrangements.

Need a Garden Talk schedule? Contact Brandie at 585-343-3040, ext. 101. Future topics and other Master Gardener events will be posted on the Cornell Cooperative Extension of Genesee County Web site at http://genesee.cce.cornell.edu/

Independent Living in Batavia offers free grief and loss support groups starting June 7

By Billie Owens

Press release:

Anyone who is dealing with the pain of a loved one’s passing, or other heartaches, is welcome to attend any of eight FREE grief and loss support groups to be held at Independent Living of the Genesee Region (ILGR), starting June 7th.

They will be held from 6 to 7 p.m. on the first and third Tuesdays of the next four months, at ILGR’s offices at 113 Main St., Suite 5, Batavia. The precise dates are: June 7th and 21st, July 5th and 19th, Aug. 2nd and 16th, and Sept. 6th and 20th.

Group facilitator David Dodge described its purpose and structure: “This group is an opportunity for members to discuss what they are currently experiencing, relating to grief and loss, in order to feel a sense of increased support. We will also be doing some activities in order to get participants to do self-reflection related to what they are thinking or feeling.”

Participants are requested to register, beforehand. To do so or get more information, please call David Dodge at (585) 815-8501, ext. 415.

Salvation Army to hold free summer program for kids on Thursdays: 'Expedition Norway'

By Billie Owens

"Expedition Norway" is the theme of a free summer program for children in grades K-6 sponsored by The Salvation Army.

It will be held every Thursday from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. July 14 through Aug. 25 at the headquarters at 529 E. Main St. in the city.

Transportation to and from The Salvation Army is available to children in the city.

A morning snack and lunch is provide each week.

Participants can experience the unique food, fun games and activities of Norway. Make new firends and learn about an amazing culture. There will also be incredible music and surprising adventures!

Attend four out of the six sessions and get a free pass to the Niagara Falls Aquarium.

Phone 343-6284.

Law and Order: DWI checkpoint on Route 33 results in arrest of Rochester man

By Billie Owens

William S. Webster, 24, of Parsells Avenue, Rochester, is charged with unlawful possession of marijuana, unlawfully dealing with a child, and consumption of alcohol in a motor vehicle. At 12:04 a.m. this morning, Webster was stopped at a DWI checkpoint on Route 33 in the Town of Batavia. He was allegedly found to be in possession of marijuana and consuming alcohol in the vehicle and providing alcohol to a minor. He was issued an appearance ticket for Town of Batavia Court on June 13. The case was handled by Sheriff's Deputy Kevin Forsyth.

Seth Ryan Doster, 24, of Alleghany Road, Darien, is charged with criminal possession of a controlled substance in the seventh degree. At 8:40 p.m. on May 27, the defendent was arrested after he was searched following a traffic stop on Florence Avenue in the City of Batavia. He was allegedly found in possession of a controlled substance. The defendant was released on an appearance ticket for City Court at a later date. City police assisted in the investigation. The case was handled by Sheriff's Deputy Ryan DeLong.

Hawley remembers, thanks all who lost their lives in service to our country

By Billie Owens

Press release:

Assemblyman Steve Hawley (R,C,I-Batavia), the ranking Minority member of the Assembly Committee on Veterans’ Affairs and a veteran of the Ohio Army National Guard and U.S. Army Reserves, on Friday remembered members of the United States Military who fought and gave their lives in service to our country and thanked those who still serve to defend our freedom.

“I would like to wish all the veterans and active military personnel in my district and throughout New York State a happy and safe Memorial Day weekend. Thank you for your courage and sacrifice which ensures our freedom and protects our way of life. I ask everyone, as you spend time with your family and friends this weekend, remember that freedom isn’t free and please take time to thank the veterans in your life,” Hawley said.

Le Roy twin brothers inducted into NYS Senate Veterans' Hall of Fame

By Billie Owens

Senator Michael Ranzenhofer honors twin brothers Thomas R. Wood Sr. and William Charles Wood III, both of Le Roy, for their service in the United States Marine Corps. and in the community during an induction ceremony at the State Capitol.
 
Submitted photo and press release:
 
Thomas R. Wood Sr. and William Charles Wood III have been selected by State Senator Michael H. Ranzenhofer as New York State Senate Veterans’ Hall of Fame inductees for the 61st District. The Veterans’ Hall of Fame honors and recognizes outstanding veterans from the Empire State who have distinguished themselves in military and civilian life.
 
“I am very proud to be honoring Thomas and William for their service during the First Gulf War,” Ranzenhofer said. “Like so many of our service men and women, they returned home to continue serving their community when their military service was completed. For over two decades, they have been firefighters for the Le Roy Fire Department, and they continue to be active in coaching youth sports.”
 
The Wood brothers entered the United States Marine Corps. in 1988, attending boot camp together at Parris Island, S.C. Later, in 1990, the twin brothers would be called upon to serve their country in the First Gulf War. Thomas served as part of an amphibious task force aboard the USS Nassau, and William served with a forward combat unit, Romeo 5/11.
 
Both men received many awards for their exemplary service, including: Combat Action Ribbon, Good Conduct Medal, and Liberating Kuwait Medal. William also earned the Southwest Asia Service Metal with two Stars; National Defense Service Award; Sea Service Deployment Ribbon; and Rifle Sharp Shooter Badge. In addition, Thomas was awarded a Meritorious Mast for his actions during a helicopter crash in South Korea, as well as an Oversea Ribbon with four Clusters.
 
“It is a true honor just to be nominated let alone awarded such a prestigious honor. I am very humbled to be in the presence of other veterans. I wish to thank Senator Ranzenhofer for the award and recognize my two children, Chelsie and Tommy, for always being there along with my parents, Ann and Billy. God Bless America and Semper Fi,” Thomas said.
 
“I'm honored to be inducted into the Hall of Fame. Thank you to Senator Ranzenhofer for nominating me, as well as my loving wife, Kathy, my kids, Riley and Alyssa, and my parents for their continued support. In closing, I am very humbled about this award because there are more deserving veterans. Semper Fi,” William said.
 
These two distinguished Marines were honorably discharged at the rank of Corporal in 1992. They have been involved for years with youth sports and as members of the American Legion. They have been firefighters for the Le Roy Fire Department for more than two decades, serving in many leadership positions. William has been named Firefighter of the Year twice. More recently, Thomas received the Department’s highest honor, the Medal of Valor.
 
Currently, Thomas is an officer at the Federal Detention Facility in Batavia, while William works at the Thruway Authority. William and his wife, Kathy, have two children, Alyssa and Riley. Thomas has two children, Chelsie and Thomas.

Kati Mancuso decided this is the time to do what she loves

By Howard B. Owens

katisplacemay282016.jpg

Most people, perhaps, in Kati Mancuso's position wouldn't choose the circumstances of her life as a time to open a new business, especially one as emotionally and physically demanding as a restaurant.

But this week, that's what Mancuso did, opening Kati's Place at 40 Oak St., Batavia.

Even though Mancuso now lives in Rochester, she came back to Batavia because this is where her friends and customers are. She started in the restaurant business at 16 at Scooter's in Batavia, moved on to Scooter's in Le Roy, and eventually opened Kati's Place in Le Roy.

She had to close that restaurant after a drunken driver slammed into her car and she suffered a broken back.

She wanted to get back in the business, but took time off for the birth of her son.

"I could have opened a restaurant in Rochester and started over, but I’m so close to so many people and so many customers and they’ve been like my family over all these years so I wanted a place they could come to, so that’s why I came out to Batavia to do it," she said.

After her son was born, she found a pencil-size lump on her arm. It turned out to be a rare form of melanoma. She had a 9.7-millimeter tumor removed. She's had all the lymph nodes on her right side removed. She went through six weeks of chemo, five days a week, and then five weeks of chemo for three days a week. She's had five major surgeries and two minor surgeries.

The original prognosis was a 16-percent chance of surviving past a year.

She's not giving up.

"I felt like I was either going to lay there and die or do something that I love," Mancuso said. "This keeps me busy and keeps me moving and I think I just have to keep a positive attitude and know that I’ll be all right. I know the diagnoses isn’t good, but it’s OK."

Mancuso said every day is hard, but she has her seven employees to help her out and her customers to keep her spirits up.

"These people have been like my family and it gives them someplace to go and enjoy good food that is homemade, that’s not fast food," Mancuso said.

Kati's Place is open seven days a week, from 7 a.m. to 8 p.m., Monday through Thursday, to 9 p.m. on Friday and Saturday, and to 3 p.m. on Sunday. It's a diner with about a dozen tables and take-outs are available. The phone number is (585) 250-4483.

Database error this morning

By Howard B. Owens

We had a database error this morning and had to restore the site from a backup.

The good news is, we had a very recent backup available, 3 a.m. The bad news is, we still lost a couple of posts.

One was from Steve Ognibene about Batavia's boys and girls track teams winning Section V titles. Steve isn't available until tonight to repost it. Our apologies.

The other post was an accident on the Thruway and we can't recreate that post.

I don't think any user comments were lost.

Batavia Blue Devils finish two runs short of history

By Howard B. Owens

bhsbaseballmay272016.jpg

In a competitive sport, there can be only one winner, and in Brockport today, only one team would get to make history.

That team turned out to be Aquinas, which became only the third school (that we know of) in modern Section V history to win the boys' team-sport Triple Crown -- championships in football, basketball and baseball -- in a single school year.

It's the second time Aquinas has achieved the feat, first doing it in 2011-12.

Batavia has never done it, and with a 2-1 loss will have to wait for another opportunity somewhere down the road.

The records are incomplete, but John Moriello of the New York Sportswriters Association researched the question today, and as near as he can tell, the Triple Crown has only been achieved three times in Section V, though it's possible some smaller schools archived it.

"I suspect it's happened a few times over the years in the section, but there's not a database that would allow for pinning down specifics," Moriello said. "It's more likely in the smaller classifications with schools like Notre Dame, Clyde-Savannah, Hornell and Cal-Mum."

While Batavia notched Section V titles in football and basketball this year, Aquinas could go on to win the trifecta at the state level this year.

There were no Section V football championships before 1977.

Pittsford Mendon was the first Section V school to secure the Triple Crown with titles in 1982-83.

This year, 31 teams in the state had a chance at the Triple Crown when baseball season started, according to Moriello, and only Aquinas got that third critical win.

Batavia won its first baseball title in 1953, but hasn't taken a Section V crown since 1998 (it also had titles in 1980, 81 and 94).

The football program had great teams prior to 1977, but didn't get a Section V title until 1991 and then waited until the Brennan Briggs era to win again, getting titles in 2014 and this year.

Batavia became a powerhouse in basketball under Buddy Brasky, winning its first Section V title in 1998, and then in 2005, 2009, 2010, 2013 and 2016.

bhsbaseballmay272016-2.jpg

bhsbaseballmay272016-3.jpg

bhsbaseballmay272016-4.jpg

bhsbaseballmay272016-5.jpg

bhsbaseballmay272016-6.jpg

To purchase prints, click here (the slideshow includes BHS softball).

Top Items on Batavia's List

The Batavia Housing Authority is seeking a positive, hardworking teammate to perform a variety of outdoor landscaping tasks, primarily mowing, with some trimming and cleanup work. The Groundskeeper is independently responsible for outdoor landscaping tasks on a weekly basis with some flexibility. This job may require some weekend hours when necessary. Part-time position Pay Range: $19.00/hr - $22.00/hr Anticipated start date: May 2024 Application deadline: April 29, 2024 See full job description at: https://www.co.genesee.ny.us/Groundskeeper.pdf Complete Civil Service Application at: https://cms1files.revize.com/geneseecountynew/CivilServiceApplication2022Revision-09.22.22.pdf Contact Information Nathan Varland Executive Director Batavia Housing Authority 400 East Main Street, Batavia, NY 14020 (585) 344-1888 nvarland@bataviahousing.org Location: Batavia
Tags: Jobs offered

Authentically Local